# HG changeset patch
# User Mike Becker <universe@uap-core.de>
# Date 1765626896 -3600
# Node ID 32b82c4242525908db929b9163393d5a73b5ec26
# Parent  814049fb62eec58887680943de77ed6206d04fe2
removes the CX_STR() macro and instead makes the cx_str() inlinable

resolves #782

diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 CHANGELOG
--- a/CHANGELOG	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/CHANGELOG	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
  * fixes that overwriting items with cxMapPut() in a kv-list did not work
  * fixes that cxReallocate(), cxReallocateArray(), cx_reallocate(), and cx_reallocatearray()
    were not returning zero after freeing the memory when passed a size of zero
+ * removes the CX_STR() macro and instead makes the cx_str() inlinable
  * removes the sort_members feature from CxJsonWriter
  * removes the source and sink API from properties.h
  * removes the flush feature from CxBuffer
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 docs/Writerside/topics/about.md
--- a/docs/Writerside/topics/about.md	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/docs/Writerside/topics/about.md	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 * fixes that overwriting items with cxMapPut() in a kv-list did not work
 * fixes that cxReallocate(), cxReallocateArray(), cx_reallocate(), and cx_reallocatearray()
   were not returning zero after freeing the memory when passed a size of zero
+* removes the CX_STR() macro and instead makes the cx_str() inlinable
 * removes the sort_members feature from CxJsonWriter
 * removes the source and sink API from properties.h
 * removes the flush feature from CxBuffer
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 docs/Writerside/topics/string.h.md
--- a/docs/Writerside/topics/string.h.md	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/docs/Writerside/topics/string.h.md	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -74,10 +74,9 @@
 When you want to use a UCX string in a `printf`-like function, you can use the macro `CX_PRIstr` for the format specifier,
 and the `CX_SFMT(s)` macro to expand the arguments.
 
-> When you want to convert a string _literal_ into a UCX string, you can also use the `CX_STR(lit)` macro.
-> This macro uses the fact that `sizeof(lit)` for a string literal `lit` is always the string length plus one,
-> effectively saving an invocation of `strlen()`.
-> However, this only works for literals - in all other cases you must use `cx_str()` or `cx_strn`.
+> When you want to convert a string _literal_ into a UCX string, you can also use the `cx_str()` function.
+> With optimizations turned on, this function gets inlined and optimizes the call to `strlen()` out, giving
+> you a `cxstring` structure at zero cost with the length calculated at compile-time.
 
 ## Comparison
 
@@ -294,10 +293,10 @@
 cxstring str = cx_str("an,arbitrarily;||separated;string");
 
 // create the context
-CxStrtokCtx ctx = cx_strtok(str, CX_STR(","), 10);
+CxStrtokCtx ctx = cx_strtok(str, ",", 10);
 
 // add two more delimters
-cxstring delim_more[2] = {CX_STR("||"), CX_STR(";")};
+cxstring delim_more[2] = {cx_str("||"), cx_str(";")};
 cx_strtok_delim(&ctx, delim_more, 2);
 
 // iterate over the tokens
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 src/cx/json.h
--- a/src/cx/json.h	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/cx/json.h	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -1366,6 +1366,18 @@
  */
 #define cxJsonObjRemove(value, name) cx_json_obj_remove(value, cx_strcast(name))
 
+/**
+ * Performs a deep comparison of two JSON values.
+ *
+ * The order of object members is ignored during comparison.
+ *
+ * @param json the JSON value
+ * @param other the other JSON value that the JSON value is compared to
+ * @retval zero the values are equal (except for ordering of object members)
+ * @retval non-zero the values differ
+ */
+CX_EXPORT int cxJsonCompare(const CxJsonValue *json, const CxJsonValue *other);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 src/cx/string.h
--- a/src/cx/string.h	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/cx/string.h	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "allocator.h"
 
+#include <string.h>
+
 /** Expands a UCX string as printf arguments. */
 #define CX_SFMT(s) (int) (s).length, (s).ptr
 
@@ -137,30 +139,6 @@
  */
 typedef struct cx_strtok_ctx_s CxStrtokCtx;
 
