10.6

16 files changed, 281 insertions, 260 deletions

diff --git a/zen/basic_math.h b/zen/basic_math.h
index 0d08f6a6..75f5d3b8 100755
--- a/zen/basic_math.h
+++ b/zen/basic_math.h
@@ -21,14 +21,8 @@ namespace numeric
 template <class T> T abs(T value);
 template <class T> auto dist(T a, T b);
 template <class T> int sign(T value); //returns one of {-1, 0, 1}
-template <class T> T min(T a, T b, T c);
-template <class T> T max(T a, T b, T c);
 template <class T> bool isNull(T value);
 
-template <class T> void clamp(T& val, T minVal, T maxVal); //make sure minVal <= val && val <= maxVal
-template <class T> T  clampCpy(T val, T minVal, T maxVal);
-//std::clamp() available with C++17
-
 template <class T, class InputIterator> //precondition: range must be sorted!
 auto nearMatch(const T& val, InputIterator first, InputIterator last);
 
@@ -106,51 +100,6 @@ int sign(T value) //returns one of {-1, 0, 1}
     return value < 0 ? -1 : (value > 0 ? 1 : 0);
 }
 
-
-template <class T> inline
-T min(T a, T b, T c) //don't follow std::min's "const T&(const T&, const T&)" API
-{
-    if (a < b)
-        return a < c ? a : c;
-    else
-        return b < c ? b : c;
-    //return std::min(std::min(a, b), c);
-}
-
-
-template <class T> inline
-T max(T a, T b, T c)
-{
-    if (a > b)
-        return a > c ? a : c;
-    else
-        return b > c ? b : c;
-    //return std::max(std::max(a, b), c);
-}
-
-
-template <class T> inline
-T clampCpy(T val, T minVal, T maxVal)
-{
-    assert(minVal <= maxVal);
-    if (val < minVal)
-        return minVal;
-    else if (val > maxVal)
-        return maxVal;
-    return val;
-}
-
-template <class T> inline
-void clamp(T& val, T minVal, T maxVal)
-{
-    assert(minVal <= maxVal);
-    if (val < minVal)
-        val = minVal;
-    else if (val > maxVal)
-        val = maxVal;
-}
-
-
 /*
 part of C++11 now!
 template <class InputIterator, class Compare> inline
diff --git a/zen/dir_watcher.cpp b/zen/dir_watcher.cpp
index 2bb3fd26..f5ed0488 100755
--- a/zen/dir_watcher.cpp
+++ b/zen/dir_watcher.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ using namespace zen;
 struct DirWatcher::Impl
 {
     int notifDescr = 0;
-    std::map<int, Zstring> watchDescrs; //watch descriptor and (sub-)directory name (postfixed with separator) -> owned by "notifDescr"
+    std::map<int, Zstring> watchedPaths; //watch descriptor and (sub-)directory paths -> owned by "notifDescr"
 };
 
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ DirWatcher::DirWatcher(const Zstring& dirPath) : //throw FileError
             throw FileError(replaceCpy(_("Cannot monitor directory %x."), L"%x", fmtPath(subDirPath)), formatSystemError(L"inotify_add_watch", ec));
         }
 
-        pimpl_->watchDescrs.emplace(wd, appendSeparator(subDirPath));
+        pimpl_->watchedPaths.emplace(wd, subDirPath);
     }
 }
 
@@ -130,12 +130,12 @@ std::vector<DirWatcher::Entry> DirWatcher::getChanges(const std::function<void()
 
         if (evt.len != 0) //exclude case: deletion of "self", already reported by parent directory watch
         {
-            auto it = pimpl_->watchDescrs.find(evt.wd);
-            if (it != pimpl_->watchDescrs.end())
+            auto it = pimpl_->watchedPaths.find(evt.wd);
+            if (it != pimpl_->watchedPaths.end())
             {
                 //Note: evt.len is NOT the size of the evt.name c-string, but the array size including all padding 0 characters!
                 //It may be even 0 in which case evt.name must not be used!
-                const Zstring itemPath = it->second + evt.name;
+                const Zstring itemPath = appendSeparator(it->second) + evt.name;
 
                 if ((evt.mask & IN_CREATE) ||
                     (evt.mask & IN_MOVED_TO))
diff --git a/zen/file_access.cpp b/zen/file_access.cpp
index 88b70b14..82c78760 100755
--- a/zen/file_access.cpp
+++ b/zen/file_access.cpp
@@ -50,32 +50,32 @@ std::optional<PathComponents> zen::parsePathComponents(const Zstring& itemPath)
         return {};
     };
 
-    if (startsWith(itemPath, "/"))
-    {
-        if (startsWith(itemPath, "/media/"))
-        {
-            //Ubuntu: e.g. /media/zenju/DEVICE_NAME
-            if (const char* username = ::getenv("USER"))
-                if (startsWith(itemPath, std::string("/media/") + username + "/"))
-                    return doParse(4 /*sepCountVolumeRoot*/, false /*rootWithSep*/);
+    std::optional<PathComponents> pc; //"/media/zenju/" and "/Volumes/" should not fail to parse
 
-            //Ubuntu: e.g. /media/cdrom0
-            return doParse(3 /*sepCountVolumeRoot*/, false /*rootWithSep*/);
-        }
+    if (!pc && startsWith(itemPath, "/mnt/")) //e.g. /mnt/DEVICE_NAME
+        pc = doParse(3 /*sepCountVolumeRoot*/, false /*rootWithSep*/);
 
-        if (startsWith(itemPath, "/run/media/")) //Suse: e.g. /run/media/zenju/DEVICE_NAME
-            if (const char* username = ::getenv("USER"))
-                if (startsWith(itemPath, std::string("/run/media/") + username + "/"))
-                    return doParse(5 /*sepCountVolumeRoot*/, false /*rootWithSep*/);
+    if (!pc && startsWith(itemPath, "/media/")) //Ubuntu: e.g. /media/zenju/DEVICE_NAME
+        if (const char* username = ::getenv("USER"))
+            if (startsWith(itemPath, std::string("/media/") + username + "/"))
+                pc = doParse(4 /*sepCountVolumeRoot*/, false /*rootWithSep*/);
 
