diff --git a/core/builtin.lua b/core/builtin.lua
index 41b1f0f..26321f8 100644
--- a/core/builtin.lua
+++ b/core/builtin.lua
@@ -398,242 +398,14 @@ function M:custom(str)
 	return self
 end
 
-function M:h1(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom(std.h1(str))
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:h2(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom(std.h2(str))
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:h3(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom(std.h3(str))
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:h4(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom(std.h4(str))
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:h5(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom(std.h5(str))
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:h6(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom(std.h6(str))
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:p(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	table.insert(self.parts, "<p>" .. str .. "</p>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:note(content)
-	content = content or ""
-	self:custom('<div class="note">' .. content .. '</div>')
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:muted(content)
-	content = content or ""
-	self:custom('<div class="muted quiet">' .. content .. '</div>')
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:a(link, str)
-	link = link or "example.com"
-	str = str or link
-	table.insert(self.parts, "<a href=\"" .. link .. "\">" .. str .. "</a>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:ha(link, str)
-	link = link or "example.com"
-	str = str or link
-	table.insert(self.parts, "<a class=\"hidden\" href=\"" .. link .. "\">" .. str .. "</a>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:external(link, str)
-	link = link or "example.com"
-	str = str or link
-	table.insert(self.parts, "<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"" .. link .. "\">" .. str .. "</a>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:version()
-	return self.version
-end
-
-function M:ul(items)
-	items = items or {}
-	local html = "<ul>"
-	for _, item in ipairs(items) do
-		html = html .. "<li>" .. tostring(item) .. "</li>"
-	end
-	html = html .. "</ul>"
-	self:custom(html)
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:ol(items)
-	items = items or {}
-	local html = "<ol>"
-	for _, item in ipairs(items) do
-		html = html .. "<li>" .. tostring(item) .. "</li>"
-	end
-	html = html .. "</ol>"
-	self:custom(html)
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:li(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom("<li>" .. str .. "</li>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:code(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom("<pre><code>" .. str .. "</code></pre>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:blockquote(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom("<blockquote>" .. str .. "</blockquote>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:hr()
-	self:custom("<hr>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:divider()
-	self:custom('<div class="divider"></div>')
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:img(src, alt)
-	src = src or ""
-	alt = alt or ""
-	self:custom('<img src="' .. src .. '" alt="' .. alt .. '">')
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:table(headers, rows)
-	headers = headers or {}
-	rows = rows or {}
-	
-	local html = "<table><thead><tr>"
-	for _, header in ipairs(headers) do
-		html = html .. "<th>" .. tostring(header) .. "</th>"
-	end
-	html = html .. "</tr></thead><tbody>"
-	
-	for _, row in ipairs(rows) do
-		html = html .. "<tr>"
-		for _, cell in ipairs(row) do
-			html = html .. "<td>" .. tostring(cell) .. "</td>"
-		end
-		html = html .. "</tr>"
-	end
-	
-	html = html .. "</tbody></table>"
-	self:custom(html)
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:div(content, class)
-	content = content or ""
-	class = class or ""
-	local class_attr = class ~= "" and (' class="' .. class .. '"') or ""
-	self:custom("<div" .. class_attr .. ">" .. content .. "</div>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:span(content, class)
-	content = content or ""
-	class = class or ""
-	local class_attr = class ~= "" and (' class="' .. class .. '"') or ""
-	self:custom("<span" .. class_attr .. ">" .. content .. "</span>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:strong(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom("<strong>" .. str .. "</strong>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:em(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom("<em>" .. str .. "</em>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:br()
-	self:custom("<br>")
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:section(content)
-	content = content or ""
-	self:custom('<div class="section">' .. content .. '</div>')
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:links(link_list)
-	link_list = link_list or {}
-	local html = '<div class="links">'
-	for _, link_data in ipairs(link_list) do
-		local link = link_data.link or link_data[1] or "#"
-		local text = link_data.text or link_data[2] or link
-		local external = link_data.external or false
-		if external then
-			html = html .. '<a target="_blank" href="' .. link .. '">' .. text .. '</a>'
-		else
-			html = html .. '<a href="' .. link .. '">' .. text .. '</a>'
+for name, func in pairs(std) do
+	if type(func) == "function" then
+		M[name] = function(self, ...)
+			local result = func(...)
+			table.insert(self.parts, result)
+			return self
 		end
 	end
-	html = html .. '</div>'
-	self:custom(html)
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:lead(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom(std.small(str))
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:small(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom(std.small(str))
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:highlight(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	self:custom(std.highlight(str))
-	return self
-end
-
-function M:banner(str)
-	self:custom(std.banner(str))
 end
 
