beta 2012.06.28 09:36

author: Hans Hagen <pragma@wxs.nl> 2012-06-28 09:36:00 +0200
committer: Hans Hagen <pragma@wxs.nl> 2012-06-28 09:36:00 +0200
commit: 98d65bcefb9065dcc3c5ade6684cc317ca16f889 (patch)
tree: 9277e2f2d790937a31f2db69c0b9272aba90d60d /tex
parent: 915458f50da433e6c3a68ee21b76a98757ec8677 (diff)
download: context-98d65bcefb9065dcc3c5ade6684cc317ca16f889.tar.gz
25 files changed, 1376 insertions, 1840 deletions
diff --git a/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkii b/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkii
index 3ee2a446c..8dc73db6a 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkii
+++ b/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkii
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 %C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
 %C details.
 
-\newcontextversion{2012.06.26 10:59}
+\newcontextversion{2012.06.28 09:36}
 
 %D This file is loaded at runtime, thereby providing an
 %D excellent place for hacks, patches, extensions and new
diff --git a/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkiv b/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkiv
index f3227b9c6..ff78716df 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkiv
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 %C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
 %C details.
 
-\newcontextversion{2012.06.26 10:59}
+\newcontextversion{2012.06.28 09:36}
 
 %D This file is loaded at runtime, thereby providing an
 %D excellent place for hacks, patches, extensions and new
diff --git a/tex/context/base/context-version.pdf b/tex/context/base/context-version.pdf
index f9ca424c5..f1674d3fc 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/context-version.pdf
+++ b/tex/context/base/context-version.pdf
diff --git a/tex/context/base/context-version.png b/tex/context/base/context-version.png
index 9d7298d86..db9447b42 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/context-version.png
+++ b/tex/context/base/context-version.png
diff --git a/tex/context/base/context.mkii b/tex/context/base/context.mkii
index 62880781a..b464ed9ee 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/context.mkii
+++ b/tex/context/base/context.mkii
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 %D your styles an modules.
 
 \edef\contextformat {\jobname}
-\edef\contextversion{2012.06.26 10:59}
+\edef\contextversion{2012.06.28 09:36}
 
 %D For those who want to use this:
 
diff --git a/tex/context/base/context.mkiv b/tex/context/base/context.mkiv
index 847b6d460..12db41e1f 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/context.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/context.mkiv
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 %D up and the dependencies are more consistent.
 
 \edef\contextformat {\jobname}
-\edef\contextversion{2012.06.27 14:37}
+\edef\contextversion{2012.06.28 09:36}
 
 %D For those who want to use this:
 
@@ -421,7 +421,6 @@
 
 \loadmarkfile{typo-scr}
 
-\loadmarkfile{core-fnt}
 \loadmarkfile{node-rul}
 \loadmkvifile{font-sol} % font solutions
 
diff --git a/tex/context/base/core-fnt.mkiv b/tex/context/base/core-fnt.mkiv
deleted file mode 100644
index 980f1a85c..000000000
--- a/tex/context/base/core-fnt.mkiv
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,158 +0,0 @@
-%D \module
-%D   [       file=core-fnt,
-%D        version=1995.10.10,
-%D          title=\CONTEXT\ Core Macros,
-%D       subtitle=Fonts,
-%D         author=Hans Hagen,
-%D           date=\currentdate,
-%D      copyright={PRAGMA ADE \& \CONTEXT\ Development Team}]
-%C
-%C This module is part of the \CONTEXT\ macro||package and is
-%C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
-%C details.
-
-\writestatus{loading}{ConTeXt Core Macros / Fonts}
-
-\unprotect
-
-%D \macros
-%D   {compound}
-%D
-%D We will overload the already active \type {|} so we have
-%D to save its meaning in order to be able to use this handy
-%D macro.
-%D
-%D \starttyping
-%D so test\compound{}test can be used instead of test||test
-%D \stoptyping
-
-\bgroup \catcode\barasciicode\activecatcode \gdef\compound#1{|#1|} \egroup
-
-%D Here we hook some code into the clean up mechanism needed
-%D for verbatim data.
-
-\appendtoks
-    \disablecompoundcharacters
-    \disablediscretionaries
-\to \everycleanupfeatures
-
-%D The following code will me mkiv'd when needed. It's rather easy to
-%D extend the kerner with glue.
-
-%D \macros
-%D   {stretched}
-%D
-%D Stretching characters in a word is a sort of typographical
-%D murder. Nevertheless we support this manipulation for use in
-%D for instance titles.
-%D
-%D \starttyping
-%D \hbox to 5cm{\stretched{murder}}
-%D \stoptyping
-%D
-%D \typebuffer
-%D
-%D or
-%D
-%D \startexample
-%D \getbuffer
-%D \stopexample
-%D
-%D \showsetup{stretched}
-
-\unexpanded\def\stretched#1%
-  {\ifvmode\hbox to \hsize\else\ifinner\else\hbox\fi\fi
-   \bgroup\processtokens\relax\hss\relax{\hss\hss}{#1}\egroup}
-
-%D \startbuffer
-%D \stretched{Unknown Box}
-%D \hbox to .5\hsize{\stretched{A Horizontal Box}}
-%D \vbox to 2cm{\stretched{A Vertical Box}}
-%D \hbox to 3cm{\stretched{sp{\'e}c{\`\i}{\"a}l}}
-%D \stopbuffer
-%D
-%D \getbuffer
-%D
-%D The first line of this macros takes care of boxing. Normally
-%D one will use an \type{\hbox} specification. The last line
-%D shows how special characters should be passed.
-%D
-%D \typebuffer
-
-%D \macros
-%D   {stretchednormalcase, stretcheduppercase, stretchedlowercase}
-%D
-%D A convenient alternative is:
-%D
-%D \starttyping
-%D \stretcheduppercase{Is this what you like?}
-%D \stoptyping
-%D
-%D \typebuffer
-%D
-%D this one uses fixed skips and kerns.
-%D
-%D \startexample
-%D \getbuffer
-%D \stopexample
-%D
-%D The default skip can be set with:
-
-%D Given the following settings, the space is 1em by default:
-
-%D OBSOLETE:
-
-\def\stretchedspacefactor{4}
-\def\stretchedspaceamount{.25em}
-\def\stretchedbreaktokens{.@/}
-
-\unexpanded\def\stretchednormalcase
-  {\stretchedsomecase\firstofoneargument}
-
-\unexpanded\def\stretcheduppercase
-  {\stretchedsomecase{\the\everyuppercase\uppercase}}
-
-\unexpanded\def\stretchedlowercase
-  {\stretchedsomecase{\the\everylowercase\lowercase}}
-
-\def\stretchedsomecase#1#2%
-  {\bgroup
-   #1{\def\textstring{#2}}%
-   \ifdim\stretchedspaceamount=\zeropoint
-     \textstring
-   \else
-     \def\textkern##1%
-       {% beware: ##1 may not be \box\somebox -)
-        \determinemidwordbreak{##1}{\stretchedbreaktokens}%
-        \kern\stretchedspaceamount##1\domidwordbreak}%
-     \def\textskip
-       {\scratchdimen\stretchedspaceamount
-        \hskip\stretchedspacefactor\scratchdimen}%
-     \@EA\processtokens\@EA\relax\@EA\textkern\@EA\relax\@EA\textskip\@EA{\textstring}%
-   \fi
-   \egroup}
-
-%D An auxiliary macro, see for usage \type {\stretcheduppercase}.
-
-\let\domidwordbreak\relax
-
-\def\setmidwordbreaktoken#1%
-  {\sfcode`#1=5000\relax}
-
-\def\determinemidwordbreak#1#2%
-  {\edef\midwordbreaktokens{#2}%
-   \ifx\midwordbreaktokens\empty
-     \global\let\domidwordbreak\relax
-   \else
-     \setbox\scratchbox\hbox
-       {\expandafter\handletokens\midwordbreaktokens\with\setmidwordbreaktoken
-        a\space \!!dimena\lastskip
-        #1\space\!!dimenb\lastskip \relax % needed
-        \ifdim\!!dimena=\!!dimenb
-          \globallet\domidwordbreak\relax
-        \else
-          \globallet\domidwordbreak\allowbreak
-        \fi}%
-   \fi}
-
-\protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/grph-inc.mkiv b/tex/context/base/grph-inc.mkiv
index 72b2fee56..50dab55f0 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/grph-inc.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/grph-inc.mkiv
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@
    %
    \ctxlua{figures.push {
         name       = "#2",
-        label      = "#1", % todo: \@eflabel
+        label      = "#1", % todo: \externalfiguresparameter\c!label
         page       = "\externalfiguresparameter\c!page",
         size       = "\externalfiguresparameter\c!size",
         object     = "\externalfiguresparameter\c!object",
diff --git a/tex/context/base/grph-trf.mkiv b/tex/context/base/grph-trf.mkiv
index ec7455e18..4474eb8f1 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/grph-trf.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/grph-trf.mkiv
@@ -417,8 +417,8 @@
 
 \setvalue{\??scalenorm\v!max    }#1#2#3#4#5{\global#1#4}
 \setvalue{\??scalenorm\v!fit    }#1#2#3#4#5{\global#1#5}
-\setvalue{\??scalenorm\v!broad  }#1#2#3#4#5{\global#1\dimexpr#5-4\@@exbodyfont\relax}
-\setvalue{\??scalenorm\s!unknown}#1#2#3#4#5{\global#1\dimexpr#2\dimexpr\@@exbodyfont/10\relax\relax} % brr ex
+\setvalue{\??scalenorm\v!broad  }#1#2#3#4#5{\global#1\dimexpr#5-4\externalfiguresparameter\c!bodyfont\relax}
+\setvalue{\??scalenorm\s!unknown}#1#2#3#4#5{\global#1\dimexpr#2\dimexpr\externalfiguresparameter\c!bodyfont/10\relax\relax} % brr ex
 \setvalue{\??scalenorm\v!auto   }#1#2#3#4#5{\ifx#3\empty\else\global#1#3\fi}
 \setvalue{\??scalenorm\empty    }#1#2#3#4#5{\ifx#3\empty\else\global#1#3\fi}
 \setvalue{\??scalenorm\s!default}#1#2#3#4#5{\ifx#3\empty\else\global#1#3\fi}
diff --git a/tex/context/base/lang-mis.mkiv b/tex/context/base/lang-mis.mkiv
index ce23c0f60..3ce6b438f 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/lang-mis.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/lang-mis.mkiv
@@ -664,4 +664,28 @@
 
 \ifdefined\normalcompound \else \let\normalcompound=| \fi
 
+%D \macros
+%D   {compound}
+%D
+%D We will overload the already active \type {|} so we have
+%D to save its meaning in order to be able to use this handy
+%D macro.
+%D
+%D \starttyping
+%D so test\compound{}test can be used instead of test||test
+%D \stoptyping
+
+\bgroup
+    \catcode\barasciicode\activecatcode
+    \unexpanded\gdef\compound#1{|#1|}
+\egroup
+
+%D Here we hook some code into the clean up mechanism needed
+%D for verbatim data.
+
+\appendtoks
+    \disablecompoundcharacters
+    \disablediscretionaries
+\to \everycleanupfeatures
+
 \protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/mult-aux.mkiv b/tex/context/base/mult-aux.mkiv
index dfad1fb8b..fd90f84f2 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/mult-aux.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/mult-aux.mkiv
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
    \fi#2}
 
 \def\mult_interfaces_get_parameters_indeed#1]% namespace already set
-  {\mult_interfaces_get_parameters_item#1,],\@relax@}
+  {\mult_interfaces_get_parameters_item#1,],\_e_o_p_}
 
 \def\mult_interfaces_get_parameters_item#1,#2% #2 takes space before ,
   {\if,#1,% dirty trick for testing #1=empty
@@ -102,14 +102,14 @@
    \else\if]#1%
      \doubleexpandafter\gobbleoneargument
    \else
-     \mult_interfaces_get_parameters_assign#1==\empty\@relax@
+     \mult_interfaces_get_parameters_assign#1==\empty\_e_o_p_
      \doubleexpandafter\mult_interfaces_get_parameters_item
    \fi\fi#2}
 
 \def\mult_interfaces_get_parameters_error#1#2#3%
   {\showassignerror{#2}{\the\inputlineno\space(#1)}}
 
-\def\mult_interfaces_get_parameters_assign#1=#2=#3#4\@relax@
+\def\mult_interfaces_get_parameters_assign#1=#2=#3#4\_e_o_p_
   {\ifx\empty#1\empty
      \expandafter\mult_interfaces_get_parameters_error
    \else\ifx#3\empty
@@ -667,9 +667,7 @@
 
 \newcount\c_mult_interfaces_n_of_namespaces
 
-\def\v_interfaces_prefix_template{\number    \c_mult_interfaces_n_of_namespaces::}
-\def\v_interfaces_prefix_template{\characters\c_mult_interfaces_n_of_namespaces::}
-\def\v_interfaces_prefix_template{\number    \c_mult_interfaces_n_of_namespaces>}
+%def\v_interfaces_prefix_template{\number    \c_mult_interfaces_n_of_namespaces>}
 \def\v_interfaces_prefix_template{\characters\c_mult_interfaces_n_of_namespaces>}
 
 \def\v_interfaces_prefix_template % consistently %03i>
diff --git a/tex/context/base/mult-chk.mkiv b/tex/context/base/mult-chk.mkiv
index 3b58a19fb..1d02f166d 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/mult-chk.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/mult-chk.mkiv
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@
      \expandafter\mult_checkers_get_checked_parameters_nop_indeed
    \fi{#3}#5}
 
-\def\mult_checkers_get_checked_parameters_nop_indeed#1#2]%
-  {\def\p!dogetparameter{\p!doassign#1}% will change
-   \xprocesscommaitem#2,],\@relax@}
+\def\mult_checkers_get_checked_parameters_nop_indeed#1#2]% needs checking with adapted syst-aux.mkiv
+  {\def\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign{\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_indeed#1}% will change
+   \syst_helpers_process_comma_item#2,],\_e_o_p_}
 
 \unexpanded\def\disablecheckparameters{\let\getcheckedparameters\mult_checkers_get_checked_parameters_nop}
 \unexpanded\def\enablecheckparameters {\let\getcheckedparameters\mult_checkers_get_checked_parameters_yes}
diff --git a/tex/context/base/mult-def.mkiv b/tex/context/base/mult-def.mkiv
index fc2c334f6..d7b778a58 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/mult-def.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/mult-def.mkiv
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@
 \def\s!italics        {italics}
 \def\s!integral       {integral}
 
+\ifdefined\v!kerncharacters\else \def\v!kerncharacters{kerncharacters} \fi % no time now for translations should be a e! actually
+\ifdefined\v!stretched     \else \def\v!stretched     {stretched}      \fi
+
 % stop todo
 
 \protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/mult-low.lua b/tex/context/base/mult-low.lua
index 76fb08141..c1c35a352 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/mult-low.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/mult-low.lua
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ return {
         --
         "tracingall", "tracingnone", "loggingall",
         --
-        "appendtoks", "prependtoks", "appendtotoks", "prependtotoks", "to",
+        "removetoks", "appendtoks", "prependtoks", "appendtotoks", "prependtotoks", "to",
         --
         "endgraf", "empty", "null", "space", "quad", "enspace", "obeyspaces", "obeylines", "normalspace",
         --
diff --git a/tex/context/base/page-app.mkiv b/tex/context/base/page-app.mkiv
index df9607daa..8580b9f2e 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/page-app.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/page-app.mkiv
@@ -185,8 +185,8 @@
 
 \def\page_figures_start[#1][#2]%
   {\bgroup
-   \getparameters[\??ex][\c!offset=\v!overlay,#2]%
-   \startTEXpage[\c!offset=\@@exoffset]%
+   \setupexternalfigures[\c!offset=\v!overlay,#2]%
+   \startTEXpage[\c!offset=\externalfiguresparameter\c!offset]%
      \externalfigure[#1][#2]\ignorespaces} % so we can put some text below the graphic
 
 \unexpanded\def\stoppagefigure
diff --git a/tex/context/base/status-files.pdf b/tex/context/base/status-files.pdf
index d72c1e335..fbd2969f1 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/status-files.pdf
+++ b/tex/context/base/status-files.pdf
diff --git a/tex/context/base/status-lua.pdf b/tex/context/base/status-lua.pdf
index fd57767c1..0c86f24d3 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/status-lua.pdf
+++ b/tex/context/base/status-lua.pdf
diff --git a/tex/context/base/status-mkiv.lua b/tex/context/base/status-mkiv.lua
index 5240b43d4..07ba31a8e 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/status-mkiv.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/status-mkiv.lua
@@ -74,8 +74,7 @@ return {
         {
             filename = "syst-aux",
             marktype = "mkiv",
-            status   = "unknown",
-            comment  =  "will be better protected"
+            status   = "okay",
         },
         {
             filename = "syst-lua",
@@ -1359,11 +1358,11 @@ return {
             marktype = "mkiv",
             status   = "okay",
         },
-        {
-            filename = "core-fnt",
-            marktype = "mkiv",
-            status   = "unknown",
-        },
+     -- {
+     --     filename = "core-fnt",
+     --     marktype = "mkiv",
+     --     status   = "unknown",
+     -- },
         {
             filename = "node-rul",
             marktype = "mkiv",
diff --git a/tex/context/base/syst-aux.mkiv b/tex/context/base/syst-aux.mkiv
index 824754a77..9c8301f70 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/syst-aux.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/syst-aux.mkiv
@@ -11,10 +11,6 @@
 %C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
 %C details.
 
-%D Some of the macros will move to syst-obs as they might become
-%D obsolete once we've redone the bibliography module. Of course
-%D the handy helpers will stay.
-%D
 %D There are some references to \LUA\ variants here but these concern
 %D (often old) experiments, moved from local test modules to here,
 %D cleaned up, but not really used. After all it's not that urgent
@@ -38,13 +34,13 @@
 %D is used in \CONTEXT\ and therefore we might also assume that
 %D some basic functionality is available.
 %D
-%D Some of the macros here are used in the bibliography module. They
-%D will be moved to a separate syst module some once the bib module
-%D is made \MKIV.
-%D
 %D The original files contain previous implementations and notes about
 %D performance. This file will be stripped down in due time.
 
+%D Some of the macros here were only used in the bibliography module. They
+%D have been be moved to a separate syst module since the bib module is no
+%D longer using them. Some more will go away.
+
 \unprotect
 
 %D \macros
@@ -62,6 +58,21 @@
 
 \let\unexpanded\normalprotected
 
+%D As we don't have namespace definers yet, we use a special one:
+
+\newcount\c_syst_helpers_n_of_namespaces
+
+\def\v_interfaces_prefix_template_system{\number    \c_syst_helpers_n_of_namespaces>>}
+%def\v_interfaces_prefix_template_system{\characters\c_syst_helpers_n_of_namespaces>>} % no \characters yet
+
+\unexpanded\def\installsystemnamespace#1%
+  {\ifcsname ??#1\endcsname
+     \writestatus\m!system{duplicate system namespace '#1'}\wait
+   \else
+     \global\advance\c_syst_helpers_n_of_namespaces\plusone
+     \expandafter\edef\csname ??#1\endcsname{\v_interfaces_prefix_template_system}%
+   \fi}
+
 %D \macros
 %D   {normalspace}
 %D
@@ -165,19 +176,22 @@
 %D alternatives to this command. Beware, only the simple one
 %D has \type {\noexpand} before its argument.
 
-\let\@@expanded\empty % always long and global (less restores)
+\let\m_syst_helpers_expanded\empty % always long and global (less restores)
 
 \unexpanded\def\expanded#1%
-  {\xdef\@@expanded{\noexpand#1}\@@expanded}
+  {\xdef\m_syst_helpers_expanded{\noexpand#1}\m_syst_helpers_expanded}
 
-\unexpanded\def\startexpanded#1\stopexpanded % see x-fo for example
-  {\xdef\@@expanded{#1}\@@expanded}
+\unexpanded\def\startexpanded#1\stopexpanded
+  {\xdef\m_syst_helpers_expanded{#1}\m_syst_helpers_expanded}
 
 \let\stopexpanded\relax
 
-%D Recent \TEX's have a primitive \expanded
+%D Recent \TEX\ engines have a primitive \type {\expanded} and we will
+%D use that when possible. After all, we can make not expandable macros
+%D now.
 
-% not yet as we need to adapt ##'s in calls
+% We cannot use the next variant as first we need to adapt \type {##}'s
+% in callers:
 %
 % \def\expanded#1%
 %   {\normalexpanded{\noexpand#1}}
@@ -374,20 +388,15 @@
      \expandafter\m_syst_action_nop
    \fi}
 
-%D This macro uses some auxiliary macros. Although we were able
-%D to program quite complicated things, I only understood these
-%D after rereading the \TEX book. The trick is in using a
-%D command with a one character name. Such commands differ from
-%D the longer ones in the fact that trailing spaces are {\em
-%D not} skipped. This enables us to indirectly define a long
-%D named macro that gobbles a space.
-%D
-%D In the first line we define \type{\blankspace}. Next we
-%D make \type{\:} equivalent to \type{\reinspect...}. This
-%D one||character command is expanded before the next
-%D \type{\def} comes into action. This way the space after
-%D \type{\:} becomes a delimiter of the longer named
-%D \type{\reinspectnextcharacter}.
+%D This macro uses some auxiliary macros. Although we were able to program quite
+%D complicated things, I only understood these after rereading the \TEX book. The
+%D trick is in using a command with a one character name. Such commands differ from
+%D the longer ones in the fact that trailing spaces are {\em not} skipped. This
+%D enables us to indirectly define a long named macro that gobbles a space. In the
+%D first line we define \type {\blankspace}. Next we make \type {\:} equivalent to
+%D \type {\reinspect...}. This one||character command is expanded before the next
+%D \type {\def} comes into action. This way the space after \type {\:} becomes a
+%D delimiter of the longer named \type {\reinspectnextcharacter}.
 
 % try: \expandafter\def\firstofoneargument{\syst_helpers_reinspect_next_character} {...}
 
@@ -414,10 +423,9 @@
 %D    letvalue,letgvalue,getvalue,resetvalue,
 %D    undefinevalue,ignorevalue}
 %D
-%D \TEX's primitive \type{\csname} can be used to construct
-%D all kind of commands that cannot be defined with
-%D \type{\def} and \type{\let}. Every macro programmer sooner
-%D or later wants macros like these.
+%D \TEX's primitive \type {\csname} can be used to construct all kind of commands
+%D that cannot be defined with \type {\def} and \type {\let}. Every macro programmer
+%D sooner or later wants macros like these.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \setvalue   {name}{...} = \def\name{...}
@@ -430,9 +438,8 @@
 %D \resetvalue {name}      = \def\name{}
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D As we will see, \CONTEXT\ uses these commands many times,
-%D which is mainly due to its object oriented and parameter
-%D driven character.
+%D As we will see, \CONTEXT\ uses these commands many times, which is mainly due to
+%D its object oriented and parameter driven character.
 
 \def\setvalue     #1{\expandafter \def\csname#1\endcsname}
 \def\setgvalue    #1{\expandafter\gdef\csname#1\endcsname}
@@ -453,10 +460,9 @@
 %D \macros
 %D   {globallet,glet}
 %D
-%D In \CONTEXT\ of May 2000 using \type {\globallet}
-%D instead of the two tokens will save us some
-%D $300\times4=1200$ bytes of format file on a 32~bit
-%D system. So:
+%D In \CONTEXT\ of May 2000 using \type {\globallet} instead of the two
+%D tokens will save us some $300\times4=1200$ bytes of format file on a 32~bit
+%D system. Not that it matters much today. Anyway:
 
 \def\globallet{\global\let}  \let\glet\globallet
 
@@ -465,10 +471,9 @@
 %D    doifundefinedelse,doifdefinedelse,
 %D    doifalldefinedelse}
 %D
-%D The standard way of testing if a macro is defined is
-%D comparing its meaning with another undefined one, usually
-%D \type{\undefined}. To garantee correct working of the next
-%D set of macros, \type{\undefined} may never be defined!
+%D The standard way of testing if a macro is defined is comparing its meaning with
+%D another undefined one, usually \type{\undefined}. To garantee correct working of
+%D the next set of macros, \type{\undefined} may never be defined!
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \doifundefined      {string}    {...}
@@ -478,13 +483,12 @@
 %D \doifalldefinedelse {commalist} {then ...} {else ...}
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D Every macroname that \TEX\ builds gets an entry in the hash
-%D table, which is of limited size. It is expected that e-\TeX\
-%D will offer a less memory||consuming alternative.
+%D Every macroname that \TEX\ builds gets an entry in the hash table, which is of
+%D limited size. It is expected that \ETEX\ will offer a less memory||consuming
+%D alternative.
 
-%D Although it will probably never be a big problem, it is good
-%D to be aware of the difference between testing on a macro
-%D name to be build by using \type{\csname} and
+%D Although it will probably never be a big problem, it is good to be aware of the
+%D difference between testing on a macro name to be build by using \type{\csname} and
 %D \type{\endcsname} and testing the \type{\name} directly.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
@@ -493,11 +497,6 @@
 %D \ifundefined\NameB ... \else ... \fi
 %D \stoptyping
 
-% \def\ifundefined#1% obsolete
-%   {\unless\ifcsname#1\endcsname}
-%
-% use a real if like \ifcsname#1\endcsname\else instead
-
 \suppressifcsnameerror\plusone
 
 \def\doifundefinedelse#1%
@@ -523,12 +522,10 @@
 %D \macros
 %D   {letbeundefined}
 %D
-%D Testing for being undefined comes down to testing on \type
-%D {\relax} when we use \type {\csname}, but when using \type
-%D {\ifx}, we test on being \type {\undefined}! In \ETEX\ we
-%D have \type {\ifcsname} and that way of testing on existance
-%D is not the same as the one described here. Therefore we
-%D introduce:
+%D Testing for being undefined comes down to testing on \type {\relax} when we use
+%D \type {\csname}, but when using \type {\ifx}, we test on being \type
+%D {\undefined}! In \ETEX\ we have \type {\ifcsname} and that way of testing on
+%D existance is not the same as the one described here. Therefore we introduce:
 
 \def\letbeundefined#1% potential stack buildup when used \global
   {\expandafter\let\csname#1\endcsname\undefined}
@@ -539,13 +536,11 @@
 \def\globalundefine#1% conditional
   {\ifcsname#1\endcsname\expandafter\global\let\csname#1\endcsname\undefined\fi}
 
-%D Beware, being \type {\undefined} in \ETEX\ means that the macro
-%D {\em is} defined!
-
-%D When we were developing the scientific units module, we
-%D encountered different behavior in text and math mode, which
-%D was due to this grouping subtilities. We therefore decided
-%D to use \type{\begingroup} instead of \type{\bgroup}.
+%D Beware, being \type {\undefined} in \ETEX\ means that the macro {\em is} defined!
+%D
+%D When we were developing the scientific units module, we encountered different
+%D behavior in text and math mode, which was due to this grouping subtilities. We
+%D therefore decided to use \type{\begingroup} instead of \type{\bgroup}.
 
