Merge pull request #5530 from odin-lang/bill/utf16-strings

UTF-16 string types: `string16` & `cstring16`

66 files changed, 2218 insertions, 227 deletions

diff --git a/base/intrinsics/intrinsics.odin b/base/intrinsics/intrinsics.odin
index be75739fe..d45d24f48 100644
--- a/base/intrinsics/intrinsics.odin
+++ b/base/intrinsics/intrinsics.odin
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ type_is_quaternion :: proc($T: typeid) -> bool ---
 type_is_string     :: proc($T: typeid) -> bool ---
 type_is_typeid     :: proc($T: typeid) -> bool ---
 type_is_any        :: proc($T: typeid) -> bool ---
+type_is_string16   :: proc($T: typeid) -> bool ---
 
 type_is_endian_platform       :: proc($T: typeid) -> bool ---
 type_is_endian_little         :: proc($T: typeid) -> bool ---
diff --git a/base/runtime/core.odin b/base/runtime/core.odin
index baecb4146..478a3d307 100644
--- a/base/runtime/core.odin
+++ b/base/runtime/core.odin
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ Type_Info_Struct_Soa_Kind :: enum u8 {
 	Dynamic = 3,
 }
 
+Type_Info_String_Encoding_Kind :: enum u8 {
+	UTF_8  = 0,
+	UTF_16 = 1,
+}
+
 // Variant Types
 Type_Info_Named :: struct {
 	name: string,
@@ -73,7 +78,7 @@ Type_Info_Rune       :: struct {}
 Type_Info_Float      :: struct {endianness: Platform_Endianness}
 Type_Info_Complex    :: struct {}
 Type_Info_Quaternion :: struct {}
-Type_Info_String     :: struct {is_cstring: bool}
+Type_Info_String     :: struct {is_cstring: bool, encoding: Type_Info_String_Encoding_Kind}
 Type_Info_Boolean    :: struct {}
 Type_Info_Any        :: struct {}
 Type_Info_Type_Id    :: struct {}
@@ -397,6 +402,11 @@ Raw_String :: struct {
 	len:  int,
 }
 
+Raw_String16 :: struct {
+	data: [^]u16,
+	len:  int,
+}
+
 Raw_Slice :: struct {
 	data: rawptr,
 	len:  int,
@@ -450,6 +460,12 @@ Raw_Cstring :: struct {
 }
 #assert(size_of(Raw_Cstring) == size_of(cstring))
 
+Raw_Cstring16 :: struct {
+	data: [^]u16,
+}
+#assert(size_of(Raw_Cstring16) == size_of(cstring16))
+
+
 Raw_Soa_Pointer :: struct {
 	data:  rawptr,
 	index: int,
diff --git a/base/runtime/core_builtin.odin b/base/runtime/core_builtin.odin
index e2ba14f3a..09118998c 100644
--- a/base/runtime/core_builtin.odin
+++ b/base/runtime/core_builtin.odin
@@ -86,11 +86,26 @@ copy_from_string :: proc "contextless" (dst: $T/[]$E/u8, src: $S/string) -> int
 	}
 	return n
 }
+
+// `copy_from_string16` is a built-in procedure that copies elements from a source string `src` to a destination slice `dst`.
+// The source and destination may overlap. Copy returns the number of elements copied, which will be the minimum
+// of len(src) and len(dst).
+//
+// Prefer the procedure group `copy`.
+@builtin
+copy_from_string16 :: proc "contextless" (dst: $T/[]$E/u16, src: $S/string16) -> int {
+	n := min(len(dst), len(src))
+	if n > 0 {
+		intrinsics.mem_copy(raw_data(dst), raw_data(src), n*size_of(u16))
+	}
+	return n
+}
+
 // `copy` is a built-in procedure that copies elements from a source slice/string `src` to a destination slice `dst`.
 // The source and destination may overlap. Copy returns the number of elements copied, which will be the minimum
 // of len(src) and len(dst).
 @builtin
-copy :: proc{copy_slice, copy_from_string}
+copy :: proc{copy_slice, copy_from_string, copy_from_string16}
 
 
 
@@ -285,6 +300,15 @@ delete_map :: proc(m: $T/map[$K]$V, loc := #caller_location) -> Allocator_Error
 }
 
 
+@builtin
+delete_string16 :: proc(str: string16, allocator := context.allocator, loc := #caller_location) -> Allocator_Error {
+	return mem_free_with_size(raw_data(str), len(str)*size_of(u16), allocator, loc)
+}
+@builtin
+delete_cstring16 :: proc(str: cstring16, allocator := context.allocator, loc := #caller_location) -> Allocator_Error {
+	return mem_free((^u16)(str), allocator, loc)
+}
+
 // `delete` will try to free the underlying data of the passed built-in data structure (string, cstring, dynamic array, slice, or map), with the given `allocator` if the allocator supports this operation.
 //
 // Note: Prefer `delete` over the specific `delete_*` procedures where possible.
@@ -297,6 +321,8 @@ delete :: proc{
 	delete_map,
 	delete_soa_slice,
 	delete_soa_dynamic_array,
+	delete_string16,
+	delete_cstring16,
 }
 
 
diff --git a/base/runtime/internal.odin b/base/runtime/internal.odin
index 907b187f1..4f9509b23 100644
--- a/base/runtime/internal.odin
+++ b/base/runtime/internal.odin
@@ -493,12 +493,40 @@ string_cmp :: proc "contextless" (a, b: string) -> int {
 	return ret
 }
 
+
+string16_eq :: proc "contextless" (lhs, rhs: string16) -> bool {
+	x := transmute(Raw_String16)lhs
+	y := transmute(Raw_String16)rhs
+	if x.len != y.len {
+		return false
+	}
+	return #force_inline memory_equal(x.data, y.data, x.len*size_of(u16))
+}
+
+string16_cmp :: proc "contextless" (a, b: string16) -> int {
+	x := transmute(Raw_String16)a
+	y := transmute(Raw_String16)b
+
+	ret := memory_compare(x.data, y.data, min(x.len, y.len)*size_of(u16))
+	if ret == 0 && x.len != y.len {
+		return -1 if x.len < y.len else +1
+	}
+	return ret
+}
+
 string_ne :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: string) -> bool { return !string_eq(a, b) }
 string_lt :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: string) -> bool { return string_cmp(a, b) < 0 }
 string_gt :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: string) -> bool { return string_cmp(a, b) > 0 }
 string_le :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: string) -> bool { return string_cmp(a, b) <= 0 }
 string_ge :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: string) -> bool { return string_cmp(a, b) >= 0 }
 
+string16_ne :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: string16) -> bool { return !string16_eq(a, b) }
+string16_lt :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: string16) -> bool { return string16_cmp(a, b) < 0 }
+string16_gt :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: string16) -> bool { return string16_cmp(a, b) > 0 }
+string16_le :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: string16) -> bool { return string16_cmp(a, b) <= 0 }
+string16_ge :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: string16) -> bool { return string16_cmp(a, b) >= 0 }
+
+
 cstring_len :: proc "contextless" (s: cstring) -> int {
 	p0 := uintptr((^byte)(s))
 	p := p0
@@ -508,6 +536,16 @@ cstring_len :: proc "contextless" (s: cstring) -> int {
 	return int(p - p0)
 }
 
+cstring16_len :: proc "contextless" (s: cstring16) -> int {
+	p := ([^]u16)(s)
+	n := 0
+	for p != nil && p[0] != 0 {
+		p = p[1:]
+		n += 1
+	}
+	return n
+}
+
 cstring_to_string :: proc "contextless" (s: cstring) -> string {
 	if s == nil {
 		return ""
@@ -517,6 +555,15 @@ cstring_to_string :: proc "contextless" (s: cstring) -> string {
 	return transmute(string)Raw_String{ptr, n}
 }
 
+cstring16_to_string16 :: proc "contextless" (s: cstring16) -> string16 {
+	if s == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	ptr := (^u16)(s)
+	n := cstring16_len(s)
+	return transmute(string16)Raw_String16{ptr, n}
+}
+
 
 cstring_eq :: proc "contextless" (lhs, rhs: cstring) -> bool {
 	x := ([^]byte)(lhs)
@@ -559,6 +606,46 @@ cstring_gt :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: cstring) -> bool { return
 cstring_le :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: cstring) -> bool { return cstring_cmp(a, b) <= 0 }
 cstring_ge :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: cstring) -> bool { return cstring_cmp(a, b) >= 0 }
 
+cstring16_eq :: proc "contextless" (lhs, rhs: cstring16) -> bool {
+	x := ([^]u16)(lhs)
+	y := ([^]u16)(rhs)
+	if x == y {
+		return true
+	}
+	if (x == nil) ~ (y == nil) {
+		return false
+	}
+	xn := cstring16_len(lhs)
+	yn := cstring16_len(rhs)
+	if xn != yn {
+		return false
+	}
+	return #force_inline memory_equal(x, y, xn*size_of(u16))
+}
+
+cstring16_cmp :: proc "contextless" (lhs, rhs: cstring16) -> int {
+	x := ([^]u16)(lhs)
+	y := ([^]u16)(rhs)
+	if x == y {
+		return 0
+	}
+	if (x == nil) ~ (y == nil) {
+		return -1 if x == nil else +1
+	}
+	xn := cstring16_len(lhs)
+	yn := cstring16_len(rhs)
+	ret := memory_compare(x, y, min(xn, yn)*size_of(u16))
+	if ret == 0 && xn != yn {
+		return -1 if xn < yn else +1
+	}
+	return ret
+}
+
+cstring16_ne :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: cstring16) -> bool { return !cstring16_eq(a, b) }
+cstring16_lt :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: cstring16) -> bool { return cstring16_cmp(a, b) < 0 }
+cstring16_gt :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: cstring16) -> bool { return cstring16_cmp(a, b) > 0 }
+cstring16_le :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: cstring16) -> bool { return cstring16_cmp(a, b) <= 0 }
+cstring16_ge :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (a, b: cstring16) -> bool { return cstring16_cmp(a, b) >= 0 }
 
 complex32_eq :: #force_inline proc "contextless"  (a, b: complex32)  -> bool { return real(a) == real(b) && imag(a) == imag(b) }
 complex32_ne :: #force_inline proc "contextless"  (a, b: complex32)  -> bool { return real(a) != real(b) || imag(a) != imag(b) }
@@ -694,6 +781,68 @@ string_decode_last_rune :: proc "contextless" (s: string) -> (rune, int) {
 	return r, size
 }
 
+
+string16_decode_rune :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (s: string16) -> (rune, int) {
+	REPLACEMENT_CHAR :: '\ufffd'
+	_surr1           :: 0xd800
+	_surr2           :: 0xdc00
+	_surr3           :: 0xe000
+	_surr_self       :: 0x10000
+
+	r := rune(REPLACEMENT_CHAR)
+
+	if len(s) < 1 {
+		return r, 0
+	}
+
+	w := 1
+	switch c := s[0]; {
+	case c < _surr1, _surr3 <= c:
+		r = rune(c)
+	case _surr1 <= c && c < _surr2 && 1 < len(s) &&
+		_surr2 <= s[1] && s[1] < _surr3:
+		r1, r2 := rune(c), rune(s[1])
+		if _surr1 <= r1 && r1 < _surr2 && _surr2 <= r2 && r2 < _surr3 {
+			r = (r1-_surr1)<<10 | (r2 - _surr2) + _surr_self
+		}
+		w += 1
+	}
+	return r, w
+}
+
+string16_decode_last_rune :: proc "contextless" (s: string16) -> (rune, int) {
+	REPLACEMENT_CHAR :: '\ufffd'
+	_surr1           :: 0xd800
+	_surr2           :: 0xdc00
+	_surr3           :: 0xe000
+	_surr_self       :: 0x10000
+
+	r := rune(REPLACEMENT_CHAR)
+
+	if len(s) < 1 {
+		return r, 0
+	}
+
+	n := len(s)-1
+	c := s[n]
+	w := 1
+	if _surr2 <= c && c < _surr3 {
+		if n >= 1 {
+			r1 := rune(s[n-1])
+			r2 := rune(c)
+			if _surr1 <= r1 && r1 < _surr2 {
+				r = (r1-_surr1)<<10 | (r2 - _surr2) + _surr_self
+			}
+			w = 2
+		}
+	} else if c < _surr1 || _surr3 <= c {
+		r = rune(c)
+	}
+	return r, w
+}
+
+
+
 abs_complex32 :: #force_inline proc "contextless" (x: complex32) -> f16 {
 	p, q := abs(real(x)), abs(imag(x))
 	if p < q {
diff --git a/base/runtime/print.odin b/base/runtime/print.odin
index 145f002d1..2cfb6661b 100644
--- a/base/runtime/print.odin
+++ b/base/runtime/print.odin
@@ -293,7 +293,14 @@ print_type :: #force_no_inline proc "contextless" (ti: ^Type_Info) {
 		print_string("quaternion")
 		print_u64(u64(8*ti.size))
 	case Type_Info_String:
+		if info.is_cstring {
+			print_byte('c')
+		}
 		print_string("string")
+		switch info.encoding {
+		case .UTF_8:  /**/
+		case .UTF_16: print_string("16")
+		}
 	case Type_Info_Boolean:
 		switch ti.id {
 		case bool: print_string("bool")
diff --git a/core/c/libc/locale.odin b/core/c/libc/locale.odin
index 27317526c..3216e0f90 100644
--- a/core/c/libc/locale.odin
+++ b/core/c/libc/locale.odin
@@ -72,14 +72,14 @@ when ODIN_OS == .Windows {
 		n_sep_by_space:       c.char,
 		p_sign_posn:          c.char,
 		n_sign_posn:          c.char,
-		_W_decimal_point:     [^]u16 `fmt:"s,0"`,
-		_W_thousands_sep:     [^]u16 `fmt:"s,0"`,
-		_W_int_curr_symbol:   [^]u16 `fmt:"s,0"`,
-		_W_currency_symbol:   [^]u16 `fmt:"s,0"`,
-		_W_mon_decimal_point: [^]u16 `fmt:"s,0"`,
-		_W_mon_thousands_sep: [^]u16 `fmt:"s,0"`,
-		_W_positive_sign:     [^]u16 `fmt:"s,0"`,
-		_W_negative_sign:     [^]u16 `fmt:"s,0"`,
+		_W_decimal_point:     cstring16,
+		_W_thousands_sep:     cstring16,
+		_W_int_curr_symbol:   cstring16,
+		_W_currency_symbol:   cstring16,
+		_W_mon_decimal_point: cstring16,
+		_W_mon_thousands_sep: cstring16,
+		_W_positive_sign:     cstring16,
+		_W_negative_sign:     cstring16,
 	}
 } else {
 	lconv :: struct {
diff --git a/core/debug/trace/trace_windows.odin b/core/debug/trace/trace_windows.odin
index 96507714c..04e92f125 100644
--- a/core/debug/trace/trace_windows.odin
+++ b/core/debug/trace/trace_windows.odin
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ _resolve :: proc(ctx: ^Context, frame: Frame, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (
 	symbol.SizeOfStruct = size_of(symbol^)
 	symbol.MaxNameLen = 255
 	if win32.SymFromAddrW(ctx.impl.hProcess, win32.DWORD64(frame), &{}, symbol) {
-		fl.procedure, _ = win32.wstring_to_utf8(&symbol.Name[0], -1, allocator)
+		fl.procedure, _ = win32.wstring_to_utf8(cstring16(&symbol.Name[0]), -1, allocator)
 	} else {
 		fl.procedure = fmt.aprintf("(procedure: 0x%x)", frame, allocator=allocator)
 	}
diff --git a/core/dynlib/lib_windows.odin b/core/dynlib/lib_windows.odin
index 05cd2cb3c..95372dac6 100644
--- a/core/dynlib/lib_windows.odin
+++ b/core/dynlib/lib_windows.odin
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ _LIBRARY_FILE_EXTENSION :: "dll"
 _load_library :: proc(path: string, global_symbols: bool, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (Library, bool) {
 	// NOTE(bill): 'global_symbols' is here only for consistency with POSIX which has RTLD_GLOBAL
 	wide_path := win32.utf8_to_wstring(path, allocator)
-	defer free(wide_path, allocator)
+	defer free(rawptr(wide_path), allocator)
 	handle := cast(Library)win32.LoadLibraryW(wide_path)
 	return handle, handle != nil
 }
diff --git a/core/encoding/cbor/tags.odin b/core/encoding/cbor/tags.odin
index 17420af46..ae1664dfc 100644
--- a/core/encoding/cbor/tags.odin
+++ b/core/encoding/cbor/tags.odin
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ tag_base64_unmarshal :: proc(_: ^Tag_Implementation, d: Decoder, _: Tag_Number,
 
 	#partial switch t in ti.variant {
 	case reflect.Type_Info_String:
-
+		assert(t.encoding == .UTF_8)
 		if t.is_cstring {
 			length  := base64.decoded_len(bytes)
 			builder := strings.builder_make(0, length+1)
diff --git a/core/encoding/cbor/unmarshal.odin b/core/encoding/cbor/unmarshal.odin
index 365ac5d6f..043b2ec60 100644
--- a/core/encoding/cbor/unmarshal.odin
+++ b/core/encoding/cbor/unmarshal.odin
@@ -335,6 +335,8 @@ _unmarshal_value :: proc(d: Decoder, v: any, hdr: Header, allocator := context.a
 _unmarshal_bytes :: proc(d: Decoder, v: any, ti: ^reflect.Type_Info, hdr: Header, add: Add, allocator := context.allocator, loc := #caller_location) -> (err: Unmarshal_Error) {
 	#partial switch t in ti.variant {
 	case reflect.Type_Info_String:
+		assert(t.encoding == .UTF_8)
+
 		bytes := err_conv(_decode_bytes(d, add, allocator=allocator, loc=loc)) or_return
 
 		if t.is_cstring {
diff --git a/core/encoding/json/marshal.odin b/core/encoding/json/marshal.odin
index ebb9a639c..cdb00a354 100644
--- a/core/encoding/json/marshal.odin
+++ b/core/encoding/json/marshal.odin
@@ -353,10 +353,10 @@ marshal_to_writer :: proc(w: io.Writer, v: any, opt: ^Marshal_Options) -> (err:
 			#partial switch info in ti.variant {
 			case runtime.Type_Info_String:
 				switch x in v {
-				case string:
-					return x == ""
-				case cstring:
-					return x == nil || x == ""
+				case string:    return x == ""
+				case cstring:   return x == nil || x == ""
+				case string16:  return x == ""
+				case cstring16: return x == nil || x == ""
 				}
 			case runtime.Type_Info_Any:
 				return v.(any) == nil
diff --git a/core/encoding/json/unmarshal.odin b/core/encoding/json/unmarshal.odin
index b9ed1476f..0b65adaac 100644
--- a/core/encoding/json/unmarshal.odin
+++ b/core/encoding/json/unmarshal.odin
@@ -570,7 +570,9 @@ unmarshal_object :: proc(p: ^Parser, v: any, end_token: Token_Kind) -> (err: Unm
 			key_ptr: rawptr
 
 			#partial switch tk in t.key.variant {
-				case runtime.Type_Info_String:			
+				case runtime.Type_Info_String:
+					assert(tk.encoding == .UTF_8)
+
 					key_ptr = rawptr(&key)
 					key_cstr: cstring
 					if reflect.is_cstring(t.key) {
diff --git a/core/flags/internal_rtti.odin b/core/flags/internal_rtti.odin
index 1c559ca55..a1b050597 100644
--- a/core/flags/internal_rtti.odin
+++ b/core/flags/internal_rtti.odin
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ parse_and_set_pointer_by_base_type :: proc(ptr: rawptr, str: string, type_info:
 		}
 
 	case runtime.Type_Info_String:
+		assert(specific_type_info.encoding == .UTF_8)
+
 		if specific_type_info.is_cstring {
 			cstr_ptr := (^cstring)(ptr)
 			if cstr_ptr != nil {
diff --git a/core/fmt/fmt.odin b/core/fmt/fmt.odin
index 0f6470cca..9c245de94 100644
--- a/core/fmt/fmt.odin
+++ b/core/fmt/fmt.odin
@@ -1551,6 +1551,79 @@ fmt_string :: proc(fi: ^Info, s: string, verb: rune) {
 fmt_cstring :: proc(fi: ^Info, s: cstring, verb: rune) {
 	fmt_string(fi, string(s), verb)
 }
+
+// Formats a string UTF-16 with a specific format.
+//
+// Inputs:
+// - fi: Pointer to the Info struct containing format settings.
+// - s: The string to format.
+// - verb: The format specifier character (e.g. 's', 'v', 'q', 'x', 'X').
+//
+fmt_string16 :: proc(fi: ^Info, s: string16, verb: rune) {
+	s, verb := s, verb
+	if ol, ok := fi.optional_len.?; ok {
+		s = s[:clamp(ol, 0, len(s))]
+	}
+	if !fi.in_bad && fi.record_level > 0 && verb == 'v' {
+		verb = 'q'
+	}
+
+	switch verb {
+	case 's', 'v':
+		if fi.width_set {
+			if fi.width > len(s) {
+				if fi.minus {
+					io.write_string16(fi.writer, s, &fi.n)
+				}
+
+				for _ in 0..<fi.width - len(s) {
+					io.write_byte(fi.writer, ' ', &fi.n)
+				}
+
+				if !fi.minus {
+					io.write_string16(fi.writer, s, &fi.n)
+				}
+			} else {
+				io.write_string16(fi.writer, s, &fi.n)
+			}
+		} else {
+			io.write_string16(fi.writer, s, &fi.n)
+		}
+
+	case 'q', 'w': // quoted string
+		io.write_quoted_string16(fi.writer, s, '"', &fi.n)
+
+	case 'x', 'X':
+		space := fi.space
+		fi.space = false
+		defer fi.space = space
+
+		for i in 0..<len(s) {
+			if i > 0 && space {
+				io.write_byte(fi.writer, ' ', &fi.n)
+			}
+			char_set := __DIGITS_UPPER
+			if verb == 'x' {
+				char_set = __DIGITS_LOWER
+			}
+			_fmt_int(fi, u64(s[i]), 16, false, bit_size=16, digits=char_set)
+		}
+
+	case:
+		fmt_bad_verb(fi, verb)
+	}
+}
+// Formats a C-style UTF-16 string with a specific format.
+//
+// Inputs:
+// - fi: Pointer to the Info struct containing format settings.
+// - s: The C-style string to format.
+// - verb: The format specifier character (Ref fmt_string).
+//
+fmt_cstring16 :: proc(fi: ^Info, s: cstring16, verb: rune) {
+	fmt_string16(fi, string16(s), verb)
+}
+
 // Formats a raw pointer with a specific format.
 //
 // Inputs:
@@ -2273,14 +2346,14 @@ fmt_array :: proc(fi: ^Info, data: rawptr, n: int, elem_size: int, elem: ^reflec
 		}
 
 		switch reflect.type_info_base(elem).id {
-		case byte:  fmt_string(fi, string(([^]byte)(data)[:n]), verb); return
-		case u16:   print_utf16(fi, ([^]u16)(data)[:n]);               return
-		case u16le: print_utf16(fi, ([^]u16le)(data)[:n]);             return
-		case u16be: print_utf16(fi, ([^]u16be)(data)[:n]);             return
-		case u32:   print_utf32(fi, ([^]u32)(data)[:n]);               return
-		case u32le: print_utf32(fi, ([^]u32le)(data)[:n]);             return
-		case u32be: print_utf32(fi, ([^]u32be)(data)[:n]);             return
-		case rune:  print_utf32(fi, ([^]rune)(data)[:n]);              return
+		case byte:  fmt_string(fi,   string  (([^]byte)(data)[:n]), verb); return
+		case u16:   fmt_string16(fi, string16(([^]u16) (data)[:n]), verb); return
+		case u16le: print_utf16(fi, ([^]u16le)(data)[:n]); return
+		case u16be: print_utf16(fi, ([^]u16be)(data)[:n]); return
+		case u32:   print_utf32(fi, ([^]u32)(data)[:n]);   return
+		case u32le: print_utf32(fi, ([^]u32le)(data)[:n]); return
+		case u32be: print_utf32(fi, ([^]u32be)(data)[:n]); return
+		case rune:  print_utf32(fi, ([^]rune)(data)[:n]);  return
 		}
 	}
 	if verb == 'p' {
@@ -3210,6 +3283,9 @@ fmt_arg :: proc(fi: ^Info, arg: any, verb: rune) {
 	case string:  fmt_string(fi, a, verb)
 	case cstring: fmt_cstring(fi, a, verb)
 
