diff --git a/pitfall/xenomorph/private/pointer.rkt b/pitfall/xenomorph/private/pointer.rkt
index 64577ad8..c24731a5 100644
--- a/pitfall/xenomorph/private/pointer.rkt
+++ b/pitfall/xenomorph/private/pointer.rkt
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/src/Pointer.coffee
   (define lazy (· options lazy))
   (define relative-getter-or-0 (or (· options relativeTo) (λ (ctx) 0))) ; changed this to a simple lambda
 
-  (define/augment (decode stream [ctx #f])
-    (define offset (send offset-type decode stream ctx))
+  (define/augment (decode port [ctx #f])
+    (define offset (send offset-type decode port ctx))
     (cond
       [(and allow-null (= offset null-value)) #f] ; handle null pointers
       [else
        (define relative (+ (caseq pointer-style
                                   [(local) (· ctx _startOffset)]
-                                  [(immediate) (- (· stream pos) (send offset-type size))]
+                                  [(immediate) (- (pos port) (send offset-type size))]
                                   [(parent) (· ctx parent _startOffset)]
                                   [(global) (or (· (find-top-ctx ctx) _startOffset) 0)]
                                   [else (error 'unknown-pointer-style)])
@@ -45,10 +45,10 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/src/Pointer.coffee
                  (cond
                    [(not (void? val)) val]
                    [else
-                    (define orig-pos (· stream pos))
-                    (send stream pos ptr)
-                    (set! val (send type decode stream ctx))
-                    (send stream pos orig-pos)
+                    (define orig-pos (pos port))
+                    (pos port ptr)
+                    (set! val (send type decode port ctx))
+                    (pos port orig-pos)
                     val]))
                (if lazy
                    (LazyThunk decode-value)
diff --git a/pitfall/xenomorph/private/reserved.rkt b/pitfall/xenomorph/private/reserved.rkt
index 2ee8ff17..0acfbdbe 100644
--- a/pitfall/xenomorph/private/reserved.rkt
+++ b/pitfall/xenomorph/private/reserved.rkt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #lang reader (submod "racket.rkt" reader)
-(require "stream.rkt" "utils.rkt")
+(require "utils.rkt")
 (provide (all-defined-out))
 
 #|
@@ -7,15 +7,15 @@ approximates
 https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/src/Reserved.coffee
 |#
 
-(define-subclass Streamcoder (Reserved type [count 1])
+(define-subclass xenomorph-base% (Reserved type [count 1])
 
-  (define/augment (decode stream parent)
-    (send stream pos (+ (· stream pos) (size #f parent)))
+  (define/augment (decode port parent)
+    (pos port (+ (pos port) (size #f parent)))
     (void))
 
   (define/augment (size [val #f] [parent #f])
     (* (send type size) (resolve-length count #f parent)))
 
-  (define/augment (encode stream val [parent #f])
-    (send stream fill 0 (size val parent))))
+  (define/augment (encode port val [parent #f])
+    (make-bytes (size val parent) 0)))
 
diff --git a/pitfall/xenomorph/private/string.rkt b/pitfall/xenomorph/private/string.rkt
index 8c07a84d..2b07c31a 100644
--- a/pitfall/xenomorph/private/string.rkt
+++ b/pitfall/xenomorph/private/string.rkt
@@ -7,34 +7,60 @@ approximates
 https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/src/String.coffee
 |#
 
+(define (read-encoded-string port len [encoding 'ascii])
+      (define proc (caseq encoding
+                          [(utf16le) (error 'bah)]
+                          [(ucs2) (error 'bleh)]
+                          [(utf8) bytes->string/utf-8]
+                          [(ascii) bytes->string/latin-1]
+                          [else identity]))
+      (proc (read-bytes len port)))
+
+(define (write-encoded-string port string [encoding 'ascii])
+      ;; todo: handle encodings correctly.
+      ;; right now just utf8 and ascii are correct
+      (caseq encoding
+             [(utf16le ucs2 utf8 ascii) (write-bytes (string->bytes/utf-8 string) port)
+                                        (when (eq? encoding 'utf16le)
+                                          (error 'swap-bytes-unimplemented))]
+             [else (error 'unsupported-string-encoding)]))
+
+(define (count-nonzero-chars port)
+      ;; helper function for String
+      ;; counts nonzero chars from current position
+      (length (car (regexp-match-peek "[^\u0]*" port))))
+
 (define (byte-length val encoding)
   (define encoder
     (caseq encoding
            [(ascii utf8) string->bytes/utf-8]))
   (bytes-length (encoder (format "~a" val))))
 
