diff --git a/codeCore/src/prog8/code/Globals.kt b/codeCore/src/prog8/code/Globals.kt
index 3fec9897d..297a0cbaf 100644
--- a/codeCore/src/prog8/code/Globals.kt
+++ b/codeCore/src/prog8/code/Globals.kt
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@ import java.nio.file.Path
 import kotlin.io.path.absolute
 
 
-// the automatically generated module where all string literals are interned to:
 const val INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME = "prog8_interned_strings"
 
+val PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES = arrayOf(INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME)      // option to add more if needed one day
+
 // all automatically generated labels everywhere need to have the same label name prefix:
 const val GENERATED_LABEL_PREFIX = "p8_label_gen_"
 
diff --git a/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/AsmGen.kt b/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/AsmGen.kt
index 5bb5ff046..fdbbcfd2c 100644
--- a/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/AsmGen.kt
+++ b/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/AsmGen.kt
@@ -252,6 +252,14 @@ private fun PtVariable.prefix(parent: PtNode, st: SymbolTable): PtVariable {
                         newValue.add(newAddr)
                     }
                 }
+                is PtBuiltinFunctionCall -> {
+                    // could be a struct instance or memory slab "allocation"
+                    if (elt.name != "prog8_lib_structalloc" && elt.name != "memory")
+                        throw AssemblyError("weird array value element $elt")
+                    else {
+                        newValue.add(elt)
+                    }
+                }
                 else -> throw AssemblyError("weird array value element $elt")
             }
         }
diff --git a/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/BuiltinFunctionsAsmGen.kt b/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/BuiltinFunctionsAsmGen.kt
index 83fee7fbd..90ea4fcf8 100644
--- a/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/BuiltinFunctionsAsmGen.kt
+++ b/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/BuiltinFunctionsAsmGen.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package prog8.codegen.cpu6502
 
+import prog8.code.StMemorySlabBlockName
+import prog8.code.StStructInstanceBlockName
 import prog8.code.SymbolTable
 import prog8.code.ast.*
 import prog8.code.core.*
@@ -385,7 +387,7 @@ internal class BuiltinFunctionsAsmGen(private val program: PtProgram,
         val name = (fcall.args[0] as PtString).value
         require(name.all { it.isLetterOrDigit() || it=='_' }) {"memory name should be a valid symbol name ${fcall.position}"}
 
-        val slabname = PtIdentifier("prog8_slabs.prog8_memoryslab_$name", DataType.UWORD, fcall.position)
+        val slabname = PtIdentifier("$StMemorySlabBlockName.memory_$name", DataType.UWORD, fcall.position)
         val addressOf = PtAddressOf(DataType.pointer(BaseDataType.UBYTE), false, fcall.position)
         addressOf.add(slabname)
         addressOf.parent = fcall
@@ -399,9 +401,10 @@ internal class BuiltinFunctionsAsmGen(private val program: PtProgram,
         if(discardResult)
             throw AssemblyError("should not discard result of struct allocation at $fcall")
         // ... don't need to pay attention to args here because struct instance is put together elsewhere we just have to get a pointer to it
-        val slabname = SymbolTable.labelnameForStructInstance(fcall)
+        val prefix = if(fcall.args.isEmpty()) "${StStructInstanceBlockName}_bss" else StStructInstanceBlockName
+        val labelname = PtIdentifier("$prefix.${SymbolTable.labelnameForStructInstance(fcall)}", fcall.type, fcall.position)
         val addressOf = PtAddressOf(fcall.type, true, fcall.position)
-        addressOf.add(PtIdentifier(slabname, fcall.type, fcall.position))
+        addressOf.add(labelname)
         addressOf.parent = fcall
         val src = AsmAssignSource(SourceStorageKind.EXPRESSION, program, asmgen, fcall.type, expression = addressOf)
         val target = AsmAssignTarget.fromRegisters(resultRegister ?: RegisterOrPair.AY, false, fcall.position, null, asmgen)
diff --git a/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/ProgramAndVarsGen.kt b/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/ProgramAndVarsGen.kt
index a561b8d39..90f7140d7 100644
--- a/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/ProgramAndVarsGen.kt
+++ b/codeGenCpu6502/src/prog8/codegen/cpu6502/ProgramAndVarsGen.kt
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ internal class ProgramAndVarsGen(
     private fun memorySlabs() {
         if(symboltable.allMemorySlabs.isNotEmpty()) {
             asmgen.out("; memory slabs\n  .section BSS_SLABS")
-            asmgen.out("prog8_slabs\t.block")
+            asmgen.out("$StMemorySlabBlockName\t.block")
             for (slab in symboltable.allMemorySlabs) {
                 if (slab.align > 1u)
                     asmgen.out("\t.align  ${slab.align.toHex()}")
@@ -434,6 +434,7 @@ internal class ProgramAndVarsGen(
         val (instancesNoInit, instances) = symboltable.allStructInstances.partition { it.initialValues.isEmpty() }
         asmgen.out("; struct instances without initialization values, as BSS zeroed at startup\n")
         asmgen.out("    .section BSS\n")
+        asmgen.out("${StStructInstanceBlockName}_bss  .block\n")
         instancesNoInit.forEach {
             val structtype: StStruct = symboltable.lookup(it.structName) as StStruct
             val zerovalues = structtype.fields.map { field ->
@@ -445,11 +446,17 @@ internal class ProgramAndVarsGen(
             }
             asmgen.out("${it.name}    .dstruct  ${it.structName}, ${zerovalues.joinToString(",")}\n")
         }
+        asmgen.out("    .endblock\n")
         asmgen.out("    .send BSS\n")
 
         asmgen.out("; struct instances with initialization values\n")
         asmgen.out("    .section STRUCTINSTANCES\n")
-        instances.forEach { asmgen.out("${it.name}    .dstruct  ${it.structName}, ${initValues(it).joinToString(",")}\n") }
+        asmgen.out("$StStructInstanceBlockName  .block\n")
+        instances.forEach {
+            val instancename = it.name.substringAfter('.')
+            asmgen.out("$instancename    .dstruct  ${it.structName}, ${initValues(it).joinToString(",")}\n")
+        }
+        asmgen.out("    .endblock\n")
         asmgen.out("    .send STRUCTINSTANCES\n")
     }
 
