diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ed3042a1e71d7..f070ae37dda8d 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -381,8 +381,7 @@ opt mingw-cross 0 "cross-compile for win32 using mingw"
 opt clang 0 "prefer clang to gcc for building the runtime"
 opt ccache 0 "invoke gcc/clang via ccache to reuse object files between builds"
 opt local-rust 0 "use an installed rustc rather than downloading a snapshot"
-opt pax-flags 0 "apply PaX flags to rustc binaries (required for GRSecurity/PaX-patched
- kernels)"
+opt pax-flags 0 "apply PaX flags to rustc binaries (required for GRSecurity/PaX-patched kernels)"
 valopt prefix "/usr/local" "set installation prefix"
 valopt local-rust-root "/usr/local" "set prefix for local rust binary"
 valopt llvm-root "" "set LLVM root"
diff --git a/src/libextra/ebml.rs b/src/libextra/ebml.rs
index 560bcccae8056..f66677c21f7d1 100644
--- a/src/libextra/ebml.rs
+++ b/src/libextra/ebml.rs
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@
 
 
 use std::str;
-use std::cast;
-use std::vec;
 
 // Simple Extensible Binary Markup Language (ebml) reader and writer on a
 // cursor model. See the specification here:
@@ -31,42 +29,9 @@ struct EbmlState {
     data_pos: uint,
 }
 
-#[deriving(Clone)]
-pub enum EbmlData {
-    SafeData(@~[u8]),
-    UnsafeData(*u8, uint)
-}
-
-impl EbmlData {
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn slice<'a>(&'a self, start: uint, end: uint) -> &'a [u8] {
-        match *self {
-            SafeData(@ref v) => v.slice(start, end),
-            UnsafeData(buf, len) => unsafe {
-                do vec::raw::buf_as_slice(buf, len) |s| {
-                    cast::transmute(s.slice(start, end))
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn as_slice<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a [u8] {
-        self.slice(0, self.len())
-    }
-
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn len(&self) -> uint {
-        match *self {
-            SafeData(@ref v) => v.len(),
-            UnsafeData(_, len) => len
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 #[deriving(Clone)]
 pub struct Doc {
-    data: EbmlData,
+    data: @~[u8],
     start: uint,
     end: uint,
 }
@@ -220,28 +185,24 @@ pub mod reader {
     }
 
     pub fn Doc(data: @~[u8]) -> Doc {
-        Doc { data: SafeData(data), start: 0u, end: data.len() }
-    }
-
-    pub fn unsafe_Doc(buf: *u8, len: uint) -> Doc {
-        Doc { data: UnsafeData(buf, len), start: 0u, end: len }
+        Doc { data: data, start: 0u, end: data.len() }
     }
 
-    pub fn doc_at(data: &EbmlData, start: uint) -> TaggedDoc {
-        let elt_tag = vuint_at(data.as_slice(), start);
-        let elt_size = vuint_at(data.as_slice(), elt_tag.next);
+    pub fn doc_at(data: @~[u8], start: uint) -> TaggedDoc {
+        let elt_tag = vuint_at(*data, start);
+        let elt_size = vuint_at(*data, elt_tag.next);
         let end = elt_size.next + elt_size.val;
         TaggedDoc {
             tag: elt_tag.val,
-            doc: Doc { data: data.clone(), start: elt_size.next, end: end }
+            doc: Doc { data: data, start: elt_size.next, end: end }
         }
     }
 
