diff --git a/DOCS.md b/DOCS.md
index 04e13aa..2978abe 100644
--- a/DOCS.md
+++ b/DOCS.md
@@ -42,10 +42,6 @@ argument.
  ; VEQ:$
  ;   [symbol]
  ;
- ; $ names a macro:
- ;   Lambda-list: (A &REST REST)
- ;   Source file: src/array-utils.lisp
- ;
  ; (SETF $) has a complex setf-expansion:
  ;   Lambda-list: (A0 &OPTIONAL (I1 0))
  ;   Documentation:
@@ -122,7 +118,7 @@ argument.
  ;     start at row (start 0).
  ;     negative start counts backwards from the last row
  ;     use s to overrid output stream.
- ;   Source file: src/array-print.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### $TO-LIST
@@ -137,7 +133,7 @@ argument.
  ;                  (VALUES LIST &OPTIONAL))
  ;   Documentation:
  ;     return array as a list of lists of length dim.
- ;   Source file: src/array-print.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### \*EPS\*
@@ -159,10 +155,6 @@ argument.
  ; VEQ:2$
  ;   [symbol]
  ;
- ; 2$ names a macro:
- ;   Lambda-list: (A &REST REST)
- ;   Source file: src/array-utils.lisp
- ;
  ; (SETF 2$) has a complex setf-expansion:
  ;   Lambda-list: (A0 &OPTIONAL (I1 0))
  ;   Documentation:
@@ -198,7 +190,7 @@ argument.
  ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T &KEY (:N T) (:S T)) *)
  ;   Documentation:
  ;     pretty print 2d array. returns array.
- ;   Source file: src/array-print.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### 2$TO-LIST
@@ -212,7 +204,7 @@ argument.
  ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T) *)
  ;   Documentation:
  ;     return array as a list of lists of length 2.
- ;   Source file: src/array-print.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### 3$
@@ -221,10 +213,6 @@ argument.
  ; VEQ:3$
  ;   [symbol]
  ;
- ; 3$ names a macro:
- ;   Lambda-list: (A &REST REST)
- ;   Source file: src/array-utils.lisp
- ;
  ; (SETF 3$) has a complex setf-expansion:
  ;   Lambda-list: (A0 &OPTIONAL (I1 0))
  ;   Documentation:
@@ -260,7 +248,7 @@ argument.
  ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T &KEY (:N T) (:S T)) *)
  ;   Documentation:
  ;     pretty print 3d array. returns array.
- ;   Source file: src/array-print.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### 3$TO-LIST
@@ -274,7 +262,7 @@ argument.
  ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T) *)
  ;   Documentation:
  ;     return array as a list of lists of length 3.
- ;   Source file: src/array-print.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### 4$
@@ -283,10 +271,6 @@ argument.
  ; VEQ:4$
  ;   [symbol]
  ;
- ; 4$ names a macro:
- ;   Lambda-list: (A &REST REST)
- ;   Source file: src/array-utils.lisp
- ;
  ; (SETF 4$) has a complex setf-expansion:
  ;   Lambda-list: (A0 &OPTIONAL (I1 0))
  ;   Documentation:
@@ -322,7 +306,7 @@ argument.
  ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T &KEY (:N T) (:S T)) *)
  ;   Documentation:
  ;     pretty print 4d array. returns array.
- ;   Source file: src/array-print.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### 4$TO-LIST
@@ -336,7 +320,7 @@ argument.
  ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T) *)
  ;   Documentation:
  ;     return array as a list of lists of length 4.
- ;   Source file: src/array-print.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### ARRTYPE
@@ -507,7 +491,7 @@ ex: (D$FXLSPACE (n a b) (lambda (i (:va 1 a b)) (vpr i a b)))
  ;     find min and max for all dimensions of 1 array.
  ;     ex: (D$MIMA &key n) returns (values xmin xmax ...).
  ;     use n to limit to first n rows.
- ;   Source file: src/array-mima.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### D$NUM
@@ -707,7 +691,7 @@ ex: (D2$FXLSPACE (n a b) (lambda (i (:va 2 a b)) (vpr i a b)))
  ;     find min and max for all dimensions of 2 array.
  ;     ex: (D2$MIMA &key n) returns (values xmin xmax ...).
  ;     use n to limit to first n rows.
- ;   Source file: src/array-mima.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### D2$NUM
@@ -1389,7 +1373,7 @@ ex: (D3$FXLSPACE (n a b) (lambda (i (:va 3 a b)) (vpr i a b)))
  ;     find min and max for all dimensions of 3 array.