+	case string16:  fmt_string16(fi, a, verb)
+	case cstring16: fmt_cstring16(fi, a, verb)
+
 	case typeid:  reflect.write_typeid(fi.writer, a, &fi.n)
 
 	case i16le:     fmt_int(fi, u64(a), true,  16, verb)
diff --git a/core/io/io.odin b/core/io/io.odin
index c2b44cbdb..c4eb6a073 100644
--- a/core/io/io.odin
+++ b/core/io/io.odin
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ package io
 
 import "base:intrinsics"
 import "core:unicode/utf8"
+import "core:unicode/utf16"
 
 // Seek whence values
 Seek_From :: enum {
@@ -314,6 +315,29 @@ write_string :: proc(s: Writer, str: string, n_written: ^int = nil) -> (n: int,
 	return write(s, transmute([]byte)str, n_written)
 }
 
+// write_string16 writes the contents of the string16 s to w reencoded as utf-8
+write_string16 :: proc(s: Writer, str: string16, n_written: ^int = nil) -> (n: int, err: Error) {
+	for i := 0; i < len(str); i += 1 {
+		r := rune(utf16.REPLACEMENT_CHAR)
+		switch c := str[i]; {
+		case c < utf16._surr1, utf16._surr3 <= c:
+			r = rune(c)
+		case utf16._surr1 <= c && c < utf16._surr2 && i+1 < len(str) &&
+		     utf16._surr2 <= str[i+1] && str[i+1] < utf16._surr3:
+			r = utf16.decode_surrogate_pair(rune(c), rune(str[i+1]))
+			i += 1
+		}
+
+		w: int
+		w, err = write_rune(s, r, n_written)
+		n += w
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	return
+}
+
 // write_rune writes a UTF-8 encoded rune to w.
 write_rune :: proc(s: Writer, r: rune, n_written: ^int = nil) -> (size: int, err: Error) {
 	defer if err == nil && n_written != nil {
diff --git a/core/io/util.odin b/core/io/util.odin
index fa98e007b..72983523a 100644
--- a/core/io/util.odin
+++ b/core/io/util.odin
@@ -264,6 +264,33 @@ write_quoted_string :: proc(w: Writer, str: string, quote: byte = '"', n_written
 	return
 }
 
+write_quoted_string16 :: proc(w: Writer, str: string16, quote: byte = '"', n_written: ^int = nil, for_json := false) -> (n: int, err: Error) {
+	defer if n_written != nil {
+		n_written^ += n
+	}
+	write_byte(w, quote, &n) or_return
+	for width, s := 0, str; len(s) > 0; s = s[width:] {
+		r := rune(s[0])
+		width = 1
+		if r >= utf8.RUNE_SELF {
+			r, width = utf16.decode_rune_in_string(s)
+		}
+		if width == 1 && r == utf8.RUNE_ERROR {
+			write_byte(w, '\\', &n)                   or_return
+			write_byte(w, 'x', &n)                    or_return
+			write_byte(w, DIGITS_LOWER[s[0]>>4], &n)  or_return
+			write_byte(w, DIGITS_LOWER[s[0]&0xf], &n) or_return
+			continue
+		}
+
+		n_wrapper(write_escaped_rune(w, r, quote, false, nil, for_json), &n) or_return
+
+	}
+	write_byte(w, quote, &n) or_return
+	return
+}
+
+
 // writer append a quoted rune into the byte buffer, return the written size
 write_quoted_rune :: proc(w: Writer, r: rune) -> (n: int) {
 	_write_byte :: #force_inline proc(w: Writer, c: byte) -> int {
diff --git a/core/mem/virtual/virtual_windows.odin b/core/mem/virtual/virtual_windows.odin
index 0da8498d5..3fd4eeb68 100644
--- a/core/mem/virtual/virtual_windows.odin
+++ b/core/mem/virtual/virtual_windows.odin
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ foreign Kernel32 {
 		flProtect:               u32,
 		dwMaximumSizeHigh:       u32,
 		dwMaximumSizeLow:        u32,
-		lpName:                  [^]u16,
+		lpName:                  cstring16,
 	) -> rawptr ---
 
 	MapViewOfFile :: proc(
diff --git a/core/os/dir_windows.odin b/core/os/dir_windows.odin
index ae3e6922c..40f4b9e9b 100644
--- a/core/os/dir_windows.odin
+++ b/core/os/dir_windows.odin
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ read_dir :: proc(fd: Handle, n: int, allocator := context.allocator) -> (fi: []F
 	defer delete(path)
 
 	find_data := &win32.WIN32_FIND_DATAW{}
-	find_handle := win32.FindFirstFileW(raw_data(wpath_search), find_data)
+	find_handle := win32.FindFirstFileW(cstring16(raw_data(wpath_search)), find_data)
 	if find_handle == win32.INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE {
 		err = get_last_error()
 		return dfi[:], err
diff --git a/core/os/os2/dir_windows.odin b/core/os/os2/dir_windows.odin
index 4cf1f8396..6c754a677 100644
--- a/core/os/os2/dir_windows.odin
+++ b/core/os/os2/dir_windows.odin
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ find_data_to_file_info :: proc(base_path: string, d: ^win32.WIN32_FIND_DATAW, al
 	}
 
 	temp_allocator := TEMP_ALLOCATOR_GUARD({ allocator })
-	path := concatenate({base_path, `\`, win32_wstring_to_utf8(raw_data(d.cFileName[:]), temp_allocator) or_else ""}, allocator) or_return
+	path := concatenate({base_path, `\`, win32_wstring_to_utf8(cstring16(raw_data(d.cFileName[:])), temp_allocator) or_else ""}, allocator) or_return
 
 	handle := win32.HANDLE(_open_internal(path, {.Read}, 0o666) or_else 0)
 	defer win32.CloseHandle(handle)
@@ -107,15 +107,7 @@ _read_directory_iterator_init :: proc(it: ^Read_Directory_Iterator, f: ^File) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	wpath: []u16
-	{
-		i := 0
-		for impl.wname[i] != 0 {
-			i += 1
-		}
-		wpath = impl.wname[:i]
-	}
-
+	wpath := string16(impl.wname)
 	temp_allocator := TEMP_ALLOCATOR_GUARD({})
 
 	wpath_search := make([]u16, len(wpath)+3, temp_allocator)
@@ -124,7 +116,7 @@ _read_directory_iterator_init :: proc(it: ^Read_Directory_Iterator, f: ^File) {
 	wpath_search[len(wpath)+1] = '*'
 	wpath_search[len(wpath)+2] = 0
 
-	it.impl.find_handle = win32.FindFirstFileW(raw_data(wpath_search), &it.impl.find_data)
+	it.impl.find_handle = win32.FindFirstFileW(cstring16(raw_data(wpath_search)), &it.impl.find_data)
 	if it.impl.find_handle == win32.INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE {
 		read_directory_iterator_set_error(it, impl.name, _get_platform_error())
 		return
diff --git a/core/os/os2/env_windows.odin b/core/os/os2/env_windows.odin
index 55b2bb5ee..d389f8860 100644
--- a/core/os/os2/env_windows.odin
+++ b/core/os/os2/env_windows.odin
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ _lookup_env_alloc :: proc(key: string, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (value:
 		return "", false
 	}
 
-	value = win32_utf16_to_utf8(b[:n], allocator) or_else ""
+	value = win32_utf16_to_utf8(string16(b[:n]), allocator) or_else ""
 	found = true
 	return
 }
diff --git a/core/os/os2/file_windows.odin b/core/os/os2/file_windows.odin
index dbac78d0e..25e9cb4b0 100644
--- a/core/os/os2/file_windows.odin
+++ b/core/os/os2/file_windows.odin
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ _destroy :: proc(f: ^File_Impl) -> Error {
 	}
 
 	a := f.allocator
-	err0 := free(f.wname, a)
+	err0 := free(rawptr(f.wname), a)
 	err1 := delete(f.name, a)
 	err2 := delete(f.r_buf, a)
 	err3 := delete(f.w_buf, a)
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ _symlink :: proc(old_name, new_name: string) -> Error {
 	return .Unsupported
 }
 
-_open_sym_link :: proc(p: [^]u16) -> (handle: win32.HANDLE, err: Error) {
+_open_sym_link :: proc(p: cstring16) -> (handle: win32.HANDLE, err: Error) {
 	attrs := u32(win32.FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS)
 	attrs |= win32.FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT
 	handle = win32.CreateFileW(p, 0, 0, nil, win32.OPEN_EXISTING, attrs, nil)
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ _normalize_link_path :: proc(p: []u16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (str: st
 	}
 
 
-	handle := _open_sym_link(raw_data(p)) or_return
+	handle := _open_sym_link(cstring16(raw_data(p))) or_return
 	defer win32.CloseHandle(handle)
 
 	n := win32.GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(handle, nil, 0, win32.VOLUME_NAME_DOS)
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ _normalize_link_path :: proc(p: []u16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (str: st
 	temp_allocator := TEMP_ALLOCATOR_GUARD({ allocator })
 
 	buf := make([]u16, n+1, temp_allocator)
-	n = win32.GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(handle, raw_data(buf), u32(len(buf)), win32.VOLUME_NAME_DOS)
+	n = win32.GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(handle, cstring16(raw_data(buf)), u32(len(buf)), win32.VOLUME_NAME_DOS)
 	if n == 0 {
 		return "", _get_platform_error()
 	}
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ _read_link :: proc(name: string, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (s: string, er
 	switch rdb.ReparseTag {
 	case win32.IO_REPARSE_TAG_SYMLINK:
 		rb := (^win32.SYMBOLIC_LINK_REPARSE_BUFFER)(&rdb.rest)
-		pb := win32.wstring(&rb.PathBuffer)
+		pb := ([^]u16)(&rb.PathBuffer)
 		pb[rb.SubstituteNameOffset+rb.SubstituteNameLength] = 0
 		p := pb[rb.SubstituteNameOffset:][:rb.SubstituteNameLength]
 		if rb.Flags & win32.SYMLINK_FLAG_RELATIVE != 0 {
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ _read_link :: proc(name: string, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (s: string, er
 
 	case win32.IO_REPARSE_TAG_MOUNT_POINT:
 		rb := (^win32.MOUNT_POINT_REPARSE_BUFFER)(&rdb.rest)
-		pb := win32.wstring(&rb.PathBuffer)
+		pb := ([^]u16)(&rb.PathBuffer)
 		pb[rb.SubstituteNameOffset+rb.SubstituteNameLength] = 0
 		p := pb[rb.SubstituteNameOffset:][:rb.SubstituteNameLength]
 		return _normalize_link_path(p, allocator)
@@ -874,8 +874,8 @@ _file_stream_proc :: proc(stream_data: rawptr, mode: io.Stream_Mode, p: []byte,
 
 
 @(private="package", require_results)
-win32_utf8_to_wstring :: proc(s: string, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (ws: [^]u16, err: runtime.Allocator_Error) {
-	ws = raw_data(win32_utf8_to_utf16(s, allocator) or_return)
+win32_utf8_to_wstring :: proc(s: string, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (ws: cstring16, err: runtime.Allocator_Error) {
+	ws = cstring16(raw_data(win32_utf8_to_utf16(s, allocator) or_return))
 	return
 }
 
@@ -909,24 +909,60 @@ win32_utf8_to_utf16 :: proc(s: string, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (ws: []u
 }
 
 @(private="package", require_results)
-win32_wstring_to_utf8 :: proc(s: [^]u16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (res: string, err: runtime.Allocator_Error) {
-	if s == nil || s[0] == 0 {
+win32_wstring_to_utf8 :: proc(s: cstring16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (res: string, err: runtime.Allocator_Error) {
+	if s == nil || s == "" {
 		return "", nil
 	}
-	n := 0
-	for s[n] != 0 {
-		n += 1
+	return win32_utf16_to_utf8(string16(s), allocator)
+}
+
+@(private="package")
+win32_utf16_to_utf8 :: proc{
+	win32_utf16_string16_to_utf8,
+	win32_utf16_u16_to_utf8,
+}
+
+@(private="package", require_results)
+win32_utf16_string16_to_utf8 :: proc(s: string16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (res: string, err: runtime.Allocator_Error) {
+	if len(s) == 0 {
+		return
 	}
-	return win32_utf16_to_utf8(s[:n], allocator)
+
+	n := win32.WideCharToMultiByte(win32.CP_UTF8, win32.WC_ERR_INVALID_CHARS, cstring16(raw_data(s)), i32(len(s)), nil, 0, nil, nil)
+	if n == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// If N < 0 the call to WideCharToMultiByte assume the wide string is null terminated
+	// and will scan it to find the first null terminated character. The resulting string will
+	// also be null terminated.
+	// If N > 0 it assumes the wide string is not null terminated and the resulting string
+	// will not be null terminated.
+	text := make([]byte, n, allocator) or_return
+
+	n1 := win32.WideCharToMultiByte(win32.CP_UTF8, win32.WC_ERR_INVALID_CHARS, cstring16(raw_data(s)), i32(len(s)), raw_data(text), n, nil, nil)
+	if n1 == 0 {
+		delete(text, allocator)
+		return
+	}
+
+	for i in 0..<n {
+		if text[i] == 0 {
+			n = i
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	res = string(text[:n])
+	return
 }
 
 @(private="package", require_results)
-win32_utf16_to_utf8 :: proc(s: []u16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (res: string, err: runtime.Allocator_Error) {
+win32_utf16_u16_to_utf8 :: proc(s: []u16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (res: string, err: runtime.Allocator_Error) {
 	if len(s) == 0 {
 		return
 	}
 
-	n := win32.WideCharToMultiByte(win32.CP_UTF8, win32.WC_ERR_INVALID_CHARS, raw_data(s), i32(len(s)), nil, 0, nil, nil)
+	n := win32.WideCharToMultiByte(win32.CP_UTF8, win32.WC_ERR_INVALID_CHARS, cstring16(raw_data(s)), i32(len(s)), nil, 0, nil, nil)
 	if n == 0 {
 		return
 	}
@@ -938,7 +974,7 @@ win32_utf16_to_utf8 :: proc(s: []u16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (res: str
 	// will not be null terminated.
 	text := make([]byte, n, allocator) or_return
 
-	n1 := win32.WideCharToMultiByte(win32.CP_UTF8, win32.WC_ERR_INVALID_CHARS, raw_data(s), i32(len(s)), raw_data(text), n, nil, nil)
+	n1 := win32.WideCharToMultiByte(win32.CP_UTF8, win32.WC_ERR_INVALID_CHARS, cstring16(raw_data(s)), i32(len(s)), raw_data(text), n, nil, nil)
 	if n1 == 0 {
 		delete(text, allocator)
 		return
diff --git a/core/os/os2/path_windows.odin b/core/os/os2/path_windows.odin
index c2e51040f..e0a00b07a 100644
--- a/core/os/os2/path_windows.odin
+++ b/core/os/os2/path_windows.odin
@@ -91,11 +91,11 @@ _remove_all :: proc(path: string) -> Error {
 		nil,
 		win32.FO_DELETE,
 		dir,
-		&empty[0],
+		cstring16(&empty[0]),
 		win32.FOF_NOCONFIRMATION | win32.FOF_NOERRORUI | win32.FOF_SILENT,
 		false,
 		nil,
-		&empty[0],
+		cstring16(&empty[0]),
 	}
 	res := win32.SHFileOperationW(&file_op)
 	if res != 0 {
@@ -303,13 +303,13 @@ _get_absolute_path :: proc(path: string, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (absol
 	}
 	temp_allocator := TEMP_ALLOCATOR_GUARD({ allocator })
 	rel_utf16 := win32.utf8_to_utf16(rel, temp_allocator)
-	n := win32.GetFullPathNameW(raw_data(rel_utf16), 0, nil, nil)
+	n := win32.GetFullPathNameW(cstring16(raw_data(rel_utf16)), 0, nil, nil)
 	if n == 0 {
 		return "", Platform_Error(win32.GetLastError())
 	}
 
 	buf := make([]u16, n, temp_allocator) or_return
-	n = win32.GetFullPathNameW(raw_data(rel_utf16), u32(n), raw_data(buf), nil)
+	n = win32.GetFullPathNameW(cstring16(raw_data(rel_utf16)), u32(n), cstring16(raw_data(buf)), nil)
 	if n == 0 {
 		return "", Platform_Error(win32.GetLastError())
 	}
diff --git a/core/os/os2/process_windows.odin b/core/os/os2/process_windows.odin
index 199e5ad74..990da6616 100644
--- a/core/os/os2/process_windows.odin
+++ b/core/os/os2/process_windows.odin
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ _process_info_by_pid :: proc(pid: int, selection: Process_Info_Fields, allocator
 				info.fields += {.Command_Line}
 			}
 			if .Command_Args in selection {
-				info.command_args = _parse_command_line(raw_data(cmdline_w), allocator) or_return
+				info.command_args = _parse_command_line(cstring16(raw_data(cmdline_w)), allocator) or_return
 				info.fields += {.Command_Args}
 			}
 		}
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ _process_info_by_handle :: proc(process: Process, selection: Process_Info_Fields
 				info.fields += {.Command_Line}
 			}
 			if .Command_Args in selection {
-				info.command_args = _parse_command_line(raw_data(cmdline_w), allocator) or_return
+				info.command_args = _parse_command_line(cstring16(raw_data(cmdline_w)), allocator) or_return
 				info.fields += {.Command_Args}
 			}
 		}
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ _process_exe_by_pid :: proc(pid: int, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (exe_path
 		err =_get_platform_error()
 		return
 	}
-	return win32_wstring_to_utf8(raw_data(entry.szExePath[:]), allocator)
+	return win32_wstring_to_utf8(cstring16(raw_data(entry.szExePath[:])), allocator)
 }
 
 _get_process_user :: proc(process_handle: win32.HANDLE, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (full_username: string, err: Error) {
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ _get_process_user :: proc(process_handle: win32.HANDLE, allocator: runtime.Alloc
 	return strings.concatenate({domain, "\\", username}, allocator)
 }
 
-_parse_command_line :: proc(cmd_line_w: [^]u16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (argv: []string, err: Error) {
+_parse_command_line :: proc(cmd_line_w: cstring16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (argv: []string, err: Error) {
 	argc: i32
 	argv_w := win32.CommandLineToArgvW(cmd_line_w, &argc)
 	if argv_w == nil {
diff --git a/core/os/os2/stat_windows.odin b/core/os/os2/stat_windows.odin
index 3cdc80405..3dee42be6 100644
--- a/core/os/os2/stat_windows.odin
+++ b/core/os/os2/stat_windows.odin
@@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ full_path_from_name :: proc(name: string, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (path
 
 	p := win32_utf8_to_utf16(name, temp_allocator) or_return
 
-	n := win32.GetFullPathNameW(raw_data(p), 0, nil, nil)
+	n := win32.GetFullPathNameW(cstring16(raw_data(p)), 0, nil, nil)
 	if n == 0 {
 		return "", _get_platform_error()
 	}
 	buf := make([]u16, n+1, temp_allocator)
-	n = win32.GetFullPathNameW(raw_data(p), u32(len(buf)), raw_data(buf), nil)
+	n = win32.GetFullPathNameW(cstring16(raw_data(p)), u32(len(buf)), cstring16(raw_data(buf)), nil)
 	if n == 0 {
 		return "", _get_platform_error()
 	}
@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@ _cleanpath_from_handle :: proc(f: ^File, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (strin
 	temp_allocator := TEMP_ALLOCATOR_GUARD({ allocator })
 
 	buf := make([]u16, max(n, 260)+1, temp_allocator)
-	n = win32.GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(h, raw_data(buf), u32(len(buf)), 0)
-	return _cleanpath_from_buf(buf[:n], allocator)
+	n = win32.GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(h, cstring16(raw_data(buf)), u32(len(buf)), 0)
+	return _cleanpath_from_buf(string16(buf[:n]), allocator)
 }
 
 _cleanpath_from_handle_u16 :: proc(f: ^File) -> ([]u16, Error) {
@@ -158,12 +158,12 @@ _cleanpath_from_handle_u16 :: proc(f: ^File) -> ([]u16, Error) {
 	temp_allocator := TEMP_ALLOCATOR_GUARD({})
 
 	buf := make([]u16, max(n, 260)+1, temp_allocator)
-	n = win32.GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(h, raw_data(buf), u32(len(buf)), 0)
+	n = win32.GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(h, cstring16(raw_data(buf)), u32(len(buf)), 0)
 	return _cleanpath_strip_prefix(buf[:n]), nil
 }
 
