diff --git a/.github/workflows/alpine.build.sh b/.github/workflows/alpine.build.sh
index 775f78de9e..ea12b2f250 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/alpine.build.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/alpine.build.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ uname -a
 
 make -j4
 
-./v --version
+./v -version
 
 du -s .
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index ff7bfcdd74..ad1082aec2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ jobs:
         ../../vprod gen1m.v
         ./gen1m > 1m.v
         echo "Building it..."
-        ../../vprod -x64 -o 1m 1m.v
+        ../../vprod -backend x64 -o 1m 1m.v
         echo "Running it..."
         ls
 #        ./1m
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dotnetdev.list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-prod.list; sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install --quiet -y postgresql libpq-dev libglfw3 libglfw3-dev libfreetype6-dev libssl-dev sqlite3 libsqlite3-dev libsdl2-dev libsdl2-ttf-dev libsdl2-mixer-dev libsdl2-image-dev
     - name: Download V
-      run: wget https://github.com/vlang/v/releases/latest/download/v_linux.zip && unzip v_linux.zip && ./v --version
+      run: wget https://github.com/vlang/v/releases/latest/download/v_linux.zip && unzip v_linux.zip && ./v -version
     - name: Test V
       run: ./v examples/hello_world.v && examples/hello_world #&& ./v -silent build-examples
 
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ jobs:
         brew install freetype glfw openssl sdl2 sdl2_ttf sdl2_mixer sdl2_image
         export LIBRARY_PATH="$LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/local/opt/openssl/lib/"
     - name: Download V
-      run: wget https://github.com/vlang/v/releases/latest/download/v_macos.zip && unzip v_macos.zip && ./v --version
+      run: wget https://github.com/vlang/v/releases/latest/download/v_macos.zip && unzip v_macos.zip && ./v -version
     - name: Test V
       run: ./v examples/hello_world.v && examples/hello_world #&& ./v -silent build-examples
 
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ jobs:
         curl -L https://github.com/vlang/v/releases/latest/download/v_windows.zip -o v_windows.zip
         echo Unzipping...
         unzip v_windows.zip
-        v.exe --version
+        v.exe -version
         echo Done
         dir
     - name: Test V
diff --git a/Dockerfile.alpine b/Dockerfile.alpine
index 349bf5a8f1..77ae8a5d3e 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.alpine
+++ b/Dockerfile.alpine
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ RUN apk --no-cache add \
 
 RUN apk --no-cache add --virtual sdl2deps sdl2-dev sdl2_ttf-dev sdl2_mixer-dev sdl2_image-dev
 
-RUN git clone https://github.com/vlang/v /opt/vlang && make && v --version
+RUN git clone https://github.com/vlang/v /opt/vlang && make && v -version
diff --git a/cmd/tools/modules/testing/common.v b/cmd/tools/modules/testing/common.v
index 0c6376dbaa..85885d9d40 100644
--- a/cmd/tools/modules/testing/common.v
+++ b/cmd/tools/modules/testing/common.v
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@ pub mut:
 	show_ok_tests bool
 }
 
-pub fn new_test_session(vargs string) TestSession {
+pub fn new_test_session(_vargs string) TestSession {
+	vargs := _vargs.replace('-silent', '')
 	return TestSession{
 		vexe: pref.vexe_path()
 		vargs: vargs
-		show_ok_tests: !vargs.contains('-silent')
+		show_ok_tests: !_vargs.contains('-silent')
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/tools/performance_compare.v b/cmd/tools/performance_compare.v
index 4400ba0b72..a6897b4c2a 100644
--- a/cmd/tools/performance_compare.v
+++ b/cmd/tools/performance_compare.v
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ fn (c &Context) prepare_v(cdir string, commit string) {
 	scripting.show_sizes_of_files(['$cdir/cv', '$cdir/cv_stripped', '$cdir/cv_stripped_upxed'])
 	scripting.show_sizes_of_files(['$cdir/v', '$cdir/v_stripped', '$cdir/v_stripped_upxed'])
 	scripting.show_sizes_of_files(['$cdir/vprod', '$cdir/vprod_stripped', '$cdir/vprod_stripped_upxed'])
-	vversion := scripting.run('$cdir/v --version')
+	vversion := scripting.run('$cdir/v -version')
     vcommit := scripting.run('git rev-parse --short  --verify HEAD')
 	println('V version is: ${vversion} , local source commit: ${vcommit}')
 	if vgit_context.vvlocation == 'cmd/v' {
diff --git a/cmd/tools/vfmt.v b/cmd/tools/vfmt.v
index 3c8415d08d..391daaab73 100644
--- a/cmd/tools/vfmt.v
+++ b/cmd/tools/vfmt.v
@@ -168,7 +168,12 @@ fn (foptions &FormatOptions) format_file(file string) {
 	mut compiler_params := &pref.Preferences{}
 	target_os := file_to_target_os(file)
 	if target_os != '' {
-		compiler_params.os = pref.os_from_string(target_os)
+		//TODO Remove temporary variable once it compiles correctly in C
+		tmp := pref.os_from_string(target_os) or {
+			eprintln('unknown operating system $target_os')
+			return
+		}
+		compiler_params.os = tmp
 	}
 	mut cfile := file
 	mut mod_folder_parent := tmpfolder
@@ -189,7 +194,7 @@ fn (foptions &FormatOptions) format_file(file string) {
 		}
 		os.write_file(main_program_file, main_program_content)
 		cfile = main_program_file
-		compiler_params.user_mod_path = mod_folder_parent
+		compiler_params.lookup_path = [mod_folder_parent, '@vlib', '@vmodule']
 	}
 	if !is_test_file && mod_name == 'main' {
 		// NB: here, file is guaranted to be a main. We do not know however
@@ -229,19 +234,17 @@ fn (foptions &FormatOptions) format_file(file string) {
 }
 
 fn print_compiler_options( compiler_params &pref.Preferences ) {
-	eprintln('        os: ' + compiler_params.os.str() )
-	eprintln(' ccompiler: $compiler_params.ccompiler' )
-	eprintln('       mod: $compiler_params.mod ')
-	eprintln('      path: $compiler_params.path ')
-	eprintln('  out_name: $compiler_params.out_name ')
-	eprintln('     vroot: $compiler_params.vroot ')
-	eprintln('     vpath: $compiler_params.vpath ')
-	eprintln(' vlib_path: $compiler_params.vlib_path ')
-	eprintln('  out_name: $compiler_params.out_name ')
-	eprintln('    umpath: $compiler_params.user_mod_path ')
-	eprintln('    cflags: $compiler_params.cflags ')
-	eprintln('   is_test: $compiler_params.is_test ')
-	eprintln(' is_script: $compiler_params.is_script ')
+	eprintln('         os: ' + compiler_params.os.str() )
+	eprintln('  ccompiler: $compiler_params.ccompiler' )
+	eprintln('        mod: $compiler_params.mod ')
+	eprintln('       path: $compiler_params.path ')
+	eprintln('   out_name: $compiler_params.out_name ')
+	eprintln('      vroot: $compiler_params.vroot ')
+	eprintln('lookup_path: $compiler_params.lookup_path ')
+	eprintln('   out_name: $compiler_params.out_name ')
+	eprintln('     cflags: $compiler_params.cflags ')
+	eprintln('    is_test: $compiler_params.is_test ')
+	eprintln('  is_script: $compiler_params.is_script ')
 }
 
 fn (foptions &FormatOptions) post_process_file(file string, formatted_file_path string) {
diff --git a/cmd/tools/vrepl.v b/cmd/tools/vrepl.v
index 4255a18b35..5e93edf65d 100644
--- a/cmd/tools/vrepl.v
+++ b/cmd/tools/vrepl.v
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ pub fn run_repl(workdir string, vrepl_prefix string) []string {
 		if r.line.starts_with('print') {
 			source_code := r.functions.join('\n') + r.lines.join('\n') + '\n' + r.line
 			os.write_file(file, source_code)
-			s := os.exec('"$vexe" run $file -repl') or {
+			s := os.exec('"$vexe" -repl run $file') or {
 				rerror(err)
 				return []
 			}
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ pub fn run_repl(workdir string, vrepl_prefix string) []string {
 			}
 			temp_source_code := r.functions.join('\n') + r.lines.join('\n') + '\n' + r.temp_lines.join('\n') + '\n' + temp_line
 			os.write_file(temp_file, temp_source_code)
-			s := os.exec('"$vexe" run $temp_file -repl') or {
+			s := os.exec('"$vexe" -repl run $temp_file') or {
 				println("SDFSDF")
 				rerror(err)
 				return []
@@ -237,6 +237,6 @@ pub fn rerror(s string) {
 