-(define-subclass Streamcoder (StringT [len #f] [encoding 'ascii])
+(define (bytes-left-in-port? port)
+  (not (eof-object? (peek-byte port))))
+
+(define-subclass xenomorph-base% (StringT [len #f] [encoding 'ascii])
          
-  (define/augment (decode stream [parent #f])
-    (let ([len (or (resolve-length len stream parent) (send stream count-nonzero-chars))]
+  (define/augment (decode port [parent #f])
+    (let ([len (or (resolve-length len port parent) (count-nonzero-chars port))]
           [encoding (if (procedure? encoding)
                         (or (encoding parent) 'ascii)
                         encoding)]
-          [adjustment (if (and (not len) (< (· stream pos) (· stream length))) 1 0)])
-      (define string (send stream readString len encoding))
-      (send stream pos (+ (· stream pos) adjustment))
+          [adjustment (if (and (not len) (bytes-left-in-port? port)) 1 0)])
+      (define string (read-encoded-string port len encoding))
+      (pos port (+ (pos port) adjustment))
       string))
     
 
-  (define/augment (encode stream val [parent #f])
+  (define/augment (encode port val [parent #f])
     (let* ([val (format "~a" val)]
            [encoding (if (procedure? encoding)
                          (or (encoding (and parent (· parent val)) 'ascii))
                          encoding)])
       (when (NumberT? len)
-        (send len encode stream (byte-length val encoding)))
-      (send stream writeString val encoding)
-      (when (not len) (send stream writeUInt8 #x00)))) ; null terminated when no len
+        (send len encode port (byte-length val encoding)))
+      (write-encoded-string port val encoding)
+      (when (not len) (write-byte #x00 port)))) ; null terminated when no len
 
   
   (define/augment (size [val #f] [parent #f])
diff --git a/pitfall/xenomorph/test/pointer-test.rkt b/pitfall/xenomorph/test/pointer-test.rkt
index f51e8fc9..2dbda27d 100644
--- a/pitfall/xenomorph/test/pointer-test.rkt
+++ b/pitfall/xenomorph/test/pointer-test.rkt
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      should.not.exist pointer.decode(stream, _startOffset: 50)
 
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer '(0)))]
+(let ([stream (open-input-bytes (bytes 0))]
       [pointer (+Pointer uint8 uint8)])
-  (check-false (decode pointer stream (mhash '_startOffset 50))))
+  (check-false (decode pointer stream #:parent (mhash '_startOffset 50))))
 
 ;
 ;    it 'should use local offsets from start of parent by default', ->
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      pointer.decode(stream, _startOffset: 0).should.equal 53
 
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer '(1 53)))]
+(let ([stream (open-input-bytes (bytes 1 53))]
       [pointer (+Pointer uint8 uint8)])
-  (check-equal? (decode pointer stream (mhash '_startOffset 0)) 53))
+  (check-equal? (decode pointer stream #:parent (mhash '_startOffset 0)) 53))
 
 
 ;
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      pointer.decode(stream).should.equal 53
 
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer '(1 53)))]
+(let ([stream (open-input-bytes (bytes 1 53))]
       [pointer (+Pointer uint8 uint8 (mhash 'type 'immediate))])
   (check-equal? (decode pointer stream) 53))
 
@@ -49,10 +49,10 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      pointer.decode(stream, parent: _startOffset: 2).should.equal 53
 
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer '(0 0 1 53)))]
+(let ([stream (open-input-bytes (bytes 0 0 1 53))]
       [pointer (+Pointer uint8 uint8 (mhash 'type 'parent))])
   (pos stream 2)
-  (check-equal? (decode pointer stream (mhash 'parent (mhash '_startOffset 2))) 53))
+  (check-equal? (decode pointer stream #:parent (mhash 'parent (mhash '_startOffset 2))) 53))
 