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-
-/**
- * A literal initializer for an UCX string structure.
- *
- * @param literal the string literal
- */
-#define CX_STR(literal) cxstring{literal, sizeof(literal) - 1}
-
-#else // __cplusplus
-
-/**
- * A literal initializer for an UCX string structure.
- *
- * The argument MUST be a string (const char*) @em literal.
- *
- * @param literal the string literal
- */
-#define CX_STR(literal) ((cxstring){literal, sizeof(literal) - 1})
-
-#endif
-
-
 /**
  * Wraps a mutable string that must be zero-terminated.
  *
@@ -179,7 +157,12 @@
  * @see cx_mutstrn()
  */
 cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_cstr_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_mutstr(char *cstring);
+CX_INLINE cxmutstr cx_mutstr(char *cstring) {
+    cxmutstr str;
+    str.ptr = cstring;
+    str.length = cstring == NULL ? 0 : strlen(cstring);
+    return str;
+}
 
 /**
  * Wraps a string that does not need to be zero-terminated.
@@ -198,7 +181,12 @@
  * @see cx_mutstr()
  */
 cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_access_rw(1, 2)
-CX_EXPORT cxmutstr cx_mutstrn(char *cstring, size_t length);
+CX_INLINE cxmutstr cx_mutstrn(char *cstring, size_t length) {
+    cxmutstr str;
+    str.ptr = cstring;
+    str.length = length;
+    return str;
+}
 
 /**
  * Wraps a string that must be zero-terminated.
@@ -218,7 +206,12 @@
  * @see cx_strn()
  */
 cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_cstr_arg(1)
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cx_str(const char *cstring);
+CX_INLINE cxstring cx_str(const char *cstring) {
+    cxstring str;
+    str.ptr = cstring;
+    str.length = cstring == NULL ? 0 : strlen(cstring);
+    return str;
+}
 
 
 /**
@@ -238,10 +231,14 @@
  * @see cx_str()
  */
 cx_attr_nodiscard cx_attr_access_r(1, 2)
-CX_EXPORT cxstring cx_strn(const char *cstring, size_t length);
+CX_INLINE cxstring cx_strn(const char *cstring, size_t length) {
+    cxstring str;
+    str.ptr = cstring;
+    str.length = length;
+    return str;
+}
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
-} // extern "C"
 cx_attr_nodiscard
 CX_CPPDECL cxstring cx_strcast(cxmutstr str) {
     return cx_strn(str.ptr, str.length);
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 src/json.c
--- a/src/json.c	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/json.c	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@
         ttype = CX_JSON_TOKEN_STRING;
     } else {
         cxstring s = cx_strcast(str);
-        if (!cx_strcmp(s, CX_STR("true")) || !cx_strcmp(s, CX_STR("false"))
-            || !cx_strcmp(s, CX_STR("null"))) {
+        if (!cx_strcmp(s, "true") || !cx_strcmp(s, "false")
+            || !cx_strcmp(s, "null")) {
             ttype = CX_JSON_TOKEN_LITERAL;
         } else {
             ttype = token_numbertype(str.ptr, str.length);
@@ -678,9 +678,9 @@
                 if ((vbuf = json_create_value(json, CX_JSON_LITERAL)) == NULL) {
                     return_rec(CX_JSON_VALUE_ALLOC_FAILED); // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
                 }
-                if (0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(token.content), cx_str("true"))) {
+                if (0 == cx_strcmp(token.content, "true")) {
                     vbuf->literal = CX_JSON_TRUE;
-                } else if (0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(token.content), cx_str("false"))) {
+                } else if (0 == cx_strcmp(token.content, "false")) {
                     vbuf->literal = CX_JSON_FALSE;
                 } else {
                     vbuf->literal = CX_JSON_NULL;
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 src/string.c
--- a/src/string.c	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/src/string.c	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -46,28 +46,6 @@
 #define cx_strcasecmp_impl strncasecmp
 #endif
 