-_cleanpath_from_buf :: proc(buf: []u16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (string, runtime.Allocator_Error) {
-	buf := buf
+_cleanpath_from_buf :: proc(buf: string16, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (string, runtime.Allocator_Error) {
+	buf := transmute([]u16)buf
 	buf = _cleanpath_strip_prefix(buf)
 	return win32_utf16_to_utf8(buf, allocator)
 }
diff --git a/core/os/os2/temp_file_windows.odin b/core/os/os2/temp_file_windows.odin
index 9d75ef99d..91ea284a1 100644
--- a/core/os/os2/temp_file_windows.odin
+++ b/core/os/os2/temp_file_windows.odin
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ _temp_dir :: proc(allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (string, runtime.Allocator_Er
 	temp_allocator := TEMP_ALLOCATOR_GUARD({ allocator })
 
 	b := make([]u16, max(win32.MAX_PATH, n), temp_allocator)
-	n = win32.GetTempPathW(u32(len(b)), raw_data(b))
+	n = win32.GetTempPathW(u32(len(b)), cstring16(raw_data(b)))
 
 	if n == 3 && b[1] == ':' && b[2] == '\\' {
 
 	} else if n > 0 && b[n-1] == '\\' {
 		n -= 1
 	}
-	return win32_utf16_to_utf8(b[:n], allocator)
+	return win32_utf16_to_utf8(string16(b[:n]), allocator)
 }
diff --git a/core/os/os2/user_windows.odin b/core/os/os2/user_windows.odin
index d68f933ce..75d0ba6ac 100644
--- a/core/os/os2/user_windows.odin
+++ b/core/os/os2/user_windows.odin
@@ -74,6 +74,5 @@ _get_known_folder_path :: proc(rfid: win32.REFKNOWNFOLDERID, allocator: runtime.
 		return "", .Invalid_Path
 	}
 
-	dir, _ = win32.wstring_to_utf8(path_w, -1, allocator)
-	return
+	return win32_wstring_to_utf8(cstring16(path_w), allocator)
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/os/stat_windows.odin b/core/os/stat_windows.odin
index ca4f87668..662c9f9e6 100644
--- a/core/os/stat_windows.odin
+++ b/core/os/stat_windows.odin
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ full_path_from_name :: proc(name: string, allocator := context.allocator) -> (pa
 	buf := make([dynamic]u16, 100)
 	defer delete(buf)
 	for {
-		n := win32.GetFullPathNameW(raw_data(p), u32(len(buf)), raw_data(buf), nil)
+		n := win32.GetFullPathNameW(cstring16(raw_data(p)), u32(len(buf)), cstring16(raw_data(buf)), nil)
 		if n == 0 {
 			return "", get_last_error()
 		}
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ cleanpath_from_handle_u16 :: proc(fd: Handle, allocator: runtime.Allocator) -> (
 		return nil, get_last_error()
 	}
 	buf := make([]u16, max(n, win32.DWORD(260))+1, allocator)
-	buf_len := win32.GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(h, raw_data(buf), n, 0)
+	buf_len := win32.GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(h, cstring16(raw_data(buf)), n, 0)
 	return buf[:buf_len], nil
 }
 @(private, require_results)
diff --git a/core/path/filepath/path_windows.odin b/core/path/filepath/path_windows.odin
index 0dcb28cf8..24c6e00a5 100644
--- a/core/path/filepath/path_windows.odin
+++ b/core/path/filepath/path_windows.odin
@@ -61,13 +61,13 @@ temp_full_path :: proc(name: string) -> (path: string, err: os.Error) {
 	}
 
 	p := win32.utf8_to_utf16(name, ta)
-	n := win32.GetFullPathNameW(raw_data(p), 0, nil, nil)
+	n := win32.GetFullPathNameW(cstring16(raw_data(p)), 0, nil, nil)
 	if n == 0 {
 		return "", os.get_last_error()
 	}
 
 	buf := make([]u16, n, ta)
-	n = win32.GetFullPathNameW(raw_data(p), u32(len(buf)), raw_data(buf), nil)
+	n = win32.GetFullPathNameW(cstring16(raw_data(p)), u32(len(buf)), cstring16(raw_data(buf)), nil)
 	if n == 0 {
 		delete(buf)
 		return "", os.get_last_error()
diff --git a/core/reflect/types.odin b/core/reflect/types.odin
index 511c5c9bd..98b7b368f 100644
--- a/core/reflect/types.odin
+++ b/core/reflect/types.odin
@@ -511,9 +511,12 @@ write_type_writer :: #force_no_inline proc(w: io.Writer, ti: ^Type_Info, n_writt
 		io.write_i64(w, i64(8*ti.size), 10, &n) or_return
 	case Type_Info_String:
 		if info.is_cstring {
-			io.write_string(w, "cstring", &n) or_return
-		} else {
-			io.write_string(w, "string", &n)  or_return
+			io.write_byte(w, 'c', &n) or_return
+		}
+		io.write_string(w, "string", &n)  or_return
+		switch info.encoding {
+		case .UTF_8:  /**/
+		case .UTF_16: io.write_string(w, "16", &n) or_return
 		}
 	case Type_Info_Boolean:
 		switch ti.id {
diff --git a/core/sys/info/platform_windows.odin b/core/sys/info/platform_windows.odin
index 4c00ddadf..dd1441d30 100644
--- a/core/sys/info/platform_windows.odin
+++ b/core/sys/info/platform_windows.odin
@@ -324,8 +324,8 @@ read_reg_string :: proc(hkey: sys.HKEY, subkey, val: string) -> (res: string, ok
 
 	status := sys.RegGetValueW(
 		hkey,
-		&key_name_wide[0],
-		&val_name_wide[0],
+		cstring16(&key_name_wide[0]),
+		cstring16(&val_name_wide[0]),
 		sys.RRF_RT_REG_SZ,
 		nil,
 		raw_data(result_wide[:]),
@@ -359,8 +359,8 @@ read_reg_i32 :: proc(hkey: sys.HKEY, subkey, val: string) -> (res: i32, ok: bool
 	result_size := sys.DWORD(size_of(i32))
 	status := sys.RegGetValueW(
 		hkey,
-		&key_name_wide[0],
-		&val_name_wide[0],
+		cstring16(&key_name_wide[0]),
+		cstring16(&val_name_wide[0]),
 		sys.RRF_RT_REG_DWORD,
 		nil,
 		&res,
@@ -386,8 +386,8 @@ read_reg_i64 :: proc(hkey: sys.HKEY, subkey, val: string) -> (res: i64, ok: bool
 	result_size := sys.DWORD(size_of(i64))
 	status := sys.RegGetValueW(
 		hkey,
-		&key_name_wide[0],
-		&val_name_wide[0],
+		cstring16(&key_name_wide[0]),
+		cstring16(&val_name_wide[0]),
 		sys.RRF_RT_REG_QWORD,
 		nil,
 		&res,
diff --git a/core/sys/windows/comctl32.odin b/core/sys/windows/comctl32.odin
index d954f952c..c7a166634 100644
--- a/core/sys/windows/comctl32.odin
+++ b/core/sys/windows/comctl32.odin
@@ -573,10 +573,10 @@ Button_GetTextMargin :: #force_inline proc "system" (hwnd: HWND, pmargin: ^RECT)
 	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, BCM_GETTEXTMARGIN, 0, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(pmargin))
 }
 Button_SetNote :: #force_inline proc "system" (hwnd: HWND, psz: LPCWSTR) -> BOOL {
-	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, BCM_SETNOTE, 0, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(psz))
+	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, BCM_SETNOTE, 0, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(rawptr(psz)))
 }
 Button_GetNote :: #force_inline proc "system" (hwnd: HWND, psz: LPCWSTR, pcc: ^c_int) -> BOOL {
-	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, BCM_GETNOTE, uintptr(pcc), cast(LPARAM)uintptr(psz))
+	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, BCM_GETNOTE, uintptr(pcc), cast(LPARAM)uintptr(rawptr(psz)))
 }
 Button_GetNoteLength :: #force_inline proc "system" (hwnd: HWND) -> LRESULT {
 	return SendMessageW(hwnd, BCM_GETNOTELENGTH, 0, 0)
@@ -604,10 +604,10 @@ EDITBALLOONTIP :: struct {
 PEDITBALLOONTIP :: ^EDITBALLOONTIP
 
 Edit_SetCueBannerText :: #force_inline proc "system" (hwnd: HWND, lpcwText: LPCWSTR) -> BOOL {
-	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, EM_SETCUEBANNER, 0, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(lpcwText))
+	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, EM_SETCUEBANNER, 0, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(rawptr(lpcwText)))
 }
 Edit_SetCueBannerTextFocused :: #force_inline proc "system" (hwnd: HWND, lpcwText: LPCWSTR, fDrawFocused: BOOL) -> BOOL {
-	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, EM_SETCUEBANNER, cast(WPARAM)fDrawFocused, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(lpcwText))
+	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, EM_SETCUEBANNER, cast(WPARAM)fDrawFocused, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(rawptr(lpcwText)))
 }
 Edit_GetCueBannerText :: #force_inline proc "system" (hwnd: HWND, lpwText: LPWSTR, cchText: LONG) -> BOOL {
 	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, EM_GETCUEBANNER, uintptr(lpwText), cast(LPARAM)cchText)
@@ -1197,7 +1197,7 @@ ListView_GetItemPosition :: #force_inline proc "system" (hwnd: HWND, i: c_int, p
 	return cast(BOOL)SendMessageW(hwnd, LVM_GETITEMPOSITION, cast(WPARAM)i, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(ppt))
 }
 ListView_GetStringWidth :: #force_inline proc "system" (hwndLV: HWND, psz: LPCWSTR) -> c_int {
-	return cast(c_int)SendMessageW(hwndLV, LVM_GETSTRINGWIDTHW, 0, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(psz))
+	return cast(c_int)SendMessageW(hwndLV, LVM_GETSTRINGWIDTHW, 0, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(rawptr(psz)))
 }
 ListView_HitTest :: #force_inline proc "system" (hwndLV: HWND, pinfo: ^LV_HITTESTINFO) -> c_int {
 	return cast(c_int)SendMessageW(hwndLV, LVM_HITTEST, 0, cast(LPARAM)uintptr(pinfo))
diff --git a/core/sys/windows/ip_helper.odin b/core/sys/windows/ip_helper.odin
index 7a6e545ac..d2e75d531 100644
--- a/core/sys/windows/ip_helper.odin
+++ b/core/sys/windows/ip_helper.odin
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ IP_Adapter_Addresses :: struct {
 	FirstAnycastAddress:    ^IP_ADAPTER_ANYCAST_ADDRESS_XP,
 	FirstMulticastAddress:  ^IP_ADAPTER_MULTICAST_ADDRESS_XP,
 	FirstDnsServerAddress:  ^IP_ADAPTER_DNS_SERVER_ADDRESS_XP,
-	DnsSuffix:              ^u16,
-	Description:            ^u16,
-	FriendlyName:           ^u16,
+	DnsSuffix:              cstring16,
+	Description:            cstring16,
+	FriendlyName:           cstring16,
 	PhysicalAddress:        [8]u8,
 	PhysicalAddressLength:  u32,
 	Anonymous2:             struct #raw_union {
diff --git a/core/sys/windows/kernel32.odin b/core/sys/windows/kernel32.odin
index 76f2897ac..114e70b41 100644
--- a/core/sys/windows/kernel32.odin
+++ b/core/sys/windows/kernel32.odin
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ foreign kernel32 {
 	) -> BOOL ---
 	CreateProcessW :: proc(
 		lpApplicationName: LPCWSTR,
-		lpCommandLine: LPWSTR,
+		lpCommandLine: LPCWSTR,
 		lpProcessAttributes: LPSECURITY_ATTRIBUTES,
 		lpThreadAttributes: LPSECURITY_ATTRIBUTES,
 		bInheritHandles: BOOL,
diff --git a/core/sys/windows/types.odin b/core/sys/windows/types.odin
index 92b1cb15c..d5c9b1d20 100644
--- a/core/sys/windows/types.odin
+++ b/core/sys/windows/types.odin
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ PDWORD64 :: ^DWORD64
 PDWORD_PTR :: ^DWORD_PTR
 ATOM :: distinct WORD
 
-wstring :: [^]WCHAR
-PWSTR   :: [^]WCHAR
+wstring :: cstring16
+PWSTR   :: cstring16
 
 PBYTE :: ^BYTE
 LPBYTE :: ^BYTE
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ LPSTR :: ^CHAR
 LPWSTR :: ^WCHAR
 OLECHAR :: WCHAR
 BSTR :: ^OLECHAR
-LPOLESTR :: ^OLECHAR
+LPOLESTR :: cstring16
 LPCOLESTR :: LPCSTR
 LPFILETIME :: ^FILETIME
 LPWSABUF :: ^WSABUF
@@ -1698,7 +1698,7 @@ NM_FONTCHANGED          :: NM_OUTOFMEMORY-22
 NM_CUSTOMTEXT           :: NM_OUTOFMEMORY-23 // uses NMCUSTOMTEXT struct
 NM_TVSTATEIMAGECHANGING :: NM_OUTOFMEMORY-23 // uses NMTVSTATEIMAGECHANGING struct, defined after HTREEITEM
 
-PCZZWSTR :: ^WCHAR
+PCZZWSTR :: cstring16
 
 SHFILEOPSTRUCTW :: struct {
 	hwnd: HWND,
diff --git a/core/sys/windows/util.odin b/core/sys/windows/util.odin
index 995e8e0e5..10dc907e7 100644
--- a/core/sys/windows/util.odin
+++ b/core/sys/windows/util.odin
@@ -122,14 +122,14 @@ utf8_to_utf16 :: proc{utf8_to_utf16_alloc, utf8_to_utf16_buf}
 
 utf8_to_wstring_alloc :: proc(s: string, allocator := context.temp_allocator) -> wstring {
 	if res := utf8_to_utf16(s, allocator); len(res) > 0 {
-		return raw_data(res)
+		return wstring(raw_data(res))
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
 utf8_to_wstring_buf :: proc(buf: []u16, s: string) -> wstring {
 	if res := utf8_to_utf16(buf, s); len(res) > 0 {
-		return raw_data(res)
+		return wstring(raw_data(res))
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ utf16_to_utf8_alloc :: proc(s: []u16, allocator := context.temp_allocator) -> (r
 	if len(s) == 0 {
 		return "", nil
 	}
-	return wstring_to_utf8(raw_data(s), len(s), allocator)
+	return wstring_to_utf8(wstring(raw_data(s)), len(s), allocator)
 }
 
 /*
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ utf16_to_utf8_buf :: proc(buf: []u8, s: []u16) -> (res: string) {
 	if len(s) == 0 {
 		return
 	}
-	return wstring_to_utf8(buf, raw_data(s), len(s))
+	return wstring_to_utf8(buf, wstring(raw_data(s)), len(s))
 }
 
 utf16_to_utf8 :: proc{utf16_to_utf8_alloc, utf16_to_utf8_buf}
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ _add_user :: proc(servername: string, username: string, password: string) -> (ok
 		servername_w = nil
 	} else {
 		server := utf8_to_utf16(servername, context.temp_allocator)
-		servername_w = &server[0]
+		servername_w = wstring(&server[0])
 	}
 
 	if len(username) == 0 || len(username) > LM20_UNLEN {
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ get_computer_name_and_account_sid :: proc(username: string) -> (computer_name: s
 
 	res := LookupAccountNameW(
 		nil, // Look on this computer first
-		&username_w[0],
+		wstring(&username_w[0]),
 		&sid,
 		&cbsid,
 		nil,
@@ -364,10 +364,10 @@ get_computer_name_and_account_sid :: proc(username: string) -> (computer_name: s
 
 	res = LookupAccountNameW(
 		nil,
-		&username_w[0],
+		wstring(&username_w[0]),
 		&sid,
 		&cbsid,
-		&cname_w[0],
+		wstring(&cname_w[0]),
 		&computer_name_size,
 		&pe_use,
 	)
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ get_sid :: proc(username: string, sid: ^SID) -> (ok: bool) {
 
 	res := LookupAccountNameW(
 		nil, // Look on this computer first
-		&username_w[0],
+		wstring(&username_w[0]),
 		sid,
 		&cbsid,
 		nil,
@@ -406,10 +406,10 @@ get_sid :: proc(username: string, sid: ^SID) -> (ok: bool) {
 
 	res = LookupAccountNameW(
 		nil,
-		&username_w[0],
+		wstring(&username_w[0]),
 		sid,
 		&cbsid,
-		&cname_w[0],
+		wstring(&cname_w[0]),
 		&computer_name_size,
 		&pe_use,
 	)
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ add_user_to_group :: proc(sid: ^SID, group: string) -> (ok: NET_API_STATUS) {
 	group_name := utf8_to_utf16(group, context.temp_allocator)
 	ok = NetLocalGroupAddMembers(
 		nil,
-		&group_name[0],
+		wstring(&group_name[0]),
 		0,
 		&group_member,
 		1,
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ add_del_from_group :: proc(sid: ^SID, group: string) -> (ok: NET_API_STATUS) {
 	group_name := utf8_to_utf16(group, context.temp_allocator)
 	ok = NetLocalGroupDelMembers(
 		nil,
-		&group_name[0],
+		cstring16(&group_name[0]),
 		0,
 		&group_member,
 		1,
@@ -465,19 +465,19 @@ add_user_profile :: proc(username: string) -> (ok: bool, profile_path: string) {
 	if res == false {
 		return false, ""
 	}
-	defer LocalFree(sb)
+	defer LocalFree(rawptr(sb))
 
 	pszProfilePath := make([]u16, 257, context.temp_allocator)
 	res2 := CreateProfile(
 		sb,
-		&username_w[0],
-		&pszProfilePath[0],
+		cstring16(&username_w[0]),
+		cstring16(&pszProfilePath[0]),
 		257,
 	)
 	if res2 != 0 {
 		return false, ""
 	}
-	profile_path = wstring_to_utf8(&pszProfilePath[0], 257) or_else ""
+	profile_path = wstring_to_utf8(wstring(&pszProfilePath[0]), 257) or_else ""
 
 	return true, profile_path
 }
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ delete_user_profile :: proc(username: string) -> (ok: bool) {
 	if res == false {
 		return false
 	}
-	defer LocalFree(sb)
+	defer LocalFree(rawptr(sb))
 
 	res2 := DeleteProfileW(
 		sb,
@@ -548,13 +548,13 @@ delete_user :: proc(servername: string, username: string) -> (ok: bool) {
 		servername_w = nil
 	} else {
 		server := utf8_to_utf16(servername, context.temp_allocator)
-		servername_w = &server[0]
+		servername_w = wstring(&server[0])
 	}
 	username_w := utf8_to_utf16(username)
 
 	res := NetUserDel(
 		servername_w,
-		&username_w[0],
+		wstring(&username_w[0]),
 	)
 	if res != .Success {
 		return false
@@ -586,9 +586,9 @@ run_as_user :: proc(username, password, application, commandline: string, pi: ^P
 	user_token: HANDLE
 
 	ok = bool(LogonUserW(
-		lpszUsername    = &username_w[0],
-		lpszDomain      = &domain_w[0],
-		lpszPassword    = &password_w[0],
+		lpszUsername    = wstring(&username_w[0]),
+		lpszDomain      = wstring(&domain_w[0]),
+		lpszPassword    = wstring(&password_w[0]),
 		dwLogonType     = .NEW_CREDENTIALS,
 		dwLogonProvider = .WINNT50,
 		phToken         = &user_token,
@@ -605,8 +605,8 @@ run_as_user :: proc(username, password, application, commandline: string, pi: ^P
 
 	ok = bool(CreateProcessAsUserW(
 		user_token,
-		&app_w[0],
-		&commandline_w[0],
+		wstring(&app_w[0]),
+		wstring(&commandline_w[0]),
 		nil,	// lpProcessAttributes,
 		nil,	// lpThreadAttributes,
 		false,	// bInheritHandles,
diff --git a/core/time/timezone/tz_windows.odin b/core/time/timezone/tz_windows.odin
index 8dc5f533c..fe00719a2 100644
--- a/core/time/timezone/tz_windows.odin
+++ b/core/time/timezone/tz_windows.odin
@@ -159,9 +159,9 @@ iana_to_windows_tz :: proc(iana_name: string, allocator := context.allocator) ->
 	status: windows.UError 
 
 	iana_name_wstr := windows.utf8_to_wstring(iana_name, allocator)
-	defer free(iana_name_wstr, allocator)
+	defer free(rawptr(iana_name_wstr), allocator)
 
-	wintz_name_len := windows.ucal_getWindowsTimeZoneID(iana_name_wstr, -1, raw_data(wintz_name_buffer[:]), len(wintz_name_buffer), &status)
+	wintz_name_len := windows.ucal_getWindowsTimeZoneID(iana_name_wstr, -1, cstring16(raw_data(wintz_name_buffer[:])), len(wintz_name_buffer), &status)
 	if status != .U_ZERO_ERROR {
 		return
 	}
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ local_tz_name :: proc(allocator := context.allocator) -> (name: string, success:
 	iana_name_buffer: [128]u16
 	status: windows.UError
 
-	zone_str_len := windows.ucal_getDefaultTimeZone(raw_data(iana_name_buffer[:]), len(iana_name_buffer), &status)
+	zone_str_len := windows.ucal_getDefaultTimeZone(cstring16(raw_data(iana_name_buffer[:])), len(iana_name_buffer), &status)
 	if status != .U_ZERO_ERROR {
 		return
 	}
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ _region_load :: proc(reg_str: string, allocator := context.allocator) -> (out_re
 	defer delete(tz_key, allocator)
 
 	tz_key_wstr := windows.utf8_to_wstring(tz_key, allocator)
-	defer free(tz_key_wstr, allocator)
+	defer free(rawptr(tz_key_wstr), allocator)
 
 	key: windows.HKEY
 	res := windows.RegOpenKeyExW(windows.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, tz_key_wstr, 0, windows.KEY_READ, &key)
diff --git a/core/unicode/utf16/utf16.odin b/core/unicode/utf16/utf16.odin
index e2bcf7f68..d3f98584b 100644
--- a/core/unicode/utf16/utf16.odin
+++ b/core/unicode/utf16/utf16.odin
@@ -106,7 +106,57 @@ decode :: proc(d: []rune, s: []u16) -> (n: int) {
 	return
 }
 
-rune_count :: proc(s: []u16) -> (n: int) {
+decode_rune_in_string :: proc(s: string16) -> (r: rune, width: int) {
+	r = rune(REPLACEMENT_CHAR)
+	n := len(s)
+	if n < 1 {
+		return
+	}
+	width = 1
+
+
+	switch c := s[0]; {
+	case c < _surr1, _surr3 <= c:
+		r = rune(c)
+	case _surr1 <= c && c < _surr2 && 1 < len(s) &&
+		_surr2 <= s[1] && s[1] < _surr3:
+		r = decode_surrogate_pair(rune(c), rune(s[1]))
+		width += 1
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+string_to_runes :: proc "odin" (s: string16, allocator := context.allocator) -> (runes: []rune) {
+	n := rune_count(s)
+
+	runes = make([]rune, n, allocator)
+	i := 0
+	for r in s {
+		runes[i] = r
+		i += 1
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+
+rune_count :: proc{
+	rune_count_in_string,
+	rune_count_in_slice,
+}
+rune_count_in_string :: proc(s: string16) -> (n: int) {
+	for i := 0; i < len(s); i += 1 {
+		c := s[i]
+		if _surr1 <= c && c < _surr2 && i+1 < len(s) &&
+			_surr2 <= s[i+1] && s[i+1] < _surr3 {
+			i += 1
+		}
+		n += 1
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+
+rune_count_in_slice :: proc(s: []u16) -> (n: int) {
 	for i := 0; i < len(s); i += 1 {
 		c := s[i]
 		if _surr1 <= c && c < _surr2 && i+1 < len(s) && 
diff --git a/src/build_settings.cpp b/src/build_settings.cpp
index 46a4f9ae5..40bbe41e5 100644
--- a/src/build_settings.cpp
+++ b/src/build_settings.cpp
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ gb_internal String internal_odin_root_dir(void) {
 	text = gb_alloc_array(permanent_allocator(), wchar_t, len+1);
 
