diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 62a374f37a..b4f360c08f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-18.04
     timeout-minutes: 30
     env:
-      VFLAGS: -cc /var/tmp/tcc/bin/tcc -cflags -bt10
+      VFLAGS: -cc tcc -cflags -bt10
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
     - name: Install dependencies
@@ -83,12 +83,12 @@ jobs:
     - name: Build v
       run: |
         echo $VFLAGS
+        sudo ln -s $PWD/thirdparty/tcc/tcc.exe /usr/local/bin/tcc ## TODO: remove
         make -j4
         ./v -cg -o v cmd/v
     - name: Test v->c
       run: |
-        sudo ln -s /var/tmp/tcc/bin/tcc /usr/local/bin/tcc
-        tcc -version
+        thirdparty/tcc/tcc.exe -version
         ./v -cg -o v cmd/v # Make sure vtcc can build itself twice
 #        ./v -silent test-compiler
     - name: v self compilation
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ jobs:
       image: thevlang/vlang:alpine-build
       env:
         V_CI_MUSL: 1
-
+        VFLAGS: -cc gcc
       volumes:
         - ${{github.workspace}}:/opt/vlang
     steps:
@@ -127,11 +127,10 @@ jobs:
           v -silent test-fixed
 
   macos:
-    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    runs-on: macOS-latest
     timeout-minutes: 30
-    strategy:
-      matrix:
-        os: [macOS-latest]
+    env:
+      VFLAGS: -cc clang
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
     - uses: actions/setup-node@v1
@@ -146,11 +145,11 @@ jobs:
         ## brew install sdl2 sdl2_ttf sdl2_mixer sdl2_image
         export LIBRARY_PATH="$LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/local/opt/openssl/lib/"
     - name: Build V
-      run:  make -j4 && ./v -cg -o v cmd/v
+      run:  make -j4 && ./v -o v cmd/v
     - name: Build V using V
       run:  ./v -o v2 cmd/v && ./v2 -o v3 cmd/v
     - name: Test symlink
-      run:  sudo ./v symlink
+      run:  ./v symlink
 #    - name: Set up pg database
 #      run: |
 #        pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgres -l /usr/local/var/postgres/server.log start
@@ -163,8 +162,6 @@ jobs:
 #      run: ./v -silent build-vbinaries
 ##    - name: Test v->js
 ##      run: ./v -o hi.js examples/hello_v_js.v && node hi.js
-    - name: Test symlink
-      run:  ./v symlink && v -o v2 cmd/v
     - name: Fixed tests
       run: VJOBS=1 ./v -silent test-fixed
     - name: Build examples
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 855f91559b..bdca9cdf25 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -2,15 +2,17 @@ CC ?= cc
 CFLAGS ?=
 LDFLAGS ?=
 TMPDIR ?= /tmp
+VROOT  ?= .
 VC     ?= ./vc
-V      := ./v
+V      ?= ./v
+VCREPO ?= https://github.com/vlang/vc
+TCCREPO ?= https://github.com/vlang/tccbin
 
 VCFILE := v.c
-TMPTCC := /var/tmp/tcc
-VCREPO := https://github.com/vlang/vc
-TCCREPO := https://github.com/vlang/tccbin
+TMPTCC := $(VROOT)/thirdparty/tcc
+TCCBRANCH := thirdparty-unknown-unknown
 GITCLEANPULL := git clean -xf && git pull --quiet
-GITFASTCLONE := git clone --depth 1 --quiet
+GITFASTCLONE := git clone --depth 1 --quiet --single-branch
 
 #### Platform detections and overrides:
 _SYS := $(shell uname 2>/dev/null || echo Unknown)
@@ -24,10 +26,12 @@ endif
 
 ifeq ($(_SYS),Linux)
 LINUX := 1
+TCCBRANCH := thirdparty-linux-amd64
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(_SYS),Darwin)
 MAC := 1
+TCCBRANCH := thirdparty-macos-amd64
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(_SYS),FreeBSD)
@@ -37,11 +41,12 @@ endif
 ifdef ANDROID_ROOT
 ANDROID := 1
 undefine LINUX
+TCCBRANCH := thirdparty-linux-arm64
 endif
 #####
 
 ifdef WIN32
-TCCREPO := https://github.com/vlang/tccbin_win
+TCCBRANCH := thirdparty-windows-amd64
 VCFILE := v_win.c
 endif
 
