diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index bf50497..5da844a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -19,6 +19,13 @@ debug: $(CFILES) $(LEXER_C) $(LEXER_H)
 	mkdir -p bin
 	gcc -g -O0 -o $(BINARY) $(CFILES) $(CFLAGS)
 
+optimised: $(CFILES) $(LEXER_C) $(LEXER_H)
+	mkdir -p bin
+	gcc -O3 -fprofile-generate -o $(BINARY) $(CFILES) $(CFLAGS)
+	${BINARY}
+	gcc -O3 -fprofile-use -o $(BINARY) $(CFILES) $(CFLAGS)
+	
+
 clean:
 	rm -rf bin
 	rm -f $(LEXER_C) $(LEXER_H)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/dynamic_array/darray.c b/src/dynamic_array/darray.c
index 5b319db..6185147 100644
--- a/src/dynamic_array/darray.c
+++ b/src/dynamic_array/darray.c
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ void darray_init(DArray *arr, size_t element_size) {
 }
 
 void darray_resize(DArray *arr, size_t new_size) {
-    size_t new_capacity = ((new_size + CHUNK_SIZE - 1) / CHUNK_SIZE) * CHUNK_SIZE;
-
+    size_t new_capacity = ((new_size + CHUNK_SIZE) / CHUNK_SIZE) * CHUNK_SIZE;
     if (new_capacity != arr->capacity) {
         void *new_data = realloc(arr->data, new_capacity * arr->element_size);
         if (!new_data) {
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ void darray_push(DArray *arr, void *element) {
         arr->size++;
     }
 
-    void *target = (char *)arr->data + (arr->size - 1) * arr->element_size;
+    void *target = (void *)arr->data + (arr->size - 1) * arr->element_size;
     memcpy(target, element, arr->element_size);
 }
 
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ void darray_pop(DArray *arr, void (*free_data)(void *)) {
     arr->size--;
 
     if (free_data) {
-        void *target = (char *)arr->data + arr->size * arr->element_size;
+        void *target = (void *)arr->data + arr->size * arr->element_size;
         free_data(target);
     }
 
@@ -60,13 +59,13 @@ void *darray_get(DArray *arr, size_t index) {
         fprintf(stderr, "darray_get: index out of bounds\n");
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
-    return (char *)arr->data + index * arr->element_size;
+    return (void *)arr->data + index * arr->element_size;
 }
 
 void darray_free(DArray *arr, void (*free_data)(void *)) {
     if (free_data) {
         for (size_t i = 0; i < arr->size; ++i) {
-            void *element = (char *)arr->data + i * arr->element_size;
+            void *element = (void *)arr->data + i * arr->element_size;
             free_data(element);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/lexer/lex.l b/src/lexer/lex.l
index 597bb71..345a282 100644
--- a/src/lexer/lex.l
+++ b/src/lexer/lex.l
@@ -18,6 +18,16 @@ int yywrap(void *) {
 "," {return TOKEN_COMMA; }
 ":" {return TOKEN_COLON; }
 
