diff --git a/lib/fmt/fmt.ww b/lib/fmt/fmt.ww
index 9905e625..80e269ec 100644
--- a/lib/fmt/fmt.ww
+++ b/lib/fmt/fmt.ww
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ fn i64dec(v: i64) str = {
 	if (n < 0) { neg = true; n = -n; };
 	let tmp: [20]u8;
 	let i: i32 = 0;
-	if (n == 0) { tmp[0] = 48u8; i = 1; };
+	if (n == 0) { tmp[0] = '0'; i = 1; };
 	for (n > 0) {
 		let d: i64 = n % 10i64;
 		tmp[i] = (d + 48i64): u8;
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ fn i64dec(v: i64) str = {
 		i += 1;
 	};
 	let out: i32 = 0;
-	if (neg) { i64dec_buf[out] = 45u8; out += 1; };	// '-'
+	if (neg) { i64dec_buf[out] = '-'; out += 1; };
 	for (i > 0) {
 		i -= 1;
 		i64dec_buf[out] = tmp[i];
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ fn scandigits(s: str, pos: *i32) i32 = {
 	let any: bool = false;
 	for (*pos < s.len) {
 		let c: u8 = s[*pos];
-		if (c < 48u8 || c > 57u8) {
+		if (c < '0' || c > '9') {
 			if (!any) { fmtabort(); };
 			return v;
 		};
@@ -206,25 +206,25 @@ fn scanmods(s: str, pos: *i32, m: *mods) void = {
 	m.pad = 32: rune;	// ' ' — Hare iter.ha:130
 	for (*pos < s.len) {
 		let c: u8 = s[*pos];
-		if (c == 125u8) { return; };		// '}'
+		if (c == '}') { return; };
 		*pos += 1;
-		if (c == 45u8) { m.alignment = alignment.LEFT; }	// '-'
-		else if (c == 61u8) { m.alignment = alignment.CENTER; }	// '='
-		else if (c == 95u8) {					// '_'
+		if (c == '-') { m.alignment = alignment.LEFT; }
+		else if (c == '=') { m.alignment = alignment.CENTER; }
+		else if (c == '_') {
 			if (*pos >= s.len) { fmtabort(); };
 			m.pad = s[*pos]: rune;
 			*pos += 1;
 		}
-		else if (c == 32u8) { m.neg = neg.SPACE; }		// ' '
-		else if (c == 43u8) { m.neg = neg.PLUS; }		// '+'
-		else if (c == 120u8) { m.base = strconv.base.HEX_LOWER; } // 'x'
-		else if (c == 88u8)  { m.base = strconv.base.HEX_UPPER; } // 'X'
-		else if (c == 111u8) { m.base = strconv.base.OCT; }	// 'o'
-		else if (c == 98u8)  { m.base = strconv.base.BIN; }	// 'b'
-		else if (c == 46u8) {					// '.'
+		else if (c == ' ') { m.neg = neg.SPACE; }
+		else if (c == '+') { m.neg = neg.PLUS; }
+		else if (c == 'x') { m.base = strconv.base.HEX_LOWER; }
+		else if (c == 'X')  { m.base = strconv.base.HEX_UPPER; }
+		else if (c == 'o') { m.base = strconv.base.OCT; }
+		else if (c == 'b')  { m.base = strconv.base.BIN; }
+		else if (c == '.') {
 			m.prec = scandigits(s, pos);
 		}
-		else if (c >= 49u8 && c <= 57u8) {			// '1'..'9'
+		else if (c >= '1' && c <= '9') {
 			*pos -= 1;
 			m.width = scandigits(s, pos);
 		}
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ fn rawlenf64(v: f64, m: *mods) i32 = {
 	let view: str = strconv.f64tos(v);
 	let body: i32 = view.len;
 	let had_neg: bool = false;
-	if (body > 0 && view.ptr[0] == 45u8) {
+	if (body > 0 && view.ptr[0] == '-') {
 		had_neg = true;
 		body -= 1;
 	};
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ fn formatraw(s: io.handle, arg: formattable, m: *mods) (size | io.error) = {
 		let pi: i32 = 0;
 		for (pi < pad0) {
 			let buf: [1]u8;
-			buf[0] = 48u8;	// '0'
+			buf[0] = '0';
 			let r: (size | io.error) = putbytes(s, &buf[0], 1);
 			match (r) {
 			case let n: size => { total += n; };
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ fn formatraw(s: io.handle, arg: formattable, m: *mods) (size | io.error) = {
 		// so this peel is a no-op for them.
