diff --git a/cthreads.c b/cthreads.c
index cd370b2..8edd97c 100644
--- a/cthreads.c
+++ b/cthreads.c
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ typedef struct {
 } _thr_internal_t;
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
-#define VC_EXTRALEAN
-#include <windows.h>
+#include "win32_slim.h"
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
 // == THREAD ===========================================
 
diff --git a/cthreads.h b/cthreads.h
index dbe5675..dbab431 100644
--- a/cthreads.h
+++ b/cthreads.h
@@ -37,6 +37,31 @@ bool mtxLock(cmutex_t ctx);
 bool mtxTryLock(cmutex_t ctx);
 bool mtxUnlock(cmutex_t ctx);
 
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+// small c++ class to make mutexes easier to use
+struct lock_t {
+    inline lock_t(cmutex_t mutex)
+        : mutex(mutex) {
+        if (mtxValid(mutex)) {
+            mtxLock(mutex);
+        }
+    }
+
+    inline ~lock_t() {
+        unlock();
+    }
+
+    inline void unlock() {
+        if (mtxValid(mutex)) {
+            mtxUnlock(mutex);
+        }
+        mutex = 0;
+    }
+    
+    cmutex_t mutex;
+};
+#endif
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 } // extern "C"
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dir.c b/dir.c
index e2e8316..d1790d3 100644
--- a/dir.c
+++ b/dir.c
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 #include "tracelog.h"
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
-#define VC_EXTRALEAN
-#include <windows.h>
+#include "win32_slim.h"
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 
@@ -107,10 +106,10 @@ dir_entry_t *dirNext(dir_t ctx) {
 // taken from https://sites.uclouvain.be/SystInfo/usr/include/dirent.h.html
 // hopefully shouldn't be needed
 #ifndef DT_DIR
-#define DT_DIR 4
+    #define DT_DIR 4
 #endif
 #ifndef DT_REG
-#define DT_REG 8
+    #define DT_REG 8
 #endif
 
 typedef struct {
@@ -134,7 +133,7 @@ void dirClose(dir_t ctx) {
 
 bool dirValid(dir_t ctx) {
     _dir_internal_t *dir = (_dir_internal_t*)ctx;
-    return dir->handle != NULL;
+    return dir->dir != NULL;
 }
 
 dir_entry_t *dirNext(dir_t ctx) {
diff --git a/dirwatch.c b/dirwatch.c
index d8392cf..93660a1 100644
--- a/dirwatch.c
+++ b/dirwatch.c
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 #include "dirwatch.h"
 
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 #include "tracelog.h"
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
-#define VC_EXTRALEAN
-#include <windows.h>
+#include "win32_slim.h"
 #include "str.h"
 
 typedef struct {
@@ -177,8 +177,6 @@ void stopWatchDir(dirwatch_t *ctx, bool immediately) {
 
 #else
 #include <sys/inotify.h>
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h> // malloc
 #include <unistd.h> // read
 #include <string.h>
 #include <errno.h>
diff --git a/file.c b/file.c
index 4c97989..3a7cdd5 100644
--- a/file.c
+++ b/file.c
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #include "tracelog.h"
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
-#define VC_EXTRALEAN
-#include <windows.h>
+#include "win32_slim.h"
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
 static DWORD _toWin32Access(int mode) {
     if(mode & FILE_READ) return GENERIC_READ;
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ fread_buf_t fileReadWholeFP(file_t *ctx) {
 str_t fileReadWholeText(const char *fname) {
     file_t fp = fileOpen(fname, FILE_READ);
     if(!fileIsValid(&fp)) {
-        err("couldn't open file %s -> %d", fname);
+        err("couldn't open file %s", fname);
         return strInit();
     }
     str_t contents = fileReadWholeFPText(&fp);
diff --git a/fs.c b/fs.c
index 05225f2..5f6c075 100644
--- a/fs.c
+++ b/fs.c
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@
 #include "tracelog.h"
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
-#define VC_EXTRALEAN
-#include <windows.h>
+#include "win32_slim.h"
 