-cxmutstr cx_mutstr(char *cstring) {
-    return (cxmutstr) {cstring, cstring == NULL ? 0 : strlen(cstring)};
-}
-
-cxmutstr cx_mutstrn(
-        char *cstring,
-        size_t length
-) {
-    return (cxmutstr) {cstring, length};
-}
-
-cxstring cx_str(const char *cstring) {
-    return (cxstring) {cstring, cstring == NULL ? 0 : strlen(cstring)};
-}
-
-cxstring cx_strn(
-        const char *cstring,
-        size_t length
-) {
-    return (cxstring) {cstring, length};
-}
-
 void cx_strfree(cxmutstr *str) {
     if (str == NULL) return;
     cxFreeDefault(str->ptr);
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 tests/test_hash_map.c
--- a/tests/test_hash_map.c	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/tests/test_hash_map.c	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -246,11 +246,11 @@
         CxMap *map = cxHashMapCreate(allocator, sizeof(cxstring), 8);
 
         // define some strings
-        cxstring s1 = CX_STR("this");
-        cxstring s2 = CX_STR("is");
-        cxstring s3 = CX_STR("a");
-        cxstring s4 = CX_STR("test");
-        cxstring s5 = CX_STR("setup");
+        cxstring s1 = cx_str("this");
+        cxstring s2 = cx_str("is");
+        cxstring s3 = cx_str("a");
+        cxstring s4 = cx_str("test");
+        cxstring s5 = cx_str("setup");
 
         // put them into the map
         cxMapPut(map, "s1", &s1);
@@ -292,8 +292,8 @@
 CX_TEST(test_hash_map_integer_keys) {
     CxMap *map = cxHashMapCreateSimple(sizeof(cxstring));
     CX_TEST_DO {
-        cxstring s1 = CX_STR("hello");
-        cxstring s2 = CX_STR("world");
+        cxstring s1 = cx_str("hello");
+        cxstring s2 = cx_str("world");
 
         cxMapPut(map, UINT32_C(70875), &s1);
         cxMapPut(map, UINT64_C(5785133750), &s2);
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 tests/test_json.c
--- a/tests/test_json.c	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/tests/test_json.c	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -1254,7 +1254,7 @@
     cxJsonObjPutLiteral(obj, "bool", CX_JSON_FALSE);
     cxJsonObjPutNumber(obj, "int", 47); // purposely use PutNumber to put an int
     CxJsonValue *strings = cxJsonObjPutArr(obj, "strings");
-    cxJsonArrAddCxStrings(strings, (cxstring[]) {CX_STR("hello"), CX_STR("world")}, 2);
+    cxJsonArrAddCxStrings(strings, (cxstring[]) {cx_str("hello"), cx_str("world")}, 2);
     CxJsonValue *nested = cxJsonObjPutObj(obj, "nested");
     CxJsonValue *objects = cxJsonObjPutArr(nested, "objects");
     CxJsonValue *obj_in_arr[2] = {cxJsonCreateObj(allocator), cxJsonCreateObj(allocator)};
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 tests/test_kv_list.c
--- a/tests/test_kv_list.c	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/tests/test_kv_list.c	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@
         // removing the element
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cxMapRemove(map, cx_strn(key->data, key->len)));
         key = cxKvListGetKey(list, 1);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(CX_STR("efg"), cx_strn(key->data, key->len)));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp("efg", cx_strn(key->data, key->len)));
 
         // remove the key of element
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cxKvListRemoveKey(list, 1));
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 tests/test_properties.c
--- a/tests/test_properties.c	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/tests/test_properties.c	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -671,8 +671,8 @@
         CxPropertiesStatus status = cxPropertiesLoadDefault(&talloc.base, fname, map);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(status == CX_PROPERTIES_NO_ERROR);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(cxMapSize(map) == 2);
-        cxstring v1 = CX_STR("value");
-        cxstring v2 = CX_STR("value2");
+        cxstring v1 = cx_str("value");
+        cxstring v2 = cx_str("value2");
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(cx_strcmp_p(cxMapGet(map, "test"), &v1) == 0);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(cx_strcmp_p(cxMapGet(map, "test2"), &v2) == 0);
 
diff -r 814049fb62ee -r 32b82c424252 tests/test_string.c
--- a/tests/test_string.c	Sat Dec 13 12:50:37 2025 +0100
+++ b/tests/test_string.c	Sat Dec 13 12:54:56 2025 +0100
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     #str " is not zero terminated")
 