+
+"="                 { return TOKEN_ASSIGN; }
+"+="                 { return TOKEN_ASSIGN_PLUS; }
+"-="                 { return TOKEN_ASSIGN_MINUS; }
+"//="                 { return TOKEN_ASSIGN_FLOORDIV; }
+"/="                 { return TOKEN_ASSIGN_SLASH; }
+"%="                 { return TOKEN_ASSIGN_MODULO; }
+"*="                 { return TOKEN_ASSIGN_STAR; }
+"^="                 { return TOKEN_ASSIGN_CARET; }
+
 "not"[ \t]+"in"     { return TOKEN_NOT_IN; }
 "&&"                { return TOKEN_AND; }
 "||"                { return TOKEN_OR; }
@@ -25,7 +35,6 @@ int yywrap(void *) {
 ">="                { return TOKEN_GE; }
 "!="                { return TOKEN_NE; }
 "=="                { return TOKEN_EQ; }
-"="                 { return TOKEN_ASSIGN; }
 "//"                { return TOKEN_FLOORDIV; }
 "<"                 { return TOKEN_LT; }
 ">"                 { return TOKEN_GT; }
diff --git a/src/lexer/lexer.c b/src/lexer/lexer.c
index 0161805..e0455b5 100644
--- a/src/lexer/lexer.c
+++ b/src/lexer/lexer.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ void lexer(LexerState state) {
             yyget_text(scanner)
         );
         darray_push(state.tokens, token_struct);
+        free(token_struct);
         if (token == TOKEN_NEW_LINE) {
             state.current_column = 0;
         } else {
diff --git a/src/lexer/lexer.h b/src/lexer/lexer.h
index dba68a3..0c27bdd 100644
--- a/src/lexer/lexer.h
+++ b/src/lexer/lexer.h
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+#ifndef LEXER_H
+#define LEXER_H
+
 #include "token.h"
 #include "../dynamic_array/darray.h"
 #include <stdio.h>
@@ -11,3 +14,6 @@ typedef struct {
 } LexerState;
 
 void lexer(LexerState state);
+
+
+#endif // LEXER_H
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/lexer/token.h b/src/lexer/token.h
index e93b7da..f486d65 100644
--- a/src/lexer/token.h
+++ b/src/lexer/token.h
@@ -10,6 +10,15 @@ typedef enum {
   TOKEN_NEW_LINE,
   TOKEN_INDENT,
 
+  TOKEN_ASSIGN,
+  TOKEN_ASSIGN_PLUS,
+  TOKEN_ASSIGN_MINUS,
+  TOKEN_ASSIGN_FLOORDIV,
+  TOKEN_ASSIGN_SLASH,
+  TOKEN_ASSIGN_MODULO,
+  TOKEN_ASSIGN_STAR,
+  TOKEN_ASSIGN_CARET,
+
   // Operators
   TOKEN_AND,    // &&
   TOKEN_OR,     // ||
@@ -20,7 +29,6 @@ typedef enum {
   TOKEN_GT,     // >
   TOKEN_NE,     // !=
   TOKEN_EQ,     // ==
-  TOKEN_ASSIGN,
   TOKEN_PLUS,     // +
   TOKEN_MINUS,    // -
   TOKEN_MODULO,   // %
@@ -72,5 +80,5 @@ typedef struct {
 } Token;
 
 Token *create_token(TokenType type, int line, int column, char *value);
-void free_token(void * ptr);
+void free_token(void *ptr);
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 9ab1aa9..4c14858 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 int main() {
     ar_memory_init();
-    const char * path = "test.ar";
+    char * path = "test.ar";
     DArray tokens;
 
     darray_init(&tokens, sizeof(Token));
@@ -22,16 +22,17 @@ int main() {
         &tokens
     };
     lexer(state);
+    fclose(state.file);
 
-    DArray parsed;
+    DArray ast;
 
-    darray_init(&parsed, sizeof(ParsedValue));
+    darray_init(&ast, sizeof(ParsedValue));
 
 
-    parser(&parsed, &tokens, false);
+    parser(path,&ast, &tokens, false);
     darray_free(&tokens, free_token);
-
-    darray_free(&parsed,free_parsed_value);
+    
+    darray_free(&ast,free_parsed);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/memory.c b/src/memory.c
index 9e61430..b795957 100644
--- a/src/memory.c
+++ b/src/memory.c
@@ -3,26 +3,10 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h> // for malloc/free (temp arena fallback)
 
-static char* temp_arena = NULL;
-static size_t temp_arena_capacity = 0;
-static size_t temp_arena_offset = 0;
-
-#define TEMP_ARENA_INITIAL_CAPACITY 4096
-
 void ar_memory_init() {
     GC_INIT();
 }
 
