update ucx to version 4.0 default tip

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:09:20 +0100

author
Olaf Wintermann <olaf.wintermann@gmail.com>
date
Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:09:20 +0100
changeset 660
f00d03835dd9
parent 659
07b815faa6ac

update ucx to version 4.0

src/server/config/acl.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/config/conf.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/config/serverconfig.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/daemon/acl.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/daemon/config.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/daemon/httprequest.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/daemon/ldap_auth.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/daemon/location.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/daemon/log.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/daemon/protocol.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/daemon/srvctrl.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/daemon/websocket.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/plugins/postgresql/config.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/plugins/postgresql/pgtest.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/plugins/postgresql/webdav.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/safs/cgi.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/safs/nametrans.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/safs/objecttype.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/safs/pathcheck.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/safs/service.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/test/io.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/test/object.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/test/rewrite.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/test/strreplace.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/test/testutils.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/test/vfs.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/util/object.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/util/strreplace.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/util/util.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/webdav/multistatus.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/webdav/webdav.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/webdav/xattrbackend.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/server/webdav/xml.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/allocator.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/array_list.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/buffer.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/compare.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/allocator.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/array_list.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/buffer.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/collection.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/common.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/compare.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/hash_key.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/hash_map.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/iterator.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/json.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/kv_list.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/linked_list.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/list.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/map.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/mempool.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/printf.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/properties.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/streams.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/string.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/test.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/cx/tree.h file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/hash_key.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/hash_map.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/iterator.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/json.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/kv_list.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/linked_list.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/list.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/map.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/properties.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/string.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
src/ucx/tree.c file | annotate | diff | comparison | revisions
--- a/src/server/config/acl.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/config/acl.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@
     
     ACLFile *conf = malloc(sizeof(ACLFile));
     conf->parser.parse = acl_parse;
-    conf->namedACLs = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
-    conf->uriACLs = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
-    conf->pathACLs = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+    conf->namedACLs = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+    conf->uriACLs = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+    conf->pathACLs = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
     
     int r = cfg_parse_basic_file((ConfigParser*)conf, in);
     if(r != 0) {
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
     CxAllocator *mp = aclf->parser.a;
     
     if(cx_strprefix(cx_strcast(line), cx_str("ACL "))) {
-        cxmutstr param = cx_strsubs_m(line, 4);
+        cxmutstr param = cx_strsubs(line, 4);
         ConfigParam *plist = cfg_param_list(param, mp); 
         ACLConfig *acl = OBJ_NEW(mp, ACLConfig);
         acl->type.ptr = NULL;
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
             acl->type = type;
         }
     } else if(cx_strprefix(cx_strcast(line), cx_str("Authenticate "))) {
-        cxmutstr param = cx_strsubs_m(line, 13);
+        cxmutstr param = cx_strsubs(line, 13);
         ConfigParam *plist = cfg_param_list(param, mp); 
         aclf->cur->authparam = plist;
     } else {
--- a/src/server/config/conf.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/config/conf.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@
             }
         }
     }
-    return cx_strtrim_m(nl);
+    return cx_strtrim(nl);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@
 
             params.ptr = params.ptr + i;
             params.length -= i;
-            return cx_strtrim_m(params);
+            return cx_strtrim(params);
         }
     }
 
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@
     // create new params string
     params.ptr += i;
     params.length -= i;
-    return cx_strtrim_m(params);
+    return cx_strtrim(params);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@
         return ns;
     }
 
-    return cx_strtrim_m(name);
+    return cx_strtrim(name);
 }
 
 ConfigTag* cfg_parse_begin_tag(cxmutstr line, CxAllocator *mp) {
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@
     cxmutstr param_str;
     param_str.ptr = line.ptr + i;
     param_str.length = line.length - name.length - 2;
-    param_str = cx_strtrim_m(param_str);
+    param_str = cx_strtrim(param_str);
     if(param_str.length == 0) {
         return tag; // no parameters
     }
--- a/src/server/config/serverconfig.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/config/serverconfig.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
     
     // temporary buffer to store the file content
     CxBuffer buf;
-    if(cxBufferInit(&buf, NULL, 16384, cxDefaultAllocator, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
+    if(cxBufferInit(&buf, cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, 16384, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
         fclose(in);
         parser->error = CONFIG_PARSER_OOM;
         return NULL;
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@
                 } else if(current->type == CONFIG_NODE_OPEN_OBJECT) {
                     // newline after a object is opened with '{'
                     // append '{' to the object text
-                    cxmutstr new_textbegin = cx_strcat_a(a, 2, obj->text_begin, line_cp);
+                    cxmutstr new_textbegin = cx_strcat_a(a, CX_NULLSTR, 2, obj->text_begin, line_cp);
                     cxFree(a, obj->text_begin.ptr);
                     cxFree(a, line_cp.ptr);
                     obj->text_begin = new_textbegin;
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@
 }
 
 CxList* serverconfig_get_node_list(ConfigNode *parent, ConfigNodeType type, cxstring name) {
-    CxList *nodes = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+    CxList *nodes = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
     
     for(ConfigNode *node=parent->children_begin;node;node=node->next) {
         if(node->type == type && !cx_strcasecmp(cx_strcast(node->name), name)) {
--- a/src/server/daemon/acl.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/daemon/acl.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
         cxmutstr wd = cx_str(cwd);
         cxmutstr pp = cx_str((char*)path);
 
-        p = cx_strcat(3, wd, cx_strn("/", 1), pp);
+        p = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 3, wd, cx_strn("/", 1), pp);
     } else {
         p = cx_strdup(cx_str((char*)path));
     }
--- a/src/server/daemon/config.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/daemon/config.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@
 }
 
 char* cfg_config_file_path(const char *file) {
-    cxstring base = CX_STR("config/");
-    cxmutstr path = cx_strcat(2, base, cx_str(file));
+    cxstring base = cx_str("config/");
+    cxmutstr path = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 2, base, cx_str(file));
     return path.ptr;
 }
 
@@ -167,10 +167,10 @@
     CxAllocator *allocator = pool_allocator(serverconfig->pool);
     serverconfig->a = allocator;
     
-    serverconfig->destr = cxArrayListCreate(serverconfig->a, NULL, sizeof(ScfgDestr), 32);
+    serverconfig->destr = cxArrayListCreate(serverconfig->a, sizeof(ScfgDestr), 32);
     
-    serverconfig->listeners = cxLinkedListCreate(serverconfig->a, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
-    serverconfig->logfiles = cxLinkedListCreate(serverconfig->a, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+    serverconfig->listeners = cxLinkedListCreate(serverconfig->a, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+    serverconfig->logfiles = cxLinkedListCreate(serverconfig->a, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
     serverconfig->host_vs = cxHashMapCreate(serverconfig->a, CX_STORE_POINTERS, 16);
     serverconfig->authdbs = cxHashMapCreate(serverconfig->a, CX_STORE_POINTERS, 16);
     serverconfig->resources = cxHashMapCreate(serverconfig->a, CX_STORE_POINTERS, 16);
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@
     // mime file
     cxstring mf = serverconfig_object_directive_value(obj, cx_str("MimeFile"));  
     cxstring base = cx_str("config/"); 
-    cxmutstr file = cx_strcat(2, base, mf);
+    cxmutstr file = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 2, base, mf);
     
     if(mime_conf_load(cfg, file)) {
         return -1;
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@
     // load the object config file
     cxstring base = cx_str("config/");
     // cx_strcat with allocator because we want to keep the string
-    cxmutstr file = cx_strcat_a(cfg->a, 2, base, objfile);
+    cxmutstr file = cx_strcat_a(cfg->a, CX_NULLSTR, 2, base, objfile);
 
     HTTPObjectConfig *httpobj = objconf_load(cfg, file);
     if(!httpobj) {
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@
     
     
     // load acl config file
-    cxmutstr acl_filepath = cx_strcat(2, base, aclfile);
+    cxmutstr acl_filepath = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 2, base, aclfile);
     
     ACLData *acldata = acl_conf_load(cfg, acl_filepath.ptr);
     free(acl_filepath.ptr);
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@
     }
     vs->acls = acldata;
     
-    CxList *locations = serverconfig_get_node_list(obj, CONFIG_NODE_OBJECT, CX_STR("Location"));
+    CxList *locations = serverconfig_get_node_list(obj, CONFIG_NODE_OBJECT, cx_str("Location"));
     CxIterator i = cxListIterator(locations);
     cx_foreach(ConfigNode *, node, i) {
         WSLocation *location = cfg_location_get(cfg, node);
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@
 
 int cfg_handle_dav(ServerConfiguration *cfg, ConfigNode *obj) {
     CxAllocator *a = pool_allocator(cfg->pool);
-    CxList *backends = cxLinkedListCreate(a, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS); // list of ConfigParam*
+    CxList *backends = cxLinkedListCreate(a, CX_STORE_POINTERS); // list of ConfigParam*
     int init_error;
     
     // parse args
@@ -820,7 +820,7 @@
     WebdavRepository *repository = pool_malloc(cfg->pool, sizeof(WebdavRepository));
     repository->vfs = NULL;
     repository->vfsInitData = NULL;
-    repository->davBackends = cxLinkedListCreate(a, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS); // value type: WebdavBackendInitData*
+    repository->davBackends = cxLinkedListCreate(a, CX_STORE_POINTERS); // value type: WebdavBackendInitData*
     
     // initialize backends
     CxIterator i = cxListIterator(backends);
@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@
     
     // list of cxmutstr, however the expression parser will use this
     // as list of cxstring, but that is totally fine
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxmutstr));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxmutstr));
     ConfigParam *arg = node->args;
     while(arg) {
         if(arg->name.length > 0) {
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@
     acllist->ace = NULL;
     acllist->ece = NULL;
     
-    if(acl->type.ptr && !cx_strcmp(acl->type, CX_STR("fs"))) {
+    if(acl->type.ptr && !cx_strcmp(acl->type, "fs")) {
         acllist->acl.isextern = 1;
     }
     
--- a/src/server/daemon/httprequest.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/daemon/httprequest.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -70,17 +70,17 @@
     int i = 0;
     if(uri.ptr[0] == '/') {
         return uri;
-    } else if(cx_strprefix(cx_strcast(uri), (cxstring)CX_STR("http://"))) {
+    } else if(cx_strprefix(uri, cx_str("http://"))) {
         i = 7;
-    } else if(cx_strprefix(cx_strcast(uri), (cxstring)CX_STR("https://"))) {
+    } else if(cx_strprefix(uri, cx_str("https://"))) {
         i = 8;
-    } else if(!cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(uri), (cxstring)CX_STR("*"))) {
+    } else if(!cx_strcmp(uri, cx_str("*"))) {
         return uri;
     }
     
     for(;i<uri.length;i++) {
         if(uri.ptr[i] == '/') {
-            return cx_strsubs_m(uri, i);
+            return cx_strsubs(uri, i);
         }
     }
     
@@ -206,9 +206,9 @@
             request->httpv.length,
             rq->rq.reqpb);
     
-    if(!cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(request->httpv), (cxstring)CX_STR("HTTP/1.1"))) {
+    if(!cx_strcmp(request->httpv, "HTTP/1.1")) {
         rq->rq.protv_num = PROTOCOL_VERSION_HTTP11;
-    } else if(!cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(request->httpv), (cxstring)CX_STR("HTTP/1.0"))) {
+    } else if(!cx_strcmp(request->httpv, "HTTP/1.0")) {
         rq->rq.protv_num = PROTOCOL_VERSION_HTTP10;
     } else {
         // invalid protocol version - abort
@@ -898,9 +898,9 @@
     cxstring ct;
     if(path.ptr[path.length - 1] == '/') {
         // directory
-        ct = (cxstring)CX_STR("internal/directory");
+        ct = cx_str("internal/directory");
     } else {
-        ct = (cxstring)CX_STR("text/plain");
+        ct = cx_str("text/plain");
     }
     pblock_kvinsert(pb_key_content_type, ct.ptr, ct.length, rq->rq.srvhdrs);
 
--- a/src/server/daemon/ldap_auth.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/daemon/ldap_auth.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -43,13 +43,15 @@
 #include "ldap_auth.h"
 #include "ldap_resource.h"
 
+#define CXSTR(s) {s, sizeof(s)-1}
+
 static cxstring ws_ldap_default_uid_attr[] = {
-    CX_STR("uid")
+    CXSTR("uid")
 };
 
 static cxstring ws_ldap_default_member_attr[] = {
-    CX_STR("member"),
-    CX_STR("uniqueMember")
+    CXSTR("member"),
+    CXSTR("uniqueMember")
 };
 
 static LDAPConfig ws_ldap_default_config = {
@@ -70,12 +72,12 @@
 
 // TODO: AD
 static cxstring ws_ad_default_uid_attr[] = {
-    CX_STR("uid")
+    CXSTR("uid")
 };
 
 static cxstring ws_ad_default_member_attr[] = {
-    CX_STR("member"),
-    CX_STR("uniqueMember")
+    CXSTR("member"),
+    CXSTR("uniqueMember")
 };
 
 static LDAPConfig ws_ldap_ad_config = {
@@ -95,11 +97,11 @@
 };
 
 static cxstring ws_posix_default_uid_attr[] = {
-    CX_STR("uid")
+    CXSTR("uid")
 };
 
 static cxstring ws_posix_default_member_attr[] = {
-    CX_STR("memberUid")
+    CXSTR("memberUid")
 };
 
 static LDAPConfig ws_ldap_posix_config = {
--- a/src/server/daemon/location.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/daemon/location.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
     } else if(!cx_strcasecmp(name, "AddACL")) {
         DIR_CHECK_ARGC(1);
         if(!location->config.acls) {
-            CxList *aclList = cxLinkedListCreate(cfg->a, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+            CxList *aclList = cxLinkedListCreate(cfg->a, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
             if(!aclList) {
                 return 1;
             }
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
         }
         
         if(!location->rewrite) {
-            location->rewrite = cxLinkedListCreate(a, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+            location->rewrite = cxLinkedListCreate(a, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
             if(!location->rewrite) {
                 return 1;
             }
--- a/src/server/daemon/log.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/daemon/log.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
 };
 
 int init_logging(void) {
-    log_dup_list = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+    log_dup_list = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
     return log_dup_list == NULL;
 }
 
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@
     lmsg.length = len;
     
     /* create message string */
-    cxmutstr message = cx_strcat(2, lpre, lmsg);
+    cxmutstr message = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 2, lpre, lmsg);
     
     /* write message to the log file */ 
     log_file_writeln(message.ptr, message.length);
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@
     lmsg.length = len;
     
     /* create message string */
-    cxmutstr message = cx_strcat(2, lpre, lmsg);
+    cxmutstr message = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 2, lpre, lmsg);
     
     /* write message to the log file */ 
     log_file_writeln(message.ptr, message.length);
--- a/src/server/daemon/protocol.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/daemon/protocol.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -73,161 +73,161 @@
     switch (code)
     {
         case PROTOCOL_CONTINUE : // 100
-            r = CX_STR("Continue");
+            r = cx_str("Continue");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_SWITCHING: //101
-            r = CX_STR("Switching Protocols");
+            r = cx_str("Switching Protocols");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_OK: // 200
-            r = CX_STR("OK");
+            r = cx_str("OK");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_CREATED: // 201
-            r = CX_STR("Created");
+            r = cx_str("Created");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_ACCEPTED: // 202
-            r = CX_STR("Accepted");
+            r = cx_str("Accepted");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_NONAUTHORITATIVE: // 203
-            r = CX_STR("Non-Authoritative Information");
+            r = cx_str("Non-Authoritative Information");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_NO_CONTENT: //204
         /* There is another define to PROTOCOL_NO_RESPONSE for 204 in nsapi.h
            The spec maps this to No Content.
            Hence cahnging this to No Content
         */
-            r = CX_STR("No Content");
+            r = cx_str("No Content");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_RESET_CONTENT: // 205
-            r = CX_STR("Reset Content");
+            r = cx_str("Reset Content");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_PARTIAL_CONTENT: // 206
-            r = CX_STR("Partial Content");
+            r = cx_str("Partial Content");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_MULTI_STATUS: // 207
-            r = CX_STR("Multi Status");
+            r = cx_str("Multi Status");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_MULTIPLE_CHOICES: // 300
-            r = CX_STR("Multiple Choices");
+            r = cx_str("Multiple Choices");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_MOVED_PERMANENTLY: // 301
-            r = CX_STR("Moved Permanently");
+            r = cx_str("Moved Permanently");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_REDIRECT:          // 302
-            r = CX_STR("Moved Temporarily"); /* The spec actually says "Found" */
+            r = cx_str("Moved Temporarily"); /* The spec actually says "Found" */
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_SEE_OTHER:         // 303
-            r = CX_STR("See Other");
+            r = cx_str("See Other");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_NOT_MODIFIED:      // 304
-            r = CX_STR("Use local copy");    /* The spec actually says "Not Modified" */
+            r = cx_str("Use local copy");    /* The spec actually says "Not Modified" */
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_USE_PROXY:         // 305
-            r = CX_STR("Use Proxy");
+            r = cx_str("Use Proxy");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_TEMPORARY_REDIRECT: // 307
-            r = CX_STR("Temporary Redirect");
+            r = cx_str("Temporary Redirect");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_BAD_REQUEST:        // 400
-            r = CX_STR("Bad request");
+            r = cx_str("Bad request");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_UNAUTHORIZED:       // 401
-            r = CX_STR("Unauthorized");
+            r = cx_str("Unauthorized");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_PAYMENT_REQUIRED:   // 402
-            r = CX_STR("Payment Required");
+            r = cx_str("Payment Required");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_FORBIDDEN:          // 403
-            r = CX_STR("Forbidden");
+            r = cx_str("Forbidden");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_NOT_FOUND:         // 404
-            r = CX_STR("Not found");
+            r = cx_str("Not found");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_METHOD_NOT_ALLOWED: // 405                /* HTTP/1.1 */
-            r = CX_STR("Method Not Allowed");
+            r = cx_str("Method Not Allowed");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_NOT_ACCEPTABLE: // 406                /* HTTP/1.1 */
-            r = CX_STR("Not Acceptable");
+            r = cx_str("Not Acceptable");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_PROXY_UNAUTHORIZED: // 407
-            r = CX_STR("Proxy Authentication Required");
+            r = cx_str("Proxy Authentication Required");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT:    // 408            /* HTTP/1.1 */
-            r = CX_STR("Request Timeout");
+            r = cx_str("Request Timeout");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_CONFLICT:           // 409
-            r = CX_STR("Conflict");                         /* HTTP/1.1 */
+            r = cx_str("Conflict");                         /* HTTP/1.1 */
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_GONE:           // 410
-            r = CX_STR("Gone");                         /* HTTP/1.1 */
+            r = cx_str("Gone");                         /* HTTP/1.1 */
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_LENGTH_REQUIRED:    // 411                /* HTTP/1.1 */
-            r = CX_STR("Length Required");
+            r = cx_str("Length Required");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_PRECONDITION_FAIL:  // 412                /* HTTP/1.1 */
-            r = CX_STR("Precondition Failed");
+            r = cx_str("Precondition Failed");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_ENTITY_TOO_LARGE:   // 413                /* HTTP/1.1 */
-            r = CX_STR("Request Entity Too Large");
+            r = cx_str("Request Entity Too Large");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_URI_TOO_LARGE:      // 414                /* HTTP/1.1 */
-            r = CX_STR("Request-URI Too Large");
+            r = cx_str("Request-URI Too Large");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_UNSUPPORTED_MEDIA_TYPE: // 415
-            r = CX_STR("Unsupported Media Type");
+            r = cx_str("Unsupported Media Type");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_REQUESTED_RANGE_NOT_SATISFIABLE: // 416
-            r = CX_STR("Requested range not satisfiable");
+            r = cx_str("Requested range not satisfiable");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_EXPECTATION_FAILED:     // 417
-            r = CX_STR("Expectation Failed");
+            r = cx_str("Expectation Failed");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_LOCKED:     // 423
-            r = CX_STR("Locked");
+            r = cx_str("Locked");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_FAILED_DEPENDENCY:     // 424
-            r = CX_STR("Failed Dependency");
+            r = cx_str("Failed Dependency");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_SERVER_ERROR:           // 500
-            r = CX_STR("Server Error");           /* The spec actually says "Internal Server Error" */
+            r = cx_str("Server Error");           /* The spec actually says "Internal Server Error" */
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_NOT_IMPLEMENTED:        // 501
-            r = CX_STR("Not Implemented");
+            r = cx_str("Not Implemented");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_BAD_GATEWAY:            // 502
-            r = CX_STR("Bad Gateway");
+            r = cx_str("Bad Gateway");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE:    // 503
-            r = CX_STR("Service Unavailable");
+            r = cx_str("Service Unavailable");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_GATEWAY_TIMEOUT:        // 504            /* HTTP/1.1 */
-            r = CX_STR("Gateway Timeout");
+            r = cx_str("Gateway Timeout");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_VERSION_NOT_SUPPORTED:  // 505            /* HTTP/1.1 */
-            r = CX_STR("HTTP Version Not Supported");
+            r = cx_str("HTTP Version Not Supported");
             break;
         case PROTOCOL_INSUFFICIENT_STORAGE:  // 507
-            r = CX_STR("Insufficient Storage");
+            r = cx_str("Insufficient Storage");
             break;
         default:
             switch (code / 100)
             {
                 case 1:
-                    r = CX_STR("Information");
+                    r = cx_str("Information");
                     break;
                 case 2:
-                    r = CX_STR("Success");
+                    r = cx_str("Success");
                     break;
                 case 3:
-                    r = CX_STR("Redirect");
+                    r = cx_str("Redirect");
                     break;
                 case 4:
-                    r = CX_STR("Client error");
+                    r = cx_str("Client error");
                     break;
                 case 5:
-                    r = CX_STR("Server error");
+                    r = cx_str("Server error");
                     break;
                 default:
-                    r = CX_STR("Unknown reason");
+                    r = cx_str("Unknown reason");
                     break;
             }
             break;
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@
     if(!writer) {
         return NULL;
     }
-    if(cxBufferInit(&writer->buf, NULL, 512, pool_allocator(sn->pool), CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
+    if(cxBufferInit(&writer->buf, pool_allocator(sn->pool), NULL, 512, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
         pool_free(sn->pool, writer);
         return NULL;
     }
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@
 
 int http_send_continue(Session *sn) {
     NSAPISession *s = (NSAPISession*)sn;
-    cxstring msg = CX_STR("HTTP/1.1 100 Continue\r\n\r\n");
+    cxstring msg = cx_str("HTTP/1.1 100 Continue\r\n\r\n");
     int w = s->connection->write(s->connection, msg.ptr, msg.length);
     if(w != msg.length) {
         return 1;
--- a/src/server/daemon/srvctrl.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/daemon/srvctrl.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
     
     char buf[64];
     CxBuffer line;
-    cxBufferInit(&line, NULL, 32, cxDefaultAllocator, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS);
+    cxBufferInit(&line, cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, 32, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS);
     
     ssize_t r;
     WSBool br = FALSE;
--- a/src/server/daemon/websocket.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/daemon/websocket.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -51,25 +51,25 @@
         return REQ_NOACTION;
     }
     
-    if(cx_strcasecmp(cx_str(connection), (cxstring)CX_STR("upgrade"))) {
+    if(cx_strcasecmp(connection, "upgrade")) {
         return REQ_NOACTION;
     }
-    if(cx_strcasecmp(cx_str(upgrade), (cxstring)CX_STR("websocket"))) {
+    if(cx_strcasecmp(upgrade, "websocket")) {
         return REQ_NOACTION;
     }
     
-    cxmutstr wsaccept = cx_strcat(2, cx_str(wskey), (cxstring)CX_STR("258EAFA5-E914-47DA-95CA-C5AB0DC85B11"));
+    cxmutstr wsaccept = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 2, cx_str(wskey), cx_str("258EAFA5-E914-47DA-95CA-C5AB0DC85B11"));
     unsigned char hash[20];
     SHA1((const unsigned char*)wsaccept.ptr, wsaccept.length, hash);
     char *websocket_accept = util_base64encode((char*)hash, 20);
     
     sbuf_t *response = sbuf_new(512);
-    sbuf_append(response, (cxstring)CX_STR("HTTP/1.1 101 Switching Protocols\r\n"));
-    sbuf_append(response, (cxstring)CX_STR("Upgrade: websocket\r\n"));
-    sbuf_append(response, (cxstring)CX_STR("Connection: Upgrade\r\n"));
-    sbuf_append(response, (cxstring)CX_STR("Sec-WebSocket-Accept: "));
+    sbuf_append(response, cx_str("HTTP/1.1 101 Switching Protocols\r\n"));
+    sbuf_append(response, cx_str("Upgrade: websocket\r\n"));
+    sbuf_append(response, cx_str("Connection: Upgrade\r\n"));
+    sbuf_append(response, cx_str("Sec-WebSocket-Accept: "));
     sbuf_puts(response, websocket_accept);
-    sbuf_append(response, (cxstring)CX_STR("\r\n\r\n"));
+    sbuf_append(response, cx_str("\r\n\r\n"));
     
     net_write(sn->csd, response->ptr, response->length);
     sbuf_free(response);
--- a/src/server/plugins/postgresql/config.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/plugins/postgresql/config.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@
     
     PgExtParser parserData;
     parserData.table_lookup = cxHashMapCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, CX_STORE_POINTERS, 8);
-    parserData.tables = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, sizeof(PgExtTable));
+    parserData.tables = cxLinkedListCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, sizeof(PgExtTable));
     
     while(node && !ret) {
         // currently, the only possible config element is <extension>
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@
     xmlNode *node = ext_node->children;
     
     const char *table = NULL;
-    CxList *properties = cxLinkedListCreate(a, NULL, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+    CxList *properties = cxLinkedListCreate(a, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
     
     while(node) {
         if(node->type == XML_ELEMENT_NODE) {
--- a/src/server/plugins/postgresql/pgtest.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/plugins/postgresql/pgtest.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@
                             if(status_str.length < 13) {
                                 return;
                             }
-                            status_str = cx_strsubsl_m(status_str, 9, 3);
+                            status_str = cx_strsubsl(status_str, 9, 3);
                             cxmutstr status_s = cx_strdup(cx_strcast(status_str));
                             status_code = atoi(status_s.ptr);
                             free(status_s.ptr);
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@
                             property->value = cx_strdup_a(a, cx_str((const char*)value->content)).ptr;
                         }
                         if(property->namespace && property->name) {
-                            cxmutstr pname = cx_strcat(2, cx_str(property->namespace), cx_str(property->name));
+                            cxmutstr pname = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 2, cx_str(property->namespace), cx_str(property->name));
                             cxMapPut(properties, cx_hash_key(pname.ptr, pname.length), property);
                             free(pname.ptr);
                         }
--- a/src/server/plugins/postgresql/webdav.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/plugins/postgresql/webdav.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@
     // create sql query
     const char *query = NULL;
     CxBuffer sql;
-    if(cxBufferInit(&sql, NULL, 2048, a, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
+    if(cxBufferInit(&sql, a, NULL, 2048, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
         return 1;
     }
     
@@ -518,10 +518,10 @@
     int nparam = 2;
     if(!rq->allprop) {
         size_t bufsize = rq->propcount < 200 ? 8 + rq->propcount * 32 : 4096;
-        if(cxBufferInit(&xmlns_buf, NULL, bufsize, a, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
+        if(cxBufferInit(&xmlns_buf, a, NULL, bufsize, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
             return 1;
         }
-        if(cxBufferInit(&pname_buf, NULL, bufsize, a, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
+        if(cxBufferInit(&pname_buf, a, NULL, bufsize, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
             cxBufferDestroy(&sql);
             cxBufferDestroy(&xmlns_buf);
             return 1;
@@ -1110,7 +1110,7 @@
     if(!sql) {
         return NULL;
     }
-    if(cxBufferInit(sql, NULL, 1024, pool_allocator(pool), CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
+    if(cxBufferInit(sql, pool_allocator(pool), NULL, 1024, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
         pool_free(pool, sql);
         return NULL;
     }
@@ -1182,7 +1182,7 @@
     if(!sql) {
         return NULL;
     }
-    if(cxBufferInit(sql, NULL, 1024, pool_allocator(pool), CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
+    if(cxBufferInit(sql, pool_allocator(pool), NULL, 1024, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
         pool_free(pool, sql);
         return NULL;
     }
--- a/src/server/safs/cgi.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/safs/cgi.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@
     parser->msg = NULL;
     parser->response_length = 0;
     parser->cgiheader = TRUE;
-    cxBufferInit(&parser->tmp, NULL, 64, pool_allocator(sn->pool), CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS);
+    cxBufferInit(&parser->tmp, pool_allocator(sn->pool), NULL, 64, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS);
     return parser;
 }
 
@@ -856,14 +856,14 @@
             for(int l=0;i<name.length;l++) {
                 name.ptr[l] = tolower(name.ptr[l]);
             }
-            name = cx_strdup_a(a, cx_strtrim((cxstring){name.ptr, name.length}));
-            value = cx_strtrim_m(value);
+            name = cx_strdup_a(a, cx_strtrim(name));
+            value = cx_strtrim(value);
             
             if(name.length == 0 || value.length == 0) {
                 return -1;
             }
             
-            if(!cx_strcasecmp(cx_strn(name.ptr, name.length), CX_STR("status"))) {
+            if(!cx_strcasecmp(name, "status")) {
                 cxmutstr codestr = value;
                 int j;
                 for(j=0;j<codestr.length;j++) {
@@ -880,7 +880,7 @@
                 util_strtoint(codestr.ptr, &s);
                 parser->status = (int)s;
                 
-                cxmutstr msg = cx_strtrim_m(cx_strsubs_m(value, j + 1));
+                cxmutstr msg = cx_strtrim(cx_strsubs(value, j + 1));
                 
                 if(msg.length > 0) {
                     parser->msg = cx_strdup_pool(parser->sn->pool, msg).ptr;
--- a/src/server/safs/nametrans.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/safs/nametrans.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@
     cxstring f = cx_str(from);
     if(cx_strprefix(u, f)) {
         cxstring suf = cx_strsubs(u, f.length);
-        cxmutstr ppath = cx_strcat(2, cx_str(path), suf);
+        cxmutstr ppath = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 2, cx_str(path), suf);
         
         request_set_path(cx_str(root), (cxstring){ppath.ptr, ppath.length}, rq->vars);
         free(ppath.ptr);
--- a/src/server/safs/objecttype.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/safs/objecttype.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
     cxstring ct;
     if(path.ptr[path.length - 1] == '/') {
         // directory
-        ct = (cxstring)CX_STR(OBJTYPE_INTERNAL_DIRECTORY);
+        ct = cx_str(OBJTYPE_INTERNAL_DIRECTORY);
     } else {
         cxstring ext;
         ext.length = 0;
--- a/src/server/safs/pathcheck.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/safs/pathcheck.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
     
     uint32_t access_mask = 0;
     cxstring *rights = NULL;
-    ssize_t n = cx_strsplit_a(pool_allocator(sn->pool), cx_str(mask_str), (cxstring){",", 1}, PATHCHECK_MAX_TOKENS, &rights);
+    ssize_t n = cx_strsplit_a(pool_allocator(sn->pool), cx_str(mask_str), ",", PATHCHECK_MAX_TOKENS, &rights);
     for(int i=0;i<n;i++) {
         cxstring right = rights[i];
         access_mask = access_mask | accstr2int(right);
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@
     }
     
     cxstring *names = NULL;
-    ssize_t ni = cx_strsplit_a(pool_allocator(sn->pool), cx_str(inames), (cxstring)CX_STR(","), PATHCHECK_MAX_TOKENS, &names);
+    ssize_t ni = cx_strsplit_a(pool_allocator(sn->pool), cx_str(inames), ",", PATHCHECK_MAX_TOKENS, &names);
     if(ni <= 0) {
         log_ereport(
                 LOG_MISCONFIG,
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@
     cxstring p = cx_strn(path, pathlen);
     if(path[pathlen-1] == '/') {
         for(int i=0;i<ni;i++) {
-            cxmutstr newpath = cx_strcat(2, p, cx_strtrim(names[i]));
+            cxmutstr newpath = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 2, p, cx_strtrim(names[i]));
             struct stat s;
             if(!vfs_stat(vfs, newpath.ptr, &s)) {
                 pblock_kvinsert(
--- a/src/server/safs/service.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/safs/service.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
     *status = PROTOCOL_OK;
     
     cxstring range = cx_strtrim(cx_str(header));
-    if(!cx_strprefix(range, (cxstring)CX_STR("bytes="))) {
+    if(!cx_strprefix(range, "bytes=")) {
         // unknown range unit - ignore range header
         return NULL;
     }
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@
         return REQ_ABORTED;
     }
     if(uri.ptr[uri.length-1] != '/') {
-        cxmutstr newuri = cx_strcat_a(a, 2, uri, CX_STR("/"));
+        cxmutstr newuri = cx_strcat_a(a, CX_NULLSTR, 2, uri, cx_str("/"));
         uri = cx_strcast(newuri);
     }
     
@@ -874,7 +874,8 @@
         return REQ_ABORTED;
     }
     
-    CxList *files = cxLinkedListCreate(a, (cx_compare_func)cmp_file_type_name, sizeof(IndexEntry));
+    CxList *files = cxLinkedListCreate(a, sizeof(IndexEntry));
+    cxSetCompareFunc(files, (cx_compare_func)cmp_file_type_name);
     if(!files) {
         vfs_closedir(dir);
         return REQ_ABORTED;
--- a/src/server/test/io.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/test/io.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@
     CX_TEST_DO {
     
         // create test data
-        CxBuffer *testdata = cxBufferCreate(NULL, 1024*1024*4, cxDefaultAllocator, 0);
+        CxBuffer *testdata = cxBufferCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, 1024*1024*4, 0);
         for(size_t i=0;i<testdata->capacity;i++) {
             cxBufferPut(testdata, 35+(i%91));
         }
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@
         //       limit TestIOStream to 1 to 3 byte writes
 
         // create test data
-        CxBuffer *testdata = cxBufferCreate(NULL, 1024*16, cxDefaultAllocator, 0);
+        CxBuffer *testdata = cxBufferCreate(cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, 1024*16, 0);
         for(size_t i=0;i<testdata->capacity;i++) {
             cxBufferPut(testdata, 35+(i%91));
         }
--- a/src/server/test/object.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/test/object.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_value) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("123");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_neg_value) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("-123");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_value_str) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("\"hello world\"");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_value_bool) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("true");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_value_var) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("$test");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_not_value) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("not");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     token = cx_str("true");
@@ -176,13 +176,13 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_sign_value) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens1 = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens1 = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("+");
     cxListAdd(tokens1, &token);
     token = cx_str("123");
     cxListAdd(tokens1, &token);
     
-    CxList *tokens2 = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens2 = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     token = cx_str("-");
     cxListAdd(tokens2, &token);
     token = cx_str("123");
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_compare2values) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("2");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     token = cx_str("==");
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_compare2value_expr) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("2");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     token = cx_str("==");
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_compare2expr_value) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("1");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     token = cx_str("+");
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
     // expression: 2 * (1 + 2) == 6
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("2");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     token = cx_str("*");
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_op_defined_simple) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("defined");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_op_defined) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("true");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_op_file_exists_simple) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("-e");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_func_arg0) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("test");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     token = cx_str("(");
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_func_arg1) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("test");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     token = cx_str("(");
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_func_arg3) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("test");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     token = cx_str("(");
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_func_expr1) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("test");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     token = cx_str("(");
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@
 CX_TEST(test_expr_parse_expr_func_expr2) {
     pool_handle_t *pool = pool_create();
     
-    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(cxstring));
+    CxList *tokens = cxLinkedListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(cxstring));
     cxstring token = cx_str("test");
     cxListAdd(tokens, &token);
     token = cx_str("(");
--- a/src/server/test/rewrite.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/test/rewrite.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
     
     ServerConfiguration cfg = { NULL };
     cfg.a = a;
-    cfg.destr = cxLinkedListCreate(a, NULL, sizeof(ScfgDestr));
+    cfg.destr = cxLinkedListCreate(a, sizeof(ScfgDestr));
     
     CX_TEST_DO {
         RewriteRule *rule = rewrite_rule_create(&cfg, cx_mutstr(NULL), cx_mutstr("/rewrite"));
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
     
     ServerConfiguration cfg = { NULL };
     cfg.a = a;
-    cfg.destr = cxLinkedListCreate(a, NULL, sizeof(ScfgDestr));
+    cfg.destr = cxLinkedListCreate(a, sizeof(ScfgDestr));
     
     RewriteRule rule;
     memset(&rule, 0, sizeof(RewriteRule));
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
     
     ServerConfiguration cfg = { NULL };
     cfg.a = a;
-    cfg.destr = cxLinkedListCreate(a, NULL, sizeof(ScfgDestr));
+    cfg.destr = cxLinkedListCreate(a, sizeof(ScfgDestr));
     
     RewriteRule *rule0 = rewrite_rule_create(&cfg, cx_mutstr("test.*"), cx_mutstr("/rewrite"));
     RewriteRule *rule1 = rewrite_rule_create(&cfg, cx_mutstr("/abc/(.*)\\.html"), cx_mutstr("/newpath/$1.md"));
--- a/src/server/test/strreplace.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/test/strreplace.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@
 }
 
 static cxmutstr get_var(const CxAllocator *a, StringTemplateSegment *seg, void *userdata, WSBool *free_str) {
-    cxmutstr var_value = cx_strcat_a(a, 3, cx_str("var("), seg->str, cx_str(")"));
+    cxmutstr var_value = cx_strcat_a(a, CX_NULLSTR, 3, cx_str("var("), seg->str, cx_str(")"));
     *free_str = TRUE;
     return var_value;
 }
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@
     const CxAllocator *a = mp->allocator;
     
     CxBuffer buf;
-    cxBufferInit(&buf, NULL, 1024, a, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS);
+    cxBufferInit(&buf, a, NULL, 1024, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS);
     StringTemplate *tpl = NULL;
     CX_TEST_DO {
         tpl = string_template_compile(a, cx_str("hello world"));
--- a/src/server/test/testutils.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/test/testutils.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@
     }
     stream->buf = malloc(sizeof(CxBuffer));
     stream->max_write = INT_MAX;
-    cxBufferInit(stream->buf, NULL, size, cxDefaultAllocator, flags);
+    cxBufferInit(stream->buf, cxDefaultAllocator, NULL, size, flags);
     
     stream->io.st.write = test_io_write;
     stream->io.st.writev = test_io_writev;
--- a/src/server/test/vfs.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/test/vfs.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
     TestVFS *vfs = dir->ctx->vfs->instance;
     TestVFSDir *vfsdir = (TestVFSDir*)dir;
     
-    cxmutstr prefix = cx_strcat(2, vfsdir->file->path, cx_str("/"));
+    cxmutstr prefix = cx_strcat(CX_NULLSTR, 2, vfsdir->file->path, cx_str("/"));
     
     // not the most efficient file system implementation ever, but it is only
     // for testing
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@
     cx_foreach(TestVFSFile *, entry, vfsdir->i) {
         if(file) break;
         cxmutstr file_path = cx_strcat(
+                CX_NULLSTR, 
                 2,
                 prefix,
                 cx_str(test_resource_name(entry->path.ptr)));
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@
             file->path = cx_strdup_a(pool_allocator(ctx->sn->pool), s_path);
             file->file.io = &test_file_io;
             
-            cxBufferInit(&file->content, pool_malloc(ctx->sn->pool, 2048), 2048, pool_allocator(ctx->sn->pool), 0);
+            cxBufferInit(&file->content, pool_allocator(ctx->sn->pool), pool_malloc(ctx->sn->pool, 2048), 2048, 0);
             
             cxMapPut(vfs->files, cx_hash_key((void*)s_path.ptr, s_path.length), file);
         } else {
--- a/src/server/util/object.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/util/object.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -518,8 +518,8 @@
 }
 
 NSAPIExpression* expr_parse_logical_expr(pool_handle_t *pool, CxList *tokens, size_t *pos) {  
-    CxList *op_stack = cxArrayListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(ExprOpStackItem), 32);
-    CxList *ex_stack = cxArrayListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), NULL, sizeof(NSAPIExpression*), 32);
+    CxList *op_stack = cxArrayListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(ExprOpStackItem), 32);
+    CxList *ex_stack = cxArrayListCreate(pool_allocator(pool), sizeof(NSAPIExpression*), 32);
     
     ExprParser parser;
     parser.pool = pool;
--- a/src/server/util/strreplace.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/util/strreplace.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
     int error = FALSE;
     
     CxBuffer buf; // tmp buffer
-    if(cxBufferInit(&buf, NULL, 128, NULL, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
+    if(cxBufferInit(&buf, NULL, NULL, 128, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
         return NULL;
     }
     
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@
 
 cxmutstr string_template_build_string(StringTemplate *tpl, const CxAllocator *a, strtpl_var_func varfunc, void *userdata) {
     CxBuffer buf;
-    cxBufferInit(&buf, NULL, 1024, a, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS);
+    cxBufferInit(&buf, a, NULL, 1024, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS);
     
     ssize_t w = string_template_write_to(tpl, a, varfunc, userdata, &buf, (cx_write_func)cxBufferWrite);
     if(w < 0 || cxBufferTerminate(&buf)) {
--- a/src/server/util/util.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/util/util.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -592,9 +592,9 @@
     
     CxAllocator *a = pool_allocator(pool); 
     if(parent.ptr[parent.length-1] == '/') {
-        newstr = cx_strcat_a(a, 2, parent, child);
+        newstr = cx_strcat_a(a, CX_NULLSTR, 2, parent, child);
     } else {
-        newstr = cx_strcat_a(a, 3, parent, cx_str("/"), child);
+        newstr = cx_strcat_a(a, CX_NULLSTR, 3, parent, cx_str("/"), child);
     }
     
     return newstr;
--- a/src/server/webdav/multistatus.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/webdav/multistatus.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@
         const xmlChar *href,
         const char *property_name)
 {
-    cxmutstr key_data = cx_strcat_a(a, 3, cx_str((const char*)href), (cxstring){ "\0", 1 }, cx_str(property_name));
+    cxmutstr key_data = cx_strcat_a(a, CX_NULLSTR, 3, cx_str((const char*)href), (cxstring){ "\0", 1 }, cx_str(property_name));
     return cx_hash_key_bytes((unsigned char*)key_data.ptr, key_data.length);
 }
 
--- a/src/server/webdav/webdav.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/webdav/webdav.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@
     }
     
     CxAllocator *a = pool_allocator(sn->pool);
-    if(cxBufferInit(buf, NULL, sn->inbuf->maxsize, a, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
+    if(cxBufferInit(buf, a, NULL, sn->inbuf->maxsize, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
         protocol_status(sn, rq, 500, NULL);
         return 1;
     }
--- a/src/server/webdav/xattrbackend.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/webdav/xattrbackend.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@
 }
 
 static int webdav_xattr_parse_elm(cxstring line, cxstring *name, cxstring *prefix, cxstring *xmlns, cxstring *lang) {
-    cxstring s_xmlns = CX_STR("xmlns:");
+    cxstring s_xmlns = cx_str("xmlns:");
     
     // check if line starts with 'xmlns:'
     if(!cx_strprefix(line, s_xmlns)) {
@@ -526,9 +526,9 @@
     }
     cxstring dat = cx_strn(data, len);
     
-    cxstring s_elm  = CX_STR("prop ");
-    cxstring s_ns   = CX_STR("ns ");
-    cxstring s_data = CX_STR("data ");
+    cxstring s_elm  = cx_str("prop ");
+    cxstring s_ns   = cx_str("ns ");
+    cxstring s_data = cx_str("data ");
     
     WebdavProperty *prop = NULL;
     WebdavNSList *ns_begin = NULL;
@@ -709,7 +709,7 @@
     pool_handle_t *pool = a->data;
     
     CxBuffer buf;
-    if(cxBufferInit(&buf, NULL, 8192, a, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND)) {
+    if(cxBufferInit(&buf, a, NULL, 8192, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND)) {
         return (cxmutstr){NULL,0};
     }
     
--- a/src/server/webdav/xml.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/server/webdav/xml.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
  * format: prefix '\0' href
  */
 static CxHashKey xml_namespace_key(CxAllocator *a, WSNamespace *ns) {
-    cxmutstr key_data = cx_strcat_a(a, 3,
+    cxmutstr key_data = cx_strcat_a(a, CX_NULLSTR, 3,
             ns->prefix ? cx_str((char*)ns->prefix) : cx_strn("\0", 1),
             cx_strn("\0", 1),
             cx_str((char*)ns->href));
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@
         WSXmlNode *node)
 {
     CxBuffer buf;
-    if(cxBufferInit(&buf, NULL, 1024, pool_allocator(pool), CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
+    if(cxBufferInit(&buf, pool_allocator(pool), NULL, 1024, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND|CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS)) {
         return NULL;
     }
     
@@ -519,18 +519,18 @@
     for(i=0;text[i]!='\0';i++) {
         char c = text[i];
         if(c == '&') {
-            entityref = (cxstring)CX_STR("&amp;");
+            entityref = cx_str("&amp;");
         } else if(type == 0) {
             if(c == '<') {
-                entityref = (cxstring)CX_STR("&lt;");
+                entityref = cx_str("&lt;");
             } else if(c == '>') {
-                entityref = (cxstring)CX_STR("&gt;");
+                entityref = cx_str("&gt;");
             }
         } else {
             if(c == '\"') {
-                entityref = (cxstring)CX_STR("&quot;");
+                entityref = cx_str("&quot;");
             } else if(c == '\'') {
-                entityref = (cxstring)CX_STR("&apos;");
+                entityref = cx_str("&apos;");
             }
         }
         
--- a/src/ucx/allocator.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/allocator.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -31,15 +31,44 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#ifdef _WIN32
+#include <Windows.h>
+#include <sysinfoapi.h>
+unsigned long cx_system_page_size(void) {
+    static unsigned long ps = 0;
+    if (ps == 0) {
+        SYSTEM_INFO sysinfo;
+        GetSystemInfo(&sysinfo);
+        ps = (unsigned long) sysinfo.dwPageSize;
+    }
+    return ps;
+}
+#else
+#include <unistd.h>
+unsigned long cx_system_page_size(void) {
+    static unsigned long ps = 0;
+    if (ps == 0) {
+        long sc = sysconf(_SC_PAGESIZE);
+        if (sc < 0) {
+            // fallback for systems which do not report a value here
+            ps = 4096; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        } else {
+            ps = (unsigned long) sc;
+        }
+    }
+    return ps;
+}
+#endif
+
 static void *cx_malloc_stdlib(
-        cx_attr_unused void *d,
+        CX_UNUSED void *d,
         size_t n
 ) {
     return malloc(n);
 }
 
 static void *cx_realloc_stdlib(
-        cx_attr_unused void *d,
+        CX_UNUSED void *d,
         void *mem,
         size_t n
 ) {
@@ -47,7 +76,7 @@
 }
 
 static void *cx_calloc_stdlib(
-        cx_attr_unused void *d,
+        CX_UNUSED void *d,
         size_t nmemb,
         size_t size
 ) {
@@ -55,7 +84,7 @@
 }
 
 static void cx_free_stdlib(
-        cx_attr_unused void *d,
+        CX_UNUSED void *d,
         void *mem
 ) {
     free(mem);
@@ -79,6 +108,11 @@
         void **mem,
         size_t n
 ) {
+    if (n == 0) {
+        free(*mem);
+        *mem = NULL;
+        return 0;
+    }
     void *nmem = realloc(*mem, n);
     if (nmem == NULL) {
         return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
@@ -93,6 +127,11 @@
         size_t nmemb,
         size_t size
 ) {
+    if (nmemb == 0 || size == 0) {
+        free(*mem);
+        *mem = NULL;
+        return 0;
+    }
     size_t n;
     if (cx_szmul(nmemb, size, &n)) {
         errno = EOVERFLOW;
@@ -156,6 +195,11 @@
         void **mem,
         size_t n
 ) {
+    if (n == 0) {
+        cxFree(allocator, *mem);
+        *mem = NULL;
+        return 0;
+    }
     void *nmem = allocator->cl->realloc(allocator->data, *mem, n);
     if (nmem == NULL) {
         return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
@@ -171,6 +215,11 @@
         size_t nmemb,
         size_t size
 ) {
+    if (nmemb == 0 || size == 0) {
+        cxFree(allocator, *mem);
+        *mem = NULL;
+        return 0;
+    }
     void *nmem = cxReallocArray(allocator, *mem, nmemb, size);
     if (nmem == NULL) {
         return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
@@ -194,3 +243,7 @@
 ) {
     allocator->cl->free(allocator->data, mem);
 }
+
+void cxFreeDefault(void *mem) {
+    cxDefaultAllocator->cl->free(cxDefaultAllocator->data, mem);
+}
--- a/src/ucx/array_list.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/array_list.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -26,82 +26,16 @@
  * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
  */
 
+#ifdef WITH_MEMRCHR
+#define _GNU_SOURCE
+#endif
+
 #include "cx/array_list.h"
 #include "cx/compare.h"
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 
-// Default array reallocator
-
-static void *cx_array_default_realloc(
-        void *array,
-        cx_attr_unused size_t old_capacity,
-        size_t new_capacity,
-        size_t elem_size,
-        cx_attr_unused CxArrayReallocator *alloc
-) {
-    size_t n;
-    // LCOV_EXCL_START
-    if (cx_szmul(new_capacity, elem_size, &n)) {
-        errno = EOVERFLOW;
-        return NULL;
-    } // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
-    return cxReallocDefault(array, n);
-}
-
-CxArrayReallocator cx_array_default_reallocator_impl = {
-        cx_array_default_realloc, NULL, NULL
-};
-
-CxArrayReallocator *cx_array_default_reallocator = &cx_array_default_reallocator_impl;
-
-// Stack-aware array reallocator
-
-static void *cx_array_advanced_realloc(
-        void *array,
-        size_t old_capacity,
-        size_t new_capacity,
-        size_t elem_size,
-        cx_attr_unused CxArrayReallocator *alloc
-) {
-    // check for overflow
-    size_t n;
-    // LCOV_EXCL_START
-    if (cx_szmul(new_capacity, elem_size, &n)) {
-        errno = EOVERFLOW;
-        return NULL;
-    } // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
-
-    // retrieve the pointer to the actual allocator
-    const CxAllocator *al = alloc->allocator;
-
-    // check if the array is still located on the stack
-    void *newmem;
-    if (array == alloc->stack_ptr) {
-        newmem = cxMalloc(al, n);
-        if (newmem != NULL && array != NULL) {
-            memcpy(newmem, array, old_capacity*elem_size);
-        }
-    } else {
-        newmem = cxRealloc(al, array, n);
-    }
-    return newmem;
-}
-
-struct cx_array_reallocator_s cx_array_reallocator(
-        const struct cx_allocator_s *allocator,
-        const void *stack_ptr
-) {
-    if (allocator == NULL) {
-        allocator = cxDefaultAllocator;
-    }
-    return (struct cx_array_reallocator_s) {
-            cx_array_advanced_realloc,
-            allocator, stack_ptr,
-    };
-}
-
 // LOW LEVEL ARRAY LIST FUNCTIONS
 
 /**
@@ -128,295 +62,146 @@
     return cap - (cap % alignment) + alignment;
 }
 
-int cx_array_reserve(
-        void **array,
-        void *size,
-        void *capacity,
-        unsigned width,
-        size_t elem_size,
-        size_t elem_count,
-        CxArrayReallocator *reallocator
-) {
-    // assert pointers
-    assert(array != NULL);
-    assert(size != NULL);
-    assert(capacity != NULL);
+int cx_array_init_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array, size_t elem_size, size_t capacity) {
+    memset(array, 0, sizeof(CxArray));
+    return cx_array_reserve_(allocator, array, elem_size, capacity);
+}
+
+void cx_array_init_fixed_(CxArray *array, const void *data, size_t capacity, size_t size) {
+    array->data = (void*) data;
+    array->capacity = capacity;
+    array->size = size;
+}
+
+int cx_array_reserve_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array, size_t elem_size, size_t capacity) {
+    if (cxReallocateArray(allocator, &array->data, capacity, elem_size)) {
+        return -1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+    }
+    array->capacity = capacity;
+    if (array->size > capacity) {
+        array->size = capacity;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
 
-    // default reallocator
-    if (reallocator == NULL) {
-        reallocator = cx_array_default_reallocator;
+int cx_array_copy_to_new_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array, size_t elem_size, size_t capacity) {
+    CxArray heap_array;
+    if (cx_array_init_(allocator, &heap_array, elem_size, capacity)) {
+        return -1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+    }
+    heap_array.size = array->size;
+    memcpy(heap_array.data, array->data, elem_size * array->size);
+    *array = heap_array;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int cx_array_insert_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array,
+        size_t elem_size, size_t index, const void *other, size_t n) {
+    // out of bounds and special case check
+    if (index > array->size) return -1;
+    if (n == 0) return 0;
+
+    // calculate required capacity
+    size_t req_capacity = array->size + n;
+    if (req_capacity <= array->size) {
+        errno = EOVERFLOW;
+        return -1;
     }
 
-    // determine size and capacity
-    size_t oldcap;
-    size_t oldsize;
-    size_t max_size;
-    if (width == 0 || width == sizeof(size_t)) {
-        oldcap = *(size_t*) capacity;
-        oldsize = *(size_t*) size;
-        max_size = SIZE_MAX;
-    } else if (width == sizeof(uint16_t)) {
-        oldcap = *(uint16_t*) capacity;
-        oldsize = *(uint16_t*) size;
-        max_size = UINT16_MAX;
-    } else if (width == sizeof(uint8_t)) {
-        oldcap = *(uint8_t*) capacity;
-        oldsize = *(uint8_t*) size;
-        max_size = UINT8_MAX;
-    }
-#if CX_WORDSIZE == 64
-    else if (width == sizeof(uint32_t)) {
-        oldcap = *(uint32_t*) capacity;
-        oldsize = *(uint32_t*) size;
-        max_size = UINT32_MAX;
-    }
-#endif
-    else {
-        errno = EINVAL;
-        return 1;
+    // guarantee enough capacity
+    if (array->capacity < req_capacity) {
+        const size_t new_capacity = cx_array_grow_capacity(array->capacity,req_capacity);
+        if (cxReallocateArray(allocator, &array->data, new_capacity, elem_size)) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+        array->capacity = new_capacity;
     }
 
-    // assert that the array is allocated when it has capacity
-    assert(*array != NULL || oldcap == 0);
+    // determine insert position
+    char *dst = array->data;
+    dst += index * elem_size;
 
-    // check for overflow
-    if (elem_count > max_size - oldsize) {
-        errno = EOVERFLOW;
-        return 1;
+    // do we need to move some elements?
+    size_t elems_to_move = array->size - index;
+    if (elems_to_move > 0) {
+        char *target = dst + n * elem_size;
+        memmove(target, dst, elems_to_move * elem_size);
     }
 
-    // determine new capacity
-    size_t newcap = oldsize + elem_count;
-
-    // reallocate if possible
-    if (newcap > oldcap) {
-        void *newmem = reallocator->realloc(
-                *array, oldcap, newcap, elem_size, reallocator
-        );
-        if (newmem == NULL) {
-            return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-        }
-
-        // store new pointer
-        *array = newmem;
-
-        // store new capacity
-        if (width == 0 || width == sizeof(size_t)) {
-            *(size_t*) capacity = newcap;
-        } else if (width == sizeof(uint16_t)) {
-            *(uint16_t*) capacity = (uint16_t) newcap;
-        } else if (width == sizeof(uint8_t)) {
-            *(uint8_t*) capacity = (uint8_t) newcap;
-        }
-#if CX_WORDSIZE == 64
-        else if (width == sizeof(uint32_t)) {
-            *(uint32_t*) capacity = (uint32_t) newcap;
-        }
-#endif
+    // place the new elements, if any
+    // otherwise, this function just reserved the memory (a.k.a emplace)
+    if (other != NULL) {
+        memcpy(dst, other, n * elem_size);
     }
+    array->size += n;
 
     return 0;
 }
 
-int cx_array_copy(
-        void **target,
-        void *size,
-        void *capacity,
-        unsigned width,
-        size_t index,
-        const void *src,
+int cx_array_insert_sorted_c_(
+        const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        CxArray *array,
         size_t elem_size,
-        size_t elem_count,
-        CxArrayReallocator *reallocator
-) {
-    // assert pointers
-    assert(target != NULL);
-    assert(size != NULL);
-    assert(capacity != NULL);
-    assert(src != NULL);
-
-    // default reallocator
-    if (reallocator == NULL) {
-        reallocator = cx_array_default_reallocator;
-    }
-
-    // determine size and capacity
-    size_t oldcap;
-    size_t oldsize;
-    size_t max_size;
-    if (width == 0 || width == sizeof(size_t)) {
-        oldcap = *(size_t*) capacity;
-        oldsize = *(size_t*) size;
-        max_size = SIZE_MAX;
-    } else if (width == sizeof(uint16_t)) {
-        oldcap = *(uint16_t*) capacity;
-        oldsize = *(uint16_t*) size;
-        max_size = UINT16_MAX;
-    } else if (width == sizeof(uint8_t)) {
-        oldcap = *(uint8_t*) capacity;
-        oldsize = *(uint8_t*) size;
-        max_size = UINT8_MAX;
-    }
-#if CX_WORDSIZE == 64
-    else if (width == sizeof(uint32_t)) {
-        oldcap = *(uint32_t*) capacity;
-        oldsize = *(uint32_t*) size;
-        max_size = UINT32_MAX;
-    }
-#endif
-    else {
-        errno = EINVAL;
-        return 1;
-    }
-
-    // assert that the array is allocated when it has capacity
-    assert(*target != NULL || oldcap == 0);
-
-    // check for overflow
-    if (index > max_size || elem_count > max_size - index) {
-        errno = EOVERFLOW;
-        return 1;
-    }
-
-    // check if resize is required
-    const size_t minsize = index + elem_count;
-    const size_t newsize = oldsize < minsize ? minsize : oldsize;
-
-    // reallocate if necessary
-    const size_t newcap = cx_array_grow_capacity(oldcap, newsize);
-    if (newcap > oldcap) {
-        // check if we need to repair the src pointer
-        uintptr_t targetaddr = (uintptr_t) *target;
-        uintptr_t srcaddr = (uintptr_t) src;
-        bool repairsrc = targetaddr <= srcaddr
-                         && srcaddr < targetaddr + oldcap * elem_size;
-
-        // perform reallocation
-        void *newmem = reallocator->realloc(
-                *target, oldcap, newcap, elem_size, reallocator
-        );
-        if (newmem == NULL) {
-            return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-        }
-
-        // repair src pointer, if necessary
-        if (repairsrc) {
-            src = ((char *) newmem) + (srcaddr - targetaddr);
-        }
-
-        // store new pointer
-        *target = newmem;
-    }
-
-    // determine target pointer
-    char *start = *target;
-    start += index * elem_size;
-
-    // copy elements and set new size
-    // note: no overflow check here, b/c we cannot get here w/o allocation
-    memmove(start, src, elem_count * elem_size);
-
-    // if any of size or capacity changed, store them back
-    if (newsize != oldsize || newcap != oldcap) {
-        if (width == 0 || width == sizeof(size_t)) {
-            *(size_t*) capacity = newcap;
-            *(size_t*) size = newsize;
-        } else if (width == sizeof(uint16_t)) {
-            *(uint16_t*) capacity = (uint16_t) newcap;
-            *(uint16_t*) size = (uint16_t) newsize;
-        } else if (width == sizeof(uint8_t)) {
-            *(uint8_t*) capacity = (uint8_t) newcap;
-            *(uint8_t*) size = (uint8_t) newsize;
-        }
-#if CX_WORDSIZE == 64
-        else if (width == sizeof(uint32_t)) {
-            *(uint32_t*) capacity = (uint32_t) newcap;
-            *(uint32_t*) size = (uint32_t) newsize;
-        }
-#endif
-    }
-
-    // return successfully
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static int cx_array_insert_sorted_impl(
-        void **target,
-        size_t *size,
-        size_t *capacity,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func,
         const void *sorted_data,
-        size_t elem_size,
-        size_t elem_count,
-        CxArrayReallocator *reallocator,
+        size_t n,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context,
         bool allow_duplicates
 ) {
     // assert pointers
-    assert(target != NULL);
-    assert(size != NULL);
-    assert(capacity != NULL);
+    assert(allocator != NULL);
+    assert(array != NULL);
     assert(cmp_func != NULL);
     assert(sorted_data != NULL);
 
-    // default reallocator
-    if (reallocator == NULL) {
-        reallocator = cx_array_default_reallocator;
-    }
-
     // corner case
-    if (elem_count == 0) return 0;
+    if (n == 0) return 0;
 
     // overflow check
     // LCOV_EXCL_START
-    if (elem_count > SIZE_MAX - *size) {
+    if (n > SIZE_MAX - array->size) {
         errno = EOVERFLOW;
         return 1;
     }
     // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
 
     // store some counts
-    const size_t old_size = *size;
-    const size_t old_capacity = *capacity;
+    const size_t old_size = array->size;
+    const size_t old_capacity = array->capacity;
     // the necessary capacity is the worst case assumption, including duplicates
-    const size_t needed_capacity = cx_array_grow_capacity(old_capacity, old_size + elem_count);
+    const size_t needed_capacity = cx_array_grow_capacity(old_capacity, old_size + n);
 
     // if we need more than we have, try a reallocation
     if (needed_capacity > old_capacity) {
-        void *new_mem = reallocator->realloc(
-                *target, old_capacity, needed_capacity, elem_size, reallocator
-        );
-        if (new_mem == NULL) {
-            // give it up right away, there is no contract
-            // that requires us to insert as much as we can
-            return 1;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        if (cxReallocateArray(allocator, &array->data, needed_capacity, elem_size)) {
+            return -1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
         }
-        *target = new_mem;
-        *capacity = needed_capacity;
+        array->capacity = needed_capacity;
     }
 
     // now we have guaranteed that we can insert everything
-    size_t new_size = old_size + elem_count;
-    *size = new_size;
+    size_t new_size = old_size + n;
+    array->size = new_size;
 
     // declare the source and destination indices/pointers
     size_t si = 0, di = 0;
     const char *src = sorted_data;
-    char *dest = *target;
+    char *dest = array->data;
 
     // find the first insertion point
-    di = cx_array_binary_search_sup(dest, old_size, elem_size, src, cmp_func);
+    di = cx_array_binary_search_sup_c(dest, old_size, elem_size, src, cmp_func, context);
     dest += di * elem_size;
 
     // move the remaining elements in the array completely to the right
     // we will call it the "buffer" for parked elements
     size_t buf_size = old_size - di;
     size_t bi = new_size - buf_size;
-    char *bptr = ((char *) *target) + bi * elem_size;
+    char *bptr = ((char *) array->data) + bi * elem_size;
     memmove(bptr, dest, buf_size * elem_size);
 
     // while there are both source and buffered elements left,
     // copy them interleaving
-    while (si < elem_count && bi < new_size) {
+    while (si < n && bi < new_size) {
         // determine how many source elements can be inserted.
         // the first element that shall not be inserted is the smallest element
         // that is strictly larger than the first buffered element
@@ -430,8 +215,8 @@
         // Therefore, the buffer can never contain an element that is smaller
         // than any element in the source and the infimum exists.
         size_t copy_len, bytes_copied;
-        copy_len = cx_array_binary_search_inf(
-            src, elem_count - si, elem_size, bptr, cmp_func
+        copy_len = cx_array_binary_search_inf_c(
+            src, n - si, elem_size, bptr, cmp_func, context
         );
         copy_len++;
 
@@ -450,17 +235,17 @@
                 // for being a duplicate of the bptr
                 const char *end_of_src = src + (copy_len - 1) * elem_size;
                 size_t skip_len = 0;
-                while (copy_len > 0 && cmp_func(bptr, end_of_src) == 0) {
+                while (copy_len > 0 && cmp_func(bptr, end_of_src, context) == 0) {
                     end_of_src -= elem_size;
                     skip_len++;
                     copy_len--;
                 }
-                char *last = dest == *target ? NULL : dest - elem_size;
+                char *last = dest == array->data ? NULL : dest - elem_size;
                 // then iterate through the source chunk
                 // and skip all duplicates with the last element in the array
                 size_t more_skipped = 0;
                 for (unsigned j = 0; j < copy_len; j++) {
-                    if (last != NULL && cmp_func(last, src) == 0) {
+                    if (last != NULL && cmp_func(last, src, context) == 0) {
                         // duplicate - skip
                         src += elem_size;
                         si++;
@@ -479,20 +264,21 @@
                 si += skip_len;
                 skip_len += more_skipped;
                 // reduce the actual size by the number of skipped elements
-                *size -= skip_len;
+                array->size -= skip_len;
             }
         }
 
         // when all source elements are in place, we are done
-        if (si >= elem_count) break;
+        if (si >= n) break;
 
         // determine how many buffered elements need to be restored
-        copy_len = cx_array_binary_search_sup(
+        copy_len = cx_array_binary_search_sup_c(
                 bptr,
                 new_size - bi,
                 elem_size,
                 src,
-                cmp_func
+                cmp_func,
+                context
         );
 
         // restore the buffered elements
@@ -505,24 +291,24 @@
     }
 
     // still source elements left?
-    if (si < elem_count) {
+    if (si < n) {
         if (allow_duplicates) {
             // duplicates allowed or nothing inserted yet: simply copy everything
-            memcpy(dest, src, elem_size * (elem_count - si));
+            memcpy(dest, src, elem_size * (n - si));
         } else {
             // we must check the remaining source elements one by one
             // to skip the duplicates.
             // Note that no source element can equal the last element in the
             // destination, because that would have created an insertion point
             // and a buffer, s.t. the above loop already handled the duplicates
-            while (si < elem_count) {
+            while (si < n) {
                 // find a chain of elements that can be copied
                 size_t copy_len = 1, skip_len = 0;
                 {
                     const char *left_src = src;
-                    while (si + copy_len + skip_len < elem_count) {
+                    while (si + copy_len + skip_len < n) {
                         const char *right_src = left_src + elem_size;
-                        int d = cmp_func(left_src,  right_src);
+                        int d = cmp_func(left_src,  right_src, context);
                         if (d < 0) {
                             if (skip_len > 0) {
                                 // new larger element found;
@@ -535,7 +321,9 @@
                             left_src += elem_size;
                             skip_len++;
                         } else {
-                            break;
+                            // should be unreachable because the requirement is
+                            // that the source array is sorted
+                            break; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -545,13 +333,13 @@
                 src += bytes_copied + skip_len * elem_size;
                 si += copy_len + skip_len;
                 di += copy_len;
-                *size -= skip_len;
+                array->size -= skip_len;
             }
         }
     }
 
     // buffered elements need to be moved when we skipped duplicates
-    size_t total_skipped = new_size - *size;
+    size_t total_skipped = new_size - array->size;
     if (bi < new_size && total_skipped > 0) {
         // move the remaining buffer to the end of the array
         memmove(dest, bptr, elem_size * (new_size - bi));
@@ -560,41 +348,136 @@
     return 0;
 }
 
-int cx_array_insert_sorted(
-        void **target,
-        size_t *size,
-        size_t *capacity,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func,
+int cx_array_insert_sorted_(
+        const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        CxArray *array,
+        size_t elem_size,
         const void *sorted_data,
-        size_t elem_size,
-        size_t elem_count,
-        CxArrayReallocator *reallocator
+        size_t n,
+        cx_compare_func cmp_func,
+        bool allow_duplicates
 ) {
-    return cx_array_insert_sorted_impl(target, size, capacity,
-        cmp_func, sorted_data, elem_size, elem_count, reallocator, true);
+    cx_compare_func_wrapper wrapper = {cmp_func};
+    return cx_array_insert_sorted_c_(allocator, array, elem_size, sorted_data,
+        n, cx_cmp_wrap, &wrapper, allow_duplicates);
+}
+
+#ifndef WITH_QSORT_R
+static cx_thread_local cx_compare_func2 cx_array_fn_for_qsort;
+static cx_thread_local void *cx_array_context_for_qsort;
+static int cx_array_qsort_wrapper(const void *l, const void *r) {
+    return cx_array_fn_for_qsort(l, r, cx_array_context_for_qsort);
+}
+#endif
+
+#if defined(WITH_QSORT_R) && defined(__APPLE__)
+// macOS uses a different comparefunc signature for qsort_r
+typedef struct QsortCmpFuncWrapper {
+    cx_compare_func2 fn;
+    void *context;
+} QsortCmpFuncWrapper;
+
+static int sort_comparefunc(void *context, const void *left, const void *right){
+    QsortCmpFuncWrapper *w = context;
+    return w->fn(left, right, w->context);
+}
+#endif
+
+void cx_array_qsort_c(void *array, size_t nmemb, size_t size,
+        cx_compare_func2 fn, void *context) {
+#ifdef WITH_QSORT_R
+#ifndef __APPLE__
+    qsort_r(array, nmemb, size, fn, context);
+#else
+    QsortCmpFuncWrapper wrapper;
+    wrapper.fn = fn;
+    wrapper.context = context;
+    qsort_r(array, nmemb, size, &wrapper, sort_comparefunc);
+#endif
+#else
+    cx_array_fn_for_qsort = fn;
+    cx_array_context_for_qsort = context;
+    qsort(array, nmemb, size, cx_array_qsort_wrapper);
+#endif
+}
+
+void cx_array_sort_(CxArray *array, size_t elem_size,
+        cx_compare_func fn) {
+    qsort(array->data, array->size, elem_size, fn);
 }
 