 
 ;
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      pointer.decode(stream, parent: parent: _startOffset: 2).should.equal 53
 
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer '(1 2 4 0 0 0 53)))]
+(let ([stream (open-input-bytes (bytes 1 2 4 0 0 0 53))]
       [pointer (+Pointer uint8 uint8 (mhash 'type 'global))])
   (pos stream 2)
-  (check-equal? (decode pointer stream (mhash 'parent (mhash 'parent (mhash '_startOffset 2)))) 53))
+  (check-equal? (decode pointer stream #:parent (mhash 'parent (mhash 'parent (mhash '_startOffset 2)))) 53))
 
 
 ;    it 'should support offsets relative to a property on the parent', ->
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      pointer = new Pointer uint8, uint8, relativeTo: 'parent.ptr'
 ;      pointer.decode(stream, _startOffset: 0, parent: ptr: 4).should.equal 53
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer '(1 0 0 0 0 53)))]
+(let ([stream (open-input-bytes (bytes 1 0 0 0 0 53))]
       [pointer (+Pointer uint8 uint8 (mhash 'relativeTo (λ (ctx) (· ctx parent ptr))))])
-  (check-equal? (decode pointer stream (mhash '_startOffset 0 'parent (mhash 'ptr 4))) 53))
+  (check-equal? (decode pointer stream #:parent (mhash '_startOffset 0 'parent (mhash 'ptr 4))) 53))
 
 
 ;
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      pointer = new Pointer uint8, 'void'
 ;      pointer.decode(stream, _startOffset: 0).should.equal 4
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer '(4)))]
+(let ([stream (open-input-bytes (bytes 4))]
       [pointer (+Pointer uint8 'void)])
-  (check-equal? (decode pointer stream (mhash '_startOffset 0)) 4))
+  (check-equal? (decode pointer stream #:parent (mhash '_startOffset 0)) 4))
 
 
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(res, 'ptr').enumerable.should.equal(true)
 ;      res.ptr.should.equal 53
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer '(1 53)))]
+(let ([stream (open-input-bytes (bytes 1 53))]
       [struct (+Struct (dictify 'ptr (+Pointer uint8 uint8 (mhasheq 'lazy #t))))])
   (define res (decode struct stream))
   (check-true (LazyThunk? (hash-ref (get-field _kv res) 'ptr)))
@@ -212,13 +212,13 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      stream.end()
 
 
-(let ([stream (+EncodeStream)]
+(let ([stream (open-output-bytes)]
       [ptr (+Pointer uint8 uint8)]
       [ctx (mhash 'pointerSize 0
                   'startOffset 0
                   'pointerOffset 0
                   'pointers null)])
-  (encode ptr stream #f ctx)
+  (encode ptr #f stream #:parent ctx)
   (check-equal? (· ctx pointerSize) 0)
   (check-equal? (dump stream) (+Buffer '(0))))
 
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      stream.end()
 
 
-(let ([stream (+EncodeStream)]
+(let ([stream (open-output-bytes)]
       [ptr (+Pointer uint8 uint8)]
       [ctx (mhash 'pointerSize 0
                   'startOffset 0
@@ -281,13 +281,13 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;
 ;      stream.end()
 
-(let ([stream (+EncodeStream)]
+(let ([stream (open-output-bytes)]
       [ptr (+Pointer uint8 uint8 (mhash 'type 'immediate))]
       [ctx (mhash 'pointerSize 0
                   'startOffset 0
                   'pointerOffset 1
                   'pointers null)])
-  (encode ptr stream 10 ctx)
+  (encode ptr stream 10 #:parent ctx)
   (check-equal? (· ctx pointerOffset) 2)
   (check-equal? (· ctx pointers) (list (mhasheq 'type uint8
                                                  'val 10
@@ -318,13 +318,13 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;
 ;      stream.end()
 
-(let ([stream (+EncodeStream)]
+(let ([stream (open-output-bytes)]
       [ptr (+Pointer uint8 uint8 (mhash 'type 'parent))]
       [ctx (mhash 'parent (mhash 'pointerSize 0
                                  'startOffset 3
                                  'pointerOffset 5
                                  'pointers null))])
-  (encode ptr stream 10 ctx)
+  (encode ptr stream 10 #:parent ctx)
   (check-equal? (· ctx parent pointerOffset) 6)
   (check-equal? (· ctx parent pointers) (list (mhasheq 'type uint8
                                                           'val 10
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      stream.end()
 