     pub fn maybe_get_doc(d: Doc, tg: uint) -> Option<Doc> {
         let mut pos = d.start;
         while pos < d.end {
-            let elt_tag = vuint_at(d.data.as_slice(), pos);
-            let elt_size = vuint_at(d.data.as_slice(), elt_tag.next);
+            let elt_tag = vuint_at(*d.data, pos);
+            let elt_size = vuint_at(*d.data, elt_tag.next);
             pos = elt_size.next + elt_size.val;
             if elt_tag.val == tg {
                 return Some(Doc { data: d.data, start: elt_size.next,
@@ -264,8 +225,8 @@ pub mod reader {
     pub fn docs(d: Doc, it: &fn(uint, Doc) -> bool) -> bool {
         let mut pos = d.start;
         while pos < d.end {
-            let elt_tag = vuint_at(d.data.as_slice(), pos);
-            let elt_size = vuint_at(d.data.as_slice(), elt_tag.next);
+            let elt_tag = vuint_at(*d.data, pos);
+            let elt_size = vuint_at(*d.data, elt_tag.next);
             pos = elt_size.next + elt_size.val;
             let doc = Doc { data: d.data, start: elt_size.next, end: pos };
             if !it(elt_tag.val, doc) {
@@ -278,8 +239,8 @@ pub mod reader {
     pub fn tagged_docs(d: Doc, tg: uint, it: &fn(Doc) -> bool) -> bool {
         let mut pos = d.start;
         while pos < d.end {
-            let elt_tag = vuint_at(d.data.as_slice(), pos);
-            let elt_size = vuint_at(d.data.as_slice(), elt_tag.next);
+            let elt_tag = vuint_at(*d.data, pos);
+            let elt_size = vuint_at(*d.data, elt_tag.next);
             pos = elt_size.next + elt_size.val;
             if elt_tag.val == tg {
                 let doc = Doc { data: d.data, start: elt_size.next,
@@ -299,22 +260,22 @@ pub mod reader {
 
     pub fn doc_as_u8(d: Doc) -> u8 {
         assert_eq!(d.end, d.start + 1u);
-        d.data.as_slice()[d.start]
+        (*d.data)[d.start]
     }
 
     pub fn doc_as_u16(d: Doc) -> u16 {
         assert_eq!(d.end, d.start + 2u);
-        io::u64_from_be_bytes(d.data.as_slice(), d.start, 2u) as u16
+        io::u64_from_be_bytes(*d.data, d.start, 2u) as u16
     }
 
     pub fn doc_as_u32(d: Doc) -> u32 {
         assert_eq!(d.end, d.start + 4u);
-        io::u64_from_be_bytes(d.data.as_slice(), d.start, 4u) as u32
+        io::u64_from_be_bytes(*d.data, d.start, 4u) as u32
     }
 
     pub fn doc_as_u64(d: Doc) -> u64 {
         assert_eq!(d.end, d.start + 8u);
-        io::u64_from_be_bytes(d.data.as_slice(), d.start, 8u)
+        io::u64_from_be_bytes(*d.data, d.start, 8u)
     }
 
     pub fn doc_as_i8(d: Doc) -> i8 { doc_as_u8(d) as i8 }
@@ -337,7 +298,8 @@ pub mod reader {
     impl Decoder {
         fn _check_label(&mut self, lbl: &str) {
             if self.pos < self.parent.end {
-                let TaggedDoc { tag: r_tag, doc: r_doc } = doc_at(&self.parent.data, self.pos);
+                let TaggedDoc { tag: r_tag, doc: r_doc } =
+                    doc_at(self.parent.data, self.pos);
 
                 if r_tag == (EsLabel as uint) {
                     self.pos = r_doc.end;
@@ -354,7 +316,8 @@ pub mod reader {
             if self.pos >= self.parent.end {
                 fail!("no more documents in current node!");
             }
-            let TaggedDoc { tag: r_tag, doc: r_doc } = doc_at(&self.parent.data, self.pos);
+            let TaggedDoc { tag: r_tag, doc: r_doc } =
+                doc_at(self.parent.data, self.pos);
             debug!("self.parent=%?-%? self.pos=%? r_tag=%? r_doc=%?-%?",
                    self.parent.start,
                    self.parent.end,
diff --git a/src/librustc/driver/driver.rs b/src/librustc/driver/driver.rs
index 1771a11adef13..e0c5a729b3f88 100644
--- a/src/librustc/driver/driver.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/driver/driver.rs
@@ -763,7 +763,7 @@ pub fn build_session_options(binary: @str,
         parse_only: parse_only,
         no_trans: no_trans,
         debugging_opts: debugging_opts,
-        android_cross_path: android_cross_path,
+        android_cross_path: android_cross_path
     };
     return sopts;
 }
diff --git a/src/librustc/metadata/creader.rs b/src/librustc/metadata/creader.rs
index f43c089d331eb..c8c4a396c87af 100644
--- a/src/librustc/metadata/creader.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/metadata/creader.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ use metadata::cstore;
 use metadata::decoder;
 use metadata::filesearch::FileSearch;
 use metadata::loader;
-use metadata::loader::MetadataSection;
 
 use std::hashmap::HashMap;
 use syntax::ast;
@@ -309,7 +308,7 @@ fn resolve_crate(e: @mut Env,
 }
 
