diff --git a/examples/format.cc b/examples/format.cc
index 204e57a..dbd359e 100644
--- a/examples/format.cc
+++ b/examples/format.cc
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ int main() {
         return range(v + 1);
     }));
 
-    Map<String, int> m = {
+    Map<std::string, int> m = {
         { "foo", 5  },
         { "bar", 10 },
         { "baz", 15 }
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ int main() {
     writefln("%i", Bar{});
 
     /* format into string */
-    auto s = appender<String>();
+    auto s = appender<std::string>();
     format(s, "hello %s", "world");
     writeln(s.get());
 }
diff --git a/examples/range.cc b/examples/range.cc
index 9860958..8bca8d2 100644
--- a/examples/range.cc
+++ b/examples/range.cc
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ int main() {
 
     /* prints ABCDEF (ASCII 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70) */
     writeln("string gen test");
-    String s(map(range(6), [](int v) -> char { return v + 65; }));
+    auto s = make_string(map(range(6), [](int v) -> char { return v + 65; }));
     writeln(s);
 
     /* join a few ranges together - prints 11, 22, 33 ... 99 each on new line */
diff --git a/examples/range_pipe.cc b/examples/range_pipe.cc
index e37d4fa..34b4481 100644
--- a/examples/range_pipe.cc
+++ b/examples/range_pipe.cc
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ int main() {
 
     /* prints ABCDEF (ASCII 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70) */
     writeln("string gen test");
-    String s(range(6) | map([](int v) -> char { return v + 65; }));
+    auto s = make_string(range(6) | map([](int v) -> char { return v + 65; }));
     writeln(s);
 
     /* join a few ranges together - prints 11, 22, 33 ... 99 each on new line */
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ int main() {
         | filter([](auto v) { return v >= 65 && v <= 90; })
         | map   ([](auto v) { return char(v); });
 
-    writeln(String(r));
+    writeln(make_string(r));
 
     /* "list comprehensions" */
     writeln("list initialization");
diff --git a/examples/stream2.cc b/examples/stream2.cc
index 3661b08..c7e2a0c 100644
--- a/examples/stream2.cc
+++ b/examples/stream2.cc
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ int main() {
 
     FileStream wtest{"test.txt", StreamMode::write};
 
-    String smpl = 
+    std::string smpl =
         "This is a test file for later read.\n"
         "It contains some sample text in order to see whether "
         "things actually read correctly.\n\n\n"
@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@ int main() {
 
     writeln("## WHOLE FILE READ ##\n");
 
-    String ts1{test.iter()};
+    auto ts1 = make_string(test.iter());
     writefln("-- str beg --\n%s-- str end --", ts1);
 
     test.seek(0);
 
     writeln("\n## PART FILE READ ##\n");
 
-    String ts2{test.iter().take(25)};
+    auto ts2 = make_string(test.iter().take(25));
     writefln("-- str beg --\n%s\n-- str end --", ts2);
 
     return 0;
diff --git a/ostd/environ.hh b/ostd/environ.hh
index 7b18ff2..e65c131 100644
--- a/ostd/environ.hh
+++ b/ostd/environ.hh
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include <vector>
+
 #include "ostd/maybe.hh"
 #include "ostd/string.hh"
 
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@
 
 namespace ostd {
 
-inline Maybe<String> env_get(ConstCharRange name) {
+inline Maybe<std::string> env_get(ConstCharRange name) {
     char buf[256];
     auto tbuf = to_temp_cstr(name, buf, sizeof(buf));
 #ifndef OSTD_PLATFORM_WIN32
@@ -27,23 +29,21 @@ inline Maybe<String> env_get(ConstCharRange name) {
     if (!ret) {
         return ostd::nothing;
     }
-    return std::move(String(ret));
+    return std::string{ret};
 #else
-    String rbuf;
+    std::vector<char> rbuf;
+    DWORD sz;
     for (;;) {
-        auto ret = GetEnvironmentVariable(
-            tbuf.get(), rbuf.data(), rbuf.capacity() + 1
-        );
-        if (!ret) {
+        sz = GetEnvironmentVariable(tbuf.get(), rbuf.data(), rbuf.capacity());
+        if (!sz) {
             return ostd::nothing;
         }
-        if (ret <= rbuf.capacity()) {
-            rbuf.advance(ret);
+        if (sz < rbuf.capacity()) {
             break;
         }
-        rbuf.reserve(ret - 1);
+        rbuf.reserve(sz);
     }
-    return std::move(rbuf);
+    return std::string{rbuf.data(), sz};
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -86,9 +86,9 @@ inline bool env_unset(ConstCharRange name) {
 #endif
     }
 #ifndef OSTD_PLATFORM_WIN32
-    return !unsetenv(String(name).data());
+    return !unsetenv(std::string{name}.data());
 #else
-    return !!SetEnvironmentVariable(String(name).data(), nullptr);
+    return !!SetEnvironmentVariable(std::string{name}.data(), nullptr);
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/ostd/filesystem.hh b/ostd/filesystem.hh
index afb9eb6..fee3845 100644
--- a/ostd/filesystem.hh
+++ b/ostd/filesystem.hh
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ struct FileInfo {
         p_path(std::move(i.p_path)), p_atime(i.p_atime), p_mtime(i.p_mtime),
         p_ctime(i.p_ctime)
     {
-        i.p_slash = i.p_dot = npos;
+        i.p_slash = i.p_dot = std::string::npos;
         i.p_type = FileType::unknown;
         i.p_atime = i.p_ctime = i.p_mtime = 0;
     }
@@ -94,23 +94,23 @@ struct FileInfo {
         return *this;
     }
 
