diff --git a/gojo/bufio/bufio.mojo b/gojo/bufio/bufio.mojo
index 92fc6b9..332cfec 100644
--- a/gojo/bufio/bufio.mojo
+++ b/gojo/bufio/bufio.mojo
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from math import max
 from ..io import traits as io
 from ..builtins import copy, panic
 from ..builtins.bytes import Byte, index_byte
diff --git a/gojo/builtins/bytes.mojo b/gojo/builtins/bytes.mojo
index 0504d16..d8ba406 100644
--- a/gojo/builtins/bytes.mojo
+++ b/gojo/builtins/bytes.mojo
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
-from .list import equals
-
-
-alias Byte = Int8
+alias Byte = UInt8
 
 
 fn has_prefix(bytes: List[Byte], prefix: List[Byte]) -> Bool:
@@ -44,7 +41,6 @@ fn index_byte(bytes: List[Byte], delim: Byte) -> Int:
     Returns:
         The index of the first occurrence of the byte delim.
     """
-    var i = 0
     for i in range(len(bytes)):
         if bytes[i] == delim:
             return i
diff --git a/gojo/builtins/list.mojo b/gojo/builtins/list.mojo
deleted file mode 100644
index cb32504..0000000
--- a/gojo/builtins/list.mojo
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,133 +0,0 @@
-fn equals(left: List[Int8], right: List[Int8]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[UInt8], right: List[UInt8]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[Int16], right: List[Int16]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[UInt16], right: List[UInt16]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[Int32], right: List[Int32]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[UInt32], right: List[UInt32]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[Int64], right: List[Int64]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[UInt64], right: List[UInt64]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[Int], right: List[Int]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[Float16], right: List[Float16]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[Float32], right: List[Float32]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[Float64], right: List[Float64]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[String], right: List[String]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[StringLiteral], right: List[StringLiteral]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
-
-
-fn equals(left: List[Bool], right: List[Bool]) -> Bool:
-    if len(left) != len(right):
-        return False
-    for i in range(len(left)):
-        if left[i] != right[i]:
-            return False
-    return True
diff --git a/gojo/bytes/reader.mojo b/gojo/bytes/reader.mojo
index 9539672..90588df 100644
--- a/gojo/bytes/reader.mojo
+++ b/gojo/bytes/reader.mojo
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ struct Reader(
         """Reads and returns a single byte from the internal buffer. Implements the [io.ByteReader] Interface."""
         self.prev_rune = -1
         if self.index >= len(self.buffer):
-            return Int8(0), Error(io.EOF)
+            return UInt8(0), Error(io.EOF)
 
         var byte = self.buffer[int(self.index)]
         self.index += 1
diff --git a/gojo/fmt/fmt.mojo b/gojo/fmt/fmt.mojo
index a44cdf3..3b31275 100644
--- a/gojo/fmt/fmt.mojo
+++ b/gojo/fmt/fmt.mojo
@@ -162,15 +162,15 @@ fn sprintf(formatting: String, *args: Args) -> String:
     for i in range(len(args)):
         var argument = args[i]
         if argument.isa[String]():
-            text = format_string(text, argument.get[String]()[])
+            text = format_string(text, argument[String])
         elif argument.isa[List[Byte]]():
-            text = format_bytes(text, argument.get[List[Byte]]()[])
+            text = format_bytes(text, argument[List[Byte]])
         elif argument.isa[Int]():
-            text = format_integer(text, argument.get[Int]()[])
+            text = format_integer(text, argument[Int])
         elif argument.isa[Float64]():
-            text = format_float(text, argument.get[Float64]()[])
+            text = format_float(text, argument[Float64])
         elif argument.isa[Bool]():
-            text = format_boolean(text, argument.get[Bool]()[])
+            text = format_boolean(text, argument[Bool])
 
     return text
 
@@ -204,15 +204,15 @@ fn printf(formatting: String, *args: Args) raises:
     for i in range(len(args)):
         var argument = args[i]
         if argument.isa[String]():
-            text = format_string(text, argument.get[String]()[])
+            text = format_string(text, argument[String])
         elif argument.isa[List[Byte]]():
-            text = format_bytes(text, argument.get[List[Byte]]()[])
+            text = format_bytes(text, argument[List[Byte]])
         elif argument.isa[Int]():
-            text = format_integer(text, argument.get[Int]()[])
+            text = format_integer(text, argument[Int])
         elif argument.isa[Float64]():
-            text = format_float(text, argument.get[Float64]()[])
+            text = format_float(text, argument[Float64])
         elif argument.isa[Bool]():
-            text = format_boolean(text, argument.get[Bool]()[])
+            text = format_boolean(text, argument[Bool])
         else:
             raise Error("Unknown for argument #" + String(i))
 
