diff --git a/lib/parfait.rb b/lib/parfait.rb
index 167945d3..456e68e5 100644
--- a/lib/parfait.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,3 @@ require "parfait/layout"
 require "parfait/message"
 require "parfait/frame"
 require "parfait/space"
-
-#if we are in the ruby run-time / generating an executable
-require "virtual/parfait_adapter"
diff --git a/lib/parfait/module.rb b/lib/parfait/module.rb
index d2a9cf7c..1e4aadec 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/module.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/module.rb
@@ -30,9 +30,17 @@ module Parfait
       @instance_methods
     end
 
+    def method_names
+      names = List.new
+      @instance_methods.each do |method|
+        names.push method.name
+      end
+      names  
+    end
+
     def add_instance_method method
       raise "not a method #{method.class} #{method.inspect}" unless method.is_a? Method
-      raise "syserr #{method.name.class}" unless method.name.is_a? Word
+      raise "syserr #{method.name.class}" unless method.name.is_a? Symbol
       found = get_instance_method( method.name )
       if found
         @instance_methods.delete(found)
@@ -48,6 +56,7 @@ module Parfait
     end
 
     def create_instance_method  name , arg_names
+      raise "uups #{name}.#{name.class}" unless name.is_a?(Symbol)
       clazz = Space.object_space.get_class_by_name(self.name)
       raise "??? #{self.name}" unless clazz
       Method.new_object( clazz , name , arg_names )
@@ -61,7 +70,7 @@ module Parfait
     end
 
     def get_instance_method fname
-      raise "uups #{fname}.#{fname.class}" unless fname.is_a?(Word) or fname.is_a?(String)
+      raise "uups #{fname}.#{fname.class}" unless fname.is_a?(Symbol)
       #if we had a hash this would be easier.  Detect or find would help too
       @instance_methods.each do |m|
         return m if(m.name == fname )
@@ -71,7 +80,7 @@ module Parfait
 
     # get the method and if not found, try superclasses. raise error if not found
     def resolve_method m_name
-      raise "uups #{m_name}.#{m_name.class}" unless m_name.is_a?(Word) or m_name.is_a?(String)
+      raise "uups #{m_name}.#{m_name.class}" unless m_name.is_a?(Symbol)
       method = get_instance_method(m_name)
       return method if method
       if( @super_class )
diff --git a/lib/parfait/space.rb b/lib/parfait/space.rb
index c9936da1..70a2ab62 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/space.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/space.rb
@@ -56,14 +56,14 @@ module Parfait
     end
 
     def get_main
-      kernel = get_class_by_name "Object"
-      kernel.get_instance_method "main"
+      kernel = get_class_by_name :Object
+      kernel.get_instance_method :main
     end
 
     # this is the way to instantiate classes (not Parfait::Class.new)
     # so we get and keep exactly one per name
     def get_class_by_name name
-      raise "uups #{name}.#{name.class}" unless name.is_a?(Word) or name.is_a?(String)
+      raise "uups #{name}.#{name.class}" unless name.is_a?(Symbol)
       c = @classes[name]
       puts "MISS, no class #{name} #{name.class}" unless c # " #{@classes}"
       c
diff --git a/lib/register/builtin/integer.rb b/lib/register/builtin/integer.rb
index 23585c7e..17a4a380 100644
--- a/lib/register/builtin/integer.rb
+++ b/lib/register/builtin/integer.rb
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ module Builtin
     # As we write before we recurse (save a push) we write the number backwards
     # arguments: string address , integer
     def utoa context
-      utoa_function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method("Integer" ,"utoa" ,  [ Virtual::Integer ] )
+      utoa_function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Integer ,:utoa ,  [ Virtual::Integer ] )
       function.info.return_type = Virtual::Integer
       function.info.receiver = Virtual::Integer
       return utoa_function
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ module Builtin
     end
 
