diff --git a/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs b/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs
index 0863d4ebdc..3dfcf48c5e 100644
--- a/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs
@@ -952,11 +952,7 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             let internal_type =
                 basic_type_from_layout(env.arena, env.context, &tag_layout, env.ptr_bytes);
 
-            cast_basic_basic(
-                builder,
-                struct_val.into_struct_value().into(),
-                internal_type,
-            )
+            cast_tag_to_block_of_memory(builder, struct_val.into_struct_value(), internal_type)
         }
         Tag {
             arguments,
@@ -1001,10 +997,10 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                         debug_assert!(val.is_pointer_value());
 
                         // we store recursive pointers as `i64*`
-                        let ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-                            builder,
+                        let ptr = env.builder.build_bitcast(
                             val,
-                            ctx.i64_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
+                            ctx.i64_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                            "cast_recursive_pointer",
                         );
 
                         field_vals.push(ptr);
@@ -1020,12 +1016,14 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             // Create the struct_type
             let data_ptr = reserve_with_refcount(env, &tag_layout);
             let struct_type = ctx.struct_type(field_types.into_bump_slice(), false);
-            let struct_ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-                builder,
-                data_ptr.into(),
-                struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
-            )
-            .into_pointer_value();
+            let struct_ptr = env
+                .builder
+                .build_bitcast(
+                    data_ptr,
+                    struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                    "block_of_memory_to_tag",
+                )
+                .into_pointer_value();
 
             // Insert field exprs into struct_val
             for (index, field_val) in field_vals.into_iter().enumerate() {
@@ -1098,10 +1096,10 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                         debug_assert!(val.is_pointer_value());
 
                         // we store recursive pointers as `i64*`
-                        let ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-                            builder,
+                        let ptr = env.builder.build_bitcast(
                             val,
-                            ctx.i64_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
+                            ctx.i64_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                            "cast_recursive_pointer",
                         );
 
                         field_vals.push(ptr);
@@ -1117,12 +1115,14 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             // Create the struct_type
             let data_ptr = reserve_with_refcount(env, &tag_layout);
             let struct_type = ctx.struct_type(field_types.into_bump_slice(), false);
-            let struct_ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-                builder,
-                data_ptr.into(),
-                struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
-            )
-            .into_pointer_value();
+            let struct_ptr = env
+                .builder
+                .build_bitcast(
+                    data_ptr,
+                    struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                    "block_of_memory_to_tag",
+                )
+                .into_pointer_value();
 
             // Insert field exprs into struct_val
             for (index, field_val) in field_vals.into_iter().enumerate() {
@@ -1197,10 +1197,10 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                         debug_assert!(val.is_pointer_value());
 
                         // we store recursive pointers as `i64*`
-                        let ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-                            builder,
+                        let ptr = env.builder.build_bitcast(
                             val,
-                            ctx.i64_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
+                            ctx.i64_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                            "cast_recursive_pointer",
                         );
 
                         field_vals.push(ptr);
@@ -1220,12 +1220,14 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             );
 
             let struct_type = ctx.struct_type(field_types.into_bump_slice(), false);
-            let struct_ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-                builder,
-                data_ptr.into(),
-                struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
-            )
-            .into_pointer_value();
+            let struct_ptr = env
+                .builder
+                .build_bitcast(
+                    data_ptr,
+                    struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                    "block_of_memory_to_tag",
+                )
+                .into_pointer_value();
 
             // Insert field exprs into struct_val
             for (index, field_val) in field_vals.into_iter().enumerate() {
@@ -1331,7 +1333,7 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                         .context
                         .struct_type(field_types.into_bump_slice(), false);
 
-                    let struct_value = cast_struct_struct(builder, value, struct_type);
+                    let struct_value = access_index_struct_value(builder, value, struct_type);
 
                     let result = builder
                         .build_extract_value(struct_value, *index as u32, "")
@@ -1342,11 +1344,12 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                             block_of_memory(env.context, &struct_layout, env.ptr_bytes);
 