 	GetModuleFileNameW(nullptr, text, cast(int)len);
-	path = string16_to_string(heap_allocator(), make_string16(text, len));
+	path = string16_to_string(heap_allocator(), make_string16(cast(u16 *)text, len));
 
 	for (i = path.len-1; i >= 0; i--) {
 		u8 c = path[i];
@@ -1387,14 +1387,14 @@ gb_internal String path_to_fullpath(gbAllocator a, String s, bool *ok_) {
 
 	mutex_lock(&fullpath_mutex);
 
-	len = GetFullPathNameW(&string16[0], 0, nullptr, nullptr);
+	len = GetFullPathNameW(cast(wchar_t *)&string16[0], 0, nullptr, nullptr);
 	if (len != 0) {
 		wchar_t *text = gb_alloc_array(permanent_allocator(), wchar_t, len+1);
-		GetFullPathNameW(&string16[0], len, text, nullptr);
+		GetFullPathNameW(cast(wchar_t *)&string16[0], len, text, nullptr);
 		mutex_unlock(&fullpath_mutex);
 
 		text[len] = 0;
-		result = string16_to_string(a, make_string16(text, len));
+		result = string16_to_string(a, make_string16(cast(u16 *)text, len));
 		result = string_trim_whitespace(result);
 
 		// Replace Windows style separators
diff --git a/src/cached.cpp b/src/cached.cpp
index efdadce7b..61b5d01b4 100644
--- a/src/cached.cpp
+++ b/src/cached.cpp
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ Array<String> cache_gather_envs() {
 
 		wchar_t *curr_string = strings;
 		while (curr_string && *curr_string) {
-			String16 wstr = make_string16_c(curr_string);
+			String16 wstr = make_string16_c(cast(u16 *)curr_string);
 			curr_string += wstr.len+1;
 			String str = string16_to_string(temporary_allocator(), wstr);
 			if (string_starts_with(str, str_lit("CURR_DATE_TIME="))) {
diff --git a/src/check_builtin.cpp b/src/check_builtin.cpp
index 880de73f5..57413f519 100644
--- a/src/check_builtin.cpp
+++ b/src/check_builtin.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ gb_global BuiltinTypeIsProc *builtin_type_is_procs[BuiltinProc__type_simple_bool
 	is_type_complex,
 	is_type_quaternion,
 	is_type_string,
+	is_type_string16,
 	is_type_typeid,
 	is_type_any,
 	is_type_endian_platform,
@@ -2328,13 +2329,23 @@ gb_internal bool check_builtin_procedure(CheckerContext *c, Operand *operand, As
 		if (is_type_string(op_type) && id == BuiltinProc_len) {
 			if (operand->mode == Addressing_Constant) {
 				mode = Addressing_Constant;
-				String str = operand->value.value_string;
-				value = exact_value_i64(str.len);
+
+				if (operand->value.kind == ExactValue_String) {
+					String str = operand->value.value_string;
+					value = exact_value_i64(str.len);
+				} else if (operand->value.kind == ExactValue_String16) {
+					String16 str = operand->value.value_string16;
+					value = exact_value_i64(str.len);
+				} else {
+					GB_PANIC("Unhandled value kind: %d", operand->value.kind);
+				}
 				type = t_untyped_integer;
 			} else {
 				mode = Addressing_Value;
 				if (is_type_cstring(op_type)) {
 					add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring_len");
+				} else if (is_type_cstring16(op_type)) {
+					add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring16_len");
 				}
 			}
 		} else if (is_type_array(op_type)) {
@@ -4684,7 +4695,9 @@ gb_internal bool check_builtin_procedure(CheckerContext *c, Operand *operand, As
 				break;
 			case Type_Basic:
 				if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string) {
-					operand->type = alloc_type_multi_pointer(t_u8);
+					operand->type = t_u8_multi_ptr;
+				} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string16) {
+					operand->type = t_u16_multi_ptr;
 				}
 				break;
 			case Type_Pointer:
@@ -6133,6 +6146,7 @@ gb_internal bool check_builtin_procedure(CheckerContext *c, Operand *operand, As
 	case BuiltinProc_type_is_complex:
 	case BuiltinProc_type_is_quaternion:
 	case BuiltinProc_type_is_string:
+	case BuiltinProc_type_is_string16:
 	case BuiltinProc_type_is_typeid:
 	case BuiltinProc_type_is_any:
 	case BuiltinProc_type_is_endian_platform:
@@ -7172,7 +7186,11 @@ gb_internal bool check_builtin_procedure(CheckerContext *c, Operand *operand, As
 				return false;
 			}
 			operand->mode = Addressing_Value;
-			operand->type = alloc_type_multi_pointer(t_u16);
+			if (type_hint != nullptr && is_type_cstring16(type_hint)) {
+				operand->type = type_hint;
+			} else {
+				operand->type = alloc_type_multi_pointer(t_u16);
+			}
 			operand->value = {};
 			break;
 		}
diff --git a/src/check_decl.cpp b/src/check_decl.cpp
index dd4c09e85..af46ee40e 100644
--- a/src/check_decl.cpp
+++ b/src/check_decl.cpp
@@ -815,6 +815,12 @@ gb_internal bool signature_parameter_similar_enough(Type *x, Type *y) {
 	if (sig_compare(is_type_cstring, is_type_u8_multi_ptr, x, y)) {
 		return true;
 	}
+	if (sig_compare(is_type_cstring16, is_type_u16_ptr, x, y)) {
+		return true;
+	}
+	if (sig_compare(is_type_cstring16, is_type_u16_multi_ptr, x, y)) {
+		return true;
+	}
 
 	if (sig_compare(is_type_uintptr, is_type_rawptr, x, y)) {
 		return true;
diff --git a/src/check_expr.cpp b/src/check_expr.cpp
index 51fb5511b..faa338f36 100644
--- a/src/check_expr.cpp
+++ b/src/check_expr.cpp
@@ -2106,6 +2106,9 @@ gb_internal bool check_representable_as_constant(CheckerContext *c, ExactValue i
 	} else if (is_type_boolean(type)) {
 		return in_value.kind == ExactValue_Bool;
 	} else if (is_type_string(type)) {
+		if (in_value.kind == ExactValue_String16) {
+			return is_type_string16(type) || is_type_cstring16(type);
+		}
 		return in_value.kind == ExactValue_String;
 	} else if (is_type_integer(type) || is_type_rune(type)) {
 		if (in_value.kind == ExactValue_Bool) {
@@ -2320,6 +2323,9 @@ gb_internal bool check_representable_as_constant(CheckerContext *c, ExactValue i
 		if (in_value.kind == ExactValue_String) {
 			return false;
 		}
+		if (in_value.kind == ExactValue_String16) {
+			return false;
+		}
 		if (out_value) *out_value = in_value;
 	} else if (is_type_bit_set(type)) {
 		if (in_value.kind == ExactValue_Integer) {
@@ -2862,6 +2868,14 @@ gb_internal void add_comparison_procedures_for_fields(CheckerContext *c, Type *t
 			add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string_eq");
 			add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string_ne");
 			break;
+		case Basic_cstring16:
+			add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring16_eq");
+			add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring16_ne");
+			break;
+		case Basic_string16:
+			add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string16_eq");
+			add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string16_ne");
+			break;
 		}
 		break;
 	case Type_Struct:
@@ -3035,6 +3049,24 @@ gb_internal void check_comparison(CheckerContext *c, Ast *node, Operand *x, Oper
 				case Token_LtEq:  add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring_le"); break;
 				case Token_GtEq:  add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring_gt"); break;
 				}
+			} else if (is_type_cstring16(x->type) && is_type_cstring16(y->type)) {
+				switch (op) {
+				case Token_CmpEq: add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring16_eq"); break;
+				case Token_NotEq: add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring16_ne"); break;
+				case Token_Lt:    add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring16_lt"); break;
+				case Token_Gt:    add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring16_gt"); break;
+				case Token_LtEq:  add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring16_le"); break;
+				case Token_GtEq:  add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring16_gt"); break;
+				}
+			} else if (is_type_string16(x->type) || is_type_string16(y->type)) {
+				switch (op) {
+				case Token_CmpEq: add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string16_eq"); break;
+				case Token_NotEq: add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string16_ne"); break;
+				case Token_Lt:    add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string16_lt"); break;
+				case Token_Gt:    add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string16_gt"); break;
+				case Token_LtEq:  add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string16_le"); break;
+				case Token_GtEq:  add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string16_gt"); break;
+				}
 			} else if (is_type_string(x->type) || is_type_string(y->type)) {
 				switch (op) {
 				case Token_CmpEq: add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "string_eq"); break;
@@ -3340,6 +3372,11 @@ gb_internal bool check_is_castable_to(CheckerContext *c, Operand *operand, Type
 		return true;
 	}
 
+	// []u16 <-> string16 (not cstring16)
+	if (is_type_u16_slice(src) && (is_type_string16(dst) && !is_type_cstring16(dst))) {
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	// cstring -> string
 	if (are_types_identical(src, t_cstring) && are_types_identical(dst, t_string)) {
 		if (operand->mode != Addressing_Constant) {
@@ -3347,6 +3384,14 @@ gb_internal bool check_is_castable_to(CheckerContext *c, Operand *operand, Type
 		}
 		return true;
 	}
+	// cstring16 -> string16
+	if (are_types_identical(src, t_cstring16) && are_types_identical(dst, t_string16)) {
+		if (operand->mode != Addressing_Constant) {
+			add_package_dependency(c, "runtime", "cstring16_to_string16");
+		}
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	// cstring -> ^u8
 	if (are_types_identical(src, t_cstring) && is_type_u8_ptr(dst)) {
 		return !is_constant;
@@ -3372,6 +3417,34 @@ gb_internal bool check_is_castable_to(CheckerContext *c, Operand *operand, Type
 	if (is_type_rawptr(src) && are_types_identical(dst, t_cstring)) {
 		return !is_constant;
 	}
+
+	// cstring -> ^u16
+	if (are_types_identical(src, t_cstring16) && is_type_u16_ptr(dst)) {
+		return !is_constant;
+	}
+	// cstring -> [^]u16
+	if (are_types_identical(src, t_cstring16) && is_type_u16_multi_ptr(dst)) {
+		return !is_constant;
+	}
+	// cstring16 -> rawptr
+	if (are_types_identical(src, t_cstring16) && is_type_rawptr(dst)) {
+		return !is_constant;
+	}
+
+
+	// ^u16 -> cstring16
+	if (is_type_u16_ptr(src) && are_types_identical(dst, t_cstring16)) {
+		return !is_constant;
+	}
+	// [^]u16 -> cstring
+	if (is_type_u16_multi_ptr(src) && are_types_identical(dst, t_cstring16)) {
+		return !is_constant;
+	}
+	// rawptr -> cstring16
+	if (is_type_rawptr(src) && are_types_identical(dst, t_cstring16)) {
+		return !is_constant;
+	}
+
 	// proc <-> proc
 	if (is_type_proc(src) && is_type_proc(dst)) {
 		if (is_type_polymorphic(dst)) {
@@ -4558,6 +4631,8 @@ gb_internal void convert_to_typed(CheckerContext *c, Operand *operand, Type *tar
 					// target_type = t_untyped_nil;
 				} else if (is_type_cstring(target_type)) {
 					// target_type = t_untyped_nil;
+				} else if (is_type_cstring16(target_type)) {
+					// target_type = t_untyped_nil;
 				} else if (!type_has_nil(target_type)) {
 					operand->mode = Addressing_Invalid;
 					convert_untyped_error(c, operand, target_type);
@@ -4585,6 +4660,13 @@ gb_internal void convert_to_typed(CheckerContext *c, Operand *operand, Type *tar
 						break;
 					}
 				}
+			} else if (operand->value.kind == ExactValue_String16) {
+				String16 s = operand->value.value_string16;
+				if (is_type_u16_array(t)) {
+					if (s.len == t->Array.count) {
+						break;
+					}
+				}
 			}
 			operand->mode = Addressing_Invalid;
 			convert_untyped_error(c, operand, target_type);
@@ -4914,6 +4996,12 @@ gb_internal ExactValue get_constant_field_single(CheckerContext *c, ExactValue v
 		if (success_) *success_ = true;
 		if (finish_) *finish_ = true;
 		return exact_value_u64(val);
+	} else if (value.kind == ExactValue_String16) {
+		GB_ASSERT(0 <= index && index < value.value_string.len);
+		u16 val = value.value_string16[index];
+		if (success_) *success_ = true;
+		if (finish_) *finish_ = true;
+		return exact_value_u64(val);
 	}
 	if (value.kind != ExactValue_Compound) {
 		if (success_) *success_ = true;
@@ -8226,6 +8314,7 @@ gb_internal bool check_set_index_data(Operand *o, Type *t, bool indirection, i64
 	case Type_Basic:
 		if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string) {
 			if (o->mode == Addressing_Constant) {
+				GB_ASSERT(o->value.kind == ExactValue_String);
 				*max_count = o->value.value_string.len;
 			}
 			if (o->mode != Addressing_Constant) {
@@ -8233,6 +8322,16 @@ gb_internal bool check_set_index_data(Operand *o, Type *t, bool indirection, i64
 			}
 			o->type = t_u8;
 			return true;
+		} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string16) {
+			if (o->mode == Addressing_Constant) {
+				GB_ASSERT(o->value.kind == ExactValue_String16);
+				*max_count = o->value.value_string16.len;
+			}
+			if (o->mode != Addressing_Constant) {
+				o->mode = Addressing_Value;
+			}
+			o->type = t_u16;
+			return true;
 		} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_UntypedString) {
 			if (o->mode == Addressing_Constant) {
 				*max_count = o->value.value_string.len;
@@ -10879,9 +10978,17 @@ gb_internal ExprKind check_slice_expr(CheckerContext *c, Operand *o, Ast *node,
 		if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string || t->Basic.kind == Basic_UntypedString) {
 			valid = true;
 			if (o->mode == Addressing_Constant) {
+				GB_ASSERT(o->value.kind == ExactValue_String);
 				max_count = o->value.value_string.len;
 			}
 			o->type = type_deref(o->type);
+		} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string16) {
+			valid = true;
+			if (o->mode == Addressing_Constant) {
+				GB_ASSERT(o->value.kind == ExactValue_String16);
+				max_count = o->value.value_string16.len;
+			}
+			o->type = type_deref(o->type);
 		}
 		break;
 
@@ -11036,15 +11143,21 @@ gb_internal ExprKind check_slice_expr(CheckerContext *c, Operand *o, Ast *node,
 			o->expr = node;
 			return kind;
 		}
-
-		String s = {};
-		if (o->value.kind == ExactValue_String) {
-			s = o->value.value_string;
-		}
-
 		o->mode = Addressing_Constant;
 		o->type = t;
-		o->value = exact_value_string(substring(s, cast(isize)indices[0], cast(isize)indices[1]));
+
+		if (o->value.kind == ExactValue_String16) {
+			String16 s = o->value.value_string16;
+
+			o->value = exact_value_string16(substring(s, cast(isize)indices[0], cast(isize)indices[1]));
+		} else {
+			String s = {};
+			if (o->value.kind == ExactValue_String) {
+				s = o->value.value_string;
+			}
+
+			o->value = exact_value_string(substring(s, cast(isize)indices[0], cast(isize)indices[1]));
+		}
 	}
 	return kind;
 }
@@ -11133,6 +11246,7 @@ gb_internal ExprKind check_expr_base_internal(CheckerContext *c, Operand *o, Ast
 		Type *t = t_invalid;
 		switch (node->tav.value.kind) {
 		case ExactValue_String:     t = t_untyped_string;     break;
+		case ExactValue_String16:   t = t_string16;           break; // TODO(bill): determine this correctly
 		case ExactValue_Float:      t = t_untyped_float;      break;
 		case ExactValue_Complex:    t = t_untyped_complex;    break;
 		case ExactValue_Quaternion: t = t_untyped_quaternion; break;
@@ -11569,6 +11683,8 @@ gb_internal bool is_exact_value_zero(ExactValue const &v) {
 		return !v.value_bool;
 	case ExactValue_String:
 		return v.value_string.len == 0;
+	case ExactValue_String16:
+		return v.value_string16.len == 0;
 	case ExactValue_Integer:
 		return big_int_is_zero(&v.value_integer);
 	case ExactValue_Float:
diff --git a/src/check_stmt.cpp b/src/check_stmt.cpp
index bc9b6c5dd..ae88ff333 100644
--- a/src/check_stmt.cpp
+++ b/src/check_stmt.cpp
@@ -974,7 +974,14 @@ gb_internal void check_unroll_range_stmt(CheckerContext *ctx, Ast *node, u32 mod
 			Type *t = base_type(operand.type);
 			switch (t->kind) {
 			case Type_Basic:
-				if (is_type_string(t) && t->Basic.kind != Basic_cstring) {
+				if (is_type_string16(t) && t->Basic.kind != Basic_cstring) {
+					val0 = t_rune;
+					val1 = t_int;
+					inline_for_depth = exact_value_i64(operand.value.value_string.len);
+					if (unroll_count > 0) {
+						error(node, "#unroll(%lld) does not support strings", cast(long long)unroll_count);
+					}
+				} else if (is_type_string(t) && t->Basic.kind != Basic_cstring) {
 					val0 = t_rune;
 					val1 = t_int;
 					inline_for_depth = exact_value_i64(operand.value.value_string.len);
@@ -1236,7 +1243,11 @@ gb_internal void check_switch_stmt(CheckerContext *ctx, Ast *node, u32 mod_flags
 
 				add_to_seen_map(ctx, &seen, upper_op, x, lhs, rhs);
 
-				if (is_type_string(x.type)) {
+				if (is_type_string16(x.type)) {
+					// NOTE(bill): Force dependency for strings here
+					add_package_dependency(ctx, "runtime", "string16_le");
+					add_package_dependency(ctx, "runtime", "string16_lt");
+				} else if (is_type_string(x.type)) {
 					// NOTE(bill): Force dependency for strings here
 					add_package_dependency(ctx, "runtime", "string_le");
 					add_package_dependency(ctx, "runtime", "string_lt");
@@ -1770,7 +1781,16 @@ gb_internal void check_range_stmt(CheckerContext *ctx, Ast *node, u32 mod_flags)
 
 			switch (t->kind) {
 			case Type_Basic:
-				if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string || t->Basic.kind == Basic_UntypedString) {
+				if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string16) {
+					is_possibly_addressable = false;
+					array_add(&vals, t_rune);
+					array_add(&vals, t_int);
+					if (is_reverse) {
+						add_package_dependency(ctx, "runtime", "string16_decode_last_rune");
+					} else {
+						add_package_dependency(ctx, "runtime", "string16_decode_rune");
+					}
+				} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string || t->Basic.kind == Basic_UntypedString) {
 					is_possibly_addressable = false;
 					array_add(&vals, t_rune);
 					array_add(&vals, t_int);
diff --git a/src/checker.cpp b/src/checker.cpp
index dbe2af866..e72061f56 100644
--- a/src/checker.cpp
+++ b/src/checker.cpp
@@ -1363,13 +1363,15 @@ gb_internal void init_universal(void) {
 	}
 
 
-	t_u8_ptr       = alloc_type_pointer(t_u8);
-	t_u8_multi_ptr = alloc_type_multi_pointer(t_u8);
-	t_int_ptr      = alloc_type_pointer(t_int);
-	t_i64_ptr      = alloc_type_pointer(t_i64);
-	t_f64_ptr      = alloc_type_pointer(t_f64);
-	t_u8_slice     = alloc_type_slice(t_u8);
-	t_string_slice = alloc_type_slice(t_string);
+	t_u8_ptr        = alloc_type_pointer(t_u8);
+	t_u8_multi_ptr  = alloc_type_multi_pointer(t_u8);
+	t_u16_ptr       = alloc_type_pointer(t_u16);
+	t_u16_multi_ptr = alloc_type_multi_pointer(t_u16);
+	t_int_ptr       = alloc_type_pointer(t_int);
+	t_i64_ptr       = alloc_type_pointer(t_i64);
+	t_f64_ptr       = alloc_type_pointer(t_f64);
+	t_u8_slice      = alloc_type_slice(t_u8);
+	t_string_slice  = alloc_type_slice(t_string);
 
 	// intrinsics types for objective-c stuff
 	{
@@ -3099,6 +3101,9 @@ gb_internal void init_core_type_info(Checker *c) {
 
 	GB_ASSERT(tis->fields.count == 5);
 
+	Entity *type_info_string_encoding_kind = find_core_entity(c, str_lit("Type_Info_String_Encoding_Kind"));
+	t_type_info_string_encoding_kind = type_info_string_encoding_kind->type;
+
 	Entity *type_info_variant = tis->fields[4];
 	Type *tiv_type = type_info_variant->type;
 	GB_ASSERT(is_type_union(tiv_type));
diff --git a/src/checker_builtin_procs.hpp b/src/checker_builtin_procs.hpp
index e9655e88a..b8b105fd2 100644
--- a/src/checker_builtin_procs.hpp
+++ b/src/checker_builtin_procs.hpp
@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ BuiltinProc__type_simple_boolean_begin,
 	BuiltinProc_type_is_complex,
 	BuiltinProc_type_is_quaternion,
 	BuiltinProc_type_is_string,
+	BuiltinProc_type_is_string16,
 	BuiltinProc_type_is_typeid,
 	BuiltinProc_type_is_any,
 