 CX_TEST(test_string_construct) {
-    cxstring s1 = CX_STR("1234");
+    cxstring s1 = cx_str("1234");
     cxstring s2 = cx_strn("abcd", 2);
     cxmutstr s3 = cx_mutstr((char *) "1234");
     cxmutstr s4 = cx_mutstrn((char *) "abcd", 2);
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strdup) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("test");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("test");
     cxmutstr dup = cx_strdup(str);
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(dup.length == str.length);
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strdup_shortened) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("test");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("test");
     str.length = 2;
     cxmutstr dup = cx_strdup(str);
     CX_TEST_DO {
@@ -131,35 +131,35 @@
     CxTestingAllocator talloc;
     cx_testing_allocator_init(&talloc);
     const CxAllocator *alloc = &talloc.base;
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("test string");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("test string");
     str.length = 8; // test with a non-zero-terminated source
     cxmutstr dup;
     CX_TEST_DO {
         // copy into a smaller string
-        dup = cx_strdup_a(alloc, CX_STR("hello"));
+        dup = cx_strdup_a(alloc, "hello");
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcpy_a(alloc, &dup, str));
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(dup), CX_STR("test str")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(dup, "test str"));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(dup);
         cx_strfree_a(alloc, &dup);
 
         // copy into a larger string
-        dup = cx_strdup_a(alloc, CX_STR("hello, world!"));
+        dup = cx_strdup_a(alloc, "hello, world!");
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcpy_a(alloc, &dup, str));
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(dup), CX_STR("test str")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(dup, "test str"));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(dup);
         cx_strfree_a(alloc, &dup);
 
         // copy into an equal-length string
-        dup = cx_strdup_a(alloc, CX_STR("testing!"));
+        dup = cx_strdup_a(alloc, "testing!");
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcpy_a(alloc, &dup, str));
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(dup), CX_STR("test str")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(dup, "test str"));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(dup);
         cx_strfree_a(alloc, &dup);
 
         // copy into a NULL-string
         dup.ptr = NULL;
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcpy_a(alloc, &dup, str));
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(dup), CX_STR("test str")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(dup, "test str"));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(dup);
         cx_strfree_a(alloc, &dup);
     }
@@ -167,9 +167,9 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strlen) {
-    cxstring s1 = CX_STR("1234");
-    cxstring s2 = CX_STR(".:.:.");
-    cxstring s3 = CX_STR("X");
+    cxstring s1 = cx_str("1234");
+    cxstring s2 = cx_str(".:.:.");
+    cxstring s3 = cx_str("X");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         size_t len0 = cx_strlen(0);
         size_t len1 = cx_strlen(1, s1);
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strsubs) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("A test string");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("A test string");
 
     CX_TEST_DO {
         cxstring sub = cx_strsubs(str, 0);
@@ -210,12 +210,12 @@
 
         // just for coverage, call the _m variant
         cxmutstr m = cx_strsubs_m(cx_mutstrn(NULL, 0), 0);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(m), cx_str("")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(m, ""));
     }
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strchr) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("I will find you - and I will kill you");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("I will find you - and I will kill you");
 
     CX_TEST_DO {
         cxstring notfound = cx_strchr(str, 'x');
@@ -227,12 +227,12 @@
 
         // just for coverage, call the _m variant
         cxmutstr m = cx_strchr_m(cx_mutstrn(NULL, 0), 'a');
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(m), cx_str("")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(m, ""));
     }
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strrchr) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("X will find you - and I will kill you");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("X will find you - and I will kill you");
 
     CX_TEST_DO {
         cxstring notfound = cx_strrchr(str, 'x');
@@ -251,12 +251,12 @@
 
         // just for coverage, call the _m variant
         cxmutstr m = cx_strrchr_m(cx_mutstrn(NULL, 0), 'a');
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(m), cx_str("")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(m, ""));
     }
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strstr) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("find the match in this string");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("find the match in this string");
 
     const size_t longstrpatternlen = 64 + cx_strstr_sbo_size;
     const size_t longstrlen = 320 + longstrpatternlen + 14;
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strcmp) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("compare this");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("compare this");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_str(""), cx_str("")));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 < cx_strcmp(str, cx_str("")));
@@ -329,15 +329,15 @@
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 < cx_strcmp(str, cx_str("Lex")));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 < cx_strcmp(str, cx_str("Another lex test")));
 