-        return doParse(1 /*sepCountVolumeRoot*/, true /*rootWithSep*/);
-    }
+    if (!pc && startsWith(itemPath, "/run/media/")) //Centos, Suse: e.g. /run/media/zenju/DEVICE_NAME
+        if (const char* username = ::getenv("USER"))
+            if (startsWith(itemPath, std::string("/run/media/") + username + "/"))
+                pc = doParse(5 /*sepCountVolumeRoot*/, false /*rootWithSep*/);
 
-    //we do NOT support relative paths!
-    return {};
-}
+    if (!pc && startsWith(itemPath, "/run/user/")) //Ubuntu, e.g.: /run/user/1000/gvfs/smb-share:server=192.168.62.145,share=folder
+        if (startsWith(itemPath, "/run/user/" + numberTo<std::string>(::getuid()) + "/gvfs/")) //::getuid() never fails
+            pc = doParse(6 /*sepCountVolumeRoot*/, false /*rootWithSep*/);
 
 
+    if (!pc && startsWith(itemPath, "/"))
+        pc = doParse(1 /*sepCountVolumeRoot*/, true /*rootWithSep*/);
+
+    return pc;
+}
+
 
 std::optional<Zstring> zen::getParentFolderPath(const Zstring& itemPath)
 {
@@ -108,49 +108,40 @@ ItemType zen::getItemType(const Zstring& itemPath) //throw FileError
 }
 
 
-PathStatus zen::getPathStatus(const Zstring& itemPath) //throw FileError
+std::optional<ItemType> zen::itemStillExists(const Zstring& itemPath) //throw FileError
 {
-    const std::optional<Zstring> parentPath = getParentFolderPath(itemPath);
     try
     {
-        return { getItemType(itemPath), itemPath, {} }; //throw FileError
+        return getItemType(itemPath); //throw FileError
     }
-    catch (FileError&)
+    catch (const FileError& e) //not existing or access error
     {
+        const std::optional<Zstring> parentPath = getParentFolderPath(itemPath);
         if (!parentPath) //device root
             throw;
         //else: let's dig deeper... don't bother checking Win32 codes; e.g. not existing item may have the codes:
         //  ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND, ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND, ERROR_INVALID_NAME, ERROR_INVALID_DRIVE,
         //  ERROR_NOT_READY, ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER, ERROR_BAD_PATHNAME, ERROR_BAD_NETPATH => not reliable
-    }
-    const Zstring itemName = afterLast(itemPath, FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR, IF_MISSING_RETURN_ALL);
-    assert(!itemName.empty());
-
-    PathStatus ps = getPathStatus(*parentPath); //throw FileError
-    if (ps.relPath.empty() &&
-        ps.existingType != ItemType::FILE) //obscure, but possible (and not an error)
-        try
-        {
-            traverseFolder(*parentPath,
-            [&](const FileInfo&    fi) { if (equalFilePath(fi.itemName, itemName)) throw ItemType::FILE; },
-            [&](const FolderInfo&  fi) { if (equalFilePath(fi.itemName, itemName)) throw ItemType::FOLDER; },
-            [&](const SymlinkInfo& si) { if (equalFilePath(si.itemName, itemName)) throw ItemType::SYMLINK; },
-            [](const std::wstring& errorMsg) { throw FileError(errorMsg); });
-        }
-        catch (const ItemType& type) { return { type, itemPath, {} }; } //yes, exceptions for control-flow are bad design... but, but...
-    //we're not CPU-bound here and finding the item after getItemType() previously failed is exceptional (even C:\pagefile.sys should be found)
-
-    ps.relPath.push_back(itemName);
-    return ps;
-}
 
+        const Zstring itemName = afterLast(itemPath, FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR, IF_MISSING_RETURN_ALL);
+        assert(!itemName.empty());
 
-std::optional<ItemType> zen::getItemTypeIfExists(const Zstring& itemPath) //throw FileError
-{
-    const PathStatus ps = getPathStatus(itemPath); //throw FileError
-    if (ps.relPath.empty())
-        return ps.existingType;
-    return {};
+        const std::optional<ItemType> parentType = itemStillExists(*parentPath); //throw FileError
+        if (parentType && *parentType != ItemType::FILE /*obscure, but possible (and not an error)*/)
+            try
+            {
+                traverseFolder(*parentPath,
+                [&](const FileInfo&    fi) { if (fi.itemName == itemName) throw ItemType::FILE;    },
+                [&](const FolderInfo&  fi) { if (fi.itemName == itemName) throw ItemType::FOLDER;  },
+                [&](const SymlinkInfo& si) { if (si.itemName == itemName) throw ItemType::SYMLINK; },
+                [](const std::wstring& errorMsg) { throw FileError(errorMsg); });
+            }
+            catch (const ItemType&) //finding the item after getItemType() previously failed is exceptional
+            {
+                throw e; //yes, slicing
+            }
+        return {};
+    }
 }
 
 
@@ -174,16 +165,6 @@ bool zen::dirAvailable(const Zstring& dirPath) //noexcept
 }
 
 
-bool zen::itemNotExisting(const Zstring& itemPath)
-{
-    try
-    {
-        return !getItemTypeIfExists(itemPath); //throw FileError
-    }
-    catch (FileError&) { return false; }
-}
-
-
 namespace
 {
 }
@@ -209,13 +190,13 @@ uint64_t zen::getFreeDiskSpace(const Zstring& path) //throw FileError, returns 0
 }
 
 
-VolumeId zen::getVolumeId(const Zstring& itemPath) //throw FileError
+FileId /*optional*/ zen::getFileId(const Zstring& itemPath) //throw FileError
 {
     struct ::stat fileInfo = {};
     if (::stat(itemPath.c_str(), &fileInfo) != 0)
         THROW_LAST_FILE_ERROR(replaceCpy(_("Cannot read file attributes of %x."), L"%x", fmtPath(itemPath)), L"stat");
 
