diff --git a/vlib/builtin/array.v b/vlib/builtin/array.v
index 96fd45928b..0587ec11d2 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/array.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/array.v
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ fn (mut a array) ensure_cap(required int) {
 		cap *= 2
 	}
 	new_size := cap * a.element_size
-	mut new_data := byteptr(0)
+	mut new_data := &byte(0)
 	if a.cap > 0 {
 		new_data = unsafe { realloc_data(a.data, a.cap * a.element_size, new_size) }
 	} else {
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ pub fn (a array) repeat(count int) array {
 			ary_clone := ary.clone()
 			unsafe { C.memcpy(arr.get_unsafe(i * a.len), &ary_clone, a.len * a.element_size) }
 		} else {
-			unsafe { C.memcpy(arr.get_unsafe(i * a.len), byteptr(a.data), a.len * a.element_size) }
+			unsafe { C.memcpy(arr.get_unsafe(i * a.len), &byte(a.data), a.len * a.element_size) }
 		}
 	}
 	return arr
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ pub fn (mut a array) trim(index int) {
 [inline; unsafe]
 fn (a array) get_unsafe(i int) voidptr {
 	unsafe {
-		return byteptr(a.data) + i * a.element_size
+		return &byte(a.data) + i * a.element_size
 	}
 }
 
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ fn (a array) get(i int) voidptr {
 		}
 	}
 	unsafe {
-		return byteptr(a.data) + i * a.element_size
+		return &byte(a.data) + i * a.element_size
 	}
 }
 
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ fn (a array) get_with_check(i int) voidptr {
 		return 0
 	}
 	unsafe {
-		return byteptr(a.data) + i * a.element_size
+		return &byte(a.data) + i * a.element_size
 	}
 }
 
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ pub fn (a array) last() voidptr {
 		}
 	}
 	unsafe {
-		return byteptr(a.data) + (a.len - 1) * a.element_size
+		return &byte(a.data) + (a.len - 1) * a.element_size
 	}
 }
 
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ pub fn (mut a array) pop() voidptr {
 		}
 	}
 	new_len := a.len - 1
-	last_elem := unsafe { byteptr(a.data) + (new_len) * a.element_size }
+	last_elem := unsafe { &byte(a.data) + (new_len) * a.element_size }
 	a.len = new_len
 	// NB: a.cap is not changed here *on purpose*, so that
 	// further << ops on that array will be more efficient.
@@ -305,9 +305,9 @@ fn (a array) slice(start int, _end int) array {
 			panic('array.slice: slice bounds out of range ($start < 0)')
 		}
 	}
-	mut data := byteptr(0)
+	mut data := &byte(0)
 	unsafe {
-		data = byteptr(a.data) + start * a.element_size
+		data = &byte(a.data) + start * a.element_size
 	}
 	l := end - start
 	res := array{
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ pub fn (a &array) clone() array {
 	}
 
 	if !isnil(a.data) {
-		unsafe { C.memcpy(byteptr(arr.data), a.data, a.cap * a.element_size) }
+		unsafe { C.memcpy(&byte(arr.data), a.data, a.cap * a.element_size) }
 	}
 	return arr
 }
@@ -381,9 +381,9 @@ fn (a &array) slice_clone(start int, _end int) array {
 			panic('array.slice: slice bounds out of range ($start < 0)')
 		}
 	}
-	mut data := byteptr(0)
+	mut data := &byte(0)
 	unsafe {
-		data = byteptr(a.data) + start * a.element_size
+		data = &byte(a.data) + start * a.element_size
 	}
 	l := end - start
 	res := array{
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ fn (a &array) slice_clone(start int, _end int) array {
 // we manually inline this for single operations for performance without -prod
 [inline; unsafe]
 fn (mut a array) set_unsafe(i int, val voidptr) {
-	unsafe { C.memcpy(byteptr(a.data) + a.element_size * i, val, a.element_size) }
+	unsafe { C.memcpy(&byte(a.data) + a.element_size * i, val, a.element_size) }
 }
 
