diff --git a/build.lua b/build.lua
index b446dbd5e..86641357d 100644
--- a/build.lua
+++ b/build.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 installable {
 	name = "ack",
 	map = {
-		"util/ack+ack-pkg",
-		"util/amisc+pkg",
 		"lang/cem/cemcom.ansi+pkg",
+		"util/ack+pkg",
+		"util/amisc+pkg",
+		"util/arch+pkg",
+		"util/misc+pkg",
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/first/build.lua b/first/build.lua
index 9a35c36a6..dcddaae90 100644
--- a/first/build.lua
+++ b/first/build.lua
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ definerule("cprogram",
 		commands = {
 			type="strings",
 			default={
-				"$(CC) -o %{outs[1]} %{ins} %{ins}"
+				"$(CC) -o %{outs[1]} -Wl,--start-group %{ins} -Wl,--end-group"
 			},
 		}
 	},
diff --git a/lang/cem/cemcom.ansi/build.lua b/lang/cem/cemcom.ansi/build.lua
index e330eded9..ff07e4b36 100644
--- a/lang/cem/cemcom.ansi/build.lua
+++ b/lang/cem/cemcom.ansi/build.lua
@@ -118,14 +118,14 @@ cprogram {
 		"+nextlib",
 		"+llgen",
 		"h+emheaders",
-		"modules+alloc",
-		"modules+em_code_k",
-		"modules+flt_arith",
-		"modules+idf",
-		"modules+input",
+		"modules/src/alloc+lib",
+		"modules/src/em_code+lib_k",
+		"modules/src/flt_arith+lib",
+		"modules/src/idf+lib",
+		"modules/src/input+lib",
+		"modules/src/system+lib",
 		"modules+headers",
-		"modules+system",
-		"util/data+libem",
+		"util/data+em_data",
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/build.lua b/modules/build.lua
index cbf72d0ba..a2228f2a8 100644
--- a/modules/build.lua
+++ b/modules/build.lua
@@ -5,149 +5,3 @@ clibrary {
 	}
 }
 
-clibrary {
-	name = "system",
-	srcs = { "./src/system/*.c" },
-	hdrs = { "./src/system/system.h" },
-	deps = { "+headers" },
-}
-
-clibrary {
-	name = "alloc",
-	srcs = { "./src/alloc/*.c" },
-	hdrs = { "./src/alloc/alloc.h" },
-	deps = {
-		"+headers",
-		"+system"
-	},
-}
-
-clibrary {
-	name = "flt_arith",
-	srcs = { "./src/flt_arith/*.c" },
-	hdrs = { "./src/flt_arith/flt_arith.h" },
-	deps = {
-		"+headers"
-	}
-}
-
-clibrary {
-	name = "idf",
-	srcs = {},
-	hdrs = { "./src/idf/idf_pkg.*" },
-}
-
-clibrary {
-	name = "input",
-	srcs = {
-		"./src/input/*.c"
-	},
-	hdrs = { "./src/input/inp_pkg.*" }
-}
-
-clibrary {
-	name = "string",
-	srcs = { "./src/string/*.c" },
-	deps = { "+headers" },
-}
-
-clibrary {
-	name = "object",
-	srcs = { "./src/object/*.c" },
-	deps = {
-		"+headers",
-		"h+local",
-		"h+emheaders",
-	},
-}
-
-normalrule {
-	name = "em_code_ek_h",
-	ins = {
-		"./src/em_code/make.em.gen",
-		"./src/em_code/em.nogen",
-		"h/em_table"
-	},
-	outleaves = { "em_codeEK.h" },
-	commands = {
-		"%{ins[1]} %{ins[3]} > %{outs}",
-		"cat %{ins[2]} >> %{outs}"
-	}
-}
-
-for _, variant in ipairs {
-	{ "e", "-DREADABLE_EM" },
-	{ "k", "" }
-} do
-	local code = variant[1]
-	local cflags = variant[2]
-
-	clibrary {
-		name = "em_code_"..code,
-		srcs = {
-			"./src/em_code/C_out.c",
-			"./src/em_code/bhcst.c",
-			"./src/em_code/bhdlb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/bhdnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/bhfcon.c",
-			"./src/em_code/bhicon.c",
-			"./src/em_code/bhilb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/bhpnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/bhucon.c",
-			"./src/em_code/crcst.c",
-			"./src/em_code/crdlb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/crdnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/crilb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/crpnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/crscon.c",
-			"./src/em_code/crxcon.c",
-			"./src/em_code/cst.c",