 fn v_version() string {
 	vexe := os.getenv('VEXE')
-	vversion_res := os.exec('$vexe --version') or { panic('"$vexe --version" is not working') }
+	vversion_res := os.exec('$vexe -version') or { panic('"$vexe -version" is not working') }
 	return vversion_res.output
 }
diff --git a/cmd/v/compile_options.v b/cmd/v/compile_options.v
deleted file mode 100644
index 818dd0fed5..0000000000
--- a/cmd/v/compile_options.v
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,227 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
-// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
-// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
-module main
-
-import (
-	compiler
-	filepath
-	os
-	os.cmdline
-	v.pref
-)
-
-//TODO Cleanup this file. This file ended up like a dump for functions that do not belong in `compiler`.
-//Maybe restructure the functions below into different V files
-
-pub fn new_v(args []string) &compiler.V {
-	// Create modules dirs if they are missing
-	if !os.is_dir(compiler.v_modules_path) {
-		os.mkdir(compiler.v_modules_path)or{
-			panic(err)
-		}
-		os.mkdir('$compiler.v_modules_path${filepath.separator}cache')or{
-			panic(err)
-		}
-	}
-	vroot := filepath.dir(pref.vexe_path())
-	// optional, custom modules search path
-	user_mod_path := cmdline.option(args, '-user_mod_path', '')
-	vlib_path := cmdline.option(args, '-vlib-path', '')
-	vpath := cmdline.option(args, '-vpath', '')
-	target_os := cmdline.option(args, '-os', '')
-	if target_os == 'msvc' {
-		// notice that `-os msvc` became `-cc msvc`
-		println('V error: use the flag `-cc msvc` to build using msvc')
-		os.flush()
-		exit(1)
-	}
-	mut out_name := cmdline.option(args, '-o', '')
-	mut dir := args[args.len-1]//.last()
-	if 'run' in args {
-		args_after_run := cmdline.only_non_options( cmdline.options_after(args,['run']) )
-		dir = if args_after_run.len>0 { args_after_run[0] } else { '' }
-	}
-	if dir == 'v.v' {
-		println('looks like you are trying to build V with an old command')
-		println('use `v -o v cmd/v` instead of `v -o v v.v`')
-		exit(1)
-	}
-	if dir.ends_with(filepath.separator) {
-		dir = dir.all_before_last(filepath.separator)
-	}
-	if dir.starts_with('.$filepath.separator') {
-		dir = dir[2..]
-	}
-	if args.len < 2 {
-		dir = ''
-	}
-
-	// build mode
-	mut build_mode := pref.BuildMode.default_mode
-	mut mod := ''
-	joined_args := args.join(' ')
-	if joined_args.contains('build module ') {
-		build_mode = .build_module
-		os.chdir(vroot)
-		// v build module ~/v/os => os.o
-		mod_path := if dir.contains('vlib') { dir.all_after('vlib' + filepath.separator) } else if dir.starts_with('.\\') || dir.starts_with('./') { dir[2..] } else if dir.starts_with(filepath.separator) { dir.all_after(filepath.separator) } else { dir }
-		mod = mod_path.replace(filepath.separator, '.')
-		println('Building module "${mod}" (dir="$dir")...')
-		// out_name = '$TmpPath/vlib/${base}.o'
-		if !out_name.ends_with('.c') {
-			out_name = mod
-		}
-		// Cross compiling? Use separate dirs for each os
-		/*
-		if target_os != os.user_os() {
-			os.mkdir('$TmpPath/vlib/$target_os') or { panic(err) }
-			out_name = '$TmpPath/vlib/$target_os/${base}.o'
-			println('target_os=$target_os user_os=${os.user_os()}')
-			println('!Cross compiling $out_name')
-		}
-		*/
-
-	}
-	// `v -o dir/exec`, create "dir/" if it doesn't exist
-	if out_name.contains(filepath.separator) {
-		d := out_name.all_before_last(filepath.separator)
-		if !os.is_dir(d) {
-			println('creating a new directory "$d"')
-			os.mkdir(d)or{
-				panic(err)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	// println('VROOT=$vroot')
-	cflags := cmdline.options(args, '-cflags').join(' ')
-	defines := cmdline.options(args, '-d')
-	compile_defines, compile_defines_all := parse_defines( defines )
-
-	rdir := os.realpath(dir)
-	rdir_name := filepath.filename(rdir)
-	if '-bare' in args {
-		println('V error: use -freestanding instead of -bare')
-		os.flush()
-		exit(1)
-	}
-	is_repl := '-repl' in args
-	ccompiler := cmdline.option(args, '-cc', '')
-	mut prefs := &pref.Preferences{
-		os: pref.os_from_string(target_os)
-		is_so: '-shared' in args
-		is_solive: '-solive' in args
-		is_prod: '-prod' in args
-		is_verbose: '-verbose' in args || '--verbose' in args
-		is_debug: '-g' in args || '-cg' in args
-		is_vlines: '-g' in args && !('-cg' in args)
-		is_keep_c: '-keep_c' in args
-		is_pretty_c: '-pretty_c' in args
-		is_cache: '-cache' in args
-		is_stats: '-stats' in args
-		obfuscate: '-obf' in args
-		is_prof: '-prof' in args
-		is_live: '-live' in args
-		sanitize: '-sanitize' in args
-		// nofmt: '-nofmt' in args
-
-		show_c_cmd: '-show_c_cmd' in args
-		translated: 'translated' in args
-		is_run: 'run' in args
-		autofree: '-autofree' in args
-		compress: '-compress' in args
-		enable_globals: '--enable-globals' in args
-		fast: '-fast' in args
-		is_bare: '-freestanding' in args
-		x64: '-x64' in args
-		output_cross_c: '-output-cross-platform-c' in args
-		prealloc: '-prealloc' in args
-		is_repl: is_repl
-		build_mode: build_mode
-		cflags: cflags
-		ccompiler: ccompiler
-		building_v: !is_repl && (rdir_name == 'compiler' || rdir_name == 'v' || rdir_name == 'vfmt.v' || rdir_name == 'cmd/v' || dir.contains('vlib'))
-		// is_fmt: comptime_define == 'vfmt'
-
-		user_mod_path: user_mod_path
-		vlib_path: vlib_path
-		vpath: vpath
-		v2: '-v2' in args
-		vroot: vroot
-		out_name: out_name
-		path: dir
-		compile_defines: compile_defines
-		compile_defines_all: compile_defines_all
-		mod: mod
-	}
-	if prefs.is_verbose || prefs.is_debug {
-		println('C compiler=$prefs.ccompiler')
-	}
-	$if !linux {
-		if prefs.is_bare && !out_name.ends_with('.c') {
-			println('V error: -freestanding only works on Linux for now')
-			os.flush()
-			exit(1)
-		}
-	}
-	prefs.fill_with_defaults()
-
-	// v.exe's parent directory should contain vlib
-	if !os.is_dir(prefs.vlib_path) || !os.is_dir(prefs.vlib_path + filepath.separator + 'builtin') {
-		// println('vlib not found, downloading it...')
-		/*
-		ret := os.system('git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/vlang/v .')
-		if ret != 0 {
-			println('failed to `git clone` vlib')
-			println('make sure you are online and have git installed')
-			exit(1)
-		}
-		*/
-		println('vlib not found. It should be next to the V executable.')
-		println('Go to https://vlang.io to install V.')
-		println('(os.executable=${os.executable()} vlib_path=$prefs.vlib_path vexe_path=${pref.vexe_path()}')
-		exit(1)
-	}
-
-	if prefs.is_script && !os.exists(dir) {
-		println('`$dir` does not exist')
-		exit(1)
-	}
-
-	return compiler.new_v(prefs)
-}
-
-fn find_c_compiler_thirdparty_options(args []string) string {
-	mut cflags := cmdline.options(args, '-cflags')
-	$if !windows {
-		cflags << '-fPIC'
-	}
-	if '-m32' in args {
-		cflags << '-m32'
-	}
-	return cflags.join(' ')
-}
-
-fn parse_defines(defines []string) ([]string,[]string) {
-	// '-d abc -d xyz=1 -d qwe=0' should produce:
-	// compile_defines:      ['abc','xyz']
-	// compile_defines_all   ['abc','xyz','qwe']
-	mut compile_defines := []string
-	mut compile_defines_all := []string
-	for dfn in defines {
-		dfn_parts := dfn.split('=')
-		if dfn_parts.len == 1 {
-			compile_defines << dfn
-			compile_defines_all << dfn
-			continue
-		}
-		if dfn_parts.len == 2 {
-			compile_defines_all << dfn_parts[0]
-			if dfn_parts[1] == '1' {
-				compile_defines << dfn_parts[0]
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return compile_defines, compile_defines_all
-}
diff --git a/cmd/v/flag.v b/cmd/v/flag.v
index 4f1f308fd4..790b5c2fe5 100644
--- a/cmd/v/flag.v
+++ b/cmd/v/flag.v
@@ -3,56 +3,25 @@
 // that can be found in the LICENSE file.
 module main
 
-import os
+import (
+	internal.flag
+	os
+)
 
 const (
 	//list_of_flags contains a list of flags where an argument is expected past it.
 	list_of_flags = [
-		'-o', '-os', '-cc', '-cflags', '-d'
+		'o', 'output', 'd', 'define', 'b', 'backend', 'cc', 'os', 'target-os', 'arch',
+			'csource', 'cf', 'cflags', 'path'
 	]
 )
 