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 
diff --git a/http.c b/http.c
index bebbd0d..a4809ce 100644
--- a/http.c
+++ b/http.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ void reqSetField(http_request_t *ctx, const char *key, const char *value) {
 }
 
 void reqSetUri(http_request_t *ctx, const char *uri) {
-    if(uri == NULL) return;
+    if (uri == NULL) return;
     size_t len = strlen(uri);
     if(uri[0] != '/') {
         len += 1;
@@ -139,9 +139,7 @@ str_t reqString(http_request_t *ctx) {
 // == HTTP RESPONSE ===========================================================
 
 http_response_t resInit() {
-    http_response_t res;
-    memset(&res, 0, sizeof(res));
-    return res;
+    return (http_response_t) {0};
 }   
 
 void resFree(http_response_t *ctx) {
@@ -150,7 +148,7 @@ void resFree(http_response_t *ctx) {
         free(ctx->fields.buf[i].value);
     }
     field_vecFree(&ctx->fields);
-    free(ctx->body);
+    strFree(&ctx->body);
     memset(ctx, 0, sizeof(http_response_t));
 }
 
@@ -195,8 +193,8 @@ void resParse(http_response_t *ctx, const char *data) {
     const char *tran_encoding = resGetField(ctx, "transfer-encoding");
     if(tran_encoding == NULL || stricmp(tran_encoding, "chunked")  != 0) {
         strview_t body = istrGetviewLen(&in, 0, SIZE_MAX);
-        free(ctx->body);
-        ctx->body = strvCopy(body).buf;
+        strFree(&ctx->body);
+        ctx->body = strvCopy(body);
     }
     else {
         fatal("chunked encoding not implemented yet");
@@ -233,14 +231,13 @@ void resParseFields(http_response_t *ctx, str_istream_t *in) {
 // == HTTP CLIENT =============================================================
 
 http_client_t hcliInit() {
-    http_client_t client;
-    memset(&client, 0, sizeof(client));
-    client.port = 80;
-    return client;
+    return (http_client_t) {
+        .port = 80,
+    };
 }
 
 void hcliFree(http_client_t *ctx) {
-    free(ctx->host_name);
+    strFree(&ctx->host_name);
     memset(ctx, 0, sizeof(http_client_t));
 }
 
@@ -248,7 +245,7 @@ void hcliSetHost(http_client_t *ctx, const char *hostname) {
     strview_t hostview = strvInit(hostname);
     // if the hostname starts with http:// (case insensitive)
     if(strvICompare(strvSubstr(hostview, 0, 7), strvInit("http://")) == 0) {
-        ctx->host_name = strvCopy(strvSubstr(hostview, 7, SIZE_MAX)).buf;
+        ctx->host_name = strvCopy(strvSubstr(hostview, 7, SIZE_MAX));
     }
     else if(strvICompare(strvSubstr(hostview, 0, 8), strvInit("https://")) == 0) {
         err("HTTPS protocol not yet supported");
@@ -256,13 +253,16 @@ void hcliSetHost(http_client_t *ctx, const char *hostname) {
     }
     else {
         // undefined protocol, use HTTP
-        ctx->host_name = strvCopy(hostview).buf;
+        ctx->host_name = strvCopy(hostview);
     }
 }
 
 http_response_t hcliSendRequest(http_client_t *ctx, http_request_t *req) {
+    if (strBack(&ctx->host_name) == '/') {
+        strPop(&ctx->host_name);
+    }
     if(!reqHasField(req, "Host")) {
-        reqSetField(req, "Host", ctx->host_name);
+        reqSetField(req, "Host", ctx->host_name.buf);
     }
     if(!reqHasField(req, "Content-Length")) {
         if(req->body) {
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ http_response_t hcliSendRequest(http_client_t *ctx, http_request_t *req) {
         goto error;
     }
 
-    if(skConnect(ctx->socket, ctx->host_name, ctx->port)) {
+    if(skConnect(ctx->socket, ctx->host_name.buf, ctx->port)) {
         req_str = reqString(req);
         if(req_str.len == 0) {
             err("couldn't get string from request");
@@ -328,6 +328,9 @@ http_response_t hcliSendRequest(http_client_t *ctx, http_request_t *req) {
         
         resParse(&res, received.buf);
     }
+    else {
+        err("Couldn't connect to host %s -> %s", ctx->host_name, skGetErrorString());
+    }
 
     if(!skClose(ctx->socket)) {
         err("Couldn't close socket");
diff --git a/http.h b/http.h
index 540510b..7c70deb 100644
--- a/http.h
+++ b/http.h
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ typedef struct {
     int status_code;
     field_vec_t fields;
     http_version_t version;
-    char *body;
+    str_t body;
 } http_response_t;
 
 http_response_t resInit(void);
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ void resParseFields(http_response_t *ctx, str_istream_t *in);
 // == HTTP CLIENT =============================================================
 
 typedef struct {
-    char *host_name;
+    str_t host_name;
     uint16_t port;
     socket_t socket;
 } http_client_t;
diff --git a/os.c b/os.c
index 095d513..64506d3 100644
--- a/os.c
+++ b/os.c
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #ifdef _WIN32
 #define _BUFSZ 128
 