-int cx_array_insert_unique(
-        void **target,
-        size_t *size,
-        size_t *capacity,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func,
-        const void *sorted_data,
-        size_t elem_size,
-        size_t elem_count,
-        CxArrayReallocator *reallocator
-) {
-    return cx_array_insert_sorted_impl(target, size, capacity,
-        cmp_func, sorted_data, elem_size, elem_count, reallocator, false);
+void cx_array_sort_c_(CxArray *array, size_t elem_size,
+        cx_compare_func2 fn, void *context) {
+    cx_array_qsort_c(array->data, array->size, elem_size, fn, context);
+}
+
+CxIterator cx_array_iterator_(CxArray *array, size_t elem_size) {
+    return cxIterator(array->data, elem_size, array->size);
+}
+
+CxIterator cx_array_iterator_ptr_(CxArray *array) {
+    return cxIteratorPtr(array->data, array->size);
 }
 
+void cx_array_remove_(CxArray *array, size_t elem_size, size_t index, size_t n, bool fast) {
+    if (n == 0) return;
+    if (index >= array->size) return;
+    if (index + n >= array->size) {
+        // only tail elements are removed
+        array->size = index;
+        return;
+    }
+    array->size -= n;
+    size_t remaining = array->size - index;
+    char *dest = ((char*)array->data) + index * elem_size;
+    if (fast) {
+        char *src = dest + remaining * elem_size;
+        if (n == 1 && elem_size <= CX_WORDSIZE/8) {
+            // try to optimize int-sized values
+            // (from likely to unlikely)
+            if (elem_size == sizeof(int32_t)) {
+                *(int32_t*)dest = *(int32_t*)src;
+                return;
+            }
+#if CX_WORDSIZE == 64
+            if (elem_size == sizeof(int64_t)) {
+                *(int64_t*)dest = *(int64_t*)src;
+                return;
+            }
+#endif
+            if (elem_size == sizeof(int8_t)) {
+                *(int8_t*)dest = *(int8_t*)src;
+                return;
+            }
+            if (elem_size == sizeof(int16_t)) {
+                *(int16_t*)dest = *(int16_t*)src;
+                return;
+            }
+            // note we cannot optimize the last branch, because
+            // the elem_size could be crazily misaligned
+        }
+        memcpy(dest, src, n * elem_size);
+    } else {
+        char *src = dest + n * elem_size;
+        memmove(dest, src, remaining * elem_size);
+    }
+}
+
+void cx_array_free_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array) {
+    cxFree(allocator, array->data);
+    array->data = NULL;
+    array->size = array->capacity = 0;
+}
+
+
 // implementation that finds ANY index
 static size_t cx_array_binary_search_inf_impl(
         const void *arr,
         size_t size,
         size_t elem_size,
         const void *elem,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
 ) {
     // special case: empty array
     if (size == 0) return 0;
@@ -606,7 +489,7 @@
     const char *array = arr;
 
     // check the first array element
-    result = cmp_func(elem, array);
+    result = cmp_func(elem, array, context);
     if (result < 0) {
         return size;
     } else if (result == 0) {
@@ -617,7 +500,7 @@
     if (size == 1) return 0;
 
     // check the last array element
-    result = cmp_func(elem, array + elem_size * (size - 1));
+    result = cmp_func(elem, array + elem_size * (size - 1), context);
     if (result >= 0) {
         return size - 1;
     }
@@ -626,12 +509,12 @@
     // so start the binary search
     size_t left_index = 1;
     size_t right_index = size - 1;
-    size_t pivot_index;
+    size_t pivot_index = 0;
 
     while (left_index <= right_index) {
         pivot_index = left_index + (right_index - left_index) / 2;
         const char *arr_elem = array + pivot_index * elem_size;
-        result = cmp_func(elem, arr_elem);
+        result = cmp_func(elem, arr_elem, context);
         if (result == 0) {
             // found it!
             return pivot_index;
@@ -648,6 +531,74 @@
     return result < 0 ? (pivot_index - 1) : pivot_index;
 }
 
+size_t cx_array_binary_search_inf_c(
+        const void *arr,
+        size_t size,
+        size_t elem_size,
+        const void *elem,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
+) {
+    size_t index = cx_array_binary_search_inf_impl(
+        arr, size, elem_size, elem, cmp_func, context);
+    // in case of equality, report the largest index
+    const char *e = ((const char *) arr) + (index + 1) * elem_size;
+    while (index + 1 < size && cmp_func(e, elem, context) == 0) {
+        e += elem_size;
+        index++;
+    }
+    return index;
+}
+
+size_t cx_array_binary_search_c(
+        const void *arr,
+        size_t size,
+        size_t elem_size,
+        const void *elem,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
+) {
+    size_t index = cx_array_binary_search_inf_c(
+            arr, size, elem_size, elem, cmp_func, context
+    );
+    if (index < size && cmp_func(((const char *) arr) + index * elem_size,
+        elem, context) == 0) {
+        return index;
+    } else {
+        return size;
+    }
+}
+
+size_t cx_array_binary_search_sup_c(
+        const void *arr,
+        size_t size,
+        size_t elem_size,
+        const void *elem,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
+) {
+    size_t index = cx_array_binary_search_inf_impl(
+            arr, size, elem_size, elem, cmp_func, context
+    );
+    const char *e = ((const char *) arr) + index * elem_size;
+    if (index == size) {
+        // no infimum means the first element is supremum
+        return 0;
+    } else if (cmp_func(e, elem, context) == 0) {
+        // found an equal element, search the smallest index
+        e -= elem_size; // e now contains the element at index-1
+        while (index > 0 && cmp_func(e, elem, context) == 0) {
+            e -= elem_size;
+            index--;
+        }
+        return index;
+    } else {
+        // we already have the largest index of the infimum (by design)
+        // the next element is the supremum (or there is no supremum)
+        return index + 1;
+    }
+}
+
 size_t cx_array_binary_search_inf(
         const void *arr,
         size_t size,
@@ -655,15 +606,8 @@
         const void *elem,
         cx_compare_func cmp_func
 ) {
-    size_t index = cx_array_binary_search_inf_impl(
-        arr, size, elem_size, elem, cmp_func);
-    // in case of equality, report the largest index
-    const char *e = ((const char *) arr) + (index + 1) * elem_size;
-    while (index + 1 < size && cmp_func(e, elem) == 0) {
-        e += elem_size;
-        index++;
-    }
-    return index;
+    cx_compare_func_wrapper wrapper = {cmp_func};
+    return cx_array_binary_search_inf_c(arr, size, elem_size, elem, cx_cmp_wrap, &wrapper);
 }
 
 size_t cx_array_binary_search(
@@ -673,15 +617,8 @@
         const void *elem,
         cx_compare_func cmp_func
 ) {
-    size_t index = cx_array_binary_search_inf(
-            arr, size, elem_size, elem, cmp_func
-    );
-    if (index < size &&
-            cmp_func(((const char *) arr) + index * elem_size, elem) == 0) {
-        return index;
-    } else {
-        return size;
-    }
+    cx_compare_func_wrapper wrapper = {cmp_func};
+    return cx_array_binary_search_c(arr, size, elem_size, elem, cx_cmp_wrap, &wrapper);
 }
 
 size_t cx_array_binary_search_sup(
@@ -691,26 +628,8 @@
         const void *elem,
         cx_compare_func cmp_func
 ) {
-    size_t index = cx_array_binary_search_inf_impl(
-            arr, size, elem_size, elem, cmp_func
-    );
-    const char *e = ((const char *) arr) + index * elem_size;
-    if (index == size) {
-        // no infimum means the first element is supremum
-        return 0;
-    } else if (cmp_func(e, elem) == 0) {
-        // found an equal element, search the smallest index
-        e -= elem_size; // e now contains the element at index-1
-        while (index > 0 && cmp_func(e, elem) == 0) {
-            e -= elem_size;
-            index--;
-        }
-        return index;
-    } else {
-        // we already have the largest index of the infimum (by design)
-        // the next element is the supremum (or there is no supremum)
-        return index + 1;
-    }
+    cx_compare_func_wrapper wrapper = {cmp_func};
+    return cx_array_binary_search_sup_c(arr, size, elem_size, elem, cx_cmp_wrap, &wrapper);
 }
 
 #ifndef CX_ARRAY_SWAP_SBO_SIZE
@@ -763,7 +682,6 @@
     struct cx_list_s base;
     void *data;
     size_t capacity;
-    CxArrayReallocator reallocator;
 } cx_array_list;
 
 static void cx_arl_destructor(struct cx_list_s *list) {
@@ -794,42 +712,47 @@
         const void *array,
         size_t n
 ) {
-    // out of bounds and special case check
-    if (index > list->collection.size || n == 0) return 0;
-
-    // get a correctly typed pointer to the list
     cx_array_list *arl = (cx_array_list *) list;
-
-    // guarantee enough capacity
-    if (arl->capacity < list->collection.size + n) {
-        const size_t new_capacity = cx_array_grow_capacity(arl->capacity,list->collection.size + n);
-        if (cxReallocateArray(
-                list->collection.allocator,
-                &arl->data, new_capacity,
-                list->collection.elem_size)
-        ) {
-            return 0; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-        }
-        arl->capacity = new_capacity;
+    CxArray wrap = {
+        arl->data, list->collection.size, arl->capacity
+    };
+    if (cx_array_insert_(list->collection.allocator, &wrap,
+            list->collection.elem_size, index, array, n)) {
+        return 0;
     }
+    arl->data = wrap.data;
+    arl->capacity = wrap.capacity;
+    list->collection.size = wrap.size;
+    return n;
+}
 
-    // determine insert position
-    char *arl_data = arl->data;
-    char *insert_pos = arl_data + index * list->collection.elem_size;
+static size_t cx_arl_insert_sorted_impl(
+        struct cx_list_s *list,
+        const void *sorted_data,
+        size_t n,
+        bool allow_duplicates
+) {
+    cx_array_list *arl = (cx_array_list *) list;
+    CxArray wrap = {
+        arl->data, list->collection.size, arl->capacity
+    };
 
-    // do we need to move some elements?
-    if (index < list->collection.size) {
-        size_t elems_to_move = list->collection.size - index;
-        char *target = insert_pos + n * list->collection.elem_size;
-        memmove(target, insert_pos, elems_to_move * list->collection.elem_size);
+    if (cx_array_insert_sorted_c_(
+            list->collection.allocator,
+            &wrap,
+            list->collection.elem_size,
+            sorted_data,
+            n,
+            cx_list_compare_wrapper,
+            list,
+            allow_duplicates
+    )) {
+        // array list implementation is "all or nothing"
+        return 0;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
     }
-
-    // place the new elements, if any
-    if (array != NULL) {
-        memcpy(insert_pos, array, n * list->collection.elem_size);
-    }
-    list->collection.size += n;
-
+    arl->data = wrap.data;
+    arl->capacity = wrap.capacity;
+    list->collection.size = wrap.size;
     return n;
 }
 
@@ -838,24 +761,7 @@
         const void *sorted_data,
         size_t n
 ) {
-    // get a correctly typed pointer to the list
-    cx_array_list *arl = (cx_array_list *) list;
-
-    if (cx_array_insert_sorted(
-            &arl->data,
-            &list->collection.size,
-            &arl->capacity,
-            list->collection.cmpfunc,
-            sorted_data,
-            list->collection.elem_size,
-            n,
-            &arl->reallocator
-    )) {
-        // array list implementation is "all or nothing"
-        return 0;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-    } else {
-        return n;
-    }
+    return cx_arl_insert_sorted_impl(list, sorted_data, n, true);
 }
 
 static size_t cx_arl_insert_unique(
@@ -863,24 +769,7 @@
         const void *sorted_data,
         size_t n
 ) {
-    // get a correctly typed pointer to the list
-    cx_array_list *arl = (cx_array_list *) list;
-
-    if (cx_array_insert_unique(
-            &arl->data,
-            &list->collection.size,
-            &arl->capacity,
-            list->collection.cmpfunc,
-            sorted_data,
-            list->collection.elem_size,
-            n,
-            &arl->reallocator
-    )) {
-        // array list implementation is "all or nothing"
-        return 0;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-    } else {
-        return n;
-    }
+    return cx_arl_insert_sorted_impl(list, sorted_data, n, false);
 }
 
 static void *cx_arl_insert_element(
@@ -959,24 +848,20 @@
         );
     }
 
+    // calculate how many elements would need to be moved
+    size_t remaining = list->collection.size - index - remove;
+
     // short-circuit removal of last elements
-    if (index + remove == list->collection.size) {
+    if (remaining == 0) {
         list->collection.size -= remove;
         return remove;
     }
 
     // just move the elements to the left
-    cx_array_copy(
-            &arl->data,
-            &list->collection.size,
-            &arl->capacity,
-            0,
-            index,
-            ((char *) arl->data) + (index + remove) * list->collection.elem_size,
-            list->collection.elem_size,
-            list->collection.size - index - remove,
-            &arl->reallocator
-    );
+    char *dst_move = arl->data;
+    dst_move += index * list->collection.elem_size;
+    char *first_remaining = dst_move + remove * list->collection.elem_size;
+    memmove(dst_move, first_remaining, remaining * list->collection.elem_size);
 
     // decrease the size
     list->collection.size -= remove;
@@ -1037,18 +922,18 @@
         bool remove
 ) {
     assert(list != NULL);
-    assert(list->collection.cmpfunc != NULL);
     if (list->collection.size == 0) return 0;
     char *cur = ((const cx_array_list *) list)->data;
 
     // optimize with binary search, when sorted
     if (list->collection.sorted) {
-        size_t i = cx_array_binary_search(
+        size_t i = cx_array_binary_search_c(
             cur,
             list->collection.size,
             list->collection.elem_size,
             elem,
-            list->collection.cmpfunc
+            cx_list_compare_wrapper,
+            list
         );
         if (remove && i < list->collection.size) {
             cx_arl_remove(list, i, 1, NULL);
@@ -1058,7 +943,7 @@
 
     // fallback: linear search
     for (size_t i = 0; i < list->collection.size; i++) {
-        if (0 == list->collection.cmpfunc(elem, cur)) {
+        if (0 == cx_list_compare_wrapper(elem, cur, list)) {
             if (remove) {
                 cx_arl_remove(list, i, 1, NULL);
             }
@@ -1070,11 +955,11 @@
 }
 
 static void cx_arl_sort(struct cx_list_s *list) {
-    assert(list->collection.cmpfunc != NULL);
-    qsort(((cx_array_list *) list)->data,
+    cx_array_qsort_c(((cx_array_list *) list)->data,
           list->collection.size,
           list->collection.elem_size,
-          list->collection.cmpfunc
+          cx_list_compare_wrapper,
+          list
     );
 }
 
@@ -1082,12 +967,11 @@
         const struct cx_list_s *list,
         const struct cx_list_s *other
 ) {
-    assert(list->collection.cmpfunc != NULL);
     if (list->collection.size == other->collection.size) {
         const char *left = ((const cx_array_list *) list)->data;
         const char *right = ((const cx_array_list *) other)->data;
         for (size_t i = 0; i < list->collection.size; i++) {
-            int d = list->collection.cmpfunc(left, right);
+            int d = cx_list_compare_wrapper(left, right, (void*)list);
             if (d != 0) {
                 return d;
             }
@@ -1200,7 +1084,6 @@
 
 CxList *cxArrayListCreate(
         const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cx_compare_func comparator,
         size_t elem_size,
         size_t initial_capacity
 ) {
@@ -1210,8 +1093,7 @@
 
     cx_array_list *list = cxCalloc(allocator, 1, sizeof(cx_array_list));
     if (list == NULL) return NULL;
-    cx_list_init((CxList*)list, &cx_array_list_class,
-        allocator, comparator, elem_size);
+    cx_list_init((CxList*)list, &cx_array_list_class, allocator, elem_size);
     list->capacity = initial_capacity;
 
     // allocate the array after the real elem_size is known
@@ -1222,8 +1104,5 @@
         return NULL;
     } // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
 
-    // configure the reallocator
-    list->reallocator = cx_array_reallocator(allocator, NULL);
-
     return (CxList *) list;
 }
--- a/src/ucx/buffer.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/buffer.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -32,35 +32,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 
-#ifdef _WIN32
-#include <Windows.h>
-#include <sysinfoapi.h>
-static unsigned long system_page_size(void) {
-    static unsigned long ps = 0;
-    if (ps == 0) {
-        SYSTEM_INFO sysinfo;
-        GetSystemInfo(&sysinfo);
-        ps = sysinfo.dwPageSize;
-    }
-    return ps;
-}
-#else
-#include <unistd.h>
-static unsigned long system_page_size(void) {
-    static unsigned long ps = 0;
-    if (ps == 0) {
-        long sc = sysconf(_SC_PAGESIZE);
-        if (sc < 0) {
-            // fallback for systems which do not report a value here
-            ps = 4096; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-        } else {
-            ps = (unsigned long) sc;
-        }
-    }
-    return ps;
-}
-#endif
-
 static int buffer_copy_on_write(CxBuffer* buffer) {
     if (0 == (buffer->flags & CX_BUFFER_COPY_ON_WRITE)) return 0;
     void *newspace = cxMalloc(buffer->allocator, buffer->capacity);
@@ -74,11 +45,11 @@
 
 int cxBufferInit(
         CxBuffer *buffer,
+        const CxAllocator *allocator,
         void *space,
         size_t capacity,
-        const CxAllocator *allocator,
         int flags
-) {
+        ) {
     if (allocator == NULL) {
         allocator = cxDefaultAllocator;
     }
@@ -95,44 +66,33 @@
         buffer->bytes = space;
     }
     buffer->capacity = capacity;
+    buffer->max_capacity = SIZE_MAX;
     buffer->size = 0;
     buffer->pos = 0;
 
-    buffer->flush = NULL;
-
     return 0;
 }
 
-int cxBufferEnableFlushing(
-    CxBuffer *buffer,
-    CxBufferFlushConfig config
-) {
-    buffer->flush = cxMallocDefault(sizeof(CxBufferFlushConfig));
-    if (buffer->flush == NULL) return -1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-    memcpy(buffer->flush, &config, sizeof(CxBufferFlushConfig));
-    return 0;
-}
-
 void cxBufferDestroy(CxBuffer *buffer) {
-    if (buffer->flags & CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS) {
+    if ((buffer->flags & (CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS | CX_BUFFER_DO_NOT_FREE))
+            == CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS) {
         cxFree(buffer->allocator, buffer->bytes);
     }
-    cxFreeDefault(buffer->flush);
     memset(buffer, 0, sizeof(CxBuffer));
 }
 
 CxBuffer *cxBufferCreate(
+        const CxAllocator *allocator,
         void *space,
         size_t capacity,
-        const CxAllocator *allocator,
         int flags
-) {
+        ) {
     if (allocator == NULL) {
         allocator = cxDefaultAllocator;
     }
     CxBuffer *buf = cxMalloc(allocator, sizeof(CxBuffer));
     if (buf == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-    if (0 == cxBufferInit(buf, space, capacity, allocator, flags)) {
+    if (0 == cxBufferInit(buf, allocator, space, capacity, flags)) {
         return buf;
     } else {
         // LCOV_EXCL_START
@@ -239,9 +199,12 @@
 }
 
 int cxBufferReserve(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t newcap) {
-    if (newcap <= buffer->capacity) {
+    if (newcap == buffer->capacity) {
         return 0;
     }
+    if (newcap > buffer->max_capacity) {
+        return -1;
+    }
     const int force_copy_flags = CX_BUFFER_COPY_ON_WRITE | CX_BUFFER_COPY_ON_EXTEND;
     if (buffer->flags & force_copy_flags) {
         void *newspace = cxMalloc(buffer->allocator, newcap);
@@ -254,42 +217,57 @@
         return 0;
     } else if (cxReallocate(buffer->allocator,
                      (void **) &buffer->bytes, newcap) == 0) {
+        buffer->flags |= CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS;
         buffer->capacity = newcap;
+        if (buffer->size > newcap) {
+            buffer->size = newcap;
+        }
         return 0;
     } else {
         return -1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
     }
 }
 
-static size_t cx_buffer_calculate_minimum_capacity(size_t mincap) {
-    unsigned long pagesize = system_page_size();
-    // if page size is larger than 64 KB - for some reason - truncate to 64 KB
-    if (pagesize > 65536) pagesize = 65536;
-    if (mincap < pagesize) {
-        // when smaller as one page, map to the next power of two
-        mincap--;
-        mincap |= mincap >> 1;
-        mincap |= mincap >> 2;
-        mincap |= mincap >> 4;
-        // last operation only needed for pages larger 4096 bytes
-        // but if/else would be more expensive than just doing this
-        mincap |= mincap >> 8;
-        mincap++;
-    } else {
-        // otherwise, map to a multiple of the page size
-        mincap -= mincap % pagesize;
-        mincap += pagesize;
-        // note: if newcap is already page aligned,
-        // this gives a full additional page (which is good)
+int cxBufferMaximumCapacity(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t capacity) {
+    if (capacity < buffer->capacity) {
+        return -1;
     }
-    return mincap;
+    buffer->max_capacity = capacity;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 int cxBufferMinimumCapacity(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t newcap) {
     if (newcap <= buffer->capacity) {
         return 0;
     }
-    newcap = cx_buffer_calculate_minimum_capacity(newcap);
+    if (newcap > buffer->max_capacity) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    if (newcap < buffer->max_capacity) {
+        unsigned long pagesize = cx_system_page_size();
+        // if page size is larger than 64 KB - for some reason - truncate to 64 KB
+        if (pagesize > 65536) pagesize = 65536;
+        if (newcap < pagesize) {
+            // when smaller as one page, map to the next power of two
+            newcap--;
+            newcap |= newcap >> 1;
+            newcap |= newcap >> 2;
+            newcap |= newcap >> 4;
+            // last operation only needed for pages larger 4096 bytes
+            // but if/else would be more expensive than just doing this
+            newcap |= newcap >> 8;
+            newcap++;
+        } else {
+            // otherwise, map to a multiple of the page size
+            newcap -= newcap % pagesize;
+            newcap += pagesize;
+            // note: if newcap is already page aligned,
+            // this gives a full additional page (which is good)
+        }
+        if (newcap > buffer->max_capacity) {
+            newcap = buffer->max_capacity;
+        }
+    }
     return cxBufferReserve(buffer, newcap);
 }
 
@@ -315,60 +293,15 @@
     }
 }
 
-static size_t cx_buffer_flush_helper(
-        const CxBuffer *buffer,
-        const unsigned char *src,
-        size_t size,
-        size_t nitems
-) {
-    // flush data from an arbitrary source
-    // does not need to be the buffer's contents
-    size_t max_items = buffer->flush->blksize / size;
-    size_t fblocks = 0;
-    size_t flushed_total = 0;
-    while (nitems > 0 && fblocks < buffer->flush->blkmax) {
-        fblocks++;
-        size_t items = nitems > max_items ? max_items : nitems;
-        size_t flushed = buffer->flush->wfunc(
-            src, size, items, buffer->flush->target);
-        if (flushed > 0) {
-            flushed_total += flushed;
-            src += flushed * size;
-            nitems -= flushed;
-        } else {
-            // if no bytes can be flushed out anymore, we give up
-            break;
-        }
-    }
-    return flushed_total;
-}
-
-static size_t cx_buffer_flush_impl(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t size) {
-    // flush the current contents of the buffer
-    unsigned char *space = buffer->bytes;
-    size_t remaining = buffer->pos / size;
-    size_t flushed_total = cx_buffer_flush_helper(
-        buffer, space, size, remaining);
-
-    // shift the buffer left after flushing
-    // IMPORTANT: up to this point, copy on write must have been
-    // performed already, because we can't do error handling here
-    cxBufferShiftLeft(buffer, flushed_total*size);
-
-    return flushed_total;
-}
-
-size_t cxBufferFlush(CxBuffer *buffer) {
-    if (buffer_copy_on_write(buffer)) return 0;
-    return cx_buffer_flush_impl(buffer, 1);
-}
-
 size_t cxBufferWrite(
         const void *ptr,
         size_t size,
         size_t nitems,
         CxBuffer *buffer
 ) {
+    // trivial case
+    if (size == 0 || nitems == 0) return 0;
+
     // optimize for easy case
     if (size == 1 && (buffer->capacity - buffer->pos) >= nitems) {
         if (buffer_copy_on_write(buffer)) return 0;
@@ -380,107 +313,52 @@
         return nitems;
     }
 
-    size_t len, total_flushed = 0;
-cx_buffer_write_retry:
+    size_t len;
     if (cx_szmul(size, nitems, &len)) {
         errno = EOVERFLOW;
-        return total_flushed;
+        return 0;
     }
     if (buffer->pos > SIZE_MAX - len) {
         errno = EOVERFLOW;
-        return total_flushed;
+        return 0;
     }
+    const size_t required = buffer->pos + len;
 
-    size_t required = buffer->pos + len;
-    bool perform_flush = false;
+    // check if we need to auto-extend
     if (required > buffer->capacity) {
         if (buffer->flags & CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND) {
-            if (buffer->flush != NULL) {
-                size_t newcap = cx_buffer_calculate_minimum_capacity(required);
-                if (newcap > buffer->flush->threshold) {
-                    newcap = buffer->flush->threshold;
-                }
-                if (cxBufferReserve(buffer, newcap)) {
-                    return total_flushed; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-                }
-                if (required > newcap) {
-                    perform_flush = true;
-                }
-            } else {
-                if (cxBufferMinimumCapacity(buffer, required)) {
-                    return total_flushed; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-                }
-            }
-        } else {
-            if (buffer->flush != NULL) {
-                perform_flush = true;
-            } else {
-                // truncate data, if we can neither extend nor flush
-                len = buffer->capacity - buffer->pos;
-                if (size > 1) {
-                    len -= len % size;
-                }
-                nitems = len / size;
+            size_t newcap = required < buffer->max_capacity
+                    ? required : buffer->max_capacity;
+            if (cxBufferMinimumCapacity(buffer, newcap)) {
+                return 0; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
             }
         }
     }
 
+    // check again and truncate data if capacity is still not enough
+    if (required > buffer->capacity) {
+        len = buffer->capacity - buffer->pos;
+        if (size > 1) {
+            len -= len % size;
+        }
+        nitems = len / size;
+    }
+
     // check here and not above because of possible truncation
     if (len == 0) {
-        return total_flushed;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     // check if we need to copy
     if (buffer_copy_on_write(buffer)) return 0;
 
     // perform the operation
-    if (perform_flush) {
-        size_t items_flushed;
-        if (buffer->pos == 0) {
-            // if we don't have data in the buffer, but are instructed
-            // to flush, it means that we are supposed to relay the data
-            items_flushed = cx_buffer_flush_helper(buffer, ptr, size, nitems);
-            if (items_flushed == 0) {
-                // we needed to relay data, but could not flush anything
-                // i.e. we have to give up to avoid endless trying
-                return 0;
-            }
-            nitems -= items_flushed;
-            total_flushed += items_flushed;
-            if (nitems > 0) {
-                ptr = ((unsigned char*)ptr) + items_flushed * size;
-                goto cx_buffer_write_retry;
-            }
-            return total_flushed;
-        } else {
-            items_flushed = cx_buffer_flush_impl(buffer, size);
-            if (items_flushed == 0) {
-                // flush target is full, let's try to truncate
-                size_t remaining_space;
-                if (buffer->flags & CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND) {
-                    remaining_space = buffer->flush->threshold > buffer->pos
-                                          ? buffer->flush->threshold - buffer->pos
-                                          : 0;
-                } else {
-                    remaining_space = buffer->capacity > buffer->pos
-                                          ? buffer->capacity - buffer->pos
-                                          : 0;
-                }
-                nitems = remaining_space / size;
-                if (nitems == 0) {
-                    return total_flushed;
-                }
-            }
-            goto cx_buffer_write_retry;
-        }
-    } else {
-        memcpy(buffer->bytes + buffer->pos, ptr, len);
-        buffer->pos += len;
-        if (buffer->pos > buffer->size) {
-            buffer->size = buffer->pos;
-        }
-        return total_flushed + nitems;
+    memcpy(buffer->bytes + buffer->pos, ptr, len);
+    buffer->pos += len;
+    if (buffer->pos > buffer->size) {
+        buffer->size = buffer->pos;
     }
+    return nitems;
 }
 
 size_t cxBufferAppend(
@@ -489,20 +367,13 @@
         size_t nitems,
         CxBuffer *buffer
 ) {
-    size_t pos = buffer->pos;
-    size_t append_pos = buffer->size;
-    buffer->pos = append_pos;    
-    size_t written = cxBufferWrite(ptr, size, nitems, buffer);
-    // the buffer might have been flushed
-    // we must compute a possible delta for the position
-    // expected: pos = append_pos + written
-    // -> if this is not the case, there is a delta
-    size_t delta = append_pos + written*size - buffer->pos;
-    if (delta > pos) {
-        buffer->pos = 0;
-    } else {
-        buffer->pos = pos - delta;
-    }
+    // trivial case
+    if (size == 0 || nitems == 0) return 0;
+
+    const size_t pos = buffer->pos;
+    buffer->pos = buffer->size;
+    const size_t written = cxBufferWrite(ptr, size, nitems, buffer);
+    buffer->pos = pos;
     return written;
 }
 
@@ -520,19 +391,35 @@
 }
 
 int cxBufferTerminate(CxBuffer *buffer) {
-    if (0 == cxBufferPut(buffer, 0)) {
-        buffer->size = buffer->pos - 1;
-        return 0;
+    // try to extend / shrink the buffer
+    if (buffer->pos >= buffer->capacity) {
+        if ((buffer->flags & CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND) == 0) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+        if (cxBufferReserve(buffer, buffer->pos + 1)) {
+            return -1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        }
     } else {
-        return -1;
+        buffer->size = buffer->pos;
+        cxBufferShrink(buffer, 1);
+        // set the capacity explicitly, in case shrink was skipped due to CoW
+        buffer->capacity = buffer->size + 1;
     }
+
+    // check if we are still on read-only memory
+    if (buffer_copy_on_write(buffer)) return -1;
+
+    // write the terminator and exit
+    buffer->space[buffer->pos] = '\0';
+    return 0;
 }
 
-size_t cxBufferPutString(
-        CxBuffer *buffer,
-        const char *str
-) {
-    return cxBufferWrite(str, 1, strlen(str), buffer);
+size_t cx_buffer_put_string(CxBuffer *buffer, cxstring str) {
+    return cxBufferWrite(str.ptr, 1, str.length, buffer);
+}
+
+size_t cx_buffer_append_string(CxBuffer *buffer, cxstring str) {
+    return cxBufferAppend(str.ptr, 1, str.length, buffer);
 }
 
 size_t cxBufferRead(
--- a/src/ucx/compare.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/compare.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "cx/compare.h"
 
 #include <math.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
 int cx_vcmp_int(int a, int b) {
     if (a == b) {
@@ -289,3 +290,12 @@
         return p1 < p2 ? -1 : 1;
     }
 }
+
+int cx_cmp_wrap(
+        const void *ptr1,
+        const void *ptr2,
+        void *w
+) {
+    cx_compare_func_wrapper *wrapper = w;
+    return wrapper->cmp(ptr1, ptr2);
+}
--- a/src/ucx/cx/allocator.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/allocator.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -35,10 +35,6 @@
 
 #include "common.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /**
  * The class definition for an allocator.
  */
@@ -142,17 +138,24 @@
  * @return either the specified @p target, a pointer to the allocated memory,
  * or @c NULL, if any error occurred
  */
-typedef void*(cx_clone_func)(void *target, const void *source,
+typedef void*(*cx_clone_func)(void *target, const void *source,
                              const CxAllocator *allocator, void *data);
 
 /**
- * Reallocate a previously allocated block and changes the pointer in-place,
- * if necessary.
+ * Returns the system's memory page size.
+ *
+ * If the page size cannot be retrieved from the system,
+ * a default of 4096 bytes is assumed.
  *
- * @note This will use stdlib reallocate and @em not the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ * @return the system's memory page size in bytes
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+unsigned long cx_system_page_size(void);
+
+/**
+ * Reallocate a previously allocated block.
  *
- * @par Error handling
- * @c errno will be set by realloc() on failure.
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
  * @param mem pointer to the pointer to allocated block
  * @param n the new size in bytes
@@ -160,20 +163,13 @@
  * @retval non-zero failure
  * @see cx_reallocatearray()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_reallocate_(void **mem, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_reallocate_(void **mem, size_t n);
 
 /**
- * Reallocate a previously allocated block and changes the pointer in-place,
- * if necessary.
- *
- * The size is calculated by multiplying @p nemb and @p size.
+ * Reallocate a previously allocated block.
  *
- * @note This will use stdlib reallocate and @em not the cxDefaultAllocator.
- *
- * @par Error handling
- * @c errno will be set by realloc() on failure or when the multiplication of
- * @p nmemb and @p size overflows.
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
  * @param mem pointer to the pointer to allocated block
  * @param nmemb the number of elements
@@ -182,8 +178,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero failure
  * @see cx_reallocate()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_reallocatearray_(void **mem, size_t nmemb, size_t size);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_reallocatearray_(void **mem, size_t nmemb, size_t size);
 
 /**
  * Reallocate a previously allocated block and changes the pointer in-place,
@@ -239,8 +235,8 @@
  * @param allocator the allocator
  * @param mem a pointer to the block to free
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT void cxFree(const CxAllocator *allocator, void *mem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+void cxFree(const CxAllocator *allocator, void *mem);
 
 /**
  * Allocate @p n bytes of memory.
@@ -249,9 +245,9 @@
  * @param n the number of bytes
  * @return a pointer to the allocated memory
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull
-cx_attr_malloc cx_attr_dealloc_ucx cx_attr_allocsize(2)
-CX_EXPORT void *cxMalloc(const CxAllocator *allocator, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC_UCX CX_ALLOCSIZE(2)
+void *cxMalloc(const CxAllocator *allocator, size_t n);
 
 /**
  * Reallocate the previously allocated block in @p mem, making the new block
@@ -261,18 +257,20 @@
  *
  * @note Re-allocating a block allocated by a different allocator is undefined.
  *
+ * @attention This function is bug-prone. Consider using cxReallocate().
+ *
  * @param allocator the allocator
  * @param mem pointer to the previously allocated block
  * @param n the new size in bytes
  * @return a pointer to the reallocated memory
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-cx_attr_dealloc_ucx cx_attr_allocsize(3)
-CX_EXPORT void *cxRealloc(const CxAllocator *allocator, void *mem, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+CX_DEALLOC_UCX CX_ALLOCSIZE(3)
+void *cxRealloc(const CxAllocator *allocator, void *mem, size_t n);
 
 /**
- * Reallocate the previously allocated block in @p mem, making the new block
- * @p n bytes long.
+ * Reallocate the previously allocated block in @p mem.
+ *
  * This function may return the same pointer passed to it if moving
  * the memory was not necessary.
  *
@@ -282,26 +280,23 @@
  *
  * @note Re-allocating a block allocated by a different allocator is undefined.
  *
+ * @attention This function is bug-prone. Consider using cxReallocateArray().
+ *
  * @param allocator the allocator
  * @param mem pointer to the previously allocated block
  * @param nmemb the number of elements
  * @param size the size of each element
  * @return a pointer to the reallocated memory
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-cx_attr_dealloc_ucx cx_attr_allocsize(3, 4)
-CX_EXPORT void *cxReallocArray(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+CX_DEALLOC_UCX CX_ALLOCSIZE(3, 4)
+void *cxReallocArray(const CxAllocator *allocator,
         void *mem, size_t nmemb, size_t size);
 
 /**
- * Reallocate a previously allocated block and changes the pointer in-place,
- * if necessary.
- * This function acts like cxRealloc() using the pointer pointed to by @p mem.
+ * Reallocate a previously allocated block.
  *
- * @note Re-allocating a block allocated by a different allocator is undefined.
- *
- * @par Error handling
- * @c errno will be set if the underlying realloc function does so.
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
  * @param allocator the allocator
  * @param mem pointer to the pointer to allocated block
@@ -309,8 +304,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero failure
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxReallocate_(const CxAllocator *allocator, void **mem, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+int cxReallocate_(const CxAllocator *allocator, void **mem, size_t n);
 
 /**
  * Reallocate a previously allocated block and changes the pointer in-place,
@@ -332,16 +327,9 @@
     cxReallocate_(allocator, (void**)(mem), n)
 
 /**
- * Reallocate a previously allocated block and changes the pointer in-place,
- * if necessary.
- * This function acts like cxReallocArray() using the pointer pointed to
- * by @p mem.
+ * Reallocate a previously allocated block.
  *
- * @note Re-allocating a block allocated by a different allocator is undefined.
- *
- * @par Error handling
- * @c errno will be set, if the underlying realloc function does so or the
- * multiplication of @p nmemb and @p size overflows.
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
  * @param allocator the allocator
  * @param mem pointer to the pointer to allocated block
@@ -350,8 +338,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero on failure
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxReallocateArray_(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+int cxReallocateArray_(const CxAllocator *allocator,
         void **mem, size_t nmemb, size_t size);
 
 /**
@@ -377,16 +365,16 @@
         cxReallocateArray_(allocator, (void**) (mem), nmemb, size)
 
 /**
- * Allocate @p nmemb elements of @p n bytes each, all initialized to zero.
+ * Allocate @p nmemb elements of @p size bytes each, all initialized to zero.
  *
  * @param allocator the allocator
  * @param nmemb the number of elements
  * @param size the size of each element in bytes
  * @return a pointer to the allocated memory
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1) cx_attr_nodiscard
-cx_attr_malloc cx_attr_dealloc_ucx cx_attr_allocsize(2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT void *cxCalloc(const CxAllocator *allocator, size_t nmemb, size_t size);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1) CX_NODISCARD
+CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC_UCX CX_ALLOCSIZE(2, 3)
+void *cxCalloc(const CxAllocator *allocator, size_t nmemb, size_t size);
 
 /**
  * Allocate @p n bytes of memory and sets every byte to zero.
@@ -395,45 +383,130 @@
  * @param n the number of bytes
  * @return a pointer to the allocated memory
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull
-cx_attr_malloc cx_attr_dealloc_ucx cx_attr_allocsize(2)
-CX_EXPORT void *cxZalloc(const CxAllocator *allocator, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC_UCX CX_ALLOCSIZE(2)
+void *cxZalloc(const CxAllocator *allocator, size_t n);
+
+/**
+ * Allocate @p n bytes of memory.
+ *
+ * Convenience macro that invokes cxMalloc() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ *
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of bytes
+ * @return (@c void*) a pointer to the allocated memory
+ */
+#define cxMallocDefault(n) cxMalloc(cxDefaultAllocator, n)
+
+/**
+ * Allocate @p n bytes of memory and sets every byte to zero.
+ *
+ * Convenience macro that invokes cxZalloc() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ *
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of bytes
+ * @return (@c void*) a pointer to the allocated memory
+ */
+#define cxZallocDefault(n) cxZalloc(cxDefaultAllocator, n)
+
+/**
+ * Allocate @p nmemb elements of @p size bytes each, all initialized to zero.
+ *
+ * Convenience macro that invokes cxCalloc() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ *
+ * @param nmemb (@c size_t) the number of elements
+ * @param size (@c size_t) the size of each element in bytes
+ * @return (@c void*) a pointer to the allocated memory
+ */
+#define cxCallocDefault(nmemb, size) cxCalloc(cxDefaultAllocator, nmemb, size)
+
+/**
+ * Reallocate the previously allocated block in @p mem.
+ *
+ * This function may return the same pointer passed to it if moving
+ * the memory was not necessary.
+ *
+ * Convenience macro that invokes cxRealloc() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ *
+ * @attention This function is bug-prone. Consider using cxReallocateDefault().
+ *
+ * @param mem (@c void*) pointer to the previously allocated block
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the new size in bytes
+ * @return (@c void*) a pointer to the reallocated memory
+ */
+#define cxReallocDefault(mem, n) cxRealloc(cxDefaultAllocator, mem, n)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro that invokes cxMalloc() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
- */
-#define cxMallocDefault(...) cxMalloc(cxDefaultAllocator, __VA_ARGS__)
-/**
- * Convenience macro that invokes cxZalloc() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
- */
-#define cxZallocDefault(...) cxZalloc(cxDefaultAllocator, __VA_ARGS__)
-/**
- * Convenience macro that invokes cxCalloc() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
- */
-#define cxCallocDefault(...) cxCalloc(cxDefaultAllocator, __VA_ARGS__)
-/**
- * Convenience macro that invokes cxRealloc() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
- */
-#define cxReallocDefault(...) cxRealloc(cxDefaultAllocator, __VA_ARGS__)
-/**
+ * Reallocate a previously allocated block and changes the pointer in-place,
+ * if necessary.
+ * This function acts like cxRealloc() using the pointer pointed to by @p mem.
+ *
  * Convenience macro that invokes cxReallocate() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ *
+ * @note Re-allocating a block allocated by a different allocator is undefined.
+ *
+ * @par Error handling
+ * @c errno will be set if the underlying realloc function does so.
+ *
+ * @param mem (@c void**) pointer to the pointer to allocated block
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the new size in bytes
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero failure
  */
-#define cxReallocateDefault(...) cxReallocate(cxDefaultAllocator, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define cxReallocateDefault(mem, n) cxReallocate(cxDefaultAllocator, mem, n)
+
 /**
+ * Reallocate a previously allocated block and changes the pointer in-place,
+ * if necessary.
+ * This function acts like cxReallocArray() using the pointer pointed to
+ * by @p mem.
+ *
  * Convenience macro that invokes cxReallocateArray() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
- */
-#define cxReallocateArrayDefault(...) cxReallocateArray(cxDefaultAllocator, __VA_ARGS__)
-/**
- * Convenience macro that invokes cxReallocArray() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ *
+ * @note Re-allocating a block allocated by a different allocator is undefined.
+ *
+ * @par Error handling
+ * @c errno will be set, if the underlying realloc function does so or the
+ * multiplication of @p nmemb and @p size overflows.
+ *
+ * @param mem (@c void**) pointer to the pointer to allocated block
+ * @param nmemb (@c size_t) the number of elements
+ * @param size (@c size_t) the size of each element
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero failure
  */
-#define cxReallocArrayDefault(...) cxReallocArray(cxDefaultAllocator, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define cxReallocateArrayDefault(mem, nmemb, size) \
+        cxReallocateArray(cxDefaultAllocator, mem, nmemb, size)
+
 /**
- * Convenience macro that invokes cxFree() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ * Reallocate the previously allocated block in @p mem.
+ *
+ * Convenience macro that invokes cxReallocArray() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ *
+ * This function may return the same pointer passed to it if moving
+ * the memory was not necessary.
+ *
+ * The size is calculated by multiplying @p nemb and @p size.
+ * If that multiplication overflows, this function returns @c NULL, and @c errno
+ * will be set.
+ *
+ * @note Re-allocating a block allocated by a different allocator is undefined.
+ *
+ * @attention This function is bug-prone. Consider using cxReallocateArrayDefault().
+ *
+ * @param mem (@c void*) pointer to the previously allocated block
+ * @param nmemb (@c size_t) the number of elements
+ * @param size (@c size_t) the size of each element
+ * @return (@c void*) a pointer to the reallocated memory
  */
-#define cxFreeDefault(...) cxFree(cxDefaultAllocator, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define cxReallocArrayDefault(mem, nmemb, size) cxReallocArray(cxDefaultAllocator, mem, nmemb, size)
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+/**
+ * Free a block of memory.
+ *
+ * Convenience function that invokes cxFree() with the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ *
+ * @param mem the memory to deallocate
+ */
+CX_EXTERN
+void cxFreeDefault(void *mem);
 
 #endif // UCX_ALLOCATOR_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/array_list.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/array_list.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -39,10 +39,6 @@
 
 #include "list.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /**
  * The maximum item size in an array list that fits into
  * a stack buffer when swapped.
@@ -50,624 +46,894 @@
 CX_EXPORT extern const unsigned cx_array_swap_sbo_size;
 
 /**
- * Declares variables for an array that can be used with the convenience macros.
- *
- * @par Examples
- * @code
- * // integer array with at most 255 elements
- * CX_ARRAY_DECLARE_SIZED(int, myarray, uint8_t)
+ * Declares a typed array with size and capacity.
  *
- * // array of MyObject* pointers where size and capacity are stored as unsigned int
- * CX_ARRAY_DECLARE_SIZED(MyObject*, objects, unsigned int)
- *
- * // initializing code
- * cx_array_initialize(myarray, 16); // reserve space for 16
- * cx_array_initialize(objects, 100); // reserve space for 100
- * @endcode
+ * @param type the type of the elements
+ * @param name the name of the array
+ */
+#define CX_ARRAY(type, name) \
+    struct { \
+        type *data; \
+        size_t size; \
+        size_t capacity; \
+    } name
+
+/**
+ * Internal structure for arrays.
  *
- * @param type the type of the data
- * @param name the name of the array
- * @param size_type the type of the size (should be uint8_t, uint16_t, uint32_t, or size_t)
+ * A generalization of array structures declared with CX_ARRAY().
+ */
+typedef struct cx_array_s {
+    /** The array data. */
+    void *data;
+    /** The number of elements. */
+    size_t size;
+    /** The maximum number of elements. */
+    size_t capacity;
+} CxArray;
+
+/**
+ * Initializes an array by allocating memory.
  *
- * @see cx_array_initialize()
- * @see cx_array_simple_add()
- * @see cx_array_simple_copy()
- * @see cx_array_simple_add_sorted()
- * @see cx_array_simple_insert_sorted()
+ * Internal function - do not use manually.
+ *
+ * @param allocator the allocator for the array
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
+ * @param elem_size size of one element
+ * @param capacity the initial maximum number of elements
+ * @retval zero allocation was successful
+ * @retval non-zero allocation failed
  */
-#define CX_ARRAY_DECLARE_SIZED(type, name, size_type) \
-    type * name; \
-    /** Array size. */ size_type name##_size; \
-    /** Array capacity. */ size_type name##_capacity
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cx_array_init_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array, size_t elem_size, size_t capacity);
 
 /**
- * Declares variables for an array that can be used with the convenience macros.
- *
- * The size and capacity variables will have type @c size_t.
- * Use #CX_ARRAY_DECLARE_SIZED() to specify a different type.
+ * Initializes an array by allocating memory.
  *
- * @par Examples
- * @code
- * // int array
- * CX_ARRAY_DECLARE(int, myarray)
+ * The size is set to zero.
+ *
+ * @attention If the array was already initialized, this will leak memory.
+ * Use cx_array_reserve() to change the capacity of an initialized array.
  *
- * // initializing code
- * cx_array_initialize(myarray, 32); // reserve space for 32
- * @endcode
- *
- * @param type the type of the data
- * @param name the name of the array
- *
- * @see cx_array_initialize()
- * @see cx_array_simple_add()
- * @see cx_array_simple_copy()
- * @see cx_array_simple_add_sorted()
- * @see cx_array_simple_insert_sorted()
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator for the array
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param capacity (@c size_t) the initial maximum number of elements
+ * @retval zero allocation was successful
+ * @retval non-zero allocation failed
  */
-#define CX_ARRAY_DECLARE(type, name) CX_ARRAY_DECLARE_SIZED(type, name, size_t)
+#define cx_array_init_a(allocator, array, capacity) cx_array_init_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), capacity)
 
 /**
- * Initializes an array with the given capacity.
- *
- * The type of the capacity depends on the type used during declaration.
+ * Initializes an array by allocating memory.
  *
- * @par Examples
- * @code
- * CX_ARRAY_DECLARE_SIZED(int, arr1, uint8_t)
- * CX_ARRAY_DECLARE(int, arr2) // size and capacity are implicitly size_t
+ * The size is set to zero.
  *
- * // initializing code
- * cx_array_initialize(arr1, 500); // error: maximum for uint8_t is 255
- * cx_array_initialize(arr2, 500); // OK
- * @endcode
- *
- *
- * The memory for the array is allocated with the cxDefaultAllocator.
+ * @attention If the array was already initialized, this will leak memory.
  *
  * @param array the name of the array
- * @param capacity the initial capacity
- * @see cx_array_initialize_a()
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE_SIZED()
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
+ * @param capacity (@c size_t) the initial maximum number of elements
+ * @retval zero allocation was successful
+ * @retval non-zero allocation failed
  */
-#define cx_array_initialize(array, capacity) \
-        array##_capacity = capacity; \
-        array##_size = 0; \
-        array = cxMallocDefault(sizeof(array[0]) * capacity)
+#define cx_array_init(array, capacity) cx_array_init_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, capacity)
+
+/**
+ * Initializes an array with fixed size memory.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use manually.
+ *
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
+ * @param data the fixed size array
+ * @param capacity the capacity of the fixed size array
+ * @param size the number of initialized elements in the fixed size array
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_array_init_fixed_(CxArray *array, const void *data, size_t capacity, size_t size);
 
 /**
- * Initializes an array with the given capacity using the specified allocator.
+ * Initializes an array with fixed size memory.
+ *
+ * This is useful, for example, when you want to work with memory on the stack
+ * and only want to move to the heap when the stack memory is not enough.
+ *
+ * With the @p num_initialized argument you can specify how many elements in the
+ * fixed size array are already correctly initialized, which determines the
+ * initial size of the array.
  *
- * @par Example
- * @code
- * CX_ARRAY_DECLARE(int, myarray)
+ * The capacity is determined automatically by the compiler.
  *
+ * @attention When you add elements to an array that was initialized with fixed
+ * size memory, you MUST check the capacity before adding the element and invoke
+ * cx_array_copy_to_new() when you intend to exceed the capacity.
+ *
+ * @attention When you pass a pointer to an array that does not have a fixed
+ * size, the behavior is unspecified.
  *
- * const CxAllocator *al = // ...
- * cx_array_initialize_a(al, myarray, 128);
- * // ...
- * cxFree(al, myarray); // remember to free with the same allocator
- * @endcode
+ * @param array the name of the array to initialize
+ * @param fixed_size_array (@c void*) the fixed size array
+ * @param num_initialized (@c size_t) the number of already initialized elements in the fixed size array
+ * @see cx_array_copy_to_new()
+ */
+#define cx_array_init_fixed(array, fixed_size_array, num_initialized) \
+        cx_array_init_fixed_((CxArray*)&(array), fixed_size_array, cx_nmemb(fixed_size_array), num_initialized)
+
+/**
+ * Changes the capacity of an array.
  *
- * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator
- * @param array the name of the array
- * @param capacity the initial capacity
- * @see cx_array_initialize()
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE_SIZED()
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param allocator the allocator
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
+ * @param elem_size the size of one element
+ * @param capacity the new capacity
+ * @retval zero allocation was successful
+ * @retval non-zero allocation failed
  */
-#define cx_array_initialize_a(allocator, array, capacity) \
-        array##_capacity = capacity; \
-        array##_size = 0; \
-        array = cxMalloc(allocator, sizeof(array[0]) * capacity)
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cx_array_reserve_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array, size_t elem_size, size_t capacity);
 
 /**
- * Defines a reallocation mechanism for arrays.
- * You can create your own, use cx_array_reallocator(), or
- * use the #cx_array_default_reallocator.
+ * Changes the capacity of an array.
+ *
+ * If required, the size is reduced to fit into the new capacity.
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator for the array
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param capacity (@c size_t) the new maximum number of elements
+ * @retval zero allocation was successful
+ * @retval non-zero allocation failed
  */
-struct cx_array_reallocator_s {
-    /**
-     * Reallocates space for the given array.
-     *
-     * Implementations are not required to free the original array.
-     * This allows reallocation of static or stack memory by allocating heap memory
-     * and copying the array contents; namely when @c stack_ptr in this struct
-     * is not @c NULL and @p array equals @c stack_ptr.
-     *
-     * @param array the array to reallocate
-     * @param old_capacity the old number of elements
-     * @param new_capacity the new number of elements
-     * @param elem_size the size of each element
-     * @param alloc a reference to this allocator
-     * @return a pointer to the reallocated memory or @c NULL on failure
-     */
-    void *(*realloc)( void *array, size_t old_capacity, size_t new_capacity,
-            size_t elem_size, struct cx_array_reallocator_s *alloc);
+#define cx_array_reserve_a(allocator, array, capacity) \
+        cx_array_reserve_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), capacity)
 
-    /**
-     * The allocator that shall be used for the reallocations.
-     */
-    const CxAllocator *allocator;
-    /**
-     * Optional pointer to stack memory
-     * if the array is originally located on the stack.
-     */
-    const void *stack_ptr;
-};
+/**
+ * Changes the capacity of an array.
+ *
+ * If required, the size is reduced to fit into the new capacity.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param capacity (@c size_t) the new maximum number of elements
+ * @retval zero allocation was successful
+ * @retval non-zero allocation failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_reserve(array, capacity) \
+        cx_array_reserve_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, capacity)
 
 /**
- * Typedef for the array reallocator struct.
+ * Copies the array to a new memory region.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param allocator the allocator for new new memory
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
+ * @param elem_size the size of one element
+ * @param capacity the new capacity
+ * @retval zero allocation was successful
+ * @retval non-zero allocation failed
  */
-typedef struct cx_array_reallocator_s CxArrayReallocator;
-
-/**
- * A default array reallocator that is based on the cxDefaultAllocator.
- */
-CX_EXPORT extern CxArrayReallocator *cx_array_default_reallocator;
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cx_array_copy_to_new_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array, size_t elem_size, size_t capacity);
 
 /**
- * Creates a new array reallocator.
- *
- * When @p allocator is @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used.
+ * Copies the array to a new memory region.
  *
- * When @p stack_ptr is not @c NULL, the reallocator is supposed to be used
- * @em only for the specific array initially located at @p stack_ptr.
- * When reallocation is needed, the reallocator checks if the array is
- * still located at @p stack_ptr and copies the contents to the heap.
+ * This is useful when you have initialized the array with a fixed size memory
+ * using cx_array_init_fixed(), and now you want to increase the capacity.
+ *
+ * @attention When the original memory does not belong to stack memory, and
+ * you do not have another reference to this memory, it will leak.
  *
- * @note Invoking this function with both arguments being @c NULL will return a
- * reallocator that behaves like #cx_array_default_reallocator.
- *
- * @param allocator the allocator this reallocator shall be based on
- * @param stack_ptr the address of the array when the array is initially located
- * on the stack or shall not reallocate in place
- * @return an array reallocator
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator for the new memory
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param capacity (@c size_t) the new maximum number of elements
+ * @retval zero allocation was successful
+ * @retval non-zero allocation failed
+ * @see cx_array_init_fixed()
  */
-CX_EXPORT CxArrayReallocator cx_array_reallocator(
-        const struct cx_allocator_s *allocator, const void *stack_ptr);
+#define cx_array_copy_to_new_a(allocator, array, capacity) \
+        cx_array_copy_to_new_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), capacity)
 
 /**
- * Reserves memory for additional elements.
- *
- * This function checks if the @p capacity of the array is sufficient to hold
- * at least @p size plus @p elem_count elements. If not, a reallocation is
- * performed with the specified @p reallocator.
- * You can create your own reallocator by hand, use #cx_array_default_reallocator,
- * or use the convenience function cx_array_reallocator() to create a custom reallocator.
+ * Copies the array to a new memory region.
  *
- * This function can be useful to replace subsequent calls to cx_array_copy()
- * with one single cx_array_reserve() and then - after guaranteeing a
- * sufficient capacity - use simple memmove() or memcpy().
+ * This is useful when you have initialized the array with a fixed size memory
+ * using cx_array_init_fixed(), and now you want to increase the capacity.
  *
- * The @p width in bytes refers to the size and capacity.
- * Both must have the same width.
- * Supported are 0, 1, 2, and 4, as well as 8 if running on a 64-bit
- * architecture. If set to zero, the native word width is used.
+ * @attention When the original memory does not belong to stack memory, and
+ * you do not have another reference to this memory, it will leak.
  *
- * @note This function will reserve the minimum required capacity to hold
- * the additional elements and does not perform an overallocation.
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param capacity (@c size_t) the new maximum number of elements
+ * @retval zero allocation was successful
+ * @retval non-zero allocation failed
+ * @see cx_array_init_fixed()
+ */
+#define cx_array_copy_to_new(array, capacity) \
+        cx_array_copy_to_new_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, capacity)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts data into an array.
  *
- * @param array a pointer to the target array
- * @param size a pointer to the size of the array
- * @param capacity a pointer to the capacity of the array
- * @param width the width in bytes for the @p size and @p capacity or zero for default
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param allocator the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
  * @param elem_size the size of one element
- * @param elem_count the number of expected additional elements
- * @param reallocator the array reallocator to use
- * (@c NULL defaults to #cx_array_default_reallocator)
+ * @param index the index where to insert the @p other data
+ * @param other a pointer to an array of data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n the number of elements that shall be inserted
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see cx_array_reallocator()
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_array_reserve(void **array, void *size, void *capacity,
-        unsigned width, size_t elem_size, size_t elem_count,
-        CxArrayReallocator *reallocator);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2)
+int cx_array_insert_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array,
+        size_t elem_size, size_t index, const void *other, size_t n);
 
 /**
- * Copies elements from one array to another.
- *
- * The elements are copied to the @p target array at the specified @p index,
- * overwriting possible elements. The @p index does not need to be in range of
- * the current array @p size. If the new index plus the number of elements added
- * extends the array's size, the remaining @p capacity is used.
+ * Appends an element to an array.
  *
- * If the @p capacity is also insufficient to hold the new data, a reallocation
- * attempt is made with the specified @p reallocator.
- * You can create your own reallocator by hand, use #cx_array_default_reallocator,
- * or use the convenience function cx_array_reallocator() to create a custom reallocator.
- *
- * The @p width in bytes refers to the size and capacity.
- * Both must have the same width.
- * Supported are 0, 1, 2, and 4, as well as 8 if running on a 64-bit
- * architecture. If set to zero, the native word width is used.
- *
- * @note When this function does reallocate the array, it may allocate more
- * space than required to avoid further allocations in the near future.
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
  *
- * @param target a pointer to the target array
- * @param size a pointer to the size of the target array
- * @param capacity a pointer to the capacity of the target array
- * @param width the width in bytes for the @p size and @p capacity or zero for default
- * @param index the index where the copied elements shall be placed
- * @param src the source array
- * @param elem_size the size of one element
- * @param elem_count the number of elements to copy
- * @param reallocator the array reallocator to use
- * (@c NULL defaults to #cx_array_default_reallocator)
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the element shall be added
+ * @param element the element that shall be added
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see cx_array_reallocator()
- * @see cx_array_reserve()
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 6)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_array_copy(void **target, void *size, void *capacity, unsigned width,
-        size_t index, const void *src, size_t elem_size, size_t elem_count,
-        CxArrayReallocator *reallocator);
+#define cx_array_add_a(allocator, array, element) \
+        cx_array_insert_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), (array).size, (void*)&(element), 1)
+
+/**
+ * Appends an element to an array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array where the element shall be added
+ * @param element (@c void*) a pointer to the element that shall be added
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_add(array, element) \
+        cx_array_add_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, element)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro that uses cx_array_copy() with a default layout and
- * the specified reallocator.
+ * Inserts an element into an array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
  *
- * @param reallocator (@c CxArrayReallocator*) the array reallocator to use
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param index (@c size_t) the index where the copied elements shall be placed
- * @param src (@c void*) the source array
- * @param count (@c size_t) the number of elements to copy
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the element shall be inserted
+ * @param index (@c size_t) the index where to insert the @p element
+ * @param element the element that shall be inserted
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_copy()
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_copy_a(reallocator, array, index, src, count) \
-    cx_array_copy((void**)&(array), &(array##_size), &(array##_capacity), \
-        sizeof(array##_size), index, src, sizeof((array)[0]), count, \
-        reallocator)
+#define cx_array_insert_a(allocator, array, index, element) \
+        cx_array_insert_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), index, (void*)&(element), 1)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro that uses cx_array_copy() with a default layout and
- * the default reallocator.
+ * Inserts an element into an array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
  *
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param index (@c size_t) the index where the copied elements shall be placed
- * @param src (@c void*) the source array
- * @param count (@c size_t) the number of elements to copy
+ * @param array the name of the array where the element shall be inserted
+ * @param index (@c size_t) the index where to insert the @p element
+ * @param element (@c void*) a pointer to the element that shall be inserted
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_copy_a()
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_copy(array, index, src, count) \
-    cx_array_simple_copy_a(NULL, array, index, src, count)
+#define cx_array_insert(array, index, element) \
+        cx_array_insert_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, index, element)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro that uses cx_array_reserve() with a default layout and
- * the specified reallocator.
+ * Inserts data into an array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
  *
- * @param reallocator (@c CxArrayReallocator*) the array reallocator to use
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param count (@c size_t) the number of expected @em additional elements
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param index (@c size_t) the index where to insert the @p other data
+ * @param other (@c void*) a pointer to an array of data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be inserted
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_reserve()
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_reserve_a(reallocator, array, count) \
-    cx_array_reserve((void**)&(array), &(array##_size), &(array##_capacity), \
-        sizeof(array##_size), sizeof((array)[0]), count, \
-        reallocator)
+#define cx_array_insert_array_a(allocator, array, index, other, n) \
+        cx_array_insert_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), index, other, n)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro that uses cx_array_reserve() with a default layout and
- * the default reallocator.
+ * Inserts data into an array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
  *
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param count (@c size_t) the number of expected additional elements
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param index (@c size_t) the index where to insert the @p other data
+ * @param other (@c void*) a pointer to an array of data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be inserted
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_reserve_a()
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_reserve(array, count) \
-    cx_array_simple_reserve_a(NULL, array, count)
+#define cx_array_insert_array(array, index, other, n) \
+        cx_array_insert_array_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, index, other, n)
+
+/**
+ * Appends data to an array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be added
+ * @param other (@c void*) a pointer to an array of data that shall be added
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be added
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_add_array_a(allocator, array, other, n) \
+        cx_array_insert_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), (array).size, other, n)
 
 /**
- * Adds an element to an array with the possibility of allocating more space.
- *
- * The element @p elem is added to the end of the @p target array which contains
- * @p size elements, already. The @p capacity must point to a variable denoting
- * the current maximum number of elements the array can hold.
+ * Appends data to an array.
  *
- * If the capacity is insufficient to hold the new element, an attempt to
- * increase the @p capacity is made and the new capacity is written back.
- *
- * The \@ SIZE_TYPE is flexible and can be any unsigned integer type.
- * It is important, however, that @p size and @p capacity are pointers to
- * variables of the same type.
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
  *
- * @param target (@c void**) a pointer to the target array
- * @param size (@c SIZE_TYPE*) a pointer to the size of the target array
- * @param capacity (@c SIZE_TYPE*) a pointer to the capacity of the target array
- * @param elem_size (@c size_t) the size of one element
- * @param elem (@c void*) a pointer to the element to add
- * @param reallocator (@c CxArrayReallocator*) the array reallocator to use
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be added
+ * @param other (@c void*) a pointer to an array of data that shall be added
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be added
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-#define cx_array_add(target, size, capacity, elem_size, elem, reallocator) \
-    cx_array_copy((void**)(target), size, capacity, sizeof(*(size)), \
-    *(size), elem, elem_size, 1, reallocator)
+#define cx_array_add_array(array, other, n) \
+        cx_array_add_array_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, other, n)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro that uses cx_array_add() with a default layout and
- * the specified reallocator.
+ * Inserts sorted data into a sorted array.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
- * @param reallocator (@c CxArrayReallocator*) the array reallocator to use
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param elem the element to add (NOT a pointer, address is automatically taken)
+ * @param allocator the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
+ * @param elem_size the size of one element
+ * @param sorted_data a pointer to an array of data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n the number of elements that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func the compare function
+ * @param allow_duplicates @c false if duplicates shall be skipped during insertion
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_add()
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_add_a(reallocator, array, elem) \
-    cx_array_simple_copy_a(reallocator, array, array##_size, &(elem), 1)
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cx_array_insert_sorted_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array,
+        size_t elem_size, const void *sorted_data, size_t n,
+        cx_compare_func cmp_func, bool allow_duplicates);
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro that uses cx_array_add() with a default layout and
- * the default reallocator.
+ * Inserts an element into a sorted array.
  *
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param elem the element to add (NOT a pointer, address is automatically taken)
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_add_a()
- */
-#define cx_array_simple_add(array, elem) \
-    cx_array_simple_add_a(cx_array_default_reallocator, array, elem)
-
-/**
- * Inserts a sorted array into another sorted array.
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
  *
- * If either the target or the source array is not already sorted with respect
- * to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ * @attention if the array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
  *
- * If the capacity is insufficient to hold the new data, a reallocation
- * attempt is made.
- * You can create your own reallocator by hand, use #cx_array_default_reallocator,
- * or use the convenience function cx_array_reallocator() to create a custom reallocator.
- *
- * @param target a pointer to the target array
- * @param size a pointer to the size of the target array
- * @param capacity a pointer to the capacity of the target array
- * @param cmp_func the compare function for the elements
- * @param src the source array
- * @param elem_size the size of one element
- * @param elem_count the number of elements to insert
- * @param reallocator the array reallocator to use
- * (@c NULL defaults to #cx_array_default_reallocator)
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param element the element that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function that establishes the order
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 5)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_array_insert_sorted(void **target, size_t *size, size_t *capacity,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func, const void *src, size_t elem_size, size_t elem_count,
-        CxArrayReallocator *reallocator);
+#define cx_array_insert_sorted_a(allocator, array, element, cmp_func) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), (void*)&(element), 1, cmp_func, true)
 