-fn get_basic_command_and_option(args []string) (string, []string) {
-	mut option := []string
-	for i, arg in args {
-		if i == 0 {
-			//Skip executable
-			continue
-		}
-		if arg == '--' {
-			//End of list of options. The next one is the command.
-			if i+1 < os.args.len {
-				return os.args[i+1], option
-			}
-			//There's no option past this
-			return '', option
-		}
-		if arg in list_of_flags {
-			i++
-			continue
-		}
-		if arg[0] == `-` {
-			option << arg
-			continue
-		}
-		//It's not a flag. We did not skip it. It's a command.
-		return arg, option
-	}
-
-	//There's no arguments that were not part of a flag.
-	return '', option
-}
-
-fn non_empty(arg []string) []string {
-	return arg.filter(it != '')
-}
-
 fn join_flags_and_argument() []string {
 	vosargs := os.getenv('VOSARGS')
 	if vosargs != '' {
-		return non_empty(vosargs.split(' '))
+		return vosargs.split(' ')
 	}
-
+	// No VOSARGS? Look for VFLAGS and concat it with command-line options.
 	mut args := []string
 	vflags := os.getenv('VFLAGS')
 	if vflags != '' {
@@ -61,8 +30,70 @@ fn join_flags_and_argument() []string {
 		if os.args.len > 1 {
 			args << os.args[1..]
 		}
-		return non_empty(args)
+		return args
+	}
+	// No VFLAGS too? Just return command-line args.
+	return os.args
+}
+
+fn parse_flags(flag string, f mut flag.Instance, prefs mut flag.MainCmdPreferences) {
+	match flag {
+		'v' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['v', 'vv', 'vvv', 'verbose'])
+			prefs.verbosity = .level_one
+		}
+		'vv' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['v', 'vv', 'vvv', 'verbose'])
+			prefs.verbosity = .level_two
+		}
+		'vvv' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['v', 'vv', 'vvv', 'verbose'])
+			prefs.verbosity = .level_three
+		}
+		'verbose' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['v', 'vv', 'vvv', 'verbose'])
+			level := f.int() or {
+				println('V error: Expected `0`, `1`, `2` or `3` as argument to `-verbose` to specify verbosity level.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			match level {
+				0 {} //Zero verbosity is already default.
+				1 {
+					prefs.verbosity = .level_one
+				}
+				2 {
+					prefs.verbosity = .level_two
+				}
+				3 {
+					prefs.verbosity = .level_three
+				}
+				else {
+					println('V error: Expected `0`, `1`, `2` or `3` as argument to `-verbose` to specify verbosity level.')
+					exit(1)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		'h', 'help' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['h', 'help'])
+			prefs.action = .help
+		}
+		'v', 'version' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['v', 'version'])
+			prefs.action = .version
+		}
+		'-version', '-help' {
+			println('V error: `-$flag` has been deprecated. Use `$flag` instead.')
+			exit(1)
+		}
+		else {
+			prefs.unknown_flag = '-$flag'
+			if !(flag in list_of_flags) {
+				return
+			}
+			f.string() or {
+				println('V error: Error parsing flag. Expected value for `-$flag`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+		}
 	}
-
-	return non_empty(os.args)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/v/internal/compile/common_mistakes.v b/cmd/v/internal/compile/common_mistakes.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..73d1212255
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/v/internal/compile/common_mistakes.v
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
+// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+module compile
+
+import (
+	os
+	v.pref
+)
+
+fn check_for_common_mistake(args []string, p &pref.Preferences) {
+	// Note: This feature is still currently commonly used. Uncomment this when
+	// proper deprecation detection is ready.
+	if p.out_name.ends_with('.c') && p.backend == .c {
+		//println('HINT: `-o $p.out_name` implies `-csource keep` and does not results in an executable currently.')
+		//println('      To overwrite this, specify `-csource drop` explicitly.')
+	}
+	if p.out_name.ends_with('.js') && p.backend != .js {
+		println('HINT: `-o $p.out_name` implies `-backend js` currently.')
+		//println('      To overwrite this, specify the intended backend explicitly.')
+	}
+	if p.path == 'vlib/compiler' || p.path == 'v.v' {
+		println('HINT: The V compiler is now located in `cmd/v`.')
+		println('      `$p.path` is no longer the correct path to compile if you are intending to do so.')
+	}
+	if !p.path.ends_with('.v') && !os.is_dir(p.path) && os.is_dir(p.path + os.path_separator) {
+		println('HINT: `$p.path` is not a directory nor a file suffixed with `.v`.')
+		println('      Did you perhaps accidentally reference the compiled executable?')
+		println('      To make sure V detects the directory correctly, add the path separator to the end of the path like so:')
+		println('      `v $p.path$os.path_separator`')
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/v/compile.v b/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile.v
similarity index 54%
rename from cmd/v/compile.v
rename to cmd/v/internal/compile/compile.v
index d304e9355c..e7ca89a235 100644
--- a/cmd/v/compile.v
+++ b/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile.v
@@ -1,40 +1,29 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
 // Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
 // that can be found in the LICENSE file.
-module main
+module compile
 
 import (
 	benchmark
+	compiler
 	os
-	os.cmdline
 	compiler
 )
 
-fn compile(command string, args []string) {
+pub fn compile(command string, args []string) {
 	// Construct the V object from command line arguments
-	mut v := new_v(args)
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	parse_and_output_new_format(args)
+	prefs, remaining := parse_arguments(args)
+	check_for_common_mistake(args, &prefs)
+	mut v := compiler.new_v(prefs)
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 		println(args)
 	}
-	if command == 'run' {
-		// always recompile for now, too error prone to skip recompilation otherwise
-		// for example for -repl usage, especially when piping lines to v
-		if v.pref.x64 {
-			v.compile_x64()
-		}
-		else if v.pref.v2 {
-			v.compile2()
-		}
-		else {
-			v.compile()
-		}
-		run_compiled_executable_and_exit(v, args)
-	}
 	mut tmark := benchmark.new_benchmark()
-	if v.pref.x64 {
+	if v.pref.backend == .x64 {
 		v.compile_x64()
 	}
-	else if v.pref.v2 {
+	else if v.pref.backend == .experimental {
 		v.compile2()
 	}
 	else {
@@ -44,20 +33,22 @@ fn compile(command string, args []string) {
 		tmark.stop()
 		println('compilation took: ' + tmark.total_duration().str() + 'ms')
 	}
-	if v.pref.is_test {
-		run_compiled_executable_and_exit(v, args)
+	if v.pref.is_test || v.pref.is_run {
+		run_compiled_executable_and_exit(v, remaining)
 	}
 	v.finalize_compilation()
 }
 