     def putint context
-      putint_function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method("Integer","putint" , [] )
+      putint_function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Integer,:putint , [] )
       putint_function.info.return_type = Virtual::Integer
       putint_function.info.receiver = Virtual::Integer
       return putint_function
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ module Builtin
     # a hand coded version of the fibonachi numbers
     # not my hand off course, found in the net http://www.peter-cockerell.net/aalp/html/ch-5.html
     def fibo context
-      fibo_function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method("Integer","fibo" ,  [] )
+      fibo_function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Integer,:fibo ,  [] )
       fibo_function.info.return_type = Virtual::Integer
       fibo_function.info.receiver = Virtual::Integer
       return fibo_function
diff --git a/lib/register/builtin/kernel.rb b/lib/register/builtin/kernel.rb
index a5d3884f..ede7333f 100644
--- a/lib/register/builtin/kernel.rb
+++ b/lib/register/builtin/kernel.rb
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ module Builtin
       # it isn't really a function, ie it is jumped to (not called), exits and may not return
       # so it is responsible for initial setup (and relocation)
       def __init__ context
-        function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method("Kernel","__init__" , [])
+        function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Kernel,:__init__ , [])
 #        puts "INIT LAYOUT #{function.get_layout.get_layout}"
         function.info.return_type = Virtual::Integer
         main = Virtual::Machine.instance.space.get_main
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ module Builtin
         return function
       end
       def putstring context
-        function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method("Kernel" , "putstring" , [] )
+        function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Kernel , :putstring , [] )
         return function
         ret = Virtual::RegisterMachine.instance.write_stdout(function)
         function.set_return ret
         function
       end
       def exit context
-        function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method("Kernel","exit" , [])
+        function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Kernel,:exit , [])
         function.info.return_type = Virtual::Integer
         return function
         ret = Virtual::RegisterMachine.instance.exit(function)
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ module Builtin
         function
       end
       def __send context
-        function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method("Kernel" ,"__send" , [] )
+        function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Kernel ,:__send , [] )
         function.info.return_type = Virtual::Integer
         return function
       end
diff --git a/lib/register/builtin/object.rb b/lib/register/builtin/object.rb
index a4b296e2..9d1166f0 100644
--- a/lib/register/builtin/object.rb
+++ b/lib/register/builtin/object.rb
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ module Builtin
       # main entry point, ie __init__ calls this
       # defined here as empty, to be redefined
       def main context
-        function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method("Object","main" , [])
+        function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Object,:main , [])
         return function
       end
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ module Builtin
       # The at_index is just "below" the api, something we need but don't want to expose,
       # so we can't code the above in ruby
       def _get_instance_variable context , name = Virtual::Integer
-        get_function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method("Object","_get_instance_variable" , [ Virtual::Reference ] )
+        get_function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Object,:_get_instance_variable , [ Virtual::Reference ] )
         return get_function
         me = get_function.receiver
         var_name = get_function.args.first
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ module Builtin
       end
 
       def _set_instance_variable(context , name = Virtual::Integer , value = Virtual::Integer )
-        set_function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method("Object","_set_instance_variable" ,[Virtual::Reference ,Virtual::Reference] )
+        set_function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Object,:_set_instance_variable ,[Virtual::Reference ,Virtual::Reference] )
         return set_function
         receiver set_function
         me = set_function.receiver
diff --git a/lib/virtual.rb b/lib/virtual.rb
index 8dee2e1e..27673f04 100644
--- a/lib/virtual.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 require "parfait"
 require "virtual/machine"
+#if we are in the ruby run-time / generating an executable
+require "virtual/positioned"
+require "virtual/parfait_adapter"
 
 require "virtual/compiler"
 require "virtual/instruction"
diff --git a/lib/virtual/boot.rb b/lib/virtual/boot.rb
index 3bcaeaf6..f23cec87 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/boot.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/boot.rb
@@ -21,23 +21,23 @@ module Virtual
       # map from the vm - class_name to the Parfait class (which carries parfait name)
       class_mappings = {}        #will later become instance variable
 