 \unexpanded\def\doifalldefinedelse#1%
   {\begingroup
@@ -566,15 +561,13 @@
 %D \macros
 %D   {doif,doifelse,doifnot}
 %D
-%D Programming in \TEX\ differs from programming in procedural
-%D languages like \MODULA. This means that one --- well, let me
-%D speek for myself --- tries to do the things in the well
-%D known way. Therefore the next set of \type{\ifthenelse}
-%D commands were between the first ones we needed. A few years
-%D later, the opposite became true: when programming in
-%D \MODULA, I sometimes miss handy things like grouping,
-%D runtime redefinition, expansion etc. While \MODULA\ taught
-%D me to structure, \TEX\ taught me to think recursive.
+%D Programming in \TEX\ differs from programming in procedural languages like
+%D \MODULA. This means that one --- well, let me speek for myself --- tries to do
+%D the things in the well known way. Therefore the next set of \type{\ifthenelse}
+%D commands were between the first ones we needed. A few years later, the opposite
+%D became true: when programming in \MODULA, I sometimes miss handy things like
+%D grouping, runtime redefinition, expansion etc. While \MODULA\ taught me to
+%D structure, \TEX\ taught me to think recursive.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \doif     {string1} {string2} {...}
@@ -649,9 +642,8 @@
 %D \macros
 %D   {doifinset,doifnotinset,doifinsetelse}
 %D
-%D We can check if a string is present in a comma separated
-%D set of strings. Depending on the result, some action is
-%D taken.
+%D We can check if a string is present in a comma separated set of strings.
+%D Depending on the result, some action is taken.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \doifinset     {string} {string,...} {...}
@@ -813,8 +805,8 @@
 %D \macros
 %D   {doifcommon,doifnotcommon,doifcommonelse}
 %D
-%D Probably the most time consuming tests are those that test
-%D for overlap in sets of strings.
+%D Probably the most time consuming tests are those that test for overlap in sets
+%D of strings.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \doifcommon     {string,...} {string,...} {...}
@@ -902,16 +894,16 @@
 %D   {processcommalist,processcommacommand,quitcommalist,
 %D    processcommalistwithparameters}
 %D
-%D We've already seen some macros that take care of comma
-%D separated lists. Such list can be processed with
+%D We've already seen some macros that take care of comma separated lists. Such
+%D list can be processed with
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \processcommalist[string,string,...]\commando
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D The user supplied command \type{\commando} receives one
-%D argument: the string. This command permits nesting and
-%D spaces after commas are skipped. Empty sets are no problem.
+%D The user supplied command \type{\commando} receives one argument: the string.
+%D This command permits nesting and spaces after commas are skipped. Empty sets
+%D are no problem.
 %D
 %D \startbuffer
 %D \def\dosomething#1{(#1)}
@@ -932,8 +924,10 @@
 
 \newcount\commalevel
 
+\installsystemnamespace{nextcommalevel}
+
 \def\syst_helpers_do_do_do_process_comma_item
-  {\csname\s!next\the\commalevel\endcsname}
+  {\csname\??nextcommalevel\the\commalevel\endcsname}
 
 \def\syst_helpers_do_do_process_comma_item
   {\ifx\nexttoken\blankspace
@@ -952,9 +946,8 @@
 \def\syst_helpers_do_process_comma_item
   {\futurelet\nexttoken\syst_helpers_do_do_process_comma_item}
 
-%D Empty arguments are not processed. Empty items (\type{,,})
-%D however are treated. We have to check for the special case
-%D \type{[{a,b,c}]}.
+%D Empty arguments are not processed. Empty items (\type {,,}) however are
+%D treated. We have to check for the special case \type {[{a,b,c}]}.
 
 \unexpanded\def\processcommalist[%
   {\futurelet\nexttoken\syst_helpers_do_check_comma_item}
@@ -969,7 +962,7 @@
 
 \def\syst_helpers_do_process_comma_list#1]#2%
   {\global\advance\commalevel \plusone
-   \expandafter\def\csname\s!next\the\commalevel\endcsname##1,%
+   \expandafter\def\csname\??nextcommalevel\the\commalevel\endcsname##1,%
      {#2{##1}\syst_helpers_do_process_comma_item}%
    \expandafter\syst_helpers_do_do_process_comma_item\gobbleoneargument#1,]\relax
    \global\advance\commalevel \minusone }
@@ -988,8 +981,8 @@
 \def\syst_helpers_do_quit_prev_comma_list#1]%
   {\let\syst_helpers_do_process_comma_item\syst_helpers_do_quit_comma_list}
 
-%D The hack we used for checking the next character
-%D \type {\doifnextcharelse} is also used here.
+%D The hack we used for checking the next character \type {\doifnextcharelse}
+%D is also used here.
 
 \let\next\:
 
@@ -1003,15 +996,13 @@
 %D
 %D \getbuffer
 
-%D When a list is saved in a macro, we can use a construction
-%D like:
+%D When a list is saved in a macro, we can use a construction like:
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \expandafter\processcommalist\expandafter[\list]\command
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D Such solutions suit most situations, but we wanted a bit
-%D more.
+%D Such solutions suit most situations, but we wanted a bit more.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \processcommacommand[string,\stringset,string]\commando
@@ -1028,14 +1019,14 @@
 %D \processcommacommand[\first,between,\second]\message
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D Commands that are part of the list are expanded, so the
-%D use of this macro has its limits.
+%D Commands that are part of the list are expanded, so the use of
+%D this macro has its limits.
 
 \unexpanded\def\processcommacommand[#1]%
   {\normalexpanded{\processcommalist[#1]}}
 
-%D The argument to \type{\command} is not delimited. Because
-%D we often use \type{[]} as delimiters, we also have:
+%D The argument to \type{\command} is not delimited. Because we often
+%D use \type{[]} as delimiters, we also have:
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \processcommalistwithparameters[string,string,...]\command
@@ -1056,13 +1047,15 @@
 %D
 %D Two more:
 
+\let\syst_helpers_comma_list_step\relax
+
 \unexpanded\def\startprocesscommalist[#1]#2\stopprocesscommalist
-  {\def\currentcommalistcommand##1{\def\currentcommalistitem{##1}#2}%
-   \processcommalist[#1]\currentcommalistcommand}
+  {\def\syst_helpers_comma_list_step##1{\def\currentcommalistitem{##1}#2}%
+   \processcommalist[#1]\syst_helpers_comma_list_step}
 
 \unexpanded\def\startprocesscommacommand[#1]#2\stopprocesscommacommand
-  {\def\currentcommalistcommand##1{\def\currentcommalistitem{##1}#2}%
-   \normalexpanded{\processcommalist[#1]}\currentcommalistcommand}
+  {\def\syst_helpers_comma_list_step##1{\def\currentcommalistitem{##1}#2}%
+   \normalexpanded{\processcommalist[#1]}\syst_helpers_comma_list_step}
 
 \let\stopprocesscommalist   \relax
 \let\stopprocesscommacommand\relax
@@ -1186,8 +1179,10 @@
      \fi
    \fi}
 
+\installsystemnamespace{nextactionlevel}
+
 \unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_do_process_all_actions_in_set
-  {\csname\s!do\the\processlevel\endcsname}
+  {\csname\??nextactionlevel\the\processlevel\endcsname}
 
 \unexpanded\def\processallactionsinset[#1]%
   {\edef\m_syst_string_one{#1}%
@@ -1200,7 +1195,7 @@
 
 \unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_process_all_actions_in_set_indeed[#1]#2[#3]%
   {\advance\processlevel \plusone
-   \expandafter\def\csname\s!do\the\processlevel\endcsname##1%
+   \expandafter\def\csname\??nextactionlevel\the\processlevel\endcsname##1%
      {\def\syst_helpers_do_do_process_action####1{\syst_helpers_do_compare_process_action_d[####1][##1]}%
       \processcommalist[#3]\syst_helpers_do_do_process_action}%
    \normalexpanded{\processcommalist[#1]}\syst_helpers_do_process_all_actions_in_set
@@ -1212,7 +1207,7 @@
   {#1%
    \let\nexttoken#4%
    \global\advance\commalevel \plusone
-   \expandafter\def\csname\s!next\the\commalevel\endcsname##1,%
+   \expandafter\def\csname\??nextcommalevel\the\commalevel\endcsname##1,%
      {#3{##1}\syst_helpers_do_process_comma_item}%
    \syst_helpers_do_do_process_comma_item#4#5,]\relax
    \global\advance\commalevel\minusone
@@ -1297,8 +1292,8 @@
 
 \unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_do_if_in_string_else#1#2% ##2 can be {abc}
   {\expandafter\def\expandafter\syst_helpers_do_do_if_in_string_else
-     \expandafter##\expandafter1#1##2##3\m_end_of_string{\unless\if##2@}% expand #1 here
-   \expandafter\syst_helpers_do_do_if_in_string_else\normalexpanded{#2#1}@@\m_end_of_string} % expand #2 here
+     \expandafter##\expandafter1#1##2##3\_e_o_s_{\unless\if##2@}% expand #1 here
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_do_do_if_in_string_else\normalexpanded{#2#1}@@\_e_o_s_} % expand #2 here
 
 %D The next alternative proved to be upto twice as fast on
 %D tasks like checking reserved words in pretty verbatim
@@ -1314,9 +1309,9 @@
 %D expansion.
 
 \unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_do_if_in_csname_else#1#2%
-  {\def\syst_helpers_do_do_if_in_csname_else##1#1##2##3\m_end_of_string
+  {\def\syst_helpers_do_do_if_in_csname_else##1#1##2##3\_e_o_s_
      {\unless\if##2@}%
-   \expandafter\syst_helpers_do_do_if_in_csname_else#2#1@@\m_end_of_string}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_do_do_if_in_csname_else#2#1@@\_e_o_s_}
 
 \unexpanded\def\doifincsnameelse#1#2%
   {\normalexpanded{\syst_helpers_do_if_in_csname_else{#1}}{#2}%
@@ -1388,13 +1383,13 @@
 
 \def\syst_helpers_raw_process_comma_item#1,#2% #2 eats up preceding space
   {\if]#1\else
-     \csname\s!next\the\commalevel\endcsname{#1}%
+     \csname\??nextcommalevel\the\commalevel\endcsname{#1}%
      \expandafter\syst_helpers_raw_process_comma_item
    \fi#2}
 
 \unexpanded\def\rawprocesscommalist[#1]#2% accepteert ook [\cs]
   {\global\advance\commalevel \plusone
-   \expandafter\let\csname\s!next\the\commalevel\endcsname#2%
+   \expandafter\let\csname\??nextcommalevel\the\commalevel\endcsname#2%
    \expandafter\syst_helpers_raw_process_comma_item#1,],% \relax
    \global\advance\commalevel \minusone }
 
@@ -1439,42 +1434,40 @@
 %D Some more raw material:
 
 \def\syst_helpers_do_raw_process_action[#1][#2]%
-  {\def\syst_helpers_do_do_raw_process_action##1,#1=>##2,##3\m_end_of_string
+  {\def\syst_helpers_do_do_raw_process_action##1,#1=>##2,##3\_e_o_s_
      {\if##3@\else
-        \def\!!processaction{##2}%
+        \def\m_syst_helpers_process_action{##2}%
       \fi}%
-   \syst_helpers_do_do_raw_process_action,#2,#1=>,@\m_end_of_string}
+   \syst_helpers_do_do_raw_process_action,#2,#1=>,@\_e_o_s_}
 
 \unexpanded\def\rawprocessaction[#1]#2[#3]%
   {\edef\m_syst_string_one{#1}%
    \edef\m_syst_string_two{undefined}% better \!!undefined
-   \let\!!processaction\m_syst_string_two
+   \let\m_syst_helpers_process_action\m_syst_string_two
    \ifx\m_syst_string_one\empty
      \expandafter\syst_helpers_do_raw_process_action\expandafter[\s!default][#3]%
    \else
       \expandafter\syst_helpers_do_raw_process_action\expandafter[\m_syst_string_one][#3]%
-      \ifx\!!processaction\m_syst_string_two
+      \ifx\m_syst_helpers_process_action\m_syst_string_two
         \expandafter\syst_helpers_do_raw_process_action\expandafter[\s!unknown][#3]%
       \fi
    \fi
-   \ifx\!!processaction\m_syst_string_two
+   \ifx\m_syst_helpers_process_action\m_syst_string_two
    \else
-     \!!processaction
+     \m_syst_helpers_process_action
    \fi}
 
-%D When we process the list \type{a,b,c,d,e}, the raw routine
-%D takes over 30\% less time, when we feed $20+$ character
-%D strings we gain about 20\%. Alternatives which use
-%D \type{\futurelet} perform worse. Part of the speedup is
-%D due to the \type{\let} and \type{\expandafter} in the test.
+%D When we process the list \type{a,b,c,d,e}, the raw routine takes over 30\% less
+%D time, when we feed $20+$ character strings we gain about 20\%. Alternatives which
+%D use \type{\futurelet} perform worse. Part of the speedup is due to the
+%D \type{\let} and \type{\expandafter} in the test.
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {dosetvalue,dosetevalue,dosetgvalue,docopyvalue,doresetvalue,
 %D    dogetvalue}
 %D
-%D When we are going to do assignments, we have to take
-%D multi||linguality into account. For the moment we keep
-%D things simple and single||lingual.
+%D When we are going to do assignments, we have to take multi||linguality into account.
+%D For the moment we keep things simple and single||lingual.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \dosetvalue   {label}    {variable}   {value}
@@ -1484,8 +1477,8 @@
 %D \doresetvalue {label}    {variable}
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D These macros are in fact auxiliary ones and are not meant
-%D for use outside the assignment macros.
+%D These macros are in fact auxiliary ones and are not meant for use outside the
+%D assignment macros.
 
 \def\dosetvalue#1#2% #3
   {\expandafter\def\csname#1#2\endcsname} % {#3}}
@@ -1508,13 +1501,11 @@
 %D \macros
 %D   {doassign,undoassign,doassignempty}
 %D
-%D Assignments are the backbone of \CONTEXT. Abhorred by the
-%D concept of style file hacking, we took a considerable effort
-%D in building a parameterized system. Unfortunately there is a
-%D price to pay in terms of speed. Compared to other packages
-%D and taking the functionality of \CONTEXT\ into account, the
-%D total size of the format file is still very acceptable. Now
-%D how are these assignments done.
+%D Assignments are the backbone of \CONTEXT. Abhorred by the concept of style file
+%D hacking, we took a considerable effort in building a parameterized system.
+%D Unfortunately there is a price to pay in terms of speed. Compared to other
+%D packages and taking the functionality of \CONTEXT\ into account, the total size
+%D of the format file is still very acceptable. Now how are these assignments done.
 %D
 %D Assignments can be realized with:
 %D
@@ -1535,38 +1526,36 @@
 %D \def\labelvariable{value}
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D We do check for the presence of an \type{=} and loudly
-%D complain of it's missed. We will redefine this macro later
-%D on, when a more advanced message mechanism is implemented.
+%D We do check for the presence of an \type{=} and loudly complain of it's missed. We
+%D will redefine this macro later on, when a more advanced message mechanism is
+%D implemented.
 
 \newif\iferrorisfatal
 
-\def\waitonfatalerror
+\unexpanded\def\waitonfatalerror
   {\iferrorisfatal\wait\fi}
 
-\def\showassignerror#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\showassignerror#1#2%
   {\writestatus{setup}{missing or ungrouped '=' after '#1' in line #2}%
    \waitonfatalerror}
 
-\def\doassignempty[#1][#2=#3]%
+\unexpanded\def\doassignempty[#1][#2=#3]%
   {\ifcsname#1#2\endcsname\else\dosetvalue{#1}{#2}{#3}\fi}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {getparameters,geteparameters,getgparameters,
 %D    forgetparameters}
 %D
-%D Using the assignment commands directly is not our
-%D ideal of user friendly interfacing, so we take some further
-%D steps.
+%D Using the assignment commands directly is not our ideal of user friendly interfacing,
+%D so we take some further steps.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \getparameters    [label] [...=...,...=...]
 %D \forgetparameters [label] [...=...,...=...]
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D Again, the label identifies the category a variable
-%D belongs to. The second argument can be a comma separated
-%D list of assignments.
+%D Again, the label identifies the category a variable belongs to. The second argument
+%D can be a comma separated list of assignments.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \getparameters
@@ -1583,8 +1572,7 @@
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
 %D
-%D In the pre||multi||lingual stadium \CONTEXT\ took the next
-%D approach. With
+%D In the pre||multi||lingual stadium \CONTEXT\ took the next approach. With
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \def\??demo {@@demo}
@@ -1608,20 +1596,16 @@
 %D \def\@@demobeta{2}
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D Because we want to be able to distinguish the \type{!!}
-%D pre||tagged user supplied variables from internal
-%D counterparts, we will introduce a slightly different tag in
-%D the multi||lingual modules. There we will use \type{c!} or
-%D \type{v!}, depending on the context.
-%D
-%D By calling \type{\p!doassign} directly, we save ourselves
-%D some argument passing and gain some speed. Whatever
-%D optimizations we do, this  command will always be one of the
-%D bigger bottlenecks.
+%D Because we want to be able to distinguish the \type{!!} pre||tagged user supplied
+%D variables from internal counterparts, we will introduce a slightly different tag
+%D in the multi||lingual modules. There we will use \type{c!} or \type{v!},
+%D depending on the context.
 %D
-%D The alternative \type{\geteparameters} --- it's funny to
-%D see that this alternative saw the light so lately --- can be
-%D used to do expanded assigments.
+%D By calling \type{doassign} directly, we save ourselves some argument passing
+%D and gain some speed. Whatever optimizations we do, this command will always be
+%D one of the bigger bottlenecks. The alternative \type{\geteparameters} --- it's
+%D funny to see that this alternative saw the light so lately --- can be used to do
+%D expanded assigments.
 
 \let\currentvalue\empty
 
@@ -1633,46 +1617,46 @@
 
 \let\getexpandedparameters\geteparameters
 
-\def\dogetparameters#1[#2]#3[#4%
+\unexpanded\def\dogetparameters#1[#2]#3[#4%
   {\if\noexpand#4]%
      \expandafter\gobbleoneargument
    \else
      \let\setsomevalue#1%
-     \def\p!dogetparameter{\p!doassign#2}%
-     \expandafter\xdogetparameters
+     \def\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign{\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_indeed#2}%
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_get_parameters
    \fi#4}
 
-\def\xdogetparameters#1]%
-  {\xprocesscommaitem#1,],\@relax@}
+\def\syst_helpers_get_parameters#1]%
+  {\xprocesscommaitem#1,],\_e_o_p_}
 
-\def\xprocesscommaitem#1,#2% #2 takes space before ,
+\def\syst_helpers_process_comma_item#1,#2% #2 takes space before ,
   {\if,#1,% dirty trick for testing #1=empty
-     \expandafter\xprocesscommaitem
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_process_comma_item
    \else\if]#1%
      \doubleexpandafter\gobbleoneargument
    \else
-     \p!dogetparameter\@relax@#1==\empty\@relax@
-     \doubleexpandafter\xprocesscommaitem
+     \syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign\_e_o_p_#1==\empty\_e_o_p_
+     \doubleexpandafter\syst_helpers_process_comma_item
    \fi\fi#2}
 
-\def\xshowassignerror#1#2#3%
+\def\syst_helpers_assign_error#1#2#3%
   {\showassignerror{#2}{\the\inputlineno\space(#1)}}
 
-\def\p!n!doassign#1\@relax@#2=#3=#4#5\@relax@
+\def\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_normal#1\_e_o_p_#2=#3=#4#5\_e_o_p_
   {\ifx\empty#2\empty
-     \expandafter\xshowassignerror
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_assign_error
    \else\ifx#4\empty
-     \doubleexpandafter\xshowassignerror
+     \doubleexpandafter\syst_helpers_assign_error
    \else
      \doubleexpandafter\setsomevalue
    \fi\fi
    {#1}{#2}{#3}}
 
-\def\p!e!doassign#1\@relax@#2=#3=#4#5\@relax@
+\def\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_error#1\_e_o_p_#2=#3=#4#5\_e_o_p_
   {\ifx\empty#2\empty
-     \expandafter\xshowassignerror
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_assign_error
    \else\ifx#4\empty
-     \doubleexpandafter\xshowassignerror
+     \doubleexpandafter\syst_helpers_assign_error
    \else
      \ifcsname#1#2\endcsname
        \expandafter\let\expandafter\currentvalue\csname#1#2\endcsname
@@ -1683,11 +1667,11 @@
    \fi\fi
    {#1}{#2}{#3}}
 
-\let\p!doassign\p!n!doassign
+\let\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_indeed\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_normal
 
-\def\doassign  [#1][#2]{\let\setsomevalue\dosetvalue  \p!doassign#1\@relax@#2==\empty\@relax@}
-\def\doeassign [#1][#2]{\let\setsomevalue\dosetevalue \p!doassign#1\@relax@#2==\empty\@relax@}
-\def\undoassign[#1][#2]{\let\setsomevalue\doresetvalue\p!doassign#1\@relax@#2==\empty\@relax@}
+\unexpanded\def\doassign  [#1][#2]{\let\setsomevalue\dosetvalue  \syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_indeed#1\_e_o_p_#2==\empty\_e_o_p_}
+\unexpanded\def\doeassign [#1][#2]{\let\setsomevalue\dosetevalue \syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_indeed#1\_e_o_p_#2==\empty\_e_o_p_}
+\unexpanded\def\undoassign[#1][#2]{\let\setsomevalue\doresetvalue\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_indeed#1\_e_o_p_#2==\empty\_e_o_p_}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {processassignmentlist,processassignmentcommand,
@@ -1704,8 +1688,8 @@
 %D worth the trouble and tokens.
 
 \unexpanded\def\processassignmentlist[#1]#2% #2 == \command{key}{value]
-  {\def\doprocessassignmententry##1{#2}% {##2}{##3} % namespace is ignored
-   \dogetparameters\doprocessassignmententry[][#1]}
+  {\def\syst_helpers_process_assignment_entry##1{#2}% {##2}{##3} % namespace is ignored
+   \dogetparameters\syst_helpers_process_assignment_entry[][#1]}
 
 \unexpanded\def\processassignmentcommand[#1]%
   {\normalexpanded{\processassignmentlist[#1]}}
@@ -1720,9 +1704,8 @@
 
 %D \macros{currentvalue}
 %D
-%D Just in case a \type{\getparameter} argument itself ends up
-%D inside a \type{\write} or other expandable location, our
-%D new macro needs a default value.
+%D Just in case a \type{\getparameter} argument itself ends up inside a \type
+%D {\write} or other expandable location, our new macro needs a default value.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \getparameters[xxx][aaa=bbb]\par
@@ -1732,7 +1715,8 @@
 %D \getparameters[xxx][aaa]\par
 %D \stoptyping
 
-%D \macros {expandparameters}
+%D \macros
+%D   {expandparameters}
 %D
 %D Example usage:
 %D
@@ -1749,26 +1733,27 @@
 %D \startlines
 %D \getbuffer
 %D \stoplines
-
+%D
 %D Here we hook in the code (beware, this is the optimized get **):
 
-\def\xdoget@n@parameters#1]%
-  {\xprocesscommaitem#1,],\@relax@}
+\def\syst_helpers_get_parameters_normal#1]%
+  {\syst_helpers_process_comma_item#1,],\_e_o_p_}
 
-\def\xdoget@e@parameters#1]%
+\def\syst_helpers_get_parameters_expanded#1]%
   {\let\dosetnvalue\setsomevalue
    \let\setsomevalue\dosetevalue
-   \let\p!doassign\p!e!doassign
+   \let\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_indeed\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_error
    \let\setsomevalue\dosetevalue
-   \xprocesscommaitem#1,],\@relax@
-   \let\p!doassign\p!n!doassign
+   \syst_helpers_process_comma_item#1,],\_e_o_p_
+   \let\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_indeed\syst_helpers_get_parameters_assign_normal
    \let\setsomevalue\dosetnvalue
-   \let\xdogetparameters\xdoget@n@parameters
+   \let\syst_helpers_get_parameters\syst_helpers_get_parameters_normal
    \let\currentvalue\empty}
 
-\let\xdogetparameters\xdoget@n@parameters % **
+\let\syst_helpers_get_parameters\syst_helpers_get_parameters_normal % **
 
-\def\expandparameters{\let\xdogetparameters\xdoget@e@parameters}
+\unexpanded\def\expandparameters
+  {\let\syst_helpers_get_parameters\syst_helpers_get_parameters_expanded}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {getemptyparameters}
@@ -1780,9 +1765,9 @@
 %D \getemptyparameters [label] [...=...,...=...]
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\getemptyparameters[#1]#2[#3]%
-  {\def\p!dogetemptyparameter##1{\doassignempty[#1][##1]}%
-   \processcommalist[#3]\p!dogetemptyparameter}
+\unexpanded\def\getemptyparameters[#1]#2[#3]%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_get_empty_parameters##1{\doassignempty[#1][##1]}%
+   \processcommalist[#3]\syst_helpers_get_empty_parameters}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {copyparameters}
@@ -1817,8 +1802,8 @@
 
 \unexpanded\def\copyparameters[#1]#2[#3]#4[#5]%
   {\doifnot{#1}{#3}
-     {\def\docopyparameter{\docopyvalue{#1}{#3}}% ##1
-      \processcommalist[#5]\docopyparameter}}
+     {\def\syst_helpers_copy_parameter{\docopyvalue{#1}{#3}}% ##1
+      \processcommalist[#5]\syst_helpers_copy_parameter}}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {ifparameters,checkparameters}
@@ -1836,50 +1821,49 @@
 
 \newif\ifparameters
 
-\def\p!checkparameters#1=#2#3\m_end_of_string%
+\def\syst_helpers_check_parameters#1=#2#3\_e_o_s_
   {\if#2@\parametersfalse\else\parameterstrue\fi}
 
 \def\checkparameters[#1]%
-  {\p!checkparameters#1=@@\m_end_of_string}
+  {\syst_helpers_get_empty_parameters#1=@@\_e_o_s_}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {getfromcommalist,getfromcommacommand,
 %D    commalistelement,
 %D    getcommalistsize,getcommacommandsize}
 %D
-%D It's possible to get an element from a commalist or a
-%D command representing a commalist.
+%D It's possible to get an element from a commalist or a command representing
+%D a commalist.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \getfromcommalist    [string] [n]
 %D \getfromcommacommand [string,\strings,string,...] [n]
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D The difference betwee the two of them is the same as the
-%D difference between \type{\processcomma...}. The found string
-%D is stored in \type{\commalistelement}.
+%D The difference betwee the two of them is the same as the difference between
+%D \type {\processcomma...}. The found string is stored in \type
+%D {\commalistelement}.
 %D
-%D We can calculate the size of a comma separated list by
-%D using:
+%D We can calculate the size of a comma separated list by using:
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \getcommalistsize    [string,string,...]
 %D \getcommacommandsize [string,\strings,string,...]
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D Afterwards, the length is available in the macro
-%D \type{\commalistsize} (not a \COUNTER).
+%D Afterwards, the length is available in the macro \type {\commalistsize}
+%D (not a \COUNTER).
 