-    return fileInfo.st_dev;
+    return extractFileId(fileInfo);
 }
 
 
@@ -381,7 +362,7 @@ void zen::renameFile(const Zstring& pathSource, const Zstring& pathTarget) //thr
         const Zstring parentPathSrc = beforeLast(pathSource, FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR, IF_MISSING_RETURN_NONE);
         const Zstring parentPathTrg = beforeLast(pathTarget, FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR, IF_MISSING_RETURN_NONE);
         //some (broken) devices may fail to rename case directly:
-        if (equalLocalPath(parentPathSrc, parentPathTrg))
+        if (equalNativePath(parentPathSrc, parentPathTrg))
         {
             if (fileNameSrc == fileNameTrg)
                 return; //non-sensical request
@@ -567,8 +548,18 @@ void zen::createDirectory(const Zstring& dirPath) //throw FileError, ErrorTarget
 
 void zen::createDirectoryIfMissingRecursion(const Zstring& dirPath) //throw FileError
 {
-    if (!getParentFolderPath(dirPath)) //device root
-        return static_cast<void>(/*ItemType =*/ getItemType(dirPath)); //throw FileError
+    const std::optional<Zstring> parentPath = getParentFolderPath(dirPath);
+    if (!parentPath) //device root
+        return;
+
+    try //generally we expect that path already exists (see: ffs_paths.cpp) => check first
+    {
+        if (getItemType(dirPath) != ItemType::FILE) //throw FileError
+            return;
+    }
+    catch (FileError&) {} //not yet existing or access error? let's find out...
+
+    createDirectoryIfMissingRecursion(*parentPath); //throw FileError
 
     try
     {
@@ -576,18 +567,15 @@ void zen::createDirectoryIfMissingRecursion(const Zstring& dirPath) //throw File
     }
     catch (FileError&)
     {
-        const PathStatus ps = getPathStatus(dirPath); //throw FileError
-        if (ps.existingType == ItemType::FILE)
-            throw;
+        try
+        {
+            if (getItemType(dirPath) != ItemType::FILE) //throw FileError
+                return; //already existing => possible, if createDirectoryIfMissingRecursion() is run in parallel
+        }
+        catch (FileError&) {} //not yet existing or access error
+        //catch (const FileError& e2) { throw FileError(e.toString(), e2.toString()); } -> details needed???
 
-        //ps.relPath.size() == 1  => same createDirectory() call from above? Maybe parent folder was created by parallel thread shortly after failure!
-        Zstring intermediatePath = ps.existingPath;
-        for (const Zstring& itemName : ps.relPath)
-            try
-            {
-                createDirectory(intermediatePath = appendSeparator(intermediatePath) + itemName); //throw FileError, ErrorTargetExisting
-            }
-            catch (ErrorTargetExisting&) {} //possible, if createDirectoryIfMissingRecursion() is run in parallel
+        throw;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/zen/file_access.h b/zen/file_access.h
index 916f23f5..514d798e 100755
--- a/zen/file_access.h
+++ b/zen/file_access.h
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@ std::optional<Zstring> getParentFolderPath(const Zstring& itemPath);
 //POSITIVE existence checks; if false: 1. item not existing 2. different type 3.device access error or similar
 bool fileAvailable(const Zstring& filePath); //noexcept
 bool dirAvailable (const Zstring& dirPath ); //
-//NEGATIVE existence checks; if false: 1. item existing 2.device access error or similar
-bool itemNotExisting(const Zstring& itemPath);
 
 enum class ItemType
 {
@@ -40,17 +38,12 @@ enum class ItemType
     SYMLINK,
 };
 //(hopefully) fast: does not distinguish between error/not existing
-ItemType      getItemType        (const Zstring& itemPath); //throw FileError
+ItemType getItemType(const Zstring& itemPath); //throw FileError
 //execute potentially SLOW folder traversal but distinguish error/not existing
-std::optional<ItemType> getItemTypeIfExists(const Zstring& itemPath); //throw FileError
-
-struct PathStatus
-{
-    ItemType existingType;
-    Zstring existingPath;         //itemPath =: existingPath + relPath
-    std::vector<Zstring> relPath; //
-};
-PathStatus getPathStatus(const Zstring& itemPath); //throw FileError
+//  assumes: - base path still exists
+//           - all child item path parts must correspond to folder traversal
+//  => we can conclude whether an item is *not* existing anymore by doing a *case-sensitive* name search => potentially SLOW!
+std::optional<ItemType> itemStillExists(const Zstring& itemPath); //throw FileError
 
 enum class ProcSymlink
 {
@@ -62,7 +55,8 @@ void setFileTime(const Zstring& filePath, time_t modTime, ProcSymlink procSl); /
 //symlink handling: always evaluate target
 uint64_t getFileSize(const Zstring& filePath); //throw FileError
 uint64_t getFreeDiskSpace(const Zstring& path); //throw FileError, returns 0 if not available
-VolumeId getVolumeId(const Zstring& itemPath); //throw FileError
+FileId /*optional*/ getFileId(const Zstring& itemPath); //throw FileError
+
 //get per-user directory designated for temporary files:
 Zstring getTempFolderPath(); //throw FileError
 
diff --git a/zen/file_io.cpp b/zen/file_io.cpp
index df47e4c5..80fb3153 100755
--- a/zen/file_io.cpp
+++ b/zen/file_io.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ size_t FileInput::tryRead(void* buffer, size_t bytesToRead) //throw FileError, E
     return bytesRead; //"zero indicates end of file"
 }
 
-
+ 
 size_t FileInput::read(void* buffer, size_t bytesToRead) //throw FileError, ErrorFileLocked, X; return "bytesToRead" bytes unless end of stream!
 {
     /*
diff --git a/zen/legacy_compiler.h b/zen/legacy_compiler.h
index 16d87c53..bebf5a05 100755
--- a/zen/legacy_compiler.h
+++ b/zen/legacy_compiler.h
@@ -7,11 +7,47 @@
 #ifndef LEGACY_COMPILER_H_839567308565656789
 #define LEGACY_COMPILER_H_839567308565656789
 
+//#include <span> //requires C++20
+
+
 namespace std
 {
 //https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/libstdc++/manual/status.html
 //https://isocpp.org/std/standing-documents/sd-6-sg10-feature-test-recommendations
 
