diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 765bb32e..6ecd6982 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -195,10 +195,11 @@ list (
     alloc/fwd.hpp
     alloc/allocator.cpp
     alloc/allocator.hpp
-    alloc/arena.cpp
-    alloc/arena.hpp
-    alloc/forwarding.cpp
-    alloc/forwarding.hpp
+    #alloc/arena.cpp
+    #alloc/arena.hpp
+    alloc/easy.hpp
+    #alloc/forwarding.cpp
+    #alloc/forwarding.hpp
     alloc/raw/traits.hpp
     alloc/raw/affix.cpp
     alloc/raw/affix.hpp
@@ -215,6 +216,8 @@ list (
     alloc/raw/null.hpp
     alloc/raw/stack.cpp
     alloc/raw/stack.hpp
+    alloc/std.hpp
+    alloc/traits.hpp
     annotation.hpp
     array/darray.hpp
     array/sarray.cpp
@@ -521,11 +524,12 @@ if (TESTS)
         algo/sort
         alloc/aligned/foreign
         alloc/aligned/direct
-        alloc/arena
+        #alloc/arena
         #alloc/dynamic
+        alloc/easy
         alloc/linear
         alloc/stack
-        alloc/forwarding
+        #alloc/forwarding
         affine
         array/darray
         array/sarray
diff --git a/alloc/easy.hpp b/alloc/easy.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6bc8b995
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alloc/easy.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,279 @@
+/*
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ *
+ * Copyright 2018 Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+
+#include "traits.hpp"
+
+#include "../std.hpp"
+#include "../view.hpp"
+#include "../memory/buffer/traits.hpp"
+
+#include <utility>
+#include <memory>
+
+
+namespace cruft::alloc::easy {
+    /// Provides an interface suitable for allocating and constructing typed
+    /// objects using a reference to an existing allocator.
+    template <typename AllocatorT>
+    class passthrough {
+    public:
+        explicit passthrough (AllocatorT &_allocator)
+            : m_allocator (_allocator)
+        { ; }
+
+
+        /// Allocate, construct, and return a type `U` using memory from the
+        /// underlying allocator with the default alignment.
+        template <typename U, typename ...Args>
+        U*
+        acquire (Args&&...args)&
+        {
+            auto memory = m_allocator.allocate (sizeof (U), alignof (U));
+            try {
+                return new (memory.data ()) U (std::forward<Args> (args)...);
+            } catch (...) {
+                m_allocator.deallocate (memory.data (), sizeof (U), alignof (U));
+                throw;
+            }
+        }
+
+
+        /// Destruct and deallocate an object which has previously been
+        /// allocated through this interface.
+        template <typename U>
+        void release (U *ptr)
+        {
+            ptr->~U ();
+            m_allocator.deallocate (ptr, sizeof (U), alignof (U));
+        }
+
+
+        /// Create an object of type `U` using `acquire` and wrap the result
+        /// in a std::unique_ptr that will call release on this interface at d
+        /// struction time.
+        template <typename U, typename ...Args>
+        auto unique (Args &&...args)&
+        {
+            struct deleter {
+                passthrough &m_owner;
+
+                void operator() (U *ptr)
+                { return m_owner.release (ptr); }
+            };
+
+            return std::unique_ptr (
+                acquire (std::forward<Args> (args)...),
+                deleter {*this}
+            );
+        }
+
+
+        template <typename T>
+        decltype (auto)
+        offset (T const *ptr)
+        {
+            return m_allocator.offset (ptr);
+        }
+
+
+        decltype(auto) data  (void) { return m_allocator.data  (); }
+        decltype(auto) begin (void) { return m_allocator.begin (); }
+        decltype(auto) end   (void) { return m_allocator.end   (); }
+
+        decltype(auto) remain (void) { return m_allocator.remain (); }
+
+        decltype(auto) offset (void const *ptr) { return m_allocator.offset (ptr); }
+
+
+    private:
+        AllocatorT &m_allocator;
+    };
+
+
+    /// An interfaces that manages an allocator and a backing store, and
+    /// provides a simple interface for constructing arbitrary objects using
+    /// the child objects.
+    template <
+        typename AllocatorT,
+        typename = std::enable_if_t<is_allocator_v<AllocatorT>>
+    >
+    class backed {
+    public:
+        template <typename BufferT, typename ...Args>
+        explicit backed (BufferT &_buffer, Args&&...args)
+            : m_allocator (_buffer, std::forward<Args> (args)...)
+        { ; }
+
+
+        /// Allocate, construct, and return a type `U` using memory from the
+        /// underlying allocator with the default alignment.
+        template <typename U, typename ...Args>
+        U*
+        acquire (Args&&...args)&
+        {
+            auto memory = m_allocator.allocate (sizeof (U), alignof (U));
+            try {
+                return new (memory.data ()) U (std::forward<Args> (args)...);
+            } catch (...) {