 function M:build()
diff --git a/core/log.lua b/core/log.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index 0d3c011..0000000
--- a/core/log.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-local M = {}
-
-function M.printl(fmt, ...)
-	print(string.format(fmt, ...))
-end
-
-return M
diff --git a/core/middleware.lua b/core/middleware.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f8679b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/middleware.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+local M = {}
+
+function M.json_decode(json)
+    if type(json) ~= "string" then
+        return nil, "input must be a string"
+    end
+
+    local pos = 1
+    local len = #json
+
+    local function skip_ws()
+        while pos <= len and json:sub(pos,pos):match("%s") do
+            pos = pos + 1
+        end
+    end
+
+    local function parse_value()
+        skip_ws()
+        local c = json:sub(pos,pos)
+        if c == "{" then return parse_object()
+        elseif c == "[" then return parse_array()
+        elseif c == '"' then return parse_string()
+        elseif c:match("[%d%-]") then return parse_number()
+        elseif json:sub(pos,pos+3) == "true" then pos=pos+4; return true
+        elseif json:sub(pos,pos+4) == "false" then pos=pos+5; return false
+        elseif json:sub(pos,pos+3) == "null" then pos=pos+4; return nil
+        else return nil, "invalid value at position "..pos
+        end
+    end
+
+    function parse_string()
+        pos = pos + 1
+        local start_pos = pos
+        local str = ""
+        while pos <= len do
+            local c = json:sub(pos,pos)
+            if c == '"' then
+                str = str .. json:sub(start_pos,pos-1)
+                pos = pos + 1
+                return str
+            elseif c == "\\" then
+                str = str .. json:sub(start_pos,pos-1)
+                pos = pos + 1
+                local esc = json:sub(pos,pos)
+                local map = {b="\b", f="\f", n="\n", r="\r", t="\t", ['"']='"', ["\\"]="\\", ["/"]="/"}
+                str = str .. (map[esc] or esc)
+                pos = pos + 1
+                start_pos = pos
+            else
+                pos = pos + 1
+            end
+        end
+        return nil, "unterminated string"
+    end
+
+    function parse_number()
+        local start_pos = pos
+        while pos <= len and json:sub(pos,pos):match("[%d%+%-eE%.]") do
+            pos = pos + 1
+        end
+        local n = tonumber(json:sub(start_pos,pos-1))
+        if not n then return nil, "invalid number at position "..start_pos end
+        return n
+    end
+
+    function parse_array()
+        pos = pos + 1
+        local arr = {}
+        skip_ws()
+        if json:sub(pos,pos) == "]" then pos=pos+1; return arr end
+        while true do
+            local val, err = parse_value()
+            if err then return nil, err end
+            table.insert(arr,val)
+            skip_ws()
+            local c = json:sub(pos,pos)
+            if c == "]" then pos=pos+1; break
+            elseif c == "," then pos=pos+1
+            else return nil, "expected ',' or ']' at position "..pos
+            end
+        end
+        return arr
+    end
+
+    function parse_object()
+        pos = pos + 1
+        local obj = {}
+        skip_ws()
+        if json:sub(pos,pos) == "}" then pos=pos+1; return obj end
+        while true do
+            skip_ws()
+            if json:sub(pos,pos) ~= '"' then return nil, "expected string key at "..pos end
+            local key, err = parse_string()
+            if err then return nil, err end
+            skip_ws()
+            if json:sub(pos,pos) ~= ":" then return nil, "expected ':' at "..pos end
+            pos = pos + 1
+            local val, err = parse_value()
+            if err then return nil, err end
+            obj[key] = val
+            skip_ws()
+            local c = json:sub(pos,pos)
+            if c == "}" then pos=pos+1; break
+            elseif c == "," then pos=pos+1
+            else return nil, "expected ',' or '}' at "..pos
+            end
+        end
+        return obj
+    end
+
+    local result, err = parse_value()
+    if err then return nil, err end
+    skip_ws()
+    if pos <= len then return nil, "trailing characters at "..pos end
+    return result
+end
+
+function M.json_encode(value)
+    local t = type(value)
+    if t == "nil" then
+        return "null"
+    elseif t == "boolean" then
+        return tostring(value)
+    elseif t == "number" then
+        return tostring(value)
+    elseif t == "string" then
+        return '"' .. value:gsub('[%z\1-\31\\"]', {
+            ['\\'] = '\\\\',
+            ['"'] = '\\"',
+            ['\b'] = '\\b',
+            ['\f'] = '\\f',
+            ['\n'] = '\\n',
+            ['\r'] = '\\r',
+            ['\t'] = '\\t'
+        }):gsub("[%z\1-\31]", function(c)
+            return string.format("\\u%04x", c:byte())
+        end) .. '"'
+    elseif t == "table" then
+        local is_array = true
+        local max_index = 0
+        for k,v in pairs(value) do
+            if type(k) ~= "number" then
+                is_array = false
+            else
+                if k > max_index then max_index = k end
+            end
+        end
+
+        local items = {}
+        if is_array then
+            for i = 1, max_index do
+                table.insert(items, M.json_encode(value[i]))
+            end
+            return "[" .. table.concat(items,",") .. "]"
+        else
+            for k,v in pairs(value) do
+                if type(k) ~= "string" then
+                    return nil, "object keys must be strings"
+                end
+                table.insert(items, M.json_encode(k) .. ":" .. M.json_encode(v))
+            end
+            return "{" .. table.concat(items,",") .. "}"
+        end
+    else
+        return nil, "unsupported type: " .. t
+    end
+end
+
+return M
diff --git a/core/std.lua b/core/std.lua
index c7462d7..38131e4 100644
--- a/core/std.lua
+++ b/core/std.lua
@@ -55,9 +55,7 @@ end
 function M.h3(str)
 	return "<h3>" .. (str or "") .. "</h3>"
 end
-
-function M.h4(str)
-	return "<h4>" .. (str or "") .. "</h4>"
+function M.h4(str) return "<h4>" .. (str or "") .. "</h4>"
 end
 