-			"./src/em_code/dfdlb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/dfdnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/dfilb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/dlb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/dnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/em.c",
-			"./src/em_code/end.c",
-			"./src/em_code/endarg.c",
-			"./src/em_code/exc.c",
-			"./src/em_code/failed.c",
-			"./src/em_code/fcon.c",
-			"./src/em_code/getid.c",
-			"./src/em_code/icon.c",
-			"./src/em_code/ilb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/insert.c",
-			"./src/em_code/internerr.c",
-			"./src/em_code/msend.c",
-			"./src/em_code/msstart.c",
-			"./src/em_code/op.c",
-			"./src/em_code/opcst.c",
-			"./src/em_code/opdlb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/opdnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/opilb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/opnarg.c",
-			"./src/em_code/oppnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/pnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/pro.c",
-			"./src/em_code/pronarg.c",
-			"./src/em_code/psdlb.c",
-			"./src/em_code/psdnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/pspnam.c",
-			"./src/em_code/scon.c",
-			"./src/em_code/ucon.c",
-		},
-		hdrs = {
-			"+em_code_ek_h"
-		},
-		deps = {
-			"+alloc",
-			"+em_code_ek_h",
-			"+headers",
-			"+system",
-			"h+emheaders",
-			"h+local",
-			"util/data+libem",
-		},
-		cflags = { cflags }
-	}
-end
diff --git a/modules/src/alloc/build.lua b/modules/src/alloc/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a274c390e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/src/alloc/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+clibrary {
+	name = "lib",
+	srcs = { "./*.c" },
+	hdrs = { "./alloc.h" },
+	deps = {
+		"modules+headers",
+		"modules/src/system+lib"
+	},
+}
+
diff --git a/modules/src/em_code/build.lua b/modules/src/em_code/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..80ea28a8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/src/em_code/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+normalrule {
+	name = "em_code_ek_h",
+	ins = {
+		"./make.em.gen",
+		"./em.nogen",
+		"h/em_table"
+	},
+	outleaves = { "em_codeEK.h" },
+	commands = {
+		"%{ins[1]} %{ins[3]} > %{outs}",
+		"cat %{ins[2]} >> %{outs}"
+	}
+}
+
+local function build_variant(code, cflags)
+	clibrary {
+		name = "lib_"..code,
+		srcs = {
+			"./C_out.c",
+			"./bhcst.c",
+			"./bhdlb.c",
+			"./bhdnam.c",
+			"./bhfcon.c",
+			"./bhicon.c",
+			"./bhilb.c",
+			"./bhpnam.c",
+			"./bhucon.c",
+			"./crcst.c",
+			"./crdlb.c",
+			"./crdnam.c",
+			"./crilb.c",
+			"./crpnam.c",
+			"./crscon.c",
+			"./crxcon.c",
+			"./cst.c",
+			"./dfdlb.c",
+			"./dfdnam.c",
+			"./dfilb.c",
+			"./dlb.c",
+			"./dnam.c",
+			"./em.c",
+			"./end.c",
+			"./endarg.c",
+			"./exc.c",
+			"./failed.c",
+			"./fcon.c",
+			"./getid.c",
+			"./icon.c",
+			"./ilb.c",
+			"./insert.c",
+			"./internerr.c",
+			"./msend.c",
+			"./msstart.c",
+			"./op.c",
+			"./opcst.c",
+			"./opdlb.c",
+			"./opdnam.c",
+			"./opilb.c",
+			"./opnarg.c",
+			"./oppnam.c",
+			"./pnam.c",
+			"./pro.c",
+			"./pronarg.c",
+			"./psdlb.c",
+			"./psdnam.c",
+			"./pspnam.c",
+			"./scon.c",
+			"./ucon.c",
+		},
+		hdrs = {
+			"+em_code_ek_h"
+		},
+		deps = {
+			"+em_code_ek_h",
+			"h+emheaders",
+			"h+local",
+			"modules+headers",
+			"modules/src/alloc+lib",
+			"modules/src/system+lib",
+			"util/data+em_data",
+		},
+		cflags = { cflags }
+	}
+end
+
+build_variant("e", "-DREADABLE_EM")
+build_variant("k", "")
+
diff --git a/modules/src/flt_arith/build.lua b/modules/src/flt_arith/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..10ce7b8ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/src/flt_arith/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+clibrary {
