diff --git a/compiler/arch.ts b/compiler/arch.ts
index b6fc64f..2448b92 100644
--- a/compiler/arch.ts
+++ b/compiler/arch.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ export const Builtins = {
     ArrayPush: 0x22,
     ArrayAt: 0x23,
     ArrayLength: 0x24,
-    StructSet: 0x30,
+    StructNew: 0x30,
+    StructSet: 0x31,
+    StructAt: 0x32,
     Print: 0x40,
     FileOpen: 0x41,
     FileClose: 0x42,
diff --git a/compiler/ast.ts b/compiler/ast.ts
index 1b98fe1..7119da5 100644
--- a/compiler/ast.ts
+++ b/compiler/ast.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ export type ExprKind =
         sym: Sym;
     }
     | { type: "group"; expr: Expr }
+    | { type: "array"; exprs: Expr[] }
+    | { type: "struct"; fields: Field[] }
     | { type: "field"; subject: Expr; ident: string }
     | { type: "index"; subject: Expr; value: Expr }
     | {
@@ -101,6 +103,12 @@ export type BinaryType =
     | "or"
     | "and";
 
+export type Field = {
+    ident: string;
+    expr: Expr;
+    pos: Pos;
+};
+
 export type Param = {
     ident: string;
     etype?: EType;
@@ -141,7 +149,8 @@ export type ETypeKind =
         sym: Sym;
     }
     | { type: "array"; inner: EType }
-    | { type: "struct"; fields: Param[] };
+    | { type: "struct"; fields: Param[] }
+    | { type: "type_of"; expr: Expr };
 
 export type GenericParam = {
     id: number;
diff --git a/compiler/ast_visitor.ts b/compiler/ast_visitor.ts
index 80b69bd..62eb19b 100644
--- a/compiler/ast_visitor.ts
+++ b/compiler/ast_visitor.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { EType, Expr, Param, Stmt } from "./ast.ts";
+import { EType, Expr, Field, Param, Stmt } from "./ast.ts";
 
 export type VisitRes = "stop" | void;
 
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ export interface AstVisitor<Args extends unknown[] = []> {
     visitStringExpr?(expr: Expr, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitIdentExpr?(expr: Expr, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitGroupExpr?(expr: Expr, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
+    visitArrayExpr?(expr: Expr, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
+    visitStructExpr?(expr: Expr, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitFieldExpr?(expr: Expr, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitIndexExpr?(expr: Expr, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitCallExpr?(expr: Expr, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ export interface AstVisitor<Args extends unknown[] = []> {
     visitBlockExpr?(expr: Expr, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitSymExpr?(expr: Expr, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitParam?(param: Param, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
+    visitField?(field: Field, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitEType?(etype: EType, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitErrorEType?(etype: EType, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitNullEType?(etype: EType, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
@@ -48,6 +51,7 @@ export interface AstVisitor<Args extends unknown[] = []> {
     visitSymEType?(etype: EType, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitArrayEType?(etype: EType, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitStructEType?(etype: EType, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
+    visitTypeOfEType?(etype: EType, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
     visitAnno?(etype: EType, ...args: Args): VisitRes;
 }
 
@@ -175,6 +179,14 @@ export function visitExpr<Args extends unknown[] = []>(
             visitExpr(expr.kind.left, v, ...args);
             visitExpr(expr.kind.right, v, ...args);
             break;
+        case "array":
+            if (v.visitArrayExpr?.(expr, ...args) == "stop") return;
+            expr.kind.exprs.map((expr) => visitExpr(expr, v, ...args));
+            break;
+        case "struct":
+            if (v.visitStructExpr?.(expr, ...args) == "stop") return;
+            expr.kind.fields.map((field) => visitField(field, v, ...args));
+            break;
         case "if":
             if (v.visitIfExpr?.(expr, ...args) == "stop") return;
             visitExpr(expr.kind.cond, v, ...args);
@@ -235,6 +247,15 @@ export function visitParam<Args extends unknown[] = []>(
     if (param.etype) visitEType(param.etype, v, ...args);
 }
 
