diff --git a/other-libs/pregexp-test.ss b/other-libs/pregexp-test.ss
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..00dda8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/other-libs/pregexp-test.ss
@@ -0,0 +1,437 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env scheme-script 
+;;; ported to Ikarus by Abdulaziz Ghuloum on Dec 19 2007.
+
+;last change by dorai on 2005-04-24
+
+
+(import (ikarus) (pregexp))
+
+(define *failed* 0)
+
+(define-syntax test
+  (syntax-rules ()
+    [(_) #t]
+    [(_ q a rest ...) 
+     (begin
+       (test-each q a) 
+       (test rest ...))]))
+
+(define-syntax test-each
+  (syntax-rules ()
+    [(_ expr expected-answer)
+     (begin
+       (display "Trying ")
+       (write 'expr)
+       (newline)
+       (display "   --> ")
+       (let ((__actual-answer expr))
+         (write __actual-answer)
+         (display " ... ")
+         (if  (equal? __actual-answer 'expected-answer)
+             (display "OK")
+             (begin
+              (set! *failed* (+ *failed* 1))
+              (display "FAILED!!!")
+              (newline)
+              (display "   ;;; expected ")
+              (write 'expected-answer))))
+       (newline))]))
+
+(define bottomline
+  (lambda ()
+    (newline)
+    (if (= *failed* 0)
+        (display "All tests succeeded! :-) :-) :-)")
+        (begin (display *failed*)
+          (display " test")
+          (if (> *failed* 1) (display "s"))
+          (display " failed! :-( :-( :-(")))
+    (newline)))
+
+;keeping the document honest
+
+(test
+   
+  (pregexp "c.r")
+  (:sub (:or (:seq #\c :any #\r)))
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "brain" "bird")
+  #f
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "needle" "hay needle stack")
+  ((4 . 10))
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "needle"
+    "his hay needle stack -- my hay needle stack -- her hay needle stack"
+    24 43)
+  ((31 . 37))
+   
+  (pregexp-match "brain" "bird")
+  #f
+   
+  (pregexp-match "needle" "hay needle stack")
+  ("needle")
+
+  (pregexp-split ":" "/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/bin/X11:/usr/local/bin")
+  ("/bin" "/usr/bin" "/usr/bin/X11" "/usr/local/bin")
+
+  (pregexp-split " " "pea soup")
+  ("pea" "soup")
+
+  (pregexp-split "" "smithereens")
+  ("s" "m" "i" "t" "h" "e" "r" "e" "e" "n" "s")
+
+  (pregexp-split " +" "split pea     soup")
+  ("split" "pea" "soup")
+
+  (pregexp-split " *" "split pea     soup")
+  ("s" "p" "l" "i" "t" "p" "e" "a" "s" "o" "u" "p")
+
+  (pregexp-replace "te" "liberte" "ty")
+  "liberty"
+
+  (pregexp-replace* "te" "liberte egalite fraternite" "ty")
+  "liberty egality fratyrnity"
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "^contact" "first contact")
+  #f
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "laugh$" "laugh laugh laugh laugh")
+  ((18 . 23))
+  
+  (pregexp-match-positions "yack\\b" "yackety yack")
+  ((8 . 12))
+  
+  (pregexp-match-positions "an\\B" "an analysis")
+  ((3 . 5))
+   
+  (pregexp-match "p.t" "pet")
+  ("pet")
+   
+   
+  (pregexp-match "\\d\\d" "0 dear, 1 have to read catch 22 before 9")
+  ("22")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "[[:alpha:]_]" "--x--")
+  ("x")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "[[:alpha:]_]" "--_--")
+  ("_")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "[[:alpha:]_]" "--:--")
+  #f
+   
+  (pregexp-match "[:alpha:]" "--a--")
+  ("a")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "[:alpha:]" "--_--")
+  #f
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "c[ad]*r" "cadaddadddr")
+  ((0 . 11))
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "c[ad]*r" "cr")
+  ((0 . 2))
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "c[ad]+r" "cadaddadddr")
+  ((0 . 11))
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "c[ad]+r" "cr")
+  #f
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "c[ad]?r" "cadaddadddr")
+  #f
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "c[ad]?r" "cr")
+  ((0 . 2))
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "c[ad]?r" "car")
+  ((0 . 3))
+   
+  (pregexp-match "[aeiou]{3}" "vacuous")
+  ("uou")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "[aeiou]{3}" "evolve")
+  #f
+   
+  (pregexp-match "[aeiou]{2,3}" "evolve")
+  #f
+   
+  (pregexp-match "[aeiou]{2,3}" "zeugma")
+  ("eu")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "<.*>" "<tag1> <tag2> <tag3>")
+  ("<tag1> <tag2> <tag3>")
+   
+   
+  (pregexp-match "<.*?>" "<tag1> <tag2> <tag3>")
+  ("<tag1>")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "([a-z]+) ([0-9]+), ([0-9]+)" "jan 1, 1970")
+  ("jan 1, 1970" "jan" "1" "1970")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "(poo )*" "poo poo platter")
+  ("poo poo " "poo ")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "([a-z ]+;)*" "lather; rinse; repeat;")
+  ("lather; rinse; repeat;" " repeat;")
+   
+  )
+
+(define date-re
+  ;match `month year' or `month day, year'.