@@ -866,7 +873,7 @@ internal class ProgramAndVarsGen(
                 }
             }
             dt.isSplitWordArray -> {
-                if(dt.elementType().isUnsignedWord) {
+                if(dt.elementType().isUnsignedWord || dt.elementType().isPointer) {
                     val data = makeArrayFillDataUnsigned(dt, value, orNumberOfZeros)
                     asmgen.out("_array_$varname := ${data.joinToString()}")
                     asmgen.out("${varname}_lsb\t.byte <_array_$varname")
@@ -914,7 +921,7 @@ internal class ProgramAndVarsGen(
     private fun zeroFilledArray(numElts: Int): StArray {
         val values = mutableListOf<StArrayElement>()
         repeat(numElts) {
-            values.add(StArrayElement(0.0, null, null))
+            values.add(StArrayElement(0.0, null, null,null,null))
         }
         return values
     }
@@ -972,7 +979,7 @@ internal class ProgramAndVarsGen(
                     val number = it.number!!.toInt()
                     "$"+number.toString(16).padStart(2, '0')
                 }
-            dt.isArray && dt.elementType().isUnsignedWord -> array.map {
+            dt.isArray && (dt.elementType().isUnsignedWord || dt.elementType().isPointer) -> array.map {
                 if(it.number!=null) {
                     "$" + it.number!!.toInt().toString(16).padStart(4, '0')
                 }
@@ -984,8 +991,15 @@ internal class ProgramAndVarsGen(
                     else
                         asmgen.asmSymbolName(addrOfSymbol)
                 }
-                else
+                else if(it.structInstance!=null) {
+                    asmgen.asmSymbolName("${StStructInstanceBlockName}.${it.structInstance!!}")
+                }
+                else if(it.structInstanceUninitialized!=null) {
+                    asmgen.asmSymbolName("${StStructInstanceBlockName}_bss.${it.structInstanceUninitialized!!}")
+                }
+                else {
                     throw AssemblyError("weird array elt")
+                }
             }
             else -> throw AssemblyError("invalid dt")
         }
diff --git a/codeGenIntermediate/src/prog8/codegen/intermediate/BuiltinFuncGen.kt b/codeGenIntermediate/src/prog8/codegen/intermediate/BuiltinFuncGen.kt
index 3659a2a30..567b87f43 100644
--- a/codeGenIntermediate/src/prog8/codegen/intermediate/BuiltinFuncGen.kt
+++ b/codeGenIntermediate/src/prog8/codegen/intermediate/BuiltinFuncGen.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package prog8.codegen.intermediate
 
+import prog8.code.StMemorySlabBlockName
+import prog8.code.StStructInstanceBlockName
 import prog8.code.SymbolTable
 import prog8.code.ast.*
 import prog8.code.core.AssemblyError
@@ -500,7 +502,7 @@ internal class BuiltinFuncGen(private val codeGen: IRCodeGen, private val exprGe
         val name = (call.args[0] as PtString).value
         val code = IRCodeChunk(null, null)
         val resultReg = codeGen.registers.next(IRDataType.WORD)
-        code += IRInstruction(Opcode.LOAD, IRDataType.WORD, reg1=resultReg, labelSymbol = "$StMemorySlabPrefix.prog8_memoryslab_$name")
+        code += IRInstruction(Opcode.LOAD, IRDataType.WORD, reg1=resultReg, labelSymbol = "$StMemorySlabBlockName.memory_$name")
         return ExpressionCodeResult(code, IRDataType.WORD, resultReg, -1)
     }
 
@@ -508,7 +510,7 @@ internal class BuiltinFuncGen(private val codeGen: IRCodeGen, private val exprGe
         val code = IRCodeChunk(null, null)
         val resultReg = codeGen.registers.next(IRDataType.WORD)
         val labelname = SymbolTable.labelnameForStructInstance(call)
-        code += IRInstruction(Opcode.LOAD, IRDataType.WORD, reg1=resultReg, labelSymbol = labelname)
+        code += IRInstruction(Opcode.LOAD, IRDataType.WORD, reg1=resultReg, labelSymbol = "${StStructInstanceBlockName}.$labelname")
         return ExpressionCodeResult(code, IRDataType.WORD, resultReg, -1)
     }
 
diff --git a/codeGenIntermediate/src/prog8/codegen/intermediate/StConvert.kt b/codeGenIntermediate/src/prog8/codegen/intermediate/StConvert.kt
index 9ad5e86a5..8e519fe80 100644
--- a/codeGenIntermediate/src/prog8/codegen/intermediate/StConvert.kt
+++ b/codeGenIntermediate/src/prog8/codegen/intermediate/StConvert.kt
@@ -72,7 +72,9 @@ private fun convert(variable: StStaticVariable): IRStStaticVariable {
             val newArray = mutableListOf<IRStArrayElement>()
             array.forEach {
                 if(it.addressOfSymbol!=null) {
-                    val target = variable.lookup(it.addressOfSymbol!!) ?: throw NoSuchElementException("can't find variable ${it.addressOfSymbol}")
+                    println("LOOKUP ${it.addressOfSymbol}")
+                    val target = variable.lookup(it.addressOfSymbol!!) ?:
+                        throw NoSuchElementException("can't find variable ${it.addressOfSymbol}")
                     newArray.add(IRStArrayElement(null, null, target.scopedNameString))
                 } else {
                     newArray.add(convertArrayElt(it))
@@ -129,11 +131,11 @@ private fun convert(constant: StConstant): IRStConstant {
 }
 
 
-private fun convert(variable: StMemorySlab): IRStMemorySlab {
-    return if('.' in variable.name)
-        IRStMemorySlab(variable.name, variable.size, variable.align)
+private fun convert(mem: StMemorySlab): IRStMemorySlab {
+    return if('.' in mem.name)
+        IRStMemorySlab(mem.name, mem.size, mem.align)
     else
-        IRStMemorySlab("$StMemorySlabPrefix.${variable.name}", variable.size, variable.align)
+        IRStMemorySlab("$StMemorySlabBlockName.${mem.name}", mem.size, mem.align)
 }
 