 
-(let ([stream (+EncodeStream)]
+(let ([stream (open-output-bytes)]
       [ptr (+Pointer uint8 uint8 (mhash 'type 'global))]
       [ctx (mhash 'parent
                   (mhash 'parent
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
                                                'startOffset 3
                                                'pointerOffset 5
                                                'pointers null))))])
-  (encode ptr stream 10 ctx)
+  (encode ptr stream 10 #:parent ctx)
   (check-equal? (· ctx parent parent parent pointerOffset) 6)
   (check-equal? (· ctx parent parent parent pointers) (list (mhasheq 'type uint8
                                                                           'val 10
@@ -399,14 +399,14 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;      stream.end()
 
 
-(let ([stream (+EncodeStream)]
+(let ([stream (open-output-bytes)]
       [ptr (+Pointer uint8 uint8 (mhash 'relativeTo (λ (ctx) (· ctx ptr))))]
       [ctx (mhash 'pointerSize 0
                   'startOffset 0
                   'pointerOffset 10
                   'pointers null
                   'val (mhash 'ptr 4))])
-  (encode ptr stream 10 ctx)
+  (encode ptr stream 10 #:parent ctx)
   (check-equal? (· ctx pointerOffset) 11)
   (check-equal? (· ctx pointers) (list (mhasheq 'type uint8
                                                  'val 10
@@ -435,13 +435,13 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;
 ;      stream.end()
 
-(let ([stream (+EncodeStream)]
+(let ([stream (open-output-bytes)]
       [ptr (+Pointer uint8 'void)]
       [ctx (mhash 'pointerSize 0
                   'startOffset 0
                   'pointerOffset 1
                   'pointers null)])
-  (encode ptr stream (+VoidPointer uint8 55) ctx)
+  (encode ptr stream (+VoidPointer uint8 55) #:parent  ctx)
   (check-equal? (· ctx pointerOffset) 2)
   (check-equal? (· ctx pointers) (list (mhasheq 'type uint8
                                                  'val 55
@@ -464,10 +464,10 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Pointer.coffee
 ;        ptr.encode(stream, 44, ctx)
 
 
-(let ([stream (+EncodeStream)]
+(let ([stream (open-output-bytes)]
       [ptr (+Pointer uint8 'void)]
       [ctx (mhash 'pointerSize 0
                   'startOffset 0
                   'pointerOffset 1
                   'pointers null)])
-  (check-exn exn:fail:contract? (λ () (encode ptr stream 44 ctx))))
\ No newline at end of file
+  (check-exn exn:fail:contract? (λ () (encode ptr stream 44 #:parent ctx))))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pitfall/xenomorph/test/reserved-test.rkt b/pitfall/xenomorph/test/reserved-test.rkt
index f98d050e..6d19cd45 100644
--- a/pitfall/xenomorph/test/reserved-test.rkt
+++ b/pitfall/xenomorph/test/reserved-test.rkt
@@ -7,44 +7,26 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/Reserved.coffee
 
 ;describe 'Reserved', ->
 ;  it 'should have a default count of 1', ->
-;    reserved = new Reserved uint8
-;    reserved.size().should.equal 1
 
-(let ([reserved (+Reserved uint8)])
-  (check-equal? (size reserved) 1))
+(check-equal? (size (+Reserved uint8)) 1)
+
 
-;
 ;  it 'should allow custom counts and types', ->
-;    reserved = new Reserved uint16, 10
-;    reserved.size().should.equal 20
 
-(let ([reserved (+Reserved uint16be 10)])
-  (check-equal? (size reserved) 20))
+(check-equal? (size (+Reserved uint16be 10)) 20)
+
 
-;
 ;  it 'should decode', ->
-;    stream = new DecodeStream new Buffer [0, 0]
-;    reserved = new Reserved uint16
-;    should.not.exist reserved.decode(stream)
-;    stream.pos.should.equal 2
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer '(0 0)))]
-      [reserved (+Reserved uint16be)])
-  (check-equal? (decode reserved stream) (void))
-  (check-equal? (pos stream) 2))
+(parameterize ([current-input-port (open-input-bytes (bytes 0 0))])
+  (define reserved (+Reserved uint16be))
+  (check-equal? (decode reserved) (void))
+  (check-equal? (pos (current-input-port)) 2))
+
 