-        cxstring str2 = CX_STR("Compare This");
+        cxstring str2 = cx_str("Compare This");
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 != cx_strcmp_p(&str, &str2));
-        str2 = CX_STR("compare this");
+        str2 = cx_str("compare this");
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp_p(&str, &str2));
     }
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strcasecmp) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("compare this");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("compare this");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcasecmp(cx_str(""), cx_str("")));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 < cx_strcasecmp(str, cx_str("")));
@@ -352,17 +352,17 @@
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 > cx_strcasecmp(str, cx_str("Lex")));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 < cx_strcasecmp(str, cx_str("Another lex test")));
 
-        cxstring str2 = CX_STR("Compare This");
+        cxstring str2 = cx_str("Compare This");
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcasecmp_p(&str, &str2));
-        str2 = CX_STR("Compare Tool");
+        str2 = cx_str("Compare Tool");
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 > cx_strcasecmp_p(&str, &str2));
     }
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strcat) {
-    cxstring s1 = CX_STR("12");
-    cxstring s2 = CX_STR("34");
-    cxstring s3 = CX_STR("56");
+    cxstring s1 = cx_str("12");
+    cxstring s2 = cx_str("34");
+    cxstring s3 = cx_str("56");
     cxstring sn = {NULL, 0};
 
     CxTestingAllocator talloc;
@@ -371,22 +371,22 @@
 
     CX_TEST_DO {
         cxmutstr t1 = cx_strcat_a(alloc, 2, s1, s2);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(t1), cx_str("1234")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(t1, "1234"));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(t1);
         cx_strfree_a(alloc, &t1);
 
         cxmutstr t2 = cx_strcat_a(alloc, 3, s1, s2, s3);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(t2), cx_str("123456")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(t2, "123456"));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(t2);
         cx_strfree_a(alloc, &t2);
 
         cxmutstr t3 = cx_strcat_a(alloc, 6, s1, sn, s2, sn, s3, sn);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(t3), cx_str("123456")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(t3, "123456"));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(t3);
         cx_strfree_a(alloc, &t3);
 
         cxmutstr t4 = cx_strcat_a(alloc, 2, sn, sn);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(t4), cx_str("")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(t4, ""));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(t4);
         cx_strfree_a(alloc, &t4);
 
@@ -394,14 +394,14 @@
 
         // use the macro
         cxmutstr t5 = cx_strcat(3, s3, s1, s2);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(t5), cx_str("561234")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(t5, "561234"));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(t5);
         cx_strfree(&t5);
 
         // use an initial string
         cxmutstr t6 = cx_strdup(cx_str("Hello"));
         t6 = cx_strcat_m(t6, 2, cx_str(", "), cx_str("World!"));
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(t6), cx_str("Hello, World!")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(t6, "Hello, World!"));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(t6);
         cx_strfree(&t6);
 
@@ -420,26 +420,26 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strcat_more_than_eight) {
-    cxstring s1 = CX_STR("12");
-    cxstring s2 = CX_STR("34");
-    cxstring s3 = CX_STR("56");
-    cxstring s4 = CX_STR("78");
-    cxstring s5 = CX_STR("9a");
-    cxstring s6 = CX_STR("bc");
-    cxstring s7 = CX_STR("de");
-    cxstring s8 = CX_STR("f0");
-    cxstring s9 = CX_STR("xy");
+    cxstring s1 = cx_str("12");
+    cxstring s2 = cx_str("34");
+    cxstring s3 = cx_str("56");
+    cxstring s4 = cx_str("78");
+    cxstring s5 = cx_str("9a");
+    cxstring s6 = cx_str("bc");
+    cxstring s7 = cx_str("de");
+    cxstring s8 = cx_str("f0");
+    cxstring s9 = cx_str("xy");
 