 
@@ -142,8 +144,8 @@ private fun convert(instance: StStructInstance, fields: Iterable<Pair<DataType,
         val elt = convertArrayElt(value)
         IRStructInitValue(field.first.base, elt)
     }
-    return IRStStructInstance(instance.name, instance.structName, values, instance.size)
+    return if('.' in instance.name)
+        IRStStructInstance(instance.name, instance.structName, values, instance.size)
+    else
+        IRStStructInstance("${StStructInstanceBlockName}.${instance.name}", instance.structName, values, instance.size)
 }
-
-
-internal const val StMemorySlabPrefix = "prog8_slabs"       // TODO also add  ".prog8_memoryslab_"  ?
diff --git a/codeOptimizers/src/prog8/optimizer/UnusedCodeRemover.kt b/codeOptimizers/src/prog8/optimizer/UnusedCodeRemover.kt
index a7381c411..bc6e6c9c1 100644
--- a/codeOptimizers/src/prog8/optimizer/UnusedCodeRemover.kt
+++ b/codeOptimizers/src/prog8/optimizer/UnusedCodeRemover.kt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import prog8.ast.expressions.TypecastExpression
 import prog8.ast.statements.*
 import prog8.ast.walk.AstWalker
 import prog8.ast.walk.IAstModification
-import prog8.code.INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
+import prog8.code.PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES
 import prog8.code.core.ICompilationTarget
 import prog8.code.core.IErrorReporter
 import prog8.compiler.CallGraph
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class UnusedCodeRemover(private val program: Program,
     override fun after(block: Block, parent: Node): Iterable<IAstModification> {
         if("force_output" !in block.options()) {
             if (block.containsNoCodeNorVars) {
-                if (block.name != INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME && "ignore_unused" !in block.options()) {
+                if (block.name !in PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES && "ignore_unused" !in block.options()) {
                     if (!block.statements.any { it is Subroutine && it.hasBeenInlined })
                         errors.info("removing unused block '${block.name}'", block.position)
                 }
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Compiler.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Compiler.kt
index 2a70ec7a5..7118e08ab 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Compiler.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Compiler.kt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import prog8.ast.*
 import prog8.ast.expressions.Expression
 import prog8.ast.expressions.NumericLiteral
 import prog8.ast.statements.Directive
+import prog8.code.SymbolTable
 import prog8.code.SymbolTableMaker
 import prog8.code.ast.PtProgram
 import prog8.code.ast.printAst
@@ -176,17 +177,21 @@ fun compileProgram(args: CompilerArguments): CompilationResult? {
                     println("*********** COMPILER AST END *************\n")
                 }
 
+                var symbolTable: SymbolTable
+
                 val (intermediateAst, simplifiedAstDuration2) = measureTimedValue {
                     val intermediateAst = SimplifiedAstMaker(program, args.errors).transform()
                     val stMaker = SymbolTableMaker(intermediateAst, compilationOptions)
-                    val symbolTable = stMaker.make()
+                    symbolTable = stMaker.make()
 
                     postprocessSimplifiedAst(intermediateAst, symbolTable, compilationOptions, args.errors)
                     args.errors.report()
+                    symbolTable = stMaker.make()        // need an updated ST because the postprocessing changes stuff
 
                     if (compilationOptions.optimize) {
                         optimizeSimplifiedAst(intermediateAst, compilationOptions, symbolTable, args.errors)
                         args.errors.report()
+                        symbolTable = stMaker.make()        // need an updated ST because the optimization changes stuff
                     }
 
                     if (args.printAst2) {
@@ -204,6 +209,7 @@ fun compileProgram(args: CompilerArguments): CompilationResult? {
                 createAssemblyDuration = measureTime {
                     if (!createAssemblyAndAssemble(
                             intermediateAst,
+                            symbolTable,
                             args.errors,
                             compilationOptions,
                             program.generatedLabelSequenceNumber
@@ -558,6 +564,7 @@ private fun postprocessAst(program: Program, errors: IErrorReporter, compilerOpt
 }
 
 private fun createAssemblyAndAssemble(program: PtProgram,
+                                      symbolTable: SymbolTable,
                                       errors: IErrorReporter,
                                       compilerOptions: CompilationOptions,
                                       lastGeneratedLabelSequenceNr: Int
@@ -572,10 +579,6 @@ private fun createAssemblyAndAssemble(program: PtProgram,
     else
         throw NotImplementedError("no code generator for cpu ${compilerOptions.compTarget.cpu}")
 
-    // need to make a new symboltable here to capture possible changes made by optimization steps performed earlier!
-    val stMaker = SymbolTableMaker(program, compilerOptions)
-    val symbolTable = stMaker.make()
-
     val assembly = asmgen.generate(program, symbolTable, compilerOptions, errors)
     errors.report()
 
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/astprocessing/AstChecker.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/astprocessing/AstChecker.kt
index 9aa8cd2d7..932f8b2f0 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/astprocessing/AstChecker.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/astprocessing/AstChecker.kt
@@ -1277,11 +1277,6 @@ internal class AstChecker(private val program: Program,
                 errors.err("initialization value contains non-constant elements", array.value[0].position)
             }
 
-            if(array.value.any { it is StaticStructInitializer }) {
-                errors.err("it is not yet possible to use struct initializations in an array, you have to do it one by one for now", array.value[0].position)
-                // TODO this is because later in the simplified AST the allocate struct variable is still missing somehow
-            }
-
         } else if(array.parent is ForLoop) {
             if (!array.value.all { it.constValue(program) != null })
                 errors.err("array literal for iteration must contain constants. Try using a separate array variable instead?", array.position)
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/astprocessing/SimplifiedAstPostprocess.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/astprocessing/SimplifiedAstPostprocess.kt
index 935e5dd7b..d9feb1820 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/astprocessing/SimplifiedAstPostprocess.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/astprocessing/SimplifiedAstPostprocess.kt
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ internal fun postprocessSimplifiedAst(
 private fun processSubtypesIntoStReferences(program: PtProgram, st: SymbolTable) {
 
     fun getStStruct(subType: ISubType): StStruct {
+        if(subType is StStruct)
+            return subType
         val stNode = st.lookup(subType.scopedNameString) as? StStruct
         if(stNode != null)
             return stNode
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ private fun processSubtypesIntoStReferences(program: PtProgram, st: SymbolTable)
             throw FatalAstException("cannot find in ST: ${subType.scopedNameString} $subType")
     }
 