diff --git a/gojo/io/__init__.mojo b/gojo/io/__init__.mojo
index 979bee7..74b8a52 100644
--- a/gojo/io/__init__.mojo
+++ b/gojo/io/__init__.mojo
@@ -32,3 +32,8 @@ from .traits import (
     EOF,
 )
 from .io import write_string, read_at_least, read_full, read_all, BUFFER_SIZE
+
+
+alias i1 = __mlir_type.i1
+alias i1_1 = __mlir_attr.`1: i1`
+alias i1_0 = __mlir_attr.`0: i1`
diff --git a/gojo/io/io.mojo b/gojo/io/io.mojo
index 338da66..c9fc8d1 100644
--- a/gojo/io/io.mojo
+++ b/gojo/io/io.mojo
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 from collections.optional import Optional
-from ..builtins import cap, copy, Byte, Error, panic
+from ..builtins import cap, copy, Byte, panic
 from .traits import ERR_UNEXPECTED_EOF
 
-
 alias BUFFER_SIZE = 4096
 
 
@@ -419,7 +418,6 @@ fn read_all[R: Reader](inout reader: R) -> (List[Byte], Error):
     Returns:
         The data read."""
     var dest = List[Byte](capacity=BUFFER_SIZE)
-    var index: Int = 0
     var at_eof: Bool = False
 
     while True:
diff --git a/gojo/io/traits.mojo b/gojo/io/traits.mojo
index 0fa248c..97c3aa5 100644
--- a/gojo/io/traits.mojo
+++ b/gojo/io/traits.mojo
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from collections.optional import Optional
-from ..builtins import Byte, Error
+from ..builtins import Byte
 
 alias Rune = Int32
 
diff --git a/gojo/net/net.mojo b/gojo/net/net.mojo
index 324681a..1c20df8 100644
--- a/gojo/net/net.mojo
+++ b/gojo/net/net.mojo
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from memory._arc import Arc
+from memory.arc import Arc
 import ..io
 from ..builtins import Byte
 from .socket import Socket
diff --git a/gojo/net/socket.mojo b/gojo/net/socket.mojo
index 594cc23..10fcd7b 100644
--- a/gojo/net/socket.mojo
+++ b/gojo/net/socket.mojo
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ struct Socket(FileDescriptorBase):
             src: The data to send.
             max_attempts: The maximum number of attempts to send the data.
         """
-        var header_pointer = Pointer[Int8](src.data.address).bitcast[UInt8]()
+        var header_pointer = src.unsafe_ptr()
         var total_bytes_sent = 0
         var attempts = 0
 
diff --git a/gojo/strings/builder.mojo b/gojo/strings/builder.mojo
index e7a76ed..4ae03de 100644
--- a/gojo/strings/builder.mojo
+++ b/gojo/strings/builder.mojo
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Adapted from https://github.com/maniartech/mojo-strings/blob/master/strings/builder.mojo
-# Modified to use List[Int8] instead of List[String]
+# Modified to use List[Byte] instead of List[String]
 
 import ..io
 from ..builtins import Byte
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ struct StringBuilder(Stringable, Sized, io.Writer, io.ByteWriter, io.StringWrite
             copy.append(0)
         return String(copy)
 
-    fn get_bytes(self) -> List[Int8]:
+    fn get_bytes(self) -> List[Byte]:
         """
         Returns a deepcopy of the byte array of the string builder.
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ struct StringBuilder(Stringable, Sized, io.Writer, io.ByteWriter, io.StringWrite
         """
         return List[Byte](self._vector)
 
-    fn get_null_terminated_bytes(self) -> List[Int8]:
+    fn get_null_terminated_bytes(self) -> List[Byte]:
         """
         Returns a deepcopy of the byte array of the string builder with a null terminator.
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ struct StringBuilder(Stringable, Sized, io.Writer, io.ByteWriter, io.StringWrite
         self._vector.extend(src)
         return len(src), Error()
 
-    fn write_byte(inout self, byte: Int8) -> (Int, Error):
+    fn write_byte(inout self, byte: Byte) -> (Int, Error):
         """
         Appends a byte array to the builder buffer.
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ struct StringBuilder(Stringable, Sized, io.Writer, io.ByteWriter, io.StringWrite
         """
         return self._vector[index]
 
-    fn __setitem__(inout self, index: Int, value: Int8):
+    fn __setitem__(inout self, index: Int, value: Byte):
         """
         Sets the string at the given index.
 
