diff --git a/Guardfile b/Guardfile
index 6529f42d..24f36e35 100644
--- a/Guardfile
+++ b/Guardfile
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ guard :minitest , all_on_start: false do   # with Minitest::Unit
   # ruby compiler tests have a whole directory
   watch(%r{^lib/ruby/ruby_compiler.rb}) { Dir["test/ruby/test_*.rb"] }
 
+  # slot compiler tests have a whole directory
+  watch(%r{^lib/slot_machine/slot_compiler.rb}) { Dir["test/slot_machine/compiler/test_*.rb"] }
+
   watch(%r{^lib/sol/statements/send_statement.rb}) {
     [ Dir["test/sol/send/test_*.rb"] ] }
 
diff --git a/lib/slot_machine/macro_maker.rb b/lib/slot_machine/macro_maker.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..84988660
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/slot_machine/macro_maker.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+module SlotMachine
+
+  class MacroMaker
+    # a list of instructions
+
+    attr_reader :instructions
+
+    # load slot code from a file, in a subdir code/ + filename
+    # use load_string to compile the content
+    def self.load_file(relative_name)
+      path = File.expand_path(  "../code/#{relative_name}" , __FILE__)
+      load_string( File.read(path))
+    end
+
+    # compile the given SlotLanguage source
+    # the compiler returns an array of Makers which a new MacroMaker
+    # instance stores
+    # return the MacroMaker that represents the source
+    def self.load_string(source_code)
+      MacroMaker.new( SlotCompiler.compile(source_code) )
+    end
+
+    # must initialize with an array of Makers, which is stored
+    def initialize( instructions )
+      @instructions = instructions
+      raise "undefined source #{instructions}" unless instructions.is_a?(Instruction)
+    end
+
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/slot_machine/slot_compiler.rb b/lib/slot_machine/slot_compiler.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5f5ed69a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/slot_machine/slot_compiler.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+require "parser/current"
+require "ast"
+
+module SlotMachine
+  class SlotCompiler < AST::Processor
+    DEBUG = false
+
+    # conditionals supported, currently only equal
+    def self.checks
+      [:==]
+    end
+
+    def self.compile(input)
+      ast = Parser::CurrentRuby.parse( input )
+      self.new.process(ast)
+    end
+    attr_reader :labels
+    def initialize
+      @labels = {}
+    end
+
+    def not_implemented(node)
+      raise "Not implemented #{node.type}"
+    end
+    # default to error, so non implemented stuff shows early
+    def handler_missing(node)
+      not_implemented(node)
+    end
+    def process_all(exp)
+      arr = super(exp)
+      head = arr.shift
+      until( arr.empty?)
+        head << arr.shift
+      end
+      head
+    end
+    def on_send(statement)
+      kids = statement.children.dup
+      receiver = kids.shift
+      name = kids.shift
+      return label(name) if(name.to_s.end_with?("_label"))
+      return goto(name,kids) if(name == :goto)
+      return check(name,receiver, kids) if SlotCompiler.checks.include?(name)
+      return assign(receiver, name , kids) if(name.to_s.end_with?("="))
+      puts "Send: #{statement} " if DEBUG
+      var = SlottedMessage.new( [name] )
+      if(receiver)
+        puts "receiver at #{name} #{receiver}" if DEBUG
+        prev = process(receiver)
+        prev.set_next(var.slots)
+        prev
+      else
+        var
+      end
+    end
+    def on_lvar(lvar)
+      puts "lvar #{lvar}" if DEBUG
+      SlottedMessage.new( [lvar.children.first] )
+    end
+    def on_lvasgn( expression)
+      puts "i/lvasgn #{expression}" if DEBUG
+      var = var_for(expression.children[0])
+      value = process(expression.children[1])
+      SlotLoad.new(expression.to_s,var , value)
+    end
+    alias :on_ivasgn :on_lvasgn
+
+    def on_if(expression)
+      puts "if #{expression}" if DEBUG
+      condition = process(expression.children[0])
+      jump = process(expression.children[1])
+      condition.set_label( jump.label )
+      condition
+    end
+    def on_begin(exp)
+      if( exp.children.length == 1)
+        process(exp.first)
+      else
+        process_all(exp)
+      end
+    end
+    def on_ivar(expression)
+      puts "ivar #{expression}" if DEBUG
+      var_for(expression.children.first)
+    end
+
+    private
+
+    def var_for( name )
+      name = name.to_s
+      if(name[0] == "@")
+        var = name.to_s[1 .. -1].to_sym
+        SlottedMessage.new([:receiver , var])
+      else
+        SlottedMessage.new([:receiver , name])
+      end
+    end
+    def label(name)
+      raise "no label #{name}" unless(name.to_s.end_with?("_label"))
+      if @labels.has_key?(name)
+        return @labels[name]