     CX_TEST_DO {
         cxmutstr r = cx_strcat(9, s1, s2, s3, s4, s5, s6, s7, s8, s9);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(r), cx_str("123456789abcdef0xy")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(r, "123456789abcdef0xy"));
         ASSERT_ZERO_TERMINATED(r);
         cx_strfree(&r);
     }
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strsplit) {
-    cxstring test = CX_STR("this,is,a,csv,string");
+    cxstring test = cx_str("this,is,a,csv,string");
     size_t capa = 8;
     cxstring list[8];
     size_t n;
@@ -531,9 +531,9 @@
         cxmutstr mlist[4];
         n = cx_strsplit_m(mtest, cx_str("is,"), 4, mlist);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(n == 3);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(mlist[0]), cx_str("th")));
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(mlist[1]), cx_str("")));
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(mlist[2]), cx_str("a,csv,string")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(mlist[0], "th"));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(mlist[1], ""));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(mlist[2], "a,csv,string"));
         cx_strfree(&mtest);
     }
 }
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@
     cx_testing_allocator_init(&talloc);
     CxAllocator *alloc = &talloc.base;
 
-    cxstring test = CX_STR("this,is,a,csv,string");
+    cxstring test = cx_str("this,is,a,csv,string");
     size_t capa = 8;
     cxstring *list;
     size_t n;
@@ -647,9 +647,9 @@
         cxmutstr *mlist;
         n = cx_strsplit_ma(alloc, mtest, cx_str("is,"), 4, &mlist);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(n == 3);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(mlist[0]), cx_str("th")));
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(mlist[1]), cx_str("")));
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(mlist[2]), cx_str("a,csv,string")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(mlist[0], "th"));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(mlist[1], ""));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(mlist[2], "a,csv,string"));
         cxFree(alloc, mlist);
         cx_strfree(&mtest);
 
@@ -676,13 +676,13 @@
 
         // call the _m variant just for coverage
         cxmutstr m1 = cx_strtrim_m(cx_mutstr((char *) "  ein test  \t "));
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(m1), cx_str("ein test")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(m1, "ein test"));
     }
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strprefix) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("test my prefix and my suffix");
-    cxstring empty = CX_STR("");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("test my prefix and my suffix");
+    cxstring empty = cx_str("");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(!cx_strprefix(empty, cx_str("pref")));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(cx_strprefix(str, empty));
@@ -693,8 +693,8 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strsuffix) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("test my prefix and my suffix");
-    cxstring empty = CX_STR("");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("test my prefix and my suffix");
+    cxstring empty = cx_str("");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(!cx_strsuffix(empty, cx_str("suf")));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(cx_strsuffix(str, empty));
@@ -705,8 +705,8 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strcaseprefix) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("test my prefix and my suffix");
-    cxstring empty = CX_STR("");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("test my prefix and my suffix");
+    cxstring empty = cx_str("");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(!cx_strcaseprefix(empty, cx_str("pREf")));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(cx_strcaseprefix(str, empty));
@@ -717,8 +717,8 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strcasesuffix) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("test my prefix and my suffix");
-    cxstring empty = CX_STR("");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("test my prefix and my suffix");
+    cxstring empty = cx_str("");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(!cx_strcasesuffix(empty, cx_str("sUf")));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(cx_strcasesuffix(str, empty));
@@ -733,13 +733,13 @@
     cx_testing_allocator_init(&talloc);
     CxAllocator *alloc = &talloc.base;
 
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("test ababab string aba");
-    cxstring longstr = CX_STR(
+    cxstring str = cx_str("test ababab string aba");
+    cxstring longstr = cx_str(
             "xyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacd");
-    cxstring notrail = CX_STR("test abab");
-    cxstring empty = CX_STR("");
-    cxstring astr = CX_STR("aaaaaaaaaa");
-    cxstring csstr = CX_STR("test AB ab TEST xyz");
+    cxstring notrail = cx_str("test abab");
+    cxstring empty = cx_str("");
+    cxstring astr = cx_str("aaaaaaaaaa");
+    cxstring csstr = cx_str("test AB ab TEST xyz");
 