                         // the value is a pointer to the actual value; load that value!
-                        let ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-                            builder,
+                        let ptr = env.builder.build_bitcast(
                             result,
-                            desired_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
+                            desired_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                            "cast_struct_value_pointer",
                         );
+
                         builder.build_load(ptr.into_pointer_value(), "load_recursive_field")
                     } else {
                         result
@@ -1494,12 +1497,14 @@ fn lookup_at_index_ptr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     use inkwell::types::BasicType;
     let builder = env.builder;
 
-    let ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-        builder,
-        value.into(),
-        struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
-    )
-    .into_pointer_value();
+    let ptr = env
+        .builder
+        .build_bitcast(
+            value,
+            struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+            "cast_lookup_at_index_ptr",
+        )
+        .into_pointer_value();
 
     let elem_ptr = builder
         .build_struct_gep(ptr, index as u32, "at_index_struct_gep")
@@ -1510,12 +1515,11 @@ fn lookup_at_index_ptr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     if let Some(Layout::RecursivePointer) = field_layouts.get(index as usize) {
         // a recursive field is stored as a `i64*`, to use it we must cast it to
         // a pointer to the block of memory representation
-        cast_basic_basic(
-            builder,
+        builder.build_bitcast(
             result,
             block_of_memory(env.context, &struct_layout, env.ptr_bytes)
-                .ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic)
-                .into(),
+                .ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+            "cast_rec_pointer_lookup_at_index_ptr",
         )
     } else {
         result
@@ -1583,12 +1587,13 @@ pub fn allocate_with_refcount_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     // We must return a pointer to the first element:
     let data_ptr = {
         let int_type = ptr_int(ctx, env.ptr_bytes);
-        let as_usize_ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-            env.builder,
-            ptr.into(),
-            int_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
-        )
-        .into_pointer_value();
+        let as_usize_ptr = builder
+            .build_bitcast(
+                ptr,
+                int_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                "to_usize_ptr",
+            )
+            .into_pointer_value();
 
         let index = match extra_bytes {
             n if n == env.ptr_bytes => 1,
@@ -1601,14 +1606,17 @@ pub fn allocate_with_refcount_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
         let ptr_type = get_ptr_type(&value_type, AddressSpace::Generic);
 
         unsafe {
-            cast_basic_basic(
-                env.builder,
-                env.builder
-                    .build_in_bounds_gep(as_usize_ptr, &[index_intvalue], "get_data_ptr")
-                    .into(),
-                ptr_type.into(),
-            )
-            .into_pointer_value()
+            builder
+                .build_bitcast(
+                    env.builder.build_in_bounds_gep(
+                        as_usize_ptr,
+                        &[index_intvalue],
+                        "get_data_ptr",
+                    ),
+                    ptr_type,
+                    "malloc_cast_to_desired",
+                )
+                .into_pointer_value()
         }
     };
 
@@ -1664,7 +1672,7 @@ fn list_literal<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     let ptr_bytes = env.ptr_bytes;
 
     let u8_ptr_type = ctx.i8_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic);
-    let generic_ptr = cast_basic_basic(builder, ptr.into(), u8_ptr_type.into());
+    let generic_ptr = builder.build_bitcast(ptr, u8_ptr_type, "to_generic_ptr");
 
     let struct_type = collection(ctx, ptr_bytes);
     let len = BasicValueEnum::IntValue(env.ptr_int().const_int(len_u64, false));
@@ -2104,14 +2112,18 @@ pub fn load_symbol_and_layout<'a, 'ctx, 'env, 'b>(
         None => panic!("There was no entry for {:?} in scope {:?}", symbol, scope),
     }
 }
-
-/// Cast a struct to another struct of the same (or smaller?) size
-pub fn cast_struct_struct<'ctx>(
+fn access_index_struct_value<'ctx>(
     builder: &Builder<'ctx>,
     from_value: StructValue<'ctx>,
     to_type: StructType<'ctx>,
 ) -> StructValue<'ctx> {
-    cast_basic_basic(builder, from_value.into(), to_type.into()).into_struct_value()
+    complex_bitcast(
+        builder,
+        from_value.into(),
+        to_type.into(),
+        "access_index_struct_value",
+    )
+    .into_struct_value()
 }
 