+  ;subpattern matches day, if present
+  (pregexp "([a-z]+) +([0-9]+,)? *([0-9]+)"))
+
+(test
+  
+  (pregexp-match date-re "jan 1, 1970")
+  ("jan 1, 1970" "jan" "1," "1970")
+  
+  (pregexp-match date-re "jan 1970")
+  ("jan 1970" "jan" #f "1970")
+  
+  (pregexp-replace "_(.+?)_"
+    "the _nina_, the _pinta_, and the _santa maria_"
+    "*\\1*")
+  "the *nina*, the _pinta_, and the _santa maria_"
+  
+  (pregexp-replace* "_(.+?)_"
+    "the _nina_, the _pinta_, and the _santa maria_"
+    "*\\1*")
+  "the *nina*, the *pinta*, and the *santa maria*"
+  
+  (pregexp-replace "(\\S+) (\\S+) (\\S+)"
+    "eat to live"
+    "\\3 \\2 \\1")
+  "live to eat"
+  
+  (pregexp-match "([a-z]+) and \\1"
+    "billions and billions")
+  ("billions and billions" "billions")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "([a-z]+) and \\1"
+    "billions and millions")
+  #f
+  
+  (pregexp-replace* "(\\S+) \\1"
+    "now is the the time for all good men to to come to the aid of of the party"
+    "\\1")
+  "now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party"
+  
+  (pregexp-replace* "(\\d+)\\1"
+    "123340983242432420980980234"
+    "{\\1,\\1}")
+  "12{3,3}40983{24,24}3242{098,098}0234"
+  
+  (pregexp-match "^(?:[a-z]*/)*([a-z]+)$" "/usr/local/bin/mzscheme")
+  ("/usr/local/bin/mzscheme" "mzscheme")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "(?i:hearth)" "HeartH")
+  ("HeartH")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "(?x: a   lot)" "alot")
+  ("alot")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "(?x: a  \\  lot)" "a lot")
+  ("a lot")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "(?x:
+    a \\ man  \\; \\   ; ignore
+    a \\ plan \\; \\   ; me
+    a \\ canal         ; completely
+    )"
+    "a man; a plan; a canal")
+  ("a man; a plan; a canal")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "(?ix:
+    a \\ man  \\; \\   ; ignore
+    a \\ plan \\; \\   ; me
+    a \\ canal         ; completely
+    )"
+    "A Man; a Plan; a Canal")
+  ("A Man; a Plan; a Canal")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "(?i:the (?-i:TeX)book)"
+    "The TeXbook")
+  ("The TeXbook")
+ 
+  (pregexp-match "f(ee|i|o|um)" "a small, final fee")
+  ("fi" "i")
+   
+  (pregexp-replace* "([yi])s(e[sdr]?|ing|ation)"
+    "it is energising to analyse an organisation pulsing with noisy organisms"
+    "\\1z\\2")
+  "it is energizing to analyze an organization pulsing with noisy organisms"
+   
+  (pregexp-match "f(?:ee|i|o|um)" "fun for all")
+  ("fo")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "call|call-with-current-continuation"
+    "call-with-current-continuation")
+  ("call")
+   
+  (pregexp-match "call-with-current-continuation|call"
+    "call-with-current-continuation")
+  ("call-with-current-continuation")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "(?:call|call-with-current-continuation) constrained"
+    "call-with-current-continuation constrained")
+  ("call-with-current-continuation constrained")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "(?>a+)." "aaaa")
+  #f
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "grey(?=hound)"
+    "i left my grey socks at the greyhound")
+  ((28 . 32))
+   
+  (pregexp-match-positions "grey(?!hound)"
+    "the gray greyhound ate the grey socks")
+  ((27 . 31))
+  
+  (pregexp-match-positions "(?<=grey)hound"
+    "the hound in the picture is not a greyhound")
+  ((38 . 43))
+  
+  (pregexp-match-positions "(?<!grey)hound"
+    "the greyhound in the picture is not a hound")
+  ((38 . 43))
+  
+  )
+
+(define n0-255
+  "(?x:
+  \\d          ;  0 through   9
+  | \\d\\d     ; 00 through  99
+  | [01]\\d\\d ;000 through 199
+  | 2[0-4]\\d  ;200 through 249
+  | 25[0-5]    ;250 through 255
+  )")
+
+(define ip-re1
+  (string-append
+    "^"        ;nothing before
+    n0-255     ;the first n0-255,
+    "(?x:"     ;then the subpattern of
+    "\\."      ;a dot followed by
+    n0-255     ;an n0-255,
+    ")"        ;which is
+    "{3}"      ;repeated exactly 3 times
+    "$"        ;with nothing following
+    ))
+
+(test
+  
+  (pregexp-match ip-re1
+    "1.2.3.4")
+  ("1.2.3.4")
+  
+  (pregexp-match ip-re1
+    "55.155.255.265")
+  #f
+  
+  (pregexp-match ip-re1
+    "0.00.000.00")
+  ("0.00.000.00")
+  
+  )
+
+
+(define ip-re
+  (string-append
+    "(?=[1-9])" ;ensure there's a non-0 digit
+    ip-re1))
+
+(test
+  
+  (pregexp-match ip-re
+    "1.2.3.4")
+  ("1.2.3.4")
+  
+  (pregexp-match ip-re
+    "0.0.0.0")
+  #f
+  
+  )
+
+(set! ip-re
+  (string-append
+    "(?![0.]*$)" ;not just zeros and dots
+    ;dot is not metachar inside []
+    ip-re1))
+
+(test
+  
+  (pregexp-match ip-re
+    "1.2.3.4")
+  ("1.2.3.4")
+  
+  (pregexp-match ip-re
+    "0.0.0.0")
+  #f
+  
+  ;misc
+  
+  (pregexp-match "a[^a]*b" "glauber")
+  ("aub")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "a([^a]*)b" "glauber")
+  ("aub" "u")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "a([^a]*)b" "ababababab")
+  ("ab" "")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "(?x: s  e  * k )" "seeeeek")
+  ("seeeeek")
+  
+  (pregexp-match "(?x: t  ;matches t
+    h          ;   matches h
+    e           ;;;   matches e