@@ -608,6 +609,7 @@ gb_global BuiltinProc builtin_procs[BuiltinProc_COUNT] = {
 	{STR_LIT("type_is_complex"),           1, false, Expr_Expr, BuiltinProcPkg_intrinsics},
 	{STR_LIT("type_is_quaternion"),        1, false, Expr_Expr, BuiltinProcPkg_intrinsics},
 	{STR_LIT("type_is_string"),            1, false, Expr_Expr, BuiltinProcPkg_intrinsics},
+	{STR_LIT("type_is_string16"),          1, false, Expr_Expr, BuiltinProcPkg_intrinsics},
 	{STR_LIT("type_is_typeid"),            1, false, Expr_Expr, BuiltinProcPkg_intrinsics},
 	{STR_LIT("type_is_any"),               1, false, Expr_Expr, BuiltinProcPkg_intrinsics},
 
diff --git a/src/common.cpp b/src/common.cpp
index ad1e5a851..53848cacf 100644
--- a/src/common.cpp
+++ b/src/common.cpp
@@ -350,6 +350,7 @@ gb_global bool global_module_path_set = false;
 #include "ptr_map.cpp"
 #include "ptr_set.cpp"
 #include "string_map.cpp"
+#include "string16_map.cpp"
 #include "string_set.cpp"
 #include "priority_queue.cpp"
 #include "thread_pool.cpp"
@@ -669,7 +670,7 @@ gb_internal gb_inline f64 gb_sqrt(f64 x) {
 gb_internal wchar_t **command_line_to_wargv(wchar_t *cmd_line, int *_argc) {
 	u32 i, j;
 
-	u32 len = cast(u32)string16_len(cmd_line);
+	u32 len = cast(u32)string16_len(cast(u16 *)cmd_line);
 	i = ((len+2)/2)*gb_size_of(void *) + gb_size_of(void *);
 
 	wchar_t **argv = cast(wchar_t **)GlobalAlloc(GMEM_FIXED, i + (len+2)*gb_size_of(wchar_t));
diff --git a/src/exact_value.cpp b/src/exact_value.cpp
index 37751c8f1..f2aed84c2 100644
--- a/src/exact_value.cpp
+++ b/src/exact_value.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ enum ExactValueKind {
 	ExactValue_Compound   = 8,
 	ExactValue_Procedure  = 9,
 	ExactValue_Typeid     = 10,
+	ExactValue_String16   = 11,
 
 	ExactValue_Count,
 };
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ struct ExactValue {
 		Ast *          value_compound;
 		Ast *          value_procedure;
 		Type *         value_typeid;
+		String16       value_string16;
 	};
 };
 
@@ -66,6 +68,9 @@ gb_internal uintptr hash_exact_value(ExactValue v) {
 	case ExactValue_String:
 		res = gb_fnv32a(v.value_string.text, v.value_string.len);
 		break;
+	case ExactValue_String16:
+		res = gb_fnv32a(v.value_string.text, v.value_string.len*gb_size_of(u16));
+		break;
 	case ExactValue_Integer:
 		{
 			u32 key = gb_fnv32a(v.value_integer.dp, gb_size_of(*v.value_integer.dp) * v.value_integer.used);
@@ -118,6 +123,11 @@ gb_internal ExactValue exact_value_string(String string) {
 	result.value_string = string;
 	return result;
 }
+gb_internal ExactValue exact_value_string16(String16 string) {
+	ExactValue result = {ExactValue_String16};
+	result.value_string16 = string;
+	return result;
+}
 
 gb_internal ExactValue exact_value_i64(i64 i) {
 	ExactValue result = {ExactValue_Integer};
@@ -656,6 +666,7 @@ gb_internal i32 exact_value_order(ExactValue const &v) {
 		return 0;
 	case ExactValue_Bool:
 	case ExactValue_String:
+	case ExactValue_String16:
 		return 1;
 	case ExactValue_Integer:
 		return 2;
@@ -689,6 +700,7 @@ gb_internal void match_exact_values(ExactValue *x, ExactValue *y) {
 
 	case ExactValue_Bool:
 	case ExactValue_String:
+	case ExactValue_String16:
 	case ExactValue_Quaternion:
 	case ExactValue_Pointer:
 	case ExactValue_Compound:
@@ -891,7 +903,18 @@ gb_internal ExactValue exact_binary_operator_value(TokenKind op, ExactValue x, E
 		gb_memmove(data,        sx.text, sx.len);
 		gb_memmove(data+sx.len, sy.text, sy.len);
 		return exact_value_string(make_string(data, len));
-		break;
+	}
+	case ExactValue_String16: {
+		if (op != Token_Add) goto error;
+
+		// NOTE(bill): How do you minimize this over allocation?
+		String sx = x.value_string;
+		String sy = y.value_string;
+		isize len = sx.len+sy.len;
+		u16 *data = gb_alloc_array(permanent_allocator(), u16, len);
+		gb_memmove(data,        sx.text, sx.len*gb_size_of(u16));
+		gb_memmove(data+sx.len, sy.text, sy.len*gb_size_of(u16));
+		return exact_value_string16(make_string16(data, len));
 	}
 	}
 
@@ -994,6 +1017,19 @@ gb_internal bool compare_exact_values(TokenKind op, ExactValue x, ExactValue y)
 		}
 		break;
 	}
+	case ExactValue_String16: {
+		String16 a = x.value_string16;
+		String16 b = y.value_string16;
+		switch (op) {
+		case Token_CmpEq: return a == b;
+		case Token_NotEq: return a != b;
+		case Token_Lt:    return a <  b;
+		case Token_LtEq:  return a <= b;
+		case Token_Gt:    return a >  b;
+		case Token_GtEq:  return a >= b;
+		}
+		break;
+	}
 
 	case ExactValue_Pointer: {
 		switch (op) {
@@ -1050,6 +1086,20 @@ gb_internal gbString write_exact_value_to_string(gbString str, ExactValue const
 		gb_free(heap_allocator(), s.text);
 		return str;
 	}
+	case ExactValue_String16: {
+		String s = quote_to_ascii(heap_allocator(), v.value_string16);
+		string_limit = gb_max(string_limit, 36);
+		if (s.len <= string_limit) {
+			str = gb_string_append_length(str, s.text, s.len);
+		} else {
+			isize n = string_limit/5;
+			str = gb_string_append_length(str, s.text, n);
+			str = gb_string_append_fmt(str, "\"..%lld chars..\"", s.len-(2*n));
+			str = gb_string_append_length(str, s.text+s.len-n, n);
+		}
+		gb_free(heap_allocator(), s.text);
+		return str;
+	}
 	case ExactValue_Integer: {
 		String s = big_int_to_string(heap_allocator(), &v.value_integer);
 		str = gb_string_append_length(str, s.text, s.len);
diff --git a/src/llvm_backend.cpp b/src/llvm_backend.cpp
index 13a1d8cf3..f37415cc1 100644
--- a/src/llvm_backend.cpp
+++ b/src/llvm_backend.cpp
@@ -1264,7 +1264,13 @@ String lb_get_objc_type_encoding(Type *t, isize pointer_depth = 0) {
 		case Basic_string:
 			return build_context.metrics.int_size == 4 ? str_lit("{string=*i}") : str_lit("{string=*q}");
 
+		case Basic_string16:
+			return build_context.metrics.int_size == 4 ? str_lit("{string16=*i}") : str_lit("{string16=*q}");
+
 		case Basic_cstring: return str_lit("*");
+		case Basic_cstring16: return str_lit("*");
+
+
 		case Basic_any:     return str_lit("{any=^v^v}");  // rawptr + ^Type_Info
 
 		case Basic_typeid:
diff --git a/src/llvm_backend.hpp b/src/llvm_backend.hpp
index fef6e754d..648e8a732 100644
--- a/src/llvm_backend.hpp
+++ b/src/llvm_backend.hpp
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ struct lbModule {
 	PtrMap<LLVMValueRef, Entity *> procedure_values;
 	Array<lbProcedure *> missing_procedures_to_check;
 
-	StringMap<LLVMValueRef> const_strings;
+	StringMap<LLVMValueRef>   const_strings;
+	String16Map<LLVMValueRef> const_string16s;
 
 	PtrMap<u64/*type hash*/, struct lbFunctionType *> function_type_map;
 
diff --git a/src/llvm_backend_const.cpp b/src/llvm_backend_const.cpp
index c3112934e..e64be49f2 100644
--- a/src/llvm_backend_const.cpp
+++ b/src/llvm_backend_const.cpp
@@ -122,6 +122,25 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_const_ptr_cast(lbModule *m, lbValue value, Type *t) {
 
 
 gb_internal LLVMValueRef llvm_const_string_internal(lbModule *m, Type *t, LLVMValueRef data, LLVMValueRef len) {
+	GB_ASSERT(!is_type_string16(t));
+	if (build_context.metrics.ptr_size < build_context.metrics.int_size) {
+		LLVMValueRef values[3] = {
+			data,
+			LLVMConstNull(lb_type(m, t_i32)),
+			len,
+		};
+		return llvm_const_named_struct_internal(lb_type(m, t), values, 3);
+	} else {
+		LLVMValueRef values[2] = {
+			data,
+			len,
+		};
+		return llvm_const_named_struct_internal(lb_type(m, t), values, 2);
+	}
+}
+
+gb_internal LLVMValueRef llvm_const_string16_internal(lbModule *m, Type *t, LLVMValueRef data, LLVMValueRef len) {
+	GB_ASSERT(is_type_string16(t));
 	if (build_context.metrics.ptr_size < build_context.metrics.int_size) {
 		LLVMValueRef values[3] = {
 			data,
@@ -238,6 +257,10 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_const_string(lbModule *m, String const &value) {
 	return lb_const_value(m, t_string, exact_value_string(value));
 }
 
+gb_internal lbValue lb_const_string(lbModule *m, String16 const &value) {
+	return lb_const_value(m, t_string16, exact_value_string16(value));
+}
+
 
 gb_internal lbValue lb_const_bool(lbModule *m, Type *type, bool value) {
 	lbValue res = {};
@@ -569,7 +592,11 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_const_value(lbModule *m, Type *type, ExactValue value, lb
 			GB_ASSERT(is_type_slice(type));
 			res.value = lb_find_or_add_entity_string_byte_slice_with_type(m, value.value_string, original_type).value;
 			return res;
-		} else {
+		} else if (value.kind == ExactValue_String16) {
+			GB_ASSERT(is_type_slice(type));
+			res.value = lb_find_or_add_entity_string16_slice_with_type(m, value.value_string16, original_type).value;
+			return res;
+		}else {
 			ast_node(cl, CompoundLit, value.value_compound);
 
 			isize count = cl->elems.count;
@@ -751,29 +778,78 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_const_value(lbModule *m, Type *type, ExactValue value, lb
 		{
 			bool custom_link_section = cc.link_section.len > 0;
 
-			LLVMValueRef ptr = lb_find_or_add_entity_string_ptr(m, value.value_string, custom_link_section);
+			LLVMValueRef ptr = nullptr;
 			lbValue res = {};
 			res.type = default_type(original_type);
 
+			isize len = value.value_string.len;
+
+			if (is_type_string16(res.type) || is_type_cstring16(res.type)) {
+				TEMPORARY_ALLOCATOR_GUARD();
+				String16 s16 = string_to_string16(temporary_allocator(), value.value_string);
+				len = s16.len;
+				ptr = lb_find_or_add_entity_string16_ptr(m, s16, custom_link_section);
+			} else {
+				ptr = lb_find_or_add_entity_string_ptr(m, value.value_string, custom_link_section);
+			}
+
 			if (custom_link_section) {
 				LLVMSetSection(ptr, alloc_cstring(permanent_allocator(), cc.link_section));
 			}
 
-			if (is_type_cstring(res.type)) {
+			if (is_type_cstring(res.type) || is_type_cstring16(res.type)) {
 				res.value = ptr;
 			} else {
-				if (value.value_string.len == 0) {
+				if (len == 0) {
+					if (is_type_string16(res.type)) {
+						ptr = LLVMConstNull(lb_type(m, t_u16_ptr));
+					} else {
+						ptr = LLVMConstNull(lb_type(m, t_u8_ptr));
+					}
+				}
+				LLVMValueRef str_len = LLVMConstInt(lb_type(m, t_int), len, true);
+				GB_ASSERT(is_type_string(original_type));
+
+				if (is_type_string16(res.type)) {
+					res.value = llvm_const_string16_internal(m, original_type, ptr, str_len);
+				} else {
+					res.value = llvm_const_string_internal(m, original_type, ptr, str_len);
+				}
+			}
+
+			return res;
+		}
+
+	case ExactValue_String16:
+		{
+			GB_ASSERT(is_type_string16(res.type) || is_type_cstring16(res.type));
+
+			bool custom_link_section = cc.link_section.len > 0;
+
+			LLVMValueRef ptr = lb_find_or_add_entity_string16_ptr(m, value.value_string16, custom_link_section);
+			lbValue res = {};
+			res.type = default_type(original_type);
+
+			if (custom_link_section) {
+				LLVMSetSection(ptr, alloc_cstring(permanent_allocator(), cc.link_section));
+			}
+
+			if (is_type_cstring16(res.type)) {
+				res.value = ptr;
+			} else {
+				if (value.value_string16.len == 0) {
 					ptr = LLVMConstNull(lb_type(m, t_u8_ptr));
 				}
-				LLVMValueRef str_len = LLVMConstInt(lb_type(m, t_int), value.value_string.len, true);
+				LLVMValueRef str_len = LLVMConstInt(lb_type(m, t_int), value.value_string16.len, true);
 				GB_ASSERT(is_type_string(original_type));
 
-				res.value = llvm_const_string_internal(m, original_type, ptr, str_len);
+				res.value = llvm_const_string16_internal(m, original_type, ptr, str_len);
 			}
 
 			return res;
 		}
 
+
 	case ExactValue_Integer:
 		if (is_type_pointer(type) || is_type_multi_pointer(type) || is_type_proc(type)) {
 			LLVMTypeRef t = lb_type(m, original_type);
diff --git a/src/llvm_backend_debug.cpp b/src/llvm_backend_debug.cpp
index 024c5564e..182920fc7 100644
--- a/src/llvm_backend_debug.cpp
+++ b/src/llvm_backend_debug.cpp
@@ -802,6 +802,20 @@ gb_internal LLVMMetadataRef lb_debug_type_internal(lbModule *m, Type *type) {
 				LLVMMetadataRef char_type = lb_debug_type_basic_type(m, str_lit("char"), 8, LLVMDWARFTypeEncoding_Unsigned);
 				return LLVMDIBuilderCreatePointerType(m->debug_builder, char_type, ptr_bits, ptr_bits, 0, "cstring", 7);
 			}
+
+		case Basic_string16:
+			{
+				LLVMMetadataRef elements[2] = {};
+				elements[0] = lb_debug_struct_field(m, str_lit("data"), t_u16_ptr, 0);
+				elements[1] = lb_debug_struct_field(m, str_lit("len"),  t_int, int_bits);
+				return lb_debug_basic_struct(m, str_lit("string16"), 2*int_bits, int_bits, elements, gb_count_of(elements));
+			}
+		case Basic_cstring16:
+			{
+				LLVMMetadataRef char_type = lb_debug_type_basic_type(m, str_lit("wchar_t"), 16, LLVMDWARFTypeEncoding_Unsigned);
+				return LLVMDIBuilderCreatePointerType(m->debug_builder, char_type, ptr_bits, ptr_bits, 0, "cstring16", 7);
+			}
+
 		case Basic_any:
 			{
 				LLVMMetadataRef elements[2] = {};
diff --git a/src/llvm_backend_expr.cpp b/src/llvm_backend_expr.cpp
index 74aea82f1..5425572c7 100644
--- a/src/llvm_backend_expr.cpp
+++ b/src/llvm_backend_expr.cpp
@@ -1559,16 +1559,24 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_build_binary_expr(lbProcedure *p, Ast *expr) {
 			return lb_emit_conv(p, cmp, type);
 		} else if (lb_is_empty_string_constant(be->right) && !is_type_union(be->left->tav.type)) {
 			// `x == ""` or `x != ""`
+			Type *str_type = t_string;
+			if (is_type_string16(be->left->tav.type) || is_type_cstring16(be->left->tav.type)) {
+				str_type = t_string16;
+			}
 			lbValue s = lb_build_expr(p, be->left);
-			s = lb_emit_conv(p, s, t_string);
+			s = lb_emit_conv(p, s, str_type);
 			lbValue len = lb_string_len(p, s);
 			lbValue cmp = lb_emit_comp(p, be->op.kind, len, lb_const_int(p->module, t_int, 0));
 			Type *type = default_type(tv.type);
 			return lb_emit_conv(p, cmp, type);
 		} else if (lb_is_empty_string_constant(be->left) && !is_type_union(be->right->tav.type)) {
 			// `"" == x` or `"" != x`
+			Type *str_type = t_string;
+			if (is_type_string16(be->right->tav.type) || is_type_cstring16(be->right->tav.type)) {
+				str_type = t_string16;
+			}
 			lbValue s = lb_build_expr(p, be->right);
-			s = lb_emit_conv(p, s, t_string);
+			s = lb_emit_conv(p, s, str_type);
 			lbValue len = lb_string_len(p, s);
 			lbValue cmp = lb_emit_comp(p, be->op.kind, len, lb_const_int(p->module, t_int, 0));
 			Type *type = default_type(tv.type);
@@ -1656,6 +1664,8 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_conv(lbProcedure *p, lbValue value, Type *t) {
 				res.type = t;
 				res.value = llvm_cstring(m, str);
 				return res;
+			} else if (src->kind == Type_Basic && src->Basic.kind == Basic_string16 && dst->Basic.kind == Basic_cstring16) {
+				GB_PANIC("TODO(bill): UTF-16 string");
 			}
 			// if (is_type_float(dst)) {
 			// 	return value;
@@ -1795,6 +1805,38 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_conv(lbProcedure *p, lbValue value, Type *t) {
 	}
 
 
+
+	if (is_type_cstring16(src) && is_type_u16_ptr(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, dst);
+	}
+	if (is_type_u16_ptr(src) && is_type_cstring16(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, dst);
+	}
+	if (is_type_cstring16(src) && is_type_u16_multi_ptr(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, dst);
+	}
+	if (is_type_u8_multi_ptr(src) && is_type_cstring16(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, dst);
+	}
+	if (is_type_cstring16(src) && is_type_rawptr(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, dst);
+	}
+	if (is_type_rawptr(src) && is_type_cstring16(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, dst);
+	}
+
+	if (are_types_identical(src, t_cstring16) && are_types_identical(dst, t_string16)) {
+		TEMPORARY_ALLOCATOR_GUARD();
+
+		lbValue c = lb_emit_conv(p, value, t_cstring16);
+		auto args = array_make<lbValue>(temporary_allocator(), 1);
+		args[0] = c;
+		lbValue s = lb_emit_runtime_call(p, "cstring16_to_string16", args);
+		return lb_emit_conv(p, s, dst);
+	}
+
+
+
 	// integer -> boolean
 	if (is_type_integer(src) && is_type_boolean(dst)) {
 		lbValue res = {};
@@ -2296,6 +2338,29 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_conv(lbProcedure *p, lbValue value, Type *t) {
 		return res;
 	}
 
+	// [^]u16 <-> cstring16
+	if (is_type_u16_multi_ptr(src) && is_type_cstring16(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, t);
+	}
+	if (is_type_cstring16(src) && is_type_u16_multi_ptr(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, t);
+	}
+	if (is_type_u16_ptr(src) && is_type_cstring16(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, t);
+	}
+	if (is_type_cstring16(src) && is_type_u16_ptr(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, t);
+	}
+
+
+	// []u16 <-> string16
+	if (is_type_u16_slice(src) && is_type_string16(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, t);
+	}
+	if (is_type_string16(src) && is_type_u16_slice(dst)) {
+		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, t);
+	}
+
 	// []byte/[]u8 <-> string
 	if (is_type_u8_slice(src) && is_type_string(dst)) {
 		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, t);
@@ -2304,6 +2369,7 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_conv(lbProcedure *p, lbValue value, Type *t) {
 		return lb_emit_transmute(p, value, t);
 	}
 
+
 	if (is_type_array_like(dst)) {
 		Type *elem = base_array_type(dst);
 		isize index_count = cast(isize)get_array_type_count(dst);
@@ -2710,7 +2776,53 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_comp(lbProcedure *p, TokenKind op_kind, lbValue left
 		return lb_compare_records(p, op_kind, left, right, b);
 	}
 
+
+	if (is_type_string16(a) || is_type_cstring16(a)) {
+		if (is_type_cstring16(a) && is_type_cstring16(b)) {
+			left  = lb_emit_conv(p, left, t_cstring16);
+			right = lb_emit_conv(p, right, t_cstring16);
+			char const *runtime_procedure = nullptr;
+			switch (op_kind) {
+			case Token_CmpEq: runtime_procedure = "cstring16_eq"; break;
+			case Token_NotEq: runtime_procedure = "cstring16_ne"; break;
+			case Token_Lt:    runtime_procedure = "cstring16_lt"; break;
+			case Token_Gt:    runtime_procedure = "cstring16_gt"; break;
+			case Token_LtEq:  runtime_procedure = "cstring16_le"; break;
+			case Token_GtEq:  runtime_procedure = "cstring16_ge"; break;
+			}
+			GB_ASSERT(runtime_procedure != nullptr);
+
+			auto args = array_make<lbValue>(permanent_allocator(), 2);
+			args[0] = left;
+			args[1] = right;
+			return lb_emit_runtime_call(p, runtime_procedure, args);
+		}
+
+
+		if (is_type_cstring16(a) ^ is_type_cstring16(b)) {
+			left  = lb_emit_conv(p, left, t_string16);
+			right = lb_emit_conv(p, right, t_string16);
+		}
+
+		char const *runtime_procedure = nullptr;
+		switch (op_kind) {
+		case Token_CmpEq: runtime_procedure = "string16_eq"; break;
+		case Token_NotEq: runtime_procedure = "string16_ne"; break;
+		case Token_Lt:    runtime_procedure = "string16_lt"; break;
+		case Token_Gt:    runtime_procedure = "string16_gt"; break;
+		case Token_LtEq:  runtime_procedure = "string16_le"; break;
+		case Token_GtEq:  runtime_procedure = "string16_ge"; break;
+		}
+		GB_ASSERT(runtime_procedure != nullptr);
+
+		auto args = array_make<lbValue>(permanent_allocator(), 2);
+		args[0] = left;
+		args[1] = right;
+		return lb_emit_runtime_call(p, runtime_procedure, args);
+	}
+
 	if (is_type_string(a)) {
+
 		if (is_type_cstring(a) && is_type_cstring(b)) {
 			left  = lb_emit_conv(p, left, t_cstring);
 			right = lb_emit_conv(p, right, t_cstring);
@@ -3056,6 +3168,13 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_comp_against_nil(lbProcedure *p, TokenKind op_kind,
 				res.value = LLVMBuildIsNotNull(p->builder, x.value, "");
 			}
 			return res;
+		case Basic_cstring16:
+			if (op_kind == Token_CmpEq) {
+				res.value = LLVMBuildIsNull(p->builder, x.value, "");
+			} else if (op_kind == Token_NotEq) {
+				res.value = LLVMBuildIsNotNull(p->builder, x.value, "");
+			}
+			return res;
 		case Basic_any:
 			{
 				// TODO(bill): is this correct behaviour for nil comparison for any?
@@ -4298,12 +4417,13 @@ gb_internal lbAddr lb_build_addr_index_expr(lbProcedure *p, Ast *expr) {
 	}
 