 /// Cast a value to another value of the same (or smaller?) size
@@ -2119,6 +2131,52 @@ pub fn cast_basic_basic<'ctx>(
     builder: &Builder<'ctx>,
     from_value: BasicValueEnum<'ctx>,
     to_type: BasicTypeEnum<'ctx>,
+) -> BasicValueEnum<'ctx> {
+    complex_bitcast(builder, from_value, to_type, "cast_basic_basic")
+}
+
+pub fn complex_bitcast_struct_struct<'ctx>(
+    builder: &Builder<'ctx>,
+    from_value: StructValue<'ctx>,
+    to_type: StructType<'ctx>,
+    name: &str,
+) -> StructValue<'ctx> {
+    complex_bitcast(builder, from_value.into(), to_type.into(), name).into_struct_value()
+}
+
+fn cast_tag_to_block_of_memory<'ctx>(
+    builder: &Builder<'ctx>,
+    from_value: StructValue<'ctx>,
+    to_type: BasicTypeEnum<'ctx>,
+) -> BasicValueEnum<'ctx> {
+    complex_bitcast(
+        builder,
+        from_value.into(),
+        to_type,
+        "tag_to_block_of_memory",
+    )
+}
+
+pub fn cast_block_of_memory_to_tag<'ctx>(
+    builder: &Builder<'ctx>,
+    from_value: StructValue<'ctx>,
+    to_type: BasicTypeEnum<'ctx>,
+) -> StructValue<'ctx> {
+    complex_bitcast(
+        builder,
+        from_value.into(),
+        to_type,
+        "block_of_memory_to_tag",
+    )
+    .into_struct_value()
+}
+
+/// Cast a value to another value of the same (or smaller?) size
+pub fn complex_bitcast<'ctx>(
+    builder: &Builder<'ctx>,
+    from_value: BasicValueEnum<'ctx>,
+    to_type: BasicTypeEnum<'ctx>,
+    name: &str,
 ) -> BasicValueEnum<'ctx> {
     use inkwell::types::BasicType;
 
@@ -2135,7 +2193,7 @@ pub fn cast_basic_basic<'ctx>(
         .build_bitcast(
             argument_pointer,
             to_type.ptr_type(inkwell::AddressSpace::Generic),
-            "cast_basic_basic",
+            name,
         )
         .into_pointer_value();
 
@@ -2150,7 +2208,12 @@ fn extract_tag_discriminant_struct<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
         .context
         .struct_type(&[env.context.i64_type().into()], false);
 
-    let struct_value = cast_struct_struct(env.builder, from_value, struct_type);
+    let struct_value = complex_bitcast_struct_struct(
+        env.builder,
+        from_value,
+        struct_type,
+        "extract_tag_discriminant_struct",
+    );
 
     env.builder
         .build_extract_value(struct_value, 0, "")
@@ -2219,6 +2282,8 @@ fn build_switch_ir<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     let scope = &mut copy;
 
     let cond_symbol = &cond_symbol;
+    let (cond_value, stored_layout) = load_symbol_and_layout(env, scope, cond_symbol);
+    debug_assert_eq!(&cond_layout, stored_layout);
 
     let cont_block = context.append_basic_block(parent, "cont");
 
@@ -2227,19 +2292,17 @@ fn build_switch_ir<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
         Layout::Builtin(Builtin::Float64) => {
             // float matches are done on the bit pattern
             cond_layout = Layout::Builtin(Builtin::Int64);
-            let full_cond = load_symbol(env, scope, cond_symbol);
 
             builder
-                .build_bitcast(full_cond, env.context.i64_type(), "")
+                .build_bitcast(cond_value, env.context.i64_type(), "")
                 .into_int_value()
         }
         Layout::Builtin(Builtin::Float32) => {
             // float matches are done on the bit pattern
             cond_layout = Layout::Builtin(Builtin::Int32);
-            let full_cond = load_symbol(env, scope, cond_symbol);
 