+    \\              ; ; ; matches space
+    \\;          ;  matches ;
+    )"
+    "the ;")
+  ("the ;")
+
+  (pregexp-replace* "^(.*)$" "foobar" "\\1abc")
+  "foobarabc"
+
+  (pregexp-replace* "^(.*)$" "foobar" "abc\\1")
+  "abcfoobar"
+
+  (pregexp-replace* "(.*)$" "foobar" "abc\\1")
+  "abcfoobar"
+
+  )
+
+(test
+
+  ;PLT bug 6095 from Neil W. Van Dyke
+  (pregexp "[a-z-]")
+  (:sub (:or (:seq (:one-of-chars (:char-range #\a #\z) #\-))))
+  ;
+  (pregexp "[-a-z]")
+  (:sub (:or (:seq (:one-of-chars #\- (:char-range #\a #\z)))))
+
+  ;PLT bug 6442 from David T. Pierson
+  (pregexp-match-positions "(a(b))?c" "abc")
+  ((0 . 3) (0 . 2) (1 . 2))
+  ;
+  (pregexp-match-positions "(a(b))?c" "c")
+  ((0 . 1) #f #f)
+
+  ;PLT bug 7233 from Edi Weitz
+  (length (pregexp-match "(a)|(b)" "b"))
+  3
+
+  ;PLT bug 7232 from Neil Van Dyke
+  (pregexp "[-a]")
+  (:sub (:or (:seq (:one-of-chars #\- #\a))))
+  ;
+  (pregexp "[a-]")
+  (:sub (:or (:seq (:one-of-chars #\a #\-))))
+   
+  )
+
+(bottomline)
diff --git a/other-libs/pregexp.ss b/other-libs/pregexp.ss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ecf2ee3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/other-libs/pregexp.ss
@@ -0,0 +1,792 @@
+;pregexp.scm
+;Portable regular expressions for Scheme
+;Dorai Sitaram
+;http://www.ccs.neu.edu/~dorai
+;dorai AT ccs DOT neu DOT edu
+;Oct 2, 1999
+
+;;; ported to ikarus by Abdulaziz Ghuloum on Dec 19, 2007.
+;;; also added special cases for when the first argument to
+;;; any of these procedures is a known string at macro 
+;;; expansion time.
+
+(library (pregexp)
+  (export pregexp pregexp-match-positions pregexp-match
+          pregexp-split pregexp-replace pregexp-replace*)
+  (import (ikarus))
+
+(define *pregexp-version* 20071219) ;last change 
+
+(define *pregexp-comment-char* #\;)
+
+(define *pregexp-nul-char-int* #\x0)
+
+(define *pregexp-return-char* #\return)
+
+(define *pregexp-tab-char* #\tab)
+
+(define *pregexp-space-sensitive?* #t)
+
+(define pregexp-reverse!
+  ;the useful reverse! isn't R5RS
+  (lambda (s)
+    (let loop ((s s) (r '()))
+      (if (null? s) r
+          (let ((d (cdr s)))
+            (set-cdr! s r)
+            (loop d s))))))
+
+(define pregexp-error
+  ;R5RS won't give me a portable error procedure.
+  ;modify this as needed
+  (case-lambda
+    [(who) (error who "an error occurred")]
+    [(who msg . args) (apply error who (format "~a" msg) args)]))
+
+(define pregexp-read-pattern
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    (if (>= i n)
+        (list
+          (list ':or (list ':seq)) i)
+        (let loop ((branches '()) (i i))
+          (if (or (>= i n)
+                  (char=? (string-ref s i) #\)))
+              (list (cons ':or (pregexp-reverse! branches)) i)
+              (let ((vv (pregexp-read-branch
+                          s
+                          (if (char=? (string-ref s i) #\|) (+ i 1) i) n)))
+                (loop (cons (car vv) branches) (cadr vv))))))))
+
+(define pregexp-read-branch
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    (let loop ((pieces '()) (i i))
+      (cond ((>= i n)
+             (list (cons ':seq (pregexp-reverse! pieces)) i))
+            ((let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+               (or (char=? c #\|)
+                   (char=? c #\))))
+             (list (cons ':seq (pregexp-reverse! pieces)) i))
+            (else (let ((vv (pregexp-read-piece s i n)))
+                    (loop (cons (car vv) pieces) (cadr vv))))))))
+
+(define pregexp-read-piece
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+      (case c
+        ((#\^) (list ':bos (+ i 1)))
+        ((#\$) (list ':eos (+ i 1)))
+        ((#\.) (pregexp-wrap-quantifier-if-any
+                 (list ':any (+ i 1)) s n))
+        ((#\[) (let ((i+1 (+ i 1)))
+                 (pregexp-wrap-quantifier-if-any
+                   (case (and (< i+1 n) (string-ref s i+1))
+                     ((#\^)
+                      (let ((vv (pregexp-read-char-list s (+ i 2) n)))
+                        (list (list ':neg-char (car vv)) (cadr vv))))
+                     (else (pregexp-read-char-list s i+1 n)))
+                   s n)))
+        ((#\()
+         (pregexp-wrap-quantifier-if-any
+           (pregexp-read-subpattern s (+ i 1) n) s n))
+        ((#\\ )
+         (pregexp-wrap-quantifier-if-any
+           (cond ((pregexp-read-escaped-number s i n) =>
+                  (lambda (num-i)
+                    (list (list ':backref (car num-i)) (cadr num-i))))
+                 ((pregexp-read-escaped-char s i n) =>
+                  (lambda (char-i)
+                    (list (car char-i) (cadr char-i))))
+                 (else (pregexp-error 'pregexp-read-piece 'backslash)))
+           s n))
+        (else
+          (if (or *pregexp-space-sensitive?*
+                  (and (not (char-whitespace? c))
+                       (not (char=? c *pregexp-comment-char*))))
+              (pregexp-wrap-quantifier-if-any
+                (list c (+ i 1)) s n)
+              (let loop ((i i) (in-comment? #f))
+                (if (>= i n) (list ':empty i)
+                    (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+                      (cond (in-comment?
