diff --git a/lib/edlang_ast/src/lib.rs b/lib/edlang_ast/src/lib.rs
index ba9a6fd23..d70c7643f 100644
--- a/lib/edlang_ast/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lib/edlang_ast/src/lib.rs
@@ -31,20 +31,6 @@ pub struct PathExpr {
     pub span: Span,
 }
 
-impl PathExpr {
-    pub fn get_full_path(&self) -> String {
-        let mut result = self.first.name.clone();
-        for path in &self.extra {
-            result.push('.');
-            match path {
-                PathSegment::Field(name) => result.push_str(&name.name),
-                PathSegment::Index { .. } => result.push_str("[]"),
-            }
-        }
-        result
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
 pub enum PathSegment {
     Field(Ident),
@@ -109,6 +95,7 @@ pub struct LetStmt {
 pub struct AssignStmt {
     pub name: PathExpr,
     pub value: Expression,
+    pub deref_times: usize,
     pub span: Span,
 }
 
@@ -182,6 +169,8 @@ pub enum Expression {
     FnCall(FnCallExpr),
     Unary(UnaryOp, Box<Self>),
     Binary(Box<Self>, BinaryOp, Box<Self>),
+    Deref(Box<Self>),
+    AsRef(Box<Self>, bool),
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
diff --git a/lib/edlang_codegen_llvm/src/codegen.rs b/lib/edlang_codegen_llvm/src/codegen.rs
index 9f24a7ed7..f4d433412 100644
--- a/lib/edlang_codegen_llvm/src/codegen.rs
+++ b/lib/edlang_codegen_llvm/src/codegen.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use inkwell::{
     AddressSpace,
 };
 use ir::{LocalKind, ModuleBody, ProgramBody, TypeInfo, ValueTree};
-use llvm_sys::debuginfo::{LLVMDIFlagLValueReference, LLVMDIFlagPublic};
+use llvm_sys::debuginfo::LLVMDIFlagPublic;
 use tracing::{info, trace};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
@@ -234,40 +234,7 @@ fn compile_fn_signature(ctx: &ModuleCompileCtx<'_, '_>, fn_id: DefId) {
 
     // https://llvm.org/doxygen/group__LLVMCCoreTypes.html
 
-    /* starting from 1 to 80
-    allocalign allocptr alwaysinline builtin cold convergent disable_sanitizer_instrumentation fn_ret_thunk_extern hot
-    immarg inreg inlinehint jumptable minsize mustprogress naked nest noalias
-    nobuiltin nocallback nocapture nocf_check noduplicate nofree noimplicitfloat
-    noinline nomerge noprofile norecurse noredzone noreturn nosanitize_bounds
-    nosanitize_coverage nosync noundef nounwind nonlazybind nonnull null_pointer_is_valid
-    optforfuzzing optsize optnone presplitcoroutine readnone readonly returned returns_twice
-    signext safestack sanitize_address sanitize_hwaddress sanitize_memtag sanitize_memory
-    sanitize_thread shadowcallstack skipprofile speculatable speculative_load_hardening ssp
-    sspreq sspstrong strictfp swiftasync swifterror swiftself willreturn writeonly (67) zeroext byref byval elementtype inalloca
-    preallocated sret align 0 allockind(\"\") allocsize(0,0) dereferenceable(0) dereferenceable_or_null(0
-        */
-
-    /*
-    // nounwind
-    fn_value.add_attribute(
-        inkwell::attributes::AttributeLoc::Function,
-        ctx.ctx.context.create_enum_attribute(36, 0),
-    );
-
-    // nonlazybind
-    fn_value.add_attribute(
-        inkwell::attributes::AttributeLoc::Function,
-        ctx.ctx.context.create_enum_attribute(37, 0),
-    );
-
-    // willreturn
-    fn_value.add_attribute(
-        inkwell::attributes::AttributeLoc::Function,
-        ctx.ctx.context.create_enum_attribute(66, 0),
-    );
-    */
-
-    fn_value.set_call_conventions(0);
+    fn_value.set_call_conventions(0); // cconv
 