+export function visitField<Args extends unknown[] = []>(
+    field: Field,
+    v: AstVisitor<Args>,
+    ...args: Args
+) {
+    if (v.visitField?.(field, ...args) == "stop") return;
+    visitExpr(field.expr, v, ...args);
+}
+
 export function visitEType<Args extends unknown[] = []>(
     etype: EType,
     v: AstVisitor<Args>,
@@ -271,6 +292,10 @@ export function visitEType<Args extends unknown[] = []>(
             if (v.visitStructEType?.(etype, ...args) == "stop") return;
             etype.kind.fields.map((field) => visitParam(field, v, ...args));
             break;
+        case "type_of":
+            if (v.visitTypeOfEType?.(etype, ...args) == "stop") return;
+            visitExpr(etype.kind.expr, v, ...args);
+            break;
         default:
             throw new Error(
                 `etype '${
diff --git a/compiler/checker.ts b/compiler/checker.ts
index d8f92da..7a42f4b 100644
--- a/compiler/checker.ts
+++ b/compiler/checker.ts
@@ -326,6 +326,10 @@ export class Checker {
                     return { type: "string" };
                 case "group":
                     return this.checkExpr(expr.kind.expr);
+                case "array":
+                    throw new Error("should have been desugared");
+                case "struct":
+                    return this.checkStructExpr(expr);
                 case "field":
                     return this.checkFieldExpr(expr);
                 case "index":
@@ -393,6 +397,15 @@ export class Checker {
         }
     }
 
+    public checkStructExpr(expr: Expr): VType {
+        if (expr.kind.type !== "struct") {
+            throw new Error();
+        }
+        const fields: VTypeParam[] = expr.kind.fields
+            .map(({ ident, expr }) => ({ ident, vtype: this.checkExpr(expr) }));
+        return { type: "struct", fields };
+    }
+
     public checkFieldExpr(expr: Expr): VType {
         if (expr.kind.type !== "field") {
             throw new Error();
@@ -446,8 +459,8 @@ export class Checker {
         if (subject.type === "fn") {
             if (expr.kind.args.length !== subject.params.length) {
                 this.report(
-                    `incorrect number of arguments` +
-                        `, expected ${subject.params.length}`,
+                    `expected ${subject.params.length} arguments` +
+                        `, got ${expr.kind.args.length}`,
                     pos,
                 );
             }
@@ -657,8 +670,8 @@ export class Checker {
         const args = expr.kind.args.map((arg) => this.checkExpr(arg));
         if (args.length !== params.length) {
             this.report(
-                `incorrect number of arguments` +
-                    `, expected ${params.length}`,
+                `expected ${params.length} arguments` +
+                    `, got ${args.length}`,
                 pos,
             );
         }
@@ -989,7 +1002,11 @@ export class Checker {
             }));
             return { type: "struct", fields };
         }
-        throw new Error(`unknown explicit type ${etype.kind.type}`);
+        if (etype.kind.type === "type_of") {
+            const exprVType = this.checkExpr(etype.kind.expr);
+            return exprVType;
+        }
+        throw new Error(`unknown explicit type '${etype.kind.type}'`);
     }
 
     private report(msg: string, pos: Pos) {
diff --git a/compiler/compiler.ts b/compiler/compiler.ts
index 9851c90..6d85a1b 100644
--- a/compiler/compiler.ts
+++ b/compiler/compiler.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { AstCreator, Mod, Stmt } from "./ast.ts";
 import { Checker } from "./checker.ts";
 import { CompoundAssignDesugarer } from "./desugar/compound_assign.ts";
+import { StructLiteralDesugarer } from "./desugar/struct_literal.ts";
 import { SpecialLoopDesugarer } from "./desugar/special_loop.ts";
 import { Reporter } from "./info.ts";
 import { Lexer } from "./lexer.ts";
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ import { AstVisitor, VisitRes, visitStmts } from "./ast_visitor.ts";
 
