diff --git a/compiler/ast.nim b/compiler/ast.nim
index 6b2681f2a0..37f95c2306 100755
--- a/compiler/ast.nim
+++ b/compiler/ast.nim
@@ -227,6 +227,9 @@ type
     sfInnerProc,      # proc is an inner proc
     sfThread,         # proc will run as a thread
                       # variable is a thread variable
+    sfInline          # forced-inline procs
+    sfImmediate,      # macro or template is immediately expanded without
+                      # considering any possible overloads
     sfCompileTime,    # proc can be evaluated at compile time
     sfMerge,          # proc can be merged with itself
     sfDeadCodeElim,   # dead code elimination for the module is turned on
@@ -602,7 +605,8 @@ type
 # the poor naming choices in the standard library.
 
 const 
-  OverloadableSyms* = {skProc, skMethod, skIterator, skConverter, skModule}
+  OverloadableSyms* = {skProc, skMethod, skIterator, skConverter,
+    skModule, skTemplate, skMacro}
 
   GenericTypes*: TTypeKinds = {tyGenericInvokation, tyGenericBody, 
     tyGenericParam}
diff --git a/compiler/astalgo.nim b/compiler/astalgo.nim
index 7128102a80..9da0d3a20b 100755
--- a/compiler/astalgo.nim
+++ b/compiler/astalgo.nim
@@ -567,6 +567,19 @@ proc StrTableRawInsert(data: var TSymSeq, n: PSym) =
   assert(data[h] == nil)
   data[h] = n
 
+proc SymTabReplaceRaw(data: var TSymSeq, prevSym: PSym, newSym: PSym) =
+  assert prevSym.name.h == newSym.name.h
+  var h: THash = prevSym.name.h and high(data)
+  while data[h] != nil:
+    if data[h] == prevSym:
+      data[h] = newSym
+      return
+    h = nextTry(h, high(data))
+  assert false
+ 
+proc SymTabReplace*(t: var TStrTable, prevSym: PSym, newSym: PSym) =
+  SymTabReplaceRaw(t.data, prevSym, newSym)
+
 proc StrTableEnlarge(t: var TStrTable) = 
   var n: TSymSeq
   newSeq(n, len(t.data) * growthFactor)
diff --git a/compiler/ccgcalls.nim b/compiler/ccgcalls.nim
index fef1b055d9..072b2f9fb3 100644
--- a/compiler/ccgcalls.nim
+++ b/compiler/ccgcalls.nim
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
 proc leftAppearsOnRightSide(le, ri: PNode): bool =
   if le != nil:
     for i in 1 .. <ri.len:
-      if le.isPartOf(ri[i]) != arNo: return true
+      let r = ri[i]
+      if isPartOf(le, r) != arNo: return true
 
 proc hasNoInit(call: PNode): bool {.inline.} =
   result = call.sons[0].kind == nkSym and sfNoInit in call.sons[0].sym.flags
diff --git a/compiler/lookups.nim b/compiler/lookups.nim
index ff078c82d2..ee77b3633a 100755
--- a/compiler/lookups.nim
+++ b/compiler/lookups.nim
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ proc QualifiedLookUp*(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags = {checkUndeclared}): PSym =
     result = nil
   if result != nil and result.kind == skStub: loadStub(result)
   
-proc InitOverloadIter*(o: var TOverloadIter, c: PContext, n: PNode): PSym = 
+proc InitOverloadIter*(o: var TOverloadIter, c: PContext, n: PNode): PSym =
   case n.kind
   of nkIdent, nkAccQuoted:
     var ident = considerAcc(n)
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ proc InitOverloadIter*(o: var TOverloadIter, c: PContext, n: PNode): PSym =
       dec(o.stackPtr)
       if o.stackPtr < 0: break
       result = InitIdentIter(o.it, c.tab.stack[o.stackPtr], ident)
-  of nkSym: 
+  of nkSym:
     result = n.sym
     o.mode = oimDone
   of nkDotExpr: 
@@ -204,6 +204,13 @@ proc InitOverloadIter*(o: var TOverloadIter, c: PContext, n: PNode): PSym =
     Incl(o.inSymChoice, result.id)
   else: nil
   if result != nil and result.kind == skStub: loadStub(result)
+
+proc lastOverloadScope*(o: TOverloadIter): int =
+  case o.mode
+  of oimNoQualifier: result = o.stackPtr
+  of oimSelfModule:  result = ModuleTablePos
+  of oimOtherModule: result = ImportTablePos
+  else: result = -1
   
 proc nextOverloadIter*(o: var TOverloadIter, c: PContext, n: PNode): PSym = 
   case o.mode
diff --git a/compiler/pragmas.nim b/compiler/pragmas.nim
index 99570aa126..1ceacfc1c3 100755
--- a/compiler/pragmas.nim
+++ b/compiler/pragmas.nim
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ const
     wNoStackFrame, wError, wDiscardable, wNoInit}
   converterPragmas* = procPragmas
   methodPragmas* = procPragmas
-  macroPragmas* = {FirstCallConv..LastCallConv, wImportc, wExportc, wNodecl, 
-    wMagic, wNosideEffect, wCompilerProc, wDeprecated, wExtern,
+  templatePragmas* = {wImmediate}
+  macroPragmas* = {FirstCallConv..LastCallConv, wImmediate, wImportc, wExportc,
+    wNodecl, wMagic, wNosideEffect, wCompilerProc, wDeprecated, wExtern,
     wImportcpp, wImportobjc, wError, wDiscardable}
   iteratorPragmas* = {FirstCallConv..LastCallConv, wNosideEffect, wSideEffect, 
     wImportc, wExportc, wNodecl, wMagic, wDeprecated, wBorrow, wExtern,
@@ -451,6 +452,9 @@ proc pragma(c: PContext, sym: PSym, n: PNode, validPragmas: TSpecialWords) =
           of wImportCompilerProc:
             processImportCompilerProc(sym, getOptionalStr(c, it, sym.name.s))
           of wExtern: setExternName(sym, expectStrLit(c, it))
+          of wImmediate:
+            if sym.kind notin {skTemplate, skMacro}: invalidPragma(it)
+            incl(sym.flags, sfImmediate)
           of wImportCpp:
             processImportCpp(sym, getOptionalStr(c, it, sym.name.s))
           of wImportObjC:
diff --git a/compiler/sem.nim b/compiler/sem.nim
index 1c1b4351d1..7d296dbfc3 100755
--- a/compiler/sem.nim
+++ b/compiler/sem.nim
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@
 # This module implements the semantic checking pass.
 
 import
-  strutils, hashes, lists, options, lexer, ast, astalgo, trees, treetab,
+  ast, strutils, hashes, lists, options, lexer, astalgo, trees, treetab,
   wordrecg, ropes, msgs, os, condsyms, idents, renderer, types, platform, math,
-  magicsys, parser, nversion, semdata, nimsets, semfold, importer,
-  procfind, lookups, rodread, pragmas, passes, semtypinst, sigmatch, suggest,
-  semthreads, intsets, transf, evals, idgen, aliases
+  magicsys, parser, nversion, nimsets, semfold, importer,
+  procfind, lookups, rodread, pragmas, passes, semdata, semtypinst, sigmatch,
+  suggest, semthreads, intsets, transf, evals, idgen, aliases
 
 proc semPass*(): TPass
 # implementation
@@ -75,17 +75,20 @@ proc semWhen(c: PContext, n: PNode, semCheck: bool = true): PNode
 
 include semtempl
 
-proc semConstExpr(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode = 
-  var e = semExprWithType(c, n)
-  if e == nil: 
-    GlobalError(n.info, errConstExprExpected)
-    return nil
+proc evalTypedExpr(c: PContext, e: PNode): PNode =
   result = getConstExpr(c.module, e)
   if result == nil:
     result = evalConstExpr(c.module, e)
-    if result == nil or result.kind == nkEmpty: 
-      GlobalError(n.info, errConstExprExpected)
-  
+    if result == nil or result.kind == nkEmpty:
+      GlobalError(e.info, errConstExprExpected)
+
+proc semConstExpr(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
+  var e = semExprWithType(c, n)
+  if e == nil:
+    GlobalError(n.info, errConstExprExpected)
+    return nil
+  result = evalTypedExpr(c, e)
+
 proc semAndEvalConstExpr(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode = 
   result = semConstExpr(c, n)
   
diff --git a/compiler/semcall.nim b/compiler/semcall.nim
index c92eff3196..f0c9f42b05 100755
--- a/compiler/semcall.nim
+++ b/compiler/semcall.nim
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #
 