+
+
+//requires C++20! until then, this should suffice...
+template <class T>
+class span
+{
+public:
+    template <class Iterator>
+    span(Iterator first, Iterator last) : size_(last - first), data_(first != last ? &*first : nullptr) {}
+
+    template <class Container>
+    span(Container& cont) : span(cont.begin(), cont.end()) {}
+    
+    using iterator        = T*;
+    using const_iterator  = const T*;
+       
+    iterator begin() { return data_; }
+    iterator end  () { return data_ + size_; }
+
+    const_iterator begin() const { return data_; }
+    const_iterator end  () const { return data_ + size_; }
+
+    const_iterator cbegin() const { return begin(); }
+    const_iterator cend  () const { return end  (); }
+
+    T*     data() const { return data_; }
+    size_t size() const { return size_; }
+    bool  empty() const { return size_ == 0; }
+
+private:
+    const size_t size_;
+    T* const data_;
+};
 }
 
 #endif //LEGACY_COMPILER_H_839567308565656789
diff --git a/zen/recycler.cpp b/zen/recycler.cpp
index 8b4389a7..8d34f262 100755
--- a/zen/recycler.cpp
+++ b/zen/recycler.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ bool zen::recycleOrDeleteIfExists(const Zstring& itemPath) //throw FileError
 
     if (!::g_file_trash(file, nullptr, &error))
     {
-        const std::optional<ItemType> type = getItemTypeIfExists(itemPath); //throw FileError
+        const std::optional<ItemType> type = itemStillExists(itemPath); //throw FileError
         if (!type)
             return false;
 
diff --git a/zen/ring_buffer.h b/zen/ring_buffer.h
index 232e17da..e3dbd55f 100755
--- a/zen/ring_buffer.h
+++ b/zen/ring_buffer.h
@@ -8,10 +8,7 @@
 #define RING_BUFFER_H_01238467085684139453534
 
 #include <cassert>
-#include <vector>
-#include <stdexcept>
 #include "scope_guard.h"
-#include "string_tools.h"
 
 
 namespace zen
@@ -40,13 +37,24 @@ public:
 
     ~RingBuffer() { clear(); }
 
-    reference       front()       { return getBufPtr()[bufStart_]; }
-    const_reference front() const { return getBufPtr()[bufStart_]; }
+    reference       front()       { checkInvariants(); assert(!empty()); return getBufPtr()[bufStart_]; }
+    const_reference front() const { checkInvariants(); assert(!empty()); return getBufPtr()[bufStart_]; }
+
+    reference       back()       { checkInvariants(); assert(!empty()); return getBufPtr()[getBufPos(size_ - 1)]; }
+    const_reference back() const { checkInvariants(); assert(!empty()); return getBufPtr()[getBufPos(size_ - 1)]; }
+
+    template <class U>
+    void push_front(U&& value)
+    {
+        reserve(size_ + 1); //throw ?
+        ::new (getBufPtr() + getBufPos(capacity_ - 1)) T(std::forward<U>(value)); //throw ?
+        ++size_;
+        bufStart_ = getBufPos(capacity_ - 1);
+    }
 
     template <class U>
     void push_back(U&& value)
     {
-        checkInvariants();
         reserve(size_ + 1); //throw ?
         ::new (getBufPtr() + getBufPos(size_)) T(std::forward<U>(value)); //throw ?
         ++size_;
@@ -54,15 +62,21 @@ public:
 
     void pop_front()
     {
-        checkInvariants();
-        if (empty())
-            throw std::logic_error("Contract violation! " + std::string(__FILE__) + ":" + numberTo<std::string>(__LINE__));
-
         front().~T();
-        ++bufStart_;
         --size_;
 
-        if (size_ == 0 || bufStart_ == capacity_)
+        if (size_ == 0)
+            bufStart_ = 0;
+        else
+            bufStart_ = getBufPos(1);
+    }
+
+    void pop_back()
+    {
+        back().~T();
+        --size_;
+
+        if (size_ == 0)
             bufStart_ = 0;
     }
 
@@ -80,8 +94,6 @@ public:
     template <class Iterator>
     void insert_back(Iterator first, Iterator last) //throw ? (strong exception-safety!)
     {
-        checkInvariants();
-
         const size_t len = last - first;
         reserve(size_ + len); //throw ?
 
@@ -100,10 +112,8 @@ public:
     void extract_front(Iterator first, Iterator last) //throw ? strongly exception-safe! (but only basic exception safety for [first, last) range)
     {
         checkInvariants();
-
         const size_t len = last - first;
-        if (size_ < len)
-            throw std::logic_error("Contract violation! " + std::string(__FILE__) + ":" + numberTo<std::string>(__LINE__));
+        assert(size_ >= len);
 
         const size_t frontSize = std::min(len, capacity_ - bufStart_);
 
@@ -113,13 +123,12 @@ public:
         std::destroy(getBufPtr() + bufStart_, getBufPtr() + bufStart_ + frontSize);
         std::destroy(getBufPtr(), getBufPtr() + len - frontSize);
 
-        bufStart_ += len;
-        size_   -= len;
+        size_ -= len;
 
         if (size_ == 0)
             bufStart_ = 0;
-        else if (bufStart_ >= capacity_)
-            bufStart_ -= capacity_;
+        else
+            bufStart_ = getBufPos(len);
     }
 
     void swap(RingBuffer& other)
@@ -132,6 +141,8 @@ public:
 
     void reserve(size_t minSize) //throw ? (strong exception-safety!)
     {
+        checkInvariants();
+
         if (minSize > capacity_)
         {
             const size_t newCapacity = std::max(minSize + minSize / 2, minSize); //no minimum capacity: just like std::vector<> implementation
@@ -205,7 +216,7 @@ private:
 
     struct FreeStoreDelete { void operator()(std::byte* p) const { ::operator delete (p); } };
 
-    T*       getBufPtr()       { return reinterpret_cast<T*>(rawMem_.get()); }
+    /**/  T* getBufPtr()       { return reinterpret_cast<T*>(rawMem_.get()); }
     const T* getBufPtr() const { return reinterpret_cast<T*>(rawMem_.get()); }
 