     let (_, line, _col) = ctx
         .ctx
@@ -420,11 +387,29 @@ fn compile_fn(ctx: &ModuleCompileCtx, fn_id: DefId) -> Result<(), BuilderError>
             match &stmt.kind {
                 ir::StatementKind::Assign(place, rvalue) => {
                     let local = &body.locals[place.local];
+                    let mut local_ty = local.ty.clone();
+                    let mut ptr = *locals.get(&place.local).unwrap();
+
+                    for proj in &place.projection {
+                        match proj {
+                            ir::PlaceElem::Deref => {
+                                ptr = ctx
+                                    .builder
+                                    .build_load(compile_basic_type(ctx, &local_ty), ptr, "deref")?
+                                    .into_pointer_value();
+                                local_ty = match local_ty.kind {
+                                    ir::TypeKind::Ptr(inner) => *inner,
+                                    ir::TypeKind::Ref(_, inner) => *inner,
+                                    _ => unreachable!(),
+                                }
+                            }
+                            ir::PlaceElem::Field { .. } => todo!(),
+                            ir::PlaceElem::Index { .. } => todo!(),
+                        }
+                    }
 
                     let (value, _value_ty) = compile_rvalue(ctx, fn_id, &locals, rvalue)?;
-                    let instruction = ctx
-                        .builder
-                        .build_store(*locals.get(&place.local).unwrap(), value)?;
+                    let instruction = ctx.builder.build_store(ptr, value)?;
 
                     if let Some(_debug_name) = &local.debug_name {
                         let di_local = di_locals.get(&place.local).unwrap();
@@ -558,6 +543,41 @@ fn compile_fn(ctx: &ModuleCompileCtx, fn_id: DefId) -> Result<(), BuilderError>
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn compile_unary_op<'ctx>(
+    ctx: &ModuleCompileCtx<'ctx, '_>,
+    fn_id: DefId,
+    locals: &HashMap<usize, PointerValue<'ctx>>,
+    op: ir::UnOp,
+    value: &ir::Operand,
+) -> Result<(BasicValueEnum<'ctx>, TypeInfo), BuilderError> {
+    let (value, ty) = compile_load_operand(ctx, fn_id, locals, value)?;
+
+    let is_float = matches!(ty.kind, ir::TypeKind::Float(_));
+
+    Ok(match op {
+        ir::UnOp::Not => {
+            assert!(ty.kind.is_integer(), "must be a integer");
+            let value = ctx
+                .builder
+                .build_not(value.into_int_value(), "not")?
+                .as_basic_value_enum();
+            (value, ty)
+        }
+        ir::UnOp::Neg => {
+            let value = if is_float {
+                ctx.builder
+                    .build_float_neg(value.into_float_value(), "negf")?
+                    .as_basic_value_enum()
+            } else {
+                ctx.builder
+                    .build_int_neg(value.into_int_value(), "negi")?
+                    .as_basic_value_enum()
+            };
+            (value, ty)
+        }
+    })
+}
+
 fn compile_bin_op<'ctx>(
     ctx: &ModuleCompileCtx<'ctx, '_>,
     fn_id: DefId,
@@ -908,10 +928,40 @@ fn compile_rvalue<'ctx>(
 ) -> Result<(BasicValueEnum<'ctx>, TypeInfo), BuilderError> {
     Ok(match rvalue {
         ir::RValue::Use(op) => compile_load_operand(ctx, fn_id, locals, op)?,
-        ir::RValue::Ref(_, _) => todo!(),
+        ir::RValue::Ref(_mutable, op) => match op {
+            ir::Operand::Copy(_) => todo!(),
+            ir::Operand::Move(place) => {
+                let mut ptr = *locals.get(&place.local).unwrap();
+                let mut local_ty = {
+                    let body = ctx.ctx.program.functions.get(&fn_id).unwrap();
+                    body.locals[place.local].ty.clone()
+                };
+
+                for proj in &place.projection {
+                    match proj {
+                        ir::PlaceElem::Deref => {
+                            ptr = ctx
+                                .builder
+                                .build_load(compile_basic_type(ctx, &local_ty), ptr, "deref")?
+                                .into_pointer_value();
+                            local_ty = match local_ty.kind {
+                                ir::TypeKind::Ptr(inner) => *inner,
+                                ir::TypeKind::Ref(_, inner) => *inner,
+                                _ => unreachable!(),
+                            }
+                        }
+                        ir::PlaceElem::Field { .. } => todo!(),
+                        ir::PlaceElem::Index { .. } => todo!(),
+                    }
+                }
+
+                (ptr.as_basic_value_enum(), local_ty)
+            }
+            ir::Operand::Constant(_) => todo!("references to constants not yet implemented"),
+        },
         ir::RValue::BinOp(op, lhs, rhs) => compile_bin_op(ctx, fn_id, locals, *op, lhs, rhs)?,
         ir::RValue::LogicOp(_, _, _) => todo!(),
-        ir::RValue::UnOp(_, _) => todo!(),
+        ir::RValue::UnOp(op, value) => compile_unary_op(ctx, fn_id, locals, *op, value)?,
     })
 }
 