 
-	case Type_Basic: { // Basic_string
+	case Type_Basic: { // Basic_string/Basic_string16
 		lbValue str;
 		lbValue elem;
 		lbValue len;
 		lbValue index;
 
+
 		str = lb_build_expr(p, ie->expr);
 		if (deref) {
 			str = lb_emit_load(p, str);
@@ -4432,6 +4552,22 @@ gb_internal lbAddr lb_build_addr_slice_expr(lbProcedure *p, Ast *expr) {
 	}
 
 	case Type_Basic: {
+		if (is_type_string16(type)) {
+			GB_ASSERT_MSG(are_types_identical(type, t_string16), "got %s", type_to_string(type));
+			lbValue len = lb_string_len(p, base);
+			if (high.value == nullptr) high = len;
+
+			if (!no_indices) {
+				lb_emit_slice_bounds_check(p, se->open, low, high, len, se->low != nullptr);
+			}
+
+			lbValue elem    = lb_emit_ptr_offset(p, lb_string_elem(p, base), low);
+			lbValue new_len = lb_emit_arith(p, Token_Sub, high, low, t_int);
+
+			lbAddr str = lb_add_local_generated(p, t_string16, false);
+			lb_fill_string(p, str, elem, new_len);
+			return str;
+		}
 		GB_ASSERT_MSG(are_types_identical(type, t_string), "got %s", type_to_string(type));
 		lbValue len = lb_string_len(p, base);
 		if (high.value == nullptr) high = len;
diff --git a/src/llvm_backend_general.cpp b/src/llvm_backend_general.cpp
index 3ce0c725f..d84b8302b 100644
--- a/src/llvm_backend_general.cpp
+++ b/src/llvm_backend_general.cpp
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ gb_internal void lb_init_module(lbModule *m, Checker *c) {
 	string_map_init(&m->members);
 	string_map_init(&m->procedures);
 	string_map_init(&m->const_strings);
+	string16_map_init(&m->const_string16s);
 	map_init(&m->function_type_map);
 	string_map_init(&m->gen_procs);
 	if (USE_SEPARATE_MODULES) {
@@ -1812,6 +1813,37 @@ gb_internal LLVMTypeRef lb_type_internal(lbModule *m, Type *type) {
 				return type;
 			}
 		case Basic_cstring: return LLVMPointerType(LLVMInt8TypeInContext(ctx), 0);
+
+
+		case Basic_string16:
+			{
+				char const *name = "..string16";
+				LLVMTypeRef type = LLVMGetTypeByName(m->mod, name);
+				if (type != nullptr) {
+					return type;
+				}
+				type = LLVMStructCreateNamed(ctx, name);
+
+				if (build_context.metrics.ptr_size < build_context.metrics.int_size) {
+					GB_ASSERT(build_context.metrics.ptr_size == 4);
+					GB_ASSERT(build_context.metrics.int_size == 8);
+					LLVMTypeRef fields[3] = {
+						LLVMPointerType(lb_type(m, t_u16), 0),
+						lb_type(m, t_i32),
+						lb_type(m, t_int),
+					};
+					LLVMStructSetBody(type, fields, 3, false);
+				} else {
+					LLVMTypeRef fields[2] = {
+						LLVMPointerType(lb_type(m, t_u16), 0),
+						lb_type(m, t_int),
+					};
+					LLVMStructSetBody(type, fields, 2, false);
+				}
+				return type;
+			}
+		case Basic_cstring16: return LLVMPointerType(LLVMInt16TypeInContext(ctx), 0);
+
 		case Basic_any:
 			{
 				char const *name = "..any";
@@ -2684,6 +2716,57 @@ gb_internal LLVMValueRef lb_find_or_add_entity_string_ptr(lbModule *m, String co
 	}
 }
 
+gb_internal LLVMValueRef lb_find_or_add_entity_string16_ptr(lbModule *m, String16 const &str, bool custom_link_section) {
+	String16HashKey key = {};
+	LLVMValueRef *found = nullptr;
+
+	if (!custom_link_section) {
+		key = string_hash_string(str);
+		found = string16_map_get(&m->const_string16s, key);
+	}
+	if (found != nullptr) {
+		return *found;
+	}
+
+
+
+	LLVMValueRef indices[2] = {llvm_zero(m), llvm_zero(m)};
+
+	LLVMValueRef data = nullptr;
+	{
+		LLVMTypeRef llvm_u16 = LLVMInt16TypeInContext(m->ctx);
+
+		TEMPORARY_ALLOCATOR_GUARD();
+
+		LLVMValueRef *values = gb_alloc_array(temporary_allocator(), LLVMValueRef, str.len+1);
+
+		for (isize i = 0; i < str.len; i++) {
+			values[i] = LLVMConstInt(llvm_u16, str.text[i], false);
+		}
+		values[str.len] = LLVMConstInt(llvm_u16, 0, false);
+
+		data = LLVMConstArray(llvm_u16, values, cast(unsigned)(str.len+1));
+	}
+
+
+	u32 id = m->global_array_index.fetch_add(1);
+	gbString name = gb_string_make(temporary_allocator(), "csbs$");
+	name = gb_string_appendc(name, m->module_name);
+	name = gb_string_append_fmt(name, "$%x", id);
+
+	LLVMTypeRef type = LLVMTypeOf(data);
+	LLVMValueRef global_data = LLVMAddGlobal(m->mod, type, name);
+	LLVMSetInitializer(global_data, data);
+	lb_make_global_private_const(global_data);
+	LLVMSetAlignment(global_data, 2);
+
+	LLVMValueRef ptr = LLVMConstInBoundsGEP2(type, global_data, indices, 2);
+	if (!custom_link_section) {
+		string16_map_set(&m->const_string16s, key, ptr);
+	}
+	return ptr;
+}
+
 gb_internal lbValue lb_find_or_add_entity_string(lbModule *m, String const &str, bool custom_link_section) {
 	LLVMValueRef ptr = nullptr;
 	if (str.len != 0) {
@@ -2744,6 +2827,60 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_find_or_add_entity_string_byte_slice_with_type(lbModule *
 	return res;
 }
 
+gb_internal lbValue lb_find_or_add_entity_string16_slice_with_type(lbModule *m, String16 const &str, Type *slice_type) {
+	GB_ASSERT(is_type_slice(slice_type));
+	LLVMValueRef indices[2] = {llvm_zero(m), llvm_zero(m)};
+	LLVMValueRef data = nullptr;
+	{
+		LLVMTypeRef llvm_u16 = LLVMInt16TypeInContext(m->ctx);
+
+		TEMPORARY_ALLOCATOR_GUARD();
+
+		LLVMValueRef *values = gb_alloc_array(temporary_allocator(), LLVMValueRef, str.len+1);
+
+		for (isize i = 0; i < str.len; i++) {
+			values[i] = LLVMConstInt(llvm_u16, str.text[i], false);
+		}
+		values[str.len] = LLVMConstInt(llvm_u16, 0, false);
+
+		data = LLVMConstArray(llvm_u16, values, cast(unsigned)(str.len+1));
+	}
+
+	u32 id = m->global_array_index.fetch_add(1);
+	gbString name = gb_string_make(temporary_allocator(), "csba$");
+	name = gb_string_appendc(name, m->module_name);
+	name = gb_string_append_fmt(name, "$%x", id);
+
+	LLVMTypeRef type = LLVMTypeOf(data);
+	LLVMValueRef global_data = LLVMAddGlobal(m->mod, type, name);
+	LLVMSetInitializer(global_data, data);
+	lb_make_global_private_const(global_data);
+	LLVMSetAlignment(global_data, 2);
+
+	i64 data_len = str.len;
+	LLVMValueRef ptr = nullptr;
+	if (data_len != 0) {
+		ptr = LLVMConstInBoundsGEP2(type, global_data, indices, 2);
+	} else {
+		ptr = LLVMConstNull(lb_type(m, t_u8_ptr));
+	}
+	if (!is_type_u16_slice(slice_type)) {
+		Type *bt = base_type(slice_type);
+		Type *elem = bt->Slice.elem;
+		i64 sz = type_size_of(elem);
+		GB_ASSERT(sz > 0);
+		ptr = LLVMConstPointerCast(ptr, lb_type(m, alloc_type_pointer(elem)));
+		data_len /= sz;
+	}
+
+	LLVMValueRef len = LLVMConstInt(lb_type(m, t_int), data_len, true);
+	LLVMValueRef values[2] = {ptr, len};
+
+	lbValue res = {};
+	res.value = llvm_const_named_struct(m, slice_type, values, 2);
+	res.type = slice_type;
+	return res;
+}
 
 
 gb_internal lbValue lb_find_ident(lbProcedure *p, lbModule *m, Entity *e, Ast *expr) {
diff --git a/src/llvm_backend_proc.cpp b/src/llvm_backend_proc.cpp
index e63c92f6f..8f306b771 100644
--- a/src/llvm_backend_proc.cpp
+++ b/src/llvm_backend_proc.cpp
@@ -2289,6 +2289,10 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_build_builtin_proc(lbProcedure *p, Ast *expr, TypeAndValu
 		}
 		if (is_type_cstring(t)) {
 			return lb_cstring_len(p, v);
+		} else if (is_type_cstring16(t)) {
+			return lb_cstring16_len(p, v);
+		} else if (is_type_string16(t)) {
+			return lb_string_len(p, v);
 		} else if (is_type_string(t)) {
 			return lb_string_len(p, v);
 		} else if (is_type_array(t)) {
@@ -2728,6 +2732,11 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_build_builtin_proc(lbProcedure *p, Ast *expr, TypeAndValu
 					res = lb_emit_conv(p, res, tv.type);
 				} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_cstring) {
 					res = lb_emit_conv(p, x, tv.type);
+				} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string16) {
+					res = lb_string_elem(p, x);
+					res = lb_emit_conv(p, res, tv.type);
+				} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_cstring16) {
+					res = lb_emit_conv(p, x, tv.type);
 				}
 				break;
 			case Type_Pointer:
diff --git a/src/llvm_backend_stmt.cpp b/src/llvm_backend_stmt.cpp
index 027837f3f..5481ca447 100644
--- a/src/llvm_backend_stmt.cpp
+++ b/src/llvm_backend_stmt.cpp
@@ -622,6 +622,121 @@ gb_internal void lb_build_range_string(lbProcedure *p, lbValue expr, Type *val_t
 	if (done_) *done_ = done;
 }
 
+gb_internal void lb_build_range_string16(lbProcedure *p, lbValue expr, Type *val_type,
+                                       lbValue *val_, lbValue *idx_, lbBlock **loop_, lbBlock **done_,
+                                       bool is_reverse) {
+
+	lbModule *m = p->module;
+	lbValue count = lb_const_int(m, t_int, 0);
+	Type *expr_type = base_type(expr.type);
+	switch (expr_type->kind) {
+	case Type_Basic:
+		count = lb_string_len(p, expr);
+		break;
+	default:
+		GB_PANIC("Cannot do range_string of %s", type_to_string(expr_type));
+		break;
+	}
+
+	lbValue val = {};
+	lbValue idx = {};
+	lbBlock *loop = nullptr;
+	lbBlock *done = nullptr;
+	lbBlock *body = nullptr;
+
+	loop = lb_create_block(p, "for.string16.loop");
+	body = lb_create_block(p, "for.string16.body");
+	done = lb_create_block(p, "for.string16.done");
+
+	lbAddr offset_ = lb_add_local_generated(p, t_int, false);
+	lbValue offset = {};
+	lbValue cond = {};
+
+	if (!is_reverse) {
+		/*
+			for c, offset in str {
+				...
+			}
+
+			offset := 0
+			for offset < len(str) {
+				c, _w := string16_decode_rune(str[offset:])
+				...
+				offset += _w
+			}
+		*/
+		lb_addr_store(p, offset_, lb_const_int(m, t_int, 0));
+
+		lb_emit_jump(p, loop);
+		lb_start_block(p, loop);
+
+
+		offset = lb_addr_load(p, offset_);
+		cond = lb_emit_comp(p, Token_Lt, offset, count);
+	} else {
+		// NOTE(bill): REVERSED LOGIC
+		/*
+			#reverse for c, offset in str {
+				...
+			}
+
+			offset := len(str)
+			for offset > 0 {
+				c, _w := string16_decode_last_rune(str[:offset])
+				offset -= _w
+				...
+			}
+		*/
+		lb_addr_store(p, offset_, count);
+
+		lb_emit_jump(p, loop);
+		lb_start_block(p, loop);
+
+		offset = lb_addr_load(p, offset_);
+		cond = lb_emit_comp(p, Token_Gt, offset, lb_const_int(m, t_int, 0));
+	}
+	lb_emit_if(p, cond, body, done);
+	lb_start_block(p, body);
+
+
+	lbValue rune_and_len = {};
+	if (!is_reverse) {
+		lbValue str_elem = lb_emit_ptr_offset(p, lb_string_elem(p, expr), offset);
+		lbValue str_len  = lb_emit_arith(p, Token_Sub, count, offset, t_int);
+		auto args = array_make<lbValue>(permanent_allocator(), 1);
+		args[0] = lb_emit_string16(p, str_elem, str_len);
+
+		rune_and_len = lb_emit_runtime_call(p, "string16_decode_rune", args);
+		lbValue len  = lb_emit_struct_ev(p, rune_and_len, 1);
+		lb_addr_store(p, offset_, lb_emit_arith(p, Token_Add, offset, len, t_int));
+
+		idx = offset;
+	} else {
+		// NOTE(bill): REVERSED LOGIC
+		lbValue str_elem = lb_string_elem(p, expr);
+		lbValue str_len  = offset;
+		auto args = array_make<lbValue>(permanent_allocator(), 1);
+		args[0] = lb_emit_string16(p, str_elem, str_len);
+
+		rune_and_len = lb_emit_runtime_call(p, "string16_decode_last_rune", args);
+		lbValue len  = lb_emit_struct_ev(p, rune_and_len, 1);
+		lb_addr_store(p, offset_, lb_emit_arith(p, Token_Sub, offset, len, t_int));
+
+		idx = lb_addr_load(p, offset_);
+	}
+
+
+	if (val_type != nullptr) {
+		val = lb_emit_struct_ev(p, rune_and_len, 0);
+	}
+
+	if (val_)  *val_  = val;
+	if (idx_)  *idx_  = idx;
+	if (loop_) *loop_ = loop;
+	if (done_) *done_ = done;
+}
+
+
 
 gb_internal Ast *lb_strip_and_prefix(Ast *ident) {
 	if (ident != nullptr) {
@@ -1138,7 +1253,11 @@ gb_internal void lb_build_range_stmt(lbProcedure *p, AstRangeStmt *rs, Scope *sc
 			}
 			Type *t = base_type(string.type);
 			GB_ASSERT(!is_type_cstring(t));
-			lb_build_range_string(p, string, val0_type, &val, &key, &loop, &done, rs->reverse);
+			if (is_type_string16(t)) {
+				lb_build_range_string16(p, string, val0_type, &val, &key, &loop, &done, rs->reverse);
+			} else {
+				lb_build_range_string(p, string, val0_type, &val, &key, &loop, &done, rs->reverse);
+			}
 			break;
 		}
 		case Type_Tuple:
diff --git a/src/llvm_backend_type.cpp b/src/llvm_backend_type.cpp
index 43c5f0b40..d1e7c0559 100644
--- a/src/llvm_backend_type.cpp
+++ b/src/llvm_backend_type.cpp
@@ -525,14 +525,48 @@ gb_internal void lb_setup_type_info_data_giant_array(lbModule *m, i64 global_typ
 				break;
 
 			case Basic_string:
-				tag_type = t_type_info_string;
+				{
+					tag_type = t_type_info_string;
+					LLVMValueRef vals[2] = {
+						lb_const_bool(m, t_bool, false).value,
+						lb_const_int(m, t_type_info_string_encoding_kind, 0).value,
+					};
+
+					variant_value = llvm_const_named_struct(m, tag_type, vals, gb_count_of(vals));
+				}
 				break;
 
 			case Basic_cstring:
 				{
 					tag_type = t_type_info_string;
-					LLVMValueRef vals[1] = {
+					LLVMValueRef vals[2] = {
+						lb_const_bool(m, t_bool, true).value,
+						lb_const_int(m, t_type_info_string_encoding_kind, 0).value,
+					};
+
+					variant_value = llvm_const_named_struct(m, tag_type, vals, gb_count_of(vals));
+				}
+				break;
+
+			case Basic_string16:
+				{
+					tag_type = t_type_info_string;
+					LLVMValueRef vals[2] = {
+						lb_const_bool(m, t_bool, false).value,
+						lb_const_int(m, t_type_info_string_encoding_kind, 1).value,
+					};
+
+					variant_value = llvm_const_named_struct(m, tag_type, vals, gb_count_of(vals));
+				}
+				break;
+
+
+			case Basic_cstring16:
+				{
+					tag_type = t_type_info_string;
+					LLVMValueRef vals[2] = {
 						lb_const_bool(m, t_bool, true).value,
+						lb_const_int(m, t_type_info_string_encoding_kind, 1).value,
 					};
 
 					variant_value = llvm_const_named_struct(m, tag_type, vals, gb_count_of(vals));
diff --git a/src/llvm_backend_utility.cpp b/src/llvm_backend_utility.cpp
index 521553147..dcb95a9a2 100644
--- a/src/llvm_backend_utility.cpp
+++ b/src/llvm_backend_utility.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ gb_internal bool lb_is_type_aggregate(Type *t) {
 	case Type_Basic:
 		switch (t->Basic.kind) {
 		case Basic_string:
+		case Basic_string16:
 		case Basic_any:
 			return true;
 
@@ -190,6 +191,23 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_clamp(lbProcedure *p, Type *t, lbValue x, lbValue mi
 	return z;
 }
 
+gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_string16(lbProcedure *p, lbValue str_elem, lbValue str_len) {
+	if (false && lb_is_const(str_elem) && lb_is_const(str_len)) {
+		LLVMValueRef values[2] = {
+			str_elem.value,
+			str_len.value,
+		};
+		lbValue res = {};
+		res.type = t_string16;
+		res.value = llvm_const_named_struct(p->module, t_string16, values, gb_count_of(values));
+		return res;
+	} else {
+		lbAddr res = lb_add_local_generated(p, t_string16, false);
+		lb_emit_store(p, lb_emit_struct_ep(p, res.addr, 0), str_elem);
+		lb_emit_store(p, lb_emit_struct_ep(p, res.addr, 1), str_len);
+		return lb_addr_load(p, res);
+	}
+}
 
 
 gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_string(lbProcedure *p, lbValue str_elem, lbValue str_len) {
@@ -981,7 +999,8 @@ gb_internal i32 lb_convert_struct_index(lbModule *m, Type *t, i32 index) {
 	} else if (build_context.ptr_size != build_context.int_size) {
 		switch (t->kind) {
 		case Type_Basic:
-			if (t->Basic.kind != Basic_string) {
+			if (t->Basic.kind != Basic_string &&
+			    t->Basic.kind != Basic_string16) {
 				break;
 			}
 			/*fallthrough*/
@@ -1160,6 +1179,11 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_struct_ep(lbProcedure *p, lbValue s, i32 index) {
 		case 0: result_type = alloc_type_pointer(t->Slice.elem); break;
 		case 1: result_type = t_int; break;
 		}
+	} else if (is_type_string16(t)) {
+		switch (index) {
+		case 0: result_type = t_u16_ptr; break;
+		case 1: result_type = t_int;    break;
+		}
 	} else if (is_type_string(t)) {
 		switch (index) {
 		case 0: result_type = t_u8_ptr; break;
@@ -1273,6 +1297,12 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_struct_ev(lbProcedure *p, lbValue s, i32 index) {
 	switch (t->kind) {
 	case Type_Basic:
 		switch (t->Basic.kind) {
+		case Basic_string16:
+			switch (index) {
+			case 0: result_type = t_u16_ptr; break;
+			case 1: result_type = t_int;    break;
+			}
+			break;
 		case Basic_string:
 			switch (index) {
 			case 0: result_type = t_u8_ptr; break;
@@ -1440,6 +1470,10 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_emit_deep_field_gep(lbProcedure *p, lbValue e, Selection
 				e = lb_emit_struct_ep(p, e, index);
 				break;
 
+			case Basic_string16:
+				e = lb_emit_struct_ep(p, e, index);
+				break;
+
 			default:
 				GB_PANIC("un-gep-able type %s", type_to_string(type));
 				break;
@@ -1626,11 +1660,17 @@ gb_internal void lb_fill_string(lbProcedure *p, lbAddr const &string, lbValue ba
 
 gb_internal lbValue lb_string_elem(lbProcedure *p, lbValue string) {
 	Type *t = base_type(string.type);
+	if (t->kind == Type_Basic && t->Basic.kind == Basic_string16) {
+		return lb_emit_struct_ev(p, string, 0);
+	}
 	GB_ASSERT(t->kind == Type_Basic && t->Basic.kind == Basic_string);
 	return lb_emit_struct_ev(p, string, 0);
 }
 gb_internal lbValue lb_string_len(lbProcedure *p, lbValue string) {
 	Type *t = base_type(string.type);
+	if (t->kind == Type_Basic && t->Basic.kind == Basic_string16) {
+		return lb_emit_struct_ev(p, string, 1);
+	}
 	GB_ASSERT_MSG(t->kind == Type_Basic && t->Basic.kind == Basic_string, "%s", type_to_string(t));
 	return lb_emit_struct_ev(p, string, 1);
 }
@@ -1641,6 +1681,12 @@ gb_internal lbValue lb_cstring_len(lbProcedure *p, lbValue value) {
 	args[0] = lb_emit_conv(p, value, t_cstring);
 	return lb_emit_runtime_call(p, "cstring_len", args);
 }
+gb_internal lbValue lb_cstring16_len(lbProcedure *p, lbValue value) {
+	GB_ASSERT(is_type_cstring16(value.type));
+	auto args = array_make<lbValue>(permanent_allocator(), 1);
+	args[0] = lb_emit_conv(p, value, t_cstring16);
+	return lb_emit_runtime_call(p, "cstring16_len", args);
+}
 
 
 gb_internal lbValue lb_array_elem(lbProcedure *p, lbValue array_ptr) {
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 112d1208a..5a43e3c02 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ gb_internal i32 system_exec_command_line_app_internal(bool exit_on_err, char con
 	}
 
 	wcmd = string_to_string16(permanent_allocator(), make_string(cast(u8 *)cmd_line, cmd_len-1));
-	if (CreateProcessW(nullptr, wcmd.text,
-					   nullptr, nullptr, true, 0, nullptr, nullptr,
-					   &start_info, &pi)) {
+	if (CreateProcessW(nullptr, cast(wchar_t *)wcmd.text,
+	                   nullptr, nullptr, true, 0, nullptr, nullptr,
+	                   &start_info, &pi)) {
 		WaitForSingleObject(pi.hProcess, INFINITE);
 		GetExitCodeProcess(pi.hProcess, cast(DWORD *)&exit_code);
 