+	name = "lib",
+	srcs = { "./*.c" },
+	hdrs = { "./flt_arith.h" },
+	deps = {
+		"modules+headers"
+	}
+}
+
+
diff --git a/modules/src/idf/build.lua b/modules/src/idf/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ac30ac54e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/src/idf/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+clibrary {
+	name = "lib",
+	srcs = {},
+	hdrs = { "./idf_pkg.*" },
+}
+
+
diff --git a/modules/src/input/build.lua b/modules/src/input/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7f59455e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/src/input/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+clibrary {
+	name = "lib",
+	srcs = {
+		"./*.c"
+	},
+	hdrs = { "./inp_pkg.*" }
+}
+
+
diff --git a/modules/src/object/build.lua b/modules/src/object/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..61a9907f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/src/object/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+clibrary {
+	name = "lib",
+	srcs = { "./*.c" },
+	deps = {
+		"modules+headers",
+		"h+local",
+		"h+emheaders",
+	},
+}
+
+
diff --git a/modules/src/print/build.lua b/modules/src/print/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a3bc48b06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/src/print/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+clibrary {
+	name = "lib",
+	srcs = { "./*.c" },
+	hdrs = { "./print.h" },
+	deps = {
+		"modules+headers",
+		"modules/src/system+lib"
+	}
+}
+
+
diff --git a/modules/src/read_em/build.lua b/modules/src/read_em/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..860f29df1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/src/read_em/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+
+normalrule {
+	name = "c_mnem_narg_h",
+	ins = {
+		"./m_C_mnem_na",
+		"h/em_table",
+		"./argtype"
+	},
+	outleaves = "C_mnem_narg.h",
+	commands = {
+		"%{ins} > %{outs}"
+	}
+}
+	
+normalrule {
+	name = "c_mnem_h",
+	ins = {
+		"./m_C_mnem",
+		"h/em_table",
+		"./argtype"
+	},
+	outleaves = "C_mnem.h",
+	commands = {
+		"%{ins} > %{outs}"
+	}
+}
+	
+clibrary {
+	name = "lib_ev",
+	cflags = {
+		"-DPRIVATE=static",
+		"-DEXPORT=",
+		"-DNDEBUG",
+		"-DCHECKING"
+	},
+	srcs = {
+		"./EM_vars.c",
+		"./read_em.c",
+		"./mkcalls.c",
+	},
+	hdrs = {
+		"./em_comp.h",
+	},
+	deps = {
+		"+c_mnem_h",
+		"+c_mnem_narg_h",
+		"h+emheaders",
+		"modules+headers",
+		"modules/src/alloc+lib",
+		"modules/src/em_code+em_code_ek_h",
+		"modules/src/system+lib",
+		"util/data+em_data",
+	}
+}
+
+
diff --git a/modules/src/read_em/m_C_mnem b/modules/src/read_em/m_C_mnem
index 70152f5c4..67b6056b5 100755
--- a/modules/src/read_em/m_C_mnem
+++ b/modules/src/read_em/m_C_mnem
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 EM_TABLE=$1
+ARGTYPE=$2
 echo "switch(p->em_opcode) {"
 for i in - cdflnorswz p b
 do
-	list=`./argtype $i $EM_TABLE`
+	list=`$ARGTYPE $i $EM_TABLE`
 	case $i in
 	-)	args='()'
 		echo "	/* no arguments */"
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ do
 EOF
 	done
 done
-list=`./argtype g $EM_TABLE`
+list=`$ARGTYPE g $EM_TABLE`
 cat << 'EOF'
 	default:
 /* a "g" argument */
diff --git a/modules/src/read_em/m_C_mnem_na b/modules/src/read_em/m_C_mnem_na
index 535ea0831..07e80daad 100755
--- a/modules/src/read_em/m_C_mnem_na
+++ b/modules/src/read_em/m_C_mnem_na
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 EM_TABLE=$1
-list=`./argtype w $EM_TABLE`
+ARGTYPE=$2
+list=`$ARGTYPE w $EM_TABLE`
 echo "switch(p->em_opcode) {"
 for i in $list
 do
diff --git a/modules/src/string/build.lua b/modules/src/string/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c45a84577