 // Go through the crate metadata and load any crates that it references
-fn resolve_crate_deps(e: @mut Env, cdata: MetadataSection) -> cstore::cnum_map {
+fn resolve_crate_deps(e: @mut Env, cdata: @~[u8]) -> cstore::cnum_map {
     debug!("resolving deps of external crate");
     // The map from crate numbers in the crate we're resolving to local crate
     // numbers
diff --git a/src/librustc/metadata/csearch.rs b/src/librustc/metadata/csearch.rs
index bc6b3d30d4325..317b9cf6ce34f 100644
--- a/src/librustc/metadata/csearch.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/metadata/csearch.rs
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ pub fn get_field_type(tcx: ty::ctxt, class_id: ast::def_id,
                       def: ast::def_id) -> ty::ty_param_bounds_and_ty {
     let cstore = tcx.cstore;
     let cdata = cstore::get_crate_data(cstore, class_id.crate);
-    let all_items = reader::get_doc(decoder::section_to_ebml_doc(cdata.data), tag_items);
+    let all_items = reader::get_doc(reader::Doc(cdata.data), tag_items);
     debug!("Looking up %?", class_id);
     let class_doc = expect(tcx.diag,
                            decoder::maybe_find_item(class_id.node, all_items),
diff --git a/src/librustc/metadata/cstore.rs b/src/librustc/metadata/cstore.rs
index 4150894e1d2b7..a5f541412ded9 100644
--- a/src/librustc/metadata/cstore.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/metadata/cstore.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 
 use metadata::cstore;
 use metadata::decoder;
-use metadata::loader::MetadataSection;
 
 use std::hashmap::HashMap;
 use extra;
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ pub type cnum_map = @mut HashMap<ast::CrateNum, ast::CrateNum>;
 
 pub struct crate_metadata {
     name: @str,
-    data: MetadataSection,
+    data: @~[u8],
     cnum_map: cnum_map,
     cnum: ast::CrateNum
 }
diff --git a/src/librustc/metadata/decoder.rs b/src/librustc/metadata/decoder.rs
index f3476a9963d0c..9eb09806bc07d 100644
--- a/src/librustc/metadata/decoder.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/metadata/decoder.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ use metadata::decoder;
 use metadata::tydecode::{parse_ty_data, parse_def_id,
                          parse_type_param_def_data,
                          parse_bare_fn_ty_data, parse_trait_ref_data};
-use metadata::loader::{MetadataSection, UnsafeSection};
 use middle::ty;
 use middle::typeck;
 use middle::astencode::vtable_decoder_helpers;
@@ -57,16 +56,16 @@ fn lookup_hash(d: ebml::Doc, eq_fn: &fn(x:&[u8]) -> bool, hash: u64) ->
     let index = reader::get_doc(d, tag_index);
     let table = reader::get_doc(index, tag_index_table);
     let hash_pos = table.start + (hash % 256 * 4) as uint;
-    let pos = io::u64_from_be_bytes(d.data.as_slice(), hash_pos, 4) as uint;
-    let tagged_doc = reader::doc_at(&d.data, pos);
+    let pos = io::u64_from_be_bytes(*d.data, hash_pos, 4) as uint;
+    let tagged_doc = reader::doc_at(d.data, pos);
 
     let belt = tag_index_buckets_bucket_elt;
 
     let mut ret = None;
     do reader::tagged_docs(tagged_doc.doc, belt) |elt| {
-        let pos = io::u64_from_be_bytes(elt.data.as_slice(), elt.start, 4) as uint;
+        let pos = io::u64_from_be_bytes(*elt.data, elt.start, 4) as uint;
         if eq_fn(elt.data.slice(elt.start + 4, elt.end)) {
-            ret = Some(reader::doc_at(&d.data, pos).doc);
+            ret = Some(reader::doc_at(d.data, pos).doc);
             false
         } else {
             true
@@ -97,8 +96,8 @@ fn find_item(item_id: int, items: ebml::Doc) -> ebml::Doc {
 