  ;     ex: (D3$MIMA &key n) returns (values xmin xmax ...).
  ;     use n to limit to first n rows.
- ;   Source file: src/array-mima.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### D3$NUM
@@ -3484,7 +3468,7 @@ ex: (F$FXLSPACE (n a b) (lambda (i (:va 1 a b)) (vpr i a b)))
  ;     find min and max for all dimensions of 1 array.
  ;     ex: (F$MIMA &key n) returns (values xmin xmax ...).
  ;     use n to limit to first n rows.
- ;   Source file: src/array-mima.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### F$NUM
@@ -3713,7 +3697,7 @@ ex: (F2$FXLSPACE (n a b) (lambda (i (:va 2 a b)) (vpr i a b)))
  ;     find min and max for all dimensions of 2 array.
  ;     ex: (F2$MIMA &key n) returns (values xmin xmax ...).
  ;     use n to limit to first n rows.
- ;   Source file: src/array-mima.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### F2$NUM
@@ -4547,7 +4531,7 @@ ex: (F3$FXLSPACE (n a b) (lambda (i (:va 3 a b)) (vpr i a b)))
  ;     find min and max for all dimensions of 3 array.
  ;     ex: (F3$MIMA &key n) returns (values xmin xmax ...).
  ;     use n to limit to first n rows.
- ;   Source file: src/array-mima.lisp
+ ;   Source file: src/array-extra.lisp
 ```
 
 #### F3$NUM
diff --git a/compile.sh b/compile.sh
index bfebb05..3b551b3 100755
--- a/compile.sh
+++ b/compile.sh
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ time sbcl --quit \
           --eval '(load "veq.asd")'\
           --eval '(handler-case (time (ql:quickload :veq :verbose t))
                     (error (c) (print c) (sb-ext:quit :unix-status 2)))'\
-  >compile.sh.tmp 2>&1
+     > compile.sh.tmp 2>&1
diff --git a/make-docs.sh b/make-docs.sh
index 02f127e..2b829b3 100755
--- a/make-docs.sh
+++ b/make-docs.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 sbcl --quit \
-     --eval '(load "~/quicklisp/setup.lisp")'\
      --eval '(ql:quickload :veq :silent t)'\
      --eval '(handler-case (veq:ext-symbols? :pretty)
                            (error (c) (print c) (sb-ext:quit :unix-status 2)))'\
diff --git a/src/array-print.lisp b/src/array-extra.lisp
similarity index 62%
rename from src/array-print.lisp
rename to src/array-extra.lisp
index 3c3514c..2dc8198 100644
--- a/src/array-print.lisp
+++ b/src/array-extra.lisp
@@ -1,6 +1,42 @@
 
 (in-package :veq)
 
+(defun $to-list (a &key (dim 1))
+  (declare (simple-array a) (pn dim))
+  "return array as a list of lists of length dim."
+  (loop for i of-type pn from 0 below (length a) by dim
+        collect (loop for j of-type pn from i repeat dim
+                      collect (aref a j))))
+(defun 2$to-list (a) "return array as a list of lists of length 2." ($to-list a :dim 2))
+(defun 3$to-list (a) "return array as a list of lists of length 3." ($to-list a :dim 3))
+(defun 4$to-list (a) "return array as a list of lists of length 4." ($to-list a :dim 4))
+
+; TODO: make this a general macro instead?
+(defmacro -xmima (dim type)
+  (let* ((exportname (vvsym type dim :$mima))
+         (fxhead `(((:va ,dim x))))
+         (vvop (vvsym type dim :x@$mima))
+         (docs (format nil "find min and max for all dimensions of ~d array.
+ex: (~a &key n) returns (values xmin xmax ...).