 /**
  * Inserts an element into a sorted array.
  *
- * If the target array is not already sorted with respect
- * to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if the array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param element the element that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_sorted(array, element, cmp_func) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, element, cmp_func)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts sorted data into a sorted array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
  *
- * If the capacity is not enough to hold the new data, a reallocation
- * attempt is made.
+ * @attention if either array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
  *
- * The \@ SIZE_TYPE is flexible and can be any unsigned integer type.
- * It is important, however, that @p size and @p capacity are pointers to
- * variables of the same type.
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param sorted_data (@c void*) a pointer to an array of sorted data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_sorted_array_a(allocator, array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), sorted_data, n, cmp_func, true)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts sorted data into a sorted array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if either array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
  *
- * @param target (@c void**) a pointer to the target array
- * @param size (@c SIZE_TYPE*) a pointer to the size of the target array
- * @param capacity (@c SIZE_TYPE*) a pointer to the capacity of the target array
- * @param elem_size (@c size_t) the size of one element
- * @param elem (@c void*) a pointer to the element to add
- * @param cmp_func (@c cx_cmp_func) the compare function for the elements
- * @param reallocator (@c CxArrayReallocator*) the array reallocator to use
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param sorted_data (@c void*) a pointer to an array of sorted data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function that establishes the order
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_sorted_array(array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_array_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts an element into a sorted array if it is not already contained.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if the array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param element the element that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-#define cx_array_add_sorted(target, size, capacity, elem_size, elem, cmp_func, reallocator) \
-    cx_array_insert_sorted((void**)(target), size, capacity, cmp_func, elem, elem_size, 1, reallocator)
+#define cx_array_insert_unique_a(allocator, array, element, cmp_func) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), (void*)&(element), 1, cmp_func, false)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts an element into a sorted array if it is not already contained.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if the array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param element the element that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_unique(array, element, cmp_func) \
+        cx_array_insert_unique_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, element, cmp_func)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro for cx_array_add_sorted() with a default
- * layout and the specified reallocator.
+ * Inserts sorted data into a sorted array, skipping duplicates.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if either array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param sorted_data (@c void*) a pointer to an array of sorted data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_unique_array_a(allocator, array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), sorted_data, n, cmp_func, false)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts sorted data into a sorted array, skipping duplicates.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if either array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
  *
- * @param reallocator (@c CxArrayReallocator*) the array reallocator to use
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param elem the element to add (NOT a pointer, address is automatically taken)
- * @param cmp_func (@c cx_cmp_func) the compare function for the elements
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param sorted_data (@c void*) a pointer to an array of sorted data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_unique_array(array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func) \
+        cx_array_insert_unique_array_a(cxDefaultAllocator, array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts sorted data into a sorted array.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param allocator the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
+ * @param elem_size the size of one element
+ * @param sorted_data a pointer to an array of data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n the number of elements that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func the compare function
+ * @param context additional context for the compare function
+ * @param allow_duplicates @c false if duplicates shall be skipped during insertion
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_add_sorted()
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 4, 6)
+int cx_array_insert_sorted_c_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array,
+        size_t elem_size, const void *sorted_data, size_t n,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context, bool allow_duplicates);
+
+/**
+ * Inserts an element into a sorted array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if the array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param element the element that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func2) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @param context (@c void*) additional context for the compare function
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_add_sorted_a(reallocator, array, elem, cmp_func) \
-    cx_array_add_sorted(&array, &(array##_size), &(array##_capacity), \
-        sizeof((array)[0]), &(elem), cmp_func, reallocator)
+#define cx_array_insert_sorted_ca(allocator, array, element, cmp_func, context) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_c_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), (void*)&(element), 1, cmp_func, context, true)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts an element into a sorted array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if the array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param element the element that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func2) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @param context (@c void*) additional context for the compare function
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_sorted_c(array, element, cmp_func, context) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_ca(cxDefaultAllocator, array, element, cmp_func, context)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts sorted data into a sorted array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if either array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param sorted_data (@c void*) a pointer to an array of sorted data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func2) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @param context (@c void*) additional context for the compare function
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_sorted_array_ca(allocator, array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func, context) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_c_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), sorted_data, n, cmp_func, context, true)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro for cx_array_add_sorted() with a default
- * layout and the default reallocator.
+ * Inserts sorted data into a sorted array.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if either array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
  *
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param elem the element to add (NOT a pointer, address is automatically taken)
- * @param cmp_func (@c cx_cmp_func) the compare function for the elements
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param sorted_data (@c void*) a pointer to an array of sorted data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func2) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @param context (@c void*) additional context for the compare function
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_sorted_array_c(array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func, context) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_array_ca(cxDefaultAllocator, array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func, context)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts an element into a sorted array if it is not already contained.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if the array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param element the element that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func2) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @param context (@c void*) additional context for the compare function
  * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_add_sorted_a()
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_unique_ca(allocator, array, element, cmp_func, context) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_c_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), (void*)&(element), 1, cmp_func, context, false)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts an element into a sorted array if it is not already contained.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new element, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if the array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param element the element that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func2) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @param context (@c void*) additional context for the compare function
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_add_sorted(array, elem, cmp_func) \
-    cx_array_simple_add_sorted_a(NULL, array, elem, cmp_func)
+#define cx_array_insert_unique_c(array, element, cmp_func, context) \
+        cx_array_insert_unique_ca(cxDefaultAllocator, array, element, cmp_func, context)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts sorted data into a sorted array, skipping duplicates.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if either array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for a possible reallocation
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param sorted_data (@c void*) a pointer to an array of sorted data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func2) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @param context (@c void*) additional context for the compare function
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_unique_array_ca(allocator, array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func, context) \
+        cx_array_insert_sorted_c_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), sorted_data, n, cmp_func, context, false)
+
+/**
+ * Inserts sorted data into a sorted array, skipping duplicates.
+ *
+ * When the capacity is not enough to hold the new elements, a re-allocation is attempted.
+ *
+ * @attention if either array is not sorted according to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array where the elements shall be inserted
+ * @param sorted_data (@c void*) a pointer to an array of sorted data that shall be inserted
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func (@c cx_compare_func2) the compare function that establishes the order
+ * @param context (@c void*) additional context for the compare function
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero a re-allocation was necessary but failed
+ */
+#define cx_array_insert_unique_array_c(array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func, context) \
+        cx_array_insert_unique_array_ca(cxDefaultAllocator, array, sorted_data, n, cmp_func, context)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro for cx_array_insert_sorted() with a default
- * layout and the specified reallocator.
+ * An alternative to qsort_r() when that is not available on your platform.
+ *
+ * If it is available, qsort_r() is used directly.
+ *
+ * @param array the array that shall be sorted
+ * @param nmemb the number of elements in the array
+ * @param size the size of one element
+ * @param fn the compare function
+ * @param context the context for the compare function
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_array_qsort_c(void *array, size_t nmemb, size_t size,
+        cx_compare_func2 fn, void *context);
+
+/**
+ * Sorts an array.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
- * @param reallocator (@c CxArrayReallocator*) the array reallocator to use
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param src (@c void*) pointer to the source array
- * @param n (@c size_t) number of elements in the source array
- * @param cmp_func (@c cx_cmp_func) the compare function for the elements
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_insert_sorted()
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
+ * @param elem_size the size of one element
+ * @param fn the compare function
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_insert_sorted_a(reallocator, array, src, n, cmp_func) \
-    cx_array_insert_sorted((void**)(&array), &(array##_size), &(array##_capacity), \
-        cmp_func, src, sizeof((array)[0]), n, reallocator)
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_array_sort_(CxArray *array, size_t elem_size,
+        cx_compare_func fn);
+
+/**
+ * Sorts an array.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
+ * @param elem_size the size of one element
+ * @param fn the compare function
+ * @param context the context for the compare function
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_array_sort_c_(CxArray *array, size_t elem_size,
+        cx_compare_func2 fn, void *context);
+
+/**
+ * Sorts an array.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param fn (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function
+ */
+#define cx_array_sort(array, fn) \
+        cx_array_sort_((CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), fn)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro for cx_array_insert_sorted() with a default
- * layout and the default reallocator.
+ * Sorts an array.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param fn (@c cx_compare_func2) the compare function
+ * @param context (@c void*) the context for the compare function
+ */
+#define cx_array_sort_c(array, fn, context) \
+        cx_array_sort_c_((CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), fn, context)
+
+/**
+ * Creates an iterator over the elements of an array.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
+ * @param elem_size the size of one element
+ * @return an iterator over the elements
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+CxIterator cx_array_iterator_(CxArray *array, size_t elem_size);
+
+/**
+ * Creates an iterator over the elements of an array.
+ *
+ * The iterator will yield pointers to the elements.
+ *
+ * This iterator cannot be used to remove elements
+ * because it does not get a modifiable reference to the array's size.
  *
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param src (@c void*) pointer to the source array
- * @param n (@c size_t) number of elements in the source array
- * @param cmp_func (@c cx_cmp_func) the compare function for the elements
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_insert_sorted_a()
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @return an iterator over the elements
+ * @see cx_array_iterator_ptr()
+ */
+#define cx_array_iterator(array) \
+        cx_array_iterator_((CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]))
+
+/**
+ * Creates an iterator over the elements of an array containing pointers.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @return an iterator over the elements
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_insert_sorted(array, src, n, cmp_func) \
-    cx_array_simple_insert_sorted_a(NULL, array, src, n, cmp_func)
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+CxIterator cx_array_iterator_ptr_(CxArray *array);
+
+/**
+ * Creates an iterator over the elements of an array containing pointers.
+ *
+ * The iterator will yield the elements themselves, which are supposed to
+ * be pointers.
+ *
+ * This iterator cannot be used to remove elements
+ * because it does not get a modifiable reference to the array's size.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @return an iterator over the elements
+ * @see cx_array_iterator()
+ */
+#define cx_array_iterator_ptr(array) \
+        cx_array_iterator_ptr_((CxArray*)&(array))
 
 
 /**
- * Inserts a sorted array into another sorted array, avoiding duplicates.
- *
- * If either the target or the source array is not already sorted with respect
- * to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ * Removes elements from the array.
  *
- * If the capacity is insufficient to hold the new data, a reallocation
- * attempt is made.
- * You can create your own reallocator by hand, use #cx_array_default_reallocator,
- * or use the convenience function cx_array_reallocator() to create a custom reallocator.
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
- * @param target a pointer to the target array
- * @param size a pointer to the size of the target array
- * @param capacity a pointer to the capacity of the target array
- * @param cmp_func the compare function for the elements
- * @param src the source array
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
  * @param elem_size the size of one element
- * @param elem_count the number of elements to insert
- * @param reallocator the array reallocator to use
- * (@c NULL defaults to #cx_array_default_reallocator)
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
+ * @param index the index of the first element to remove
+ * @param n the number of elements to remove
+ * @param fast indicates whether tail elements should be copied into the gap
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 5)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_array_insert_unique(void **target, size_t *size, size_t *capacity,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func, const void *src, size_t elem_size, size_t elem_count,
-        CxArrayReallocator *reallocator);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_array_remove_(CxArray *array, size_t elem_size, size_t index, size_t n, bool fast);
 
 /**
- * Inserts an element into a sorted array if it does not exist.
- *
- * If the target array is not already sorted with respect
- * to the specified @p cmp_func, the behavior is undefined.
+ * Removes one element from the array.
  *
- * If the capacity is insufficient to hold the new data, a reallocation
- * attempt is made.
+ * Tail elements are all moved by one. If you don't need a stable order
+ * in the array, consider using cx_array_remove_fast().
  *
- * The \@ SIZE_TYPE is flexible and can be any unsigned integer type.
- * It is important, however, that @p size and @p capacity are pointers to
- * variables of the same type.
+ * If the index is out of bounds, this function does nothing.
  *
- * @param target (@c void**) a pointer to the target array
- * @param size (@c SIZE_TYPE*) a pointer to the size of the target array
- * @param capacity (@c SIZE_TYPE*) a pointer to the capacity of the target array
- * @param elem_size (@c size_t) the size of one element
- * @param elem (@c void*) a pointer to the element to add
- * @param cmp_func (@c cx_cmp_func) the compare function for the elements
- * @param reallocator (@c CxArrayReallocator*) the array reallocator to use
- * @retval zero success (also when the element was already present)
- * @retval non-zero failure
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param index (@c size_t) the index of the element to remove
+ * @see cx_array_remove_fast()
  */
-#define cx_array_add_unique(target, size, capacity, elem_size, elem, cmp_func, reallocator) \
-    cx_array_insert_unique((void**)(target), size, capacity, cmp_func, elem, elem_size, 1, reallocator)
+#define cx_array_remove(array, index) \
+        cx_array_remove_((CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), index, 1, false)
+
+/**
+ * Removes one element from the array.
+ *
+ * The gap will be filled with a copy of the last element in the array.
+ * This changes the order of elements. If you want a stable order,
+ * use cx_array_remove() instead.
+ *
+ * If the index is out of bounds, this function does nothing.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param index (@c size_t) the index of the element to remove
+ * @see cx_array_remove()
+ */
+#define cx_array_remove_fast(array, index) \
+        cx_array_remove_((CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), index, 1, true)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro for cx_array_add_unique() with a default
- * layout and the specified reallocator.
+ * Removes multiple elements from the array.
+ *
+ * Tail elements are all moved to close the gap. If you don't need a stable
+ * order in the array, consider using cx_array_remove_array_fast().
  *
- * @param reallocator (@c CxArrayReallocator*) the array reallocator to use
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param elem the element to add (NOT a pointer, address is automatically taken)
- * @param cmp_func (@c cx_cmp_func) the compare function for the elements
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_add_unique()
+ * If the index is out of bounds, this function does nothing.
+ * If @n overflows the array, this function removes as many elements as it can.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param index (@c size_t) the index of the first element to remove
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements to remove
+ * @see cx_array_remove_array_fast()
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_add_unique_a(reallocator, array, elem, cmp_func) \
-    cx_array_add_unique(&array, &(array##_size), &(array##_capacity), \
-        sizeof((array)[0]), &(elem), cmp_func, reallocator)
-
-/**
- * Convenience macro for cx_array_add_unique() with a default
- * layout and the default reallocator.
- *
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param elem the element to add (NOT a pointer, address is automatically taken)
- * @param cmp_func (@c cx_cmp_func) the compare function for the elements
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_add_unique_a()
- */
-#define cx_array_simple_add_unique(array, elem, cmp_func) \
-    cx_array_simple_add_unique_a(NULL, array, elem, cmp_func)
+#define cx_array_remove_array(array, index, n) \
+        cx_array_remove_((CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), index, n, false)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro for cx_array_insert_unique() with a default
- * layout and the specified reallocator.
+ * Removes multiple elements from the array.
+ *
+ * Tail elements are copied into the gap. If you have more tail elements
+ * than the number of elements that are removed, this will change the order
+ * of elements. If you want a stable order, use cx_array_remove_array() instead.
  *
- * @param reallocator (@c CxArrayReallocator*) the array reallocator to use
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param src (@c void*) pointer to the source array
- * @param n (@c size_t) number of elements in the source array
- * @param cmp_func (@c cx_cmp_func) the compare function for the elements
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_insert_unique()
+ * If the index is out of bounds, this function does nothing.
+ * If @n overflows the array, this function removes as many elements as it can.
+ *
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ * @param index (@c size_t) the index of the first element to remove
+ * @param n (@c size_t) the number of elements to remove
+ * @see cx_array_remove_array()
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_insert_unique_a(reallocator, array, src, n, cmp_func) \
-    cx_array_insert_unique((void**)(&array), &(array##_size), &(array##_capacity), \
-        cmp_func, src, sizeof((array)[0]), n, reallocator)
+#define cx_array_remove_array_fast(array, index, n) \
+        cx_array_remove_((CxArray*)&(array), sizeof((array).data[0]), index, n, true)
 
 /**
- * Convenience macro for cx_array_insert_unique() with a default
- * layout and the default reallocator.
+ * Deallocates an array.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator which was used to allocate the array
+ * @param array a pointer to the array structure
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_array_free_(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxArray *array);
+
+/**
+ * Deallocates an array.
+ *
+ * The structure is reset to zero and can be re-initialized with
+ * cx_array_inita().
  *
- * @param array the name of the array (NOT a pointer or alias to the array)
- * @param src (@c void*) pointer to the source array
- * @param n (@c size_t) number of elements in the source array
- * @param cmp_func (@c cx_cmp_func) the compare function for the elements
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see CX_ARRAY_DECLARE()
- * @see cx_array_simple_insert_unique_a()
+ * @param array the name of the array
  */
-#define cx_array_simple_insert_unique(array, src, n, cmp_func) \
-    cx_array_simple_insert_unique_a(NULL, array, src, n, cmp_func)
+#define cx_array_free(array) cx_array_free_(cxDefaultAllocator, (CxArray*)&(array))
+
+/**
+ * Deallocates an array.
+ *
+ * The structure is reset to zero and can be re-initialized with
+ * cx_array_init_a().
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator which was used to allocate the array
+ * @param array the name of the array
+ */
+#define cx_array_free_a(allocator, array) cx_array_free_(allocator, (CxArray*)&(array))
+
 
 /**
  * Searches the largest lower bound in a sorted array.
@@ -694,8 +960,8 @@
  * @see cx_array_binary_search_sup()
  * @see cx_array_binary_search()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_array_binary_search_inf(const void *arr, size_t size,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cx_array_binary_search_inf(const void *arr, size_t size,
         size_t elem_size, const void *elem, cx_compare_func cmp_func);
 
 /**
@@ -717,8 +983,8 @@
  * @see cx_array_binary_search_inf()
  * @see cx_array_binary_search_sup()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_array_binary_search(const void *arr, size_t size,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cx_array_binary_search(const void *arr, size_t size,
         size_t elem_size, const void *elem, cx_compare_func cmp_func);
 
 /**
@@ -746,10 +1012,95 @@
  * @see cx_array_binary_search_inf()
  * @see cx_array_binary_search()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_array_binary_search_sup(const void *arr, size_t size,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cx_array_binary_search_sup(const void *arr, size_t size,
         size_t elem_size, const void *elem, cx_compare_func cmp_func);
 
+
+/**
+ * Searches the largest lower bound in a sorted array.
+ *
+ * In other words, this function returns the index of the largest element
+ * in @p arr that is less or equal to @p elem with respect to @p cmp_func.
+ * When no such element exists, @p size is returned.
+ *
+ * When such an element exists more than once, the largest index of all those
+ * elements is returned.
+ *
+ * If @p elem is contained in the array, this is identical to
+ * #cx_array_binary_search().
+ *
+ * If the array is not sorted with respect to the @p cmp_func, the behavior
+ * is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param arr the array to search
+ * @param size the size of the array
+ * @param elem_size the size of one element
+ * @param elem the element to find
+ * @param cmp_func the compare function
+ * @param context the context for the compare function
+ * @return the index of the largest lower bound, or @p size
+ * @see cx_array_binary_search_sup()
+ * @see cx_array_binary_search()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cx_array_binary_search_inf_c(const void *arr, size_t size,
+        size_t elem_size, const void *elem, cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context);
+
+/**
+ * Searches an item in a sorted array.
+ *
+ * When such an element exists more than once, the largest index of all those
+ * elements is returned.
+ *
+ * If the array is not sorted with respect to the @p cmp_func, the behavior
+ * is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param arr the array to search
+ * @param size the size of the array
+ * @param elem_size the size of one element
+ * @param elem the element to find
+ * @param cmp_func the compare function
+ * @param context the context for the compare function
+ * @return the index of the element in the array, or @p size if the element
+ * cannot be found
+ * @see cx_array_binary_search_inf()
+ * @see cx_array_binary_search_sup()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cx_array_binary_search_c(const void *arr, size_t size,
+        size_t elem_size, const void *elem, cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context);
+
+/**
+ * Searches the smallest upper bound in a sorted array.
+ *
+ * In other words, this function returns the index of the smallest element
+ * in @p arr that is greater or equal to @p elem with respect to @p cmp_func.
+ * When no such element exists, @p size is returned.
+ *
+ * When such an element exists more than once, the smallest index of all those
+ * elements is returned.
+ *
+ * If @p elem is contained in the array, this is identical to
+ * #cx_array_binary_search().
+ *
+ * If the array is not sorted with respect to the @p cmp_func, the behavior
+ * is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param arr the array to search
+ * @param size the size of the array
+ * @param elem_size the size of one element
+ * @param elem the element to find
+ * @param cmp_func the compare function
+ * @param context the context for the compare function
+ * @return the index of the smallest upper bound, or @p size
+ * @see cx_array_binary_search_inf()
+ * @see cx_array_binary_search()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cx_array_binary_search_sup_c(const void *arr, size_t size,
+        size_t elem_size, const void *elem, cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context);
+
 /**
  * Swaps two array elements.
  *
@@ -758,51 +1109,24 @@
  * @param idx1 index of the first element
  * @param idx2 index of the second element
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cx_array_swap(void *arr, size_t elem_size, size_t idx1, size_t idx2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_array_swap(void *arr, size_t elem_size, size_t idx1, size_t idx2);
 
 /**
  * Allocates an array list for storing elements with @p elem_size bytes each.
  *
  * If @p elem_size is #CX_STORE_POINTERS, the created list stores pointers instead of
  * copies of the added elements, and the compare function will be automatically set
- * to cx_cmp_ptr(), if none is given.
+ * to cx_cmp_ptr().
  *
  * @param allocator the allocator for allocating the list memory
  * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used)
- * @param comparator the comparator for the elements
- * (if @c NULL, and the list is not storing pointers, sort and find
- * functions will not work)
  * @param elem_size the size of each element in bytes
  * @param initial_capacity the initial number of elements the array can store
  * @return the created list
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-cx_attr_malloc
-cx_attr_dealloc(cxListFree, 1)
-CX_EXPORT CxList *cxArrayListCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cx_compare_func comparator, size_t elem_size, size_t initial_capacity);
-
-/**
- * Allocates an array list for storing elements with @p elem_size bytes each.
- *
- * The list will use the cxDefaultAllocator and @em NO compare function.
- * If you want to call functions that need a compare function, you have to
- * set it immediately after creation or use cxArrayListCreate().
- *
- * If @p elem_size is #CX_STORE_POINTERS, the created list stores pointers instead of
- * copies of the added elements and the compare function will be automatically set
- * to cx_cmp_ptr().
- *
- * @param elem_size (@c size_t) the size of each element in bytes
- * @param initial_capacity (@c size_t) the initial number of elements the array can store
- * @return the created list
- */
-#define cxArrayListCreateSimple(elem_size, initial_capacity) \
-    cxArrayListCreate(NULL, NULL, elem_size, initial_capacity)
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxListFree, 1)
+CxList *cxArrayListCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        size_t elem_size, size_t initial_capacity);
 
 #endif // UCX_ARRAY_LIST_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/buffer.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/buffer.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -48,10 +48,7 @@
 
 #include "common.h"
 #include "allocator.h"
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
+#include "string.h"
 
 /**
  * No buffer features enabled (all flags cleared).
@@ -89,6 +86,13 @@
 #define CX_BUFFER_COPY_ON_EXTEND 0x08
 
 /**
+ * If this flag is enabled, the buffer will never free its contents regardless of #CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS.
+ *
+ * This is useful, for example, when you want to keep a pointer to the data after destroying the buffer.
+ */
+#define CX_BUFFER_DO_NOT_FREE 0x10
+
+/**
  * Function pointer for cxBufferWrite that is compatible with cx_write_func.
  * @see cx_write_func
  */
@@ -99,59 +103,6 @@
  */
 #define cxBufferReadFunc  ((cx_read_func) cxBufferRead)
 
-/**
- * Configuration for automatic flushing.
- */
-struct cx_buffer_flush_config_s {
-    /**
-     * The buffer may not extend beyond this threshold before starting to flush.
-     *
-     * Only used when the buffer uses #CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND.
-     * The threshold will be the maximum capacity the buffer is extended to
-     * before flushing.
-     */
-    size_t threshold;
-    /**
-     * The block size for the elements to flush.
-     */
-    size_t blksize;
-    /**
-     * The maximum number of blocks to flush in one cycle.
-     *
-     * @attention While it is guaranteed that cxBufferFlush() will not flush
-     * more blocks, this is not necessarily the case for cxBufferWrite().
-     * After performing a flush cycle, cxBufferWrite() will retry the write
-     * operation and potentially trigger another flush cycle, until the
-     * flush target accepts no more data.
-     */
-    size_t blkmax;
-
-    /**
-     * The target for the write function.
-     */
-    void *target;
-
-    /**
-     * The write-function used for flushing.
-     * If NULL, the flushed content gets discarded.
-     */
-    cx_write_func wfunc;
-};
-
-/**
- * Type alias for the flush configuration struct.
- *
- * @code
- * struct cx_buffer_flush_config_s {
- *     size_t threshold;
- *     size_t blksize;
- *     size_t blkmax;
- *     void *target;
- *     cx_write_func wfunc;
- * };
- * @endcode
- */
-typedef struct cx_buffer_flush_config_s CxBufferFlushConfig;
 
 /** Structure for the UCX buffer data. */
 struct cx_buffer_s {
@@ -168,16 +119,12 @@
     };
     /** The allocator to use for automatic memory management. */
     const CxAllocator *allocator;
-    /**
-     * Optional flush configuration
-     *
-     * @see cxBufferEnableFlushing()
-     */
-    CxBufferFlushConfig *flush;
     /** Current position of the buffer. */
     size_t pos;
     /** Current capacity (i.e. maximum size) of the buffer. */
     size_t capacity;
+    /** Maximum capacity that this buffer may grow to. */
+    size_t max_capacity;
     /** Current size of the buffer content. */
     size_t size;
     /**
@@ -217,35 +164,18 @@
  * space will be leaking after the copy-on-write operation.
  *
  * @param buffer the buffer to initialize
+ * @param allocator the allocator this buffer shall use for automatic
+ * memory management
+ * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used)
  * @param space pointer to the memory area, or @c NULL to allocate
  * new memory
  * @param capacity the capacity of the buffer
- * @param allocator the allocator this buffer shall use for automatic
- * memory management
- * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used)
  * @param flags buffer features (see cx_buffer_s.flags)
  * @return zero on success, non-zero if a required allocation failed
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferInit(CxBuffer *buffer, void *space, size_t capacity,
-        const CxAllocator *allocator, int flags);
-
-/**
- * Configures the buffer for flushing.
- *
- * Flushing can happen automatically when data is written
- * to the buffer (see cxBufferWrite()) or manually when
- * cxBufferFlush() is called.
- *
- * @param buffer the buffer
- * @param config the flush configuration
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- * @see cxBufferFlush()
- * @see cxBufferWrite()
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferEnableFlushing(CxBuffer *buffer, CxBufferFlushConfig config);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+int cxBufferInit(CxBuffer *buffer, const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        void *space, size_t capacity, int flags);
 
 /**
  * Destroys the buffer contents.
@@ -256,8 +186,8 @@
  * @param buffer the buffer which contents shall be destroyed
  * @see cxBufferInit()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxBufferDestroy(CxBuffer *buffer);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxBufferDestroy(CxBuffer *buffer);
 
 /**
  * Deallocates the buffer.
@@ -268,7 +198,8 @@
  * @param buffer the buffer to deallocate
  * @see cxBufferCreate()
  */
-CX_EXPORT void cxBufferFree(CxBuffer *buffer);
+CX_EXTERN
+void cxBufferFree(CxBuffer *buffer);
 
 /**
  * Allocates and initializes a fresh buffer.
@@ -285,18 +216,18 @@
  * Then this function will allocate the space and enforce
  * the #CX_BUFFER_FREE_CONTENTS flag.
  *
- * @param space pointer to the memory area, or @c NULL to allocate
- * new memory
- * @param capacity the capacity of the buffer
  * @param allocator the allocator to use for allocating the structure and the automatic
  * memory management within the buffer
  * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used)
+ * @param space pointer to the memory area, or @c NULL to allocate
+ * new memory
+ * @param capacity the capacity of the buffer
  * @param flags buffer features (see cx_buffer_s.flags)
  * @return a pointer to the buffer on success, @c NULL if a required allocation failed
  */
-cx_attr_malloc cx_attr_dealloc(cxBufferFree, 1) cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxBuffer *cxBufferCreate(void *space, size_t capacity,
-        const CxAllocator *allocator, int flags);
+CX_EXTERN CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxBufferFree, 1) CX_NODISCARD
+CxBuffer *cxBufferCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator, void *space,
+                                   size_t capacity, int flags);
 
 /**
  * Shifts the contents of the buffer by the given offset.
@@ -334,8 +265,8 @@
  * @see cxBufferShiftLeft()
  * @see cxBufferShiftRight()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferShift(CxBuffer *buffer, off_t shift);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxBufferShift(CxBuffer *buffer, off_t shift);
 
 /**
  * Shifts the buffer to the right.
@@ -347,8 +278,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero if a required auto-extension or copy-on-write fails
  * @see cxBufferShift()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferShiftRight(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t shift);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxBufferShiftRight(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t shift);
 
 /**
  * Shifts the buffer to the left.
@@ -360,8 +291,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero if the buffer uses copy-on-write and the allocation fails
  * @see cxBufferShift()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferShiftLeft(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t shift);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxBufferShiftLeft(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t shift);
 
 
 /**
@@ -384,8 +315,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero if the position is invalid
  *
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferSeek(CxBuffer *buffer, off_t offset, int whence);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxBufferSeek(CxBuffer *buffer, off_t offset, int whence);
 
 /**
  * Discards items from the end of the buffer.
@@ -398,8 +329,8 @@
  * @param nitems the number of items to discard
  * @return the actual number of discarded items
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxBufferPop(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t size, size_t nitems);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxBufferPop(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t size, size_t nitems);
 
 /**
  * Clears the buffer by resetting the position and deleting the data.
@@ -413,8 +344,8 @@
  * @param buffer the buffer to be cleared
  * @see cxBufferReset()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxBufferClear(CxBuffer *buffer);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxBufferClear(CxBuffer *buffer);
 
 /**
  * Resets the buffer by resetting the position and size to zero.
@@ -425,8 +356,8 @@
  * @param buffer the buffer to be cleared
  * @see cxBufferClear()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxBufferReset(CxBuffer *buffer);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxBufferReset(CxBuffer *buffer);
 
 /**
  * Tests, if the buffer position has exceeded the buffer size.
@@ -436,13 +367,15 @@
  * byte of the buffer's contents
  * @retval false otherwise
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT bool cxBufferEof(const CxBuffer *buffer);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+bool cxBufferEof(const CxBuffer *buffer);
 
 /**
  * Ensures that the buffer has the required capacity.
  *
  * If the current capacity is not sufficient, the buffer will be extended.
+ * If the current capacity is larger, the buffer is shrunk and superfluous
+ * content is discarded.
  *
  * This function will reserve no more bytes than requested, in contrast to
  * cxBufferMinimumCapacity(), which may reserve more bytes to improve the
@@ -450,13 +383,32 @@
  *
  * @param buffer the buffer
  * @param capacity the required capacity for this buffer
- * @retval zero the capacity was already sufficient or successfully increased
+ * @retval zero on success
  * @retval non-zero on allocation failure
  * @see cxBufferShrink()
  * @see cxBufferMinimumCapacity()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferReserve(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t capacity);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxBufferReserve(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t capacity);
+
+/**
+ * Limits the buffer's capacity.
+ *
+ * If the current capacity is already larger, this function fails and returns
+ * non-zero.
+ *
+ * The capacity limit will affect auto-extension features, as well as future
+ * calls to cxBufferMinimumCapacity() and cxBufferReserve().
+ *
+ * @param buffer the buffer
+ * @param capacity the maximum allowed capacity for this buffer
+ * @retval zero the limit is applied
+ * @retval non-zero the new limit is smaller than the current capacity
+ * @see cxBufferReserve()
+ * @see cxBufferMinimumCapacity()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxBufferMaximumCapacity(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t capacity);
 
 /**
  * Ensures that the buffer has a minimum capacity.
@@ -471,11 +423,12 @@
  * @param capacity the minimum required capacity for this buffer
  * @retval zero the capacity was already sufficient or successfully increased
  * @retval non-zero on allocation failure
+ * @see cxBufferMaximumCapacity()
  * @see cxBufferReserve()
  * @see cxBufferShrink()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferMinimumCapacity(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t capacity);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxBufferMinimumCapacity(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t capacity);
 
 /**
  * Shrinks the capacity of the buffer to fit its current size.
@@ -494,39 +447,19 @@
  * @see cxBufferReserve()
  * @see cxBufferMinimumCapacity()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxBufferShrink(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t reserve);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxBufferShrink(CxBuffer *buffer, size_t reserve);
 
 /**
  * Writes data to a CxBuffer.
  *
- * If automatic flushing is not enabled, the data is simply written into the
- * buffer at the current position, and the position of the buffer is increased
- * by the number of bytes written.
- *
- * If flushing is enabled and the buffer needs to flush, the data is flushed to
- * the target until the target signals that it cannot take more data by
- * returning zero via the respective write function. In that case, the remaining
- * data in this buffer is shifted to the beginning of this buffer so that the
- * newly available space can be used to append as much data as possible.
- *
- * This function only stops writing more elements when the flush target and this
- * buffer are both incapable of taking more data or all data has been written.
+ * If auto-extension is enabled, the buffer's capacity is automatically
+ * increased when it is not large enough to hold all data.
+ * By default, the capacity grows indefinitely, unless limited with
+ * cxBufferMaximumCapacity().
+ * When auto-extension fails, this function writes no data and returns zero.
  *
- * If, after flushing, the number of items that shall be written still exceeds
- * the capacity or flush threshold, this function tries to write all items directly
- * to the flush target, if possible.
- *
- * The number returned by this function is the number of elements from
- * @c ptr that could be written to either the flush target or the buffer.
- * That means it does @em not include the number of items that were already in
- * the buffer and were also flushed during the process.
- *
- * @attention
- * When @p size is larger than one and the contents of the buffer are not aligned
- * with @p size, flushing stops after all complete items have been flushed, leaving
- * the misaligned part in the buffer.
- * Afterward, this function only writes as many items as possible to the buffer.
+ * The position of the buffer is moved alongside the written data.
  *
  * @note The signature is compatible with the fwrite() family of functions.
  *
@@ -538,8 +471,8 @@
  * @see cxBufferAppend()
  * @see cxBufferRead()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxBufferWrite(const void *ptr, size_t size,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxBufferWrite(const void *ptr, size_t size,
         size_t nitems, CxBuffer *buffer);
 
 /**
@@ -561,67 +494,11 @@
  * @see cxBufferWrite()
  * @see cxBufferRead()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxBufferAppend(const void *ptr, size_t size,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxBufferAppend(const void *ptr, size_t size,
         size_t nitems, CxBuffer *buffer);
 
 /**
- * Performs a single flush-run on the specified buffer.
- *
- * Does nothing when the position in the buffer is zero.
- * Otherwise, the data until the current position minus
- * one is considered for flushing.
- * Note carefully that flushing will never exceed the
- * current @em position, even when the size of the
- * buffer is larger than the current position.
- *
- * One flush run will try to flush @c blkmax many
- * blocks of size @c blksize until either the @p buffer
- * has no more data to flush or the write function
- * used for flushing returns zero.
- *
- * The buffer is shifted left for that many bytes
- * the flush operation has successfully flushed.
- *
- * @par Example 1
- * Assume you have a buffer with size 340 and you are
- * at position 200. The flush configuration is
- * @c blkmax=4 and @c blksize=64 .
- * Assume that the entire flush operation is successful.
- * All 200 bytes on the left-hand-side from the current
- * position are written.
- * That means the size of the buffer is now 140 and the
- * position is zero.
- *
- * @par Example 2
- * Same as Example 1, but now the @c blkmax is 1.
- * The size of the buffer is now 276, and the position is 136.
- *
- * @par Example 3
- * Same as Example 1, but now assume the flush target
- * only accepts 100 bytes before returning zero.
- * That means the flush operation manages to flush
- * one complete block and one partial block, ending
- * up with a buffer with size 240 and position 100.
- *
- * @remark Just returns zero when flushing was not enabled with
- * cxBufferEnableFlushing().
- *
- * @remark When the buffer uses copy-on-write, the memory
- * is copied first, before attempting any flush.
- * This is, however, considered an erroneous use of the
- * buffer because it makes little sense to put
- * readonly data into an UCX buffer for flushing instead
- * of writing it directly to the target.
- *
- * @param buffer the buffer
- * @return the number of successfully flushed bytes
- * @see cxBufferEnableFlushing()
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxBufferFlush(CxBuffer *buffer);
-
-/**
  * Reads data from a CxBuffer.
  *
  * The position of the buffer is increased by the number of bytes read.
@@ -636,8 +513,8 @@
  * @see cxBufferWrite()
  * @see cxBufferAppend()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxBufferRead(void *ptr, size_t size,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxBufferRead(void *ptr, size_t size,
         size_t nitems, CxBuffer *buffer);
 
 /**
@@ -645,8 +522,9 @@
  *
  * The least significant byte of the argument is written to the buffer. If the
  * end of the buffer is reached and #CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND feature is enabled,
- * the buffer capacity is extended by cxBufferMinimumCapacity(). If the feature
- * is disabled or the buffer extension fails, @c EOF is returned.
+ * the buffer capacity is extended, unless a limit set by
+ * cxBufferMaximumCapacity() is reached.
+ * If the feature is disabled or the buffer extension fails, @c EOF is returned.
  *
  * On successful writing, the position of the buffer is increased.
  *
@@ -655,38 +533,71 @@
  *
  * @param buffer the buffer to write to
  * @param c the character to write
- * @return the byte that has been written or @c EOF when the end of the stream is
- * reached, and automatic extension is not enabled or not possible
+ * @return the byte that has been written or @c EOF when the end of the
+ * stream is reached, and automatic extension is not enabled or not possible
  * @see cxBufferTerminate()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferPut(CxBuffer *buffer, int c);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxBufferPut(CxBuffer *buffer, int c);
 
 /**
  * Writes a terminating zero to a buffer at the current position.
  *
- * If successful, sets the size to the current position and advances the position by one.
+ * If successful, also sets the size to the current position and shrinks the buffer.
  *
  * The purpose of this function is to have the written data ready to be used as
  * a C string with the buffer's size being the length of that string.
  *
  * @param buffer the buffer to write to
  * @return zero, if the terminator could be written, non-zero otherwise
+ * @see cxBufferShrink()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferTerminate(CxBuffer *buffer);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxBufferTerminate(CxBuffer *buffer);
+
+/**
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param buffer the buffer
+ * @param str the string
+ * @return the number of bytes written
+ * @see cxBufferPutString()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cx_buffer_put_string(CxBuffer *buffer, cxstring str);
 
 /**
- * Writes a string to a buffer.
+ * Writes a string to a buffer with cxBufferWrite().
  *
- * This is a convenience function for <code>cxBufferWrite(str, 1, strlen(str), buffer)</code>.
+ * @param buffer (@c CxBuffer*) the buffer
+ * @param str (any string) the zero-terminated string
+ * @return (@c size_t) the number of bytes written
+ * @see cxBufferWrite()
+ * @see cx_strcast()
+ */
+#define cxBufferPutString(buffer, str) cx_buffer_put_string(buffer, cx_strcast(str))
+
+/**
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
  * @param buffer the buffer
- * @param str the zero-terminated string
+ * @param str the string
  * @return the number of bytes written
+ * @see cxBufferPutString()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_cstr_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxBufferPutString(CxBuffer *buffer, const char *str);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cx_buffer_append_string(CxBuffer *buffer, cxstring str);
+
+/**
+ * Appends a string to a buffer with cxBufferAppend().
+ *
+ * @param buffer (@c CxBuffer*) the buffer
+ * @param str (any string) the zero-terminated string
+ * @return (@c size_t) the number of bytes written
+ * @see cxBufferAppend()
+ * @see cx_strcast()
+ */
+#define cxBufferAppendString(buffer, str) cx_buffer_append_string(buffer, cx_strcast(str))
 
 /**
  * Gets a character from a buffer.
@@ -696,11 +607,29 @@
  * @param buffer the buffer to read from
  * @return the character or @c EOF, if the end of the buffer is reached
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxBufferGet(CxBuffer *buffer);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxBufferGet(CxBuffer *buffer);
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
+/**
+ * Gets the data in a buffer as a @c cxstring.
+ *
+ * @param buffer the buffer
+ * @return the data in the buffer interpreted as a @c cxstring
+ */
+CX_NONNULL CX_INLINE
+cxstring cx_bstr(CxBuffer *buffer) {
+    return cx_strn(buffer->space, buffer->size);
 }
-#endif
+
+/**
+ * Gets the data in a buffer as a @c cxmutstr.
+ *
+ * @param buffer the buffer
+ * @return the data in the buffer interpreted as a @c cxmutstr
+ */
+CX_NONNULL CX_INLINE
+cxmutstr cx_bstr_m(CxBuffer *buffer) {
+    return cx_mutstrn(buffer->space, buffer->size);
+}
 
 #endif // UCX_BUFFER_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/collection.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/collection.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -40,10 +40,6 @@
 #include "iterator.h"
 #include "compare.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /**
  * Special constant used for creating collections that are storing pointers.
  */
@@ -58,10 +54,6 @@
      */
     const CxAllocator *allocator;
     /**
-     * The comparator function for the elements.
-     */
-    cx_compare_func cmpfunc;
-    /**
      * The size of each element.
      */
     size_t elem_size;
@@ -70,6 +62,19 @@
      */
     size_t size;
     /**
+     * A two-argument comparator function for the elements.
+     */
+    cx_compare_func simple_cmp;
+    /**
+     * A three-argument comparator function for the elements.
+     * If specified, this function has precedence over the @c simple_cmp function.
+     */
+    cx_compare_func2 advanced_cmp;
+    /**
+     * A pointer to custom data for the @c advanced_cmp function
+     */
+    void *cmp_data;
+    /**
      * An optional simple destructor for the collection's elements.
      *
      * @attention Read the documentation of the particular collection implementation
@@ -139,6 +144,25 @@
  */
 #define cxCollectionStoresPointers(c) ((c)->collection.store_pointer)
 
+
+/**
+ * Convenience macro for adding indirection to an element if the collection is storing pointers.
+ *
+ * @param c a pointer to a struct that contains #CX_COLLECTION_BASE
+ * @param elem the pointer that shall be taken the address from, if the collection is storing pointers
+ * @return if the collection is storing pointers, takes the address of @p elem, otherwise returns @p elem
+ */
+#define cx_ref(c, elem) (cxCollectionStoresPointers(c) ? ((void*)&(elem)) : (elem))
+
+/**
+ * Convenience macro for dereferencing an element if the collection is storing pointers.
+ *
+ * @param c a pointer to a struct that contains #CX_COLLECTION_BASE
+ * @param elem a pointer to the collection element
+ * @return if the collection is storing pointers, dereferences @p elem, otherwise returns @p elem
+ */
+#define cx_deref(c, elem) (cxCollectionStoresPointers(c) ? *((void**)(elem)) : (elem))
+
 /**
  * Indicates whether the collection can guarantee that the stored elements are currently sorted.
  *
@@ -154,29 +178,89 @@
 #define cxCollectionSorted(c) ((c)->collection.sorted || (c)->collection.size == 0)
 
 /**
- * Sets the compare function for a collection.
+ * Sets a simple compare function for a collection.
+ *
+ * Erases a possible advanced compare function.
+ * If you want to set both, because you want to access the simple function
+ * in your advanced function, you must set the simple function first.
+ *
+ * @param c a pointer to a struct that contains #CX_COLLECTION_BASE
+ * @param func (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function
+ */
+#define cxSetCompareFunc(c, func) \
+    (c)->collection.simple_cmp = (cx_compare_func)(func); \
+    (c)->collection.advanced_cmp = NULL
+
+/**
+ * Sets an advanced compare function that supports custom data for a collection.
+ *
+ * @param c a pointer to a struct that contains #CX_COLLECTION_BASE
+ * @param func (@c cx_compare_func2) the compare function
+ * @param data (@c void*) the pointer to custom data that is passed to the compare function
+ */
+#define cxSetAdvancedCompareFunc(c, func, data) \
+    (c)->collection.advanced_cmp = (cx_compare_func2) func; \
+    (c)->collection.cmp_data = data
+
+/**
+ * Invokes the simple comparator function for two elements.
+ *
+ * Usually only used by collection implementations. There should be no need
+ * to invoke this macro manually.
  *
  * @param c a pointer to a struct that contains #CX_COLLECTION_BASE
- * @param func (@c cx_compare_func) the compare function that shall be used by @c c
+ * @param left (@c void*) pointer to data
+ * @param right (@c void*) pointer to data
+ */
+#define cx_invoke_simple_compare_func(c, left, right) \
+    (c)->collection.simple_cmp(left, right)
+
+/**
+ * Invokes the advanced comparator function for two elements.
+ *
+ * Usually only used by collection implementations. There should be no need
+ * to invoke this macro manually.
+ *
+ * @param c a pointer to a struct that contains #CX_COLLECTION_BASE
+ * @param left (@c void*) pointer to data
+ * @param right (@c void*) pointer to data
  */
-#define cxCollectionCompareFunc(c, func) (c)->collection.cmpfunc = (func)
+#define cx_invoke_advanced_compare_func(c, left, right) \
+    (c)->collection.advanced_cmp(left, right, (c)->collection.cmp_data)
+
+
+/**
+ * Invokes the configured comparator function for two elements.
+ *
+ * Usually only used by collection implementations. There should be no need
+ * to invoke this macro manually.
+ *
+ * @param c a pointer to a struct that contains #CX_COLLECTION_BASE
+ * @param left (@c void*) pointer to data
+ * @param right (@c void*) pointer to data
+ */
+#define cx_invoke_compare_func(c, left, right) \
+    (((c)->collection.advanced_cmp) ? \
+    cx_invoke_advanced_compare_func(c,left,right) : \
+    cx_invoke_simple_compare_func(c,left,right))
 
 /**
  * Sets a simple destructor function for this collection.
  *
  * @param c a pointer to a struct that contains #CX_COLLECTION_BASE
- * @param destr the destructor function
+ * @param destr (@c cx_destructor_func) the destructor function
  */
-#define cxDefineDestructor(c, destr) \
+#define cxSetDestructor(c, destr) \
     (c)->collection.simple_destructor = (cx_destructor_func) destr
 
 /**
- * Sets a simple destructor function for this collection.
+ * Sets an advanced destructor function for this collection.
  *
  * @param c a pointer to a struct that contains #CX_COLLECTION_BASE
- * @param destr the destructor function
+ * @param destr (@c cx_destructor_func2) the destructor function
+ * @param data (@c void*) the additional data the advanced destructor is invoked with
  */
-#define cxDefineAdvancedDestructor(c, destr, data) \
+#define cxSetAdvancedDestructor(c, destr, data) \
     (c)->collection.advanced_destructor = (cx_destructor_func2) destr; \
     (c)->collection.destructor_data = data
 
@@ -228,8 +312,22 @@
     if ((c)->collection.simple_destructor) cx_invoke_simple_destructor(c,e); \
     if ((c)->collection.advanced_destructor) cx_invoke_advanced_destructor(c,e)
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+/**
+ * Invokes all available destructor functions for a specific element.
+ *
+ * Usually only used by collection implementations. There should be no need
+ * to invoke this macro manually.
+ *
+ * In contrast to cx_invoke_destructor(), this macro does not automatically
+ * dereference pointers to the elements when cxCollectionStoresPointers()
+ * returns true.
+ *
+ * @param c a pointer to a struct that contains #CX_COLLECTION_BASE
+ * @param e pointer to the element
+ */
+#define cx_invoke_destructor_raw(c, e) \
+    if ((c)->collection.simple_destructor) (c)->collection.simple_destructor(e); \
+    if ((c)->collection.advanced_destructor) (c)->collection.advanced_destructor((c)->collection.destructor_data, e)
+
 
 #endif // UCX_COLLECTION_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/common.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/common.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -80,10 +80,10 @@
 #define UCX_COMMON_H
 
 /** Major UCX version as integer constant. */
-#define UCX_VERSION_MAJOR   3
+#define UCX_VERSION_MAJOR   4
 
 /** Minor UCX version as integer constant. */
-#define UCX_VERSION_MINOR   1
+#define UCX_VERSION_MINOR   0
 
 /** Version constant which ensures to increase monotonically. */
 #define UCX_VERSION (((UCX_VERSION_MAJOR)<<16)|UCX_VERSION_MINOR)
@@ -133,27 +133,27 @@
 /**
  * Inform the compiler that falling through a switch case is intentional.
  */
-#define cx_attr_fallthrough __attribute__((__fallthrough__))
+#define CX_FALLTHROUGH __attribute__((__fallthrough__))
 
 /**
  * All pointer arguments must be non-NULL.
  */
-#define cx_attr_nonnull __attribute__((__nonnull__))
+#define CX_NONNULL __attribute__((__nonnull__))
 
 /**
  * The specified pointer arguments must be non-NULL.
  */
-#define cx_attr_nonnull_arg(...) __attribute__((__nonnull__(__VA_ARGS__)))
+#define CX_NONNULL_ARG(...) __attribute__((__nonnull__(__VA_ARGS__)))
 
 /**
  * The returned value is guaranteed to be non-NULL.
  */
-#define cx_attr_returns_nonnull __attribute__((__returns_nonnull__))
+#define CX_RETURNS_NONNULL __attribute__((__returns_nonnull__))
 
 /**
  * The attributed function always returns freshly allocated memory.
  */
-#define cx_attr_malloc __attribute__((__malloc__))
+#define CX_MALLOC __attribute__((__malloc__))
 
 #if !defined(__clang__) && __GNUC__ >= 11
 /**
@@ -163,59 +163,59 @@
  * @param freefunc the function that shall be used to free the memory
  * @param freefunc_arg the index of the pointer argument in @p freefunc
  */
-#define cx_attr_dealloc(freefunc, freefunc_arg) \
+#define CX_DEALLOC(freefunc, freefunc_arg) \
     __attribute__((__malloc__(freefunc, freefunc_arg)))
 #else
 /**
  * Not supported in clang.
  */
-#define cx_attr_dealloc(...)
+#define CX_DEALLOC(...)
 #endif // __clang__
 
 /**
  * Shortcut to specify #cxFree() as deallocator.
  */
-#define cx_attr_dealloc_ucx cx_attr_dealloc(cxFree, 2)
+#define CX_DEALLOC_UCX CX_DEALLOC(cxFree, 2)
 
 /**
  * Specifies the parameters from which the allocation size is calculated.
  */
-#define cx_attr_allocsize(...) __attribute__((__alloc_size__(__VA_ARGS__)))
+#define CX_ALLOCSIZE(...) __attribute__((__alloc_size__(__VA_ARGS__)))
 
 
 #ifdef __clang__
 /**
  * No support for @c null_terminated_string_arg in clang or GCC below 14.
  */
-#define cx_attr_cstr_arg(idx)
+#define CX_CSTR_ARG(idx)
 /**
  * No support for the access attribute in clang.
  */
-#define cx_attr_access(mode, ...)
+#define CX_ACCESS(mode, ...)
 #else
 #if __GNUC__ < 10
 /**
  * No support for access attribute in GCC < 10.
  */
-#define cx_attr_access(mode, ...)
+#define CX_ACCESS(mode, ...)
 #else
 /**
  * Helper macro to define access macros.
  */
-#define cx_attr_access(mode, ...) __attribute__((__access__(mode, __VA_ARGS__)))
+#define CX_ACCESS(mode, ...) __attribute__((__access__(mode, __VA_ARGS__)))
 #endif // __GNUC__ < 10
 #if __GNUC__ < 14
 /**
  * No support for @c null_terminated_string_arg in clang or GCC below 14.
  */
-#define cx_attr_cstr_arg(idx)
+#define CX_CSTR_ARG(idx)
 #else
 /**
  * The specified argument is expected to be a zero-terminated string.
  *
  * @param idx the index of the argument
  */
-#define cx_attr_cstr_arg(idx) \
+#define CX_CSTR_ARG(idx) \
     __attribute__((__null_terminated_string_arg__(idx)))
 #endif // __GNUC__ < 14
 #endif // __clang__
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@
  * Takes one or two arguments: the index of the pointer and (optionally) the
  * index of another argument specifying the maximum number of accessed bytes.
  */
-#define cx_attr_access_r(...) cx_attr_access(__read_only__, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define CX_ACCESS_R(...) CX_ACCESS(__read_only__, __VA_ARGS__)
 
 /**
  * Specifies that the function will read and write through the given pointer.
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@
  * Takes one or two arguments: the index of the pointer and (optionally) the
  * index of another argument specifying the maximum number of accessed bytes.
  */
-#define cx_attr_access_rw(...) cx_attr_access(__read_write__, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define CX_ACCESS_RW(...) CX_ACCESS(__read_write__, __VA_ARGS__)
 
 /**
  * Specifies that the function will only write through the given pointer.
@@ -243,27 +243,38 @@
  * Takes one or two arguments: the index of the pointer and (optionally) the
  * index of another argument specifying the maximum number of accessed bytes.
  */
-#define cx_attr_access_w(...) cx_attr_access(__write_only__, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define CX_ACCESS_W(...) CX_ACCESS(__write_only__, __VA_ARGS__)
 
 /**
  * Do not warn about unused variable.
  */
-#define cx_attr_unused __attribute__((__unused__))
+#define CX_UNUSED __attribute__((__unused__))
 
 /**
  * Warn about discarded return value.
  */
-#define cx_attr_nodiscard __attribute__((__warn_unused_result__))
+#define CX_NODISCARD __attribute__((__warn_unused_result__))
 
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-//       MSVC specifics
+//       Support for thread_local
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+#define cx_thread_local thread_local
+#else // ! __cplusplus
 #ifdef _MSC_VER
-// fix missing _Thread_local support
-#define _Thread_local __declspec(thread)
+#define cx_thread_local __declspec(thread)
+#else // ! _MSC_VER
+#if !defined __STDC_VERSION__ || __STDC_VERSION__ < 202300L
+/** Platform independent thread-local macro. */
+#define cx_thread_local _Thread_local
+#else // C23 or newer
+/** Platform independent thread-local macro. */
+#define cx_thread_local thread_local
+#endif // C23
 #endif // _MSC_VER
+#endif // __cplusplus
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //       Exported and inlined functions
@@ -278,6 +289,16 @@
 #define CX_EXPORT
 #endif // CX_WINDLL / CX_WINDLL_EXPORT
 
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+#define CX_EXTERN extern "C" CX_EXPORT
+#define CX_FPTR extern "C" typedef
+#else
+/** Declares a function with external linkage. */
+#define CX_EXTERN CX_EXPORT
+/** Defines a function pointer. */
+#define CX_FPTR typedef
+#endif
+
 #ifdef __GNUC__
 /**
  * Declares a function to be inlined.
@@ -355,10 +376,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero the multiplication would overflow
  */
-#if __cplusplus
-extern "C"
-#endif
-CX_EXPORT int cx_szmul_impl(size_t a, size_t b, size_t *result);
+CX_EXTERN
+int cx_szmul_impl(size_t a, size_t b, size_t *result);
 #endif // cx_szmul
 
 #endif // UCX_COMMON_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/compare.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/compare.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -38,10 +38,6 @@
 
 #include "common.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /**
  * A comparator function comparing two arbitrary values.
  *
@@ -54,7 +50,14 @@
  * can be used, but they are NOT compatible with this function
  * pointer.
  */
-typedef int (*cx_compare_func)(const void *left, const void *right);
+CX_FPTR int (*cx_compare_func)(const void *left, const void *right);
+
+/**
+ * A comparator function comparing two arbitrary values.
+ *
+ * Functions with this signature allow specifying a pointer to custom data.
+ */
+CX_FPTR int (*cx_compare_func2)(const void *left, const void *right, void *data);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type int.
@@ -68,8 +71,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_int(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_int(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type int.
@@ -80,8 +83,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_int(int i1, int i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_int(int i1, int i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type long int.
@@ -95,8 +98,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_longint(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_longint(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type long int.
@@ -107,8 +110,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_longint(long int i1, long int i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_longint(long int i1, long int i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type long long.
@@ -122,8 +125,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_longlong(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_longlong(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type long long.
@@ -134,8 +137,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_longlong(long long int i1, long long int i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_longlong(long long int i1, long long int i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type int16_t.
@@ -149,8 +152,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_int16(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_int16(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type int16_t.
@@ -161,8 +164,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_int16(int16_t i1, int16_t i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_int16(int16_t i1, int16_t i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type int32_t.
@@ -176,8 +179,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_int32(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_int32(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type int32_t.
@@ -188,8 +191,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_int32(int32_t i1, int32_t i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_int32(int32_t i1, int32_t i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type int64_t.
@@ -203,8 +206,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_int64(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_int64(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type int64_t.
@@ -215,8 +218,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_int64(int64_t i1, int64_t i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_int64(int64_t i1, int64_t i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type unsigned int.
@@ -230,8 +233,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_uint(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_uint(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type unsigned int.
@@ -242,8 +245,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_uint(unsigned int i1, unsigned int i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_uint(unsigned int i1, unsigned int i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type unsigned long int.
@@ -257,8 +260,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_ulongint(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_ulongint(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type unsigned long int.
@@ -269,8 +272,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_ulongint(unsigned long int i1, unsigned long int i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_ulongint(unsigned long int i1, unsigned long int i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type unsigned long long.
@@ -284,8 +287,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_ulonglong(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_ulonglong(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type unsigned long long.
@@ -296,8 +299,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_ulonglong(unsigned long long int i1, unsigned long long int i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_ulonglong(unsigned long long int i1, unsigned long long int i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type uint16_t.
@@ -311,8 +314,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_uint16(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_uint16(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type uint16_t.
@@ -323,8 +326,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_uint16(uint16_t i1, uint16_t i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_uint16(uint16_t i1, uint16_t i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type uint32_t.
@@ -338,8 +341,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_uint32(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_uint32(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type uint32_t.
@@ -350,8 +353,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_uint32(uint32_t i1, uint32_t i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_uint32(uint32_t i1, uint32_t i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type uint64_t.
@@ -365,8 +368,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_uint64(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_uint64(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type uint64_t.
@@ -377,8 +380,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_uint64(uint64_t i1, uint64_t i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_uint64(uint64_t i1, uint64_t i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type size_t.
@@ -392,8 +395,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_size(const void *i1, const void *i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_size(const void *i1, const void *i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two integers of type size_t.
@@ -404,8 +407,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_size(size_t i1, size_t i2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_size(size_t i1, size_t i2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two real numbers of type float with precision 1e-6f.
@@ -419,8 +422,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_float(const void *f1, const void *f2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_float(const void *f1, const void *f2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two real numbers of type float with precision 1e-6f.
@@ -431,8 +434,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_float(float f1, float f2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_float(float f1, float f2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two real numbers of type double with precision 1e-14.
@@ -446,8 +449,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_double(const void *d1, const void *d2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_double(const void *d1, const void *d2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two real numbers of type double with precision 1e-14.
@@ -458,8 +461,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_double(double d1, double d2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_double(double d1, double d2);
 
 /**
  * Compares the integer representation of two pointers.
@@ -473,8 +476,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_intptr(const void *ptr1, const void *ptr2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_intptr(const void *ptr1, const void *ptr2);
 
 /**
  * Compares the integer representation of two pointers.
@@ -485,8 +488,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_intptr(intptr_t ptr1, intptr_t ptr2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_intptr(intptr_t ptr1, intptr_t ptr2);
 
 /**
  * Compares the unsigned integer representation of two pointers.
@@ -500,8 +503,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_uintptr(const void *ptr1, const void *ptr2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_uintptr(const void *ptr1, const void *ptr2);
 
 /**
  * Compares the unsigned integer representation of two pointers.
@@ -512,8 +515,8 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vcmp_uintptr(uintptr_t ptr1, uintptr_t ptr2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_vcmp_uintptr(uintptr_t ptr1, uintptr_t ptr2);
 
 /**
  * Compares the pointers specified in the arguments without dereferencing.
@@ -524,11 +527,25 @@
  * @retval 0 if both arguments are equal
  * @retval 1 if the left argument is greater than the right argument
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_cmp_ptr(const void *ptr1, const void *ptr2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_ptr(const void *ptr1, const void *ptr2);
+
+/** Wraps a compare function for cx_cmp_wrap. */
+typedef struct {
+    /** The wrapped compare function */
+    cx_compare_func cmp;
+} cx_compare_func_wrapper;
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+/**
+ * A @c cx_compare_func2 wrapper for a @c cx_compare_func().
+ *
+ * @param ptr1 pointer one
+ * @param ptr2 pointer two
+ * @param cmp_wrapper a pointer to a @c cx_compare_func_wrapper
+ * @return the result of the invoked compare function
+ * @see cx_compare_func_wrapper
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_cmp_wrap(const void *ptr1, const void *ptr2, void* cmp_wrapper);
 
 #endif //UCX_COMPARE_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/hash_key.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/hash_key.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -40,10 +40,6 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "string.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /** Internal structure for a key within a hash map. */
 struct cx_hash_key_s {
     /**
@@ -78,8 +74,8 @@
  * @param key the key, the hash shall be computed for
  * @see cx_hash_key()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cx_hash_murmur(CxHashKey *key);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_hash_murmur(CxHashKey *key);
 
 /**
  * Mixes up a 32-bit integer to be used as a hash.
@@ -89,7 +85,13 @@
  * @param x the integer
  * @return the hash
  */
-CX_EXPORT uint32_t cx_hash_u32(uint32_t x);
+CX_INLINE
+uint32_t cx_hash_u32(uint32_t x) {
+    x = ((x >> 16) ^ x) * 0x45d9f3bu;
+    x = ((x >> 16) ^ x) * 0x45d9f3bu;
+    x = (x >> 16) ^ x;
+    return x;
+}
 
 /**
  * Mixes up a 64-bit integer to be used as a hash.
@@ -99,7 +101,27 @@
  * @param x the integer
  * @return the hash
  */
-CX_EXPORT uint64_t cx_hash_u64(uint64_t x);
+CX_INLINE
+uint64_t cx_hash_u64(uint64_t x){
+    x = (x ^ (x >> 30)) * UINT64_C(0xbf58476d1ce4e5b9);
+    x = (x ^ (x >> 27)) * UINT64_C(0x94d049bb133111eb);
+    x = x ^ (x >> 31);
+    return x;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Computes a hash key for an arbitrary object.
+ *
+ * The computation uses the in-memory representation that might not be
+ * the same on different platforms. Therefore, this hash should not be
+ * used for data exchange with different machines.
+ *
+ * @param obj a pointer to an arbitrary object
+ * @param len the length of the object in memory
+ * @return the hash key
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_ACCESS_R(1, 2)
+CxHashKey cx_hash_key(const void *obj, size_t len);
 
 /**
  * Computes a hash key from a 32-bit integer.
@@ -107,8 +129,14 @@
  * @param x the integer
  * @return the hash key
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxHashKey cx_hash_key_u32(uint32_t x);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+CxHashKey cx_hash_key_u32(uint32_t x) {
+    CxHashKey key;
+    key.data = NULL;
+    key.len = 0;
+    key.hash = cx_hash_u32(x);
+    return key;
+}
 
 /**
  * Computes a hash key from a 64-bit integer.
@@ -116,8 +144,14 @@
  * @param x the integer
  * @return the hash key
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxHashKey cx_hash_key_u64(uint64_t x);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+CxHashKey cx_hash_key_u64(uint64_t x) {
+    CxHashKey key;
+    key.data = NULL;
+    key.len = 0;
+    key.hash = cx_hash_u64(x);
+    return key;
+}
 
 /**
  * Computes a hash key from a string.
@@ -127,8 +161,10 @@
  * @param str the string
  * @return the hash key
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_cstr_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT CxHashKey cx_hash_key_str(const char *str);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_CSTR_ARG(1) CX_INLINE
+CxHashKey cx_hash_key_str(const char *str) {
+    return cx_hash_key((const void*)str, str == NULL ? 0 : strlen(str));
+}
 
 /**
  * Computes a hash key from a string.
@@ -141,8 +177,10 @@
  * @param str the string
  * @return the hash key
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_cstr_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT CxHashKey cx_hash_key_ustr(const unsigned char *str);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_CSTR_ARG(1) CX_INLINE
+CxHashKey cx_hash_key_ustr(const unsigned char *str) {
+    return cx_hash_key((const void*)str, str == NULL ? 0 : strlen((const char*)str));
+}
 
 /**
  * Computes a hash key from a byte array.
@@ -151,23 +189,21 @@
  * @param len the length
  * @return the hash key
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_access_r(1, 2)
-CX_EXPORT CxHashKey cx_hash_key_bytes(const unsigned char *bytes, size_t len);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_ACCESS_R(1, 2) CX_INLINE
+CxHashKey cx_hash_key_bytes(const unsigned char *bytes, size_t len) {
+    return cx_hash_key((const void*)bytes, len);
+}
 
 /**
- * Computes a hash key for an arbitrary object.
+ * Computes a hash key from a UCX string.
  *
- * The computation uses the in-memory representation that might not be
- * the same on different platforms. Therefore, this hash should not be
- * used for data exchange with different machines.
- *
- * @param obj a pointer to an arbitrary object
- * @param len the length of the object in memory
+ * @param str the string
  * @return the hash key
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-cx_attr_access_r(1, 2)
-CX_EXPORT CxHashKey cx_hash_key(const void *obj, size_t len);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+CxHashKey cx_hash_key_cxstr(cxstring str) {
+    return cx_hash_key((void*)str.ptr, str.length);
+}
 
 /**
  * Computes a hash key from a UCX string.
@@ -175,35 +211,40 @@
  * @param str the string
  * @return the hash key
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxHashKey cx_hash_key_cxstr(cxstring str);
-
-/**
- * Computes a hash key from a UCX string.
- *
- * @param str the string
- * @return the hash key
- */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxHashKey cx_hash_key_mutstr(cxmutstr str);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+CxHashKey cx_hash_key_mutstr(cxmutstr str) {
+    return cx_hash_key((void*)str.ptr, str.length);
+}
 
 /**
  * The identity function for the CX_HASH_KEY() macro.
  * You should never need to use this manually.
  *
  * @param key the key
- * @return a copy of the key
+ * @return a copy of the key (not the data)
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_INLINE CxHashKey cx_hash_key_identity(CxHashKey key) {
+CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+CxHashKey cx_hash_key_identity(CxHashKey key) {
     return key;
 }
 
+/**
+ * The dereference function for the CX_HASH_KEY() macro.
+ * You should never need to use this manually.
+ *
+ * @param key a pointer to a key
+ * @return a copy of the key (not the data)
+ */
+CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+CxHashKey cx_hash_key_deref(const CxHashKey *key) {
+    return *key;
+}
+
 #ifndef __cplusplus
 /**
  * Creates a hash key from any of the supported types with implicit length.
  *
- * Does nothing when passing a CxHashkey.
+ * Does nothing when passing a CxHashKey and dereferences CxHashKey pointers.
  *
  * Supported types are UCX strings, zero-terminated C strings,
  * and 32-bit or 64-bit unsigned integers.
@@ -212,6 +253,8 @@
  * @returns the @c CxHashKey
  */
 #define CX_HASH_KEY(key) _Generic((key), \
+        CxHashKey*: cx_hash_key_deref, \
+        const CxHashKey*: cx_hash_key_deref, \
         CxHashKey: cx_hash_key_identity, \
         cxstring: cx_hash_key_cxstr, \
         cxmutstr: cx_hash_key_mutstr, \
@@ -233,12 +276,19 @@
  * @param right (@c CxHashKey*) the second key
  * @return zero when the keys equal, non-zero when they differ
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cx_hash_key_cmp(const void *left, const void *right);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+int cx_hash_key_cmp(const void *left, const void *right);
+
+/**
+ * Interprets the key data as a string and returns it.
+ *
+ * @param key the key
+ * @return the key data as a string
+ */
+CX_EXTERN
+cxstring cx_hash_key_as_string(const CxHashKey *key);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-
 // ----------------------------------------------------------
 // Overloads of CX_HASH_KEY (the C++ version of a _Generic)
 // ----------------------------------------------------------
@@ -247,6 +297,10 @@
     return key;
 }
 
+CX_CPPDECL CxHashKey CX_HASH_KEY(const CxHashKey *key) {
+    return *key;
+}
+
 CX_CPPDECL CxHashKey CX_HASH_KEY(cxstring str) {
     return cx_hash_key_cxstr(str);
 }
--- a/src/ucx/cx/hash_map.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/hash_map.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -38,10 +38,6 @@
 
 #include "map.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /** Internal structure for an element of a hash map. */
 struct cx_hash_map_element_s;
 
@@ -83,27 +79,11 @@
  * @param buckets the initial number of buckets in this hash map
  * @return a pointer to the new hash map
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_malloc cx_attr_dealloc(cxMapFree, 1)
-CX_EXPORT CxMap *cxHashMapCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxMapFree, 1)
+CxMap *cxHashMapCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
         size_t itemsize, size_t buckets);
 
 /**
- * Creates a new hash map with a default number of buckets.
- *
- * If @p elem_size is #CX_STORE_POINTERS, the created map stores pointers instead of
- * copies of the added elements.
- *
- * @note Iterators provided by this hash map implementation provide the remove operation.
- * The index value of an iterator is incremented when the iterator advanced without
- * removing an entry.
- * In other words, when the iterator is finished, @c index==size .
- *
- * @param itemsize (@c size_t) the size of one element
- * @return (@c CxMap*) a pointer to the new hash map
- */
-#define cxHashMapCreateSimple(itemsize) cxHashMapCreate(NULL, itemsize, 0)
-
-/**
  * Increases the number of buckets, if necessary.
  *
  * The load threshold is @c 0.75*buckets. If the element count exceeds the load
@@ -122,12 +102,7 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero if a memory allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapRehash(CxMap *map);
-
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMapRehash(CxMap *map);
 
 #endif // UCX_HASH_MAP_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/iterator.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/iterator.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -38,10 +38,6 @@
 
 #include "common.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /**
  * Common data for all iterators.
  */
@@ -183,16 +179,6 @@
 #define cxIteratorFlagRemoval(iter) ((iter).base.remove = (iter).base.allow_remove)
 
 /**
- * Obtains a reference to an arbitrary iterator.
- *
- * This is useful for APIs that expect some iterator as an argument.
- *
- * @param iter the iterator
- * @return (@c struct @c cx_iterator_base_s*) a pointer to the iterator
- */
-#define cxIteratorRef(iter) &((iter).base)
-
-/**
  * Loops over an iterator.
  *
  * @param type the type of the elements
@@ -214,26 +200,15 @@
  * use cxIteratorPtr() to create an iterator which directly
  * yields the stored pointers.
  *
- * While the iterator is in use, the array may only be altered by removing
- * elements through #cxIteratorFlagRemoval(). Every other change to the array
- * will bring this iterator to an undefined state.
- *
- * When @p remove_keeps_order is set to @c false, removing an element will only
- * move the last element to the position of the removed element, instead of
- * moving all subsequent elements by one. Usually, when the order of elements is
- * not important, this parameter should be set to @c false.
- *
  * @param array a pointer to the array (can be @c NULL)
  * @param elem_size the size of one array element
  * @param elem_count the number of elements in the array
- * @param remove_keeps_order @c true if the order of elements must be preserved
- * when removing an element
  * @return an iterator for the specified array
  * @see cxIteratorPtr()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxIterator cxIterator(const void *array,
-        size_t elem_size, size_t elem_count, bool remove_keeps_order);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxIterator cxIterator(const void *array,
+        size_t elem_size, size_t elem_count);
 
 /**
  * Creates an iterator for the specified plain pointer array.
@@ -243,28 +218,12 @@
  * hand, an iterator created with cxIterator() would return the
  * addresses of those pointers within the array).
  *
- * While the iterator is in use, the array may only be altered by removing
- * elements through #cxIteratorFlagRemoval(). Every other change to the array
- * will bring this iterator to an undefined state.
- *
- * When @p remove_keeps_order is set to @c false, removing an element will only
- * move the last element to the position of the removed element, instead of
- * moving all subsequent elements by one. Usually, when the order of elements is
- * not important, this parameter should be set to @c false.
- *
  * @param array a pointer to the array (can be @c NULL)
  * @param elem_count the number of elements in the array
- * @param remove_keeps_order @c true if the order of elements must be preserved
- * when removing an element
  * @return an iterator for the specified array
  * @see cxIterator()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxIterator cxIteratorPtr(const void *array, size_t elem_count,
-        bool remove_keeps_order);
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxIterator cxIteratorPtr(const void *array, size_t elem_count);
 