 // Looks up an item in the given metadata and returns an ebml doc pointing
 // to the item data.
-fn lookup_item(item_id: int, data: MetadataSection) -> ebml::Doc {
-    let items = reader::get_doc(section_to_ebml_doc(data), tag_items);
+fn lookup_item(item_id: int, data: @~[u8]) -> ebml::Doc {
+    let items = reader::get_doc(reader::Doc(data), tag_items);
     find_item(item_id, items)
 }
 
@@ -216,13 +215,13 @@ fn variant_disr_val(d: ebml::Doc) -> Option<uint> {
 
 fn doc_type(doc: ebml::Doc, tcx: ty::ctxt, cdata: cmd) -> ty::t {
     let tp = reader::get_doc(doc, tag_items_data_item_type);
-    parse_ty_data(tp.data.as_slice(), cdata.cnum, tp.start, tcx,
+    parse_ty_data(*tp.data, cdata.cnum, tp.start, tcx,
                   |_, did| translate_def_id(cdata, did))
 }
 
 fn doc_method_fty(doc: ebml::Doc, tcx: ty::ctxt, cdata: cmd) -> ty::BareFnTy {
     let tp = reader::get_doc(doc, tag_item_method_fty);
-    parse_bare_fn_ty_data(tp.data.as_slice(), cdata.cnum, tp.start, tcx,
+    parse_bare_fn_ty_data(*tp.data, cdata.cnum, tp.start, tcx,
                           |_, did| translate_def_id(cdata, did))
 }
 
@@ -231,7 +230,7 @@ fn doc_transformed_self_ty(doc: ebml::Doc,
                            cdata: cmd) -> Option<ty::t>
 {
     do reader::maybe_get_doc(doc, tag_item_method_transformed_self_ty).map |tp| {
-        parse_ty_data(tp.data.as_slice(), cdata.cnum, tp.start, tcx,
+        parse_ty_data(*tp.data, cdata.cnum, tp.start, tcx,
                       |_, did| translate_def_id(cdata, did))
     }
 }
@@ -242,7 +241,7 @@ pub fn item_type(_item_id: ast::def_id, item: ebml::Doc,
 }
 
 fn doc_trait_ref(doc: ebml::Doc, tcx: ty::ctxt, cdata: cmd) -> ty::TraitRef {
-    parse_trait_ref_data(doc.data.as_slice(), cdata.cnum, doc.start, tcx,
+    parse_trait_ref_data(*doc.data, cdata.cnum, doc.start, tcx,
                          |_, did| translate_def_id(cdata, did))
 }
 
@@ -257,7 +256,7 @@ fn item_ty_param_defs(item: ebml::Doc, tcx: ty::ctxt, cdata: cmd,
     let mut bounds = ~[];
     do reader::tagged_docs(item, tag) |p| {
         let bd = parse_type_param_def_data(
-            p.data.as_slice(), p.start, cdata.cnum, tcx,
+            *p.data, p.start, cdata.cnum, tcx,
             |_, did| translate_def_id(cdata, did));
         bounds.push(bd);
         true
@@ -360,7 +359,7 @@ fn item_to_def_like(item: ebml::Doc, did: ast::def_id, cnum: ast::CrateNum)
     }
 }
 
-pub fn lookup_def(cnum: ast::CrateNum, data: MetadataSection, did_: ast::def_id) ->
+pub fn lookup_def(cnum: ast::CrateNum, data: @~[u8], did_: ast::def_id) ->
    ast::def {
     let item = lookup_item(did_.node, data);
     let did = ast::def_id { crate: cnum, node: did_.node };
@@ -419,7 +418,7 @@ pub fn get_region_param(cdata: cmd, id: ast::NodeId)
     return item_ty_region_param(item);
 }
 