-    ConstCharRange path() const { return p_path.iter(); }
+    ConstCharRange path() const { return ostd::iter(p_path); }
 
     ConstCharRange filename() const {
         return path().slice(
-            (p_slash == npos) ? 0 : (p_slash + 1), p_path.size()
+            (p_slash == std::string::npos) ? 0 : (p_slash + 1), p_path.size()
         );
     }
 
     ConstCharRange stem() const {
         return path().slice(
-            (p_slash == npos) ? 0 : (p_slash + 1),
-            (p_dot == npos) ? p_path.size() : p_dot
+            (p_slash == std::string::npos) ? 0 : (p_slash + 1),
+            (p_dot == std::string::npos) ? p_path.size() : p_dot
         );
     }
 
     ConstCharRange extension() const {
-        return (p_dot == npos)
+        return (p_dot == std::string::npos)
             ? ConstCharRange()
             : path().slice(p_dot, p_path.size());
     }
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ struct FileInfo {
     FileType type() const { return p_type; }
 
     void normalize() {
-        path_normalize(p_path.iter());
-        init_from_str(p_path.iter());
+        path_normalize(ostd::iter(p_path));
+        init_from_str(ostd::iter(p_path));
     }
 
     time_t atime() const { return p_atime; }
@@ -150,24 +150,24 @@ private:
         if (lstat(p_path.data(), &st) < 0)
 #endif
         {
-            p_slash = p_dot = npos;
+            p_slash = p_dot = std::string::npos;
             p_type = FileType::unknown;
             p_path.clear();
             p_atime = p_mtime = p_ctime = 0;
             return;
         }
-        ConstCharRange r = p_path.iter();
+        ConstCharRange r = p_path;
 
         ConstCharRange found = find_last(r, PathSeparator);
         if (found.empty()) {
-            p_slash = npos;
+            p_slash = std::string::npos;
         } else {
             p_slash = r.distance_front(found);
         }
 
         found = find(filename(), '.');
         if (found.empty()) {
-            p_dot = npos;
+            p_dot = std::string::npos;
         } else {
             p_dot = r.distance_front(found);
         }
@@ -215,9 +215,9 @@ private:
 #endif
     }
 
-    Size p_slash = npos, p_dot = npos;
+    Size p_slash = std::string::npos, p_dot = std::string::npos;
     FileType p_type = FileType::unknown;
-    String p_path;
+    std::string p_path;
 
     time_t p_atime = 0, p_mtime = 0, p_ctime = 0;
 };
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ private:
         if (!p_de) {
             return FileInfo();
         }
-        String ap = p_path;
+        std::string ap = p_path;
         ap += PathSeparator;
         ap += static_cast<char const *>(p_de->d_name);
         return FileInfo(ap);
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ private:
 
     DIR *p_d;
     struct dirent *p_de;
-    String p_path;
+    std::string p_path;
 };
 
 #else /* OSTD_PLATFORM_WIN32 */
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ private:
         if (empty()) {
             return FileInfo();
         }
-        String ap = p_path;
+        std::string ap = p_path;
         ap += PathSeparator;
         ap += static_cast<char const *>(p_data.cFileName);
         return FileInfo(ap);
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ private:
 
     HANDLE p_handle;
     WIN32_FIND_DATA p_data;
-    String p_path;
+    std::string p_path;
 };
 #endif /* OSTD_PLATFORM_WIN32 */
 