+                m_allocator.deallocate (memory.data (), memory.size (), alignof (U));
+                throw;
+            }
+        }
+
+
+        /// Destruct and deallocate an object which has previously been
+        /// allocated through this interface.
+        template <typename U>
+        void release (U *ptr)
+        {
+            ptr->~U ();
+            m_allocator.deallocate (
+                reinterpret_cast<u08*> (ptr),
+                sizeof (U),
+                alignof (U)
+            );
+        }
+
+
+
+        template <typename T>
+        cruft::view<T*>
+        array (std::size_t count)
+        {
+            auto mem = m_allocator.allocate (count * sizeof (T), alignof (T)).template cast<T*> ();
+            try {
+                new (mem.data ()) T[count];
+                return mem;
+            } catch (...) {
+                m_allocator.deallocate (mem.data (), count * sizeof (T), alignof (T));
+                throw;
+            }
+        }
+
+
+
+
+        /// Create an object of type `U` using `acquire` and wrap the result
+        /// in a std::unique_ptr that will call release on this interface at d
+        /// struction time.
+        template <typename U, typename ...Args>
+        auto unique (Args &&...args)&
+        {
+            struct deleter {
+                backed &m_owner;
+
+                void operator() (U *ptr)
+                { return m_owner.release (ptr); }
+            };
+
+            return std::unique_ptr<U,deleter> (
+                acquire<U> (std::forward<Args> (args)...),
+                deleter {*this}
+            );
+        }
+
+
+        decltype(auto) data  (void) { return m_allocator.data  (); }
+        decltype(auto) begin (void) { return m_allocator.begin (); }
+        decltype(auto) end   (void) { return m_allocator.end   (); }
+
+        decltype(auto) used (void) { return m_allocator.used (); }
+        decltype(auto) remain (void) { return m_allocator.remain (); }
+
+        decltype(auto) offset (void const *ptr) { return m_allocator.offset (ptr); }
+
+        template <typename T>
+        decltype(auto)
+        offset (cruft::view<T*> ptr)
+        {
+            return offset (ptr.data ());
+        }
+
+
+    private:
+        AllocatorT m_allocator;
+    };
+
+
+    /// An interfaces that manages an allocator and a backing store, and
+    /// provides a simple interface for constructing arbitrary objects using
+    /// the child objects.
+    template <
+        typename AllocatorT,
+        typename BufferT,
+        typename = std::enable_if_t<true
+            //&& memory::buffer::is_buffer_v<BufferT>
+            && is_allocator_v<AllocatorT>
+        >
+    >
+    class owned {
+    public:
+        explicit owned (BufferT &&_buffer)
+            : m_buffer (std::move (_buffer))
+            , m_allocator (m_buffer)
+        { ; }
+
+
+        /// Allocate, construct, and return a type `U` using memory from the
+        /// underlying allocator with the default alignment.
+        template <typename U, typename ...Args>
+        U*
+        acquire (Args&&...args)&
+        {
+            auto memory = m_allocator.allocate (sizeof (U), alignof (U));
+            try {
+                return new (memory.data ()) U (std::forward<Args> (args)...);
+            } catch (...) {
+                m_allocator.deallocate (memory.data (), memory.size (), alignof (U));
+                throw;
+            }
+        }
+
+
+        /// Destruct and deallocate an object which has previously been
+        /// allocated through this interface.
+        template <typename U>
+        void release (U *ptr)
+        {
+            ptr->~U ();
+            m_allocator.deallocate (
+                reinterpret_cast<u08*> (ptr),
+                sizeof (U),
+                alignof (U)
+            );
+        }
+
+
+        /// Create an object of type `U` using `acquire` and wrap the result
+        /// in a std::unique_ptr that will call release on this interface at d
+        /// struction time.
+        template <typename U, typename ...Args>
+        auto unique (Args &&...args)&
+        {
+            struct deleter {
+                owned &m_owner;
+
+                void operator() (U *ptr)
+                { return m_owner.release (ptr); }
+            };
+
+            return std::unique_ptr<U,deleter> (
+                acquire<U> (std::forward<Args> (args)...),
+                deleter {*this}
+            );
+        }
+
+
+    private:
+        BufferT m_buffer;
+        AllocatorT m_allocator;
+    };
+};
diff --git a/alloc/raw/aligned/direct.hpp b/alloc/raw/aligned/direct.hpp
index 99720682..f5dea4b8 100644
--- a/alloc/raw/aligned/direct.hpp
+++ b/alloc/raw/aligned/direct.hpp
@@ -3,18 +3,18 @@
  * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
  * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
  *
- * Copyright 2016 Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
+ * Copyright 2016-2018 Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
  */
 