 #endif // UCX_ITERATOR_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/json.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/json.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -41,13 +41,7 @@
 #include "string.h"
 #include "buffer.h"
 #include "array_list.h"
-
-#include <string.h>
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
+#include "map.h"
 
 /**
  * The type of the parsed token.
@@ -116,6 +110,10 @@
      */
     CX_JSON_NOTHING, // this allows us to always return non-NULL values
     /**
+     * No meaningful data.
+     */
+    CX_JSON_UNINITIALIZED,
+    /**
      * A JSON object.
      */
     CX_JSON_OBJECT,
@@ -184,13 +182,10 @@
 typedef struct cx_json_value_s CxJsonValue;
 
 /**
- * Type alias for the JSON array struct.
+ * Type alias for the map representing a JSON object.
+ * The map contains pointers of type @c CxJsonValue.
  */
-typedef struct cx_json_array_s CxJsonArray;
-/**
- * Type alias for the JSON object struct.
- */
-typedef struct cx_json_object_s CxJsonObject;
+typedef CxMap* CxJsonObject;
 /**
  * Type alias for a JSON string.
  */
@@ -209,49 +204,6 @@
 typedef enum cx_json_literal CxJsonLiteral;
 
 /**
- * Type alias for a key/value pair in a JSON object.
- */
-typedef struct cx_json_obj_value_s CxJsonObjValue;
-
-/**
- * JSON array structure.
- */
-struct cx_json_array_s {
-    /**
-     * The array data.
-     */
-    CX_ARRAY_DECLARE(CxJsonValue*, array);
-};
-
-/**
- * JSON object structure.
- */
-struct cx_json_object_s {
-    /**
-     * The key/value entries.
-     */
-    CX_ARRAY_DECLARE(CxJsonObjValue, values);
-    /**
-     * The original indices to reconstruct the order in which the members were added.
-     */
-    size_t *indices;
-};
-
-/**
- * Structure for a key/value entry in a JSON object.
- */
-struct cx_json_obj_value_s {
-    /**
-     * The key (or name in JSON terminology) of the value.
-     */
-    cxmutstr name;
-    /**
-     * The value.
-     */
-    CxJsonValue *value;
-};
-
-/**
  * Structure for a JSON value.
  */
 struct cx_json_value_s {
@@ -274,7 +226,7 @@
         /**
          * The array data if the type is #CX_JSON_ARRAY.
          */
-        CxJsonArray array;
+        CX_ARRAY(CxJsonValue*, array);
         /**
          * The object data if the type is #CX_JSON_OBJECT.
          */
@@ -295,7 +247,7 @@
          * The literal type if the type is #CX_JSON_LITERAL.
          */
         CxJsonLiteral literal;
-    } value;
+    };
 };
 
 /**
@@ -329,19 +281,13 @@
      * The allocator used for produced JSON values.
      */
     const CxAllocator *allocator;
+
     /**
      * The input buffer.
      */
     CxBuffer buffer;
 
     /**
-     * Used internally.
-     *
-     * Remembers the prefix of the last uncompleted token.
-     */
-    CxJsonToken uncompleted;
-
-    /**
      * A pointer to an intermediate state of the currently parsed value.
      *
      * Never access this value manually.
@@ -349,21 +295,31 @@
     CxJsonValue *parsed;
 
     /**
-     * A pointer to an intermediate state of a currently parsed object member.
+     * The name of a not yet completely parsed object member.
      *
      * Never access this value manually.
      */
-    CxJsonObjValue uncompleted_member;
+    cxmutstr uncompleted_member_name;
+
+    /**
+     * Internal buffer for uncompleted tokens.
+     */
+    cxmutstr uncompleted_content;
+
+    /**
+     * The expected type of the currently parsed, uncompleted token.
+     */
+    CxJsonTokenType uncompleted_tokentype;
 
     /**
      * State stack.
      */
-    CX_ARRAY_DECLARE_SIZED(int, states, unsigned);
+    CX_ARRAY(int, states);
 
     /**
      * Value buffer stack.
      */
-    CX_ARRAY_DECLARE_SIZED(CxJsonValue*, vbuf, unsigned);
+    CX_ARRAY(CxJsonValue*, vbuf);
 
     /**
      * Internally reserved memory for the state stack.
@@ -439,10 +395,6 @@
      */
     bool pretty;
     /**
-     * Set false to output the members in the order in which they were added.
-     */
-    bool sort_members;
-    /**
      * The maximum number of fractional digits in a number value.
      * The default value is 6 and values larger than 15 are reduced to 15.
      * Note that the actual number of digits may be lower, depending on the concrete number.
@@ -474,8 +426,8 @@
  *
  * @return new JSON writer settings
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonWriter cxJsonWriterCompact(void);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxJsonWriter cxJsonWriterCompact(void);
 
 /**
  * Creates a default writer configuration for pretty output.
@@ -483,8 +435,8 @@
  * @param use_spaces false if you want tabs, true if you want four spaces instead
  * @return new JSON writer settings
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonWriter cxJsonWriterPretty(bool use_spaces);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxJsonWriter cxJsonWriterPretty(bool use_spaces);
 
 /**
  * Writes a JSON value to a buffer or stream.
@@ -504,10 +456,37 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero when no or not all data could be written
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxJsonWrite(void* target, const CxJsonValue* value,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3)
+int cxJsonWrite(void* target, const CxJsonValue* value,
         cx_write_func wfunc, const CxJsonWriter* settings);
 
+
+/**
+ * Produces a compact string representation of the specified JSON value.
+ *
+ * @param allocator the allocator for the string
+ * @param value the JSON value
+ * @return the produced string
+ * @see cxJsonWrite()
+ * @see cxJsonWriterCompact()
+ * @see cxJsonToPrettyString()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(2) CX_NODISCARD
+cxmutstr cxJsonToString(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxJsonValue *value);
+
+/**
+ * Produces a pretty string representation of the specified JSON value.
+ *
+ * @param allocator the allocator for the string
+ * @param value the JSON value
+ * @return the produced string
+ * @see cxJsonWrite()
+ * @see cxJsonWriterPretty()
+ * @see cxJsonToString()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(2) CX_NODISCARD
+cxmutstr cxJsonToPrettyString(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxJsonValue *value);
+
 /**
  * Initializes the JSON interface.
  *
@@ -515,8 +494,8 @@
  * @param allocator the allocator that shall be used for the produced values
  * @see cxJsonDestroy()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT void cxJsonInit(CxJson *json, const CxAllocator *allocator);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+void cxJsonInit(CxJson *json, const CxAllocator *allocator);
 
 /**
  * Destroys the JSON interface.
@@ -524,19 +503,19 @@
  * @param json the JSON interface
  * @see cxJsonInit()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxJsonDestroy(CxJson *json);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxJsonDestroy(CxJson *json);
 
 /**
  * Destroys and re-initializes the JSON interface.
  *
- * You might want to use this to reset the parser after
- * encountering a syntax error.
+ * You must use this to reset the parser after encountering a syntax error
+ * if you want to continue using it.
  *
  * @param json the JSON interface
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxJsonReset(CxJson *json);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxJsonReset(CxJson *json);
 
 /**
  * Fills the input buffer.
@@ -556,8 +535,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero internal allocation error
  * @see cxJsonFill()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1) cx_attr_access_r(2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxJsonFilln(CxJson *json, const char *buf, size_t len);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1) CX_ACCESS_R(2, 3)
+int cxJsonFilln(CxJson *json, const char *buf, size_t len);
 
 
 /**
@@ -568,8 +547,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero internal allocation error
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE int cx_json_fill(CxJson *json, cxstring str) {
+CX_NONNULL CX_INLINE
+int cx_json_fill(CxJson *json, cxstring str) {
     return cxJsonFilln(json, str.ptr, str.length);
 }
 
@@ -592,6 +571,50 @@
  */
 #define cxJsonFill(json, str) cx_json_fill(json, cx_strcast(str))
 
+
+/**
+ * Internal function - use cxJsonFromString() instead.
+ *
+ * @param allocator the allocator for the JSON value
+ * @param str the string to parse
+ * @param value a pointer where the JSON value shall be stored to
+ * @return status code
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(3) CX_ACCESS_W(3)
+CxJsonStatus cx_json_from_string(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+            cxstring str, CxJsonValue **value);
+
+/**
+ * Parses a string into a JSON value.
+ *
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator for the JSON value
+ * @param str (any string) the string to parse
+ * @param value (@c CxJsonValue**) a pointer where the JSON value shall be stored to
+ * @retval CX_JSON_NO_ERROR success
+ * @retval CX_JSON_NO_DATA the string was empty or blank
+ * @retval CX_JSON_INCOMPLETE_DATA the string unexpectedly ended
+ * @retval CX_JSON_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED allocating internal buffer space failed
+ * @retval CX_JSON_VALUE_ALLOC_FAILED allocating memory for the CxJsonValue failed
+ * @retval CX_JSON_FORMAT_ERROR_NUMBER the JSON text contains an illegally formatted number
+ * @retval CX_JSON_FORMAT_ERROR_UNEXPECTED_TOKEN JSON syntax error
+ */
+#define cxJsonFromString(allocator, str, value) \
+        cx_json_from_string(allocator, cx_strcast(str), value)
+
+/**
+ * Recursively deallocates the memory of a JSON value.
+ *
+ * @remark The type of each deallocated value will be changed
+ * to #CX_JSON_NOTHING, and values of such a type will be skipped
+ * by the deallocation. That means this function protects
+ * you from double-frees when you are accidentally freeing
+ * a nested value and then the parent value (or vice versa).
+ *
+ * @param value the value
+ */
+CX_EXTERN
+void cxJsonValueFree(CxJsonValue *value);
+
 /**
  * Creates a new (empty) JSON object.
  *
@@ -600,19 +623,22 @@
  * @see cxJsonObjPutObj()
  * @see cxJsonArrAddValues()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateObj(const CxAllocator* allocator);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateObj(const CxAllocator* allocator);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new (empty) JSON array.
  *
+ * Optionally, this function already allocates memory with the given capacity.
+ *
  * @param allocator the allocator to use
+ * @param capacity optional capacity or zero if it's unknown how many elements the array will have
  * @return the new JSON array or @c NULL if allocation fails
  * @see cxJsonObjPutArr()
  * @see cxJsonArrAddValues()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateArr(const CxAllocator* allocator);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateArr(const CxAllocator* allocator, size_t capacity);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON number value.
@@ -623,8 +649,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonObjPutNumber()
  * @see cxJsonArrAddNumbers()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateNumber(const CxAllocator* allocator, double num);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateNumber(const CxAllocator* allocator, double num);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON number value based on an integer.
@@ -635,8 +661,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonObjPutInteger()
  * @see cxJsonArrAddIntegers()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateInteger(const CxAllocator* allocator, int64_t num);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateInteger(const CxAllocator* allocator, int64_t num);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON string.
@@ -649,8 +675,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonObjPutString()
  * @see cxJsonArrAddCxStrings()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cx_json_create_string(const CxAllocator* allocator, cxstring str);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cx_json_create_string(const CxAllocator* allocator, cxstring str);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON string.
@@ -672,8 +698,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonObjPutLiteral()
  * @see cxJsonArrAddLiterals()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateLiteral(const CxAllocator* allocator, CxJsonLiteral lit);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateLiteral(const CxAllocator* allocator, CxJsonLiteral lit);
 
 /**
  * Adds number values to a JSON array.
@@ -684,8 +710,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero allocation failure
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_r(2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxJsonArrAddNumbers(CxJsonValue* arr, const double* num, size_t count);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_R(2, 3)
+int cxJsonArrAddNumbers(CxJsonValue* arr, const double* num, size_t count);
 
 /**
  * Adds number values, of which all are integers, to a JSON array.
@@ -696,8 +722,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero allocation failure
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_r(2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxJsonArrAddIntegers(CxJsonValue* arr, const int64_t* num, size_t count);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_R(2, 3)
+int cxJsonArrAddIntegers(CxJsonValue* arr, const int64_t* num, size_t count);
 
 /**
  * Adds strings to a JSON array.
@@ -711,8 +737,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero allocation failure
  * @see cxJsonArrAddCxStrings()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_r(2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxJsonArrAddStrings(CxJsonValue* arr, const char* const* str, size_t count);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_R(2, 3)
+int cxJsonArrAddStrings(CxJsonValue* arr, const char* const* str, size_t count);
 
 /**
  * Adds strings to a JSON array.
@@ -726,8 +752,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero allocation failure
  * @see cxJsonArrAddStrings()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_r(2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxJsonArrAddCxStrings(CxJsonValue* arr, const cxstring* str, size_t count);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_R(2, 3)
+int cxJsonArrAddCxStrings(CxJsonValue* arr, const cxstring* str, size_t count);
 
 /**
  * Adds literals to a JSON array.
@@ -738,8 +764,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero allocation failure
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_r(2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxJsonArrAddLiterals(CxJsonValue* arr, const CxJsonLiteral* lit, size_t count);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_R(2, 3)
+int cxJsonArrAddLiterals(CxJsonValue* arr, const CxJsonLiteral* lit, size_t count);
 
 /**
  * Add arbitrary values to a JSON array.
@@ -753,8 +779,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero allocation failure
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_r(2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxJsonArrAddValues(CxJsonValue* arr, CxJsonValue* const* val, size_t count);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_R(2, 3)
+int cxJsonArrAddValues(CxJsonValue* arr, CxJsonValue* const* val, size_t count);
 
 /**
  * Adds or replaces a value within a JSON object.
@@ -767,8 +793,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero allocation failure
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cx_json_obj_put(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, CxJsonValue* child);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cx_json_obj_put(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, CxJsonValue* child);
 
 /**
  * Adds or replaces a value within a JSON object.
@@ -797,8 +823,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonObjPut()
  * @see cxJsonCreateObj()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_obj(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_obj(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON object and adds it to an existing object.
@@ -818,23 +844,25 @@
  *
  * @param obj the target JSON object
  * @param name the name of the new value
+ * @param capacity optional initial capacity
  * @return the new value or @c NULL if allocation fails
  * @see cxJsonObjPut()
  * @see cxJsonCreateArr()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_arr(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_arr(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, size_t capacity);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON array and adds it to an object.
  *
  * @param obj (@c CxJsonValue*) the target JSON object
  * @param name (any string) the name of the new value
+ * @param capacity (@c size_t) optional initial capacity
  * @return (@c CxJsonValue*) the new value or @c NULL if allocation fails
  * @see cxJsonObjPut()
  * @see cxJsonCreateArr()
  */
-#define cxJsonObjPutArr(obj, name) cx_json_obj_put_arr(obj, cx_strcast(name))
+#define cxJsonObjPutArr(obj, name, capacity) cx_json_obj_put_arr(obj, cx_strcast(name), capacity)
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON number and adds it to an object.
@@ -848,8 +876,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonObjPut()
  * @see cxJsonCreateNumber()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_number(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, double num);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_number(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, double num);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON number and adds it to an object.
@@ -875,8 +903,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonObjPut()
  * @see cxJsonCreateInteger()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_integer(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, int64_t num);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_integer(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, int64_t num);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON number, based on an integer, and adds it to an object.
@@ -902,8 +930,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonObjPut()
  * @see cxJsonCreateString()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_string(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, cxstring str);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_string(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, cxstring str);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON string and adds it to an object.
@@ -931,8 +959,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonObjPut()
  * @see cxJsonCreateLiteral()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_literal(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, CxJsonLiteral lit);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxJsonValueFree, 1)
+CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_literal(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, CxJsonLiteral lit);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new JSON literal and adds it to an object.
@@ -947,19 +975,6 @@
 #define cxJsonObjPutLiteral(obj, name, lit) cx_json_obj_put_literal(obj, cx_strcast(name), lit)
 
 /**
- * Recursively deallocates the memory of a JSON value.
- *
- * @remark The type of each deallocated value will be changed
- * to #CX_JSON_NOTHING, and values of such a type will be skipped
- * by the deallocation. That means this function protects
- * you from double-frees when you are accidentally freeing
- * a nested value and then the parent value (or vice versa).
- *
- * @param value the value
- */
-CX_EXPORT void cxJsonValueFree(CxJsonValue *value);
-
-/**
  * Tries to obtain the next JSON value.
  *
  * Before this function can be called, the input buffer needs
@@ -981,8 +996,8 @@
  * @retval CX_JSON_FORMAT_ERROR_NUMBER the JSON text contains an illegally formatted number
  * @retval CX_JSON_FORMAT_ERROR_UNEXPECTED_TOKEN JSON syntax error
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(2)
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonStatus cxJsonNext(CxJson *json, CxJsonValue **value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_W(2)
+CxJsonStatus cxJsonNext(CxJson *json, CxJsonValue **value);
 
 /**
  * Checks if the specified value is a JSON object.
@@ -991,8 +1006,8 @@
  * @retval true the value is a JSON object
  * @retval false otherwise
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonIsObject(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonIsObject(const CxJsonValue *value) {
     return value->type == CX_JSON_OBJECT;
 }
 
@@ -1003,8 +1018,8 @@
  * @retval true the value is a JSON array
  * @retval false otherwise
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonIsArray(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonIsArray(const CxJsonValue *value) {
     return value->type == CX_JSON_ARRAY;
 }
 
@@ -1015,8 +1030,8 @@
  * @retval true the value is a string
  * @retval false otherwise
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonIsString(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonIsString(const CxJsonValue *value) {
     return value->type == CX_JSON_STRING;
 }
 
@@ -1031,8 +1046,8 @@
  * @retval false otherwise
  * @see cxJsonIsInteger()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonIsNumber(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonIsNumber(const CxJsonValue *value) {
     return value->type == CX_JSON_NUMBER || value->type == CX_JSON_INTEGER;
 }
 
@@ -1044,8 +1059,8 @@
  * @retval false otherwise
  * @see cxJsonIsNumber()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonIsInteger(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonIsInteger(const CxJsonValue *value) {
     return value->type == CX_JSON_INTEGER;
 }
 
@@ -1061,8 +1076,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonIsFalse()
  * @see cxJsonIsNull()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonIsLiteral(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonIsLiteral(const CxJsonValue *value) {
     return value->type == CX_JSON_LITERAL;
 }
 
@@ -1075,9 +1090,9 @@
  * @see cxJsonIsTrue()
  * @see cxJsonIsFalse()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonIsBool(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return cxJsonIsLiteral(value) && value->value.literal != CX_JSON_NULL;
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonIsBool(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+    return cxJsonIsLiteral(value) && value->literal != CX_JSON_NULL;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1092,9 +1107,9 @@
  * @see cxJsonIsBool()
  * @see cxJsonIsFalse()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonIsTrue(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return cxJsonIsLiteral(value) && value->value.literal == CX_JSON_TRUE;
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonIsTrue(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+    return cxJsonIsLiteral(value) && value->literal == CX_JSON_TRUE;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1109,9 +1124,9 @@
  * @see cxJsonIsBool()
  * @see cxJsonIsTrue()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonIsFalse(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return cxJsonIsLiteral(value) && value->value.literal == CX_JSON_FALSE;
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonIsFalse(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+    return cxJsonIsLiteral(value) && value->literal == CX_JSON_FALSE;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1122,9 +1137,9 @@
  * @retval false otherwise
  * @see cxJsonIsLiteral()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonIsNull(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return cxJsonIsLiteral(value) && value->value.literal == CX_JSON_NULL;
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonIsNull(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+    return cxJsonIsLiteral(value) && value->literal == CX_JSON_NULL;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1136,8 +1151,8 @@
  * @return the value represented as C string
  * @see cxJsonIsString()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull  cx_attr_returns_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT char *cxJsonAsString(const CxJsonValue *value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_RETURNS_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+char *cxJsonAsString(const CxJsonValue *value);
 
 /**
  * Obtains a UCX string from the given JSON value.
@@ -1148,8 +1163,8 @@
  * @return the value represented as UCX string
  * @see cxJsonIsString()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cxJsonAsCxString(const CxJsonValue *value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+cxstring cxJsonAsCxString(const CxJsonValue *value);
 
 /**
  * Obtains a mutable UCX string from the given JSON value.
@@ -1160,8 +1175,8 @@
  * @return the value represented as mutable UCX string
  * @see cxJsonIsString()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cxJsonAsCxMutStr(const CxJsonValue *value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+cxmutstr cxJsonAsCxMutStr(const CxJsonValue *value);
 
 /**
  * Obtains a double-precision floating-point value from the given JSON value.
@@ -1172,8 +1187,8 @@
  * @return the value represented as double
  * @see cxJsonIsNumber()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT double cxJsonAsDouble(const CxJsonValue *value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+double cxJsonAsDouble(const CxJsonValue *value);
 
 /**
  * Obtains a 64-bit signed integer from the given JSON value.
@@ -1187,8 +1202,8 @@
  * @see cxJsonIsNumber()
  * @see cxJsonIsInteger()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int64_t cxJsonAsInteger(const CxJsonValue *value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int64_t cxJsonAsInteger(const CxJsonValue *value);
 
 /**
  * Obtains a Boolean value from the given JSON value.
@@ -1200,9 +1215,9 @@
  * @return the value represented as double
  * @see cxJsonIsLiteral()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE bool cxJsonAsBool(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return value->value.literal == CX_JSON_TRUE;
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+bool cxJsonAsBool(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+    return value->literal == CX_JSON_TRUE;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1214,9 +1229,9 @@
  * @return the size of the array
  * @see cxJsonIsArray()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE size_t cxJsonArrSize(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return value->value.array.array_size;
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_INLINE
+size_t cxJsonArrSize(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+    return value->array.size;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1233,8 +1248,8 @@
  * @return the value at the specified index
  * @see cxJsonIsArray()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_returns_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue *cxJsonArrGet(const CxJsonValue *value, size_t index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_RETURNS_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxJsonValue *cxJsonArrGet(const CxJsonValue *value, size_t index);
 
 /**
  * Removes an element from a JSON array.
@@ -1249,8 +1264,8 @@
  * @return the removed value from the specified index or @c NULL when the index was out of bounds
  * @see cxJsonIsArray()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue *cxJsonArrRemove(CxJsonValue *value, size_t index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+CxJsonValue *cxJsonArrRemove(CxJsonValue *value, size_t index);
 
 /**
  * Returns an iterator over the JSON array elements.
@@ -1263,8 +1278,8 @@
  * @return an iterator over the array elements
  * @see cxJsonIsArray()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxIterator cxJsonArrIter(const CxJsonValue *value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxIterator cxJsonArrIter(const CxJsonValue *value);
 
 /**
  * Returns the size of a JSON object.
@@ -1275,16 +1290,16 @@
  * @return the size of the object, i.e., the number of key/value pairs
  * @see cxJsonIsObject()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE size_t cxJsonObjSize(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return value->value.object.values_size;
+CX_NONNULL CX_INLINE
+size_t cxJsonObjSize(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+    return cxCollectionSize(value->object);
 }
 
 /**
- * Returns an iterator over the JSON object members.
+ * Returns a map iterator over the JSON object members.
  *
- * The iterator yields values of type @c CxJsonObjValue* which
- * contain the name and value of the member.
+ * The iterator yields values of type @c CxMapEntry* which
+ * contain the name and the @c CxJsonObjValue* of the member.
  *
  * If the @p value is not a JSON object, the behavior is undefined.
  *
@@ -1292,8 +1307,8 @@
  * @return an iterator over the object members
  * @see cxJsonIsObject()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxIterator cxJsonObjIter(const CxJsonValue *value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxMapIterator cxJsonObjIter(const CxJsonValue *value);
 
 /**
  * Internal function, do not use.
@@ -1301,8 +1316,8 @@
  * @param name the key to look up
  * @return the value corresponding to the key
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_returns_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue *cx_json_obj_get(const CxJsonValue *value, cxstring name);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_RETURNS_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxJsonValue *cx_json_obj_get(const CxJsonValue *value, cxstring name);
 
 /**
  * Returns a value corresponding to a key in a JSON object.
@@ -1326,8 +1341,8 @@
  * @param name the key to look up
  * @return the value corresponding to the key or @c NULL when the key is not part of the object
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxJsonValue *cx_json_obj_remove(CxJsonValue *value, cxstring name);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+CxJsonValue *cx_json_obj_remove(CxJsonValue *value, cxstring name);
 
 /**
  * Removes and returns a value corresponding to a key in a JSON object.
@@ -1344,9 +1359,65 @@
  */
 #define cxJsonObjRemove(value, name) cx_json_obj_remove(value, cx_strcast(name))
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-}
-#endif
+/**
+ * Performs a deep comparison of two JSON values.
+ *
+ * The order of object members is ignored during comparison.
+ *
+ * @param json the JSON value
+ * @param other the other JSON value that the JSON value is compared to
+ * @retval zero the values are equal (except for ordering of object members)
+ * @retval non-zero the values differ
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cxJsonCompare(const CxJsonValue *json, const CxJsonValue *other);
+
+
+/**
+ * Creates a deep copy of the specified JSON value.
+ *
+ * If you need a @c cx_clone_func compatible version, see cxJsonCloneFunc().
+ *
+ * @note when you are cloning @c NULL, you will get a pointer to a statically
+ * allocated value which represents nothing.
+ *
+ * @param value the value to be cloned
+ * @param allocator the allocator for the new value
+ * @return the new value or @c NULL if any allocation was unsuccessful
+ * @see cxJsonCloneFunc()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxJsonValue* cxJsonClone(const CxJsonValue* value,
+        const CxAllocator* allocator);
+
+/**
+ * A @c cx_clone_func compatible version of cxJsonClone().
+ *
+ * Internal function - use cxJsonCloneFunc() to get a properly casted function pointer.
+ *
+ * @param target the target memory or @c NULL
+ * @param source the value to be cloned
+ * @param allocator the allocator for the new value
+ * @param data unused
+ * @return the new value or @c NULL if any allocation was unsuccessful
+ * @see cxJsonClone()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxJsonValue* cx_json_clone_func(
+        CxJsonValue* target, const CxJsonValue* source,
+        const CxAllocator* allocator, void *data);
+
+/**
+ * A @c cx_clone_func compatible version of cxJsonClone().
+ *
+ * @param target (@c CxJsonValue*) the target memory or @c NULL
+ * @param source (@c CxJsonValue*) the value to be cloned
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator for the new value
+ * @param data unused
+ * @return the new value or @c NULL if any allocation was unsuccessful
+ * @see cxJsonClone()
+ */
+#define cxJsonCloneFunc  ((cx_clone_func) cx_json_clone_func)
 
 #endif /* UCX_JSON_H */
 
--- a/src/ucx/cx/kv_list.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/kv_list.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -40,70 +40,11 @@
 #include "list.h"
 #include "map.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /**
  * Allocates a linked list with a lookup-map for storing elements with @p elem_size bytes each.
  *
  * If @p elem_size is #CX_STORE_POINTERS, the created list stores pointers instead of
  * copies of the added elements, and the compare function will be automatically set
- * to cx_cmp_ptr() if none is given.
- *
- * After creating the list, it can also be used as a map after converting the pointer
- * to a CxMap pointer with cxKvListAsMap().
- * When you want to use the list interface again, you can also convert the map pointer back
- * with cxKvListAsList().
- *
- * @param allocator the allocator for allocating the list nodes
- * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used)
- * @param comparator the comparator for the elements
- * (if @c NULL, and the list is not storing pointers, sort and find
- * functions will not work)
- * @param elem_size the size of each element in bytes
- * @return the created list
- * @see cxKvListAsMap()
- * @see cxKvListAsList()
- */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_malloc cx_attr_dealloc(cxListFree, 1)
-CX_EXPORT CxList *cxKvListCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cx_compare_func comparator, size_t elem_size);
-
-/**
- * Allocates a linked list with a lookup-map for storing elements with @p elem_size bytes each.
- *
- * If @p elem_size is #CX_STORE_POINTERS, the created list stores pointers instead of
- * copies of the added elements, and the compare function will be automatically set
- * to cx_cmp_ptr() if none is given.
- *
- * This function creates the list with cxKvListCreate() and immediately applies
- * cxKvListAsMap(). If you want to use the returned object as a list, you can call
- * cxKvListAsList() later.
- *
- * @param allocator the allocator for allocating the list nodes
- * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used)
- * @param comparator the comparator for the elements
- * (if @c NULL, and the list is not storing pointers, sort and find
- * functions will not work)
- * @param elem_size the size of each element in bytes
- * @return the created list wrapped into the CxMap interface
- * @see cxKvListAsMap()
- * @see cxKvListAsList()
- */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_malloc cx_attr_dealloc(cxMapFree, 1)
-CX_EXPORT CxMap *cxKvListCreateAsMap(const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cx_compare_func comparator, size_t elem_size);
-
-/**
- * Allocates a linked list with a lookup-map for storing elements with @p elem_size bytes each.
- *
- * The list will use cxDefaultAllocator and no comparator function. If you want
- * to call functions that need a comparator, you must either set one immediately
- * after list creation or use cxKvListCreate().
- *
- * If @p elem_size is #CX_STORE_POINTERS, the created list stores pointers instead of
- * copies of the added elements, and the compare function will be automatically set
  * to cx_cmp_ptr().
  *
  * After creating the list, it can also be used as a map after converting the pointer
@@ -111,34 +52,38 @@
  * When you want to use the list interface again, you can also convert the map pointer back
  * with cxKvListAsList().
  *
- * @param elem_size (@c size_t) the size of each element in bytes
- * @return (@c CxList*) the created list
+ * @param allocator the allocator for allocating the list nodes
+ * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used)
+ * @param elem_size the size of each element in bytes
+ * @return the created list
  * @see cxKvListAsMap()
  * @see cxKvListAsList()
  */
-#define cxKvListCreateSimple(elem_size) cxKvListCreate(NULL, NULL, elem_size)
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxListFree, 1)
+CxList *cxKvListCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        size_t elem_size);
 
 /**
  * Allocates a linked list with a lookup-map for storing elements with @p elem_size bytes each.
  *
- * The list will use cxDefaultAllocator and no comparator function. If you want
- * to call functions that need a comparator, you must either set one immediately
- * after list creation or use cxKvListCreate().
- *
  * If @p elem_size is #CX_STORE_POINTERS, the created list stores pointers instead of
  * copies of the added elements, and the compare function will be automatically set
  * to cx_cmp_ptr().
  *
- * This macro behaves as if the list was created with cxKvListCreateSimple() and
- * immediately followed up by cxKvListAsMap().
- * If you want to use the returned object as a list, you can call cxKvListAsList() later.
+ * This function creates the list with cxKvListCreate() and immediately applies
+ * cxKvListAsMap(). If you want to use the returned object as a list, you can call
+ * cxKvListAsList() later.
  *
- * @param elem_size (@c size_t) the size of each element in bytes
- * @return (@c CxMap*) the created list wrapped into the CxMap interface
+ * @param allocator the allocator for allocating the list nodes
+ * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used)
+ * @param elem_size the size of each element in bytes
+ * @return the created list wrapped into the CxMap interface
  * @see cxKvListAsMap()
  * @see cxKvListAsList()
  */
-#define cxKvListCreateAsMapSimple(elem_size) cxKvListCreateAsMap(NULL, NULL, elem_size)
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxMapFree, 1)
+CxMap *cxKvListCreateAsMap(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        size_t elem_size);
 
 /**
  * Converts a map pointer belonging to a key-value-List back to the original list pointer.
@@ -146,17 +91,17 @@
  * @param map a map pointer that was returned by a call to cxKvListAsMap()
  * @return the original list pointer
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_returns_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxList *cxKvListAsList(CxMap *map);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL CX_RETURNS_NONNULL
+CxList *cxKvListAsList(CxMap *map);
 
 /**
  * Converts a map pointer belonging to a key-value-List back to the original list pointer.
  *
- * @param list a list created by cxKvListCreate() or cxKvListCreateSimple()
+ * @param list a list created by cxKvListCreate()
  * @return a map pointer that lets you use the list as if it was a map
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_returns_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxMap *cxKvListAsMap(CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL CX_RETURNS_NONNULL
+CxMap *cxKvListAsMap(CxList *list);
 
 /**
  * Sets or updates the key of a list item.
@@ -171,8 +116,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero memory allocation failure or the index is out of bounds
  * @see cxKvListSetKey()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cx_kv_list_set_key(CxList *list, size_t index, CxHashKey key);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cx_kv_list_set_key(CxList *list, size_t index, CxHashKey key);
 
 /**
  * Inserts an item into the list at the specified index and associates it with the specified key.
@@ -185,8 +130,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero memory allocation failure or the index is out of bounds
  * @see cxKvListInsert()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cx_kv_list_insert(CxList *list, size_t index, CxHashKey key, void *value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cx_kv_list_insert(CxList *list, size_t index, CxHashKey key, void *value);
 
 /**
  * Sets or updates the key of a list item.
@@ -216,7 +161,6 @@
  */
 #define cxKvListInsert(list, index, key, value) cx_kv_list_insert(list, index, CX_HASH_KEY(key), value)
 
-
 /**
  * Removes the key of a list item.
  *
@@ -229,8 +173,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero the index is out of bounds
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxKvListRemoveKey(CxList *list, size_t index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxKvListRemoveKey(CxList *list, size_t index);
 
 /**
  * Returns the key of a list item.
@@ -239,8 +183,8 @@
  * @param index the index of the element in the list
  * @return a pointer to the key or @c NULL when the index is out of bounds or the item does not have a key
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT const CxHashKey *cxKvListGetKey(CxList *list, size_t index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+const CxHashKey *cxKvListGetKey(CxList *list, size_t index);
 
 /**
  * Adds an item into the list and associates it with the specified key.
@@ -253,8 +197,4 @@
  */
 #define cxKvListAdd(list, key, value) cxKvListInsert(list, (list)->collection.size, key, value)
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
-
 #endif // UCX_KV_LIST_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/linked_list.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/linked_list.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -39,10 +39,6 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "list.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /**
  * Metadata for a linked list.
  */
@@ -87,36 +83,16 @@
  *
  * If @p elem_size is #CX_STORE_POINTERS, the created list stores pointers instead of
  * copies of the added elements, and the compare function will be automatically set
- * to cx_cmp_ptr() if none is given.
+ * to cx_cmp_ptr().
  *
  * @param allocator the allocator for allocating the list nodes
  * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used)
- * @param comparator the comparator for the elements
- * (if @c NULL, and the list is not storing pointers, sort and find
- * functions will not work)
  * @param elem_size the size of each element in bytes
  * @return the created list
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_malloc cx_attr_dealloc(cxListFree, 1)
-CX_EXPORT CxList *cxLinkedListCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cx_compare_func comparator, size_t elem_size);
-
-/**
- * Allocates a linked list for storing elements with @p elem_size bytes each.
- *
- * The list will use cxDefaultAllocator and no comparator function. If you want
- * to call functions that need a comparator, you must either set one immediately
- * after list creation or use cxLinkedListCreate().
- *
- * If @p elem_size is #CX_STORE_POINTERS, the created list stores pointers instead of
- * copies of the added elements, and the compare function will be automatically set
- * to cx_cmp_ptr().
- *
- * @param elem_size (@c size_t) the size of each element in bytes
- * @return (@c CxList*) the created list
- */
-#define cxLinkedListCreateSimple(elem_size) \
-        cxLinkedListCreate(NULL, NULL, elem_size)
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxListFree, 1)
+CxList *cxLinkedListCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        size_t elem_size);
 
 /**
  * Instructs the linked list to reserve extra data in each node.
@@ -132,8 +108,8 @@
  * @param list the list (must be a linked list)
  * @param len the length of the extra data
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_extra_data(cx_linked_list *list, size_t len);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_linked_list_extra_data(cx_linked_list *list, size_t len);
 
 /**
  * Finds the node at a certain index.
@@ -152,8 +128,8 @@
  * @param index the search index
  * @return the node found at the specified index
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT void *cx_linked_list_at(const void *start,size_t start_index,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+void *cx_linked_list_at(const void *start,size_t start_index,
         ptrdiff_t loc_advance, size_t index);
 
 /**
@@ -162,16 +138,34 @@
  * @param start a pointer to the start node
  * @param loc_advance the location of the pointer to advance
  * @param loc_data the location of the @c data pointer within your node struct
- * @param cmp_func a compare function to compare @p elem against the node data
  * @param elem a pointer to the element to find
  * @param found_index an optional pointer where the index of the found node
  * (given that @p start has index 0) is stored
+ * @param cmp_func a compare function to compare @p elem against the node data
  * @return a pointer to the found node or @c NULL if no matching node was found
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 4, 5)
-CX_EXPORT void *cx_linked_list_find(const void *start, ptrdiff_t loc_advance,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_data, cx_compare_func cmp_func, const void *elem,
-        size_t *found_index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 4, 6)
+void *cx_linked_list_find(const void *start, ptrdiff_t loc_advance,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_data, const void *elem, size_t *found_index,
+        cx_compare_func cmp_func);
+
+/**
+ * Finds the node containing an element within a linked list.
+ *
+ * @param start a pointer to the start node
+ * @param loc_advance the location of the pointer to advance
+ * @param loc_data the location of the @c data pointer within your node struct
+ * @param elem a pointer to the element to find
+ * @param found_index an optional pointer where the index of the found node
+ * (given that @p start has index 0) is stored
+ * @param cmp_func a compare function to compare @p elem against the node data
+ * @param context additional context for the compare function
+ * @return a pointer to the found node or @c NULL if no matching node was found
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 4, 6)
+void *cx_linked_list_find_c(const void *start, ptrdiff_t loc_advance,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_data, const void *elem, size_t *found_index,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context);
 
 /**
  * Finds the first node in a linked list.
@@ -184,8 +178,8 @@
  * @param loc_prev the location of the @c prev pointer
  * @return a pointer to the first node
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_returns_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void *cx_linked_list_first(const void *node, ptrdiff_t loc_prev);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_RETURNS_NONNULL
+void *cx_linked_list_first(const void *node, ptrdiff_t loc_prev);
 
 /**
  * Finds the last node in a linked list.
@@ -198,8 +192,8 @@
  * @param loc_next the location of the @c next pointer
  * @return a pointer to the last node
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_returns_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void *cx_linked_list_last(const void *node, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_RETURNS_NONNULL
+void *cx_linked_list_last(const void *node, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
 /**
  * Finds the predecessor of a node in case it is not linked.
@@ -211,8 +205,8 @@
  * @param node the successor of the node to find
  * @return the node or @c NULL if @p node has no predecessor
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void *cx_linked_list_prev(const void *begin, ptrdiff_t loc_next, const void *node);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void *cx_linked_list_prev(const void *begin, ptrdiff_t loc_next, const void *node);
 
 /**
  * Adds a new node to a linked list.
@@ -226,8 +220,8 @@
  * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
  * @param new_node a pointer to the node that shall be appended
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(5)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_add(void **begin, void **end, ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *new_node);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(5)
+void cx_linked_list_add(void **begin, void **end, ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *new_node);
 
 /**
  * Prepends a new node to a linked list.
@@ -241,8 +235,8 @@
  * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
  * @param new_node a pointer to the node that shall be prepended
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(5)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_prepend(void **begin, void **end, ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *new_node);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(5)
+void cx_linked_list_prepend(void **begin, void **end, ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *new_node);
 
 /**
  * Links two nodes.
@@ -252,8 +246,8 @@
  * @param loc_prev the location of a @c prev pointer within your node struct (negative if your struct does not have one)
  * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_link(void *left, void *right, ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_linked_list_link(void *left, void *right, ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
 /**
  * Unlinks two nodes.
@@ -265,8 +259,8 @@
  * @param loc_prev the location of a @c prev pointer within your node struct (negative if your struct does not have one)
  * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_unlink(void *left, void *right, ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_linked_list_unlink(void *left, void *right, ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
 /**
  * Inserts a new node after a given node of a linked list.
@@ -282,8 +276,8 @@
  * @param node the node after which to insert (@c NULL if you want to prepend the node to the list)
  * @param new_node a pointer to the node that shall be inserted
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(6)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_insert(void **begin, void **end,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(6)
+void cx_linked_list_insert(void **begin, void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *node, void *new_node);
 
 /**
@@ -306,8 +300,8 @@
  * @param insert_begin a pointer to the first node of the chain that shall be inserted
  * @param insert_end a pointer to the last node of the chain (or NULL if the last node shall be determined)
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(6)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_insert_chain(void **begin, void **end,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(6)
+void cx_linked_list_insert_chain(void **begin, void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *node, void *insert_begin, void *insert_end);
 
 /**
@@ -324,8 +318,8 @@
  * @param new_node a pointer to the node that shall be inserted
  * @param cmp_func a compare function that will receive the node pointers
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 5, 6)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted(void **begin, void **end,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 5, 6)
+void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted(void **begin, void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *new_node, cx_compare_func cmp_func);
 
 /**
@@ -347,8 +341,8 @@
  * @param insert_begin a pointer to the first node of the chain that shall be inserted
  * @param cmp_func a compare function that will receive the node pointers
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 5, 6)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain(void **begin, void **end,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 5, 6)
+void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain(void **begin, void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *insert_begin, cx_compare_func cmp_func);
 
 /**
@@ -367,8 +361,8 @@
  * @retval zero when the node was inserted
  * @retval non-zero when a node with the same value already exists
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 5, 6)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_linked_list_insert_unique(void **begin, void **end,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 5, 6)
+int cx_linked_list_insert_unique(void **begin, void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *new_node, cx_compare_func cmp_func);
 
 /**
@@ -389,11 +383,98 @@
  * @param cmp_func a compare function that will receive the node pointers
  * @return a pointer to a new chain with all duplicates that were not inserted (or @c NULL when there were no duplicates)
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 5, 6) cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT void *cx_linked_list_insert_unique_chain(void **begin, void **end,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 5, 6) CX_NODISCARD
+void *cx_linked_list_insert_unique_chain(void **begin, void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *insert_begin, cx_compare_func cmp_func);
 
 /**
+ * Inserts a node into a sorted linked list.
+ * The new node must not be part of any list yet.
+ *
+ * If the list starting with the node pointed to by @p begin is not sorted
+ * already, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param begin a pointer to the beginning node pointer (required)
+ * @param end a pointer to the end node pointer (if your list has one)
+ * @param loc_prev the location of a @c prev pointer within your node struct (negative if your struct does not have one)
+ * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
+ * @param new_node a pointer to the node that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func a compare function that will receive the node pointers
+ * @param context context for the compare function
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 5, 6)
+void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_c(void **begin, void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *new_node, cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context);
+
+/**
+ * Inserts a chain of nodes into a sorted linked list.
+ * The chain must not be part of any list yet.
+ *
+ * If either the list starting with the node pointed to by @p begin or the list
+ * starting with @p insert_begin is not sorted, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @attention In contrast to cx_linked_list_insert_chain(), the source chain
+ * will be broken and inserted into the target list so that the resulting list
+ * will be sorted according to @p cmp_func. That means each node in the source
+ * chain may be re-linked with nodes from the target list.
+ *
+ * @param begin a pointer to the beginning node pointer (required)
+ * @param end a pointer to the end node pointer (if your list has one)
+ * @param loc_prev the location of a @c prev pointer within your node struct (negative if your struct does not have one)
+ * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
+ * @param insert_begin a pointer to the first node of the chain that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func a compare function that will receive the node pointers
+ * @param context context for the compare function
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 5, 6)
+void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain_c(void **begin, void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *insert_begin, cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context);
+
+/**
+ * Inserts a node into a sorted linked list if no other node with the same value already exists.
+ * The new node must not be part of any list yet.
+ *
+ * If the list starting with the node pointed to by @p begin is not sorted
+ * already, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param begin a pointer to the beginning node pointer (required)
+ * @param end a pointer to the end node pointer (if your list has one)
+ * @param loc_prev the location of a @c prev pointer within your node struct (negative if your struct does not have one)
+ * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
+ * @param new_node a pointer to the node that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func a compare function that will receive the node pointers
+ * @param context the context for the compare function
+ * @retval zero when the node was inserted
+ * @retval non-zero when a node with the same value already exists
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 5, 6)
+int cx_linked_list_insert_unique_c(void **begin, void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *new_node, cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context);
+
+/**
+ * Inserts a chain of nodes into a sorted linked list, avoiding duplicates.
+ * The chain must not be part of any list yet.
+ *
+ * If either the list starting with the node pointed to by @p begin or the list
+ * starting with @p insert_begin is not sorted, the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @attention In contrast to cx_linked_list_insert_sorted(), not all nodes of the
+ * chain might be added. This function returns a new chain consisting of all the duplicates.
+ *
+ * @param begin a pointer to the beginning node pointer (required)
+ * @param end a pointer to the end node pointer (if your list has one)
+ * @param loc_prev the location of a @c prev pointer within your node struct (negative if your struct does not have one)
+ * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
+ * @param insert_begin a pointer to the first node of the chain that shall be inserted
+ * @param cmp_func a compare function that will receive the node pointers
+ * @param context context for the compare function
+ * @return a pointer to a new chain with all duplicates that were not inserted (or @c NULL when there were no duplicates)
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 5, 6) CX_NODISCARD
+void *cx_linked_list_insert_unique_chain_c(void **begin, void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *insert_begin, cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context);
+
+/**
  * Removes a chain of nodes from the linked list.
  *
  * If one of the nodes to remove is the beginning (resp. end) node of the list, and if @p begin (resp. @p end)
@@ -414,8 +495,8 @@
  * @param num the number of nodes to remove
  * @return the actual number of nodes that were removed (can be less when the list did not have enough nodes)
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(5)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_linked_list_remove_chain(void **begin, void **end,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(5)
+size_t cx_linked_list_remove_chain(void **begin, void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *node, size_t num);
 
 /**
@@ -437,8 +518,8 @@
  * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
  * @param node the node to remove
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(5)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_remove(void **begin, void **end,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(5)
+void cx_linked_list_remove(void **begin, void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, void *node);
 
 /**
@@ -448,22 +529,12 @@
  * @param loc_next the location of the @c next pointer within the node struct
  * @return the size of the list or zero if @p node is @c NULL
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_linked_list_size(const void *node, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+size_t cx_linked_list_size(const void *node, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
 /**
  * Sorts a linked list based on a comparison function.
  *
- * This function can work with linked lists of the following structure:
- * @code
- * typedef struct node node;
- * struct node {
- *   node* prev;
- *   node* next;
- *   my_payload data;
- * }
- * @endcode
- *
  * @note This is a recursive function with at most logarithmic recursion depth.
  *
  * @param begin a pointer to the beginning node pointer (required)
@@ -473,10 +544,26 @@
  * @param loc_data the location of the @c data pointer within your node struct
  * @param cmp_func the compare function defining the sort order
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 6)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_sort(void **begin, void **end,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 6)
+void cx_linked_list_sort(void **begin, void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, ptrdiff_t loc_data, cx_compare_func cmp_func);
 
+/**
+ * Sorts a linked list based on a comparison function.
+ *
+ * @note This is a recursive function with at most logarithmic recursion depth.
+ *
+ * @param begin a pointer to the beginning node pointer (required)
+ * @param end a pointer to the end node pointer (optional)
+ * @param loc_prev the location of a @c prev pointer within your node struct (negative if not present)
+ * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
+ * @param loc_data the location of the @c data pointer within your node struct
+ * @param cmp_func the compare function defining the sort order
+ * @param context additional context for the compare function
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 6)
+void cx_linked_list_sort_c(void **begin, void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next, ptrdiff_t loc_data, cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context);
 
 /**
  * Compares two lists element wise.
@@ -491,11 +578,29 @@
  * @return the first non-zero result of invoking @p cmp_func or: negative if the left list is smaller than the
  * right list, positive if the left list is larger than the right list, zero if both lists are equal.
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(5)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_linked_list_compare(const void *begin_left, const void *begin_right,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(5)
+int cx_linked_list_compare(const void *begin_left, const void *begin_right,
         ptrdiff_t loc_advance, ptrdiff_t loc_data, cx_compare_func cmp_func);
 
 /**
+ * Compares two lists element wise.
+ *
+ * @attention Both lists must have the same structure.
+ *
+ * @param begin_left the beginning of the left list (@c NULL denotes an empty list)
+ * @param begin_right the beginning of the right list  (@c NULL denotes an empty list)
+ * @param loc_advance the location of the pointer to advance
+ * @param loc_data the location of the @c data pointer within your node struct
+ * @param cmp_func the function to compare the elements
+ * @param context the context for the compare function
+ * @return the first non-zero result of invoking @p cmp_func or: negative if the left list is smaller than the
+ * right list, positive if the left list is larger than the right list, zero if both lists are equal.
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(5)
+int cx_linked_list_compare_c(const void *begin_left, const void *begin_right,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_advance, ptrdiff_t loc_data, cx_compare_func2 cmp_func, void *context);
+
+/**
  * Reverses the order of the nodes in a linked list.
  *
  * @param begin a pointer to the beginning node pointer (required)
@@ -503,11 +608,7 @@
  * @param loc_prev the location of a @c prev pointer within your node struct (negative if your struct does not have one)
  * @param loc_next the location of a @c next pointer within your node struct (required)
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_linked_list_reverse(void **begin, void **end, ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+void cx_linked_list_reverse(void **begin, void **end, ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
 #endif // UCX_LINKED_LIST_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/list.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/list.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -39,10 +39,6 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "collection.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /**
  * List class type.
  */
@@ -60,10 +56,6 @@
      * The list class definition.
      */
     const cx_list_class *cl;
-    /**
-     * The actual implementation in case the list class is delegating.
-     */
-    const cx_list_class *climpl;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -210,8 +202,8 @@
  * @param n the number of elements to insert
  * @return the number of elements actually inserted
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_list_default_insert_array(struct cx_list_s *list,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+size_t cx_list_default_insert_array(struct cx_list_s *list,
         size_t index, const void *data, size_t n);
 
 /**
@@ -230,8 +222,8 @@
  * @param n the number of elements to insert
  * @return the number of elements actually inserted
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_list_default_insert_sorted(struct cx_list_s *list,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cx_list_default_insert_sorted(struct cx_list_s *list,
         const void *sorted_data, size_t n);
 
 /**
@@ -250,8 +242,8 @@
  * @param n the number of elements to insert
  * @return the number of elements from the @p sorted_data that are definitely present in the list after this call
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_list_default_insert_unique(struct cx_list_s *list,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cx_list_default_insert_unique(struct cx_list_s *list,
         const void *sorted_data, size_t n);
 
 /**
@@ -265,8 +257,8 @@
  *
  * @param list the list that shall be sorted
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cx_list_default_sort(struct cx_list_s *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_list_default_sort(struct cx_list_s *list);
 
 /**
  * Default unoptimized swap implementation.
@@ -281,8 +273,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero when indices are out of bounds or memory
  * allocation for the temporary buffer fails
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cx_list_default_swap(struct cx_list_s *list, size_t i, size_t j);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cx_list_default_swap(struct cx_list_s *list, size_t i, size_t j);
 
 /**
  * Initializes a list struct.
@@ -291,30 +283,26 @@
  * The purpose of this function is to be called in the initialization code
  * of your list to set certain members correctly.
  *
- * This is particularly important when you want your list to support
- * #CX_STORE_POINTERS as @p elem_size. This function will wrap the list
- * class accordingly and make sure that you can implement your list as if
- * it was only storing objects, and the wrapper will automatically enable
- * the feature of storing pointers.
+ * This is particularly useful when you want your list to support
+ * #CX_STORE_POINTERS as @p elem_size.
  *
  * @par Example
  *
  * @code
  * CxList *myCustomListCreate(
  *         const CxAllocator *allocator,
- *         cx_compare_func comparator,
  *         size_t elem_size
  * ) {
  *     if (allocator == NULL) {
  *         allocator = cxDefaultAllocator;
  *     }
  *
- *     MyCustomList *list = cxCalloc(allocator, 1, sizeof(MyCustomList));
+ *     MyCustomList *list = cxZalloc(allocator, sizeof(MyCustomList));
  *     if (list == NULL) return NULL;
  *
  *     // initialize
  *     cx_list_init((CxList*)list, &my_custom_list_class,
- *             allocator, comparator, elem_size);
+ *             allocator, elem_size);
  *
  *     // ... some more custom stuff ...
  *
@@ -325,13 +313,24 @@
  * @param list the list to initialize
  * @param cl the list class
  * @param allocator the allocator for the elements
- * @param comparator a compare function for the elements
  * @param elem_size the size of one element
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_list_init(struct cx_list_s *list,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3)
+void cx_list_init(struct cx_list_s *list,
     struct cx_list_class_s *cl, const struct cx_allocator_s *allocator,
-    cx_compare_func comparator, size_t elem_size);
+    size_t elem_size);
+
+/**
+ * A @c cx_compare_func2 compatible wrapper for the compare functions of a list.
+ *
+ * @param left first element
+ * @param right second element
+ * @param list the list which is comparing the elements
+ * @return the comparison result
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cx_list_compare_wrapper(
+    const void *left, const void *right, void *list);
 
 /**
  * Returns the number of elements currently stored in the list.
@@ -339,8 +338,8 @@
  * @param list the list
  * @return the number of currently stored elements
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxListSize(const CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxListSize(const CxList *list);
 
 /**
  * Adds an item to the end of the list.
@@ -352,8 +351,8 @@
  * @see cxListAddArray()
  * @see cxListEmplace()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListAdd(CxList *list, const void *elem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListAdd(CxList *list, const void *elem);
 
 /**
  * Adds multiple items to the end of the list.
@@ -372,8 +371,8 @@
  * @return the number of added elements
  * @see cxListEmplaceArray()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxListAddArray(CxList *list, const void *array, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxListAddArray(CxList *list, const void *array, size_t n);
 
 /**
  * Inserts an item at the specified index.
@@ -389,8 +388,8 @@
  * @see cxListInsertBefore()
  * @see cxListEmplaceAt()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListInsert(CxList *list, size_t index, const void *elem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListInsert(CxList *list, size_t index, const void *elem);
 
 /**
  * Allocates memory for an element at the specified index and returns a pointer to that memory.
@@ -404,8 +403,8 @@
  * @see cxListEmplaceArrayAt()
  * @see cxListInsert()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void *cxListEmplaceAt(CxList *list, size_t index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+void *cxListEmplaceAt(CxList *list, size_t index);
 
 /**
  * Allocates memory for an element at the end of the list and returns a pointer to that memory.
@@ -417,8 +416,8 @@
  * @see cxListEmplaceAt()
  * @see cxListAdd()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void *cxListEmplace(CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+void *cxListEmplace(CxList *list);
 
 /**
  * Allocates memory for multiple elements and returns an iterator.
@@ -437,8 +436,8 @@
  * @see cxListEmplaceAt()
  * @see cxListInsertArray()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxIterator cxListEmplaceArrayAt(CxList *list, size_t index, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxIterator cxListEmplaceArrayAt(CxList *list, size_t index, size_t n);
 
 /**
  * Allocates memory for multiple elements and returns an iterator.
@@ -456,8 +455,8 @@
  * @see cxListEmplace()
  * @see cxListAddArray()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxIterator cxListEmplaceArray(CxList *list, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxIterator cxListEmplaceArray(CxList *list, size_t n);
 
 /**
  * Inserts an item into a sorted list.
@@ -469,8 +468,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero memory allocation failure
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListInsertSorted(CxList *list, const void *elem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListInsertSorted(CxList *list, const void *elem);
 
 /**
  * Inserts an item into a list if it does not exist.
@@ -485,8 +484,8 @@
  * @retval zero success (also when the element was already in the list)
  * @retval non-zero memory allocation failure
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListInsertUnique(CxList *list, const void *elem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListInsertUnique(CxList *list, const void *elem);
 
 /**
  * Inserts multiple items to the list at the specified index.
@@ -508,8 +507,8 @@
  * @return the number of added elements
  * @see cxListEmplaceArrayAt()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxListInsertArray(CxList *list, size_t index, const void *array, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxListInsertArray(CxList *list, size_t index, const void *array, size_t n);
 
 /**
  * Inserts a sorted array into a sorted list.
@@ -530,8 +529,8 @@
  * @param n the number of elements to add
  * @return the number of added elements
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxListInsertSortedArray(CxList *list, const void *array, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxListInsertSortedArray(CxList *list, const void *array, size_t n);
 
 /**
  * Inserts an array into a list, skipping duplicates.
@@ -565,8 +564,8 @@
  *
  * @return the number of elements from the @p sorted_data that are definitely present in the list after this call
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxListInsertUniqueArray(CxList *list, const void *array, size_t n);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxListInsertUniqueArray(CxList *list, const void *array, size_t n);
 
 /**
  * Inserts an element after the current location of the specified iterator.
@@ -584,8 +583,8 @@
  * @see cxListInsert()
  * @see cxListInsertBefore()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListInsertAfter(CxIterator *iter, const void *elem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListInsertAfter(CxIterator *iter, const void *elem);
 
 /**
  * Inserts an element before the current location of the specified iterator.
@@ -603,8 +602,8 @@
  * @see cxListInsert()
  * @see cxListInsertAfter()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListInsertBefore(CxIterator *iter, const void *elem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListInsertBefore(CxIterator *iter, const void *elem);
 
 /**
  * Removes the element at the specified index.
@@ -617,8 +616,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero index out of bounds
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListRemove(CxList *list, size_t index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListRemove(CxList *list, size_t index);
 
 /**
  * Removes and returns the element at the specified index.
@@ -633,8 +632,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero index out of bounds
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxListRemoveAndGet(CxList *list, size_t index, void *targetbuf);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_W(3)
+int cxListRemoveAndGet(CxList *list, size_t index, void *targetbuf);
 
 /**
  * Removes and returns the first element of the list.
@@ -650,8 +649,8 @@
  * @see cxListPopFront()
  * @see cxListRemoveAndGetLast()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cxListRemoveAndGetFirst(CxList *list, void *targetbuf);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_W(2)
+int cxListRemoveAndGetFirst(CxList *list, void *targetbuf);
 
 /**
  * Removes and returns the first element of the list.
@@ -684,8 +683,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero the list is empty
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cxListRemoveAndGetLast(CxList *list, void *targetbuf);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_W(2)
+int cxListRemoveAndGetLast(CxList *list, void *targetbuf);
 
 /**
  * Removes and returns the last element of the list.
@@ -720,8 +719,8 @@
  * @param num the number of elements to remove
  * @return the actual number of removed elements
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxListRemoveArray(CxList *list, size_t index, size_t num);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxListRemoveArray(CxList *list, size_t index, size_t num);
 
 /**
  * Removes and returns multiple elements starting at the specified index.
@@ -736,8 +735,8 @@
  * @param targetbuf a buffer where to copy the elements
  * @return the actual number of removed elements
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(4)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxListRemoveArrayAndGet(CxList *list, size_t index, size_t num, void *targetbuf);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_W(4)
+size_t cxListRemoveArrayAndGet(CxList *list, size_t index, size_t num, void *targetbuf);
 
 /**
  * Removes all elements from this list.
@@ -747,8 +746,8 @@
  *
  * @param list the list
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxListClear(CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxListClear(CxList *list);
 
 /**
  * Swaps two items in the list.
@@ -763,8 +762,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero one of the indices is out of bounds,
  * or the swap needed extra memory, but allocation failed
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListSwap(CxList *list, size_t i, size_t j);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListSwap(CxList *list, size_t i, size_t j);
 
 /**
  * Returns a pointer to the element at the specified index.
@@ -775,8 +774,8 @@
  * @param index the index of the element
  * @return a pointer to the element or @c NULL if the index is out of bounds
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void *cxListAt(const CxList *list, size_t index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void *cxListAt(const CxList *list, size_t index);
 
 /**
  * Returns a pointer to the first element.
@@ -786,8 +785,8 @@
  * @param list the list
  * @return a pointer to the first element or @c NULL if the list is empty
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void *cxListFirst(const CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void *cxListFirst(const CxList *list);
 
 /**
  * Returns a pointer to the last element.
@@ -797,8 +796,8 @@
  * @param list the list
  * @return a pointer to the last element or @c NULL if the list is empty
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void *cxListLast(const CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void *cxListLast(const CxList *list);
 
 /**
  * Sets the element at the specified index in the list.
@@ -812,8 +811,8 @@
  * @retval zero on success
  * @retval non-zero when index is out of bounds
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListSet(CxList *list, size_t index, const void *elem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListSet(CxList *list, size_t index, const void *elem);
 
 /**
  * Returns an iterator pointing to the item at the specified index.
@@ -826,8 +825,8 @@
  * @param index the index where the iterator shall point at
  * @return a new iterator
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxIterator cxListIteratorAt(const CxList *list, size_t index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxIterator cxListIteratorAt(const CxList *list, size_t index);
 
 /**
  * Returns a backwards iterator pointing to the item at the specified index.
@@ -840,8 +839,8 @@
  * @param index the index where the iterator shall point at
  * @return a new iterator
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxIterator cxListBackwardsIteratorAt(const CxList *list, size_t index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxIterator cxListBackwardsIteratorAt(const CxList *list, size_t index);
 
 /**
  * Returns an iterator pointing to the first item of the list.
@@ -853,8 +852,8 @@
  * @param list the list
  * @return a new iterator
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxIterator cxListIterator(const CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxIterator cxListIterator(const CxList *list);
 
 /**
  * Returns a backwards iterator pointing to the last item of the list.
@@ -866,8 +865,8 @@
  * @param list the list
  * @return a new iterator
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxIterator cxListBackwardsIterator(const CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxIterator cxListBackwardsIterator(const CxList *list);
 
 /**
  * Returns the index of the first element that equals @p elem.
@@ -880,8 +879,8 @@
  * @see cxListIndexValid()
  * @see cxListContains()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxListFind(const CxList *list, const void *elem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+size_t cxListFind(const CxList *list, const void *elem);
 
 /**
  * Checks if the list contains the specified element.
@@ -894,8 +893,8 @@
  * @retval false if the element is not contained
  * @see cxListFind()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT bool cxListContains(const CxList* list, const void* elem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+bool cxListContains(const CxList* list, const void* elem);
 
 /**
  * Checks if the specified index is within bounds.
@@ -905,8 +904,8 @@
  * @retval true if the index is within bounds
  * @retval false if the index is out of bounds
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT bool cxListIndexValid(const CxList *list, size_t index);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+bool cxListIndexValid(const CxList *list, size_t index);
 
 /**
  * Removes and returns the index of the first element that equals @p elem.
@@ -919,8 +918,8 @@
  * when the element is not found or could not be removed
  * @see cxListIndexValid()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxListFindRemove(CxList *list, const void *elem);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxListFindRemove(CxList *list, const void *elem);
 
 /**
  * Sorts the list.
@@ -929,16 +928,16 @@
  *
  * @param list the list
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxListSort(CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxListSort(CxList *list);
 
 /**
  * Reverses the order of the items.
  *
  * @param list the list
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxListReverse(CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxListReverse(CxList *list);
 
 /**
  * Compares a list to another list of the same type.
@@ -954,8 +953,8 @@
  * @retval positive the first list is larger
  * or the first non-equal element in the first list is larger
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cxListCompare(const CxList *list, const CxList *other);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+int cxListCompare(const CxList *list, const CxList *other);
 
 /**
  * Deallocates the memory of the specified list structure.
@@ -964,7 +963,8 @@
  *
  * @param list the list that shall be freed
  */
-CX_EXPORT void cxListFree(CxList *list);
+CX_EXTERN
+void cxListFree(CxList *list);
 
 
 /**
@@ -984,10 +984,10 @@
  * @param data optional additional data that is passed to the clone function
  * @retval zero when all elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
- * @see cxListCloneSimple()
+ * @see cxListCloneShallow()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxListClone(CxList *dst, const CxList *src,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3)
+int cxListClone(CxList *dst, const CxList *src,
         cx_clone_func clone_func, const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data);
 
 /**
@@ -1007,10 +1007,10 @@
  * @param data optional additional data that is passed to the clone function
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
- * @see cxListDifferenceSimple()
+ * @see cxListDifferenceShallow()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 4)
-CX_EXPORT int cxListDifference(CxList *dst,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3, 4)
+int cxListDifference(CxList *dst,
         const CxList *minuend, const CxList *subtrahend,
         cx_clone_func clone_func, const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data);
 
@@ -1031,10 +1031,10 @@
  * @param data optional additional data that is passed to the clone function
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
- * @see cxListIntersectionSimple()
+ * @see cxListIntersectionShallow()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 4)
-CX_EXPORT int cxListIntersection(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3, 4)
+int cxListIntersection(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other,
         cx_clone_func clone_func, const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data);
 
 /**
@@ -1056,10 +1056,10 @@
  * @param data optional additional data that is passed to the clone function
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
- * @see cxListUnionSimple()
+ * @see cxListUnionShallow()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 4)
-CX_EXPORT int cxListUnion(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3, 4)
+int cxListUnion(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other,
         cx_clone_func clone_func, const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data);
 
 /**
@@ -1081,8 +1081,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  * @see cxListClone()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListCloneSimple(CxList *dst, const CxList *src);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListCloneShallow(CxList *dst, const CxList *src);
 
 /**
  * Clones elements from a list only if they are not present in another list.
@@ -1103,8 +1103,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  * @see cxListDifference()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListDifferenceSimple(CxList *dst,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListDifferenceShallow(CxList *dst,
         const CxList *minuend, const CxList *subtrahend);
 
 /**
@@ -1126,8 +1126,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  * @see cxListIntersection()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListIntersectionSimple(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListIntersectionShallow(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other);
 
 /**
  * Performs a deep clone of one list into another, skipping duplicates.
@@ -1150,8 +1150,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  * @see cxListUnion()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListUnionSimple(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListUnionShallow(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other);
 
 /**
  * Asks the list to reserve enough memory for a given total number of elements.
@@ -1170,8 +1170,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  * @see cxListShrink()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListReserve(CxList *list, size_t capacity);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListReserve(CxList *list, size_t capacity);
 
 /**
  * Advises the list to free any overallocated memory.
@@ -1184,11 +1184,7 @@
  * @param list the list
  * @return usually zero
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxListShrink(CxList *list);
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxListShrink(CxList *list);
 
 #endif // UCX_LIST_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/map.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/map.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -46,10 +46,6 @@
 typedef struct cx_list_s CxList;
 #endif
 
-#ifdef    __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /** Type for the UCX map. */
 typedef struct cx_map_s CxMap;
 
@@ -183,9 +179,9 @@
      * Add or overwrite an element.
      * If the @p value is @c NULL, the implementation
      * shall only allocate memory instead of adding an existing value to the map.
-     * Returns a pointer to the allocated memory or @c NULL if allocation fails.
+     * Returns a map entry where the pointer to the key is @c NULL if allocation fails.
      */
-    void *(*put)(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *value);
+    CxMapEntry (*put)(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *value);
 
     /**
      * Returns an element.
@@ -227,8 +223,8 @@
  *
  * @param map the map to be freed
  */
-CX_EXPORT void cxMapFree(CxMap *map);
-
+CX_EXTERN
+void cxMapFree(CxMap *map);
 
 /**
  * Clears a map by removing all elements.
@@ -237,8 +233,8 @@
  *
  * @param map the map to be cleared
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxMapClear(CxMap *map);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxMapClear(CxMap *map);
 
 /**
  * Returns the number of elements in this map.
@@ -246,8 +242,8 @@
  * @param map the map
  * @return the number of stored elements
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxMapSize(const CxMap *map);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+size_t cxMapSize(const CxMap *map);
 
 /**
  * Creates a value iterator for a map.
@@ -262,8 +258,8 @@
  * @param map the map to create the iterator for (can be @c NULL)
  * @return an iterator for the currently stored values
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxMapIterator cxMapIteratorValues(const CxMap *map);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxMapIterator cxMapIteratorValues(const CxMap *map);
 
 /**
  * Creates a key iterator for a map.
@@ -277,8 +273,8 @@
  * @param map the map to create the iterator for (can be @c NULL)
  * @return an iterator for the currently stored keys
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxMapIterator cxMapIteratorKeys(const CxMap *map);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxMapIterator cxMapIteratorKeys(const CxMap *map);
 
 /**
  * Creates an iterator for a map.
@@ -294,8 +290,8 @@
  * @see cxMapIteratorKeys()
  * @see cxMapIteratorValues()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxMapIterator cxMapIterator(const CxMap *map);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxMapIterator cxMapIterator(const CxMap *map);
 
 /**
  * Puts a key/value-pair into the map.
@@ -317,8 +313,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero value on memory allocation failure
  * @see cxMapPut()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cx_map_put(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cx_map_put(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *value);
 
 /**
  * Puts a key/value-pair into the map.
@@ -357,12 +353,10 @@
  * @param map the map
  * @param key the key
  * @return the pointer to the allocated memory or @c NULL if allocation fails
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero value on memory allocation failure
  * @see cxMapEmplace()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void *cx_map_emplace(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+void *cx_map_emplace(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key);
 
 /**
  * Allocates memory for a value in the map associated with the specified key.
@@ -379,8 +373,6 @@
  * @param map (@c CxMap*) the map
  * @param key (any supported key type) the key
  * @return the pointer to the allocated memory or @c NULL if allocation fails
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero value on memory allocation failure
  * @see CX_HASH_KEY()
  */
 #define cxMapEmplace(map, key) cx_map_emplace(map, CX_HASH_KEY(key))
@@ -397,8 +389,8 @@
  * @return the value
  * @see cxMapGet()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT void *cx_map_get(const CxMap *map, CxHashKey key);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+void *cx_map_get(const CxMap *map, CxHashKey key);
 