+      else
+        @labels[name] = SlotMachine::Label.new(name.to_s , name)
+      end
+    end
+    def goto(name , args)
+      # error handling would not hurt
+      puts "goto #{name} , #{args}" if DEBUG
+      label = process(args.first)
+      Jump.new( label )
+    end
+    def check(name , receiver , kids)
+      raise "Familiy too large #{kids}" if kids.length > 1
+      puts   "Kids " + kids.to_s if DEBUG
+      right = process(kids.first)
+      case name
+      when :==
+        return SameCheck.new(process(receiver) , right , Label.new("none", :dummy))
+      else
+        raise "Only ==, not #{name}" unless name == :==
+      end
+    end
+
+    def assign(receiver , name , kids)
+      receiver = process(receiver)
+      puts "Assign #{name} , #{receiver}" if DEBUG
+      raise "Only one arg #{kids}" unless kids.length == 1
+      right = process kids.shift
+      name = name.to_s[0...-1].to_sym
+      receiver.set_next(Slot.new(name))
+      SlotLoad.new("#{receiver} = #{name}",receiver,right)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/slot_machine/slot_machine.rb b/lib/slot_machine/slot_machine.rb
index c906b7b0..46a23a8b 100644
--- a/lib/slot_machine/slot_machine.rb
+++ b/lib/slot_machine/slot_machine.rb
@@ -23,3 +23,5 @@ require_relative "callable_compiler"
 require_relative "method_compiler"
 require_relative "block_compiler"
 require_relative "macro/macro"
+require_relative "slot_compiler"
+require_relative "macro_maker"
diff --git a/lib/slot_machine/slotted.rb b/lib/slot_machine/slotted.rb
index b17cfce6..e4e30987 100644
--- a/lib/slot_machine/slotted.rb
+++ b/lib/slot_machine/slotted.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ module SlotMachine
 
     def initialize( slots = nil )
       return unless slots
-      raise "stopped" unless slots.is_a?(Array)
+      raise "stopped #{slots.class}" unless slots.is_a?(Array)
       first = slots.shift
       raise "ended" unless first
       @slots = Slot.new(first)
diff --git a/test/slot_machine/codes/mini.slot b/test/slot_machine/codes/mini.slot
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e1e25e32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/slot_machine/codes/mini.slot
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+start_label
+a = b
diff --git a/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_assignment.rb b/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_assignment.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b66c2c40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_assignment.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+require_relative "../helper"
+
+module SlotMachine
+  class TestAssignment < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+    def compile_assign(str)
+      assign = compile(str)
+      assert_equal SlotLoad , assign.class
+      assign
+    end
+    def test_slot_load_rinst
+      assign = compile_assign("a = @b")
+      assert_equal "receiver.a" , assign.left.slots.to_s
+      assert_equal "receiver.b" , assign.right.slots.to_s
+    end
+    def test_slot_load_linst
+      assign = compile_assign("@a = b")
+      assert_equal "receiver.a" , assign.left.slots.to_s
+      assert_equal "b" , assign.right.slots.to_s
+    end
+    def test_slot_load_lrinst
+      assign = compile_assign("@a = @b")
+      assert_equal "receiver.a" , assign.left.slots.to_s
+      assert_equal "receiver.b" , assign.right.slots.to_s
+    end
+    def test_assign
+      assign = compile_assign("a = b")
+      assert_equal "receiver.a" , assign.left.slots.to_s
+      assert_equal "b" , assign.right.slots.to_s
+    end
+  end
+  class TestAssignment2 < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+
+    def test_slot_load_linst_trav
+      assert_equal SlotLoad , compile_class("@a = b.c")
+    end
+    def test_assign1
+      assign = compile("c = c.next")
+      assert_equal SlotLoad , assign.class
+    end
+    def test_shift
+      load = compile("a = b.c")
+      assert_equal SlotLoad , load.class
+      assert_equal "receiver.a" , load.left.slots.to_s
+      assert_equal "b.c" , load.right.slots.to_s
+    end
+  end
+  class TestAssignment3 < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+
+    def test_inst_ass
+      assign = compile("@a.b = c")
+      assert_equal SlotLoad , assign.class
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , assign.left.class
+      assert_equal "receiver.a.b" , assign.left.slots.to_s
+    end
+    def test_local_ass
+      assign = compile("a.b = c")
+      assert_equal SlotLoad , assign.class
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , assign.left.class
+      assert_equal "a.b" , assign.left.slots.to_s
+      assert_equal "c" , assign.right.slots.to_s