-pub fn get_type_param_count(data: MetadataSection, id: ast::NodeId) -> uint {
+pub fn get_type_param_count(data: @~[u8], id: ast::NodeId) -> uint {
     item_ty_param_count(lookup_item(id, data))
 }
 
@@ -450,7 +449,7 @@ pub fn get_impl_vtables(cdata: cmd,
 
 pub fn get_impl_method(intr: @ident_interner, cdata: cmd, id: ast::NodeId,
                        name: ast::ident) -> Option<ast::def_id> {
-    let items = reader::get_doc(section_to_ebml_doc(cdata.data), tag_items);
+    let items = reader::get_doc(reader::Doc(cdata.data), tag_items);
     let mut found = None;
     do reader::tagged_docs(find_item(id, items), tag_item_impl_method) |mid| {
         let m_did = reader::with_doc_data(mid, parse_def_id);
@@ -462,7 +461,7 @@ pub fn get_impl_method(intr: @ident_interner, cdata: cmd, id: ast::NodeId,
     found
 }
 
-pub fn get_symbol(data: MetadataSection, id: ast::NodeId) -> ~str {
+pub fn get_symbol(data: @~[u8], id: ast::NodeId) -> ~str {
     return item_symbol(lookup_item(id, data));
 }
 
@@ -483,7 +482,7 @@ fn def_like_to_def(def_like: def_like) -> ast::def {
 
 /// Iterates over the language items in the given crate.
 pub fn each_lang_item(cdata: cmd, f: &fn(ast::NodeId, uint) -> bool) -> bool {
-    let root = section_to_ebml_doc(cdata.data);
+    let root = reader::Doc(cdata.data);
     let lang_items = reader::get_doc(root, tag_lang_items);
     do reader::tagged_docs(lang_items, tag_lang_items_item) |item_doc| {
         let id_doc = reader::get_doc(item_doc, tag_lang_items_item_id);
@@ -578,10 +577,10 @@ impl<'self> EachItemContext<'self> {
     fn each_item_of_module(&mut self, def_id: ast::def_id) -> bool {
         // This item might not be in this crate. If it's not, look it up.
         let items = if def_id.crate == self.cdata.cnum {
-            reader::get_doc(section_to_ebml_doc(self.cdata.data), tag_items)
+            reader::get_doc(reader::Doc(self.cdata.data), tag_items)
         } else {
             let crate_data = (self.get_crate_data)(def_id.crate);
-            let root = section_to_ebml_doc(crate_data.data);
+            let root = reader::Doc(crate_data.data);
             reader::get_doc(root, tag_items)
         };
 
@@ -607,10 +606,10 @@ impl<'self> EachItemContext<'self> {
             // a reexport.
             let other_crates_items = if child_def_id.crate ==
                     self.cdata.cnum {
-                reader::get_doc(section_to_ebml_doc(self.cdata.data), tag_items)
+                reader::get_doc(reader::Doc(self.cdata.data), tag_items)
             } else {
                 let crate_data = (self.get_crate_data)(child_def_id.crate);
-                let root = section_to_ebml_doc(crate_data.data);
+                let root = reader::Doc(crate_data.data);
                 reader::get_doc(root, tag_items)
             };
 
@@ -674,10 +673,10 @@ impl<'self> EachItemContext<'self> {
 
             // This reexport may be in yet another crate.
             let other_crates_items = if def_id.crate == self.cdata.cnum {
-                reader::get_doc(section_to_ebml_doc(self.cdata.data), tag_items)
+                reader::get_doc(reader::Doc(self.cdata.data), tag_items)
             } else {
                 let crate_data = (self.get_crate_data)(def_id.crate);
-                let root = section_to_ebml_doc(crate_data.data);
+                let root = reader::Doc(crate_data.data);
                 reader::get_doc(root, tag_items)
             };
 
@@ -709,7 +708,7 @@ pub fn each_path(intr: @ident_interner,
     // make fast. It's the source of most of the performance problems when
     // compiling small crates.
 