 \newcount\commalistcounter
 
 \def\commalistsize{0}
 
-\def\p!dogetcommalistsize#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_get_comma_list_size#1%
   {\advance\commalistcounter\plusone}
 
 \def\getcommalistsize#1]% don't loose [{#1}]
   {\commalistcounter\zerocount
-   \processcommalist#1]\p!dogetcommalistsize   % was [{#1}]
+   \processcommalist#1]\syst_helpers_get_empty_parameters   % was [{#1}]
    \edef\commalistsize{\the\commalistcounter}}
 
 \def\getcommacommandsize[#1]%
@@ -1887,7 +1871,7 @@
    \scratchtoks\expandafter{\expandafter[\commacommand]}%
    \expandafter\getcommalistsize\the\scratchtoks }
 
-\def\p!dogetfromcommalist#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_get_from_comma_list#1%
   {\advance\commalistcounter \minusone
    \ifcase\commalistcounter
      \def\commalistelement{#1}%
@@ -1897,7 +1881,7 @@
 \unexpanded\def\getfromcommalist[#1]#2[#3]%
   {\let\commalistelement\empty
    \commalistcounter#3\relax
-   \processcommalist[#1]\p!dogetfromcommalist}
+   \processcommalist[#1]\syst_helpers_get_from_comma_list}
 
 \unexpanded\def\getfromcommacommand[#1]%
   {\normalexpanded{\getfromcommalist[#1]}}
@@ -1935,16 +1919,11 @@
 %D \dogetcommalistelement1\from a,b,c\to\commalistelement
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\dodogetcommalistelement#1\from#2,#3,#4,#5,#6,#7,#8\to#9%
+\def\syst_helpers_get_comma_list_element#1\from#2,#3,#4,#5,#6,#7,#8\to#9%
   {\edef#9{\ifcase#1\relax\or#2\or#3\or#4\or#5\or#6\or#7\or#8\fi}}
 
-\def\dogetcommalistelement#1\from#2\to%
-  {\dodogetcommalistelement#1\from#2,,,,,,\to}
-
-% check sources
-
 \def\dogetcommacommandelement#1\from#2\to%
-  {\expandafter\dodogetcommalistelement\expandafter#1\expandafter\from#2,,,,,,\to}
+  {\expandafter\syst_helpers_get_comma_list_element\expandafter#1\expandafter\from#2,,,,,,\to}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {dosingleargument,dodoubleargument,dotripleargument,
@@ -2029,8 +2008,7 @@
 %D    doquadrupleempty,doquintupleempty,dosixtupeempty,
 %D    doseventupleempty}
 %D
-%D The empty argument supplying macros mentioned before, look
-%D like:
+%D The empty argument supplying macros mentioned before, look like:
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \dosingleempty    \command
@@ -2038,11 +2016,11 @@
 %D \dotripleempty    \command
 %D \doquadrupleempty \command
 %D \doquintupleempty \command
-%D \dosixtupleempty  \command
+%D \dosixtuple_empty  \command
 %D \doseventupleempty\command
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D So \type{\dodoubleempty} leades to:
+%D So \type{\dodoubleempty} leads to:
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \command[#1][#2]
@@ -2057,16 +2035,16 @@
 \setnewconstant\noexpectedarguments\zerocount
 \setnewconstant\expectedarguments  \zerocount
 
-\def\showargumenterror#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\showargumenterror#1#2%
   {\writestatus{system}{\number#1 argument(s) expected in line #2}}
 
-\def\doshowargumenterror
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_argument_error
   {\ifnum\expectedarguments>\noexpectedarguments
      \showargumenterror{\number\expectedarguments}{\number\inputlineno}%
    \fi
-   \noshowargumenterror}
+   \syst_helpers_argument_reset}
 
-\def\noshowargumenterror
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_argument_reset
   {\let\expectedarguments\noexpectedarguments}
 
 % \def\test[#1]{(#1)}
@@ -2090,193 +2068,193 @@
 %D Single:
 
 \unexpanded\def\dosingleempty#1%
-  {\noshowargumenterror
+  {\syst_helpers_argument_reset
    \doifnextoptionalelse
      {\firstargumenttrue#1}%
-     {\dosingleemptyNOPone#1}}
+     {\syst_helpers_single_empty_one_nop#1}}
 
-\def\dosingleemptyNOPone#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_single_empty_one_nop#1%
   {\firstargumentfalse
    #1[]}
 
 %D Double
 
 \unexpanded\def\dodoubleempty#1%
-  {\noshowargumenterror
+  {\syst_helpers_argument_reset
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\dodoubleemptyYESone#1}%
-     {\dodoubleemptyNOPone#1}}
+     {\syst_helpers_double_empty_one_yes#1}%
+     {\syst_helpers_double_empty_one_nop#1}}
 
-\def\dodoubleemptyYESone#1[#2]%
+\def\syst_helpers_double_empty_one_yes#1[#2]%
   {\firstargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
      {\secondargumenttrue#1[{#2}]}%
-     {\dodoubleemptyNOPtwo#1{#2}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_double_empty_two_nop#1{#2}}}
 
-\def\dodoubleemptyNOPone#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_double_empty_one_nop#1%
   {\firstargumentfalse
    \secondargumentfalse
    #1[][]}
 
-\def\dodoubleemptyNOPtwo
+\def\syst_helpers_double_empty_two_nop
   {\secondargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dodoubleemptyonespaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_double_empty_one_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dodoubleemptyonenormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_double_empty_one_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\dodoubleemptyonespaced#1#2{#1[{#2}][] }
-\def\dodoubleemptyonenormal#1#2{#1[{#2}][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_double_empty_one_spaced#1#2{#1[{#2}][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_double_empty_one_normal#1#2{#1[{#2}][]}
 
 % Three
 
 \unexpanded\def\dotripleempty#1%
-  {\noshowargumenterror
+  {\syst_helpers_argument_reset
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\dotripleemptyYESone#1}%
-     {\dotripleemptyNOPone#1}}
+     {\syst_helpers_triple_empty_one_yes#1}%
+     {\syst_helpers_triple_empty_one_nop#1}}
 
-\def\dotripleemptyYESone#1[#2]%
+\def\syst_helpers_triple_empty_one_yes#1[#2]%
   {\firstargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\dotripleemptyYEStwo#1{#2}}%
-     {\dotripleemptyNOPtwo#1{#2}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_triple_empty_two_yes#1{#2}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_triple_empty_two_nop#1{#2}}}
 
-\def\dotripleemptyYEStwo#1#2[#3]%
+\def\syst_helpers_triple_empty_two_yes#1#2[#3]%
   {\secondargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
      {\thirdargumenttrue#1[{#2}][{#3}]}%
-     {\dotripleemptyNOPthree#1{#2}{#3}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_triple_empty_three_nop#1{#2}{#3}}}
 
-\def\dotripleemptyNOPone#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_triple_empty_one_nop#1%
   {\firstargumentfalse
    \secondargumentfalse
    \thirdargumentfalse
    #1[][][]}
 
-\def\dotripleemptyNOPtwo
+\def\syst_helpers_triple_empty_two_nop
   {\secondargumentfalse
    \thirdargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dotripleemptytwospaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_triple_empty_two_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dotripleemptytwonormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_triple_empty_two_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\dotripleemptyNOPthree
+\def\syst_helpers_triple_empty_three_nop
   {\thirdargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dotripleemptythreespaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_triple_empty_three_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dotripleemptythreenormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_triple_empty_three_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\dotripleemptytwospaced    #1#2{#1[{#2}][][] }
-\def\dotripleemptytwonormal    #1#2{#1[{#2}][][]}
-\def\dotripleemptythreespaced#1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][] }
-\def\dotripleemptythreenormal#1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_triple_empty_two_spaced  #1#2{#1[{#2}][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_triple_empty_two_normal  #1#2{#1[{#2}][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_triple_empty_three_spaced#1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_triple_empty_three_normal#1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][]}
 
 %D Four:
 
 \unexpanded\def\doquadrupleempty#1%
-  {\noshowargumenterror
+  {\syst_helpers_argument_reset
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doquadrupleemptyYESone#1}%
-     {\doquadrupleemptyNOPone#1}}
+     {\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_one_yes#1}%
+     {\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_one_nop#1}}
 
-\def\doquadrupleemptyYESone#1[#2]%
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_one_yes#1[#2]%
   {\firstargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doquadrupleemptyYEStwo#1{#2}}%
-     {\doquadrupleemptyNOPtwo#1{#2}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_two_yes#1{#2}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_two_nop#1{#2}}}
 
-\def\doquadrupleemptyYEStwo#1#2[#3]%
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_two_yes#1#2[#3]%
   {\secondargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doquadrupleemptyYESthree#1{#2}{#3}}%
-     {\doquadrupleemptyNOPthree#1{#2}{#3}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_three_yes#1{#2}{#3}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_three_nop#1{#2}{#3}}}
 
-\def\doquadrupleemptyYESthree#1#2#3[#4]%
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_three_yes#1#2#3[#4]%
   {\thirdargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
      {\fourthargumenttrue#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}]}%
-     {\doquadrupleemptyNOPfour#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_four_nop#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}}
 
-\def\doquadrupleemptyNOPone#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_one_nop#1%
   {\firstargumentfalse
    \secondargumentfalse
    \thirdargumentfalse
    \fourthargumentfalse
    #1[][][][]}
 
-\def\doquadrupleemptyNOPtwo
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_two_nop
   {\secondargumentfalse
    \thirdargumentfalse
    \fourthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\doquadrupleemptytwospaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_two_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\doquadrupleemptytwonormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_two_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doquadrupleemptyNOPthree
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_three_nop
   {\thirdargumentfalse
    \fourthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\doquadrupleemptythreespaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_three_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\doquadrupleemptythreenormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_three_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doquadrupleemptyNOPfour
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_four_nop
   {\fourthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\doquadrupleemptyfourspaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_four_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\doquadrupleemptyfournormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_four_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doquadrupleemptytwospaced      #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][] }
-\def\doquadrupleemptytwonormal      #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][]}
-\def\doquadrupleemptythreespaced  #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][] }
-\def\doquadrupleemptythreenormal  #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][]}
-\def\doquadrupleemptyfourspaced #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][] }
-\def\doquadrupleemptyfournormal #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_two_spaced      #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_two_normal      #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_three_spaced  #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_three_normal  #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_four_spaced #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_quadruple_empty_four_normal #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][]}
 
 %D Five:
 
 \unexpanded\def\doquintupleempty#1%
-  {\noshowargumenterror
+  {\syst_helpers_argument_reset
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doquintupleemptyYESone#1}%
-     {\doquintupleemptyNOPone#1}}
+     {\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_one_yes#1}%
+     {\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_one_nop#1}}
 
-\def\doquintupleemptyYESone#1[#2]%
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_one_yes#1[#2]%
   {\firstargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doquintupleemptyYEStwo#1{#2}}%
-     {\doquintupleemptyNOPtwo#1{#2}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_two_yes#1{#2}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_two_nop#1{#2}}}
 
-\def\doquintupleemptyYEStwo#1#2[#3]%
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_two_yes#1#2[#3]%
   {\secondargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doquintupleemptyYESthree#1{#2}{#3}}%
-     {\doquintupleemptyNOPthree#1{#2}{#3}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_three_yes#1{#2}{#3}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_three_nop#1{#2}{#3}}}
 
-\def\doquintupleemptyYESthree#1#2#3[#4]%
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_three_yes#1#2#3[#4]%
   {\thirdargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doquintupleemptyYESfour#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}%
-     {\doquintupleemptyNOPfour#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_four_yes#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_four_nop#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}}
 
-\def\doquintupleemptyYESfour#1#2#3#4[#5]%
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_four_yes#1#2#3#4[#5]%
   {\fourthargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
      {\fifthargumenttrue#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}]}%
-     {\doquintupleemptyNOPfive#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_five_nop#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}}
 
-\def\doquintupleemptyNOPone#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_one_nop#1%
   {\firstargumentfalse
    \secondargumentfalse
    \thirdargumentfalse
@@ -2284,92 +2262,92 @@
    \fifthargumentfalse
    #1[][][][][]}
 
-\def\doquintupleemptyNOPtwo
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_two_nop
   {\secondargumentfalse
    \thirdargumentfalse
    \fourthargumentfalse
    \fifthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\doquintupleemptytwospaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_two_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\doquintupleemptytwonormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_two_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doquintupleemptyNOPthree
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_three_nop
   {\thirdargumentfalse
    \fourthargumentfalse
    \fifthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\doquintupleemptythreespaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_three_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\doquintupleemptythreenormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_three_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doquintupleemptyNOPfour
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_four_nop
   {\fourthargumentfalse
    \fifthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\doquintupleemptyfourspaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_four_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\doquintupleemptyfournormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_four_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doquintupleemptyNOPfive
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_five_nop
   {\fifthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\doquintupleemptyfivespaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_five_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\doquintupleemptyfivenormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_five_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doquintupleemptytwospaced        #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][] }
-\def\doquintupleemptytwonormal        #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][]}
-\def\doquintupleemptythreespaced    #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][] }
-\def\doquintupleemptythreenormal    #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][]}
-\def\doquintupleemptyfourspaced   #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][] }
-\def\doquintupleemptyfournormal   #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][]}
-\def\doquintupleemptyfivespaced #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][] }
-\def\doquintupleemptyfivenormal #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_two_spaced        #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_two_normal        #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_three_spaced    #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_three_normal    #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_four_spaced   #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_four_normal   #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_five_spaced #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_quintuple_empty_five_normal #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][]}
 
 %D Six
 
 \unexpanded\def\dosixtupleempty#1%
-  {\noshowargumenterror
+  {\syst_helpers_argument_reset
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\dosixtupleemptyYESone#1}
-     {\dosixtupleemptyNOPone#1}}
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_one_yes#1}
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_one_nop#1}}
 
-\def\dosixtupleemptyYESone#1[#2]%
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_one_yes#1[#2]%
   {\firstargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\dosixtupleemptyYEStwo#1{#2}}%
-     {\dosixtupleemptyNOPtwo#1{#2}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_two_yes#1{#2}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_two_nop#1{#2}}}
 
-\def\dosixtupleemptyYEStwo#1#2[#3]%
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_two_yes#1#2[#3]%
   {\secondargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\dosixtupleemptyYESthree#1{#2}{#3}}%
-     {\dosixtupleemptyNOPthree#1{#2}{#3}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_three_yes#1{#2}{#3}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_three_nop#1{#2}{#3}}}
 
-\def\dosixtupleemptyYESthree#1#2#3[#4]%
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_three_yes#1#2#3[#4]%
   {\thirdargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\dosixtupleemptyYESfour#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}%
-     {\dosixtupleemptyNOPfour#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_four_yes#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_four_nop#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}}
 
-\def\dosixtupleemptyYESfour#1#2#3#4[#5]%
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_four_yes#1#2#3#4[#5]%
   {\fourthargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\dosixtupleemptyYESfive#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}%
-     {\dosixtupleemptyNOPfive#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_five_yes#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_five_nop#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}}
 
-\def\dosixtupleemptyYESfive#1#2#3#4#5[#6]%
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_five_yes#1#2#3#4#5[#6]%
   {\fifthargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
      {\sixthargumenttrue#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}]}%
-     {\dosixtupleemptyNOPsix#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{#6}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_six_nop#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{#6}}}
 
-\def\dosixemptyNOPone#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_one_nop#1%
   {\firstargumentfalse
    \secondargumentfalse
    \thirdargumentfalse
@@ -2378,112 +2356,112 @@
    \sixthargumentfalse
    #1[][][][][][]}
 
-\def\dosixtupleemptyNOPtwo
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_two_nop
   {\secondargumentfalse
    \thirdargumentfalse
    \fourthargumentfalse
    \fifthargumentfalse
    \sixthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosixemptytwospaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_two_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosixemptytwonormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_two_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\dosixtupleemptyNOPthree
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_three_nop
   {\thirdargumentfalse
    \fourthargumentfalse
    \fifthargumentfalse
    \sixthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosixemptythreespaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_three_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosixemptythreenormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_three_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\dosixtupleemptyNOPfour
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_four_nop
   {\fourthargumentfalse
    \fifthargumentfalse
    \sixthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosixemptyfourspaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_four_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosixemptyfournormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_four_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\dosixtupleemptyNOPfive
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_five_nop
   {\fifthargumentfalse
    \sixthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosixemptyfivespaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_five_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosixemptyfivenormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_five_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\dosixtupleemptyNOPsix
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_six_nop
   {\sixthargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosixemptysixspaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_six_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosixemptysixnormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_six_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\dosixemptytwospaced          #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][][] }
-\def\dosixemptytwonormal          #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][][]}
-\def\dosixemptythreespaced      #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][][] }
-\def\dosixemptythreenormal      #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][][]}
-\def\dosixemptyfourspaced     #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][][] }
-\def\dosixemptyfournormal     #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][][]}
-\def\dosixemptyfivespaced   #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][][] }
-\def\dosixemptyfivenormal   #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][][]}
-\def\dosixemptysixspaced  #1#2#3#4#5#6{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][] }
-\def\dosixemptysixnormal  #1#2#3#4#5#6{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_two_spaced          #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_two_normal          #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_three_spaced      #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_three_normal      #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_four_spaced     #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_four_normal     #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_five_spaced   #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_five_normal   #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_six_spaced  #1#2#3#4#5#6{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_sixtuple_empty_six_normal  #1#2#3#4#5#6{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][]}
 
 %D Seven:
 
 \unexpanded\def\doseventupleempty#1%
-  {\noshowargumenterror
+  {\syst_helpers_argument_reset
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doseventupleemptyYESone#1}%
-     {\doseventupleemptyNOPone#1}}
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_one_yes#1}%
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_one_nop#1}}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyYESone#1[#2]%
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_one#1[#2]%
   {\firstargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doseventupleemptyYEStwo#1{#2}}%
-     {\doseventupleemptyNOPtwo#1{#2}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_two_yes#1{#2}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_two_nop#1{#2}}}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyYEStwo#1#2[#3]%
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_two#1#2[#3]%
   {\secondargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doseventupleemptyYESthree#1{#2}{#3}}%
-     {\doseventupleemptyNOPthree#1{#2}{#3}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_three_yes#1{#2}{#3}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_three_nop#1{#2}{#3}}}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyYESthree#1#2#3[#4]%
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_three#1#2#3[#4]%
   {\thirdargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doseventupleemptyYESfour#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}%
-     {\doseventupleemptyNOPfour#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_four_yes#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_four_nop#1{#2}{#3}{#4}}}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyYESfour#1#2#3#4[#5]%
+\def\syst_helpers_seventupleempty_four#1#2#3#4[#5]%
   {\fourthargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doseventupleemptyYESfive#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}%
-     {\doseventupleemptyNOPfive#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_five_yes#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_five_nop#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyYESfive#1#2#3#4#5[#6]%
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_five#1#2#3#4#5[#6]%
   {\fifthargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
-     {\doseventupleemptyYESsix#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{#6}}%
-     {\doseventupleemptyNOPsix#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{#6}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_six_yes#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{#6}}%
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_six_nop#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{#6}}}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyYESsix#1#2#3#4#5#6[#7]%
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_six#1#2#3#4#5#6[#7]%
   {\sixthargumenttrue
    \doifnextoptionalelse
      {\seventhargumenttrue#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][{#7}]}%
-     {\doseventupleemptyNOPseven#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{#6}{#7}}}
+     {\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_seven_nop#1{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{#6}{#7}}}
 
-\def\dosevenemptyNOPone#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_one_nop#1%
   {\firstargumentfalse
    \secondargumentfalse
    \thirdargumentfalse
@@ -2493,7 +2471,7 @@
    \seventhargumentfalse
    #1[][][][][][][]}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyNOPtwo
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_two_nop
   {\secondargumentfalse
    \thirdargumentfalse
    \fourthargumentfalse
@@ -2501,73 +2479,73 @@
    \sixthargumentfalse
    \seventhargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptytwospaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_two_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptytwonormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_two_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyNOPthree
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_three_nop
   {\thirdargumentfalse
    \fourthargumentfalse
    \fifthargumentfalse
    \sixthargumentfalse
    \seventhargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptythreespaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_three_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptythreenormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_three_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyNOPfour
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_four_nop
   {\fourthargumentfalse
    \fifthargumentfalse
    \sixthargumentfalse
    \seventhargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptyfourspaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_four_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptyfournormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_four_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyNOPfive
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_five_nop
   {\fifthargumentfalse
    \sixthargumentfalse
    \seventhargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptyfivespaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_five_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptyfivenormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_five_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyNOPsix
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_six_nop
   {\sixthargumentfalse
    \seventhargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptysixspaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_six_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptysixnormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_six_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\doseventupleemptyNOPseven
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_seven_nop
   {\seventhargumentfalse
    \if_next_blank_space_token
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptysevenspaced
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_seven_spaced
    \else
-     \expandafter\dosevenemptysevennormal
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_seven_normal
    \fi}
 
-\def\dosevenemptytwospaced            #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][][][] }
-\def\dosevenemptytwonormal            #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][][][]}
-\def\dosevenemptythreespaced        #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][][][] }
-\def\dosevenemptythreenormal        #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][][][]}
-\def\dosevenemptyfourspaced       #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][][][] }
-\def\dosevenemptyfournormal       #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][][][]}
-\def\dosevenemptyfivespaced     #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][][][] }
-\def\dosevenemptyfivenormal     #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][][][]}
-\def\dosevenemptysixspaced    #1#2#3#4#5#6{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][][] }
-\def\dosevenemptysixnormal    #1#2#3#4#5#6{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][][]}
-\def\dosevenemptysevenspaced#1#2#3#4#5#6#7{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][{#7}][] }
-\def\dosevenemptysevennormal#1#2#3#4#5#6#7{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][{#7}][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_spaced_two            #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_normal_two            #1#2{#1[{#2}][][][][][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_spaced_three        #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_normal_three        #1#2#3{#1[{#2}][{#3}][][][][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_spaced_four       #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_normal_four       #1#2#3#4{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][][][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_spaced_five     #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_normal_five     #1#2#3#4#5{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_spaced_six    #1#2#3#4#5#6{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_normal_six    #1#2#3#4#5#6{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][][]}
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_spaced_seven#1#2#3#4#5#6#7{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][{#7}][] }
+\def\syst_helpers_seventuple_empty_normal_seven#1#2#3#4#5#6#7{#1[{#2}][{#3}][{#4}][{#5}][{#6}][{#7}][]}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {strippedcsname}
@@ -2644,22 +2622,20 @@
 %D worthwile to offer two more alternatives. Watch the build
 %D in protection.
 
-\def\docomplexorsimple#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_complex_or_simple#1#2%
   {\doifnextoptionalelse{\firstargumenttrue#1}{\firstargumentfalse#2}}
 
-\def\docomplexorsimpleempty#1%
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_complex_or_simple_empty#1%
   {\doifnextoptionalelse{\firstargumenttrue#1}{\firstargumentfalse#1[]}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\definecomplexorsimple#1%
-  {\unexpanded\edef#1%
-     {\noexpand\docomplexorsimple
-        \expandafter\noexpand\csname\s!complex\strippedcsname#1\endcsname
-        \expandafter\noexpand\csname\s!simple \strippedcsname#1\endcsname}}
+  {\unexpanded\edef#1{\syst_helpers_complex_or_simple
+     \expandafter\noexpand\csname\s!complex\strippedcsname#1\endcsname
+     \expandafter\noexpand\csname\s!simple \strippedcsname#1\endcsname}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\definecomplexorsimpleempty#1%
-  {\unexpanded\edef#1%
-     {\noexpand\docomplexorsimpleempty
-        \expandafter\noexpand\csname\s!complex\strippedcsname#1\endcsname}}
+  {\unexpanded\edef#1{\syst_helpers_complex_or_simple_empty
+     \expandafter\noexpand\csname\s!complex\strippedcsname#1\endcsname}}
 
 %D These commands are called as:
 %D
@@ -2695,8 +2671,10 @@
 %D We can add additional definitions later when we have defined
 %D \type {\appendtoks}.
 
-\def    \permitspacesbetweengroups{\let\@@permitspacesbetweengroups\zerocount}
-\def\dontpermitspacesbetweengroups{\let\@@permitspacesbetweengroups\plusone}
+\newconditional\c_syst_helpers_permit_spaces_between_groups
+
+\def    \permitspacesbetweengroups{\settrue \c_syst_helpers_permit_spaces_between_groups}
+\def\dontpermitspacesbetweengroups{\setfalse\c_syst_helpers_permit_spaces_between_groups}
 
 \dontpermitspacesbetweengroups
 
@@ -2705,94 +2683,94 @@
 %D potentially being an \type {conditional} token. Okay, these macros
 %D are not called that often but it saves crap when tracing.
 
-\def\dodogetgroupargument
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument#1#2%
+  {\let\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_yes#1%
+   \let\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nop#2%
+   \futurelet\nextargument\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_indeed}
+
+\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_indeed
   {\ifx\nextargument\bgroup
-     \expandafter\dodogetgroupargumentA
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_a
    \else
-     \expandafter\dodogetgroupargumentB
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_b
    \fi}
 
-\def\dodogetgroupargumentA
-  {\noshowargumenterror
-   \dogroupargumentyes\dodogetargument}
+\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_a
+  {\syst_helpers_argument_reset
+   \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_yes\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested}
 
-\def\dodogetgroupargumentB
-  {\ifcase\@@permitspacesbetweengroups
-     \expandafter\dodogetgroupargumentF
+\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_b
+  {\ifconditional\c_syst_helpers_permit_spaces_between_groups
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_f
    \else
-     \expandafter\dodogetgroupargumentD
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_d
    \fi}
 
-\def\dodogetgroupargumentD
-  {\doshowargumenterror
-   \dogroupargumentnop\dodogetargument{}}
+\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_d
+  {\syst_helpers_argument_error
+   \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nop\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested{}}
 
 \begingroup
-  \def\\ {\dogetgroupargument\dogroupargumentyes\dogroupargumentnop}
-  \global\let\dodogetgroupargumentE\\
+  \def\\ {\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_yes\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nop}
+  \global\let\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_e\\
 \endgroup
 
-\def\dodogetgroupargumentF
+\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_f
   {\ifx\nextargument\blankspace
-     \expandafter\dodogetgroupargumentE % G
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_e % g
    \else
-     \expandafter\dodogetgroupargumentD % H
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_d % h
    \fi}
 
-\def\dogetgroupargument#1#2%
-  {\let\dogroupargumentyes#1%
-   \let\dogroupargumentnop#2%
-   \futurelet\nextargument\dodogetgroupargument}
-
 \def\dosinglegroupempty#1%
-  {\def\dodogetargument%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested
      {\dontpermitspacesbetweengroups
       #1}%
-   \dogetgroupargument\firstargumenttrue\firstargumentfalse}
+   \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\firstargumenttrue\firstargumentfalse}
 
 \def\dodoublegroupempty#1%
-  {\def\dodogetargument##1%
-     {\def\dodogetargument%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested##1%
+     {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested
         {\dontpermitspacesbetweengroups
          #1{##1}}%
-      \dogetgroupargument\secondargumenttrue\secondargumentfalse}%
-   \dogetgroupargument\firstargumenttrue\firstargumentfalse}
+      \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\secondargumenttrue\secondargumentfalse}%
+   \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\firstargumenttrue\firstargumentfalse}
 
 \def\dotriplegroupempty#1%
-  {\def\dodogetargument##1%
-     {\def\dodogetargument####1%
-        {\def\dodogetargument%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested##1%
+     {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested####1%
+        {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested
            {\dontpermitspacesbetweengroups
             #1{##1}{####1}}%
-         \dogetgroupargument\thirdargumenttrue\thirdargumentfalse}%
-      \dogetgroupargument\secondargumenttrue\secondargumentfalse}%
-   \dogetgroupargument\firstargumenttrue\firstargumentfalse}
+         \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\thirdargumenttrue\thirdargumentfalse}%
+      \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\secondargumenttrue\secondargumentfalse}%
+   \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\firstargumenttrue\firstargumentfalse}
 
 \def\doquadruplegroupempty#1%
-  {\def\dodogetargument##1%
-     {\def\dodogetargument####1%
-        {\def\dodogetargument########1%
-           {\def\dodogetargument%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested##1%
+     {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested####1%
+        {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested########1%
+           {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested
               {\dontpermitspacesbetweengroups
                #1{##1}{####1}{########1}}%
-            \dogetgroupargument\fourthargumenttrue\fourthargumentfalse}%
-         \dogetgroupargument\thirdargumenttrue\thirdargumentfalse}%
-      \dogetgroupargument\secondargumenttrue\secondargumentfalse}%
-   \dogetgroupargument\firstargumenttrue\firstargumentfalse}
+            \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\fourthargumenttrue\fourthargumentfalse}%
+         \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\thirdargumenttrue\thirdargumentfalse}%
+      \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\secondargumenttrue\secondargumentfalse}%
+   \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\firstargumenttrue\firstargumentfalse}
 
 \def\doquintuplegroupempty#1%
-  {\def\dodogetargument##1%
-     {\def\dodogetargument####1%
-        {\def\dodogetargument########1%
-           {\def\dodogetargument################1%
-             {\def\dodogetargument%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested##1%
+     {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested####1%
+        {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested########1%
+           {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested################1%
+             {\def\syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument_nested
                 {\dontpermitspacesbetweengroups
                  #1{##1}{####1}{########1}{################1}}%
-              \dogetgroupargument\fifthargumenttrue\fifthargumentfalse}%
-            \dogetgroupargument\fourthargumenttrue\fourthargumentfalse}%
-         \dogetgroupargument\thirdargumenttrue\thirdargumentfalse}%
-      \dogetgroupargument\secondargumenttrue\secondargumentfalse}%
-   \dogetgroupargument\firstargumenttrue\firstargumentfalse}
+              \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\fifthargumenttrue\fifthargumentfalse}%
+            \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\fourthargumenttrue\fourthargumentfalse}%
+         \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\thirdargumenttrue\thirdargumentfalse}%
+      \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\secondargumenttrue\secondargumentfalse}%
+   \syst_helpers_get_grouped_argument\firstargumenttrue\firstargumentfalse}
 
 %D These macros can explictly take care of spaces, which means
 %D that the next definition and calls are valid:
@@ -2873,7 +2851,7 @@
 %D nesting is to be expected, we can reuse \type{\wait} within
 %D \type{\wait} itself.
 