+                              (loop (+ i 1)
+                                (not (char=? c #\newline))))
+                            ((char-whitespace? c)
+                             (loop (+ i 1) #f))
+                            ((char=? c *pregexp-comment-char*)
+                             (loop (+ i 1) #t))
+                            (else (list ':empty i))))))))))))
+
+(define pregexp-read-escaped-number
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    ; s[i] = \
+    (and (< (+ i 1) n) ;must have at least something following \
+         (let ((c (string-ref s (+ i 1))))
+           (and (char-numeric? c)
+                (let loop ((i (+ i 2)) (r (list c)))
+                  (if (>= i n)
+                      (list (string->number
+                              (list->string (pregexp-reverse! r))) i)
+                      (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+                        (if (char-numeric? c)
+                            (loop (+ i 1) (cons c r))
+                            (list (string->number
+                                    (list->string (pregexp-reverse! r)))
+                              i))))))))))
+
+(define pregexp-read-escaped-char
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    ; s[i] = \
+    (and (< (+ i 1) n)
+         (let ((c (string-ref s (+ i 1))))
+           (case c
+             ((#\b) (list ':wbdry (+ i 2)))
+             ((#\B) (list ':not-wbdry (+ i 2)))
+             ((#\d) (list ':digit (+ i 2)))
+             ((#\D) (list '(:neg-char :digit) (+ i 2)))
+             ((#\n) (list #\newline (+ i 2)))
+             ((#\r) (list *pregexp-return-char* (+ i 2)))
+             ((#\s) (list ':space (+ i 2)))
+             ((#\S) (list '(:neg-char :space) (+ i 2)))
+             ((#\t) (list *pregexp-tab-char* (+ i 2)))
+             ((#\w) (list ':word (+ i 2)))
+             ((#\W) (list '(:neg-char :word) (+ i 2)))
+             (else (list c (+ i 2))))))))
+
+(define pregexp-read-posix-char-class
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    ; lbrack, colon already read
+    (let ((neg? #f))
+      (let loop ((i i) (r (list #\:)))
+        (if (>= i n)
+            (pregexp-error 'pregexp-read-posix-char-class)
+            (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+              (cond ((char=? c #\^)
+                     (set! neg? #t)
+                     (loop (+ i 1) r))
+                    ((char-alphabetic? c)
+                     (loop (+ i 1) (cons c r)))
+                    ((char=? c #\:)
+                     (if (or (>= (+ i 1) n)
+                             (not (char=? (string-ref s (+ i 1)) #\])))
+                         (pregexp-error 'pregexp-read-posix-char-class)
+                         (let ((posix-class
+                                 (string->symbol
+                                   (list->string (pregexp-reverse! r)))))
+                           (list (if neg? (list ':neg-char posix-class)
+                                     posix-class)
+                             (+ i 2)))))
+                    (else
+                      (pregexp-error 'pregexp-read-posix-char-class)))))))))
+
+(define pregexp-read-cluster-type
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    ; s[i-1] = left-paren
+    (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+      (case c
+        ((#\?)
+         (let ((i (+ i 1)))
+           (case (string-ref s i)
+             ((#\:) (list '() (+ i 1)))
+             ((#\=) (list '(:lookahead) (+ i 1)))
+             ((#\!) (list '(:neg-lookahead) (+ i 1)))
+             ((#\>) (list '(:no-backtrack) (+ i 1)))
+             ((#\<)
+              (list (case (string-ref s (+ i 1))
+                      ((#\=) '(:lookbehind))
+                      ((#\!) '(:neg-lookbehind))
+                      (else (pregexp-error 'pregexp-read-cluster-type)))
+                (+ i 2)))
+             (else (let loop ((i i) (r '()) (inv? #f))
+                     (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+                       (case c
+                         ((#\-) (loop (+ i 1) r #t))
+                         ((#\i) (loop (+ i 1)
+                                  (cons (if inv? ':case-sensitive
+                                            ':case-insensitive) r) #f))
+                         ((#\x)
+                          (set! *pregexp-space-sensitive?* inv?)
+                          (loop (+ i 1) r #f))
+                         ((#\:) (list r (+ i 1)))
+                         (else (pregexp-error 
+                                'pregexp-read-cluster-type)))))))))
+        (else (list '(:sub) i))))))
+ 
+(define pregexp-read-subpattern
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    (let* ((remember-space-sensitive? *pregexp-space-sensitive?*)
+           (ctyp-i (pregexp-read-cluster-type s i n))
+           (ctyp (car ctyp-i))
+           (i (cadr ctyp-i))
+           (vv (pregexp-read-pattern s i n)))
+      (set! *pregexp-space-sensitive?* remember-space-sensitive?)
+      (let ((vv-re (car vv))
+            (vv-i (cadr vv)))
+        (if (and (< vv-i n)
+                 (char=? (string-ref s vv-i) 
+                   #\)))
+            (list
+              (let loop ((ctyp ctyp) (re vv-re))
+                (if (null? ctyp) re
+                    (loop (cdr ctyp)
+                      (list (car ctyp) re))))
+              (+ vv-i 1))
+            (pregexp-error 'pregexp-read-subpattern))))))
+
+(define pregexp-wrap-quantifier-if-any
+  (lambda (vv s n)
+    (let ((re (car vv)))
+      (let loop ((i (cadr vv)))
+        (if (>= i n) vv
+            (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+              (if (and (char-whitespace? c) (not *pregexp-space-sensitive?*))
+                  (loop (+ i 1))
+                  (case c
+                    ((#\* #\+ #\? #\{)
+                     (let* ((new-re (list ':between 'minimal?