+#include <lmcons.h>
+
 // modified from netbsd source http://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/pkgsrc/pkgtools/libnbcompat/files/getdelim.c?only_with_tag=MAIN
 ssize_t getdelim(char **buf, size_t *bufsz, int delimiter, FILE *fp) {
     char *ptr, *eptr;
@@ -64,4 +66,30 @@ ssize_t getdelim(char **buf, size_t *bufsz, int delimiter, FILE *fp) {
 ssize_t getline(char **line_ptr, size_t *n, FILE *stream) {
     return getdelim(line_ptr, n, '\n', stream);
 }
+
+str_t getUserName() {    
+    char buf[UNLEN + 1];
+    DWORD sz = sizeof(buf);
+    BOOL res = GetUserNameA(buf, &sz);
+    if(!res) {
+        return strInit();
+    }
+    return strInitBuf(buf, sz);
+}
+
+#else
+
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+
+str_t getUserName() {
+    char buf[255];
+    int res = getlogin_r(buf, sizeof(buf));
+    if(res) {
+        return strInit();
+    }
+    return strInitStr(buf);
+}
+
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/os.h b/os.h
index 3c94cb5..ddbbd11 100644
--- a/os.h
+++ b/os.h
@@ -6,21 +6,26 @@ extern "C" {
 
 #include <stddef.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include "str.h"
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
     #include <stdio.h>
-    #include <BaseTsd.h> // SSIZE_T
+    #include "win32_slim.h"
     typedef SSIZE_T ssize_t;
     ssize_t getdelim(char **buf, size_t *bufsz, int delimiter, FILE *fp);
     ssize_t getline(char **line_ptr, size_t *n, FILE *stream);
     #define stricmp _stricmp
 #else
     #define stricmp strcasecmp
-    #define _GNU_SOURCE
+    #ifndef _GNU_SOURCE
+        #define _GNU_SOURCE
+    #endif
     #include <stdio.h>
     #include <sys/types.h> // ssize_t
 #endif
 
+str_t getUserName();
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 } // extern "C"
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/socket.c b/socket.c
index c89bedd..91ebf2c 100644
--- a/socket.c
+++ b/socket.c
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ static int initialize_count = 0;
 #endif
 
 #if SOCK_WINDOWS
-#include <ws2tcpip.h>
-
 static bool _win_skInit();
 static bool _win_skCleanup();
 static int _win_skGetError();
@@ -113,7 +111,7 @@ bool skBind(socket_t sock, const char *ip, uint16_t port) {
     return skBindPro(sock, (sk_addr_t *) &addr, sizeof(addr));
 }
 
-bool skBindPro(socket_t sock, const sk_addr_t *name, socket_len_t namelen) {
+bool skBindPro(socket_t sock, const sk_addr_t *name, sk_len_t namelen) {
     return bind(sock, name, namelen) != SOCKET_ERROR;
 }
 
@@ -127,11 +125,11 @@ bool skListenPro(socket_t sock, int backlog) {
 
 socket_t skAccept(socket_t sock) {
     sk_addrin_t addr;
-    socket_len_t addr_size = (socket_len_t)sizeof(addr);
+    sk_len_t addr_size = (sk_len_t)sizeof(addr);
     return skAcceptPro(sock, (sk_addr_t *) &addr, &addr_size);
 }
 
-socket_t skAcceptPro(socket_t sock, sk_addr_t *addr, socket_len_t *addrlen) {
+socket_t skAcceptPro(socket_t sock, sk_addr_t *addr, sk_len_t *addrlen) {
     return accept(sock, addr, addrlen);
 }
 
@@ -152,40 +150,40 @@ bool skConnect(socket_t sock, const char *server, unsigned short server_port) {
     return skConnectPro(sock, (sk_addr_t *) &addr, sizeof(addr));
 }
 
-bool skConnectPro(socket_t sock, const sk_addr_t *name, socket_len_t namelen) {
+bool skConnectPro(socket_t sock, const sk_addr_t *name, sk_len_t namelen) {
     return connect(sock, name, namelen) != SOCKET_ERROR;
 }
 
-int skSend(socket_t sock, const char *buf, int len) {
+int skSend(socket_t sock, const void *buf, int len) {
     return skSendPro(sock, buf, len, 0);
 }
 
-int skSendPro(socket_t sock, const char *buf, int len, int flags) {
+int skSendPro(socket_t sock, const void *buf, int len, int flags) {
     return send(sock, buf, len, flags);
 }
 