@@ -933,8 +983,29 @@ fn compile_load_operand<'ctx>(
             )
         }
         ir::Operand::Move(place) => {
-            let pointee_ty = compile_basic_type(ctx, &body.locals[place.local].ty);
-            let ptr = *locals.get(&place.local).unwrap();
+            let mut ptr = *locals.get(&place.local).unwrap();
+            let mut local_ty = body.locals[place.local].ty.clone();
+
+            for proj in &place.projection {
+                match proj {
+                    ir::PlaceElem::Deref => {
+                        ptr = ctx
+                            .builder
+                            .build_load(compile_basic_type(ctx, &local_ty), ptr, "deref")?
+                            .into_pointer_value();
+                        local_ty = match local_ty.kind {
+                            ir::TypeKind::Ptr(inner) => *inner,
+                            ir::TypeKind::Ref(_, inner) => *inner,
+                            _ => unreachable!(),
+                        }
+                    }
+                    ir::PlaceElem::Field { .. } => todo!(),
+                    ir::PlaceElem::Index { .. } => todo!(),
+                }
+            }
+
+            let pointee_ty = compile_basic_type(ctx, &local_ty);
+
             (
                 ctx.builder.build_load(pointee_ty, ptr, "")?,
                 body.locals[place.local].ty.clone(),
diff --git a/lib/edlang_ir/src/lib.rs b/lib/edlang_ir/src/lib.rs
index 1bc3cfb06..78adedc7c 100644
--- a/lib/edlang_ir/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lib/edlang_ir/src/lib.rs
@@ -208,10 +208,14 @@ pub enum TypeKind {
 }
 
 impl TypeKind {
-    pub fn is_unit(&self) -> bool {
+    pub const fn is_unit(&self) -> bool {
         matches!(self, Self::Unit)
     }
 
+    pub const fn is_integer(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, Self::Int(_) | Self::Uint(_))
+    }
+
     pub fn get_falsy_value(&self) -> ValueTree {
         match self {
             Self::Bool => ValueTree::Leaf(ConstValue::Bool(false)),
diff --git a/lib/edlang_lowering/src/lib.rs b/lib/edlang_lowering/src/lib.rs
index cbf91f6a3..2e3b242a5 100644
--- a/lib/edlang_lowering/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lib/edlang_lowering/src/lib.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ use common::{BodyBuilder, BuildCtx};
 use edlang_ast as ast;
 use edlang_ir as ir;
 use ir::{
-    BasicBlock, Body, DefId, Local, LocalKind, Operand, Place, ProgramBody, Statement,
-    StatementKind, SwitchTarget, Terminator, TypeInfo, TypeKind,
+    BasicBlock, Body, DefId, Local, LocalKind, Operand, Place, PlaceElem, ProgramBody, RValue,
+    Statement, StatementKind, SwitchTarget, Terminator, TypeInfo, TypeKind,
 };
 use tracing::trace;
 
@@ -371,10 +371,40 @@ fn lower_let(builder: &mut BodyBuilder, info: &ast::LetStmt) {
 }
 
 fn lower_assign(builder: &mut BodyBuilder, info: &ast::AssignStmt) {
-    let local = *builder.name_to_local.get(&info.name.first.name).unwrap();
-    let ty = builder.body.locals[local].ty.clone();
-    let (rvalue, _ty) = lower_expr(builder, &info.value, Some(&ty.kind));
-    let (place, _ty) = lower_path(builder, &info.name);
+    let (mut place, mut ty) = lower_path(builder, &info.name);
+
+    if let Some(PlaceElem::Deref) = place.projection.last() {
+        match &ty {
+            TypeKind::Ptr(inner) => {
+                ty = inner.kind.clone();
+            }
+            TypeKind::Ref(is_mut, inner) => {
+                if !is_mut {
+                    panic!("trying to mutate non mut ref");
+                }
+                ty = inner.kind.clone();
+            }
+            _ => unreachable!(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    for _ in 0..info.deref_times {
+        match &ty {
+            TypeKind::Ptr(inner) => {
+                ty = inner.kind.clone();
+            }
+            TypeKind::Ref(is_mut, inner) => {
+                if !is_mut {
+                    panic!("trying to mutate non mut ref");
+                }
+                ty = inner.kind.clone();
+            }
+            _ => unreachable!(),
+        }
+        place.projection.push(PlaceElem::Deref);
+    }
+
+    let (rvalue, _ty) = lower_expr(builder, &info.value, Some(&ty));
 