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ gb_internal Array<String> setup_args(int argc, char const **argv) {
 	wchar_t **wargv = command_line_to_wargv(GetCommandLineW(), &wargc);
 	auto args = array_make<String>(a, 0, wargc);
 	for (isize i = 0; i < wargc; i++) {
-		wchar_t *warg = wargv[i];
+		u16 *warg = cast(u16 *)wargv[i];
 		isize wlen = string16_len(warg);
 		String16 wstr = make_string16(warg, wlen);
 		String arg = string16_to_string(a, wstr);
diff --git a/src/microsoft_craziness.h b/src/microsoft_craziness.h
index b0fd22a23..933607a2a 100644
--- a/src/microsoft_craziness.h
+++ b/src/microsoft_craziness.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ struct Find_Result {
 };
 
 gb_internal String mc_wstring_to_string(wchar_t const *str) {
-	return string16_to_string(mc_allocator, make_string16_c(str));
+	return string16_to_string(mc_allocator, make_string16_c(cast(u16 *)str));
 }
 
 gb_internal String16 mc_string_to_wstring(String str) {
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ gb_internal HANDLE mc_find_first(String wildcard, MC_Find_Data *find_data) {
  	String16 wildcard_wide = mc_string_to_wstring(wildcard);
  	defer (mc_free(wildcard_wide));
 
- 	HANDLE handle = FindFirstFileW(wildcard_wide.text, &_find_data);
+ 	HANDLE handle = FindFirstFileW(cast(wchar_t *)wildcard_wide.text, &_find_data);
  	if (handle == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) return INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE;
 
  	find_data->file_attributes = _find_data.dwFileAttributes;
diff --git a/src/path.cpp b/src/path.cpp
index d5e982088..2b97a04df 100644
--- a/src/path.cpp
+++ b/src/path.cpp
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ gb_internal String directory_from_path(String const &s) {
 		String16 wstr = string_to_string16(a, path);
 		defer (gb_free(a, wstr.text));
 
-		i32 attribs = GetFileAttributesW(wstr.text);
+		i32 attribs = GetFileAttributesW(cast(wchar_t *)wstr.text);
 		if (attribs < 0) return false;
 
 		return (attribs & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY) != 0;
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ gb_internal ReadDirectoryError read_directory(String path, Array<FileInfo> *fi)
 	defer (gb_free(a, wstr.text));
 
 	WIN32_FIND_DATAW file_data = {};
-	HANDLE find_file = FindFirstFileW(wstr.text, &file_data);
+	HANDLE find_file = FindFirstFileW(cast(wchar_t *)wstr.text, &file_data);
 	if (find_file == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
 		return ReadDirectory_Unknown;
 	}
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ gb_internal ReadDirectoryError read_directory(String path, Array<FileInfo> *fi)
 		wchar_t *filename_w = file_data.cFileName;
 		u64 size = cast(u64)file_data.nFileSizeLow;
 		size |= (cast(u64)file_data.nFileSizeHigh) << 32;
-		String name = string16_to_string(a, make_string16_c(filename_w));
+		String name = string16_to_string(a, make_string16_c(cast(u16 *)filename_w));
 		if (name == "." || name == "..") {
 			gb_free(a, name.text);
 			continue;
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ gb_internal bool write_directory(String path) {
 #else
 gb_internal bool write_directory(String path) {
 	String16 wstr = string_to_string16(heap_allocator(), path);
-	LPCWSTR wdirectory_name = wstr.text;
+	LPCWSTR wdirectory_name = cast(wchar_t *)wstr.text;
 
 	HANDLE directory = CreateFileW(wdirectory_name,
 			GENERIC_WRITE,
diff --git a/src/string.cpp b/src/string.cpp
index ae8d066b1..2087a5fee 100644
--- a/src/string.cpp
+++ b/src/string.cpp
@@ -26,15 +26,14 @@ struct String_Iterator {
 
 // NOTE(bill): String16 is only used for Windows due to its file directories
 struct String16 {
-	wchar_t *text;
-	isize    len;
-	wchar_t const &operator[](isize i) const {
+	u16 * text;
+	isize len;
+	u16 const &operator[](isize i) const {
 		GB_ASSERT_MSG(0 <= i && i < len, "[%td]", i);
 		return text[i];
 	}
 };
 
-
 gb_internal gb_inline String make_string(u8 const *text, isize len) {
 	String s;
 	s.text = cast(u8 *)text;
@@ -45,19 +44,19 @@ gb_internal gb_inline String make_string(u8 const *text, isize len) {
 	return s;
 }
 
-
-gb_internal gb_inline String16 make_string16(wchar_t const *text, isize len) {
+gb_internal gb_inline String16 make_string16(u16 const *text, isize len) {
 	String16 s;
-	s.text = cast(wchar_t *)text;
+	s.text = cast(u16 *)text;
 	s.len = len;
 	return s;
 }
 
-gb_internal isize string16_len(wchar_t const *s) {
+
+gb_internal isize string16_len(u16 const *s) {
 	if (s == nullptr) {
 		return 0;
 	}
-	wchar_t const *p = s;
+	u16 const *p = s;
 	while (*p) {
 		p++;
 	}
@@ -69,7 +68,7 @@ gb_internal gb_inline String make_string_c(char const *text) {
 	return make_string(cast(u8 *)cast(void *)text, gb_strlen(text));
 }
 
-gb_internal gb_inline String16 make_string16_c(wchar_t const *text) {
+gb_internal gb_inline String16 make_string16_c(u16 const *text) {
 	return make_string16(text, string16_len(text));
 }
 
@@ -80,6 +79,13 @@ gb_internal String substring(String const &s, isize lo, isize hi) {
 	return make_string(s.text+lo, hi-lo);
 }
 
+gb_internal String16 substring(String16 const &s, isize lo, isize hi) {
+	isize max = s.len;
+	GB_ASSERT_MSG(lo <= hi && hi <= max, "%td..%td..%td", lo, hi, max);
+
+	return make_string16(s.text+lo, hi-lo);
+}
+
 
 gb_internal char *alloc_cstring(gbAllocator a, String s) {
 	char *c_str = gb_alloc_array(a, char, s.len+1);
@@ -145,6 +151,27 @@ gb_internal int string_compare(String const &a, String const &b) {
 	return res;
 }
 
+
+gb_internal int string16_compare(String16 const &a, String16 const &b) {
+	if (a.text == b.text) {
+		return cast(int)(a.len - b.len);
+	}
+	if (a.text == nullptr) {
+		return -1;
+	}
+	if (b.text == nullptr) {
+		return +1;
+	}
+
+	uintptr n = gb_min(a.len, b.len);
+	int res = memcmp(a.text, b.text, n*gb_size_of(u16));
+	if (res == 0) {
+		res = cast(int)(a.len - b.len);
+	}
+	return res;
+}
+
+
 gb_internal isize string_index_byte(String const &s, u8 x) {
 	for (isize i = 0; i < s.len; i++) {
 		if (s.text[i] == x) {
@@ -182,6 +209,26 @@ template <isize N> gb_internal bool operator >= (String const &a, char const (&b
 template <> bool operator == (String const &a, char const (&b)[1]) { return a.len == 0; }
 template <> bool operator != (String const &a, char const (&b)[1]) { return a.len != 0; }
 
+
+gb_internal gb_inline bool str_eq(String16 const &a, String16 const &b) {
+	if (a.len != b.len) return false;
+	if (a.len == 0) return true;
+	return memcmp(a.text, b.text, a.len) == 0;
+}
+gb_internal gb_inline bool str_ne(String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return !str_eq(a, b);                }
+gb_internal gb_inline bool str_lt(String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return string16_compare(a, b) < 0;     }
+gb_internal gb_inline bool str_gt(String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return string16_compare(a, b) > 0;     }
+gb_internal gb_inline bool str_le(String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return string16_compare(a, b) <= 0;    }
+gb_internal gb_inline bool str_ge(String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return string16_compare(a, b) >= 0;    }
+
+gb_internal gb_inline bool operator == (String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return str_eq(a, b); }
+gb_internal gb_inline bool operator != (String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return str_ne(a, b); }
+gb_internal gb_inline bool operator <  (String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return str_lt(a, b); }
+gb_internal gb_inline bool operator >  (String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return str_gt(a, b); }
+gb_internal gb_inline bool operator <= (String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return str_le(a, b); }
+gb_internal gb_inline bool operator >= (String16 const &a, String16 const &b) { return str_ge(a, b); }
+
+
 gb_internal gb_inline bool string_starts_with(String const &s, String const &prefix) {
 	if (prefix.len > s.len) {
 		return false;
@@ -611,10 +658,9 @@ gb_internal String normalize_path(gbAllocator a, String const &path, String cons
 
 
 
-// TODO(bill): Make this non-windows specific
 gb_internal String16 string_to_string16(gbAllocator a, String s) {
 	int len, len1;
-	wchar_t *text;
+	u16 *text;
 
 	if (s.len < 1) {
 		return make_string16(nullptr, 0);
@@ -625,15 +671,14 @@ gb_internal String16 string_to_string16(gbAllocator a, String s) {
 		return make_string16(nullptr, 0);
 	}
 
-	text = gb_alloc_array(a, wchar_t, len+1);
+	text = gb_alloc_array(a, u16, len+1);
 
-	len1 = convert_multibyte_to_widechar(cast(char *)s.text, cast(int)s.len, text, cast(int)len);
+	len1 = convert_multibyte_to_widechar(cast(char *)s.text, cast(int)s.len, cast(wchar_t *)text, cast(int)len);
 	if (len1 == 0) {
 		gb_free(a, text);
 		return make_string16(nullptr, 0);
 	}
 	text[len] = 0;
-
 	return make_string16(text, len);
 }
 
@@ -646,7 +691,7 @@ gb_internal String string16_to_string(gbAllocator a, String16 s) {
 		return make_string(nullptr, 0);
 	}
 
-	len = convert_widechar_to_multibyte(s.text, cast(int)s.len, nullptr, 0);
+	len = convert_widechar_to_multibyte(cast(wchar_t *)s.text, cast(int)s.len, nullptr, 0);
 	if (len == 0) {
 		return make_string(nullptr, 0);
 	}
@@ -654,7 +699,7 @@ gb_internal String string16_to_string(gbAllocator a, String16 s) {
 
 	text = gb_alloc_array(a, u8, len+1);
 
-	len1 = convert_widechar_to_multibyte(s.text, cast(int)s.len, cast(char *)text, cast(int)len);
+	len1 = convert_widechar_to_multibyte(cast(wchar_t *)s.text, cast(int)s.len, cast(char *)text, cast(int)len);
 	if (len1 == 0) {
 		gb_free(a, text);
 		return make_string(nullptr, 0);
@@ -674,9 +719,9 @@ gb_internal String temporary_directory(gbAllocator allocator) {
 		return String{0};
 	}
 	DWORD len = gb_max(MAX_PATH, n);
-	wchar_t *b = gb_alloc_array(heap_allocator(), wchar_t, len+1);
+	u16 *b = gb_alloc_array(heap_allocator(), u16, len+1);
 	defer (gb_free(heap_allocator(), b));
-	n = GetTempPathW(len, b);
+	n = GetTempPathW(len, cast(wchar_t *)b);
 	if (n == 3 && b[1] == ':' && b[2] == '\\') {
 
 	} else if (n > 0 && b[n-1] == '\\') {
@@ -791,6 +836,104 @@ gb_internal String quote_to_ascii(gbAllocator a, String str, u8 quote='"') {
 	return res;
 }
 
+gb_internal Rune decode_surrogate_pair(u16 r1, u16 r2) {
+	static Rune const _surr1     = 0xd800;
+	static Rune const _surr2     = 0xdc00;
+	static Rune const _surr3     = 0xe000;
+	static Rune const _surr_self = 0x10000;
+
+	if (_surr1 <= r1 && r1 < _surr2 && _surr2 <= r2 && r2 < _surr3) {
+		return (((r1-_surr1)<<10) | (r2 - _surr2)) + _surr_self;
+	}
+	return GB_RUNE_INVALID;
+}
+
+gb_internal String quote_to_ascii(gbAllocator a, String16 str, u8 quote='"') {
+	static Rune const _surr1     = 0xd800;
+	static Rune const _surr2     = 0xdc00;
+	static Rune const _surr3     = 0xe000;
+	static Rune const _surr_self = 0x10000;
+
+	u16 *s = cast(u16 *)str.text;
+	isize n = str.len;
+	auto buf = array_make<u8>(a, 0, n*2);
+	array_add(&buf, quote);
+	for (isize width = 0; n > 0; s += width, n -= width) {
+		Rune r = cast(Rune)s[0];
+		width = 1;
+		if (r < _surr1 || _surr3 <= r) {
+			r = cast(Rune)r;
+		} else if (_surr1 <= r && r < _surr2) {
+			if (n>1) {
+				r = decode_surrogate_pair(s[0], s[1]);
+				if (r != GB_RUNE_INVALID) {
+					width = 2;
+				}
+			} else {
+				r = GB_RUNE_INVALID;
+			}
+		}
+		if (width == 1 && r == GB_RUNE_INVALID) {
+			array_add(&buf, cast(u8)'\\');
+			array_add(&buf, cast(u8)'x');
+			array_add(&buf, cast(u8)lower_hex[s[0]>>4]);
+			array_add(&buf, cast(u8)lower_hex[s[0]&0xf]);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (r == quote || r == '\\') {
+			array_add(&buf, cast(u8)'\\');
+			array_add(&buf, u8(r));
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (r < 0x80 && is_printable(r)) {
+			array_add(&buf, u8(r));
+			continue;
+		}
+		switch (r) {
+		case '\a':
+		case '\b':
+		case '\f':
+		case '\n':
+		case '\r':
+		case '\t':
+		case '\v':
+		default:
+			if (r < ' ') {
+				u8 b = cast(u8)r;
+				array_add(&buf, cast(u8)'\\');
+				array_add(&buf, cast(u8)'x');
+				array_add(&buf, cast(u8)lower_hex[b>>4]);
+				array_add(&buf, cast(u8)lower_hex[b&0xf]);
+			}
+			if (r > GB_RUNE_MAX) {
+				r = 0XFFFD;
+			}
+			if (r < 0x10000) {
+				array_add(&buf, cast(u8)'\\');
+				array_add(&buf, cast(u8)'u');
+				for (isize i = 12; i >= 0; i -= 4) {
+					array_add(&buf, cast(u8)lower_hex[(r>>i)&0xf]);
+				}
+			} else {
+				array_add(&buf, cast(u8)'\\');
+				array_add(&buf, cast(u8)'U');
+				for (isize i = 28; i >= 0; i -= 4) {
+					array_add(&buf, cast(u8)lower_hex[(r>>i)&0xf]);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+
+
+	array_add(&buf, quote);
+	String res = {};
+	res.text = buf.data;
+	res.len = buf.count;
+	return res;
+}
+
 
 
 