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_equal_goto.rb b/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_equal_goto.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..952580a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_equal_goto.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+require_relative "../helper"
+
+module SlotMachine
+  class TestEqualGoto < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+
+    def do_check(code)
+      check = compile(code)
+      assert_equal SameCheck , check.class
+      assert_equal Label , check.false_label.class
+      assert check.left.is_a?(Slotted)
+      assert check.right.is_a?(Slotted)
+      check
+    end
+    def test_equal_local
+      check = do_check("goto(exit_label) if(a == b)")
+      assert_equal "message.a" , check.left.to_s
+      assert_equal "message.b" , check.right.to_s
+    end
+    def test_equal_inst_left
+      check = do_check("goto(exit_label) if(@a == b)")
+      assert_equal "message.receiver.a" , check.left.to_s
+      assert_equal "message.b" , check.right.to_s
+    end
+    def test_equal_inst_right
+      check = do_check("goto(exit_label) if(a == @b)")
+      assert_equal "message.a" , check.left.to_s
+      assert_equal "message.receiver.b" , check.right.to_s
+    end
+  end
+
+  class TestEqualGotoFull < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+    def setup
+      @expr = compile("start_label;goto(start_label) if( b == c)")
+    end
+    def test_label
+      assert_equal SlotMachine::Label , @expr.class
+      assert_equal :start_label , @expr.name
+    end
+    def test_conditional
+      assert_equal SameCheck , @expr.last.class
+      assert_equal :start_label , @expr.last.false_label.name
+    end
+    def test_same_label
+      assert_equal @expr.object_id , @expr.next.false_label.object_id
+    end
+    def test_expression_left
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , @expr.last.left.class
+      assert_equal "message.b" , @expr.last.left.to_s
+    end
+    def test_expression_right
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , @expr.last.right.class
+      assert_equal "message.c" , @expr.last.right.to_s
+    end
+  end
+  class TestEqualGotoChain < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+    def setup
+      @expr = compile("goto(start_label) if( a.b == c)")
+    end
+    def test_eq
+      assert_equal SameCheck , @expr.class
+    end
+    def test_left
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , @expr.left.class
+      assert_equal "message.a.b" , @expr.left.to_s
+    end
+  end
+  class TestEqualGotoChain2 < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+    def setup
+      @expr = compile("goto(start_label) if( a == @b.c)")
+    end
+    def test_eq
+      assert_equal SameCheck , @expr.class
+    end
+    def test_right
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , @expr.right.class
+      assert_equal "message.receiver.b.c" , @expr.right.to_s
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_goto.rb b/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_goto.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5a857b33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_goto.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+require_relative "../helper"
+
+module SlotMachine
+  class TestGoto < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+
+    def test_goto_class
+      assert_equal Jump , compile_class("goto(exit_label)")
+    end
+    def test_goto_label
+      goto = compile("goto(exit_label)")
+      assert_equal Jump , goto.class
+      assert_equal :exit_label , goto.label.name
+    end
+
+    def test_label
+      label = compile("while_label")
+      assert_equal SlotMachine::Label , label.class
+      assert_equal :while_label , label.name
+    end
+
+    def test_2_label
+      labels = compile("exit_label;exit_label")
+      assert_equal :exit_label , labels.name
+      assert_equal :exit_label , labels.next.name
+      assert_equal labels.object_id , labels.next.object_id
+    end
+
+    def test_goto_with_label
+      gotos = compile("exit_label;goto(exit_label)")
+      assert_equal :exit_label , gotos.name
+      assert_equal :exit_label , gotos.next.label.name
+      assert_equal gotos.object_id , gotos.next.label.object_id
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_slot_compiler.rb b/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_slot_compiler.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c5a9947b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_slot_compiler.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+require_relative "../helper"
+
+module SlotMachine
+  class TestSlotCompiler < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+
+    def test_init
+      assert SlotCompiler.new
+    end
+    def test_labels
+      assert SlotCompiler.new.labels.empty?