 		let view: str = strconv.f64tos(v);
 		let neg_flag: bool = false;
-		if (view.len > 0 && view.ptr[0] == 45u8) {	// '-'
+		if (view.len > 0 && view.ptr[0] == '-') {
 			neg_flag = true;
 			view.ptr = view.ptr + 1u64;
 			view.len -= 1;
@@ -529,10 +529,10 @@ export fn fprintf(s: io.handle, fmt: str, args: field...) (size | io.error) = {
 	let checkunused: bool = true;
 	for (i < fmt.len) {
 		let c: u8 = fmt[i];
-		if (c == 123u8) {	// '{'
+		if (c == '{') {
 			i += 1;
 			if (i >= fmt.len) { fmtabort(); };
-			if (fmt[i] == 123u8) {	// '{{' literal
+			if (fmt[i] == '{') {	// '{{' literal
 				let r: (size | io.error) = putbytes(s, fmt.ptr + i: u64, 1);
 				match (r) {
 				case let n: size => { total += n; };
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ export fn fprintf(s: io.handle, fmt: str, args: field...) (size | io.error) = {
 			} else {
 				let idx: i32 = 0;
 				let d: u8 = fmt[i];
-				if (d >= 48u8 && d <= 57u8) {
+				if (d >= '0' && d <= '9') {
 					checkunused = false;
 					idx = scandigits(fmt, &i);
 				} else {
@@ -551,11 +551,11 @@ export fn fprintf(s: io.handle, fmt: str, args: field...) (size | io.error) = {
 				};
 				let m: mods;
 				modsinit(&m);
-				if (i < fmt.len && fmt[i] == 58u8) {	// ':'
+				if (i < fmt.len && fmt[i] == ':') {
 					i += 1;
 					scanmods(fmt, &i, &m);
 				};
-				if (i >= fmt.len || fmt[i] != 125u8) { fmtabort(); };
+				if (i >= fmt.len || fmt[i] != '}') { fmtabort(); };
 				i += 1;
 				if (idx >= args.len) { fmtabort(); };
 				let r: (size | io.error) = formatfield(s, args[idx], &m);
@@ -564,9 +564,9 @@ export fn fprintf(s: io.handle, fmt: str, args: field...) (size | io.error) = {
 				case let e: io.error => return e;
 				};
 			};
-		} else if (c == 125u8) {	// '}'
+		} else if (c == '}') {
 			i += 1;
-			if (i >= fmt.len || fmt[i] != 125u8) { fmtabort(); };
+			if (i >= fmt.len || fmt[i] != '}') { fmtabort(); };
 			let r: (size | io.error) = putbytes(s, fmt.ptr + i: u64, 1);
 			match (r) {
 			case let n: size => { total += n; };
diff --git a/lib/strconv/ftos.ww b/lib/strconv/ftos.ww
index 26af212c..64390d31 100644
--- a/lib/strconv/ftos.ww
+++ b/lib/strconv/ftos.ww
@@ -603,13 +603,13 @@ fn encode_f_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 	let i: i32 = lo;
 	for (i < hi) {
 		if (i == d.dp) {
-			buf[o] = 46u8;	// '.'
+			buf[o] = '.';
 			o += 1i32;
 		};
 		if (0i32 <= i && i < (d.nd: i32)) {
 			buf[o] = (d.digits[i] + 48u8): u8;
 		} else {
-			buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0'
+			buf[o] = '0';
 		};
 		o += 1i32;
 		i += 1i32;
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ fn encode_e_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 	buf[o] = (d.digits[0] + 48u8): u8;
 	o += 1i32;
 	if ((d.nd: i32) > 1i32) {
-		buf[o] = 46u8;	// '.'