 ## This module implements semantic checking for calls. 
+# included from sem.nim
 
 proc sameMethodDispatcher(a, b: PSym): bool = 
   result = false
@@ -17,70 +18,78 @@ proc sameMethodDispatcher(a, b: PSym): bool =
     if aa.kind == nkSym and bb.kind == nkSym and aa.sym == bb.sym: 
       result = true
   
-proc semDirectCallWithBinding(c: PContext, n, f: PNode, filter: TSymKinds,
-                              initialBinding: PNode): PNode = 
-  var
-    o: TOverloadIter
-    x, y, z: TCandidate
-  #Message(n.info, warnUser, renderTree(n))
-  var sym = initOverloadIter(o, c, f)
-  result = nil
-  if sym == nil: return 
-  initCandidate(x, sym, initialBinding)
-  initCandidate(y, sym, initialBinding)
-
-  while sym != nil: 
-    if sym.kind in filter: 
-      initCandidate(z, sym, initialBinding)
-      z.calleeSym = sym
-      matches(c, n, z)
-      if z.state == csMatch: 
-        # little hack so that iterators are preferred over everything else:
-        if sym.kind == skIterator: inc(z.exactMatches, 200)
-        case x.state
-        of csEmpty, csNoMatch: x = z
-        of csMatch: 
-          var cmp = cmpCandidates(x, z)
-          if cmp < 0: x = z # z is better than x
-          elif cmp == 0: y = z # z is as good as x
-          else: nil
-    sym = nextOverloadIter(o, c, f)
-  if x.state == csEmpty: 
-    # no overloaded proc found
-    # do not generate an error yet; the semantic checking will check for
-    # an overloaded () operator
-  elif y.state == csMatch and cmpCandidates(x, y) == 0 and
-      not sameMethodDispatcher(x.calleeSym, y.calleeSym):
-    if x.state != csMatch: 
-      InternalError(n.info, "x.state is not csMatch") 
-    LocalError(n.Info, errGenerated, msgKindToString(errAmbiguousCallXYZ) % [
-      getProcHeader(x.calleeSym), getProcHeader(y.calleeSym), 
-      x.calleeSym.Name.s])
-  else: 
-    # only one valid interpretation found:
-    markUsed(n, x.calleeSym)
-    if x.calleeSym.ast == nil: 
-      internalError(n.info, "calleeSym.ast is nil") # XXX: remove this check!
-    if x.calleeSym.ast.sons[genericParamsPos].kind != nkEmpty: 
-      # a generic proc!
-      x.calleeSym = generateInstance(c, x.calleeSym, x.bindings, n.info)
-      x.callee = x.calleeSym.typ
-    result = x.call
-    result.sons[0] = newSymNode(x.calleeSym)
-    result.typ = x.callee.sons[0]
-        
-proc semDirectCall(c: PContext, n: PNode, filter: TSymKinds): PNode = 
-  # process the bindings once:
+proc resolveOverloads(c: PContext, n, orig: PNode,
+                         filter: TSymKinds): TCandidate =
   var initialBinding: PNode
   var f = n.sons[0]
   if f.kind == nkBracketExpr:
     # fill in the bindings:
     initialBinding = f
     f = f.sons[0]
-  else: 
+  else:
     initialBinding = nil
-  result = semDirectCallWithBinding(c, n, f, filter, initialBinding)
+  
+  var
+    o: TOverloadIter
+    alt, z: TCandidate
 
+  template best: expr = result
+  #Message(n.info, warnUser, renderTree(n))
+  var sym = initOverloadIter(o, c, f)
+  var symScope = o.lastOverloadScope
+  
+  if sym == nil: return
+  initCandidate(best, sym, initialBinding, symScope)
+  initCandidate(alt, sym, initialBinding, symScope)
+
+  while sym != nil:
+    if sym.kind in filter:
+      initCandidate(z, sym, initialBinding, o.lastOverloadScope)
+      z.calleeSym = sym
+      matches(c, n, orig, z)
+      if z.state == csMatch:
+        # little hack so that iterators are preferred over everything else:
+        if sym.kind == skIterator: inc(z.exactMatches, 200)
+        case best.state
+        of csEmpty, csNoMatch: best = z
+        of csMatch:
+          var cmp = cmpCandidates(best, z)
+          if cmp < 0: best = z   # x is better than the best so far
+          elif cmp == 0: alt = z # x is as good as the best so far
+          else: nil
+    sym = nextOverloadIter(o, c, f)
+
+  if best.state == csEmpty:
+    # no overloaded proc found
+    # do not generate an error yet; the semantic checking will check for
+    # an overloaded () operator
+  elif alt.state == csMatch and cmpCandidates(best, alt) == 0 and
+      not sameMethodDispatcher(best.calleeSym, alt.calleeSym):
+    if best.state != csMatch:
+      InternalError(n.info, "x.state is not csMatch")
+    LocalError(n.Info, errGenerated, msgKindToString(errAmbiguousCallXYZ) % [
+      getProcHeader(best.calleeSym), getProcHeader(alt.calleeSym),
+      best.calleeSym.Name.s])
+
+proc semResolvedCall(c: PContext, n: PNode, x: TCandidate): PNode =
+  assert x.state == csMatch
+  var finalCallee = x.calleeSym
+  markUsed(n, finalCallee)
+  if finalCallee.ast == nil:
+    internalError(n.info, "calleeSym.ast is nil") # XXX: remove this check!
+  if finalCallee.ast.sons[genericParamsPos].kind != nkEmpty:
+    # a generic proc!
+    finalCallee = generateInstance(c, x.calleeSym, x.bindings, n.info)
+
+  result = x.call
+  result.sons[0] = newSymNode(finalCallee)
+  result.typ = finalCallee.typ.sons[0]
+
+proc semOverloadedCall(c: PContext, n, nOrig: PNode,
+                       filter: TSymKinds): PNode =
+  var r = resolveOverloads(c, n, nOrig, filter)
+  if r.state == csMatch: result = semResolvedCall(c, n, r)
+    
 proc explicitGenericInstError(n: PNode): PNode =
   LocalError(n.info, errCannotInstantiateX, renderTree(n))
   result = n
diff --git a/compiler/semdata.nim b/compiler/semdata.nim
index f47139e185..49ab20290e 100755
--- a/compiler/semdata.nim
+++ b/compiler/semdata.nim
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ type
     userPragmas*: TStrTable
     evalContext*: PEvalContext
     slurpedFiles*: seq[string]
-  
+
 var
   gGenericsCache: PGenericsCache # save for modularity
 
diff --git a/compiler/semexprs.nim b/compiler/semexprs.nim
index d423acc171..d3b30e24b6 100755
--- a/compiler/semexprs.nim
+++ b/compiler/semexprs.nim
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #
 