@@ -131,3 +131,90 @@ struct StringBuilder(Stringable, Sized, io.Writer, io.ByteWriter, io.StringWrite
           value: The value to set.
         """
         self._vector[index] = value
+
+
+@value
+struct NewStringBuilder(Stringable, Sized):
+    """
+    A string builder class that allows for efficient string management and concatenation.
+    This class is useful when you need to build a string by appending multiple strings
+    together. It is around 20x faster than using the `+` operator to concatenate
+    strings because it avoids the overhead of creating and destroying many
+    intermediate strings and performs memcopy operations.
+
+    The result is a more efficient when building larger string concatenations. It
+    is generally not recommended to use this class for small concatenations such as
+    a few strings like `a + b + c + d` because the overhead of creating the string
+    builder and appending the strings is not worth the performance gain.
+
+    Example:
+      ```
+      from strings.builder import StringBuilder
+
+      var sb = StringBuilder()
+      sb.write_string("mojo")
+      sb.write_string("jojo")
+      print(sb) # mojojojo
+      ```
+    """
+
+    var _vector: DTypePointer[DType.uint8]
+    var _size: Int
+
+    @always_inline
+    fn __init__(inout self, *, size: Int = 4096):
+        self._vector = DTypePointer[DType.uint8]().alloc(size)
+        self._size = 0
+
+    @always_inline
+    fn __str__(self) -> String:
+        """
+        Converts the string builder to a string.
+
+        Returns:
+          The string representation of the string builder. Returns an empty
+          string if the string builder is empty.
+        """
+        var copy = DTypePointer[DType.uint8]().alloc(self._size + 1)
+        memcpy(copy, self._vector, self._size)
+        copy[self._size] = 0
+        return StringRef(copy, self._size + 1)
+
+    @always_inline
+    fn __del__(owned self):
+        if self._vector:
+            self._vector.free()
+
+    @always_inline
+    fn write(inout self, src: Span[Byte]) -> (Int, Error):
+        """
+        Appends a byte Span to the builder buffer.
+
+        Args:
+          src: The byte array to append.
+        """
+        for i in range(len(src)):
+            self._vector[i] = src._data[i]
+            self._size += 1
+
+        return len(src), Error()
+
+    @always_inline
+    fn write_string(inout self, src: String) -> (Int, Error):
+        """
+        Appends a string to the builder buffer.
+
+        Args:
+          src: The string to append.
+        """
+        return self.write(src.as_bytes_slice())
+
+    @always_inline
+    fn __len__(self) -> Int:
+        """
+        Returns the length of the string builder.
+
+        Returns:
+          The length of the string builder.
+        """
+        return self._size
diff --git a/gojo/syscall/net.mojo b/gojo/syscall/net.mojo
index e396d3f..f3cdb02 100644
--- a/gojo/syscall/net.mojo
+++ b/gojo/syscall/net.mojo
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from .types import c_char, c_int, c_ushort, c_uint, c_void, c_size_t, c_ssize_t, strlen
 from .file import O_CLOEXEC, O_NONBLOCK
+from utils.static_tuple import StaticTuple
 
 alias IPPROTO_IPV6 = 41
 alias IPV6_V6ONLY = 26
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ fn to_char_ptr(s: String) -> Pointer[c_char]:
 
 
 fn c_charptr_to_string(s: Pointer[c_char]) -> String:
-    return String(s.bitcast[Int8](), strlen(s))
+    return String(s.bitcast[UInt8](), strlen(s))
 
 
 fn cftob(val: c_int) -> Bool:
diff --git a/gojo/unicode/utf8/runes.mojo b/gojo/unicode/utf8/runes.mojo
index 56da84b..7346162 100644
--- a/gojo/unicode/utf8/runes.mojo
+++ b/gojo/unicode/utf8/runes.mojo
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from ...builtins import Rune
 from algorithm.functional import vectorize
 from memory.unsafe import DTypePointer
 from sys.info import simdwidthof
-from math.bit import ctlz
+from bit import countl_zero
 
 
 # The default lowest and highest continuation byte.
@@ -322,32 +322,13 @@ fn rune_count_in_string(s: String) -> Int:
     Returns:
         The number of runes in the string.
     """
-    var p = s._as_ptr().bitcast[DType.uint8]()
+    var p = DTypePointer[DType.uint8](s.unsafe_uint8_ptr())
     var string_byte_length = len(s)
     var result = 0
 