 import * as path from "jsr:@std/path";
 import { Pos } from "./token.ts";
+import { ArrayLiteralDesugarer } from "./desugar/array_literal.ts";
 
 export type CompileResult = {
     program: number[];
@@ -34,6 +36,8 @@ export class Compiler {
         ).resolve();
 
         new SpecialLoopDesugarer(this.astCreator).desugar(mod.ast);
+        new ArrayLiteralDesugarer(this.astCreator).desugar(mod.ast);
+        new StructLiteralDesugarer(this.astCreator).desugar(mod.ast);
 
         new Resolver(this.reporter).resolve(mod.ast);
 
diff --git a/compiler/desugar/array_literal.ts b/compiler/desugar/array_literal.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a75011
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/desugar/array_literal.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+import {
+    AstCreator,
+    ETypeKind,
+    Expr,
+    ExprKind,
+    Stmt,
+    StmtKind,
+} from "../ast.ts";
+import { AstVisitor, visitExpr, VisitRes, visitStmts } from "../ast_visitor.ts";
+import { Pos } from "../token.ts";
+
+export class ArrayLiteralDesugarer implements AstVisitor {
+    public constructor(
+        private astCreator: AstCreator,
+    ) {}
+
+    public desugar(stmts: Stmt[]) {
+        visitStmts(stmts, this);
+    }
+
+    visitArrayExpr(expr: Expr): VisitRes {
+        if (expr.kind.type !== "array") {
+            throw new Error();
+        }
+        const npos: Pos = { index: 0, line: 1, col: 1 };
+        const Expr = (kind: ExprKind, pos = npos) =>
+            this.astCreator.expr(kind, pos);
+        const Stmt = (kind: StmtKind, pos = npos) =>
+            this.astCreator.stmt(kind, pos);
+        const EType = (kind: ETypeKind, pos = npos) =>
+            this.astCreator.etype(kind, pos);
+
+        const std = (ident: string): Expr =>
+            Expr({
+                type: "path",
+                subject: Expr({
+                    type: "ident",
+                    ident: "std",
+                }),
+                ident,
+            });
+
+        if (expr.kind.exprs.length < 1) {
+            throw new Error("");
+        }
+
+        expr.kind = {
+            type: "block",
+            stmts: [
+                Stmt({
+                    type: "let",
+                    param: {
+                        ident: "::value",
+                        pos: npos,
+                    },
+                    value: Expr({
+                        type: "call",
+                        subject: Expr({
+                            type: "etype_args",
+                            subject: std("array_new"),
+                            etypeArgs: [
+                                EType({
+                                    type: "type_of",
+                                    expr: expr.kind.exprs[0],
+                                }),
+                            ],
+                        }),
+                        args: [],
+                    }),
+                }),
+                ...expr.kind.exprs
+                    .map((expr) =>
+                        Stmt({
+                            type: "expr",
+                            expr: Expr({
+                                type: "call",
+                                subject: std("array_push"),
+                                args: [
+                                    Expr({ type: "ident", ident: "::value" }),
+                                    expr,
+                                ],
+                            }),
+                        })
+                    ),
+            ],
+            expr: Expr({ type: "ident", ident: "::value" }),
+        };
+
+        visitExpr(expr, this);
+
+        return "stop";
+    }
+}
