Merge branch 'master' into clifford/fix1255

11 files changed, 1271 insertions, 1207 deletions

diff --git a/kernel/cellaigs.cc b/kernel/cellaigs.cc
index fbc6d045e..6d496db45 100644
--- a/kernel/cellaigs.cc
+++ b/kernel/cellaigs.cc
@@ -268,9 +268,9 @@ Aig::Aig(Cell *cell)
 	cell->parameters.sort();
 	for (auto p : cell->parameters)
 	{
-		if (p.first == "\\A_WIDTH" && mkname_a_signed) {
+		if (p.first == ID(A_WIDTH) && mkname_a_signed) {
 			name = mkname_last + stringf(":%d%c", p.second.as_int(), mkname_is_signed ? 'S' : 'U');
-		} else if (p.first == "\\B_WIDTH" && mkname_b_signed) {
+		} else if (p.first == ID(B_WIDTH) && mkname_b_signed) {
 			name = mkname_last + stringf(":%d%c", p.second.as_int(), mkname_is_signed ? 'S' : 'U');
 		} else {
 			mkname_last = name;
@@ -280,183 +280,183 @@ Aig::Aig(Cell *cell)
 		mkname_a_signed = false;
 		mkname_b_signed = false;
 		mkname_is_signed = false;
-		if (p.first == "\\A_SIGNED") {
+		if (p.first == ID(A_SIGNED)) {
 			mkname_a_signed = true;
 			mkname_is_signed = p.second.as_bool();
 		}
-		if (p.first == "\\B_SIGNED") {
+		if (p.first == ID(B_SIGNED)) {
 			mkname_b_signed = true;
 			mkname_is_signed = p.second.as_bool();
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$not", "$_NOT_", "$pos", "$_BUF_"))
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($not), ID($_NOT_), ID($pos), ID($_BUF_)))
 	{
-		for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(cell->getPort("\\Y")); i++) {
-			int A = mk.inport("\\A", i);
-			int Y = cell->type.in("$not", "$_NOT_") ? mk.not_gate(A) : A;
-			mk.outport(Y, "\\Y", i);
+		for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(Y))); i++) {
+			int A = mk.inport(ID(A), i);
+			int Y = cell->type.in(ID($not), ID($_NOT_)) ? mk.not_gate(A) : A;
+			mk.outport(Y, ID(Y), i);
 		}
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$and", "$_AND_", "$_NAND_", "$or", "$_OR_", "$_NOR_", "$xor", "$xnor", "$_XOR_", "$_XNOR_", "$_ANDNOT_", "$_ORNOT_"))
-	{
-		for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(cell->getPort("\\Y")); i++) {
-			int A = mk.inport("\\A", i);
-			int B = mk.inport("\\B", i);
-			int Y = cell->type.in("$and", "$_AND_")   ? mk.and_gate(A, B) :
-			        cell->type.in("$_NAND_")          ? mk.nand_gate(A, B) :
-			        cell->type.in("$or", "$_OR_")     ? mk.or_gate(A, B) :
-			        cell->type.in("$_NOR_")           ? mk.nor_gate(A, B) :
-			        cell->type.in("$xor", "$_XOR_")   ? mk.xor_gate(A, B) :
-			        cell->type.in("$xnor", "$_XNOR_") ? mk.xnor_gate(A, B) :
-			        cell->type.in("$_ANDNOT_")        ? mk.andnot_gate(A, B) :
-			        cell->type.in("$_ORNOT_")         ? mk.ornot_gate(A, B) : -1;
-			mk.outport(Y, "\\Y", i);
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($and), ID($_AND_), ID($_NAND_), ID($or), ID($_OR_), ID($_NOR_), ID($xor), ID($xnor), ID($_XOR_), ID($_XNOR_), ID($_ANDNOT_), ID($_ORNOT_)))
+	{
+		for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(Y))); i++) {
+			int A = mk.inport(ID(A), i);
+			int B = mk.inport(ID(B), i);
+			int Y = cell->type.in(ID($and), ID($_AND_))   ? mk.and_gate(A, B) :
+			        cell->type.in(ID($_NAND_))          ? mk.nand_gate(A, B) :
+			        cell->type.in(ID($or), ID($_OR_))     ? mk.or_gate(A, B) :
+			        cell->type.in(ID($_NOR_))           ? mk.nor_gate(A, B) :
+			        cell->type.in(ID($xor), ID($_XOR_))   ? mk.xor_gate(A, B) :