+		buf[o] = '.';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	let i: size = (1u64: size);
@@ -634,12 +634,12 @@ fn encode_e_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 		o += 1i32;
 		i += (1u64: size);
 	};
-	buf[o] = 101u8;	// 'e'
+	buf[o] = 'e';
 	o += 1i32;
 	let e: i32 = d.dp - 1i32;
 	if (e < 0i32) {
 		e = -e;
-		buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	// Hoisted uint casts (ww parser rejects `(N: uint)` inside `[ ]`).
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (sign) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	if (special) {
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (exponent == 0u32 && mantissa == 0u64) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0' (encode_zero, G/void/NONE)
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '0';	// encode_zero, G/void/NONE
 		o += 1i32;
 		r.len = o;
 		return r;
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 	// fallback (ftos.ha:365). f == G → trim (ftos.ha:386).
 	trim(pd);
 	if (pd.nd == (0u64: size)) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// rounded to zero
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '0';	// rounded to zero
 		o += 1i32;
 	} else if (pd.dp < -1i32 || (pd.dp - (pd.nd: i32)) > 2i32) {
 		o = encode_e_dec(pd, f64tos_buf[0:32], o);
@@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (sign) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	if (special) {
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (exponent == 0u32 && mantissa == 0u32) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0' (encode_zero, G/void/NONE)
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '0';	// encode_zero, G/void/NONE
 		o += 1i32;
 		r.len = o;
 		return r;
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 	init_dec_mant_exp(pd, (dd.mantissa: u64), (dd.exponent: i32));
 	trim(pd);
 	if (pd.nd == (0u64: size)) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// rounded to zero
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '0';	// rounded to zero
 		o += 1i32;
 	} else if (pd.dp < -1i32 || (pd.dp - (pd.nd: i32)) > 2i32) {
 		o = encode_e_dec(pd, f32tos_buf[0:32], o);
diff --git a/selfhost/cmd/w6c/main.combined.ww b/selfhost/cmd/w6c/main.combined.ww
index 5d68a199..e3e43010 100644
--- a/selfhost/cmd/w6c/main.combined.ww
+++ b/selfhost/cmd/w6c/main.combined.ww
@@ -4053,13 +4053,13 @@ fn encode_f_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 	let i: i32 = lo;
 	for (i < hi) {
 		if (i == d.dp) {
-			buf[o] = 46u8;	// '.'
+			buf[o] = '.';
 			o += 1i32;
 		};
 		if (0i32 <= i && i < (d.nd: i32)) {
 			buf[o] = (d.digits[i] + 48u8): u8;
 		} else {
-			buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0'
+			buf[o] = '0';
 		};
 		o += 1i32;
 		i += 1i32;
@@ -4075,7 +4075,7 @@ fn encode_e_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 	buf[o] = (d.digits[0] + 48u8): u8;
 	o += 1i32;
 	if ((d.nd: i32) > 1i32) {
-		buf[o] = 46u8;	// '.'
+		buf[o] = '.';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	let i: size = (1u64: size);
@@ -4084,12 +4084,12 @@ fn encode_e_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 		o += 1i32;
 		i += (1u64: size);
 	};
-	buf[o] = 101u8;	// 'e'
+	buf[o] = 'e';
 	o += 1i32;
 	let e: i32 = d.dp - 1i32;
 	if (e < 0i32) {
 		e = -e;
-		buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	// Hoisted uint casts (ww parser rejects `(N: uint)` inside `[ ]`).