-;
 ;  it 'should encode', (done) ->
-;    stream = new EncodeStream
-;    reserved = new Reserved uint16
-;    stream.pipe concat (buf) ->
-;      buf.should.deep.equal new Buffer [0, 0]
-;      done()
-;
-;    reserved.encode stream
-;    stream.end()
-
-(let ([stream (+EncodeStream)]
-      [reserved (+Reserved uint16be)])
-  (encode reserved stream)
-  (check-equal? (dump stream) (+Buffer '(0 0))))
\ No newline at end of file
+
+(parameterize ([current-output-port (open-output-bytes)])
+  (define reserved (+Reserved uint16be))
+  (encode reserved #f)
+  (check-equal? (dump (current-output-port)) (bytes 0 0)))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pitfall/xenomorph/test/string-test.rkt b/pitfall/xenomorph/test/string-test.rkt
index 4ee5b0f5..5ba7d324 100644
--- a/pitfall/xenomorph/test/string-test.rkt
+++ b/pitfall/xenomorph/test/string-test.rkt
@@ -9,227 +9,120 @@ https://github.com/mbutterick/restructure/blob/master/test/String.coffee
 ;describe 'String', ->
 ;  describe 'decode', ->
 ;    it 'should decode fixed length', ->
-;      stream = new DecodeStream new Buffer 'testing'
-;      string = new StringT 7
-;      string.decode(stream).should.equal 'testing'
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer "testing"))]
-      [string (+StringT 7)])
-  (check-equal? (decode string stream) "testing"))
+(parameterize ([current-input-port (open-input-bytes #"testing")])
+  (check-equal? (decode (+StringT 7)) "testing"))
+
 
-;
 ;    it 'should decode length from parent key', ->
-;      stream = new DecodeStream new Buffer 'testing'
-;      string = new StringT 'len'
-;      string.decode(stream, len: 7).should.equal 'testing'
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer "testing"))]
-      [string (+StringT 'len)])
-  (check-equal? (decode string stream (mhash 'len 7)) "testing"))
+(parameterize ([current-input-port (open-input-bytes #"testing")])
+  (check-equal? (decode (+StringT 'len) #:parent (mhash 'len 7)) "testing"))
 
 
-;
 ;    it 'should decode length as number before string', ->
-;      stream = new DecodeStream new Buffer '\x07testing'
-;      string = new StringT uint8
-;      string.decode(stream).should.equal 'testing'
-
-; octal \7 will print as \a
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer "\x07testing"))]
-      [string (+StringT uint8)])
-  (check-equal? (decode string stream (mhash 'len 7)) "testing"))
-
-;
-;    it 'should decode utf8', ->
-;      stream = new DecodeStream new Buffer '🍻'
-;      string = new StringT 4, 'utf8'
-;      string.decode(stream).should.equal '🍻'
-
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer "🍻"))]
-      [string (+StringT 4 'utf8)])
-  (check-equal? (decode string stream) "🍻"))
-;
-;    it 'should decode encoding computed from function', ->
-;      stream = new DecodeStream new Buffer '🍻'
-;      string = new StringT 4, -> 'utf8'
-;      string.decode(stream).should.equal '🍻'
-
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer "🍻"))]
-      [string (+StringT 4 (λ _ 'utf8))])
-  (check-equal? (decode string stream) "🍻"))
-
-;
+
+(parameterize ([current-input-port (open-input-bytes #"\x07testing")])
+  (check-equal? (decode (+StringT uint8) #:parent (mhash 'len 7)) "testing"))
+
+
+;;    it 'should decode utf8', ->
+
+(parameterize ([current-input-port (open-input-bytes (string->bytes/utf-8 "🍻"))])
+  (check-equal? (decode (+StringT 4 'utf8)) "🍻"))
+
+;;    it 'should decode encoding computed from function', ->
+
+(parameterize ([current-input-port (open-input-bytes (string->bytes/utf-8 "🍻"))])
+  (check-equal? (decode (+StringT 4 (λ _ 'utf8))) "🍻"))
+
+
 ;    it 'should decode null-terminated string and read past terminator', ->
-;      stream = new DecodeStream new Buffer '🍻\x00'
-;      string = new StringT null, 'utf8'
-;      string.decode(stream).should.equal '🍻'
-;      stream.pos.should.equal 5
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer "🍻\x00"))]
-      [string (+StringT #f 'utf8)])
-  (check-equal? (decode string stream) "🍻")
-  (check-equal? (pos stream) 5))
+(parameterize ([current-input-port (open-input-bytes (string->bytes/utf-8 "🍻\x00"))])
+  (check-equal? (decode (+StringT #f 'utf8)) "🍻")
+  (check-equal? (pos (current-input-port)) 5))
+
 