diff --git a/compiler/desugar/struct_literal.ts b/compiler/desugar/struct_literal.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93405ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/desugar/struct_literal.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+import {
+    AstCreator,
+    ETypeKind,
+    Expr,
+    ExprKind,
+    Stmt,
+    StmtKind,
+} from "../ast.ts";
+import {
+    AstVisitor,
+    visitExpr,
+    visitField,
+    VisitRes,
+    visitStmts,
+} from "../ast_visitor.ts";
+import { Pos } from "../token.ts";
+
+export class StructLiteralDesugarer implements AstVisitor {
+    public constructor(
+        private astCreator: AstCreator,
+    ) {}
+
+    public desugar(stmts: Stmt[]) {
+        visitStmts(stmts, this);
+    }
+
+    visitStructExpr(expr: Expr): VisitRes {
+        if (expr.kind.type !== "struct") {
+            throw new Error();
+        }
+        const npos: Pos = { index: 0, line: 1, col: 1 };
+        const Expr = (kind: ExprKind, pos = npos) =>
+            this.astCreator.expr(kind, pos);
+        const Stmt = (kind: StmtKind, pos = npos) =>
+            this.astCreator.stmt(kind, pos);
+        const EType = (kind: ETypeKind, pos = npos) =>
+            this.astCreator.etype(kind, pos);
+
+        const std = (ident: string): Expr =>
+            Expr({
+                type: "path",
+                subject: Expr({
+                    type: "ident",
+                    ident: "std",
+                }),
+                ident,
+            });
+
+        // Yes, I know this isn't a deep clone,
+        // but I don't really need it to be.
+        const oldExpr = { ...expr };
+
+        const fields = expr.kind.fields;
+
+        expr.kind = {
+            type: "block",
+            stmts: [
+                Stmt({
+                    type: "let",
+                    param: {
+                        ident: "::value",
+                        pos: npos,
+                    },
+                    value: Expr({
+                        type: "call",
+                        subject: Expr({
+                            type: "etype_args",
+                            subject: std("struct_new"),
+                            etypeArgs: [
+                                EType({ type: "type_of", expr: oldExpr }),
+                            ],
+                        }),
+                        args: [],
+                    }),
+                }),
+                ...expr.kind.fields
+                    .map((field) =>
+                        Stmt({
+                            type: "assign",
+                            assignType: "=",
+                            subject: Expr({
+                                type: "field",
+                                subject: Expr({
+                                    type: "ident",
+                                    ident: "::value",
+                                }),
+                                ident: field.ident,
+                            }),
+                            value: field.expr,
+                        })
+                    ),
+            ],
+            expr: Expr({ type: "ident", ident: "::value" }),
+        };
+
+        for (const field of fields) {
+            visitField(field, this);
+        }
+
+        return "stop";
+    }
+}
diff --git a/compiler/lowerer.ts b/compiler/lowerer.ts
index 4adc504..671208f 100644
--- a/compiler/lowerer.ts
+++ b/compiler/lowerer.ts
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ class MonoFnLowerer {
             case "group":
                 return void this.lowerExpr(expr.kind.expr);
             case "field":
-                break;
+                return this.lowerFieldExpr(expr);
             case "index":
                 return this.lowerIndexExpr(expr);
             case "call":
@@ -298,6 +298,20 @@ class MonoFnLowerer {
         throw new Error(`unhandled expr '${expr.kind.type}'`);
     }
 
