diff --git a/premake5.lua b/premake5.lua
index f293d738..d0ab1c08 100644
--- a/premake5.lua
+++ b/premake5.lua
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ workspace "sigma"
         "MultiProcessorCompile"
     }
 
-    buildoptions { "-fsanitize=address" }
-    linkoptions { "-fsanitize=address" }
-    debugformat "C7"
+    -- buildoptions { "-fsanitize=address" }
+    -- linkoptions { "-fsanitize=address" }
+    -- debugformat "C7"
     
     filter "configurations:Release"
         defines { "NDEBUG" }
diff --git a/source/abstract_syntax_tree/node.cpp b/source/abstract_syntax_tree/node.cpp
index 987ab8c1..ffc9b5fa 100644
--- a/source/abstract_syntax_tree/node.cpp
+++ b/source/abstract_syntax_tree/node.cpp
@@ -30,9 +30,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 			case OPERATOR_DIVIDE:       return "OPERATOR_DIVIDE";
 			case OPERATOR_MODULO:       return "OPERATOR_MODULO";
 
-			case EXPLICIT_CAST:         return "EXPLICIT_CAST";
-			case CAST_EXTEND:           return "CAST_EXTEND";
-			case CAST_TRUNCATE:         return "CAST_TRUNCATE";
+			case CAST:                  return "CAST";
 
 			case NUMERICAL_LITERAL:     return "NUMERICAL_LITERAL";
 			case CHARACTER_LITERAL:     return "CHARACTER_LITERAL";
diff --git a/source/abstract_syntax_tree/node.h b/source/abstract_syntax_tree/node.h
index ce06c668..72351b0e 100644
--- a/source/abstract_syntax_tree/node.h
+++ b/source/abstract_syntax_tree/node.h
@@ -52,9 +52,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 
 			// ast_cast
 			// children[0] = value
-			EXPLICIT_CAST,
-			CAST_TRUNCATE,
-			CAST_EXTEND,
+			CAST,
 
 			NUMERICAL_LITERAL,
 			CHARACTER_LITERAL,
@@ -123,12 +121,16 @@ namespace sigma {
 		data_type type;
 	};
 
+	struct ast_array_access {
+		i64 stride;
+	};
+
 	struct ast_namespace {
 		utility::string_table_key identifier_key;
 	};
 
 	using node_properties = utility::property<
-		ast_load, ast_sizeof, ast_function, ast_function_call, ast_literal, ast_variable, ast_bool_literal, ast_namespace, ast_cast
+		ast_array_access, ast_load, ast_sizeof, ast_function, ast_function_call, ast_literal, ast_variable, ast_bool_literal, ast_namespace, ast_cast
 	>;
 
 	struct sl {
diff --git a/source/compiler/compiler/compiler.cpp b/source/compiler/compiler/compiler.cpp
index 6cbef3c8..756e9583 100644
--- a/source/compiler/compiler/compiler.cpp
+++ b/source/compiler/compiler/compiler.cpp
@@ -45,8 +45,6 @@ namespace sigma {
 		// compile the generated IR module
 		backend.module.compile();
 
-		std::cout << "compilation finished\n";
-
 		//emit as an object file
 		if(m_description.emit == OBJECT) {
 			const filepath object_path = get_object_file_path();
diff --git a/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.cpp b/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.cpp
index b9e2529b..e9879177 100644
--- a/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.cpp
+++ b/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.cpp
@@ -109,6 +109,13 @@ namespace sigma {
 
 			return INVALID_CAST_COST; // invalid operation
 		}
+
+		auto determine_cast_kind(const data_type& original, const data_type& target) -> bool {
+			const u16 original_byte_width = original.get_byte_width();
+			const u16 target_byte_width   = target.get_byte_width();
+
+			return original_byte_width > target_byte_width;
+		}
 	} // namespace detail
 