 function M.h5(str)
@@ -72,11 +70,11 @@ function M.p(str)
 	return "<p>" .. (str or "") .. "</p>"
 end
 
-function M.code(str)
-	return "<code>" .. (str or "") .. "</code>"
+function M.pre(str)
+	return "<pre>" .. (str or "") .. "</pre>"
 end
 
-function M.pre(str)
+function M.code(str)
 	return "<pre><code>" .. (str or "") .. "</code></pre>"
 end
 
@@ -228,23 +226,16 @@ function M.table(headers, rows)
 	return html
 end
 
-function M.copyright()
-	return "&#169;"
-end
-
 function M.highlight(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	return '<span class="highlight">' .. str .. "</span>"
+	return '<span class="highlight">' .. (str or "") .. "</span>"
 end
 
 function M.banner(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	return '<div class="banner">' .. str .. "</div>"
+	return '<div class="banner">' .. (str or "") .. "</div>"
 end
 
 function M.center(str)
-	str = str or ""
-	return '<div class="center">' .. str .. "</div>"
+	return '<div class="center">' .. (str or "") .. "</div>"
 end
 
 function M.nav(link, str)
diff --git a/core/symbol.lua b/core/symbol.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3fac61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/symbol.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+local M = {}
+
+M.copyright = "&#169;"
+M.registered_trademark = "&#174;"
+M.trademark = "&#8482;"
+
+return M
diff --git a/core/util.lua b/core/util.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39c6a97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/util.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+local std = require("core.std")
+local symbol = require("core.symbol")
+
+local M = {}
+
+function M.cc(tbl)
+	return table.concat(tbl)
+end
+
+function M.copyright(link, holder)
+	return symbol.copyright .. " " .. std.external(link, holder)
+end
+
+return M
diff --git a/examples/canonical/www/index.lua b/examples/canonical/www/index.lua
index 3cddd3c..480d637 100644
--- a/examples/canonical/www/index.lua
+++ b/examples/canonical/www/index.lua
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ local std = fes.std
 local site = fes.fes()
 
 site.title = "Canonical"
-site.copyright = std.copyright() .. " " .. std.external("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
+site.copyright = fes.util.copyright("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
 
 site:banner(fes.app.header.render(std))
 
diff --git a/examples/hello-world/www/index.lua b/examples/hello-world/www/index.lua
index b8adf7e..4720737 100644
--- a/examples/hello-world/www/index.lua
+++ b/examples/hello-world/www/index.lua
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ local fes = require("fes")
 local site = fes.fes()
 
 site.title = "Hello, World!"
-site.copyright = fes.std.copyright() .. " " .. fes.std.external("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
+site.copyright = fes.util.copyright("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
 
 site:h1("Hello, World!")
 