@@ -91,27 +96,25 @@ fresh_vc:
 
 latest_tcc: $(TMPTCC)/.git/config
 ifndef ANDROID
-ifndef MAC
 ifndef local
 	cd $(TMPTCC) && $(GITCLEANPULL)
 else
 	@echo "Using local tcc"
 endif
 endif
-endif
 
 fresh_tcc:
 ifndef ANDROID
-ifndef MAC
+ifdef LINUX
+	rm -rf /var/tmp/tcc
+	git clone https://github.com/vlang/tccbin /var/tmp/tcc
+endif    
 	rm -rf $(TMPTCC)
-	$(GITFASTCLONE) $(TCCREPO) $(TMPTCC)
-endif
+	$(GITFASTCLONE) --branch $(TCCBRANCH) $(TCCREPO) $(TMPTCC)
 endif
 
 $(TMPTCC)/.git/config:
-ifndef MAC
 	$(MAKE) fresh_tcc
-endif
 
 $(VC)/.git/config:
 	$(MAKE) fresh_vc
diff --git a/cmd/tools/vdoctor.v b/cmd/tools/vdoctor.v
index bacf5196fa..1db57b393a 100644
--- a/cmd/tools/vdoctor.v
+++ b/cmd/tools/vdoctor.v
@@ -122,9 +122,6 @@ fn (mut a App) collect_info() {
 	a.line('Git vroot status', a.git_info())
 	a.line('.git/config present', os.is_file('.git/config').str())
 	//
-	if os_kind == 'linux' {
-		a.report_tcc_version('/var/tmp/tcc')
-	}
 	a.report_tcc_version('thirdparty/tcc')
 }
 
diff --git a/make.bat b/make.bat
index af74f3eeb3..34181114c3 100644
--- a/make.bat
+++ b/make.bat
@@ -14,13 +14,17 @@ set subcmd=
 set target=build
 
 REM TCC variables
-set "tcc_url=https://github.com/vlang/tccbin_win.git"
+set "tcc_url=https://github.com/vlang/tccbin"
 set "tcc_dir=%~dp0thirdparty\tcc"
-set "vc_url=https://github.com/vlang/vc.git"
+set "tcc_branch=thirdparty-windows-amd64"
+
+REM VC settings
+set "vc_url=https://github.com/vlang/vc"
 set "vc_dir=%~dp0vc"
 
 REM Let a particular environment specify their own TCC repo
 if /I not ["%TCC_GIT%"] == [""] set "tcc_url=%TCC_GIT%"
+if /I not ["%TCC_BRANCH%"] == [""] set "tcc_branch=%TCC_BRANCH%"
 