     //unlike pure std::uninitialized_move, this one allows for strong exception-safety!
diff --git a/zen/serialize.h b/zen/serialize.h
index d34b61b2..8b4c58ea 100755
--- a/zen/serialize.h
+++ b/zen/serialize.h
@@ -36,20 +36,20 @@ public:
     using iterator       = std::vector<std::byte>::iterator;
     using const_iterator = std::vector<std::byte>::const_iterator;
 
-    iterator begin() { return buffer_->begin(); }
-    iterator end  () { return buffer_->end  (); }
+    iterator begin() { return buffer_.ref().begin(); }
+    iterator end  () { return buffer_.ref().end  (); }
 
-    const_iterator begin() const { return buffer_->begin(); }
-    const_iterator end  () const { return buffer_->end  (); }
+    const_iterator begin() const { return buffer_.ref().begin(); }
+    const_iterator end  () const { return buffer_.ref().end  (); }
 
-    void resize(size_t len) { buffer_->resize(len); }
-    size_t size() const { return buffer_->size(); }
-    bool  empty() const { return buffer_->empty(); }
+    void resize(size_t len) { buffer_.ref().resize(len); }
+    size_t size() const { return buffer_.ref().size(); }
+    bool  empty() const { return buffer_.ref().empty(); }
 
-    inline friend bool operator==(const ByteArray& lhs, const ByteArray& rhs) { return *lhs.buffer_ == *rhs.buffer_; }
+    inline friend bool operator==(const ByteArray& lhs, const ByteArray& rhs) { return lhs.buffer_.ref() == rhs.buffer_.ref(); }
 
 private:
-    std::shared_ptr<std::vector<std::byte>> buffer_ = std::make_shared<std::vector<std::byte>>(); //always bound!
+    SharedRef<std::vector<std::byte>> buffer_ = makeSharedRef<std::vector<std::byte>>();
     //perf: shared_ptr indirection irrelevant: less than 1% slower!
 };
 
diff --git a/zen/stl_tools.h b/zen/stl_tools.h
index c3a9bf8f..d8bda888 100755
--- a/zen/stl_tools.h
+++ b/zen/stl_tools.h
@@ -11,10 +11,11 @@
 #include <map>
 #include <vector>
 #include <memory>
+#include <cassert>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <optional>
 #include "string_traits.h"
-#include "build_info.h"
+//#include "build_info.h"
 
 
 //enhancements for <algorithm>
@@ -22,13 +23,13 @@ namespace zen
 {
 //erase selected elements from any container:
 template <class T, class Alloc, class Predicate>
-void erase_if(std::vector<T, Alloc>& v, Predicate p);
+void eraseIf(std::vector<T, Alloc>& v, Predicate p);
 
 template <class T, class LessType, class Alloc, class Predicate>
-void erase_if(std::set<T, LessType, Alloc>& s, Predicate p);
+void eraseIf(std::set<T, LessType, Alloc>& s, Predicate p);
 
 template <class KeyType, class ValueType, class LessType, class Alloc, class Predicate>
-void erase_if(std::map<KeyType, ValueType, LessType, Alloc>& m, Predicate p);
+void eraseIf(std::map<KeyType, ValueType, LessType, Alloc>& m, Predicate p);
 
 //append STL containers
 template <class T, class Alloc, class C>
@@ -48,14 +49,14 @@ void removeDuplicates(std::vector<T, Alloc>& v, CompLess less);
 
 //binary search returning an iterator
 template <class Iterator, class T, class CompLess>
-Iterator binary_search(Iterator first, Iterator last, const T& value, CompLess less);
+Iterator binarySearch(Iterator first, Iterator last, const T& value, CompLess less);
 
 template <class BidirectionalIterator, class T>
-BidirectionalIterator find_last(BidirectionalIterator first, BidirectionalIterator last, const T& value);
+BidirectionalIterator findLast(BidirectionalIterator first, BidirectionalIterator last, const T& value);
 
 //replacement for std::find_end taking advantage of bidirectional iterators (and giving the algorithm a reasonable name)
 template <class BidirectionalIterator1, class BidirectionalIterator2>
-BidirectionalIterator1 search_last(BidirectionalIterator1 first1, BidirectionalIterator1 last1,
+BidirectionalIterator1 searchLast(BidirectionalIterator1 first1, BidirectionalIterator1 last1,
                                    BidirectionalIterator2 first2, BidirectionalIterator2 last2);
 
 template <class Num, class ByteIterator> Num hashBytes                   (ByteIterator first, ByteIterator last);
@@ -74,17 +75,49 @@ struct StringHash
 };
 
 
-//why, oh wy is there no std::optional<T>::get()???
+//why, oh why is there no std::optional<T>::get()???
 template <class T> inline       T* get(      std::optional<T>& opt) { return opt ? &*opt : nullptr; }
 template <class T> inline const T* get(const std::optional<T>& opt) { return opt ? &*opt : nullptr; }
 
 
 
+//===========================================================================
+template <class T> class SharedRef;
+template <class T, class... Args> SharedRef<T> makeSharedRef(Args&& ... args);
+
+template <class T>
+class SharedRef //why is there no std::shared_ref???
+{
+public:
+    SharedRef() = delete; //no suprise memory allocations => always construct with makeSharedRef()
+
+    template <class U>
+    SharedRef(const SharedRef<U>& other) : ref_(other.ref_) {}
+
+    /**/  T& ref()       { return *ref_; };
+    const T& ref() const { return *ref_; };
+
+    std::shared_ptr<T> ptr() { return ref_; };
+
+private:
+    explicit SharedRef(std::shared_ptr<T>&& ptr) : ref_(std::move(ptr)) { assert(ref_); }
+
+    template <class U, class... Args> friend SharedRef<U> makeSharedRef(Args&& ... args);
+    template <class U> friend class SharedRef;
+
+    std::shared_ptr<T> ref_; //always bound
+};
+
+template <class T, class... Args> inline
+SharedRef<T> makeSharedRef(Args&&... args) { return SharedRef<T>(std::make_shared<T>(std::forward<Args>(args)...)); }
+//===========================================================================
+
+
 
