diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a6b08fa..4e7fb13 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,16 +16,26 @@ fuzzy is part of george, and shouldn't run anywhere else.
 
 #### low-level
 
-(most of) fuzzy could be made with assembler macros, but that's no fun
+(most of) fuzzy could be written as assembler macros, but that's no fun
 
 #### reliable
 
 if fuzzy says it can run, george can run it
 
-## feature progress
+## how to work on fuzzy
 
-- [x] parser
-  - roughly complete, but want to finish the whole pipeline before adding things to the parser
-- [x] typechecker
-  - generates a "type stack" from parsed input and checks that word definition types match their body
-- [ ] code generation
+edit `program.asm` and run `./run.sh`. the program gets included in the fuzzy compiler `fuzzy.asm` and is assembled with `vasm6502_oldstyle`, then george runs the program, reading out her system image when she reaches `stp` or `brk`
+
+then the program she compiled gets formatted as a standard 32k rom, and she reads it again, and then shows her system image again when the program finishes (hits `stp` or `brk`).
+
+since fuzzy works on a zero-page data stack, it's pretty easy to read the results of a program from the hexdump.
+
+for now this loop only works on apple silicon, but eventually i'll compile a `george` binary for x86 linux and switch based on the host platform.
+
+## reference help
+
+i wrote [syntax](./syntax.md) and [semantics](./semantics.md) docs to keep track of how fuzzy works before starting work on the compiler implementation in assembly. they're the _official_ source of truth for how fuzzy works. assume that the compiler implementation is always in flux :)
+
+## a note on implementation
+
+i was writing fuzzy's compiler in rust for a sec, but then i realized that it would be a fun challenge to write it in assembly. it's been wayyy easier! and fun! and so rewarding :) this feels like a flex but i'm genuinely just so happy to see george & fuzzy playing together in this little computer world i've made <3
diff --git a/fuzzy.asm b/fuzzy.asm
index 0ff7e59..31f3364 100644
--- a/fuzzy.asm
+++ b/fuzzy.asm
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ binary_subroutine_address = binary_base_index + 1 ; pointer to a subroutine to b
     .include "./subroutines.inc"
 
 program_text:
-    .asciiz '2 3 +'
+    .include "./program.inc"
 
 reset:
     sei
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ compile_values_op:
     ; cmp #"#"
 
 ; a holds character value, y program text index, only iny if you find a matching character & consume it
+; TODO:
+; 1-3 digit decimal values
+; 1-2 digit hex values
 compile_values_nat:
     ; TODO:
     ; cmp #"$" ; is hex?
@@ -84,14 +87,20 @@ compile_values_nat:
     bcc .not_nat 
     cmp #57 ; greater than end of 0-9 georgescii range?
     bcs .not_nat
+    pha
+    lda #$a9 ; $a9: lda imm
+    jsr store_binary
+    pla
     jsr georgescii_decimal_to_value
     jsr store_binary
+    lda #2 ; push
+    jsr store_subroutine
     iny
     rts
     .not_nat:
         rts
 
-; georgescii decmal value in a register, return equivalent plain value in a register
+; georgescii decimal value in a register, return equivalent plain value in a register
 georgescii_decimal_to_value:
     clc
     sbc #$30 ; decimal digits start at georgescii $30
@@ -113,11 +122,9 @@ store_binary:
 ; the first byte at the subroutine's address is its length
 store_contiguous_binary:
     pha ; just to be safe
-    phy
-    phx
     lda (binary_subroutine_address) ; get the subroutine length
     tax ; loop counter
-    ldy #0 ; index into subroutine
+    ldy #1 ; index into subroutine, offset by one to skip subroutine length
     .loop:
         lda (binary_subroutine_address), y
         jsr store_binary
@@ -125,8 +132,6 @@ store_contiguous_binary:
         dex
         bne .loop
     .end:
-        phx
-        ply
         pla
         rts
 
@@ -136,6 +141,7 @@ store_contiguous_binary:
 ; for now, pass the index of the subroutine (in subroutines.asm)
 ; to a and it will get written to binary_subroutine_address
 get_subroutine_address:
+   pha
    tax  ; set up counter
    bne .loop ; first subrotine? 
    stz binary_subroutine_address ; yes, store its address
@@ -155,16 +161,42 @@ get_subroutine_address:
        .no_carry:
            dex ; is this our address?
            bne .loop ; yes, we're done
+       pla
        rts
 
 
 ; pass subroutine index to a and it will get written into the binary
 ; TODO: stabilize subroutine location & just write a `jsr $subroutine` to the binary
 store_subroutine:
+    pha
+    phy
+    phx
     jsr get_subroutine_address
     jsr store_contiguous_binary
+    ; reset subroutine address
+    stz binary_subroutine_address
+    lda #$80
+    sta binary_subroutine_address + 1
+    plx
+    ply
+    pla
     rts
 
+; write error message and stop execution
+error:
+    ldy #0
+    .loop:
+        lda .message, y
+        sta $4000, y
+        beq .end
+        iny
+        bra .loop
+        .end:
+            stp
+    .message:
+        .asciiz "ruh roh! fuzzy couldn't compile"
+
+
 
 isr: ; interrupt service routine
     pha
diff --git a/george b/george
index 27b4099..0693d36 100755
Binary files a/george and b/george differ
diff --git a/program.inc b/program.inc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bfb9f44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/program.inc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+    .asciiz '2 3 +'
diff --git a/run.sh b/run.sh
index 301275d..51090f6 100755
--- a/run.sh
+++ b/run.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@
 
 set -e
 
-vasm6502_oldstyle fuzzy.asm -dotdir -wdc02 -ldots -Fbin -o fuzzy.rom;
-cat fuzzy.rom | ./george > result.bin;
+rm *.bin *.rom
+vasm6502_oldstyle fuzzy.asm -dotdir -wdc02 -ldots -Fbin -o fuzzy.rom &> /dev/null;
+echo -e "\nʕ·ᴥ·ʔ- source text:\n";
+cat program.inc;
+cat fuzzy.rom | ./george > compiled.bin;
+dd skip=16384 count=500 if=compiled.bin of=compiled.rom bs=1 &> /dev/null;
+truncate -s 32k compiled.rom &> /dev/null;
+printf '\x80\x00\x00' | dd of=compiled.rom bs=1 seek=32765 count=3 conv=notrunc &> /dev/null;
+cat compiled.rom | ./george > result.bin;
+echo -e "\n\nʕ·ᴥ·ʔ- compiled program result:\n";
 hexdump -C ./result.bin;
+echo -e "";
diff --git a/subroutines.inc b/subroutines.inc
index 1094678..aaecae5 100644
--- a/subroutines.inc
+++ b/subroutines.inc
@@ -4,4 +4,12 @@ test_contiguous_binary:
 
 ; 1 - assembled from "plus.asm"
 subroutine_plus:
-    .byte 17,$b5,$18,$75,$00,$95,$02,$b5,$02,$75,$01,$95,$03,$e8,$03,$60,$e8,$60
+    .byte 15, $18,$b5,$00,$75,$02,$95, $02, $b5, $01, $75, $03, $95, $03, $ca, $ca
+
+; 2
+subroutine_push:
+    .byte 6,$ca,$ca,$95,$0,$74,$1
+    ; dex
+    ; dex
+    ; sta 0, x
+    ; stz 1, x