diff --git a/examples/json/Fes.toml b/examples/json/Fes.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e519140
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/json/Fes.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[app]
+
+name = "json"
+version = "0.0.1"
+authors = ["vx-clutch"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/json/www/index.lua b/examples/json/www/index.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..980e6d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/json/www/index.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+local fes = require("fes")
+local site = fes.fes()
+
+site.title = "JSON"
+site.copyright = fes.util.copyright("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
+
+local json_pre = [[
+{
+  "userId": 1,
+  "id": 1,
+  "title": "delectus aut autem",
+  "completed": false
+}
+]]
+
+local json = fes.middleware.json_decode(json_pre)
+
+site:h1("JSON")
+
+site:note(fes.util.cc({
+	fes.std.h2("Before"),
+	fes.std.code(json_pre),
+}))
+site:note(fes.util.cc({
+	fes.std.h2("After"),
+	fes.std.ul({
+		json["userId"],
+		json["id"],
+		json["title"],
+		json["completed"],
+	})
+}))
+
+return site
diff --git a/examples/multi-page/www/index.lua b/examples/multi-page/www/index.lua
index 41ee99e..e95b94b 100644
--- a/examples/multi-page/www/index.lua
+++ b/examples/multi-page/www/index.lua
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ local fes = require("fes")
 local site = fes.fes()
 
 site.title = "Home"
-site.copyright = fes.std.copyright() .. " " .. fes.std.external("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
+site.copyright = fes.util.copyright("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
 
 site:h1("Home")
 site:note(
diff --git a/examples/multi-page/www/page1.lua b/examples/multi-page/www/page1.lua
index 7072077..3b2c7c6 100644
--- a/examples/multi-page/www/page1.lua
+++ b/examples/multi-page/www/page1.lua
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ local fes = require("fes")
 local site = fes.fes()
 
 site.title = "Page 1"
-site.copyright = fes.std.copyright() .. " " .. fes.std.external("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
+site.copyright = fes.util.copyright("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
 
 site:h1("Page 1")
 site:note(
diff --git a/examples/multi-page/www/page2.lua b/examples/multi-page/www/page2.lua
index 1a97048..535bf68 100644
--- a/examples/multi-page/www/page2.lua
+++ b/examples/multi-page/www/page2.lua
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ local fes = require("fes")
 local site = fes.fes()
 
 site.title = "Page 2"
-site.copyright = fes.std.copyright() .. " " .. fes.std.external("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
+site.copyright = fes.util.copyright("https://git.vxserver.dev/fSD", "fSD")
 
 site:h1("Page 2")
 site:note(
diff --git a/examples/simple/Fes.toml b/examples/simple/Fes.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8027800
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/simple/Fes.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[app]
+
+name = "simple"
+version = "0.0.1"
+authors = ["vx-clutch"]
diff --git a/examples/simple/www/index.lua b/examples/simple/www/index.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5e0506d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/simple/www/index.lua
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+return "Hello, World!"
diff --git a/src/new/new.go b/src/new/new.go
index 0c534f8..caea2d5 100644
--- a/src/new/new.go
+++ b/src/new/new.go
@@ -30,13 +30,15 @@ func Project(dir string) error {
 	}
 	indexLua := filepath.Join(dir, "www", "index.lua")
 	if _, err := os.Stat(indexLua); os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		content := `local fes = require("fes")
+		content := fmt.Sprintf(`local fes = require("fes")
 local site = fes.fes()
 
+site.title = "%s"
+
 site:h1("Hello, World!")
 
 return site
-`
+`, dir)
 		if err := os.WriteFile(indexLua, []byte(content), 0644); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/src/server/server.go b/src/server/server.go
index 522aa05..d0d443d 100644
--- a/src/server/server.go
+++ b/src/server/server.go
@@ -108,6 +108,18 @@ func loadLua(luaDir string, entry string, cfg *config.MyConfig) (string, error)
 		return 1
 	})
 
+	L.PreloadModule("core.symbol", func(L *lua.LState) int {
+		data, err := config.Core.ReadFile("core/symbol.lua")
+		if err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		if err := L.DoString(string(data)); err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		L.Push(L.Get(-1))
+		return 1
+	})
+
 	L.PreloadModule("fes", func(L *lua.LState) int {
 		mod := L.NewTable()
 		coreModules := []string{}