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ namespace detail {
     template<Size I>
     struct PathJoin {
         template<typename T, typename ...A>
-        static void join(String &s, T const &a, A const &...b) {
+        static void join(std::string &s, T const &a, A const &...b) {
             s += a;
             s += PathSeparator;
             PathJoin<I - 1>::join(s, b...);
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ namespace detail {
     template<>
     struct PathJoin<1> {
         template<typename T>
-        static void join(String &s, T const &a) {
+        static void join(std::string &s, T const &a) {
             s += a;
         }
     };
@@ -588,9 +588,9 @@ namespace detail {
 
 template<typename ...A>
 inline FileInfo path_join(A const &...args) {
-    String path;
+    std::string path;
     detail::PathJoin<sizeof...(A)>::join(path, args...);
-    path_normalize(path.iter());
+    path_normalize(ostd::iter(path));
     return FileInfo(path);
 }
 
diff --git a/ostd/format.hh b/ostd/format.hh
index 446b534..b2f5fb5 100644
--- a/ostd/format.hh
+++ b/ostd/format.hh
@@ -644,19 +644,19 @@ namespace detail {
         return nullptr;
     }
 
-    inline String escape_fmt_str(ConstCharRange val) {
-        String ret;
-        ret.push('"');
+    inline std::string escape_fmt_str(ConstCharRange val) {
+        std::string ret;
+        ret.push_back('"');
         while (!val.empty()) {
             char const *esc = escape_fmt_char(val.front(), '"');
             if (esc) {
                 ret.append(esc);
             } else {
-                ret.push(val.front());
+                ret.push_back(val.front());
             }
             val.pop_front();
         }
-        ret.push('"');
+        ret.push_back('"');
         return ret;
     }
 
diff --git a/ostd/io.hh b/ostd/io.hh
index 03ed168..94cc35a 100644
--- a/ostd/io.hh
+++ b/ostd/io.hh
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ namespace detail {
             !IsConstructible<ConstCharRange, T const &>, IoNat
         > = IoNat()
     ) {
-        write(ostd::to_string(v));
+        write_impl(ostd::to_string(v));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/ostd/range.hh b/ostd/range.hh
index 987e4b3..31f2530 100644
--- a/ostd/range.hh
+++ b/ostd/range.hh
@@ -1693,8 +1693,8 @@ public:
 };
 
 template<typename T>
-struct AppenderRange: OutputRange<AppenderRange<T>, typename T::Value,
-    typename T::Reference, typename T::Size, typename T::Difference> {
+struct AppenderRange: OutputRange<AppenderRange<T>, typename T::value_type,
+    typename T::reference, typename T::size_type, typename T::difference_type> {
     AppenderRange(): p_data() {}
     AppenderRange(T const &v): p_data(v) {}
     AppenderRange(T &&v): p_data(std::move(v)) {}
@@ -1723,19 +1723,19 @@ struct AppenderRange: OutputRange<AppenderRange<T>, typename T::Value,
 
     void clear() { p_data.clear(); }
 
-    void reserve(typename T::Size cap) { p_data.reserve(cap); }
-    void resize(typename T::Size len) { p_data.resize(len); }
+    void reserve(typename T::size_type cap) { p_data.reserve(cap); }
+    void resize(typename T::size_type len) { p_data.resize(len); }
 
-    typename T::Size size() const { return p_data.size(); }
-    typename T::Size capacity() const { return p_data.capacity(); }
+    typename T::size_type size() const { return p_data.size(); }
+    typename T::size_type capacity() const { return p_data.capacity(); }
 
-    bool put(typename T::ConstReference v) {
-        p_data.push(v);
+    bool put(typename T::const_reference v) {
+        p_data.push_back(v);
         return true;
     }
 
-    bool put(typename T::Value &&v) {
-        p_data.push(std::move(v));
+    bool put(typename T::value_type &&v) {
+        p_data.push_back(std::move(v));
         return true;
     }
 
diff --git a/ostd/string.hh b/ostd/string.hh
index a6ff989..e93685d 100644
--- a/ostd/string.hh
+++ b/ostd/string.hh
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* String for OctaSTD.
+/* String utilities for OctaSTD.
  *
  * This file is part of OctaSTD. See COPYING.md for futher information.
  */
@@ -21,10 +21,6 @@
 #include "ostd/algorithm.hh"
 
 namespace ostd {
-static constexpr Size npos = -1;
-
-template<typename T, typename A = Allocator<T>>
-class StringBase;
 
 template<typename T>
 struct CharRangeBase: InputRange<
@@ -56,8 +52,8 @@ public:
         p_beg(beg), p_end(beg + N - (beg[N - 1] == '\0'))
     {}
 
-    template<typename U, typename A>
-    CharRangeBase(StringBase<U, A> const &s, EnableIf<
+    template<typename U, typename TR, typename A>
+    CharRangeBase(std::basic_string<U, TR, A> const &s, EnableIf<
         IsConvertible<U *, T *>, Nat
     > = Nat()):
         p_beg(s.data()), p_end(s.data() + s.size())
@@ -72,8 +68,8 @@ public:
         p_beg = v.p_beg; p_end = v.p_end; return *this;
     }
 