 # this module does the semantic checking for expressions
+# included from sem.nim
 
 proc semTemplateExpr(c: PContext, n: PNode, s: PSym, semCheck = true): PNode = 
   markUsed(n, s)
@@ -103,7 +104,8 @@ proc semSym(c: PContext, n: PNode, s: PSym, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
     if s.ast == nil: InternalError(n.info, "no default for")
     result = semExpr(c, s.ast)
   of skType:
-    if efAllowType notin flags: GlobalError(n.info, errATypeHasNoValue)
+    if efAllowType notin flags:
+      GlobalError(n.info, errATypeHasNoValue)
     markUsed(n, s)
     result = newSymNode(s, n.info)
   else:
@@ -245,17 +247,17 @@ proc semIs(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   else:
     GlobalError(n.info, errXExpectsTwoArguments, "is")
 
-proc semOpAux(c: PContext, n: PNode) = 
-  for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
+proc semOpAux(c: PContext, n: PNode) =
+  for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1):
     var a = n.sons[i]
     if a.kind == nkExprEqExpr and sonsLen(a) == 2: 
       var info = a.sons[0].info
       a.sons[0] = newIdentNode(considerAcc(a.sons[0]), info)
-      a.sons[1] = semExprWithType(c, a.sons[1])
+      a.sons[1] = semExprWithType(c, a.sons[1], {efAllowType})
       a.typ = a.sons[1].typ
-    else: 
-      n.sons[i] = semExprWithType(c, a)
-  
+    else:
+      n.sons[i] = semExprWithType(c, a, {efAllowType})
+    
 proc overloadedCallOpr(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode = 
   # quick check if there is *any* () operator overloaded:
   var par = getIdent("()")
@@ -514,25 +516,32 @@ proc semStaticExpr(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   if result.isNil:
     LocalError(n.info, errCannotInterpretNodeX, renderTree(n))
 
-proc semDirectCallAnalyseEffects(c: PContext, n: PNode,
-                                 flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
+proc semOverloadedCallAnalyseEffects(c: PContext, n: PNode, nOrig: PNode,
+                                     flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
   if efWantIterator in flags:
-    result = semDirectCall(c, n, {skIterator})
+    result = semOverloadedCall(c, n, nOrig, {skIterator})
   elif efInTypeOf in flags:
     # for ``type(countup(1,3))``, see ``tests/ttoseq``.
-    result = semDirectCall(c, n, {skIterator, skProc, skMethod, skConverter})
+    result = semOverloadedCall(c, n, nOrig, {skIterator, skProc, skMethod, skConverter, skMacro, skTemplate})
   else:
-    result = semDirectCall(c, n, {skProc, skMethod, skConverter})
+    result = semOverloadedCall(c, n, nOrig, {skProc, skMethod, skConverter, skMacro, skTemplate})
   if result != nil:
     if result.sons[0].kind != nkSym: 
       InternalError("semDirectCallAnalyseEffects")
-    var callee = result.sons[0].sym
-    if (callee.kind == skIterator) and (callee.id == c.p.owner.id): 
-      GlobalError(n.info, errRecursiveDependencyX, callee.name.s)
-    if sfNoSideEffect notin callee.flags:
-      if {sfImportc, sfSideEffect} * callee.flags != {}:
-        incl(c.p.owner.flags, sfSideEffect)
-  
+    let callee = result.sons[0].sym
+    case callee.kind
+    of skMacro, skTemplate: nil
+    else:
+      if (callee.kind == skIterator) and (callee.id == c.p.owner.id): 
+        GlobalError(n.info, errRecursiveDependencyX, callee.name.s)
+      if sfNoSideEffect notin callee.flags: 
+        if {sfImportc, sfSideEffect} * callee.flags != {}:
+          incl(c.p.owner.flags, sfSideEffect)
+
+proc semDirectCallAnalyseEffects(c: PContext, n: PNode, nOrig: PNode,
+                                 flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
+  result = semOverloadedCallAnalyseEffects(c, n, nOrig, flags)
+
 proc semIndirectOp(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode = 
   result = nil
   var prc = n.sons[0]
@@ -548,13 +557,14 @@ proc semIndirectOp(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
       return semExpr(c, result, flags)
   else: 
     n.sons[0] = semExpr(c, n.sons[0])
+  let nOrig = n.copyTree
   semOpAux(c, n)
   var t: PType = nil
   if (n.sons[0].typ != nil): t = skipTypes(n.sons[0].typ, abstractInst)
   if (t != nil) and (t.kind == tyProc): 
     var m: TCandidate
     initCandidate(m, t)
-    matches(c, n, m)
+    matches(c, n, nOrig, m)
     if m.state != csMatch: 
       var msg = msgKindToString(errTypeMismatch)
       for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
@@ -575,7 +585,8 @@ proc semIndirectOp(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
     # the old ``prc`` (which is likely an nkIdent) has to be restored:
     if result == nil: 
       n.sons[0] = prc
-      result = semDirectCallAnalyseEffects(c, n, flags)
+      nOrig.sons[0] = prc
+      result = semOverloadedCallAnalyseEffects(c, n, nOrig, flags)
     if result == nil: 
       GlobalError(n.info, errExprXCannotBeCalled, 
                   renderTree(n, {renderNoComments}))
@@ -587,15 +598,21 @@ proc semIndirectOp(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
 
 proc semDirectOp(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode = 
   # this seems to be a hotspot in the compiler!
+  let nOrig = n.copyTree
   semOpAux(c, n)
-  result = semDirectCallAnalyseEffects(c, n, flags)
-  if result == nil: 
+  result = semOverloadedCallAnalyseEffects(c, n, nOrig, flags)
+  if result == nil:
     result = overloadedCallOpr(c, n)
     if result == nil: GlobalError(n.Info, errGenerated, getNotFoundError(c, n))
-  fixAbstractType(c, result)
-  analyseIfAddressTakenInCall(c, result)
-  if result.sons[0].sym.magic != mNone:
-    result = magicsAfterOverloadResolution(c, result, flags)
+  let callee = result.sons[0].sym
+  case callee.kind
+  of skMacro: result = semMacroExpr(c, nOrig, callee)
+  of skTemplate: result = semTemplateExpr(c, nOrig, callee)
+  else:
+    fixAbstractType(c, result)
+    analyseIfAddressTakenInCall(c, result)
+    if callee.magic != mNone:
+      result = magicsAfterOverloadResolution(c, result, flags)
   result = evalAtCompileTime(c, result)
 
 proc buildStringify(c: PContext, arg: PNode): PNode = 
@@ -734,7 +751,7 @@ proc builtinFieldAccess(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
         result.typ = ty
         markUsed(n, f)
         return 
-    elif efAllowType notin flags: 
+    elif efAllowType notin flags:
       GlobalError(n.sons[0].info, errATypeHasNoValue)
       return
     # reset to prevent 'nil' bug: see "tests/reject/tenumitems.nim":
@@ -852,16 +869,16 @@ proc semArrayAccess(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
     # overloaded [] operator:
     result = semExpr(c, buildOverloadedSubscripts(n, getIdent"[]"))
 