-;
 ;    it 'should decode remainder of buffer when null-byte missing', ->
-;      stream = new DecodeStream new Buffer '🍻'
-;      string = new StringT null, 'utf8'
-;      string.decode(stream).should.equal '🍻'
 
-(let ([stream (+DecodeStream (+Buffer "🍻"))]
-      [string (+StringT #f 'utf8)])
-  (check-equal? (decode string stream) "🍻"))
+(parameterize ([current-input-port (open-input-bytes (string->bytes/utf-8 "🍻"))])
+  (check-equal? (decode (+StringT #f 'utf8)) "🍻"))
+
 
-;
 ;  describe 'size', ->
 ;    it 'should use string length', ->
-;      string = new StringT 7
-;      string.size('testing').should.equal 7
 
-(let ([string (+StringT 7)])
-  (check-equal? (size string "testing") 7))
+(check-equal? (size (+StringT 7) "testing") 7)
+
 
-;
 ;    it 'should use correct encoding', ->
-;      string = new StringT 10, 'utf8'
-;      string.size('🍻').should.equal 4
 
-(let ([string (+StringT 10 'utf8)])
-  (check-equal? (size string "🍻") 4))
+(check-equal? (size (+StringT 10 'utf8) "🍻") 4)
+
 
-;
 ;    it 'should use encoding from function', ->
-;      string = new StringT 10, -> 'utf8'
-;      string.size('🍻').should.equal 4
 
-(let ([string (+StringT 10 (λ _ 'utf8))])
-  (check-equal? (size string "🍻") 4))
+(check-equal? (size (+StringT 10 (λ _ 'utf8)) "🍻") 4)
+
 
-;
 ;    it 'should add size of length field before string', ->
-;      string = new StringT uint8, 'utf8'
-;      string.size('🍻').should.equal 5
 
-(let ([string (+StringT uint8 'utf8)])
-  (check-equal? (size string "🍻") 5))
+(check-equal? (size (+StringT uint8 'utf8) "🍻") 5)
+
 
 ; todo
 ;    it 'should work with utf16be encoding', ->
-;      string = new StringT 10, 'utf16be'
-;      string.size('🍻').should.equal 4
 
 
-;
 ;    it 'should take null-byte into account', ->
-;      string = new StringT null, 'utf8'
-;      string.size('🍻').should.equal 5
 
-(let ([string (+StringT #f 'utf8)])
-  (check-equal? (size string "🍻") 5))
+(check-equal? (size (+StringT #f 'utf8) "🍻") 5)
 
-;      
+      
 ;    it 'should use defined length if no value given', ->
-;      array = new StringT 10
-;      array.size().should.equal 10
 
-(let ([string (+StringT 10)])
-  (check-equal? (size string) 10))
+(check-equal? (size (+StringT 10)) 10)
 