   semantic_context::semantic_context(backend_context& context) : m_context(context) {
diff --git a/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.h b/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.h
index 25925520..337b91d0 100644
--- a/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.h
+++ b/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.h
@@ -12,6 +12,14 @@ namespace sigma {
 		auto mangle_function_identifier(const function_signature& signature, const utility::string_table& string_table) -> std::string;
 		auto calculate_parameter_cast_cost(const function_signature& signature, const std::vector<data_type>& parameter_types) -> u16;
 		auto calculate_cast_cost(const data_type& provided, const data_type& required) -> u16;
+
+		/**
+		 * \brief Determine which cast should be used based on the \b original and \b target type.
+		 * \param original Original type (type before the cast)
+		 * \param target Target type (type after the cast)
+		 * \return True if the cast truncates the value, false otherwise.
+		 */
+		auto determine_cast_kind(const data_type& original, const data_type& target) -> bool; 
 	} // namespace detail 
 	
 	class semantic_context {
diff --git a/source/compiler/test/main.s b/source/compiler/test/main.s
index 9c2b5f55..05833102 100644
--- a/source/compiler/test/main.s
+++ b/source/compiler/test/main.s
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 // -   cleanup ir gen alignment sizes (u64 vs u32 vs u16)
 
 // -   unify parse_identifier_expression and parse_identifier_statement
-// -   heap corruption issue when indexing non-first element 
 
 i32 main() {
 	i32* memory = cast<i32*>(malloc(100));
diff --git a/source/intermediate_representation/builder.cpp b/source/intermediate_representation/builder.cpp
index 975eb334..a0bc13b2 100644
--- a/source/intermediate_representation/builder.cpp
+++ b/source/intermediate_representation/builder.cpp
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 #include "builder.h"
+#include <utility/string_helper.h>
 
 // #define DEBUG_PRINT_BUILDER
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_PRINT_BUILDER
-#define DEBUG_PRINT(__message) utility::console::print("{}\n", (__message))
+#define DEBUG_PRINT(__fmt, ...) utility::console::print("{}\n", std::format(__fmt, ##__VA_ARGS__))
 #else
-#define DEBUG_PRINT(__message)
+#define DEBUG_PRINT(__fmt, ...)
 #endif
 
 namespace sigma::ir {
@@ -68,22 +69,22 @@ namespace sigma::ir {
 	}
 
 	auto builder::create_local(u16 size, u16 alignment) const -> handle<node> {
-		DEBUG_PRINT("creating local");
+		DEBUG_PRINT("creating local size: {} alignment: {}", size, alignment);
 		return get_insert_point_checked()->create_local(size, alignment);
 	}
 
 	auto builder::create_string(const std::string& value) const -> handle<node> {
-		DEBUG_PRINT("creating string");
+		DEBUG_PRINT("creating string '{}'", utility::detail::escape_string(value));
 		return m_target.create_string(get_insert_point_checked(), value);
 	}
 
 	auto builder::create_signed_integer(i64 value, u8 bit_width) const -> handle<node> {
-		DEBUG_PRINT("creating signed integer");
+		DEBUG_PRINT("creating signed integer i{} {}", bit_width, value);
 		return get_insert_point_checked()->create_signed_integer(value, bit_width);
 	}
 
 	auto builder::create_unsigned_integer(u64 value, u8 bit_width) const -> handle<node> {
-		DEBUG_PRINT("creating unsigned integer");
+		DEBUG_PRINT("creating unsigned integer u{} {}", bit_width, value);
 		return get_insert_point_checked()->create_unsigned_integer(value, bit_width);
 	}
 
@@ -123,17 +124,17 @@ namespace sigma::ir {
 	}
 
 	void builder::create_store(handle<node> destination, handle<node> value, u32 alignment, bool is_volatile) const {
-		DEBUG_PRINT("creating store");
+		DEBUG_PRINT("creating store alignment: {}", alignment);
 		get_insert_point_checked()->create_store(destination, value, alignment, is_volatile);
 	}
 
   auto builder::create_array_access(handle<node> base, handle<node> index, i64 stride) const  -> handle<node> { 
-		DEBUG_PRINT("creating array access");
+		DEBUG_PRINT("creating array access stride: {}", stride);
 		return get_insert_point_checked()->create_array_access(base, index, stride);
   }
 