-void ar_memory_shutdown() {
-    // No-op for Boehm, but could clean up temp arena here
-    if (temp_arena) {
-        free(temp_arena);
-        temp_arena = NULL;
-        temp_arena_capacity = 0;
-        temp_arena_offset = 0;
-    }
-}
-
 void* ar_alloc(size_t size) {
     return GC_MALLOC(size);
 }
diff --git a/src/memory.h b/src/memory.h
index 38319ca..839b150 100644
--- a/src/memory.h
+++ b/src/memory.h
@@ -8,12 +8,7 @@ void* ar_alloc(size_t size);
 void* ar_alloc_atomic(size_t size);
 char* ar_strdup(const char* str);
 
-// Optional: temporary/arena allocations (e.g., for parsing)
-void* ar_temp_alloc(size_t size);
-void ar_temp_free_all();
-
 // Memory init/shutdown
 void ar_memory_init();
-void ar_memory_shutdown();
 
 #endif // ARGON_MEMORY_H
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/parser/assign/assign.c b/src/parser/assign/assign.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..087a843
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/parser/assign/assign.c
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#include "assign.h"
+#include "../../lexer/token.h"
+#include "../parser.h"
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+ParsedValue *parse_assign(char*file,DArray *parsed, DArray *tokens,
+                          ParsedValue *assign_to, size_t *index) {
+  Token *token = darray_get(tokens, *index);
+  ParsedAssign *assign = malloc(sizeof(ParsedAssign));
+  assign->to = assign_to;
+  assign->type = token->type;
+  (*index)++;
+  token = darray_get(tokens, *index);
+  switch (token->type) {
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_CARET:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_FLOORDIV:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_MINUS:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_MODULO:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_PLUS:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_SLASH:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_STAR:
+    fprintf(stderr, "%s:%u:%u error: invalid syntax\n", file, token->line,
+            token->column);
+      exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+    default:
+      break;
+  }
+  assign->from = parse_token(file,parsed, tokens, index, true);
+  ParsedValue *parsedValue = malloc(sizeof(ParsedValue));
+  parsedValue->type = AST_ASSIGN;
+  parsedValue->data = assign;
+  return parsedValue;
+}
+
+void free_parse_assign(void*ptr) {
+  ParsedValue * parsedValue = ptr;
+  ParsedAssign* parsedAssign = parsedValue->data;
+  free_parsed(parsedAssign->to);
+  free_parsed(parsedAssign->from);
+  free(parsedAssign);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/parser/assign/assign.h b/src/parser/assign/assign.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9596c51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/parser/assign/assign.h
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#ifndef ASSIGN_H
+#define ASSIGN_H
+#include "../parser.h"
+#include "../../lexer/token.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+  ParsedValue * to;
+  TokenType type;
+  ParsedValue * from;
+} ParsedAssign;
+
+ParsedValue *parse_assign(char*file,DArray *parsed, DArray *tokens,
+                          ParsedValue *assign_to, size_t *index);
+
+void free_parse_assign(void*ptr);
+
+#endif // ASSIGN_H
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/parser/parser.c b/src/parser/parser.c
index 6f58a12..454bbfb 100644
--- a/src/parser/parser.c
+++ b/src/parser/parser.c
@@ -1,35 +1,67 @@
 #include "parser.h"
 #include "../dynamic_array/darray.h"
 #include "../lexer/token.h"
+#include "assign/assign.h"
 #include "string/string.h"
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stddef.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
-ParsedValue *parse_token(DArray *tokens, size_t *index) {
+ParsedValue *parse_token(char *file, DArray *parsed, DArray *tokens,
+                         size_t *index, bool inline_flag) {
   Token *token = darray_get(tokens, *index);
+  if (!inline_flag) {
+    switch (token->type) {
+      default:
+        break;
+    };
+  }
   switch (token->type) {
   case TOKEN_STRING:
     (*index)++;
     return parse_string(*token);
   case TOKEN_NEW_LINE:
-    (*index)++;
-    return NULL;
+    while (token->type  == TOKEN_NEW_LINE && *index+1 <= tokens->size) {
+      (*index)++;
+      token = darray_get(tokens, *index);
+    }
+    if (token->type == TOKEN_NEW_LINE) return NULL;
+    return parse_token(file, parsed, tokens, index, inline_flag);
   case TOKEN_INDENT:
-    fprintf(stderr, "error: \n");
+    fprintf(stderr, "%s:%u:%u error: invalid indentation\n", file, token->line,
+            token->column);
     exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_CARET:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_FLOORDIV:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_MINUS:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_MODULO:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_PLUS:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_SLASH:
+  case TOKEN_ASSIGN_STAR:
+    if (parsed->size == 0) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "%s:%u:%u error: assigning to nothing\n", file, token->line,
+            token->column);
+      exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+    }
+    ParsedValue *assign_to = malloc(sizeof(ParsedValue));
+    memcpy(assign_to, darray_get(parsed, parsed->size-1), sizeof(ParsedValue));
+    darray_resize(parsed, parsed->size-1);
+    return parse_assign(file, parsed, tokens, assign_to, index);
   default:
     fprintf(stderr, "Panic: unreachable\n");
     exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
   }
 }
 