 ;      
 ;  describe 'encode', ->
 ;    it 'should encode using string length', (done) ->
-;      stream = new EncodeStream
-;      stream.pipe concat (buf) ->
-;        buf.should.deep.equal new Buffer 'testing'
-;        done()
-;
-;      string = new StringT 7
-;      string.encode(stream, 'testing')
-;      stream.end()
-
-(let ([string (+StringT 7)]
-      [stream (+EncodeStream)])
-  (encode string stream "testing")
-  (check-equal? (dump stream) #"testing"))
-
-
-;
+
+(parameterize ([current-output-port (open-output-bytes)])
+  (encode (+StringT 7) "testing")
+  (check-equal? (dump (current-output-port)) #"testing"))
+
+
 ;    it 'should encode length as number before string', (done) ->
-;      stream = new EncodeStream
-;      stream.pipe concat (buf) ->
-;        buf.should.deep.equal new Buffer '\x07testing'
-;        done()
-;
-;      string = new StringT uint8
-;      string.encode(stream, 'testing')
-;      stream.end()
-
-(let ([string (+StringT uint8)]
-      [stream (+EncodeStream)])
-  (encode string stream "testing")
-  (check-equal? (dump stream) #"\x07testing"))
-
-;
+
+(parameterize ([current-output-port (open-output-bytes)])
+  (encode (+StringT uint8) "testing")
+  (check-equal? (dump (current-output-port)) #"\x07testing"))
+
+
 ;    it 'should encode length as number before string utf8', (done) ->
-;      stream = new EncodeStream
-;      stream.pipe concat (buf) ->
-;        buf.should.deep.equal new Buffer '\x0ctesting 😜', 'utf8'
-;        done()
-;
-;      string = new StringT uint8, 'utf8'
-;      string.encode(stream, 'testing 😜')
-;      stream.end()
-
-(let ([string (+StringT uint8 'utf8)]
-      [stream (+EncodeStream)])
-  (encode string stream "testing 😜")
-  (check-equal? (dump stream) (+Buffer "\x0ctesting 😜" 'utf8)))
-
-;
+
+(parameterize ([current-output-port (open-output-bytes)])
+  (encode (+StringT uint8 'utf8) "testing 😜")
+  (check-equal? (dump (current-output-port)) (string->bytes/utf-8 "\x0ctesting 😜")))
+
+
 ;    it 'should encode utf8', (done) ->
-;      stream = new EncodeStream
-;      stream.pipe concat (buf) ->
-;        buf.should.deep.equal new Buffer '🍻'
-;        done()
-;
-;      string = new StringT 4, 'utf8'
-;      string.encode(stream, '🍻')
-;      stream.end()
-
-(let ([string (+StringT 4 'utf8)]
-      [stream (+EncodeStream)])
-  (encode string stream "🍻")
-  (check-equal? (dump stream) (+Buffer "🍻")))
-
-;
+
+(parameterize ([current-output-port (open-output-bytes)])
+  (encode (+StringT 4 'utf8) "🍻" )
+  (check-equal? (dump (current-output-port)) (string->bytes/utf-8 "🍻")))
+
+
 ;    it 'should encode encoding computed from function', (done) ->
-;      stream = new EncodeStream
-;      stream.pipe concat (buf) ->
-;        buf.should.deep.equal new Buffer '🍻'
-;        done()
-;
-;      string = new StringT 4, -> 'utf8'
-;      string.encode(stream, '🍻')
-;      stream.end()
-
-(let ([string (+StringT 4 (λ _ 'utf8))]
-      [stream (+EncodeStream)])
-  (encode string stream "🍻")
-  (check-equal? (dump stream) (+Buffer "🍻")))
-
-;
+
+(parameterize ([current-output-port (open-output-bytes)])
+  (encode (+StringT 4 (λ _ 'utf8)) "🍻")
+  (check-equal? (dump (current-output-port)) (string->bytes/utf-8 "🍻")))
+
+
 ;    it 'should encode null-terminated string', (done) ->
-;      stream = new EncodeStream
-;      stream.pipe concat (buf) ->
-;        buf.should.deep.equal new Buffer '🍻\x00'
-;        done()
-;
-;      string = new StringT null, 'utf8'
-;      string.encode(stream, '🍻')
-;      stream.end()
-
-
-(let ([string (+StringT #f 'utf8)]
-      [stream (+EncodeStream)])
-  (encode string stream "🍻")
-  (check-equal? (dump stream) (+Buffer "🍻\x00")))
\ No newline at end of file
+
+(parameterize ([current-output-port (open-output-bytes)])
+  (encode (+StringT #f 'utf8) "🍻"  )
+  (check-equal? (dump (current-output-port)) (string->bytes/utf-8 "🍻\x00")))
\ No newline at end of file