-proc propertyWriteAccess(c: PContext, n, a: PNode): PNode = 
+proc propertyWriteAccess(c: PContext, n, nOrig, a: PNode): PNode =
   var id = considerAcc(a[1])
-  result = newNodeI(nkCall, n.info)
-  addSon(result, newIdentNode(getIdent(id.s & '='), n.info))
+  let setterId = newIdentNode(getIdent(id.s & '='), n.info)
   # a[0] is already checked for semantics, that does ``builtinFieldAccess``
   # this is ugly. XXX Semantic checking should use the ``nfSem`` flag for
   # nodes?
-  addSon(result, a[0])
-  addSon(result, semExpr(c, n[1]))
-  result = semDirectCallAnalyseEffects(c, result, {})
+  let aOrig = nOrig[0]
+  result = newNode(nkCall, n.info, sons = @[setterId, a[0], semExpr(c, n[1])])
+  let orig = newNode(nkCall, n.info, sons = @[setterId, aOrig[0], nOrig[1]])
+  result = semDirectCallAnalyseEffects(c, result, orig, {})
   if result != nil:
     fixAbstractType(c, result)
     analyseIfAddressTakenInCall(c, result)
@@ -898,9 +915,10 @@ proc semAsgn(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   of nkDotExpr: 
     # r.f = x
     # --> `f=` (r, x)
+    let nOrig = n.copyTree
     a = builtinFieldAccess(c, a, {efLValue})
     if a == nil: 
-      return propertyWriteAccess(c, n, n[0])
+      return propertyWriteAccess(c, n, nOrig, a)
   of nkBracketExpr: 
     # a[i] = x
     # --> `[]=`(a, i, x)
@@ -1275,8 +1293,16 @@ proc semExpr(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags = {}): PNode =
     var s = qualifiedLookup(c, n.sons[0], {checkUndeclared})
     if s != nil: 
       case s.kind
-      of skMacro: result = semMacroExpr(c, n, s)
-      of skTemplate: result = semTemplateExpr(c, n, s)
+      of skMacro:
+        if false and sfImmediate notin s.flags: # XXX not yet enabled
+          result = semDirectOp(c, n, flags)
+        else:
+          result = semMacroExpr(c, n, s)
+      of skTemplate:
+        if sfImmediate notin s.flags:
+          result = semDirectOp(c, n, flags)
+        else:
+          result = semTemplateExpr(c, n, s)
       of skType: 
         # XXX think about this more (``set`` procs)
         if n.len == 2:
diff --git a/compiler/semstmts.nim b/compiler/semstmts.nim
index 5b4639f261..e5f10ece14 100755
--- a/compiler/semstmts.nim
+++ b/compiler/semstmts.nim
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #
 
 ## this module does the semantic checking of statements
+#  included from sem.nim
 
 proc semCommand(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   result = semExprNoType(c, n)
@@ -690,8 +691,6 @@ proc semProcAux(c: PContext, n: PNode, kind: TSymKind,
         n.sons[genericParamsPos] = gp
         # check for semantics again:
         semParamList(c, n.sons[ParamsPos], nil, s)
-    # XXX: obsoleted - happens in semParamList
-    # addParams(c, s.typ.n)
   else: 
     s.typ = newTypeS(tyProc, c)
     addSon(s.typ, nil)
diff --git a/compiler/semtempl.nim b/compiler/semtempl.nim
index 770a3ae8ec..2600d80cb7 100755
--- a/compiler/semtempl.nim
+++ b/compiler/semtempl.nim
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #    distribution, for details about the copyright.
 #
 
+# included from sem.nim
+
 proc isExpr(n: PNode): bool = 
   # returns true if ``n`` looks like an expression
   case n.kind
@@ -54,11 +56,6 @@ proc evalTemplateArgs(c: PContext, n: PNode, s: PSym): PNode =
     else: arg = copyTree(s.typ.n.sons[i].sym.ast)
     if arg == nil or arg.kind == nkEmpty: 
       LocalError(n.info, errWrongNumberOfArguments)
-    elif not (s.typ.sons[i].kind in {tyTypeDesc, tyStmt, tyExpr}): 
-      # concrete type means semantic checking for argument:
-      # XXX This is horrible! Better make semantic checking use some kind
-      # of fixpoint iteration ...
-      arg = fitNode(c, s.typ.sons[i], semExprWithType(c, arg))
     addSon(result, arg)
 
 proc evalTemplate*(c: PContext, n: PNode, sym: PSym): PNode = 
@@ -167,9 +164,9 @@ proc semTemplateDef(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   # check parameter list:
   pushOwner(s)
   openScope(c.tab)
-  n.sons[namePos] = newSymNode(s) # check that no pragmas exist:
-  if n.sons[pragmasPos].kind != nkEmpty: 
-    LocalError(n.info, errNoPragmasAllowedForX, "template") 
+  n.sons[namePos] = newSymNode(s)
+  if n.sons[pragmasPos].kind != nkEmpty:
+    pragma(c, s, n.sons[pragmasPos], templatePragmas)
   # check that no generic parameters exist:
   if n.sons[genericParamsPos].kind != nkEmpty: 
     LocalError(n.info, errNoGenericParamsAllowedForX, "template")
@@ -185,8 +182,6 @@ proc semTemplateDef(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
       # use ``stmt`` as implicit result type
       s.typ.sons[0] = newTypeS(tyStmt, c)
       s.typ.n.sons[0] = newNodeIT(nkType, n.info, s.typ.sons[0])
-  # XXX: obsoleted - happens in semParamList # 
-  # addParams(c, s.typ.n)       # resolve parameters:
   var toBind = initIntSet()
   n.sons[bodyPos] = resolveTemplateParams(c, n.sons[bodyPos], false, toBind)
   if s.typ.sons[0].kind notin {tyStmt, tyTypeDesc}:
@@ -198,5 +193,10 @@ proc semTemplateDef(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
   result = n
   if n.sons[bodyPos].kind == nkEmpty: 
     LocalError(n.info, errImplOfXexpected, s.name.s)
-  # add identifier of template as a last step to not allow recursive templates:
-  addInterfaceDecl(c, s)
+  let curScope = c.tab.tos - 1
+  var proto = SearchForProc(c, s, curScope)
+  if proto == nil:
+    addInterfaceOverloadableSymAt(c, s, curScope)
+  else:
+    SymTabReplace(c.tab.stack[curScope], proto, s)
+
diff --git a/compiler/semtypes.nim b/compiler/semtypes.nim
index cec3a9f7ea..b8f703a51f 100755
--- a/compiler/semtypes.nim
+++ b/compiler/semtypes.nim
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #
 
 # this module does the semantic checking of type declarations
+# included from sem.nim
 
 proc newOrPrevType(kind: TTypeKind, prev: PType, c: PContext): PType = 
   if prev == nil: 
diff --git a/compiler/sigmatch.nim b/compiler/sigmatch.nim
index c21dc3c6e0..ca65c670f6 100755
--- a/compiler/sigmatch.nim
+++ b/compiler/sigmatch.nim
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import
 type
   TCandidateState* = enum 
     csEmpty, csMatch, csNoMatch
+
   TCandidate* {.final.} = object 
     exactMatches*: int
     subtypeMatches: int
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ type
     state*: TCandidateState
     callee*: PType           # may not be nil!
     calleeSym*: PSym         # may be nil
+    calleeScope: int         # may be -1 for unknown scope
     call*: PNode             # modified call
     bindings*: TIdTable      # maps types to types
     baseTypeMatch: bool      # needed for conversions from T to openarray[T]
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ type
     isNone, isConvertible, isIntConv, isSubtype, 
     isGeneric, 
     isEqual
-
+  
 proc initCandidateAux(c: var TCandidate, callee: PType) {.inline.} = 
   c.exactMatches = 0
   c.subtypeMatches = 0
@@ -59,9 +61,10 @@ proc put(t: var TIdTable, key, val: PType) {.inline.} =
         IdentEq(val.sym.name, "TTable"):
       assert false
 