 	auto builder::create_load(handle<node> value_to_load, data_type data_type, u32 alignment, bool is_volatile) const -> handle<node> {
-		DEBUG_PRINT("creating load");
+		DEBUG_PRINT("creating load type: {} alignment: {}", data_type.to_string(), alignment);
 		return get_insert_point_checked()->create_load(value_to_load, data_type, alignment, is_volatile);
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/intermediate_representation/module.cpp b/source/intermediate_representation/module.cpp
index b13560ce..52156399 100644
--- a/source/intermediate_representation/module.cpp
+++ b/source/intermediate_representation/module.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ namespace sigma::ir {
 		// specify individual optimization passes
 		const optimization_pass_list optimizations({});
 		const auto register_allocator = std::make_shared<linear_scan_allocator>();
-		utility::string assembly;
+		// utility::string assembly;
 
 		// go through all declared functions and run codegen
 		for (const handle<function> function : m_functions) {
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ namespace sigma::ir {
 			const utility::byte_buffer bytecode = m_codegen.emit_bytecode(codegen);
 			
 			// DEBUG
-			assembly.append(m_codegen.disassemble(bytecode, codegen));
+			// assembly.append(m_codegen.disassemble(bytecode, codegen));
 			
 			// finally, emit the compiled function
 			function->output = {
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ namespace sigma::ir {
 		}
 
 		// DEBUG
-		utility::console::print("{}\n", assembly.get_underlying());
+		// utility::console::print("{}\n", assembly.get_underlying());
 	}
 
 	auto module::generate_object_file() -> utility::byte_buffer {
diff --git a/source/intermediate_representation/target/arch/x64/x64_instruction_selection.cpp b/source/intermediate_representation/target/arch/x64/x64_instruction_selection.cpp
index c790570c..7778e1ff 100644
--- a/source/intermediate_representation/target/arch/x64/x64_instruction_selection.cpp
+++ b/source/intermediate_representation/target/arch/x64/x64_instruction_selection.cpp
@@ -1113,7 +1113,6 @@ namespace sigma::ir {
 	}
 
 	auto x64_architecture::select_memory_access_instruction(codegen_context& context, handle<node> n, reg dst, i32 store_op, i32 src) -> handle<instruction> {
-		std::cout << "ENTER" << std::endl;
 		const bool has_second_in = store_op < 0 && src >= 0;
 		i32 offset = 0;
 
@@ -1147,7 +1146,6 @@ namespace sigma::ir {
 			}
 
 			index = allocate_node_register(context, n).id;
-			std::cout << "STRIDE: " << stride << '\n';
 
 			if(stride == 1) { 
 				// no scaling required
@@ -1162,7 +1160,10 @@ namespace sigma::ir {
 					}
 
 					// we can't fit this into an LEA, might as well just do a shift
-					context.append_instruction(create_rri(context, instruction::type::SHL, I64_TYPE, dst, index, static_cast<i32>(scale)));
+					context.append_instruction(create_rri(
+						context, instruction::type::SHL, I64_TYPE, dst, static_cast<reg::id_type>(index), static_cast<i32>(scale)
+					));
+
 					index = dst.id;
 					scale = static_cast<memory_scale>(0);
 				}
@@ -1173,7 +1174,10 @@ namespace sigma::ir {
 					dst = allocate_virtual_register(context, nullptr, I64_TYPE);
 				}
 
-				context.append_instruction(create_rri(context, instruction::type::IMUL, I64_TYPE, dst, index, stride));
+				context.append_instruction(create_rri(
+					context, instruction::type::IMUL, I64_TYPE, dst, static_cast<reg::id_type>(index), static_cast<i32>(stride)
+				));
+
 				index = dst.id;
 			}
 
@@ -1192,8 +1196,6 @@ namespace sigma::ir {
 			base = allocate_node_register(context, n);
 		}
 