-int skSendTo(socket_t sock, const char *buf, int len, const sk_addrin_t *to) {
+int skSendTo(socket_t sock, const void *buf, int len, const sk_addrin_t *to) {
     return skSendToPro(sock, buf, len, 0, (sk_addr_t*) to, sizeof(sk_addrin_t));
 }
 
-int skSendToPro(socket_t sock, const char *buf, int len, int flags, const sk_addr_t *to, int tolen) {
+int skSendToPro(socket_t sock, const void *buf, int len, int flags, const sk_addr_t *to, int tolen) {
     return sendto(sock, buf, len, flags, to, tolen);
 }
 
-int skReceive(socket_t sock, char *buf, int len) {
+int skReceive(socket_t sock, void *buf, int len) {
     return skReceivePro(sock, buf, len, 0);
 }
 
-int skReceivePro(socket_t sock, char *buf, int len, int flags) {
+int skReceivePro(socket_t sock, void *buf, int len, int flags) {
     return recv(sock, buf, len, flags);
 }
 
-int skReceiveFrom(socket_t sock, char *buf, int len, sk_addrin_t *from) {
-    socket_len_t fromlen = sizeof(sk_addr_t);
+int skReceiveFrom(socket_t sock, void *buf, int len, sk_addrin_t *from) {
+    sk_len_t fromlen = sizeof(sk_addr_t);
     return skReceiveFromPro(sock, buf, len, 0, (sk_addr_t*)from, &fromlen);
 }
 
-int skReceiveFromPro(socket_t sock, char *buf, int len, int flags, sk_addr_t *from, socket_len_t *fromlen) {
+int skReceiveFromPro(socket_t sock, void *buf, int len, int flags, sk_addr_t *from, sk_len_t *fromlen) {
     return recvfrom(sock, buf, len, flags, from, fromlen);
 }
 
diff --git a/socket.h b/socket.h
index 52a345f..f446070 100644
--- a/socket.h
+++ b/socket.h
@@ -15,15 +15,17 @@ extern "C" {
 
 #if SOCK_WINDOWS
     #pragma warning(disable:4996) // _WINSOCK_DEPRECATED_NO_WARNINGS
+    #include "win32_slim.h"
     #include <winsock2.h>
+    #include <ws2tcpip.h>
     typedef SOCKET socket_t;
-    typedef int socket_len_t;
+    typedef int sk_len_t;
 #elif SOCK_POSIX
     #include <sys/socket.h> 
     #include <netinet/in.h> 
     #include <arpa/inet.h>
     typedef int socket_t;
-    typedef uint32_t socket_len_t;
+    typedef uint32_t sk_len_t;
     #define INVALID_SOCKET (-1)
     #define SOCKET_ERROR   (-1)
 #endif
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ bool skClose(socket_t sock);
 // Associate a local address with a socket
 bool skBind(socket_t sock, const char *ip, uint16_t port);
 // Associate a local address with a socket
-bool skBindPro(socket_t sock, const sk_addr_t *name, socket_len_t namelen);
+bool skBindPro(socket_t sock, const sk_addr_t *name, sk_len_t namelen);
 
 // Place a socket in a state in which it is listening for an incoming connection
 bool skListen(socket_t sock);
@@ -71,29 +73,29 @@ bool skListenPro(socket_t sock, int backlog);
 // Permits an incoming connection attempt on a socket
 socket_t skAccept(socket_t sock);
 // Permits an incoming connection attempt on a socket
-socket_t skAcceptPro(socket_t sock, sk_addr_t *addr, socket_len_t *addrlen);
+socket_t skAcceptPro(socket_t sock, sk_addr_t *addr, sk_len_t *addrlen);
 
 // Connects to a server (e.g. "127.0.0.1" or "google.com") with a port(e.g. 1234), returns true on success
 bool skConnect(socket_t sock, const char *server, unsigned short server_port);
 // Connects to a server, returns true on success
-bool skConnectPro(socket_t sock, const sk_addr_t *name, socket_len_t namelen);
+bool skConnectPro(socket_t sock, const sk_addr_t *name, sk_len_t namelen);
 