-    let root_doc = section_to_ebml_doc(cdata.data);
+    let root_doc = reader::Doc(cdata.data);
     let misc_info_doc = reader::get_doc(root_doc, tag_misc_info);
     let crate_items_doc = reader::get_doc(misc_info_doc,
                                           tag_misc_info_crate_items);
@@ -769,7 +768,7 @@ pub fn maybe_get_item_ast(cdata: cmd, tcx: ty::ctxt,
 pub fn get_enum_variants(intr: @ident_interner, cdata: cmd, id: ast::NodeId,
                      tcx: ty::ctxt) -> ~[@ty::VariantInfo] {
     let data = cdata.data;
-    let items = reader::get_doc(section_to_ebml_doc(data), tag_items);
+    let items = reader::get_doc(reader::Doc(data), tag_items);
     let item = find_item(id, items);
     let mut infos: ~[@ty::VariantInfo] = ~[];
     let variant_ids = enum_variant_ids(item, cdata);
@@ -1207,14 +1206,8 @@ fn list_crate_attributes(intr: @ident_interner, md: ebml::Doc, hash: &str,
     out.write_str("\n\n");
 }
 
-pub fn get_crate_attributes(data: MetadataSection) -> ~[ast::Attribute] {
-    return get_attributes(section_to_ebml_doc(data));
-}
-
-pub fn section_to_ebml_doc(data: MetadataSection) -> ebml::Doc {
-    match data {
-        UnsafeSection(_, buf, len) => reader::unsafe_Doc(buf, len)
-    }
+pub fn get_crate_attributes(data: @~[u8]) -> ~[ast::Attribute] {
+    return get_attributes(reader::Doc(data));
 }
 
 #[deriving(Clone)]
@@ -1225,9 +1218,9 @@ pub struct crate_dep {
     hash: @str
 }
 
-pub fn get_crate_deps(data: MetadataSection) -> ~[crate_dep] {
+pub fn get_crate_deps(data: @~[u8]) -> ~[crate_dep] {
     let mut deps: ~[crate_dep] = ~[];
-    let cratedoc = section_to_ebml_doc(data);
+    let cratedoc = reader::Doc(data);
     let depsdoc = reader::get_doc(cratedoc, tag_crate_deps);
     let mut crate_num = 1;
     fn docstr(doc: ebml::Doc, tag_: uint) -> @str {
@@ -1245,7 +1238,7 @@ pub fn get_crate_deps(data: MetadataSection) -> ~[crate_dep] {
     return deps;
 }
 
-fn list_crate_deps(data: MetadataSection, out: @io::Writer) {
+fn list_crate_deps(data: @~[u8], out: @io::Writer) {
     out.write_str("=External Dependencies=\n");
 
     let r = get_crate_deps(data);
@@ -1258,13 +1251,13 @@ fn list_crate_deps(data: MetadataSection, out: @io::Writer) {
     out.write_str("\n");
 }
 
-pub fn get_crate_hash(data: MetadataSection) -> @str {
-    let cratedoc = section_to_ebml_doc(data);
+pub fn get_crate_hash(data: @~[u8]) -> @str {
+    let cratedoc = reader::Doc(data);
     let hashdoc = reader::get_doc(cratedoc, tag_crate_hash);
     hashdoc.as_str_slice().to_managed()
 }
 
-pub fn get_crate_vers(data: MetadataSection) -> @str {
+pub fn get_crate_vers(data: @~[u8]) -> @str {
     let attrs = decoder::get_crate_attributes(data);
     let linkage_attrs = attr::find_linkage_metas(attrs);
 
@@ -1289,10 +1282,10 @@ fn iter_crate_items(intr: @ident_interner, cdata: cmd,
     };
 }
 
-pub fn list_crate_metadata(intr: @ident_interner, bytes: MetadataSection,
+pub fn list_crate_metadata(intr: @ident_interner, bytes: @~[u8],
                            out: @io::Writer) {
     let hash = get_crate_hash(bytes);
-    let md = section_to_ebml_doc(bytes);
+    let md = reader::Doc(bytes);
     list_crate_attributes(intr, md, hash, out);
     list_crate_deps(bytes, out);
 }
@@ -1314,7 +1307,7 @@ pub fn translate_def_id(cdata: cmd, did: ast::def_id) -> ast::def_id {
 }
 