-#ifndef CRUFT_UTIL_ALLOC_RAW_ALIGNED_DIRECT_HPP
-#define CRUFT_UTIL_ALLOC_RAW_ALIGNED_DIRECT_HPP
+#pragma once
 
+#include "../../../std.hpp"
 #include "../../../debug.hpp"
 #include "../../../view.hpp"
 
-#include <cstddef>
 #include <utility>
 
+
 namespace cruft::alloc::raw::aligned {
     /// wraps a child allocator and enforces a fixed alignment
     template <typename ChildT>
@@ -22,26 +22,43 @@ namespace cruft::alloc::raw::aligned {
     public:
         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
         template <typename ...Args>
-        direct (cruft::view<std::byte*> _data, std::size_t _alignment, Args &&...args):
-            m_successor (_data, std::forward<Args> (args)...),
-            m_alignment (_alignment)
+        direct (
+            cruft::view<u08*> _data,
+            std::size_t _alignment,
+            Args &&...args
+        )
+            : m_successor (_data, std::forward<Args> (args)...)
+            , m_alignment (_alignment)
         { ; }
 
 
         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-        template <typename T>
-        auto
-        allocate (std::size_t count)
+        auto allocate (std::size_t bytes)
         {
-            return m_successor.template allocate<T> (count, m_alignment);
+            return m_successor.allocate (bytes, m_alignment);
         }
 
+
         //---------------------------------------------------------------------
-        template <typename T>
-        auto
-        deallocate (cruft::view<T*> ptr)
+        auto allocate (std::size_t bytes, std::size_t alignment)
         {
-            return m_successor.template deallocate<T> (ptr);
+            (void)alignment;
+            return m_successor.allocate (bytes, m_alignment);
+        }
+
+
+        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
+        auto deallocate (u08 *ptr, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t alignment)
+        {
+            (void)alignment;
+            return m_successor.deallocate (ptr, bytes, m_alignment);
+        }
+
+
+        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
+        auto deallocate (u08 *ptr, std::size_t bytes)
+        {
+            return m_successor.deallocate (ptr, bytes, m_alignment);
         }
 
 
@@ -82,5 +99,3 @@ namespace cruft::alloc::raw::aligned {
         std::size_t m_alignment;
     };
 }
-
-#endif
diff --git a/alloc/raw/aligned/foreign.hpp b/alloc/raw/aligned/foreign.hpp
index 3ac19d3f..dec13839 100644
--- a/alloc/raw/aligned/foreign.hpp
+++ b/alloc/raw/aligned/foreign.hpp
@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@
  * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
  * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
  *
- * Copyright 2016 Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
+ * Copyright 2016-2018 Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
  */
 
-#ifndef CRUFT_UTIL_ALLOC_RAW_ALIGNED_OFFSET_HPP
-#define CRUFT_UTIL_ALLOC_RAW_ALIGNED_OFFSET_HPP
+#pragma once
 
 #include "direct.hpp"
 
@@ -15,9 +14,9 @@
 #include "../../../pointer.hpp"
 #include "../../../debug.hpp"
 
-#include <cstddef>
 #include <utility>
 
+
 namespace cruft::alloc::raw::aligned {
     /// wraps a child allocator and enforces a fixed alignment that is
     /// independant of the alignment of the provided source buffer.
@@ -45,11 +44,11 @@ namespace cruft::alloc::raw::aligned {
     class foreign {
     public:
         template <typename ...Args>
-        foreign (cruft::view<std::byte*> _data, std::size_t _alignment, Args &&...args):
+        foreign (cruft::view<u08*> _data, std::size_t _alignment, Args &&...args):
             m_successor (
-                view<std::byte*> {
-                    reinterpret_cast<std::byte*> (_alignment),
-                    reinterpret_cast<std::byte*> (_alignment + _data.size ()),
+                view<u08*> {
+                    reinterpret_cast<u08*> (_alignment),
+                    reinterpret_cast<u08*> (_alignment + _data.size ()),
                 },
                 _alignment,
                 std::forward<Args> (args)...
@@ -59,38 +58,43 @@ namespace cruft::alloc::raw::aligned {
         { ; }
 