-    fun fixSubtype(type: DataType) {
+    fun fixSubtypeIntoStType(type: DataType) {
         if(type.subType!=null && type.subType !is StStruct) {
             type.subType = getStStruct(type.subType!!)
         }
@@ -36,13 +38,21 @@ private fun processSubtypesIntoStReferences(program: PtProgram, st: SymbolTable)
 
     fun fixSubtypes(node: PtNode) {
         when(node) {
-            is IPtVariable -> fixSubtype(node.type)
-            is PtPointerDeref -> fixSubtype(node.type)
-            is PtStructDecl -> node.fields.forEach { fixSubtype(it.first) }
-            is PtAsmSub -> node.returns.forEach { fixSubtype(it.second) }
-            is PtExpression -> fixSubtype(node.type)
-            is PtSubSignature -> node.returns.forEach { fixSubtype(it) }
-            is PtSubroutineParameter -> fixSubtype(node.type)
+            is IPtVariable -> {
+                fixSubtypeIntoStType(node.type)
+                // if it's an array, fix the subtypes of its elements as well
+                if(node.type.isArray && node is PtVariable) {
+                    (node.value as? PtArray)?.let {array ->
+                        array.children.forEach { fixSubtypes(it) }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            is PtPointerDeref -> fixSubtypeIntoStType(node.type)
+            is PtStructDecl -> node.fields.forEach { fixSubtypeIntoStType(it.first) }
+            is PtAsmSub -> node.returns.forEach { fixSubtypeIntoStType(it.second) }
+            is PtExpression -> fixSubtypeIntoStType(node.type)
+            is PtSubSignature -> node.returns.forEach { fixSubtypeIntoStType(it) }
+            is PtSubroutineParameter -> fixSubtypeIntoStType(node.type)
             else -> { /* has no datatype */ }
         }
     }
diff --git a/compiler/test/ModuleImporterTests.kt b/compiler/test/ModuleImporterTests.kt
index 4b743130c..f6ea5b66f 100644
--- a/compiler/test/ModuleImporterTests.kt
+++ b/compiler/test/ModuleImporterTests.kt
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import io.kotest.matchers.shouldBe
 import io.kotest.matchers.string.shouldContain
 import prog8.ast.Program
 import prog8.code.INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
+import prog8.code.PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES
 import prog8.code.core.IErrorReporter
 import prog8.code.source.SourceCode
 import prog8.compiler.ModuleImporter
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                 withClue(".file should point to specified path") {
                     error1.file.absolutePath shouldBe "${srcPathAbs.normalize()}"
                 }
-                program.modules.size shouldBe 1
+                program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size
                 val error2 = importer.importMainModule(srcPathAbs).getErrorOrElse { error("should have import error") }
                 withClue(".file should be normalized") {
                     "${error2.file}" shouldBe "${error2.file.normalize()}"
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                 withClue(".file should point to specified path") {
                     error2.file.absolutePath shouldBe "${srcPathAbs.normalize()}"
                 }
-                program.modules.size shouldBe 1
+                program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size
             }
 
             test("testDirectory") {
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                             it.file.absolutePath shouldBe "${srcPathAbs.normalize()}"
                         }
                     }
-                program.modules.size shouldBe 1
+                program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size
 
                 shouldThrow<FileSystemException> { importer.importMainModule(srcPathAbs) }
                     .let {
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                             it.file.absolutePath shouldBe "${srcPathAbs.normalize()}"
                         }
                     }
-                program.modules.size shouldBe 1
+                program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size
             }
         }
 
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                 val path = assumeReadableFile(searchIn[0], fileName)
 
                 val module = importer.importMainModule(path.absolute()).getOrElse { throw it }
-                program.modules.size shouldBe 2
+                program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size+1
                 module shouldBeIn program.modules
                 module.program shouldBe program
             }
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                 }
 
                 val module = importer.importMainModule(path).getOrElse { throw it }
-                program.modules.size shouldBe 2
+                program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size+1
                 module shouldBeIn program.modules
                 module.program shouldBe program
             }
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                 assumeReadableFile(searchIn, path)
 
                 val module = importer.importMainModule(path).getOrElse { throw it }
-                program.modules.size shouldBe 2
+                program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size+1
                 module shouldBeIn program.modules
                 module.program shouldBe program
             }
@@ -152,7 +153,7 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                                 withClue("endCol; should be 0-based") { it.position.endCol shouldBe 6 }
                             }
                         }
-                        program.modules.size shouldBe 1
+                        program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -170,9 +171,10 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                             withClue("line; should be 1-based") { it.position.line shouldBe 2 }
                             withClue("startCol; should be 0-based") { it.position.startCol shouldBe 4 }
                             withClue("endCol; should be 0-based") { it.position.endCol shouldBe 6 }
+                            }
                         }
-                    }
-                    withClue("imported module with error in it should not be present") { program.modules.size shouldBe 1 }
+                        withClue("imported module with error in it should not be present") { program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size }
+                        program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size
                         program.modules[0].name shouldBe INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
                     }
                 }
@@ -203,14 +205,14 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                     withClue(count[n] + " call / NO .p8 extension") { errors.noErrors() shouldBe false }
                     errors.errors.single() shouldContain "0:0: no module found with name i_do_not_exist"
                     errors.report()
-                    program.modules.size shouldBe 1
+                    program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size
 
                     val result2 = importer.importImplicitLibraryModule(filenameWithExt)
                     withClue(count[n] + " call / with .p8 extension") { result2 shouldBe null }
                     withClue(count[n] + " call / with .p8 extension") { importer.errors.noErrors() shouldBe false }
                     errors.errors.single() shouldContain "0:0: no module found with name i_do_not_exist.p8"
                     errors.report()
-                    program.modules.size shouldBe 1
+                    program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -232,7 +234,7 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                                 withClue("endCol; should be 0-based") { it.position.endCol shouldBe 6 }
                             }
                         }
-                        program.modules.size shouldBe 1
+                        program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -254,7 +256,7 @@ class TestModuleImporter: FunSpec({
                                 withClue("endCol; should be 0-based") { it.position.endCol shouldBe 6 }
                             }
                         }
-                        withClue("imported module with error in it should not be present") { program.modules.size shouldBe 1 }
+                        withClue("imported module with error in it should not be present") { program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size }
                         program.modules[0].name shouldBe INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
                         importer.errors.report()
                     }
diff --git a/compiler/test/TestPointers.kt b/compiler/test/TestPointers.kt
index 37656f3c6..b8c2044ef 100644
--- a/compiler/test/TestPointers.kt
+++ b/compiler/test/TestPointers.kt
@@ -1731,6 +1731,30 @@ main {
         compileText(Cx16Target(), false, src, outputDir) shouldNotBe null
     }
 