-    template<typename A>
-    CharRangeBase &operator=(StringBase<T, A> const &s) {
+    template<typename TR, typename A>
+    CharRangeBase &operator=(std::basic_string<T, TR, A> const &s) {
         p_beg = s.data(); p_end = s.data() + s.size(); return *this;
     }
     /* TODO: traits for utf-16/utf-32 string lengths, for now assume char */
@@ -268,439 +264,26 @@ struct ranged_traits<std::basic_string<T> const> {
     }
 };
 
-template<typename T, typename A>
-class StringBase {
-    using StrPair = detail::CompressedPair<AllocatorPointer<A>, A>;
-
-    ostd::Size p_len, p_cap;
-    StrPair p_buf;
-
-    template<typename R>
-    void ctor_from_range(R &range, EnableIf<
-        IsFiniteRandomAccessRange<R> && IsSame<T, RemoveCv<RangeValue<R>>>, bool
-    > = true) {
-        if (range.empty()) {
-            return;
-        }
-        RangeSize<R> l = range.size();
-        reserve(l);
-        p_len = l;
-        range.copy(p_buf.first(), l);
-        p_buf.first()[l] = '\0';
+template<typename T, typename R>
+inline std::basic_string<T> make_string(R range) {
+    /* TODO: specialize for contiguous ranges and matching value types */
+    std::basic_string<T> ret;
+    for (; !range.empty(); range.pop_front()) {
+        ret.push_back(range.front());
     }
-
-    template<typename R>
-    void ctor_from_range(R &range, EnableIf<
-        !IsFiniteRandomAccessRange<R> || !IsSame<T, RemoveCv<RangeValue<R>>>,
-        bool
-    > = true) {
-        if (range.empty()) {
-            return;
-        }
-        Size i = 0;
-        for (; !range.empty(); range.pop_front()) {
-            reserve(i + 1);
-            allocator_construct(
-                p_buf.second(), &p_buf.first()[i],
-                range.front()
-            );
-            ++i;
-            p_len = i;
-        }
-        p_buf.first()[p_len] = '\0';
-    }
-
-public:
-    using Size = ostd::Size;
-    using Difference = Ptrdiff;
-    using Value = T;
-    using Reference = T &;
-    using ConstReference = T const &;
-    using Pointer = AllocatorPointer<A>;
-    using ConstPointer = AllocatorConstPointer<A>;
-    using Range = CharRangeBase<T>;
-    using ConstRange = CharRangeBase<T const>;
-    using Allocator = A;
-
-    StringBase(A const &a = A()):
-        p_len(0), p_cap(0),
-        p_buf(reinterpret_cast<Pointer>(&p_len), a)
-    {}
-
-    explicit StringBase(Size n, T val = T(), A const &al = A()):
-        StringBase(al)
-    {
-        if (!n) {
-            return;
-        }
-        p_buf.first() = allocator_allocate(p_buf.second(), n + 1);
-        p_len = p_cap = n;
-        Pointer cur = p_buf.first(), last = p_buf.first() + n;
-        while (cur != last) {
-            *cur++ = val;
-        }
-        *cur = '\0';
-    }
-
-    StringBase(StringBase const &s):
-        p_len(0), p_cap(0), p_buf(reinterpret_cast<Pointer>(&p_len),
-        allocator_container_copy(s.p_buf.second()))
-    {
-        if (!s.p_len) {
-            return;
-        }
-        reserve(s.p_len);
-        p_len = s.p_len;
-        memcpy(p_buf.first(), s.p_buf.first(), (p_len + 1) * sizeof(T));
-    }
-    StringBase(StringBase const &s, A const &a):
-        p_len(0), p_cap(0), p_buf(reinterpret_cast<Pointer>(&p_len), a)
-     {
-        if (!s.p_len) {
-            return;
-        }
-        reserve(s.p_len);
-        p_len = s.p_len;
-        memcpy(p_buf.first(), s.p_buf.first(), (p_len + 1) * sizeof(T));
-    }
-    StringBase(StringBase &&s):
-        p_len(s.p_len), p_cap(s.p_cap),
-        p_buf(s.p_buf.first(), std::move(s.p_buf.second()))
-    {
-        s.p_len = s.p_cap = 0;
-        s.p_buf.first() = reinterpret_cast<Pointer>(&s.p_len);
-    }
-    StringBase(StringBase &&s, A const &a):
-        p_len(0), p_cap(0), p_buf(reinterpret_cast<Pointer>(&p_len), a)
-    {
-        if (!s.p_len) {
-            return;
-        }
-        if (a != s.p_buf.second()) {
-            reserve(s.p_cap);
-            p_len = s.p_len;
-            memcpy(p_buf.first(), s.p_buf.first(), (p_len + 1) * sizeof(T));
-            return;
-        }
-        p_buf.first() = s.p_buf.first();
-        p_len = s.p_len;
-        p_cap = s.p_cap;
-        s.p_len = s.p_cap = 0;
-        s.p_buf.first() = &s.p_cap;