 /**
  * Retrieves a value by using a key.
@@ -440,8 +432,8 @@
  * @see cxMapRemove()
  * @see cxMapRemoveAndGet()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_map_remove(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *targetbuf);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+int cx_map_remove(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *targetbuf);
 
 /**
  * Removes a key/value-pair from the map by using the key.
@@ -480,7 +472,6 @@
  */
 #define cxMapRemoveAndGet(map, key, targetbuf) cx_map_remove(map, CX_HASH_KEY(key), targetbuf)
 
-
 /**
  * Performs a deep clone of one map into another.
  *
@@ -503,11 +494,10 @@
  * @retval zero when all elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapClone(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3)
+int cxMapClone(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src,
         cx_clone_func clone_func, const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data);
 
-
 /**
  * Clones entries of a map if their key is not present in another map.
  *
@@ -520,8 +510,8 @@
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 4)
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapDifference(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *minuend, const CxMap *subtrahend,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3, 4)
+int cxMapDifference(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *minuend, const CxMap *subtrahend,
         cx_clone_func clone_func, const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data);
 
 /**
@@ -541,8 +531,8 @@
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 4)
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapListDifference(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3, 4)
+int cxMapListDifference(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys,
         cx_clone_func clone_func, const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data);
 
 
@@ -558,8 +548,8 @@
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 4)
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapIntersection(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxMap *other,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3, 4)
+int cxMapIntersection(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxMap *other,
         cx_clone_func clone_func, const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data);
 
 /**
@@ -579,8 +569,8 @@
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 4)
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapListIntersection(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3, 4)
+int cxMapListIntersection(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys,
         cx_clone_func clone_func, const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data);
 
 /**
@@ -599,8 +589,8 @@
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapUnion(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3)
+int cxMapUnion(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src,
         cx_clone_func clone_func, const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data);
 
 /**
@@ -626,8 +616,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  * @see cxMapClone()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapCloneSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMapCloneShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src);
 
 /**
  * Clones entries of a map if their key is not present in another map.
@@ -641,8 +631,8 @@
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapDifferenceSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *minuend, const CxMap *subtrahend);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMapDifferenceShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *minuend, const CxMap *subtrahend);
 
 /**
  * Clones entries of a map if their key is not present in a list.
@@ -662,9 +652,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  * @see cxMapListDifference()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapListDifferenceSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys);
-
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMapListDifferenceShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys);
 
 /**
  * Clones entries of a map only if their key is present in another map.
@@ -678,8 +667,8 @@
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapIntersectionSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxMap *other);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMapIntersectionShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxMap *other);
 
 /**
  * Clones entries of a map only if their key is present in a list.
@@ -698,8 +687,8 @@
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapListIntersectionSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMapListIntersectionShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys);
 
 /**
  * Clones entries into a map if their key does not exist yet.
@@ -717,11 +706,22 @@
  * @retval zero when the elements were successfully cloned
  * @retval non-zero when an allocation error occurred
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMapUnionSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMapUnionShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src);
 
-#ifdef    __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+/**
+ * Compares the entries of two maps.
+ *
+ * @param map the map
+ * @param other the other map that the first map is compared to
+ * @retval zero when both maps have the same key sets
+ * and the values are pairwise equivalent
+ * @retval negative when the first @p map has fewer keys than the @p other map
+ * @retval positive when the first @p map has more keys than the @p other map
+ * @retval non-zero (unspecified whether positive or negative) when the size
+ * of both maps is equal but a key or a value is different
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMapCompare(const CxMap *map, const CxMap *other);
 
 #endif // UCX_MAP_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/mempool.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/mempool.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -39,10 +39,6 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "allocator.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /** A memory block in a simple memory pool. */
 struct cx_mempool_memory_s {
     /** The destructor. */
@@ -156,7 +152,8 @@
  *
  * @param pool the memory pool to free
  */
-CX_EXPORT void cxMempoolFree(CxMempool *pool);
+CX_EXTERN
+void cxMempoolFree(CxMempool *pool);
 
 /**
  * Creates an array-based memory pool.
@@ -168,8 +165,8 @@
  * @param type the type of memory pool
  * @return the created memory pool or @c NULL if allocation failed
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_malloc cx_attr_dealloc(cxMempoolFree, 1)
-CX_EXPORT CxMempool *cxMempoolCreate(size_t capacity, enum cx_mempool_type type);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_MALLOC CX_DEALLOC(cxMempoolFree, 1)
+CxMempool *cxMempoolCreate(size_t capacity, enum cx_mempool_type type);
 
 /**
  * Creates a basic array-based memory pool.
@@ -207,8 +204,8 @@
  * @param pool the memory pool
  * @param fnc the destructor that shall be applied to all memory blocks
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT void cxMempoolGlobalDestructor(CxMempool *pool, cx_destructor_func fnc);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+void cxMempoolGlobalDestructor(CxMempool *pool, cx_destructor_func fnc);
 
 /**
  * Sets the global destructor for all memory blocks within the specified pool.
@@ -217,8 +214,8 @@
  * @param fnc the destructor that shall be applied to all memory blocks
  * @param data additional data for the destructor function
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT void cxMempoolGlobalDestructor2(CxMempool *pool, cx_destructor_func2 fnc, void *data);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+void cxMempoolGlobalDestructor2(CxMempool *pool, cx_destructor_func2 fnc, void *data);
 
 /**
  * Sets the destructor function for a specific allocated memory object.
@@ -230,8 +227,8 @@
  * @param memory the object allocated in the pool
  * @param fnc the destructor function
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxMempoolSetDestructor(void *memory, cx_destructor_func fnc);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxMempoolSetDestructor(void *memory, cx_destructor_func fnc);
 
 /**
  * Sets the destructor function for a specific allocated memory object.
@@ -244,8 +241,8 @@
  * @param fnc the destructor function
  * @param data additional data for the destructor function
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxMempoolSetDestructor2(void *memory, cx_destructor_func2 fnc, void *data);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxMempoolSetDestructor2(void *memory, cx_destructor_func2 fnc, void *data);
 
 /**
  * Removes the destructor function for a specific allocated memory object.
@@ -255,8 +252,8 @@
  *
  * @param memory the object allocated in the pool
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxMempoolRemoveDestructor(void *memory);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxMempoolRemoveDestructor(void *memory);
 
 /**
  * Removes the destructor function for a specific allocated memory object.
@@ -266,8 +263,8 @@
  *
  * @param memory the object allocated in the pool
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxMempoolRemoveDestructor2(void *memory);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxMempoolRemoveDestructor2(void *memory);
 
 /**
  * Registers foreign memory with this pool.
@@ -284,9 +281,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero failure
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMempoolRegister(CxMempool *pool, void *memory, cx_destructor_func destr);
-
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMempoolRegister(CxMempool *pool, void *memory, cx_destructor_func destr);
 
 /**
  * Registers foreign memory with this pool.
@@ -307,8 +303,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero failure
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMempoolRegister2(CxMempool *pool, void *memory, cx_destructor_func2 destr, void *data);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMempoolRegister2(CxMempool *pool, void *memory, cx_destructor_func2 destr, void *data);
 
 /**
  * Transfers all the memory managed by one pool to another.
@@ -325,8 +321,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero allocation failure or incompatible pools
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMempoolTransfer(CxMempool *source, CxMempool *dest);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMempoolTransfer(CxMempool *source, CxMempool *dest);
 
 /**
  * Transfers an object from one pool to another.
@@ -342,11 +338,7 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero failure, or the object was not found in the source pool, or the pools are incompatible
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxMempoolTransferObject(CxMempool *source, CxMempool *dest, const void *obj);
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+int cxMempoolTransferObject(CxMempool *source, CxMempool *dest, const void *obj);
 
 #endif // UCX_MEMPOOL_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/printf.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/printf.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -45,14 +45,9 @@
  * @param fmt_idx index of the format string parameter
  * @param arg_idx index of the first formatting argument
  */
-#define cx_attr_printf(fmt_idx, arg_idx) \
+#define CX_PRINTF_ARGS(fmt_idx, arg_idx) \
     __attribute__((__format__(printf, fmt_idx, arg_idx)))
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
-
 /**
  * The maximum string length that fits into stack memory.
  */
@@ -68,8 +63,8 @@
  * @param ... additional arguments
  * @return the total number of bytes written or an error code from stdlib printf implementation
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3) cx_attr_printf(3, 4) cx_attr_cstr_arg(3)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_fprintf(void *stream, cx_write_func wfc, const char *fmt, ...);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3) CX_PRINTF_ARGS(3, 4) CX_CSTR_ARG(3)
+int cx_fprintf(void *stream, cx_write_func wfc, const char *fmt, ...);
 
 /**
  * A @c vfprintf like function which writes the output to a stream by
@@ -82,8 +77,8 @@
  * @return the total number of bytes written or an error code from stdlib printf implementation
  * @see cx_fprintf()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_cstr_arg(3)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vfprintf(void *stream, cx_write_func wfc, const char *fmt, va_list ap);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_CSTR_ARG(3)
+int cx_vfprintf(void *stream, cx_write_func wfc, const char *fmt, va_list ap);
 
 /**
  * An @c asprintf like function which allocates space for a string
@@ -99,8 +94,8 @@
  * @return the formatted string
  * @see cx_strfree_a()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2) cx_attr_printf(2, 3) cx_attr_cstr_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_asprintf_a(const CxAllocator *allocator, const char *fmt, ...);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2) CX_PRINTF_ARGS(2, 3) CX_CSTR_ARG(2)
+cxmutstr cx_asprintf_a(const CxAllocator *allocator, const char *fmt, ...);
 
 /**
  * An @c asprintf like function which allocates space for a string
@@ -131,8 +126,8 @@
  * @return the formatted string
  * @see cx_asprintf_a()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_cstr_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_vasprintf_a(const CxAllocator *allocator, const char *fmt, va_list ap);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_CSTR_ARG(2)
+cxmutstr cx_vasprintf_a(const CxAllocator *allocator, const char *fmt, va_list ap);
 
 /**
 * A @c vasprintf like function which allocates space for a string
@@ -193,8 +188,8 @@
  * @param ... additional arguments
  * @return the length of the produced string or an error code from stdlib printf implementation
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 4) cx_attr_printf(4, 5) cx_attr_cstr_arg(4)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_sprintf_a(const CxAllocator *alloc, char **str, size_t *len, const char *fmt, ...);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3, 4) CX_PRINTF_ARGS(4, 5) CX_CSTR_ARG(4)
+int cx_sprintf_a(const CxAllocator *alloc, char **str, size_t *len, const char *fmt, ...);
 
 
 /**
@@ -228,8 +223,8 @@
  * @param ap argument list
  * @return the length of the produced string or an error code from stdlib printf implementation
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull  cx_attr_cstr_arg(4) cx_attr_access_rw(2) cx_attr_access_rw(3)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vsprintf_a(const CxAllocator *alloc, char **str, size_t *len, const char *fmt, va_list ap);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL  CX_CSTR_ARG(4) CX_ACCESS_RW(2) CX_ACCESS_RW(3)
+int cx_vsprintf_a(const CxAllocator *alloc, char **str, size_t *len, const char *fmt, va_list ap);
 
 
 /**
@@ -275,9 +270,9 @@
  * @param ... additional arguments
  * @return the length of the produced string or an error code from stdlib printf implementation
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 4, 5) cx_attr_printf(5, 6) cx_attr_cstr_arg(5)
-cx_attr_access_rw(2) cx_attr_access_rw(3) cx_attr_access_rw(4)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_sprintf_sa(const CxAllocator *alloc, char *buf, size_t *len, char **str, const char *fmt, ...);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 4, 5) CX_PRINTF_ARGS(5, 6) CX_CSTR_ARG(5)
+CX_ACCESS_RW(2) CX_ACCESS_RW(3) CX_ACCESS_RW(4)
+int cx_sprintf_sa(const CxAllocator *alloc, char *buf, size_t *len, char **str, const char *fmt, ...);
 
 /**
  * An @c sprintf like function which allocates a new string when the buffer is not large enough.
@@ -322,12 +317,7 @@
  * @param ap argument list
  * @return the length of the produced string or an error code from stdlib printf implementation
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_cstr_arg(5)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_vsprintf_sa(const CxAllocator *alloc, char *buf, size_t *len, char **str, const char *fmt, va_list ap);
-
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_CSTR_ARG(5)
+int cx_vsprintf_sa(const CxAllocator *alloc, char *buf, size_t *len, char **str, const char *fmt, va_list ap);
 
 #endif //UCX_PRINTF_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/properties.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/properties.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -41,13 +41,6 @@
 #include "map.h"
 #include "buffer.h"
 
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <string.h>
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /**
  * Configures the expected characters for the properties parser.
  */
@@ -76,13 +69,10 @@
      */
     char comment3;
 
-    /*
+    /**
      * The character, when appearing at the end of a line, continues that line.
      * This is '\' by default.
      */
-    /**
-     * Reserved for future use.
-     */
     char continuation;
 };
 
@@ -141,23 +131,16 @@
      */
     CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED,
     /**
-     * Initializing the properties source failed.
-     *
-     * @see cx_properties_read_init_func
+     * A file operation failed.
+     * Only for cxPropertiesLoad().
+     * It is system-specific if errno is set.
      */
-    CX_PROPERTIES_READ_INIT_FAILED,
+    CX_PROPERTIES_FILE_ERROR,
     /**
-     * Reading from a properties source failed.
-     *
-     * @see cx_properties_read_func
+     * A map operation failed.
+     * Only for cxPropertiesLoad().
      */
-    CX_PROPERTIES_READ_FAILED,
-    /**
-     * Sinking a k/v-pair failed.
-     *
-     * @see cx_properties_sink_func
-     */
-    CX_PROPERTIES_SINK_FAILED,
+    CX_PROPERTIES_MAP_ERROR,
 };
 
 /**
@@ -190,134 +173,6 @@
  */
 typedef struct cx_properties_s CxProperties;
 
-
-/**
- * Typedef for a properties sink.
- */
-typedef struct cx_properties_sink_s CxPropertiesSink;
-
-/**
- * A function that consumes a k/v-pair in a sink.
- *
- * The sink could be a map, and the sink function would be calling
- * a map function to store the k/v-pair.
- *
- * @param prop the properties interface that wants to sink a k/v-pair
- * @param sink the sink
- * @param key the key
- * @param value the value
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero sinking the k/v-pair failed
- */
-typedef int(*cx_properties_sink_func)(
-        CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSink *sink,
-        cxstring key,
-        cxstring value
-);
-
-/**
- * Defines a sink for k/v-pairs.
- */
-struct cx_properties_sink_s {
-    /**
-     * The sink object.
-     */
-    void *sink;
-    /**
-     * Optional custom data.
-     */
-    void *data;
-    /**
-     * A function for consuming k/v-pairs into the sink.
-     */
-    cx_properties_sink_func sink_func;
-};
-
-
-/**
- * Typedef for a properties source.
- */
-typedef struct cx_properties_source_s CxPropertiesSource;
-
-/**
- * A function that reads data from a source.
- *
- * When the source is depleted, implementations SHALL provide an empty
- * string in the @p target and return zero.
- * A non-zero return value is only permitted in case of an error.
- *
- * The meaning of the optional parameters is implementation-dependent.
- *
- * @param prop the properties interface that wants to read from the source
- * @param src the source
- * @param target a string buffer where the read data shall be stored
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero reading the data failed
- */
-typedef int(*cx_properties_read_func)(
-        CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSource *src,
-        cxstring *target
-);
-
-/**
- * A function that may initialize additional memory for the source.
- *
- * @param prop the properties interface that wants to read from the source
- * @param src the source
- * @retval zero initialization was successful
- * @retval non-zero otherwise
- */
-typedef int(*cx_properties_read_init_func)(
-        CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSource *src
-);
-
-/**
- * A function that cleans memory initialized by the read_init_func.
- *
- * @param prop the properties interface that wants to read from the source
- * @param src the source
- */
-typedef void(*cx_properties_read_clean_func)(
-        CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSource *src
-);
-
-/**
- * Defines a properties source.
- */
-struct cx_properties_source_s {
-    /**
-     * The source object.
-     *
-     * For example, a file stream or a string.
-     */
-    void *src;
-    /**
-     * Optional additional data pointer.
-     */
-    void *data_ptr;
-    /**
-     * Optional size information.
-     */
-    size_t data_size;
-    /**
-     * A function that reads data from the source.
-     */
-    cx_properties_read_func read_func;
-    /**
-     * Optional function that may prepare the source for reading data.
-     */
-    cx_properties_read_init_func read_init_func;
-    /**
-     * Optional function that cleans additional memory allocated by the
-     * read_init_func.
-     */
-    cx_properties_read_clean_func read_clean_func;
-};
-
 /**
  * Initialize a properties interface.
  *
@@ -325,8 +180,8 @@
  * @param config the properties configuration
  * @see cxPropertiesInitDefault()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxPropertiesInit(CxProperties *prop, CxPropertiesConfig config);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxPropertiesInit(CxProperties *prop, CxPropertiesConfig config);
 
 /**
  * Destroys the properties interface.
@@ -339,8 +194,8 @@
  *
  * @param prop the properties interface
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxPropertiesDestroy(CxProperties *prop);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxPropertiesDestroy(CxProperties *prop);
 
 /**
  * Destroys and re-initializes the properties interface.
@@ -350,8 +205,8 @@
  *
  * @param prop the properties interface
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxPropertiesReset(CxProperties *prop);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxPropertiesReset(CxProperties *prop);
 
 /**
  * Initialize a properties parser with the default configuration.
@@ -383,8 +238,8 @@
  * @retval non-zero a memory allocation was necessary but failed
  * @see cxPropertiesFill()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_r(2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT int cxPropertiesFilln(CxProperties *prop, const char *buf, size_t len);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_R(2, 3)
+int cxPropertiesFilln(CxProperties *prop, const char *buf, size_t len);
 
 /**
  * Internal function, do not use.
@@ -394,8 +249,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero a memory allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_INLINE int cx_properties_fill(CxProperties *prop, cxstring str) {
+CX_NONNULL CX_INLINE
+int cx_properties_fill(CxProperties *prop, cxstring str) {
     return cxPropertiesFilln(prop, str.ptr, str.length);
 }
 
@@ -428,8 +283,8 @@
  * @param buf a pointer to stack memory
  * @param capacity the capacity of the stack memory
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxPropertiesUseStack(CxProperties *prop, char *buf, size_t capacity);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxPropertiesUseStack(CxProperties *prop, char *buf, size_t capacity);
 
 /**
  * Retrieves the next key/value-pair.
@@ -461,107 +316,85 @@
  * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_INVALID_MISSING_DELIMITER the properties data contains a line without delimiter
  * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED an internal allocation was necessary but failed
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxPropertiesStatus cxPropertiesNext(CxProperties *prop, cxstring *key, cxstring *value);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxPropertiesStatus cxPropertiesNext(CxProperties *prop, cxstring *key, cxstring *value);
 
 /**
- * Creates a properties sink for an UCX map.
- *
- * The values stored in the map will be pointers to freshly allocated,
- * zero-terminated C strings (@c char*), which means the @p map should have been
- * created with #CX_STORE_POINTERS.
- *
- * The cxDefaultAllocator will be used unless you specify a custom
- * allocator in the optional @c data field of the returned sink.
- *
- * @param map the map that shall consume the k/v-pairs.
- * @return the sink
- * @see cxPropertiesLoad()
+ * The size of the stack memory that `cxPropertiesLoad()` will reserve with `cxPropertiesUseStack()`.
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxPropertiesSink cxPropertiesMapSink(CxMap *map);
+CX_EXPORT extern const unsigned cx_properties_load_buf_size;
 
 /**
- * Creates a properties source based on an UCX string.
- *
- * @param str the string
- * @return the properties source
- * @see cxPropertiesLoad()
+ * The size of the stack memory that `cxPropertiesLoad()` will use to read contents from the file.
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxPropertiesSource cxPropertiesStringSource(cxstring str);
-
-/**
- * Creates a properties source based on C string with the specified length.
- *
- * @param str the string
- * @param len the length
- * @return the properties source
- * @see cxPropertiesLoad()
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_access_r(1, 2)
-CX_EXPORT CxPropertiesSource cxPropertiesCstrnSource(const char *str, size_t len);
+CX_EXPORT extern const unsigned cx_properties_load_fill_size;
 
 /**
- * Creates a properties source based on a C string.
- *
- * The length will be determined with strlen(), so the string MUST be
- * zero-terminated.
+ * Internal function - use cxPropertiesLoad() instead.
  *
- * @param str the string
- * @return the properties source
- * @see cxPropertiesLoad()
+ * @param allocator the allocator for the values
+ * @param filename the file name
+ * @param target the target map
+ * @param config the parser config
+ * @return status code
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_cstr_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT CxPropertiesSource cxPropertiesCstrSource(const char *str);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(3)
+CxPropertiesStatus cx_properties_load(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        cxstring filename, CxMap *target, CxPropertiesConfig config);
 
 /**
- * Creates a properties source based on an FILE.
- *
- * @param file the file
- * @param chunk_size how many bytes may be read in one operation
+ * Loads properties from a file and inserts them into a map.
  *
- * @return the properties source
- * @see cxPropertiesLoad()
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_access_r(1)
-CX_EXPORT CxPropertiesSource cxPropertiesFileSource(FILE *file, size_t chunk_size);
-
-
-/**
- * Loads properties data from a source and transfers it to a sink.
+ * Entries are added to the map, possibly overwriting existing entries.
+ *
+ * The map must either store pointers of type @c char*, or elements of type cxmutstr.
+ * Any other configuration is not supported.
  *
- * This function tries to read as much data from the source as possible.
- * When the source was completely consumed and at least on k/v-pair was found,
- * the return value will be #CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR.
- * When the source was consumed but no k/v-pairs were found, the return value
- * will be #CX_PROPERTIES_NO_DATA.
- * In case the source data ends unexpectedly, the #CX_PROPERTIES_INCOMPLETE_DATA
- * is returned. In that case you should call this function again with the same
- * sink and either an updated source or the same source if the source is able to
- * yield the missing data.
+ * @note When the parser finds an error, all successfully parsed keys before the error
+ * are added to the map nonetheless.
  *
- * The other result codes apply, according to their description.
- *
- * @param prop the properties interface
- * @param sink the sink
- * @param source the source
- * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR (zero) a key/value pair was found
- * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_READ_INIT_FAILED initializing the source failed
- * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_READ_FAILED reading from the source failed
- * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_SINK_FAILED sinking the properties into the sink failed
- * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_NO_DATA the source did not provide any key/value pairs
- * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_INCOMPLETE_DATA the source did not provide enough data
+ * @param allocator the allocator for the values that will be stored in the map
+ * @param filename (any string) the absolute or relative path to the file
+ * @param target (@c CxMap*) the map where the properties shall be added
+ * @param config the parser config
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR (zero) at least one key/value pair was found
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_NO_DATA the file is syntactically OK, but does not contain properties
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_INCOMPLETE_DATA unexpected end of file
  * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_INVALID_EMPTY_KEY the properties data contains an illegal empty key
  * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_INVALID_MISSING_DELIMITER the properties data contains a line without delimiter
  * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED an internal allocation was necessary but failed
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_FILE_ERROR a file operation failed; depending on the system @c errno might be set
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_MAP_ERROR storing a key/value pair in the map failed
+ * @see cxPropertiesLoadDefault()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT CxPropertiesStatus cxPropertiesLoad(CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSink sink, CxPropertiesSource source);
+#define cxPropertiesLoad(allocator, filename, target, config) \
+    cx_properties_load(allocator, cx_strcast(filename), target, config)
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+/**
+ * Loads properties from a file and inserts them into a map with a default config.
+ *
+ * Entries are added to the map, possibly overwriting existing entries.
+ *
+ * The map must either store pointers of type @c char*, or elements of type cxmutstr.
+ * Any other configuration is not supported.
+ *
+ * @note When the parser finds an error, all successfully parsed keys before the error
+ * are added to the map nonetheless.
+ *
+ * @param allocator the allocator for the values that will be stored in the map
+ * @param filename (any string) the absolute or relative path to the file
+ * @param target (@c CxMap*) the map where the properties shall be added
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR (zero) at least one key/value pair was found
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_NO_DATA the file is syntactically OK, but does not contain properties
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_INCOMPLETE_DATA unexpected end of file
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_INVALID_EMPTY_KEY the properties data contains an illegal empty key
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_INVALID_MISSING_DELIMITER the properties data contains a line without delimiter
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED an internal allocation was necessary but failed
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_FILE_ERROR a file operation failed; depending on the system @c errno might be set
+ * @retval CX_PROPERTIES_MAP_ERROR storing a key/value pair in the map failed
+ * @see cxPropertiesLoad()
+ */
+#define cxPropertiesLoadDefault(allocator, filename, target) \
+    cx_properties_load(allocator, cx_strcast(filename), target, cx_properties_config_default)
 
 #endif // UCX_PROPERTIES_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/streams.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/streams.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -41,10 +41,6 @@
 
 #include "common.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 /**
  * Reads data from a stream and writes it to another stream.
  *
@@ -61,9 +57,9 @@
  * iterations.
  * @return the total number of bytes copied
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 4)
-cx_attr_access_r(1) cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_access_w(5)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_stream_bncopy(void *src, void *dest,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2, 3, 4)
+CX_ACCESS_R(1) CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_ACCESS_W(5)
+size_t cx_stream_bncopy(void *src, void *dest,
         cx_read_func rfnc, cx_write_func wfnc,
         char *buf, size_t bufsize, size_t n);
 
@@ -95,8 +91,8 @@
  * @param n the maximum number of bytes that shall be copied.
  * @return total number of bytes copied
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_r(1) cx_attr_access_w(2)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_stream_ncopy(void *src, void *dest,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_R(1) CX_ACCESS_W(2)
+size_t cx_stream_ncopy(void *src, void *dest,
         cx_read_func rfnc, cx_write_func wfnc, size_t n);
 
 /**
@@ -113,8 +109,4 @@
 #define cx_stream_copy(src, dest, rfnc, wfnc) \
     cx_stream_ncopy(src, dest, rfnc, wfnc, SIZE_MAX)
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-}
-#endif
-
 #endif // UCX_STREAMS_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/string.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/string.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "allocator.h"
 
+#include <string.h>
+
+/** Convenience macro for creating a null string */
+#define CX_NULLSTR cx_mutstr(NULL)
+
 /** Expands a UCX string as printf arguments. */
 #define CX_SFMT(s) (int) (s).length, (s).ptr
 
@@ -137,30 +142,6 @@
  */
 typedef struct cx_strtok_ctx_s CxStrtokCtx;
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-
-/**
- * A literal initializer for an UCX string structure.
- *
- * @param literal the string literal
- */
-#define CX_STR(literal) cxstring{literal, sizeof(literal) - 1}
-
-#else // __cplusplus
-
-/**
- * A literal initializer for an UCX string structure.
- *
- * The argument MUST be a string (const char*) @em literal.
- *
- * @param literal the string literal
- */
-#define CX_STR(literal) ((cxstring){literal, sizeof(literal) - 1})
-
-#endif
-
-
 /**
  * Wraps a mutable string that must be zero-terminated.
  *
@@ -178,8 +159,13 @@
  *
  * @see cx_mutstrn()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_cstr_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_mutstr(char *cstring);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_CSTR_ARG(1)
+CX_INLINE cxmutstr cx_mutstr(char *cstring) {
+    cxmutstr str;
+    str.ptr = cstring;
+    str.length = cstring == NULL ? 0 : strlen(cstring);
+    return str;
+}
 
 /**
  * Wraps a string that does not need to be zero-terminated.
@@ -197,8 +183,13 @@
  *
  * @see cx_mutstr()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_access_rw(1, 2)
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_mutstrn(char *cstring, size_t length);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_ACCESS_RW(1, 2)
+CX_INLINE cxmutstr cx_mutstrn(char *cstring, size_t length) {
+    cxmutstr str;
+    str.ptr = cstring;
+    str.length = length;
+    return str;
+}
 
 /**
  * Wraps a string that must be zero-terminated.
@@ -217,8 +208,13 @@
  *
  * @see cx_strn()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_cstr_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cx_str(const char *cstring);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_CSTR_ARG(1)
+CX_INLINE cxstring cx_str(const char *cstring) {
+    cxstring str;
+    str.ptr = cstring;
+    str.length = cstring == NULL ? 0 : strlen(cstring);
+    return str;
+}
 
 
 /**
@@ -237,47 +233,69 @@
  *
  * @see cx_str()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_access_r(1, 2)
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cx_strn(const char *cstring, size_t length);
+CX_NODISCARD CX_ACCESS_R(1, 2)
+CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strn(const char *cstring, size_t length) {
+    cxstring str;
+    str.ptr = cstring;
+    str.length = length;
+    return str;
+}
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strcast(cxmutstr str) {
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_CPPDECL cxmutstr cx_strcast_m(cxmutstr str) {
+    return str;
+}
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strcast_m(cxstring str) {
+    return str;
+}
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_CPPDECL cxmutstr cx_strcast_m(char *str) {
+    return cx_mutstr(str);
+}
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_CPPDECL cxmutstr cx_strcast_m(unsigned char *str) {
+    return cx_mutstr(reinterpret_cast<char*>(str));
+}
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strcast_m(const char *str) {
+    return cx_str(str);
+}
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strcast_m(const unsigned char *str) {
+    return cx_str(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(str));
+}
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strcast_(cxmutstr str) {
     return cx_strn(str.ptr, str.length);
 }
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strcast(cxstring str) {
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strcast_(cxstring str) {
     return str;
 }
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strcast(const char *str) {
-    return cx_str(str);
-}
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strcast(const unsigned char *str) {
-    return cx_str(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(str));
-}
-extern "C" {
+#define cx_strcast(s) cx_strcast_(cx_strcast_m(s))
 #else
 /**
  * Internal function, do not use.
  * @param str
  * @return
+ * @see cx_strcast_m()
  * @see cx_strcast()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strcast_m(cxmutstr str) {
-    return (cxstring) {str.ptr, str.length};
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_INLINE cxmutstr cx_strcast_cxms(cxmutstr str) {
+    return str;
 }
 /**
  * Internal function, do not use.
  * @param str
  * @return
+ * @see cx_strcast_m()
  * @see cx_strcast()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strcast_c(cxstring str) {
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strcast_cxs(cxstring str) {
     return str;
 }
 
@@ -285,10 +303,35 @@
  * Internal function, do not use.
  * @param str
  * @return
+ * @see cx_strcast_m()
+ * @see cx_strcast()
+ */
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_INLINE cxmutstr cx_strcast_uc(unsigned char *str) {
+    return cx_mutstr((char*)str);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Internal function, do not use.
+ * @param str
+ * @return
+ * @see cx_strcast_m()
  * @see cx_strcast()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strcast_u(const unsigned char *str) {
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_INLINE cxmutstr cx_strcast_c(char *str) {
+    return cx_mutstr(str);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Internal function, do not use.
+ * @param str
+ * @return
+ * @see cx_strcast_m()
+ * @see cx_strcast()
+ */
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strcast_ucc(const unsigned char *str) {
     return cx_str((const char*)str);
 }
 
@@ -296,10 +339,11 @@
  * Internal function, do not use.
  * @param str
  * @return
+ * @see cx_strcast_m()
  * @see cx_strcast()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strcast_z(const char *str) {
+CX_NODISCARD
+CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strcast_cc(const char *str) {
     return cx_str(str);
 }
 
@@ -307,18 +351,62 @@
  * Wraps any string into an UCX string.
  *
  * @param str (any supported string type) the string to cast
- * @return (@c cxstring) the string wrapped as UCX string
+ * @return (@c cxstring) or (@c cxmutstr) the string wrapped as UCX string
+ */
+#define cx_strcast_m(str) _Generic((str), \
+        cxstring: cx_strcast_cxs, \
+        cxmutstr: cx_strcast_cxms, \
+        const unsigned char*: cx_strcast_ucc, \
+        unsigned char *: cx_strcast_uc, \
+        const char*: cx_strcast_cc, \
+        char *: cx_strcast_c) (str)
+
+/**
+ * Internal function, do not use.
+ * @param str
+ * @return
+ */
+CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strcast_1(cxmutstr str) {
+    return (cxstring){str.ptr, str.length};
+}
+
+/**
+ * Internal function, do not use.
+ * @param str
+ * @return
  */
-#define cx_strcast(str) _Generic((str), \
-        cxmutstr: cx_strcast_m, \
-        cxstring: cx_strcast_c, \
-        const unsigned char*: cx_strcast_u, \
-        unsigned char *: cx_strcast_u, \
-        const char*: cx_strcast_z, \
-        char *: cx_strcast_z) (str)
+CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strcast_2(cxstring str) {
+    return str;
+}
+
+/** internal conversion macro */
+#define cx_strcast_(str) _Generic((str), \
+        cxmutstr: cx_strcast_1, \
+        cxstring: cx_strcast_2)(str)
+
+/**
+ * Converts any string to a cxstring.
+ *
+ * @param str (any supported string type) the string to cast
+ * @return he string converted to a (@c cxstring)
+ */
+#define cx_strcast(str) cx_strcast_(cx_strcast_m(str))
 #endif
 
 /**
+ * Casts away constness and converts a cxstring to a cxmutstr.
+ * For internal use only!
+ * @param str
+ * @return
+ */
+CX_INLINE cxmutstr cx_mutstrcast(cxstring str) {
+    cxmutstr s;
+    s.ptr = (char*)str.ptr;
+    s.length = str.length;
+    return s;
+}
+
+/**
  * Passes the pointer in this string to the cxDefaultAllocator's @c free() function.
  *
  * The pointer in the struct is set to @c NULL, and the length is set to zero,
@@ -330,7 +418,8 @@
  *
  * @param str the string to free
  */
-CX_EXPORT void cx_strfree(cxmutstr *str);
+CX_EXTERN
+void cx_strfree(cxmutstr *str);
 
 /**
  * Passes the pointer in this string to the allocator's free function.
@@ -345,8 +434,24 @@
  * @param alloc the allocator
  * @param str the string to free
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_strfree_a(const CxAllocator *alloc, cxmutstr *str);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+void cx_strfree_a(const CxAllocator *alloc, cxmutstr *str);
+
+/**
+ * Copies a string.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param alloc the allocator
+ * @param dest a pointer to the structure where to copy the contents to
+ * @param src the source string
+ *
+ * @retval zero success
+ * @retval non-zero if re-allocation failed
+ * @see cx_strcpy_a()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1)
+int cx_strcpy_a_(const CxAllocator *alloc, cxmutstr *dest, cxstring src);
 
 /**
  * Copies a string.
@@ -356,16 +461,13 @@
  *
  * The string in @p dest is guaranteed to be zero-terminated, regardless of whether @p src is.
  *
- * @param alloc the allocator
- * @param dest a pointer to the structure where to copy the contents to
+ * @param alloc (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator
+ * @param dest (@c cxmutstr*) a pointer to the structure where to copy the contents to
  * @param src the source string
- *
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero if re-allocation failed
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strcpy_a(const CxAllocator *alloc, cxmutstr *dest, cxstring src);
-
+#define cx_strcpy_a(alloc, dest, src) cx_strcpy_a_(alloc, dest, cx_strcast(src))
 
 /**
  * Copies a string.
@@ -376,8 +478,7 @@
  * The string in @p dest is guaranteed to be zero-terminated, regardless of whether @p src is.
  *
  * @param dest (@c cxmutstr*) a pointer to the structure where to copy the contents to
- * @param src (@c cxstring) the source string
- *
+ * @param src the source string
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero if re-allocation failed
  */
@@ -395,8 +496,8 @@
  * @param ...      all strings
  * @return the accumulated length of all strings
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_strlen(size_t count, ...);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+size_t cx_strlen(size_t count, ...);
 
 /**
  * Concatenates strings.
@@ -407,12 +508,10 @@
  * If @p str already contains a string, the memory will be reallocated and
  * the other strings are appended. Otherwise, new memory is allocated.
  *
- * If memory allocation fails, the pointer in the returned string will
- * be @c NULL. Depending on the allocator, @c errno might be set.
- *
  * @note It is guaranteed that there is only one allocation for the
  * resulting string.
  * It is also guaranteed that the returned string is zero-terminated.
+ * If allocation fails, the @c ptr in the returned string will be @c NULL.
  *
  * @param alloc the allocator to use
  * @param str   the string the other strings shall be concatenated to
@@ -420,92 +519,111 @@
  * @param ...   all other UCX strings
  * @return the concatenated string
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_strcat_ma(const CxAllocator *alloc,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+cxmutstr cx_strcat_a(const CxAllocator *alloc,
         cxmutstr str, size_t count, ...);
 
 /**
  * Concatenates strings and returns a new string.
  *
- * The resulting string will be allocated by the specified allocator.
- * So developers @em must pass the return value to cx_strfree_a() eventually.
- *
-* If memory allocation fails, the pointer in the returned string will
- * be @c NULL. Depending on the allocator, @c errno might be set.
- *
- * @note It is guaranteed that there is only one allocation for the
- * resulting string.
- * It is also guaranteed that the returned string is zero-terminated.
- *
- * @param alloc (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use
- * @param count (@c size_t) the number of the other following strings to concatenate
- * @param ...   all other UCX strings
- * @return (@c cxmutstr) the concatenated string
- */
-#define cx_strcat_a(alloc, count, ...) \
-        cx_strcat_ma(alloc, cx_mutstrn(NULL, 0), count, __VA_ARGS__)
-
-/**
- * Concatenates strings and returns a new string.
- *
  * The resulting string will be allocated by the cxDefaultAllocator.
  * So developers @em must pass the return value to cx_strfree() eventually.
  *
-* If memory allocation fails, the pointer in the returned string will
- * be @c NULL and @c errno might be set.
- *
  * @note It is guaranteed that there is only one allocation for the
  * resulting string.
  * It is also guaranteed that the returned string is zero-terminated.
+ * If allocation fails, the @c ptr in the returned string will be @c NULL.
  *
+ * @param str (@c cxmutstr*) the string the other strings shall be concatenated to
  * @param count (@c size_t) the number of the other following strings to concatenate
  * @param ... all other UCX strings
- * @return (@c cxmutstr) the concatenated string
+ * @return the concatenated string
+ */
+#define cx_strcat(str, count, ...) \
+        cx_strcat_a(cxDefaultAllocator, str, count, __VA_ARGS__)
+
+/**
+ * Returns a substring.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param string input string
+ * @param start  start location of the substring
+ * @param length the maximum length of the returned string
+ * @return a substring of @p string starting at @p start
+ * @see cx_strsubsl()
  */
-#define cx_strcat(count, ...) \
-        cx_strcat_ma(cxDefaultAllocator, cx_mutstrn(NULL, 0), count, __VA_ARGS__)
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+cxstring cx_strsubsl_(cxstring string, size_t start, size_t length);
+
+/**
+ * Returns a substring.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param string input string
+ * @param start  start location of the substring
+ * @return a substring of @p string starting at @p start
+ * @see cx_strsubs()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+cxstring cx_strsubs_(cxstring string, size_t start);
 
 /**
- * Concatenates strings.
- *
- * The resulting string will be allocated by the cxDefaultAllocator.
- * So developers @em must pass the return value to cx_strfree() eventually.
- *
- * If @p str already contains a string, the memory will be reallocated and
- * the other strings are appended. Otherwise, new memory is allocated.
- *
-* If memory allocation fails, the pointer in the returned string will
- * be @c NULL and @c errno might be set.
- *
- * @note It is guaranteed that there is only one allocation for the
- * resulting string.
- * It is also guaranteed that the returned string is zero-terminated.
- *
- * @param str (@c cxmutstr) the string the other strings shall be concatenated to
- * @param count (@c size_t) the number of the other following strings to concatenate
- * @param ... all other strings
- * @return (@c cxmutstr) the concatenated string
+ * Internal conversion function - do not use.
+ * @param string
+ * @param start
+ * @return
+ */
+CX_INLINE
+cxmutstr cx_strsubs_m_(cxmutstr string, size_t start) {
+    return cx_mutstrcast(cx_strsubs_(cx_strcast(string), start));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Internal conversion function - do not use.
+ * @param string
+ * @param start
+ * @param length
+ * @return
  */
-#define cx_strcat_m(str, count, ...) \
-        cx_strcat_ma(cxDefaultAllocator, str, count, __VA_ARGS__)
+CX_INLINE
+cxmutstr cx_strsubsl_m_(cxmutstr string, size_t start, size_t length) {
+    return cx_mutstrcast(cx_strsubsl_(cx_strcast(string), start, length));
+}
 
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strsubs_cpp_(cxstring string, size_t start) {
+    return cx_strsubs_(string, start);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strsubsl_cpp_(cxstring string, size_t start, size_t length) {
+    return cx_strsubsl_(string, start, length);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL cxmutstr cx_strsubs_cpp_(cxmutstr string, size_t start) {
+    return cx_strsubs_m_(string, start);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL cxmutstr cx_strsubsl_cpp_(cxmutstr string, size_t start, size_t length) {
+    return cx_strsubsl_m_(string, start, length);
+}
+#define cx_strsubs(string, start) cx_strsubs_cpp_(cx_strcast_m(string), start)
+#define cx_strsubsl(string, start, length) cx_strsubsl_cpp_(cx_strcast_m(string), start, length)
+#else
 /**
  * Returns a substring starting at the specified location.
  *
  * @attention the new string references the same memory area as the
- * input string and is usually @em not zero-terminated.
+ * input string and is @em not zero-terminated.
  * Use cx_strdup() to get a copy.
  *
  * @param string input string
- * @param start  start location of the substring
- * @return a substring of @p string starting at @p start
+ * @param start (@c size_t) start location of the substring
+ * @return (@c cxstring or @c cxmutstr) a substring of @p string starting at @p start
  *
  * @see cx_strsubsl()
- * @see cx_strsubs_m()
- * @see cx_strsubsl_m()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cx_strsubs(cxstring string, size_t start);
+#define cx_strsubs(string, start) _Generic(cx_strcast_m(string), \
+        cxstring: cx_strsubs_, \
+        cxmutstr: cx_strsubs_m_)(cx_strcast_m(string), start)
 
 /**
  * Returns a substring starting at the specified location.
@@ -523,51 +641,107 @@
  * @return a substring of @p string starting at @p start
  *
  * @see cx_strsubs()
- * @see cx_strsubs_m()
- * @see cx_strsubsl_m()
+ */
+#define cx_strsubsl(string, start, length) _Generic(cx_strcast_m(string), \
+        cxstring: cx_strsubsl_, \
+        cxmutstr: cx_strsubsl_m_)(cx_strcast_m(string), start, length)
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * Returns the character at the specified index offset.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param str the string
+ * @param index the index offset
+ * @return the character at the index
+ * @see cx_strat()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cx_strsubsl(cxstring string, size_t start, size_t length);
+CX_INLINE
+char cx_strat_(cxstring str, off_t index) {
+    size_t i;
+    if (index >= 0) {
+        i = index;
+    } else {
+        i = (size_t) (str.length + index);
+    }
+    if (i >= str.length) {
+        return '\0';
+    }
+    return str.ptr[i];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns the character at the specified index offset.
+ *
+ * When the @p index is negative, the character is counted from the end of the
+ * string where -1 denotes the last character in the string.
+ *
+ * When the @p index is out of bounds, the function returns zero.
+ *
+ * @param str the string
+ * @param index the index offset
+ * @return the character at the index
+ * @see cx_strat()
+ */
+#define cx_strat(str, index) cx_strat_(cx_strcast(str), index)
 
 /**
- * Returns a substring starting at the specified location.
- *
- * @attention the new string references the same memory area as the
- * input string and is usually @em not zero-terminated.
- * Use cx_strdup() to get a copy.
- *
- * @param string input string
- * @param start  start location of the substring
- * @return a substring of @p string starting at @p start
- *
- * @see cx_strsubsl_m()
- * @see cx_strsubs()
- * @see cx_strsubsl()
+ * Searches for a character in a string.
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ * @param string
+ * @param chr
+ * @return
+ * @see cx_strchr()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_strsubs_m(cxmutstr string, size_t start);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+cxstring cx_strchr_(cxstring string, int chr);
 
 /**
- * Returns a substring starting at the specified location.
- *
- * The returned string will be limited to @p length bytes or the number
- * of bytes available in @p string, whichever is smaller.
- *
- * @attention the new string references the same memory area as the
- * input string and is usually @em not zero-terminated.
- * Use cx_strdup() to get a copy.
- *
- * @param string input string
- * @param start  start location of the substring
- * @param length the maximum length of the returned string
- * @return a substring of @p string starting at @p start
- *
- * @see cx_strsubs_m()
- * @see cx_strsubs()
- * @see cx_strsubsl()
+ * Searches for a character in a string.
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ * @param string
+ * @param chr
+ * @return
+ * @see cx_strrchr()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_strsubsl_m(cxmutstr string, size_t start, size_t length);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+cxstring cx_strrchr_(cxstring string, int chr);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strchr_cpp_(cxstring string, int chr) {
+    return cx_strchr_(string, chr);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL cxmutstr cx_strchr_cpp_(cxmutstr string, int chr) {
+    return cx_mutstrcast(cx_strchr_(cx_strcast(string), chr));
+}
+#define cx_strchr(s, chr) cx_strchr_cpp_(cx_strcast_m(s), chr)
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strrchr_cpp_(cxstring string, int chr) {
+    return cx_strrchr_(string, chr);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL cxmutstr cx_strrchr_cpp_(cxmutstr string, int chr) {
+    return cx_mutstrcast(cx_strrchr_(cx_strcast(string), chr));
+}
+#define cx_strrchr(s, chr) cx_strrchr_cpp_(cx_strcast_m(s), chr)
+#else
+/**
+ * Internal conversion function - do not use.
+ * @param string
+ * @param chr
+ * @return
+ */
+CX_INLINE cxmutstr cx_strchr_m_(cxmutstr string, int chr) {
+    return cx_mutstrcast(cx_strchr_(cx_strcast(string), chr));
+}
+/**
+ * Internal conversion function - do not use.
+ * @param string
+ * @param chr
+ * @return
+ */
+CX_INLINE  cxmutstr cx_strrchr_m_(cxmutstr string, int chr) {
+    return cx_mutstrcast(cx_strrchr_(cx_strcast(string), chr));
+}
 
 /**
  * Returns a substring starting at the location of the first occurrence of the
@@ -576,28 +750,13 @@
  * If the string does not contain the character, an empty string is returned.
  *
  * @param string the string where to locate the character
- * @param chr    the character to locate
- * @return       a substring starting at the first location of @p chr
- *
- * @see cx_strchr_m()
+ * @param chr (@c int) the character to locate
+ * @return (@c cxstring or @c cxmutstr) a substring starting at the first
+ * location of @p chr
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cx_strchr(cxstring string, int chr);
-
-/**
- * Returns a substring starting at the location of the first occurrence of the
- * specified character.
- *
- * If the string does not contain the character, an empty string is returned.
- *
- * @param string the string where to locate the character
- * @param chr    the character to locate
- * @return       a substring starting at the first location of @p chr
- *
- * @see cx_strchr()
- */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_strchr_m(cxmutstr string, int chr);
+#define cx_strchr(string, chr) _Generic(cx_strcast_m(string), \
+        cxstring: cx_strchr_, \
+        cxmutstr: cx_strchr_m_)(cx_strcast_m(string), chr)
 
 /**
  * Returns a substring starting at the location of the last occurrence of the
@@ -606,28 +765,47 @@
  * If the string does not contain the character, an empty string is returned.
  *
  * @param string the string where to locate the character
- * @param chr    the character to locate
- * @return       a substring starting at the last location of @p chr
- *
- * @see cx_strrchr_m()
+ * @param chr (@c int) the character to locate
+ * @return (@c cxstring or @c cxmutstr) a substring starting at the last
+ * location of @p chr
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cx_strrchr(cxstring string, int chr);
+#define cx_strrchr(string, chr) _Generic(cx_strcast_m(string), \
+        cxstring: cx_strrchr_, \
+        cxmutstr: cx_strrchr_m_)(cx_strcast_m(string), chr)
+#endif
 
 /**
- * Returns a substring starting at the location of the last occurrence of the
- * specified character.
+ * Searches for a specific substring.
  *
- * If the string does not contain the character, an empty string is returned.
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
- * @param string the string where to locate the character
- * @param chr    the character to locate
- * @return       a substring starting at the last location of @p chr
- *
- * @see cx_strrchr()
+ * @param haystack the string to be scanned
+ * @param needle string containing the sequence of characters to match
+ * @return a substring starting at the first occurrence of @p needle,
+ * or an empty string, if the sequence is not contained
+ * @see cx_strstr()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_strrchr_m(cxmutstr string, int chr);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+cxstring cx_strstr_(cxstring haystack, cxstring needle);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strstr_cpp_(cxstring haystack, cxstring needle) {
+    return cx_strstr_(haystack, needle);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL cxmutstr cx_strstr_cpp_(cxmutstr haystack, cxstring needle) {
+    return cx_mutstrcast(cx_strstr_(cx_strcast(haystack), needle));
+}
+#define cx_strstr(h,n) cx_strstr_cpp_(cx_strcast_m(h), cx_strcast(n))
+#else
+/**
+ * Internal conversion - do not use.
+ * @param haystack
+ * @param needle
+ * @return
+ */
+CX_INLINE  cxmutstr cx_strstr_m_(cxmutstr haystack, cxstring needle) {
+    return cx_mutstrcast(cx_strstr_(cx_strcast(haystack), needle));
+}
 
 /**
  * Returns a substring starting at the location of the first occurrence of the
@@ -639,34 +817,106 @@
  * returned.
  *
  * @param haystack the string to be scanned
- * @param needle  string containing the sequence of characters to match
- * @return       a substring starting at the first occurrence of
- *               @p needle, or an empty string, if the sequence is not
- *               contained
- * @see cx_strstr_m()
+ * @param needle string containing the sequence of characters to match
+ * @return (@c cxstring or @c cxmutstr) a substring starting at the first
+ * occurrence of @p needle, or an empty string, if the sequence is not contained
+ */
+#define cx_strstr(haystack, needle) _Generic(cx_strcast_m(haystack), \
+        cxstring: cx_strstr_,\
+        cxmutstr: cx_strstr_m_)(cx_strcast_m(haystack), cx_strcast(needle))
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * Splits a given string using a delimiter string.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param string the string to split
+ * @param delim  the delimiter
+ * @param limit the maximum number of split items
+ * @param output the output array
+ * @return the actual number of split items
+ * @see cx_strsplit()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cx_strstr(cxstring haystack, cxstring needle);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_W(4, 3)
+size_t cx_strsplit_(cxstring string, cxstring delim,
+        size_t limit, cxstring *output);
+
+/**
+ * Splits a given string using a delimiter string.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param allocator the allocator to use for allocating the resulting array
+ * @param string the string to split
+ * @param delim  the delimiter
+ * @param limit the maximum number of split items
+ * @param output the output array
+ * @return the actual number of split items
+ * @see cx_strsplit_a()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_W(5)
+size_t cx_strsplit_a_(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        cxstring string, cxstring delim,
+        size_t limit, cxstring **output);
+
 
 /**
- * Returns a substring starting at the location of the first occurrence of the
- * specified string.
+ * Splits a given string using a delimiter string.
+ *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
- * If @p haystack does not contain @p needle, an empty string is returned.
+ * @param string the string to split
+ * @param delim  the delimiter
+ * @param limit the maximum number of split items
+ * @param output the output array
+ * @return the actual number of split items
+ * @see cx_strsplit_m()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_W(4, 3)
+size_t cx_strsplit_m_(cxmutstr string, cxstring delim,
+        size_t limit, cxmutstr *output);
+
+/**
+ * Splits a given string using a delimiter string.
  *
- * If @p needle is an empty string, the complete @p haystack is
- * returned.
+ * Internal function - do not use.
  *
- * @param haystack the string to be scanned
- * @param needle  string containing the sequence of characters to match
- * @return       a substring starting at the first occurrence of
- *               @p needle, or an empty string, if the sequence is not
- *               contained
- * @see cx_strstr()
+ * @param allocator the allocator to use for allocating the resulting array
+ * @param string the string to split
+ * @param delim  the delimiter
+ * @param limit the maximum number of split items
+ * @param output the output array
+ * @return the actual number of split items
+ * @see cx_strsplit_ma()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_strstr_m(cxmutstr haystack, cxstring needle);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_W(5)
+size_t cx_strsplit_ma_(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        cxmutstr string, cxstring delim, size_t limit,
+        cxmutstr **output);
 
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+CX_CPPDECL size_t cx_strsplit_cpp_(cxstring string, cxstring delim,
+        size_t limit, cxstring *output) {
+    return cx_strsplit_(string, delim, limit, output);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL size_t cx_strsplit_cpp_(cxmutstr string, cxstring delim,
+        size_t limit, cxmutstr *output) {
+    return cx_strsplit_m_(string, delim, limit, output);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL size_t cx_strsplit_a_cpp_(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        cxstring string, cxstring delim, size_t limit, cxstring **output) {
+    return cx_strsplit_a_(allocator, string, delim, limit, output);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL size_t cx_strsplit_a_cpp_(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        cxmutstr string, cxstring delim, size_t limit, cxmutstr **output) {
+    return cx_strsplit_ma_(allocator, string, delim, limit, output);
+}
+#define cx_strsplit(string, delim, limit, output) \
+        cx_strsplit_cpp_(cx_strcast_m(string), cx_strcast(delim), limit, output)
+#define cx_strsplit_a(allocator, string, delim, limit, output) \
+        cx_strsplit_a_cpp_(allocator, cx_strcast_m(string), cx_strcast(delim), limit, output)
+#else
 /**
  * Splits a given string using a delimiter string.
  *
@@ -674,14 +924,17 @@
  * @p string. Use cx_strdup() to get copies.
  *
  * @param string the string to split
- * @param delim  the delimiter
- * @param limit the maximum number of split items
- * @param output a preallocated array of at least @p limit length
+ * @param delim the delimiter
+ * @param limit (@c size_t) the maximum number of split items
+ * @param output (@c cxstring* or @c cxmutstr*) a preallocated array of at
+ * least @p limit length
  * @return the actual number of split items
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(4, 3)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_strsplit(cxstring string, cxstring delim,
-        size_t limit, cxstring *output);
+#define cx_strsplit(string, delim, limit, output) \
+        _Generic(cx_strcast_m(string), \
+        cxstring: cx_strsplit_, \
+        cxmutstr: cx_strsplit_m_)\
+        (cx_strcast_m(string), cx_strcast(delim), limit, output)
 
 /**
  * Splits a given string using a delimiter string.
@@ -694,59 +947,20 @@
  * @attention If allocation fails, the @c NULL pointer will be written to
  * @p output and the number returned will be zero.
  *
- * @param allocator the allocator to use for allocating the resulting array
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use for allocating the resulting array
  * @param string the string to split
  * @param delim  the delimiter
- * @param limit the maximum number of split items
- * @param output a pointer where the address of the allocated array shall be
- * written to
- * @return the actual number of split items
- */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(5)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_strsplit_a(const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cxstring string, cxstring delim,
-        size_t limit, cxstring **output);
-
-
-/**
- * Splits a given string using a delimiter string.
- *
- * @note The resulting array contains strings that point to the source
- * @p string. Use cx_strdup() to get copies.
- *
- * @param string the string to split
- * @param delim  the delimiter
- * @param limit the maximum number of split items
- * @param output a preallocated array of at least @p limit length
+ * @param limit (@c size_t) the maximum number of split items
+ * @param output (@c cxstring** or @c cxmutstr**) a pointer where the address
+ * of the allocated array shall be written to
  * @return the actual number of split items
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(4, 3)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_strsplit_m(cxmutstr string, cxstring delim,
-        size_t limit, cxmutstr *output);
-
-/**
- * Splits a given string using a delimiter string.
- *
- * The array pointed to by @p output will be allocated by @p allocator.
- *
- * @note The resulting array contains strings that point to the source
- * @p string. Use cx_strdup() to get copies.
- *
- * @attention If allocation fails, the @c NULL pointer will be written to
- * @p output and the number returned will be zero.
- *
- * @param allocator the allocator to use for allocating the resulting array
- * @param string the string to split
- * @param delim  the delimiter
- * @param limit the maximum number of split items
- * @param output a pointer where the address of the allocated array shall be
- * written to
- * @return the actual number of split items
- */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(5)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_strsplit_ma(const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cxmutstr string, cxstring delim, size_t limit,
-        cxmutstr **output);
+#define cx_strsplit_a(allocator, string, delim, limit, output) \
+        _Generic(cx_strcast_m(string), \
+        cxstring: cx_strsplit_a_, \
+        cxmutstr: cx_strsplit_ma_)\
+        (allocator, cx_strcast_m(string), cx_strcast(delim), limit, output)
+#endif
 
 /**
  * Compares two strings.
@@ -756,8 +970,8 @@
  * @return negative if @p s1 is smaller than @p s2, positive if @p s1 is larger
  * than @p s2, zero if both strings equal
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strcmp_(cxstring s1, cxstring s2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_strcmp_(cxstring s1, cxstring s2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two strings.
@@ -777,8 +991,8 @@
  * @return negative if @p s1 is smaller than @p s2, positive if @p s1 is larger
  * than @p s2, zero if both strings equal ignoring case
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strcasecmp_(cxstring s1, cxstring s2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+int cx_strcasecmp_(cxstring s1, cxstring s2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two strings ignoring case.
@@ -803,8 +1017,8 @@
  * @return negative if @p s1 is smaller than @p s2, positive if @p s1 is larger
  * than @p s2, zero if both strings equal
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard  cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strcmp_p(const void *s1, const void *s2);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+int cx_strcmp_p(const void *s1, const void *s2);
 
 /**
  * Compares two strings ignoring case.
@@ -816,9 +1030,8 @@
  * @return negative if @p s1 is smaller than @p s2, positive if @p s1 is larger
  * than @p s2, zero if both strings equal ignoring case
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strcasecmp_p(const void *s1, const void *s2);
-
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+int cx_strcasecmp_p(const void *s1, const void *s2);
 
 /**
  * Creates a duplicate of the specified string.
@@ -832,8 +1045,8 @@
  * @return a duplicate of the string
  * @see cx_strdup()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_strdup_a_(const CxAllocator *allocator, cxstring string);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+cxmutstr cx_strdup_a_(const CxAllocator *allocator, cxstring string);
 
 /**
  * Creates a duplicate of the specified string.
@@ -866,16 +1079,31 @@
 #define cx_strdup(string) cx_strdup_a(cxDefaultAllocator, string)
 
 /**
- * Omits leading and trailing spaces.
- *
- * @note the returned string references the same memory, thus you
- * must @em not free the returned memory.
- *
- * @param string the string that shall be trimmed
- * @return the trimmed string
+ * Trims a string.
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ * @param string
+ * @return
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cx_strtrim(cxstring string);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+cxstring cx_strtrim_(cxstring string);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strtrim_cpp_(cxstring string) {
+    return cx_strtrim_(string);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL cxmutstr cx_strtrim_cpp_(cxmutstr string) {
+    return cx_mutstrcast(cx_strtrim_(cx_strcast(string)));
+}
+#define cx_strtrim(string) cx_strtrim_cpp_(cx_strcast_m(string))
+#else
+/**
+ * Internal conversion function.
+ * @param string
+ * @return
+ */
+CX_INLINE cxmutstr cx_strtrim_m_(cxmutstr string) {
+    return cx_mutstrcast(cx_strtrim_(cx_strcast(string)));
+}
 
 /**
  * Omits leading and trailing spaces.
@@ -884,10 +1112,12 @@
  * must @em not free the returned memory.
  *
  * @param string the string that shall be trimmed
- * @return the trimmed string
+ * @return (@c cxstring or @c cxmutstr) the trimmed string
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_strtrim_m(cxmutstr string);
+#define cx_strtrim(string) _Generic(cx_strcast_m(string), \
+        cxstring: cx_strtrim_, \
+        cxmutstr: cx_strtrim_m_)(cx_strcast_m(string))
+#endif
 
 /**
  * Checks if a string has a specific prefix.
@@ -897,8 +1127,8 @@
  * @return @c true, if and only if the string has the specified prefix,
  * @c false otherwise
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT bool cx_strprefix_(cxstring string, cxstring prefix);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+bool cx_strprefix_(cxstring string, cxstring prefix);
 
 /**
  * Checks if a string has a specific prefix.
@@ -918,8 +1148,8 @@
  * @return @c true, if and only if the string has the specified suffix,
  * @c false otherwise
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT bool cx_strsuffix_(cxstring string, cxstring suffix);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+bool cx_strsuffix_(cxstring string, cxstring suffix);
 
 /**
  * Checks if a string has a specific suffix.
@@ -939,8 +1169,8 @@
  * @return @c true, if and only if the string has the specified prefix,
  * @c false otherwise
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT bool cx_strcaseprefix_(cxstring string, cxstring prefix);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+bool cx_strcaseprefix_(cxstring string, cxstring prefix);
 
 /**
  * Checks if a string has a specific prefix, ignoring the case.
@@ -960,8 +1190,8 @@
  * @return @c true, if and only if the string has the specified suffix,
  * @c false otherwise
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT bool cx_strcasesuffix_(cxstring string, cxstring suffix);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+bool cx_strcasesuffix_(cxstring string, cxstring suffix);
 
 /**
  * Checks, if a string has a specific suffix, ignoring the case.
@@ -976,6 +1206,26 @@
 /**
  * Replaces a string with another string.
  *
+ * Internal function - do not use.
+ *
+ * @param allocator
+ * @param str
+ * @param search
+ * @param replacement
+ * @param replmax
+ * @return
+ * @see cx_strreplace_a()
+ * @see cx_strreplace()
+ * @see cx_strreplacen_a()
+ * @see cx_strreplacen()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+cxmutstr cx_strreplace_(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        cxstring str, cxstring search, cxstring replacement, size_t replmax);
+
+/**
+ * Replaces a string with another string.
+ *
  * The function replaces at most @p replmax occurrences.
  *
  * The returned string will be allocated by @p allocator and is guaranteed
@@ -984,16 +1234,15 @@
  * If allocation fails, or the input string is empty,
  * the returned string will be empty.
  *
- * @param allocator the allocator to use
+ * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use
  * @param str the string where replacements should be applied
  * @param search the string to search for
  * @param replacement the replacement string
- * @param replmax maximum number of replacements
- * @return the resulting string after applying the replacements
+ * @param replmax (@c size_t) maximum number of replacements
+ * @return (@c cxmutstr) the resulting string after applying the replacements
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_strreplacen_a(const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cxstring str, cxstring search, cxstring replacement, size_t replmax);
+#define cx_strreplacen_a(allocator, str, search, replacement, replmax) \
+        cx_strreplace_(allocator, cx_strcast(str), cx_strcast(search), cx_strcast(replacement), replmax)
 
 /**
  * Replaces a string with another string.
@@ -1006,9 +1255,9 @@
  * If allocation fails, or the input string is empty,
  * the returned string will be empty.
  *
- * @param str (@c cxstring) the string where replacements should be applied
- * @param search (@c cxstring) the string to search for
- * @param replacement (@c cxstring) the replacement string
+ * @param str the string where replacements should be applied
+ * @param search the string to search for
+ * @param replacement the replacement string
  * @param replmax (@c size_t) maximum number of replacements
  * @return (@c cxmutstr) the resulting string after applying the replacements
  */
@@ -1025,9 +1274,9 @@
  * the returned string will be empty.
  *
  * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator to use
- * @param str (@c cxstring) the string where replacements should be applied
- * @param search (@c cxstring) the string to search for
- * @param replacement (@c cxstring) the replacement string
+ * @param str the string where replacements should be applied
+ * @param search the string to search for
+ * @param replacement the replacement string
  * @return (@c cxmutstr) the resulting string after applying the replacements
  */
 #define cx_strreplace_a(allocator, str, search, replacement) \
@@ -1042,9 +1291,9 @@
  * If allocation fails, or the input string is empty,
  * the returned string will be empty.
  *
- * @param str (@c cxstring) the string where replacements should be applied
- * @param search (@c cxstring) the string to search for
- * @param replacement (@c cxstring) the replacement string
+ * @param str the string where replacements should be applied
+ * @param search the string to search for
+ * @param replacement the replacement string
  * @return (@c cxmutstr) the resulting string after applying the replacements
  */
 #define cx_strreplace(str, search, replacement) \
@@ -1058,8 +1307,8 @@
  * @param limit the maximum number of tokens that shall be returned
  * @return a new string tokenization context
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxStrtokCtx cx_strtok_(cxstring str, cxstring delim, size_t limit);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxStrtokCtx cx_strtok_(cxstring str, cxstring delim, size_t limit);
 
 /**
  * Creates a string tokenization context.
@@ -1082,25 +1331,34 @@
  * @return true if successful, false if the limit or the end of the string
  * has been reached
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull  cx_attr_nodiscard  cx_attr_access_w(2)
-CX_EXPORT bool cx_strtok_next(CxStrtokCtx *ctx, cxstring *token);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD CX_ACCESS_W(2)
+bool cx_strtok_next_(CxStrtokCtx *ctx, cxstring *token);
 
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+CX_CPPDECL cx_strtok_next(CxStrtokCtx *ctx, cxstring *token) {
+    return cx_strtok_next_(ctx, token);
+}
+CX_CPPDECL cx_strtok_next(CxStrtokCtx *ctx, cxmutstr *token) {
+    // Note: this is actually UB - fixed with start_lifetime_as() in C++23
+    //       but it works on all supported platforms
+    return cx_strtok_next_(ctx, reinterpret_cast<cxstring*>(token));
+}
+#else // ! __cplusplus
 /**
- * Returns the next token of a mutable string.
+ * Returns the next token.
  *
  * The token will point to the source string.
  *
- * @attention
- * If the context was not initialized over a mutable string, modifying
- * the data of the returned token is undefined behavior.
- *
- * @param ctx the tokenization context
- * @param token a pointer to memory where the next token shall be stored
+ * @param ctx (@c CxStrtokCtx*) the tokenization context
+ * @param token a pointer to either a @c cxstring or @c cxmutstr
+ * where the next token shall be stored
  * @return true if successful, false if the limit or the end of the string
  * has been reached
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull  cx_attr_nodiscard  cx_attr_access_w(2)
-CX_EXPORT bool cx_strtok_next_m(CxStrtokCtx *ctx, cxmutstr *token);
+#define cx_strtok_next(ctx, token) _Generic((token), \
+        cxstring*: cx_strtok_next_, \
+        cxmutstr*: cx_strtok_next_)(ctx, (cxstring*)token)
+#endif
 
 /**
  * Defines an array of more delimiters for the specified tokenization context.
@@ -1109,8 +1367,8 @@
  * @param delim array of more delimiters
  * @param count number of elements in the array
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_r(2, 3)
-CX_EXPORT void cx_strtok_delim(CxStrtokCtx *ctx, const cxstring *delim, size_t count);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_ACCESS_R(2, 3)
+void cx_strtok_delim(CxStrtokCtx *ctx, const cxstring *delim, size_t count);
 
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------- *
  *                string to number conversion functions                      *
@@ -1130,8 +1388,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtos_lc_(cxstring str, short *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtos_lc_(cxstring str, short *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1147,8 +1405,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtoi_lc_(cxstring str, int *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtoi_lc_(cxstring str, int *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1164,8 +1422,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtol_lc_(cxstring str, long *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtol_lc_(cxstring str, long *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1181,8 +1439,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtoll_lc_(cxstring str, long long *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtoll_lc_(cxstring str, long long *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1198,8 +1456,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtoi8_lc_(cxstring str, int8_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtoi8_lc_(cxstring str, int8_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1215,8 +1473,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtoi16_lc_(cxstring str, int16_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtoi16_lc_(cxstring str, int16_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1232,8 +1490,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtoi32_lc_(cxstring str, int32_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtoi32_lc_(cxstring str, int32_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1249,8 +1507,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtoi64_lc_(cxstring str, int64_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtoi64_lc_(cxstring str, int64_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1266,8 +1524,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtous_lc_(cxstring str, unsigned short *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtous_lc_(cxstring str, unsigned short *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1283,8 +1541,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtou_lc_(cxstring str, unsigned int *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtou_lc_(cxstring str, unsigned int *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1300,8 +1558,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtoul_lc_(cxstring str, unsigned long *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtoul_lc_(cxstring str, unsigned long *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1317,8 +1575,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtoull_lc_(cxstring str, unsigned long long *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtoull_lc_(cxstring str, unsigned long long *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1334,8 +1592,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtou8_lc_(cxstring str, uint8_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtou8_lc_(cxstring str, uint8_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1351,8 +1609,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtou16_lc_(cxstring str, uint16_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtou16_lc_(cxstring str, uint16_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1368,8 +1626,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtou32_lc_(cxstring str, uint32_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtou32_lc_(cxstring str, uint32_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1385,8 +1643,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtou64_lc_(cxstring str, uint64_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtou64_lc_(cxstring str, uint64_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -1402,8 +1660,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtoz_lc_(cxstring str, size_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtoz_lc_(cxstring str, size_t *output, int base, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a single precision floating-point number.
@@ -1419,8 +1677,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtof_lc_(cxstring str, float *output, char decsep, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtof_lc_(cxstring str, float *output, char decsep, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a double precision floating-point number.
@@ -1436,8 +1694,8 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero conversion was not possible
  */
-cx_attr_access_w(2) cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_strtod_lc_(cxstring str, double *output, char decsep, const char *groupsep);
+CX_EXTERN CX_ACCESS_W(2) CX_NONNULL_ARG(2)
+int cx_strtod_lc_(cxstring str, double *output, char decsep, const char *groupsep);
 