-      values = [  "Value"  , "Integer" , "Kernel" ,  "Object"].collect {|cl| Virtual.new_word(cl) }
+      values = [  :Value  , :Integer , :Kernel ,  :Object]
       value_classes = values.collect { |cl| @space.create_class(cl,nil) }
-      layouts = { "Word" => [] ,
-                  "List" => [] ,
-                  "Message" => [],
-                  "MetaClass" => [],
-                  "BinaryCode" => [],
-                  "Space" => ["classes","frames","messages","next_message","next_frame"],
-                  "Frame" => ["locals" , "tmps" ],
-                  "Layout" => ["object_class"] ,
-                  "Class" => ["object_layout"],
-                  "Dictionary" => ["keys" , "values"] ,
-                  "Method" => ["name" , "code" ,"arg_names" , "locals" , "tmps"] ,
-                  "Module" => ["name" , "instance_methods", "super_class", "meta_class"]
+      layouts = { :Word => [] ,
+                  :List => [] ,
+                  :Message => [],
+                  :MetaClass => [],
+                  :BinaryCode => [],
+                  :Space => [:classes ,:frames ,:messages ,:next_message ,:next_frame],
+                  :Frame => [:locals , :tmps ],
+                  :Layout => [:object_class] ,
+                  :Class => [:object_layout ],
+                  :Dictionary => [:keys , :values ] ,
+                  :Method => [:name , :code ,:arg_names , :locals , :tmps ] ,
+                  :Module => [:name , :instance_methods , :super_class , :meta_class ]
                 }
       layouts.each do |name , layout|
-        class_mappings[name] = @space.create_class(Virtual.new_word(name) , nil)
+        class_mappings[name] = @space.create_class(name , nil)
       end
       value_classes[1].set_super_class( value_classes[0] ) # #set superclass (value) for integer
       value_classes[2].set_super_class( value_classes[0] ) # and kernel (TODO is module)
@@ -49,11 +49,11 @@ module Virtual
       class_mappings.each do |name , clazz|
         variables = layouts[name]
         variables.each do |var_name|
-          clazz.object_layout.add_instance_variable Virtual.new_word(var_name)
+          clazz.object_layout.add_instance_variable var_name
         end
       end
       # superclass and layout corrections
-      supers = { "BinaryCode" => "Word", "Layout" => "List", "Class" => "Module"}
+      supers = { :BinaryCode => :Word , :Layout => :List , :Class => :Module }
       supers.each do |classname , superclass_name|
         clazz = class_mappings[classname]
         super_class = class_mappings[superclass_name]
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ module Virtual
       #   lookup half created class info
       # but it must be done before going through the objects (next step)
       @class_mappings = class_mappings
-      class_mappings["Integer"] = value_classes[1]  #need for further booting
-      class_mappings["Kernel"] = value_classes[2]  #need for further booting
-      class_mappings["Object"] = value_classes[3]  #need for further booting
+      class_mappings[:Integer ] = value_classes[1]  #need for further booting
+      class_mappings[:Kernel ] = value_classes[2]  #need for further booting
+      class_mappings[:Object ] = value_classes[3]  #need for further booting
 
       @space.late_init
 
@@ -96,25 +96,25 @@ module Virtual
     def boot_functions!
       # very fiddly chicken 'n egg problem. Functions need to be in the right order, and in fact we
       # have to define some dummies, just for the other to compile
-      # TODO: go through the virtual parfait layer and adjust function names to what they really are
-      obj = @class_mappings["Object"]
+      # TODO go through the virtual parfait layer and adjust function names to what they really are
+      obj = @class_mappings[:Object ]
       [:main , :_get_instance_variable , :_set_instance_variable].each do |f|
         obj.add_instance_method Builtin::Object.send(f , nil)
       end
-      obj = @class_mappings["Kernel"]
+      obj = @class_mappings[:Kernel ]
       # create dummy main first, __init__ calls it
       [:putstring,:exit,:__send  ].each do |f|
         obj.add_instance_method Builtin::Kernel.send(f , nil)
       end
       underscore_init = obj.add_instance_method Builtin::Kernel.send(:__init__, nil)
 
-      obj = @class_mappings["Integer"]
+      obj = @class_mappings[:Integer ]
       [:putint,:fibo].each do |f|
         obj.add_instance_method Builtin::Integer.send(f , nil)
       end
 