-    }
-
-    StringBase(
-        StringBase const &s, Size pos, Size len = npos, A const &a = A()
-    ): StringBase(a) {
-        Size end = (len == npos) ? s.size() : (pos + len);
-        Size nch = (end - pos);
-        reserve(nch);
-        memcpy(p_buf.first(), s.p_buf.first() + pos, nch);
-        p_len += nch;
-        p_buf.first()[p_len] = '\0';
-    }
-
-    /* TODO: traits for utf-16/utf-32 string lengths, for now assume char */
-    StringBase(ConstRange v, A const &a = A()): StringBase(a) {
-        if (!v.size()) {
-            return;
-        }
-        reserve(v.size());
-        memcpy(p_buf.first(), &v[0], v.size());
-        p_buf.first()[v.size()] = '\0';
-        p_len = v.size();
-    }
-
-    template<typename U>
-    StringBase(U v, EnableIf<
-        IsConvertible<U, Value const *> && !IsArray<U>, A
-    > const &a = A()): StringBase(ConstRange(v), a) {}
-
-    template<typename U, Size N>
-    StringBase(U (&v)[N], EnableIf<
-        IsConvertible<U *, Value const *>, A
-    > const &a = A()): StringBase(ConstRange(v), a) {}
-
-    template<typename R, typename = EnableIf<
-        IsInputRange<R> && IsConvertible<RangeReference<R>, Value>
-    >>
-    StringBase(R range, A const &a = A()): StringBase(a) {
-        ctor_from_range(range);
-    }
-
-    ~StringBase() {
-        if (!p_cap) {
-            return;
-        }
-        allocator_deallocate(p_buf.second(), p_buf.first(), p_cap + 1);
-    }
-
-    void clear() {
-        if (!p_len) {
-            return;
-        }
-        p_len = 0;
-        *p_buf.first() = '\0';
-    }
-
-    StringBase &operator=(StringBase const &v) {
-        if (this == &v) {
-            return *this;
-        }
-        clear();
-        if (AllocatorPropagateOnContainerCopyAssignment<A>) {
-            if ((p_buf.second() != v.p_buf.second()) && p_cap) {
-                allocator_deallocate(p_buf.second(), p_buf.first(), p_cap);
-                p_cap = 0;
-                p_buf.first() = reinterpret_cast<Pointer>(&p_len);
-            }
-            p_buf.second() = v.p_buf.second();
-        }
-        reserve(v.p_cap);
-        p_len = v.p_len;
-        if (p_len) {
-            memcpy(p_buf.first(), v.p_buf.first(), p_len);
-            p_buf.first()[p_len] = '\0';
-        } else {
-            p_buf.first() = reinterpret_cast<Pointer>(&p_len);
-        }
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    StringBase &operator=(StringBase &&v) {
-        clear();
-        if (p_cap) {
-            allocator_deallocate(p_buf.second(), p_buf.first(), p_cap);
-        }
-        if (AllocatorPropagateOnContainerMoveAssignment<A>) {
-            p_buf.second() = v.p_buf.second();
-        }
-        p_len = v.p_len;
-        p_cap = v.p_cap;
-        p_buf.~StrPair();
-        new (&p_buf) StrPair(v.release(), std::move(v.p_buf.second()));
-        if (!p_cap) {
-            p_buf.first() = reinterpret_cast<Pointer>(&p_len);
-        }
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    StringBase &operator=(ConstRange v) {
-        reserve(v.size());
-        if (v.size()) {
-            memcpy(p_buf.first(), &v[0], v.size());
-        }
-        p_buf.first()[v.size()] = '\0';
-        p_len = v.size();
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    template<typename U>
-    EnableIf<
-        IsConvertible<U, Value const *> && !IsArray<U>, StringBase &
-    > operator=(U v) {
-        return operator=(ConstRange(v));
-    }
-
-    template<typename U, Size N>
-    EnableIf<
-        IsConvertible<U *, Value const *>, StringBase &
-    > operator=(U (&v)[N]) {
-        return operator=(ConstRange(v));
-    }
-
-    template<typename R, typename = EnableIf<
-        IsInputRange<R> && IsConvertible<RangeReference<R>, Value>
-    >> StringBase &operator=(R const &r) {
-        clear();
-        ctor_from_range(r);
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    void resize(Size n, T v = T()) {
-        if (!n) {
-            clear();
-            return;
-        }
-        Size l = p_len;
-        reserve(n);
-        p_len = n;
-        for (Size i = l; i < p_len; ++i) {
-            p_buf.first()[i] = T(v);
-        }
-        p_buf.first()[l] = '\0';