     builder.statements.push(Statement {
         span: Some(info.name.first.span),
@@ -426,6 +456,8 @@ fn find_expr_type(builder: &mut BodyBuilder, info: &ast::Expression) -> Option<T
                 find_expr_type(builder, lhs).or(find_expr_type(builder, rhs))?
             }
         }
+        ast::Expression::Deref(_) => todo!(),
+        ast::Expression::AsRef(_, _) => todo!(),
     })
 }
 
@@ -447,6 +479,50 @@ fn lower_expr(
         ast::Expression::Binary(lhs, op, rhs) => {
             lower_binary_expr(builder, lhs, op, rhs, type_hint)
         }
+        ast::Expression::Deref(_) => todo!(),
+        ast::Expression::AsRef(inner, mutable) => {
+            let type_hint = match type_hint {
+                Some(inner) => match inner {
+                    TypeKind::Ref(_, inner) => Some(&inner.kind),
+                    _ => unreachable!(),
+                },
+                None => None,
+            };
+            let (mut value, ty) = lower_expr(builder, inner, type_hint);
+
+            // check if its a use directly, to avoid a temporary.
+            value = match value {
+                RValue::Use(op) => RValue::Ref(*mutable, op),
+                value => {
+                    let inner_local = builder.add_local(Local::temp(ty.clone()));
+                    let inner_place = Place {
+                        local: inner_local,
+                        projection: Default::default(),
+                    };
+
+                    builder.statements.push(Statement {
+                        span: None,
+                        kind: StatementKind::StorageLive(inner_local),
+                    });
+
+                    builder.statements.push(Statement {
+                        span: None,
+                        kind: StatementKind::Assign(inner_place.clone(), value),
+                    });
+                    RValue::Ref(*mutable, Operand::Move(inner_place))
+                }
+            };
+
+            let ty = TypeKind::Ref(
+                *mutable,
+                Box::new(TypeInfo {
+                    span: None,
+                    kind: ty,
+                }),
+            );
+
+            (value, ty)
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -459,7 +535,6 @@ fn lower_binary_expr(
 ) -> (ir::RValue, TypeKind) {
     trace!("lowering binary op: {:?}", op);
 
-    // todo: if lhs or rhs is a simple place, dont make another temporary?
     let (lhs, lhs_ty) = if type_hint.is_none() {
         let ty = find_expr_type(builder, lhs)
             .unwrap_or_else(|| find_expr_type(builder, rhs).expect("cant find type"));
@@ -474,39 +549,49 @@ fn lower_binary_expr(
         lower_expr(builder, rhs, type_hint)
     };
 
-    let lhs_local = builder.add_local(Local::temp(lhs_ty.clone()));
-    let rhs_local = builder.add_local(Local::temp(rhs_ty.clone()));
-    let lhs_place = Place {
-        local: lhs_local,
-        projection: Default::default(),
-    };
-    let rhs_place = Place {
-        local: rhs_local,
-        projection: Default::default(),
+    let lhs = match lhs {
+        RValue::Use(op) => op,
+        lhs => {
+            let lhs_local = builder.add_local(Local::temp(lhs_ty.clone()));
+            let lhs_place = Place {
+                local: lhs_local,
+                projection: Default::default(),
+            };
+
+            builder.statements.push(Statement {
+                span: None,
+                kind: StatementKind::StorageLive(lhs_local),
+            });
+
+            builder.statements.push(Statement {
+                span: None,
+                kind: StatementKind::Assign(lhs_place.clone(), lhs),
+            });
+            Operand::Move(lhs_place)
+        }
     };
 
-    builder.statements.push(Statement {
-        span: None,
-        kind: StatementKind::StorageLive(lhs_local),
-    });
+    let rhs = match rhs {
+        RValue::Use(op) => op,
+        rhs => {
+            let rhs_local = builder.add_local(Local::temp(rhs_ty.clone()));
+            let rhs_place = Place {
+                local: rhs_local,
+                projection: Default::default(),
+            };
 
-    builder.statements.push(Statement {
-        span: None,
-        kind: StatementKind::Assign(lhs_place.clone(), lhs),
-    });
+            builder.statements.push(Statement {
+                span: None,
+                kind: StatementKind::StorageLive(rhs_local),
+            });
 