 // Sends data on a socket, returns true on success
-int skSend(socket_t sock, const char *buf, int len);
+int skSend(socket_t sock, const void *buf, int len);
 // Sends data on a socket, returns true on success
-int skSendPro(socket_t sock, const char *buf, int len, int flags);
+int skSendPro(socket_t sock, const void *buf, int len, int flags);
 // Sends data to a specific destination
-int skSendTo(socket_t sock, const char *buf, int len, const sk_addrin_t *to);
+int skSendTo(socket_t sock, const void *buf, int len, const sk_addrin_t *to);
 // Sends data to a specific destination
-int skSendToPro(socket_t sock, const char *buf, int len, int flags, const sk_addr_t *to, int tolen);
+int skSendToPro(socket_t sock, const void *buf, int len, int flags, const sk_addr_t *to, int tolen);
 // Receives data from a socket, returns byte count on success, 0 on connection close or -1 on error
-int skReceive(socket_t sock, char *buf, int len);
+int skReceive(socket_t sock, void *buf, int len);
 // Receives data from a socket, returns byte count on success, 0 on connection close or -1 on error
-int skReceivePro(socket_t sock, char *buf, int len, int flags);
+int skReceivePro(socket_t sock, void *buf, int len, int flags);
 // Receives a datagram and stores the source address. 
-int skReceiveFrom(socket_t sock, char *buf, int len, sk_addrin_t *from);
+int skReceiveFrom(socket_t sock, void *buf, int len, sk_addrin_t *from);
 // Receives a datagram and stores the source address. 
-int skReceiveFromPro(socket_t sock, char *buf, int len, int flags, sk_addr_t *from, socket_len_t *fromlen);
+int skReceiveFromPro(socket_t sock, void *buf, int len, int flags, sk_addr_t *from, sk_len_t *fromlen);
 
 // Checks that a opened socket is valid, returns true on success
 bool skIsValid(socket_t sock);
diff --git a/str.c b/str.c
index 87383ee..86edc89 100644
--- a/str.c
+++ b/str.c
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@
 #include "tracelog.h"
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
-#define VC_EXTRALEAN
-#include <windows.h>
+#include "win32_slim.h"
 #else
 #include <iconv.h>
 #endif
diff --git a/str.h b/str.h
index 1950b72..e2db604 100644
--- a/str.h
+++ b/str.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
+#include <string>
 #endif
 
 #include <stdint.h>
@@ -9,13 +10,17 @@ extern "C" {
 #include <stddef.h>
 #include <limits.h>
 #include <wchar.h>
-// #include "strview.h"
 
 #define STRV_NOT_FOUND SIZE_MAX
 
-typedef struct {
+typedef struct str_t {
     char *buf;
     size_t len;
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+    inline operator std::string() const {
+        return std::string(buf, len);
+    }
+#endif
 } str_t;
 
 typedef struct {
diff --git a/tracelog.c b/tracelog.c
index 156adac..f93a367 100644
--- a/tracelog.c
+++ b/tracelog.c
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@
             #define TLOG_NO_COLOURS
         #endif
 
-        #define VC_EXTRALEAN
-        #include <windows.h>
+        #include "win32_slim.h"
     #else
         #error "can't use TLOG_VS if not on windows"
     #endif
diff --git a/win32_slim.h b/win32_slim.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e80944
--- /dev/null
+++ b/win32_slim.h
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#ifndef WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+  #define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#endif
+
+#ifndef WIN32_EXTRA_LEAN
+	#define WIN32_EXTRA_LEAN
+#endif
+
+#define NOIME
+#define NOWINRES
+#define NOGDICAPMASKS
+#define NOVIRTUALKEYCODES
+#define NOWINMESSAGES
+#define NOWINSTYLES
+#define NOSYSMETRICS
+#define NOMENUS
+#define NOICONS
+#define NOKEYSTATES
+#define NOSYSCOMMANDS
+#define NORASTEROPS
+#define NOSHOWWINDOW
+#define OEMRESOURCE
+#define NOATOM
+#define NOCLIPBOARD
+#define NOCOLOR
+#define NOCTLMGR
+#define NODRAWTEXT
+#define NOGDI
+#define NOUSER
+#define NOMB
+#define NOMEMMGR
+#define NOMETAFILE
+#define NOMINMAX
+#define NOMSG
+#define NOOPENFILE
+#define NOSCROLL
+#define NOSERVICE
+#define NOSOUND
+#define NOTEXTMETRIC
+#define NOWH
+#define NOWINOFFSETS
+#define NOCOMM
+#define NOKANJI
+#define NOHELP
+#define NOPROFILER
+#define NODEFERWINDOWPOS
+#define NOMCX
+#define NOIME
+#define NOPROXYSTUB
+#define NOIMAGE
+#define NO
+#define NOTAPE
+#define ANSI_ONLY
+
+#include <windows.h>
\ No newline at end of file