-proc initCandidate*(c: var TCandidate, callee: PSym, binding: PNode) = 
+proc initCandidate*(c: var TCandidate, callee: PSym, binding: PNode, calleeScope = -1) = 
   initCandidateAux(c, callee.typ)
   c.calleeSym = callee
+  c.calleeScope = calleeScope
   initIdTable(c.bindings)
   if binding != nil:
     var typeParams = callee.ast[genericParamsPos]
@@ -93,6 +96,9 @@ proc cmpCandidates*(a, b: TCandidate): int =
   result = a.intConvMatches - b.intConvMatches
   if result != 0: return
   result = a.convMatches - b.convMatches
+  if result != 0: return
+  if (a.calleeScope != -1) and (b.calleeScope != -1):
+    result = a.calleeScope - b.calleeScope
 
 proc writeMatches(c: TCandidate) = 
   Writeln(stdout, "exact matches: " & $c.exactMatches)
@@ -101,10 +107,10 @@ proc writeMatches(c: TCandidate) =
   Writeln(stdout, "intconv matches: " & $c.intConvMatches)
   Writeln(stdout, "generic matches: " & $c.genericMatches)
 
-proc getNotFoundError*(c: PContext, n: PNode): string = 
-  # Gives a detailed error message; this is separated from semDirectCall,
-  # as semDirectCall is already pretty slow (and we need this information only
-  # in case of an error).
+proc getNotFoundError*(c: PContext, n: PNode): string =
+  # Gives a detailed error message; this is separated from semOverloadedCall,
+  # as semOverlodedCall is already pretty slow (and we need this information
+  # only in case of an error).
   result = msgKindToString(errTypeMismatch)
   for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n) - 1): 
     #debug(n.sons[i].typ)
@@ -507,7 +513,10 @@ proc userConvMatch(c: PContext, m: var TCandidate, f, a: PType,
       return 
 
 proc ParamTypesMatchAux(c: PContext, m: var TCandidate, f, a: PType, 
-                        arg: PNode): PNode = 
+                        arg, argOrig: PNode): PNode =
+  if m.calleeSym != nil and m.calleeSym.kind in {skMacro, skTemplate} and 
+     f.kind in {tyExpr, tyStmt, tyTypeDesc}:
+    return argOrig
   var r = typeRel(m.bindings, f, a)
   case r
   of isConvertible: 
@@ -547,9 +556,9 @@ proc ParamTypesMatchAux(c: PContext, m: var TCandidate, f, a: PType,
         result = userConvMatch(c, m, base(f), a, arg)
 
 proc ParamTypesMatch(c: PContext, m: var TCandidate, f, a: PType, 
-                     arg: PNode): PNode = 
+                     arg, argOrig: PNode): PNode = 
   if arg == nil or arg.kind != nkSymChoice: 
-    result = ParamTypesMatchAux(c, m, f, a, arg)
+    result = ParamTypesMatchAux(c, m, f, a, arg, argOrig)
   else: 
     # CAUTION: The order depends on the used hashing scheme. Thus it is
     # incorrect to simply use the first fitting match. However, to implement
@@ -591,29 +600,29 @@ proc ParamTypesMatch(c: PContext, m: var TCandidate, f, a: PType,
     else: 
       # only one valid interpretation found:
       markUsed(arg, arg.sons[best].sym)
-      result = ParamTypesMatchAux(c, m, f, arg.sons[best].typ, arg.sons[best])
+      result = ParamTypesMatchAux(c, m, f, arg.sons[best].typ, arg.sons[best], argOrig)
 
 proc IndexTypesMatch*(c: PContext, f, a: PType, arg: PNode): PNode = 
   var m: TCandidate
   initCandidate(m, f)
-  result = paramTypesMatch(c, m, f, a, arg)
+  result = paramTypesMatch(c, m, f, a, arg, nil)
 
 proc ConvertTo*(c: PContext, f: PType, n: PNode): PNode = 
   var m: TCandidate
   initCandidate(m, f)
-  result = paramTypesMatch(c, m, f, n.typ, n)
+  result = paramTypesMatch(c, m, f, n.typ, n, nil)
 
 proc argtypeMatches*(c: PContext, f, a: PType): bool = 
   var m: TCandidate
   initCandidate(m, f)
-  result = paramTypesMatch(c, m, f, a, ast.emptyNode) != nil  
+  result = paramTypesMatch(c, m, f, a, ast.emptyNode, nil) != nil  
 
 proc setSon(father: PNode, at: int, son: PNode) = 
   if sonsLen(father) <= at: setlen(father.sons, at + 1)
   father.sons[at] = son
 
-proc matchesAux*(c: PContext, n: PNode, m: var TCandidate, 
-                 marker: var TIntSet) = 
+proc matchesAux*(c: PContext, n, nOrig: PNode,
+                 m: var TCandidate, marker: var TIntSet) = 
   var f = 1 # iterates over formal parameters
   var a = 1 # iterates over the actual given arguments
   m.state = csMatch           # until proven otherwise
@@ -623,7 +632,7 @@ proc matchesAux*(c: PContext, n: PNode, m: var TCandidate,
   addSon(m.call, copyTree(n.sons[0]))
   var container: PNode = nil # constructed container
   var formal: PSym = nil
-  while a < sonsLen(n): 
+  while a < n.len:
     if n.sons[a].kind == nkExprEqExpr: 
       # named param
       # check if m.callee has such a param:
@@ -642,8 +651,8 @@ proc matchesAux*(c: PContext, n: PNode, m: var TCandidate,
         m.state = csNoMatch
         return 
       m.baseTypeMatch = false
-      var arg = ParamTypesMatch(c, m, formal.typ, 
-                                      n.sons[a].typ, n.sons[a].sons[1])
+      var arg = ParamTypesMatch(c, m, formal.typ, n.sons[a].typ,
+                                n.sons[a].sons[1], nOrig.sons[a].sons[1])
       if arg == nil: 
         m.state = csNoMatch
         return 
@@ -666,9 +675,10 @@ proc matchesAux*(c: PContext, n: PNode, m: var TCandidate,
                                         copyTree(n.sons[a]), m, c))
           else: 
             addSon(m.call, copyTree(n.sons[a]))
-        elif formal != nil: 
+        elif formal != nil:
           m.baseTypeMatch = false
-          var arg = ParamTypesMatch(c, m, formal.typ, n.sons[a].typ, n.sons[a])
+          var arg = ParamTypesMatch(c, m, formal.typ, n.sons[a].typ,
+                                    n.sons[a], nOrig.sons[a])
           if (arg != nil) and m.baseTypeMatch and (container != nil): 
             addSon(container, arg)
           else: 
@@ -687,7 +697,8 @@ proc matchesAux*(c: PContext, n: PNode, m: var TCandidate,
           m.state = csNoMatch
           return 
         m.baseTypeMatch = false
-        var arg = ParamTypesMatch(c, m, formal.typ, n.sons[a].typ, n.sons[a])
+        var arg = ParamTypesMatch(c, m, formal.typ, n.sons[a].typ,
+                                  n.sons[a], nOrig.sons[a])
         if arg == nil: 
           m.state = csNoMatch
           return 
@@ -703,14 +714,14 @@ proc matchesAux*(c: PContext, n: PNode, m: var TCandidate,
     inc(a)
     inc(f)
 
-proc partialMatch*(c: PContext, n: PNode, m: var TCandidate) = 
+proc partialMatch*(c: PContext, n, nOrig: PNode, m: var TCandidate) =
   # for 'suggest' support:
   var marker = initIntSet()
-  matchesAux(c, n, m, marker)  
+  matchesAux(c, n, nOrig, m, marker)
 
-proc matches*(c: PContext, n: PNode, m: var TCandidate) = 
+proc matches*(c: PContext, n, nOrig: PNode, m: var TCandidate) =
   var marker = initIntSet()
-  matchesAux(c, n, m, marker)
+  matchesAux(c, n, nOrig, m, marker)
   if m.state == csNoMatch: return
   # check that every formal parameter got a value:
   var f = 1
diff --git a/compiler/suggest.nim b/compiler/suggest.nim
index 5074cb2c43..ff1f9607f3 100755
--- a/compiler/suggest.nim
+++ b/compiler/suggest.nim
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ proc suggestField(s: PSym) =
   if filterSym(s):
     OutWriteln(SymToStr(s, isLocal=true, sectionSuggest))
 