-pub fn run_compiled_executable_and_exit(v &compiler.V, args []string) {
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+pub fn run_compiled_executable_and_exit(v &compiler.V, remaining_args []string) {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 		println('============ running $v.pref.out_name ============')
 	}
 	mut cmd := '"${v.pref.out_name}"'
-	args_after_no_options := cmdline.only_non_options( cmdline.options_after(args,['run','test']) )
-	if args_after_no_options.len > 1 {
-		cmd += ' ' + args_after_no_options[1..].join(' ')
+	if remaining_args.len > 1 {
+		cmd += ' ' + remaining_args[1..].join(' ')
+	}
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
+		println('command to run executable: $cmd')
 	}
 	if v.pref.is_test {
 		ret := os.system(cmd)
diff --git a/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_c_options.v b/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_c_options.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..04295ce066
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_c_options.v
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
+// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+module compile
+
+// This file contains the options specific to the C backend of V.
+// To add a flag to all backends at once, please add the flag to `parse_options()` in `compile_options.v`.
+// To add a flag to both x64 and C, please add the flag to `parse_executable_options()` in `compile_x64_options.v`.
+
+import (
+	internal.flag
+	v.pref
+)
+
+[inline]
+fn parse_c_options(flag string, f mut flag.Instance, prefs mut pref.Preferences) {
+	match flag {
+		'cc', 'compiler' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['cc', 'compiler'])
+			//TODO Remove `tmp` variable when it doesn't error out in C.
+			tmp := f.string() or {
+				println('V error: Expected argument after `-$flag`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			prefs.ccompiler = tmp
+		}
+		'cg', 'cdebug' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['cg', 'cdebug', 'g', 'debug'])
+			if f.bool() {
+				prefs.is_debug = true
+				prefs.is_vlines = false
+			}
+		}
+		'live' {
+			prefs.is_live = f.bool()
+		}
+		'csource' {
+			operation := f.string() or {
+				println('V error: Expected argument after `-csource`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			match operation {
+				'keep' {
+					prefs.is_keep_c = true
+				}
+				'prettify' {
+					prefs.is_keep_c = true
+					prefs.is_pretty_c = true
+				}
+				'drop' {} //Default
+				else {
+					println('V error: Unknown argument for `-csource` (`$operation`).')
+					println('Allowed options: `keep`, `prettify` and `drop`.')
+					exit(1)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		'sanitize' {
+			prefs.sanitize = f.bool()
+		}
+		'cf', 'cflags' {
+			f.allow_duplicate()
+			cflag := f.string() or {
+				println('V error: Expected argument after `-$flag`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			prefs.cflags += ' $cflag'
+		}
+		// TODO Deprecate these once v2 parser is live
+		'repl' {
+			prefs.is_repl = f.bool()
+		}
+		'solive' {
+			prefs.is_solive = f.bool()
+			prefs.is_so = prefs.is_solive
+		}
+		else {
+			parse_executable_options(flag, mut f, mut prefs)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_js_options.v b/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_js_options.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f3c322df4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_js_options.v
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
+// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+module compile
+
+// This file contains the options specific to the JS backend of V.
+
+import (
+	internal.flag
+	v.pref
+)
+
+[inline]
+fn parse_js_options(flag string, f flag.Instance, prefs pref.Preferences) {
+	// No notable flags for JS-only currently. Add them here when they are needed.
+	// For now, we just fail as this is meant to be a fallback.
+	println('V error: Unknown flag `-$flag` provided.')
+	println('Use `--` to terminate flag list if necessary.')
+	exit(1)
+}
diff --git a/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_options.v b/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_options.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dbf38b7ad6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_options.v
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
+// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+module compile
+
+import (
+	internal.flag
+	os.cmdline
+	v.pref
+)
+
+fn parse_arguments(args []string) (pref.Preferences, []string) {
+	mut p := pref.Preferences{
+		//TODO: Refactor away this preference.
+		// It's no longer controlled by a command-line flag.
+		enable_globals: true
+	}
+	mut backend := cmdline.options(args, '-b')
+	backend << cmdline.options(args, '-backend')
+	if backend.len > 1 {
+		println('V error: Only one backend may be enabled at once. (Multiple `-b`/`-backend` flags provided)')
+		exit(1)
+	}
+	if backend.len == 1 {
+		p.backend = pref.backend_from_string(backend[0]) or {
+			println('V error: Unknown backend ${backend[0]} provided.')
+			exit(1)
+		}
+	} else {
+		p.backend = .c
+	}
+	mut remaining := flag.parse_pref(args, parse_options, &p) or {
+		println('V error: Error while parsing flags.')
+		println(err)
+		exit(1)
+	}
+	match remaining[0] {
+		'run' {
+			p.is_run = true
+			remaining = remaining[1..]
+		}
+		'build' {
+			remaining = remaining[1..]
+			if remaining[0] == 'module' {
+				remaining = remaining[1..]
+				//TODO Figure out module
+				println('V error: Module compilation is not ready yet.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+		}
+		else {}
+	}
+	if remaining.len == 0 {
+		println('V error: Expected file/directory to compile.')
+		exit(1)
+	}
+	if !p.is_run && remaining.len > 1 {
+		println('V error: Expected only one file/directory to compile.')
+		println('Did you perhaps put flags after the file/directory?')
+		exit(1)
+	}
+	p.path = remaining[0]
+	p.fill_with_defaults()
+	return p, remaining
+}
+
+fn parse_options(flag string, f mut flag.Instance, prefs mut pref.Preferences) {
+	match flag {
+		'path' {
+			// -path
+			path_str := f.string() or {
+				println('V error: Expected argument for `-path`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			prefs.lookup_path = path_str.split('|')
+		}
+		'o', 'output' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['o', 'output'])
+			//TODO Remove `tmp` variable when it doesn't error out in C.
+			tmp := f.string() or {
+				println('V error: Expected argument for `-$flag`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			prefs.out_name = tmp
+		}
+		'd', 'define' {
+			f.allow_duplicate()
+			define := f.string() or {
+				println('V error: Expected argument for `-$flag`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			parse_define(mut prefs, define)
+		}
+		'g', 'debug' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['g', 'debug', 'cg', 'cdebug'])
+			if f.bool() {
+				prefs.is_debug = true
+				prefs.is_vlines = true
+			}
+		}
+		'e', 'experiments' {
+			f.allow_duplicate()
+			to_enable := f.string() or {
+				println('V error: Expected argument for `-$flag`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			match to_enable {
+				'prealloc' {
+					prefs.prealloc = true
+				}
+				else {
+					println('V error: Unknown experiment `$to_enable`.')
+					exit(1)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		'prod' {
+			prefs.is_prod = true
+		}
+		'v' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['v', 'vv', 'vvv', 'verbose'])
+			prefs.verbosity = .level_one
+		}
+		'vv' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['v', 'vv', 'vvv', 'verbose'])
+			prefs.verbosity = .level_two
+		}
+		'vvv' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['v', 'vv', 'vvv', 'verbose'])
+			prefs.verbosity = .level_three
+		}
+		'verbose' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['v', 'vv', 'vvv', 'verbose'])
+			level := f.int() or {
+				println('V error: Expected `0`, `1`, `2` or `3` as argument to `-verbose` to specify verbosity level.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			match level {
+				0 {} //Zero verbosity is already default.
+				1 {
+					prefs.verbosity = .level_one
+				}
+				2 {
+					prefs.verbosity = .level_two
+				}
+				3 {
+					prefs.verbosity = .level_three
+				}
+				else {
+					println('V error: Expected `0`, `1`, `2` or `3` as argument to `-verbose` to specify verbosity level.')
+					exit(1)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		'full-rebuild' {
+			prefs.is_cache = !f.bool()
+		}
+		'stats' {
+			prefs.is_stats = f.bool()
+		}
+		'obf', 'obfuscate' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['-obf', '-obfuscate'])
+			prefs.obfuscate = f.bool()
+		}
+		'prof', 'profile' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['-prof', '-profile'])
+			prefs.is_prof = f.bool()
+		}
+		'translated' {
+			prefs.translated = f.bool()
+		}
+		'backend' {
+			// Just consume it. The option is handled outside of this function
+			f.string() or { return }
+		}
+		else {
+			match prefs.backend {
+				.c, .experimental {
+					parse_c_options(flag, mut f, mut prefs)
+				}
+				.x64 {
+					parse_x64_options(flag, mut f, mut prefs)
+				}
+				.js {
+					parse_js_options(flag, f, prefs)
+				}
+				else {
+					// TODO: Remove when compiler allows for it.
+					// This enum matching IS exhaustive.
+					panic('unexpected backend type: $prefs.backend')
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+[inline]
+fn parse_define(prefs mut pref.Preferences, define string) {
+	define_parts := define.split('=')
+	if define_parts.len == 1 {
+		prefs.compile_defines << define
+		prefs.compile_defines_all << define
+		return
+	}
+	if define_parts.len == 2 {
+		prefs.compile_defines_all << define_parts[0]
+		match define_parts[1] {
+			'0' {}
+			'1' {
+				prefs.compile_defines << define_parts[0]
+			}
+			else {
+				println('V error: Unknown define argument value `${define_parts[1]}` for ${define_parts[0]}.' +
+					'Expected `0` or `1`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+		}
+		return
+	}
+	println('V error: Unknown define argument: ${define}. Expected at most one `=`.')
+	exit(1)
+}
diff --git a/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_x64_options.v b/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_x64_options.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..25c8e378ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/v/internal/compile/compile_x64_options.v
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
+// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+module compile
+
+// This file contains the options specific to the x64 backend of V and backends that generate executable files.
+// To add a flag to all backends at once, please add the flag to `parse_options()` in `compile_options.v`.
+// To add a flag to the C backend-only, please add the flag to `parse_c_options()` in `compile_c_options.v`.
+
+import (
+	internal.flag
+	v.pref
+)
+
+[inline]
+fn parse_x64_options(flag string, f mut flag.Instance, prefs mut pref.Preferences) {
+	// No notable flags for x64-only currently. Add them here when they are needed.
+	if flag == 'arch' {
+		println('V error: The `-arch` flag is not supported on the x64 backend.')
+		exit(1)
+	}
+	parse_executable_options(flag, mut f, mut prefs)
+}
+
+[inline]
+fn parse_executable_options(flag string, f mut flag.Instance, prefs mut pref.Preferences) {
+	match flag {
+		'os', 'target-os' {
+			f.is_equivalent_to(['os', 'target-os'])
+			target_os := f.string() or {
+				println('V error: Expected argument after `-$flag`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			if target_os == 'cross' {
+				prefs.output_cross_c = true
+				return
+			}
+			//TODO Remove `tmp` variable when it doesn't error out in C.
+			tmp := pref.os_from_string(target_os) or {
+				println('V error: Unknown operating system target `$target_os`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			prefs.os = tmp
+		}
+		'arch' {
+			target_arch := f.string() or {
+				println('V error: Expected argument after `-arch`.')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			match target_arch {
+				'x86' {
+					prefs.cflags += ' -m32'
+				}
+				'x64' {} // Default. Do nothing.
+				else {
+					println('V error: Unknown architecture type. Only x86 and x64 are supported currently.')
+					exit(1)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		'freestanding' {
+			prefs.is_bare = f.bool()
+		}
+		'shared' {
+			prefs.is_so = f.bool()
+		}
+		'live' {
+			prefs.is_solive = f.bool()
+		}
+		'manual-free' {
+			prefs.autofree = !f.bool()
+		}
+		'compress' {
+			prefs.compress = f.bool()
+		}
+		else {
+			// No more fallback. We don't recognize this flag.
+			println('V error: Unknown flag `-$flag` provided.')
+			println('Use `--` to terminate flag list if necessary.')
+			exit(1)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/v/internal/compile/old_options.v b/cmd/v/internal/compile/old_options.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2cc3f2c7b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/v/internal/compile/old_options.v
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
+// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+module compile
+
+import (
+	os.cmdline
+)
+
+struct Deprecated {
+	old string
+	new string
+	not_exactly bool
+}
+
+//parse_and_output_new_format parses the old format and tells the user how to use the new options.
+//This function exits if it detects the old format and returns if it doesn't.
+fn parse_and_output_new_format(args []string) {
+	mut list := []Deprecated
+	mut obsolete := []string
+	//Check `-os msvc`
+	os := cmdline.option(args, '-os', '')
+	if os == 'msvc' {
+		list << Deprecated {
+			old: '-os msvc'
+			new: '-cc msvc'
+		}
+	}
+	//Check simple options
+	//TODO Refactor them to actually just modify mutable arrays
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-cache', '-full-rebuild=false')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, 'translated', '-translated')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-x64', '-backend x64')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-v2', '-backend experimental')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-keep_c', '-csource keep')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-pretty_c', '-csource prettify')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-show_c_cmd', '-v')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-autofree', '-manual-free=false')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-fast', '-cc tcc')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-output-cross-platform-c', '-os cross')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-m32', '-arch x86')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-bare', '-freestanding')
+	obsolete << add_if_found_string(args, '--enable-globals')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-prealloc', '-e prealloc')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-user_mod_path', '-path*')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-vlib-path', '-path*')
+	list << add_if_found_deprecated(args, '-vpath', '-path*')
+	//Nothing to do here
+	if list.len == 0 && obsolete.len == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	//Output messages
+	println('V has encountered deprecated/obsolete options. Please edit your command.\n')
+	if list.len > 0 {
+		println('Deprecated options that have been replaced:')
+		for deprecation in list {
+			if deprecation.not_exactly {
+				println('   `$deprecation.old` has been superseded by `$deprecation.new` (see help for more details)')
+			} else {
+				println('   use `$deprecation.new` instead of `$deprecation.old`')
+			}
+		}
+		println('')
+	}
+	if obsolete.len > 0 {
+		println('Obsolete options that are no longer supported:')
+		for obsoleted in obsolete {
+			println('   `$obsoleted` has been removed')
+		}
+		println('')
+	}
+	println('For more details, please use the command `v help build` for a list of options.')
+	exit(1)
+}
+
+//=====
+//HELPER FUNCTIONS
+//=====
+
+[inline]
+fn add_if_found_deprecated(args []string, deprecated string, alt string) []Deprecated {
+	if deprecated in args {
+		new := if alt.ends_with('*') {
+			Deprecated {
+				old: deprecated
+				new: alt[..alt.len-1]
+				not_exactly: true
+			}
+		} else {
+			Deprecated {
+				old: deprecated
+				new: alt
+				not_exactly: false
+			}
+		}
+		return [new]
+	}
+	return []
+}
+
+[inline]
+fn add_if_found_string(args []string, deprecated string) []string {
+	if deprecated in args {
+		return [deprecated]
+	}
+	return []
+}
diff --git a/cmd/v/internal/flag/flag.v b/cmd/v/internal/flag/flag.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13864f635a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/v/internal/flag/flag.v
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
+// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+// This module is designed to be general purpose. The only reason it currently only lives here is because there's no
+// generics support and all types are defined manually.
+// TODO Move to vlib once generics are implemented properly.
+module flag
+
+const (
+	// List as taken from `pkg.go.dev/flag`
+	truthy = ['1', 't', 'T', 'true', 'TRUE', 'True']
+	falsey = ['0', 'f', 'F', 'false', 'FALSE', 'False']
+)
+
+pub struct Instance {
+	args        []string
+mut:
+	current_flag string
+	current_pos  int
+	equal_val    string
+	encountered  map[string]bool
+}
+
+fn (p mut Instance) parse_impl(args []string, value voidptr, callback void_cb) ?[]string {
+	for p.current_pos+1 < p.args.len {
+		p.current_pos++
+		next := p.args[p.current_pos]
+		if !next.starts_with('-') || next == '-' {
+			// End of arguments.
+			// Note: - by itself is not considered a flag.
+			return args[p.current_pos..]
+		}
+		if next == '--' {
+			// Terminator. End of arguments.
+			return args[p.current_pos+1..]
+		}
+		// Start parsing flag by determining flag name
+		mut flag_name := ''
+		if idx := next.index('=') {
+			p.equal_val = next[idx+1..]
+			flag_name = next[1..idx]
+		} else {
+			p.equal_val = ''
+			flag_name = next[1..]
+		}
+		if p.encountered[flag_name] {
+			// Duplicate flags are opt-in
+			// This can be prevented with p.allow_duplicate()
+			return error('Duplicate flag: -$flag_name')
+		}
+		p.encountered[flag_name] = true
+		p.current_flag = flag_name
+		callback(flag_name, p, value)
+	}
+	// We didn't hit any exit condition. There's no argument left so nothing.
+	return []string
+}
+
+pub fn (p mut Instance) string() ?string {
+	if p.equal_val != '' {
+		return p.equal_val
+	}
+	p.current_pos++
+	if p.current_pos >= p.args.len {
+		return error('out of arguments')
+	}
+	return p.args[p.current_pos]
+}
+
+pub fn (p mut Instance) int() ?int {
+	val := p.string() or {
+		return error(err)
+	}
+	return val.int()
+}
+
+pub fn (p mut Instance) f32() ?f32 {
+	val := p.string() or {
+		return error(err)
+	}
+	return val.f32()
+}
+
+pub fn (p mut Instance) f64() ?f64 {
+	val := p.string() or {
+		return error(err)
+	}
+	return val.f64()
+}
+
+pub fn (p mut Instance) i64() ?i64 {
+	val := p.string() or {
+		return error(err)
+	}
+	return val.i64()
+}
+
+pub fn (p mut Instance) bool() bool {
+	val := p.string() or {
+		// Could not fetch arguments? Parse it as `true`.
+		return true
+	}
+	if val in truthy {
+		return true
+	}
+	if val in falsey {
+		return false
+	}
+	// Unrecognized boolean type. Probably is not related to boolean.
+	p.current_pos--
+	return true
+}
+
+pub fn (p mut Instance) allow_duplicate() {
+	p.encountered[p.current_flag] = false
+}
+
+pub fn (p mut Instance) is_equivalent_to(flags []string) {
+	for v in flags {
+		p.encountered[v] = true
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/v/internal/flag/flag_workaround.v b/cmd/v/internal/flag/flag_workaround.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..031d78b167
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/v/internal/flag/flag_workaround.v
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Alexander Medvednikov. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT license
+// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+module flag
+
+import (
+	v.pref
+)
+
+type void_cb fn(string, &Instance, voidptr)
+
+// This file contains all instance of usage in cmd/v. Should be replaced by generics.
+pub fn parse_pref(args []string, callback fn(string, &Instance, &pref.Preferences), obj &pref.Preferences) ?[]string {
+	mut p := Instance {
+		args: args
+		current_pos: 0
+	}
+	casted_callback := *(&void_cb(&callback))
+	tmp := p.parse_impl(args, voidptr(obj), casted_callback) or {
+		return error(err)
+	}
+	return tmp
+}
+
+pub enum MainCmdAction {
+	unspecified
+	version
+	help
+}
+
+pub struct MainCmdPreferences {
+pub mut:
+	verbosity    pref.VerboseLevel
+	action       MainCmdAction
+	unknown_flag string
+}
+
+pub fn parse_main_cmd(args []string, callback fn(string, &Instance, &MainCmdPreferences), obj &MainCmdPreferences) ?[]string {
+	mut p := Instance {
+		args: args
+		current_pos: 0
+	}
+	casted_callback := *(&void_cb(&callback))
+	tmp := p.parse_impl(args, voidptr(obj), casted_callback) or {
+		return error(err)
+	}
+	return tmp
+}
diff --git a/cmd/v/simple_tool.v b/cmd/v/simple_tool.v
index 9f4078ab51..fe9e34171e 100644
--- a/cmd/v/simple_tool.v
+++ b/cmd/v/simple_tool.v
@@ -10,27 +10,23 @@ import (
 	v.pref
 )
 