             builder
-                .build_bitcast(full_cond, env.context.i32_type(), "")
+                .build_bitcast(cond_value, env.context.i32_type(), "")
                 .into_int_value()
         }
         Layout::Union(variant) => {
@@ -2249,7 +2312,7 @@ fn build_switch_ir<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                 NonRecursive(_) => {
                     // we match on the discriminant, not the whole Tag
                     cond_layout = Layout::Builtin(Builtin::Int64);
-                    let full_cond = load_symbol(env, scope, cond_symbol).into_struct_value();
+                    let full_cond = cond_value.into_struct_value();
 
                     extract_tag_discriminant_struct(env, full_cond)
                 }
@@ -2257,21 +2320,13 @@ fn build_switch_ir<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                     // we match on the discriminant, not the whole Tag
                     cond_layout = Layout::Builtin(Builtin::Int64);
 
-                    use BasicValueEnum::*;
-                    match load_symbol(env, scope, cond_symbol) {
-                        PointerValue(full_cond_ptr) => {
-                            extract_tag_discriminant_ptr(env, full_cond_ptr)
-                        }
-                        StructValue(full_cond_struct) => {
-                            extract_tag_discriminant_struct(env, full_cond_struct)
-                        }
-                        _ => unreachable!(),
-                    }
+                    debug_assert!(cond_value.is_pointer_value());
+                    extract_tag_discriminant_ptr(env, cond_value.into_pointer_value())
                 }
                 NullableWrapped { nullable_id, .. } => {
                     // we match on the discriminant, not the whole Tag
                     cond_layout = Layout::Builtin(Builtin::Int64);
-                    let full_cond_ptr = load_symbol(env, scope, cond_symbol).into_pointer_value();
+                    let full_cond_ptr = cond_value.into_pointer_value();
 
                     let comparison: IntValue =
                         env.builder.build_is_null(full_cond_ptr, "is_null_cond");
@@ -2302,7 +2357,7 @@ fn build_switch_ir<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                 }
             }
         }
-        Layout::Builtin(_) => load_symbol(env, scope, cond_symbol).into_int_value(),
+        Layout::Builtin(_) => cond_value.into_int_value(),
         other => todo!("Build switch value from layout: {:?}", other),
     };
 
diff --git a/compiler/gen/src/llvm/refcounting.rs b/compiler/gen/src/llvm/refcounting.rs
index af15954af6..8aaa7f5314 100644
--- a/compiler/gen/src/llvm/refcounting.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen/src/llvm/refcounting.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::llvm::build::{
-    cast_basic_basic, cast_struct_struct, create_entry_block_alloca, set_name, Env, Scope,
+    cast_basic_basic, cast_block_of_memory_to_tag, create_entry_block_alloca, set_name, Env, Scope,
     FAST_CALL_CONV, LLVM_SADD_WITH_OVERFLOW_I64,
 };
 use crate::llvm::build_list::{incrementing_elem_loop, list_len, load_list};
@@ -45,12 +45,14 @@ impl<'ctx> PointerToRefcount<'ctx> {
         // must make sure it's a pointer to usize
         let refcount_type = ptr_int(env.context, env.ptr_bytes);
 
-        let value = cast_basic_basic(
-            env.builder,
-            ptr.into(),
-            refcount_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
-        )
-        .into_pointer_value();
+        let value = env
+            .builder
+            .build_bitcast(
+                ptr,
+                refcount_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                "to_refcount_ptr",
+            )
+            .into_pointer_value();
 
         Self { value }
     }
@@ -64,7 +66,8 @@ impl<'ctx> PointerToRefcount<'ctx> {
         let refcount_type = ptr_int(env.context, env.ptr_bytes);
         let refcount_ptr_type = refcount_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic);
 
-        let ptr_as_usize_ptr = cast_basic_basic(builder, data_ptr.into(), refcount_ptr_type.into())
+        let ptr_as_usize_ptr = builder
+            .build_bitcast(data_ptr, refcount_ptr_type, "as_usize_ptr")
             .into_pointer_value();
 