 
-        template <typename T>
-        cruft::view<T*>
-        allocate (std::size_t count)
+        cruft::view<u08*>
+        allocate (std::size_t bytes, std::size_t alignment)
         {
-            auto root = m_successor.template allocate<T> (count);
-            auto base = root.template cast<char*> ().data ();
-
-            // we can't use alignment cast here because it will almost
-            // certainly fail the tests it performs.
-            return { cruft::cast::ffs<T*> (base + m_offset), count };
+            (void)alignment;
+            auto inner = m_successor.allocate (bytes, m_alignment);
+            return cruft::view { inner.begin () + m_offset, bytes };
         }
 
-        template <typename T>
-        auto
-        deallocate (cruft::view<T*> ptr)
-        {
-            auto base = ptr.template cast<char*> ();
-            auto next = base - m_offset;
 
-            // we can't use alignment cast here because it will almost
-            // certainly fail the tests it performs.
-            return m_successor.template deallocate<T> (
-                cruft::view<T*> { cruft::cast::ffs<T*> (next), ptr.size () }
-            );
+        cruft::view<u08*>
+        allocate (std::size_t bytes)
+        {
+            return m_successor.allocate (bytes);
         }
 
+
+        decltype(auto)
+        deallocate (u08 *ptr, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t alignment)
+        {
+            CHECK_MOD (m_alignment, alignment);
+            return m_successor.deallocate (ptr - m_offset, bytes, alignment);
+        }
+
+
+        decltype(auto)
+        deallocate (u08 *ptr, std::size_t bytes)
+        {
+            return m_successor.deallocate (ptr - m_offset, bytes, m_alignment);
+        }
+
+
         constexpr auto alignment (void) const noexcept { return m_alignment; }
 
         auto offset (const void *ptr) const
         {
             return m_successor.offset (
-                reinterpret_cast<const std::byte*> (ptr) - m_offset
+                reinterpret_cast<u08 const*> (ptr) - m_offset
             );
         }
 
@@ -115,5 +119,3 @@ namespace cruft::alloc::raw::aligned {
         std::size_t m_alignment;
     };
 }
-
-#endif
diff --git a/alloc/raw/linear.cpp b/alloc/raw/linear.cpp
index 85661786..5c280ff2 100644
--- a/alloc/raw/linear.cpp
+++ b/alloc/raw/linear.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 
 #include "linear.hpp"
 
+#include "../traits.hpp"
+
 #include "../../pointer.hpp"
 #include "../../debug.hpp"
 
@@ -15,7 +17,7 @@ using cruft::alloc::raw::linear;
 
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-linear::linear (cruft::view<std::byte*> _data):
+linear::linear (cruft::view<u08*> _data):
     m_begin  (_data.begin ()),
     m_end    (_data.end ()),
     m_cursor (_data.begin ())
@@ -43,7 +45,7 @@ linear::operator= (cruft::alloc::raw::linear &&rhs)
 
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-std::byte*
+u08*
 linear::data (void)
 {
     return m_begin;
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@ linear::data (void)
 
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const std::byte*
+const u08*
 linear::data (void) const
 {
     return m_begin;
@@ -59,7 +61,7 @@ linear::data (void) const
 
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-std::byte*
+u08*
 linear::begin (void)
 {
     return m_begin;
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ linear::begin (void)
 
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const std::byte*
+const u08*
 linear::begin (void) const
 {
     return m_begin;
@@ -75,7 +77,7 @@ linear::begin (void) const
 
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-std::byte*
+u08*
 linear::end (void)
 {
     return m_end;
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ linear::end (void)
 
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const std::byte*
+const u08*
 linear::end (void) const
 {
     return m_end;
@@ -94,7 +96,7 @@ linear::end (void) const
 size_t
 linear::offset (const void *_ptr) const
 {
-    auto ptr = reinterpret_cast<const std::byte*> (_ptr);
+    auto ptr = reinterpret_cast<const u08*> (_ptr);
 
     CHECK_GE (ptr, m_begin);
     return ptr - m_begin;
@@ -131,3 +133,7 @@ linear::remain (void) const
 {
     return capacity () - used ();
 }
+
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+static_assert (cruft::alloc::is_allocator_v<linear>);
diff --git a/alloc/raw/linear.hpp b/alloc/raw/linear.hpp
index f1b57587..dfd047c4 100644
--- a/alloc/raw/linear.hpp
+++ b/alloc/raw/linear.hpp
@@ -3,18 +3,20 @@
  * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
  * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
  *
- * Copyright 2015 Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
+ * Copyright 2015-2018 Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
  */
 