-fn launch_tool(is_verbose bool, tname string, cmdname string) {
+fn launch_tool(verbosity pref.VerboseLevel, tool_name string) {
 	vexe := pref.vexe_path()
 	vroot := filepath.dir(vexe)
 	compiler.set_vroot_folder(vroot)
 
-	mut tname_index := os.args.index(cmdname)
-	if tname_index == -1 {
-		tname_index = os.args.len
-	}
-	mut compilation_options := os.args[1..tname_index].clone()
 	tool_args := os.args[1..].join(' ')
-	tool_exe := path_of_executable(os.realpath('$vroot/cmd/tools/$tname'))
-	tool_source := os.realpath('$vroot/cmd/tools/${tname}.v')
+	tool_exe := path_of_executable(os.realpath('$vroot/cmd/tools/$tool_name'))
+	tool_source := os.realpath('$vroot/cmd/tools/${tool_name}.v')
 	tool_command := '"$tool_exe" $tool_args'
-	if is_verbose {
+	if verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 		eprintln('launch_tool vexe        : $vroot')
 		eprintln('launch_tool vroot       : $vroot')
 		eprintln('launch_tool tool_args   : $tool_args')
 		eprintln('launch_tool tool_command: $tool_command')
 	}
 
+	// TODO Caching should be done on the `vlib/v` level.
 	mut should_compile := false
 	if !os.exists(tool_exe) {
 		should_compile = true
@@ -40,7 +36,7 @@ fn launch_tool(is_verbose bool, tname string, cmdname string) {
 			// rebuild the tool too just in case
 			should_compile = true
 
-			if tname == 'vself' || tname == 'vup' {
+			if tool_name == 'vself' || tool_name == 'vup' {
 				// The purpose of vself/up is to update and recompile v itself.
 				// After the first 'v self' execution, v will be modified, so
 				// then a second 'v self' will detect, that v is newer than the
@@ -54,25 +50,26 @@ fn launch_tool(is_verbose bool, tname string, cmdname string) {
 			should_compile = true
 		}
 	}
-	if is_verbose {
+	if verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 		eprintln('launch_tool should_compile: $should_compile')
 	}
 
 	if should_compile {
-		if tname == 'vfmt' {
-			compilation_options << ['-d', 'vfmt']
+		mut compilation_command := '"$vexe" '
+		if tool_name == 'vfmt' {
+			// TODO Remove when it's no longer required by fmt
+			compilation_command += '-d vfmt '
 		}
-		compilation_args := compilation_options.join(' ')
-		compilation_command := '"$vexe" $compilation_args "$tool_source"'
-		if is_verbose {
-			eprintln('Compiling $tname with: "$compilation_command"')
+		compilation_command += '"$tool_source"'
+		if verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
+			eprintln('Compiling $tool_name with: "$compilation_command"')
 		}
 		tool_compilation := os.exec(compilation_command) or { panic(err) }
 		if tool_compilation.exit_code != 0 {
 			panic('V tool "$tool_source" could not be compiled\n' + tool_compilation.output)
 		}
 	}
-	if is_verbose {
+	if verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 		eprintln('launch_tool running tool command: $tool_command ...')
 	}
 
diff --git a/cmd/v/v.v b/cmd/v/v.v
index b416a14613..ed39ec9853 100644
--- a/cmd/v/v.v
+++ b/cmd/v/v.v
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ module main
 
 import (
 	compiler
+	internal.compile
+	internal.flag
 	internal.help
 	os
 	v.table
@@ -23,69 +25,120 @@ const (
 )
 