         // get a pointer to index -1
@@ -1232,12 +1235,14 @@ pub fn build_dec_rec_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
         );
 
         // cast the opaque pointer to a pointer of the correct shape
-        let struct_ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-            env.builder,
-            value_ptr.into(),
-            wrapper_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
-        )
-        .into_pointer_value();
+        let struct_ptr = env
+            .builder
+            .build_bitcast(
+                value_ptr,
+                wrapper_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                "opaque_to_correct",
+            )
+            .into_pointer_value();
 
         for (i, field_layout) in field_layouts.iter().enumerate() {
             if let Layout::RecursivePointer = field_layout {
@@ -1428,8 +1433,8 @@ pub fn build_dec_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             env.ptr_bytes,
         );
 
-        let wrapper_struct =
-            cast_struct_struct(env.builder, wrapper_struct, wrapper_type.into_struct_type());
+        debug_assert!(wrapper_type.is_struct_type());
+        let wrapper_struct = cast_block_of_memory_to_tag(env.builder, wrapper_struct, wrapper_type);
 
         for (i, field_layout) in field_layouts.iter().enumerate() {
             if let Layout::RecursivePointer = field_layout {
@@ -1528,15 +1533,11 @@ fn rec_union_read_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
 ) -> IntValue<'ctx> {
     // Assumption: the tag is the first thing stored
     // so cast the pointer to the data to a `i64*`
-    let tag_ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-        env.builder,
-        value_ptr.into(),
-        env.context
-            .i64_type()
-            .ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic)
-            .into(),
-    )
-    .into_pointer_value();
+    let tag_ptr_type = env.context.i64_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic);
+    let tag_ptr = env
+        .builder
+        .build_bitcast(value_ptr, tag_ptr_type, "cast_tag_ptr")
+        .into_pointer_value();
 
     env.builder
         .build_load(tag_ptr, "load_tag_id")
@@ -1634,12 +1635,14 @@ pub fn build_inc_rec_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
         );
 
         // cast the opaque pointer to a pointer of the correct shape
-        let struct_ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-            env.builder,
-            value_ptr.into(),
-            wrapper_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
-        )
-        .into_pointer_value();
+        let struct_ptr = env
+            .builder
+            .build_bitcast(
+                value_ptr,
+                wrapper_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                "opaque_to_correct",
+            )
+            .into_pointer_value();
 
         for (i, field_layout) in field_layouts.iter().enumerate() {
             if let Layout::RecursivePointer = field_layout {
@@ -1657,10 +1660,10 @@ pub fn build_inc_rec_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
 
                 // therefore we must cast it to our desired type
                 let union_type = block_of_memory_slices(env.context, tags, env.ptr_bytes);
-                let recursive_field_ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-                    env.builder,
+                let recursive_field_ptr = env.builder.build_bitcast(
                     ptr_as_i64_ptr,
-                    union_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
+                    union_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                    "recursive_to_desired",
                 );
 
                 // recursively increment the field
@@ -1694,10 +1697,11 @@ pub fn build_inc_rec_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     // read the tag_id
     let tag_id = rec_union_read_tag(env, value_ptr);
 
-    let tag_id_u8 = cast_basic_basic(env.builder, tag_id.into(), env.context.i8_type().into());
+    let tag_id_u8 = env
+        .builder
+        .build_int_cast(tag_id, env.context.i8_type(), "tag_id_u8");
 
-    env.builder
-        .build_switch(tag_id_u8.into_int_value(), merge_block, &cases);
+    env.builder.build_switch(tag_id_u8, merge_block, &cases);
 
     env.builder.position_at_end(merge_block);
 
@@ -1808,7 +1812,9 @@ pub fn build_inc_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             .into_int_value()
     };
 
-    let tag_id_u8 = cast_basic_basic(env.builder, tag_id.into(), env.context.i8_type().into());
+    let tag_id_u8 = env
+        .builder
+        .build_int_cast(tag_id, env.context.i8_type(), "tag_id_u8");
 