 //######################## implementation ########################
 
 template <class T, class Alloc, class Predicate> inline
-void erase_if(std::vector<T, Alloc>& v, Predicate p)
+void eraseIf(std::vector<T, Alloc>& v, Predicate p)
 {
     v.erase(std::remove_if(v.begin(), v.end(), p), v.end());
 }
@@ -93,7 +126,7 @@ void erase_if(std::vector<T, Alloc>& v, Predicate p)
 namespace impl
 {
 template <class S, class Predicate> inline
-void set_or_map_erase_if(S& s, Predicate p)
+void setOrMapEraseIf(S& s, Predicate p)
 {
     for (auto it = s.begin(); it != s.end();)
         if (p(*it))
@@ -105,11 +138,11 @@ void set_or_map_erase_if(S& s, Predicate p)
 
 
 template <class T, class LessType, class Alloc, class Predicate> inline
-void erase_if(std::set<T, LessType, Alloc>& s, Predicate p) { impl::set_or_map_erase_if(s, p); } //don't make this any more generic! e.g. must not compile for std::vector!!!
+void eraseIf(std::set<T, LessType, Alloc>& s, Predicate p) { impl::setOrMapEraseIf(s, p); } //don't make this any more generic! e.g. must not compile for std::vector!!!
 
 
 template <class KeyType, class ValueType, class LessType, class Alloc, class Predicate> inline
-void erase_if(std::map<KeyType, ValueType, LessType, Alloc>& m, Predicate p) { impl::set_or_map_erase_if(m, p); }
+void eraseIf(std::map<KeyType, ValueType, LessType, Alloc>& m, Predicate p) { impl::setOrMapEraseIf(m, p); }
 
 
 template <class T, class Alloc, class C> inline
@@ -147,7 +180,7 @@ void removeDuplicates(std::vector<T, Alloc>& v)
 
 
 template <class Iterator, class T, class CompLess> inline
-Iterator binary_search(Iterator first, Iterator last, const T& value, CompLess less)
+Iterator binarySearch(Iterator first, Iterator last, const T& value, CompLess less)
 {
     static_assert(std::is_same_v<typename std::iterator_traits<Iterator>::iterator_category, std::random_access_iterator_tag>);
 
@@ -160,7 +193,7 @@ Iterator binary_search(Iterator first, Iterator last, const T& value, CompLess l
 
 
 template <class BidirectionalIterator, class T> inline
-BidirectionalIterator find_last(const BidirectionalIterator first, const BidirectionalIterator last, const T& value)
+BidirectionalIterator findLast(const BidirectionalIterator first, const BidirectionalIterator last, const T& value)
 {
     for (BidirectionalIterator it = last; it != first;) //reverse iteration: 1. check 2. decrement 3. evaluate
     {
@@ -174,7 +207,7 @@ BidirectionalIterator find_last(const BidirectionalIterator first, const Bidirec
 
 
 template <class BidirectionalIterator1, class BidirectionalIterator2> inline
-BidirectionalIterator1 search_last(const BidirectionalIterator1 first1,       BidirectionalIterator1 last1,
+BidirectionalIterator1 searchLast(const BidirectionalIterator1 first1,       BidirectionalIterator1 last1,
                                    const BidirectionalIterator2 first2, const BidirectionalIterator2 last2)
 {
     const BidirectionalIterator1 itNotFound = last1;
diff --git a/zen/string_base.h b/zen/string_base.h
index 9632eba4..91a6d5bd 100755
--- a/zen/string_base.h
+++ b/zen/string_base.h
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ size_t Zbase<Char, SP>::rfind(Char ch, size_t pos) const
     assert(pos == npos || pos <= length());
     const size_t len = length();
     const Char* currEnd = begin() + (pos == npos ? len : std::min(pos + 1, len));
-    const Char* it = find_last(begin(), currEnd, ch);
+    const Char* it = findLast(begin(), currEnd, ch);
     return it == currEnd ? npos : it - begin();
 }
 
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ size_t Zbase<Char, SP>::rfind(const Char* str, size_t pos) const
     const size_t strLen = strLength(str);
     const size_t len = length();
     const Char* currEnd = begin() + (pos == npos ? len : std::min(pos + strLen, len));
-    const Char* it = search_last(begin(), currEnd,
+    const Char* it = searchLast(begin(), currEnd,
                                  str, str + strLen);
     return it == currEnd ? npos : it - begin();
 }
diff --git a/zen/string_tools.h b/zen/string_tools.h
index 657c70d5..8579a460 100755
--- a/zen/string_tools.h
+++ b/zen/string_tools.h
@@ -104,26 +104,19 @@ template <class T, class S> T copyStringTo(S&& str);
 
 
 //---------------------- implementation ----------------------
-template <> inline
-bool isWhiteSpace(char c)
-{
-    assert(c != 0); //std C++ does not consider 0 as white space
-    //caveat 1: std::isspace() takes an int, but expects an unsigned char
-    //caveat 2: some parts of UTF-8 chars are erroneously seen as whitespace, e.g. the a0 from "\xec\x8b\xa0" (MSVC)
-    return static_cast<unsigned char>(c) < 128 &&
-           std::isspace(static_cast<unsigned char>(c)) != 0;
-}
-
-template <> inline
-bool isWhiteSpace(wchar_t c)
+template <class Char> inline
+bool isWhiteSpace(Char c)
 {
+    static_assert(std::is_same_v<Char, char> || std::is_same_v<Char, wchar_t>);
     assert(c != 0); //std C++ does not consider 0 as white space
-    return std::iswspace(c) != 0;
+    return c == static_cast<Char>(' ') || (static_cast<Char>('\t') <= c && c <= static_cast<Char>('\r'));
+    //following std::isspace() for default locale but without the interface insanity:
+    //  - std::isspace() takes an int, but expects an unsigned char
+    //  - some parts of UTF-8 chars are erroneously seen as whitespace, e.g. the a0 from "\xec\x8b\xa0" (MSVC)
 }
 