     @parameter
     fn count[simd_width: Int](offset: Int):
-        result += int(((p.load[width=simd_width](offset) >> 6) != 0b10).cast[DType.uint8]().reduce_add())
+        result += int(((p.load[width=simd_width](offset) >> 6) != 0b10).reduce_add())
 
     vectorize[count, simd_width_u8](string_byte_length)
     return result
-
-
-fn string_iterator(s: String, func: fn (String) -> None):
-    """Iterate over the runes in a string and call the given function with each rune.
-
-    Args:
-        s: The string to iterate over.
-        func: The function to call with each rune.
-    """
-    var bytes = len(s)
-    var p = s._as_ptr().bitcast[DType.uint8]()
-    while bytes > 0:
-        var char_length = int((p.load() >> 7 == 0).cast[DType.uint8]() * 1 + ctlz(~p.load()))
-        var sp = DTypePointer[DType.int8].alloc(char_length + 1)
-        memcpy(sp, p.bitcast[DType.int8](), char_length)
-        sp[char_length] = 0
-        func(String(sp, char_length + 1))
-        bytes -= char_length
-        p += char_length
diff --git a/tests/test_performance.mojo b/tests/test_performance.mojo
index d0449f2..a2ace9f 100644
--- a/tests/test_performance.mojo
+++ b/tests/test_performance.mojo
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from time import now
-from gojo.strings import StringBuilder
+from gojo.strings.builder import StringBuilder, NewStringBuilder
 from gojo.bytes import buffer
 from goodies import STDWriter
 
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ from goodies import STDWriter
 fn test_string_builder() raises:
     print("Testing string builder performance")
     # Create a string from the buffer
+    var builder_write_start_time = now()
     var builder = StringBuilder()
-    for i in range(100):
+    for _ in range(100):
         _ = builder.write_string(
             "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod"
             " tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim"
@@ -18,11 +19,34 @@ fn test_string_builder() raises:
             " occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt"
             " mollit anim id est laborum."
         )
+    var builder_write_execution_time = now() - builder_write_start_time
+    print("StringBuilder:", "(", builder_write_execution_time, "ns)")
 
     var builder_start_time = now()
     var output = str(builder)
     var builder_execution_time = now() - builder_start_time
 
+    print("Testing new string builder performance")
+    # Create a string from the buffer
+    var new_builder_write_start_time = now()
+    var new_builder = NewStringBuilder()
+    for _ in range(100):
+        _ = new_builder.write_string(
+            "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod"
+            " tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim"
+            " veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea"
+            " commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate"
+            " velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint"
+            " occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt"
+            " mollit anim id est laborum."
+        )
+    var new_builder_write_execution_time = now() - new_builder_write_start_time
+    print("NewStringBuilder:", "(", new_builder_write_execution_time, "ns)")
+
+    var new_builder_start_time = now()
+    var new_output = str(new_builder)
+    var new_builder_execution_time = now() - new_builder_start_time
+
     # Create a string using the + operator
     print("Testing string concatenation performance")
     var vec = List[String]()
@@ -62,6 +86,7 @@ fn test_string_builder() raises:
     var buffer_execution_time = now() - buffer_start_time
 
     print("StringBuilder:", "(", builder_execution_time, "ns)")
+    print("NewStringBuilder:", "(", new_builder_execution_time, "ns)")
     print("String concat:", "(", concat_execution_time, "ns)")
     print("Bytes Buffer:", "(", buffer_execution_time, "ns)")
     print(
@@ -69,6 +94,8 @@ fn test_string_builder() raises:
         str(concat_execution_time - builder_execution_time) + "ns",
         ": StringBuilder is ",
         str(concat_execution_time // builder_execution_time) + "x faster",
+        ": NewStringBuilder is ",
+        str(concat_execution_time // new_builder_execution_time) + "x faster",
         ": Bytes Buffer is ",
         str(concat_execution_time // buffer_execution_time) + "x faster",
     )
@@ -96,3 +123,27 @@ fn test_std_writer_speed() raises:
 fn main() raises:
     # test_std_writer_speed()
     test_string_builder()
+
+    print("Testing new string builder performance")
+    # Create a string from the buffer
+    # var new_builder_write_start_time = now()
+    # var new_builder = NewStringBuilder()
+    # for _ in range(100):
+    #     _ = new_builder.write_string(
+    #         "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod"
+    #         " tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim"
+    #         " veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea"
+    #         " commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate"
+    #         " velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint"
+    #         " occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt"
+    #         " mollit anim id est laborum."
+    #     )
+    # var new_builder_write_execution_time = now() - new_builder_write_start_time
+    # print("NewStringBuilder:", "(", new_builder_write_execution_time, "ns)")
+
+    # var new_builder_start_time = now()
+    # var new_output = str(new_builder)
+    # var new_builder_execution_time = now() - new_builder_start_time
+    # print("NewStringBuilder:", "(", new_builder_execution_time, "ns)")
+    # # print(new_output)
+    # print("done")