 fn main() {
-	arg := join_flags_and_argument()
-	command,option := get_basic_command_and_option(arg)
-	is_verbose := '-verbose' in arg || '--verbose' in arg
-	if '-v' in option || '--version' in option || command == 'version' {
-		// Print the version and exit.
-		version_hash := compiler.vhash()
-		println('V $compiler.Version $version_hash')
-		return
+	prefs := flag.MainCmdPreferences{}
+	values := flag.parse_main_cmd(os.args, parse_flags, &prefs) or {
+		println('V Error: An error has occured while parsing flags: ')
+		println(err)
+		exit(1)
 	}
-	if '-h' in option || '--help' in option || command == 'help' {
-		if is_verbose {
-			println(help.verbose_help_text)
+	if prefs.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
+		println('V $compiler.Version $compiler.vhash()')
+	}
+	if prefs.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
+		println('Parsed preferences: ')
+		println(prefs)
+		println('Remaining: $values')
+	}
+	// Do a quick check for `v -v`. Too much error has been made this way.
+	if prefs.verbosity == .level_one && values.len == 0 {
+		println("`v -v` now runs V with verbose mode set to level one which doesn't do anything.")
+		println('Did you mean `v -version` instead?')
+		exit(1)
+	}
+	// Start calling the correct functions/external tools
+	// Note for future contributors: Please add new subcommands in the `match` block below.
+	if prefs.action == .version {
+		disallow_unknown_flags(prefs)
+		print_version_and_exit()
+	}
+	if values.len == 0 && prefs.action == .help {
+		println('Use `v help` for usage information.')
+		exit(1)
+	}
+	if values.len == 0 || values[0] == '-' || values[0] == 'repl' {
+		// Check for REPL.
+		if values.len == 0 {
+			println('Running REPL as no arguments are provided.')
+			println('For usage information, quit V REPL using `exit` and use `v help`.')
 		}
-		else {
-			println(help.help_text)
-		}
-		return
-	}
-	if is_verbose {
-		eprintln('v    args: $arg')
-		eprintln('v command: $command')
-		eprintln('v options: $option')
-	}
-	if command == 'doc' {
-		mod := arg[arg.len-1]
-		table := table.new_table()
-		println(doc.doc(mod, table))
-		return
+		launch_tool(prefs.verbosity, 'vrepl')
 	}
+	command := values[0]
 	if command in simple_cmd {
 		// External tools
-		launch_tool(is_verbose, 'v' + command, command)
-		return
-	}
-	if command == 'run' || command == 'build' || command.ends_with('.v') || os.exists(command) {
-		compile(command, arg)
+		launch_tool(prefs.verbosity, 'v' + command)
 		return
 	}
 	match command {
-		'', '-' {
-			if arg.len == 1 {
-				println('Running REPL as no arguments are provided. For usage information, use `v help`.')
-			}
-			launch_tool(is_verbose, 'vrepl', '')
-		}
 		'translate' {
 			println('Translating C to V will be available in V 0.3')
+			return
 		}
 		'search', 'install', 'update', 'remove' {
-			launch_tool(is_verbose, 'vpm', command)
+			launch_tool(prefs.verbosity, 'vpm')
+			return
 		}
 		'get' {
-			println('Use `v install` to install modules from vpm.vlang.io')
-		}
-		'symlink' {
-			create_symlink()
-		}
-		//'doc' {
-			//println('Currently unimplemented')
-		//}
-		else {
-			eprintln('v $command: unknown command\nRun "v help" for usage.')
+			println('V Error: Use `v install` to install modules from vpm.vlang.io')
 			exit(1)
 		}
+		'symlink' {
+			disallow_unknown_flags(prefs)
+			create_symlink()
+			return
+		}
+		'doc' {
+			disallow_unknown_flags(prefs)
+			if values.len == 1 {
+				println('V Error: Expected argument: Module name to output documentations for')
+				exit(1)
+			}
+			table := table.new_table()
+			println(doc.doc(values[1], table))
+			return
+		}
+		'help' {
+			// We check if the arguments are empty as we don't want to steal it from tools
+			// TODO Call actual help tool
+			disallow_unknown_flags(prefs)
+			if prefs.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_one) {
+				println(help.verbose_help_text)
+			}
+			else {
+				println(help.help_text)
+			}
+			if values.len > 1 {
+				println('Note: Actual help module is coming soon. Feel free to ask on the official channels for clarification.')
+			}
+			return
+		}
+		'version' {
+			disallow_unknown_flags(prefs)
+			print_version_and_exit()
+			return
+		}
+		else {}
 	}
+	if command == 'run' || command == 'build' || command.ends_with('.v') || os.exists(command) {
+		arg := join_flags_and_argument()
+		compile.compile(command, arg)
+		return
+	}
+	eprintln('v $command: unknown command\nRun "v help" for usage.')
+	exit(1)
+}
+
+fn print_version_and_exit() {
+	version_hash := compiler.vhash()
+	println('V $compiler.Version $version_hash')
+	exit(0)
+}
+
+[inline]
+fn disallow_unknown_flags(prefs flag.MainCmdPreferences) {
+	if prefs.unknown_flag == '' {
+		return
+	}
+	println('V Error: Unexpected flag found: $prefs.unknown_flag')
+	exit(1)
 }
diff --git a/make.bat b/make.bat
index c3a18f13d3..dedc2d2d25 100644
--- a/make.bat
+++ b/make.bat
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ if %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 (
 )
 
 echo rebuild from source (twice, in case of C definitions changes)
-v2.exe -cc msvc -o v3.exe cmd/v
-v3.exe -cc msvc -o v -prod cmd/v
+v2.exe -o v3.exe cmd/v
+v3.exe -o v -prod cmd/v
 if %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 (
     echo V failed to build itself with error %ERRORLEVEL%
     goto :compileerror
@@ -115,4 +115,4 @@ exit /b 1
 
 :success
 echo V build OK!
-v -v
+v -version
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/aparser.v b/vlib/compiler/aparser.v
index de9ae238bf..b8377da0b2 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/aparser.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/aparser.v
@@ -3186,7 +3186,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) check_unused_imports() {
 	}
 	// the imports are usually at the start of the file
 	// p.production_error_with_token_index('the following imports were never used: $output', 0)
-	if p.pref.is_verbose {
+	if p.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 		eprintln('Used imports table: ${p.import_table.used_imports.str()}')
 	}
 	p.warn('the following imports were never used: $output')
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/cc.v b/vlib/compiler/cc.v
index e21eaba416..90bfa57fca 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/cc.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/cc.v
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ fn todo() {
 fn (v &V) no_cc_installed() bool {
 	$if windows {
 		os.exec('$v.pref.ccompiler -v')or{
-			if v.pref.is_verbose {
+			if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_one) {
 				println('C compiler not found, trying to build with msvc...')
 			}
 			return true
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ start:
 	// TODO remove
 	cmd := '${v.pref.ccompiler} $args'
 	// Run
-	if v.pref.show_c_cmd || v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_one) {
 		println('\n==========')
 		println(cmd)
 	}
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ If you're confident that all of the above is true, please try running V with the
 	}
 	diff := time.ticks() - ticks
 	// Print the C command
-	if v.pref.show_c_cmd || v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_one) {
 		println('${v.pref.ccompiler} took $diff ms')
 		println('=========\n')
 	}
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ fn (c mut V) cc_windows_cross() {
 