     // next, make a jump table for all possible values of the tag_id
     let mut cases = Vec::with_capacity_in(tags.len(), env.arena);
@@ -1834,8 +1840,8 @@ pub fn build_inc_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             env.ptr_bytes,
         );
 
-        let wrapper_struct =
-            cast_struct_struct(env.builder, wrapper_struct, wrapper_type.into_struct_type());
+        debug_assert!(wrapper_type.is_struct_type());
+        let wrapper_struct = cast_block_of_memory_to_tag(env.builder, wrapper_struct, wrapper_type);
 
         for (i, field_layout) in field_layouts.iter().enumerate() {
             if let Layout::RecursivePointer = field_layout {
@@ -1849,12 +1855,14 @@ pub fn build_inc_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
 
                 // therefore we must cast it to our desired type
                 let union_type = block_of_memory(env.context, &layout, env.ptr_bytes);
-                let recursive_field_ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-                    env.builder,
-                    ptr_as_i64_ptr,
-                    union_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
-                )
-                .into_pointer_value();
+                let recursive_field_ptr = env
+                    .builder
+                    .build_bitcast(
+                        ptr_as_i64_ptr,
+                        union_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                        "recursive_to_desired",
+                    )
+                    .into_pointer_value();
 
                 let recursive_field = env
                     .builder
@@ -1889,8 +1897,7 @@ pub fn build_inc_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
 
     env.builder.position_at_end(before_block);
 
-    env.builder
-        .build_switch(tag_id_u8.into_int_value(), merge_block, &cases);
+    env.builder.build_switch(tag_id_u8, merge_block, &cases);
 
     env.builder.position_at_end(merge_block);
 