+    private lowerFieldExpr(expr: Expr) {
+        if (expr.kind.type !== "field") {
+            throw new Error();
+        }
+        this.lowerExpr(expr.kind.subject);
+        this.program.add(Ops.PushString, expr.kind.ident);
+
+        if (expr.kind.subject.vtype?.type == "struct") {
+            this.program.add(Ops.Builtin, Builtins.StructAt);
+            return;
+        }
+        throw new Error(`unhandled field subject type '${expr.kind.subject}'`);
+    }
+
     private lowerIndexExpr(expr: Expr) {
         if (expr.kind.type !== "index") {
             throw new Error();
diff --git a/compiler/parser.ts b/compiler/parser.ts
index 1f6b002..d854faa 100644
--- a/compiler/parser.ts
+++ b/compiler/parser.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
     ETypeKind,
     Expr,
     ExprKind,
+    Field,
     GenericParam,
     Param,
     Stmt,
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ import { printStackTrace, Reporter } from "./info.ts";
 import { Lexer } from "./lexer.ts";
 import { Pos, Token } from "./token.ts";
 
-type Res<T> = { ok: true; value: T } | { ok: false };
+type Res<T> = { ok: true; value: T } | { ok: false; pos?: Pos };
 
 export class Parser {
     private currentToken: Token | null;
@@ -203,6 +204,9 @@ export class Parser {
                     args.push(this.parseExpr());
                     while (this.test(",")) {
                         this.step();
+                        if (this.done() || this.test(")")) {
+                            break;
+                        }
                         args.push(this.parseExpr());
                     }
                 }
@@ -536,6 +540,80 @@ export class Parser {
         return this.expr({ type: "for", decl, cond, incr, body }, pos);
     }
 
+    private parseArray(): Expr {
+        const pos = this.pos();
+        this.step();
+        const exprs: Expr[] = [];
+        if (!this.test("]")) {
+            exprs.push(this.parseExpr());
+            while (this.test(",")) {
+                this.step();
+                if (this.done() || this.test("]")) {
+                    break;
+                }
+                exprs.push(this.parseExpr());
+            }
+        }
+        if (!this.test("]")) {
+            this.report("expected ']'");
+            return this.expr({ type: "error" }, pos);
+        }
+        this.step();
+        return this.expr({ type: "array", exprs }, pos);
+    }
+
+    private parseStruct(): Expr {
+        const pos = this.pos();
+        this.step();
+        if (!this.test("{")) {
+            this.report("expected '{'");
+            return this.expr({ type: "error" }, pos);
+        }
+        this.step();
+        const fields: Field[] = [];
+        if (!this.test("}")) {
+            const res = this.parseStructField();
+            if (!res.ok) {
+                return this.expr({ type: "error" }, res.pos!);
+            }
+            fields.push(res.value);
+            while (this.test(",")) {
+                this.step();
+                if (this.done() || this.test("}")) {
+                    break;
+                }
+                const res = this.parseStructField();
+                if (!res.ok) {
+                    return this.expr({ type: "error" }, res.pos!);
+                }
+                fields.push(res.value);
+            }
+        }
+        if (!this.test("}")) {
+            this.report("expected '}'");
+            return this.expr({ type: "error" }, pos);
+        }
+        this.step();
+        return this.expr({ type: "struct", fields }, pos);
+    }
+
+    private parseStructField(): Res<Field> {
+        const pos = this.pos();
+        if (!this.test("ident")) {
+            this.report("expected 'ident'");
+            return { ok: false, pos };
+        }
+        const ident = this.current().identValue!;
+        this.step();
+        if (!this.test(":")) {
+            this.report("expected ':'");
+            return { ok: false, pos };
+        }
+        this.step();
+        const expr = this.parseExpr();
+        return { ok: true, value: { ident, expr, pos } };
+    }
+
     private parseIf(): Expr {
         const pos = this.pos();
         this.step();
@@ -815,6 +893,12 @@ export class Parser {
             this.step();
             return this.expr({ type: "group", expr }, pos);
         }
+        if (this.test("[")) {
+            return this.parseArray();
+        }
+        if (this.test("struct")) {
+            return this.parseStruct();
+        }
         if (this.test("{")) {
             return this.parseBlock();
         }
diff --git a/compiler/vtype.ts b/compiler/vtype.ts
index 24bf59d..bf432d1 100644
--- a/compiler/vtype.ts
+++ b/compiler/vtype.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,24 @@ export function vtypesEqual(
     if (a.type === "array" && b.type === "array") {
         return vtypesEqual(a.inner, b.inner, generics);
     }
+    if (a.type === "struct" && b.type === "struct") {
+        if (a.fields.length !== b.fields.length) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        const match = a.fields
+            .map((af) => ({
+                ident: af.ident,
+                af,
+                bf: b.fields.find((bf) => bf.ident === af.ident),
+            }));
+        if (match.some((m) => m.bf === undefined)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        if (match.some((m) => !vtypesEqual(m.af.vtype, m.bf!.vtype))) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
     if (a.type === "fn" && b.type === "fn") {
         if (a.params.length !== b.params.length) {
             return false;
@@ -101,6 +119,12 @@ export function vtypeToString(vtype: VType): string {
     if (vtype.type === "array") {
         return `[${vtypeToString(vtype.inner)}]`;
     }
+    if (vtype.type === "struct") {
+        const fields = vtype.fields
+            .map((field) => `${field.ident}: ${vtypeToString(field.vtype)}`)
+            .join(", ");
+        return `struct { ${fields} }`;
+    }
     if (vtype.type === "fn") {
         const paramString = vtype.params.map((param) =>
             `${param.ident}: ${vtypeToString(param.vtype)}`
diff --git a/runtime/alloc.cpp b/runtime/alloc.cpp
index 374bb4b..d60ef02 100644
--- a/runtime/alloc.cpp
+++ b/runtime/alloc.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "alloc.hpp"
 #include <format>
 #include <iostream>
+#include <string>
 