-\def\wait
+\unexpanded\def\wait
   {\begingroup
    \read16 to \wait
    \endgroup}
@@ -2904,24 +2882,24 @@
 
     \newtoks\everywritestring
 
-    \def\writedirect  {\immediate\write\statuswrite}
-    \def\writeline    {\writedirect{}}
-    \def\writestring#1{\begingroup\the\everywritestring\writedirect{#1}\endgroup}
+               \def\writedirect  {\immediate\write\statuswrite}
+               \def\writeline    {\writedirect{}}
+    \unexpanded\def\writestring#1{\begingroup\the\everywritestring\writedirect{#1}\endgroup}
 
 \fi
 
-\def\normalwritestatus#1#2%
-  {\writestring{\expandafter\dosplitstatus\expandafter\statuswidth#1%
+\unexpanded\def\normalwritestatus#1#2%
+  {\writestring{\expandafter\syst_helpers_split_status_yes\expandafter\statuswidth#1%
      \space\space\space\space\space\space\space
      \space\space\space\space\space\space\space
      \space\space\space\space\space\space\end
      \space:\space#2}}
 
-\def\dosplitstatus#1#2%
-  {\ifcase#1 \expandafter\nosplitstatus\fi#2%
-   \expandafter\dosplitstatus\expandafter{\the\numexpr#1+\minusone\relax}}
+\def\syst_helpers_split_status_yes#1#2%
+  {\ifcase#1 \expandafter\syst_helpers_split_status_nop\fi#2%
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_split_status_yes\expandafter{\the\numexpr#1+\minusone\relax}}
 
-\def\nosplitstatus#1\end
+\def\syst_helpers_split_status_nop#1\end
   {}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -2941,13 +2919,13 @@
 
 \newif\ifdebuggerinfo
 
-\def\debuggerinfo#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\debuggerinfo#1#2%
   {\ifdebuggerinfo
      \writestatus{debugger}{#1:: #2}%
    \fi}
 
-\ifdefined\writestatus \else \let\writestatus\normalwritestatus \fi
-\ifdefined\writebanner \else \def\writebanner{\writestring}     \fi
+\ifdefined\writestatus \else            \let\writestatus\normalwritestatus \fi
+\ifdefined\writebanner \else \unexpanded\def\writebanner{\writestring}     \fi
 
 % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
 
@@ -2957,13 +2935,13 @@
 %D A raw and dirty alternative for \type {\getparameters}; no
 %D checking is done!
 
-\def\rawsetparameter#1=#2,%
+\unexpanded\def\rawsetparameter#1=#2,%
   {\if]#1\else
      \expandafter\def\csname\rawparameterprefix#1\endcsname{#2}%
      \expandafter\rawsetparameter
    \fi}
 
-\def\rawgetparameters[#1][#2% some 5-10% faster
+\unexpanded\def\rawgetparameters[#1][#2% some 5-10% faster
   {\ifx#2]% test is needed, else bomb on [#1][]
      \expandafter\gobbleoneargument
    \else
@@ -2986,28 +2964,28 @@
 %D \type {\redoglobal}. When using only alternatives, one can
 %D reset this mechanism with \type {\resetglobal}.
 
-\def\resetglobal
+\unexpanded\def\resetglobal
   {\let\redoglobal\relax
    \let\dodoglobal\relax}
 
 \resetglobal
 
-\def\doglobal
+\unexpanded\def\doglobal
   {\ifx\redoglobal\relax
      \let\redoglobal\global
-     \let\dodoglobal\@@dodoglobal
+     \let\dodoglobal\syst_helpers_dodo_global
    \fi}
 
-\def\@@dodoglobal
+\def\syst_helpers_dodo_global
   {\resetglobal\global}
 
 \def\saveglobal
-  {\let\@@dodoglobal\dodoglobal
-   \let\@@redoglobal\redoglobal}
+  {\let\syst_helpers_dodo_global\dodoglobal
+   \let\syst_helpers_redo_global\redoglobal}
 
 \def\restoreglobal
-  {\let\redoglobal\@@redoglobal
-   \let\dodoglobal\@@dodoglobal}
+  {\let\redoglobal\syst_helpers_redo_global
+   \let\dodoglobal\syst_helpers_dodo_global}
 
 %D A very useful application of this macro is \type {\newif},
 %D \TEX's fake boolean type. Not being a primitive,
@@ -3050,7 +3028,7 @@
      \unexpanded\expandafter\def
    \fi#1}
 
-\def\redefine#1%
+\unexpanded\def\redefine#1%
   {\ifdefined#1%
      \message{[\noexpand#1is redefined]}%
    \fi
@@ -3078,76 +3056,46 @@
 %
 % [\test]
 
-% todo: pick up keywords:
-%
-% \starttexdefinition unexpanded bagger ....
-
-% \bgroup \obeylines
-%
-% \gdef\starttexdefinition%
-%   {\bgroup%
-%    \obeylines%
-%    \dostarttexdefinition}
-%
-% \gdef\dostarttexdefinition #1
-%   {\catcode\endoflineasciicode\ignorecatcode%
-%    \doifinstringelse\letterhash{\detokenize{#1}}\dodostarttexdefinition\nonostarttexdefinition#1
-%   }
-%
-% \gdef\dodostarttexdefinition#1 #2
-%   {\dododostarttexdefinition{#1}{#2}}
-%
-% \gdef\dododostarttexdefinition#1#2#3\stoptexdefinition%
-%   {\egroup%
-%    \expandafter\def\csname#1\endcsname#2{#3}}
-%
-% \gdef\nonostarttexdefinition#1
-%   {\nononostarttexdefinition{#1}{}}
-%
-% \gdef\nononostarttexdefinition#1#2#3\stoptexdefinition%
-%   {\egroup%
-%    \expandafter\def\csname#1\endcsname{#3}}
-%
-% \egroup
-
 \def\s!unexpanded{unexpanded}
 
 \bgroup \obeylines
 
-\gdef\starttexdefinition%
+\global\let\stoptexdefinition\relax
+
+\unexpanded\gdef\starttexdefinition%
   {\bgroup%
    \obeylines%
-   \dostarttexdefinition}
+   \syst_helpers_start_tex_definition}
 
-\gdef\dostarttexdefinition #1
+\gdef\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition #1
   {\catcode\endoflineasciicode\ignorecatcode%
-   \doifinstringelse\letterhash{\detokenize{#1}}\dodostarttexdefinition\nonostarttexdefinition#1
+   \doifinstringelse\letterhash{\detokenize{#1}}\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition_yes\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition_nop#1
   }
 
-\gdef\dodostarttexdefinition#1 #2
+\gdef\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition_yes#1 #2
   {\edef\texdefinitionname{#1}%
    \ifx\texdefinitionname\s!unexpanded%
-     \expandafter\dododostarttexdefinitionU%
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition_yes_unexpanded%
    \else%
-     \expandafter\dododostarttexdefinitionN%
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition_yes_normal%
    \fi%
    {#1}#2
    }
 
-\gdef\dododostarttexdefinitionU#1#2 #3
+\gdef\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition_yes_unexpanded#1#2 #3
                                        #4\stoptexdefinition%
   {\egroup% #1=unexpanded
    \unexpanded\expandafter\def\csname#2\endcsname#3{#4}}
 
-\gdef\dododostarttexdefinitionN#1#2
+\gdef\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition_yes_normal#1#2
                                     #3\stoptexdefinition%
   {\egroup%
    \expandafter\def\csname#1\endcsname#2{#3}}
 
-\gdef\nonostarttexdefinition#1
-  {\nononostarttexdefinition{#1}{}}
+\gdef\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition_nop#1
+  {\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition_nop_indeed{#1}{}}
 
-\gdef\nononostarttexdefinition#1#2#3\stoptexdefinition%
+\gdef\syst_helpers_start_tex_definition_nop_indeed#1#2#3\stoptexdefinition%
   {\egroup%
    \expandafter\def\csname#1\endcsname{#3}}
 
@@ -3157,8 +3105,8 @@
 
 % This is a first variant, more might be added:
 
-\def\starttexcode{\unprotect}
-\def\stoptexcode {\protect}
+\unexpanded\def\starttexcode{\unprotect}
+\unexpanded\def\stoptexcode {\protect}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {newcounter,
@@ -3218,7 +3166,7 @@
 
 \def\zerocountervalue{0}
 
-\def\newcounter#1%
+\unexpanded\def\newcounter#1%
   {\dodoglobal\let#1\zerocountervalue}
 
 %D Nowadays we don't mind a few more tokens if we can gain a
@@ -3233,14 +3181,14 @@
 \def\syst_helpers_do_do_increment(#1{\doifnextcharelse,{\syst_helpers_do_do_do_increment#1}{\syst_helpers_do_do_do_increment#1,\plusone}}
 \def\syst_helpers_do_do_decrement(#1{\doifnextcharelse,{\syst_helpers_do_do_do_decrement#1}{\syst_helpers_do_do_do_decrement#1,\plusone}}
 
-\def\fastincrement#1{\dodoglobal\edef#1{\the\numexpr#1+\plusone \relax}}
-\def\fastdecrement#1{\dodoglobal\edef#1{\the\numexpr#1+\minusone\relax}}
+\unexpanded\def\fastincrement#1{\dodoglobal\edef#1{\the\numexpr#1+\plusone \relax}}
+\unexpanded\def\fastdecrement#1{\dodoglobal\edef#1{\the\numexpr#1+\minusone\relax}}
 
-\def\increment{\doifnextcharelse(\syst_helpers_do_do_increment\syst_helpers_do_increment}
-\def\decrement{\doifnextcharelse(\syst_helpers_do_do_decrement\syst_helpers_do_decrement}
+\unexpanded\def\increment{\doifnextcharelse(\syst_helpers_do_do_increment\syst_helpers_do_increment}
+\unexpanded\def\decrement{\doifnextcharelse(\syst_helpers_do_do_decrement\syst_helpers_do_decrement}
 
-\def\incrementvalue#1{\expandafter\increment\csname#1\endcsname}
-\def\decrementvalue#1{\expandafter\decrement\csname#1\endcsname}
+\unexpanded\def\incrementvalue#1{\expandafter\increment\csname#1\endcsname}
+\unexpanded\def\decrementvalue#1{\expandafter\decrement\csname#1\endcsname}
 
 %D \macros
 %D  {newsignal}
@@ -3261,9 +3209,9 @@
 
 \newdimen\maximumsignal % step is about 0.00025pt
 
-\def\newsignal#1%
+\unexpanded\def\newsignal#1%
   {\ifdefined#1\else
-     \advance\maximumsignal 2sp % to be save in rounding
+     \advance\maximumsignal 2\scaledpoint % to be save in rounding
      \edef#1{\the\maximumsignal}%
    \fi}
 
@@ -3278,9 +3226,9 @@
 %D \stoptyping
 
 \def\checkedstrippedcsname#1% this permits \strippedcsname{\xxx} and \strippedcsname{xxx}
-  {\expandafter\docheckedstrippedcsname\string#1}
+  {\expandafter\syst_helpers_checked_stripped_csname\string#1}
 
-\def\docheckedstrippedcsname#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_checked_stripped_csname#1%
   {\if\noexpand#1\letterbackslash\else#1\fi}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -3288,9 +3236,9 @@
 %D
 %D We will use this one in:
 
-\def\savenormalmeaning#1%
+\unexpanded\def\savenormalmeaning#1%
   {\ifcsname normal\strippedcsname#1\endcsname \else
-     \letvalue{normal\strippedcsname#1}#1%
+     \expandafter\let\csname normal\strippedcsname#1\endcsname#1%
    \fi}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -3342,73 +3290,73 @@
 \def\recursedepth{\the\outerrecurse}
 \def\recurselevel{0}
 
-\let\nextrecurse\relax
+\let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\relax
 
-\def\??recurseindex {1>>} % no \installcorenamespace available yet
-\def\??recurseaction{2>>} % no \installcorenamespace available yet
+\installsystemnamespace{recurseindex}
+\installsystemnamespace{recurseaction}
 
 \unexpanded\def\dostepwiserecurse#1#2#3#4% can be made faster by postponing #4
   {\global\advance\outerrecurse \plusone
    \global\expandafter\def\csname\??recurseaction\recursedepth\endcsname{#4}%
    \global\expandafter\let\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname\recurselevel
-   \ifnum#3>0\relax
+   \ifnum#3>\zerocount\relax
      \ifnum#2<#1\relax
-       \let\nextrecurse\exitstepwiserecurse
+       \let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
      \else
-       \let\nextrecurse\dodostepwiserecurse
+       \let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse
      \fi
    \else
-     \ifnum#3<0\relax
+     \ifnum#3<\zerocount\relax
        \ifnum#1<#2\relax
-         \let\nextrecurse\exitstepwiserecurse
+         \let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
        \else
-         \let\nextrecurse\dodostepwisereverse
+         \let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\syst_helpers_stepwise_reverse
        \fi
      \else
-       \let\nextrecurse\exitstepwiserecurse
+       \let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
      \fi
-   \fi\normalexpanded{\nextrecurse{\number#1}{\number#2}{\number#3}}}
+   \fi\normalexpanded{\syst_helpers_stepwise_next{\number#1}{\number#2}{\number#3}}}
 
-\def\dodostepwiserecurse#1#2#3% from to step
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse#1#2#3% from to step
   {\ifnum#1>#2\relax
-     \expandafter\nodostepwiserecurse
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse_nop
    \else
      \def\recurselevel{#1}%
-     \doubleexpandafter\redostepwiserecurse\expandafter
+     \doubleexpandafter\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse_yes\expandafter
    \fi\expandafter{\the\numexpr\recurselevel+#3\relax}{#2}{#3}}
 
-\unexpanded\def\expandrecursecontent
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_recurse_content
   {\csname\??recurseaction\recursedepth\endcsname}
 
-\unexpanded\def\redostepwiserecurse
-  {\expandrecursecontent\dodostepwiserecurse}
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse_yes
+  {\syst_helpers_recurse_content\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse}
 
-\unexpanded\def\dodostepwisereverse#1#2#3% from to step
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_stepwise_reverse#1#2#3% from to step
   {\ifnum#1<#2\relax
-     \expandafter\nodostepwiserecurse
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse_nop
    \else
      \def\recurselevel{#1}%
      \innerrecurse#1\relax
      \advance\innerrecurse#3\relax
-     \doubleexpandafter\redostepwisereverse\expandafter
+     \doubleexpandafter\syst_helpers_stepwise_reverse_yes\expandafter
    \fi\expandafter{\the\innerrecurse}{#2}{#3}}
 
-\unexpanded\def\redostepwisereverse
-  {\expandrecursecontent\dodostepwisereverse}
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_stepwise_reverse_yes
+  {\syst_helpers_recurse_content\syst_helpers_stepwise_reverse}
 
-\unexpanded\def\exitstepwiserecurse
-  {\nodostepwiserecurse\relax}
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
+  {\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse_nop\relax}
 
-\unexpanded\def\nodostepwiserecurse#1#2#3#4%
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse_nop#1#2#3#4%
   {\expandafter\let\expandafter\recurselevel\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname
-   \global\advance\outerrecurse \minusone}
+   \global\advance\outerrecurse\minusone}
 
 \unexpanded\def\nonostepwiserecurse#1#2#3%
   {\expandafter\let\expandafter\recurselevel\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname
-   \global\advance\outerrecurse \minusone}
+   \global\advance\outerrecurse\minusone}
 
 \unexpanded\def\dorecurse#1%
-  {\dostepwiserecurse1{#1}1}
+  {\dostepwiserecurse\plusone{#1}\plusone}
 
 \def\doexpandedrecurse#1#2%
   {\ifnum#1>\zerocount
@@ -3438,18 +3386,18 @@
   {\ifcase#1\relax
      \expandafter\gobbletwoarguments
    \or
-     \expandafter\ydorecurse
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_recurse_y
    \else
-     \expandafter\xdorecurse
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_recurse_x
    \fi{#1}}
 
-\unexpanded\def\xdorecurse#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_recurse_x#1#2%
   {\global\advance\outerrecurse \plusone
    \expandafter\gdef\csname\??recurseaction\recursedepth\endcsname{#2}%
    \global\expandafter\let\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname\recurselevel
-   \expandafter\dodorecurse\expandafter1\expandafter{\number#1}}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed\expandafter1\expandafter{\number#1}}
 
-\unexpanded\def\ydorecurse#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_recurse_y#1#2%
   {\global\advance\outerrecurse \plusone
    \global\expandafter\let\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname\recurselevel
    \let\recurselevel\!!plusone
@@ -3457,27 +3405,27 @@
    \expandafter\let\expandafter\recurselevel\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname
    \global\advance\outerrecurse \minusone}
 
-\unexpanded\def\dodorecurse#1#2% from to
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed#1#2% from to
   {\ifnum#1>#2\relax
-     \expandafter\nodorecurse
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed_nop
    \else
      \def\recurselevel{#1}%
-     \doubleexpandafter\redorecurse
+     \doubleexpandafter\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed_yes
    \fi\expandafter{\the\numexpr\recurselevel+\plusone\relax}{#2}}
 
-\unexpanded\def\dodorecurse#1#2% from to
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed#1#2% from to
   {\ifnum#1>#2\relax
-     \expandafter\nodorecurse
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed_nop
    \else
      \def\recurselevel{#1}%
      \innerrecurse#1\advance\innerrecurse\plusone
-     \doubleexpandafter\redorecurse
+     \doubleexpandafter\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed_yes
    \fi\expandafter{\the\innerrecurse}{#2}}
 
-\unexpanded\def\redorecurse
-  {\expandrecursecontent\dodorecurse}
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed_yes
+  {\syst_helpers_recurse_content\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed}
 
-\unexpanded\def\nodorecurse#1#2#3%
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed_nop#1#2#3%
   {\expandafter\let\expandafter\recurselevel\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname
    \global\advance\outerrecurse \minusone }
 
@@ -3499,32 +3447,32 @@
 %D When needed, one can call for \type{\looplevel} and
 %D \type{\loopdepth}.
 
-\let\endofloop\donothing
+\let\endofloop\donothing % maybe \syst_helpers_loop_end
 
 \unexpanded\def\doloop#1%
   {\global\advance\outerrecurse \plusone
    \expandafter\gdef\csname\??recurseaction\recursedepth\endcsname{#1}%
    \global\expandafter\let\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname\recurselevel
-   \let\endofloop\dodoloop
-   \dodoloop1} % no \plusone else \recurselevel wrong
+   \let\endofloop\syst_helpers_loop
+   \syst_helpers_loop1} % no \plusone else \recurselevel wrong
 
-\unexpanded\def\dodoloop#1%
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_loop#1%
   {\def\recurselevel{#1}%
-   \expandafter\redoloop\expandafter{\the\numexpr\recurselevel+\plusone\relax}}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_loop_yes\expandafter{\the\numexpr\recurselevel+\plusone\relax}}
 
-\unexpanded\def\redoloop
-  {\expandrecursecontent\endofloop}
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_loop_yes
+  {\syst_helpers_recurse_content\endofloop}
 
-\unexpanded\def\nodoloop#1%
-  {\let\endofloop\dodoloop % new, permits nested \doloop's
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_loop_nop#1%
+  {\let\endofloop\syst_helpers_loop % new, permits nested \doloop's
    \expandafter\let\expandafter\recurselevel\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname
    \global\advance\outerrecurse\minusone}
 
 \unexpanded\def\exitloop                     % \exitloop quits at end
-  {\let\endofloop\nodoloop}
+  {\let\endofloop\syst_helpers_loop_nop}
 
 \unexpanded\def\exitloopnow#1\endofloop % \exitloopnow quits directly
-  {\nodoloop}
+  {\syst_helpers_loop_nop}
 
 %D The loop is executed at least once, so beware of situations
 %D like:
@@ -3564,22 +3512,22 @@
 %D \dorecurse{3}{\expanded{\definesymbol[test-\recurselevel][xx-\recurselevel]}}
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\expandrecursecontent
+\def\syst_helpers_recurse_content
   {\csname\??recurseaction\recursedepth\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\endcsname
      \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter{\expandafter\recurselevel\expandafter}\expandafter{\recursedepth}}
 
-\unexpanded\def\xdorecurse#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_recurse_x#1#2%
   {\global\advance\outerrecurse \plusone
    \global\expandafter\def\csname\??recurseaction\recursedepth\endcsname##1##2{#2}%
    \global\expandafter\let\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname\recurselevel
-   \expandafter\dodorecurse\expandafter1\expandafter{\number#1}}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_recurse_indeed\expandafter1\expandafter{\number#1}}
 
-\unexpanded\def\ydorecurse#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_recurse_y#1#2%
   {\global\advance\outerrecurse \plusone
    \global\expandafter\let\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname\recurselevel
    \let\recurselevel\!!plusone
    \global\expandafter\def\csname\??recurseaction\recursedepth\endcsname##1##2{#2}%
-   \expandrecursecontent
+   \syst_helpers_recurse_content
    \expandafter\let\expandafter\recurselevel\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname
    \global\advance\outerrecurse \minusone}
 
@@ -3587,30 +3535,30 @@
   {\global\advance\outerrecurse \plusone
    \global\expandafter\def\csname\??recurseaction\recursedepth\endcsname##1##2{#4}%
    \global\expandafter\let\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname\recurselevel
-   \ifnum#3>0\relax
+   \ifnum#3>\zerocount\relax
      \ifnum#2<#1\relax
-       \let\nextrecurse\exitstepwiserecurse
+       \let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
      \else
-       \let\nextrecurse\dodostepwiserecurse
+       \let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse
      \fi
    \else
-     \ifnum#3<0\relax
+     \ifnum#3<\zerocount\relax
        \ifnum#1<#2\relax
-         \let\nextrecurse\exitstepwiserecurse
+         \let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
        \else
-         \let\nextrecurse\dodostepwisereverse
+         \let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\syst_helpers_stepwise_reverse
        \fi
      \else
-       \let\nextrecurse\exitstepwiserecurse
+       \let\syst_helpers_stepwise_next\syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
      \fi
-   \fi\normalexpanded{\nextrecurse{\number#1}{\number#2}{\number#3}}}
+   \fi\normalexpanded{\syst_helpers_stepwise_next{\number#1}{\number#2}{\number#3}}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\doloop#1%
   {\global\advance\outerrecurse \plusone
    \global\expandafter\def\csname\??recurseaction\recursedepth\endcsname##1##2{#1}%
    \global\expandafter\let\csname\??recurseindex\recursedepth\endcsname\recurselevel
-   \let\endofloop\dodoloop
-   \dodoloop1} % no \plusone else \recurselevel wrong
+   \let\endofloop\syst_helpers_loop
+   \syst_helpers_loop1} % no \plusone else \recurselevel wrong
 
 % faster
 
@@ -3626,9 +3574,9 @@
      \fi\fi
    \expandafter\endcsname\normalexpanded{{\number#1}{\number#2}{\number#3}}}
 
-\let\@swr \exitstepwiserecurse
-\let\@swrd\dodostepwiserecurse
-\let\@swrr\dodostepwisereverse
+\let\@swr \syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
+\let\@swrd\syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse
+\let\@swrr\syst_helpers_stepwise_reverse
 
 % quite okay too, but untested
 %
@@ -3639,19 +3587,19 @@
 %    \normalexpanded
 %      {\ifnum#3>\zerocount
 %         \ifnum#2<#1
-%           \exitstepwiserecurse
+%           \syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
 %         \else
-%           \dodostepwiserecurse
+%           \syst_helpers_stepwise_recurse
 %         \fi
 %       \else
 %         \ifnum#3<\zerocount
 %           \ifnum#1<#2
-%             \exitstepwiserecurse
+%             \syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
 %           \else
-%             \dodostepwisereverse
+%             \syst_helpers_stepwise_reverse
 %           \fi
 %         \else
-%           \exitstepwiserecurse
+%           \syst_helpers_stepwise_exit
 %         \fi
 %       \fi{\number#1}{\number#2}{\number#3}}}
 
@@ -3659,21 +3607,22 @@
 
 \newcount\fastloopindex
 \newcount\fastloopfinal
-\let\fastloopcs\relax
+
+\let\m_syst_helpers_fast_loop_cs\relax
 
 \unexpanded\def\dofastloopcs#1#2%
-  {\let\fastloopcs#2%
+  {\let\m_syst_helpers_fast_loop_cs#2%
    \fastloopindex\plusone
    \fastloopfinal#1\relax
-   \dodofastloopcs}
+   \syst_helpers_fast_loop_cs}
 
-\unexpanded\def\dodofastloopcs
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_fast_loop_cs
   {\ifnum\fastloopindex>\fastloopfinal
-     \let\fastloopcs\relax
+     \let\m_syst_helpers_fast_loop_cs\relax
    \else
-     \fastloopcs
+     \m_syst_helpers_fast_loop_cs
      \advance\fastloopindex\plusone
-     \expandafter\dodofastloopcs
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_fast_loop_cs
    \fi}
 
 % Helper:
@@ -3740,20 +3689,20 @@
 %     \EveryPar{y } \everypar{before } [before] \par
 % }
 
-% retrofit this into mkii
-
-\def\dowithevery#1%
-  {\expandafter\removetoks\expandafter\the\csname t\strippedcsname#1\endcsname\from#1%
-   \expandafter\appendtoks\expandafter\the\csname t\strippedcsname#1\endcsname\to  #1%
-   \csname t\strippedcsname#1\endcsname}
+\installsystemnamespace{extraevery}
 
 \unexpanded\def\newevery#1#2%
   {\ifx#1\everypar\else\newtoks#1\fi% we test for redefinition elsewhere
    \ifx#2\relax\else\ifdefined#2\else
-     \expandafter\newtoks\csname t\strippedcsname#1\endcsname
-     \def#2{\dowithevery#1}%
+     \expandafter\newtoks\csname\??extraevery\strippedcsname#1\endcsname
+     \def#2{\syst_helpers_every#1}%
    \fi\fi}
 
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_every#1%
+  {\expandafter\removetoks\expandafter\the\csname\??extraevery\strippedcsname#1\endcsname\from#1%
+   \expandafter\appendtoks\expandafter\the\csname\??extraevery\strippedcsname#1\endcsname\to  #1%
+   \csname\??extraevery\strippedcsname#1\endcsname}
+
 %D This one permits definitions like:
 
 \newevery \everypar  \EveryPar % we get a warning which is ok
@@ -3836,10 +3785,10 @@
 %D Both commands accept the prefix \type{\doglobal} for global
 %D assignments.
 
-\def\convertvalue#1\to
+\unexpanded\def\convertvalue#1\to
   {\expandafter\convertcommand\csname#1\endcsname\to}
 
-\def\defconvertedvalue#1#2% less sensitive for \to
+\unexpanded\def\defconvertedvalue#1#2% less sensitive for \to
   {\expandafter\defconvertedcommand\expandafter#1\csname#2\endcsname}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -3862,10 +3811,10 @@
 %D \doifassignmentelse {...} {then ...} {else ...}
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\docheckifassignmentelse#1=#2#3\@end@{\if#2@}%
+\def\syst_helpers_check_if_assignment_else#1=#2#3\_e_o_p_{\if#2@}%
 
 \def\doifassignmentelse#1% expandable
-  {\expandafter\docheckifassignmentelse\detokenize{#1}=@@\@end@
+  {\expandafter\syst_helpers_check_if_assignment_else\detokenize{#1}=@@\_e_o_p_
      \expandafter\secondoftwoarguments
    \else
      \expandafter\firstoftwoarguments
@@ -3873,24 +3822,6 @@
 
 \newif\ifassignment
 
-% \def\docheckassignmentindeed#1=#2#3\@end@{\if#2@\assignmentfalse\else\assignmenttrue\fi}
-%
-% \def\docheckassignment#1%
-%   {\expandafter\docheckassignmentindeed\detokenize{#1}=@@\@end@}
-
-% D \macros
-% D   {convertasciiafter}
-% D
-% D Sometimes we need to convert an argument to a string (letters
-% D only), for instance when we compare it with another string:
-% D
-% D \starttyping
-% D \convertasciiafter\doifinstringelse{em}{\ascii}{...}
-% D \stoptyping
-%
-% \def\convertasciiafter#1#2%
-%   {\expandafter#1\expandafter{\detokenize{#2}}}
-
 %D In \ETEX\ we can use \type {\detokenize} and gain some
 %D speed, but in general far less that 1\% for \type
 %D {\convertargument} and nil for \type {\convertcommand}.
@@ -3898,17 +3829,17 @@
 %D something I found out when primitives like \type
 %D {\jobname} were fed (or something undefined).
 