-		std::cout << "EXIT" << std::endl;
-
 		// compute the base
 		if(store_op < 0) {
 			if(has_second_in) {
diff --git a/source/ir_translator/ir_translator.cpp b/source/ir_translator/ir_translator.cpp
index ac786c9b..8f94273e 100644
--- a/source/ir_translator/ir_translator.cpp
+++ b/source/ir_translator/ir_translator.cpp
@@ -40,9 +40,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 			case node_type::OPERATOR_DIVIDE:
 			case node_type::OPERATOR_MODULO:       return translate_binary_math_operator(ast_node);
 
-			case node_type::CAST_EXTEND:
-			case node_type::CAST_TRUNCATE:
-			case node_type::EXPLICIT_CAST:         return translate_cast(ast_node);
+			case node_type::CAST:                  return translate_cast(ast_node);
 
 			// literals
 			case node_type::NUMERICAL_LITERAL:     return translate_numerical_literal(ast_node);
@@ -191,10 +189,9 @@ namespace sigma {
 		const handle<ir::node> base = translate_node(access_node->children[0]);
 		const handle<ir::node> index = translate_node(access_node->children[1]);
 
-		// TODO: calculate this in the type checker
-		// should be the size of the type for 1D arrays
-		constexpr i64 stride = 4;
-		
+		// stride calculated by the type checker
+		const i64 stride = access_node->get<ast_array_access>().stride;
+
 		return m_context.builder.create_array_access(base, index, stride);
 	}
 
@@ -231,8 +228,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 			default: PANIC("unexpected node type '{}' received", operator_node->type.to_string());
 		}
 
-		NOT_IMPLEMENTED();
-		return nullptr;
+		return nullptr; // unreachable
 	}
 
 	auto ir_translator::translate_cast(handle<node> cast_node) -> handle<ir::node> {
@@ -245,22 +241,18 @@ namespace sigma {
 			return value_to_cast; // just return the pointer
 		}
 
-		if(cast_node->type == node_type::CAST_TRUNCATE) {
+		if(detail::determine_cast_kind(cast.original_type, cast.target_type)) {
+			// truncate the original value
 			return m_context.builder.create_truncate(value_to_cast, target_type);
 		}
 
-		if(cast_node->type == node_type::CAST_EXTEND) {
-			if(cast.original_type.is_signed()) {
-				// signed extend
-				return m_context.builder.create_sxt(value_to_cast, target_type);
-			}
-
-			// zero extend
-			return m_context.builder.create_zxt(value_to_cast, target_type);
+		if (cast.original_type.is_signed()) {
+			// sign-extend the original value
+			return m_context.builder.create_sxt(value_to_cast, target_type);
 		}
 
-		NOT_IMPLEMENTED();
-		return nullptr;
+		// zero-extend the original value
+		return m_context.builder.create_zxt(value_to_cast, target_type);
 	}
 
 	auto ir_translator::translate_function_call(handle<node> call_node) -> handle<ir::node> {
@@ -278,34 +270,37 @@ namespace sigma {
 	}
 
 	auto ir_translator::translate_load(handle<node> load_node) -> handle<ir::node> {
+		// translate the target value
 		const handle<ir::node> value_to_load = translate_node(load_node->children[0]);
+
+		// get the type and alignment of the load
 		const data_type& type_to_load = load_node->get<ast_load>().type;
 		const ir::data_type ir_type = detail::data_type_to_ir(type_to_load);
 		const u16 alignment = type_to_load.get_byte_width();
 
-		const handle<ir::node> load = m_context.builder.create_load(value_to_load, ir_type, alignment, false);
-
-		return load;
+		// create the load operation
+		return m_context.builder.create_load(value_to_load, ir_type, alignment, false);
 	}
 
 	auto ir_translator::translate_variable_access(handle<node> access_node) const -> handle<ir::node> {
 		const auto& accessed_variable = access_node->get<ast_variable>();
 
-		const auto variable = m_context.semantics.get_variable(accessed_variable.identifier_key);
-		return variable->value;
+		// just return the variable value, at this point everything was handled by the type checker
+		return m_context.semantics.get_variable(accessed_variable.identifier_key)->value;
 	}
 
 	auto ir_translator::translate_variable_assignment(handle<node> assignment_node) -> handle<ir::node> {
-		const auto& var = assignment_node->children[0]->get<ast_variable>();
-		const u16 alignment = var.type.get_byte_width();
+		const auto& variable = assignment_node->children[0]->get<ast_variable>();
+		const u16 alignment = variable.type.get_byte_width();
 