+use n to limit to first n rows." dim exportname))
+         (update-mima (loop for i from 0 repeat dim
+                            for v = `(:vr x ,i)
+                            for mi = `(:vr mi ,i) for ma = `(:vr ma ,i)
+                            collect `(cond ((< ,v ,mi) (setf ,mi ,v))
+                                           ((> ,v ,ma) (setf ,ma ,v))))))
+    `(progn (export ',exportname)
+     (fvdef ,exportname (a &key (n (,(vvsym nil dim :$num) a)) inds)
+        (declare (,(arrtype type) a)) ,docs
+        (,(vvsym type 1 :vlet)
+               ((mm ,dim (,(vvsym type dim "$") a (if inds (car inds) 0)))
+                (mi ,dim (values mm)) (ma ,dim (values mm)))
+            (if inds (,vvop (l?@ a inds) (,@fxhead ,@update-mima))
+                     (,vvop (?@ a 0 n) (,@fxhead ,@update-mima)))
+          (values ,@(loop for i from 0 below dim
+                          append `((:vr mi ,i) (:vr ma ,i)))))))))
+(-xmima 1 ff) (-xmima 2 ff) (-xmima 3 ff)
+(-xmima 1 df) (-xmima 2 df) (-xmima 3 df)
+
 (defun $print (a &key (dim 1) (start 0) n (s t))
   (declare (simple-array a) (pn dim) (fixnum start))
   "pretty print n, or all, rows from vector array of dim.
@@ -35,14 +71,3 @@ use s to overrid output stream."
 (defun 3$print (a &key n (s t)) "pretty print 3d array. returns array." ($print a :n n :dim 3 :s s))
 (defun 4$print (a &key n (s t)) "pretty print 4d array. returns array." ($print a :n n :dim 4 :s s))
 
-
-(defun $to-list (a &key (dim 1))
-  (declare (simple-array a) (pn dim))
-  "return array as a list of lists of length dim."
-  (loop for i of-type pn from 0 below (length a) by dim
-        collect (loop for j of-type pn from i repeat dim
-                      collect (aref a j))))
-(defun 2$to-list (a) "return array as a list of lists of length 2." ($to-list a :dim 2))
-(defun 3$to-list (a) "return array as a list of lists of length 3." ($to-list a :dim 3))
-(defun 4$to-list (a) "return array as a list of lists of length 4." ($to-list a :dim 4))
-
diff --git a/src/array-mima.lisp b/src/array-mima.lisp
deleted file mode 100644
index 4fd56cd..0000000
--- a/src/array-mima.lisp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-
-(in-package :veq)
-
-; TODO: make this a general macro instead?
-(defmacro -xmima (dim type)
-  (let* ((exportname (vvsym type dim :$mima))
-         (fxhead `(((:va ,dim x))))
-         (vvop (vvsym type dim :x@$mima))
-         (docs (format nil "find min and max for all dimensions of ~d array.
-ex: (~a &key n) returns (values xmin xmax ...).
-use n to limit to first n rows." dim exportname))
-         (update-mima (loop for i from 0 repeat dim
-                            for v = `(:vr x ,i)
-                            for mi = `(:vr mi ,i) for ma = `(:vr ma ,i)
-                            collect `(cond ((< ,v ,mi) (setf ,mi ,v))
-                                           ((> ,v ,ma) (setf ,ma ,v))))))
-    `(progn (export ',exportname)
-     (fvdef ,exportname (a &key (n (,(vvsym nil dim :$num) a)) inds)
-        (declare (,(arrtype type) a)) ,docs
-        (,(vvsym type 1 :vlet)
-               ((mm ,dim (,(vvsym type dim "$") a (if inds (car inds) 0)))
-                (mi ,dim (values mm)) (ma ,dim (values mm)))
-            (if inds (,vvop (l?@ a inds) (,@fxhead ,@update-mima))
-                     (,vvop (?@ a 0 n) (,@fxhead ,@update-mima)))
-          (values ,@(loop for i from 0 below dim
-                          append `((:vr mi ,i) (:vr ma ,i)))))))))