-void parser(DArray *parsed, DArray *tokens, bool inline_flag) {
+void parser(char *file, DArray *parsed, DArray *tokens, bool inline_flag) {
   size_t index = 0;
   size_t length = tokens->size;
   while (index < length) {
-    ParsedValue *parsed_code = parse_token(tokens, &index);
+    ParsedValue *parsed_code =
+        parse_token(file, parsed, tokens, &index, inline_flag);
     if (parsed_code) {
       darray_push(parsed, parsed_code);
       free(parsed_code);
@@ -37,11 +69,14 @@ void parser(DArray *parsed, DArray *tokens, bool inline_flag) {
   }
 }
 
-void free_parsed_value(void *ptr) {
-  ParsedValue *tagged = ptr;
-  switch (tagged->type) {
+void free_parsed(void *ptr) {
+  ParsedValue *parsed = ptr;
+  switch (parsed->type) {
   case AST_STRING:
-    free(tagged->data);
+    free(parsed->data);
+    break;
+  case AST_ASSIGN:
+    free_parse_assign(parsed);
     break;
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/parser/parser.h b/src/parser/parser.h
index 6304a0c..5a86160 100644
--- a/src/parser/parser.h
+++ b/src/parser/parser.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ typedef struct LinkedList LinkedList;
 
 typedef enum {
   AST_STRING,
+  AST_ASSIGN,
 } ValueType;
 
 typedef struct {
@@ -18,11 +19,11 @@ typedef struct {
   
 } ParsedValue;
 
-void parser(DArray * parsed, DArray * tokens, bool inline_flag);
+void parser(char*file,DArray *parsed, DArray *tokens, bool inline_flag);
 
-ParsedValue * parse_token(DArray * tokens, size_t *index);
+ParsedValue *parse_token(char*file,DArray *parsed, DArray *tokens, size_t *index, bool inline_flag);
 
-void free_parsed_value(void *ptr);
+void free_parsed(void *ptr);
 
 
 #endif // PARSER_H
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/translator/translator.c b/src/translator/translator.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00ea2bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/translator/translator.c
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#include "translator.h"
+#include "../dynamic_array/darray.h"
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+Translated * init_translator() {
+  Translated *translated = malloc(sizeof(Translated));
+  if (!translated) return NULL;
+
+  darray_init(&translated->bytecode, sizeof(uint8_t));
+  return translated;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/translator/translator.h b/src/translator/translator.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0bb091
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/translator/translator.h
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#ifndef TRANSLATOR_H
+#define TRANSLATOR_H
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include "../dynamic_array/darray.h"
+
+
+typedef enum {
+  OP_INIT_STRING
+} OperationType;
+
+
+typedef struct {
+  size_t registerCount;
+  DArray bytecode;
+} Translated;
+
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test.ar b/test.ar
index 5dadd33..2d7a86c 100644
--- a/test.ar
+++ b/test.ar
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
-'hello world'
\ No newline at end of file
+"hello world"
+"hello world"="hello world"
\ No newline at end of file