-    }
-
-    void reserve(Size n) {
-        if (n <= p_cap) {
-            return;
-        }
-        Size oc = p_cap;
-        if (!oc) {
-            p_cap = max(n, Size(8));
-        } else {
-            while (p_cap < n) p_cap *= 2;
-        }
-        Pointer tmp = allocator_allocate(p_buf.second(), p_cap + 1);
-        if (oc > 0) {
-            memcpy(tmp, p_buf.first(), (p_len + 1) * sizeof(T));
-            allocator_deallocate(p_buf.second(), p_buf.first(), oc + 1);
-        }
-        tmp[p_len] = '\0';
-        p_buf.first() = tmp;
-    }
-
-    T &operator[](Size i) { return p_buf.first()[i]; }
-    T const &operator[](Size i) const { return p_buf.first()[i]; }
-
-    T &at(Size i) { return p_buf.first()[i]; }
-    T const &at(Size i) const { return p_buf.first()[i]; }
-
-    T &front() { return p_buf.first()[0]; }
-    T const &front() const { return p_buf.first()[0]; };
-
-    T &back() { return p_buf.first()[size() - 1]; }
-    T const &back() const { return p_buf.first()[size() - 1]; }
-
-    Value *data() { return p_buf.first(); }
-    Value const *data() const { return p_buf.first(); }
-
-    Size size() const {
-        return p_len;
-    }
-
-    Size capacity() const {
-        return p_cap;
-    }
-
-    void advance(Size s) { p_len += s; }
-
-    Size length() const {
-        /* TODO: unicode */
-        return size();
-    }
-
-    bool empty() const { return (size() == 0); }
-
-    Value *release() {
-        Pointer r = p_buf.first();
-        p_buf.first() = nullptr;
-        p_len = p_cap = 0;
-        return reinterpret_cast<Value *>(r);
-    }
-
-    void push(T v) {
-        reserve(p_len + 1);
-        p_buf.first()[p_len++] = v;
-        p_buf.first()[p_len] = '\0';
-    }
-
-    StringBase &append(ConstRange r) {
-        if (!r.size()) {
-            return *this;
-        }
-        reserve(p_len + r.size());
-        memcpy(p_buf.first() + p_len, &r[0], r.size());
-        p_len += r.size();
-        p_buf.first()[p_len] = '\0';
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    StringBase &append(Size n, T c) {
-        if (!n) {
-            return *this;
-        }
-        reserve(p_len + n);
-        for (Size i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
-            p_buf.first()[p_len + i] = c;
-        }
-        p_len += n;
-        p_buf.first()[p_len] = '\0';
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    template<typename R, typename = EnableIf<
-        IsInputRange<R> && IsConvertible<RangeReference<R>, Value> &&
-        !IsConvertible<R, ConstRange>
-    >> StringBase &append(R range) {
-        Size nadd = 0;
-        for (; !range.empty(); range.pop_front()) {
-            reserve(p_len + nadd + 1);
-            p_buf.first()[p_len + nadd++] = range.front(); 
-        }
-        p_len += nadd;
-        p_buf.first()[p_len] = '\0';
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    StringBase &operator+=(ConstRange r) {
-        return append(r);
-    }
-    StringBase &operator+=(T c) {
-        return append(1, c);
-    }
-    template<typename R>
-    StringBase &operator+=(R const &v) {
-        return append(v);
-    }
-
-    int compare(ConstRange r) const {
-        return iter().compare(r);
-    }
-
-    int case_compare(ConstRange r) const {
-        return iter().case_compare(r);
-    }
-
-    Range iter() {
-        return Range(p_buf.first(), size());
-    }
-    ConstRange iter() const {
-        return ConstRange(p_buf.first(), size());
-    }
-    ConstRange citer() const {
-        return ConstRange(p_buf.dfirst(), size());
-    }
-
-    Range iter_cap() {
-        return Range(p_buf.first(), capacity());
-    }
-
-    void swap(StringBase &v) {
-        using std::swap;
-        swap(p_len, v.p_len);
-        swap(p_cap, v.p_cap);
-        swap(p_buf.first(), v.p_buf.first());
-        if (AllocatorPropagateOnContainerSwap<A>) {
-            swap(p_buf.second(), v.p_buf.second());
-        }
-    }
-
-    Size to_hash() const {
-        return iter().to_hash();
-    }
-
-    A get_allocator() const {
-        return p_buf.second();
-    }
-};
-
-template<typename T>
-inline void swap(StringBase<T> &a, StringBase<T> &b) {
-    a.swap(b);
+    return ret;
 }
 