 pub fn get_link_args_for_crate(cdata: cmd) -> ~[~str] {
-    let link_args = reader::get_doc(section_to_ebml_doc(cdata.data), tag_link_args);
+    let link_args = reader::get_doc(reader::Doc(cdata.data), tag_link_args);
     let mut result = ~[];
     do reader::tagged_docs(link_args, tag_link_args_arg) |arg_doc| {
         result.push(arg_doc.as_str());
diff --git a/src/librustc/metadata/encoder.rs b/src/librustc/metadata/encoder.rs
index bd7442472fe40..dbed508348d03 100644
--- a/src/librustc/metadata/encoder.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/metadata/encoder.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ use std::hashmap::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::io;
 use std::str;
 use std::vec;
+use extra::flate;
 use extra::serialize::Encodable;
 use extra;
 use syntax::abi::AbiSet;
@@ -1569,7 +1570,7 @@ pub static metadata_encoding_version : &'static [u8] =
       0x75, //'u' as u8,
       0x73, //'s' as u8,
       0x74, //'t' as u8,
-      0, 0, 0, 2 ];
+      0, 0, 0, 1 ];
 
 pub fn encode_metadata(parms: EncodeParams, crate: &Crate) -> ~[u8] {
     let wr = @io::BytesWriter::new();
@@ -1682,7 +1683,8 @@ pub fn encode_metadata(parms: EncodeParams, crate: &Crate) -> ~[u8] {
 
     let writer_bytes: &mut ~[u8] = wr.bytes;
 
-    return metadata_encoding_version.to_owned() + *writer_bytes;
+    metadata_encoding_version.to_owned() +
+        flate::deflate_bytes(*writer_bytes)
 }
 
 // Get the encoded string for a type
diff --git a/src/librustc/metadata/loader.rs b/src/librustc/metadata/loader.rs
index 182acc68b1ee5..d0060931a6607 100644
--- a/src/librustc/metadata/loader.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/metadata/loader.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 //! Finds crate binaries and loads their metadata
 
 
-use lib::llvm::{False, llvm, mk_object_file, mk_section_iter, ObjectFile};
+use lib::llvm::{False, llvm, mk_object_file, mk_section_iter};
 use metadata::decoder;
 use metadata::encoder;
 use metadata::filesearch::FileSearch;
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ use std::os::consts::{macos, freebsd, linux, android, win32};
 use std::ptr;
 use std::str;
 use std::vec;
+use extra::flate;
 
 pub enum os {
     os_macos,
@@ -53,14 +54,7 @@ pub struct Context {
     intr: @ident_interner
 }
 
-#[deriving(Clone)]
-pub enum MetadataSection {
-    // A pointer to the object file metadata section, along with
-    // the ObjectFile handle that keeps it from being destructed
-    UnsafeSection(@ObjectFile, *u8, uint)
-}
-
-pub fn load_library_crate(cx: &Context) -> (~str, MetadataSection) {
+pub fn load_library_crate(cx: &Context) -> (~str, @~[u8]) {
     match find_library_crate(cx) {
       Some(t) => t,
       None => {
@@ -71,7 +65,7 @@ pub fn load_library_crate(cx: &Context) -> (~str, MetadataSection) {
     }
 }
 
-fn find_library_crate(cx: &Context) -> Option<(~str, MetadataSection)> {
+fn find_library_crate(cx: &Context) -> Option<(~str, @~[u8])> {
     attr::require_unique_names(cx.diag, cx.metas);
     find_library_crate_aux(cx, libname(cx), cx.filesearch)
 }
@@ -93,7 +87,7 @@ fn find_library_crate_aux(
     cx: &Context,
     (prefix, suffix): (~str, ~str),
     filesearch: @filesearch::FileSearch
-) -> Option<(~str, MetadataSection)> {
+) -> Option<(~str, @~[u8])> {
     let crate_name = crate_name_from_metas(cx.metas);
     // want: crate_name.dir_part() + prefix + crate_name.file_part + "-"
     let prefix = fmt!("%s%s-", prefix, crate_name);
@@ -177,7 +171,7 @@ pub fn note_linkage_attrs(intr: @ident_interner,
     }
 }
 