-    builder.statements.push(Statement {
-        span: None,
-        kind: StatementKind::StorageLive(rhs_local),
-    });
-
-    builder.statements.push(Statement {
-        span: None,
-        kind: StatementKind::Assign(rhs_place.clone(), rhs),
-    });
-
-    let lhs = Operand::Move(lhs_place);
-    let rhs = Operand::Move(rhs_place);
+            builder.statements.push(Statement {
+                span: None,
+                kind: StatementKind::Assign(rhs_place.clone(), rhs),
+            });
+            Operand::Move(rhs_place)
+        }
+    };
 
     match op {
         ast::BinaryOp::Arith(op, _) => (
@@ -791,10 +876,19 @@ fn lower_path(builder: &mut BodyBuilder, info: &ast::PathExpr) -> (ir::Place, Ty
         .expect("local not found");
     let ty = builder.body.locals[local].ty.kind.clone();
 
+    let projection = Vec::new();
+
+    for extra in &info.extra {
+        match extra {
+            ast::PathSegment::Field(_) => todo!(),
+            ast::PathSegment::Index { .. } => todo!(),
+        }
+    }
+
     (
         Place {
             local,
-            projection: Default::default(), // todo, field array deref
+            projection: projection.into(), // todo, field array deref
         },
         ty,
     )
diff --git a/lib/edlang_parser/src/grammar.lalrpop b/lib/edlang_parser/src/grammar.lalrpop
index 429a84764..ad6658a62 100644
--- a/lib/edlang_parser/src/grammar.lalrpop
+++ b/lib/edlang_parser/src/grammar.lalrpop
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ pub(crate) PathExpr: ast::PathExpr = {
     first,
     extra: extra.unwrap_or(vec![]),
     span: ast::Span::new(lo, hi),
-  }
+  },
 }
 
 pub PathSegments: Vec<ast::PathSegment> = {
@@ -215,9 +215,10 @@ pub(crate) LetStmt: ast::LetStmt = {
 }
 
 pub(crate) AssignStmt: ast::AssignStmt = {
-  <lo:@L> <name:PathExpr> "=" <value:Expression> <hi:@R> => ast::AssignStmt {
+  <lo:@L> <deref:"*"*> <name:PathExpr> "=" <value:Expression> <hi:@R> => ast::AssignStmt {
     name,
     value,
+    deref_times: deref.len(),
     span: ast::Span::new(lo, hi),
   },
 }
@@ -268,32 +269,38 @@ pub(crate) IfStmt: ast::IfStmt = {
 }
 
 pub(crate) Term: ast::Expression = {
+  #[precedence(level="0")]
   <ValueExpr> => ast::Expression::Value(<>),
   <FnCallExpr> => ast::Expression::FnCall(<>),
+  #[precedence(level="2")] #[assoc(side="left")]
   "(" <Expression> ")",
 }
 
 pub(crate) Expression: ast::Expression = {
   #[precedence(level="0")]
   <Term>,
+  #[precedence(level="1")] #[assoc(side="left")]
+  "&" "mut" <Expression> => ast::Expression::AsRef(Box::new(<>), true),
+  "&" <Expression> => ast::Expression::AsRef(Box::new(<>), false),
+  "*" <Expression> => ast::Expression::Deref(Box::new(<>)),
   <op:UnaryOp> <rhs:Expression> => ast::Expression::Unary(
     op,
     Box::new(rhs)
   ),
-  // <op:UnaryOp> <e:Expression> => ast::Expression::UnaryOp(op, Box::new(e)),
-  #[precedence(level="1")] #[assoc(side="left")]
+
+  #[precedence(level="2")] #[assoc(side="left")]
   <lhs:Expression> <op:BinaryFirstLvlOp> <rhs:Expression> => ast::Expression::Binary(
     Box::new(lhs),
     op,
     Box::new(rhs)
   ),
-  #[precedence(level="2")] #[assoc(side="left")]
+  #[precedence(level="3")] #[assoc(side="left")]
   <lhs:Expression> <op:BinarySecondLvlOp> <rhs:Expression> => ast::Expression::Binary(
     Box::new(lhs),
     op,
     Box::new(rhs)
   ),
-  #[precedence(level="3")] #[assoc(side="left")]
+  #[precedence(level="4")] #[assoc(side="left")]
   <lhs:Expression> <op:BinaryThirdLvlOp> <rhs:Expression> => ast::Expression::Binary(
     Box::new(lhs),
     op,