 /**
  * Converts a string to a number.
@@ -2083,8 +2341,4 @@
  */
 #define cx_strtod(str, output) cx_strtod_lc_(cx_strcast(str), output, '.', ",")
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
-
 #endif //UCX_STRING_H
--- a/src/ucx/cx/test.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/test.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -73,10 +73,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <setjmp.h>
 
-#ifdef	__cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
 #ifndef __FUNCTION__
 /**
  * Alias for the <code>__func__</code> preprocessor macro.
@@ -136,7 +132,7 @@
  * @param name optional name of the suite
  * @return a new test suite
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard  cx_attr_cstr_arg(1) cx_attr_malloc
+CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD  CX_CSTR_ARG(1) CX_MALLOC
 static inline CxTestSuite* cx_test_suite_new(const char *name) {
     CxTestSuite* suite = (CxTestSuite*) malloc(sizeof(CxTestSuite));
     if (suite != NULL) {
@@ -173,7 +169,7 @@
  * @retval zero success
  * @retval non-zero failure
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
+CX_NONNULL
 CX_INLINE int cx_test_register(CxTestSuite* suite, CxTest test) {
     CxTestSet *t = (CxTestSet*) malloc(sizeof(CxTestSet));
     if (t) {
@@ -200,7 +196,7 @@
  * @param out_target the target buffer or file to write the output to
  * @param out_writer the write function writing to @p out_target
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
+CX_NONNULL
 CX_INLINE void cx_test_run(CxTestSuite *suite, void *out_target, cx_write_func out_writer) {
     if (suite->name == NULL) {
         out_writer("*** Test Suite ***\n", 1, 19, out_target);
@@ -218,7 +214,7 @@
     char total[80];
     int len = snprintf(
             total, 80,
-            "  Total:   %u\n  Success: %u\n  Failure: %u\n\n",
+            "  Tests:   %5u\n  Success: %5u\n  Failure: %5u\n\n",
             suite->success + suite->failure, suite->success, suite->failure
     );
     out_writer(total, 1, len, out_target);
@@ -326,9 +322,5 @@
 #define CX_TEST_CALL_SUBROUTINE(name,...) \
         name(_suite_,_output_,_writefnc_,_env_,__VA_ARGS__)
 
-#ifdef	__cplusplus
-}
-#endif
-
 #endif	/* UCX_TEST_H */
 
--- a/src/ucx/cx/tree.h	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/cx/tree.h	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -40,93 +40,6 @@
 
 #include "collection.h"
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
-/**
- * A depth-first tree iterator.
- *
- * This iterator is not position-aware in a strict sense, as it does not assume
- * a particular order of elements in the tree. However, the iterator keeps track
- * of the number of nodes it has passed in a counter-variable.
- * Each node, regardless of the number of passes, is counted only once.
- *
- * @note Objects that are pointed to by an iterator are mutable through that
- * iterator. However, if the
- * underlying data structure is mutated by other means than this iterator (e.g.,
- * elements added or removed), the iterator becomes invalid (regardless of what
- * cxIteratorValid() returns).
- *
- * @see CxIterator
- */
-typedef struct cx_tree_iterator_s {
-    /**
-     * Base members.
-     */
-    CX_ITERATOR_BASE;
-    /**
-     * Indicates whether the subtree below the current node shall be skipped.
-     */
-    bool skip;
-    /**
-     * Set to true, when the iterator shall visit a node again
-     * when all its children have been processed.
-     */
-    bool visit_on_exit;
-    /**
-     * True, if this iterator is currently leaving the node.
-     */
-    bool exiting;
-    /**
-     * Offset in the node struct for the children linked list.
-     */
-    ptrdiff_t loc_children;
-    /**
-     * Offset in the node struct for the next pointer.
-     */
-    ptrdiff_t loc_next;
-    /**
-     * The total number of distinct nodes that have been passed so far.
-     * This includes the current node.
-     */
-    size_t counter;
-    /**
-     * The currently observed node.
-     *
-     * This is the same what cxIteratorCurrent() would return.
-     */
-    void *node;
-    /**
-     * Stores a copy of the pointer to the successor of the visited node.
-     * Allows freeing a node on exit without corrupting the iteration.
-     */
-    void *node_next;
-    /**
-     * Internal stack.
-     * Will be automatically freed once the iterator becomes invalid.
-     *
-     * If you want to discard the iterator before, you need to manually
-     * call cxTreeIteratorDispose().
-     */
-    void **stack;
-    /**
-     * Internal capacity of the stack.
-     */
-    size_t stack_capacity;
-    union {
-        /**
-         * Internal stack size.
-         */
-        size_t stack_size;
-        /**
-         * The current depth in the tree.
-         * The node with which the iteration starts has depth 1.
-         */
-        size_t depth;
-    };
-} CxTreeIterator;
-
 /**
  * An element in a visitor queue.
  */
@@ -147,36 +60,14 @@
 };
 
 /**
- * A breadth-first tree iterator.
- *
- * This iterator needs to maintain a visitor queue that will be automatically
- * freed once the iterator becomes invalid.
- * If you want to discard the iterator before, you MUST manually call
- * cxTreeVisitorDispose().
- *
- * This iterator is not position-aware in a strict sense, as it does not assume
- * a particular order of elements in the tree. However, the iterator keeps track
- * of the number of nodes it has passed in a counter-variable.
- * Each node, regardless of the number of passes, is counted only once.
- *
- * @note Objects that are pointed to by an iterator are mutable through that
- * iterator. However, if the
- * underlying data structure is mutated by other means than this iterator (e.g.,
- * elements added or removed), the iterator becomes invalid (regardless of what
- * cxIteratorValid() returns).
- *
- * @see CxIterator
+ * An iterator (DFS) or visitor (BFS) for a tree.
  */
-typedef struct cx_tree_visitor_s {
+typedef struct cx_tree_combined_iterator_s {
     /**
      * Base members.
      */
     CX_ITERATOR_BASE;
     /**
-     * Indicates whether the subtree below the current node shall be skipped.
-     */
-    bool skip;
-    /**
      * Offset in the node struct for the children linked list.
      */
     ptrdiff_t loc_children;
@@ -190,38 +81,74 @@
      */
     size_t counter;
     /**
+     * The current depth in the tree.
+     */
+    size_t depth;
+    /**
      * The currently observed node.
      *
      * This is the same what cxIteratorCurrent() would return.
      */
     void *node;
     /**
-     * The current depth in the tree.
-     */
-    size_t depth;
-    /**
-     * The next element in the visitor queue.
+     * Memory for BFS or DFS-specific data.
      */
-    struct cx_tree_visitor_queue_s *queue_next;
+    union {
+        struct {
+            /**
+             * Stores a copy of the pointer to the successor of the visited node.
+             * Allows freeing a node on exit without corrupting the iteration.
+             */
+            void *node_next;
+            /**
+             * Internal stack.
+             * Will be automatically freed once the iterator becomes invalid.
+             *
+             * If you want to discard the iterator before, you need to manually
+             * call cxTreeIteratorDispose().
+             */
+            void **stack;
+            /**
+             * Internal capacity of the stack.
+             */
+            size_t stack_capacity;
+        };
+        struct {
+            /**
+             * The next element in the visitor queue.
+             */
+            struct cx_tree_visitor_queue_s *queue_next;
+            /**
+             * The last element in the visitor queue.
+             */
+            struct cx_tree_visitor_queue_s *queue_last;
+        };
+    };
     /**
-     * The last element in the visitor queue.
+     * Indicates whether the subtree below the current node shall be skipped.
+     */
+    bool skip;
+    /**
+     * Set to true, when the iterator shall visit a node again
+     * when all its children have been processed.
      */
-    struct cx_tree_visitor_queue_s *queue_last;
-} CxTreeVisitor;
+    bool visit_on_exit;
+    /**
+     * True, if this iterator is currently leaving the node.
+     */
+    bool exiting;
+    /**
+     * Indicates whether the @c iterator (true) or the @c visitor (false) aspect is active.
+     */
+    bool use_dfs;
+} CxTreeIterator;
 
 /**
  * Releases internal memory of the given tree iterator.
  * @param iter the iterator
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxTreeIteratorDispose(CxTreeIterator *iter);
-
-/**
- * Releases internal memory of the given tree visitor.
- * @param visitor the visitor
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxTreeVisitorDispose(CxTreeVisitor *visitor);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxTreeIteratorDispose(CxTreeIterator *iter);
 
 /**
  * Advises the iterator to skip the subtree below the current node and
@@ -232,14 +159,6 @@
 #define cxTreeIteratorContinue(iterator) (iterator).skip = true; continue
 
 /**
- * Advises the visitor to skip the subtree below the current node and
- * also continues the current loop.
- *
- * @param visitor (@c CxTreeVisitor) the visitor
- */
-#define cxTreeVisitorContinue(visitor) cxTreeIteratorContinue(visitor)
-
-/**
  * Links a node to a (new) parent.
  *
  * If the node already has a parent, it is unlinked, first.
@@ -254,10 +173,10 @@
  * the last child in the linked list (negative if there is no such pointer)
  * @param loc_prev optional offset in the node struct for the prev pointer
  * @param loc_next offset in the node struct for the next pointer
- * @see cx_tree_unlink()
+ * @see cx_tree_remove()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cx_tree_link(void *parent, void *node,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_tree_add(void *parent, void *node,
         ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
@@ -273,10 +192,10 @@
  * the last child in the linked list (negative if there is no such pointer)
  * @param loc_prev optional offset in the node struct for the prev pointer
  * @param loc_next offset in the node struct for the next pointer
- * @see cx_tree_link()
+ * @see cx_tree_add()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cx_tree_unlink(void *node,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cx_tree_remove(void *node,
         ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
@@ -311,43 +230,14 @@
  * positive if one of the children might contain the data,
  * negative if neither the node nor the children contains the data
  */
-typedef int (*cx_tree_search_data_func)(const void *node, const void *data);
-
-
-/**
- * Function pointer for a search function.
- *
- * A function of this kind shall check if the specified @p node
- * contains the same @p data as @p new_node or if one of the children might
- * contain the data.
- *
- * The function should use the returned integer to indicate how close the
- * match is, where a negative number means that it does not match at all.
- * Zero means exact match and a positive number is an implementation defined
- * measure for the distance to an exact match.
- *
- * For example, consider a tree that stores file path information.
- * A node which is describing a parent directory of a searched file shall
- * return a positive number to indicate that a child node might contain the
- * searched item. On the other hand, if the node denotes a path that is not a
- * prefix of the searched filename, the function would return -1 to indicate
- * that the search does not need to be continued in that branch.
- *
- * @param node the node that is currently investigated
- * @param new_node a new node with the information which is searched
- *
- * @return 0 if @p node contains the same data as @p new_node,
- * positive if one of the children might contain the data,
- * negative if neither the node nor the children contains the data
- */
-typedef int (*cx_tree_search_func)(const void *node, const void *new_node);
+typedef int (*cx_tree_search_func)(const void *node, const void *data);
 
 /**
  * Searches for data in a tree.
  *
  * When the data cannot be found exactly, the search function might return the
  * closest result, which might be a good starting point for adding a new node
- * to the tree (see also #cx_tree_add()).
+ * to the tree.
  *
  * Depending on the tree structure, it is not necessarily guaranteed that the
  * "closest" match is uniquely defined. This function will search for a node
@@ -356,7 +246,7 @@
  * node matching the criteria is returned.
  *
  * @param root the root node
- * @param depth the maximum depth (zero=indefinite, one=just root)
+ * @param max_depth the maximum depth (zero=indefinite, one=just root)
  * @param data the data to search for
  * @param sfunc the search function
  * @param result where the result shall be stored
@@ -366,39 +256,10 @@
  * could contain the node (but doesn't right now), negative if the tree does not
  * contain any node that might be related to the searched data
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(5)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_tree_search_data(const void *root, size_t depth,
-        const void *data, cx_tree_search_data_func sfunc,
-        void **result, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
-
-/**
- * Searches for a node in a tree.
- *
- * When no node with the same data can be found, the search function might
- * return the closest result, which might be a good starting point for adding the
- * new node to the tree (see also #cx_tree_add()).
- *
- * Depending on the tree structure, it is not necessarily guaranteed that the
- * "closest" match is uniquely defined. This function will search for a node
- * with the best match according to the @p sfunc (meaning: the return value of
- * @p sfunc which is closest to zero). If that is also ambiguous, an arbitrary
- * node matching the criteria is returned.
- *
- * @param root the root node
-* @param depth the maximum depth (zero=indefinite, one=just root)
- * @param node the node to search for
- * @param sfunc the search function
- * @param result where the result shall be stored
- * @param loc_children offset in the node struct for the children linked list
- * @param loc_next offset in the node struct for the next pointer
- * @return zero if the node was found exactly, positive if a node was found that
- * could contain the node (but doesn't right now), negative if the tree does not
- * contain any node that might be related to the searched data
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_access_w(5)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_tree_search(const void *root, size_t depth,
-        const void *node, cx_tree_search_func sfunc,
-        void **result, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(4, 5) CX_ACCESS_W(5)
+int cx_tree_search(const void *root, size_t max_depth,
+        const void *data, cx_tree_search_func sfunc, void **result,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
 /**
  * Creates a depth-first iterator for a tree with the specified root node.
@@ -420,8 +281,8 @@
  * @return the new tree iterator
  * @see cxTreeIteratorDispose()
  */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxTreeIterator cx_tree_iterator(void *root, bool visit_on_exit,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxTreeIterator cx_tree_iterator(void *root, bool visit_on_exit,
         ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
 /**
@@ -431,7 +292,7 @@
  * is allocated using the cxDefaultAllocator.
  * When the visitor becomes invalid, this memory is automatically released.
  * However, if you wish to cancel the iteration before the visitor becomes
- * invalid by itself, you MUST call cxTreeVisitorDispose() manually to release
+ * invalid by itself, you MUST call cxTreeIteratorDispose() manually to release
  * the memory.
  *
  * @remark The returned iterator does not support cxIteratorFlagRemoval().
@@ -440,178 +301,11 @@
  * @param loc_children offset in the node struct for the children linked list
  * @param loc_next offset in the node struct for the next pointer
  * @return the new tree visitor
- * @see cxTreeVisitorDispose()
- */
-cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxTreeVisitor cx_tree_visitor(void *root,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
-
-/**
- * Describes a function that creates a tree node from the specified data.
- * The first argument points to the data the node shall contain, and
- * the second argument may be used for additional data (e.g., an allocator).
- * Functions of this type shall either return a new pointer to a newly
- * created node or @c NULL when allocation fails.
- *
- * @note the function may leave the node pointers in the struct uninitialized.
- * The caller is responsible to set them according to the intended use case.
- */
-typedef void *(*cx_tree_node_create_func)(const void *, void *);
-
-/**
- * The local search depth for a new subtree when adding multiple elements.
- * The default value is 3.
- * This variable is used by #cx_tree_add_array() and #cx_tree_add_iter() to
- * implement optimized insertion of multiple elements into a tree.
- */
-CX_EXPORT extern unsigned int cx_tree_add_look_around_depth;
-
-/**
- * Adds multiple elements efficiently to a tree.
- *
- * Once an element cannot be added to the tree, this function returns, leaving
- * the iterator in a valid state pointing to the element that could not be
- * added.
- * Also, the pointer of the created node will be stored to @p failed.
- * The integer returned by this function denotes the number of elements obtained
- * from the @p iter that have been successfully processed.
- * When all elements could be processed, a @c NULL pointer will be written to
- * @p failed.
- *
- * The advantage of this function compared to multiple invocations of
- * #cx_tree_add() is that the search for the insert locations is not always
- * started from the root node.
- * Instead, the function checks #cx_tree_add_look_around_depth many parent nodes
- * of the current insert location before starting from the root node again.
- * When the variable is set to zero, only the last found location is checked
- * again.
- *
- * Refer to the documentation of #cx_tree_add() for more details.
- *
- * @param iter a pointer to an arbitrary iterator
- * @param num the maximum number of elements to obtain from the iterator
- * @param sfunc a search function
- * @param cfunc a node creation function
- * @param cdata optional additional data
- * @param root the root node of the tree
- * @param failed location where the pointer to a failed node shall be stored
- * @param loc_parent offset in the node struct for the parent pointer
- * @param loc_children offset in the node struct for the children linked list
- * @param loc_last_child optional offset in the node struct for the pointer to
- * the last child in the linked list (negative if there is no such pointer)
- * @param loc_prev optional offset in the node struct for the prev pointer
- * @param loc_next offset in the node struct for the next pointer
- * @return the number of nodes created and added
- * @see cx_tree_add()
+ * @see cxTreeIteratorDispose()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 3, 4, 6, 7) cx_attr_access_w(6)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_tree_add_iter(struct cx_iterator_base_s *iter, size_t num,
-        cx_tree_search_func sfunc, cx_tree_node_create_func cfunc,
-        void *cdata, void **failed, void *root,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
-
-/**
- * Adds multiple elements efficiently to a tree.
- *
- * Once an element cannot be added to the tree, this function returns, storing
- * the pointer of the created node to @p failed.
- * The integer returned by this function denotes the number of elements from
- * the @p src array that have been successfully processed.
- * When all elements could be processed, a @c NULL pointer will be written to
- * @p failed.
- *
- * The advantage of this function compared to multiple invocations of
- * #cx_tree_add() is that the search for the insert locations is not always
- * started from the root node.
- * Instead, the function checks #cx_tree_add_look_around_depth many parent nodes
- * of the current insert location before starting from the root node again.
- * When the variable is set to zero, only the last found location is checked
- * again.
- *
- * Refer to the documentation of #cx_tree_add() for more details.
- *
- * @param src a pointer to the source data array
- * @param num the number of elements in the @p src array
- * @param elem_size the size of each element in the @p src array
- * @param sfunc a search function
- * @param cfunc a node creation function
- * @param cdata optional additional data
- * @param failed location where the pointer to a failed node shall be stored
- * @param root the root node of the tree
- * @param loc_parent offset in the node struct for the parent pointer
- * @param loc_children offset in the node struct for the children linked list
- * @param loc_last_child optional offset in the node struct for the pointer to
- * the last child in the linked list (negative if there is no such pointer)
- * @param loc_prev optional offset in the node struct for the prev pointer
- * @param loc_next offset in the node struct for the next pointer
- * @return the number of array elements successfully processed
- * @see cx_tree_add()
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 4, 5, 7, 8) cx_attr_access_w(7)
-CX_EXPORT size_t cx_tree_add_array(const void *src, size_t num, size_t elem_size,
-        cx_tree_search_func sfunc, cx_tree_node_create_func cfunc,
-        void *cdata, void **failed, void *root,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
-
-/**
- * Adds data to a tree.
- *
- * An adequate location where to add the new tree node is searched with the
- * specified @p sfunc.
- *
- * When a location is found, the @p cfunc will be invoked with @p cdata.
- *
- * The node returned by @p cfunc will be linked into the tree.
- * When @p sfunc returns a positive integer, the new node will be linked as a
- * child. The other children (now siblings of the new node) are then checked
- * with @p sfunc, whether they could be children of the new node and re-linked
- * accordingly.
- *
- * When @p sfunc returns zero and the found node has a parent, the new
- * node will be added as a sibling - otherwise, the new node will be added
- * as a child.
- *
- * When @p sfunc returns a negative value, the new node will not be added to
- * the tree, and this function returns a non-zero value.
- * The caller should check if @p cnode contains a node pointer and deal with the
- * node that could not be added.
- *
- * This function also returns a non-zero value when @p cfunc tries to allocate
- * a new node but fails to do so. In that case, the pointer stored to @p cnode
- * will be @c NULL.
- *
- * Multiple elements can be added more efficiently with
- * #cx_tree_add_array() or #cx_tree_add_iter().
- *
- * @param src a pointer to the data
- * @param sfunc a search function
- * @param cfunc a node creation function
- * @param cdata optional additional data
- * @param cnode the location where a pointer to the new node is stored
- * @param root the root node of the tree
- * @param loc_parent offset in the node struct for the parent pointer
- * @param loc_children offset in the node struct for the children linked list
- * @param loc_last_child optional offset in the node struct for the pointer to
- * the last child in the linked list (negative if there is no such pointer)
- * @param loc_prev optional offset in the node struct for the prev pointer
- * @param loc_next offset in the node struct for the next pointer
- * @return zero when a new node was created and added to the tree,
- * non-zero otherwise
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2, 3, 5, 6) cx_attr_access_w(5)
-CX_EXPORT int cx_tree_add(const void *src,
-        cx_tree_search_func sfunc, cx_tree_node_create_func cfunc,
-        void *cdata, void **cnode, void *root,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
-
-
-/**
- * Tree class type.
- */
-typedef struct cx_tree_class_s cx_tree_class;
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD
+CxTreeIterator cx_tree_visitor(void *root,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
 /**
  * Base structure that can be used for tree nodes in a #CxTree.
@@ -642,17 +336,9 @@
 /**
  * Structure for holding the base data of a tree.
  */
-struct cx_tree_s {
-    /**
-     * The tree class definition.
-     */
-    const cx_tree_class *cl;
-
-    /**
-     * Allocator to allocate new nodes.
-     */
-    const CxAllocator *allocator;
-
+typedef struct cx_tree_s {
+    /** Base attributes. */
+    CX_COLLECTION_BASE;
     /**
      * A pointer to the root node.
      *
@@ -661,44 +347,9 @@
     void *root;
 
     /**
-     * A function to create new nodes.
-     *
-     * Invocations to this function will receive a pointer to this tree
-     * structure as the second argument.
-     *
-     * Nodes MAY use #cx_tree_node_base_s as the base layout, but do not need to.
-     */
-    cx_tree_node_create_func node_create;
-
-    /**
-     * An optional simple destructor for the tree nodes.
-     */
-    cx_destructor_func simple_destructor;
-
-    /**
-     * An optional advanced destructor for the tree nodes.
+     * The size of the node structure.
      */
-    cx_destructor_func2 advanced_destructor;
-
-    /**
-     * The pointer to additional data that is passed to the advanced destructor.
-     */
-    void *destructor_data;
-
-    /**
-     * A function to compare two nodes.
-     */
-    cx_tree_search_func search;
-
-    /**
-     * A function to compare a node with data.
-     */
-    cx_tree_search_data_func search_data;
-
-    /**
-     * The number of currently stored elements.
-     */
-    size_t size;
+    size_t node_size;
 
     /**
      * Offset in the node struct for the parent pointer.
@@ -725,7 +376,12 @@
      * Offset in the node struct for the next sibling pointer.
      */
     ptrdiff_t loc_next;
-};
+
+    /**
+     * Offset in the node struct where the payload is located.
+     */
+    ptrdiff_t loc_data;
+} CxTree;
 
 /**
  * Macro to roll out the #cx_tree_node_base_s structure with a custom
@@ -735,7 +391,7 @@
  *
  * @param type the data type for the nodes
  */
-#define CX_TREE_NODE_BASE(type) \
+#define CX_TREE_NODE(type) \
     type *parent; \
     type *children;\
     type *last_child;\
@@ -743,51 +399,20 @@
     type *next
 
 /**
- * Macro for specifying the layout of a base node tree.
+ * Macro for specifying the layout of a tree node.
  *
- * When your tree uses #CX_TREE_NODE_BASE, you can use this
+ * When your tree uses #CX_TREE_NODE, you can use this
  * macro in all tree functions that expect the layout parameters
  * @c loc_parent, @c loc_children, @c loc_last_child, @c loc_prev,
  * and @c loc_next.
- */
-#define cx_tree_node_base_layout \
-    offsetof(struct cx_tree_node_base_s, parent),\
-    offsetof(struct cx_tree_node_base_s, children),\
-    offsetof(struct cx_tree_node_base_s, last_child),\
-    offsetof(struct cx_tree_node_base_s, prev),  \
-    offsetof(struct cx_tree_node_base_s, next)
-
-/**
- * The class definition for arbitrary trees.
+ * @param struct_name the name of the node structure
  */
-struct cx_tree_class_s {
-    /**
-     * Member function for inserting a single element.
-     *
-     * Implementations SHALL NOT simply invoke @p insert_many as this comes
-     * with too much overhead.
-     */
-    int (*insert_element)(struct cx_tree_s *tree, const void *data);
-
-    /**
-     * Member function for inserting multiple elements.
-     *
-     * Implementations SHALL avoid performing a full search in the tree for
-     * every element even though the source data MAY be unsorted.
-     */
-    size_t (*insert_many)(struct cx_tree_s *tree, struct cx_iterator_base_s *iter, size_t n);
-
-    /**
-     * Member function for finding a node.
-     */
-    void *(*find)(struct cx_tree_s *tree, const void *subtree, const void *data, size_t depth);
-};
-
-/**
- * Common type for all tree implementations.
- */
-typedef struct cx_tree_s CxTree;
-
+#define cx_tree_node_layout(struct_name) \
+    offsetof(struct_name, parent),\
+    offsetof(struct_name, children),\
+    offsetof(struct_name, last_child),\
+    offsetof(struct_name, prev),  \
+    offsetof(struct_name, next)
 
 /**
  * Destroys a node and its subtree.
@@ -807,11 +432,11 @@
  * and would therefore result in a double-free.
  *
  * @param tree the tree
- * @param node the node to remove
+ * @param node the node being the root of the subtree to remove
  * @see cxTreeFree()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxTreeDestroySubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxTreeDestroySubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node);
 
 
 /**
@@ -831,7 +456,12 @@
  * @param tree the tree
  * @see cxTreeDestroySubtree()
  */
-#define cxTreeClear(tree) cxTreeDestroySubtree(tree, tree->root)
+CX_INLINE
+void cxTreeClear(CxTree *tree) {
+    if (tree->root != NULL) {
+        cxTreeDestroySubtree(tree, tree->root);
+    }
+}
 
 /**
  * Deallocates the tree structure.
@@ -849,71 +479,29 @@
  *
  * @param tree the tree to free
  */
-CX_EXPORT void cxTreeFree(CxTree *tree);
-
-/**
- * Creates a new tree structure based on the specified layout.
- *
- * The specified @p allocator will be used for creating the tree struct
- * and SHALL be used by @p create_func to allocate memory for the nodes.
- *
- * @note This function will also register an advanced destructor which
- * will free the nodes with the allocator's free() method.
- *
- * @param allocator the allocator that shall be used
- * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator will be used)
- * @param create_func a function that creates new nodes
- * @param search_func a function that compares two nodes
- * @param search_data_func a function that compares a node with data
- * @param loc_parent offset in the node struct for the parent pointer
- * @param loc_children offset in the node struct for the children linked list
- * @param loc_last_child optional offset in the node struct for the pointer to
- * the last child in the linked list (negative if there is no such pointer)
- * @param loc_prev optional offset in the node struct for the prev pointer
- * @param loc_next offset in the node struct for the next pointer
- * @return the new tree
- * @see cxTreeCreateSimple()
- * @see cxTreeCreateWrapped()
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2, 3, 4) cx_attr_nodiscard  cx_attr_malloc cx_attr_dealloc(cxTreeFree, 1)
-CX_EXPORT CxTree *cxTreeCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator, cx_tree_node_create_func create_func,
-        cx_tree_search_func search_func, cx_tree_search_data_func search_data_func,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
+CX_EXTERN
+void cxTreeFree(CxTree *tree);
 
 /**
- * Creates a new tree structure based on a default layout.
+ * Creates a new tree.
  *
- * Nodes created by @p create_func MUST contain #cx_tree_node_base_s as the first
- * member (or at least respect the default offsets specified in the tree
- * struct), and they MUST be allocated with the specified allocator.
- *
- * @note This function will also register an advanced destructor which
- * will free the nodes with the allocator's free() method.
+ * The specified @p allocator will be used for creating the tree struct
+ * @em and the nodes.
  *
- * @param allocator (@c CxAllocator*) the allocator that shall be used
- * @param create_func (@c cx_tree_node_create_func) a function that creates new nodes
- * @param search_func (@c cx_tree_search_func) a function that compares two nodes
- * @param search_data_func (@c cx_tree_search_data_func)  a function that compares a node with data
- * @return (@c CxTree*) the new tree
- * @see cxTreeCreate()
- */
-#define cxTreeCreateSimple(allocator, create_func, search_func, search_data_func) \
-        cxTreeCreate(allocator, create_func, search_func, search_data_func, cx_tree_node_base_layout)
-
-/**
- * Creates a new tree structure based on an existing tree.
+ * When you do not specify an existing @p root, the tree will be created
+ * empty. Additionally, cxFree() is registered as the advanced destructor for
+ * the tree so that all nodes that you will add to the tree are automatically
+ * freed together with the tree.
+ * When @p root is not @c NULL, no destructors are registered automatically.
  *
- * The specified @p allocator will be used for creating the tree struct.
- *
- * @attention This function will create an incompletely defined tree structure
- * where neither the create function, the search function, nor a destructor
- * will be set. If you wish to use any of this functionality for the wrapped
- * tree, you need to specify those functions afterward.
- *
- * @param allocator the allocator that was used for nodes of the wrapped tree
+ * @param allocator the allocator to use
  * (if @c NULL, the cxDefaultAllocator is assumed)
- * @param root the root node of the tree that shall be wrapped
+ * @param node_size the complete size of one node
+ * @param elem_size the size of the payload stored in the node
+ * (@c CX_STORE_POINTERS is also supported)
+ * @param root an optional already existing root node
+ * @param loc_data optional offset in the node struct for the payload
+ * (when negative, cxTreeAddData() is not supported)
  * @param loc_parent offset in the node struct for the parent pointer
  * @param loc_children offset in the node struct for the children linked list
  * @param loc_last_child optional offset in the node struct for the pointer to
@@ -923,92 +511,91 @@
  * @return the new tree
  * @see cxTreeCreate()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(2) cx_attr_nodiscard  cx_attr_malloc  cx_attr_dealloc(cxTreeFree, 1)
-CX_EXPORT CxTree *cxTreeCreateWrapped(const CxAllocator *allocator, void *root,
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD  CX_MALLOC  CX_DEALLOC(cxTreeFree, 1)
+CxTree *cxTreeCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        size_t node_size, size_t elem_size, void *root, ptrdiff_t loc_data,
         ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next);
 
 /**
- * Inserts data into the tree.
- *
- * @remark For this function to work, the tree needs specified search and
- * create functions, which might not be available for wrapped trees
- * (see #cxTreeCreateWrapped()).
- *
- * @param tree the tree
- * @param data the data to insert
- * @retval zero success
- * @retval non-zero failure
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxTreeInsert(CxTree *tree, const void *data);
-
-/**
- * Inserts elements provided by an iterator efficiently into the tree.
- *
- * @remark For this function to work, the tree needs specified search and
- * create functions, which might not be available for wrapped trees
- * (see #cxTreeCreateWrapped()).
- *
- * @param tree the tree
- * @param iter the iterator providing the elements
- * @param n the maximum number of elements to insert
- * @return the number of elements that could be successfully inserted
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxTreeInsertIter(CxTree *tree, CxIteratorBase *iter, size_t n);
-
-/**
- * Inserts an array of data efficiently into the tree.
- *
- * @remark For this function to work, the tree needs specified search and
- * create functions, which might not be available for wrapped trees
- * (see #cxTreeCreateWrapped()).
- *
- * @param tree the tree
- * @param data the array of data to insert
- * @param elem_size the size of each element in the array
- * @param n the number of elements in the array
- * @return the number of elements that could be successfully inserted
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxTreeInsertArray(CxTree *tree, const void *data, size_t elem_size, size_t n);
-
-/**
- * Searches the data in the specified tree.
- *
- * @remark For this function to work, the tree needs a specified @c search_data
- * function, which might not be available wrapped trees
- * (see #cxTreeCreateWrapped()).
- *
- * @param tree the tree
- * @param data the data to search for
- * @return the first matching node, or @c NULL when the data cannot be found
- */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT void *cxTreeFind(CxTree *tree, const void *data);
-
-/**
  * Searches the data in the specified subtree.
  *
  * When @p max_depth is zero, the depth is not limited.
  * The @p subtree_root itself is on depth 1 and its children have depth 2.
  *
- * @note When @p subtree_root is not part of the @p tree, the behavior is
- * undefined.
+ * @note When @p subtree_root is not @c NULL and not part of the @p tree,
+ * the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @attention When @p loc_data is not available, this function immediately returns
+ * @c NULL.
  *
- * @remark For this function to work, the tree needs a specified @c search_data
- * function, which might not be the case for wrapped trees
- * (see #cxTreeCreateWrapped()).
+ * @param tree the tree
+ * @param data the data to search for
+ * @param subtree_root the node where to start (@c NULL to start from root)
+ * @param max_depth the maximum search depth
+ * @param use_dfs @c true when depth-first search should be used;
+ * @c false when breadth-first search should be used
+ * @return the first matching node, or @c NULL when the data cannot be found
+ * @see cxTreeFind()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2) CX_NODISCARD
+void *cxTreeFindInSubtree(CxTree *tree, const void *data, void *subtree_root,
+        size_t max_depth, bool use_dfs);
+
+/**
+ * Searches the data in the specified tree.
+ *
+ * @attention When @p loc_data is not available, this function immediately returns
+ * @c NULL.
  *
  * @param tree the tree
  * @param data the data to search for
- * @param subtree_root the node where to start
+ * @param use_dfs @c true when depth-first search should be used;
+ * @c false when breadth-first search should be used
+ * @return the first matching node, or @c NULL when the data cannot be found
+ * @see cxTreeFindInSubtree()
+ * @see cxTreeFindFast()
+ */
+CX_INLINE CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+void *cxTreeFind(CxTree *tree, const void *data, bool use_dfs) {
+    if (tree->root == NULL) return NULL;
+    return cxTreeFindInSubtree(tree, data, tree->root, 0, use_dfs);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Performs an efficient depth-first search in a branch of the specified tree.
+ *
+ * When @p max_depth is zero, the depth is not limited.
+ * The @p subtree_root itself is on depth 1 and its children have depth 2.
+ *
+ * @note When @p subtree_root is not @c NULL and not part of the @p tree,
+ * the behavior is undefined.
+ *
+ * @param tree the tree
+ * @param data the data to search for
+ * @param sfunc the search function
+ * @param subtree_root the node where to start (@c NULL to start from root)
  * @param max_depth the maximum search depth
  * @return the first matching node, or @c NULL when the data cannot be found
+ * @see cxTreeFindInSubtree()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT void *cxTreeFindInSubtree(CxTree *tree, const void *data, void *subtree_root, size_t max_depth);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+void *cxTreeFindFastInSubtree(CxTree *tree, const void *data,
+        cx_tree_search_func sfunc, void *subtree_root, size_t max_depth);
+
+/**
+ * Performs an efficient depth-first search in the tree.
+ *
+ * @param tree the tree
+ * @param data the data to search for
+ * @param sfunc the search function
+ * @return the first matching node, or @c NULL when the data cannot be found
+ * @see cxTreeFind()
+ */
+CX_INLINE CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+void *cxTreeFindFast(CxTree *tree, const void *data, cx_tree_search_func sfunc) {
+    return cxTreeFindFastInSubtree(tree, data, sfunc, tree->root, 0);
+}
 
 /**
  * Determines the size of the specified subtree.
@@ -1017,8 +604,8 @@
  * @param subtree_root the root node of the subtree
  * @return the number of nodes in the specified subtree
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxTreeSubtreeSize(CxTree *tree, void *subtree_root);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+size_t cxTreeSubtreeSize(CxTree *tree, void *subtree_root);
 
 /**
  * Determines the depth of the specified subtree.
@@ -1027,8 +614,8 @@
  * @param subtree_root the root node of the subtree
  * @return the tree depth including the @p subtree_root
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull  cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxTreeSubtreeDepth(CxTree *tree, void *subtree_root);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+size_t cxTreeSubtreeDepth(CxTree *tree, void *subtree_root);
 
 /**
  * Determines the size of the entire tree.
@@ -1036,8 +623,8 @@
  * @param tree the tree
  * @return the tree size, counting the root as one
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxTreeSize(CxTree *tree);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+size_t cxTreeSize(CxTree *tree);
 
 /**
  * Determines the depth of the entire tree.
@@ -1045,8 +632,8 @@
  * @param tree the tree
  * @return the tree depth, counting the root as one
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT size_t cxTreeDepth(CxTree *tree);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+size_t cxTreeDepth(CxTree *tree);
 
 /**
  * Creates a depth-first iterator for the specified tree starting in @p node.
@@ -1060,8 +647,8 @@
  * @return a tree iterator (depth-first)
  * @see cxTreeVisit()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxTreeIterator cxTreeIterateSubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node, bool visit_on_exit);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxTreeIterator cxTreeIterateSubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node, bool visit_on_exit);
 
 /**
  * Creates a breadth-first iterator for the specified tree starting in @p node.
@@ -1073,8 +660,8 @@
  * @return a tree visitor (a.k.a. breadth-first iterator)
  * @see cxTreeIterate()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxTreeVisitor cxTreeVisitSubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxTreeIterator cxTreeVisitSubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node);
 
 /**
  * Creates a depth-first iterator for the specified tree.
@@ -1085,8 +672,8 @@
  * @return a tree iterator (depth-first)
  * @see cxTreeVisit()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxTreeIterator cxTreeIterate(CxTree *tree, bool visit_on_exit);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxTreeIterator cxTreeIterate(CxTree *tree, bool visit_on_exit);
 
 /**
  * Creates a breadth-first iterator for the specified tree.
@@ -1095,22 +682,22 @@
  * @return a tree visitor (a.k.a. breadth-first iterator)
  * @see cxTreeIterate()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull cx_attr_nodiscard
-CX_EXPORT CxTreeVisitor cxTreeVisit(CxTree *tree);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL CX_NODISCARD
+CxTreeIterator cxTreeVisit(CxTree *tree);
 
 /**
  * Sets the (new) parent of the specified child.
  *
  * If the @p child is not already a member of the tree, this function behaves
- * as #cxTreeAddChildNode().
+ * as #cxTreeAddNode().
  *
  * @param tree the tree
  * @param parent the (new) parent of the child
  * @param child the node to add
- * @see cxTreeAddChildNode()
+ * @see cxTreeAddNode()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxTreeSetParent(CxTree *tree, void *parent, void *child);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxTreeSetParent(CxTree *tree, void *parent, void *child);
 
 /**
  * Adds a new node to the tree.
@@ -1119,36 +706,81 @@
  * Use #cxTreeSetParent() if you want to move a subtree to another location.
  *
  * @attention The node may be externally created, but MUST obey the same rules
- * as if it was created by the tree itself with #cxTreeAddChild() (e.g., use
- * the same allocator).
+ * as if it was created by the tree itself with #cxTreeAddData() (e.g., use
+ * the tree's allocator).
  *
  * @param tree the tree
  * @param parent the parent of the node to add
  * @param child the node to add
  * @see cxTreeSetParent()
+ * @see cxTreeAddData()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxTreeAddChildNode(CxTree *tree, void *parent, void *child);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxTreeAddNode(CxTree *tree, void *parent, void *child);
+
+/**
+ * Creates a new node and adds it to the tree.
+ *
+ * @param tree the tree
+ * @param parent the parent node of the new node
+ * @param data the data that will be submitted to the create function
+ * @return the added node or @c NULL when the allocation failed
+ * @see cxTreeAdd()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void *cxTreeAddData(CxTree *tree, void *parent, const void *data);
 
 /**
  * Creates a new node and adds it to the tree.
  *
- * With this function you can decide where exactly the new node shall be added.
- * If you specified an appropriate search function, you may want to consider
- * leaving this task to the tree by using #cxTreeInsert().
+ * @param tree the tree
+ * @param parent the parent node of the new node
+ * @return the added node or @c NULL when the allocation failed
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+void *cxTreeCreateNode(CxTree *tree, void *parent);
+
+/**
+ * Creates a new root node or returns the existing root node.
  *
- * Be aware that adding nodes at arbitrary locations in the tree might cause
- * wrong or undesired results when subsequently invoking #cxTreeInsert(), and
- * the invariant imposed by the search function does not hold any longer.
+ * @param tree the tree
+ * @return the new root node, the existing root node, or @c NULL when the allocation failed
+ * @see cxTreeCreateRootData()
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+void *cxTreeCreateRoot(CxTree *tree);
+
+/**
+ * Creates a new root node or uses the existing root node and writes the specified data to that node.
+ *
+ * @note This function immediately returns @c NULL when @c loc_data was not initialized with a positive value.
  *
  * @param tree the tree
- * @param parent the parent node of the new node
- * @param data the data that will be submitted to the create function
- * @return zero when the new node was created, non-zero on allocation failure
- * @see cxTreeInsert()
+ * @param data the data for the root node
+ * @return the new root node, the existing root node,
+ * or @c NULL when the allocation failed or the data location is not known
+ * @see cxTreeCreateRoot()
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT int cxTreeAddChild(CxTree *tree, void *parent, const void *data);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NODISCARD CX_NONNULL
+void *cxTreeCreateRootData(CxTree *tree, const void *data);
+
+/**
+ * Exchanges the root of the tree.
+ *
+ * @attention The old tree nodes might need to be deallocated by the caller.
+ * On the other hand, when the tree has destructors registered, keep in mind
+ * that they will be applied to the new tree.
+ * In particular, using cxTreeCreate() with a @c NULL root and setting the
+ * root with this function is @em not equivalent to creating the tree with
+ * a reference to an existing root because trees created without a root will
+ * have destructors registered.
+ *
+ * @param tree the tree
+ * @param new_root the new root node
+ * @return the old root node (or @c NULL when the tree was empty)
+ */
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1) CX_NODISCARD
+void *cxTreeSetRoot(CxTree *tree, void *new_root);
 
 /**
  * A function that is invoked when a node needs to be re-linked to a new parent.
@@ -1182,8 +814,8 @@
  * node
  * @return zero on success, non-zero if @p node is the root node of the tree
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2)
-CX_EXPORT int cxTreeRemoveNode(CxTree *tree, void *node, cx_tree_relink_func relink_func);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2)
+int cxTreeRemoveNode(CxTree *tree, void *node, cx_tree_relink_func relink_func);
 
 /**
  * Removes a node and its subtree from the tree.
@@ -1196,8 +828,8 @@
  * @param tree the tree
  * @param node the node to remove
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull
-CX_EXPORT void cxTreeRemoveSubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node);
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL
+void cxTreeRemoveSubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node);
 
 /**
  * Destroys a node and re-links its children to its former parent.
@@ -1217,11 +849,7 @@
  * node
  * @return zero on success, non-zero if @p node is the root node of the tree
  */
-cx_attr_nonnull_arg(1, 2)
-CX_EXPORT int cxTreeDestroyNode(CxTree *tree, void *node, cx_tree_relink_func relink_func);
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
-#endif
+CX_EXTERN CX_NONNULL_ARG(1, 2)
+int cxTreeDestroyNode(CxTree *tree, void *node, cx_tree_relink_func relink_func);
 
 #endif //UCX_TREE_H
--- a/src/ucx/hash_key.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/hash_key.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -63,14 +63,14 @@
     switch (len) {
         case 3:
             h ^= (data[i + 2] & 0xFF) << 16;
-            cx_attr_fallthrough;
+            CX_FALLTHROUGH;
         case 2:
             h ^= (data[i + 1] & 0xFF) << 8;
-            cx_attr_fallthrough;
+            CX_FALLTHROUGH;
         case 1:
             h ^= (data[i + 0] & 0xFF);
             h *= m;
-            cx_attr_fallthrough;
+            CX_FALLTHROUGH;
         default: // do nothing
             ;
     }
@@ -82,56 +82,6 @@
     key->hash = h;
 }
 
-
-uint32_t cx_hash_u32(uint32_t x) {
-    x = ((x >> 16) ^ x) * 0x45d9f3bu;
-    x = ((x >> 16) ^ x) * 0x45d9f3bu;
-    x = (x >> 16) ^ x;
-    return x;
-}
-
-uint64_t cx_hash_u64(uint64_t x) {
-    x = (x ^ (x >> 30)) * UINT64_C(0xbf58476d1ce4e5b9);
-    x = (x ^ (x >> 27)) * UINT64_C(0x94d049bb133111eb);
-    x = x ^ (x >> 31);
-    return x;
-}
-
-CxHashKey cx_hash_key_str(const char *str) {
-    CxHashKey key;
-    key.data = str;
-    key.len = str == NULL ? 0 : strlen(str);
-    cx_hash_murmur(&key);
-    return key;
-}
-
-CxHashKey cx_hash_key_ustr(unsigned const char *str) {
-    CxHashKey key;
-    key.data = str;
-    key.len = str == NULL ? 0 : strlen((const char*)str);
-    cx_hash_murmur(&key);
-    return key;
-}
-
-CxHashKey cx_hash_key_cxstr(cxstring str) {
-    return cx_hash_key(str.ptr, str.length);
-}
-
-CxHashKey cx_hash_key_mutstr(cxmutstr str) {
-    return cx_hash_key(str.ptr, str.length);
-}
-
-CxHashKey cx_hash_key_bytes(
-        const unsigned char *bytes,
-        size_t len
-) {
-    CxHashKey key;
-    key.data = bytes;
-    key.len = len;
-    cx_hash_murmur(&key);
-    return key;
-}
-
 CxHashKey cx_hash_key(
         const void *obj,
         size_t len
@@ -143,22 +93,6 @@
     return key;
 }
 
-CxHashKey cx_hash_key_u32(uint32_t x) {
-    CxHashKey key;
-    key.data = NULL;
-    key.len = 0;
-    key.hash = cx_hash_u32(x);
-    return key;
-}
-
-CxHashKey cx_hash_key_u64(uint64_t x) {
-    CxHashKey key;
-    key.data = NULL;
-    key.len = 0;
-    key.hash = cx_hash_u64(x);
-    return key;
-}
-
 int cx_hash_key_cmp(const void *l, const void *r) {
     const CxHashKey *left = l;
     const CxHashKey *right = r;
@@ -170,3 +104,7 @@
     if (left->len == 0) return 0;
     return memcmp(left->data, right->data, left->len);
 }
+
+cxstring cx_hash_key_as_string(const CxHashKey *key) {
+    return cx_strn(key->data, key->len);
+}
--- a/src/ucx/hash_map.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/hash_map.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
     cxFree(map->collection.allocator, map);
 }
 
-static void *cx_hash_map_put(
+static CxMapEntry cx_hash_map_put(
         CxMap *map,
         CxHashKey key,
         void *value
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
                 allocator,
                 sizeof(struct cx_hash_map_element_s) + map->collection.elem_size
         );
-        if (e == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        if (e == NULL) return (CxMapEntry){NULL, NULL}; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
 
         // write the value
         if (value == NULL) {
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
         void *kd = cxMalloc(allocator, key.len);
         if (kd == NULL) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
             cxFree(allocator, e);
-            return NULL;
+            return (CxMapEntry){NULL, NULL};
         } // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
         memcpy(kd, key.data, key.len);
         e->key.data = kd;
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@
         map->collection.size++;
     }
 
-    // return pointer to the element
-    return elm->data;
+    // return the entry
+    return (CxMapEntry){&elm->key, elm->data};
 }
 
 static void cx_hash_map_unlink(
@@ -400,6 +400,13 @@
         cx_hash_map_iterator,
 };
 
+static int cx_map_cmpfunc2_safe_memcmp(const void *a, const void *b, void *c) {
+    // it is not safe to store a pointer to the size in the list
+    // because the entire list structure might get reallocated
+    size_t elem_size = (size_t)(uintptr_t)c;
+    return memcmp(a, b, elem_size);
+}
+
 CxMap *cxHashMapCreate(
         const CxAllocator *allocator,
         size_t itemsize,
@@ -414,8 +421,7 @@
         buckets = 16;
     }
 
-    struct cx_hash_map_s *map = cxCalloc(allocator, 1,
-                                         sizeof(struct cx_hash_map_s));
+    struct cx_hash_map_s *map = cxZalloc(allocator, sizeof(struct cx_hash_map_s));
     if (map == NULL) return NULL;
 
     // initialize hash map members
@@ -433,9 +439,12 @@
 
     if (itemsize > 0) {
         map->base.collection.elem_size = itemsize;
+        map->base.collection.advanced_cmp = cx_map_cmpfunc2_safe_memcmp;
+        map->base.collection.cmp_data = (void*)(uintptr_t)itemsize;
     } else {
         map->base.collection.elem_size = sizeof(void *);
         map->base.collection.store_pointer = true;
+        map->base.collection.simple_cmp = cx_cmp_ptr;
     }
 
     return (CxMap *) map;
--- a/src/ucx/iterator.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/iterator.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "cx/iterator.h"
 
 #include <string.h>
+#include <assert.h>
 
 static bool cx_iter_valid(const void *it) {
     const struct cx_iterator_s *iter = it;
@@ -45,51 +46,14 @@
     return *(void**)iter->elem_handle;
 }
 
-static void cx_iter_next_fast(void *it) {
+static void cx_iter_next(void *it) {
     struct cx_iterator_s *iter = it;
-    if (iter->base.remove) {
-        iter->base.remove = false;
-        iter->elem_count--;
-        // only move the last element when we are not currently aiming
-        // at the last element already
-        if (iter->index < iter->elem_count) {
-            void *last = ((char *) iter->src_handle)
-                         + iter->elem_count * iter->elem_size;
-            memcpy(iter->elem_handle, last, iter->elem_size);
-        }
-    } else {
-        iter->index++;
-        iter->elem_handle = ((char *) iter->elem_handle) + iter->elem_size;
-    }
+    assert(!iter->base.remove);
+    iter->index++;
+    iter->elem_handle = ((char *) iter->elem_handle) + iter->elem_size;
 }
 
-static void cx_iter_next_slow(void *it) {
-    struct cx_iterator_s *iter = it;
-    if (iter->base.remove) {
-        iter->base.remove = false;
-        iter->elem_count--;
-
-        // number of elements to move
-        size_t remaining = iter->elem_count - iter->index;
-        if (remaining > 0) {
-            memmove(
-                    iter->elem_handle,
-                    ((char *) iter->elem_handle) + iter->elem_size,
-                    remaining * iter->elem_size
-            );
-        }
-    } else {
-        iter->index++;
-        iter->elem_handle = ((char *) iter->elem_handle) + iter->elem_size;
-    }
-}
-
-CxIterator cxIterator(
-        const void *array,
-        size_t elem_size,
-        size_t elem_count,
-        bool remove_keeps_order
-) {
+CxIterator cxIterator(const void *array, size_t elem_size, size_t elem_count) {
     CxIterator iter;
 
     iter.index = 0;
@@ -99,19 +63,18 @@
     iter.elem_count = array == NULL ? 0 : elem_count;
     iter.base.valid = cx_iter_valid;
     iter.base.current = cx_iter_current;
-    iter.base.next = remove_keeps_order ? cx_iter_next_slow : cx_iter_next_fast;
+    iter.base.next = cx_iter_next;
+    iter.base.valid_impl = NULL;
+    iter.base.current_impl = NULL;
+    iter.base.next_impl = NULL;
     iter.base.remove = false;
     iter.base.allow_remove = true;
 
     return iter;
 }
 
-CxIterator cxIteratorPtr(
-        const void *array,
-        size_t elem_count,
-        bool remove_keeps_order
-) {
-    CxIterator iter = cxIterator(array, sizeof(void*), elem_count, remove_keeps_order);
+CxIterator cxIteratorPtr(const void *array, size_t elem_count) {
+    CxIterator iter = cxIterator(array, sizeof(void*), elem_count);
     iter.base.current = cx_iter_current_ptr;
     return iter;
 }
--- a/src/ucx/json.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/json.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "cx/json.h"
+#include "cx/kv_list.h"
 
 #include <string.h>
 #include <assert.h>
@@ -41,90 +42,10 @@
 
 static CxJsonValue cx_json_value_nothing = {.type = CX_JSON_NOTHING};
 
-static int json_cmp_objvalue(const void *l, const void *r) {
-    const CxJsonObjValue *left = l;
-    const CxJsonObjValue *right = r;
-    return cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(left->name), cx_strcast(right->name));
-}
-
-static size_t json_find_objvalue(const CxJsonValue *obj, cxstring name) {
-    assert(obj->type == CX_JSON_OBJECT);
-    CxJsonObjValue kv_dummy;
-    kv_dummy.name = cx_mutstrn((char*) name.ptr, name.length);
-    return cx_array_binary_search(
-            obj->value.object.values,
-            obj->value.object.values_size,
-            sizeof(CxJsonObjValue),
-            &kv_dummy,
-            json_cmp_objvalue
-    );
-}
-
-static int json_add_objvalue(CxJsonValue *objv, CxJsonObjValue member) {
-    assert(objv->type == CX_JSON_OBJECT);
-    const CxAllocator * const al = objv->allocator;
-    CxJsonObject *obj = &(objv->value.object);
-
-    // determine the index where we need to insert the new member
-    size_t index = cx_array_binary_search_sup(
-        obj->values,
-        obj->values_size,
-        sizeof(CxJsonObjValue),
-        &member, json_cmp_objvalue
-    );
-
-    // is the name already present?
-    if (index < obj->values_size && 0 == json_cmp_objvalue(&member, &obj->values[index])) {
-        // free the original value
-        cx_strfree_a(al, &obj->values[index].name);
-        cxJsonValueFree(obj->values[index].value);
-        // replace the item
-        obj->values[index] = member;
-
-        // nothing more to do
-        return 0;
-    }
-
-    // determine the old capacity and reserve for one more element
-    CxArrayReallocator arealloc = cx_array_reallocator(al, NULL);
-    size_t oldcap = obj->values_capacity;
-    if (cx_array_simple_reserve_a(&arealloc, obj->values, 1)) return 1;
-
-    // check the new capacity, if we need to realloc the index array
-    size_t newcap = obj->values_capacity;
-    if (newcap > oldcap) {
-        if (cxReallocateArray(al, &obj->indices, newcap, sizeof(size_t))) {
-            return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-        }
-    }
-
-    // check if append or insert
-    if (index < obj->values_size) {
-        // move the other elements
-        memmove(
-            &obj->values[index+1],
-            &obj->values[index],
-            (obj->values_size - index) * sizeof(CxJsonObjValue)
-        );
-        // increase indices for the moved elements
-        for (size_t i = 0; i < obj->values_size ; i++) {
-            if (obj->indices[i] >= index) {
-                obj->indices[i]++;
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    // insert the element and set the index
-    obj->values[index] = member;
-    obj->indices[obj->values_size] = index;
-    obj->values_size++;
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
 static void token_destroy(CxJsonToken *token) {
     if (token->allocated) {
         cx_strfree(&token->content);
+        token->allocated = false;
     }
 }
 
@@ -177,21 +98,21 @@
 static CxJsonToken token_create(CxJson *json, bool isstring, size_t start, size_t end) {
     cxmutstr str = cx_mutstrn(json->buffer.space + start, end - start);
     bool allocated = false;
-    if (json->uncompleted.tokentype != CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN) {
+    if (json->uncompleted_tokentype != CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN) {
         allocated = true;
-        str = cx_strcat_m(json->uncompleted.content, 1, str);
-        if (str.ptr == NULL) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
-            return (CxJsonToken){CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN, false, {NULL, 0}};
-        } // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+        str = cx_strcat(json->uncompleted_content, 1, str);
+        if (str.ptr == NULL) {
+            return (CxJsonToken){CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN, false, CX_NULLSTR}; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        }
+        json->uncompleted_content = CX_NULLSTR;
+        json->uncompleted_tokentype = CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN;
     }
-    json->uncompleted = (CxJsonToken){0};
     CxJsonTokenType ttype;
     if (isstring) {
         ttype = CX_JSON_TOKEN_STRING;
     } else {
-        cxstring s = cx_strcast(str);
-        if (!cx_strcmp(s, CX_STR("true")) || !cx_strcmp(s, CX_STR("false"))
-            || !cx_strcmp(s, CX_STR("null"))) {
+        if (!cx_strcmp(str, "true") || !cx_strcmp(str, "false")
+            || !cx_strcmp(str, "null")) {
             ttype = CX_JSON_TOKEN_LITERAL;
         } else {
             ttype = token_numbertype(str.ptr, str.length);
@@ -201,7 +122,7 @@
         if (allocated) {
             cx_strfree(&str);
         }
-        return (CxJsonToken){CX_JSON_TOKEN_ERROR, false, {NULL, 0}};
+        return (CxJsonToken){CX_JSON_TOKEN_ERROR, false, CX_NULLSTR};
     }
     return (CxJsonToken){ttype, allocated, str};
 }
@@ -241,16 +162,16 @@
 static enum cx_json_status token_parse_next(CxJson *json, CxJsonToken *result) {
     // check if there is data in the buffer
     if (cxBufferEof(&json->buffer)) {
-        return json->uncompleted.tokentype == CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN ?
+        return json->uncompleted_tokentype == CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN ?
             CX_JSON_NO_DATA : CX_JSON_INCOMPLETE_DATA;
     }
 
     // current token type and start index
-    CxJsonTokenType ttype = json->uncompleted.tokentype;
+    CxJsonTokenType ttype = json->uncompleted_tokentype;
     size_t token_part_start = json->buffer.pos;
 
     bool escape_end_of_string = ttype == CX_JSON_TOKEN_STRING
-        && json->uncompleted.content.ptr[json->uncompleted.content.length-1] == '\\';
+        && cx_strat(json->uncompleted_content, -1) == '\\';
 
     for (size_t i = json->buffer.pos; i < json->buffer.size; i++) {
         char c = json->buffer.space[i];
@@ -268,7 +189,7 @@
                 } else if (ctype != CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN) {
                     // single-char token
                     json->buffer.pos = i + 1;
-                    *result = (CxJsonToken){ctype, false, {NULL, 0}};
+                    *result = (CxJsonToken){ctype, false, CX_NULLSTR};
                     return CX_JSON_NO_ERROR;
                 } else {
                     ttype = CX_JSON_TOKEN_LITERAL; // number or literal
@@ -307,36 +228,31 @@
         }
     }
 
-    if (ttype != CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN) {
+    if (ttype == CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN) {
+        return CX_JSON_NO_DATA;
+    } else {
         // uncompleted token
-        size_t uncompleted_len = json->buffer.size - token_part_start;
-        if (json->uncompleted.tokentype == CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN) {
-            // current token is uncompleted
-            // save current token content
-            CxJsonToken uncompleted = {
-                ttype, true,
-                cx_strdup(cx_strn(json->buffer.space + token_part_start, uncompleted_len))
-            };
-            if (uncompleted.content.ptr == NULL) {
+        cxstring uncompleted = cx_strn(json->buffer.space + token_part_start, json->buffer.size - token_part_start);
+        if (json->uncompleted_tokentype == CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN) {
+            assert(json->uncompleted_content.ptr == NULL);
+            json->uncompleted_content = cx_strdup(uncompleted);
+            if (json->uncompleted_content.ptr == NULL) {
                 return CX_JSON_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
             }
-            json->uncompleted = uncompleted;
+            json->uncompleted_tokentype = ttype;
         } else {
-            // previously we also had an uncompleted token
+            // previously we already had an uncompleted token
             // combine the uncompleted token with the current token
-            assert(json->uncompleted.allocated);
-            cxmutstr str = cx_strcat_m(json->uncompleted.content, 1,
-                cx_strn(json->buffer.space + token_part_start, uncompleted_len));
-            if (str.ptr == NULL) {
+            cxmutstr s = cx_strcat(json->uncompleted_content, 1, uncompleted);
+            if (s.ptr == NULL) {
                 return CX_JSON_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
             }
-            json->uncompleted.content = str;
+            json->uncompleted_content = s;
         }
         // advance the buffer position - we saved the stuff in the uncompleted token
-        json->buffer.pos += uncompleted_len;
+        json->buffer.pos += uncompleted.length;
+        return CX_JSON_INCOMPLETE_DATA;
     }
-
-    return CX_JSON_INCOMPLETE_DATA;
 }
 
 // converts a Unicode codepoint to utf8
@@ -473,7 +389,7 @@
     return result;
 }
 
-static cxmutstr escape_string(cxmutstr str, bool escape_slash) {
+static cxmutstr escape_string(cxstring str, bool escape_slash) {
     // note: this function produces the string without enclosing quotes
     // the reason is that we don't want to allocate memory just for that
     CxBuffer buf = {0};
@@ -488,7 +404,7 @@
             size_t capa = str.length + 32;
             char *space = cxMallocDefault(capa);
             if (space == NULL) return cx_mutstrn(NULL, 0);
-            cxBufferInit(&buf, space, capa, NULL, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND);
+            cxBufferInit(&buf, NULL, space, capa, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND);
             cxBufferWrite(str.ptr, 1, i, &buf);
             all_printable = false;
         }
@@ -519,11 +435,27 @@
             cxBufferPut(&buf, c);
         }
     }
-    if (!all_printable) {
-        str = cx_mutstrn(buf.space, buf.size);
+    cxmutstr ret;
+    if (all_printable) {
+        // don't copy the string when we don't need to escape anything
+        ret = cx_mutstrn((char*)str.ptr, str.length);
+    } else {
+        ret = cx_mutstrn(buf.space, buf.size);
     }
     cxBufferDestroy(&buf);
-    return str;
+    return ret;
+}
+
+static CxJsonObject json_create_object_map(const CxAllocator *allocator) {
+    CxMap *map = cxKvListCreateAsMap(allocator, CX_STORE_POINTERS);
+    if (map == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+    cxSetCompareFunc(map, cxJsonCompare);
+    cxSetDestructor(map, cxJsonValueFree);
+    return map;
+}
+
+static void json_free_object_map(CxJsonObject obj) {
+    cxMapFree(obj);
 }
 
 static CxJsonValue* json_create_value(CxJson *json, CxJsonValueType type) {
@@ -534,33 +466,30 @@
     v->type = type;
     v->allocator = json->allocator;
     if (type == CX_JSON_ARRAY) {
-        cx_array_initialize_a(json->allocator, v->value.array.array, 16);
-        if (v->value.array.array == NULL) goto create_json_value_exit_error; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        if (cx_array_init_a(json->allocator, v->array, 16)) {
+            goto create_json_value_exit_error; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        }
     } else if (type == CX_JSON_OBJECT) {
-        cx_array_initialize_a(json->allocator, v->value.object.values, 16);
-        v->value.object.indices = cxCalloc(json->allocator, 16, sizeof(size_t));
-        if (v->value.object.values == NULL ||
-            v->value.object.indices == NULL)
-            goto create_json_value_exit_error; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        v->object = json_create_object_map(json->allocator);
+        if (v->object == NULL) goto create_json_value_exit_error; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
     }
 
     // add the new value to a possible parent
-    if (json->vbuf_size > 0) {
-        CxJsonValue *parent = json->vbuf[json->vbuf_size - 1];
+    if (json->vbuf.size > 0) {
+        CxJsonValue *parent = json->vbuf.data[json->vbuf.size - 1];
         assert(parent != NULL);
         if (parent->type == CX_JSON_ARRAY) {
-            CxArrayReallocator value_realloc = cx_array_reallocator(json->allocator, NULL);
-            if (cx_array_simple_add_a(&value_realloc, parent->value.array.array, v)) {
+            if (cx_array_add_a(json->allocator, parent->array, v)) {
                 goto create_json_value_exit_error; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
             }
         } else if (parent->type == CX_JSON_OBJECT) {
             // the member was already created after parsing the name
-            assert(json->uncompleted_member.name.ptr != NULL);
-            json->uncompleted_member.value = v;
-            if (json_add_objvalue(parent, json->uncompleted_member))  {
+            // store the pointer of the uncompleted value in the map
+            assert(json->uncompleted_member_name.ptr != NULL);
+            if (cxMapPut(parent->object, json->uncompleted_member_name, v)) {
                 goto create_json_value_exit_error; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
             }
-            json->uncompleted_member.name = (cxmutstr) {NULL, 0};
+            cx_strfree_a(json->allocator, &json->uncompleted_member_name);
         } else {
             assert(false); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
         }
@@ -568,10 +497,19 @@
 
     // add the new value to the stack, if it is an array or object
     if (type == CX_JSON_ARRAY || type == CX_JSON_OBJECT) {
-        CxArrayReallocator vbuf_realloc = cx_array_reallocator(NULL, json->vbuf_internal);
-        if (cx_array_simple_add_a(&vbuf_realloc, json->vbuf, v)) {
-            goto create_json_value_exit_error; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        if (json->vbuf.size >= json->vbuf.capacity) {
+            int alloc_error;
+            if (json->vbuf.data == json->vbuf_internal) {
+                alloc_error = cx_array_copy_to_new(json->vbuf, json->vbuf.size+1);
+            } else {
+                alloc_error = cx_array_reserve(json->vbuf, json->vbuf.size+1);
+            }
+            if (alloc_error) {
+                goto create_json_value_exit_error; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+            }
         }
+        json->vbuf.data[json->vbuf.size] = v;
+        json->vbuf.size++;
     }
 
     // if currently no value is parsed, this is now the value of interest
@@ -605,29 +543,24 @@
     memset(json, 0, sizeof(CxJson));
     json->allocator = allocator;
 
-    json->states = json->states_internal;
-    json->states_capacity = cx_nmemb(json->states_internal);
-    json->states[0] = JP_STATE_VALUE_BEGIN;
-    json->states_size = 1;
-
-    json->vbuf = json->vbuf_internal;
-    json->vbuf_capacity = cx_nmemb(json->vbuf_internal);
+    cx_array_init_fixed(json->states, json->states_internal, 1);
+    json->states.data[0] = JP_STATE_VALUE_BEGIN;
+    cx_array_init_fixed(json->vbuf, json->vbuf_internal, 0);
 }
 
 void cxJsonDestroy(CxJson *json) {
     cxBufferDestroy(&json->buffer);
-    if (json->states != json->states_internal) {
-        cxFreeDefault(json->states);
+    if (json->states.data != json->states_internal) {
+        cx_array_free(json->states);
     }
-    if (json->vbuf != json->vbuf_internal) {
-        cxFreeDefault(json->vbuf);
+    if (json->vbuf.data != json->vbuf_internal) {
+        cx_array_free(json->vbuf);
     }
     cxJsonValueFree(json->parsed);
     json->parsed = NULL;
-    if (json->uncompleted_member.name.ptr != NULL) {
-        cx_strfree_a(json->allocator, &json->uncompleted_member.name);
-        json->uncompleted_member = (CxJsonObjValue){{NULL, 0}, NULL};
-    }
+    json->uncompleted_tokentype = CX_JSON_NO_TOKEN;
+    cx_strfree(&json->uncompleted_content);
+    cx_strfree_a(json->allocator, &json->uncompleted_member_name);
 }
 
 void cxJsonReset(CxJson *json) {
@@ -641,8 +574,8 @@
         // reinitialize the buffer
         cxBufferDestroy(&json->buffer);
         if (buf == NULL) buf = ""; // buffer must not be initialized with NULL
-        cxBufferInit(&json->buffer, (char*) buf, size,
-            NULL, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND | CX_BUFFER_COPY_ON_WRITE);
+        cxBufferInit(&json->buffer, NULL, (char*) buf,
+                     size, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND | CX_BUFFER_COPY_ON_WRITE);
         json->buffer.size = size;
         return 0;
     } else {
@@ -651,9 +584,9 @@
 }
 
 static void json_add_state(CxJson *json, int state) {
-    // we have guaranteed the necessary space with cx_array_simple_reserve()
+    // we have guaranteed the necessary space
     // therefore, we can safely add the state in the simplest way possible
-    json->states[json->states_size++] = state;
+    json->states.data[json->states.size++] = state;
 }
 
 #define return_rec(code) \
@@ -674,13 +607,21 @@
     }
 
     // pop the current state
-    assert(json->states_size > 0);
-    int state = json->states[--json->states_size];
+    assert(json->states.size > 0);
+    int state = json->states.data[--json->states.size];
 
-    // guarantee that at least two more states fit on the stack
-    CxArrayReallocator state_realloc = cx_array_reallocator(NULL, json->states_internal);
-    if (cx_array_simple_reserve_a(&state_realloc, json->states, 2)) {
-        return CX_JSON_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+    // guarantee that at least two more states fit into the array
+    const size_t required_states_depth = json->states.size + 2;
+    if (required_states_depth >= json->states.capacity) {
+        int alloc_error;
+        if (json->states.data == json->states_internal) {
+            alloc_error = cx_array_copy_to_new(json->states, required_states_depth);
+        } else {
+            alloc_error = cx_array_reserve(json->states, required_states_depth);
+        }
+        if (alloc_error) {
+            return CX_JSON_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        }
     }
 