diff --git a/compiler/gen/tests/gen_primitives.rs b/compiler/gen/tests/gen_primitives.rs
index f9f02e0104..92ee4ff158 100644
--- a/compiler/gen/tests/gen_primitives.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen/tests/gen_primitives.rs
@@ -2074,4 +2074,46 @@ mod gen_primitives {
             i64
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn bug_exposer() {
+        // the decision tree will generate a jump to the `1` branch here
+        assert_evals_to!(
+            indoc!(
+                r#"
+                app "test" provides [ main ] to "./platform"
+
+                Expr : [ ZAdd Expr Expr, Val I64, Var I64 ]
+
+                eval : Expr -> I64
+                eval = \e ->
+                    when e is
+                        Var _ -> 0
+                        Val v -> v
+                        ZAdd l r -> eval l + eval r
+
+                constFolding : Expr -> Expr
+                constFolding = \e ->
+                    when e is
+                        ZAdd e1 e2 ->
+                            when Pair e1 e2 is
+                                Pair (Val a) (Val b) -> Val (a+b)
+                                Pair (Val a) (ZAdd x (Val b)) -> ZAdd (Val (a+b)) x
+                                Pair _ _                     -> ZAdd e1 e2
+
+
+                        _ -> e
+
+
+                expr : Expr
+                expr = ZAdd (Val 3) (ZAdd (Val 4) (Val 5))
+
+                main : I64
+                main = eval (constFolding expr)
+                "#
+            ),
+            12,
+            i64
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/compiler/gen/tests/gen_str.rs b/compiler/gen/tests/gen_str.rs
index 0f74d1fc02..fc224ae798 100644
--- a/compiler/gen/tests/gen_str.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen/tests/gen_str.rs
@@ -61,10 +61,10 @@ mod gen_str {
                     when List.first (Str.split "JJJ" "JJJJ there") is
                         Ok str ->
                             Str.countGraphemes str
-        
+
                         _ ->
                             -1
-        
+
                 "#
             ),
             3,
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ mod gen_str {
                                 |> Str.concat str
                                 |> Str.concat str
                                 |> Str.concat str
-        
+
                         _ ->
                             "Not Str!"
-        
+
                 "#
             ),
             "JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ",
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ mod gen_str {
                     when
                         List.first
                             (Str.split "JJJ" "0123456789abcdefghi")
-                    is 
+                    is
                         Ok str -> str
                         _ -> ""
                 "#
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ mod gen_str {
         assert_evals_to!(
             indoc!(
                 r#"
-                    Str.split "01234567789abcdefghi?01234567789abcdefghi" "?" 
+                    Str.split "01234567789abcdefghi?01234567789abcdefghi" "?"
                 "#
             ),
             &["01234567789abcdefghi", "01234567789abcdefghi"],
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ mod gen_str {
         assert_evals_to!(
             indoc!(
                 r#"
-                    Str.split "01234567789abcdefghi 3ch 01234567789abcdefghi" "3ch" 
+                    Str.split "01234567789abcdefghi 3ch 01234567789abcdefghi" "3ch"
                 "#
             ),
             &["01234567789abcdefghi ", " 01234567789abcdefghi"],
@@ -154,8 +154,8 @@ mod gen_str {
         assert_evals_to!(
             indoc!(
                 r#"
-                    Str.split 
-                        "string to split is shorter" 
+                    Str.split
+                        "string to split is shorter"
                         "than the delimiter which happens to be very very long"
                 "#
             ),
@@ -538,4 +538,34 @@ mod gen_str {
         debug_assert_eq!(short.clone(), short);
         debug_assert_eq!(empty.clone(), empty);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn nested_recursive_literal() {
+        assert_evals_to!(
+            indoc!(
+                r#"
+                Expr : [ Add Expr Expr, Val I64, Var I64 ]
+
+                expr : Expr
+                expr = Add (Add (Val 3) (Val 1)) (Add (Val 1) (Var 1))
+
+                printExpr : Expr -> Str
+                printExpr = \e ->
+                    when e is
+                        Add a b ->
+                            "Add ("
+                                |> Str.concat (printExpr a)
+                                |> Str.concat ") ("
+                                |> Str.concat (printExpr b)
+                                |> Str.concat ")"
+                        Val v -> "Val " |> Str.concat (Str.fromInt v)
+                        Var v -> "Var " |> Str.concat (Str.fromInt v)
+
+                printExpr expr
+                "#
+            ),