+    test("struct initializers in array") {
+        val src="""
+main {
+    struct Node {
+        ubyte id
+        str name
+        uword array
+    }
+
+    sub start() {
+        ^^Node[] @shared nodes = [
+            ^^Node:[1,"one", 1000 ],
+            ^^Node:[2,"two", 2000 ],
+            ^^Node:[3,"three", 3000],
+            ^^Node:[],
+            ^^Node:[],
+            ^^Node:[],
+        ]
+    }
+}"""
+        compileText(C64Target(), false, src, outputDir) shouldNotBe null
+        compileText(VMTarget(), false, src, outputDir) shouldNotBe null
+    }
+
     test("type error for invalid bool field initializer") {
         val src="""
 main {
diff --git a/compiler/test/TestSymbolTable.kt b/compiler/test/TestSymbolTable.kt
index aca819134..fe8fbc1e7 100644
--- a/compiler/test/TestSymbolTable.kt
+++ b/compiler/test/TestSymbolTable.kt
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ class TestSymbolTable: FunSpec({
         val stVar1 = StStaticVariable("initialized", DataType.UBYTE, null, null, null, ZeropageWish.DONTCARE, 0u, false,node)
         stVar1.setOnetimeInitNumeric(99.0)
         val stVar2 = StStaticVariable("uninitialized", DataType.UBYTE, null, null, null, ZeropageWish.DONTCARE, 0u, false, node)
-        val arrayInitNonzero = listOf(StArrayElement(1.1, null, null), StArrayElement(2.2, null, null), StArrayElement(3.3, null, null))
-        val arrayInitAllzero = listOf(StArrayElement(0.0, null, null), StArrayElement(0.0, null, null), StArrayElement(0.0, null, null))
+        val arrayInitNonzero = listOf(StArrayElement(1.1, null, null, null, null), StArrayElement(2.2, null, null, null, null), StArrayElement(3.3, null, null,null, null))
+        val arrayInitAllzero = listOf(StArrayElement(0.0, null, null, null, null), StArrayElement(0.0, null, null,null, null), StArrayElement(0.0, null, null,null, null))
         val stVar3 = StStaticVariable("initialized", DataType.arrayFor(BaseDataType.UWORD), null, arrayInitNonzero, 3u, ZeropageWish.DONTCARE, 0u, false, node)
         val stVar4 = StStaticVariable("initialized", DataType.arrayFor(BaseDataType.UWORD), null, arrayInitAllzero, 3u, ZeropageWish.DONTCARE, 0u, false, node)
         val stVar5 = StStaticVariable("uninitialized", DataType.arrayFor(BaseDataType.UWORD), null, null, 3u, ZeropageWish.DONTCARE, 0u, false, node)
diff --git a/compiler/test/ast/TestAstToSourceText.kt b/compiler/test/ast/TestAstToSourceText.kt
index 16de7c08d..43233220e 100644
--- a/compiler/test/ast/TestAstToSourceText.kt
+++ b/compiler/test/ast/TestAstToSourceText.kt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import io.kotest.matchers.string.shouldContain
 import prog8.ast.AstToSourceTextConverter
 import prog8.ast.Module
 import prog8.ast.Program
-import prog8.code.INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
+import prog8.code.PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES
 import prog8.code.source.SourceCode
 import prog8.parser.ParseError
 import prog8.parser.Prog8Parser.parseModule
@@ -38,10 +38,12 @@ class TestAstToSourceText: AnnotationSpec() {
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun testMentionsInternedStringsModule() {
+    fun testMentionsProg8ContainerModules() {
         val orig = SourceCode.Text("\n")
         val (txt, _) = roundTrip(parseModule(orig))
-        txt shouldContain Regex(";.*$INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME")
+        PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.forEach {
+            txt shouldContain Regex(";.*$it")
+        }
     }
 
     @Test
diff --git a/compiler/test/ast/TestProgram.kt b/compiler/test/ast/TestProgram.kt
index d48fb5b4b..24b9a4b22 100644
--- a/compiler/test/ast/TestProgram.kt
+++ b/compiler/test/ast/TestProgram.kt
@@ -13,10 +13,11 @@ import io.kotest.matchers.types.shouldBeSameInstanceAs
 import prog8.ast.Module
 import prog8.ast.Program
 import prog8.ast.statements.Block
+import prog8.code.INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
+import prog8.code.PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES
 import prog8.code.ast.PtBlock
 import prog8.code.core.Position
 import prog8.code.source.SourceCode
-import prog8.code.INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
 import prog8.code.target.C64Target
 import prog8tests.helpers.DummyFunctions
 import prog8tests.helpers.DummyMemsizer
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ class TestProgram: FunSpec({
     context("Constructor") {
         test("withNameBuiltinsAndMemsizer") {
             val program = Program("foo", DummyFunctions, DummyMemsizer, DummyStringEncoder)
-            program.modules.size shouldBe 1
+            program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size
             program.modules[0].name shouldBe INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
             program.modules[0].program shouldBeSameInstanceAs program
             program.modules[0].parent shouldBeSameInstanceAs program.namespace
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ class TestProgram: FunSpec({
             val retVal = program.addModule(m1)
 
             retVal shouldBeSameInstanceAs program
-            program.modules.size shouldBe 2
+            program.modules.size shouldBe PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size + 1
             m1 shouldBeIn program.modules
             m1.program shouldBeSameInstanceAs program
             m1.parent shouldBeSameInstanceAs program.namespace
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ datablock2 ${'$'}8000 {
 
         val result = compileText(C64Target(), optimize=false, src, outputDir, writeAssembly=true)!!
         result.compilerAst.allBlocks.size shouldBeGreaterThan 5
-        result.compilerAst.modules.drop(2).all { it.isLibrary } shouldBe true
+        result.compilerAst.modules.drop(PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.size+1).all { it.isLibrary } shouldBe true
         val mainMod = result.compilerAst.modules[0]
         mainMod.name shouldStartWith "on_the_fly"
         result.compilerAst.modules[1].name shouldBe "prog8_interned_strings"
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@ datablock2 ${'$'}8000 {
         blocks[1].name shouldBe "p8_sys_startup"
         blocks[2].name shouldBe "p8b_otherblock1"
         blocks[3].name shouldBe "p8b_otherblock2"
-        blocks[4].name shouldBe "prog8_interned_strings"
+        blocks[4].name shouldBe INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
         blocks[5].name shouldBe "txt"
         blocks[5].library shouldBe true
         blocks[13].name shouldBe "p8b_datablock2"
diff --git a/compilerAst/src/prog8/ast/Program.kt b/compilerAst/src/prog8/ast/Program.kt
index 6214cec07..dc56a960e 100644
--- a/compilerAst/src/prog8/ast/Program.kt
+++ b/compilerAst/src/prog8/ast/Program.kt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import prog8.ast.statements.*
 import prog8.ast.walk.IAstVisitor
 import prog8.code.GENERATED_LABEL_PREFIX
 import prog8.code.INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
+import prog8.code.PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES
 import prog8.code.core.*
 import prog8.code.source.SourceCode
 