-using String = StringBase<char>;
+template<typename R>
+inline std::basic_string<RemoveCv<RangeValue<R>>> make_string(R range) {
+    return make_string<RemoveCv<RangeValue<R>>>(std::move(range));
+}
 
 /* string literals */
 
 inline namespace literals {
 inline namespace string_literals {
-    inline String operator "" _s(char const *str, Size len) {
-        return String(ConstCharRange(str, len));
-    }
-
-    inline ConstCharRange operator "" _S(char const *str, Size len) {
+    inline ConstCharRange operator "" _sr(char const *str, Size len) {
         return ConstCharRange(str, len);
     }
 }
@@ -807,7 +390,7 @@ namespace detail {
 
     template<typename T, typename R>
     static auto test_stringify(int) ->
-        BoolConstant<IsSame<decltype(std::declval<T>().stringify()), String>>;
+        BoolConstant<IsSame<decltype(std::declval<T>().stringify()), std::string>>;
 
     template<typename T, typename R>
     static True test_stringify(decltype(std::declval<T const &>().to_string
@@ -834,11 +417,11 @@ struct ToString;
 template<typename T>
 struct ToString<T, EnableIf<detail::IterableTest<T>>> {
     using Argument = RemoveCv<RemoveReference<T>>;
-    using Result = String;
+    using Result = std::string;
 
-    String operator()(T const &v) const {
-        String ret("{");
-        auto x = appender<String>();
+    std::string operator()(T const &v) const {
+        std::string ret("{");
+        auto x = appender<std::string>();
         if (concat(x, ostd::iter(v), ", ", ToString<
             RemoveConst<RemoveReference<
                 RangeReference<decltype(ostd::iter(v))>
@@ -853,44 +436,26 @@ struct ToString<T, EnableIf<detail::IterableTest<T>>> {
 
 template<typename T>
 struct ToString<T, EnableIf<
-    detail::StringifyTest<T, detail::TostrRange<AppenderRange<String>>>
+    detail::StringifyTest<T, detail::TostrRange<AppenderRange<std::string>>>
 >> {
     using Argument = RemoveCv<RemoveReference<T>>;
-    using Result = String;
+    using Result = std::string;
 
-    String operator()(T const &v) const {
-        auto app = appender<String>();
-        detail::TostrRange<AppenderRange<String>> sink(app);
+    std::string operator()(T const &v) const {
+        auto app = appender<std::string>();
+        detail::TostrRange<AppenderRange<std::string>> sink(app);
         if (!v.to_string(sink)) {
-            return String();
+            return std::string{};
         }
         return std::move(app.get());
     }
 };
 
-namespace detail {
-    template<typename T>
-    void str_printf(String &s, char const *fmt, T v) {
-        char buf[256];
-        int n = snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), fmt, v);
-        s.clear();
-        s.reserve(n);
-        if (n >= int(sizeof(buf))) {
-            snprintf(s.data(), n + 1, fmt, v);
-        } else if (n > 0) {
-            memcpy(s.data(), buf, n + 1);
-        } else {
-            s.clear();
-        }
-        *reinterpret_cast<Size *>(&s) = n;
-    }
-}
-
 template<>
 struct ToString<bool> {
     using Argument = bool;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(bool b) {
+    using Result = std::string;
+    std::string operator()(bool b) {
         return b ? "true" : "false";
     }
 };
@@ -898,77 +463,66 @@ struct ToString<bool> {
 template<>
 struct ToString<char> {
     using Argument = char;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(char c) {
-        String ret;
-        ret.push(c);
+    using Result = std::string;
+    std::string operator()(char c) {
+        std::string ret;
+        ret += c;
         return ret;
     }
 };
 
-#define OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(T, fmt) \
+#define OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(T) \
 template<> \
 struct ToString<T> { \
     using Argument = T; \
-    using Result = String; \
-    String operator()(T v) { \
-        String ret; \
-        detail::str_printf(ret, fmt, v); \
-        return ret; \
+    using Result = std::string; \
+    std::string operator()(T v) { \
+        return std::to_string(v); \
     } \
 };
 
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(sbyte, "%hhd")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(short, "%hd")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(int, "%d")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(long, "%ld")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(float, "%f")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(double, "%f")
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(sbyte)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(short)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(int)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(long)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(float)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(double)
 
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(byte, "%hhu")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(ushort, "%hu")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(uint, "%u")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(ulong, "%lu")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(llong, "%lld")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(ullong, "%llu")
-OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(ldouble, "%Lf")
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(byte)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(ushort)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(uint)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(ulong)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(llong)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(ullong)
+OSTD_TOSTR_NUM(ldouble)
 