+            "Add (Add (Val 3) (Val 1)) (Add (Val 1) (Var 1))",
+            &'static str
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/compiler/gen/tests/gen_tags.rs b/compiler/gen/tests/gen_tags.rs
index bf65dad6a8..6f7d0674d7 100644
--- a/compiler/gen/tests/gen_tags.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen/tests/gen_tags.rs
@@ -941,4 +941,23 @@ mod gen_tags {
             i64
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn nested_recursive_literal() {
+        assert_evals_to!(
+            indoc!(
+                r"#
+                Expr : [ Add Expr Expr, Val I64, Var I64 ]
+
+                e : Expr
+                e = Add (Add (Val 3) (Val 1)) (Add (Val 1) (Var 1))
+
+                e
+                #"
+            ),
+            0,
+            &i64,
+            |x: &i64| *x
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/examples/effect/Deriv.roc b/examples/effect/Deriv.roc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/examples/task/CFold.roc b/examples/task/CFold.roc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cd8cfd1187
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/task/CFold.roc
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+app "cfold"
+    packages { base: "thing/platform-dir" }
+    imports [base.Task]
+    provides [ main ] to base
+
+# adapted from https://github.com/koka-lang/koka/blob/master/test/bench/haskell/cfold.hs
+
+main : Task.Task {} []
+main =
+    e = mkExpr 3 1
+    unoptimized = eval e
+    optimized = eval (constFolding (reassoc e))
+
+    unoptimized
+        |> Str.fromInt
+        |> Str.concat " & "
+        |> Str.concat (Str.fromInt optimized)
+        |> Task.putLine
+
+Expr : [
+    Add Expr Expr,
+    Mul Expr Expr,
+    Val I64,
+    Var I64
+    ]
+
+mkExpr : I64, I64 -> Expr
+mkExpr = \n , v ->
+    when n is
+        0 -> if v == 0 then Var 1 else Val v
+        _ -> Add (mkExpr (n-1) (v+1)) (mkExpr (n-1) (max (v-1) 0))
+
+max : I64, I64 -> I64
+max = \a, b -> if a > b then a else b
+
+
+appendAdd : Expr, Expr -> Expr
+appendAdd = \e1, e2 ->
+    when e1 is
+        Add a1 a2 -> Add a1 (appendAdd a2 e2)
+        _ -> Add e1 e2
+
+appendMul : Expr, Expr -> Expr
+appendMul = \e1, e2 ->
+    when e1 is
+        Mul a1 a2 -> Mul a1 (appendMul a2 e2)
+        _ -> Mul e1 e2
+
+
+eval : Expr -> I64
+eval = \e ->
+    when e is
+        Var _ -> 0
+        Val v -> v
+        Add l r -> eval l + eval r
+        Mul l r -> eval l * eval r
+
+reassoc : Expr -> Expr
+reassoc = \e ->
+    when e is
+        Add e1 e2 ->
+            x1 = reassoc e1
+            x2 = reassoc e2
+
+            appendAdd x1 x2
+
+        Mul e1 e2 ->
+            x1 = reassoc e1
+            x2 = reassoc e2
+
+            appendMul x1 x2
+
+        _ -> e
+
+constFolding : Expr -> Expr
+constFolding = \e ->
+    when e is
+        Add e1 e2 ->
+            x1 = constFolding e1
+            x2 = constFolding e2
+
+            when Pair x1 x2 is
+                Pair (Val a) (Val b) -> Val (a+b)
+                # Pair (Val a) (Add (Val b) x) -> Add (Val (a+b)) x
+                Pair (Val a) (Add x (Val b)) -> Add (Val (a+b)) x
+                Pair _ _                     -> Add x1 x2
+
+        Mul e1 e2 ->
+            x1 = constFolding e1
+            x2 = constFolding e2
+        
+            when Pair x1 x2 is
+                Pair (Val a) (Val b) -> Val (a*b)
+                Pair (Val a) (Mul (Val b) x) -> Mul (Val (a*b)) x
+                Pair (Val a) (Mul x (Val b)) -> Mul (Val (a*b)) x
+                Pair _ _                     -> Mul x1 x2
+
+        _ -> e
+
diff --git a/examples/task/NQueens.roc b/examples/task/NQueens.roc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dce1ca3dea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/task/NQueens.roc
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+app "nqueens"
+    packages { base: "thing/platform-dir" }
+    imports [base.Task]
+    provides [ main ] to base
+
+main : Task.Task {} []
+main =
+    queens 10
+        |> Str.fromInt
+        |> Task.putLine
+
+ConsList a : [ Nil, Cons a (ConsList a) ]
+
+queens = \n -> length (findSolutions n n)
+
+
+length : ConsList a -> I64
+length = \xs -> lengthHelp xs 0
+
+lengthHelp : ConsList a, I64 -> I64
+lengthHelp = \xs, acc ->
+    when xs is
+        Nil -> acc
+        Cons _ rest -> lengthHelp rest (1 + acc)
+
+safe : I64, I64, ConsList I64 -> Bool
+safe = \queen, diagonal, xs ->
+    when xs is
+        Nil ->
+            True
+
+        Cons q t ->
+            queen != q && queen != q + diagonal && queen != q - diagonal && safe queen (diagonal + 1) t
+
+appendSafe : I64, ConsList I64, ConsList (ConsList I64) -> ConsList (ConsList I64)
+appendSafe = \k, soln, solns ->
+    if k <= 0 then
+        solns
+    else if safe k 1 soln then
+        appendSafe (k - 1) soln (Cons (Cons k soln) solns)
+    else
+        appendSafe (k - 1) soln solns
+
+extend = \n, acc, solns ->
+    when solns is
+        Nil -> acc
+        Cons soln rest -> extend n (appendSafe n soln acc) rest
+
+findSolutions = \n, k ->
+    if k == 0 then
+        Cons Nil Nil
+
+    else
+        extend n Nil (findSolutions n (k - 1))