@@ -22,17 +23,19 @@ class Program(val name: String,
     val namespace: GlobalNamespace = GlobalNamespace(_modules)
 
     init {
-        // insert a container module for all interned strings later
-        val internedStringsModule = Module(mutableListOf(), Position.DUMMY, SourceCode.Generated(INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME))
-        val block = Block(INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME, null, mutableListOf(), true, Position.DUMMY)
-        val directive = Directive("%option", listOf(DirectiveArg("no_symbol_prefixing", null, Position.DUMMY)), Position.DUMMY)
-        block.statements.add(directive)
-        directive.linkParents(block)
-        internedStringsModule.statements.add(block)
+        // insert container modules for all interned strings and struct instances
+        PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.forEach { containername ->
+            val module = Module(mutableListOf(), Position.DUMMY, SourceCode.Generated(containername))
+            val block = Block(containername, null, mutableListOf(), true, Position.DUMMY)
+            val directive = Directive("%option", listOf(DirectiveArg("no_symbol_prefixing", null, Position.DUMMY)), Position.DUMMY)
+            block.statements.add(directive)
+            directive.linkParents(block)
+            module.statements.add(block)
 
-        _modules.add(0, internedStringsModule)
-        internedStringsModule.linkParents(namespace)
-        internedStringsModule.program = this
+            _modules.add(0, module)
+            module.linkParents(namespace)
+            module.program = this
+        }
     }
 
     fun addModule(module: Module): Program {
@@ -67,7 +70,7 @@ class Program(val name: String,
         }
 
     val toplevelModule: Module
-        get() = modules.first { it.name!= INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME }
+        get() = modules.first { it.name !in PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES }
 
     private val internedStringsReferenceCounts = mutableMapOf<VarDecl, Int>()
 
diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index df180951e..d468c8d63 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -52,10 +52,7 @@ needs_sphinx = '5.3'
 # Add any Sphinx extension module names here, as strings. They can be
 # extensions coming with Sphinx (named 'sphinx.ext.*') or your custom
 # ones.
-extensions = [ 'sphinxcontrib.jquery', 'sphinx_rtd_dark_mode']
-
-# user starts in light mode
-default_dark_mode = False
+extensions = [ 'sphinxcontrib.jquery', 'sphinx_rtd_dark_mode', 'sphinx.ext.imgconverter']
 
 # Add any paths that contain templates here, relative to this directory.
 templates_path = ['_templates']
@@ -177,6 +174,9 @@ texinfo_documents = [
 
 # -- Extension configuration -------------------------------------------------
 
+# user starts in light mode
+default_dark_mode = False
+
 # -- Options for to do extension ----------------------------------------------
 
 # todo_include_todos = True
diff --git a/docs/source/todo.rst b/docs/source/todo.rst
index 7dbf89052..bb54b2df4 100644
--- a/docs/source/todo.rst
+++ b/docs/source/todo.rst
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ and for example the below code omits line 5::
 STRUCTS and TYPED POINTERS
 --------------------------
 
-- allow struct initialization syntax in an array such as [ ^^Node:[], ^^Node:[], ^^Node:[] ],  update sorting example to use list of countries like that
+- can we have some syntactic sugar to avoid the struct name pointer prefix for all array elements that are a struct instance?
+- fix VM so that pointers/sorting.p8 example works again (it worked when adding the struct instances in a loop, no longer now that they're static)
 - fix code size regressions (if any left)
 - optimize deref in PointerAssignmentsGen: optimize 'forceTemporary' to only use a temporary when the offset is >0
 - update structpointers.rst docs with 6502 specific things?
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ STRUCTS and TYPED POINTERS
 Future Things and Ideas
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
+- allow memory() to occur in array initializer
 - %breakpoint after an assignment is parsed as part of the expression (x % breakpoint), that should not happen
 - when a complete block is removed because unused, suppress all info messages about everything in the block being removed
 - fix the line, cols in Position, sometimes they count from 0 sometimes from 1
diff --git a/docs/source/variables.rst b/docs/source/variables.rst
index 45d28a3b5..ccee4fc54 100644
--- a/docs/source/variables.rst
+++ b/docs/source/variables.rst
@@ -282,9 +282,10 @@ For instance ``30_000.999_999`` is a valid floating point number 30000.999999.
 
 Arrays
 ^^^^^^
-Arrays can be created from a list of booleans, bytes, words, floats, or addresses of other variables
-(such as explicit address-of expressions, strings, or other array variables) - values in an array literal
-always have to be constants. A trailing comma is allowed, sometimes this is easier when copying values
+Arrays can be created from a list of booleans, bytes, words, floats, addresses of other variables
+(such as explicit address-of expressions, strings, or other array variables), and struct initializers.
+The values in an array literal always have to be constants.
+A trailing comma is allowed, sometimes this is easier when copying values
 or when adding more stuff to the array later. Here are some examples of arrays::
 
     byte[10]  array                   ; array of 10 bytes, initially set to 0
diff --git a/examples/pointers/sorting.p8 b/examples/pointers/sorting.p8
index 5329dbb30..4d39298aa 100644
--- a/examples/pointers/sorting.p8
+++ b/examples/pointers/sorting.p8
@@ -11,34 +11,32 @@ main{
         uword area              ; 1000 km^2
     }
 