 	println(cmd)
 	//cmd := 'clang -o $obj_name -w $include -m32 -c -target x86_64-win32 $v_modules_path/$c.out_name_c'
-	if c.pref.show_c_cmd {
+	if c.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_one) {
 		println(cmd)
 	}
 	if os.system(cmd) != 0 {
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v b/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v
index 9493c1d83c..ea995a33da 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) print_error_context() {
 		// os.write_to_file('/var/tmp/lang.types', '')//pes(p.table.types))
 		os.write_file('fns.txt', p.table.debug_fns())
 	}
-	if p.pref.is_verbose || p.pref.is_debug {
+	if p.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 		println('pass=$p.pass fn=`$p.cur_fn.name`\n')
 	}
 	p.cgen.save()
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/comptime.v b/vlib/compiler/comptime.v
index 8a2888c7f0..af1e3f63ce 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/comptime.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/comptime.v
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) comp_time() {
 		p.check(.lpar)
 		p.check(.rpar)
 		v_code := tmpl.compile_template(path)
-		if p.pref.is_verbose {
+		if p.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 			println('\n\n')
 			println('>>> vweb template for ${path}:')
 			println(v_code)
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/expression.v b/vlib/compiler/expression.v
index 5f9db45316..ba6f974b9e 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/expression.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/expression.v
@@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) factor() string {
 			return typ
 		}
 		else {
-			if p.pref.is_verbose || p.pref.is_debug {
+			if p.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 				next := p.peek()
 				println('prev=${p.prev_tok.str()}')
 				println('next=${next.str()}')
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/fn.v b/vlib/compiler/fn.v
index 41bfe9a9bf..52a7d926e4 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/fn.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/fn.v
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) fn_decl() {
 	str_args := f.str_args(p.table)
 	// Special case for main() args
 	if f.name == 'main__main' && !has_receiver {
-		if p.pref.x64 && !p.first_pass() {
+		if p.pref.backend == .x64 && !p.first_pass() {
 			//p.x64.save_main_fn_addr()
 		}
 		if str_args != '' || typ != 'void' {
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) fn_decl() {
 			f.defer_text[f.scope_level] = '  ${cgen_name}_time += time__ticks() - _PROF_START;'
 		}
 	}
-	if p.pref.x64 {
+	if p.pref.backend == .x64 {
 		//p.x64.register_function_address(f.name)
 	}
 	p.statements_no_rcbr()
@@ -597,10 +597,10 @@ fn (p mut Parser) fn_decl() {
 	if typ != 'void' && !p.returns {
 		p.error_with_token_index('$f.name must return "$typ"', f.fn_name_token_idx)
 	}
-	if p.pref.x64 && f.name == 'main__main' && !p.first_pass() {
+	if p.pref.backend == .x64 && f.name == 'main__main' && !p.first_pass() {
 		//p.x64.gen_exit()
 	}
-	if p.pref.x64 && !p.first_pass() {
+	if p.pref.backend == .x64 && !p.first_pass() {
 		//p.x64.ret()
 	}
 	// {} closed correctly? scope_level should be 0
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) fn_call(f mut Fn, method_ph int, receiver_var, receiver_type s
 	if is_comptime_define {
 		p.cgen.nogen = true
 	}
-	if p.pref.x64 && !p.first_pass() {
+	if p.pref.backend == .x64 && !p.first_pass() {
 		//p.x64.call_fn(f.name)
 	}
 	p.calling_c = f.is_c
@@ -1104,7 +1104,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) fn_call_args(f mut Fn, generic_param_types []string) {
 			p.gen('/*YY f=$f.name arg=$arg.name is_moved=$arg.is_moved*/string_clone(')
 		}
 		// x64 println gen
-		if p.pref.x64 && i == 0 && f.name == 'println' && p.tok == .str && p.peek() == .rpar {
+		if p.pref.backend == .x64 && i == 0 && f.name == 'println' && p.tok == .str && p.peek() == .rpar {
 			//p.x64.gen_print(p.lit)
 		}
 		mut typ := p.bool_expression()
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/for.v b/vlib/compiler/for.v
index f72779d1ad..b5735cadc1 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/for.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/for.v
@@ -143,13 +143,13 @@ fn (p mut Parser) for_st() {
 		if is_range {
 			p.check_types(typ, 'int')
 			p.check_space(.dotdot)
-			if p.pref.x64 {
+			if p.pref.backend == .x64 {
 				to = p.lit.int()
 			}
 			range_typ,range_expr := p.tmp_expr()
 			p.check_types(range_typ, 'int')
 			range_end = range_expr
-			if p.pref.x64 {
+			if p.pref.backend == .x64 {
 				//label = p.x64.gen_loop_start(expr.int())
 				// to  = range_expr.int() // TODO why empty?
 			}
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/live.v b/vlib/compiler/live.v
index 2fc7b61b8c..28e1991fb8 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/live.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/live.v
@@ -95,12 +95,12 @@ fn (v &V) generate_hot_reload_code() {
 		}
 		so_debug_flag := if v.pref.is_debug { '-g' } else { '' }
 		cmd_compile_shared_library := '$vexe $msvc $so_debug_flag -o $file_base -solive -shared $file'
-		if v.pref.show_c_cmd {
+		if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_one) {
 			println(cmd_compile_shared_library)
 		}
 		ticks := time.ticks()
 		os.system(cmd_compile_shared_library)
-		if v.pref.is_verbose {
+		if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 			diff := time.ticks() - ticks
 			println('compiling shared library took $diff ms')
 			println('=========\n')
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/main.v b/vlib/compiler/main.v
index c60e2238b6..98ca3d3d20 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/main.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/main.v
@@ -142,12 +142,12 @@ pub fn (v mut V) compile() {
 	}
 	mut cgen := v.cgen
 	cgen.genln('// Generated by V')
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 		println('all .v files before:')
 		println(v.files)
 	}
 	v.add_v_files_to_compile()
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 		println('all .v files:')
 		println(v.files)
 	}
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ pub fn (v mut V) compile() {
 	v.generate_init()
 	v.generate_main()
 	v.generate_hot_reload_code()
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 		v.log('flags=')
 		for flag in v.get_os_cflags() {
 			println(' * ' + flag.format())
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ pub fn (v mut V) compile2() {
 	}
 	//cgen.genln('// Generated by V')
 	println('compile2()')
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 		println('all .v files before:')
 		println(v.files)
 	}
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ pub fn (v mut V) compile2() {
 	v.files << v.get_builtin_files()
 	v.files << v.get_user_files()
 	v.set_module_lookup_paths()
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 		println('all .v files:')
 		println(v.files)
 	}
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ pub fn (v &V) v_files_from_dir(dir string) []string {
 	mut files := os.ls(dir)or{
 		panic(err)
 	}
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 		println('v_files_from_dir ("$dir")')
 	}
 	files.sort()
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ pub fn (v mut V) add_v_files_to_compile() {
 			builtin_files = [builtin_vh]
 		}
 	}
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 		v.log('v.add_v_files_to_compile > builtin_files: $builtin_files')
 	}
 	// Parse builtin imports
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ pub fn (v mut V) add_v_files_to_compile() {
 	}
 	// Parse lib imports
 	v.parse_lib_imports()
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 		v.log('imports:')
 		println(v.table.imports)
 	}
@@ -687,6 +687,8 @@ pub fn (v mut V) add_v_files_to_compile() {
 			continue
 		}
 		// use cached built module if exists
+		// Cached modules are broken currently
+		/*
 		if v.pref.vpath != '' && v.pref.build_mode != .build_module && !mod.contains('vweb') {
 			mod_path := mod.replace('.', filepath.separator)
 			vh_path := '$v_modules_path${filepath.separator}vlib${filepath.separator}${mod_path}.vh'
@@ -697,6 +699,7 @@ pub fn (v mut V) add_v_files_to_compile() {
 				continue
 			}
 		}
+		*/
 		// standard module
 		vfiles := v.get_imported_module_files(mod)
 		for file in vfiles {
@@ -716,14 +719,24 @@ pub fn (v mut V) add_v_files_to_compile() {
 }
 
 pub fn (v &V) get_builtin_files() []string {
-	// .vh cache exists? Use it
-	if v.pref.is_bare {
-		return v.v_files_from_dir(filepath.join(v.pref.vlib_path,'builtin','bare'))
+	// Lookup for built-in folder in lookup path.
+	// Assumption: `builtin/` folder implies usable implementation of builtin
+	for location in v.pref.lookup_path {
+		if !os.exists(filepath.join(location, 'builtin')) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if v.pref.is_bare {
+			return v.v_files_from_dir(filepath.join(location, 'builtin', 'bare'))
+		}
+		$if js {
+			return v.v_files_from_dir(filepath.join(location, 'builtin','js'))
+		}
+		return v.v_files_from_dir(filepath.join(location, 'builtin'))
 	}
-	$if js {
-		return v.v_files_from_dir(filepath.join(v.pref.vlib_path,'builtin','js'))
-	}
-	return v.v_files_from_dir(filepath.join(v.pref.vlib_path,'builtin'))
+	// Panic. We couldn't find the folder.
+	verror('`builtin/` not included on module lookup path.
+Did you forget to add vlib to the path? (Use @vlib for default vlib)')
+	panic('Unreachable code reached.')
 }
 
 // get user files
@@ -763,7 +776,7 @@ pub fn (v &V) get_user_files() []string {
 	if is_internal_module_test {
 		// v volt/slack_test.v: compile all .v files to get the environment
 		single_test_v_file := os.realpath(dir)
-		if v.pref.is_verbose {
+		if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 			v.log('> Compiling an internal module _test.v file $single_test_v_file .')
 			v.log('> That brings in all other ordinary .v files in the same module too .')
 		}
@@ -774,12 +787,12 @@ pub fn (v &V) get_user_files() []string {
 		single_v_file := dir
 		// Just compile one file and get parent dir
 		user_files << single_v_file
-		if v.pref.is_verbose {
+		if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 			v.log('> just compile one file: "${single_v_file}"')
 		}
 	}
 	else {
-		if v.pref.is_verbose {
+		if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 			v.log('> add all .v files from directory "${dir}" ...')
 		}
 		// Add .v files from the directory being compiled
@@ -792,7 +805,7 @@ pub fn (v &V) get_user_files() []string {
 		println('No input .v files')
 		exit(1)
 	}
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 		v.log('user_files: $user_files')
 	}
 	return user_files
@@ -840,7 +853,7 @@ pub fn (v mut V) parse_lib_imports() {
 