 // Private function. Used to implement assigment to the array element.
@@ -408,12 +408,12 @@ fn (mut a array) set(i int, val voidptr) {
 			panic('array.set: index out of range (i == $i, a.len == $a.len)')
 		}
 	}
-	unsafe { C.memcpy(byteptr(a.data) + a.element_size * i, val, a.element_size) }
+	unsafe { C.memcpy(&byte(a.data) + a.element_size * i, val, a.element_size) }
 }
 
 fn (mut a array) push(val voidptr) {
 	a.ensure_cap(a.len + 1)
-	unsafe { C.memmove(byteptr(a.data) + a.element_size * a.len, val, a.element_size) }
+	unsafe { C.memmove(&byte(a.data) + a.element_size * a.len, val, a.element_size) }
 	a.len++
 }
 
@@ -446,10 +446,10 @@ pub fn (mut a array) reverse_in_place() {
 	unsafe {
 		mut tmp_value := malloc(a.element_size)
 		for i in 0 .. a.len / 2 {
-			C.memcpy(tmp_value, byteptr(a.data) + i * a.element_size, a.element_size)
-			C.memcpy(byteptr(a.data) + i * a.element_size, byteptr(a.data) +
+			C.memcpy(tmp_value, &byte(a.data) + i * a.element_size, a.element_size)
+			C.memcpy(&byte(a.data) + i * a.element_size, &byte(a.data) +
 				(a.len - 1 - i) * a.element_size, a.element_size)
-			C.memcpy(byteptr(a.data) + (a.len - 1 - i) * a.element_size, tmp_value, a.element_size)
+			C.memcpy(&byte(a.data) + (a.len - 1 - i) * a.element_size, tmp_value, a.element_size)
 		}
 		free(tmp_value)
 	}
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ pub fn (b []byte) hex() string {
 pub fn copy(dst []byte, src []byte) int {
 	min := if dst.len < src.len { dst.len } else { src.len }
 	if min > 0 {
-		unsafe { C.memcpy(byteptr(dst.data), src.data, min) }
+		unsafe { C.memcpy(&byte(dst.data), src.data, min) }
 	}
 	return min
 }
@@ -619,8 +619,8 @@ pub fn (a1 []string) eq(a2 []string) bool {
 	size_of_string := int(sizeof(string))
 	for i in 0 .. a1.len {
 		offset := i * size_of_string
-		s1 := &string(unsafe { byteptr(a1.data) + offset })
-		s2 := &string(unsafe { byteptr(a2.data) + offset })
+		s1 := unsafe { &string(&byte(a1.data) + offset) }
+		s2 := unsafe { &string(&byte(a2.data) + offset) }
 		if *s1 != *s2 {
 			return false
 		}
diff --git a/vlib/builtin/builtin.v b/vlib/builtin/builtin.v
index 1e48fb8053..48c1a3839c 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/builtin.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/builtin.v
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 module builtin
 