 
@@ -712,6 +653,16 @@
                 json_add_state(json, JP_STATE_OBJ_NAME_OR_CLOSE);
                 return_rec(CX_JSON_NO_ERROR);
             }
+            case CX_JSON_TOKEN_END_ARRAY: {
+                if (state == JP_STATE_VALUE_BEGIN_AR) {
+                    // discard the array from the value buffer
+                    json->vbuf.size--;
+                    json->states.size--;
+                    return_rec(CX_JSON_NO_ERROR);
+                } else {
+                    return_rec(CX_JSON_FORMAT_ERROR_UNEXPECTED_TOKEN);
+                }
+            }
             case CX_JSON_TOKEN_STRING: {
                 if ((vbuf = json_create_value(json, CX_JSON_STRING)) == NULL) {
                     return_rec(CX_JSON_VALUE_ALLOC_FAILED); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
@@ -720,7 +671,7 @@
                 if (str.ptr == NULL) {
                     return_rec(CX_JSON_VALUE_ALLOC_FAILED); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
                 }
-                vbuf->value.string = str;
+                vbuf->string = str;
                 return_rec(CX_JSON_NO_ERROR);
             }
             case CX_JSON_TOKEN_INTEGER:
@@ -730,11 +681,11 @@
                     return_rec(CX_JSON_VALUE_ALLOC_FAILED); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
                 }
                 if (type == CX_JSON_INTEGER) {
-                    if (cx_strtoi64(token.content, &vbuf->value.integer, 10)) {
+                    if (cx_strtoi64(token.content, &vbuf->integer, 10)) {
                         return_rec(CX_JSON_FORMAT_ERROR_NUMBER);
                     }
                 } else {
-                    if (cx_strtod(token.content, &vbuf->value.number)) {
+                    if (cx_strtod(token.content, &vbuf->number)) {
                         // TODO: at the moment this is unreachable, because the tokenizer is already stricter than cx_strtod()
                         return_rec(CX_JSON_FORMAT_ERROR_NUMBER);  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
                     }
@@ -745,12 +696,12 @@
                 if ((vbuf = json_create_value(json, CX_JSON_LITERAL)) == NULL) {
                     return_rec(CX_JSON_VALUE_ALLOC_FAILED); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
                 }
-                if (0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(token.content), cx_str("true"))) {
-                    vbuf->value.literal = CX_JSON_TRUE;
-                } else if (0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(token.content), cx_str("false"))) {
-                    vbuf->value.literal = CX_JSON_FALSE;
+                if (0 == cx_strcmp(token.content, "true")) {
+                    vbuf->literal = CX_JSON_TRUE;
+                } else if (0 == cx_strcmp(token.content, "false")) {
+                    vbuf->literal = CX_JSON_FALSE;
                 } else {
-                    vbuf->value.literal = CX_JSON_NULL;
+                    vbuf->literal = CX_JSON_NULL;
                 }
                 return_rec(CX_JSON_NO_ERROR);
             }
@@ -765,7 +716,7 @@
             return_rec(CX_JSON_NO_ERROR);
         } else if (token.tokentype == CX_JSON_TOKEN_END_ARRAY) {
             // discard the array from the value buffer
-            json->vbuf_size--;
+            json->vbuf.size--;
             return_rec(CX_JSON_NO_ERROR);
         } else {
             return_rec(CX_JSON_FORMAT_ERROR_UNEXPECTED_TOKEN);
@@ -773,7 +724,7 @@
     } else if (state == JP_STATE_OBJ_NAME_OR_CLOSE || state == JP_STATE_OBJ_NAME) {
         if (state == JP_STATE_OBJ_NAME_OR_CLOSE && token.tokentype == CX_JSON_TOKEN_END_OBJECT) {
             // discard the obj from the value buffer
-            json->vbuf_size--;
+            json->vbuf.size--;
             return_rec(CX_JSON_NO_ERROR);
         } else {
             // expect string
@@ -786,9 +737,9 @@
             if (name.ptr == NULL) {
                 return_rec(CX_JSON_VALUE_ALLOC_FAILED); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
             }
-            assert(json->uncompleted_member.name.ptr == NULL);
-            json->uncompleted_member.name = name;
-            assert(json->vbuf_size > 0);
+            assert(json->uncompleted_member_name.ptr == NULL);
+            json->uncompleted_member_name = name;
+            assert(json->vbuf.size > 0);
 
             // next state
             json_add_state(json, JP_STATE_OBJ_COLON);
@@ -809,7 +760,7 @@
             return_rec(CX_JSON_NO_ERROR);
         } else if (token.tokentype == CX_JSON_TOKEN_END_OBJECT) {
             // discard the obj from the value buffer
-            json->vbuf_size--;
+            json->vbuf.size--;
             return_rec(CX_JSON_NO_ERROR);
         } else {
             return_rec(CX_JSON_FORMAT_ERROR_UNEXPECTED_TOKEN);
@@ -834,17 +785,17 @@
     CxJsonStatus result;
     do {
         result = json_parse(json);
-        if (result == CX_JSON_NO_ERROR && json->states_size == 1) {
+        if (result == CX_JSON_NO_ERROR && json->states.size == 1) {
             // final state reached
-            assert(json->states[0] == JP_STATE_VALUE_END);
-            assert(json->vbuf_size == 0);
+            assert(json->states.data[0] == JP_STATE_VALUE_END);
+            assert(json->vbuf.size == 0);
 
             // write output value
             *value = json->parsed;
             json->parsed = NULL;
 
             // re-initialize state machine
-            json->states[0] = JP_STATE_VALUE_BEGIN;
+            json->states.data[0] = JP_STATE_VALUE_BEGIN;
 
             return CX_JSON_NO_ERROR;
         }
@@ -853,36 +804,60 @@
     // the parser might think there is no data
     // but when we did not reach the final state,
     // we know that there must be more to come
-    if (result == CX_JSON_NO_DATA && json->states_size > 1) {
+    if (result == CX_JSON_NO_DATA && json->states.size > 1) {
         return CX_JSON_INCOMPLETE_DATA;
     }
 
     return result;
 }
 
+CxJsonStatus cx_json_from_string(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+            cxstring str, CxJsonValue **value) {
+    *value = &cx_json_value_nothing;
+    CxJson parser;
+    cxJsonInit(&parser, allocator);
+    if (cxJsonFill(&parser, str)) {
+        // LCOV_EXCL_START
+        cxJsonDestroy(&parser);
+        return CX_JSON_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED;
+        // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+    }
+    CxJsonStatus status = cxJsonNext(&parser, value);
+    // check if we consume the total string
+    CxJsonValue *chk_value = NULL;
+    CxJsonStatus chk_status = CX_JSON_NO_DATA;
+    if (status == CX_JSON_NO_ERROR) {
+        chk_status = cxJsonNext(&parser, &chk_value);
+    }
+    cxJsonDestroy(&parser);
+    if (chk_status == CX_JSON_NO_DATA) {
+        return status;
+    } else {
+        cxJsonValueFree(*value);
+        // if chk_value is nothing, the free is harmless
+        cxJsonValueFree(chk_value);
+        *value = &cx_json_value_nothing;
+        return CX_JSON_FORMAT_ERROR_UNEXPECTED_TOKEN;
+    }
+
+}
+
 void cxJsonValueFree(CxJsonValue *value) {
     if (value == NULL || value->type == CX_JSON_NOTHING) return;
     switch (value->type) {
         case CX_JSON_OBJECT: {
-            CxJsonObject obj = value->value.object;
-            for (size_t i = 0; i < obj.values_size; i++) {
-                cxJsonValueFree(obj.values[i].value);
-                cx_strfree_a(value->allocator, &obj.values[i].name);
-            }
-            cxFree(value->allocator, obj.values);
-            cxFree(value->allocator, obj.indices);
+            json_free_object_map(value->object);
             break;
         }
         case CX_JSON_ARRAY: {
-            CxJsonArray array = value->value.array;
-            for (size_t i = 0; i < array.array_size; i++) {
-                cxJsonValueFree(array.array[i]);
+            for (size_t i = 0; i < value->array.size; i++) {
+                cxJsonValueFree(value->array.data[i]);
             }
-            cxFree(value->allocator, array.array);
+            cx_array_free_a(value->allocator, value->array);
             break;
         }
         case CX_JSON_STRING: {
-            cxFree(value->allocator, value->value.string.ptr);
+            cxFree(value->allocator, value->string.ptr);
             break;
         }
         default: {
@@ -898,15 +873,8 @@
     if (v == NULL) return NULL;
     v->allocator = allocator;
     v->type = CX_JSON_OBJECT;
-    cx_array_initialize_a(allocator, v->value.object.values, 16);
-    if (v->value.object.values == NULL) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
-        cxFree(allocator, v);
-        return NULL;
-        // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
-    }
-    v->value.object.indices = cxCalloc(allocator, 16, sizeof(size_t));
-    if (v->value.object.indices == NULL) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
-        cxFree(allocator, v->value.object.values);
+    v->object = json_create_object_map(allocator);
+    if (v->object == NULL) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
         cxFree(allocator, v);
         return NULL;
         // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
@@ -914,14 +882,23 @@
     return v;
 }
 
-CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateArr(const CxAllocator* allocator) {
+CxJsonValue* cxJsonCreateArr(const CxAllocator* allocator, size_t capacity) {
     if (allocator == NULL) allocator = cxDefaultAllocator;
     CxJsonValue* v = cxMalloc(allocator, sizeof(CxJsonValue));
     if (v == NULL) return NULL;
     v->allocator = allocator;
     v->type = CX_JSON_ARRAY;
-    cx_array_initialize_a(allocator, v->value.array.array, 16);
-    if (v->value.array.array == NULL) { cxFree(allocator, v); return NULL; }
+    if (capacity > 0) {
+        if (cx_array_init_a(allocator, v->array, capacity)) {
+            // LCOV_EXCL_START
+            cxFree(allocator, v);
+            return NULL;
+            // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+        }
+    } else {
+        v->array.data = NULL;
+        v->array.size = v->array.capacity = 0;
+    }
     return v;
 }
 
@@ -931,7 +908,7 @@
     if (v == NULL) return NULL;
     v->allocator = allocator;
     v->type = CX_JSON_NUMBER;
-    v->value.number = num;
+    v->number = num;
     return v;
 }
 
@@ -941,7 +918,7 @@
     if (v == NULL) return NULL;
     v->allocator = allocator;
     v->type = CX_JSON_INTEGER;
-    v->value.integer = num;
+    v->integer = num;
     return v;
 }
 
@@ -953,7 +930,7 @@
     v->type = CX_JSON_STRING;
     cxmutstr s = cx_strdup_a(allocator, str);
     if (s.ptr == NULL) { cxFree(allocator, v); return NULL; }
-    v->value.string = s;
+    v->string = s;
     return v;
 }
 
@@ -963,7 +940,7 @@
     if (v == NULL) return NULL;
     v->allocator = allocator;
     v->type = CX_JSON_LITERAL;
-    v->value.literal = lit;
+    v->literal = lit;
     return v;
 }
 
@@ -1039,27 +1016,12 @@
 }
 
 int cxJsonArrAddValues(CxJsonValue* arr, CxJsonValue* const* val, size_t count) {
-    CxArrayReallocator value_realloc = cx_array_reallocator(arr->allocator, NULL);
     assert(arr->type == CX_JSON_ARRAY);
-    return cx_array_simple_copy_a(&value_realloc,
-            arr->value.array.array,
-            arr->value.array.array_size,
-            val, count
-    );
+    return cx_array_add_array_a(arr->allocator, arr->array, val, count);
 }
 
 int cx_json_obj_put(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, CxJsonValue* child) {
-    cxmutstr k = cx_strdup_a(obj->allocator, name);
-    if (k.ptr == NULL) return -1;
-    CxJsonObjValue kv = {k, child};
-    if (json_add_objvalue(obj, kv)) {
-        // LCOV_EXCL_START
-        cx_strfree_a(obj->allocator, &k);
-        return 1;
-        // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
-    } else {
-        return 0;
-    }
+    return cxMapPut(obj->object, name, child);
 }
 
 CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_obj(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name) {
@@ -1069,8 +1031,8 @@
     return v;
 }
 
-CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_arr(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name) {
-    CxJsonValue* v = cxJsonCreateArr(obj->allocator);
+CxJsonValue* cx_json_obj_put_arr(CxJsonValue* obj, cxstring name, size_t capacity) {
+    CxJsonValue* v = cxJsonCreateArr(obj->allocator, capacity);
     if (v == NULL) return NULL;
     if (cxJsonObjPut(obj, name, v)) { cxJsonValueFree(v); return NULL; }
     return v;
@@ -1105,98 +1067,75 @@
 }
 
 CxJsonValue *cxJsonArrGet(const CxJsonValue *value, size_t index) {
-    if (index >= value->value.array.array_size) {
+    if (index >= value->array.size) {
         return &cx_json_value_nothing;
     }
-    return value->value.array.array[index];
+    return value->array.data[index];
 }
 
 CxJsonValue *cxJsonArrRemove(CxJsonValue *value, size_t index) {
-    if (index >= value->value.array.array_size) {
+    if (index >= value->array.size) {
         return NULL;
     }
-    CxJsonValue *ret = value->value.array.array[index];
-    // TODO: replace with a low level cx_array_remove()
-    size_t count = value->value.array.array_size - index - 1;
-    if (count > 0) {
-        memmove(value->value.array.array + index, value->value.array.array + index + 1, count * sizeof(CxJsonValue*));
-    }
-    value->value.array.array_size--;
+    CxJsonValue *ret = value->array.data[index];
+    cx_array_remove(value->array, index);
     return ret;
 }
 
 char *cxJsonAsString(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return value->value.string.ptr;
+    return value->string.ptr;
 }
 
 cxstring cxJsonAsCxString(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return cx_strcast(value->value.string);
+    return cx_strcast(value->string);
 }
 
 cxmutstr cxJsonAsCxMutStr(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return value->value.string;
+    return value->string;
 }
 
 double cxJsonAsDouble(const CxJsonValue *value) {
     if (value->type == CX_JSON_INTEGER) {
-        return (double) value->value.integer;
+        return (double) value->integer;
     } else {
-        return value->value.number;
+        return value->number;
     }
 }
 
 int64_t cxJsonAsInteger(const CxJsonValue *value) {
     if (value->type == CX_JSON_INTEGER) {
-        return value->value.integer;
+        return value->integer;
     } else {
-        return (int64_t) value->value.number;
+        return (int64_t) value->number;
     }
 }
 
 CxIterator cxJsonArrIter(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return cxIteratorPtr(
-        value->value.array.array,
-        value->value.array.array_size,
-        true // arrays need to keep order
-    );
+    return cx_array_iterator_ptr(value->array);
 }
 
-CxIterator cxJsonObjIter(const CxJsonValue *value) {
-    return cxIterator(
-        value->value.object.values,
-        sizeof(CxJsonObjValue),
-        value->value.object.values_size,
-        true // TODO: objects do not always need to keep order
-    );
+CxMapIterator cxJsonObjIter(const CxJsonValue *value) {
+    return cxMapIterator(value->object);
 }
 
 CxJsonValue *cx_json_obj_get(const CxJsonValue *value, cxstring name) {
-    size_t index = json_find_objvalue(value, name);
-    if (index >= value->value.object.values_size) {
+    CxJsonValue *v = cxMapGet(value->object, name);
+    if (v == NULL) {
         return &cx_json_value_nothing;
     } else {
-        return value->value.object.values[index].value;
+        return v;
     }
 }
 
 CxJsonValue *cx_json_obj_remove(CxJsonValue *value, cxstring name) {
-    size_t index = json_find_objvalue(value, name);
-    if (index >= value->value.object.values_size) {
-        return NULL;
-    } else {
-        CxJsonObjValue kv = value->value.object.values[index];
-        cx_strfree_a(value->allocator, &kv.name);
-        // TODO: replace with cx_array_remove() / cx_array_remove_fast()
-        value->value.object.values_size--;
-        memmove(value->value.object.values + index, value->value.object.values + index + 1, (value->value.object.values_size - index) * sizeof(CxJsonObjValue));
-        return kv.value;
-    }
+    CxJsonValue *v = NULL;
+    cxMapRemoveAndGet(value->object, name, &v);
+    return v;
 }
 
 CxJsonWriter cxJsonWriterCompact(void) {
     return (CxJsonWriter) {
         false,
-        true,
         6,
         false,
         4,
@@ -1207,7 +1146,6 @@
 CxJsonWriter cxJsonWriterPretty(bool use_spaces) {
     return (CxJsonWriter) {
         true,
-        true,
         6,
         use_spaces,
         4,
@@ -1272,14 +1210,8 @@
                 expected++;
             }
             depth++;
-            size_t elem_count = value->value.object.values_size;
-            for (size_t look_idx = 0; look_idx < elem_count; look_idx++) {
-                // get the member either via index array or directly
-                size_t elem_idx = settings->sort_members
-                                      ? look_idx
-                                      : value->value.object.indices[look_idx];
-                CxJsonObjValue *member = &value->value.object.values[elem_idx];
-
+            CxMapIterator member_iter = cxJsonObjIter(value);
+            cx_foreach(const CxMapEntry *, member, member_iter) {
                 // possible indentation
                 if (settings->pretty) {
                     if (cx_json_writer_indent(target, wfunc, settings, depth)) {
@@ -1289,26 +1221,27 @@
 
                 // the name
                 actual += wfunc("\"", 1, 1, target);
-                cxmutstr name = escape_string(member->name, settings->escape_slash);
+                cxstring key = cx_hash_key_as_string(member->key);
+                cxmutstr name = escape_string(key, settings->escape_slash);
                 actual += wfunc(name.ptr, 1, name.length, target);
-                if (name.ptr != member->name.ptr) {
-                    cx_strfree(&name);
-                }
                 actual += wfunc("\"", 1, 1, target);
                 const char *obj_name_sep = ": ";
                 if (settings->pretty) {
                     actual += wfunc(obj_name_sep, 1, 2, target);
-                    expected += 4 + member->name.length;
+                    expected += 4 + name.length;
                 } else {
                     actual += wfunc(obj_name_sep, 1, 1, target);
-                    expected += 3 + member->name.length;
+                    expected += 3 + name.length;
+                }
+                if (name.ptr != key.ptr) {
+                    cx_strfree(&name);
                 }
 
                 // the value
                 if (cx_json_write_rec(target, member->value, wfunc, settings, depth)) return 1;
 
                 // end of object-value
-                if (look_idx < elem_count - 1) {
+                if (member_iter.index < member_iter.elem_count - 1) {
                     const char *obj_value_sep = ",\n";
                     if (settings->pretty) {
                         actual += wfunc(obj_value_sep, 1, 2, target);
@@ -1361,13 +1294,14 @@
         }
         case CX_JSON_STRING: {
             actual += wfunc("\"", 1, 1, target);
-            cxmutstr str = escape_string(value->value.string, settings->escape_slash);
+            cxmutstr str = escape_string(cx_strcast(value->string),
+                settings->escape_slash);
             actual += wfunc(str.ptr, 1, str.length, target);
-            if (str.ptr != value->value.string.ptr) {
+            actual += wfunc("\"", 1, 1, target);
+            expected += 2 + str.length;
+            if (str.ptr != value->string.ptr) {
                 cx_strfree(&str);
             }
-            actual += wfunc("\"", 1, 1, target);
-            expected += 2 + value->value.string.length;
             break;
         }
         case CX_JSON_NUMBER: {
@@ -1375,7 +1309,7 @@
             // because of the way how %g is defined, we need to
             // double the precision and truncate ourselves
             precision = 1 + (precision > 15 ? 30 : 2 * precision);
-            snprintf(numbuf, 40, "%.*g", precision, value->value.number);
+            snprintf(numbuf, 40, "%.*g", precision, value->number);
             char *dot, *exp;
             unsigned char max_digits;
             // find the decimal separator and hope that it's one of . or ,
@@ -1439,17 +1373,17 @@
             break;
         }
         case CX_JSON_INTEGER: {
-            snprintf(numbuf, 32, "%" PRIi64, value->value.integer);
+            snprintf(numbuf, 32, "%" PRIi64, value->integer);
             size_t len = strlen(numbuf);
             actual += wfunc(numbuf, 1, len, target);
             expected += len;
             break;
         }
         case CX_JSON_LITERAL: {
-            if (value->value.literal == CX_JSON_TRUE) {
+            if (value->literal == CX_JSON_TRUE) {
                 actual += wfunc("true", 1, 4, target);
                 expected += 4;
-            } else if (value->value.literal == CX_JSON_FALSE) {
+            } else if (value->literal == CX_JSON_FALSE) {
                 actual += wfunc("false", 1, 5, target);
                 expected += 5;
             } else {
@@ -1487,3 +1421,142 @@
     }
     return cx_json_write_rec(target, value, wfunc, settings, 0);
 }
+
+static cxmutstr cx_json_to_string(CxJsonValue *value, const CxAllocator *allocator, CxJsonWriter *writer) {
+    if (allocator == NULL) allocator = cxDefaultAllocator;
+    CxBuffer buffer;
+    if (cxBufferInit(&buffer, allocator, NULL, 128,
+                     CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND | CX_BUFFER_DO_NOT_FREE)) {
+        return CX_NULLSTR; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+    }
+    if (cx_json_write_rec(&buffer, value, cxBufferWriteFunc, writer, 0)
+            || cxBufferTerminate(&buffer)) {
+        // LCOV_EXCL_START
+        buffer.flags &= ~CX_BUFFER_DO_NOT_FREE;
+        cxBufferDestroy(&buffer);
+        return CX_NULLSTR;
+        // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+    } else {
+        cxmutstr str = cx_bstr_m(&buffer);
+        cxBufferDestroy(&buffer);
+        return str;
+    }
+
+}
+
+cxmutstr cxJsonToString(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxJsonValue *value) {
+    CxJsonWriter writer = cxJsonWriterCompact();
+    return cx_json_to_string(value, allocator, &writer);
+}
+
+cxmutstr cxJsonToPrettyString(const CxAllocator *allocator, CxJsonValue *value) {
+    CxJsonWriter writer = cxJsonWriterPretty(true);
+    return cx_json_to_string(value, allocator, &writer);
+}
+
+int cxJsonCompare(const CxJsonValue *json, const CxJsonValue *other) {
+    if (json == other) return 0;
+    if (json == NULL || other == NULL) return -1;
+    if (json->type != other->type) {
+        if (!cxJsonIsNumber(json)) return -1;
+        if (!cxJsonIsNumber(other)) return -1;
+    }
+    switch (json->type) {
+        case CX_JSON_NOTHING:
+            return 0;
+        case CX_JSON_OBJECT:
+            return cxMapCompare(json->object, other->object);
+        case CX_JSON_ARRAY:
+            if (json->array.size != other->array.size) return -1;
+            for (size_t i = 0; i < json->array.size; i++) {
+                const int d = cxJsonCompare(json->array.data[i], other->array.data[i]);
+                if (d != 0) return d;
+            }
+            return 0;
+        case CX_JSON_STRING:
+            return cx_strcmp(json->string, other->string);
+        case CX_JSON_INTEGER:
+            if (other->type == CX_JSON_INTEGER) {
+                return cx_vcmp_int64(json->integer, other->integer);
+            } else {
+                return cx_vcmp_double(cxJsonAsDouble(json), other->number);
+            }
+        case CX_JSON_NUMBER:
+            return cx_vcmp_double(json->number, cxJsonAsDouble(other));
+        case CX_JSON_LITERAL:
+            return json->literal == other->literal ? 0 : -1;
+        default: // LCOV_EXCL_START
+            // unreachable
+            assert(false);
+            return -1;
+            // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+    }
+}
+
+CxJsonValue* cxJsonClone(const CxJsonValue* value, const CxAllocator* allocator) {
+    return cx_json_clone_func(NULL, value, allocator, NULL);
+}
+
+CxJsonValue* cx_json_clone_func(CxJsonValue* target, const CxJsonValue* source,
+        const CxAllocator* allocator, CX_UNUSED void *data) {
+    if (source == NULL || source->type == CX_JSON_NOTHING) {
+        return &cx_json_value_nothing;
+    }
+    if (allocator == NULL) allocator = cxDefaultAllocator;
+
+#define return_value(v) { \
+        CxJsonValue *ret = v; \
+        if (target == NULL) { \
+            return ret; \
+        } else { \
+            *target = *ret; \
+            ret->type = CX_JSON_UNINITIALIZED; \
+            cxJsonValueFree(ret); \
+            return target; \
+        } \
+    }
+
+    switch (source->type) {
+        case CX_JSON_OBJECT: {
+            CxJsonValue *obj = cxJsonCreateObj(allocator);
+            if (obj == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+            if (cxMapClone(obj->object, source->object, cxJsonCloneFunc, allocator, NULL)) {
+                // LCOV_EXCL_START
+                cxJsonValueFree(obj);
+                return NULL;
+                // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+            }
+            return_value(obj);
+        }
+        case CX_JSON_ARRAY: {
+            const size_t elem_count = source->array.size;
+            CxJsonValue *arr = cxJsonCreateArr(allocator, elem_count);
+            if (arr == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+            arr->array.size = elem_count;
+            for (size_t i = 0 ; i < elem_count ; i++) {
+                CxJsonValue *e = cx_json_clone_func(NULL, source->array.data[i], allocator, NULL);
+                if (e == NULL) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
+                    cxJsonValueFree(arr);
+                    return NULL;
+                    // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+                }
+                arr->array.data[i] = e;
+            }
+            return_value(arr);
+        }
+        case CX_JSON_STRING:
+            return_value(cxJsonCreateString(allocator, source->string));
+        case CX_JSON_INTEGER:
+            return_value(cxJsonCreateInteger(allocator, source->integer));
+        case CX_JSON_NUMBER:
+            return_value(cxJsonCreateNumber(allocator, source->number));
+        case CX_JSON_LITERAL:
+            return_value(cxJsonCreateLiteral(allocator, source->literal));
+        default: // LCOV_EXCL_START
+            // unreachable
+            assert(false);
+            return NULL;
+            // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+    }
+#undef return_value
+}
--- a/src/ucx/kv_list.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/kv_list.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -221,11 +221,12 @@
 
     size_t index;
     cx_linked_list *ll = &kv_list->list;
-    char *node = cx_linked_list_find(
+    char *node = cx_linked_list_find_c(
             ll->begin,
             ll->loc_next, ll->loc_data,
-            list->collection.cmpfunc, elem,
-            &index
+            elem, &index,
+            cx_list_compare_wrapper,
+            list
     );
     if (node == NULL) {
         return list->collection.size;
@@ -285,6 +286,7 @@
 
 static void cx_kvl_map_deallocate(struct cx_map_s *map) {
     cx_kv_list *kv_list = ((struct cx_kv_list_map_s*)map)->list;
+    cx_kv_list_update_destructors(kv_list);
     kv_list->map_methods->deallocate(map);
     kv_list->list_methods->deallocate(&kv_list->list.base);
 }
@@ -296,41 +298,7 @@
     kv_list->map_methods->clear(map);
 }
 
-static void *cx_kvl_map_put(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *value) {
-    cx_kv_list *kv_list = ((struct cx_kv_list_map_s*)map)->list;
-    // if the hash has not yet been computed, do it now
-    if (key.hash == 0) {
-        cx_hash_murmur(&key);
-    }
-
-    // reserve memory in the map first
-    void **map_data = kv_list->map_methods->put(map, key, NULL);
-    if (map_data == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-
-    // insert the data into the list (which most likely destroys the sorted property)
-    kv_list->list.base.collection.sorted = false;
-    void *node_data = kv_list->list_methods->insert_element(
-        &kv_list->list.base, kv_list->list.base.collection.size,
-        kv_list->list.base.collection.store_pointer ? &value : value);
-    if (node_data == NULL) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
-        // non-destructively remove the key again
-        kv_list->map_methods->remove(&kv_list->map->map_base.base, key, &map_data);
-        return NULL;
-    } // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
-
-    // write the node pointer to the map entry
-    *map_data = node_data;
-
-    // copy the key to the node data
-    CxHashKey *key_ptr = cx_kv_list_loc_key(kv_list, node_data);
-    *key_ptr = key;
-
-    // we must return node_data here and not map_data,
-    // because the node_data is the actual element of this collection
-    return node_data;
-}
-
-void *cx_kvl_map_get(const CxMap *map, CxHashKey key) {
+static void *cx_kvl_map_get(const CxMap *map, CxHashKey key) {
     cx_kv_list *kv_list = ((struct cx_kv_list_map_s*)map)->list;
     void *node_data = kv_list->map_methods->get(map, key);
     if (node_data == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
@@ -338,7 +306,7 @@
     return kv_list->list.base.collection.store_pointer ? *(void**)node_data : node_data;
 }
 
-int cx_kvl_map_remove(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *targetbuf) {
+static int cx_kvl_map_remove(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *targetbuf) {
     cx_kv_list *kv_list = ((struct cx_kv_list_map_s*)map)->list;
 
     void *node_data;
@@ -381,6 +349,43 @@
     return 0;
 }
 
+static CxMapEntry cx_kvl_map_put(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *value) {
+    cx_kv_list *kv_list = ((struct cx_kv_list_map_s*)map)->list;
+    // if the hash has not yet been computed, do it now
+    if (key.hash == 0) {
+        cx_hash_murmur(&key);
+    }
+
+    // remove any existing element first
+    cx_kvl_map_remove(map, key, NULL);
+
+    // now reserve new memory in the map
+    CxMapEntry map_entry = kv_list->map_methods->put(map, key, NULL);
+    if (map_entry.key == NULL) return (CxMapEntry){NULL, NULL}; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+
+    // insert the data into the list (which most likely destroys the sorted property)
+    kv_list->list.base.collection.sorted = false;
+    void *node_data = kv_list->list_methods->insert_element(
+        &kv_list->list.base, kv_list->list.base.collection.size,
+        kv_list->list.base.collection.store_pointer ? &value : value);
+    if (node_data == NULL) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
+        // non-destructively remove the key again
+        void *dummy;
+        kv_list->map_methods->remove(&kv_list->map->map_base.base, key, &dummy);
+        return (CxMapEntry){NULL, NULL};
+    } // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+
+    // write the node pointer to the map entry
+    *(void**)map_entry.value = node_data;
+
+    // copy the key to the node data
+    CxHashKey *key_ptr = cx_kv_list_loc_key(kv_list, node_data);
+    *key_ptr = *map_entry.key;
+
+    // we must return an entry that points to the node data!
+    return (CxMapEntry ){key_ptr, node_data};
+}
+
 static void *cx_kvl_iter_current_entry(const void *it) {
     const CxMapIterator *iter = it;
     return (void*)&iter->entry;
@@ -455,7 +460,7 @@
     return iter->elem != NULL;
 }
 
-CxMapIterator cx_kvl_map_iterator(const CxMap *map, enum cx_map_iterator_type type) {
+static CxMapIterator cx_kvl_map_iterator(const CxMap *map, enum cx_map_iterator_type type) {
     CxMapIterator iter = {0};
 
     iter.type = type;
@@ -510,7 +515,7 @@
 }
 
 static int cx_kvl_change_capacity(struct cx_list_s *list,
-        cx_attr_unused size_t cap) {
+        CX_UNUSED size_t cap) {
     // since our backing list is a linked list, we don't need to do much here,
     // but rehashing the map is quite useful
     cx_kv_list *kv_list = (cx_kv_list*)list;
@@ -548,7 +553,6 @@
 
 CxList *cxKvListCreate(
         const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cx_compare_func comparator,
         size_t elem_size
 ) {
     if (allocator == NULL) {
@@ -556,7 +560,7 @@
     }
 
     // create a normal linked list and a normal hash map, first
-    CxList *list = cxLinkedListCreate(allocator, comparator, elem_size);
+    CxList *list = cxLinkedListCreate(allocator, elem_size);
     if (list == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
     cx_linked_list *ll = (cx_linked_list*)list;
     cx_linked_list_extra_data(ll, sizeof(CxHashKey));
@@ -596,23 +600,17 @@
     // remember the base methods and override them
     kv_list->map_methods = map->cl;
     map->cl = &cx_kv_map_class;
-    if (list->climpl == NULL) {
-        kv_list->list_methods = list->cl;
-        list->cl = &cx_kv_list_class;
-    } else {
-        kv_list->list_methods = list->climpl;
-        list->climpl = &cx_kv_list_class;
-    }
+    kv_list->list_methods = list->cl;
+    list->cl = &cx_kv_list_class;
 
     return list;
 }
 
 CxMap *cxKvListCreateAsMap(
         const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cx_compare_func comparator,
         size_t elem_size
 ) {
-    CxList *list = cxKvListCreate(allocator, comparator, elem_size);
+    CxList *list = cxKvListCreate(allocator, elem_size);
     return list == NULL ? NULL : cxKvListAsMap(list);
 }
 
@@ -645,14 +643,14 @@
         return 1;
     }
 
-    // add the key to the map;
-    if (NULL == kv_list->map_methods->put(&kv_list->map->map_base.base, key, node_data)) {
-        return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-    }
+    // add the key to the map
+    const CxMapEntry entry = kv_list->map_methods->put(
+            &kv_list->map->map_base.base, key, node_data);
+    if (entry.key == NULL) return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
 
     // write the key to the list's node
     CxHashKey *loc_key = cx_kv_list_loc_key(kv_list, node_data);
-    *loc_key = key;
+    *loc_key = *entry.key;
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -694,22 +692,23 @@
     cx_kv_list *kv_list = (cx_kv_list*)list;
 
     // reserve memory in the map
-    void **map_data = kv_list->map_methods->put(&kv_list->map->map_base.base, key, NULL);
-    if (map_data == NULL) return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+    CxMapEntry map_entry = kv_list->map_methods->put(&kv_list->map->map_base.base, key, NULL);
+    if (map_entry.key == NULL) return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
 
     // insert the node
     void *node_data = kv_list->list_methods->insert_element(&kv_list->list.base, index,
         kv_list->list.base.collection.store_pointer ? &value : value);
     if (node_data == NULL) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
         // non-destructively remove the key again
-        kv_list->map_methods->remove(&kv_list->map->map_base.base, key, &map_data);
+        void *dummy;
+        kv_list->map_methods->remove(&kv_list->map->map_base.base, key, &dummy);
         return 1;
     } // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
-    *map_data = node_data;
+    *(void**)map_entry.value = node_data;
 
     // write the key to the node
     CxHashKey *loc_key = cx_kv_list_loc_key(kv_list, node_data);
-    *loc_key = key;
+    *loc_key = *map_entry.key;
 
     return 0;
 }
--- a/src/ucx/linked_list.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/linked_list.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -65,13 +65,14 @@
     return (void *) cur;
 }
 
-void *cx_linked_list_find(
+void *cx_linked_list_find_c(
         const void *start,
         ptrdiff_t loc_advance,
         ptrdiff_t loc_data,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func,
         const void *elem,
-        size_t *found_index
+        size_t *found_index,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
 ) {
     assert(start != NULL);
     assert(loc_advance >= 0);
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@
     size_t index = 0;
     do {
         void *current = ll_data(node);
-        if (cmp_func(current, elem) == 0) {
+        if (cmp_func(current, elem, context) == 0) {
             if (found_index != NULL) {
                 *found_index = index;
             }
@@ -94,6 +95,19 @@
     return NULL;
 }
 
+void *cx_linked_list_find(
+        const void *start,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_advance,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_data,
+        const void *elem,
+        size_t *found_index,
+        cx_compare_func cmp_func
+) {
+    cx_compare_func_wrapper wrapper = {cmp_func};
+    return cx_linked_list_find_c(start, loc_advance, loc_data,
+        elem, found_index, cx_cmp_wrap, &wrapper);
+}
+
 void *cx_linked_list_first(
         const void *node,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev
@@ -240,26 +254,14 @@
     }
 }
 
-void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted(
-        void **begin,
-        void **end,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_next,
-        void *new_node,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func
-) {
-    assert(ll_next(new_node) == NULL);
-    cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain(
-            begin, end, loc_prev, loc_next, new_node, cmp_func);
-}
-
 static void *cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain_impl(
         void **begin,
         void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
         ptrdiff_t loc_next,
         void *insert_begin,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context,
         bool allow_duplicates
 ) {
     assert(begin != NULL);
@@ -276,7 +278,7 @@
 
     // determine the new start
     {
-        int d = source_original ==  NULL ? 1 : cmp_func(source_original, source_argument);
+        int d = source_original ==  NULL ? 1 : cmp_func(source_original, source_argument, context);
         if (d <= 0) {
             // the new chain starts with the original chain
             new_begin = new_end = source_original;
@@ -302,7 +304,7 @@
 
     // now successively compare the elements and add them to the correct chains
     while (source_original != NULL && source_argument != NULL) {
-        int d = cmp_func(source_original, source_argument);
+        int d = cmp_func(source_original, source_argument, context);
         if (d <= 0) {
             // the original is not larger, add it to the chain
             cx_linked_list_link(new_end, source_original, loc_prev, loc_next);
@@ -327,7 +329,7 @@
         } else {
             // the original is larger, append the source argument to the chain
             // check if we must discard the source argument as duplicate
-            if (!allow_duplicates && cmp_func(new_end, source_argument) == 0) {
+            if (!allow_duplicates && cmp_func(new_end, source_argument, context) == 0) {
                 if (dup_end == NULL) {
                     dup_begin = dup_end = source_argument;
                 } else {
@@ -356,7 +358,7 @@
         } else {
             // otherwise we must check one-by-one
             while (source_argument != NULL) {
-                if (cmp_func(new_end, source_argument) == 0) {
+                if (cmp_func(new_end, source_argument, context) == 0) {
                     if (dup_end == NULL) {
                         dup_begin = dup_end = source_argument;
                     } else {
@@ -394,6 +396,19 @@
     return dup_begin;
 }
 
+void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted(
+        void **begin,
+        void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_next,
+        void *new_node,
+        cx_compare_func cmp_func
+) {
+    assert(ll_next(new_node) == NULL);
+    cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain(
+            begin, end, loc_prev, loc_next, new_node, cmp_func);
+}
+
 void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain(
         void **begin,
         void **end,
@@ -402,9 +417,10 @@
         void *insert_begin,
         cx_compare_func cmp_func
 ) {
+    cx_compare_func_wrapper wrapper = {cmp_func};
     cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain_impl(
             begin, end, loc_prev, loc_next,
-            insert_begin, cmp_func, true);
+            insert_begin, cx_cmp_wrap, &wrapper, true);
 }
 
 int cx_linked_list_insert_unique(
@@ -428,9 +444,66 @@
         void *insert_begin,
         cx_compare_func cmp_func
 ) {
+    cx_compare_func_wrapper wrapper = {cmp_func};
     return cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain_impl(
             begin, end, loc_prev, loc_next,
-            insert_begin, cmp_func, false);
+            insert_begin, cx_cmp_wrap, &wrapper, false);
+}
+
+void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_c(
+        void **begin,
+        void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_next,
+        void *new_node,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
+) {
+    assert(ll_next(new_node) == NULL);
+    cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain_c(
+            begin, end, loc_prev, loc_next, new_node, cmp_func, context);
+}
+
+void cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain_c(
+        void **begin,
+        void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_next,
+        void *insert_begin,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
+) {
+    cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain_impl(
+            begin, end, loc_prev, loc_next,
+            insert_begin, cmp_func, context, true);
+}
+
+int cx_linked_list_insert_unique_c(
+        void **begin,
+        void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_next,
+        void *new_node,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
+) {
+    assert(ll_next(new_node) == NULL);
+    return NULL != cx_linked_list_insert_unique_chain_c(
+            begin, end, loc_prev, loc_next, new_node, cmp_func, context);
+}
+
+void *cx_linked_list_insert_unique_chain_c(
+        void **begin,
+        void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_next,
+        void *insert_begin,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
+) {
+    return cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain_impl(
+            begin, end, loc_prev, loc_next,
+            insert_begin, cmp_func, context, false);
 }
 
 size_t cx_linked_list_remove_chain(
@@ -511,6 +584,8 @@
 #endif
 
 static void cx_linked_list_sort_merge(
+        void **begin,
+        void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
         ptrdiff_t loc_next,
         ptrdiff_t loc_data,
@@ -518,9 +593,8 @@
         void *ls,
         void *le,
         void *re,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func,
-        void **begin,
-        void **end
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
 ) {
     void *sbo[CX_LINKED_LIST_SORT_SBO_SIZE];
     void **sorted = length >= CX_LINKED_LIST_SORT_SBO_SIZE ?
@@ -532,7 +606,7 @@
     rc = le;
     size_t n = 0;
     while (lc && lc != le && rc != re) {
-        if (cmp_func(ll_data(lc), ll_data(rc)) <= 0) {
+        if (cmp_func(ll_data(lc), ll_data(rc), context) <= 0) {
             sorted[n] = lc;
             lc = ll_next(lc);
         } else {
@@ -566,13 +640,14 @@
     }
 }
 
-void cx_linked_list_sort( // NOLINT(misc-no-recursion) - purposely recursive function
+void cx_linked_list_sort_c( // NOLINT(misc-no-recursion) - purposely recursive function
         void **begin,
         void **end,
         ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
         ptrdiff_t loc_next,
         ptrdiff_t loc_data,
-        cx_compare_func cmp_func
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
 ) {
     assert(begin != NULL);
     assert(loc_next >= 0);
@@ -590,7 +665,7 @@
     // check how many elements are already sorted
     lc = ls;
     size_t ln = 1;
-    while (ll_next(lc) != NULL && cmp_func(ll_data(ll_next(lc)), ll_data(lc)) > 0) {
+    while (ll_next(lc) != NULL && cmp_func(ll_data(ll_next(lc)), ll_data(lc), context) > 0) {
         lc = ll_next(lc);
         ln++;
     }
@@ -602,7 +677,7 @@
         size_t rn = 1;
         rc = le;
         // skip already sorted elements
-        while (ll_next(rc) != NULL && cmp_func(ll_data(ll_next(rc)), ll_data(rc)) > 0) {
+        while (ll_next(rc) != NULL && cmp_func(ll_data(ll_next(rc)), ll_data(rc), context) > 0) {
             rc = ll_next(rc);
             rn++;
         }
@@ -610,27 +685,65 @@
 
         // {ls,...,le->prev} and {rs,...,re->prev} are sorted - merge them
         void *sorted_begin, *sorted_end;
-        cx_linked_list_sort_merge(loc_prev, loc_next, loc_data,
+        cx_linked_list_sort_merge(&sorted_begin, &sorted_end,
+                                  loc_prev, loc_next, loc_data,
                                   ln + rn, ls, le, re, cmp_func,
-                                  &sorted_begin, &sorted_end);
+                                  context);
 
         // Something left? Sort it!
         size_t remainder_length = cx_linked_list_size(re, loc_next);
         if (remainder_length > 0) {
             void *remainder = re;
-            cx_linked_list_sort(&remainder, NULL, loc_prev, loc_next, loc_data, cmp_func);
+            cx_linked_list_sort_c(&remainder, NULL, loc_prev, loc_next, loc_data, cmp_func, context);
 
             // merge sorted list with (also sorted) remainder
-            cx_linked_list_sort_merge(loc_prev, loc_next, loc_data,
+            cx_linked_list_sort_merge(&sorted_begin, &sorted_end,
+                                      loc_prev, loc_next, loc_data,
                                       ln + rn + remainder_length,
                                       sorted_begin, remainder, NULL, cmp_func,
-                                      &sorted_begin, &sorted_end);
+                                      context);
         }
         *begin = sorted_begin;
         if (end) *end = sorted_end;
     }
 }
 
+void cx_linked_list_sort(
+        void **begin,
+        void **end,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_next,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_data,
+        cx_compare_func cmp_func
+) {
+    cx_compare_func_wrapper wrapper = {cmp_func};
+    cx_linked_list_sort_c(begin, end, loc_prev, loc_next, loc_data, cx_cmp_wrap, &wrapper);
+}
+
+int cx_linked_list_compare_c(
+        const void *begin_left,
+        const void *begin_right,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_advance,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_data,
+        cx_compare_func2 cmp_func,
+        void *context
+) {
+    const void *left = begin_left, *right = begin_right;
+
+    while (left != NULL && right != NULL) {
+        const void *left_data = ll_data(left);
+        const void *right_data = ll_data(right);
+        int result = cmp_func(left_data, right_data, context);
+        if (result != 0) return result;
+        left = ll_advance(left);
+        right = ll_advance(right);
+    }
+
+    if (left != NULL) { return 1; }
+    else if (right != NULL) { return -1; }
+    else { return 0; }
+}
+
 int cx_linked_list_compare(
         const void *begin_left,
         const void *begin_right,
@@ -638,20 +751,9 @@
         ptrdiff_t loc_data,
         cx_compare_func cmp_func
 ) {
-    const void *left = begin_left, *right = begin_right;
-
-    while (left != NULL && right != NULL) {
-        const void *left_data = ll_data(left);
-        const void *right_data = ll_data(right);
-        int result = cmp_func(left_data, right_data);
-        if (result != 0) return result;
-        left = ll_advance(left);
-        right = ll_advance(right);
-    }
-
-    if (left != NULL) { return 1; }
-    else if (right != NULL) { return -1; }
-    else { return 0; }
+    cx_compare_func_wrapper wrapper = {cmp_func};
+    return cx_linked_list_compare_c(begin_left, begin_right,
+            loc_advance, loc_data, cx_cmp_wrap, &wrapper);
 }
 
 void cx_linked_list_reverse(
@@ -798,13 +900,11 @@
     }
 }
 
-static _Thread_local cx_compare_func cx_ll_insert_sorted_cmp_func;
-static _Thread_local off_t cx_ll_insert_sorted_loc_data;
-
-static int cx_ll_insert_sorted_cmp_helper(const void *l, const void *r) {
-    const char *left = (const char*)l + cx_ll_insert_sorted_loc_data;
-    const char *right = (const char*)r + cx_ll_insert_sorted_loc_data;
-    return cx_ll_insert_sorted_cmp_func(left, right);
+static int cx_ll_insert_sorted_cmp_helper(const void *l, const void *r, void *c) {
+    cx_linked_list *list = c;
+    const char *left = (const char*)l + list->loc_data;
+    const char *right = (const char*)r + list->loc_data;
+    return cx_list_compare_wrapper(left, right, list);
 }
 
 static size_t cx_ll_insert_sorted_impl(
@@ -839,29 +939,19 @@
     }
     CX_LL_PTR(prev, ll->loc_next) = NULL;
 
-    // invoke the low level function
-    cx_ll_insert_sorted_cmp_func = list->collection.cmpfunc;
-    cx_ll_insert_sorted_loc_data = ll->loc_data;
-    if (allow_duplicates) {
-        cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain(
-                &ll->begin,
-                &ll->end,
-                ll->loc_prev,
-                ll->loc_next,
-                chain,
-                cx_ll_insert_sorted_cmp_helper
-        );
-        list->collection.size += inserted;
-    } else {
-        void *duplicates = cx_linked_list_insert_unique_chain(
-                &ll->begin,
-                &ll->end,
-                ll->loc_prev,
-                ll->loc_next,
-                chain,
-                cx_ll_insert_sorted_cmp_helper
-        );
-        list->collection.size += inserted;
+    // invoke the low-level function
+    void *duplicates = cx_linked_list_insert_sorted_chain_impl(
+            &ll->begin,
+            &ll->end,
+            ll->loc_prev,
+            ll->loc_next,
+            chain,
+            cx_ll_insert_sorted_cmp_helper,
+            list,
+            allow_duplicates
+    );
+    list->collection.size += inserted;
+    if (!allow_duplicates) {
         // free the nodes that did not make it into the list
         while (duplicates != NULL) {
             void *next = CX_LL_PTR(duplicates, ll->loc_next);
@@ -1090,12 +1180,12 @@
 
     size_t index;
     cx_linked_list *ll = (cx_linked_list *) list;
-    char *node = cx_linked_list_find(
+    char *node = cx_linked_list_find_c(
             ll->begin,
             ll->loc_next, ll->loc_data,
-            list->collection.cmpfunc, elem,
-            &index
-    );
+            elem, &index,
+            cx_list_compare_wrapper,
+            list);
     if (node == NULL) {
         return list->collection.size;
     }
@@ -1111,9 +1201,9 @@
 
 static void cx_ll_sort(struct cx_list_s *list) {
     cx_linked_list *ll = (cx_linked_list *) list;
-    cx_linked_list_sort(&ll->begin, &ll->end,
+    cx_linked_list_sort_c(&ll->begin, &ll->end,
                         ll->loc_prev, ll->loc_next, ll->loc_data,
-                        list->collection.cmpfunc);
+                        cx_list_compare_wrapper, list);
 }
 
 static void cx_ll_reverse(struct cx_list_s *list) {
@@ -1129,9 +1219,9 @@
     cx_linked_list *right = (cx_linked_list *) other;
     assert(left->loc_next == right->loc_next);
     assert(left->loc_data == right->loc_data);
-    return cx_linked_list_compare(left->begin, right->begin,
+    return cx_linked_list_compare_c(left->begin, right->begin,
                                   left->loc_next, left->loc_data,
-                                  list->collection.cmpfunc);
+                                  cx_list_compare_wrapper, (void*)list);
 }
 
 static bool cx_ll_iter_valid(const void *it) {
@@ -1272,7 +1362,6 @@
 
 CxList *cxLinkedListCreate(
         const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cx_compare_func comparator,
         size_t elem_size
 ) {
     if (allocator == NULL) {
@@ -1287,7 +1376,7 @@
     list->loc_extra = -1;
     list->extra_data_len = 0;
     cx_list_init((CxList*)list, &cx_linked_list_class,
-            allocator, comparator, elem_size);
+            allocator, elem_size);
 
     return (CxList *) list;
 }
@@ -1295,8 +1384,8 @@
 void cx_linked_list_extra_data(cx_linked_list *list, size_t len) {
     list->extra_data_len = len;
 
-    off_t loc_extra = list->loc_data + list->base.collection.elem_size;
+    off_t loc_extra = list->loc_data + (off_t) list->base.collection.elem_size;
     size_t alignment = alignof(void*);
-    size_t padding = alignment - (loc_extra % alignment);
-    list->loc_extra = loc_extra + padding;
+    size_t padding = alignment - ((size_t)loc_extra % alignment);
+    list->loc_extra = loc_extra + (off_t) padding;
 }
--- a/src/ucx/list.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/list.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -31,228 +31,65 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 
-// <editor-fold desc="Store Pointers Functionality">
-
-static _Thread_local cx_compare_func cx_pl_cmpfunc_impl;
+// we don't want to include the full array_list.h.
+// therefore, we only forward declare the one function we want to use
+CX_EXPORT void cx_array_qsort_c(void *array, size_t nmemb, size_t size,
+        cx_compare_func2 fn, void *context);
 
-static int cx_pl_cmpfunc(
-        const void *l,
-        const void *r
-) {
-    // l and r are guaranteed to be non-NULL pointing to the list's memory
-    void *const *lptr = l;
-    void *const *rptr = r;
-    const void *left = *lptr;
-    const void *right = *rptr;
-    if (left == NULL) {
-        // NULL is smaller than any value except NULL
-        return right == NULL ? 0 : -1;
-    } else if (right == NULL) {
-        // any value is larger than NULL
-        return 1;
-    }
-    return cx_pl_cmpfunc_impl(left, right);
-}
-
-static void cx_pl_hack_cmpfunc(const struct cx_list_s *list) {
-    // cast away const - this is the hacky thing
-    struct cx_collection_s *l = (struct cx_collection_s*) &list->collection;
-    cx_pl_cmpfunc_impl = l->cmpfunc;
-    l->cmpfunc = cx_pl_cmpfunc;
-}
-
-static void cx_pl_unhack_cmpfunc(const struct cx_list_s *list) {
-    // cast away const - this is the hacky thing
-    struct cx_collection_s *l = (struct cx_collection_s*) &list->collection;
-    l->cmpfunc = cx_pl_cmpfunc_impl;
-}
-
-static void cx_pl_destructor(struct cx_list_s *list) {
-    list->climpl->deallocate(list);
-}
 
-static void *cx_pl_insert_element(
-        struct cx_list_s *list,
-        size_t index,
-        const void *element
-) {
-    return list->climpl->insert_element(list, index, &element);
-}
-
-static size_t cx_pl_insert_array(
-        struct cx_list_s *list,
-        size_t index,
-        const void *array,
-        size_t n
-) {
-    return list->climpl->insert_array(list, index, array, n);
-}
-
-static size_t cx_pl_insert_sorted(
-        struct cx_list_s *list,
-        const void *array,
-        size_t n
-) {
-    cx_pl_hack_cmpfunc(list);
-    size_t result = list->climpl->insert_sorted(list, array, n);
-    cx_pl_unhack_cmpfunc(list);
-    return result;
-}
-
-static size_t cx_pl_insert_unique(
-        struct cx_list_s *list,
-        const void *array,
-        size_t n
-) {
-    cx_pl_hack_cmpfunc(list);
-    size_t result = list->climpl->insert_unique(list, array, n);
-    cx_pl_unhack_cmpfunc(list);
-    return result;
-}
-
-static int cx_pl_insert_iter(
-        struct cx_iterator_s *iter,
-        const void *elem,
-        int prepend
-) {
-    struct cx_list_s *list = iter->src_handle;
-    return list->climpl->insert_iter(iter, &elem, prepend);
+int cx_list_compare_wrapper(const void *l, const void *r, void *c) {
+    CxList *list = c;
+    const void *left;
+    const void *right;
+    if (cxCollectionStoresPointers(list)) {
+        left = *(void**)l;
+        right = *(void**)r;
+        // for historic reasons, we are handling the NULL case here
+        // because every UCX compare function does not support NULL arguments
+        if (left == NULL) {
+            if (right == NULL) return 0;
+            return -1;
+        } else if (right == NULL) {
+            return 1;
+        }
+    } else {
+        left = l;
+        right = r;
+    }
+    return cx_invoke_compare_func(list, left, right);
 }
 
-static size_t cx_pl_remove(
-        struct cx_list_s *list,
-        size_t index,
-        size_t num,
-        void *targetbuf
-) {
-    return list->climpl->remove(list, index, num, targetbuf);
-}
-
-static void cx_pl_clear(struct cx_list_s *list) {
-    list->climpl->clear(list);
-}
-
-static int cx_pl_swap(
-        struct cx_list_s *list,
-        size_t i,
-        size_t j
-) {
-    return list->climpl->swap(list, i, j);
-}
-
-static void *cx_pl_at(
-        const struct cx_list_s *list,
-        size_t index
-) {
-    void **ptr = list->climpl->at(list, index);
-    return ptr == NULL ? NULL : *ptr;
-}
-
-static size_t cx_pl_find_remove(
-        struct cx_list_s *list,
-        const void *elem,
-        bool remove
-) {
-    cx_pl_hack_cmpfunc(list);
-    size_t ret = list->climpl->find_remove(list, &elem, remove);
-    cx_pl_unhack_cmpfunc(list);
-    return ret;
-}
-
-static void cx_pl_sort(struct cx_list_s *list) {
-    cx_pl_hack_cmpfunc(list);
-    list->climpl->sort(list);
-    cx_pl_unhack_cmpfunc(list);
-}
-
-static int cx_pl_compare(
-        const struct cx_list_s *list,
-        const struct cx_list_s *other
-) {
-    cx_pl_hack_cmpfunc(list);
-    int ret = list->climpl->compare(list, other);
-    cx_pl_unhack_cmpfunc(list);
-    return ret;
-}
-
-static void cx_pl_reverse(struct cx_list_s *list) {
-    list->climpl->reverse(list);
-}
-
-static void *cx_pl_iter_current(const void *it) {
-    const struct cx_iterator_s *iter = it;
-    void **ptr = iter->base.current_impl(it);
-    return ptr == NULL ? NULL : *ptr;
-}
-
-static int cx_pl_change_capacity(struct cx_list_s *list, size_t cap) {
-    if (list->climpl->change_capacity == NULL) {
-        return 0;
-    } else {
-        return list->climpl->change_capacity(list, cap);
-    }
-}
-
-static struct cx_iterator_s cx_pl_iterator(
-        const struct cx_list_s *list,
-        size_t index,
-        bool backwards
-) {
-    struct cx_iterator_s iter = list->climpl->iterator(list, index, backwards);
-    iter.base.current_impl = iter.base.current;
-    iter.base.current = cx_pl_iter_current;
-    return iter;
-}
-
-static cx_list_class cx_pointer_list_class = {
-        cx_pl_destructor,
-        cx_pl_insert_element,
-        cx_pl_insert_array,
-        cx_pl_insert_sorted,
-        cx_pl_insert_unique,
-        cx_pl_insert_iter,
-        cx_pl_remove,
-        cx_pl_clear,
-        cx_pl_swap,
-        cx_pl_at,
-        cx_pl_find_remove,
-        cx_pl_sort,
-        cx_pl_compare,
-        cx_pl_reverse,
-        cx_pl_change_capacity,
-        cx_pl_iterator,
-};
-// </editor-fold>
+#define cx_list_compare_wrapper(l, r, c) cx_list_compare_wrapper(l, r, (void*)c)
 
 // <editor-fold desc="empty list implementation">
 
-static void cx_emptyl_noop(cx_attr_unused CxList *list) {
+static void cx_emptyl_noop(CX_UNUSED CxList *list) {
     // this is a noop, but MUST be implemented
 }
 
 static void *cx_emptyl_at(
-        cx_attr_unused const struct cx_list_s *list,
-        cx_attr_unused size_t index
+        CX_UNUSED const struct cx_list_s *list,
+        CX_UNUSED size_t index
 ) {
     return NULL;
 }
 
 static size_t cx_emptyl_find_remove(
-        cx_attr_unused struct cx_list_s *list,
-        cx_attr_unused const void *elem,
-        cx_attr_unused bool remove
+        CX_UNUSED struct cx_list_s *list,
+        CX_UNUSED const void *elem,
+        CX_UNUSED bool remove
 ) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static bool cx_emptyl_iter_valid(cx_attr_unused const void *iter) {
+static bool cx_emptyl_iter_valid(CX_UNUSED const void *iter) {
     return false;
 }
 
 static CxIterator cx_emptyl_iterator(
         const struct cx_list_s *list,
         size_t index,
-        cx_attr_unused bool backwards
+        CX_UNUSED bool backwards
 ) {
     CxIterator iter = {0};
     iter.src_handle = (void*) list;
@@ -283,27 +120,24 @@
 CxList cx_empty_list = {
     {
         NULL,
-        NULL,
         0,
         0,
         NULL,
         NULL,
         NULL,
+        NULL,
+        NULL,
+        NULL,
         false,
         true,
     },
     &cx_empty_list_class,
-    NULL
 };
 
 CxList *const cxEmptyList = &cx_empty_list;
 
 // </editor-fold>
 
-#define invoke_list_func(name, list, ...) \
-    ((list)->climpl == NULL ? (list)->cl->name : (list)->climpl->name) \
-    (list, __VA_ARGS__)
-
 size_t cx_list_default_insert_array(
         struct cx_list_s *list,
         size_t index,
@@ -313,9 +147,7 @@
     const char *src = data;
     size_t i = 0;
     for (; i < n; i++) {
-        if (NULL == invoke_list_func(
-            insert_element, list, index + i, src)
-        ) {
+        if (NULL == list->cl->insert_element(list, index + i, src)) {
             return i; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
         }
         if (src != NULL) {
@@ -335,7 +167,6 @@
     if (n == 0) return 0;
 
     size_t elem_size = list->collection.elem_size;
-    cx_compare_func cmp = list->collection.cmpfunc;
     const char *src = sorted_data;
 
     // track indices and number of inserted items
@@ -343,19 +174,19 @@
 
     // search the list for insertion points
     while (di < list->collection.size) {
-        const void *list_elm = invoke_list_func(at, list, di);
+        const void *list_elm = list->cl->at(list, di);
 
         // compare the current list element with the first source element
         // if less, skip the list elements
         // if equal, skip the list elements and optionally the source elements
         {
-            int d = cmp(list_elm, src);
+            int d = cx_list_compare_wrapper(list_elm, src, list);
             if (d <= 0) {
                 if (!allow_duplicates && d == 0) {
                     src += elem_size;
                     si++;
                     processed++; // we also count duplicates for the return value
-                    while (si < n && cmp(list_elm, src) == 0) {
+                    while (si < n && cx_list_compare_wrapper(list_elm, src, list) == 0) {
                         src += elem_size;
                         si++;
                         processed++;
@@ -375,7 +206,7 @@
         while (++si < n) {
             if (!allow_duplicates) {
                 // skip duplicates within the source
-                if (cmp(next, next + elem_size) == 0) {
+                if (cx_list_compare_wrapper(next, next + elem_size, list) == 0) {
                     next += elem_size;
                     skip++;
                     continue;
@@ -389,7 +220,7 @@
             }
             next += elem_size;
             // once we become larger than the list elem, break
-            if (cmp(list_elm, next) <= 0) {
+            if (cx_list_compare_wrapper(list_elm, next, list) <= 0) {
                 break;
             }
             // otherwise, we can insert one more
@@ -398,11 +229,11 @@
 
         // insert the elements at location si
         if (ins == 1) {
-            if (NULL == invoke_list_func(insert_element, list, di, src)) {
+            if (NULL == list->cl->insert_element(list, di, src)) {
                 return processed; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
             }
         } else {
-            size_t r = invoke_list_func(insert_array, list, di, src, ins);
+            size_t r = list->cl->insert_array(list, di, src, ins);
             if (r < ins) {
                 return processed + r;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
             }
@@ -420,13 +251,13 @@
     // insert remaining items
     if (si < n) {
         if (allow_duplicates) {
-            processed += invoke_list_func(insert_array, list, di, src, n - si);
+            processed += list->cl->insert_array(list, di, src, n - si);
         } else {
-            const void *last = di == 0 ? NULL : invoke_list_func(at, list, di - 1);
+            const void *last = di == 0 ? NULL : list->cl->at(list, di - 1);
             for (; si < n; si++) {
                 // skip duplicates within the source
-                if (last == NULL || cmp(last, src) != 0) {
-                    if (NULL == invoke_list_func(insert_element, list, di, src)) {
+                if (last == NULL || cx_list_compare_wrapper(last, src, list) != 0) {
+                    if (NULL == list->cl->insert_element(list, di, src)) {
                         return processed; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
                     }
                     last = src;
@@ -466,19 +297,18 @@
     // copy elements from source array
     char *loc = tmp;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < list_size; i++) {
-        void *src = invoke_list_func(at, list, i);
+        void *src = list->cl->at(list, i);
         memcpy(loc, src, elem_size);
         loc += elem_size;
     }
 
     // qsort
-    qsort(tmp, list_size, elem_size,
-          list->collection.cmpfunc);
+    cx_array_qsort_c(tmp, list_size, elem_size, cx_list_compare_wrapper, list);
 
     // copy elements back
     loc = tmp;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < list_size; i++) {
-        void *dest = invoke_list_func(at, list, i);
+        void *dest = list->cl->at(list, i);
         memcpy(dest, loc, elem_size);
         loc += elem_size;
     }
@@ -496,8 +326,8 @@
     void *tmp = cxMallocDefault(elem_size);
     if (tmp == NULL) return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
 
-    void *ip = invoke_list_func(at, list, i);
-    void *jp = invoke_list_func(at, list, j);
+    void *ip = list->cl->at(list, i);
+    void *jp = list->cl->at(list, j);
 
     memcpy(tmp, ip, elem_size);
     memcpy(ip, jp, elem_size);
@@ -508,26 +338,35 @@
     return 0;
 }
 
+static int cx_list_cmpfunc2_safe_memcmp(const void *a, const void *b, void *c) {
+    // it is not safe to store a pointer to the size in the list
+    // because the entire list structure might get reallocated
+    size_t elem_size = (size_t)(uintptr_t)c;
+    return memcmp(a, b, elem_size);
+}
+
 void cx_list_init(
     struct cx_list_s *list,
     struct cx_list_class_s *cl,
     const struct cx_allocator_s *allocator,
-    cx_compare_func comparator,
     size_t elem_size
 ) {
     list->cl = cl;
     list->collection.allocator = allocator;
-    list->collection.cmpfunc = comparator;
+    list->collection.size = 0;
+    list->collection.sorted = false; // should be set by the implementation
     if (elem_size > 0) {
         list->collection.elem_size = elem_size;
+        list->collection.simple_cmp = NULL;
+        list->collection.advanced_cmp = cx_list_cmpfunc2_safe_memcmp;
+        list->collection.cmp_data = (void*)(uintptr_t)list->collection.elem_size;
+        list->collection.store_pointer = false;
     } else {
         list->collection.elem_size = sizeof(void *);
-        if (list->collection.cmpfunc == NULL) {
-            list->collection.cmpfunc = cx_cmp_ptr;
-        }
+        list->collection.simple_cmp = cx_cmp_ptr;
+        list->collection.advanced_cmp = NULL;
+        list->collection.cmp_data = NULL;
         list->collection.store_pointer = true;
-        list->climpl = list->cl;
-        list->cl = &cx_pointer_list_class;
     }
 }
 
@@ -535,33 +374,28 @@
         const CxList *list,
         const CxList *other
 ) {
+    // check if we cannot use the list internal function
     bool cannot_optimize = false;
 
     // if one is storing pointers but the other is not
     cannot_optimize |= list->collection.store_pointer ^ other->collection.store_pointer;
 
-    // if one class is wrapped but the other is not
-    cannot_optimize |= (list->climpl == NULL) ^ (other->climpl == NULL);
-
-    // if the compare functions do not match or both are NULL
-    if (!cannot_optimize) {
-        cx_compare_func list_cmp = (cx_compare_func) (list->climpl != NULL ?
-                                                      list->climpl->compare : list->cl->compare);
-        cx_compare_func other_cmp = (cx_compare_func) (other->climpl != NULL ?
-                                                       other->climpl->compare : other->cl->compare);
-        cannot_optimize |= list_cmp != other_cmp;
-        cannot_optimize |= list_cmp == NULL;
-    }
+    // check if the lists are incompatible or this list does not implement compare
+    cx_compare_func list_cmp = (cx_compare_func) list->cl->compare;
+    cx_compare_func other_cmp = (cx_compare_func) other->cl->compare;
+    cannot_optimize |= list_cmp != other_cmp;
+    cannot_optimize |= list_cmp == NULL;
 
     if (cannot_optimize) {
         // lists are definitely different - cannot use internal compare function
         if (list->collection.size == other->collection.size) {
-            CxIterator left = list->cl->iterator(list, 0, false);
-            CxIterator right = other->cl->iterator(other, 0, false);
+            CxIterator left = cxListIterator(list);
+            CxIterator right = cxListIterator(other);
             for (size_t i = 0; i < list->collection.size; i++) {
                 void *leftValue = cxIteratorCurrent(left);
                 void *rightValue = cxIteratorCurrent(right);
-                int d = list->collection.cmpfunc(leftValue, rightValue);
+                // values are already unwrapped, invoke immediately
+                int d = cx_invoke_compare_func(list, leftValue, rightValue);
                 if (d != 0) {
                     return d;
                 }
@@ -584,7 +418,7 @@
 
 int cxListAdd(CxList *list, const void *elem) {
     list->collection.sorted = false;
-    return list->cl->insert_element(list, list->collection.size, elem) == NULL;
+    return list->cl->insert_element(list, list->collection.size, cx_ref(list, elem)) == NULL;
 }
 
 size_t cxListAddArray(CxList *list, const void *array, size_t n) {
@@ -594,7 +428,7 @@
 
 int cxListInsert(CxList *list, size_t index, const void *elem) {
     list->collection.sorted = false;
-    return list->cl->insert_element(list, index, elem) == NULL;
+    return list->cl->insert_element(list, index, cx_ref(list, elem)) == NULL;
 }
 
 void *cxListEmplaceAt(CxList *list, size_t index) {
@@ -621,11 +455,6 @@
     iter.index = 0;
     // replace the valid function to abort iteration when c is reached
     iter.base.valid = cx_list_emplace_iterator_valid;
-    // if we are storing pointers, we want to return the pure pointers.
-    // therefore, we must unwrap the "current" method
-    if (list->collection.store_pointer) {
-        iter.base.current = iter.base.current_impl;
-    }
     return iter;
 }
 