-#ifndef CRUFT_UTIL_ALLOC_RAW_LINEAR_HPP
-#define CRUFT_UTIL_ALLOC_RAW_LINEAR_HPP
+#pragma once
 
+#include "../../std.hpp"
 #include "../../view.hpp"
 #include "../../pointer.hpp"
+#include "../../memory/buffer/traits.hpp"
 
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <iterator>
 
+
 namespace cruft::alloc::raw {
     // allocate progressively across a buffer without concern for deallocation.
     // deallocation is a noop; the only way to free allocations is via reset.
@@ -26,52 +28,67 @@ namespace cruft::alloc::raw {
         linear (linear&&);
         linear& operator= (linear&&);
 
-        linear (cruft::view<std::byte*> _data);
+        linear (cruft::view<u08*> _data);
 
-        template <typename T>
-        cruft::view<T*>
-        allocate (size_t count)
+        template <
+            typename BufferT,
+            typename = std::enable_if_t<
+                memory::buffer::is_buffer_v<BufferT>
+            >
+        >
+        linear (BufferT &_buffer)
+            : linear (cruft::view (_buffer))
+        { ; }
+
+
+        cruft::view<u08*>
+        allocate (size_t bytes)
         {
-            auto const bytes = count * sizeof (T);
             if (m_cursor + bytes > m_end)
                 throw std::bad_alloc ();
 
             auto ptr = m_cursor;
             m_cursor += bytes;
-            return { cruft::cast::alignment<T*> (ptr), count };
+            return { ptr, bytes };
         }
 
 
-        template <typename T>
-        cruft::view<T*>
-        allocate (size_t count, size_t alignment)
+        cruft::view<u08*>
+        allocate (size_t bytes, std::size_t alignment)
         {
-            auto const bytes = count * sizeof (T);
-
-            auto ptr = cruft::align_up (m_cursor, alignment);
+            auto ptr = cruft::align::up (m_cursor, alignment);
             if (ptr + bytes > m_end)
                 throw std::bad_alloc ();
 
             m_cursor = ptr + bytes;
 
-            return { cruft::cast::alignment<T*> (ptr), count };
+            return { ptr, bytes };
         }
 
-        template <typename T>
-        void deallocate (cruft::view<T*> ptr)
+
+        void deallocate (void *ptr, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t alignment)
         {
             (void)ptr;
+            (void)bytes;
+            (void)alignment;
         }
 
-        std::byte* data (void);
-        std::byte* begin (void);
-        std::byte* end (void);
-        std::byte* cursor (void);
 
-        const std::byte* data (void) const;
-        const std::byte* begin (void) const;
-        const std::byte* end (void) const;
-        const std::byte* cursor (void) const;
+        void deallocate (void *ptr, std::size_t bytes)
+        {
+            return deallocate (ptr, bytes, alignof (std::max_align_t));
+        }
+
+
+        u08* data (void);
+        u08* begin (void);
+        u08* end (void);
+        u08* cursor (void);
+
+        u08 const* data (void) const;
+        u08 const* begin (void) const;
+        u08 const* end (void) const;
+        u08 const* cursor (void) const;
 
         size_t offset (const void*) const;
 
@@ -101,11 +118,9 @@ namespace cruft::alloc::raw {
     protected:
         // The begin and end iterators should be constant but that interferes
         // with move operators so we need to leave them mutable.
-        std::byte *m_begin;
-        std::byte *m_end;
+        u08 *m_begin;
+        u08 *m_end;
 
-        std::byte *m_cursor;
+        u08 *m_cursor;
     };
 }
-
-#endif
diff --git a/alloc/raw/stack.hpp b/alloc/raw/stack.hpp
index 382f2b7c..88cded2c 100644
--- a/alloc/raw/stack.hpp
+++ b/alloc/raw/stack.hpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace cruft::alloc::raw {
 
             // align the outgoing pointer if required
             alignment = cruft::max (MIN_ALIGNMENT, alignment);
-            ptr = cruft::align_up (ptr, alignment);
+            ptr = cruft::align::up (ptr, alignment);
 