-		const handle<ir::node> value = translate_node(assignment_node->children[1]);
+		// get the value we want to store
+		const handle<ir::node> value_to_store = translate_node(assignment_node->children[1]);
 
 		// get the storage location
 		const handle<node> storage_node = assignment_node->children[0];
 		const handle<ir::node> storage = translate_node(storage_node);
 
-		m_context.builder.create_store(storage, value, alignment, false);
+		m_context.builder.create_store(storage, value_to_store, alignment, false);
 		return nullptr;
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/parser/parser.cpp b/source/parser/parser.cpp
index fb9447f3..1f33c69b 100644
--- a/source/parser/parser.cpp
+++ b/source/parser/parser.cpp
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 
 			m_tokens.next();
 
-			array_access = create_node<utility::empty_property>(
+			array_access = create_node<ast_array_access>(
 				node_type::ARRAY_ACCESS, index_expressions.size() + 1, location
 			);
 
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 		m_tokens.next(); // prime the next token (probably a SEMICOLON)
 
 		// create the cast node
-		const handle<node> cast_node = create_node<ast_cast>(node_type::EXPLICIT_CAST, 1, location);
+		const handle<node> cast_node = create_node<ast_cast>(node_type::CAST, 1, location);
 		cast_node->children[0] = value_to_cast;
 
 		ast_cast& cast = cast_node->get<ast_cast>();
@@ -898,7 +898,6 @@ namespace sigma {
 
 		// parse an array access
 		if(m_tokens.get_current_token() == token_type::LEFT_BRACKET) {
-			const handle<token_location> location = m_tokens.get_current_token_location();
 			std::vector<handle<node>> index_expressions;
 
 			while (true) {
@@ -916,7 +915,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 
 			m_tokens.next();
 
-			const handle<node> array_access = create_node<utility::empty_property>(
+			const handle<node> array_access = create_node<ast_array_access>(
 				node_type::ARRAY_ACCESS, index_expressions.size() + 1, location
 			);
 
diff --git a/source/type_checker/type_checker.cpp b/source/type_checker/type_checker.cpp
index 46c20d3e..07bd9730 100644
--- a/source/type_checker/type_checker.cpp
+++ b/source/type_checker/type_checker.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ namespace sigma {
 			case node_type::FUNCTION_CALL:         return type_check_function_call(ast_node, parent, expected);
 
 			case node_type::NAMESPACE_DECLARATION: return type_check_namespace_declaration(ast_node, expected);
-			case node_type::EXPLICIT_CAST:         return type_check_explicit_cast(ast_node, parent, expected);
+
+			// since implicit casts are not type checked we can interpret these casts a being explicit
+			case node_type::CAST:                  return type_check_explicit_cast(ast_node, parent, expected);
 			case node_type::SIZEOF:                return type_check_sizeof(ast_node, parent, expected);
 
 			// control flow
@@ -38,11 +40,11 @@ namespace sigma {
 			case node_type::VARIABLE_DECLARATION:  return type_check_variable_declaration(ast_node);
 			case node_type::VARIABLE_ASSIGNMENT:   return type_check_variable_assignment(ast_node);
 
+			case node_type::LOAD:                  return type_check_load(ast_node, expected);
+
 			case node_type::VARIABLE_ACCESS:       return type_check_variable_access(ast_node, parent, expected);
 			case node_type::ARRAY_ACCESS:          return type_check_array_access(ast_node, parent, expected);
 
-			case node_type::LOAD:                  return type_check_load(ast_node, parent, expected);
-
 			// binary operators
 			case node_type::OPERATOR_ADD:
 			case node_type::OPERATOR_SUBTRACT:
@@ -249,10 +251,14 @@ namespace sigma {
 			TRY(type_check_node(access_node->children[i + 1], access_node, data_type::create_u64()));
 		}
 