-
 template <class Char> inline
-bool isDigit(Char c) //similar to implmenetation of std::isdigit()!
+bool isDigit(Char c) //similar to implementation of std::isdigit()!
 {
     static_assert(std::is_same_v<Char, char> || std::is_same_v<Char, wchar_t>);
     return static_cast<Char>('0') <= c && c <= static_cast<Char>('9');
@@ -306,7 +299,7 @@ S afterLast(const S& str, const T& term, FailureReturnVal rv)
     const auto* const strLast   = strFirst + strLength(str);
     const auto* const termFirst = strBegin(term);
 
-    const auto* it = search_last(strFirst, strLast,
+    const auto* it = searchLast(strFirst, strLast,
                                  termFirst, termFirst + termLen);
     if (it == strLast)
         return rv == IF_MISSING_RETURN_ALL ? str : S();
@@ -327,7 +320,7 @@ S beforeLast(const S& str, const T& term, FailureReturnVal rv)
     const auto* const strLast   = strFirst + strLength(str);
     const auto* const termFirst = strBegin(term);
 
-    const auto* it = search_last(strFirst, strLast,
+    const auto* it = searchLast(strFirst, strLast,
                                  termFirst, termFirst + termLen);
     if (it == strLast)
         return rv == IF_MISSING_RETURN_ALL ? str : S();
@@ -725,7 +718,7 @@ Num extractInteger(const S& str, bool& hasMinusSign) //very fast conversion to i
             number += c - static_cast<CharType>('0');
         }
         else //rest of string should contain whitespace only, it's NOT a bug if there is something else!
-            break; //assert(std::all_of(iter, last, &isWhiteSpace<CharType>)); -> this is NO assert situation
+            break; //assert(std::all_of(iter, last, isWhiteSpace<CharType>)); -> this is NO assert situation
     }
     return number;
 }
diff --git a/zen/string_traits.h b/zen/string_traits.h
index cd7dbf1b..93cfd81c 100755
--- a/zen/string_traits.h
+++ b/zen/string_traits.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public:
 
 private:
     const size_t len_;
-    Char* str_;
+    Char* const str_;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/zen/thread.h b/zen/thread.h
index 7f3d216c..809bc771 100755
--- a/zen/thread.h
+++ b/zen/thread.h
@@ -90,10 +90,10 @@ bool isReady(const std::future<T>& f) { return f.wait_for(std::chrono::seconds(0
 
 //wait until first job is successful or all failed: substitute until std::when_any is available
 template <class T>
-class GetFirstResult
+class AsyncFirstResult
 {
 public:
-    GetFirstResult();
+    AsyncFirstResult();
 
     template <class Fun>
     void addJob(Fun&& f); //f must return a std::optional<T> containing a value if successful
@@ -161,12 +161,15 @@ public:
     ThreadGroup& operator=(ThreadGroup&& tmp) noexcept { swap(tmp); return *this; } //noexcept *required* to support move for reallocations in std::vector and std::swap!!!
 
     //context of controlling OR worker thread, non-blocking:
-    void run(Function&& wi /*should throw ThreadInterruption when needed*/)
+    void run(Function&& wi /*should throw ThreadInterruption when needed*/, bool insertFront = false)
     {
         {
             std::lock_guard<std::mutex> dummy(workLoad_->lock);
 
-            workLoad_->tasks.push_back(std::move(wi));
+            if (insertFront)
+                workLoad_->tasks.push_front(std::move(wi));
+            else
+                workLoad_->tasks.push_back(std::move(wi));
             const size_t tasksPending = ++(workLoad_->tasksPending);
 
             if (worker_.size() < std::min(tasksPending, threadCountMax_))
@@ -318,7 +321,7 @@ bool wait_for_all_timed(InputIterator first, InputIterator last, const Duration&
 
 
 template <class T>
-class GetFirstResult<T>::AsyncResult
+class AsyncFirstResult<T>::AsyncResult
 {
 public:
     //context: worker threads
@@ -361,12 +364,12 @@ private:
 
 
 template <class T> inline
-GetFirstResult<T>::GetFirstResult() : asyncResult_(std::make_shared<AsyncResult>()) {}
+AsyncFirstResult<T>::AsyncFirstResult() : asyncResult_(std::make_shared<AsyncResult>()) {}
 
 
 template <class T>
 template <class Fun> inline
-void GetFirstResult<T>::addJob(Fun&& f) //f must return a std::optional<T> containing a value on success
+void AsyncFirstResult<T>::addJob(Fun&& f) //f must return a std::optional<T> containing a value on success
 {
     std::thread t([asyncResult = this->asyncResult_, f = std::forward<Fun>(f)] { asyncResult->reportFinished(f()); });
     ++jobsTotal_;
@@ -376,11 +379,11 @@ void GetFirstResult<T>::addJob(Fun&& f) //f must return a std::optional<T> conta
 
 template <class T>
 template <class Duration> inline
-bool GetFirstResult<T>::timedWait(const Duration& duration) const { return asyncResult_->waitForResult(jobsTotal_, duration); }
+bool AsyncFirstResult<T>::timedWait(const Duration& duration) const { return asyncResult_->waitForResult(jobsTotal_, duration); }
 
 
 template <class T> inline
-std::optional<T> GetFirstResult<T>::get() const { return asyncResult_->getResult(jobsTotal_); }
+std::optional<T> AsyncFirstResult<T>::get() const { return asyncResult_->getResult(jobsTotal_); }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/zen/zstring.cpp b/zen/zstring.cpp
index 68609030..f8a34045 100755
--- a/zen/zstring.cpp
+++ b/zen/zstring.cpp
@@ -77,22 +77,19 @@ Zstring replaceCpyAsciiNoCase(const Zstring& str, const Zstring& oldTerm, const
 {
     if (oldTerm.empty())
         return str;
-    
-    Zstring strU = str;    
-    Zstring oldU = oldTerm;
-          
-    for (Zchar& c : strU) c = asciiToUpper(c); //can't use makeUpperCopy(): input/output sizes may differ!
-    for (Zchar& c : oldU) c = asciiToUpper(c); //
 