 pushd %~dp0
 
@@ -227,7 +231,7 @@ if %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 (
     if not exist %tcc_dir% (
         echo  ^> TCC not found
         echo  ^> Downloading TCC from %tcc_url%
-        call :buildcmd "git clone --depth 1 --quiet "!tcc_url!" "%tcc_dir%"" "  "
+        call :buildcmd "git clone --depth 1 --quiet --single-branch --branch "!tcc_branch!" "!tcc_url!" "%tcc_dir%"" "  "
     )
     pushd %tcc_dir% || (
         echo  ^> TCC not found, even after cloning
@@ -360,4 +364,4 @@ exit /b 0
 :eof
 popd
 endlocal
-exit /b 0
\ No newline at end of file
+exit /b 0
diff --git a/vlib/v/builder/cc.v b/vlib/v/builder/cc.v
index 11d51e3bff..4e7e17eac9 100644
--- a/vlib/v/builder/cc.v
+++ b/vlib/v/builder/cc.v
@@ -217,6 +217,12 @@ fn (mut v Builder) cc() {
 			return
 		}
 	}
+	//
+	mut tried_compilation_commands := []string{}
+	original_pwd := os.getwd()
+	// TODO remove the start: goto start construct;
+	// use a labeled for break instead
+	start:
 	mut ccompiler := v.pref.ccompiler
 	$if windows {
 		if ccompiler == 'msvc' {
@@ -248,35 +254,6 @@ fn (mut v Builder) cc() {
 		args << '-fobjc-arc'
 	}
 	mut linker_flags := []string{}
-	// TCC on Linux by default, unless -cc was provided
-	// TODO if -cc = cc, TCC is still used, default compiler should be
-	// used instead.
-	if v.pref.fast {
-		$if linux {
-			$if !android {
-				tcc_3rd := '$vdir/thirdparty/tcc/bin/tcc'
-				// println('tcc third "$tcc_3rd"')
-				tcc_path := '/var/tmp/tcc/bin/tcc'
-				if os.exists(tcc_3rd) && !os.exists(tcc_path) {
-					// println('moving tcc')
-					// if there's tcc in thirdparty/, that means this is
-					// a prebuilt V_linux.zip.
-					// Until the libtcc1.a bug is fixed, we neeed to move
-					// it to /var/tmp/
-					os.system('mv $vdir/thirdparty/tcc /var/tmp/')
-				}
-				if v.pref.ccompiler == 'cc' && os.exists(tcc_path) {
-					// TODO tcc bug, needs an empty libtcc1.a fila
-					// os.mkdir('/var/tmp/tcc/lib/tcc/') or { panic(err) }
-					// os.create('/var/tmp/tcc/lib/tcc/libtcc1.a')
-					v.pref.ccompiler = tcc_path
-					args << '-m64'
-				}
-			}
-		} $else {
-			verror('-fast is only supported on Linux right now')
-		}
-	}
 	if !v.pref.is_shared && v.pref.build_mode != .build_module && os.user_os() == 'windows' &&
 		!v.pref.out_name.ends_with('.exe') {
 		v.pref.out_name += '.exe'
@@ -353,9 +330,9 @@ fn (mut v Builder) cc() {
 	}
 	if debug_mode {
 		args << debug_options
-		$if macos {
-			args << ' -ferror-limit=5000 '
-		}
+		// $if macos {
+		// args << ' -ferror-limit=5000 '
+		// }
 	}
 	if v.pref.is_prod {
 		args << optimization_options
@@ -448,7 +425,9 @@ fn (mut v Builder) cc() {
 	}
 	// macOS code can include objective C  TODO remove once objective C is replaced with C
 	if v.pref.os == .macos || v.pref.os == .ios {
-		args << '-x objective-c'
+		if !is_cc_tcc {
+			args << '-x objective-c'
+		}
 	}
 	// The C file we are compiling
 	args << '"$v.out_name_c"'
@@ -535,10 +514,11 @@ fn (mut v Builder) cc() {
 		v.pref.cleanup_files << v.out_name_c
 		v.pref.cleanup_files << response_file
 	}
-	start:
+	//
 	todo()
-	// TODO remove
+	os.chdir(vdir)
 	cmd := '$ccompiler @$response_file'
+	tried_compilation_commands << cmd
 	v.show_cc(cmd, response_file, response_file_content)
 	// Run
 	ticks := time.ticks()
@@ -546,6 +526,7 @@ fn (mut v Builder) cc() {
 		// C compilation failed.
 		// If we are on Windows, try msvc
 		println('C compilation failed.')
+		os.chdir(original_pwd)
 		/*
 		if os.user_os() == 'windows' && v.pref.ccompiler != 'msvc' {
 			println('Trying to build with MSVC')
@@ -561,19 +542,27 @@ fn (mut v Builder) cc() {
 	if v.pref.show_c_output {
 		v.show_c_compiler_output(res)
 	}
-	if res.exit_code == 127 {
-		// the command could not be found by the system
-		$if linux {
-			// TCC problems on linux? Try GCC.
-			if ccompiler.contains('tcc') {
-				v.pref.ccompiler = 'cc'
-				goto start
+	os.chdir(original_pwd)
+	if res.exit_code != 0 {
+		if ccompiler.contains('tcc.exe') {
+			// a TCC problem? Retry with the system cc:
+			if tried_compilation_commands.len > 1 {
+				eprintln('Recompilation loop detected (ccompiler: $ccompiler):')
+				for recompile_command in tried_compilation_commands {
+					eprintln('   $recompile_command')
+				}
+				exit(101)
 			}
+			eprintln('recompilation with tcc failed; retrying with cc ...')
+			v.pref.ccompiler = pref.default_c_compiler()
+			goto start
+		}
+		if res.exit_code == 127 {
+			verror('C compiler error, while attempting to run: \n' +
+				'-----------------------------------------------------------\n' + '$cmd\n' +
+				'-----------------------------------------------------------\n' + 'Probably your C compiler is missing. \n' +
+				'Please reinstall it, or make it available in your PATH.\n\n' + missing_compiler_info())
 		}
-		verror('C compiler error, while attempting to run: \n' +
-			'-----------------------------------------------------------\n' + '$cmd\n' +
-			'-----------------------------------------------------------\n' + 'Probably your C compiler is missing. \n' +
-			'Please reinstall it, or make it available in your PATH.\n\n' + missing_compiler_info())
 	}
 	if !v.pref.show_c_output {
 		v.post_process_c_compiler_output(res)
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/cheaders.v b/vlib/v/gen/cheaders.v
index 1fc60628ca..b3d73b2cea 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/cheaders.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/cheaders.v
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@ typedef int (*qsort_callback_func)(const void*, const void*);
 	#define _MOV
 #endif
 