-		return array_type.create_access(static_cast<u8>(access_level));
+		// implicitly cast the type, more of a sanity check
+		TRY(const data_type accessed_type, implicit_type_cast(array_type.create_access(static_cast<u8>(access_level)), expected, parent, access_node));
+		access_node->get<ast_array_access>().stride = accessed_type.get_byte_width();
+
+		return accessed_type;
 	}
 
-	auto type_checker::type_check_load(handle<node> load_node, handle<node> parent, data_type expected) -> utility::result<data_type> {
+	auto type_checker::type_check_load(handle<node> load_node, data_type expected) -> utility::result<data_type> {
 		TRY(const data_type load_type, type_check_node(load_node->children[0], load_node, expected));
 		load_node->get<ast_load>().type = load_type;
 		return load_type;
@@ -382,10 +388,10 @@ namespace sigma {
 		//    |              |
 		//    |      -->    cast
 		//    |              |
-		// target     	target
+		// target     	  target
 
 		const bool truncate = original_byte_width > target_byte_width;
-		const handle<node> cast_node = m_context.syntax.ast.create_node<ast_cast>(truncate ? node_type::CAST_TRUNCATE : node_type::CAST_EXTEND, 1, nullptr);
+		const handle<node> cast_node = m_context.syntax.ast.create_node<ast_cast>(node_type::CAST, 1, nullptr);
 		ast_cast& cast = cast_node->get<ast_cast>();
 		cast.original_type = original_type;
 		cast.target_type = target_type;
@@ -432,7 +438,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 			return error::emit(error::code::UNKNOWN_VARIABLE, access_node->location, identifier_str);
 		}
 
-		// default to the declared type
+		// default to the expected type
 		TRY(access.type, implicit_type_cast(variable->type, expected, parent, access_node));
 		return access.type; // return the type checked value
 	}
diff --git a/source/type_checker/type_checker.h b/source/type_checker/type_checker.h
index f48c8609..06e81904 100644
--- a/source/type_checker/type_checker.h
+++ b/source/type_checker/type_checker.h
@@ -41,10 +41,11 @@ namespace sigma {
 		auto type_check_branch(handle<node> branch_node) -> utility::result<data_type>;
 		auto type_check_binary_math_operator(handle<node> operator_node, data_type expected) -> utility::result<data_type>;
 		auto type_check_explicit_cast(handle<node> cast_node, handle<node> parent, data_type expected) -> utility::result<data_type>;
-		auto type_check_variable_access(handle<node> access_node, handle<node> parent, data_type expected) const-> utility::result<data_type>;
-		auto type_check_array_access(handle<node> access_node, handle<node> parent, data_type expected) -> utility::result<data_type>;
 		auto type_check_variable_assignment(handle<node> assignment_node) -> utility::result<data_type>;
-		auto type_check_load(handle<node> load_node, handle<node> parent, data_type expected) -> utility::result<data_type>;
+		auto type_check_load(handle<node> load_node, data_type expected) -> utility::result<data_type>;
+
+		auto type_check_array_access(handle<node> access_node, handle<node> parent, data_type expected) -> utility::result<data_type>;
+		auto type_check_variable_access(handle<node> access_node, handle<node> parent, data_type expected) const->utility::result<data_type>;
 
 		auto type_check_numerical_literal(handle<node> literal_node, data_type expected) const-> utility::result<data_type>;
 		auto type_check_character_literal(handle<node> literal_node, handle<node> parent, data_type expected) const-> utility::result<data_type>;
diff --git a/source/utility/string_helper.h b/source/utility/string_helper.h
index d424ad1a..c219ff6b 100644
--- a/source/utility/string_helper.h
+++ b/source/utility/string_helper.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ namespace utility::detail {
 				overflowed = stream.fail() || value > std::numeric_limits<type>::max() || value < std::numeric_limits<type>::min();
 				return static_cast<type>(value);
 			}
-			if constexpr (std::is_signed_v<type>) {
+			else if constexpr (std::is_signed_v<type>) {
 				// read directly
 				type value;
 				stream >> value;