-(-xmima 1 ff) (-xmima 2 ff) (-xmima 3 ff)
-(-xmima 1 df) (-xmima 2 df) (-xmima 3 df)
-
diff --git a/src/array-utils.lisp b/src/array-utils.lisp
index 3eb5b5f..b39a131 100644
--- a/src/array-utils.lisp
+++ b/src/array-utils.lisp
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ note that the number of values depends on the dimension." dim at name)))
                                `(-$ ,,dim ,a :inds ,rest :atype ,',at)))))))
 (define-$)
 
-(defmacro $ (a &rest rest) `(-$ 1 ,a :inds ,rest))
-(defmacro 2$ (a &rest rest) `(-$ 2 ,a :inds ,rest))
-(defmacro 3$ (a &rest rest) `(-$ 3 ,a :inds ,rest))
-(defmacro 4$ (a &rest rest) `(-$ 4 ,a :inds ,rest))
+; (defmacro $ (a &rest rest) `(-$ 1 ,a :inds ,rest))
+; (defmacro 2$ (a &rest rest) `(-$ 2 ,a :inds ,rest))
+; (defmacro 3$ (a &rest rest) `(-$ 3 ,a :inds ,rest))
+; (defmacro 4$ (a &rest rest) `(-$ 4 ,a :inds ,rest))
 
diff --git a/src/ops-vv-helpers.lisp b/src/ops-vv-helpers.lisp
index 859fa6d..2d7f70f 100644
--- a/src/ops-vv-helpers.lisp
+++ b/src/ops-vv-helpers.lisp
@@ -2,10 +2,12 @@
 
 (declaim (character *vv-dot* *vv-arr* *vv-bang*)
          (keyword *vv-!@* *vv-_@* *vv-?@* *vv-.@*
-                  *vv-m@* *vv-r@* *vv-%@* *vv-x@*))
+                  *vv-m@* *vv-f@*
+                  *vv-r@* *vv-%@* *vv-x@*))
 
 (defvar *vv-!@* :!@) (defvar *vv-_@* :_@)
-(defvar *vv-m@* :m@) (defvar *vv-r@* :r@)
+(defvar *vv-m@* :m@) (defvar *vv-f@* :f@)
+(defvar *vv-r@* :r@)
 (defvar *vv-%@* :%@) (defvar *vv-x@* :x@)
 (defvar *vv-.@* :.@) (defvar *vv-?@* :?@)
 (defvar *vv-dot* #\.) (defvar *vv-arr* #\$) (defvar *vv-bang* #\!)
diff --git a/src/ops-vv.lisp b/src/ops-vv.lisp
index 798284e..e9a2d2f 100644
--- a/src/ops-vv.lisp
+++ b/src/ops-vv.lisp
@@ -2,9 +2,12 @@
 
 ; -- MVC ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-; (m@fx ...) -> (mvc fx (mvc #'values ...))
+; (m@fx ...) -> (mvc #'fx (mvc #'values ...))
 (defun procm@fx (b p) `(mvc #',(gk p :fx*) (~ ,@(cdr b))))
 
+; almost the same: (f@fx ...) -> (mvc fx (mvc #'values ...))
+(defun procf@fx (b p) `(mvc (the function ,(gk p :fx*)) (~ ,@(cdr b))))
+
 ; -- 1ARY -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 ; (2.@abs -1 -2) -> (abs -1) (abs -1) -> 1 2
@@ -221,7 +224,9 @@ expecting ~a or ~a, got: ~a)" b dim (1+ dim) l))
 (defun vv-proc (body)
   (declare (optimize speed (safety 2)))
   (labels
-    ((m@ (b &aux (p (vvconf b #.(mkstr *vv-m@*)))) (procm@fx b p))
+    (
+     (m@ (b &aux (p (vvconf b #.(mkstr *vv-m@*)))) (procm@fx b p))
+     (f@ (b &aux (p (vvconf b #.(mkstr *vv-f@*)))) (procf@fx b p))
      (r@ (b &aux (p (vvconf b #.(mkstr *vv-r@*)))) (procr@$fx b p))
      (x@ (b &aux (p (vvconf b #.(mkstr *vv-x@*)))) (procx@$fx b p))
      (%@ (b &aux (p (vvconf b #.(mkstr *vv-%@*))) (l (length b)))
@@ -277,6 +282,7 @@ expecting ~a or ~a, got: ~a)" b dim (1+ dim) l))
                ((match-substr #.(mkstr *vv-%@*) s) (rec (%@ b)))
                ((match-substr #.(mkstr *vv-x@*) s) (rec (x@ b)))
                ((match-substr #.(mkstr *vv-m@*) s) (rec (m@ b)))
+               ((match-substr #.(mkstr *vv-f@*) s) (rec (f@ b)))
                (t (split b))))))
     (rec body)))
 
diff --git a/src/reader-macros.lisp b/src/reader-macros.lisp
index 6f3f441..ef9d171 100644
--- a/src/reader-macros.lisp
+++ b/src/reader-macros.lisp
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ next symb: ~a" char (peek-char t stream t nil t)))
   (error "Delimiter ~S shouldn't be read alone.