+                                      'at-least 'at-most re))
+                            (new-vv (list new-re 'next-i)))
+                       (case c
+                         ((#\*) (set-car! (cddr new-re) 0)
+                          (set-car! (cdddr new-re) #f))
+                         ((#\+) (set-car! (cddr new-re) 1)
+                          (set-car! (cdddr new-re) #f))
+                         ((#\?) (set-car! (cddr new-re) 0)
+                          (set-car! (cdddr new-re) 1))
+                         ((#\{) (let ((pq (pregexp-read-nums s (+ i 1) n)))
+                                  (if (not pq)
+                                      (pregexp-error 
+                                        'pregexp-wrap-quantifier-if-any
+                                        'left-brace-must-be-followed-by-number))
+                                  (set-car! (cddr new-re) (car pq))
+                                  (set-car! (cdddr new-re) (cadr pq))
+                                  (set! i (caddr pq)))))
+                       (let loop ((i (+ i 1)))
+                         (if (>= i n)
+                             (begin (set-car! (cdr new-re) #f)
+                               (set-car! (cdr new-vv) i))
+                             (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+                               (cond ((and (char-whitespace? c)
+                                           (not *pregexp-space-sensitive?*))
+                                      (loop (+ i 1)))
+                                     ((char=? c #\?)
+                                      (set-car! (cdr new-re) #t)
+                                      (set-car! (cdr new-vv) (+ i 1)))
+                                     (else (set-car! (cdr new-re) #f)
+                                       (set-car! (cdr new-vv) i))))))
+                       new-vv))
+                    (else vv)))))))))
+
+;
+
+(define pregexp-read-nums
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    ; s[i-1] = {
+    ; returns (p q k) where s[k] = }
+    (let loop ((p '()) (q '()) (k i) (reading 1))
+      (if (>= k n) (pregexp-error 'pregexp-read-nums))
+      (let ((c (string-ref s k)))
+        (cond ((char-numeric? c)
+               (if (= reading 1)
+                   (loop (cons c p) q (+ k 1) 1)
+                   (loop p (cons c q) (+ k 1) 2)))
+              ((and (char-whitespace? c) (not *pregexp-space-sensitive?*))
+               (loop p q (+ k 1) reading))
+              ((and (char=? c #\,) (= reading 1))
+               (loop p q (+ k 1) 2))
+              ((char=? c #\})
+               (let ((p (string->number (list->string (pregexp-reverse! p))))
+                     (q (string->number (list->string (pregexp-reverse! q)))))
+                 (cond ((and (not p) (= reading 1)) (list 0 #f k))
+                       ((= reading 1) (list p p k))
+                       (else (list p q k)))))
+              (else #f))))))
+
+(define pregexp-invert-char-list
+  (lambda (vv)
+    (set-car! (car vv) ':none-of-chars)
+    vv))
+
+;
+
+(define pregexp-read-char-list
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    (let loop ((r '()) (i i))
+      (if (>= i n)
+          (pregexp-error 'pregexp-read-char-list
+                         'character-class-ended-too-soon)
+          (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+            (case c
+              ((#\]) (if (null? r)
+                         (loop (cons c r) (+ i 1))
+                         (list (cons ':one-of-chars (pregexp-reverse! r)) 
+                               (+ i 1))))
+              ((#\\ )
+               (let ((char-i (pregexp-read-escaped-char s i n)))
+                 (if char-i (loop (cons (car char-i) r) (cadr char-i))
+                     (pregexp-error 'pregexp-read-char-list 'backslash))))
+              ((#\-) (if (or (null? r)
+                             (let ((i+1 (+ i 1)))
+                               (and (< i+1 n)
+                                    (char=? (string-ref s i+1) #\]))))
+                         (loop (cons c r) (+ i 1))
+                         (let ((c-prev (car r)))
+                           (if (char? c-prev)
+                               (loop (cons (list ':char-range c-prev
+                                                 (string-ref s (+ i 1))) (cdr r))
+                                     (+ i 2))
+                               (loop (cons c r) (+ i 1))))))
+              ((#\[) (if (char=? (string-ref s (+ i 1)) #\:)
+                         (let ((posix-char-class-i
+                                 (pregexp-read-posix-char-class s (+ i 2) n)))
+                           (loop (cons (car posix-char-class-i) r)
+                                 (cadr posix-char-class-i)))
+                         (loop (cons c r) (+ i 1))))
+              (else (loop (cons c r) (+ i 1)))))))))
+
+
+;
+
+(define pregexp-string-match
+  (lambda (s1 s i n sk fk)
+    (let ((n1 (string-length s1)))
+      (if (> n1 n) (fk)
+          (let loop ((j 0) (k i))
+            (cond ((>= j n1) (sk k))
+                  ((>= k n) (fk))
+                  ((char=? (string-ref s1 j) (string-ref s k))
+                   (loop (+ j 1) (+ k 1)))
+                  (else (fk))))))))
+
+(define pregexp-char-word?
+  (lambda (c)
+    ;too restrictive for Scheme but this
+    ;is what \w is in most regexp notations
+    (or (char-alphabetic? c)
+        (char-numeric? c)
+        (char=? c #\_))))
+
+(define pregexp-at-word-boundary?
+  (lambda (s i n)
+    (or (= i 0) (>= i n)
+        (let ((c/i (string-ref s i))
+              (c/i-1 (string-ref s (- i 1))))
+          (let ((c/i/w? (pregexp-check-if-in-char-class?