-fn crate_matches(crate_data: MetadataSection,
+fn crate_matches(crate_data: @~[u8],
                  metas: &[@ast::MetaItem],
                  hash: @str) -> bool {
     let attrs = decoder::get_crate_attributes(crate_data);
@@ -203,17 +197,17 @@ pub fn metadata_matches(extern_metas: &[@ast::MetaItem],
 }
 
 fn get_metadata_section(os: os,
-                        filename: &Path) -> Option<MetadataSection> {
+                        filename: &Path) -> Option<@~[u8]> {
     unsafe {
         let mb = do filename.with_c_str |buf| {
             llvm::LLVMRustCreateMemoryBufferWithContentsOfFile(buf)
         };
-        if mb as int == 0 { return None; }
-        let of = @match mk_object_file(mb) {
+        if mb as int == 0 { return option::None::<@~[u8]>; }
+        let of = match mk_object_file(mb) {
             option::Some(of) => of,
-            _ => return None
+            _ => return option::None::<@~[u8]>
         };
-        let si = mk_section_iter((*of).llof);
+        let si = mk_section_iter(of.llof);
         while llvm::LLVMIsSectionIteratorAtEnd(of.llof, si.llsi) == False {
             let name_buf = llvm::LLVMGetSectionName(si.llsi);
             let name = str::raw::from_c_str(name_buf);
@@ -221,6 +215,7 @@ fn get_metadata_section(os: os,
             if name == read_meta_section_name(os) {
                 let cbuf = llvm::LLVMGetSectionContents(si.llsi);
                 let csz = llvm::LLVMGetSectionSize(si.llsi) as uint;
+                let mut found = None;
                 let cvbuf: *u8 = cast::transmute(cbuf);
                 let vlen = encoder::metadata_encoding_version.len();
                 debug!("checking %u bytes of metadata-version stamp",
@@ -234,12 +229,19 @@ fn get_metadata_section(os: os,
                 if !version_ok { return None; }
 
                 let cvbuf1 = ptr::offset(cvbuf, vlen as int);
-
-                return Some(UnsafeSection(of, cvbuf1, csz-vlen))
+                debug!("inflating %u bytes of compressed metadata",
+                       csz - vlen);
+                do vec::raw::buf_as_slice(cvbuf1, csz-vlen) |bytes| {
+                    let inflated = flate::inflate_bytes(bytes);
+                    found = Some(@(inflated));
+                }
+                if found != None {
+                    return found;
+                }
             }
             llvm::LLVMMoveToNextSection(si.llsi);
         }
-        return None;
+        return option::None::<@~[u8]>;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/astencode.rs b/src/librustc/middle/astencode.rs
index 791be656d4bcb..a22daac90b551 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/astencode.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/astencode.rs
@@ -1022,7 +1022,7 @@ impl ebml_decoder_decoder_helpers for reader::Decoder {
                      tcx: ty::ctxt, cdata: @cstore::crate_metadata) -> ty::t {
         do self.read_opaque |_, doc| {
             tydecode::parse_ty_data(
-                doc.data.as_slice(),
+                *doc.data,
                 cdata.cnum,
                 doc.start,
                 tcx,
@@ -1044,7 +1044,7 @@ impl ebml_decoder_decoder_helpers for reader::Decoder {
 
         return do self.read_opaque |this, doc| {
             let ty = tydecode::parse_ty_data(
-                doc.data.as_slice(),
+                *doc.data,
                 xcx.dcx.cdata.cnum,
                 doc.start,
                 xcx.dcx.tcx,
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ impl ebml_decoder_decoder_helpers for reader::Decoder {
         fn type_string(doc: ebml::Doc) -> ~str {
             let mut str = ~"";
             for i in range(doc.start, doc.end) {
-                str.push_char(doc.data.as_slice()[i] as char);
+                str.push_char(doc.data[i] as char);
             }
             str
         }
@@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ impl ebml_decoder_decoder_helpers for reader::Decoder {
                            -> ty::TypeParameterDef {
         do self.read_opaque |this, doc| {
             tydecode::parse_type_param_def_data(
-                doc.data.as_slice(),
+                *doc.data,
                 doc.start,
                 xcx.dcx.cdata.cnum,
                 xcx.dcx.tcx,