diff --git a/src/string16_map.cpp b/src/string16_map.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c9e2eb817
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/string16_map.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,538 @@
+GB_STATIC_ASSERT(sizeof(MapIndex) == sizeof(u32));
+
+
+struct String16HashKey {
+	String16 string;
+	u32      hash;
+
+	operator String16() const noexcept {
+		return this->string;
+	}
+	operator String16 const &() const noexcept {
+		return this->string;
+	}
+};
+gb_internal gb_inline u32 string_hash(String16 const &s) {
+	u32 res = fnv32a(s.text, s.len*gb_size_of(u16)) & 0x7fffffff;
+	return res | (res == 0);
+}
+
+gb_internal gb_inline String16HashKey string_hash_string(String16 const &s) {
+	String16HashKey hash_key = {};
+	hash_key.hash = string_hash(s);
+	hash_key.string = s;
+	return hash_key;
+}
+
+
+#if 1 /* old string map */
+
+template <typename T>
+struct String16MapEntry {
+	String16      key;
+	u32           hash;
+	MapIndex      next;
+	T             value;
+};
+
+template <typename T>
+struct String16Map {
+	MapIndex *           hashes;
+	usize                hashes_count;
+	String16MapEntry<T> *entries;
+	u32                  count;
+	u32                  entries_capacity;
+};
+
+
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_init    (String16Map<T> *h, usize capacity = 16);
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_destroy (String16Map<T> *h);
+
+template <typename T> gb_internal T *  string16_map_get     (String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key);
+template <typename T> gb_internal T &  string16_map_must_get(String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key);
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_set     (String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key, T const &value);
+
+// template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_remove  (String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key);
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_clear   (String16Map<T> *h);
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_grow    (String16Map<T> *h);
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_reserve (String16Map<T> *h, usize new_count);
+
+gb_internal gbAllocator string16_map_allocator(void) {
+	return heap_allocator();
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline void string16_map_init(String16Map<T> *h, usize capacity) {
+	capacity = next_pow2_isize(capacity);
+	string16_map_reserve(h, capacity);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline void string16_map_destroy(String16Map<T> *h) {
+	gb_free(string16_map_allocator(), h->hashes);
+	gb_free(string16_map_allocator(), h->entries);
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal void string16_map__resize_hashes(String16Map<T> *h, usize count) {
+	h->hashes_count = cast(u32)resize_array_raw(&h->hashes, string16_map_allocator(), h->hashes_count, count, MAP_CACHE_LINE_SIZE);
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal void string16_map__reserve_entries(String16Map<T> *h, usize capacity) {
+	h->entries_capacity = cast(u32)resize_array_raw(&h->entries, string16_map_allocator(), h->entries_capacity, capacity, MAP_CACHE_LINE_SIZE);
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal MapIndex string16_map__add_entry(String16Map<T> *h, u32 hash, String16 const &key) {
+	String16MapEntry<T> e = {};
+	e.key = key;
+	e.hash = hash;
+	e.next = MAP_SENTINEL;
+	if (h->count+1 >= h->entries_capacity) {
+		string16_map__reserve_entries(h, gb_max(h->entries_capacity*2, 4));
+	}
+	h->entries[h->count++] = e;
+	return cast(MapIndex)(h->count-1);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal MapFindResult string16_map__find(String16Map<T> *h, u32 hash, String16 const &key) {
+	MapFindResult fr = {MAP_SENTINEL, MAP_SENTINEL, MAP_SENTINEL};
+	if (h->hashes_count != 0) {
+		fr.hash_index = cast(MapIndex)(hash & (h->hashes_count-1));
+		fr.entry_index = h->hashes[fr.hash_index];
+		while (fr.entry_index != MAP_SENTINEL) {
+			auto *entry = &h->entries[fr.entry_index];
+			if (entry->hash == hash && entry->key == key) {
+				return fr;
+			}
+			fr.entry_prev = fr.entry_index;
+			fr.entry_index = entry->next;
+		}
+	}
+	return fr;
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal MapFindResult string16_map__find_from_entry(String16Map<T> *h, String16MapEntry<T> *e) {
+	MapFindResult fr = {MAP_SENTINEL, MAP_SENTINEL, MAP_SENTINEL};
+	if (h->hashes_count != 0) {
+		fr.hash_index  = cast(MapIndex)(e->hash & (h->hashes_count-1));
+		fr.entry_index = h->hashes[fr.hash_index];
+		while (fr.entry_index != MAP_SENTINEL) {
+			auto *entry = &h->entries[fr.entry_index];
+			if (entry == e) {
+				return fr;
+			}
+			fr.entry_prev = fr.entry_index;
+			fr.entry_index = entry->next;
+		}
+	}
+	return fr;
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal b32 string16_map__full(String16Map<T> *h) {
+	return 0.75f * h->hashes_count <= h->count;
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_inline void string16_map_grow(String16Map<T> *h) {
+	isize new_count = gb_max(h->hashes_count<<1, 16);
+	string16_map_reserve(h, new_count);
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal void string16_map_reset_entries(String16Map<T> *h) {
+	for (u32 i = 0; i < h->hashes_count; i++) {
+		h->hashes[i] = MAP_SENTINEL;
+	}
+	for (isize i = 0; i < h->count; i++) {
+		MapFindResult fr;
+		String16MapEntry<T> *e = &h->entries[i];
+		e->next = MAP_SENTINEL;
+		fr = string16_map__find_from_entry(h, e);
+		if (fr.entry_prev == MAP_SENTINEL) {
+			h->hashes[fr.hash_index] = cast(MapIndex)i;
+		} else {
+			h->entries[fr.entry_prev].next = cast(MapIndex)i;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal void string16_map_reserve(String16Map<T> *h, usize cap) {
+	if (h->count*2 < h->hashes_count) {
+		return;
+	}
+	string16_map__reserve_entries(h, cap);
+	string16_map__resize_hashes(h,   cap*2);
+	string16_map_reset_entries(h);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal T *string16_map_get(String16Map<T> *h, u32 hash, String16 const &key) {
+	MapFindResult fr = {MAP_SENTINEL, MAP_SENTINEL, MAP_SENTINEL};
+	if (h->hashes_count != 0) {
+		fr.hash_index = cast(MapIndex)(hash & (h->hashes_count-1));
+		fr.entry_index = h->hashes[fr.hash_index];
+		while (fr.entry_index != MAP_SENTINEL) {
+			auto *entry = &h->entries[fr.entry_index];
+			if (entry->hash == hash && entry->key == key) {
+				return &entry->value;
+			}
+			fr.entry_prev = fr.entry_index;
+			fr.entry_index = entry->next;
+		}
+	}
+	return nullptr;
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline T *string16_map_get(String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key) {
+	return string16_map_get(h, key.hash, key.string);
+}
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal T &string16_map_must_get(String16Map<T> *h, u32 hash, String16 const &key) {
+	isize index = string16_map__find(h, hash, key).entry_index;
+	GB_ASSERT(index != MAP_SENTINEL);
+	return h->entries[index].value;
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal T &string16_map_must_get(String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key) {
+	return string16_map_must_get(h, key.hash, key.string);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal void string16_map_set(String16Map<T> *h, u32 hash, String16 const &key, T const &value) {
+	MapIndex index;
+	MapFindResult fr;
+	if (h->hashes_count == 0) {
+		string16_map_grow(h);
+	}
+	fr = string16_map__find(h, hash, key);
+	if (fr.entry_index != MAP_SENTINEL) {
+		index = fr.entry_index;
+	} else {
+		index = string16_map__add_entry(h, hash, key);
+		if (fr.entry_prev != MAP_SENTINEL) {
+			h->entries[fr.entry_prev].next = index;
+		} else {
+			h->hashes[fr.hash_index] = index;
+		}
+	}
+	h->entries[index].value = value;
+
+	if (string16_map__full(h)) {
+		string16_map_grow(h);
+	}
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline void string16_map_set(String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key, T const &value) {
+	string16_map_set(h, key.hash, key.string, value);
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline void string16_map_clear(String16Map<T> *h) {
+	h->count = 0;
+	for (u32 i = 0; i < h->hashes_count; i++) {
+		h->hashes[i] = MAP_SENTINEL;
+	}
+}
+
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal String16MapEntry<T> *begin(String16Map<T> &m) noexcept {
+	return m.entries;
+}
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal String16MapEntry<T> const *begin(String16Map<T> const &m) noexcept {
+	return m.entries;
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal String16MapEntry<T> *end(String16Map<T> &m) noexcept {
+	return m.entries + m.count;
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal String16MapEntry<T> const *end(String16Map<T> const &m) noexcept {
+	return m.entries + m.count;
+}
+
+#else /* new string map */
+
+template <typename T>
+struct StringMapEntry {
+	String key;
+	u32    hash;
+	T      value;
+};
+
+template <typename T>
+struct StringMap {
+	String16MapEntry<T> *entries;
+	u32                count;
+	u32                capacity;
+};
+
+
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_init    (String16Map<T> *h, usize capacity = 16);
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_destroy (String16Map<T> *h);
+
+template <typename T> gb_internal T *  string16_map_get     (String16Map<T> *h, String16 const &key);
+template <typename T> gb_internal T *  string16_map_get     (String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key);
+
+template <typename T> gb_internal T &  string16_map_must_get(String16Map<T> *h, String16 const &key);
+template <typename T> gb_internal T &  string16_map_must_get(String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key);
+
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_set     (String16Map<T> *h, String16 const &key, T const &value);
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_set     (String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key, T const &value);
+
+// template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_remove  (String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key);
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_clear   (String16Map<T> *h);
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_grow    (String16Map<T> *h);
+template <typename T> gb_internal void string16_map_reserve (String16Map<T> *h, usize new_count);
+
+gb_internal gbAllocator string16_map_allocator(void) {
+	return heap_allocator();
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline void string16_map_init(String16Map<T> *h, usize capacity) {
+	capacity = next_pow2_isize(capacity);
+	string16_map_reserve(h, capacity);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline void string16_map_destroy(String16Map<T> *h) {
+	gb_free(string16_map_allocator(), h->entries);
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal void string16_map__insert(String16Map<T> *h, u32 hash, String16 const &key, T const &value) {
+	if (h->count+1 >= h->capacity) {
+		string16_map_grow(h);
+	}
+	GB_ASSERT(h->count+1 < h->capacity);
+
+	u32 mask = h->capacity-1;
+	MapIndex index = hash & mask;
+	MapIndex original_index = index;
+	do {
+		auto *entry = h->entries+index;
+		if (entry->hash == 0) {
+			entry->key   = key;
+			entry->hash  = hash;
+			entry->value = value;
+
+			h->count += 1;
+			return;
+		}
+		index = (index+1)&mask;
+	} while (index != original_index);
+
+	GB_PANIC("Full map");
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal b32 string16_map__full(String16Map<T> *h) {
+	return 0.75f * h->count <= h->capacity;
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_inline void string16_map_grow(String16Map<T> *h) {
+	isize new_capacity = gb_max(h->capacity<<1, 16);
+	string16_map_reserve(h, new_capacity);
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal void string16_map_reserve(String16Map<T> *h, usize cap) {
+	if (cap < h->capacity) {
+		return;
+	}
+	cap = next_pow2_isize(cap);
+
+	String16Map<T> new_h = {};
+	new_h.count    = 0;
+	new_h.capacity = cast(u32)cap;
+	new_h.entries = gb_alloc_array(string16_map_allocator(), String16MapEntry<T>, new_h.capacity);
+
+	if (h->count) {
+		for (u32 i = 0; i < h->capacity; i++) {
+			auto *entry = h->entries+i;
+			if (entry->hash) {
+				string16_map__insert(&new_h, entry->hash, entry->key, entry->value);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	string16_map_destroy(h);
+	*h = new_h;
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal T *string16_map_get(String16Map<T> *h, u32 hash, String16 const &key) {
+	if (h->count == 0) {
+		return nullptr;
+	}
+	u32 mask = (h->capacity-1);
+	u32 index = hash & mask;
+	u32 original_index = index;
+	do {
+		auto *entry = h->entries+index;
+		u32 curr_hash = entry->hash;
+		if (curr_hash == 0) {
+			// NOTE(bill): no found, but there isn't any key removal for this hash map
+			return nullptr;
+		} else if (curr_hash == hash && entry->key == key) {
+			return &entry->value;
+		}
+		index = (index+1) & mask;
+	} while (original_index != index);
+	return nullptr;
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline T *string16_map_get(String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key) {
+	return string16_map_get(h, key.hash, key.string);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline T *string16_map_get(String16Map<T> *h, String16 const &key) {
+	return string16_map_get(h, string_hash(key), key);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal T &string16_map_must_get(String16Map<T> *h, u32 hash, String16 const &key) {
+	T *found = string16_map_get(h, hash, key);
+	GB_ASSERT(found != nullptr);
+	return *found;
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal T &string16_map_must_get(String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key) {
+	return string16_map_must_get(h, key.hash, key.string);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline T &string16_map_must_get(String16Map<T> *h, String16 const &key) {
+	return string16_map_must_get(h, string_hash(key), key);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal void string16_map_set(String16Map<T> *h, u32 hash, String16 const &key, T const &value) {
+	if (h->count == 0) {
+		string16_map_grow(h);
+	}
+	auto *found = string16_map_get(h, hash, key);
+	if (found) {
+		*found = value;
+		return;
+	}
+	string16_map__insert(h, hash, key, value);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline void string16_map_set(String16Map<T> *h, String16 const &key, T const &value) {
+	string16_map_set(h, string_hash_string(key), value);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline void string16_map_set(String16Map<T> *h, String16HashKey const &key, T const &value) {
+	string16_map_set(h, key.hash, key.string, value);
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal gb_inline void string16_map_clear(String16Map<T> *h) {
+	h->count = 0;
+	gb_zero_array(h->entries, h->capacity);
+}
+
+
+template <typename T>
+struct StringMapIterator {
+	String16Map<T> *map;
+	MapIndex index;
+
+	StringMapIterator<T> &operator++() noexcept {
+		for (;;) {
+			++index;
+			if (map->capacity == index) {
+				return *this;
+			}
+			String16MapEntry<T> *entry = map->entries+index;
+			if (entry->hash != 0) {
+				return *this;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	bool operator==(StringMapIterator<T> const &other) const noexcept {
+		return this->map == other->map && this->index == other->index;
+	}
+
+	operator String16MapEntry<T> *() const {
+		return map->entries+index;
+	}
+};
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal StringMapIterator<T> end(String16Map<T> &m) noexcept {
+	return StringMapIterator<T>{&m, m.capacity};
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal StringMapIterator<T> const end(String16Map<T> const &m) noexcept {
+	return StringMapIterator<T>{&m, m.capacity};
+}
+
+
+
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal StringMapIterator<T> begin(String16Map<T> &m) noexcept {
+	if (m.count == 0) {
+		return end(m);
+	}
+
+	MapIndex index = 0;
+	while (index < m.capacity) {
+		if (m.entries[index].hash) {
+			break;
+		}
+		index++;
+	}
+	return StringMapIterator<T>{&m, index};
+}
+template <typename T>
+gb_internal StringMapIterator<T> const begin(String16Map<T> const &m) noexcept {
+	if (m.count == 0) {
+		return end(m);
+	}
+
+	MapIndex index = 0;
+	while (index < m.capacity) {
+		if (m.entries[index].hash) {
+			break;
+		}
+		index++;
+	}
+	return StringMapIterator<T>{&m, index};
+}
+
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/types.cpp b/src/types.cpp
index 29412fa25..c465714db 100644
--- a/src/types.cpp
+++ b/src/types.cpp
@@ -41,8 +41,13 @@ enum BasicKind {
 	Basic_uint,
 	Basic_uintptr,
 	Basic_rawptr,
-	Basic_string,  // ^u8 + int
-	Basic_cstring, // ^u8
+
+	Basic_string,  // [^]u8 + int
+	Basic_cstring, // [^]u8
+
+	Basic_string16,  // [^]u16 + int
+	Basic_cstring16, // [^]u16 + int
+
 	Basic_any,     // rawptr + ^Type_Info
 
 	Basic_typeid,
@@ -501,8 +506,14 @@ gb_global Type basic_types[] = {
 	{Type_Basic, {Basic_uintptr,           BasicFlag_Integer | BasicFlag_Unsigned,    -1, STR_LIT("uintptr")}},
 
 	{Type_Basic, {Basic_rawptr,            BasicFlag_Pointer,                         -1, STR_LIT("rawptr")}},
+
 	{Type_Basic, {Basic_string,            BasicFlag_String,                          -1, STR_LIT("string")}},
 	{Type_Basic, {Basic_cstring,           BasicFlag_String,                          -1, STR_LIT("cstring")}},
+
+	{Type_Basic, {Basic_string16,          BasicFlag_String,                          -1, STR_LIT("string16")}},
+	{Type_Basic, {Basic_cstring16,         BasicFlag_String,                          -1, STR_LIT("cstring16")}},
+
+
 	{Type_Basic, {Basic_any,               0,                                         16, STR_LIT("any")}},
 
 	{Type_Basic, {Basic_typeid,            0,                                          8, STR_LIT("typeid")}},
@@ -592,8 +603,12 @@ gb_global Type *t_uint            = &basic_types[Basic_uint];
 gb_global Type *t_uintptr         = &basic_types[Basic_uintptr];
 
 gb_global Type *t_rawptr          = &basic_types[Basic_rawptr];
+
 gb_global Type *t_string          = &basic_types[Basic_string];
 gb_global Type *t_cstring         = &basic_types[Basic_cstring];
+gb_global Type *t_string16        = &basic_types[Basic_string16];
+gb_global Type *t_cstring16       = &basic_types[Basic_cstring16];
+
 gb_global Type *t_any             = &basic_types[Basic_any];
 
 gb_global Type *t_typeid          = &basic_types[Basic_typeid];
@@ -631,6 +646,8 @@ gb_global Type *t_untyped_uninit     = &basic_types[Basic_UntypedUninit];
 
 gb_global Type *t_u8_ptr       = nullptr;
 gb_global Type *t_u8_multi_ptr = nullptr;
+gb_global Type *t_u16_ptr       = nullptr;
+gb_global Type *t_u16_multi_ptr = nullptr;
 gb_global Type *t_int_ptr      = nullptr;
 gb_global Type *t_i64_ptr      = nullptr;
 gb_global Type *t_f64_ptr      = nullptr;
@@ -644,6 +661,8 @@ gb_global Type *t_type_info_enum_value           = nullptr;
 gb_global Type *t_type_info_ptr                  = nullptr;
 gb_global Type *t_type_info_enum_value_ptr       = nullptr;
 
+gb_global Type *t_type_info_string_encoding_kind = nullptr;
+
 gb_global Type *t_type_info_named                = nullptr;
 gb_global Type *t_type_info_integer              = nullptr;
 gb_global Type *t_type_info_rune                 = nullptr;
@@ -1293,6 +1312,14 @@ gb_internal bool is_type_string(Type *t) {
 	}
 	return false;
 }
+gb_internal bool is_type_string16(Type *t) {
+	t = base_type(t);
+	if (t == nullptr) { return false; }
+	if (t->kind == Type_Basic) {
+		return t->Basic.kind == Basic_string16;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
 gb_internal bool is_type_cstring(Type *t) {
 	t = base_type(t);
 	if (t == nullptr) { return false; }
@@ -1301,6 +1328,14 @@ gb_internal bool is_type_cstring(Type *t) {
 	}
 	return false;
 }
+gb_internal bool is_type_cstring16(Type *t) {
+	t = base_type(t);
+	if (t == nullptr) { return false; }
+	if (t->kind == Type_Basic) {
+		return t->Basic.kind == Basic_cstring16;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
 gb_internal bool is_type_typed(Type *t) {
 	t = base_type(t);
 	if (t == nullptr) { return false; }
@@ -1430,6 +1465,12 @@ gb_internal bool is_type_u8(Type *t) {
 	}
 	return false;
 }
+gb_internal bool is_type_u16(Type *t) {
+	if (t->kind == Type_Basic) {
+		return t->Basic.kind == Basic_u16;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
 gb_internal bool is_type_array(Type *t) {
 	t = base_type(t);
 	if (t == nullptr) { return false; }
@@ -1691,6 +1732,39 @@ gb_internal bool is_type_rune_array(Type *t) {
 	return false;
 }
 
+gb_internal bool is_type_u16_slice(Type *t) {
+	t = base_type(t);
+	if (t == nullptr) { return false; }
+	if (t->kind == Type_Slice) {
+		return is_type_u16(t->Slice.elem);
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+gb_internal bool is_type_u16_array(Type *t) {
+	t = base_type(t);
+	if (t == nullptr) { return false; }
+	if (t->kind == Type_Array) {
+		return is_type_u16(t->Array.elem);
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+gb_internal bool is_type_u16_ptr(Type *t) {
+	t = base_type(t);
+	if (t == nullptr) { return false; }
+	if (t->kind == Type_Pointer) {
+		return is_type_u16(t->Slice.elem);
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+gb_internal bool is_type_u16_multi_ptr(Type *t) {
+	t = base_type(t);
+	if (t == nullptr) { return false; }
+	if (t->kind == Type_MultiPointer) {
+		return is_type_u16(t->Slice.elem);
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
 
 gb_internal bool is_type_array_like(Type *t) {
 	return is_type_array(t) || is_type_enumerated_array(t);
@@ -2110,7 +2184,7 @@ gb_internal bool is_type_indexable(Type *t) {
 	Type *bt = base_type(t);
 	switch (bt->kind) {
 	case Type_Basic:
-		return bt->Basic.kind == Basic_string;
+		return bt->Basic.kind == Basic_string || bt->Basic.kind == Basic_string16;
 	case Type_Array:
 	case Type_Slice:
 	case Type_DynamicArray:
@@ -2130,7 +2204,7 @@ gb_internal bool is_type_sliceable(Type *t) {
 	Type *bt = base_type(t);
 	switch (bt->kind) {
 	case Type_Basic:
-		return bt->Basic.kind == Basic_string;
+		return bt->Basic.kind == Basic_string || bt->Basic.kind == Basic_string16;
 	case Type_Array:
 	case Type_Slice:
 	case Type_DynamicArray:
@@ -2377,6 +2451,7 @@ gb_internal bool type_has_nil(Type *t) {
 		case Basic_any:
 			return true;
 		case Basic_cstring:
+		case Basic_cstring16:
 			return true;
 		case Basic_typeid:
 			return true;
@@ -2444,8 +2519,9 @@ gb_internal bool is_type_comparable(Type *t) {
 		case Basic_rune:
 			return true;
 		case Basic_string:
-			return true;
 		case Basic_cstring:
+		case Basic_string16:
+		case Basic_cstring16:
 			return true;
 		case Basic_typeid:
 			return true;
@@ -3831,10 +3907,12 @@ gb_internal i64 type_size_of(Type *t) {
 	if (t->kind == Type_Basic) {
 		GB_ASSERT_MSG(is_type_typed(t), "%s", type_to_string(t));
 		switch (t->Basic.kind) {
-		case Basic_string:  size = 2*build_context.int_size; break;
-		case Basic_cstring: size = build_context.ptr_size;   break;
-		case Basic_any:     size = 16;                       break;
-		case Basic_typeid:  size = 8;                        break;
+		case Basic_string:    size = 2*build_context.int_size; break;
+		case Basic_cstring:   size = build_context.ptr_size;   break;
+		case Basic_string16:  size = 2*build_context.int_size; break;
+		case Basic_cstring16: size = build_context.ptr_size;   break;
+		case Basic_any:       size = 16;                       break;
+		case Basic_typeid:    size = 8;                        break;
 
 		case Basic_int: case Basic_uint:
 			size = build_context.int_size;
@@ -3894,10 +3972,12 @@ gb_internal i64 type_align_of_internal(Type *t, TypePath *path) {
 	case Type_Basic: {
 		GB_ASSERT(is_type_typed(t));
 		switch (t->Basic.kind) {
-		case Basic_string:  return build_context.int_size;
-		case Basic_cstring: return build_context.ptr_size;
-		case Basic_any:     return 8;
-		case Basic_typeid:  return 8;
+		case Basic_string:    return build_context.int_size;
+		case Basic_cstring:   return build_context.ptr_size;
+		case Basic_string16:  return build_context.int_size;
+		case Basic_cstring16: return build_context.ptr_size;
+		case Basic_any:       return 8;
+		case Basic_typeid:    return 8;
 
 		case Basic_int: case Basic_uint:
 			return build_context.int_size;
@@ -4145,10 +4225,12 @@ gb_internal i64 type_size_of_internal(Type *t, TypePath *path) {
 			return size;
 		}
 		switch (kind) {
-		case Basic_string:  return 2*build_context.int_size;
-		case Basic_cstring: return build_context.ptr_size;
-		case Basic_any:     return 16;
-		case Basic_typeid:  return 8;
+		case Basic_string:    return 2*build_context.int_size;
+		case Basic_cstring:   return build_context.ptr_size;
+		case Basic_string16:  return 2*build_context.int_size;
+		case Basic_cstring16: return build_context.ptr_size;
+		case Basic_any:       return 16;
+		case Basic_typeid:    return 8;
 
 		case Basic_int: case Basic_uint:
 			return build_context.int_size;
@@ -4380,6 +4462,15 @@ gb_internal i64 type_offset_of(Type *t, i64 index, Type **field_type_) {
 				if (field_type_) *field_type_ = t_int;
 				return build_context.int_size; // len
 			}
+		} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string16) {
+			switch (index) {
+			case 0:
+				if (field_type_) *field_type_ = t_u16_ptr;
+				return 0;                      // data
+			case 1:
+				if (field_type_) *field_type_ = t_int;
+				return build_context.int_size; // len
+			}
 		} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_any) {
 			switch (index) {
 			case 0:
@@ -4456,6 +4547,11 @@ gb_internal i64 type_offset_of_from_selection(Type *type, Selection sel) {
 					case 0: t = t_rawptr; break;
 					case 1: t = t_int;    break;
 					}
+				} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_string16) {
+					switch (index) {
+					case 0: t = t_rawptr; break;
+					case 1: t = t_int;    break;
+					}
 				} else if (t->Basic.kind == Basic_any) {
 					switch (index) {
 					case 0: t = t_rawptr; break;
@@ -4697,6 +4793,11 @@ gb_internal Type *type_internal_index(Type *t, isize index) {
 					GB_ASSERT(index == 0 || index == 1);
 					return index == 0 ? t_u8_ptr : t_int;
 				}
+			case Basic_string16:
+				{
+					GB_ASSERT(index == 0 || index == 1);
+					return index == 0 ? t_u16_ptr : t_int;
+				}
 			case Basic_any:
 				{
 					GB_ASSERT(index == 0 || index == 1);
diff --git a/tests/core/sys/windows/test_kernel32.odin b/tests/core/sys/windows/test_kernel32.odin
index f6a88c769..15f3b5173 100644
--- a/tests/core/sys/windows/test_kernel32.odin
+++ b/tests/core/sys/windows/test_kernel32.odin
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ lcid_to_local :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 	cc := win32.LCIDToLocaleName(lcid, &wname[0], len(wname) - 1, 0)
 	testing.expectf(t, cc == 6, "%#x (should be: %#x)", u32(cc), 6)
 	if cc == 0 {return}
-	str, err := win32.wstring_to_utf8(win32.wstring(&wname), int(cc))
+	str, err := win32.wstring_to_utf8(win32.wstring(&wname[0]), int(cc))
 	testing.expectf(t, err == .None, "%v (should be: %x)", err, 0)
 	exp :: "en-US"
 	testing.expectf(t, str == exp, "%v (should be: %v)", str, exp)
 
-	cc2 := win32.LocaleNameToLCID(L(exp), 0)
+	cc2 := win32.LocaleNameToLCID(exp, 0)
 	testing.expectf(t, cc2 == 0x0409, "%#x (should be: %#x)", u32(cc2), 0x0409)
 
 	//fmt.printfln("%0X", lcid)
diff --git a/tests/core/sys/windows/test_ole32.odin b/tests/core/sys/windows/test_ole32.odin
index 8be231e1f..a0a2590b8 100644
--- a/tests/core/sys/windows/test_ole32.odin
+++ b/tests/core/sys/windows/test_ole32.odin
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import "core:testing"
 string_from_clsid :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 	p: win32.LPOLESTR
 	hr := win32.StringFromCLSID(win32.CLSID_FileOpenDialog, &p)
-	defer if p != nil {win32.CoTaskMemFree(p)}
+	defer if p != nil {win32.CoTaskMemFree(rawptr(p))}
 
 	testing.expectf(t, win32.SUCCEEDED(hr), "%x (should be: %x)", u32(hr), 0)
 	testing.expectf(t, p != nil, "%v is nil", p)
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ clsid_from_string :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 string_from_iid :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 	p: win32.LPOLESTR
 	hr := win32.StringFromIID(win32.IID_IFileDialog, &p)
-	defer if p != nil {win32.CoTaskMemFree(p)}
+	defer if p != nil {win32.CoTaskMemFree(rawptr(p))}
 
 	testing.expectf(t, win32.SUCCEEDED(hr), "%x (should be: %x)", u32(hr), 0)
 	testing.expectf(t, p != nil, "%v is nil", p)
diff --git a/tests/core/sys/windows/util.odin b/tests/core/sys/windows/util.odin
index 0201395f6..e2ab9cde0 100644
--- a/tests/core/sys/windows/util.odin
+++ b/tests/core/sys/windows/util.odin
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@ UTF16_Vector :: struct {
 
 utf16_vectors := []UTF16_Vector{
 	{
-		intrinsics.constant_utf16_cstring("Hellope, World!"),
+		"Hellope, World!",
 		"Hellope, World!",
 	},
 	{
-		intrinsics.constant_utf16_cstring("Hellope\x00, World!"),
+		"Hellope\x00, World!",
 		"Hellope",
 	},
 }
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ utf16_to_utf8_buf_test :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 		buf := make([]u8, len(test.ustr))
 		defer delete(buf)
 
-		res := win32.utf16_to_utf8_buf(buf[:], test.wstr[:len(test.ustr)])
+		wstr := string16(test.wstr)
+		res := win32.utf16_to_utf8_buf(buf[:], transmute([]u16)wstr)
 		testing.expect_value(t, res, test.ustr)
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file