-\def\convertargument#1\to#2{\dodoglobal\edef#2{\detokenize{#1}}}
-\def\convertcommand #1\to#2{\dodoglobal\edef#2{\expandafter\detokenize\expandafter{#1}}} % hm, only second is also ok
+\unexpanded\def\convertargument#1\to#2{\dodoglobal\edef#2{\detokenize{#1}}}
+\unexpanded\def\convertcommand #1\to#2{\dodoglobal\edef#2{\expandafter\detokenize\expandafter{#1}}} % hm, only second is also ok
 
-\def\defconvertedargument #1#2{\edef#1{\detokenize{#2}}}
-\def\defconvertedcommand  #1#2{\edef#1{\detokenize\expandafter{#2}}}
-\def\edefconvertedargument#1#2{\edef#1{#2}%
-                                    \edef#1{\detokenize\expandafter{#1}}}
-\def\gdefconvertedargument#1#2{\xdef#1{\detokenize{#2}}}
-\def\gdefconvertedcommand #1#2{\xdef#1{\detokenize\expandafter{#2}}}
-\def\xdefconvertedargument#1#2{\xdef#1{#2}%
-                                    \xdef#1{\detokenize\expandafter{#1}}}
+\unexpanded\def\defconvertedargument #1#2{\edef#1{\detokenize{#2}}}
+\unexpanded\def\defconvertedcommand  #1#2{\edef#1{\detokenize\expandafter{#2}}}
+\unexpanded\def\edefconvertedargument#1#2{\edef#1{#2}%
+                                          \edef#1{\detokenize\expandafter{#1}}}
+\unexpanded\def\gdefconvertedargument#1#2{\xdef#1{\detokenize{#2}}}
+\unexpanded\def\gdefconvertedcommand #1#2{\xdef#1{\detokenize\expandafter{#2}}}
+\unexpanded\def\xdefconvertedargument#1#2{\xdef#1{#2}%
+                                          \xdef#1{\detokenize\expandafter{#1}}}
 
 %D When you try to convert a primitive command, you'll find
 %D out that the \ETEX\ method fails on for instance \type
@@ -3929,14 +3860,11 @@
 %D argument are completely redundant.
 
 %D \macros
-%D   {showvalue,showargument}
+%D   {showvalue}
 %D
-%D Two handy macros for testing purposes only:
+%D Ahandy macro, for testing purposes only:
 
-\def\showvalue#1%
-  {\expandafter\show\csname#1\endcsname}
-
-\def\showvalue#1%
+\unexpanded\def\showvalue#1%
   {\ifcsname#1\endcsname
      \expandafter\show\csname#1\endcsname
    \else
@@ -3957,7 +3885,7 @@
 %D
 %D Watch the one level expansion of the second argument.
 
-\def\doifmeaningelse#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\doifmeaningelse#1#2%
   {\edef\m_syst_string_one{\meaning#1}%
    \def \m_syst_string_two{#2}%
    \edef\m_syst_string_two{\meaning\m_syst_string_two}%
@@ -3979,14 +3907,14 @@
 %D \doifsamestringelse{\jobname}{oeps}{YES}{NO}
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\@@doifsamestringelse#1#2#3#4%
+\def\syst_helpers_if_samestring_else#1#2#3#4%
   {\edef\m_syst_string_one{\detokenize\expandafter{\normalexpanded{#3}}}%
    \edef\m_syst_string_two{\detokenize\expandafter{\normalexpanded{#4}}}%
    \ifx\m_syst_string_one\m_syst_string_two\expandafter#1\else\expandafter#2\fi}
 
-\def\doifsamestringelse{\@@doifsamestringelse\firstoftwoarguments\secondoftwoarguments}
-\def\doifsamestring    {\@@doifsamestringelse\firstofoneargument \gobbleoneargument   }
-\def\doifnotsamestring {\@@doifsamestringelse\gobbleoneargument  \firstofoneargument  }
+\unexpanded\def\doifsamestringelse{\syst_helpers_if_samestring_else\firstoftwoarguments\secondoftwoarguments}
+\unexpanded\def\doifsamestring    {\syst_helpers_if_samestring_else\firstofoneargument \gobbleoneargument   }
+\unexpanded\def\doifnotsamestring {\syst_helpers_if_samestring_else\gobbleoneargument  \firstofoneargument  }
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {ConvertToConstant,ConvertConstantAfter}
@@ -4014,7 +3942,7 @@
 %D In examples~2 and~3 both arguments equal, in~1 and~4
 %D they differ.
 
-\def\ConvertToConstant#1#2#3%
+\unexpanded\def\ConvertToConstant#1#2#3%
   {\edef\m_syst_string_one{\expandafter\detokenize\expandafter{#2}}%
    \edef\m_syst_string_two{\expandafter\detokenize\expandafter{#3}}%
    #1{\m_syst_string_one}{\m_syst_string_two}}
@@ -4046,14 +3974,14 @@
 %D
 %D where \type{...} can be anything legally \TEX.
 
-\def\CheckConstantAfter#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\CheckConstantAfter#1#2%
   {\expandafter\convertargument\v!prefix!\to\ascii
    \convertargument#1\to#2\relax
    \doifinstringelse\ascii{#2}
      {\expandafter\convertargument#1\to#2}
      {}}
 
-\def\ConvertConstantAfter#1#2#3%
+\unexpanded\def\ConvertConstantAfter#1#2#3%
   {\CheckConstantAfter{#2}\asciia
    \CheckConstantAfter{#3}\asciib
    #1{\asciia}{\asciib}}
@@ -4069,7 +3997,7 @@
 %D
 %D We don't explicitly test if the macro is defined.
 
-\def\assignifempty#1#2% can be sped up
+\unexpanded\def\assignifempty#1#2% can be sped up
   {\doifsomething{#1}{\def#1{#2}}} % {\doifnot{#1}{}{\def#1{#2}}}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -4113,11 +4041,13 @@
 %D
 %D results in: \type{\message{Hello world!}}.
 
-\def\dograbuntil#1#2%
-  {\def\next##1#1{#2{##1}}\next}
+\let\syst_helpers_grab_indeed\relax
+
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_grab#1#2%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_grab_indeed##1#1{#2{##1}}\syst_helpers_grab_indeed}
 
-\def\grabuntil#1%
-  {\expandafter\dograbuntil\expandafter{\csname#1\endcsname}}
+\unexpanded\def\grabuntil#1%
+  {\expandafter\syst_helpers_grab\expandafter{\csname#1\endcsname}}
 
 %D The next command build on this mechanism:
 %D
@@ -4141,13 +4071,15 @@
 %D is related to these commands. This one simply throws away
 %D everything preceding \type{\command}.
 
-\def\processbetween#1#2%
+\let\syst_helpers_gobble_indeed\relax
+
+\unexpanded\def\processbetween#1#2%
   {\setvalue{\s!start#1}{\grabuntil{\s!stop#1}{#2}}}
 
-\def\gobbleuntil#1%
-  {\def\next##1#1{}\next}
+\unexpanded\def\gobbleuntil#1%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_gobble_indeed##1#1{}\syst_helpers_gobble_indeed}
 
-\def\gobbleuntilrelax#1\relax
+\unexpanded\def\gobbleuntilrelax#1\relax
   {}
 
 %D The next one simply expands the pickup up tokens.
@@ -4156,8 +4088,10 @@
 %D \processuntil{sequence}
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\processuntil#1%
-  {\def\next##1#1{##1}\next}
+\let\syst_helpers_until_indeed\relax
+
+\unexpanded\def\processuntil#1%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_until_indeed##1#1{##1}\syst_helpers_until_indeed}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {groupedcommand}
@@ -4221,45 +4155,85 @@
 %D to be {\bold bold} or not, that's the question
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D This alternative checks for a \type{\bgroup} token first.
-%D The internal alternative does not accept the box handling
-%D mentioned before, but further nesting works all right. The
-%D extra \type{\bgroup}||\type{\egroup} is needed to keep
-%D \type{\AfterGroup} both into sight and local.
+%D This alternative checks for a \type {\bgroup} token first. The internal
+%D alternative does not accept the box handling mentioned before, but further
+%D nesting works all right. The extra \type {\bgroup}||\type {\egroup} is needed to
+%D keep \type {\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after} both into sight and local.
+
+\let\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after \relax
+\let\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_before\relax
 
-\def\HandleGroup#1#2%
+% keep:
+%
+% \unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_handle_group_normal#1#2%
+%   {\bgroup
+%    \def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_before{\bgroup#1\bgroup\aftergroup\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after}% can't we remove the second \bgroup
+%    \def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after {#2\egroup\egroup}% and one \egroup here?
+%    \afterassignment\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_before
+%    \let\next=}
+
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_handle_group_normal#1#2%
   {\bgroup
-   \def\BeforeGroup{\bgroup#1\bgroup\aftergroup\AfterGroup}% can't we remove the second \bgroup
-   \def\AfterGroup {#2\egroup\egroup}%                     % and one \egroup here?
-   \afterassignment\BeforeGroup
+   \def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_before{#1}%
+   \def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after {#2}%
+   \afterassignment\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_normal_before
    \let\next=}
 
-\def\HandleSimpleGroup#1#2% no inner group (so no kerning interference)
+\def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_normal_before
+  {\bgroup
+   \m_syst_helpers_handle_group_before
+   \bgroup
+   \aftergroup\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_normal_after}
+
+\def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_normal_after
+  {\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after
+   \egroup
+   \egroup}
+
+% keep:
+%
+% \unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_handle_group_simple#1#2% no inner group (so no kerning interference)
+%   {\bgroup
+%    %def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_before{\bgroup#1\aftergroup\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after}% interferes
+%    \def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_before{\bgroup\aftergroup\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after#1}%
+%    \def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after {#2\egroup}%
+%    \afterassignment\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_before
+%    \let\next=}
+
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_handle_group_simple#1#2% no inner group (so no kerning interference)
   {\bgroup
-   %def\BeforeGroup{\bgroup#1\aftergroup\AfterGroup}% interferes
-   \def\BeforeGroup{\bgroup\aftergroup\AfterGroup#1}%
-   \def\AfterGroup {#2\egroup}%
-   \afterassignment\BeforeGroup
+   \def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_before{#1}%
+   \def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after {#2}%
+   \afterassignment\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_simple_before
    \let\next=}
 
-% \def\HandleNoGroup#1#2%
-%   {\def\AfterGroup{#2\egroup}%
-%    \bgroup\aftergroup\AfterGroup#1}
+\def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_simple_before
+  {\bgroup
+   \aftergroup\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_simple_after
+   \m_syst_helpers_handle_group_before}
+
+\def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_simple_after
+  {\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after
+   \egroup}%
 
-\def\HandleNoGroup % retrofit into mkii
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_handle_group_nop
   {\ifnum\currentgrouptype=\semisimplegroupcode
-     \expandafter\HandleNoGroupA
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_handle_group_nop_a
    \else
-     \expandafter\HandleNoGroupB
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_handle_group_nop_b
    \fi}
 
-\def\HandleNoGroupA#1#2%
-  {\def\AfterGroup{#2\endgroup}%
-   \begingroup\aftergroup\AfterGroup#1}
+\def\syst_helpers_handle_group_nop_a#1#2%
+  {\def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after{#2\endgroup}%
+   \begingroup
+   \aftergroup\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after
+   #1}
 
-\def\HandleNoGroupB#1#2%
-  {\def\AfterGroup{#2\egroup}%
-   \bgroup\aftergroup\AfterGroup#1}
+\def\syst_helpers_handle_group_nop_b#1#2%
+  {\def\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after{#2\egroup}%
+   \bgroup
+   \aftergroup\m_syst_helpers_handle_group_after
+   #1}
 
 %D I considered it a nuisance that
 %D
@@ -4274,10 +4248,10 @@
 %D implementation became:
 
 \unexpanded\def\groupedcommand#1#2%
-  {\doifnextbgroupelse{\HandleGroup{#1}{#2}}{\HandleNoGroup{#1}{#2}}}
+  {\doifnextbgroupelse{\syst_helpers_handle_group_normal{#1}{#2}}{\syst_helpers_handle_group_nop{#1}{#2}}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\simplegroupedcommand#1#2%
-  {\doifnextbgroupelse{\HandleSimpleGroup{#1}{#2}}{\HandleNoGroup{#1}{#2}}}
+  {\doifnextbgroupelse{\syst_helpers_handle_group_simple{#1}{#2}}{\syst_helpers_handle_group_nop{#1}{#2}}}
 
 %D Users should be aware of the fact that grouping can
 %D interfere with ones paragraph settings that are executed
@@ -4307,10 +4281,10 @@
 %D \type{CAPITALS}. This suggestion is feasible, because
 %D \CONTEXT only defines lowcased macros.
 
-\def\showdefinederror#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\showdefinederror#1#2%
   {\writestatus\m!system{#1 #2 replaces a macro, use CAPITALS!}}
 
-\def\checkdefined#1#2#3%
+\unexpanded\def\checkdefined#1#2#3%
   {\doifdefined{#3}{\showdefinederror{#2}{#3}}}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -4432,10 +4406,13 @@
 %D   ... \par
 %D \stoptyping
 
+\let\syst_helpers_next_par\relax
+\let\syst_helpers_next_arg\relax
+
 \unexpanded\def\dowithpargument#1%
-  {\def\nextpar##1 \par{#1{##1}}%
-   \def\nextarg##1{#1{##1}}%
-   \doifnextbgroupelse\nextarg{\doifnextcharelse\par{#1{}}\nextpar}}
+  {\def\syst_helpers_next_par##1 \par{#1{##1}}%
+   \def\syst_helpers_next_arg##1{#1{##1}}%
+   \doifnextbgroupelse\syst_helpers_next_arg{\doifnextcharelse\par{#1{}}\syst_helpers_next_par}}
 
 %D The \type{p} in the previous command stands for paragraph.
 %D When we want to act upon words we can use the \type{w}
@@ -4459,10 +4436,13 @@
 %D   ...
 %D \stoptyping
 
+\let\syst_helpers_next_war\relax
+\let\syst_helpers_next_arg\relax
+
 \unexpanded\def\dowithwargument#1%
-  {\def\nextwar##1 {#1{##1}}%
-   \def\nextarg##1{#1{##1}}%
-   \doifnextbgroupelse\nextarg\nextwar}
+  {\def\syst_helpers_next_war##1 {#1{##1}}%
+   \def\syst_helpers_next_arg##1{#1{##1}}%
+   \doifnextbgroupelse\syst_helpers_next_arg\syst_helpers_next_war}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {dorepeat,dorepeatwithcommand}
@@ -4495,12 +4475,12 @@
 %D specification is missing, the command executes once.
 
 \unexpanded\def\dorepeatwithcommand[#1]%
-  {\dodorepeatwithcommand#1*\empty*\relax}
+  {\syst_helpers_repeat_with_command#1*\empty*\relax}
 
-\def\dodorepeatwithcommand#1*#2#3*#4\relax#5%
-  {\ifx#2\empty\redorepeatwithcommand[#1]#5\else\dododorepeatwithcommand{#1}{#2}{#3}#5\fi}
+\def\syst_helpers_repeat_with_command#1*#2#3*#4\relax#5%
+  {\ifx#2\empty\syst_helpers_repeat_with_command_again[#1]#5\else\syst_helpers_repeat_with_command_indeed{#1}{#2}{#3}#5\fi}
 
-\def\dododorepeatwithcommand#1#2#3#4%
+\def\syst_helpers_repeat_with_command_indeed#1#2#3#4%
   {\ifx#2\empty % redundant but gives cleaner extensions
      #4{#1}%
    \else\ifnum#1<\zerocount
@@ -4512,7 +4492,7 @@
      \dorecurse{#1}{#4{#2#3}}%
    \fi\fi\fi}
 
-\def\redorepeatwithcommand[#1]#2%
+\def\syst_helpers_repeat_with_command_again[#1]#2%
   {#2{#1}}
 
 %D The extension hook permits something like:
@@ -4522,11 +4502,11 @@
 %D
 %D \catcode`\*=\superscriptcatcode
 %D
-%D \gdef\redorepeatwithcommand[#1]%
+%D \gdef\syst_helpers_repeat_with_command_again[#1]%
 %D   {\redodorepeatwithcommand#1*\empty*\relax}
 %D
 %D \gdef\redodorepeatwithcommand#1*#2#3*#4\relax#5%
-%D   {\dododorepeatwithcommand{#1}{#2}{#3}#5}
+%D   {\syst_helpers_repeat_with_command_indeed{#1}{#2}{#3}#5}
 %D
 %D \egroup
 %D \stoptyping
@@ -4534,14 +4514,6 @@
 %D although one may wonder if changing the catcode of \type {*} is wise.
 
 %D \macros
-%D   {normalbgroup,normalgroup}
-%D
-%D No comment.
-
-\let\normalbgroup\bgroup
-\let\normalegroup\egroup
-
-%D \macros
 %D   {doifstringinstringelse}
 %D
 %D The next macro is meant for situations where both strings
@@ -4558,7 +4530,7 @@
 %D
 %D A bit faster is:
 
-\def\pp!doifstringinstringelse#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_if_instring_else_indeed#1%
   {\if#1@%
      \expandafter\secondoftwoarguments
    \else
@@ -4566,9 +4538,9 @@
    \fi}
 
 \def\doifstringinstringelse#1#2%
-  {\expandafter\def\expandafter\p!doifstringinstringelse\expandafter##\expandafter1#1##2##3\m_end_of_string
-     {\pp!doifstringinstringelse##2}%
-   \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\p!doifstringinstringelse\expandafter#2#1@@\m_end_of_string}
+  {\expandafter\def\expandafter\syst_helpers_if_instring_else\expandafter##\expandafter1#1##2##3\_e_o_s_
+     {\syst_helpers_if_instring_else_indeed##2}%
+   \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\syst_helpers_if_instring_else\expandafter#2#1@@\_e_o_s_}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {appendtoks,prependtoks,appendtoksonce,prependtoksonce,
@@ -4588,36 +4560,39 @@
 %D These macros are clones of the ones implemented in page~378 of
 %D Knuth's \TeX book.
 
-\newtoks\@@scratchtoks
+\newtoks\t_syst_helpers_scratch
+\let    \m_syst_helpers_scratch\empty
+
+% no longer \def but \let to target toks
 
-\unexpanded\def\appendtoks     {\doappendtoks     \relax}
-\unexpanded\def\prependtoks    {\doprependtoks    \relax}
-\unexpanded\def\appendtoksonce {\doappendtoksonce \relax}
-\unexpanded\def\prependtoksonce{\doprependtoksonce\relax}
+\unexpanded\def\appendtoks     {\syst_helpers_append_toks      \relax}
+\unexpanded\def\prependtoks    {\syst_helpers_prepend_toks     \relax}
+\unexpanded\def\appendtoksonce {\syst_helpers_append_toks_once \relax}
+\unexpanded\def\prependtoksonce{\syst_helpers_prepend_toks_once\relax}
 
-\def\dodoappendtoks
-  {\dodoglobal\@@toks\doubleexpandafter{\expandafter\the\expandafter\@@toks\the\@@scratchtoks}}
+\def\syst_helpers_append_toks_indeed
+  {\dodoglobal\m_syst_helpers_scratch\doubleexpandafter{\expandafter\the\expandafter\m_syst_helpers_scratch\the\t_syst_helpers_scratch}}
 
-\def\dodoprependtoks
-  {\dodoglobal\@@toks\doubleexpandafter{\expandafter\the\expandafter\@@scratchtoks\the\@@toks}}
+\def\syst_helpers_prepend_toks_indeed
+  {\dodoglobal\m_syst_helpers_scratch\doubleexpandafter{\expandafter\the\expandafter\t_syst_helpers_scratch\the\m_syst_helpers_scratch}}
 
-\def\doappendtoks#1\to#2%
-  {\def\@@toks{#2}%
-   \@@scratchtoks\expandafter{\gobbleoneargument#1}\dodoappendtoks}
+\def\syst_helpers_append_toks#1\to#2%
+  {\let\m_syst_helpers_scratch#2%
+   \t_syst_helpers_scratch\expandafter{\gobbleoneargument#1}\syst_helpers_append_toks_indeed}
 
-\def\doprependtoks#1\to#2%
-  {\def\@@toks{#2}%
-   \@@scratchtoks\expandafter{\gobbleoneargument#1}\dodoprependtoks}
+\def\syst_helpers_prepend_toks#1\to#2%
+  {\let\m_syst_helpers_scratch#2%
+   \t_syst_helpers_scratch\expandafter{\gobbleoneargument#1}\syst_helpers_prepend_toks_indeed}
 
-\def\doappendtoksonce#1\to#2%
-  {\def\@@toks{#2}%
-   \@@scratchtoks\expandafter{\gobbleoneargument#1}%
-   \doifintokselse\@@scratchtoks\@@toks\donothing\dodoappendtoks}
+\def\syst_helpers_append_toks_once#1\to#2%
+  {\let\m_syst_helpers_scratch#2%
+   \t_syst_helpers_scratch\expandafter{\gobbleoneargument#1}%
+   \doifintokselse\t_syst_helpers_scratch\m_syst_helpers_scratch\donothing\syst_helpers_append_toks_indeed}
 
-\def\doprependtoksonce#1\to#2%
-  {\def\@@toks{#2}%
-   \@@scratchtoks\expandafter{\gobbleoneargument#1}%
-   \doifintokselse\@@scratchtoks\@@toks\donothing\dodoprependtoks}
+\def\syst_helpers_prepend_toks_once#1\to#2%
+  {\let\m_syst_helpers_scratch#2%
+   \t_syst_helpers_scratch\expandafter{\gobbleoneargument#1}%
+   \doifintokselse\t_syst_helpers_scratch\m_syst_helpers_scratch\donothing\syst_helpers_prepend_toks_indeed}
 
 %D The test macro:
 
@@ -4635,70 +4610,27 @@
 % {\scratchtoks{a\relax b} \removetoks \relax\from\scratchtoks [\showthe\scratchtoks]}
 
 \unexpanded\def\removetoks#1\from#2%
-  {\def\doremovetoks##1#1##2\empty\empty\empty##3\\%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_remove_toks##1#1##2\empty\empty\empty##3\_e_o_t_
      {\def\m_syst_string_one{##3}%
       \ifx\m_syst_string_one\empty#2{##1}\else#2{##1##2}\fi}%
-   \expandafter\doremovetoks\the#2\empty\empty\empty#1\empty\empty\empty\\}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_remove_toks\the#2\empty\empty\empty#1\empty\empty\empty\_e_o_t_}
 
 %D Also:
 
-\unexpanded\def\appendetoks #1\to{\normalexpanded{\noexpand\appendtoks #1}\to}
-\unexpanded\def\prependetoks#1\to{\normalexpanded{\noexpand\prependtoks#1}\to}
+\unexpanded\def\appendetoks #1\to{\normalexpanded{\appendtoks #1}\to}
+\unexpanded\def\prependetoks#1\to{\normalexpanded{\prependtoks#1}\to}
 
 %D Hm.
 
-\def\flushtoks#1% nb: can reassing to #1 again, hence the indirectness
-  {\@@scratchtoks#1\relax
+\unexpanded\def\flushtoks#1% nb: can reassing to #1 again, hence the indirectness
+  {\t_syst_helpers_scratch#1\relax
    \dodoglobal#1\emptytoks
-   \the\@@scratchtoks\relax}
+   \the\t_syst_helpers_scratch\relax}
 
 % better: \def\flushtoks#1{\normalexpanded{\noexpand\dodoglobal#1\emptytoks\the#\relax}}
 
 \let\dotoks\the
 
-% The following code is obsolete (and names are reused for the more
-% advanced counter mechanism and those macros are not compatible!
-%
-% %D \macros
-% %D   {makecounter,pluscounter,minuscounter,
-% %D    resetcounter,setcounter,countervalue}
-% %D
-% %D Declaring, setting and resetting \COUNTERS\ can be done
-% %D with the next set of commands.
-% %D
-% %D \starttyping
-% %D \makecounter   {name}
-% %D \pluscounter   {name}
-% %D \minuscounter  {name}
-% %D \resetcounter  {name}
-% %D \setcounter    {name} {value}
-% %D \countervalue  {name}
-% %D \stoptyping
-%
-% \def\makecounter#1%
-%   {\global\expandafter\let\csname#1\endcsname\zerocountervalue} % see earlier
-%
-% \def\countervalue#1%
-%   {\ifcsname#1\endcsname\csname#1\endcsname\fi}
-%
-% \def\pluscounter#1%
-%   {\expandafter\xdef\csname#1\endcsname{\the\numexpr\csname#1\endcsname+\plusone\relax}}
-%
-% \def\minuscounter#1%
-%   {\expandafter\xdef\csname#1\endcsname{\the\numexpr\csname#1\endcsname-\plusone\relax}}
-%
-% \def\resetcounter#1%
-%   {\global\expandafter\let\csname#1\endcsname\zerocountervalue}
-%
-% \def\setcounter#1#2%
-%   {\expandafter\xdef\csname#1\endcsname{\the\numexpr#2\relax}}
-%
-% \def\savecounter#1%
-%   {\expandafter\xdef\csname ! #1 !\endcsname{\the\numexpr\csname#1\endcsname\relax}}
-%
-% \def\restorecounter#1%
-%   {\expandafter\xdef\csname#1\endcsname{\the\numexpr\csname ! #1 !\endcsname\relax}}
-
 %D \macros
 %D   {beforesplitstring,aftersplitstring}
 %D
@@ -4716,15 +4648,17 @@
 %D Both implementations show some insight in the manipulation
 %D of arguments.
 
+\let\syst_helpers_split_string\relax
+
 \def\beforesplitstring#1\at#2\to#3%
-  {\def\dosplitstring##1#2##2#2##3\\%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_split_string##1#2##2#2##3\\%
      {\def#3{##1}}%
-   \expandafter\dosplitstring#1#2#2\\}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_split_string#1#2#2\\}
 
 \def\aftersplitstring#1\at#2\to#3%
-  {\def\dosplitstring##1#2##2@@@##3\\%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_split_string##1#2##2@@@##3\\%
      {\def#3{##2}}%
-   \expandafter\dosplitstring#1@@@#2@@@\\}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_split_string#1@@@#2@@@\\}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {splitstring,greedysplitstring}
@@ -4732,15 +4666,15 @@
 %D A bonus macro.
 