 __global (
-	g_m2_buf byteptr 
-	g_m2_ptr byteptr 
+	g_m2_buf &byte 
+	g_m2_ptr &byte 
 )
 
 // isnil returns true if an object is nil (only for C objects).
diff --git a/vlib/builtin/builtin_nix.c.v b/vlib/builtin/builtin_nix.c.v
index aa22fc83ff..165cced966 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/builtin_nix.c.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/builtin_nix.c.v
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ fn print_backtrace_skipping_top_frames_freebsd(skipframes int) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-fn C.tcc_backtrace(fmt charptr, other ...charptr) int
+fn C.tcc_backtrace(fmt &char) int
 fn print_backtrace_skipping_top_frames_linux(skipframes int) bool {
 	$if android {
 		eprintln('On Android no backtrace is available.')
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ fn print_backtrace_skipping_top_frames_linux(skipframes int) bool {
 		return false
 	} $else {
 		$if tinyc {
-			C.tcc_backtrace('Backtrace')
+			C.tcc_backtrace(c'Backtrace')
 			return false
 		}
 		buffer := [100]voidptr{}
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ fn print_backtrace_skipping_top_frames_linux(skipframes int) bool {
 		//////csymbols := backtrace_symbols(*voidptr(&buffer[skipframes]), nr_actual_frames)
 		csymbols := C.backtrace_symbols(voidptr(&buffer[skipframes]), nr_actual_frames)
 		for i in 0 .. nr_actual_frames {
-			sframes << unsafe { tos2(byteptr(csymbols[i])) }
+			sframes << unsafe { tos2(&byte(csymbols[i])) }
 		}
 		for sframe in sframes {
 			executable := sframe.all_before('(')
diff --git a/vlib/builtin/builtin_windows.c.v b/vlib/builtin/builtin_windows.c.v
index 0a2260877f..950f96cad8 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/builtin_windows.c.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/builtin_windows.c.v
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ pub mut:
 	f_size_of_struct u32
 	f_key            voidptr
 	f_line_number    u32
-	f_file_name      byteptr
+	f_file_name      &byte
 	f_address        u64
 }
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ fn C.SymSetOptions(symoptions u32) u32
 // returns handle
 fn C.GetCurrentProcess() voidptr
 
-fn C.SymInitialize(h_process voidptr, p_user_search_path byteptr, b_invade_process int) int
+fn C.SymInitialize(h_process voidptr, p_user_search_path &byte, b_invade_process int) int
 
 fn C.CaptureStackBackTrace(frames_to_skip u32, frames_to_capture u32, p_backtrace voidptr, p_backtrace_hash voidptr) u16
 
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ fn print_backtrace_skipping_top_frames_mingw(skipframes int) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-fn C.tcc_backtrace(fmt charptr, other ...charptr) int
+fn C.tcc_backtrace(fmt &char) int
 
 fn print_backtrace_skipping_top_frames_tcc(skipframes int) bool {
 	$if tinyc {
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ fn print_backtrace_skipping_top_frames_tcc(skipframes int) bool {
 			eprintln('backtraces are disabled')
 			return false
 		} $else {
-			C.tcc_backtrace('Backtrace')
+			C.tcc_backtrace(c'Backtrace')
 			return true
 		}
 	} $else {
diff --git a/vlib/builtin/cfns.c.v b/vlib/builtin/cfns.c.v
index d209fab9da..6f3f286ed9 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/cfns.c.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/cfns.c.v
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 module builtin
 
 // <string.h>
-fn C.memcpy(dest byteptr, src byteptr, n int) voidptr
+fn C.memcpy(dest &byte, src &byte, n int) voidptr
 
-fn C.memcmp(byteptr, byteptr, int) int
+fn C.memcmp(&byte, &byte, int) int
 
-fn C.memmove(byteptr, byteptr, int) voidptr
+fn C.memmove(&byte, &byte, int) voidptr
 
 [trusted]
-fn C.calloc(int, int) byteptr
+fn C.calloc(int, int) &byte
 
-fn C.malloc(int) byteptr
+fn C.malloc(int) &byte
 
-fn C.realloc(a byteptr, b int) byteptr
+fn C.realloc(a &byte, b int) &byte
 
 fn C.free(ptr voidptr)
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ fn C.sprintf(a ...voidptr) int
 
 fn C.strlen(s &char) int
 
-fn C.sscanf(byteptr, byteptr, ...byteptr) int
+fn C.sscanf(&byte, &byte, ...&byte) int
 
 [trusted]
 fn C.isdigit(c int) bool
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ pub fn proc_pidpath(int, voidptr, int) int
 fn C.realpath(&char, &char) &char
 
 // fn C.chmod(byteptr, mode_t) int
-fn C.chmod(byteptr, u32) int
+fn C.chmod(&byte, u32) int
 