+                          c/i ':word))
+                (c/i-1/w? (pregexp-check-if-in-char-class?
+                            c/i-1 ':word)))
+            (or (and c/i/w? (not c/i-1/w?))
+                (and (not c/i/w?) c/i-1/w?)))))))
+
+(define pregexp-check-if-in-char-class?
+  (lambda (c char-class)
+    (case char-class
+      ((:any) (not (char=? c #\newline)))
+      ;
+      ((:alnum) (or (char-alphabetic? c) (char-numeric? c)))
+      ((:alpha) (char-alphabetic? c))
+      ((:ascii) (< (char->integer c) 128))
+      ((:blank) (or (char=? c #\space) (char=? c *pregexp-tab-char*)))
+      ((:cntrl) (< (char->integer c) 32))
+      ((:digit) (char-numeric? c))
+      ((:graph) (and (>= (char->integer c) 32)
+                     (not (char-whitespace? c))))
+      ((:lower) (char-lower-case? c))
+      ((:print) (>= (char->integer c) 32))
+      ((:punct) (and (>= (char->integer c) 32)
+                     (not (char-whitespace? c))
+                     (not (char-alphabetic? c))
+                     (not (char-numeric? c))))
+      ((:space) (char-whitespace? c))
+      ((:upper) (char-upper-case? c))
+      ((:word) (or (char-alphabetic? c)
+                   (char-numeric? c)
+                   (char=? c #\_)))
+      ((:xdigit) (or (char-numeric? c)
+                     (char-ci=? c #\a) (char-ci=? c #\b)
+                     (char-ci=? c #\c) (char-ci=? c #\d)
+                     (char-ci=? c #\e) (char-ci=? c #\f)))
+      (else (pregexp-error 'pregexp-check-if-in-char-class?)))))
+
+(define pregexp-list-ref
+  (lambda (s i)
+    ;like list-ref but returns #f if index is
+    ;out of bounds
+    (let loop ((s s) (k 0))
+      (cond ((null? s) #f)
+            ((= k i) (car s))
+            (else (loop (cdr s) (+ k 1)))))))
+
+;re is a compiled regexp.  It's a list that can't be
+;nil.  pregexp-match-positions-aux returns a 2-elt list whose
+;car is the string-index following the matched
+;portion and whose cadr contains the submatches.
+;The proc returns false if there's no match.
+
+;Am spelling loop- as loup- because these shouldn't
+;be translated into CL loops by scm2cl (although
+;they are tail-recursive in Scheme)
+
+(define pregexp-make-backref-list
+  (lambda (re)
+    (let sub ((re re))
+      (if (pair? re)
+          (let ((car-re (car re))
+                (sub-cdr-re (sub (cdr re))))
+            (if (eqv? car-re ':sub) 
+                (cons (cons re #f) sub-cdr-re)
+                (append (sub car-re) sub-cdr-re)))
+          '()))))
+
+(define pregexp-match-positions-aux
+  (lambda (re s sn start n i)
+    (let ((identity (lambda (x) x))
+          (backrefs (pregexp-make-backref-list re))
+          (case-sensitive? #t))
+      (let sub ((re re) (i i) (sk identity) (fk (lambda () #f)))
+        ;(printf "sub ~s ~s\n" i re)
+        (cond ((eqv? re ':bos)
+               ;(if (= i 0) (sk i) (fk))
+               (if (= i start) (sk i) (fk))
+               )
+              ((eqv? re ':eos)
+               ;(if (>= i sn) (sk i) (fk))
+               (if (>= i n) (sk i) (fk))
+               )
+              ((eqv? re ':empty)
+               (sk i))
+              ((eqv? re ':wbdry)
+               (if (pregexp-at-word-boundary? s i n)
+                   (sk i)
+                   (fk)))
+              ((eqv? re ':not-wbdry)
+               (if (pregexp-at-word-boundary? s i n)
+                   (fk)
+                   (sk i)))
+              ((and (char? re) (< i n))
+               ;(printf "bingo\n")
+               (if ((if case-sensitive? char=? char-ci=?)
+                    (string-ref s i) re)
+                   (sk (+ i 1)) (fk)))
+              ((and (not (pair? re)) (< i n))
+               (if (pregexp-check-if-in-char-class?
+                     (string-ref s i) re)
+                   (sk (+ i 1)) (fk)))
+              ((and (pair? re) (eqv? (car re) ':char-range) (< i n))
+               (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+                 (if (let ((c< (if case-sensitive? char<=? char-ci<=?)))
+                       (and (c< (cadr re) c)
+                            (c< c (caddr re))))
+                     (sk (+ i 1)) (fk))))
+              ((pair? re)
+               (case (car re)
+                 ((:char-range)
+                  (if (>= i n) (fk) 
+                      (pregexp-error 'pregexp-match-positions-aux)))
+                 ((:one-of-chars)
+                  (if (>= i n) (fk)
+                      (let loup-one-of-chars ((chars (cdr re)))
+                        (if (null? chars) (fk)
+                            (sub (car chars) i sk
+                                 (lambda ()
+                                   (loup-one-of-chars (cdr chars))))))))
+                 ((:neg-char)
+                  (if (>= i n) (fk)
+                      (sub (cadr re) i 
+                           (lambda (i1) (fk))
+                           (lambda () (sk (+ i 1))))))
+                 ((:seq)
+                  (let loup-seq ((res (cdr re)) (i i))
+                    (if (null? res) (sk i )
+                        (sub (car res) i 
+                             (lambda (i1 )
+                               (loup-seq (cdr res) i1 ))
+                             fk))))
+                 ((:or)
+                  (let loup-or ((res (cdr re)))
+                    (if (null? res) (fk)
+                        (sub (car res) i 
+                             (lambda (i1 )
+                               (or (sk i1 )
+                                   (loup-or (cdr res))))
+                             (lambda () (loup-or (cdr res)))))))
+                 ((:backref)
+                  (let* ((c (pregexp-list-ref backrefs (cadr re)))
+                         (backref
+                           (cond (c => cdr)
+                                 (else 
+                                   (pregexp-error 'pregexp-match-positions-aux
+                                                  'non-existent-backref re)
+                                   #f))))
+                    (if backref
+                        (pregexp-string-match
+                          (substring s (car backref) (cdr backref))
+                          s i n (lambda (i) (sk i)) fk)
+                        (sk i))))
+                 ((:sub)
+                  (sub (cadr re) i 
+                       (lambda (i1)
+                         (set-cdr! (assv re backrefs) (cons i i1))
+                         (sk i1)) fk))
+                 ((:lookahead)
+                  (let ((found-it?