 \def\splitstring#1\at#2\to#3\and#4%
-  {\def\dosplitstring##1#2##2\empty\empty\empty##3\\%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_split_string##1#2##2\empty\empty\empty##3\\%
      {\def#3{##1}%
-      \def\dosplitstring{##3}%
-      \ifx\dosplitstring\empty
+      \def\syst_helpers_split_string{##3}%
+      \ifx\syst_helpers_split_string\empty
         \let#4\empty
       \else
         \def#4{##2}%
       \fi}%
-   \expandafter\dosplitstring#1\empty\empty\empty#2\empty\empty\empty\\}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_split_string#1\empty\empty\empty#2\empty\empty\empty\\}
 
 \def\greedysplitstring#1\at#2\to#3\and#4%
   {\edef\asciib{#1}%
@@ -4765,19 +4699,19 @@
 %D    testandsplitstring}
 
 \def\beforetestandsplitstring#1\at#2\to#3%
-  {\def\dosplitstring##1#2##2#2##3##4\\%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_split_string##1#2##2#2##3##4\\%
      {\ifx##3\empty\let#3\empty\else\def#3{##1}\fi}%
-   \expandafter\dosplitstring#1#2#2\empty\\}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_split_string#1#2#2\empty\\}
 
 \def\aftertestandsplitstring#1\at#2\to#3%
-  {\def\dosplitstring ##1#2##2@@@##3##4\\%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_split_string ##1#2##2@@@##3##4\\%
      {\ifx##3\empty\let#3\empty\else\def#3{##2}\fi}%
-   \expandafter\dosplitstring #1@@@#2@@@\empty\\}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_split_string #1@@@#2@@@\empty\\}
 
 \def\testandsplitstring#1\at#2\to#3\and#4%
-  {\def\dosplitstring##1#2##2#2##3##4\\%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_split_string##1#2##2#2##3##4\\%
      {\ifx##3\empty\let#3\empty\let#4\empty\else\def#3{##1}\def#4{##2}\fi}%
-   \expandafter\dosplitstring#1#2#2\empty\\}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_split_string#1#2#2\empty\\}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {removesubstring}
@@ -4879,11 +4813,11 @@
   {\robustdoifinsetelse{#1}#2\resetglobal
      {\dodoglobal\edef#2{#1\ifx#2\empty\else,#2\fi}}}
 
-\def\xsplitstring#1#2% \cs {str}
-  {\def\dosplitstring##1,#2,##2,#2,##3\\%
+\unexpanded\def\xsplitstring#1#2% \cs {str}
+  {\def\syst_helpers_split_string##1,#2,##2,#2,##3\\%
      {\edef\m_syst_string_one{\bcleanedupcommalist##1\empty\empty\relax}%
       \edef\m_syst_string_two{\acleanedupcommalist##2,,\relax}}%
-   \expandafter\dosplitstring\expandafter,#1,,#2,,#2,\\}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_split_string\expandafter,#1,,#2,,#2,\\}
 
 \def\bcleanedupcommalist#1#2#3\relax{\if#1,\else#1\fi\if#2,\else#2\fi#3}
 \def\bcleanedupcommalist#1#2\relax{\if#1,\else#1\fi#2}
@@ -4891,7 +4825,7 @@
 
 \unexpanded\def\removefromcommalist#1#2% to be sped up
   {\rawdoifinsetelse{#1}#2%
-     {\normalexpanded{\noexpand\xsplitstring\noexpand#2{#1}}%
+     {\normalexpanded{\xsplitstring\noexpand#2{#1}}%
       \dodoglobal\edef#2%
         {\ifx\m_syst_string_one\empty
            \m_syst_string_two
@@ -4916,52 +4850,35 @@
 %D \substituteincommalist{old}{new}{list}
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\substituteincommalist#1#2#3% old, new, list (slooow)
-  {\edef\m_syst_string_two{#1}%
-   \edef\m_syst_string_four{#2}%
-   \let\m_syst_string_one#3%
-   \let#3\empty
-   \def\dosubstituteincommalist##1%
-     {\edef\m_syst_string_three{##1}%
-      \ifx\m_syst_string_two\m_syst_string_three
-        \ifx\m_syst_string_four\empty\else
-          \edef#3{#3\ifx#3\empty\else,\fi\m_syst_string_four}%
-        \fi
-        \def\docommand####1{\edef#3{#3,####1}}%
-      \else
-        \edef#3{#3\ifx#3\empty\else,\fi##1}%
-      \fi}%
-   \expandafter\rawprocesscommacommand\expandafter[\m_syst_string_one]\dosubstituteincommalist}
-
-%D A not so useful macro:
-
-\def\dodofrontstrip[#1#2]#3%
-  {\ifx#1\space
-     \def#3{#2}%
+\def\syst_helpers_substitute_in_comma_list_step#1%
+  {\edef\m_syst_string_three{#1}%
+   \ifx\m_syst_string_one\m_syst_string_three
+     \ifx\m_syst_string_two\empty \else
+       \edef\m_syst_string_four{\ifx\m_syst_string_four\empty\else\m_syst_string_four,\fi\m_syst_string_two}%
+     \fi
    \else
-     \def#3{#1#2}%
+     \edef\m_syst_string_four{\ifx\m_syst_string_four\empty\else\m_syst_string_four,\fi#1}%
    \fi}
 
-\def\dofrontstrip#1%
+\unexpanded\def\substituteincommalist#1#2#3% old, new, list (slooow)
   {\edef\m_syst_string_one{#1}%
-   \ifx\m_syst_string_one\empty \else
-     \expandafter\dodofrontstrip\expandafter[#1]#1%
-   \fi}
+   \edef\m_syst_string_two{#2}%
+   \let\m_syst_string_four\empty
+   \normalexpanded{\rawprocesscommacommand[#3]}\syst_helpers_substitute_in_comma_list_step
+   \let#3\m_syst_string_four}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {replaceincommalist}
 %D
-%D The next macro can be used to replace an indexed element
-%D in a commalist:
+%D The next macro can be used to replace an indexed element in a commalist:
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \replaceincommalist\MyList{2}
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D Element~2 will be replaced by the current meaning of the macro
-%D \type {\newcommalistelement}. The old meaning is saved in
-%D \type {\commalistelement}. The replacement honors grouped items,
-%D like in:
+%D Element~2 will be replaced by the current meaning of the macro \type
+%D {\newcommalistelement}. The old meaning is saved in \type {\commalistelement}.
+%D The replacement honors grouped items, like in:
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \def\MyList{a,b,c,d,e,f}   \replaceincommalist\MyList{3}
@@ -4969,43 +4886,50 @@
 %D \def\MyList{a,{b,c},d,e,f} \replaceincommalist\MyList{3}
 %D \def\MyList{a,b,c,{d,e,f}} \replaceincommalist\MyList{3}
 %D \stoptyping
+%D
+%D This macro was used in the bibtex code (and is probably no longer needed).
+
+\newcount\c_syst_helpers_comma_list_index
+\let     \m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target\empty
 
 \let\newcommalistelement\empty
 
-\def\replaceincommalist#1#2% #1 = commalistelement #2 = position starts at 1
-  {\def\doreplaceincommalist##1%
-     {\ifnum\commalistcounter=#2\relax
-        \ifx\newcommalistelement\empty\else
-          \ifx\newcommalist\empty
-            \let\newcommalist\newcommalistelement
-          \else
-            \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\def\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter
-              \newcommalist\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter
-                {\expandafter\newcommalist\expandafter,\newcommalistelement}%
-          \fi
-        \fi
-        \def\commalistelement{##1}%
-      \else
-        \ifx\newcommalist\empty
-          \ifx\nexttoken\bgroup % is known -)
-            \def\newcommalist{{##1}}%
-          \else
-            \def\newcommalist{##1}%
-          \fi
-        \else
-          \ifx\nexttoken\bgroup % is known -)
-            \expandafter\def\expandafter\newcommalist\expandafter{\newcommalist,{##1}}%
-          \else
-            \expandafter\def\expandafter\newcommalist\expandafter{\newcommalist,##1}%
-          \fi
-        \fi
-      \fi
-      \advance\commalistcounter\plusone}%
+\def\syst_helpers_replace_in_comma_list_step#1%
+  {\ifnum\commalistcounter=\c_syst_helpers_comma_list_index\relax
+     \ifx\newcommalistelement\empty\else
+       \ifx\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target\empty
+         \let\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target\newcommalistelement
+       \else
+         \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\def\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter
+           \m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter
+             {\expandafter\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target\expandafter,\newcommalistelement}%
+       \fi
+     \fi
+     \def\commalistelement{#1}%
+   \else
+     \ifx\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target\empty
+       \ifx\nexttoken\bgroup % is known -)
+         \def\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target{{#1}}%
+       \else
+         \def\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target{#1}%
+       \fi
+     \else
+       \ifx\nexttoken\bgroup % is known -)
+         \expandafter\def\expandafter\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target\expandafter{\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target,{#1}}%
+       \else
+         \expandafter\def\expandafter\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target\expandafter{\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target,#1}%
+       \fi
+     \fi
+   \fi
+   \advance\commalistcounter\plusone}
+
+\unexpanded\def\replaceincommalist#1#2% #1 = commalistelement #2 = position starts at 1
+  {\c_syst_helpers_comma_list_index#2\relax
+   \let\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target\empty
    \let\commalistelement\empty
-   \let\newcommalist\empty
    \commalistcounter\plusone
-   \expandafter\processcommalist\expandafter[#1]\doreplaceincommalist
-   \dodoglobal\let#1\newcommalist}
+   \expandafter\processcommalist\expandafter[#1]\syst_helpers_replace_in_comma_list_step
+   \dodoglobal\let#1\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_target}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {globalprocesscommalist}
@@ -5016,15 +4940,17 @@
 %D handling comma lists in alignments. In these situations the
 %D next macro can be of use.
 
-\def\globalprocesscommaitem#1,%
+\let\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_command_global\empty
+
+\def\syst_helpers_comma_list_command_global_step#1,%
   {\if]#1\else
-     \globalcommacommand{#1}%
-     \expandafter\globalprocesscommaitem
+     \m_syst_helpers_comma_list_command_global{#1}%
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_comma_list_command_global_step
    \fi}
 
-\def\globalprocesscommalist[#1]#2%
-  {\global\let\globalcommacommand#2%
-   \expandafter\globalprocesscommaitem#1,],}
+\unexpanded\def\globalprocesscommalist[#1]#2%
+  {\global\let\m_syst_helpers_comma_list_command_global#2%
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_comma_list_command_global_step#1,],}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {withoutpt,PtToCm,
@@ -5101,36 +5027,36 @@
 %D
 %D Beware: global!
 
-\def\@sl@{@sl@}
-\def\@sg@{@sg@}
+\installsystemnamespace{localpushedmacro}
+\installsystemnamespace{globalpushedmacro}
 
-\let\@@pushedmacro\empty
+\let\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\empty
 
-\def\globalpushmacro#1%
-  {\xdef\@@pushedmacro{\string#1}%
-   \ifcsname\@sg@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname \else
-     \expandafter\newcount\csname\@sg@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname
+\unexpanded\def\globalpushmacro#1%
+  {\xdef\m_syst_helpers_push_macro{\string#1}%
+   \ifcsname\??globalpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname \else
+     \expandafter\newcount\csname\??globalpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname
    \fi
-   \global\advance\csname\@sg@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname \plusone
-   \global\expandafter\let\csname\the\csname\@sg@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname\@@pushedmacro\endcsname#1}
-
-\def\globalpopmacro#1%
-  {\xdef\@@pushedmacro{\string#1}%
-   \global\expandafter\let\expandafter#1\csname\the\csname\@sg@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname\@@pushedmacro\endcsname
-   \global\advance\csname\@sg@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname \minusone}
-
-\def\localpushmacro#1% this one can be used to push a value over an \egroup
-  {\xdef\@@pushedmacro{\string#1}%
-   \ifcsname\@sl@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname \else
-     \expandafter\newcount\csname\@sl@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname
+   \global\advance\csname\??globalpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname \plusone
+   \global\expandafter\let\csname\the\csname\??globalpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname#1}
+
+\unexpanded\def\globalpopmacro#1%
+  {\xdef\m_syst_helpers_push_macro{\string#1}%
+   \global\expandafter\let\expandafter#1\csname\the\csname\??globalpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname
+   \global\advance\csname\??globalpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname \minusone}
+
+\unexpanded\def\localpushmacro#1% this one can be used to push a value over an \egroup
+  {\xdef\m_syst_helpers_push_macro{\string#1}%
+   \ifcsname\??localpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname \else
+     \expandafter\newcount\csname\??localpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname
    \fi
-   \global\advance\csname\@sl@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname \plusone
-   \global\expandafter\let\csname\the\csname\@sl@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname\@@pushedmacro\endcsname#1}
+   \global\advance\csname\??localpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname \plusone
+   \global\expandafter\let\csname\the\csname\??localpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname#1}
 
-\def\localpopmacro#1%
-  {\xdef\@@pushedmacro{\string#1}%
-   \expandafter\let\expandafter#1\csname\the\csname\@sl@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname\@@pushedmacro\endcsname
-   \global\advance\csname\@sl@\@@pushedmacro\endcsname \minusone }
+\unexpanded\def\localpopmacro#1%
+  {\xdef\m_syst_helpers_push_macro{\string#1}%
+   \expandafter\let\expandafter#1\csname\the\csname\??localpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname
+   \global\advance\csname\??localpushedmacro\m_syst_helpers_push_macro\endcsname \minusone }
 
 \let\pushmacro\localpushmacro
 \let\popmacro \localpopmacro
@@ -5329,6 +5255,8 @@
 %D
 %D We have to use a two||step implementation, because the
 %D expansion has to take place outside \type{\uppercase}.
+%D
+%D These might up as \LUA based helpers:
 
 \unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_do_IF#1#2%
   {\uppercase{{$#1$}{$#2$}}%
@@ -5397,25 +5325,25 @@
 %D \starttyping
 %D \definesomething[alfa,beta,...][variable=...,...]
 %D \stoptyping
-%D
-%D Now a whole bunch of variables like \type{\@@xxalfavariable}
-%D and \type{\@@xxbetavariable} is defined.
 
-\def\dodoublewithset[#1][#2]%
+\let\m_syst_helpers_with_set_command\empty
+\let\syst_helpers_with_set_step     \relax
+
+\def\syst_helpers_with_set_double[#1][#2]%
   {\doifsomething{#1}
-     {\def\@@dodowithsetcommand##1{\@@dowithsetcommand[##1][#2]}%
-      \processcommalist[#1]\@@dodowithsetcommand}}
+     {\def\syst_helpers_with_set_step##1{\m_syst_helpers_with_set_command[##1][#2]}%
+      \processcommalist[#1]\syst_helpers_with_set_step}}
 
-\def\dotriplewithset[#1][#2][#3]%
+\def\syst_helpers_with_set_triple[#1][#2][#3]%
   {\doifsomething{#1}
-     {\def\@@dodowithsetcommand##1{\@@dowithsetcommand[##1][#2][#3]}%
-      \processcommalist[#1]\@@dodowithsetcommand}}
+     {\def\syst_helpers_with_set_step##1{\m_syst_helpers_with_set_command[##1][#2][#3]}%
+      \processcommalist[#1]\syst_helpers_with_set_step}}
 
-\def\dodoubleemptywithset   #1{\let\@@dowithsetcommand#1\dodoubleempty   \dodoublewithset} % \command
-\def\dodoubleargumentwithset#1{\let\@@dowithsetcommand#1\dodoubleargument\dodoublewithset} % \command
+\def\dodoubleemptywithset   #1{\let\m_syst_helpers_with_set_command#1\dodoubleempty   \syst_helpers_with_set_double} % \command
+\def\dodoubleargumentwithset#1{\let\m_syst_helpers_with_set_command#1\dodoubleargument\syst_helpers_with_set_double} % \command
 
-\def\dotripleemptywithset   #1{\let\@@dowithsetcommand#1\dotripleempty   \dotriplewithset} % \command
-\def\dotripleargumentwithset#1{\let\@@dowithsetcommand#1\dotripleargument\dotriplewithset} % \command
+\def\dotripleemptywithset   #1{\let\m_syst_helpers_with_set_command#1\dotripleempty   \syst_helpers_with_set_triple} % \command
+\def\dotripleargumentwithset#1{\let\m_syst_helpers_with_set_command#1\dotripleargument\syst_helpers_with_set_triple} % \command
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {stripcharacters,stripspaces}
@@ -5442,16 +5370,18 @@
 %D As we can see below, spaces following a control sequence are
 %D to enclosed in \type{{}}.
 
-\def\stripcharacter#1\from#2\to#3%
-  {\def\dostripcharacter##1#1##2\end
-     {\edef\!!strippedstring{\!!strippedstring##1}%
-      \doifnotempty{##2}{\dostripcharacter##2\end}}%
-   \let\!!strippedstring\empty
+\let\m_syst_helpers_strip_character\empty
+
+\unexpanded\def\stripcharacter#1\from#2\to#3%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_strip_character##1#1##2\end
+     {\edef\m_syst_helpers_strip_character{\m_syst_helpers_strip_character##1}%
+      \doifnotempty{##2}{\syst_helpers_strip_character##2\end}}%
+   \let\m_syst_helpers_strip_character\empty
    \edef\m_syst_string_one{#2}%
-   \expandafter\dostripcharacter\m_syst_string_one#1\end
-   \dodoglobal\let#3\!!strippedstring}
+   \expandafter\syst_helpers_strip_character\m_syst_string_one#1\end
+   \dodoglobal\let#3\m_syst_helpers_strip_character}
 
-\def\stripspaces\from#1\to#2% will become \unspacestring#1\from#2
+\unexpanded\def\stripspaces\from#1\to#2% will become \unspacestring#1\from#2
   {\stripcharacter{ }\from#1\to#2}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -5460,7 +5390,7 @@
 %D The next macro does the same but is more compatible with other macros,
 %D like \type {\convert...}.
 
-\def\unspacestring#1\to#2%
+\unexpanded\def\unspacestring#1\to#2%
   {\stripcharacter{ }\from#1\to#2}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -5483,8 +5413,6 @@
 %D We can of course gobble more arguments using the
 %D appropriate gobbling command.
 
-\newif\ifexecuted % general purpose
-
 \def\executeifdefined#1% #2 / never change this one again
   {\ifcsname#1\endcsname
      \csname#1\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\endcsname\expandafter\gobbleoneargument
@@ -5511,65 +5439,15 @@
 
 %D Is this one still needed?
 
-\def\p!doifsomespaceelse#1 #2#3\m_end_of_string{\if\noexpand#2@}
+\def\syst_helpers_if_some_space_else#1 #2#3\_e_o_s_{\if\noexpand#2@}
 
 \def\doifsomespaceelse#1%                     % #2#3%
-  {\p!doifsomespaceelse#1 @ @\m_end_of_string % #3\else#2\fi}
+  {\syst_helpers_if_some_space_else#1 @ @\_e_o_s_ % #3\else#2\fi}
      \expandafter\secondoftwoarguments
    \else
      \expandafter\firstoftwoarguments
    \fi}
 
-% %D \macros
-% %D   {adaptdimension,balancedimensions}
-% %D
-% %D Again we introduce some macros that are closely related to
-% %D an interface aspect of \CONTEXT. The first command can be
-% %D used to adapt a \DIMENSION.
-% %D
-% %D \starttyping
-% %D \adaptdimension {dimension} {value}
-% %D \stoptyping
-% %D
-% %D When the value is preceed by a \type{+} or minus, the
-% %D dimension is advanced accordingly, otherwise it gets the
-% %D value.
-%
-% \def\doadaptdimension#1#2\\#3\\%
-%   {\if#1+%
-%      \dodoglobal\advance
-%    \else\if#1-%
-%      \dodoglobal\advance
-%    \else
-%      \dodoglobal
-%    \fi\fi
-%    #3 #1#2\relax}
-%
-% \def\adaptdimension#1#2%
-%   {\expandafter\doadaptdimension#2\\#1\\}
-%
-% %D A second command takes two \DIMENSIONS. Both are adapted,
-% %D depending on the sign of the given value.
-% %D maat. This time we take the value as it is, and don't look
-% %D explicitly at the preceding sign.
-% %D
-% %D \starttyping
-% %D \balancedimensions {dimension 1} {dimension 2} {value}
-% %D \stoptyping
-% %D
-% %D When a positive value is given, the first dimension is
-% %D incremented, the second ond is decremented. A negative value
-% %D has the opposite result.
-%
-% \def\balancedimensions#1#2#3%
-%   {\scratchdimen#3\relax
-%    \redoglobal\advance#1  \scratchdimen
-%    \dodoglobal\advance#2 -\scratchdimen}
-%
-% %D Both commands can be preceded by \type{\doglobal}. Here we
-% %D use \type{\redo} first, because \type{\dodo} resets the
-% %D global character.
-
 %D \macros
 %D   {processseparatedlist}
 %D
@@ -5601,56 +5479,61 @@
 %D Therefore we smuggle a \type {\relax} in front of the
 %D argument, which we remove afterwards.
 
-\def\doprocessseparatedlist#1]#2[#3]#4%
-   {\def\dodoprocessseparatedlist##1##2#3%
+\let\syst_helpers_process_separated_list_step\relax
+
+\def\syst_helpers_process_separated_list#1]#2[#3]#4%
+   {\def\syst_helpers_process_separated_list_step##1##2#3%
       {\def\m_syst_string_one{##2}% suggested by VZ
        \if]##1%
-         \let\dodoprocessseparatedlist\relax
+         \let\syst_helpers_process_separated_list_step\relax
        \else\ifx\blankspace\m_syst_string_one
          #4{##1}%
        \else\if]##2%
-         \let\dodoprocessseparatedlist\relax
+         \let\syst_helpers_process_separated_list_step\relax
        \else
          #4{##1##2}%
        \fi\fi\fi
-       \dodoprocessseparatedlist}%
-    \expandafter\dodoprocessseparatedlist\gobbleoneargument#1#3]#3}
+       \syst_helpers_process_separated_list_step}%
+    \expandafter\syst_helpers_process_separated_list_step\gobbleoneargument#1#3]#3}
 
-\def\processseparatedlist[%
-  {\doprocessseparatedlist\relax}
+\unexpanded\def\processseparatedlist[%
+  {\syst_helpers_process_separated_list\relax}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {processlist}
 %D
-%D An even more general list processing macro is the
-%D following one:
+%D An even more general list processing macro is the following one:
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \processlist{beginsym}{endsym}{separator}\docommand list
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D This one supports arbitrary open and close symbols as well
-%D as user defined separators.
+%D This one supports arbitrary open and close symbols as well as user
+%D defined separators.
 %D
 %D \starttyping
 %D \processlist(){=>}\docommand(a=>b=>c=>d)
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\processlist#1#2#3#4% no blank skipping !
-  {\def\doprocesslist##1#2%
-     {\def\dodoprocesslist####1####2#3%
+\let\syst_helpers_process_any_list       \relax
+\let\syst_helpers_process_any_list_indeed\relax
+\let\syst_helpers_process_any_list_step  \relax
+
+\unexpanded\def\processlist#1#2#3#4% no blank skipping !
+  {\def\syst_helpers_process_any_list_indeed##1#2%
+     {\def\syst_helpers_process_any_list_step####1####2#3%
         {\ifx#2####1%
-           \let\dodoprocesslist\relax
+           \let\syst_helpers_process_any_list_step\relax
          \else\ifx#2####2%
-           \let\dodoprocesslist\relax
+           \let\syst_helpers_process_any_list_step\relax
          \else
            #4{####1####2}%
          \fi\fi
-         \dodoprocesslist}%
-      \expandafter\dodoprocesslist\gobbleoneargument##1#3#2#3}%
-   \def\dodoprocesslist#1%
-     {\doprocesslist\relax}%
-   \dodoprocesslist}
+         \syst_helpers_process_any_list_step}%
+      \expandafter\syst_helpers_process_any_list_step\gobbleoneargument##1#3#2#3}%
+   \def\syst_helpers_process_any_list#1%
+     {\syst_helpers_process_any_list_indeed\relax}%
+    \syst_helpers_process_any_list}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {processassignlist}
@@ -5666,12 +5549,12 @@
 %D This command can be integrated in \type{\getparameters}, but
 %D we decided best not to do so.
 
-\def\processassignlist#1[#2]#3%
-  {\def\p!dodogetparameter[##1=##2=##3]%
+\unexpanded\def\processassignlist#1[#2]#3%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_process_assign_list_assign[##1=##2=##3]%
      {\doifnot{##3}\relax{#3{##1}}}%
-   \def\p!dogetparameter##1%
-     {\p!dodogetparameter[##1==\relax]}%
-   \processcommalist[#2]\p!dogetparameter}
+   \def\syst_helpers_process_assign_list_step##1%
+     {\syst_helpers_process_assign_list_assign[##1==\relax]}%
+   \processcommalist[#2]\syst_helpers_process_assign_list_step}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {untextargument
@@ -5688,20 +5571,22 @@
 %D They remove braces and backslashes and give us something to
 %D sort.
 
-\def\untexsomething
+\let\m_syst_helpers_untexed\empty
+
+\unexpanded\def\untexsomething
   {\begingroup
    \catcode\leftbraceasciicode \ignorecatcode
    \catcode\rightbraceasciicode\ignorecatcode
    \escapechar\minusone
-   \dountexsomething}
+   \syst_helpers_untex_something}
 
-\def\dountexsomething#1#2\to#3%
-  {\doglobal#1#2\to\untexedargument
+\def\syst_helpers_untex_something#1#2\to#3%
+  {\doglobal#1#2\to\m_syst_helpers_untexed
    \endgroup
-   \let#3\untexedargument}
+   \let#3\m_syst_helpers_untexed}
 
-\def\untexargument{\untexsomething\convertargument}
-\def\untexcommand {\untexsomething\convertcommand}
+\unexpanded\def\untexargument{\untexsomething\convertargument}
+\unexpanded\def\untexcommand {\untexsomething\convertcommand}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {ScaledPointsToBigPoints,ScaledPointsToWholeBigPoints}
@@ -5726,14 +5611,14 @@
 % \PointsToWholeBigPoints{10.53941pt}\test \test
 % \PointsToWholeBigPoints{10.53942pt}\test \test
 
-\def\PointsToBigPoints#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\PointsToBigPoints#1#2%
   {\edef#2{\withoutpt\the\dimexpr.996264\dimexpr#1\relax\relax}}
 
-\def\PointsToWholeBigPoints#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\PointsToWholeBigPoints#1#2%
   {\edef#2{\the\numexpr\dimexpr.996264\dimexpr#1\relax\relax/\maxcard\relax}}
 
-\def\ScaledPointsToBigPoints     #1{\PointsToBigPoints     {\number#1\scaledpoint}}
-\def\ScaledPointsToWholeBigPoints#1{\PointsToWholeBigPoints{\number#1\scaledpoint}}
+\unexpanded\def\ScaledPointsToBigPoints     #1{\PointsToBigPoints     {\number#1\scaledpoint}}
+\unexpanded\def\ScaledPointsToWholeBigPoints#1{\PointsToWholeBigPoints{\number#1\scaledpoint}}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {PointsToReal}
@@ -5745,9 +5630,8 @@
 %D \PointsToReal {dimension} \target
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\PointsToReal#1#2%
-  {\scratchdimen#1%
-   \edef#2{\withoutpt\the\scratchdimen}}
+\unexpanded\def\PointsToReal#1#2%
+  {\edef#2{\withoutpt\the\dimexpr#1}}
 
 %D \macros
 %D  {dontleavehmode}
@@ -5778,16 +5662,17 @@
 %D
 %D And finaly we got the following alternative, one that avoids
 %D interfering grouping at the cost of a box.
-
-\newbox\@@dlhbox
-
-\unexpanded\def\dontleavehmode
-  {\ifhmode\else \ifmmode\else
-     \setbox\@@dlhbox\hbox{\mathsurround\zeropoint\everymath\emptytoks$ $}\unhbox\@@dlhbox
-   \fi \fi}
-
-%D But, if you run a recent version of \TEX, we can use the new
-%D primitive:
+%D
+%D \starttyping
+%D \newbox\b_syst_helpers_dlh
+%D
+%D \unexpanded\def\dontleavehmode
+%D   {\ifhmode\else \ifmmode\else
+%D      \setbox\b_syst_helpers_dlh\hbox{\mathsurround\zeropoint\everymath\emptytoks$ $}\unhbox\b_syst_helpers_dlh
+%D    \fi \fi}
+%D \stoptyping
+%D
+%D But, as we run a recent version of \TEX, we can use the new primitive:
 
 \ifdefined\normalquitvmode \let\dontleavehmode\normalquitvmode \fi
 
@@ -5801,14 +5686,17 @@
 %D \lowercasestring somestring\to\somestring
 %D \stoptyping
 %D
-%D the first argument may be a \type{\macro}.
+%D The first argument may be a \type{\macro}.
 
-\def\uppercasestring#1\to#2%
+\unexpanded\def\uppercasestring#1\to#2%
   {\uppercase\expandafter{\expandafter\dodoglobal\expandafter\edef\expandafter#2\expandafter{\normalexpanded{#1}}}}
 
-\def\lowercasestring#1\to#2%
+\unexpanded\def\lowercasestring#1\to#2%
   {\lowercase\expandafter{\expandafter\dodoglobal\expandafter\edef\expandafter#2\expandafter{\normalexpanded{#1}}}}
 
+%D These macros are sort of obsolete as we never use uppercase this
+%D way.
+
 %D \macros
 %D   {handletokens}
 %D
@@ -5844,25 +5732,26 @@
 %D takes a real counter. The macro can be preceded by \type
 %D {\doglobal}.
 