-fn C.printf(byteptr, ...voidptr) int
+fn C.printf(&byte, ...voidptr) int
 
-fn C.puts(byteptr) int
+fn C.puts(&byte) int
 
-fn C.fputs(str byteptr, stream &C.FILE) int
+fn C.fputs(str &byte, stream &C.FILE) int
 
 fn C.fflush(&C.FILE) int
 
@@ -83,11 +83,11 @@ fn C.posix_spawnp(child_pid &int, exefile &char, file_actions voidptr, attrp voi
 
 fn C.execve(cmd_path &char, args voidptr, envs voidptr) int
 
-fn C.execvp(cmd_path charptr, args &charptr) int
+fn C.execvp(cmd_path &char, args &&char) int
 
-fn C._execve(cmd_path charptr, args voidptr, envs voidptr) int
+fn C._execve(cmd_path &char, args voidptr, envs voidptr) int
 
-fn C._execvp(cmd_path charptr, args &charptr) int
+fn C._execvp(cmd_path &char, args &&char) int
 
 [trusted]
 fn C.fork() int
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ fn C.strerror(int) &char
 
 fn C.snprintf(str &char, size size_t, format &char, opt ...voidptr) int
 
-fn C.fprintf(byteptr, ...byteptr)
+fn C.fprintf(&byte, ...&byte)
 
 [trusted]
 fn C.WIFEXITED(status int) bool
@@ -224,11 +224,11 @@ fn C.CreateProcessW(lpApplicationName &u16, lpCommandLine &u16, lpProcessAttribu
 
 fn C.ReadFile(hFile voidptr, lpBuffer voidptr, nNumberOfBytesToRead u32, lpNumberOfBytesRead C.LPDWORD, lpOverlapped voidptr) bool
 
-fn C.GetFileAttributesW(lpFileName byteptr) u32
+fn C.GetFileAttributesW(lpFileName &byte) u32
 
-fn C.RegQueryValueEx(hKey voidptr, lpValueName &u16, lp_reserved &u32, lpType &u32, lpData byteptr, lpcbData &u32) voidptr
+fn C.RegQueryValueEx(hKey voidptr, lpValueName &u16, lp_reserved &u32, lpType &u32, lpData &byte, lpcbData &u32) voidptr
 
-fn C.RegQueryValueExW(hKey voidptr, lpValueName &u16, lp_reserved &u32, lpType &u32, lpData byteptr, lpcbData &u32) int
+fn C.RegQueryValueExW(hKey voidptr, lpValueName &u16, lp_reserved &u32, lpType &u32, lpData &byte, lpcbData &u32) int
 
 fn C.RegOpenKeyEx(hKey voidptr, lpSubKey &u16, ulOptions u32, samDesired u32, phkResult voidptr) voidptr
 
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ fn C.RegOpenKeyExW(hKey voidptr, lpSubKey &u16, ulOptions u32, samDesired u32, p
 
 fn C.RegSetValueEx() voidptr
 
-fn C.RegSetValueExW(hKey voidptr, lpValueName &u16, Reserved u32, dwType u32, lpData byteptr, lpcbData u32) int
+fn C.RegSetValueExW(hKey voidptr, lpValueName &u16, Reserved u32, dwType u32, lpData &byte, lpcbData u32) int
 
 fn C.RegCloseKey(hKey voidptr)
 
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ fn C.LocalFree()
 
 fn C.FindFirstFileW(lpFileName &u16, lpFindFileData voidptr) voidptr
 
-fn C.FindFirstFile(lpFileName byteptr, lpFindFileData voidptr) voidptr
+fn C.FindFirstFile(lpFileName &byte, lpFindFileData voidptr) voidptr
 
 fn C.FindNextFile(hFindFile voidptr, lpFindFileData voidptr) int
 
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ fn C.closesocket(int) int
 
 fn C.vschannel_init(&C.TlsContext)
 
-fn C.request(&C.TlsContext, int, &u16, byteptr, &byteptr)
+fn C.request(&C.TlsContext, int, &u16, &byte, &&byte)
 
 fn C.vschannel_cleanup(&C.TlsContext)
 