+    end
+    def test_basic_compile
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , compile("a").class
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_variable.rb b/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_variable.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..965d3fe0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/slot_machine/compiler/test_variable.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+require_relative "../helper"
+
+module SlotMachine
+  class TestVariable < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+    def compile_var(str)
+      var = compile(str)
+      assert var.is_a?(Slotted) , "Was #{var.class}"
+      var
+    end
+    def test_local
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , compile_var("a").class
+    end
+    def test_inst
+      var = compile_var("@a")
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , var.class
+    end
+    def test_local_chain
+      chain = compile_var("a.b")
+      assert_equal Slot , chain.slots.class
+      assert_equal :b , chain.slots.next_slot.name
+    end
+    def test_local_chain2
+      chain = compile_var("a.b.c")
+      assert_equal Slot , chain.slots.next_slot.next_slot.class
+      assert_equal :c , chain.slots.next_slot.next_slot.name
+    end
+    def test_inst_chain
+      chain = compile_var("@a.b")
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , chain.class
+      assert_equal Slot , chain.slots.class
+      assert_equal :receiver , chain.slots.name
+      assert_equal Slot , chain.slots.class
+      assert_equal :a , chain.slots.next_slot.name
+      assert_equal :b , chain.slots.next_slot.next_slot.name
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/slot_machine/helper.rb b/test/slot_machine/helper.rb
index 6b075c4a..986d47ef 100644
--- a/test/slot_machine/helper.rb
+++ b/test/slot_machine/helper.rb
@@ -6,4 +6,18 @@ module SlotMachine
       super("mocking")
     end
   end
+  module SlotHelper
+    def compile(input)
+      SlotCompiler.compile(input)
+    end
+    def compile_class(input)
+      compile(input).class
+    end
+  end
+  module SlotToHelper
+    def setup
+      Parfait.boot!({})
+      @compiler = SlotMachine::SlotCollection.compiler_for( :Space , :main,{},{})
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/test/slot_machine/test_macro_maker.rb b/test/slot_machine/test_macro_maker.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a5c94597
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/slot_machine/test_macro_maker.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+require_relative "helper"
+
+module SlotMachine
+
+  class TestMacroMakerLoad < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+
+    def check_mini(maker)
+      assert_equal MacroMaker , maker.class
+      assert_equal SlotMachine::Label , maker.instructions.class
+    end
+    def mini_file
+       File.read(File.expand_path(  "../codes/mini.slot" , __FILE__))
+    end
+    def test_mini_string
+      check_mini MacroMaker.load_string( mini_file )
+    end
+    def test_mini_source
+      check_mini MacroMaker.new( SlotCompiler.compile(mini_file))
+    end
+  end
+
+  class TestMacroMakerLoad2 < MiniTest::Test
+
+    def setup
+      @macro = MacroMaker.load_string( mini_file )
+      @instructions = @macro.instructions
+    end
+    def test_label
+      assert_equal SlotMachine::Label , @macro.instructions.class
+    end
+    def test_assign
+      assert_equal SlotMachine::SlotLoad , @instructions.next.class
+      assert_equal "message.receiver.a" , @instructions.next.left.to_s
+      assert_equal "message.b" , @instructions.next.right.to_s
+    end
+    def test_length
+      assert @instructions.next
+      assert_nil @instructions.next.next
+    end
+    def mini_file
+       File.read(File.expand_path(  "../codes/mini.slot" , __FILE__))
+    end
+
+  end
+
+end
diff --git a/test/slot_machine/test_slot_compiler.rb b/test/slot_machine/test_slot_compiler.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..90a85d49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/slot_machine/test_slot_compiler.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+require_relative "helper"
+
+module SlotMachine
+  class TestSlotCompiler < MiniTest::Test
+    include SlotHelper
+
+    def test_init
+      assert SlotCompiler.new
+    end
+    def test_labels
+      assert SlotCompiler.new.labels.empty?
+    end
+    def test_basic_compile
+      assert_equal SlottedMessage , compile("a").class
+    end
+  end
+end