     Zstring output;
 
     for (size_t pos = 0;;)
     {
-        const size_t posFound = strU.find(oldU, pos);
-        if (posFound == Zstring::npos)
+        const size_t posFound = std::search(str.begin() + pos, str.end(), //can't use makeUpperCopy(): input/output sizes may differ!
+                                            oldTerm.begin(), oldTerm.end(),
+        [](Zchar charL, Zchar charR) { return asciiToUpper(charL) == asciiToUpper(charR); }) - str.begin();
+
+        if (posFound == str.size())
         {
             if (pos == 0) //optimize "oldTerm not found": return ref-counted copy
-                return str; 
+                return str;
             output.append(str.begin() + pos, str.end());
             return output;
         }
@@ -126,7 +123,7 @@ OS X (UTF8 char)
 ________________________
 time per call | function
 */
-int compareLocalPath(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs)
+int compareNativePath(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs)
 {
     assert(lhs.find(Zchar('\0')) == Zstring::npos); //don't expect embedded nulls!
     assert(rhs.find(Zchar('\0')) == Zstring::npos); //
@@ -250,8 +247,3 @@ int compareNatural(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs)
     }
 
 }
-
-
-warn_static("clean up implementation of these two:")
-//template <> inline bool isWhiteSpace(char c)
-//template <> inline bool isWhiteSpace(wchar_t c)
diff --git a/zen/zstring.h b/zen/zstring.h
index 20cf968d..9fecdce3 100755
--- a/zen/zstring.h
+++ b/zen/zstring.h
@@ -35,24 +35,18 @@ Zstring getUnicodeNormalForm(const Zstring& str);
 
 Zstring replaceCpyAsciiNoCase(const Zstring& str, const Zstring& oldTerm, const Zstring& newTerm);
 
+struct LessUnicodeNormal { bool operator()(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) const { return getUnicodeNormalForm(lhs) < getUnicodeNormalForm(rhs);} };
+
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-//inline
-//int compareNoCase(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs)
-//{
-//    return zen::compareString(makeUpperCopy(lhs), makeUpperCopy(rhs));
-//    //avoid eager optimization bugs: e.g. "if (isAsciiString()) compareAsciiNoCase()" might model a different order!
-//}
 
 inline bool equalNoCase(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) { return makeUpperCopy(lhs) == makeUpperCopy(rhs); }
 
 struct ZstringNoCase //use as STL container key: avoid needless upper-case conversions during std::map<>::find()
 {
-        ZstringNoCase(const Zstring& str) : upperCase(makeUpperCopy(str)) {}
-        Zstring upperCase;
+    ZstringNoCase(const Zstring& str) : upperCase(makeUpperCopy(str)) {}
+    Zstring upperCase;
 };
-inline bool operator<(const ZstringNoCase& lhs, const ZstringNoCase& rhs) { return lhs.upperCase < rhs.upperCase; } 
-
-//struct LessNoCase { bool operator()(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) const { return compareNoCase(lhs, rhs) < 0; } };
+inline bool operator<(const ZstringNoCase& lhs, const ZstringNoCase& rhs) { return lhs.upperCase < rhs.upperCase; }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -60,11 +54,11 @@ inline bool operator<(const ZstringNoCase& lhs, const ZstringNoCase& rhs) { retu
 //  Windows: igore case
 //  Linux:   byte-wise comparison
 //  macOS:   igore case + Unicode normalization forms
-int compareLocalPath(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs);
+int compareNativePath(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs);
 
-inline bool equalLocalPath(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) { return compareLocalPath(lhs, rhs) == 0;  }
+inline bool equalNativePath(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) { return compareNativePath(lhs, rhs) == 0;  }
 
-struct LessLocalPath { bool operator()(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) const { return compareLocalPath(lhs, rhs) < 0;  } };
+struct LessNativePath { bool operator()(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) const { return compareNativePath(lhs, rhs) < 0;  } };
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 int compareNatural(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs);
@@ -73,11 +67,7 @@ struct LessNaturalSort { bool operator()(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring rhs)
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 warn_static("get rid:")
-inline int compareFilePath(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) { return compareLocalPath(lhs, rhs); }
-
-inline bool equalFilePath(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) { return compareLocalPath(lhs, rhs) == 0; }
-
-struct LessFilePath { bool operator()(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) const { return compareLocalPath(lhs, rhs) < 0; } };
+inline bool equalFilePath(const Zstring& lhs, const Zstring& rhs) { return compareNativePath(lhs, rhs) == 0; }
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
@@ -92,18 +82,50 @@ Zstring appendSeparator(Zstring path) //support rvalue references!
 
 
 inline
+Zstring appendPaths(const Zstring& basePath, const Zstring& relPath, Zchar pathSep)
+{
+    using namespace zen;
+
+    assert(!startsWith(relPath, pathSep) && !endsWith(relPath, pathSep));
+    if (relPath.empty())
+        return basePath;
+    if (basePath.empty())
+        return relPath;
+
+    if (startsWith(relPath, pathSep))
+    {
+        if (relPath.size() == 1)
+            return basePath;
+
+        if (endsWith(basePath, pathSep))
+            return basePath + (relPath.c_str() + 1);
+    }
+    else if (!endsWith(basePath, pathSep))
+    {
+        Zstring output = basePath;
+        output.reserve(basePath.size() + 1 + relPath.size()); //append all three strings using a single memory allocation
+        return std::move(output) + pathSep + relPath;         //
+    }
+
+    return basePath + relPath;
+}
+
+inline Zstring nativeAppendPaths(const Zstring& basePath, const Zstring& relPath) { return appendPaths(basePath, relPath, FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR); }
+
+
+inline
 Zstring getFileExtension(const Zstring& filePath)
 {
     //const Zstring fileName = afterLast(filePath, FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR, zen::IF_MISSING_RETURN_ALL);
     //return afterLast(fileName, Zstr('.'), zen::IF_MISSING_RETURN_NONE);
 
-    auto it = zen::find_last(filePath.begin(), filePath.end(), FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
+    auto it = zen::findLast(filePath.begin(), filePath.end(), FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
     if (it == filePath.end())
         it = filePath.begin();
     else
         ++it;
 
-    auto it2 = zen::find_last(it, filePath.end(), Zstr('.'));
+    auto it2 = zen::findLast(it, filePath.end(), Zstr('.'));
     if (it2 != filePath.end())
         ++it2;