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/src/string/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+clibrary {
+	name = "lib",
+	srcs = { "./*.c" },
+	deps = { "modules+headers" },
+}
+
+
diff --git a/modules/src/system/build.lua b/modules/src/system/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..47587e122
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/src/system/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+clibrary {
+	name = "lib",
+	srcs = { "./*.c" },
+	hdrs = { "./system.h" },
+	deps = { "modules+headers" },
+}
+
+
diff --git a/util/ack/build.lua b/util/ack/build.lua
index f30eedf4a..dc46d44a8 100644
--- a/util/ack/build.lua
+++ b/util/ack/build.lua
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ cprogram {
 }
 
 installable {
-	name = "ack-pkg",
+	name = "pkg",
 	map = {
 		["$(INSDIR)/bin/ack"] = "+ack",
 		["$(INSDIR)/share/man/man1/ack.1"] = "./ack.1.X",
@@ -37,62 +37,3 @@ installable {
 	}
 }
 
---[[
-D := util/ack
-
-define util-ack-makeheaders-rule
-$(eval g := $(OBJDIR)/$D/dmach.c $(OBJDIR)/$D/intable.c)
-$(wordlist 2, $(words $g), $g): $(firstword $g)
-$(firstword $g): $(util-ack-mktables)
-	@echo MKTABLES
-	@mkdir -p $(OBJDIR)/$D
-	$(hide) cd $(OBJDIR)/$D && $(util-ack-mktables) $(INSDIR)/share
-
-$(eval CLEANABLES += $g)
-endef
-
-define build-ack-impl
-	$(call reset)
-	$(call cfile, $D/mktables.c)
-	$(call cprogram, $(OBJDIR)/$D/mktables)
-	$(eval util-ack-mktables := $o)
-
-	$(call reset)
-	$(eval cflags += -I$D)
-	$(call cfile, $D/list.c)
-	$(call cfile, $D/data.c)
-	$(call cfile, $D/main.c)
-	$(call cfile, $D/scan.c)
-	$(call cfile, $D/svars.c)
-	$(call cfile, $D/trans.c)
-	$(call cfile, $D/util.c)
-
-	$(call cfile, $D/rmach.c)
-	$(call dependson, $(INCDIR)/em_path.h)
-
-	$(call cfile, $D/run.c)
-	$(call cfile, $D/grows.c)
-
-	$(call cfile, $D/files.c)
-	$(call dependson, $(INCDIR)/em_path.h)
-
-	$(eval $(util-ack-makeheaders-rule))
-	$(call cfile, $(OBJDIR)/$D/dmach.c)
-	$(call cfile, $(OBJDIR)/$D/intable.c)
-
-	$(call cprogram, $(BINDIR)/ack)
-	$(call installto, $(INSDIR)/bin/ack)
-	$(eval ACK := $o)
-
-	$(call reset)
-	$(eval q := lib/descr/fe)
-	$(call installto, $(PLATIND)/descr/fe)
-	$(eval $(ACK): $o)
-
-	$(call reset)
-	$(eval q := $D/ack.1.X)
-	$(call installto, $(INSDIR)/share/man/man1/ack.1)
-endef
-
-$(eval $(build-ack-impl))
---]]
diff --git a/util/amisc/build.lua b/util/amisc/build.lua
index 099e51a82..d1b8a3356 100644
--- a/util/amisc/build.lua
+++ b/util/amisc/build.lua
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ local function simpleprogram(name)
 		srcs = { "./"..name..".c" },
 		deps = {
 			"h+emheaders",
-			"modules+object",
+			"modules/src/object+lib",
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/util/arch/build.lua b/util/arch/build.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ad207c60e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/arch/build.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+cprogram {
+	name = "aal",
+	srcs = { "./archiver.c" },
+	deps = {
+		"h+emheaders",
+		"modules/src/object+lib",
+		"modules/src/print+lib",
+		"modules/src/string+lib",
+		"modules/src/system+lib"
+	}
+}
+
+installable {
+	name = "pkg",
+	map = {
+		["$(INSDIR)/bin/aal"] = "+aal",
+		["$(PLATIND)/man/man1/aal.1"] = "./aal.1"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/util/data/build.lua b/util/data/build.lua
index 7ed75e280..784e1d6ac 100644
--- a/util/data/build.lua
+++ b/util/data/build.lua
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ normalrule {
 }
 
 clibrary {
-	name = "libem",
+	name = "em_data",
 	srcs = {
 		"./em_ptyp.c",
 		"+generated", -- so we build the C files