       # and the @init block in turn _jumps_ to __init__
-      # the point of which is that by the time main executes, all is "normal"
+      # the point of which is that by the time main executes, all is :normal:
       @init = Block.new(:_init_ , nil )
       @init.add_code(Register::RegisterMain.new(underscore_init))
     end
diff --git a/lib/virtual/compiled_method_info.rb b/lib/virtual/compiled_method_info.rb
index cfc1361b..4b095de6 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/compiled_method_info.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/compiled_method_info.rb
@@ -35,10 +35,8 @@ module Virtual
     #
     # compile code then works with the method, but adds code tot the info
     def self.create_method( class_name , method_name , args)
-      raise "uups #{class_name}.#{class_name.class}" if class_name.is_a? Symbol
-      raise "uups #{method_name}.#{method_name.class}" if class_name.is_a? Symbol
-      class_name = Virtual.new_word(class_name) if class_name.is_a? String
-      method_name = Virtual.new_word(method_name) if method_name.is_a? String
+      raise "uups #{class_name}.#{class_name.class}" unless class_name.is_a? Symbol
+      raise "uups #{method_name}.#{method_name.class}" unless class_name.is_a? Symbol
       clazz = Machine.instance.space.get_class_by_name class_name
       raise "No such class #{class_name}" unless clazz
       method = clazz.create_instance_method( method_name , Virtual.new_list(args))
diff --git a/lib/virtual/compiler/basic_expressions.rb b/lib/virtual/compiler/basic_expressions.rb
index 06421983..27819f7e 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/compiler/basic_expressions.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/compiler/basic_expressions.rb
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ module Virtual
       # whichever way this goes the result is stored in the return slot (as all compiles)
       def self.compile_name expression , method
         return Self.new( Reference.new(method.for_class)) if expression.name == :self
-        name = Virtual.new_word expression.name.to_s
+        name = expression.name.to_sym
         if method.has_var(name)
           # either an argument, so it's stored in message
           if( index = method.has_arg(name))
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ module Virtual
 
   #    attr_reader  :string
       def self.compile_string expression , method
-        value = Virtual.new_word(expression.string)
+        value = expression.string.to_sym
         to = Return.new(Reference , value)
         method.info.add_code Set.new( to , value )
         to
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@ module Virtual
         end
         r = Compiler.compile(expression.right , method )
         raise "oh noo, nil from where #{expression.right.inspect}" unless r
-        index = method.has_arg(Virtual.new_word name)
+        index = method.has_arg(name)
         if index
           method.info.add_code Set.new(Return.new , MessageSlot.new(index , r,type , r ))
         else
-          index = method.ensure_local(Virtual.new_word expression.left.name)
+          index = method.ensure_local(expression.left.name.to_sym)
           method.info.add_code Set.new(Return.new , FrameSlot.new(index , r.type , r ))
         end
         r
diff --git a/lib/virtual/compiler/callsite_expression.rb b/lib/virtual/compiler/callsite_expression.rb
index c2aa984e..023e0df0 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/compiler/callsite_expression.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/compiler/callsite_expression.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ module Virtual
       me = Compiler.compile( expession.receiver , method )
       method.info.add_code NewMessage.new
       method.info.add_code Set.new(NewSelf.new(me.type), me)
-      method.info.add_code Set.new(NewName.new(), Virtual.new_word(expession.name))
+      method.info.add_code Set.new(NewName.new(), expession.name.to_sym)
       compiled_args = []
       expession.args.each_with_index do |arg , i|
         #compile in the running method, ie before passing control
diff --git a/lib/virtual/instruction.rb b/lib/virtual/instruction.rb
index 0e76e17a..982487ba 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/instruction.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/instruction.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-require_relative "positioned"
 
 module Virtual
 
diff --git a/lib/virtual/instructions/set.rb b/lib/virtual/instructions/set.rb
index 65d2f24b..955610ce 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/instructions/set.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/instructions/set.rb
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ module Virtual
   class Set < Instruction
     def initialize to , from
       @to = to
-      # hard to find afterwards where it came from, so ensure it doesn't happen
-      raise "From must be slot or constant, not symbol #{from}" if from.is_a? Symbol
       @from = from
     end
     attr_reader :from , :to
diff --git a/lib/virtual/parfait_adapter.rb b/lib/virtual/parfait_adapter.rb
index fa35cd98..4fce8479 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/parfait_adapter.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/parfait_adapter.rb
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ module FakeMem
     end
   end
   def init_layout
-    vm_name = self.class.name.split("::").last
+    vm_name = self.class.name.split("::").last.to_sym
     clazz = Virtual::Machine.instance.class_mappings[vm_name]
     raise "Class not found #{vm_name}" unless clazz
     raise "Layout not set #{vm_name}" unless clazz.object_layout
@@ -52,6 +52,28 @@ module FakeMem
     padded(words*4) # 4 == word length, a constant waiting for a home
   end
 end
+module Virtual
+  def self.new_list array
+    list = Parfait::List.new_object
+    list.set_length array.length
+    index = 1
+    while index <= array.length do
+      list.set(index , array[index - 1])
+      index = index + 1
+    end
+    list
+  end
+end
+class Symbol
+  include Positioned
+  def init_layout;  end
+  def has_layout?
+    true
+  end
+  def get_layout
+    Virtual::Machine.instance.class_mappings[:Word].object_layout
+  end
+end
 