             // ensure we haven't overrun our allocated segment
             if (ptr + bytes > m_end)
diff --git a/alloc/std.hpp b/alloc/std.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6540cea2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alloc/std.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ *
+ * Copyright 2018 Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <cstddef>
+
+namespace cruft::alloc {
+    template <typename ValueT, typename AllocatorT>
+    struct std {
+        using value_type = ValueT;
+        using size_type = std::size_t;
+        using difference_type = std::ptrdiff_t;
+
+        [[nodiscard]] ValueT* allocate (std::size_t n)
+        {
+            return m_allocator.allocate (n * sizeof (ValueT), alignof (ValueT));
+        }
+
+        void
+        deallocate (ValueT *ptr, std::size_t n)
+        {
+            m_allocator.deallocate (ptr, n * sizeof (ValueT), alignof (ValueT));
+        }
+
+    private:
+        AllocatorT m_allocator;
+    };
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/alloc/traits.hpp b/alloc/traits.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f70abb0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alloc/traits.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ *
+ * Copyright 2018 Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <type_traits>
+
+
+namespace cruft::alloc {
+    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+    /// A trait that evaluates to true if the queried type models cruft::allocator
+    template <
+        typename AllocatorT,
+        typename = std::void_t<>
+    >
+    struct is_allocator
+        : public std::false_type
+    { };
+
+
+    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    template <typename AllocatorT>
+    struct is_allocator<AllocatorT,
+        std::void_t<
+            // Provides aligned and unaligned allocation
+            decltype(std::declval<AllocatorT> ().allocate (0   )),
+            decltype(std::declval<AllocatorT> ().allocate (0, 0)),
+
+            //// Provides aligned an unaligned deallocation
+            decltype(std::declval<AllocatorT> ().deallocate (nullptr, 0)),
+            decltype(std::declval<AllocatorT> ().deallocate (nullptr, 0, 0)),
+
+            //// Provides capacity/used/remain
+            decltype(std::declval<AllocatorT> ().capacity ()),
+            decltype(std::declval<AllocatorT> ().used     ()),
+            decltype(std::declval<AllocatorT> ().remain   ()),
+
+            decltype(std::declval<AllocatorT> ().begin ()),
+            decltype(std::declval<AllocatorT> ().end   ()),
+
+            void
+        >
+    > : public std::true_type
+    { };
+
+
+    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    template <typename AllocatorT>
+    constexpr auto is_allocator_v = is_allocator<AllocatorT>::value;
+}
diff --git a/memory/buffer/paged.cpp b/memory/buffer/paged.cpp
index 14f432a6..0fb715fd 100644
--- a/memory/buffer/paged.cpp
+++ b/memory/buffer/paged.cpp
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ paged::apply_prot (cruft::view<value_type*> region, int prot)
     // bump the request up to page aligned
     static_assert (sizeof (value_type) == 1);
     auto const alignment = pagesize ();
-    auto const first = align_down (region.begin (), alignment);
-    auto const last  = align_up   (region.end   (), alignment);
+    auto const first = align::down (region.begin (), alignment);
+    auto const last  = align::up   (region.end   (), alignment);
 
     if (MAP_FAILED == mmap (first, last - first, prot,
                             MAP_FIXED | MAP_PRIVATE | MAP_ANONYMOUS,
diff --git a/memory/buffer/simple.cpp b/memory/buffer/simple.cpp
index 29de296d..739a1758 100644
--- a/memory/buffer/simple.cpp
+++ b/memory/buffer/simple.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 
 #include "simple.hpp"
 
+#include "traits.hpp"
+
 using cruft::memory::buffer::simple;
 
 
@@ -26,3 +28,7 @@ simple::value_type* simple::end   (void)& { return begin () + m_size; }
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 simple::value_type const* simple::begin (void) const& { return m_base.get (); }
 simple::value_type const* simple::end   (void) const& { return begin () + m_size; }
+
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+static_assert (cruft::memory::buffer::is_buffer_v<cruft::memory::buffer::simple>);
diff --git a/memory/buffer/simple.hpp b/memory/buffer/simple.hpp
index a515bb5a..3570ed24 100644
--- a/memory/buffer/simple.hpp
+++ b/memory/buffer/simple.hpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace cruft::memory::buffer {
         std::size_t capacity (void) const;
 
     private:
-        std::unique_ptr<u08> m_base;
+        std::unique_ptr<u08[]> m_base;
         std::size_t m_size;
     };
 }
diff --git a/pointer.hpp b/pointer.hpp
index c87f8cb1..5e871de8 100644
--- a/pointer.hpp
+++ b/pointer.hpp
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@
 #include <cstdint>
 