@@ -4142,7 +4142,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (sign) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	if (special) {
@@ -4151,7 +4151,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (exponent == 0u32 && mantissa == 0u64) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0' (encode_zero, G/void/NONE)
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '0';	// encode_zero, G/void/NONE
 		o += 1i32;
 		r.len = o;
 		return r;
@@ -4170,7 +4170,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 	// fallback (ftos.ha:365). f == G → trim (ftos.ha:386).
 	trim(pd);
 	if (pd.nd == (0u64: size)) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// rounded to zero
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '0';	// rounded to zero
 		o += 1i32;
 	} else if (pd.dp < -1i32 || (pd.dp - (pd.nd: i32)) > 2i32) {
 		o = encode_e_dec(pd, f64tos_buf[0:32], o);
@@ -4209,7 +4209,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (sign) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	if (special) {
@@ -4218,7 +4218,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (exponent == 0u32 && mantissa == 0u32) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0' (encode_zero, G/void/NONE)
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '0';	// encode_zero, G/void/NONE
 		o += 1i32;
 		r.len = o;
 		return r;
@@ -4231,7 +4231,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 	init_dec_mant_exp(pd, (dd.mantissa: u64), (dd.exponent: i32));
 	trim(pd);
 	if (pd.nd == (0u64: size)) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// rounded to zero
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '0';	// rounded to zero
 		o += 1i32;
 	} else if (pd.dp < -1i32 || (pd.dp - (pd.nd: i32)) > 2i32) {
 		o = encode_e_dec(pd, f32tos_buf[0:32], o);
diff --git a/selfhost/cmd/wwdump/main.combined.ww b/selfhost/cmd/wwdump/main.combined.ww
index 2836b9a0..c1ae3580 100644
--- a/selfhost/cmd/wwdump/main.combined.ww
+++ b/selfhost/cmd/wwdump/main.combined.ww
@@ -2006,13 +2006,13 @@ fn encode_f_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 	let i: i32 = lo;
 	for (i < hi) {
 		if (i == d.dp) {
-			buf[o] = 46u8;	// '.'
+			buf[o] = '.';
 			o += 1i32;
 		};
 		if (0i32 <= i && i < (d.nd: i32)) {
 			buf[o] = (d.digits[i] + 48u8): u8;
 		} else {
-			buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0'
+			buf[o] = '0';
 		};
 		o += 1i32;
 		i += 1i32;
@@ -2028,7 +2028,7 @@ fn encode_e_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 	buf[o] = (d.digits[0] + 48u8): u8;
 	o += 1i32;
 	if ((d.nd: i32) > 1i32) {
-		buf[o] = 46u8;	// '.'
+		buf[o] = '.';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	let i: size = (1u64: size);
@@ -2037,12 +2037,12 @@ fn encode_e_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 		o += 1i32;
 		i += (1u64: size);
 	};
-	buf[o] = 101u8;	// 'e'
+	buf[o] = 'e';
 	o += 1i32;
 	let e: i32 = d.dp - 1i32;
 	if (e < 0i32) {
 		e = -e;
-		buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	// Hoisted uint casts (ww parser rejects `(N: uint)` inside `[ ]`).
@@ -2095,7 +2095,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (sign) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	if (special) {
@@ -2104,7 +2104,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (exponent == 0u32 && mantissa == 0u64) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0' (encode_zero, G/void/NONE)
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '0';	// encode_zero, G/void/NONE
 		o += 1i32;
 		r.len = o;
 		return r;
@@ -2123,7 +2123,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 	// fallback (ftos.ha:365). f == G → trim (ftos.ha:386).