+                          (sub (cadr re) i
+                               identity (lambda () #f))))
+                    (if found-it? (sk i) (fk))))
+                 ((:neg-lookahead)
+                  (let ((found-it?
+                          (sub (cadr re) i
+                               identity (lambda () #f))))
+                    (if found-it? (fk) (sk i))))
+                 ((:lookbehind)
+                  (let ((n-actual n) (sn-actual sn)) 
+                    (set! n i) (set! sn i)
+                    (let ((found-it?
+                            (sub (list ':seq '(:between #f 0 #f :any)
+                                       (cadr re) ':eos) 0 
+                                 identity (lambda () #f))))
+                      (set! n n-actual) (set! sn sn-actual)
+                      (if found-it? (sk i) (fk)))))
+                 ((:neg-lookbehind)
+                  (let ((n-actual n) (sn-actual sn)) 
+                    (set! n i) (set! sn i)
+                    (let ((found-it?
+                            (sub (list ':seq '(:between #f 0 #f :any)
+                                       (cadr re) ':eos) 0
+                                 identity (lambda () #f))))
+                      (set! n n-actual) (set! sn sn-actual)
+                      (if found-it? (fk) (sk i)))))
+                 ((:no-backtrack)
+                  (let ((found-it? (sub (cadr re) i
+                                        identity (lambda () #f))))
+                    (if found-it?
+                        (sk found-it?) 
+                        (fk))))
+                 ((:case-sensitive :case-insensitive)
+                  (let ((old case-sensitive?))
+                    (set! case-sensitive?
+                      (eqv? (car re) ':case-sensitive))
+                    (sub (cadr re) i 
+                         (lambda (i1)
+                           (set! case-sensitive? old)
+                           (sk i1))
+                         (lambda ()
+                           (set! case-sensitive? old)
+                           (fk)))))
+                 ((:between)
+                  (let* ((maximal? (not (cadr re)))
+                         (p (caddr re)) 
+                         (q (cadddr re))
+                         (could-loop-infinitely? (and maximal? (not q)))
+                         (re (car (cddddr re))))
+                    (let loup-p ((k 0) (i i) )
+                      (if (< k p)
+                          (sub re i 
+                               (lambda (i1 )
+                                 (if (and could-loop-infinitely?
+                                          (= i1 i))
+                                     (pregexp-error 
+                                       'pregexp-match-positions-aux
+                                       'greedy-quantifier-operand-could-be-empty))
+                                 (loup-p (+ k 1) i1 ))
+                               fk)
+                          (let ((q (and q (- q p))))
+                            (let loup-q ((k 0) (i i))
+                              (let ((fk (lambda ()
+                                          (sk i ))))
+                                (if (and q (>= k q)) (fk)
+                                    (if maximal?
+                                        (sub re i
+                                             (lambda (i1)
+                                               (if (and could-loop-infinitely?
+                                                        (= i1 i))
+                                                   (pregexp-error
+                                                     'pregexp-match-positions-aux
+                                                     'greedy-quantifier-operand-could-be-empty))
+                                               (or (loup-q (+ k 1) i1)
+                                                   (fk)))
+                                             fk)
+                                        (or (fk)
+                                            (sub re i 
+                                                 (lambda (i1)
+                                                   (loup-q (+ k 1) i1))
+                                                 fk)))))))))))
+                 (else (pregexp-error 'pregexp-match-positions-aux))))
+              ((>= i n) (fk))
+              (else (pregexp-error 'pregexp-match-positions-aux))))
+      ;(printf "done\n")
+      (let ((backrefs (map cdr backrefs)))
+        (and (car backrefs) backrefs)))))
+
+(define pregexp-replace-aux
+  (lambda (str ins n backrefs)
+    (let loop ((i 0) (r ""))
+      (if (>= i n) r
+          (let ((c (string-ref ins i)))
+            (if (char=? c #\\ )
+                (let* ((br-i (pregexp-read-escaped-number ins i n))
+                       (br (if br-i (car br-i)
+                               (if (char=? (string-ref ins (+ i 1)) #\&) 0
+                                   #f)))
+                       (i (if br-i (cadr br-i)
+                              (if br (+ i 2)
+                                  (+ i 1)))))
+                  (if (not br)
+                      (let ((c2 (string-ref ins i)))
+                        (loop (+ i 1)
+                          (if (char=? c2 #\$) r
+                              (string-append r (string c2)))))
+                      (loop i
+                        (let ((backref (pregexp-list-ref backrefs br)))
+                          (if backref
+                              (string-append r
+                                (substring str (car backref) (cdr backref)))
+                              r)))))
+                (loop (+ i 1) (string-append r (string c)))))))))
+
+(define pregexp-proc
+  (let ([pregexp
+         (lambda (s)
+           (set! *pregexp-space-sensitive?* #t) ;in case it got corrupted
+           (list ':sub (car (pregexp-read-pattern s 0 (string-length s)))))])
+    pregexp))
+
+(define-syntax pregexp
+  (lambda (x) ;;; aziz's touch
+    (syntax-case x ()
+      [(_ str) 
+       (string? (syntax->datum #'str))
+       #'(let-syntax ([foo 
+                       (lambda (t) 
+                         (list #'quote (pregexp-proc str)))])
+           foo)]
+      [(_ args ...) #'(pregexp-proc args ...)]