-    ^^Country[100] countries        ; won't be fully filled
-    ubyte num_countries
+    ^^Country[] countries = [
+        ^^Country:["Indonesia", 285.72, 1904],
+        ^^Country:["Congo", 112.83, 2344],
+        ^^Country:["Vietnam", 101.60, 331],
+        ^^Country:["United States", 347.28, 9372],
+        ^^Country:["Iran", 92.42, 1648],
+        ^^Country:["Turkey", 87.69, 783],
+        ^^Country:["Brazil", 212.81, 8515],
+        ^^Country:["Bangladesh", 175.69, 147],
+        ^^Country:["Germany", 84.08, 357],
+        ^^Country:["Japan", 123.10, 377],
+        ^^Country:["India", 1463.87, 3287],
+        ^^Country:["China", 1416.10, 9596],
+        ^^Country:["Philippines", 116.79, 300],
+        ^^Country:["Russia", 143.99, 17098],
+        ^^Country:["Pakistan", 255.22, 881],
+        ^^Country:["Nigeria", 237.53, 923],
+        ^^Country:["Ethiopia", 135.47, 1104],
+        ^^Country:["Mexico", 131.95, 1964],
+        ^^Country:["Thailand", 71.62, 513],
+        ^^Country:["Egypt", 118.37, 1002],
+    ]
 
     sub start() {
         txt.lowercase()
 
-        ; because pointer array initialization is not supported yet, we have to add the countries in separate statements for now
-        add(^^Country:["Indonesia", 285.72, 1904])
-        add(^^Country:["Congo", 112.83, 2344])
-        add(^^Country:["Vietnam", 101.60, 331])
-        add(^^Country:["United States", 347.28, 9372])
-        add(^^Country:["Iran", 92.42, 1648])
-        add(^^Country:["Turkey", 87.69, 783])
-        add(^^Country:["Brazil", 212.81, 8515])
-        add(^^Country:["Bangladesh", 175.69, 147])
-        add(^^Country:["Germany", 84.08, 357])
-        add(^^Country:["Japan", 123.10, 377])
-        add(^^Country:["India", 1463.87, 3287])
-        add(^^Country:["China", 1416.10, 9596])
-        add(^^Country:["Philippines", 116.79, 300])
-        add(^^Country:["Russia", 143.99, 17098])
-        add(^^Country:["Pakistan", 255.22, 881])
-        add(^^Country:["Nigeria", 237.53, 923])
-        add(^^Country:["Ethiopia", 135.47, 1104])
-        add(^^Country:["Mexico", 131.95, 1964])
-        add(^^Country:["Thailand", 71.62, 513])
-        add(^^Country:["Egypt", 118.37, 1002])
-
         txt.print("UNSORTED:\n")
         dump()
 
@@ -57,7 +55,7 @@ main{
 
     sub sort_by_name() {
         ; stupid slow bubble sort
-        ubyte n = num_countries
+        ubyte n = len(countries)
         do {
             ubyte newn=0
             ubyte i
@@ -73,7 +71,7 @@ main{
 
     sub sort_by_population() {
         ; stupid slow bubble sort
-        ubyte n = num_countries
+        ubyte n = len(countries)
         do {
             ubyte newn=0
             ubyte i
@@ -89,7 +87,7 @@ main{
 
     sub sort_by_area() {
         ; stupid slow bubble sort
-        ubyte n = num_countries
+        ubyte n = len(countries)
         do {
             ubyte newn=0
             ubyte i
@@ -125,10 +123,5 @@ main{
             txt.nl()
         }
     }
-
-    sub add(^^Country c) {
-        countries[num_countries] = c
-        num_countries++
-    }
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/test.p8 b/examples/test.p8
index 0c6547ea1..3c63ba15d 100644
--- a/examples/test.p8
+++ b/examples/test.p8
@@ -8,19 +8,20 @@ main {
         uword array
     }
 
-    ^^Node @shared @zp node = 2000
-
     sub start() {
         ^^Node[] nodes = [
             ^^Node:[1,"one", 1000 ],
             ^^Node:[2,"two", 2000 ],
-            ^^Node:[3,"three", 3000]
+            ^^Node:[3,"three", 3000],
+            ^^Node:[],
+            ^^Node:[],
+            ^^Node:[],
         ]
-        txt.print_uw(nodes[0])
-        txt.spc()
-        txt.print_uw(nodes[1])
-        txt.spc()
-        txt.print_uw(nodes[2])
+
+        for cx16.r0 in nodes {
+            txt.print_uw(cx16.r0)
+            txt.spc()
+        }
         txt.nl()
     }
 }
diff --git a/intermediate/src/prog8/intermediate/IRSymbolTable.kt b/intermediate/src/prog8/intermediate/IRSymbolTable.kt
index dd54afbe3..99846cf6e 100644
--- a/intermediate/src/prog8/intermediate/IRSymbolTable.kt
+++ b/intermediate/src/prog8/intermediate/IRSymbolTable.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 package prog8.intermediate
 
-import prog8.code.INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME
+import prog8.code.PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES
 import prog8.code.core.BaseDataType
 import prog8.code.core.DataType
 import prog8.code.core.Encoding
@@ -49,10 +49,9 @@ class IRSymbolTable {
         val prefix = "$label."
         val vars = table.filter { it.key.startsWith(prefix) }
         vars.forEach {
-            // check if attempt is made to delete interned strings, if so, refuse that.
-            if(!it.key.startsWith(INTERNED_STRINGS_MODULENAME)) {
+            // check if attempt is made to delete fixed modules, if so, refuse that.
+            if(!PROG8_CONTAINER_MODULES.any { containername -> it.key.startsWith(containername)})
                 table.remove(it.key)
-            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/simpleAst/src/prog8/code/SymbolTable.kt b/simpleAst/src/prog8/code/SymbolTable.kt
index f3ca0c350..a6dd648e4 100644
--- a/simpleAst/src/prog8/code/SymbolTable.kt
+++ b/simpleAst/src/prog8/code/SymbolTable.kt
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ class SymbolTable(astProgram: PtProgram) : StNode(astProgram.name, StNodeType.GL
             val scopehash = call.parent.hashCode().toUInt().toString(16)
             val pos = "${call.position.line}_${call.position.startCol}"
             val hash = call.position.file.hashCode().toUInt().toString(16)
-            return "prog8_struct_${structname.replace('.', '_')}_${hash}_${pos}_${scopehash}"
+            return "${structname.replace('.', '_')}_${hash}_${pos}_${scopehash}"
         }
     }
 }
@@ -338,13 +338,18 @@ class StExtSub(name: String,
 