@@ -345,19 +345,19 @@ fn C.URLDownloadToFile(int, &u16, &u16, int, int)
 
 fn C.GetLastError() u32
 
-fn C.CreateDirectory(byteptr, int) bool
+fn C.CreateDirectory(&byte, int) bool
 
 // win crypto
 fn C.BCryptGenRandom(int, voidptr, int, int) int
 
 // win synchronization
-fn C.CreateMutex(int, bool, byteptr) voidptr
+fn C.CreateMutex(int, bool, &byte) voidptr
 
 fn C.WaitForSingleObject(voidptr, int) int
 
 fn C.ReleaseMutex(voidptr) bool
 
-fn C.CreateEvent(int, bool, bool, byteptr) voidptr
+fn C.CreateEvent(int, bool, bool, &byte) voidptr
 
 fn C.SetEvent(voidptr) int
 
diff --git a/vlib/builtin/isnil_test.v b/vlib/builtin/isnil_test.v
index 6b6a487056..15df9f0b79 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/isnil_test.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/isnil_test.v
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 fn test_isnil_byteptr() {
-	pb := byteptr(0)
+	pb := &byte(0)
 	assert isnil(pb)
 }
 
diff --git a/vlib/builtin/string.v b/vlib/builtin/string.v
index c8a6b66b84..bba178d376 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/string.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/string.v
@@ -1539,7 +1539,7 @@ pub fn (s &string) free() {
 		return
 	}
 	if s.is_lit == -98761234 {
-		C.printf('double string.free() detected\n')
+		C.printf(c'double string.free() detected\n')
 		return
 	}
 	if s.is_lit == 1 || s.len == 0 {
diff --git a/vlib/os/file.c.v b/vlib/os/file.c.v
index f9539802a6..39cec934ff 100644
--- a/vlib/os/file.c.v
+++ b/vlib/os/file.c.v
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ pub fn (mut f File) writeln(s string) ?int {
 	if written == 0 && s.len != 0 {
 		return error('0 bytes written')
 	}
-	x := C.fputs('\n', f.cfile)
+	x := C.fputs(c'\n', f.cfile)
 	if x < 0 {
 		return error('could not add newline')
 	}
diff --git a/vlib/time/parse.v b/vlib/time/parse.v
index f86bd5cb3a..a53b6ea0d8 100644
--- a/vlib/time/parse.v
+++ b/vlib/time/parse.v
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ const (
 
 fn parse_iso8601_date(s string) ?(int, int, int) {
 	year, month, day, dummy := 0, 0, 0, byte(0)
-	count := unsafe { C.sscanf(&char(s.str), '%4d-%2d-%2d%c', &year, &month, &day, &dummy) }
+	count := unsafe { C.sscanf(&char(s.str), c'%4d-%2d-%2d%c', &year, &month, &day, &dummy) }
 	if count != 3 {
 		return time.err_invalid_8601
 	}
@@ -66,13 +66,13 @@ fn parse_iso8601_time(s string) ?(int, int, int, int, i64, bool) {
 	offset_hour := 0
 	offset_minute := 0
 	mut count := unsafe {
-		C.sscanf(&char(s.str), '%2d:%2d:%2d.%6d%c%2d:%2d', &hour_, &minute_, &second_,
+		C.sscanf(&char(s.str), c'%2d:%2d:%2d.%6d%c%2d:%2d', &hour_, &minute_, &second_,
 			&microsecond_, &char(&plus_min_z), &offset_hour, &offset_minute)
 	}
 	// Missread microsecond ([Sec Hour Minute].len == 3 < 4)
 	if count < 4 {
 		count = unsafe {
-			C.sscanf(&char(s.str), '%2d:%2d:%2d%c%2d:%2d', &hour_, &minute_, &second_,
+			C.sscanf(&char(s.str), c'%2d:%2d:%2d%c%2d:%2d', &hour_, &minute_, &second_,
 				&char(&plus_min_z), &offset_hour, &offset_minute)
 		}
 		count++ // Increment count because skipped microsecond