 
 pub fn (v &V) log(s string) {
-	if !v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if !v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 		return
 	}
 	println(s)
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/modules.v b/vlib/compiler/modules.v
index 2dadf6d6aa..d4b02fe54f 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/modules.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/modules.v
@@ -154,7 +154,6 @@ fn (v &V) module_path(mod string) string {
 // 'installed_mod' => '~/.vmodules/installed_mod'
 // 'local_mod' => '/path/to/current/dir/local_mod'
 fn (v mut V) set_module_lookup_paths() {
-	mlookup_path := if v.pref.vpath.len > 0 { v.pref.vpath } else { v_modules_path }
 	// Module search order:
 	// 0) V test files are very commonly located right inside the folder of the
 	// module, which they test. Adding the parent folder of the module folder
@@ -163,21 +162,18 @@ fn (v mut V) set_module_lookup_paths() {
 	// 1) search in the *same* directory, as the compiled final v program source
 	// (i.e. the . in `v .` or file.v in `v file.v`)
 	// 2) search in the modules/ in the same directory.
-	// 3) search in vlib/
-	// 4.1) search in -vpath (if given)
-	// 4.2) search in ~/.vmodules/ (i.e. modules installed with vpm) (no -vpath)
+	// 3) search in the provided paths
+	// By default, these are what (3) contains:
+	// 3.1) search in vlib/
+	// 3.2) search in ~/.vmodules/ (i.e. modules installed with vpm)
 	v.module_lookup_paths = []
 	if v.pref.is_test {
 		v.module_lookup_paths << filepath.basedir(v.compiled_dir) // pdir of _test.v
 	}
 	v.module_lookup_paths << v.compiled_dir
 	v.module_lookup_paths << filepath.join(v.compiled_dir,'modules')
-	v.module_lookup_paths << v.pref.vlib_path
-	v.module_lookup_paths << mlookup_path
-	if v.pref.user_mod_path.len > 0 {
-		v.module_lookup_paths << v.pref.user_mod_path
-	}
-	if v.pref.is_verbose {
+	v.module_lookup_paths << v.pref.lookup_path
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 		v.log('v.module_lookup_paths: $v.module_lookup_paths')
 	}
 }
@@ -195,11 +191,11 @@ fn (p mut Parser) find_module_path(mod string) ?string {
 	mod_path := p.v.module_path(mod)
 	for lookup_path in module_lookup_paths {
 		try_path := filepath.join(lookup_path,mod_path)
-		if p.v.pref.is_verbose {
+		if p.v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 			println('  >> trying to find $mod in $try_path ...')
 		}
 		if os.is_dir(try_path) {
-			if p.v.pref.is_verbose {
+			if p.v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 				println('  << found $try_path .')
 			}
 			return try_path
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/msvc.v b/vlib/compiler/msvc.v
index 14443d5018..5bce7fee7f 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/msvc.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/msvc.v
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ pub fn (v mut V) cc_msvc() {
 	cmd := '"$r.full_cl_exe_path" $args'
 	// It is hard to see it at first, but the quotes above ARE balanced :-| ...
 	// Also the double quotes at the start ARE needed.
-	if v.pref.show_c_cmd || v.pref.is_verbose {
+	if v.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_one) {
 		println('\n========== cl cmd line:')
 		println(cmd)
 		println('==========\n')
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/tests/repl/repl_test.v b/vlib/compiler/tests/repl/repl_test.v
index 36d94b19ba..6893095dea 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/tests/repl/repl_test.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/tests/repl/repl_test.v
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ fn test_the_v_compiler_can_be_invoked() {
 	vexec := runner.full_path_to_v(5)
 	println('vexecutable: $vexec')
 	assert vexec != ''
-	vcmd := '"$vexec" --version'
+	vcmd := '"$vexec" -version'
 	r := os.exec(vcmd) or {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ fn test_the_v_compiler_can_be_invoked() {
 	}
 	// println('"$vcmd_error" exit_code: $r_error.exit_code | output: $r_error.output')
 	assert r_error.exit_code == 1
-	assert r_error.output == '`nonexisting.v` does not exist'
+	assert r_error.output == "V error: nonexisting.v doesn't exist"
 }
 
 struct Session {
diff --git a/vlib/v/builder/builder.v b/vlib/v/builder/builder.v
index bd89840151..5087a2e7ab 100644
--- a/vlib/v/builder/builder.v
+++ b/vlib/v/builder/builder.v
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ pub fn (b &Builder) v_files_from_dir(dir string) []string {
 	mut files := os.ls(dir) or {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-	if b.pref.is_verbose {
+	if b.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_one) {
 		println('v_files_from_dir ("$dir")')
 	}
 	files.sort()
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ fn verror(err string) {
 }
 
 pub fn (b &Builder) log(s string) {
-	if b.pref.is_verbose {
+	if b.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_two) {
 		println(s)
 	}
 }
@@ -208,11 +208,11 @@ pub fn (b &Builder) find_module_path(mod string) ?string {
 	mod_path := module_path(mod)
 	for search_path in b.module_search_paths {
 		try_path := filepath.join(search_path,mod_path)
-		if b.pref.is_verbose {
+		if b.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 			println('  >> trying to find $mod in $try_path ..')
 		}
 		if os.is_dir(try_path) {
-			if b.pref.is_verbose {
+			if b.pref.verbosity.is_higher_or_equal(.level_three) {
 				println('  << found $try_path .')
 			}
 			return try_path
diff --git a/vlib/v/pref/default.v b/vlib/v/pref/default.v
index ff648079b2..e02ac281ca 100644
--- a/vlib/v/pref/default.v
+++ b/vlib/v/pref/default.v
@@ -17,14 +17,15 @@ pub fn (p mut Preferences) fill_with_defaults() {
 		// Location of all vlib files
 		p.vroot = filepath.dir(vexe_path())
 	}
-	if p.vlib_path == '' {
-		p.vlib_path = filepath.join(p.vroot,'vlib')
+	vlib_path := filepath.join(p.vroot, 'vlib')
+	if p.lookup_path.len == 0 {
+		p.lookup_path = ['@vlib', '@vmodules']
 	}
-	if p.vpath == '' {
-		p.vpath = default_module_path
+	for i, path in p.lookup_path {
+		p.lookup_path[i] = path.replace('@vlib', vlib_path).replace('@vmodules', default_module_path)
 	}
+	rpath := os.realpath(p.path)
 	if p.out_name == ''{
-		rpath := os.realpath(p.path)
 		filename := filepath.filename(rpath).trim_space()
 		mut base := filename.all_before_last('.')
 		if base == '' {
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ pub fn (p mut Preferences) fill_with_defaults() {
 			p.out_name = 'v2'
 		}
 	}
+	rpath_name := filepath.filename(rpath)
+	p.building_v = !p.is_repl && (rpath_name == 'v' || rpath_name == 'vfmt.v')
 	if p.os == ._auto {
 		// No OS specifed? Use current system
 		p.os = get_host_os()
@@ -52,6 +55,14 @@ pub fn (p mut Preferences) fill_with_defaults() {
 	}
 	p.is_test = p.path.ends_with('_test.v')
 	p.is_script = p.path.ends_with('.v') || p.path.ends_with('.vsh')
+	if p.third_party_option == '' {
+		p.third_party_option = p.cflags
+		$if !windows {
+			if !p.third_party_option.contains('-fPIC') {
+				p.third_party_option += ' -fPIC'
+			}
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 fn default_c_compiler() string {
diff --git a/vlib/v/pref/os.v b/vlib/v/pref/os.v
index 449ed1364e..dccc775c30 100644
--- a/vlib/v/pref/os.v
+++ b/vlib/v/pref/os.v
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ pub enum OS {
 }
 
 // Helper function to convert string names to OS enum
-pub fn os_from_string(os_str string) OS {
+pub fn os_from_string(os_str string) ?OS {
 	match os_str {
 		'linux' {
 			return .linux
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ pub fn os_from_string(os_str string) OS {
 			return ._auto
 		}
 		else {
-			panic('bad os $os_str')
+			return error('bad OS $os_str')
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/vlib/v/pref/pref.v b/vlib/v/pref/pref.v
index 583d5803ed..e718cc7bdd 100644
--- a/vlib/v/pref/pref.v
+++ b/vlib/v/pref/pref.v
@@ -12,10 +12,26 @@ pub enum BuildMode {
 	build_module
 }
 
+pub enum Backend {
+	c            // The (default) C backend
+	experimental // The experimental v2 backend
+	js           // The JavaScript backend
+	x64          // The x64 backend
+}
+
+pub enum VerboseLevel {
+	clean       // `-verbose 0` or unspecified
+	level_one   // `-v` or `-verbose 1`
+	level_two   // `-vv` or `-verbose 2`
+	level_three // `-vvv` or `-verbose 3`
+}
+
 pub struct Preferences {
 pub mut:
 	os                  OS   // the OS to compile for
+	backend             Backend
 	build_mode          BuildMode
+	verbosity           VerboseLevel
 	// nofmt            bool   // disable vfmt
 	is_test             bool // `v test string_test.v`
 	is_script           bool // single file mode (`v program.v`), main function can be skipped
@@ -25,11 +41,9 @@ pub mut:
 	is_prof             bool // benchmark every function
 	translated          bool // `v translate doom.v` are we running V code translated from C? allow globals, ++ expressions, etc
 	is_prod             bool // use "-O2"
-	is_verbose          bool // print extra information with `v.log()`
 	obfuscate           bool // `v -obf program.v`, renames functions to "f_XXX"
 	is_repl             bool
 	is_run              bool
-	show_c_cmd          bool // `v -show_c_cmd` prints the C command to build program.v.c
 	sanitize            bool // use Clang's new "-fsanitize" option
 	is_debug            bool // false by default, turned on by -g or -cg, it tells v to pass -g to the C backend compiler.
 	is_vlines           bool // turned on by -g, false by default (it slows down .tmp.c generation slightly).
@@ -40,6 +54,7 @@ pub mut:
 	is_cache            bool // turns on v usage of the module cache to speed up compilation.
 	is_stats            bool // `v -stats file_test.v` will produce more detailed statistics for the tests that were run
 	no_auto_free        bool // `v -nofree` disable automatic `free()` insertion for better performance in some applications  (e.g. compilers)
+	// TODO Convert this into a []string
 	cflags              string // Additional options which will be passed to the C compiler.
 	// For example, passing -cflags -Os will cause the C compiler to optimize the generated binaries for size.
 	// You could pass several -cflags XXX arguments. They will be merged with each other.
@@ -58,13 +73,9 @@ pub mut:
 	enable_globals      bool // allow __global for low level code
 	// is_fmt bool
 	is_bare             bool
-	user_mod_path       string // `v -user_mod_path /Users/user/modules` adds a new lookup path for imported modules
-	vlib_path           string
-	vpath               string
-	x64                 bool
+	lookup_path         []string
 	output_cross_c      bool
 	prealloc            bool
-	v2                  bool
 	vroot               string
 	out_name            string
 	path                string // Path to file/folder to compile
@@ -75,3 +86,29 @@ pub mut:
 
 	mod                 string
 }
+
+pub fn backend_from_string(s string) ?Backend {
+	match s {
+		'c' {
+			return .c
+		}
+		'js' {
+			return .js
+		}
+		'experimental', 'v2' {
+			//TODO Remove in the future once it's considered stable :)
+			return .experimental
+		}
+		'x64' {
+			return .x64
+		}
+		else {
+			return error('Unknown backend type $s')
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+[inline]
+pub fn (v VerboseLevel) is_higher_or_equal(other VerboseLevel) bool {
+	return int(v) >= int(other)
+}