 using namespace sliger::heap;
 
@@ -14,3 +15,18 @@ auto Array::at(int32_t index) & -> Value&
     }
     return values.at(static_cast<size_t>(index));
 }
+
+auto Struct::at(const std::string& field) & -> Value&
+{
+    if (this->fields.find(field) == this->fields.end()) {
+        std::cout << std::format(
+            "field name not in struct, got: \"{}\"\n", field);
+        exit(1);
+    }
+    return this->fields.at(field);
+}
+
+void Struct::assign(const std::string& field, Value&& value)
+{
+    this->fields.insert_or_assign(field, value);
+}
diff --git a/runtime/alloc.hpp b/runtime/alloc.hpp
index 51fa1af..21c4f96 100644
--- a/runtime/alloc.hpp
+++ b/runtime/alloc.hpp
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ struct Array {
 
 struct Struct {
     std::unordered_map<std::string, Value> fields;
+
+    auto at(const std::string&) & -> Value&;
+    void assign(const std::string&, Value&& value);
 };
 
 enum class AllocType {
diff --git a/runtime/arch.hpp b/runtime/arch.hpp
index 91ce34d..24cf056 100644
--- a/runtime/arch.hpp
+++ b/runtime/arch.hpp
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ enum class Builtin : uint32_t {
     ArrayPush = 0x22,
     ArrayAt = 0x23,
     ArrayLength = 0x24,
-    StructSet = 0x30,
+    StructNew = 0x30,
+    StructSet = 0x31,
+    StructAt = 0x32,
     Print = 0x40,
     FileOpen = 0x41,
     FileClose = 0x42,
diff --git a/runtime/vm.cpp b/runtime/vm.cpp
index a659714..00dfd37 100644
--- a/runtime/vm.cpp
+++ b/runtime/vm.cpp
@@ -289,6 +289,11 @@ void VM::run_instruction()
             this->current_pos = { index, line, col };
             break;
         }
+        default:
+            std::cerr << std::format("unrecognized instruction '{}', pc = {}",
+                std::to_underlying(op), this->pc);
+            std::exit(1);
+            break;
     }
     this->instruction_counter += 1;
 }
@@ -331,12 +336,11 @@ void VM::run_builtin(Builtin builtin_id)
             run_array_builtin(builtin_id);
             break;
 
-        case Builtin::StructSet: {
-            assert_stack_has(2);
-            std::cerr << std::format("not implemented\n");
-            std::exit(1);
+        case Builtin::StructNew:
+        case Builtin::StructSet:
+        case Builtin::StructAt:
+            run_struct_builtin(builtin_id);
             break;
-        }
 
         case Builtin::Print:
         case Builtin::FileOpen:
@@ -407,6 +411,7 @@ void VM::run_string_builtin(Builtin builtin_id)
             break;
     }
 }
+
 void VM::run_array_builtin(Builtin builtin_id)
 {
     switch (builtin_id) {
@@ -456,6 +461,40 @@ void VM::run_array_builtin(Builtin builtin_id)
     }
 }
 