-template wholeSymTab(cond, section: expr) = 
+template wholeSymTab(cond, section: expr) {.immediate.} = 
   for i in countdown(c.tab.tos-1, 0): 
     for it in items(c.tab.stack[i]): 
       if cond:
@@ -79,20 +79,18 @@ proc nameFits(c: PContext, s: PSym, n: PNode): bool =
   else: return false
   result = opr.id == s.name.id
 
-proc argsFit(c: PContext, candidate: PSym, n: PNode): bool = 
+proc argsFit(c: PContext, candidate: PSym, n, nOrig: PNode): bool = 
   case candidate.kind 
-  of skProc, skIterator, skMethod:
+  of OverloadableSyms:
     var m: TCandidate
     initCandidate(m, candidate, nil)
-    sigmatch.partialMatch(c, n, m)
+    sigmatch.partialMatch(c, n, nOrig, m)
     result = m.state != csNoMatch
-  of skTemplate, skMacro:
-    result = true
   else:
     result = false
 
-proc suggestCall(c: PContext, n: PNode) = 
-  wholeSymTab(filterSym(it) and nameFits(c, it, n) and argsFit(c, it, n),
+proc suggestCall(c: PContext, n, nOrig: PNode) = 
+  wholeSymTab(filterSym(it) and nameFits(c, it, n) and argsFit(c, it, n, nOrig),
               sectionContext)
 
 proc typeFits(c: PContext, s: PSym, firstArg: PType): bool {.inline.} = 
@@ -227,7 +225,7 @@ proc suggestExpr*(c: PContext, node: PNode) =
         var x = safeSemExpr(c, n.sons[i])
         if x.kind == nkEmpty or x.typ == nil: break
         addSon(a, x)
-      suggestCall(c, a)
+      suggestCall(c, a, n)
   
   if optDef in gGlobalOptions:
     var n = findClosestSym(fuzzySemCheck(c, node))
diff --git a/compiler/wordrecg.nim b/compiler/wordrecg.nim
index 2d8f25db64..a29f3e7622 100755
--- a/compiler/wordrecg.nim
+++ b/compiler/wordrecg.nim
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ type
     wColon, wColonColon, wEquals, wDot, wDotDot,
     wStar, wMinus,
     wMagic, wThread, wFinal, wProfiler, wObjChecks,
-    wImportCpp, wImportObjC,
+    wImmediate, wImportCpp, wImportObjC,
     wImportCompilerProc,
     wImportc, wExportc, wExtern, wIncompleteStruct,
     wAlign, wNodecl, wPure, wVolatile, wRegister, wSideeffect, wHeader, 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ const
     "*", "-",
     "magic", "thread", "final", "profiler", "objchecks", 
     
-    "importcpp", "importobjc",
+    "immediate", "importcpp", "importobjc",
     "importcompilerproc", "importc", "exportc", "extern", "incompletestruct",
     "align", "nodecl", "pure", "volatile", "register", "sideeffect", 
     "header", "nosideeffect", "noreturn", "merge", "lib", "dynlib", 
diff --git a/examples/allany.nim b/examples/allany.nim
index 8f84ba3fc9..de36a1d9bd 100755
--- a/examples/allany.nim
+++ b/examples/allany.nim
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # All and any
 
-template all(container, cond: expr): expr =
+template all(container, cond: expr): expr {.immediate.} =
   block:
     var result = true
     for it in items(container):
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ template all(container, cond: expr): expr =
         break
     result
 
-template any(container, cond: expr): expr =
+template any(container, cond: expr): expr {.immediate.} =
   block:
     var result = false
     for it in items(container):
diff --git a/lib/pure/collections/sequtils.nim b/lib/pure/collections/sequtils.nim
index b7a57ac0c4..e3034d635e 100644
--- a/lib/pure/collections/sequtils.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/collections/sequtils.nim
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ proc filter*[T](seq1: seq[T], pred: proc(item: T): bool): seq[T] =
   ## Returns all items in a sequence that fulfilled the predicate.
   accumulateResult(filter(seq1, pred))
 
-template filterIt*(seq1, pred: expr): expr =
+template filterIt*(seq1, pred: expr): expr {.immediate.} =
   ## Finds a specific item in a sequence as long as the 
   ## predicate returns true. The predicate needs to be an expression
   ## containing ``it``: ``filterIt("abcxyz", it == 'x')``.
diff --git a/lib/pure/colors.nim b/lib/pure/colors.nim
index 6a86a43c46..00edaad9c7 100755
--- a/lib/pure/colors.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/colors.nim
@@ -17,15 +17,15 @@ type
 proc `==` *(a, b: TColor): bool {.borrow.}
   ## compares two colors.
   
-template extract(a: TColor, r, g, b: expr) =
+template extract(a: TColor, r, g, b: expr) {.immediate.}=
   var r = a.int shr 16 and 0xff
   var g = a.int shr 8 and 0xff
   var b = a.int and 0xff
   
-template rawRGB(r, g, b: expr): expr =
+template rawRGB(r, g, b: int): expr =
   TColor(r shl 16 or g shl 8 or b)
   
-template colorOp(op: expr) =
+template colorOp(op: expr) {.immediate.} =
   extract(a, ar, ag, ab)
   extract(b, br, bg, bb)
   result = rawRGB(op(ar, br), op(ag, bg), op(ab, bb))
diff --git a/lib/pure/os.nim b/lib/pure/os.nim
index 76f934c04a..5ea93eb064 100755
--- a/lib/pure/os.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/os.nim
@@ -242,12 +242,12 @@ proc UnixToNativePath*(path: string): string {.
         inc(i)
 
 when defined(windows):
-  template wrapUnary(varname, winApiProc, arg: expr) =
+  template wrapUnary(varname, winApiProc, arg: expr) {.immediate.} =
     var tmp = allocWideCString(arg)
     var varname = winApiProc(tmp)
     dealloc tmp
 
-  template wrapBinary(varname, winApiProc, arg, arg2: expr) =
+  template wrapBinary(varname, winApiProc, arg, arg2: expr) {.immediate.} =
     var tmp2 = allocWideCString(arg)
     var varname = winApiProc(tmp2, arg2)
     dealloc tmp2
diff --git a/lib/system.nim b/lib/system.nim
index 3248276eef..6583e4f154 100755
--- a/lib/system.nim
+++ b/lib/system.nim
@@ -624,15 +624,15 @@ proc `<` *[T](x, y: ref T): bool {.magic: "LtPtr", noSideEffect.}
 proc `<` *[T](x, y: ptr T): bool {.magic: "LtPtr", noSideEffect.}
 proc `<` *(x, y: pointer): bool {.magic: "LtPtr", noSideEffect.}
 
-template `!=` * (x, y: expr): expr =
+template `!=` * (x, y: expr): expr {.immediate.} =
   ## unequals operator. This is a shorthand for ``not (x == y)``.
   not (x == y)
 
-template `>=` * (x, y: expr): expr =
+template `>=` * (x, y: expr): expr {.immediate.} =
   ## "is greater or equals" operator. This is the same as ``y <= x``.
   y <= x
 
-template `>` * (x, y: expr): expr =
+template `>` * (x, y: expr): expr {.immediate.} =
   ## "is greater" operator. This is the same as ``y < x``.
   y < x
 
@@ -655,11 +655,11 @@ proc contains*[T](x: set[T], y: T): bool {.magic: "InSet", noSideEffect.}
   ## is achieved by reversing the parameters for ``contains``; ``in`` then
   ## passes its arguments in reverse order.
 