+#if defined(__TINYC__) && defined(__has_include)
+// tcc does not support has_include properly yet, turn it off completely
+#undef __has_include
+#endif
+
 #ifndef _WIN32
 	#if defined __has_include
 		#if __has_include (<execinfo.h>)
diff --git a/vlib/v/pref/default.v b/vlib/v/pref/default.v
index 51765f3fd7..5fcccf7314 100644
--- a/vlib/v/pref/default.v
+++ b/vlib/v/pref/default.v
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ pub fn (mut p Preferences) fill_with_defaults() {
 		// No OS specifed? Use current system
 		p.os = get_host_os()
 	}
+	//
+	p.try_to_use_tcc_by_default()
 	if p.ccompiler == '' {
 		p.ccompiler = default_c_compiler()
 	}
@@ -83,7 +85,33 @@ pub fn (mut p Preferences) fill_with_defaults() {
 	// eprintln('prefs.cache_manager: $p')
 }
 
-fn default_c_compiler() string {
+fn (mut p Preferences) try_to_use_tcc_by_default() {
+	if p.ccompiler == 'tcc' {
+		p.ccompiler = default_tcc_compiler()
+		return
+	}
+	if p.ccompiler == '' {
+		// tcc is known to fail several tests on macos, so do not
+		// try to use it by default, only when it is explicitly set
+		$if macos {
+			return
+		}
+		p.ccompiler = default_tcc_compiler()
+		return
+	}
+}
+
+pub fn default_tcc_compiler() string {
+	vexe := vexe_path()
+	vroot := os.dir(vexe)
+	vtccexe := os.join_path(vroot, 'thirdparty', 'tcc', 'tcc.exe')
+	if os.exists(vtccexe) {
+		return vtccexe
+	}
+	return ''
+}
+
+pub fn default_c_compiler() string {
 	// fast_clang := '/usr/local/Cellar/llvm/8.0.0/bin/clang'
 	// if os.exists(fast_clang) {
 	// return fast_clang
diff --git a/vlib/v/pref/pref.v b/vlib/v/pref/pref.v
index 6f128de65a..a5a245a270 100644
--- a/vlib/v/pref/pref.v
+++ b/vlib/v/pref/pref.v
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ pub mut:
 	// This is on by default, since a vast majority of users do not
 	// work on the builtin module itself.
 	// generating_vh    bool
-	fast                bool // use tcc/x64 codegen
 	enable_globals      bool // allow __global for low level code
 	is_fmt              bool
 	is_vet              bool
@@ -328,6 +327,9 @@ pub fn parse_args(args []string) (&Preferences, string) {
 				if res.out_name.ends_with('.js') {
 					res.backend = .js
 				}
+				if !os.is_abs_path(res.out_name) {
+					res.out_name = os.join_path(os.getwd(), res.out_name)
+				}
 				i++
 			}
 			'-b' {