 class StSubroutineParameter(val name: String, val type: DataType, val register: RegisterOrPair?)
 class StExtSubParameter(val register: RegisterOrStatusflag, val type: DataType)
-class StArrayElement(val number: Double?, val addressOfSymbol: String?, val boolean: Boolean?) {
+class StArrayElement(val number: Double?, val addressOfSymbol: String?, val structInstance: String?, val structInstanceUninitialized: String?, val boolean: Boolean?) {
     init {
-        if(number!=null) require(addressOfSymbol==null && boolean==null)
-        if(addressOfSymbol!=null) require(number==null && boolean==null)
-        if(boolean!=null) require(addressOfSymbol==null && number==null)
+        if(number!=null) require(addressOfSymbol==null && boolean==null && structInstance==null && structInstanceUninitialized==null)
+        if(addressOfSymbol!=null) require(number==null && boolean==null && structInstance==null && structInstanceUninitialized==null)
+        if(structInstance!=null) require(number==null && boolean==null && addressOfSymbol==null && structInstanceUninitialized==null)
+        if(structInstanceUninitialized!=null) require(number==null && boolean==null && addressOfSymbol==null && structInstance==null)
+        if(boolean!=null) require(addressOfSymbol==null && number==null &&structInstance==null && structInstanceUninitialized==null)
     }
 }
 
 typealias StString = Pair<String, Encoding>
 typealias StArray = List<StArrayElement>
+
+const val StMemorySlabBlockName = "prog8_slabs"
+const val StStructInstanceBlockName = "prog8_struct_instances"
diff --git a/simpleAst/src/prog8/code/SymbolTableMaker.kt b/simpleAst/src/prog8/code/SymbolTableMaker.kt
index 449c699fa..1c298ac0c 100644
--- a/simpleAst/src/prog8/code/SymbolTableMaker.kt
+++ b/simpleAst/src/prog8/code/SymbolTableMaker.kt
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class SymbolTableMaker(private val program: PtProgram, private val options: Comp
                             numElements = (value.value.length + 1).toUInt()   // include the terminating 0-byte
                         }
                         is PtArray -> {
-                            initialArray = makeInitialArray(value)
+                            initialArray = makeInitialArray(value, scope)
                             initialString = null
                             initialNumeric = null
                             numElements = initialArray.size.toUInt()
@@ -119,22 +119,12 @@ class SymbolTableMaker(private val program: PtProgram, private val options: Comp
                     val size = (node.args[1] as PtNumber).number.toUInt()
                     val align = (node.args[2] as PtNumber).number.toUInt()
                     // don't add memory slabs in nested scope, just put them in the top level of the ST
-                    scope.first().add(StMemorySlab("prog8_memoryslab_$slabname", size, align, node))
+                    scope.first().add(StMemorySlab("memory_$slabname", size, align, node))
                 }
                 else if(node.name=="prog8_lib_structalloc") {
-                    val struct = node.type.subType!!
-                    if(struct is StStruct) {
-                        val label =  SymbolTable.labelnameForStructInstance(node)
-                        val initialValues = node.args.map {
-                            when(it) {
-                                is PtAddressOf -> StArrayElement(null, it.identifier!!.name, null)
-                                is PtBool -> StArrayElement(null, null, it.value)
-                                is PtNumber -> StArrayElement(it.number, null, null)
-                                else -> throw AssemblyError("invalid structalloc argument type $it")
-                            }
-                        }
-                        val scopedName = if(struct.astNode!=null) (struct.astNode as PtNamedNode).scopedName else struct.scopedNameString
-                        scope.first().add(StStructInstance(label, scopedName, initialValues, struct.size, null))
+                    val instance = handleStructAllocation(node)
+                    if(instance!=null) {
+                        scope.first().add(instance)  // don't add struct instances in nested scope, just put them in the top level of the ST
                     }
                 }
                 null
@@ -153,20 +143,50 @@ class SymbolTableMaker(private val program: PtProgram, private val options: Comp
             scope.removeLast()
     }
 
-    private fun makeInitialArray(value: PtArray): List<StArrayElement> {
+    private fun handleStructAllocation(node: PtBuiltinFunctionCall): StStructInstance? {
+        val struct = node.type.subType as? StStruct ?: return null
+        val initialValues = node.args.map {
+            when(it) {
+                is PtAddressOf -> StArrayElement(null, it.identifier!!.name, null, null,null)
+                is PtBool -> StArrayElement(null, null, null, null, it.value)
+                is PtNumber -> StArrayElement(it.number, null, null, null, null)
+                else -> throw AssemblyError("invalid structalloc argument type $it")
+            }
+        }
+        val label =  SymbolTable.labelnameForStructInstance(node)
+        val scopedStructName = if(struct.astNode!=null) (struct.astNode as PtNamedNode).scopedName else struct.scopedNameString
+        return StStructInstance(label, scopedStructName, initialValues, struct.size, null)
+    }
+
+    private fun makeInitialArray(value: PtArray, scope: ArrayDeque<StNode>): List<StArrayElement> {
         return value.children.map {
             when(it) {
                 is PtAddressOf -> {
                     when {
                         it.isFromArrayElement -> TODO("address-of array element $it in initial array value")
-                        else -> StArrayElement(null, it.identifier!!.name, null)
+                        else -> StArrayElement(null, it.identifier!!.name, null, null,null)
                     }
                 }
-                is PtNumber -> StArrayElement(it.number, null, null)
-                is PtBool -> StArrayElement(null, null, it.value)
+                is PtNumber -> StArrayElement(it.number, null, null,null,null)
+                is PtBool -> StArrayElement(null, null, null,null,it.value)
                 is PtBuiltinFunctionCall -> {
-                    val labelname = SymbolTable.labelnameForStructInstance(it)
-                    StArrayElement(null, labelname, null)
+                    if(it.name=="prog8_lib_structalloc") {
+                        val instance = handleStructAllocation(it)
+                        if(instance==null) {
+                            val label = SymbolTable.labelnameForStructInstance(it)
+                            if (it.args.isEmpty())
+                                StArrayElement(null, null, null, label, null)
+                            else
+                                StArrayElement(null, null, label, null, null)
+                        } else {
+                            scope.first().add(instance)  // don't add struct instances in nested scope, just put them in the top level of the ST
+                            if (it.args.isEmpty())
+                                StArrayElement(null, null, null, instance.name, null)
+                            else
+                                StArrayElement(null, null, instance.name, null, null)
+                        }
+                    } else
+                        TODO("support for initial array element via ${it.name}  ${it.position}")
                 }
                 else -> throw AssemblyError("invalid array element $it")
             }