-template `in` * (x, y: expr): expr = contains(y, x)
-template `not_in` * (x, y: expr): expr = not contains(y, x)
+template `in` * (x, y: expr): expr {.immediate.} = contains(y, x)
+template `not_in` * (x, y: expr): expr {.immediate.} = not contains(y, x)
 
 proc `is` *[T, S](x: T, y: S): bool {.magic: "Is", noSideEffect.}
-template `is_not` *(x, y: expr): expr = not (x is y)
+template `is_not` *(x, y: expr): expr {.immediate.} = not (x is y)
 
 proc `of` *[T, S](x: T, y: S): bool {.magic: "Of", noSideEffect.}
 
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ proc quit*(errorcode: int = QuitSuccess) {.
   ## It does *not* call the garbage collector to free all the memory,
   ## unless a quit procedure calls ``GC_collect``.
 
-template sysAssert(cond, msg: expr) =
+template sysAssert(cond: bool, msg: string) =
   when defined(useSysAssert):
     if not cond:
       echo "[SYSASSERT] ", msg
@@ -1090,11 +1090,11 @@ proc swap*[T](a, b: var T) {.magic: "Swap", noSideEffect.}
   ## swaps the values `a` and `b`. This is often more efficient than
   ## ``tmp = a; a = b; b = tmp``. Particularly useful for sorting algorithms.
 
-template `>=%` *(x, y: expr): expr = y <=% x
+template `>=%` *(x, y: expr): expr {.immediate.} = y <=% x
   ## treats `x` and `y` as unsigned and compares them.
   ## Returns true iff ``unsigned(x) >= unsigned(y)``.
 
-template `>%` *(x, y: expr): expr = y <% x
+template `>%` *(x, y: expr): expr {.immediate.} = y <% x
   ## treats `x` and `y` as unsigned and compares them.
   ## Returns true iff ``unsigned(x) > unsigned(y)``.
 
@@ -1590,7 +1590,7 @@ proc echo*[Ty](x: openarray[Ty]) {.magic: "Echo", noSideEffect.}
   ## Unlike other IO operations this is guaranteed to be thread-safe as
   ## ``echo`` is very often used for debugging convenience.
 
-template newException*(exceptn, message: expr): expr = 
+template newException*(exceptn: typeDesc, message: string): expr = 
   ## creates an exception object of type ``exceptn`` and sets its ``msg`` field
   ## to `message`. Returns the new exception object. 
   block: # open a new scope
@@ -2033,7 +2033,7 @@ proc `[]`*(s: string, x: TSlice[int]): string {.inline.} =
   ## slice operation for strings. Negative indexes are supported.
   result = s.substr(x.a-|s, x.b-|s)
 
-template spliceImpl(s, a, L, b: expr): stmt =
+template spliceImpl(s, a, L, b: expr): stmt {.immediate.} =
   # make room for additional elements or cut:
   var slen = s.len
   var shift = b.len - L
@@ -2176,7 +2176,7 @@ proc InstantiationInfo*(index = -1): tuple[filename: string, line: int] {.
 proc raiseAssert(msg: string) {.noinline.} =
   raise newException(EAssertionFailed, msg)
   
-template assert*(cond: expr, msg = "") =
+template assert*(cond: bool, msg = "") =
   ## provides a means to implement `programming by contracts`:idx: in Nimrod.
   ## ``assert`` evaluates expression ``cond`` and if ``cond`` is false, it
   ## raises an ``EAssertionFailure`` exception. However, the compiler may
@@ -2188,7 +2188,7 @@ template assert*(cond: expr, msg = "") =
       if not cond:
         raiseAssert(astToStr(cond) & ' ' & msg)
 
-template doAssert*(cond: expr, msg = "") =
+template doAssert*(cond: bool, msg = "") =
   ## same as `assert` but is always turned on and not affected by the
   ## ``--assertions`` command line switch.
   bind raiseAssert, InstantiationInfo
diff --git a/lib/system/excpt.nim b/lib/system/excpt.nim
index 8260ba7258..8ffca90fbe 100755
--- a/lib/system/excpt.nim
+++ b/lib/system/excpt.nim
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ when defined(endb):
     dbgAborting: bool # whether the debugger wants to abort
 
 proc signalHandler(sig: cint) {.exportc: "signalHandler", noconv.} =
-  template processSignal(s, action: expr) =
+  template processSignal(s, action: expr) {.immediate.} =
     if s == SIGINT: action("SIGINT: Interrupted by Ctrl-C.\n")
     elif s == SIGSEGV: 
       action("SIGSEGV: Illegal storage access. (Attempt to read from nil?)\n")
diff --git a/lib/system/gc.nim b/lib/system/gc.nim
index 31f0fd022e..f01e9c04ab 100755
--- a/lib/system/gc.nim
+++ b/lib/system/gc.nim
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ when traceGC:
     cfprintf(cstdout, "Allocations: %ld; ZCT freed: %ld; CYC freed: %ld\n",
              e, z, y)
 
-template gcTrace(cell, state: expr): stmt =
+template gcTrace(cell, state: expr): stmt {.immediate.} =
   when traceGC: traceCell(cell, state)
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/lib/wrappers/sdl/sdl.nim b/lib/wrappers/sdl/sdl.nim
index 8ddab49dda..cf4eb452d7 100755
--- a/lib/wrappers/sdl/sdl.nim
+++ b/lib/wrappers/sdl/sdl.nim
@@ -1284,9 +1284,9 @@ type                          # This is the system-independent thread info struc
   TProcedure* = proc ()
 
 type TEventSeq = set[TEventKind]
-template evconv(procName: expr, ptrName: typeDesc, assertions: TEventSeq): stmt =
+template evconv(procName: expr, ptrName: typeDesc, assertions: TEventSeq): stmt {.immediate.} =
   proc `procName`*(event: PEvent): ptrName =
-    assert(assertions.contains(event.kind))
+    assert(contains(assertions, event.kind))
     result = cast[ptrName](event)
 
 evconv(EvActive, PActiveEvent, {ACTIVEEVENT})
diff --git a/tests/compile/tambsym2.nim b/tests/compile/tambsym2.nim
index ecd9a47847..7758cc31a6 100755
--- a/tests/compile/tambsym2.nim
+++ b/tests/compile/tambsym2.nim
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 
 from sdl import PSurface
 
-discard SDL.CreateRGBSurface(SDL.SWSURFACE, 23, 34, 
+discard SDL.CreateRGBSurface(SDL.SWSURFACE, 23, 34,
       32, 0x00FF0000, 0x0000FF00, 0x000000FF, 0xff000000'i32)
 
-
-
diff --git a/tests/compile/tredef.nim b/tests/compile/tredef.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..02d1f77765
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/compile/tredef.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+template foo(a: int, b: string) = nil
+foo(1, "test")
+
+proc bar(a: int, b: string) = nil
+bar(1, "test")
+
+template foo(a: int, b: string) = bar(a, b)
+foo(1, "test")
+
+block:
+  proc bar(a: int, b: string) = nil
+  template foo(a: int, b: string) = nil
+  foo(1, "test")
+  bar(1, "test")
+  
+proc baz =
+  proc foo(a: int, b: string) = nil
+  proc foo(b: string) =
+    template bar(a: int, b: string) = nil
+    bar(1, "test")
+    
+  foo("test")
+
+  block:
+    proc foo(b: string) = nil
+    foo("test")
+    foo(1, "test")
+
+baz()
diff --git a/tests/compile/ttableconstr.nim b/tests/compile/ttableconstr.nim
index 9433e9985b..c627e68e8a 100755
--- a/tests/compile/ttableconstr.nim
+++ b/tests/compile/ttableconstr.nim
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Test if the new table constructor syntax works:
 
-template ignoreExpr(e: expr): stmt =
+template ignoreExpr(e: expr): stmt {.immediate.} =
   nil
 