+void VM::run_struct_builtin(Builtin builtin_id)
+{
+    switch (builtin_id) {
+        case Builtin::StructNew: {
+            auto alloc_res = this->heap.alloc<heap::AllocType::Struct>();
+            stack_push(Ptr(alloc_res.val()));
+            break;
+        }
+        case Builtin::StructSet: {
+            assert_stack_has(2);
+            auto field = stack_pop().as_string().value;
+            auto struct_ptr = stack_pop().as_ptr().value;
+            auto value = stack_pop();
+
+            this->heap.at(struct_ptr)
+                .val()
+                ->as_struct()
+                .assign(field, std::move(value));
+            stack_push(Null());
+            break;
+        }
+        case Builtin::StructAt: {
+            assert_stack_has(2);
+            auto field = stack_pop().as_string().value;
+            auto struct_ptr = stack_pop().as_ptr().value;
+
+            stack_push(this->heap.at(struct_ptr).val()->as_struct().at(field));
+            break;
+        }
+        default:
+            break;
+    }
+}
+
 void VM::run_file_builtin(Builtin builtin_id)
 {
     switch (builtin_id) {
diff --git a/runtime/vm.hpp b/runtime/vm.hpp
index 5ed6278..fca2dc5 100644
--- a/runtime/vm.hpp
+++ b/runtime/vm.hpp
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ private:
     void run_builtin(Builtin builtin_id);
     void run_string_builtin(Builtin builtin_id);
     void run_array_builtin(Builtin builtin_id);
+    void run_struct_builtin(Builtin builtin_id);
     void run_file_builtin(Builtin builtin_id);
 
     inline void step() { this->pc += 1; }
diff --git a/std/lib.slg b/std/lib.slg
index 80e7579..b5c8d79 100644
--- a/std/lib.slg
+++ b/std/lib.slg
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ pub fn array_length<T>(array: [T]) -> int {}
 #[builtin(ArrayAt)]
 pub fn array_at<T>(array: [T], index: int) -> T {}
 
+#[builtin(StructNew)]
+pub fn struct_new<S>() -> S {}
+#[builtin(StructSet)]
+pub fn struct_set<S, T>(subject: S, value: T) {}
+
 #[builtin(FileOpen)]
 pub fn file_open(filename: string, mode: string) -> int {}
 #[builtin(FileClose)]
@@ -168,3 +173,10 @@ pub fn array_to_sorted(array: [int]) -> [int] {
     cloned
 }
 
+pub fn assert(value: bool, msg: string) {
+    if not value {
+        println("assertion failed: " + msg);
+        exit(1);
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/tests/array_literal.slg b/tests/array_literal.slg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7d8d34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/array_literal.slg
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+mod std;
+
+fn main() {
+    let ints = [1, 2, 3];
+    std::assert(ints[1] == 2, "test int array");
+
+    let strings = ["foo", "bar", "baz"];
+    std::assert(strings[1] == "bar", "test string array");
+
+    std::println("tests ran successfully");
+}
diff --git a/tests/struct_literal.slg b/tests/struct_literal.slg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3ed366
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/struct_literal.slg
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+mod std;
+
+fn main() {
+    let d = true;
+
+    let v = struct {
+        a: 123,
+        b: struct {
+            c: "foo",
+            d: d,
+        },
+    };
+
+    std::assert(v.a == 123, "test field");
+    std::assert(v.b.c == "foo", "test nested field");
+    std::assert(v.b.d == true, "test resolved field");
+
+    std::println("tests ran successfully");
+}   
+