 next symb: ~a" char (peek-char t stream t nil t)))
 
-(set-macro-character #\} 'read-delimiter)
+(set-macro-character #\} '-read-delimiter)
+; (set-macro-character #\] '-read-delimiter)
 
 ; adapted from https://gist.github.com/chaitanyagupta/9324402
 (defun read-next-object (sep del &optional (stream *standard-input*))
@@ -75,14 +76,14 @@ next symb: ~a" char (peek-char t stream t nil t)))
           o))))
 
 ; adapted from https://gist.github.com/chaitanyagupta/9324402
-(defun -read-left-brace (stream char)
+(defun -read-left-curly-brace (stream char)
   (declare (ignore char))
   (let ((*readtable* (copy-readtable)))
     (set-macro-character #\Space '-read-separator)
-    (loop for object = (read-next-object #\Space  #\} stream)
+    (loop for object = (read-next-object #\Space #\} stream)
           while object
           collect object into objects
           finally (return `(values ,@objects)))))
 
-(set-macro-character #\{ '-read-left-brace)
+(set-macro-character #\{ '-read-left-curly-brace)
 
diff --git a/veq.asd b/veq.asd
index 5be2265..a5ddd38 100644
--- a/veq.asd
+++ b/veq.asd
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   :description "reasonably fast operations for 1-4d vectors, matrices, and
 arrays of vectors."
   :author "anders hoff / @inconvergent / inconvergent@gmail.com"
-  :version "4.5.3" :licence "MIT"
+  :version "4.5.4" :licence "MIT"
   :in-order-to ((asdf:test-op (asdf:test-op #:veq/tests)))
   :pathname "src/" :serial nil
   :depends-on (#+SBCL #:sb-cltl2)
@@ -14,37 +14,37 @@ arrays of vectors."
                (:file "generic-utils" :depends-on ("config"))
                (:file "types" :depends-on ("generic-utils"))
                (:file "utils" :depends-on ("types"))
-               (:file "array-utils" :depends-on ("utils"))
                (:file "docs" :depends-on ("utils"))
-               (:file "veq-ops" :depends-on ("docs"))
                (:file "vset" :depends-on ("utils"))
                (:file "lets" :depends-on ("veq-ops"))
-               (:file "array-rows" :depends-on ("veq-ops"))
+               (:file "macros-helpers" :depends-on ("utils" ))
+               (:file "veq-ops" :depends-on ("macros-helpers"))
                (:file "ops-1" :depends-on ("veq-ops"))
                (:file "ops-2" :depends-on ("veq-ops"))
                (:file "ops-3" :depends-on ("veq-ops"))
                (:file "ops-4" :depends-on ("veq-ops"))
-               (:file "ops-vv-helpers" :depends-on ("lets"))
-               (:file "ops-vv" :depends-on ("ops-vv-helpers"))
-               (:file "macros-helpers" :depends-on ("utils" ))
                (:file "macrolets"
-                :depends-on ("macros-helpers" "veq-ops" "array-rows"
-                             "array-utils" "lets"
-                             "ops-vv" "ops-1" "ops-2" "ops-3" "ops-4"))
-               (:file "select-dim" :depends-on ("macrolets"))
+                :depends-on ("macros-helpers" "veq-ops"
+                             "ops-1" "ops-2" "ops-3" "ops-4"))
+               (:file "ops-vv-helpers" :depends-on ("macrolets"))
+               (:file "ops-vv" :depends-on ("ops-vv-helpers"))
+
+               (:file "array-utils" :depends-on ("utils"))
+               (:file "array-rows" :depends-on ("utils"))
+
+               (:file "select-dim" :depends-on ("utils"))
                (:file "fxlspace" :depends-on ("macrolets"))
                (:file "mat" :depends-on ("macrolets"))
                (:file "mat-inv" :depends-on ("macrolets"))
                (:file "mat-cam" :depends-on ("macrolets"))
-               (:file "array-print" :depends-on ("macrolets"))
-               (:file "array-mima" :depends-on ("macrolets"))
-               (:file "checks" :depends-on ("array-mima"))
-               (:file "shapes" :depends-on ("array-mima"))
+               (:file "array-extra" :depends-on ("macrolets"))
+               (:file "checks" :depends-on ("array-extra"))
+               (:file "shapes" :depends-on ("array-extra"))
                (:file "easing" :depends-on ("macrolets"))))
 
 (asdf:defsystem #:veq/tests
   :depends-on (#:veq #:prove #:asdf #:uiop)
-  :version "4.5.3"
+  :version "4.5.4"
   :perform (asdf:test-op (o s) (uiop:symbol-call ':veq-tests '#:run-tests))
   :pathname "test/" :serial t
   :components ((:file "run")))