 
-namespace cruft {
+namespace cruft::align {
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     /// round the pointer upwards to satisfy the provided alignment
     constexpr inline uintptr_t
-    align_up (uintptr_t ptr, size_t alignment)
+    up (uintptr_t ptr, size_t alignment)
     {
         // we perform this as two steps to avoid unnecessarily incrementing when
         // remainder is zero.
@@ -30,23 +30,23 @@ namespace cruft {
     /// round the pointer upwards to satisfy the provided alignment
     template <typename T>
     constexpr T*
-    align_up (T *_ptr, size_t alignment)
+    up (T *ptr, size_t alignment)
     {
         // we perform this as two steps to avoid unnecessarily incrementing when
         // remainder is zero.
         return reinterpret_cast<T*>(
-            align_up (reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t> (_ptr), alignment)
+            up (reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t> (ptr), alignment)
         );
     }
 
 
-    ///------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    /// round the pointer upwards to the nearest valid alignment for T
+    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
     template <typename T>
-    constexpr auto
-    align_up (T *t)
+    constexpr T*
+    up (T *ptr, std::align_val_t _alignment)
     {
-        return align_up (t, alignof (T));
+        auto alignment = std::underlying_type_t<decltype(_alignment)> (_alignment);
+        return up (ptr, alignment);
     }
 
 
@@ -54,15 +54,25 @@ namespace cruft {
     /// round the pointer upwards to the nearest valid alignment for T
     template <typename T>
     constexpr auto
-    align_up (uintptr_t ptr)
+    up (T *t)
     {
-        return align_up (ptr, alignof (T));
+        return up (t, alignof (T));
+    }
+
+
+    ///------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    /// round the pointer upwards to the nearest valid alignment for T
+    template <typename T>
+    constexpr auto
+    up (uintptr_t ptr)
+    {
+        return up (ptr, alignof (T));
     }
 
 
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     constexpr inline uintptr_t
-    align_down (uintptr_t ptr, size_t alignment)
+    down (uintptr_t ptr, size_t alignment)
     {
         return ptr - ptr % alignment;
     }
@@ -71,10 +81,10 @@ namespace cruft {
     //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
     template <typename T>
     constexpr T*
-    align_down (T *ptr, size_t alignment)
+    down (T *ptr, size_t alignment)
     {
         return reinterpret_cast<T*> (
-            align_down (reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t> (ptr), alignment)
+            down (reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t> (ptr), alignment)
         );
     }
 }
diff --git a/test/alloc/aligned/direct.cpp b/test/alloc/aligned/direct.cpp
index 166fcd11..a049123c 100644
--- a/test/alloc/aligned/direct.cpp
+++ b/test/alloc/aligned/direct.cpp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ main (int, char**)
     // satisfy a sane allocation request during testing, just in case the
     // underlying code actually decides to do something; we don't be touching
     // it ourselves.
-    static std::byte buffer[1024*1024];
+    static u08 buffer[1024*1024];
 
     // pick an alignment that isn't likely to be satisfied by any likely
     // underlying allocator. if the allocation fulfills this alignment then
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ main (int, char**)
     // alignment to produce a likely system alignment. eg, 3 + 5 == 8 which is
     // a power-of-2.
     uintptr_t result[4] = {
-        reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(alloc.allocate<char> (9).data ()),  // just over a power of two
-        reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(alloc.allocate<char> (1).data ()),  // a single byte
-        reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(alloc.allocate<char> (64).data ()), // a cache line
-        reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(alloc.allocate<char> (250).data ()) // multiple lines, but not a power of two
+        reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(alloc.allocate (  9).data ()), // just over a power of two
+        reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(alloc.allocate (  1).data ()), // a single byte
+        reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(alloc.allocate ( 64).data ()), // a cache line
+        reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(alloc.allocate (250).data ())  // multiple lines, but not a power of two
     };
 
     tap.expect (
diff --git a/test/alloc/aligned/foreign.cpp b/test/alloc/aligned/foreign.cpp
index 395f9cb9..42bb041c 100644
--- a/test/alloc/aligned/foreign.cpp
+++ b/test/alloc/aligned/foreign.cpp
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
 int
 main ()
 {
-    static std::byte buffer[1024*1024];
+    static u08 buffer[1024*1024];
     static constexpr std::size_t alignment = 3;
     static constexpr std::size_t increment = 1;
 
     // ensure we have an base pointer that's off-by-one to a likely natural
     // system alignment
-    std::byte* base = cruft::align_up (
+    u08* base = cruft::align::up (
         std::data (buffer),
         alignof (std::max_align_t)
     ) + increment;
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ main ()
 