-\def\counttoken#1\in#2\to#3%
+\def\syst_helpers_count_token#1% obeys {}
+  {\def\m_syst_string_three{#1}%
+   \ifx\m_syst_string_two\m_syst_string_three \else
+     \ifx\m_syst_string_one\m_syst_string_three
+       \advance\scratchcounter\plusone
+     \fi
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_count_token
+   \fi}
+
+\unexpanded\def\counttoken#1\in#2\to#3%
   {\scratchcounter\zerocount
    \def\m_syst_string_one{#1}%
    \def\m_syst_string_two{\end}%
-   \def\docounttoken##1% obeys {}
-     {\def\m_syst_string_three{##1}%
-      \ifx\m_syst_string_two\m_syst_string_three \else
-        \ifx\m_syst_string_one\m_syst_string_three
-          \advance\scratchcounter\plusone
-        \fi
-        \expandafter\docounttoken
-      \fi}%
-   \docounttoken#2\end
+   \syst_helpers_count_token#2\end
    \dodoglobal#3\scratchcounter}
 
-\def\counttokens#1\to#2%
+\unexpanded\def\counttokens#1\to#2%
   {\scratchcounter\zerocount
-   \def\docounttoken##1{\advance\scratchcounter\plusone}%
-   \handletokens#1\with\docounttoken
+   \def\syst_helpers_count_token##1{\advance\scratchcounter\plusone}%
+   \handletokens#1\with\syst_helpers_count_token
    \dodoglobal#2\scratchcounter}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -5872,17 +5761,17 @@
 %D Consider for instance the macro for which I originally
 %D wrote this token handler.
 
-\def\splitofftokens#1\from#2\to#3% slow but hardly used
+\unexpanded\def\splitofftokens#1\from#2\to#3% slow but hardly used
   {\ifnum#1>\zerocount
      \scratchcounter#1\relax
-     \def\dosplitofftokens##1%
+     \def\syst_helpers_split_off_tokens##1%
        {\ifnum\scratchcounter>\zerocount
           \advance\scratchcounter \minusone
           \edef#3{#3##1}%
         \fi}%
    % \let#3\empty % #3 can be #2, so:
      \expandafter\let\expandafter#3\expandafter\empty
-     \expandafter\handletokens#2\with\dosplitofftokens
+     \expandafter\handletokens#2\with\syst_helpers_split_off_tokens
    \else
      \edef#3{#2}%
    \fi}
@@ -5919,27 +5808,27 @@
 %D way we can handle the sentinal, a blank space and grouped
 %D tokens.
 
-\def\dohandletokens % \nexthandledtoken is part of interface
-  {\futurelet\nexthandledtoken\dodohandletokens}
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_handle_tokens % \nexthandledtoken is part of interface
+  {\futurelet\nexthandledtoken\syst_helpers_handle_tokens_indeed}
 
 \def\handletokens#1\with#2%
-  {\gdef\dododohandletokens{#2}% permits more complex #2's
-   \dohandletokens#1\end}
+  {\gdef\syst_helpers_handle_tokens_command{#2}% permits more complex #2's
+   \syst_helpers_handle_tokens#1\end}
 
-\def\dodohandletokens
+\def\syst_helpers_handle_tokens_indeed
   {\ifx\nexthandledtoken\blankspace
-     \expandafter\dodohandletokensone
+     \expandafter\syst_helpers_handle_tokens_indeed_one
    \else\ifx\nexthandledtoken\end
      \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\gobbletwoarguments % also gobble the \end
    \else
-     \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\dodohandletokenstwo
+     \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\syst_helpers_handle_tokens_indeed_two
    \fi\fi *}
 
-\def\dodohandletokensone * %
-  {\dododohandletokens{ }\dohandletokens}
+\def\syst_helpers_handle_tokens_indeed_one * %
+  {\syst_helpers_handle_tokens_command{ }\syst_helpers_handle_tokens}
 
-\def\dodohandletokenstwo *#1%
-  {\dododohandletokens{#1}\dohandletokens}
+\def\syst_helpers_handle_tokens_indeed_two *#1%
+  {\syst_helpers_handle_tokens_command{#1}\syst_helpers_handle_tokens}
 
 %D This macro is tested on:
 %D
@@ -6022,130 +5911,35 @@
 %D This macro is first used in the tabulation macros.
 
 \unexpanded\def\processcontent#1%
-  {\begingroup\expandafter\doprocesscontent\csname#1\endcsname}
+  {\begingroup\expandafter\syst_helpers_process_content\csname#1\endcsname}
 
-\unexpanded\def\doprocesscontent#1#2#3%
-  {\unexpanded\def\doprocesscontent##1#1%
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_process_content#1#2#3%
+  {\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_process_content##1#1%
      {\endgroup\def#2{##1}#3}%
-   \doprocesscontent}
+   \syst_helpers_process_content}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {dogobblesingleempty, dogobbledoubleempty}
 %D
 %D These two macros savely grab and dispose two arguments.
 
-\def\dogobblesingleempty{\dosingleempty\dodogobblesingleempty}
-\def\dogobbledoubleempty{\dodoubleempty\dodogobbledoubleempty}
+\def\dogobblesingleempty{\dosingleempty\syst_helpers_gobble_single_empty}
+\def\dogobbledoubleempty{\dodoubleempty\syst_helpers_gobble_double_empty}
 
-\def\dodogobblesingleempty    [#1]{}
-\def\dodogobbledoubleempty[#1][#2]{}
+\def\syst_helpers_gobble_single_empty    [#1]{}
+\def\syst_helpers_gobble_double_empty[#1][#2]{}
 
 \let\gobblesingleempty\dogobblesingleempty % also used
 \let\gobbledoubleempty\dogobbledoubleempty % also used
 
 %D \macros
-%D   {sortcommalist,sortcommacommand,
-%D    donumericcompare,comparedresult}
-%D
-%D Sometimes we need to sort a commalist, so here is Taco's
-%D solution. This will in many cases be a list that is stored
-%D in a \type{\csname}, so both commalist and commacommands are
-%D supported. The sorting algorithm is very simple, so the list
-%D should not be too long or sorting will be very slow.
-%D
-%D \starttyping
-%D \sortcommalist[10,2,4,5,6,1,2,3,4,10,20]\donumericcompare
-%D
-%D \def\test{10,2,4,5,6,1,2,3,4,10,20}
-%D
-%D \sortcommacommand[\test]\donumericcompare
-%D \stoptyping
-%D
-%D In both cases, the result is available in the macro \type
-%D {\sortedcommalist}.
-%D
-%D Parameter \type{#2} is a macro that should accept two
-%D parameters, and it has to decide which one is larger, by
-%D setting the counter \type{\comparedresult} to~0 (for equal),
-%D 1~(if it's first argument is larger), or~2 (if it's second
-%D argument is larger).
-%D
-%D As said, these macro are largely written by Taco, and are
-%D (maybe therefore) also the first application of \type
-%D {\replaceincommalist}.
-
-\newcount\comparedresult
-
-\def\sortcommacommand[#1]%
-  {\expandafter\sortcommalist\expandafter[#1]}
-
-\def\sortcommalist[#1]#2%
-  {\getcommalistsize[#1]%
-   \ifnum\commalistsize>1
-     \let\sortedcommalist\empty
-     \let\comparecommand#2%
-     \processcommalist[#1]\dosortcommacommand
-   \else
-     \def\sortedcommalist{#1}%
-   \fi}
-
-\def\dosortcommacommand#1%
-  {\ifx\sortedcommalist\empty
-     \def\sortedcommalist{#1}%
-   \else
-     \def\!!tempa{#1}%
-     \ifx\!!tempa\empty\else
-       \scratchcounter\plusone
-       \expandafter\getcommalistsize\expandafter[\sortedcommalist]%
-       \expandafter\processcommalist\expandafter[\sortedcommalist]\docompareitems
-     \fi
-   \fi}
-
-%D All those \type{\expandafter}'s are there because I do not
-%D want to use \type{\edef}.
-
-\def\docompareitems#1%
-  {\doifnotempty{#1}
-     {\expandafter\comparecommand\expandafter{\!!tempa}{#1}\relax
-     %\ifcase\compareresult % equal
-      \ifnum\comparedresult<2
-        \ifnum\scratchcounter=\commalistsize
-          \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\def
-            \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\sortedcommalist
-              \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter{\expandafter\sortedcommalist\expandafter,\!!tempa}%
-        \fi
-     %\or % new element larger
-     %  \ifnum\scratchcounter=\commalistsize
-     %    \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\def
-     %      \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\sortedcommalist
-     %        \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter{\expandafter\sortedcommalist\expandafter,\!!tempa}%
-     %  \fi
-      \else % old element larger
-        \expandafter\def\expandafter\newcommalistelement\expandafter{\!!tempa,#1}%
-        \replaceincommalist\sortedcommalist\scratchcounter
-        \expandafter\quitcommalist
-      \fi}%
-      \advance\scratchcounter \plusone} % bug, was \minusone
-
-%D The macro \type{\donumericcompare} considers everything
-%D that is not a number to be larger than any number.
-
-% 0: both are equal, 1: #1 is larger, 2: #2 is larger
-
-\def\thenumericcompare#1#2% no \relax es inside hee
-  {\doifnumberelse{#1}
-     {\doifnumberelse{#2}{\ifnum#1>#2 \plusone\else\ifnum#1<#2 \plustwo\else\zerocount\fi\fi}\plustwo}
-     \plusone}
-
-\def\donumericcompare
-  {\comparedresult\thenumericcompare}
-
-%D \macros
 %D   {@True, @False, @Not, @And}
 %D
 %D Some predicate logic functions, used in for instance the
 %D math module.
 
+% These have rather ugly names ... will change:
+
 \def\@True    {00}
 \def\@False   {01}
 \def\@Not   #1{0\ifcase#11 \or\expandafter 1\else \expandafter 0\fi}
@@ -6168,10 +5962,10 @@
 %D assignment inside a box. The \type{\empty}'s permits
 %D gobbling while preventing spurious \type{\relax}'s.
 
-\def\setdimensionwithunit#1#2#3% number unit dimension / nice trick
+\unexpanded\def\setdimensionwithunit#1#2#3% number unit dimension / nice trick
   {\afterassignment\gobblefourarguments#1=#2#3pt\relax\empty\empty\empty\empty}
 
-\def\freezedimensionwithunit#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\freezedimensionwithunit#1#2%
   {\setdimensionwithunit\scratchdimen#1{#2}\edef#1{\the\scratchdimen}}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -6180,7 +5974,7 @@
 %D Not that fast I guess, but here's a way to test for token
 %D registers being empty.
 
-\def\doifsometokselse#1%
+\unexpanded\def\doifsometokselse#1%
   {\edef\m_syst_string_one{\the#1}% one level expansion so quite ok
    \ifx\m_syst_string_one\empty
      \expandafter\secondoftwoarguments
@@ -6188,7 +5982,7 @@
      \expandafter\firstoftwoarguments
    \fi}
 
-\def\doifsometoks#1%
+\unexpanded\def\doifsometoks#1%
   {\edef\m_syst_string_one{\the#1}% one level expansion so quite ok
    \ifx\m_syst_string_one\empty
      \expandafter\gobbleoneargument
@@ -6196,7 +5990,7 @@
      \expandafter\firstofoneargument
    \fi}
 
-\def\doifemptytoks#1%
+\unexpanded\def\doifemptytoks#1%
   {\edef\m_syst_string_one{\the#1}% one level expansion so quite ok
    \ifx\m_syst_string_one\empty
      \expandafter\firstofoneargument
@@ -6268,10 +6062,14 @@
 %D
 %D Concatenate commalists:
 
-\def\serializecommalist[#1]%
+\let\syst_helpers_serialize_comma_list_step\relax
+
+\def\syst_helpers_serialize_comma_list_step#1%
+  {\edef\serializedcommalist{\serializedcommalist#1}}
+
+\unexpanded\def\serializecommalist[#1]%
   {\let\serializedcommalist\empty
-   \def\docommand##1{\edef\serializedcommalist{\serializedcommalist##1}}%
-   \processcommacommand[#1]\docommand}
+   \processcommacommand[#1]\syst_helpers_serialize_comma_list_step}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {purenumber}
@@ -6347,7 +6145,7 @@
 \def\filterfromvalue#1#2#3% value max n
   {\expandafter\doubleexpandafter\csname         % we use the fact that an
      \expandafter\ifx\csname#1\endcsname\relax   % undefined cs has become \relax
-       \strippedcsname\gobbleoneargument % which we then gobble here
+       \strippedcsname\gobbleoneargument         % which we then gobble here
      \else
        \dofilterfromstr{#2}{#3}%
      \fi
@@ -6365,13 +6163,13 @@
 %D ... \measure{mywidth} ...
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\??dm{@@dm} % brrr
+\installsystemnamespace{measure}
 
 \unexpanded\def\definemeasure
   {\dodoubleargument\dodefinemeasure}
 
 \def\dodefinemeasure[#1][#2]%
-  {\expandafter\def\csname\??dm#1\endcsname{#2}}
+  {\expandafter\def\csname\??measure#1\endcsname{#2}}
 
 % #2 could be omitted, but we want to support spaces
 %
@@ -6379,13 +6177,13 @@
 % \setmeasure {xx} {1cm}
 % \setmeasure {xxx}{1cm}
 
-\unexpanded\def\setmeasure #1#2{\expandafter\def \csname\??dm#1\endcsname{#2}} % quick way
-\unexpanded\def\setemeasure#1#2{\expandafter\edef\csname\??dm#1\endcsname{#2}} % quick way
-\unexpanded\def\setgmeasure#1#2{\expandafter\gdef\csname\??dm#1\endcsname{#2}} % quick way
-\unexpanded\def\setxmeasure#1#2{\expandafter\xdef\csname\??dm#1\endcsname{#2}} % quick way
+\unexpanded\def\setmeasure #1#2{\expandafter\def \csname\??measure#1\endcsname{#2}} % quick way
+\unexpanded\def\setemeasure#1#2{\expandafter\edef\csname\??measure#1\endcsname{#2}} % quick way
+\unexpanded\def\setgmeasure#1#2{\expandafter\gdef\csname\??measure#1\endcsname{#2}} % quick way
+\unexpanded\def\setxmeasure#1#2{\expandafter\xdef\csname\??measure#1\endcsname{#2}} % quick way
 
 \def\measure#1% maybe \dimexpr ... \relax
-  {\ifcsname\??dm#1\endcsname\csname\??dm#1\endcsname\else\zeropoint\fi}
+  {\ifcsname\??measure#1\endcsname\csname\??measure#1\endcsname\else\zeropoint\fi}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {doifdimensionelse}
@@ -6393,9 +6191,9 @@
 %D This is a dirty one: we simply append a unit and discard it when needed.
 
 \def\doifdimensionelse#1%
-  {\afterassignment\dodoifdimensionelse\scratchdimen#1pt\relax}
+  {\afterassignment\syst_helpers_if_dimension_else\scratchdimen#1pt\relax}
 
-\def\dodoifdimensionelse#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_if_dimension_else#1%
   {\ifx#1\relax
      \expandafter\secondoftwoarguments
    \else % #1=p ... t\relax
@@ -6419,53 +6217,57 @@
 %D \NC 1       \NC  \doifdimenstringelse      {1}{yes}{no} \NC \NR
 %D \stoptabulate
 
+\installsystemnamespace{dimenchecka}
+\installsystemnamespace{dimencheckb}
+\installsystemnamespace{dimencheckc}
+
 \def\doifdimenstringelse#1{\normalexpanded{\noexpand\dodimenteststageone#1}\empty\empty]}
 
-\def\dodimenteststageone  #1#2{\csname d!1!\ifcsname d!1!#2\endcsname#2\else x\fi\endcsname#2}
-\def\dodimenteststagetwo  #1#2{\csname d!2!\ifcsname d!2!#2\endcsname#2\else x\fi\endcsname#2}
-\def\dodimenteststagethree #1]{\csname d!3!\ifcsname d!3!#1\endcsname#1\else x\fi\endcsname}
-
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!x\endcsname\dodimenteststagethree
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!x\endcsname\dodimenteststagethree
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!x\endcsname\secondoftwoarguments
-
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!.\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!,\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!1\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!2\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!3\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!4\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!5\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!6\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!7\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!8\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!9\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
-\expandafter\let\csname d!1!0\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
-
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!1\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!2\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!3\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!4\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!5\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!6\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!7\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!8\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!9\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-\expandafter\let\csname d!2!0\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
-
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!pt\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!pc\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!in\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!bp\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!cm\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!mm\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!dd\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!cc\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!sp\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!ex\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!em\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!nd\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
-\expandafter\let\csname d!3!nc\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\def\dodimenteststageone  #1#2{\csname \??dimenchecka\ifcsname \??dimenchecka#2\endcsname#2\else x\fi\endcsname#2}
+\def\dodimenteststagetwo  #1#2{\csname \??dimencheckb\ifcsname \??dimencheckb#2\endcsname#2\else x\fi\endcsname#2}
+\def\dodimenteststagethree #1]{\csname \??dimencheckc\ifcsname \??dimencheckc#1\endcsname#1\else x\fi\endcsname}
+
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka x\endcsname\dodimenteststagethree
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb x\endcsname\dodimenteststagethree
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc x\endcsname\secondoftwoarguments
+
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka.\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka,\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka1\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka2\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka3\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka4\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka5\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka6\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka7\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka8\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka9\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimenchecka0\endcsname\dodimenteststageone
+
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb1\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb2\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb3\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb4\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb5\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb6\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb7\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb8\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb9\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckb0\endcsname\dodimenteststagetwo
+
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc pt\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc pc\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc in\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc bp\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc cm\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc mm\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc dd\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc cc\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc sp\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc ex\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc em\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc nd\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
+\expandafter\let\csname \??dimencheckc nc\endcsname\firstoftwoarguments
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {comparedimension,comparedimensioneps}
@@ -6503,50 +6305,50 @@
 
 % \copycsname xxx\endcsname\csname ..\endcsname
 
-\def\copycsname{\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\let\expandafter\expandafter\csname}
+\unexpanded\def\copycsname{\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\let\expandafter\expandafter\csname}
 
 % \letcscsname    \crap               \csname ..\endcsname
 % \letcsnamecs    \csname ..\endcsname\crap
 % \letcsnamecsname\csname ..\endcsname\csname ..\endcsname
 
-\def\letcscsname    {\expandafter\let\expandafter}
-\def\letcsnamecs    {\expandafter\let}
-\def\letcsnamecsname{\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\let\expandafter\expandafter}
+\unexpanded\def\letcscsname    {\expandafter\let\expandafter}
+\unexpanded\def\letcsnamecs    {\expandafter\let}
+\unexpanded\def\letcsnamecsname{\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\let\expandafter\expandafter}
 
 % another one, add an item to a commalist
 
-\def\addvalue#1#2% cs item
+\unexpanded\def\addvalue#1#2% cs item
   {\ifcsname#1\endcsname\else\expandafter\let\csname#1\endcsname\empty\fi
    \normalexpanded{\noexpand\addtocommalist{#2}\expandafter\noexpand\csname#1\endcsname}}
 
 \def\unspaced#1%
-  {\dounspaced#1\end}
+  {\syst_helpers_unspaced#1\end}
 
-\def\dounspaced#1%
+\def\syst_helpers_unspaced#1%
   {\ifx#1\end
      \expandafter\gobbleoneargument
    \else
      \ifx#1\blankspace\else#1\fi
    \fi
-   \dounspaced}
+   \syst_helpers_unspaced}
 
-\def\unspaceargument#1\to#2%
+\unexpanded\def\unspaceargument#1\to#2%
   {\scratchcounter\catcode\spaceasciicode
    \catcode\spaceasciicode\ignorecatcode
    \scantextokens{\edef#2{#1}}%
    \catcode\spaceasciicode\scratchcounter}
 
-\def\unspaceafter#1#2%
+\unexpanded\def\unspaceafter#1#2%
   {\unspaceargument#2\to\ascii
    \expandafter#1\expandafter{\ascii}}
 
 % sometimes handy:
 
-\def\doifhasspaceelse#1%
+\unexpanded\def\doifhasspaceelse#1%
   {\edef\m_syst_string_one{#1}%
-   \normalexpanded{\noexpand\dodoifhasspaceelse#1\space}\empty\relax}
+   \normalexpanded{\syst_helpers_if_has_space_else#1\space}\empty\relax}
 
-\def\dodoifhasspaceelse#1 #2#3\relax % \space\empty\relax
+\unexpanded\def\syst_helpers_if_has_space_else#1 #2#3\relax % \space\empty\relax
   {\ifx\m_syst_string_one\space
      \expandafter\firstoftwoarguments
    \else\ifx#2\empty
@@ -6557,67 +6359,35 @@
 
 % this will replace loadfile once and alike !!! todo
 
-\def\@flg@{@flg@}
-
-\def\setflag  #1{\expandafter\dodoglobal\expandafter\let\csname\@flg@#1\endcsname\zerocount}
-\def\resetflag#1{\expandafter\dodoglobal\expandafter\let\csname\@flg@#1\endcsname\plusone}
+\installsystemnamespace{flag}
 
-\let\ifflagged\ifcase
+\unexpanded\def\setflag  #1{\expandafter\dodoglobal\expandafter\let\csname\??flag#1\endcsname\zerocount}
+\unexpanded\def\resetflag#1{\expandafter\dodoglobal\expandafter\let\csname\??flag#1\endcsname\plusone}
 
-\def\flag#1{\csname\@flg@#1\endcsname}
+\def\flag#1{\csname\??flag#1\endcsname}
 
 \def\doifelseflagged#1%
-  {\expandafter\ifx\csname\@flg@#1\endcsname\relax
+  {\expandafter\ifx\csname\??flag#1\endcsname\relax
      \expandafter\secondoftwoarguments
-   \else\ifcase\csname\@flg@#1\endcsname
+   \else\ifcase\csname\??flag#1\endcsname
      \doubleexpandafter\firstoftwoarguments
    \else
      \doubleexpandafter\secondoftwoarguments
    \fi\fi}
 
 \def\doifnotflagged#1%
-  {\expandafter\ifx\csname\@flg@#1\endcsname\relax
+  {\expandafter\ifx\csname\??flag#1\endcsname\relax
      \expandafter\firstofoneargument
-   \else\ifcase\csname\@flg@#1\endcsname
+   \else\ifcase\csname\??flag#1\endcsname
      \doubleexpandafter\gobbleoneargument
    \else
      \doubleexpandafter\firstofoneargument
    \fi\fi}
 
-\def\inheritparameter[#1]#2[#3]#4[#5]% tag tokey fromkey
+\unexpanded\def\inheritparameter[#1]#2[#3]#4[#5]% tag tokey fromkey
   {\expandafter\def\csname#1#3\expandafter\endcsname\expandafter{\csname#1#5\endcsname}}
 
-% \buildarray[test][aa,bb,cc,dd,ee,ff]
-% \setarrayelement{test}{1}{qq}
-% \arrayelement{test}{1}
-% \arraylength{test}
-%
-% \def\buildarray[#1][#2]%
-%   {\scratchcounter=0
-%    \def\docommand##1%
-%      {\advance\scratchcounter by 1
-%       \setvalue{@@aa#1\the\scratchcounter}{##1}}%
-%    \processcommalist[#2]\docommand
-%    \setevalue{@@aa#1}{\the\scratchcounter}}%
-%
-% \def\setarrayelement#1#2{\setvalue{@@aa#1#2}}
-% \def\arrayelement   #1#2{\getvalue{@@aa#1#2}}
-% \def\arraylength      #1{\getvalue{@@aa#1}}
-
-% \newsignal\junksignal
-%
-% \def\setjunksignal%
-%   {\ifhmode
-%      \hskip\junksignal
-%      \let\removejunkspaces\doremovejunkspaces
-%    \else
-%      \let\removejunkspaces\relax
-%    \fi}
-%
-% \def\doremovejunkspaces%
-%   {\doloop{\ifdim\lastskip=\junksignal\unskip\else\exitloop\fi}}
-
-\def\dodoifnonzeropositiveelse#1#2\end % #3#4%
+\def\syst_helpers_if_non_zero_positive_else#1#2\end % #3#4%
   {\ifx#1\relax
      \ifcase\scratchcounter
        \endgroup
@@ -6632,45 +6402,42 @@
    \fi}
 
 \def\doifnonzeropositiveelse#1%
-  {\begingroup\afterassignment\dodoifnonzeropositiveelse\scratchcounter=0#1\relax\empty\end}
+  {\begingroup\afterassignment\syst_helpers_if_non_zero_positive_else\scratchcounter=0#1\relax\empty\end}
 
 % here ?
 