+      [id (identifier? #'id) #'pregexp-proc])))
+
+
+(define-syntax define-regexp-proc
+  (lambda (stx) 
+    (syntax-case stx ()
+      [(_ name expr) 
+       (with-syntax ([(name^) (generate-temporaries (list #'name))])
+         #'(begin 
+             (define name^ expr)
+             (define-syntax name 
+               (lambda (x)
+                 (syntax-case x ()
+                   [(_ str args (... ...)) (string? #'str)
+                    #'(name^ (pregexp str) args (... ...))]
+                   [(_ args (... ...)) 
+                    #'(name^ args (... ...))]
+                   [id (identifier? #'id) #'name^])))))])))
+
+
+(define-regexp-proc pregexp-match-positions
+  (lambda (pat str . opt-args)
+    (cond ((string? pat) (set! pat (pregexp pat)))
+          ((pair? pat) #t)
+          (else (pregexp-error 'pregexp-match-positions 
+                               'pattern-must-be-compiled-or-string-regexp
+                               pat)))
+    (let* ((str-len (string-length str))
+           (start (if (null? opt-args) 0
+                      (let ((start (car opt-args)))
+                        (set! opt-args (cdr opt-args))
+                        start)))
+           (end (if (null? opt-args) str-len 
+                    (car opt-args))))
+      (let loop ((i start))
+        (and (<= i end)
+             (or (pregexp-match-positions-aux 
+                   pat str str-len start end i)
+                 (loop (+ i 1))))))))
+
+
+(define-regexp-proc pregexp-match
+  (lambda (pat str . opt-args)
+    (let ((ix-prs (apply pregexp-match-positions pat str opt-args)))
+      (and ix-prs
+           (map
+             (lambda (ix-pr)
+               (and ix-pr
+                    (substring str (car ix-pr) (cdr ix-pr))))
+             ix-prs)))))
+
+(define-regexp-proc pregexp-split
+  (lambda (pat str)
+    ;split str into substrings, using pat as delimiter
+    (let ((n (string-length str))
+          ;;; aziz
+          (pat (if (string? pat) (pregexp pat) pat)))
+      (let loop ((i 0) (r '()) (picked-up-one-undelimited-char? #f))
+        (cond ((>= i n) (pregexp-reverse! r))
+              ((pregexp-match-positions pat str i n)
+               =>
+               (lambda (y)
+                 (let ((jk (car y)))
+                   (let ((j (car jk)) (k (cdr jk)))
+                     ;(printf "j = ~a; k = ~a; i = ~a~n" j k i)
+                     (cond ((= j k)
+                            ;(printf "producing ~s~n" (substring str i (+ j 1)))
+                            (loop (+ k 1) 
+                                  (cons (substring str i (+ j 1)) r) #t))
+                           ((and (= j i) picked-up-one-undelimited-char?)
+                            (loop k r #f))
+                           (else
+                             ;(printf "producing ~s~n" (substring str i j))
+                             (loop k (cons (substring str i j) r) #f)))))))
+              (else (loop n (cons (substring str i n) r) #f)))))))
+
+
+(define-regexp-proc pregexp-replace
+  (lambda (pat str ins)
+    (let* ((n (string-length str))
+           (pp (pregexp-match-positions pat str 0 n)))
+      (if (not pp) str
+          (let ((ins-len (string-length ins))
+                (m-i (caar pp))
+                (m-n (cdar pp)))
+            (string-append
+              (substring str 0 m-i)
+              (pregexp-replace-aux str ins ins-len pp)
+              (substring str m-n n)))))))
+
+(define-regexp-proc pregexp-replace*
+  (lambda (pat str ins)
+    ;return str with every occurrence of pat 
+    ;replaced by ins
+    (let ((pat (if (string? pat) (pregexp pat) pat))
+          (n (string-length str))
+          (ins-len (string-length ins)))
+      (let loop ((i 0) (r ""))
+        ;i = index in str to start replacing from
+        ;r = already calculated prefix of answer 
+        (if (>= i n) r 
+            (let ((pp (pregexp-match-positions pat str i n)))
+              (if (not pp) 
+                  (if (= i 0)
+                      ;this implies pat didn't match str at
+                      ;all, so let's return original str
+                      str
+                      ;else: all matches already found and
+                      ;replaced in r, so let's just
+                      ;append the rest of str
+                      (string-append
+                       r (substring str i n)))
+                  (loop (cdar pp)
+                        (string-append
+                         r
+                         (substring str i (caar pp))
+                         (pregexp-replace-aux str ins ins-len pp))))))))))
+
+(define pregexp-quote
+  (lambda (s)
+    (let loop ((i (- (string-length s) 1)) (r '()))
+      (if (< i 0) (list->string r)
+          (loop (- i 1)
+                (let ((c (string-ref s i)))
+                  (if (memv c '(#\\ #\. #\? #\* #\+ #\| #\^ #\$
+                                    #\[ #\] #\{ #\} #\( #\)))
+                      (cons #\\ (cons c r))
+                      (cons c r))))))))
+    
+)