 #undef OSTD_TOSTR_NUM
 
 template<typename T>
 struct ToString<T *> {
     using Argument = T *;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(Argument v) {
-        String ret;
-        detail::str_printf(ret, "%p", v);
-        return ret;
+    using Result = std::string;
+    std::string operator()(Argument v) {
+        char buf[16];
+        sprintf(buf, "%p", v);
+        return buf;
     }
 };
 
 template<>
 struct ToString<char const *> {
     using Argument = char const *;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(char const *s) {
-        return String(s);
+    using Result = std::string;
+    std::string operator()(char const *s) {
+        return s;
     }
 };
 
 template<>
 struct ToString<char *> {
     using Argument = char *;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(char *s) {
-        return String(s);
-    }
-};
-
-template<>
-struct ToString<String> {
-    using Argument = String;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(Argument const &s) {
+    using Result = std::string;
+    std::string operator()(char *s) {
         return s;
     }
 };
@@ -976,36 +530,36 @@ struct ToString<String> {
 template<>
 struct ToString<std::string> {
     using Argument = std::string;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(Argument const &s) {
-        return iter(s);
+    using Result = std::string;
+    std::string operator()(Argument const &s) {
+        return s;
     }
 };
 
 template<>
 struct ToString<CharRange> {
     using Argument = CharRange;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(Argument const &s) {
-        return String(s);
+    using Result = std::string;
+    std::string operator()(Argument const &s) {
+        return std::string{s};
     }
 };
 
 template<>
 struct ToString<ConstCharRange> {
     using Argument = ConstCharRange;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(Argument const &s) {
-        return String(s);
+    using Result = std::string;
+    std::string operator()(Argument const &s) {
+        return std::string{s};
     }
 };
 
 template<typename T, typename U>
 struct ToString<std::pair<T, U>> {
     using Argument = std::pair<T, U>;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(Argument const &v) {
-        String ret("{");
+    using Result = std::string;
+    std::string operator()(Argument const &v) {
+        std::string ret{"{"};
         ret += ToString<RemoveCv<RemoveReference<T>>>()(v.first);
         ret += ", ";
         ret += ToString<RemoveCv<RemoveReference<U>>>()(v.second);
@@ -1018,7 +572,7 @@ namespace detail {
     template<Size I, Size N>
     struct TupleToString {
         template<typename T>
-        static void append(String &ret, T const &tup) {
+        static void append(std::string &ret, T const &tup) {
             ret += ", ";
             ret += ToString<RemoveCv<RemoveReference<
                 decltype(std::get<I>(tup))
@@ -1030,13 +584,13 @@ namespace detail {
     template<Size N>
     struct TupleToString<N, N> {
         template<typename T>
-        static void append(String &, T const &) {}
+        static void append(std::string &, T const &) {}
     };
 
     template<Size N>
     struct TupleToString<0, N> {
         template<typename T>
-        static void append(String &ret, T const &tup) {
+        static void append(std::string &ret, T const &tup) {
             ret += ToString<RemoveCv<RemoveReference<
                 decltype(std::get<0>(tup))
             >>>()(std::get<0>(tup));
@@ -1048,9 +602,9 @@ namespace detail {
 template<typename ...T>
 struct ToString<std::tuple<T...>> {
     using Argument = std::tuple<T...>;
-    using Result = String;
-    String operator()(Argument const &v) {
-        String ret("{");
+    using Result = std::string;
+    std::string operator()(Argument const &v) {
+        std::string ret("{");
         detail::TupleToString<0, sizeof...(T)>::append(ret, v);
         ret += "}";
         return ret;
@@ -1063,36 +617,10 @@ typename ToString<T>::Result to_string(T const &v) {
 }
 
 template<typename T>
-String to_string(std::initializer_list<T> init) {
+std::string to_string(std::initializer_list<T> init) {
     return to_string(iter(init));
 }
 
-/* TODO: rvalue ref versions for rhs when we have efficient prepend */
-
-inline String operator+(String const &lhs, ConstCharRange rhs) {
-    String ret(lhs); ret += rhs; return ret;
-}
-
-inline String operator+(ConstCharRange lhs, String const &rhs) {
-    String ret(lhs); ret += rhs; return ret;
-}
-
-inline String operator+(String const &lhs, char rhs) {
-    String ret(lhs); ret += rhs; return ret;
-}
-
-inline String operator+(char lhs, String const &rhs) {
-    String ret(lhs); ret += rhs; return ret;
-}
-
-inline String operator+(String &&lhs, ConstCharRange rhs) {
-    String ret(std::move(lhs)); ret += rhs; return ret;
-}
-
-inline String operator+(String &&lhs, char rhs) {
-    String ret(std::move(lhs)); ret += rhs; return ret;
-}
-
 template<typename R>
 struct TempCString {
 private:
@@ -1153,6 +681,17 @@ inline TempCString<R> to_temp_cstr(
     return TempCString<R>(input, buf, bufsize);
 }
 
+/* temporary */
+template<>
+struct ToHash<std::string> {
+    using Argument = std::string;
+    using Result = size_t;
+
+    size_t operator()(std::string const &v) const {
+        return std::hash<std::string>{}(v);
+    }
+};
+
 } /* namespace ostd */
 
 namespace std {