 module Parfait
   # Objects memory functions. Object memory is 1 based
@@ -158,26 +180,3 @@ module Parfait
     end
   end
 end
-
-
-module Virtual
-  # Functions to generate parfait objects
-  def self.new_word( string )
-    string = string.to_s if string.is_a? Symbol
-    word = Parfait::Word.new_object( string.length )
-    string.codepoints.each_with_index do |code , index |
-      word.set_char(index + 1 , code)
-    end
-    word
-  end
-  def self.new_list array
-    list = Parfait::List.new_object
-    list.set_length array.length
-    index = 1
-    while index <= array.length do
-      list.set(index , array[index - 1])
-      index = index + 1
-    end
-    list
-  end
-end
diff --git a/lib/virtual/passes/minimizer.rb b/lib/virtual/passes/minimizer.rb
index 303bd1fe..2d131f7c 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/passes/minimizer.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/passes/minimizer.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ module Virtual
           @gonners << f
         end
       end
-      init= Parfait::Space.object_space.get_class_by_name("Kernel").get_instance_method "__init__"
+      init= Parfait::Space.object_space.get_class_by_name(:Kernel).get_instance_method :__init__
       remove init
       dump_remaining
     end
diff --git a/lib/virtual/passes/send_implementation.rb b/lib/virtual/passes/send_implementation.rb
index 9ab72dbc..6e5ce675 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/passes/send_implementation.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/passes/send_implementation.rb
@@ -39,8 +39,11 @@ module Virtual
           if ref.type.is_a?(Reference) and ref.type.of_class
             #find method and call
             clazz = ref.type.of_class
-            method = clazz.resolve_method code.name.to_s
-            raise "No method found #{code.name}" unless method
+            begin
+            method = clazz.resolve_method code.name
+            rescue
+            raise "No method found #{code.name} for #{clazz.name} in #{clazz.method_names}" unless method
+            end
             new_codes << MethodCall.new( method )
           else
             # must defer send to run-time
diff --git a/test/arm/test_move.rb b/test/arm/test_move.rb
index b8770d5e..32780001 100644
--- a/test/arm/test_move.rb
+++ b/test/arm/test_move.rb
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class TestMoves < MiniTest::Test
     assert_code code , :mvn , [0x05,0x10,0xe0,0xe3] #e3 e0 10 05
   end
   def test_constant_small # like test_mov
-    const = Virtual.new_word "harvey"
+    const = :harvey
     const.set_position( 13 ) # 13 = 5 + 8 , 8 for the arm pipeline offset, gets subtracted
     code = @machine.mov :r1 , 5
     code.set_position(0)
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class TestMoves < MiniTest::Test
     assert_code code , :mov , [0x05,0x10,0xa0,0xe3] #e3 ef 10 05
   end
   def test_constant_big # like test_mov_big
-    const = Virtual.new_word "harvey"
+    const = :harvey
     const.set_position( 0x222 )
     code = @machine.mov :r0 , 0x222
     code.set_position(0)
diff --git a/test/virtual/virtual_helper.rb b/test/virtual/virtual_helper.rb
index fcebe661..1ec58ec6 100644
--- a/test/virtual/virtual_helper.rb
+++ b/test/virtual/virtual_helper.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,17 @@ module VirtualHelper
   end
 
 end
-
+module Virtual
+  # Functions to generate parfait objects
+  def self.new_word( string )
+    string = string.to_s if string.is_a? Symbol
+    word = Parfait::Word.new_object( string.length )
+    string.codepoints.each_with_index do |code , index |
+      word.set_char(index + 1 , code)
+    end
+    word
+  end
+end
 class UnusedSofEquality
   # simple thought: don't recurse for Blocks, just check their names
   def == other