 	trim(pd);
 	if (pd.nd == (0u64: size)) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// rounded to zero
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '0';	// rounded to zero
 		o += 1i32;
 	} else if (pd.dp < -1i32 || (pd.dp - (pd.nd: i32)) > 2i32) {
 		o = encode_e_dec(pd, f64tos_buf[0:32], o);
@@ -2162,7 +2162,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (sign) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	if (special) {
@@ -2171,7 +2171,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (exponent == 0u32 && mantissa == 0u32) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0' (encode_zero, G/void/NONE)
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '0';	// encode_zero, G/void/NONE
 		o += 1i32;
 		r.len = o;
 		return r;
@@ -2184,7 +2184,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 	init_dec_mant_exp(pd, (dd.mantissa: u64), (dd.exponent: i32));
 	trim(pd);
 	if (pd.nd == (0u64: size)) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// rounded to zero
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '0';	// rounded to zero
 		o += 1i32;
 	} else if (pd.dp < -1i32 || (pd.dp - (pd.nd: i32)) > 2i32) {
 		o = encode_e_dec(pd, f32tos_buf[0:32], o);
diff --git a/selfhost/test/smoke.combined.ww b/selfhost/test/smoke.combined.ww
index 2988c1ea..1d0e2687 100644
--- a/selfhost/test/smoke.combined.ww
+++ b/selfhost/test/smoke.combined.ww
@@ -2006,13 +2006,13 @@ fn encode_f_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 	let i: i32 = lo;
 	for (i < hi) {
 		if (i == d.dp) {
-			buf[o] = 46u8;	// '.'
+			buf[o] = '.';
 			o += 1i32;
 		};
 		if (0i32 <= i && i < (d.nd: i32)) {
 			buf[o] = (d.digits[i] + 48u8): u8;
 		} else {
-			buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0'
+			buf[o] = '0';
 		};
 		o += 1i32;
 		i += 1i32;
@@ -2028,7 +2028,7 @@ fn encode_e_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 	buf[o] = (d.digits[0] + 48u8): u8;
 	o += 1i32;
 	if ((d.nd: i32) > 1i32) {
-		buf[o] = 46u8;	// '.'
+		buf[o] = '.';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	let i: size = (1u64: size);
@@ -2037,12 +2037,12 @@ fn encode_e_dec(d: *decimal, buf: []u8, out: i32) i32 = {
 		o += 1i32;
 		i += (1u64: size);
 	};
-	buf[o] = 101u8;	// 'e'
+	buf[o] = 'e';
 	o += 1i32;
 	let e: i32 = d.dp - 1i32;
 	if (e < 0i32) {
 		e = -e;
-		buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	// Hoisted uint casts (ww parser rejects `(N: uint)` inside `[ ]`).
@@ -2095,7 +2095,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (sign) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	if (special) {
@@ -2104,7 +2104,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (exponent == 0u32 && mantissa == 0u64) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0' (encode_zero, G/void/NONE)
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '0';	// encode_zero, G/void/NONE
 		o += 1i32;
 		r.len = o;
 		return r;
@@ -2123,7 +2123,7 @@ export fn f64tos(n: f64) str = {
 	// fallback (ftos.ha:365). f == G → trim (ftos.ha:386).
 	trim(pd);
 	if (pd.nd == (0u64: size)) {
-		f64tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// rounded to zero
+		f64tos_buf[o] = '0';	// rounded to zero
 		o += 1i32;
 	} else if (pd.dp < -1i32 || (pd.dp - (pd.nd: i32)) > 2i32) {
 		o = encode_e_dec(pd, f64tos_buf[0:32], o);
@@ -2162,7 +2162,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (sign) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 45u8;	// '-'
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '-';
 		o += 1i32;
 	};
 	if (special) {
@@ -2171,7 +2171,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 		return r;
 	};
 	if (exponent == 0u32 && mantissa == 0u32) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// '0' (encode_zero, G/void/NONE)
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '0';	// encode_zero, G/void/NONE
 		o += 1i32;
 		r.len = o;
 		return r;
@@ -2184,7 +2184,7 @@ export fn f32tos(n: f32) str = {
 	init_dec_mant_exp(pd, (dd.mantissa: u64), (dd.exponent: i32));
 	trim(pd);
 	if (pd.nd == (0u64: size)) {
-		f32tos_buf[o] = 48u8;	// rounded to zero
+		f32tos_buf[o] = '0';	// rounded to zero
 		o += 1i32;
 	} else if (pd.dp < -1i32 || (pd.dp - (pd.nd: i32)) > 2i32) {
 		o = encode_e_dec(pd, f32tos_buf[0:32], o);