@@ -636,15 +465,13 @@
 int cxListInsertSorted(CxList *list, const void *elem) {
     assert(cxCollectionSorted(list));
     list->collection.sorted = true;
-    const void *data = list->collection.store_pointer ? &elem : elem;
-    return list->cl->insert_sorted(list, data, 1) == 0;
+    return list->cl->insert_sorted(list, cx_ref(list, elem), 1) == 0;
 }
 
 int cxListInsertUnique(CxList *list, const void *elem) {
     if (cxCollectionSorted(list)) {
         list->collection.sorted = true;
-        const void *data = list->collection.store_pointer ? &elem : elem;
-        return list->cl->insert_unique(list, data, 1) == 0;
+        return list->cl->insert_unique(list, cx_ref(list, elem), 1) == 0;
     } else {
         if (cxListContains(list, elem)) {
             return 0;
@@ -673,8 +500,7 @@
         const char *source = array;
         for (size_t i = 0 ; i < n; i++) {
             // note: this also checks elements added in a previous iteration
-            const void *data = list->collection.store_pointer ?
-                    *((const void**)source) : source;
+            const void *data = cx_deref(list, source);
             if (!cxListContains(list, data)) {
                 if (cxListAdd(list, data)) {
                     return i; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
@@ -687,15 +513,15 @@
 }
 
 int cxListInsertAfter(CxIterator *iter, const void *elem) {
-    CxList* list = (CxList*)iter->src_handle;
+    CxList* list = iter->src_handle;
     list->collection.sorted = false;
-    return list->cl->insert_iter(iter, elem, 0);
+    return list->cl->insert_iter(iter, cx_ref(list, elem), 0);
 }
 
 int cxListInsertBefore(CxIterator *iter, const void *elem) {
-    CxList* list = (CxList*)iter->src_handle;
+    CxList* list = iter->src_handle;
     list->collection.sorted = false;
-    return list->cl->insert_iter(iter, elem, 1);
+    return list->cl->insert_iter(iter, cx_ref(list, elem), 1);
 }
 
 int cxListRemove(CxList *list, size_t index) {
@@ -734,15 +560,17 @@
 }
 
 void *cxListAt(const CxList *list, size_t index) {
-    return list->cl->at(list, index);
+    void *result = list->cl->at(list, index);
+    if (result == NULL) return NULL;
+    return cx_deref(list, result);
 }
 
 void *cxListFirst(const CxList *list) {
-    return list->cl->at(list, 0);
+    return cxListAt(list, 0);
 }
 
 void *cxListLast(const CxList *list) {
-    return list->cl->at(list, list->collection.size - 1);
+    return cxListAt(list, list->collection.size - 1);
 }
 
 int cxListSet(CxList *list, size_t index, const void *elem) {
@@ -751,8 +579,7 @@
     }
 
     if (list->collection.store_pointer) {
-        // For pointer collections, always use climpl
-        void **target = list->climpl->at(list, index);
+        void **target = list->cl->at(list, index);
         *target = (void *)elem;
     } else {
         void *target = list->cl->at(list, index);
@@ -762,32 +589,48 @@
     return 0;
 }
 
+static void *cx_pl_iter_current(const void *it) {
+    const struct cx_iterator_s *iter = it;
+    void **ptr = iter->base.current_impl(it);
+    return ptr == NULL ? NULL : *ptr;
+}
+
+CX_INLINE CxIterator cx_pl_iter_wrap(const CxList *list, CxIterator iter) {
+    if (cxCollectionStoresPointers(list)) {
+        iter.base.current_impl = iter.base.current;
+        iter.base.current = cx_pl_iter_current;
+        return iter;
+    } else {
+        return iter;
+    }
+}
+
 CxIterator cxListIteratorAt(const CxList *list, size_t index) {
     if (list == NULL) list = cxEmptyList;
-    return list->cl->iterator(list, index, false);
+    return cx_pl_iter_wrap(list, list->cl->iterator(list, index, false));
 }
 
 CxIterator cxListBackwardsIteratorAt(const CxList *list, size_t index) {
     if (list == NULL) list = cxEmptyList;
-    return list->cl->iterator(list, index, true);
+    return cx_pl_iter_wrap(list, list->cl->iterator(list, index, true));
 }
 
 CxIterator cxListIterator(const CxList *list) {
     if (list == NULL) list = cxEmptyList;
-    return list->cl->iterator(list, 0, false);
+    return cx_pl_iter_wrap(list, list->cl->iterator(list, 0, false));
 }
 
 CxIterator cxListBackwardsIterator(const CxList *list) {
     if (list == NULL) list = cxEmptyList;
-    return list->cl->iterator(list, list->collection.size - 1, true);
+    return cx_pl_iter_wrap(list, list->cl->iterator(list, list->collection.size - 1, true));
 }
 
 size_t cxListFind(const CxList *list, const void *elem) {
-    return list->cl->find_remove((CxList*)list, elem, false);
+    return list->cl->find_remove((CxList*)list, cx_ref(list, elem), false);
 }
 
 bool cxListContains(const CxList* list, const void* elem) {
-    return list->cl->find_remove((CxList*)list, elem, false) < list->collection.size;
+    return list->cl->find_remove((CxList*)list, cx_ref(list, elem), false) < list->collection.size;
 }
 
 bool cxListIndexValid(const CxList *list, size_t index) {
@@ -795,7 +638,7 @@
 }
 
 size_t cxListFindRemove(CxList *list, const void *elem) {
-    return list->cl->find_remove(list, elem, true);
+    return list->cl->find_remove(list, cx_ref(list, elem), true);
 }
 
 void cxListSort(CxList *list) {
@@ -829,14 +672,14 @@
     list->collection.advanced_destructor = destr2_bak;
 }
 
-static void* cx_list_simple_clone_func(void *dst, const void *src, const CxAllocator *al, void *data) {
+static void* cx_list_shallow_clone_func(void *dst, const void *src, const CxAllocator *al, void *data) {
     size_t elem_size = *(size_t*)data;
     if (dst == NULL) dst = cxMalloc(al, elem_size);
     if (dst != NULL) memcpy(dst, src, elem_size);
     return dst;
 }
 
-#define use_simple_clone_func(list) cx_list_simple_clone_func, NULL, (void*)&((list)->collection.elem_size)
+#define use_shallow_clone_func(list) cx_list_shallow_clone_func, NULL, (void*)&((list)->collection.elem_size)
 
 int cxListClone(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, cx_clone_func clone_func,
         const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data) {
@@ -902,8 +745,7 @@
             int d;
             if (cxIteratorValid(sub_iter)) {
                 sub_elem = cxIteratorCurrent(sub_iter);
-                cx_compare_func cmp = subtrahend->collection.cmpfunc;
-                d = cmp(sub_elem, min_elem);
+                d = cx_list_compare_wrapper(sub_elem, min_elem, subtrahend);
             } else {
                 // no more elements in the subtrahend,
                 // i.e., the min_elem is larger than any elem of the subtrahend
@@ -971,7 +813,7 @@
         while (cxIteratorValid(src_iter) && cxIteratorValid(other_iter)) {
             void *src_elem = cxIteratorCurrent(src_iter);
             void *other_elem = cxIteratorCurrent(other_iter);
-            int d = src->collection.cmpfunc(src_elem, other_elem);
+            int d = cx_list_compare_wrapper(src_elem, other_elem, src);
             if (d == 0) {
                 // is contained, clone it
                 void **dst_mem = cxListEmplace(dst);
@@ -1041,7 +883,7 @@
             } else {
                 src_elem = cxIteratorCurrent(src_iter);
                 other_elem = cxIteratorCurrent(other_iter);
-                d = src->collection.cmpfunc(src_elem, other_elem);
+                d = cx_list_compare_wrapper(src_elem, other_elem, src);
             }
             void *clone_from;
             if (d < 0) {
@@ -1097,20 +939,20 @@
     return 0;
 }
 
-int cxListCloneSimple(CxList *dst, const CxList *src) {
-    return cxListClone(dst, src, use_simple_clone_func(src));
+int cxListCloneShallow(CxList *dst, const CxList *src) {
+    return cxListClone(dst, src, use_shallow_clone_func(src));
 }
 
-int cxListDifferenceSimple(CxList *dst, const CxList *minuend, const CxList *subtrahend) {
-    return cxListDifference(dst, minuend, subtrahend, use_simple_clone_func(minuend));
+int cxListDifferenceShallow(CxList *dst, const CxList *minuend, const CxList *subtrahend) {
+    return cxListDifference(dst, minuend, subtrahend, use_shallow_clone_func(minuend));
 }
 
-int cxListIntersectionSimple(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other) {
-    return cxListIntersection(dst, src, other, use_simple_clone_func(src));
+int cxListIntersectionShallow(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other) {
+    return cxListIntersection(dst, src, other, use_shallow_clone_func(src));
 }
 
-int cxListUnionSimple(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other) {
-    return cxListUnion(dst, src, other, use_simple_clone_func(src));
+int cxListUnionShallow(CxList *dst, const CxList *src, const CxList *other) {
+    return cxListUnion(dst, src, other, use_shallow_clone_func(src));
 }
 
 int cxListReserve(CxList *list, size_t capacity) {
--- a/src/ucx/map.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/map.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -33,24 +33,24 @@
 
 // <editor-fold desc="empty map implementation">
 
-static void cx_empty_map_noop(cx_attr_unused CxMap *map) {
+static void cx_empty_map_noop(CX_UNUSED CxMap *map) {
     // this is a noop, but MUST be implemented
 }
 
 static void *cx_empty_map_get(
-        cx_attr_unused const CxMap *map,
-        cx_attr_unused CxHashKey key
+        CX_UNUSED const CxMap *map,
+        CX_UNUSED CxHashKey key
 ) {
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static bool cx_empty_map_iter_valid(cx_attr_unused const void *iter) {
+static bool cx_empty_map_iter_valid(CX_UNUSED const void *iter) {
     return false;
 }
 
 static CxMapIterator cx_empty_map_iterator(
         const struct cx_map_s *map,
-        cx_attr_unused enum cx_map_iterator_type type
+        CX_UNUSED enum cx_map_iterator_type type
 ) {
     CxMapIterator iter = {0};
     iter.map = (CxMap*) map;
@@ -70,12 +70,14 @@
 CxMap cx_empty_map = {
     {
         NULL,
-        NULL,
         0,
         0,
         NULL,
         NULL,
         NULL,
+        NULL,
+        NULL,
+        NULL,
         false,
         true
     },
@@ -110,11 +112,13 @@
 }
 
 int cx_map_put(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key, void *value) {
-    return map->cl->put(map, key, value) == NULL;
+    return map->cl->put(map, key, value).key == NULL;
 }
 
 void *cx_map_emplace(CxMap *map, CxHashKey key) {
-    return map->cl->put(map, key, NULL);
+    const CxMapEntry entry = map->cl->put(map, key, NULL);
+    if (entry.key == NULL) return NULL;
+    return entry.value;
 }
 
 void *cx_map_get(const CxMap *map, CxHashKey key) {
@@ -140,14 +144,14 @@
     map->collection.advanced_destructor = destr2_bak;
 }
 
-static void* cx_map_simple_clone_func(void *dst, const void *src, const CxAllocator *al, void *data) {
+static void* cx_map_shallow_clone_func(void *dst, const void *src, const CxAllocator *al, void *data) {
     size_t elem_size = *(size_t*)data;
     if (dst == NULL) dst = cxMalloc(al, elem_size);
     if (dst != NULL) memcpy(dst, src, elem_size);
     return dst;
 }
 
-#define use_simple_clone_func(map) cx_map_simple_clone_func, NULL, (void*)&((map)->collection.elem_size)
+#define use_shallow_clone_func(map) cx_map_shallow_clone_func, NULL, (void*)&((map)->collection.elem_size)
 
 int cxMapClone(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, cx_clone_func clone_func,
         const CxAllocator *clone_allocator, void *data) {
@@ -303,26 +307,55 @@
     return 0;
 }
 
-int cxMapCloneSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src) {
-    return cxMapClone(dst, src, use_simple_clone_func(src));
+int cxMapCloneShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src) {
+    return cxMapClone(dst, src, use_shallow_clone_func(src));
+}
+
+int cxMapDifferenceShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *minuend, const CxMap *subtrahend) {
+    return cxMapDifference(dst, minuend, subtrahend, use_shallow_clone_func(minuend));
 }
 
-int cxMapDifferenceSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *minuend, const CxMap *subtrahend) {
-    return cxMapDifference(dst, minuend, subtrahend, use_simple_clone_func(minuend));
+int cxMapListDifferenceShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys) {
+    return cxMapListDifference(dst, src, keys, use_shallow_clone_func(src));
 }
 
-int cxMapListDifferenceSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys) {
-    return cxMapListDifference(dst, src, keys, use_simple_clone_func(src));
+int cxMapIntersectionShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxMap *other) {
+    return cxMapIntersection(dst, src, other, use_shallow_clone_func(src));
+}
+
+int cxMapListIntersectionShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys) {
+    return cxMapListIntersection(dst, src, keys, use_shallow_clone_func(src));
+}
+
+int cxMapUnionShallow(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src) {
+    return cxMapUnion(dst, src, use_shallow_clone_func(src));
 }
 
-int cxMapIntersectionSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxMap *other) {
-    return cxMapIntersection(dst, src, other, use_simple_clone_func(src));
-}
+int cxMapCompare(const CxMap *map, const CxMap *other) {
+    // compare map sizes
+    const size_t size_left = cxMapSize(map);
+    const size_t size_right = cxMapSize(other);
+    if (size_left < size_right) {
+        return -1;
+    } else if (size_left > size_right) {
+        return 1;
+    }
 
-int cxMapListIntersectionSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src, const CxList *keys) {
-    return cxMapListIntersection(dst, src, keys, use_simple_clone_func(src));
-}
+    // iterate through the first map
+    CxMapIterator iter = cxMapIterator(map);
+    cx_foreach(const CxMapEntry *, entry, iter) {
+        const void *value_left = entry->value;
+        const void *value_right = cxMapGet(other, *entry->key);
+        // if the other map does not have the key, we are done
+        if (value_right == NULL) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+        // compare the values
+        const int d = cx_invoke_compare_func(map, value_left, value_right);
+        if (d != 0) {
+            return d;
+        }
+    }
 
-int cxMapUnionSimple(CxMap *dst, const CxMap *src) {
-    return cxMapUnion(dst, src, use_simple_clone_func(src));
+    return 0;
 }
--- a/src/ucx/properties.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/properties.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -29,12 +29,15 @@
 #include "cx/properties.h"
 
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
 
 const CxPropertiesConfig cx_properties_config_default = {
-        '=',
-        '#',
-        '\0',
-        '\0',
+    '=',
+    '#',
+    '\0',
+    '\0',
     '\\',
 };
 
@@ -65,8 +68,8 @@
     if (cxBufferEof(&prop->input)) {
         // destroy a possible previously initialized buffer
         cxBufferDestroy(&prop->input);
-        cxBufferInit(&prop->input, (void*) buf, len,
-            NULL, CX_BUFFER_COPY_ON_WRITE | CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND);
+        cxBufferInit(&prop->input, NULL, (void*) buf,
+                     len, CX_BUFFER_COPY_ON_WRITE | CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND);
         prop->input.size = len;
     } else {
         if (cxBufferAppend(buf, 1, len, &prop->input) < len) return -1;
@@ -79,7 +82,7 @@
         char *buf,
         size_t capacity
 ) {
-    cxBufferInit(&prop->buffer, buf, capacity, NULL, CX_BUFFER_COPY_ON_EXTEND);
+    cxBufferInit(&prop->buffer, NULL, buf, capacity, CX_BUFFER_COPY_ON_EXTEND);
 }
 
 CxPropertiesStatus cxPropertiesNext(
@@ -94,13 +97,30 @@
 
     // a pointer to the buffer we want to read from
     CxBuffer *current_buffer = &prop->input;
-
+    
+    char comment1 = prop->config.comment1;
+    char comment2 = prop->config.comment2;
+    char comment3 = prop->config.comment3;
+    char delimiter = prop->config.delimiter;
+    char continuation = prop->config.continuation;
+    
     // check if we have rescued data
     if (!cxBufferEof(&prop->buffer)) {
         // check if we can now get a complete line
         cxstring input = cx_strn(prop->input.space + prop->input.pos,
             prop->input.size - prop->input.pos);
         cxstring nl = cx_strchr(input, '\n');
+        while (nl.length > 0) {
+            // check for line continuation
+            char previous = nl.ptr > input.ptr ? nl.ptr[-1] : cx_strat(cx_bstr(&prop->buffer), -1);
+            if (previous == continuation) {
+                // this nl is a line continuation, check the next newline
+                nl = cx_strchr(cx_strsubs(nl, 1), '\n');
+            } else {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        
         if (nl.length > 0) {
             // we add as much data to the rescue buffer as we need
             // to complete the line
@@ -108,7 +128,7 @@
 
             if (cxBufferAppend(input.ptr, 1,
                 len_until_nl, &prop->buffer) < len_until_nl) {
-                return CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED;
+                return CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
             }
 
             // advance the position in the input buffer
@@ -127,12 +147,7 @@
             return CX_PROPERTIES_INCOMPLETE_DATA;
         }
     }
-
-    char comment1 = prop->config.comment1;
-    char comment2 = prop->config.comment2;
-    char comment3 = prop->config.comment3;
-    char delimiter = prop->config.delimiter;
-
+   
     // get one line and parse it
     while (!cxBufferEof(current_buffer)) {
         const char *buf = current_buffer->space + current_buffer->pos;
@@ -145,6 +160,7 @@
         size_t delimiter_index = 0;
         size_t comment_index = 0;
         bool has_comment = false;
+        bool has_continuation = false;
 
         size_t i = 0;
         char c = 0;
@@ -159,6 +175,9 @@
                 if (delimiter_index == 0 && !has_comment) {
                     delimiter_index = i;
                 }
+            } else if (delimiter_index > 0 && c == continuation && i+1 < len && buf[i+1] == '\n') {
+                has_continuation = true;
+                i++;
             } else if (c == '\n') {
                 break;
             }
@@ -171,14 +190,14 @@
             assert(cxBufferEof(&prop->buffer));
             if (prop->buffer.space == NULL) {
                 // initialize a rescue buffer, if the user did not provide one
-                cxBufferInit(&prop->buffer, NULL, 256, NULL, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND);
+                cxBufferInit(&prop->buffer, NULL, NULL, 256, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND);
             } else {
                 // from a previous rescue there might be already read data
                 // reset the buffer to avoid unnecessary buffer extension
                 cxBufferReset(&prop->buffer);
             }
             if (cxBufferAppend(buf, 1, len, &prop->buffer) < len) {
-                return CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED;
+                return CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
             }
             // reset the input buffer (make way for a re-fill)
             cxBufferReset(&prop->input);
@@ -223,10 +242,53 @@
             k = cx_strtrim(k);
             val = cx_strtrim(val);
             if (k.length > 0) {
+                current_buffer->pos += i + 1; 
+                assert(current_buffer->pos <= current_buffer->size);
+                assert(current_buffer != &prop->buffer || current_buffer->pos == current_buffer->size);
+                
+                if (has_continuation) {
+                    char *ptr = (char*)val.ptr;
+                    if (current_buffer != &prop->buffer) {
+                        // move value to the rescue buffer
+                        if (prop->buffer.space == NULL) {
+                            cxBufferInit(&prop->buffer, NULL, NULL, 256, CX_BUFFER_AUTO_EXTEND);
+                        }
+                        prop->buffer.size = 0;
+                        prop->buffer.pos = 0;
+                        if (cxBufferWrite(val.ptr, 1, val.length, &prop->buffer) != val.length) {
+                            return CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+                        }
+                        val.ptr = prop->buffer.space;
+                        ptr = prop->buffer.space;
+                    }
+                    // value.ptr is now inside the rescue buffer and we can
+                    // remove the continuation character from the value
+                    bool trim = false;
+                    size_t x = 0;
+                    for(size_t j=0;j<val.length;j++) {
+                        c = ptr[j];
+                        if (j+1 < val.length && c == '\\' && ptr[j+1] == '\n') {
+                            // skip continuation and newline character
+                            j++;
+                            trim = true; // enable trim in the next line
+                            continue;
+                        }
+                        if (j > x) {
+                            if (trim) {
+                                if (isspace((unsigned char)c)) {
+                                    continue;
+                                }
+                                trim = false;
+                            }
+                            ptr[x] = c;
+                        }
+                        x++;
+                    }
+                    val.length = x;
+                }
                 *key = k;
                 *value = val;
-                current_buffer->pos += i + 1;
-                assert(current_buffer->pos <= current_buffer->size);
+                
                 return CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR;
             } else {
                 return CX_PROPERTIES_INVALID_EMPTY_KEY;
@@ -241,180 +303,104 @@
     return CX_PROPERTIES_NO_DATA;
 }
 
-static int cx_properties_sink_map(
-        cx_attr_unused CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSink *sink,
-        cxstring key,
-        cxstring value
-) {
-    CxMap *map = sink->sink;
-    CxAllocator *alloc = sink->data;
-    cxmutstr v = cx_strdup_a(alloc, value);
-    int r = cxMapPut(map, key, v.ptr);
-    if (r != 0) cx_strfree_a(alloc, &v);
-    return r;
-}
-
-CxPropertiesSink cxPropertiesMapSink(CxMap *map) {
-    CxPropertiesSink sink;
-    sink.sink = map;
-    sink.data = (void*) cxDefaultAllocator;
-    sink.sink_func = cx_properties_sink_map;
-    return sink;
-}
+#ifndef CX_PROPERTIES_LOAD_FILL_SIZE
+#define CX_PROPERTIES_LOAD_FILL_SIZE 1024
+#endif
+const unsigned cx_properties_load_fill_size = CX_PROPERTIES_LOAD_FILL_SIZE;
+#ifndef CX_PROPERTIES_LOAD_BUF_SIZE
+#define CX_PROPERTIES_LOAD_BUF_SIZE 256
+#endif
+const unsigned cx_properties_load_buf_size = CX_PROPERTIES_LOAD_BUF_SIZE;
 
-static int cx_properties_read_string(
-        CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSource *src,
-        cxstring *target
-) {
-    if (prop->input.space == src->src) {
-        // when the input buffer already contains the string
-        // we have nothing more to provide
-        target->length = 0;
-    } else {
-        target->ptr = src->src;
-        target->length = src->data_size;
+CxPropertiesStatus cx_properties_load(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+                                      cxstring filename, CxMap *target, CxPropertiesConfig config) {
+    if (allocator == NULL) {
+        allocator = cxDefaultAllocator;
     }
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static int cx_properties_read_file(
-        cx_attr_unused CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSource *src,
-        cxstring *target
-) {
-    target->ptr = src->data_ptr;
-    target->length = fread(src->data_ptr, 1, src->data_size, src->src);
-    return ferror((FILE*)src->src);
-}
-
-static int cx_properties_read_init_file(
-        cx_attr_unused CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSource *src
-) {
-    src->data_ptr = cxMallocDefault(src->data_size);
-    if (src->data_ptr == NULL) return 1;
-    return 0;
-}
 
-static void cx_properties_read_clean_file(
-        cx_attr_unused CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSource *src
-) {
-    cxFreeDefault(src->data_ptr);
-}
-
-CxPropertiesSource cxPropertiesStringSource(cxstring str) {
-    CxPropertiesSource src;
-    src.src = (void*) str.ptr;
-    src.data_size = str.length;
-    src.data_ptr = NULL;
-    src.read_func = cx_properties_read_string;
-    src.read_init_func = NULL;
-    src.read_clean_func = NULL;
-    return src;
-}
-
-CxPropertiesSource cxPropertiesCstrnSource(const char *str, size_t len) {
-    CxPropertiesSource src;
-    src.src = (void*) str;
-    src.data_size = len;
-    src.data_ptr = NULL;
-    src.read_func = cx_properties_read_string;
-    src.read_init_func = NULL;
-    src.read_clean_func = NULL;
-    return src;
-}
+    // sanity check for the map
+    const bool use_cstring = cxCollectionStoresPointers(target);
+    if (!use_cstring && cxCollectionElementSize(target) != sizeof(cxmutstr)) {
+        return CX_PROPERTIES_MAP_ERROR;
+    }
 
-CxPropertiesSource cxPropertiesCstrSource(const char *str) {
-    CxPropertiesSource src;
-    src.src = (void*) str;
-    src.data_size = strlen(str);
-    src.data_ptr = NULL;
-    src.read_func = cx_properties_read_string;
-    src.read_init_func = NULL;
-    src.read_clean_func = NULL;
-    return src;
-}
+    // create a duplicate to guarantee zero-termination
+    cxmutstr fname = cx_strdup(filename);
+    if (fname.ptr == NULL) {
+        return CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+    }
 
-CxPropertiesSource cxPropertiesFileSource(FILE *file, size_t chunk_size) {
-    CxPropertiesSource src;
-    src.src = file;
-    src.data_size = chunk_size;
-    src.data_ptr = NULL;
-    src.read_func = cx_properties_read_file;
-    src.read_init_func = cx_properties_read_init_file;
-    src.read_clean_func = cx_properties_read_clean_file;
-    return src;
-}
-
-CxPropertiesStatus cxPropertiesLoad(
-        CxProperties *prop,
-        CxPropertiesSink sink,
-        CxPropertiesSource source
-) {
-    assert(source.read_func != NULL);
-    assert(sink.sink_func != NULL);
-
-    // initialize reader
-    if (source.read_init_func != NULL) {
-        if (source.read_init_func(prop, &source)) {
-            return CX_PROPERTIES_READ_INIT_FAILED;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-        }
+    // open the file
+    FILE *f = fopen(fname.ptr, "r");
+    if (f == NULL) {
+        cx_strfree(&fname);
+        return CX_PROPERTIES_FILE_ERROR;
     }
 
-    // transfer the data from the source to the sink
+    // initialize the parser
+    char linebuf[CX_PROPERTIES_LOAD_BUF_SIZE];
+    char fillbuf[CX_PROPERTIES_LOAD_FILL_SIZE];
     CxPropertiesStatus status;
-    CxPropertiesStatus kv_status = CX_PROPERTIES_NO_DATA;
-    bool found = false;
-    while (true) {
-        // read input
-        cxstring input;
-        if (source.read_func(prop, &source, &input)) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
-            status = CX_PROPERTIES_READ_FAILED;
-            break;
-        } // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+    CxProperties parser;
+    cxPropertiesInit(&parser, config);
+    cxPropertiesUseStack(&parser, linebuf, CX_PROPERTIES_LOAD_BUF_SIZE);
 
-        // no more data - break
-        if (input.length == 0) {
-            if (found) {
-                // something was found, check the last kv_status
-                if (kv_status == CX_PROPERTIES_INCOMPLETE_DATA) {
-                    status = CX_PROPERTIES_INCOMPLETE_DATA;
-                } else {
-                    status = CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR;
-                }
-            } else {
-                // nothing found
-                status = CX_PROPERTIES_NO_DATA;
-            }
+    // read/fill/parse loop
+    status = CX_PROPERTIES_NO_DATA;
+    size_t keys_found = 0;
+    while (true) {
+        size_t r = fread(fillbuf, 1, cx_properties_load_fill_size, f);
+        if (ferror(f)) {
+            // LCOV_EXCL_START
+            status = CX_PROPERTIES_FILE_ERROR;
+            break;
+            // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+        }
+        if (r == 0) {
             break;
         }
-
-        // set the input buffer and read the k/v-pairs
-        cxPropertiesFill(prop, input);
-
-        do {
-            cxstring key, value;
-            kv_status = cxPropertiesNext(prop, &key, &value);
-            if (kv_status == CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR) {
-                found = true;
-                if (sink.sink_func(prop, &sink, key, value)) {
-                    kv_status = CX_PROPERTIES_SINK_FAILED;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        if (cxPropertiesFilln(&parser, fillbuf, r)) {
+            // LCOV_EXCL_START
+            status = CX_PROPERTIES_BUFFER_ALLOC_FAILED;
+            break;
+            // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+        }
+        cxstring key, value;
+        while (true) {
+            status = cxPropertiesNext(&parser, &key, &value);
+            if (status != CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR) {
+                break;
+            } else {
+                cxmutstr v = cx_strdup_a(allocator, value);
+                // LCOV_EXCL_START
+                if (v.ptr == NULL) {
+                    status = CX_PROPERTIES_MAP_ERROR;
+                    break;
                 }
+                // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+                void *mv = use_cstring ? (void*)v.ptr : &v;
+                if (cxMapPut(target, key, mv)) {
+                    // LCOV_EXCL_START
+                    cx_strfree(&v);
+                    status = CX_PROPERTIES_MAP_ERROR;
+                    break;
+                    // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+                }
+                keys_found++;
             }
-        } while (kv_status == CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR);
-
-        if (kv_status > CX_PROPERTIES_OK) {
-            status = kv_status;
+        }
+        if (status > CX_PROPERTIES_OK) {
             break;
         }
     }
 
-    if (source.read_clean_func != NULL) {
-        source.read_clean_func(prop, &source);
+    // cleanup and exit
+    fclose(f);
+    cxPropertiesDestroy(&parser);
+    cx_strfree(&fname);
+    if (status == CX_PROPERTIES_NO_DATA && keys_found > 0) {
+        return CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR;
+    } else {
+        return status;
     }
-
-    return status;
 }
--- a/src/ucx/string.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/string.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@
  * ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
  * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
  */
-#ifdef MEMRCHR_NEED_GNU
+
+#ifdef WITH_MEMRCHR
 #define _GNU_SOURCE
 #endif
 
@@ -40,34 +41,17 @@
 #include <ctype.h>
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
-#define cx_strcasecmp_impl _strnicmp
+static int cx_fixed_strnicmp(const char* s1, const char* s2, size_t count) {
+    // Microsoft's implementation crashes when count == 0 and either string is NULL
+    if (count == 0) return 0;
+    return _strnicmp(s1, s2, count);
+}
+#define cx_strcasecmp_impl cx_fixed_strnicmp
 #else
 #include <strings.h>
 #define cx_strcasecmp_impl strncasecmp
 #endif
 
-cxmutstr cx_mutstr(char *cstring) {
-    return (cxmutstr) {cstring, cstring == NULL ? 0 : strlen(cstring)};
-}
-
-cxmutstr cx_mutstrn(
-        char *cstring,
-        size_t length
-) {
-    return (cxmutstr) {cstring, length};
-}
-
-cxstring cx_str(const char *cstring) {
-    return (cxstring) {cstring, cstring == NULL ? 0 : strlen(cstring)};
-}
-
-cxstring cx_strn(
-        const char *cstring,
-        size_t length
-) {
-    return (cxstring) {cstring, length};
-}
-
 void cx_strfree(cxmutstr *str) {
     if (str == NULL) return;
     cxFreeDefault(str->ptr);
@@ -85,7 +69,7 @@
     str->length = 0;
 }
 
-int cx_strcpy_a(
+int cx_strcpy_a_(
         const CxAllocator *alloc,
         cxmutstr *dest,
         cxstring src
@@ -120,13 +104,19 @@
     return size;
 }
 
-cxmutstr cx_strcat_ma(
+cxmutstr cx_strcat_a(
         const CxAllocator *alloc,
         cxmutstr str,
         size_t count,
         ...
 ) {
-    if (count == 0) return str;
+    if (count == 0) {
+        if (cxReallocate(alloc, &str.ptr, str.length + 1)) {
+            return CX_NULLSTR; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+        }
+        str.ptr[str.length] = '\0';
+        return str;
+    }
     va_list ap;
     va_start(ap, count);
     va_list ap2;
@@ -146,21 +136,16 @@
     if (overflow) {
         va_end(ap2);
         errno = EOVERFLOW;
-        return (cxmutstr) { NULL, 0 };
+        return CX_NULLSTR;
     }
 
-    // reallocate or create new string
-    char *newstr;
-    if (str.ptr == NULL) {
-        newstr = cxMalloc(alloc, slen + 1);
-    } else {
-        newstr = cxRealloc(alloc, str.ptr, slen + 1);
+    // reallocate or create a new string
+    if (cxReallocate(alloc, &str.ptr, slen + 1)) {
+        // LCOV_EXCL_START
+        va_end(ap2);
+        return CX_NULLSTR;
+        // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
     }
-    if (newstr == NULL) { // LCOV_EXCL_START
-        va_end(ap2);
-        return (cxmutstr) {NULL, 0};
-    } // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
-    str.ptr = newstr;
 
     // concatenate strings
     size_t pos = str.length;
@@ -178,21 +163,14 @@
     return str;
 }
 
-cxstring cx_strsubs(
+cxstring cx_strsubs_(
         cxstring string,
         size_t start
 ) {
-    return cx_strsubsl(string, start, string.length - start);
+    return cx_strsubsl_(string, start, string.length);
 }
 
-cxmutstr cx_strsubs_m(
-        cxmutstr string,
-        size_t start
-) {
-    return cx_strsubsl_m(string, start, string.length - start);
-}
-
-cxstring cx_strsubsl(
+cxstring cx_strsubsl_(
         cxstring string,
         size_t start,
         size_t length
@@ -209,16 +187,7 @@
     return (cxstring) {string.ptr + start, length};
 }
 
-cxmutstr cx_strsubsl_m(
-        cxmutstr string,
-        size_t start,
-        size_t length
-) {
-    cxstring result = cx_strsubsl(cx_strcast(string), start, length);
-    return (cxmutstr) {(char *) result.ptr, result.length};
-}
-
-cxstring cx_strchr(
+cxstring cx_strchr_(
         cxstring string,
         int chr
 ) {
@@ -227,15 +196,7 @@
     return (cxstring) {ret, string.length - (ret - string.ptr)};
 }
 
-cxmutstr cx_strchr_m(
-        cxmutstr string,
-        int chr
-) {
-    cxstring result = cx_strchr(cx_strcast(string), chr);
-    return (cxmutstr) {(char *) result.ptr, result.length};
-}
-
-cxstring cx_strrchr(
+cxstring cx_strrchr_(
     cxstring string,
     int chr
 ) {
@@ -256,23 +217,12 @@
 #endif
 }
 
-cxmutstr cx_strrchr_m(
-        cxmutstr string,
-        int chr
-) {
-    cxstring result = cx_strrchr(cx_strcast(string), chr);
-    return (cxmutstr) {(char *) result.ptr, result.length};
-}
-
 #ifndef CX_STRSTR_SBO_SIZE
 #define CX_STRSTR_SBO_SIZE 128
 #endif
 const unsigned cx_strstr_sbo_size = CX_STRSTR_SBO_SIZE;
 
-cxstring cx_strstr(
-        cxstring haystack,
-        cxstring needle
-) {
+cxstring cx_strstr_(cxstring haystack, cxstring needle) {
     if (needle.length == 0) {
         return haystack;
     }
@@ -342,15 +292,7 @@
     return result;
 }
 
-cxmutstr cx_strstr_m(
-        cxmutstr haystack,
-        cxstring needle
-) {
-    cxstring result = cx_strstr(cx_strcast(haystack), needle);
-    return (cxmutstr) {(char *) result.ptr, result.length};
-}
-
-size_t cx_strsplit(
+size_t cx_strsplit_(
         cxstring string,
         cxstring delim,
         size_t limit,
@@ -408,7 +350,7 @@
     return n;
 }
 
-size_t cx_strsplit_a(
+size_t cx_strsplit_a_(
         const CxAllocator *allocator,
         cxstring string,
         cxstring delim,
@@ -437,27 +379,27 @@
         }
     }
     *output = cxCalloc(allocator, n, sizeof(cxstring));
-    return cx_strsplit(string, delim, n, *output);
+    return cx_strsplit_(string, delim, n, *output);
 }
 
-size_t cx_strsplit_m(
+size_t cx_strsplit_m_(
         cxmutstr string,
         cxstring delim,
         size_t limit,
         cxmutstr *output
 ) {
-    return cx_strsplit(cx_strcast(string),
+    return cx_strsplit_(cx_strcast(string),
                        delim, limit, (cxstring *) output);
 }
 
-size_t cx_strsplit_ma(
+size_t cx_strsplit_ma_(
         const CxAllocator *allocator,
         cxmutstr string,
         cxstring delim,
         size_t limit,
         cxmutstr **output
 ) {
-    return cx_strsplit_a(allocator, cx_strcast(string),
+    return cx_strsplit_a_(allocator, cx_strcast(string),
                          delim, limit, (cxstring **) output);
 }
 
@@ -532,23 +474,18 @@
     return result;
 }
 
-cxstring cx_strtrim(cxstring string) {
+cxstring cx_strtrim_(cxstring string) {
     cxstring result = string;
-    while (result.length > 0 && isspace((unsigned char)(result.ptr[0]))) {
+    while (isspace((unsigned char)cx_strat(result, 0))) {
         result.ptr++;
         result.length--;
     }
-    while (result.length > 0 && isspace((unsigned char)result.ptr[result.length - 1])) {
+    while (isspace((unsigned char)cx_strat(result, -1))) {
         result.length--;
     }
     return result;
 }
 
-cxmutstr cx_strtrim_m(cxmutstr string) {
-    cxstring result = cx_strtrim(cx_strcast(string));
-    return (cxmutstr) {(char *) result.ptr, result.length};
-}
-
 bool cx_strprefix_(
         cxstring string,
         cxstring prefix
@@ -592,7 +529,7 @@
 #endif
 }
 
-cxmutstr cx_strreplacen_a(
+cxmutstr cx_strreplace_(
         const CxAllocator *allocator,
         cxstring str,
         cxstring search,
@@ -673,7 +610,7 @@
     return ctx;
 }
 
-bool cx_strtok_next(
+bool cx_strtok_next_(
         CxStrtokCtx *ctx,
         cxstring *token
 ) {
@@ -716,13 +653,6 @@
     return true;
 }
 
-bool cx_strtok_next_m(
-        CxStrtokCtx *ctx,
-        cxmutstr *token
-) {
-    return cx_strtok_next(ctx, (cxstring *) token);
-}
-
 void cx_strtok_delim(
         CxStrtokCtx *ctx,
         const cxstring *delim,
--- a/src/ucx/tree.c	Tue Dec 30 21:44:49 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/ucx/tree.c	Tue Jan 13 18:09:20 2026 +0100
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@
 
 #include "cx/tree.h"
 
-#include "cx/array_list.h"
-
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
 #define CX_TREE_PTR(cur, off) (*(void**)(((char*)(cur))+(off)))
 #define tree_parent(node) CX_TREE_PTR(node, loc_parent)
@@ -39,36 +38,14 @@
 #define tree_prev(node) CX_TREE_PTR(node, loc_prev)
 #define tree_next(node) CX_TREE_PTR(node, loc_next)
 
-#define cx_tree_ptr_locations \
-    loc_parent, loc_children, loc_last_child, loc_prev, loc_next
-
-#define cx_tree_node_layout(tree) \
+#define tree_layout(tree) \
     (tree)->loc_parent,\
     (tree)->loc_children,\
     (tree)->loc_last_child,\
     (tree)->loc_prev,  \
     (tree)->loc_next
 
-static void cx_tree_zero_pointers(
-        void *node,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_children,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_next
-) {
-    tree_parent(node) = NULL;
-    if (loc_prev >= 0) {
-        tree_prev(node) = NULL;
-    }
-    tree_next(node) = NULL;
-    tree_children(node) = NULL;
-    if (loc_last_child >= 0) {
-        tree_last_child(node) = NULL;
-    }
-}
-
-void cx_tree_link(
+void cx_tree_add(
         void *parent,
         void *node,
         ptrdiff_t loc_parent,
@@ -84,7 +61,8 @@
     void *current_parent = tree_parent(node);
     if (current_parent == parent) return;
     if (current_parent != NULL) {
-        cx_tree_unlink(node, cx_tree_ptr_locations);
+        cx_tree_remove(node, loc_parent, loc_children,
+            loc_last_child, loc_prev, loc_next);
     }
 
     if (tree_children(parent) == NULL) {
@@ -130,7 +108,7 @@
     }
 }
 
-void cx_tree_unlink(
+void cx_tree_remove(
         void *node,
         ptrdiff_t loc_parent,
         ptrdiff_t loc_children,
@@ -177,21 +155,20 @@
     }
 }
 
-int cx_tree_search(
-        const void *root,
-        size_t depth,
-        const void *node,
-        cx_tree_search_func sfunc,
-        void **result,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_children,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_next
-) {
+int cx_tree_search(const void *root, size_t max_depth,
+        const void *data, cx_tree_search_func sfunc, void **result,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_next) {
     // help avoiding bugs due to uninitialized memory
     assert(result != NULL);
     *result = NULL;
 
+    // NULL root? exit!
+    if (root == NULL) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     // remember return value for best match
-    int ret = sfunc(root, node);
+    int ret = sfunc(root, data);
     if (ret < 0) {
         // not contained, exit
         return -1;
@@ -203,13 +180,13 @@
     }
 
     // when depth is one, we are already done
-    if (depth == 1) {
+    if (max_depth == 1) {
         return ret;
     }
 
     // special case: indefinite depth
-    if (depth == 0) {
-        depth = SIZE_MAX;
+    if (max_depth == 0) {
+        max_depth = SIZE_MAX;
     }
 
     // create an iterator
@@ -223,7 +200,7 @@
     // loop through the remaining tree
     cx_foreach(void *, elem, iter) {
         // investigate the current node
-        int ret_elem = sfunc(elem, node);
+        int ret_elem = sfunc(elem, data);
         if (ret_elem == 0) {
             // if found, exit the search
             *result = elem;
@@ -239,47 +216,30 @@
         }
 
         // when we reached the max depth, skip the subtree
-        if (iter.depth == depth) {
+        if (iter.depth == max_depth) {
             cxTreeIteratorContinue(iter);
         }
     }
 
-    // dispose the iterator as we might have exited the loop early
+    // dispose of the iterator as we might have exited the loop early
     cxTreeIteratorDispose(&iter);
 
     assert(ret < 0 || *result != NULL);
     return ret;
 }
 
-int cx_tree_search_data(
-        const void *root,
-        size_t depth,
-        const void *data,
-        cx_tree_search_data_func sfunc,
-        void **result,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_children,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_next
-) {
-    // it is basically the same implementation
-    return cx_tree_search(
-            root, depth, data,
-            (cx_tree_search_func) sfunc,
-            result,
-            loc_children, loc_next);
-}
-
 static bool cx_tree_iter_valid(const void *it) {
-    const struct cx_tree_iterator_s *iter = it;
+    const CxTreeIterator *iter = it;
     return iter->node != NULL;
 }
 
 static void *cx_tree_iter_current(const void *it) {
-    const struct cx_tree_iterator_s *iter = it;
+    const CxTreeIterator *iter = it;
     return iter->node;
 }
 
 static void cx_tree_iter_next(void *it) {
-    struct cx_tree_iterator_s *iter = it;
+    CxTreeIterator *iter = it;
     ptrdiff_t const loc_next = iter->loc_next;
     ptrdiff_t const loc_children = iter->loc_children;
     // protect us from misuse
@@ -352,7 +312,16 @@
         }
     } else {
         // node has children, push the first child onto the stack and enter it
-        cx_array_simple_add(iter->stack, children);
+        if (iter->depth >= iter->stack_capacity) {
+            const size_t newcap = iter->stack_capacity + 8;
+            if (cxReallocateArrayDefault(&iter->stack, newcap, sizeof(void*))) {
+                // we cannot return an error in this function
+                abort(); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+            }
+            iter->stack_capacity = newcap;
+        }
+        iter->stack[iter->depth] = children;
+        iter->depth++;
         iter->node = children;
         iter->counter++;
     }
@@ -364,55 +333,56 @@
         ptrdiff_t loc_children,
         ptrdiff_t loc_next
 ) {
-    CxTreeIterator iter;
-    iter.loc_children = loc_children;
-    iter.loc_next = loc_next;
-    iter.visit_on_exit = visit_on_exit;
+    CxTreeIterator ret;
+    ret.use_dfs = true;
+    ret.loc_children = loc_children;
+    ret.loc_next = loc_next;
+    ret.visit_on_exit = visit_on_exit;
 
     // initialize members
-    iter.node_next = NULL;
-    iter.exiting = false;
-    iter.skip = false;
+    ret.node_next = NULL;
+    ret.exiting = false;
+    ret.skip = false;
 
     // assign base iterator functions
-    iter.base.allow_remove = false;
-    iter.base.remove = false;
-    iter.base.current_impl = NULL;
-    iter.base.valid = cx_tree_iter_valid;
-    iter.base.next = cx_tree_iter_next;
-    iter.base.current = cx_tree_iter_current;
+    ret.base.allow_remove = false;
+    ret.base.remove = false;
+    ret.base.current_impl = NULL;
+    ret.base.valid = cx_tree_iter_valid;
+    ret.base.next = cx_tree_iter_next;
+    ret.base.current = cx_tree_iter_current;
 
     // visit the root node
-    iter.node = root;
+    ret.node = root;
     if (root != NULL) {
-        iter.stack_capacity = 16;
-        iter.stack = cxMallocDefault(sizeof(void *) * 16);
-        iter.stack[0] = root;
-        iter.counter = 1;
-        iter.depth = 1;
+        ret.stack_capacity = 16;
+        ret.stack = cxMallocDefault(sizeof(void *) * 16);
+        ret.stack[0] = root;
+        ret.counter = 1;
+        ret.depth = 1;
     } else {
-        iter.stack_capacity = 0;
-        iter.stack = NULL;
-        iter.counter = 0;
-        iter.depth = 0;
+        ret.stack_capacity = 0;
+        ret.stack = NULL;
+        ret.counter = 0;
+        ret.depth = 0;
     }
 
-    return iter;
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static bool cx_tree_visitor_valid(const void *it) {
-    const struct cx_tree_visitor_s *iter = it;
+    const CxTreeIterator *iter = it;
     return iter->node != NULL;
 }
 
 static void *cx_tree_visitor_current(const void *it) {
-    const struct cx_tree_visitor_s *iter = it;
+    const CxTreeIterator *iter = it;
     return iter->node;
 }
 
-cx_attr_nonnull
+CX_NONNULL
 static void cx_tree_visitor_enqueue_siblings(
-        struct cx_tree_visitor_s *iter, void *node, ptrdiff_t loc_next) {
+        CxTreeIterator *iter, void *node, ptrdiff_t loc_next) {
     node = tree_next(node);
     while (node != NULL) {
         struct cx_tree_visitor_queue_s *q;
@@ -427,7 +397,7 @@
 }
 
 static void cx_tree_visitor_next(void *it) {
-    struct cx_tree_visitor_s *iter = it;
+    CxTreeIterator *iter = it;
     // protect us from misuse
     if (!iter->base.valid(iter)) return;
 
@@ -481,361 +451,98 @@
     iter->counter++;
 }
 
-CxTreeVisitor cx_tree_visitor(
+CxTreeIterator cx_tree_visitor(
         void *root,
         ptrdiff_t loc_children,
         ptrdiff_t loc_next
 ) {
-    CxTreeVisitor iter;
-    iter.loc_children = loc_children;
-    iter.loc_next = loc_next;
+    CxTreeIterator ret;
+    ret.visit_on_exit = false;
+    ret.exiting = false;
+    ret.use_dfs = false;
+    ret.loc_children = loc_children;
+    ret.loc_next = loc_next;
 
     // initialize members
-    iter.skip = false;
-    iter.queue_next = NULL;
-    iter.queue_last = NULL;
+    ret.skip = false;
+    ret.queue_next = NULL;
+    ret.queue_last = NULL;
 
     // assign base iterator functions
-    iter.base.allow_remove = false;
-    iter.base.remove = false;
-    iter.base.current_impl = NULL;
-    iter.base.valid = cx_tree_visitor_valid;
-    iter.base.next = cx_tree_visitor_next;
-    iter.base.current = cx_tree_visitor_current;
+    ret.base.allow_remove = false;
+    ret.base.remove = false;
+    ret.base.current_impl = NULL;
+    ret.base.valid = cx_tree_visitor_valid;
+    ret.base.next = cx_tree_visitor_next;
+    ret.base.current = cx_tree_visitor_current;
 
     // visit the root node
-    iter.node = root;
+    ret.node = root;
     if (root != NULL) {
-        iter.counter = 1;
-        iter.depth = 1;
+        ret.counter = 1;
+        ret.depth = 1;
     } else {
-        iter.counter = 0;
-        iter.depth = 0;
+        ret.counter = 0;
+        ret.depth = 0;
     }
 
-    return iter;
-}
-
-static void cx_tree_add_link_duplicate(
-        void *original, void *duplicate,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next
-) {
-    void *shared_parent = tree_parent(original);
-    if (shared_parent == NULL) {
-        cx_tree_link(original, duplicate, cx_tree_ptr_locations);
-    } else {
-        cx_tree_link(shared_parent, duplicate, cx_tree_ptr_locations);
-    }
-}
-
-static void cx_tree_add_link_new(
-        void *parent, void *node, cx_tree_search_func sfunc,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next
-) {
-    // check the current children one by one,
-    // if they could be children of the new node
-    void *child = tree_children(parent);
-    while (child != NULL) {
-        void *next = tree_next(child);
-
-        if (sfunc(node, child) > 0) {
-            // the sibling could be a child -> re-link
-            cx_tree_link(node, child, cx_tree_ptr_locations);
-        }
-
-        child = next;
-    }
-
-    // add new node as new child
-    cx_tree_link(parent, node, cx_tree_ptr_locations);
-}
-
-int cx_tree_add(
-        const void *src,
-        cx_tree_search_func sfunc,
-        cx_tree_node_create_func cfunc,
-        void *cdata,
-        void **cnode,
-        void *root,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_children,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_next
-) {
-    *cnode = cfunc(src, cdata);
-    if (*cnode == NULL) return 1;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-    cx_tree_zero_pointers(*cnode, cx_tree_ptr_locations);
-
-    void *match = NULL;
-    int result = cx_tree_search(
-            root,
-            0,
-            *cnode,
-            sfunc,
-            &match,
-            loc_children,
-            loc_next
-    );
-
-    if (result < 0) {
-        // node does not fit into the tree - return non-zero value
-        return 1;
-    } else if (result == 0) {
-        // data already found in the tree, link duplicate
-        cx_tree_add_link_duplicate(match, *cnode, cx_tree_ptr_locations);
-    } else {
-        // closest match found, add new node
-        cx_tree_add_link_new(match, *cnode, sfunc, cx_tree_ptr_locations);
-    }
-
-    return 0;
+    return ret;
 }
 
-unsigned int cx_tree_add_look_around_depth = 3;
-
-size_t cx_tree_add_iter(
-        struct cx_iterator_base_s *iter,
-        size_t num,
-        cx_tree_search_func sfunc,
-        cx_tree_node_create_func cfunc,
-        void *cdata,
-        void **failed,
-        void *root,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_children,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_next
-) {
-    // erase the failed pointer
-    *failed = NULL;
-
-    // iter not valid? cancel...
-    if (!iter->valid(iter)) return 0;
-
-    size_t processed = 0;
-    void *current_node = root;
-    const void *elem;
-
-    for (void **eptr; processed < num &&
-         iter->valid(iter) && (eptr = iter->current(iter)) != NULL;
-         iter->next(iter)) {
-        elem = *eptr;
-
-        // create the new node
-        void *new_node = cfunc(elem, cdata);
-        if (new_node == NULL) return processed;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-        cx_tree_zero_pointers(new_node, cx_tree_ptr_locations);
-
-        // start searching from current node
-        void *match;
-        int result;
-        unsigned int look_around_retries = cx_tree_add_look_around_depth;
-        cx_tree_add_look_around_retry:
-        result = cx_tree_search(
-                current_node,
-                0,
-                new_node,
-                sfunc,
-                &match,
-                loc_children,
-                loc_next
-        );
-
-        if (result < 0) {
-            // traverse upwards and try to find better parents
-            void *parent = tree_parent(current_node);
-            if (parent != NULL) {
-                if (look_around_retries > 0) {
-                    look_around_retries--;
-                    current_node = parent;
-                } else {
-                    // look around retries exhausted, start from the root
-                    current_node = root;
-                }
-                goto cx_tree_add_look_around_retry;
-            } else {
-                // no parents. so we failed
-                *failed = new_node;
-                return processed;
-            }
-        } else if (result == 0) {
-            // data already found in the tree, link duplicate
-            cx_tree_add_link_duplicate(match, new_node, cx_tree_ptr_locations);
-            // but stick with the original match, in case we needed a new root
-            current_node = match;
-        } else {
-            // closest match found, add new node as child
-            cx_tree_add_link_new(match, new_node, sfunc,
-                                 cx_tree_ptr_locations);
-            current_node = match;
-        }
-
-        processed++;
+size_t cx_tree_size(void *root, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_next) {
+    CxTreeIterator iter = cx_tree_iterator(root, false, loc_children, loc_next);
+    while (cxIteratorValid(iter)) {
+        cxIteratorNext(iter);
     }
-    return processed;
+    return iter.counter;
 }
 
-size_t cx_tree_add_array(
-        const void *src,
-        size_t num,
-        size_t elem_size,
-        cx_tree_search_func sfunc,
-        cx_tree_node_create_func cfunc,
-        void *cdata,
-        void **failed,
-        void *root,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_children,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_next
-) {
-    // erase failed pointer
-    *failed = NULL;
-
-    // super special case: zero elements
-    if (num == 0) {
-        return 0;
+size_t cx_tree_depth(void *root, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_next) {
+    CxTreeIterator iter = cx_tree_iterator(root, false, loc_children, loc_next);
+    size_t depth = 0;
+    while (cxIteratorValid(iter)) {
+        if (iter.depth > depth) {
+            depth = iter.depth;
+        }
+        cxIteratorNext(iter);
     }
-
-    // special case: one element does not need an iterator
-    if (num == 1) {
-        void *node;
-        if (0 == cx_tree_add(
-                src, sfunc, cfunc, cdata, &node, root,
-                loc_parent, loc_children, loc_last_child,
-                loc_prev, loc_next)) {
-            return 1;
-        } else {
-            *failed = node;
-            return 0;
-        }
-    }
-
-    // otherwise, create iterator and hand over to other function
-    CxIterator iter = cxIterator(src, elem_size, num, false);
-    return cx_tree_add_iter(cxIteratorRef(iter), num, sfunc,
-                            cfunc, cdata, failed, root,
-                            loc_parent, loc_children, loc_last_child,
-                            loc_prev, loc_next);
+    return depth;
 }
 
-static int cx_tree_default_insert_element(
-        CxTree *tree,
-        const void *data
-) {
-    void *node;
-    if (tree->root == NULL) {
-        node = tree->node_create(data, tree);
-        if (node == NULL) return 1;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-        cx_tree_zero_pointers(node, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
-        tree->root = node;
-        tree->size = 1;
-        return 0;
-    }
-    int result = cx_tree_add(data, tree->search, tree->node_create,
-                tree, &node, tree->root, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
-    if (0 == result) {
-        tree->size++;
-    } else {
-        cxFree(tree->allocator, node);
-    }
-    return result;
-}
+CxTree *cxTreeCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
+        size_t node_size, size_t elem_size, void *root, ptrdiff_t loc_data,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
+        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next) {
 
-static size_t cx_tree_default_insert_many(
-        CxTree *tree,
-        CxIteratorBase *iter,
-        size_t n
-) {
-    size_t ins = 0;
-    if (!iter->valid(iter)) return 0;
-    if (tree->root == NULL) {
-        // use the first element from the iter to create the root node
-        void **eptr = iter->current(iter);
-        void *node = tree->node_create(*eptr, tree);
-        if (node == NULL) return 0;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-        cx_tree_zero_pointers(node, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
-        tree->root = node;
-        ins = 1;
-        iter->next(iter);
-    }
-    void *failed;
-    ins += cx_tree_add_iter(iter, n, tree->search, tree->node_create,
-                                  tree, &failed, tree->root, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
-    tree->size += ins;
-    if (ins < n) {
-        cxFree(tree->allocator, failed);
-    }
-    return ins;
-}
-
-static void *cx_tree_default_find(
-        CxTree *tree,
-        const void *subtree,
-        const void *data,
-        size_t depth
-) {
-    if (tree->root == NULL) return NULL;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-
-    void *found;
-    if (0 == cx_tree_search_data(
-            subtree,
-            depth,
-            data,
-            tree->search_data,
-            &found,
-            tree->loc_children,
-            tree->loc_next
-    )) {
-        return found;
-    } else {
-        return NULL;
-    }
-}
-
-static cx_tree_class cx_tree_default_class = {
-        cx_tree_default_insert_element,
-        cx_tree_default_insert_many,
-        cx_tree_default_find
-};
-
-CxTree *cxTreeCreate(const CxAllocator *allocator,
-        cx_tree_node_create_func create_func,
-        cx_tree_search_func search_func,
-        cx_tree_search_data_func search_data_func,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next
-) {
     if (allocator == NULL) {
         allocator = cxDefaultAllocator;
     }
-    assert(create_func != NULL);
-    assert(search_func != NULL);
-    assert(search_data_func != NULL);
 
-    CxTree *tree = cxMalloc(allocator, sizeof(CxTree));
+    CxTree *tree = cxZalloc(allocator, sizeof(CxTree));
     if (tree == NULL) return NULL;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+    tree->collection.allocator = allocator;
 
-    tree->cl = &cx_tree_default_class;
-    tree->allocator = allocator;
-    tree->node_create = create_func;
-    tree->search = search_func;
-    tree->search_data = search_data_func;
-    tree->simple_destructor = NULL;
-    tree->advanced_destructor = (cx_destructor_func2) cxFree;
-    tree->destructor_data = (void *) allocator;
+    if (elem_size == CX_STORE_POINTERS) {
+        tree->collection.store_pointer = true;
+        tree->collection.elem_size = sizeof(void*);
+    } else {
+        tree->collection.elem_size = elem_size;
+    }
+
+    tree->root = root;
+    tree->node_size = node_size;
     tree->loc_parent = loc_parent;
     tree->loc_children = loc_children;
     tree->loc_last_child = loc_last_child;
     tree->loc_prev = loc_prev;
     tree->loc_next = loc_next;
-    tree->root = NULL;
-    tree->size = 0;
+    tree->loc_data = loc_data;
+
+    if (root == NULL) {
+        cxSetAdvancedDestructor(tree, cxFree, (void*)allocator);
+    } else {
+        tree->collection.size = cx_tree_size(root, loc_children, loc_next);
+    }
 
     return tree;
 }
@@ -845,120 +552,131 @@
     if (tree->root != NULL) {
         cxTreeClear(tree);
     }
-    cxFree(tree->allocator, tree);
-}
-
-CxTree *cxTreeCreateWrapped(const CxAllocator *allocator, void *root,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_parent, ptrdiff_t loc_children, ptrdiff_t loc_last_child,
-        ptrdiff_t loc_prev, ptrdiff_t loc_next) {
-    if (allocator == NULL) {
-        allocator = cxDefaultAllocator;
-    }
-    assert(root != NULL);
-
-    CxTree *tree = cxMalloc(allocator, sizeof(CxTree));
-    if (tree == NULL) return NULL;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-
-    tree->cl = &cx_tree_default_class;
-    // set the allocator anyway, just in case...
-    tree->allocator = allocator;
-    tree->node_create = NULL;
-    tree->search = NULL;
-    tree->search_data = NULL;
-    tree->simple_destructor = NULL;
-    tree->advanced_destructor = NULL;
-    tree->destructor_data = NULL;
-    tree->loc_parent = loc_parent;
-    tree->loc_children = loc_children;
-    tree->loc_last_child = loc_last_child;
-    tree->loc_prev = loc_prev;
-    tree->loc_next = loc_next;
-    tree->root = root;
-    tree->size = cxTreeSubtreeSize(tree, root);
-    return tree;
+    cxFree(tree->collection.allocator, tree);
 }
 
 void cxTreeSetParent(CxTree *tree, void *parent, void *child) {
     size_t loc_parent = tree->loc_parent;
     if (tree_parent(child) == NULL) {
-        tree->size++;
+        tree->collection.size++;
     }
-    cx_tree_link(parent, child, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
+    cx_tree_add(parent, child, tree_layout(tree));
+}
+
+void cxTreeAddNode(CxTree *tree, void *parent, void *child) {
+    cx_tree_add(parent, child, tree_layout(tree));
+    tree->collection.size++;
+}
+
+void *cxTreeCreateNode(CxTree *tree, void *parent) {
+    void *node = cxZalloc(tree->collection.allocator, tree->node_size);
+    if (node == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+    cx_tree_add(parent, node, tree_layout(tree));
+    tree->collection.size++;
+    return node;
 }
 
-void cxTreeAddChildNode(CxTree *tree, void *parent, void *child) {
-    cx_tree_link(parent, child, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
-    tree->size++;
+void *cxTreeAddData(CxTree *tree, void *parent, const void *data) {
+    if (tree->loc_data < 0) return NULL;
+
+    void *node = cxTreeCreateNode(tree, parent);
+    if (node == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+
+    char *dst = node;
+    dst += tree->loc_data;
+    const void *src = cxCollectionStoresPointers(tree) ? (const void*)&data : data;
+    memcpy(dst, src, tree->collection.elem_size);
+
+    return node;
 }
 
-int cxTreeAddChild(CxTree *tree, void *parent, const void *data) {
-    void *node = tree->node_create(data, tree);
-    if (node == NULL) return 1; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-    cx_tree_zero_pointers(node, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
-    cx_tree_link(parent, node, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
-    tree->size++;
-    return 0;
+void *cxTreeCreateRoot(CxTree *tree) {
+    if (tree->root != NULL) {
+        return tree->root;
+    }
+
+    void *node = cxZalloc(tree->collection.allocator, tree->node_size);
+    if (node == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+    tree->root = node;
+    tree->collection.size = 1;
+    return node;
 }
 
-int cxTreeInsert(CxTree *tree, const void *data) {
-    return tree->cl->insert_element(tree, data);
+void *cxTreeCreateRootData(CxTree *tree, const void *data) {
+    if (tree->loc_data < 0) return NULL;
+
+    void *node = cxTreeCreateRoot(tree);
+    if (node == NULL) return NULL; // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
+
+    char *dst = node;
+    dst += tree->loc_data;
+    const void *src = cxCollectionStoresPointers(tree) ? (const void*)&data : data;
+    memcpy(dst, src, tree->collection.elem_size);
+
+    return node;
 }
 
-size_t cxTreeInsertIter(CxTree *tree, CxIteratorBase *iter, size_t n) {
-    return tree->cl->insert_many(tree, iter, n);
+void *cxTreeSetRoot(CxTree *tree, void *new_root) {
+    void *old_root = tree->root;
+    tree->root = new_root;
+    return old_root;
 }
 
-size_t cxTreeInsertArray(CxTree *tree, const void *data, size_t elem_size, size_t n) {
-    if (n == 0) return 0;
-    if (n == 1) return 0 == cxTreeInsert(tree, data) ? 1 : 0;
-    CxIterator iter = cxIterator(data, elem_size, n, false);
-    return cxTreeInsertIter(tree, cxIteratorRef(iter), n);
+void *cxTreeFindInSubtree(CxTree *tree, const void *data,
+        void *subtree_root, size_t max_depth, bool use_dfs) {
+    if (tree->loc_data < 0 || subtree_root == NULL) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    CxTreeIterator iter = use_dfs
+        ? cx_tree_iterator(subtree_root, false, tree->loc_children, tree->loc_next)
+        : cx_tree_visitor(subtree_root, tree->loc_children, tree->loc_next);
+
+    cx_foreach(char*, node, iter) {
+        char *node_data = node + tree->loc_data;
+        if (cxCollectionStoresPointers(tree)) {
+            node_data = *(void**)node_data;
+        }
+        if (cx_invoke_compare_func(tree, node_data, data) == 0) {
+            cxTreeIteratorDispose(&iter);
+            return node;
+        }
+        if (iter.depth == max_depth) {
+            cxTreeIteratorContinue(iter);
+        }
+    }
+    return NULL;
 }
 
-void *cxTreeFind( CxTree *tree, const void *data) {
-    return tree->cl->find(tree, tree->root, data, 0);
-}
-
-void *cxTreeFindInSubtree(CxTree *tree, const void *data, void *subtree_root, size_t max_depth) {
-    return tree->cl->find(tree, subtree_root, data, max_depth);
+void *cxTreeFindFastInSubtree(CxTree *tree, const void *data,
+        cx_tree_search_func sfunc, void *root, size_t max_depth) {
+    void *result;
+    int ret = cx_tree_search(root, max_depth, data, sfunc, &result,
+        tree->loc_children, tree->loc_next);
+    if (ret == 0) {
+        return result;
+    } else {
+        return NULL;
+    }
 }
 
 size_t cxTreeSubtreeSize(CxTree *tree, void *subtree_root) {
-    CxTreeVisitor visitor = cx_tree_visitor(
-            subtree_root,
-            tree->loc_children,
-            tree->loc_next
-    );
-    while (cxIteratorValid(visitor)) {
-        cxIteratorNext(visitor);
+    if (subtree_root == tree->root) {
+        return tree->collection.size;
     }
-    return visitor.counter;
+    return cx_tree_size(subtree_root, tree->loc_children, tree->loc_next);
 }
 
 size_t cxTreeSubtreeDepth(CxTree *tree, void *subtree_root) {
-    CxTreeVisitor visitor = cx_tree_visitor(
-            subtree_root,
-            tree->loc_children,
-            tree->loc_next
-    );
-    while (cxIteratorValid(visitor)) {
-        cxIteratorNext(visitor);
-    }
-    return visitor.depth;
+    return cx_tree_depth(subtree_root, tree->loc_children, tree->loc_next);
 }
 
 size_t cxTreeSize(CxTree *tree) {
-    return tree->size;
+    return tree->collection.size;
 }
 
 size_t cxTreeDepth(CxTree *tree) {
-    CxTreeVisitor visitor = cx_tree_visitor(
-            tree->root, tree->loc_children, tree->loc_next
-    );
-    while (cxIteratorValid(visitor)) {
-        cxIteratorNext(visitor);
-    }
-    return visitor.depth;
+    return cx_tree_depth(tree->root, tree->loc_children, tree->loc_next);
 }
 
 int cxTreeRemoveNode(
@@ -973,7 +691,7 @@
     void *new_parent = tree_parent(node);
 
     // first, unlink from the parent
-    cx_tree_unlink(node, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
+    cx_tree_remove(node, tree_layout(tree));
 
     // then relink each child
     ptrdiff_t loc_children = tree->loc_children;
@@ -990,7 +708,7 @@
         }
 
         // link to new parent
-        cx_tree_link(new_parent, child, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
+        cx_tree_add(new_parent, child, tree_layout(tree));
 
         // proceed to next child
         child = tree_next(child);
@@ -1002,7 +720,7 @@
     if (loc_last_child >= 0) tree_last_child(node) = NULL;
 
     // the tree now has one member less
-    tree->size--;
+    tree->collection.size--;
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -1010,12 +728,12 @@
 void cxTreeRemoveSubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node) {
     if (node == tree->root) {
         tree->root = NULL;
-        tree->size = 0;
+        tree->collection.size = 0;
         return;
     }
     size_t subtree_size = cxTreeSubtreeSize(tree, node);
-    cx_tree_unlink(node, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
-    tree->size -= subtree_size;
+    cx_tree_remove(node, tree_layout(tree));
+    tree->collection.size -= subtree_size;
 }
 
 int cxTreeDestroyNode(
@@ -1025,12 +743,7 @@
 ) {
     int result = cxTreeRemoveNode(tree, node, relink_func);
     if (result == 0) {
-        if (tree->simple_destructor) {
-            tree->simple_destructor(node);
-        }
-        if (tree->advanced_destructor) {
-            tree->advanced_destructor(tree->destructor_data, node);
-        }
+        cx_invoke_destructor_raw(tree, node);
         return 0;
     } else {
         return result;
@@ -1038,40 +751,36 @@
 }
 
 void cxTreeDestroySubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node) {
-    cx_tree_unlink(node, cx_tree_node_layout(tree));
+    cx_tree_remove(node, tree_layout(tree));
     CxTreeIterator iter = cx_tree_iterator(
             node, true,
             tree->loc_children, tree->loc_next
     );
     cx_foreach(void *, child, iter) {
         if (iter.exiting) {
-            if (tree->simple_destructor) {
-                tree->simple_destructor(child);
-            }
-            if (tree->advanced_destructor) {
-                tree->advanced_destructor(tree->destructor_data, child);
-            }
+            // always call the destructors with the node!
+            cx_invoke_destructor_raw(tree, child);
         }
     }
-    tree->size -= iter.counter;
+    tree->collection.size -= iter.counter;
     if (node == tree->root) {
         tree->root = NULL;
     }
 }
 
 void cxTreeIteratorDispose(CxTreeIterator *iter) {
-    cxFreeDefault(iter->stack);
-    iter->stack = NULL;
-}
-
-void cxTreeVisitorDispose(CxTreeVisitor *visitor) {
-    struct cx_tree_visitor_queue_s *q = visitor->queue_next;
-    while (q != NULL) {
-        struct cx_tree_visitor_queue_s *next = q->next;
-        cxFreeDefault(q);
-        q = next;
+    if (iter->use_dfs) {
+        cxFreeDefault(iter->stack);
+        iter->stack = NULL;
+    } else {
+        struct cx_tree_visitor_queue_s *q = iter->queue_next;
+        while (q != NULL) {
+            struct cx_tree_visitor_queue_s *next = q->next;
+            cxFreeDefault(q);
+            q = next;
+        }
+        iter->queue_next = iter->queue_last = NULL;
     }
-    visitor->queue_next = visitor->queue_last = NULL;
 }
 
 CxTreeIterator cxTreeIterateSubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node, bool visit_on_exit) {
@@ -1081,7 +790,7 @@
     );
 }
 
-CxTreeVisitor cxTreeVisitSubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node) {
+CxTreeIterator cxTreeVisitSubtree(CxTree *tree, void *node) {
     return cx_tree_visitor(
             node, tree->loc_children, tree->loc_next
     );
@@ -1091,6 +800,6 @@
     return cxTreeIterateSubtree(tree, tree->root, visit_on_exit);
 }
 
-CxTreeVisitor cxTreeVisit(CxTree *tree) {
+CxTreeIterator cxTreeVisit(CxTree *tree) {
     return cxTreeVisitSubtree(tree, tree->root);
 }

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