     // ensure the first element allocated falls at the base address
     tap.expect_eq (base, alloc.data (), "allocator base address is the supplied base address");
-    tap.expect_eq (base, alloc.allocate<std::byte> (8).data (), "first allocation is the supplied base address");
+    tap.expect_eq (base, alloc.allocate (8).data (), "first allocation is the supplied base address");
 
     // allocate a range of values and make sure they all satisfy our alignment.
     // don't choose values which are likely to combine with the testing
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ main ()
     };
 
     for (const auto &t: TESTS) {
-        auto ptr = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t> (alloc.allocate<char> (t.size).data ());
+        auto ptr = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t> (alloc.allocate (t.size).data ());
         auto offset = ptr - reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t> (base);
         tap.expect_mod (offset, alignment, "%s", t.message);
     }
diff --git a/test/alloc/easy.cpp b/test/alloc/easy.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c9162be5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/alloc/easy.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#include "alloc/easy.hpp"
+#include "alloc/raw/linear.hpp"
+#include "memory/buffer/simple.hpp"
+#include "tap.hpp"
+
+#include <cstdlib>
+
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+struct setter {
+    setter (const setter&) = delete;
+
+    setter (bool &_target):
+        target (_target)
+    { target = false; }
+
+    ~setter ()
+    { target = true; }
+
+    bool &target;
+};
+
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+int main ()
+{
+    static constexpr std::size_t elements = 4096;
+    cruft::memory::buffer::simple buf (elements);
+
+    cruft::alloc::easy::owned <
+        cruft::alloc::raw::linear,
+        cruft::memory::buffer::simple
+    > alloc (
+        std::move (buf)
+    );
+
+    cruft::TAP::logger tap;
+
+    bool flag = true;
+
+    // double check our testing object is working, because I'm tired and stupid
+    {
+        setter val (flag);
+        CHECK (!flag);
+    }
+    CHECK (flag);
+
+    // ensure manual acquire and release calls constructors and destructors
+    {
+        auto obj = alloc.acquire<setter> (flag);
+        tap.expect_eq (flag, false, "backed::acquire calls constructor");
+
+        alloc.release (obj);
+        tap.expect_eq (flag, true, "backed::release calls destructor");
+    }
+
+    // ensure unique_ptr like objects call constructors and destructors
+    {
+        auto obj = alloc.unique<setter> (flag);
+        tap.expect_eq (flag, false, "backed::unique acquire calls constructor");
+    }
+
+    tap.expect_eq (flag, true, "backed::unique release calls destructor");
+
+    return tap.status ();
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/alloc/linear.cpp b/test/alloc/linear.cpp
index 10846eec..40e199db 100644
--- a/test/alloc/linear.cpp
+++ b/test/alloc/linear.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ main (void)
 
     constexpr size_t BUFFER_SIZE = 1024;
 
-    alignas (std::max_align_t) std::byte memory[BUFFER_SIZE];
+    alignas (std::max_align_t) u08 memory[BUFFER_SIZE];
     cruft::alloc::raw::linear store (cruft::make_view (memory));
 
     tap.expect_eq (store.begin (), std::begin (memory), "base pointers match");
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ main (void)
     tap.expect_eq (store.capacity (), BUFFER_SIZE, "bytes capacity matches");
 
     tap.expect_throw<std::bad_alloc> (
-        [&] (void) { store.allocate<char> (BUFFER_SIZE + 1, 1); },
+        [&] (void) { store.allocate (BUFFER_SIZE + 1, 1); },
         "excessive allocation throws bad_alloc"
     );
 
     tap.expect_nothrow (
-        [&] (void) { store.allocate<char> (BUFFER_SIZE); },
+        [&] (void) { store.allocate (BUFFER_SIZE); },
         "maximum allocation succeeds"
     );
 
@@ -31,14 +31,14 @@ main (void)
     tap.expect_eq (store.remain (), 0u, "bytes remain matches");
 
     tap.expect_throw<std::bad_alloc> (
-        [&] (void) { store.allocate<char> (1, 1); },
+        [&] (void) { store.allocate (1, 1); },
         "minimum allocation fails after exhaustion"
     );
 
     store.reset ();
 
     tap.expect_nothrow (
-        [&] (void) { store.allocate<char> (1, 1); },
+        [&] (void) { store.allocate (1, 1); },
         "minimum allocation succeeds after reset"
     );