-\def\dosetrawvalue #1#2#3{\expandafter \def\csname#1#2\endcsname{#3}}
-\def\dosetrawevalue#1#2#3{\expandafter\edef\csname#1#2\endcsname{#3}}
-\def\dosetrawgvalue#1#2#3{\expandafter\gdef\csname#1#2\endcsname{#3}}
-\def\dosetrawxvalue#1#2#3{\expandafter\xdef\csname#1#2\endcsname{#3}}
+\unexpanded\def\dosetrawvalue #1#2#3{\expandafter \def\csname#1#2\endcsname{#3}}
+\unexpanded\def\dosetrawevalue#1#2#3{\expandafter\edef\csname#1#2\endcsname{#3}}
+\unexpanded\def\dosetrawgvalue#1#2#3{\expandafter\gdef\csname#1#2\endcsname{#3}}
+\unexpanded\def\dosetrawxvalue#1#2#3{\expandafter\xdef\csname#1#2\endcsname{#3}}
 
-\def\getrawparameters      {\dogetparameters\dosetrawvalue }
-\def\getraweparameters     {\dogetparameters\dosetrawevalue}
-\def\getrawgparameters     {\dogetparameters\dosetrawgvalue}
-\def\getrawxparameters     {\dogetparameters\dosetrawxvalue}
+\unexpanded\def\getrawparameters      {\dogetparameters\dosetrawvalue }
+\unexpanded\def\getraweparameters     {\dogetparameters\dosetrawevalue}
+\unexpanded\def\getrawgparameters     {\dogetparameters\dosetrawgvalue}
+\unexpanded\def\getrawxparameters     {\dogetparameters\dosetrawxvalue}
 
-\def\globalgetrawparameters{\dogetparameters\dosetrawgvalue} % obsolete
-
-\def\splitskip#1%
-  {\scratchskip#1\relax
-   \dimen0\scratchskip
-   \dimen2\gluestretch\scratchskip
-   \dimen4\glueshrink\scratchskip}
+\unexpanded\def\globalgetrawparameters{\dogetparameters\dosetrawgvalue} % obsolete
 
-\newcount\modcounter
+%D Sort of obsolete:
+
+\newcount\c_syst_helpers_mod
 
-\def\dosetmodulo#1#2#3%
-  {\modcounter#1\divide\modcounter#2\multiply\modcounter#2%
-   #3#1\advance#3-\modcounter}
+\unexpanded\def\dosetmodulo#1#2#3%
+  {\c_syst_helpers_mod#1\divide\c_syst_helpers_mod#2\multiply\c_syst_helpers_mod#2%
+   #3#1\advance#3-\c_syst_helpers_mod}
 
-\def\dosetdivision#1#2#3%
+\unexpanded\def\dosetdivision#1#2#3%
   {#3#1\divide#3 #2\relax}
 
-\def\DoMod#1by#2to#3{\dosetmodulo  {#1}{#2}{#3}}
-\def\DoDiv#1by#2to#3{\dosetdivision{#1}{#2}{#3}}
+\unexpanded\def\DoMod#1by#2to#3{\dosetmodulo  {#1}{#2}{#3}}
+\unexpanded\def\DoDiv#1by#2to#3{\dosetdivision{#1}{#2}{#3}}
 
-\def\dounprotected#1\par
+\def\syst_helpers_unprotected#1\par
   {#1\protect}
 
-\def\unprotected
-  {\unprotect\dounprotected}
+\unexpanded\def\unprotected
+  {\unprotect
+   \syst_helpers_unprotected}
 
 % awaiting the definitive implementation
 
@@ -6684,20 +6451,21 @@
 \def\elapsedtime   {\ctxcommand{elapsedtime()}}
 \let\elapsedseconds \elapsedtime
 
-\newcount\featuretest
+\newcount\c_syst_helpers_test_feature_n
 
 \unexpanded\def\testfeature#1#2%
-  {\def\dotestfeature
-     {\advance\featuretest \plusone
-      \ifnum\featuretest>#1\else#2\expandafter\dotestfeature\fi}%
+  {\def\syst_helpers_test_feature_step
+     {\advance\c_syst_helpers_test_feature_n\plusone
+      \ifnum\c_syst_helpers_test_feature_n>#1\else#2\expandafter\syst_helpers_test_feature_step\fi}%
    \retestfeature}
 
-\def\retestfeature % timer support is new per 10/5/2005
+\unexpanded\def\retestfeature % timer support is new per 10/5/2005
   {\bgroup
    \ifcase\interactionmode\let\wait\relax\fi
    \writestatus\m!system{starting feature test}\wait
    \resettimer
-   \featuretest\zerocount \dotestfeature
+   \c_syst_helpers_test_feature_n\zerocount
+   \syst_helpers_test_feature_step
    \writestatus\m!system{feature test done (\elapsedseconds s)}%
    \wait
    \egroup}
@@ -6720,7 +6488,7 @@
 %D \freezedimenmacro\leftmargindistance
 %D \stoptyping
 
-\def\freezedimenmacro#1%
+\unexpanded\def\freezedimenmacro#1%
   {\edef#1{\the\dimexpr#1}}
 
 %D The next macro negates a macro (dimension or number, or actually, whatever.
@@ -6738,185 +6506,17 @@
 \def\assigndimen#1#2%
   {\afterassignment\gobbleassigndimen#1=#2\zeropoint\\}
 
-\def\setusage#1%
-  {\expandafter\let\csname#1\endcsname\iftrue}
-
-\def\resetusage#1%
-  {\expandafter\let\csname#1\endcsname\iffalse}
-
-\def\ifusage#1%
-  {\ifcsname#1\endcsname\else
-     \resetusage{#1}%
-   \fi
-   \csname#1\endcsname}
-
-
-% The following macros are used in XML handling.
-
-\setvalue{@u@s@"}#1#2"{#2} \setvalue{@g@s@"}#1#2"{\scratchtoks{#2}}
-\setvalue{@u@s@'}#1#2'{#2} \setvalue{@g@s@'}#1#2'{\scratchtoks{#2}}
-\setvalue{@u@s@ }#1#2 {#2} \setvalue{@g@s@ }#1#2 {\scratchtoks{#2}}
-
-\def\unstringed#1{\csname\ifcsname @u@s@#1\endcsname @u@s@#1\else\s!empty\fi\endcsname#1}
-\def\grabstring#1{\csname\ifcsname @g@s@#1\endcsname @g@s@#1\else\s!empty\fi\endcsname#1}
-
-\def\dowithgrabbedstring#1%
-  {\def\@@dowithgrabbedstring{#1}%
-   \afterassignment\@@dowithgrabbedstring\grabstring}
-
-\def\expifequalelse#1#2%
-  {\@@ifequal#1\relax\relax\@@and#2\relax\relax\@@then}
-
-\def\@@ifequal#1#2\@@and#3%
-  {\ifx#1\relax
-     \ifx#3\relax
-       \doubleexpandafter\@@if@@equal@@true
-     \else
-       \doubleexpandafter\@@if@@equal@@false
-     \fi
-   \else
-     \ifx#3\relax
-       \tripleexpandafter\@@if@@equal@@false
-     \else\ifx#1#3%
-       % go on
-     \else
-       \tripleexpandafter\@@if@@equal@@false
-     \fi\fi
-   \fi
-   \@@ifequal#2\@@and}
-
-\def\@@if@@equal@@true #1\@@then#2#3{#2}
-\def\@@if@@equal@@false#1\@@then#2#3{#3}
-
-\def\appended#1#2#3{\expandafter#1\expandafter#2\expandafter{#2#3}}
-\def\appendvalue #1{\expandafter\appended\expandafter \def\csname#1\endcsname}
-\def\appendgvalue#1{\expandafter\appended\expandafter\gdef\csname#1\endcsname}
+\unexpanded\def\appended#1#2#3{\expandafter#1\expandafter#2\expandafter{#2#3}}
+\unexpanded\def\appendvalue #1{\expandafter\appended\expandafter \def\csname#1\endcsname}
+\unexpanded\def\appendgvalue#1{\expandafter\appended\expandafter\gdef\csname#1\endcsname}
 
-\def\prepended#1#2#3%
-  {\scratchtoks{#3}%
+\unexpanded\def\prepended#1#2#3%
+  {\t_syst_helpers_scratch{#3}%
    \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter#1\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter#2\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter
-     {\expandafter\the\expandafter\scratchtoks#2}}
-
-\def\prependvalue #1{\expandafter\prepended\expandafter \def\csname#1\endcsname}
-\def\prependgvalue#1{\expandafter\prepended\expandafter\gdef\csname#1\endcsname}
-
-%D \macros
-%D   {compresscommacommandnrs,compresscommalistnrs,compressedcommalistnrs,
-%D    compresscommacommand,compresscommalist,compressedcommalist,
-%D    reversecommacommand,reversecommalist,reversedcommalist}
-%D
-%D The following two list processing macros are needed by Taco's
-%D bibliography module. The numbers compressor converts the
-%D list in a list of ranges. The normal compressor remove duplicate
-%D and empty entries.
-%D
-%D This is now obsolete (and more a \LUA\ thing anyway).
-
-\def\compresscommalistnrs[#1]%
-  {\let\compressedlist\empty
-   \!!counta\maxdimen
-   \!!countb\maxdimen
-   \processcommalist[#1]\docompresslistnrs
-   \ifnum\!!counta=\maxdimen\else\dodocompresslistnrs\fi}
-
-\def\compresscommacommandnrs[#1]%
-  {\normalexpanded{\noexpand\compresscommalistnrs[#1]}}
-
-\def\docompresslistnrs#1%
-  {\edef\commalistelement{#1}%
-   \ifx\commalistelement\empty\else
-     \ifnum\!!counta=\maxdimen
-       \!!counta\commalistelement\relax
-       \!!countb\!!counta
-     \else
-       \advance\!!countb\plusone
-       \ifnum\commalistelement>\!!countb
-         \advance\!!countb\minusone
-         \dodocompresslistnrs
-         \!!counta\commalistelement\relax
-         \!!countb\!!counta
-       \fi
-     \fi
-   \fi}
-
-\def\dodocompresslistnrs
-  {\edef\compressedlist
-     {\ifx\compressedlist\empty\else\compressedlist,\fi
-       {\the\!!counta}{\ifnum\!!countb>\!!counta\the\!!countb\fi}}}
-
-%D \def\test#1{{\tttf#1->\compresscommalistnrs[#1]\defconvertedcommand\ascii\compressedlist\ascii}}
-%D \startlines
-%D \test{}
-%D \test{1}
-%D \test{1,3}
-%D \test{1,3,4}
-%D \test{1,3,3,4,5}
-%D \test{1,3,3,4,5,8}
-%D \test{1,3,3,4,5,5,8,10}
-%D \test{1,3,4,5,8,10,11}
-%D \test{1,,3,,4,,5,,8,,10,,11,}
-%D \stoplines
-
-\def\compresscommalist[#1]%
-  {\let\compressedlist\empty
-   \let\m_syst_string_one\empty
-   \processcommalist[#1]\docompresslist}
-
-\def\compresscommacommand[#1]%
-  {\normalexpanded{\noexpand\compresscommalist[#1]}}
-
-\def\docompresslist#1%
-  {\edef\commalistelement{#1}%
-   \ifx\commalistelement\empty \else
-     \ifx\m_syst_string_one\commalistelement \else
-       \ifx\compressedlist\empty
-         \def\compressedlist{#1}%
-       \else
-         \appended\def\compressedlist{,#1}%
-       \fi
-       \let\m_syst_string_one\commalistelement
-     \fi
-   \fi}
-
-%D \def\test#1{{\tttf#1->\compresscommalist[#1]\defconvertedcommand\ascii\compressedlist\ascii}}
-%D \startlines
-%D \test{}
-%D \test{1}
-%D \test{1,3}
-%D \test{1,3,4}
-%D \test{1,3,3,4,5}
-%D \test{1,3,3,4,5,8}
-%D \test{1,3,3,4,5,5,8,10}
-%D \test{1,3,4,5,8,10,11}
-%D \test{1,,3,,4,,5,,8,,10,,11,}
-%D \stoplines
-
-\def\reversecommalist[#1]%
-  {\let\reversedlist\empty
-   \processcommalist[#1]\doreverselist}
-
-\def\doreverselist#1%
-  {\ifx\reversedlist\empty
-     \def\reversedlist{#1}%
-   \else
-     \prepended\def\reversedlist{#1,}%
-   \fi}
+     {\expandafter\the\expandafter\t_syst_helpers_scratch#2}}
 
-\def\reversecommacommand[#1]%
-  {\normalexpanded{\noexpand\reversecommalist[#1]}}
-
-%D \def\test#1{{\tttf#1->\reversecommalist[#1]\defconvertedcommand\ascii\reversedlist\ascii}}
-%D \startlines
-%D \test{}
-%D \test{1}
-%D \test{1,3}
-%D \test{1,3,4}
-%D \test{1,3,3,4,5}
-%D \test{1,3,3,4,5,8}
-%D \test{1,3,3,4,5,5,8,10}
-%D \test{1,3,4,5,8,10,11}
-%D \test{1,,3,,4,,5,,8,,10,,11,}
-%D \stoplines
+\unexpanded\def\prependvalue #1{\expandafter\prepended\expandafter \def\csname#1\endcsname}
+\unexpanded\def\prependgvalue#1{\expandafter\prepended\expandafter\gdef\csname#1\endcsname}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {dowithrange}
@@ -6924,44 +6524,11 @@
 %D This one is for Mojca Miklavec, who made me aware of the fact that
 %D \type {page-imp.tex} was not the best place to hide it.
 
-\def\dowithrange#1#2% #2 takes number
+\unexpanded\def\dowithrange#1#2% #2 takes number
   {\splitstring#1\at:\to\fromrange\and\torange
    \ifx\torange\empty\let\torange\fromrange\fi
    \dostepwiserecurse\fromrange\torange1{#2{\recurselevel}}}
-
-%D \macros {uncompresslist}
-%D
-%D When given a list like \type{1,4-7,9} as argument, this macro
-%D will store the expanded commalist in \type{\uncompressedlist}.
-%D
-%D \startbuffer
-%D \def\MojcaHasToDoTheTasks[#1]#2%
-%D   {{\uncompresslist[#1]%
-%D     \def\processitem##1{I have to do ##1 #2\par}%
-%D     \processcommacommand[\uncompressedlist]\processitem}}
-%D
-%D \MojcaHasToDoTheTasks [1-4,7,9-11] {until tomorrow}
-%D \stopbuffer
-%D
-%D Here is an example of how to use \type {\uncompresslist}:
-%D \typebuffer
-%D
-%D The output of this is:
-%D
-%D \getbuffer
 
-\def\uncompresslist[#1]% by TH
-  {\let\uncompressedlist\empty
-   \def\docompressedlistitem##1-##2-%
-     {\expandafter\dorecurse\expandafter
-        {\the\numexpr1+##2-##1\relax}%
-        {\expandafter\appendtocommalist\expandafter{\the\numexpr##1-1+####1\relax}\uncompressedlist}}%
-   \def\douncompresslist##1%
-     {\doifinstringelse{-}{##1}
-        {\docompressedlistitem##1-}
-        {\appendtocommalist{##1}\uncompressedlist}}%
-   \processcommalist[#1]\douncompresslist}
-
 %D \macros
 %D   {ignoreimplicitspaces}
 %D
@@ -6974,7 +6541,7 @@
 %D
 %D \typebuffer \getbuffer
 
-\def\ignoreimplicitspaces
+\unexpanded\def\ignoreimplicitspaces
   {\doifnextcharelse\relax\relax\relax}
 
 %D \macros
@@ -6982,74 +6549,39 @@
 %D
 %D Not that sophisticated but sometimes users (like in metafun).
 
-\def\doprocesswords#1 #2\od
-  {\doifsomething{#1}{\processword{#1} \doprocesswords#2 \od}}
-% {\doifsomething{\detokenize{#1}}{\processword{#1} \doprocesswords#2 \od}} % to be tested
+\def\syst_helpers_process_word#1 #2\_e_o_w_
+  {\doifsomething{#1}{\processword{#1} \syst_helpers_process_word#2 \_e_o_w_}}
 
 \def\processwords#1%
-  {\doprocesswords#1 \od}% no \unskip
+  {\syst_helpers_process_word#1 \_e_o_w_}% no \unskip
 
 \let\processword\relax
 
-% new
-%
-% \startnointerference
-% all kind of code
-% \stopnointerference
+%D \macros
+%D   {startnointerference}
+%D
+%D \starttyping
+%D \startnointerference
+%D all kind of code
+%D \stopnointerference
+%D \stoptyping
 
-\newbox\nointerferencebox
+\newbox\b_syst_helpers_no_interference
 
 \unexpanded\def\startnointerference % not even grouped !
-  {\setbox\nointerferencebox\vbox
+  {\setbox\b_syst_helpers_no_interference\vbox
    \bgroup}
 
 \unexpanded\def\stopnointerference
   {\egroup
-   \setbox\nointerferencebox\emptybox}
-
-% \def\appendtovaluelist#1#2%
-%   {\ifcsname#1\endcsname
-%      \expandafter\ifx\csname#1\endcsname\empty
-%        \expandafter\def\csname#1\endcsname{#2}%
-%      \else
-%        \expandafter\def\csname#1\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\endcsname
-%           \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter{\csname#1\endcsname,#2}%
-%      \fi
-%    \else
-%      \expandafter\def\csname#1\endcsname{#2}%
-%    \fi}
-%
-% or
-%
-% \def\appendtovaluelist#1%
-%   {\ifcsname#1\endcsname
-%      \expandafter\ifx\csname#1\endcsname\empty
-%        \expandafter\noappendtovaluelist\csname#1\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\endcsname
-%      \else
-%        \expandafter\doappendtovaluelist\csname#1\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\endcsname
-%      \fi
-%    \else
-%      \expandafter\noappendtovaluelist\csname#1\expandafter\endcsname
-%    \fi}
-
-% \def\doappendtovaluelist#1#2{\expandafter\def\expandafter#1\expandafter{#1,#2}}
-% \def\noappendtovaluelist#1#2{\def#1{#2}}
-
-% \appendtovaluelist{mylist}{aap}
-% \appendtovaluelist{mylist}{noot}
-% \appendtovaluelist{mylist}{mies}
-
-% \showvalue{mylist}
+   \setbox\b_syst_helpers_no_interference\emptybox}
 
 %D A variant for \type {\executeifdefined}:
 
-% \def\expandcheckedcsname#1#2#3%
-%   {\csname#1\ifcsname#1#2\endcsname#2\else#3\fi\endcsname}
-
 \def\expandcheckedcsname#1#2% #2 is often a \xxxparameter  so let's expand it once
-  {\normalexpanded{\noexpand\doexpandcheckedcsname{#1}{#2}}}
+  {\normalexpanded{\noexpand\syst_helpers_expand_checked_csname{#1}{#2}}}
 
-\def\doexpandcheckedcsname#1#2#3%
+\def\syst_helpers_expand_checked_csname#1#2#3%
   {\csname#1\ifcsname#1#2\endcsname#2\else#3\fi\endcsname}
 
 %D Signal. Some fonts have a char0 rendering so we need to make sure that it
@@ -7057,7 +6589,8 @@
 
 \unexpanded\def\signalcharacter{\char\zerocount} % \zwj
 
-%D Here are some nasty helpers:
+%D Here are some nasty helpers. They can be used to fill often expanded token
+%D lists efficiently (see tabulate for an example).
 
 \def\constantnumber#1%
   {\ifcase#1\zerocount
@@ -7108,9 +6641,6 @@
      {#1}%
    \fi}
 
-%D These can be used when constructing often reused token lists,
-%D as we do with tabulates.
-
 \protect \endinput
 
 % \edef\choicetokenyes{+}
@@ -7171,3 +6701,37 @@
 %         nothing
 %     }
 % \stopchoice
+
+% \def\appendtovaluelist#1#2%
+%   {\ifcsname#1\endcsname
+%      \expandafter\ifx\csname#1\endcsname\empty
+%        \expandafter\def\csname#1\endcsname{#2}%
+%      \else
+%        \expandafter\def\csname#1\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\endcsname
+%           \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter{\csname#1\endcsname,#2}%
+%      \fi
+%    \else
+%      \expandafter\def\csname#1\endcsname{#2}%
+%    \fi}
+%
+% or
+%
+% \def\appendtovaluelist#1%
+%   {\ifcsname#1\endcsname
+%      \expandafter\ifx\csname#1\endcsname\empty
+%        \expandafter\noappendtovaluelist\csname#1\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\endcsname
+%      \else
+%        \expandafter\doappendtovaluelist\csname#1\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\endcsname
+%      \fi
+%    \else
+%      \expandafter\noappendtovaluelist\csname#1\expandafter\endcsname
+%    \fi}
+%
+% \def\doappendtovaluelist#1#2{\expandafter\def\expandafter#1\expandafter{#1,#2}}
+% \def\noappendtovaluelist#1#2{\def#1{#2}}
+%
+% \appendtovaluelist{mylist}{aap}
+% \appendtovaluelist{mylist}{noot}
+% \appendtovaluelist{mylist}{mies}
+%
+% \showvalue{mylist}
diff --git a/tex/context/base/syst-ini.mkiv b/tex/context/base/syst-ini.mkiv
index a4afecf52..9b94ef428 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/syst-ini.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/syst-ini.mkiv
@@ -149,6 +149,11 @@
 \let\bgroup={
 \let\egroup=}
 
+%D \macros
+%D   {normalbgroup,normalgroup}
+%D
+%D No comment.
+
 %D Allocation of registers is done slightly different than in plain
 %D \TEX. First of all we use different reserved counters. We also
 %D don't implement a family handler because users are not supposed
diff --git a/tex/context/base/trac-vis.mkiv b/tex/context/base/trac-vis.mkiv
index ed24edf92..dfceb379f 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/trac-vis.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/trac-vis.mkiv
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@
 %D
 %D Control over what gets visualized happens with the tracker command:
 %D
-%D \enabletrackers[...]
+%D \enabletrackers[visualizer.*]
 %D
 %D Possible values are: \type {fontkern}, \type {kern}, \type {glue}, \type
 %D {penalty}, \type {hbox}, \type {vbox}, \type {all}, \type {reset}, \type
-%D {makeup}.
+%D {makeup}, \type {whatsit}, \type{glyph}.
 %D
 %D In due time some special visualzation of math will move here as well.
 
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@
 \unexpanded\def\showglyphs
   {\ctxcommand{setvisual("glyph")}}
 
+\unexpanded\def\showfontkerns
+  {\ctxcommand{setvisual("fontkern")}}
+
 \unexpanded\def\setvisualizerfont
   {\dosingleempty\syst_visualizers_setfont}
 
diff --git a/tex/context/base/typo-krn.lua b/tex/context/base/typo-krn.lua
index 54b1fd2d3..e9b9f1f45 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/typo-krn.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/typo-krn.lua
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['typo-krn'] = {
 
 local utf = unicode.utf8
 
-local next, type = next, type
+local next, type, tonumber = next, type, tonumber
 local utfchar = utf.char
 
 local nodes, node, fonts = nodes, node, fonts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ local tasks              = nodes.tasks
 
 local new_gluespec       = nodepool.gluespec
 local new_kern           = nodepool.kern
+local new_glue           = nodepool.glue
 
 local nodecodes          = nodes.nodecodes
 local kerncodes          = nodes.kerncodes
@@ -55,6 +56,8 @@ local chardata           = fonthashes.characters
 local quaddata           = fonthashes.quads
 local markdata           = fonthashes.marks
 
+local v_max              = interfaces.variables.max
+
 typesetters              = typesetters or { }
 local typesetters        = typesetters
 
@@ -86,16 +89,45 @@ kerns.keeptogether = false -- just for fun (todo: control setting with key/value
 
 -- can be optimized .. the prev thing .. but hardly worth the effort
 
+local function kern_injector(fillup,kern)
+    if fillup then
+        local g = new_glue(kern)
+        local s = g.spec
+        s.stretch = kern
+        s.stretch_order = 1
+        return g
+    else
+        return new_kern(kern)
+    end
+end
+
+local function spec_injector(fillup,width,stretch,shrink)
+    if fillup then
+        local s = new_gluespec(width,2*stretch,2*shrink)
+        s.stretch_order = 1
+        return s
+    else
+        return new_gluespec(width,stretch,shrink)
+    end
+end
+
 local function do_process(namespace,attribute,head,force) -- todo: glue so that we can fully stretch
     local start, done, lastfont = head, false, nil
     local keepligature = kerns.keepligature
     local keeptogether = kerns.keeptogether
+    local fillup = false
     while start do
         -- faster to test for attr first
         local attr = force or has_attribute(start,attribute)
         if attr and attr > 0 then
             unset_attribute(start,attribute)
             local krn = mapping[attr]
+            if krn == v_max then
+                krn = .25
+                fillup = true
+            else
+                fillup = false
+            end
             if krn and krn ~= 0 then
                 local id = start.id
                 if id == glyph_code then
@@ -155,12 +187,12 @@ local function do_process(namespace,attribute,head,force) -- todo: glue so that
                                     local kerns = chardata[lastfont][prevchar].kerns
                                     local kern = kerns and kerns[lastchar] or 0
                                     krn = kern + quaddata[lastfont]*krn -- here
-                                    insert_node_before(head,start,new_kern(krn))
+                                    insert_node_before(head,start,kern_injector(fillup,krn))
                                     done = true
                                 end
                             else
                                 krn = quaddata[lastfont]*krn -- here
-                                insert_node_before(head,start,new_kern(krn))
+                                insert_node_before(head,start,kern_injector(fillup,krn))
                                 done = true
                             end
                         elseif pid == disc_code then
@@ -218,7 +250,7 @@ local function do_process(namespace,attribute,head,force) -- todo: glue so that
                                 else
                                     krn = quaddata[lastfont]*krn -- here
                                 end
-                                disc.replace = new_kern(krn)
+                                disc.replace = kern_injector(fillup,krn)
                             end
                         end
                     end
@@ -229,7 +261,7 @@ local function do_process(namespace,attribute,head,force) -- todo: glue so that
                         local w = s.width
                         if w > 0 then
                             local width, stretch, shrink = w+gluefactor*w*krn, s.stretch, s.shrink
-                            start.spec = new_gluespec(width,stretch*width/w,shrink*width/w)
+                            start.spec = spec_injector(fillup,width,stretch*width/w,shrink*width/w)
                             done = true
                         end
                     end
@@ -244,12 +276,12 @@ local function do_process(namespace,attribute,head,force) -- todo: glue so that
                 elseif lastfont and (id == hlist_code or id == vlist_code) then -- todo: lookahead
                     local p = start.prev
                     if p and p.id ~= glue_code then
-                        insert_node_before(head,start,new_kern(quaddata[lastfont]*krn))
+                        insert_node_before(head,start,kern_injector(fillup,quaddata[lastfont]*krn))
                         done = true
                     end
                     local n = start.next
                     if n and n.id ~= glue_code then
-                        insert_node_after(head,start,new_kern(quaddata[lastfont]*krn))
+                        insert_node_after(head,start,kern_injector(fillup,quaddata[lastfont]*krn))
                         done = true
                     end
                 end
@@ -265,7 +297,10 @@ end
 local enabled = false
 
 function kerns.set(factor)
-    if factor ~= 0 then
+    if factor ~= v_max then
+        factor = tonumber(factor) or 0
+    end
+    if factor == v_max or factor ~= 0 then
         if not enabled then
             tasks.enableaction("processors","typesetters.kerns.handler")
             enabled = true
diff --git a/tex/context/base/typo-krn.mkiv b/tex/context/base/typo-krn.mkiv
index 20ca3ca89..cb1dcdd18 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/typo-krn.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/typo-krn.mkiv
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 
 \def\typo_kerning_set
   {\usecharacterkerningstyleandcolor\c!style\c!color % goodie, maybe also strut
-   \ctxcommand{setcharacterkerning(\characterkerningparameter\c!factor)}}
+   \ctxcommand{setcharacterkerning("\characterkerningparameter\c!factor")}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\resetcharacterkerning % fast one
   {\attribute\kernattribute\attributeunsetvalue}
@@ -62,8 +62,6 @@
 %D then we always would get a command defined which is not beforehand
 %D a good idea.
 
-\def\v!kerncharacters{kerncharacters} % no time now for translations should be a e! actually
-
 \definecharacterkerning [\v!kerncharacters] [\c!factor=.125]
 
 % Here we need to keep the groupedcommand solution as it is
@@ -87,4 +85,57 @@
   {\let\currentcharacterkerning\v!kerncharacters
    \typo_kerning_set}
 
+%D \macros
+%D   {stretched}
+%D
+%D Stretching characters in a word is a sort of typographical
+%D murder. Nevertheless we support this manipulation for use in
+%D for instance titles.
+%D
+%D \starttyping
+%D \hbox to 5cm{\stretched{to the limit}}
+%D \stretched{to the limit}
+%D \stretched[width=10cm]{to the limit}
+%D \stoptyping
+%D
+%D \typebuffer
+%D
+%D or
+%D
+%D \startexample
+%D \getbuffer
+%D \stopexample
+%D
+%D \showsetup{stretched}
+%D
+%D This command replaces the old \MKII\ variant.
+
+\definecharacterkerning
+  [\v!stretched]
+  [\c!factor=\v!max,
+   \c!width=\availablehsize]
+
+\unexpanded\def\setupstretched
+  {\setupcharacterkerning[\v!stretched]}
+
+\unexpanded\def\stretched
+  {\dosingleempty\typo_kerning_stretched}
+
+\unexpanded\def\typo_kerning_stretched[#1]#2%
+  {\begingroup
+   \let\currentcharacterkerning\v!stretched
+   \iffirstargument
+     \setupcurrentcharacterkerning[#1]%
+   \fi
+   \edef\p_width{\characterkerningparameter\c!width}%
+   \ifx\p_width\empty \else
+    \hbox to \p_width
+   \fi
+   \bgroup
+   \usecharacterkerningstyleandcolor\c!style\c!color
+   \typo_kerning_set
+   #2%
+   \egroup
+   \endgroup}
+
 \protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/xtag-pre.mkii b/tex/context/base/xtag-pre.mkii
index 63706d64c..5e75197b7 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/xtag-pre.mkii
+++ b/tex/context/base/xtag-pre.mkii
@@ -18,6 +18,19 @@
 
 \unprotect
 
+%D For \MKIV:
+
+\setvalue{@u@s@"}#1#2"{#2} \setvalue{@g@s@"}#1#2"{\scratchtoks{#2}}
+\setvalue{@u@s@'}#1#2'{#2} \setvalue{@g@s@'}#1#2'{\scratchtoks{#2}}
+\setvalue{@u@s@ }#1#2 {#2} \setvalue{@g@s@ }#1#2 {\scratchtoks{#2}}
+
+\def\unstringed#1{\csname\ifcsname @u@s@#1\endcsname @u@s@#1\else\s!empty\fi\endcsname#1}
+\def\grabstring#1{\csname\ifcsname @g@s@#1\endcsname @g@s@#1\else\s!empty\fi\endcsname#1}
+
+\def\dowithgrabbedstring#1%
+  {\def\@@dowithgrabbedstring{#1}%
+   \afterassignment\@@dowithgrabbedstring\grabstring}
+
 %D Let's get rid of ligatures:
 
 % \definefonthandling [default] [noligs]
diff --git a/tex/generic/context/luatex/luatex-fonts-merged.lua b/tex/generic/context/luatex/luatex-fonts-merged.lua
index 8e9102cb6..760c26c06 100644
--- a/tex/generic/context/luatex/luatex-fonts-merged.lua
+++ b/tex/generic/context/luatex/luatex-fonts-merged.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 -- merged file : luatex-fonts-merged.lua
 -- parent file : luatex-fonts.lua
--- merge date  : 06/26/12 10:59:33
+-- merge date  : 06/28/12 09:36:55
 
 do -- begin closure to overcome local limits and interference
author	Hans Hagen <pragma@wxs.nl>	2012-06-28 09:36:00 +0200
committer	Hans Hagen <pragma@wxs.nl>	2012-06-28 09:36:00 +0200
commit	98d65bcefb9065dcc3c5ade6684cc317ca16f889 (patch)
tree	9277e2f2d790937a31f2db69c0b9272aba90d60d /tex
parent	915458f50da433e6c3a68ee21b76a98757ec8677 (diff)
download	context-98d65bcefb9065dcc3c5ade6684cc317ca16f889.tar.gz