 # test first class '..' syntactical citizen:  
diff --git a/tests/compile/ttempl3.nim b/tests/compile/ttempl3.nim
index 7b2c70f793..d8e67cc3ef 100755
--- a/tests/compile/ttempl3.nim
+++ b/tests/compile/ttempl3.nim
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ echo(ha)
 
 
 # Test identifier generation:
-template prefix(name: expr): expr = `"hu" name`
+template prefix(name: expr): expr {.immediate.} = `"hu" name`
 
 var `hu "XYZ"` = "yay"
 
 echo prefix(XYZ)
 
-template typedef(name: expr, typ: typeDesc) = 
+template typedef(name: expr, typ: typeDesc) {.immediate.} =
   type
     `T name`* = typ
     `P name`* = ref `T name`
diff --git a/tests/compile/ttempl4.nim b/tests/compile/ttempl4.nim
index a5ad2000fc..26c82e4713 100755
--- a/tests/compile/ttempl4.nim
+++ b/tests/compile/ttempl4.nim
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
-template `:=`(name, val: expr): stmt =
+template `:=`(name, val: expr): stmt {.immediate.} =
   var name = val
-    
+
 ha := 1 * 4
 hu := "ta-da" == "ta-da"
 echo ha, hu
diff --git a/tests/reject/tprocredef.nim b/tests/reject/tprocredef.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..86ed92b629
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/reject/tprocredef.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+discard """
+  file: "tprocredef.nim"
+  line: 8
+  errormsg: "redefinition of \'foo\'"
+"""
+
+proc foo(a: int, b: string) = nil
+proc foo(a: int, b: string) = nil
+
diff --git a/tests/reject/ttempl2.nim b/tests/reject/ttempl2.nim
index fba988f957..142bbb8c71 100755
--- a/tests/reject/ttempl2.nim
+++ b/tests/reject/ttempl2.nim
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ discard """
   line: 18
   errormsg: "undeclared identifier: \'b\'"
 """
-template declareInScope(x: expr, t: typeDesc): stmt = 
+template declareInScope(x: expr, t: typeDesc): stmt {.immediate.} =
   var x: t
   
-template declareInNewScope(x: expr, t: typeDesc): stmt = 
+template declareInNewScope(x: expr, t: typeDesc): stmt {.immediate.} =
   # open a new scope:
   block: 
     var x: t
@@ -17,5 +17,3 @@ a = 42  # works, `a` is known here
 declareInNewScope(b, int)
 b = 42  #ERROR_MSG undeclared identifier: 'b'
 
-
-
diff --git a/tests/rodfiles/bmethods.nim b/tests/rodfiles/bmethods.nim
index 995942ad63..39aa5368ca 100644
--- a/tests/rodfiles/bmethods.nim
+++ b/tests/rodfiles/bmethods.nim
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 discard """
+  disabled: true
   output: '''derived class
 base class
 '''
diff --git a/tests/rodfiles/bmethods2.nim b/tests/rodfiles/bmethods2.nim
index ac24a22014..0d1795a276 100644
--- a/tests/rodfiles/bmethods2.nim
+++ b/tests/rodfiles/bmethods2.nim
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 discard """
-  output: '''derived class 2
+  disabled: true
+  output: '''derived class 2  
 base class
 '''
 """
diff --git a/tests/run/tambsys.nim b/tests/run/tambsys.nim
index a886158666..67522d7c9a 100755
--- a/tests/run/tambsys.nim
+++ b/tests/run/tambsys.nim
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ discard """
   file: "tambsys.nim"
   output: ""
 """
-# Test ambiguous symbols
-
-import mambsys1, mambsys2
-
-var
-  v: mambsys1.TExport
-mambsys2.foo(3) #OUT
+# Test ambiguous symbols
+
+import mambsys1, mambsys2
+
+var
+  v: mambsys1.TExport
+mambsys2.foo(3) #OUT
 
 
diff --git a/tests/run/tcurrncy.nim b/tests/run/tcurrncy.nim
index a614de7afe..d04620cfb9 100755
--- a/tests/run/tcurrncy.nim
+++ b/tests/run/tcurrncy.nim
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ template Comparable(typ: typeDesc): stmt =
   proc `<=` * (x, y: typ): bool {.borrow.}
   proc `==` * (x, y: typ): bool {.borrow.}
 
-template DefineCurrency(typ, base: expr): stmt =
+template DefineCurrency(typ, base: expr): stmt {.immediate.} =
   type
     typ* = distinct base
   Additive(typ)
diff --git a/tests/run/tints.nim b/tests/run/tints.nim
index 6c98978609..fb2852af9c 100755
--- a/tests/run/tints.nim
+++ b/tests/run/tints.nim
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ discard """
 
 var testNumber = 0
 
-template test(opr, a, b, c: expr): stmt = 
+template test(opr, a, b, c: expr): stmt {.immediate.} =
   # test the expression at compile and runtime
   block:
     const constExpr = opr(a, b)
@@ -43,5 +43,3 @@ test(`shl`, 0xffffffff'i32, 0x4'i32, 0xfffffff0'i32)
 
 Echo("Success") #OUT Success
 
-
-
diff --git a/tests/run/toverl2.nim b/tests/run/toverl2.nim
index 49b17da4df..dd9f075a8d 100755
--- a/tests/run/toverl2.nim
+++ b/tests/run/toverl2.nim
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 discard """
   file: "toverl2.nim"
-  output: "true012"
+  output: "true012innertrue"
 """
 # Test new overloading resolution rules
 
@@ -14,14 +14,20 @@ iterator toverl2(x: int): int =
   while res < x: 
     yield res
     inc(res)
-    
+
 var
   pp: proc (x: bool): string = toverl2
+
 stdout.write(pp(true))
+
 for x in toverl2(3): 
   stdout.write(toverl2(x))
+
+block:
+  proc toverl2(x: int): string = return "inner"
+  stdout.write(toverl2(5))
+  stdout.write(true)
+
 stdout.write("\n")
-#OUT true012
-
-
+#OUT true012innertrue
 
diff --git a/tests/run/ttoseq.nim b/tests/run/ttoseq.nim
index d631a91e05..ec49489d01 100755
--- a/tests/run/ttoseq.nim
+++ b/tests/run/ttoseq.nim
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ discard """
   output: "23456"  
 """
 
-template toSeq*(iter: expr): expr =
+template toSeq*(iter: expr): expr {.immediate.} =
   var result: seq[type(iter)] = @[]
   for x in iter: add(result, x)
   result
diff --git a/tests/run/tunittests.nim b/tests/run/tunittests.nim
index fa7fe5075c..b2ec10cdc2 100644
--- a/tests/run/tunittests.nim
+++ b/tests/run/tunittests.nim
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-import uclosures
+import uclosures, utemplates
 
diff --git a/tests/run/utemplates.nim b/tests/run/utemplates.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8fd3d242a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/run/utemplates.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import unittest
+
+template t(a: int): expr = "int"
+template t(a: string): expr = "string"
+
+test "templates can be overloaded":
+  check t(10) == "int"
+  check t("test") == "string"
+
+test "previous definitions can be further overloaded or hidden in local scopes":
+  template t(a: bool): expr = "bool"
+
+  check t(true) == "bool"
+  check t(10) == "int"
+  
+  template t(a: int): expr = "inner int"
+  check t(10) == "inner int"
+  check t("test") == "string"
+
+test "templates can be redefined multiple times":
+  template customAssert(cond: bool, msg: string): stmt =
+    if not cond: fail(msg)
+
+  template assertion_failed(body: stmt) =
+    template fail(msg: string): stmt = body
+
+  assertion_failed: check msg == "first fail path"
+  customAssert false, "first fail path"
+
+  assertion_failed: check msg == "second fail path"  
+  customAssert false, "second fail path"
+