     cxmutstr repl = cx_strreplace(str, cx_str("abab"), cx_str("muchlonger"));
     const char *expected = "test muchlongerab string aba";
@@ -839,8 +839,8 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strtok) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("a,comma,separated,string");
-    cxstring delim = CX_STR(",");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("a,comma,separated,string");
+    cxstring delim = cx_str(",");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CxStrtokCtx ctx = cx_strtok(str, delim, 3);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.str.ptr == str.ptr);
@@ -857,9 +857,9 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strtok_delim) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("an,arbitrarily|separated;string");
-    cxstring delim = CX_STR(",");
-    cxstring delim_more[2] = {CX_STR("|"), CX_STR(";")};
+    cxstring str = cx_str("an,arbitrarily|separated;string");
+    cxstring delim = cx_str(",");
+    cxstring delim_more[2] = {cx_str("|"), cx_str(";")};
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CxStrtokCtx ctx = cx_strtok(str, delim, 3);
         cx_strtok_delim(&ctx, delim_more, 2);
@@ -877,8 +877,8 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strtok_next_easy) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("a,comma,separated,string");
-    cxstring delim = CX_STR(",");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("a,comma,separated,string");
+    cxstring delim = cx_str(",");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CxStrtokCtx ctx = cx_strtok(str, delim, 3);
         bool ret;
@@ -918,8 +918,8 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strtok_next_unlimited) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("some;-;otherwise;-;separated;-;string;-;");
-    cxstring delim = CX_STR(";-;");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("some;-;otherwise;-;separated;-;string;-;");
+    cxstring delim = cx_str(";-;");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CxStrtokCtx ctx = cx_strtok(str, delim, SIZE_MAX);
         bool ret;
@@ -983,8 +983,8 @@
 
 CX_TEST(test_strtok_next_advanced) {
     cxmutstr str = cx_strdup(cx_str("an,arbitrarily;||separated;string"));
-    cxstring delim = CX_STR(",");
-    cxstring delim_more[2] = {CX_STR("||"), CX_STR(";")};
+    cxstring delim = cx_str(",");
+    cxstring delim_more[2] = {cx_str("||"), cx_str(";")};
     CX_TEST_DO {
         CxStrtokCtx ctx = cx_strtok(str, delim, 10);
         cx_strtok_delim(&ctx, delim_more, 2);
@@ -993,7 +993,7 @@
 
         ret = cx_strtok_next_m(&ctx, &tok);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ret);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(tok), cx_str("an")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(tok, "an"));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.pos == 0);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.next_pos == 3);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.delim_pos == 2);
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@
 
         ret = cx_strtok_next_m(&ctx, &tok);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ret);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(tok), cx_str("arbitrarily")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(tok, "arbitrarily"));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.pos == 3);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.next_pos == 15);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.delim_pos == 14);
@@ -1011,7 +1011,7 @@
 
         ret = cx_strtok_next_m(&ctx, &tok);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ret);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(tok), cx_str("")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(tok, ""));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.pos == 15);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.next_pos == 17);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.delim_pos == 15);
@@ -1020,7 +1020,7 @@
 
         ret = cx_strtok_next_m(&ctx, &tok);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ret);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(tok), cx_str("separated")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(tok, "separated"));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.pos == 17);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.next_pos == 27);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.delim_pos == 26);
@@ -1029,7 +1029,7 @@
 
         ret = cx_strtok_next_m(&ctx, &tok);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ret);
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(tok), cx_str("string")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(tok, "string"));
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.pos == 27);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.next_pos == 33);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.delim_pos == 33);
@@ -1043,7 +1043,7 @@
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.delim_pos == 33);
         CX_TEST_ASSERT(ctx.found == 5);
 
-        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(cx_strcast(str), cx_str("AN,ARBITRARILY;||SEPARATED;STRING")));
+        CX_TEST_ASSERT(0 == cx_strcmp(str, "AN,ARBITRARILY;||SEPARATED;STRING"));
     }
     cx_strfree(&str);
 }
@@ -1483,7 +1483,7 @@
 }
 
 CX_TEST(test_strformat) {
-    cxstring str = CX_STR("Hello, World!");
+    cxstring str = cx_str("Hello, World!");
     CX_TEST_DO {
         char actual[64];
         snprintf(actual, 64, "Test %"CX_PRIstr " Success.", CX_SFMT(str));