+			        cell->type.in(ID($xnor), ID($_XNOR_)) ? mk.xnor_gate(A, B) :
+			        cell->type.in(ID($_ANDNOT_))        ? mk.andnot_gate(A, B) :
+			        cell->type.in(ID($_ORNOT_))         ? mk.ornot_gate(A, B) : -1;
+			mk.outport(Y, ID(Y), i);
 		}
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$mux", "$_MUX_"))
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($_MUX_)))
 	{
-		int S = mk.inport("\\S");
-		for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(cell->getPort("\\Y")); i++) {
-			int A = mk.inport("\\A", i);
-			int B = mk.inport("\\B", i);
+		int S = mk.inport(ID(S));
+		for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(Y))); i++) {
+			int A = mk.inport(ID(A), i);
+			int B = mk.inport(ID(B), i);
 			int Y = mk.mux_gate(A, B, S);
-			if (cell->type == "$_NMUX_")
+			if (cell->type == ID($_NMUX_))
 				Y = mk.not_gate(Y);
-			mk.outport(Y, "\\Y", i);
+			mk.outport(Y, ID(Y), i);
 		}
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$reduce_and", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_xor", "$reduce_xnor", "$reduce_bool"))
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($reduce_and), ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_xor), ID($reduce_xnor), ID($reduce_bool)))
 	{
-		int Y = mk.inport("\\A", 0);
-		for (int i = 1; i < GetSize(cell->getPort("\\A")); i++) {
-			int A = mk.inport("\\A", i);
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_and")  Y = mk.and_gate(A, Y);
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_or")   Y = mk.or_gate(A, Y);
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_bool") Y = mk.or_gate(A, Y);
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_xor")  Y = mk.xor_gate(A, Y);
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_xnor") Y = mk.xor_gate(A, Y);
+		int Y = mk.inport(ID(A), 0);
+		for (int i = 1; i < GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(A))); i++) {
+			int A = mk.inport(ID(A), i);
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_and))  Y = mk.and_gate(A, Y);
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_or))   Y = mk.or_gate(A, Y);
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_bool)) Y = mk.or_gate(A, Y);
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_xor))  Y = mk.xor_gate(A, Y);
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_xnor)) Y = mk.xor_gate(A, Y);
 		}
-		if (cell->type == "$reduce_xnor")
+		if (cell->type == ID($reduce_xnor))
 			Y = mk.not_gate(Y);
-		mk.outport(Y, "\\Y", 0);
-		for (int i = 1; i < GetSize(cell->getPort("\\Y")); i++)
-			mk.outport(mk.bool_node(false), "\\Y", i);
+		mk.outport(Y, ID(Y), 0);
+		for (int i = 1; i < GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(Y))); i++)
+			mk.outport(mk.bool_node(false), ID(Y), i);
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$logic_not", "$logic_and", "$logic_or"))
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($logic_not), ID($logic_and), ID($logic_or)))
 	{
-		int A = mk.inport("\\A", 0), Y = -1;
-		for (int i = 1; i < GetSize(cell->getPort("\\A")); i++)
-			A = mk.or_gate(mk.inport("\\A", i), A);
-		if (cell->type.in("$logic_and", "$logic_or")) {
-			int B = mk.inport("\\B", 0);
-			for (int i = 1; i < GetSize(cell->getPort("\\B")); i++)
-				B = mk.or_gate(mk.inport("\\B", i), B);
-			if (cell->type == "$logic_and") Y = mk.and_gate(A, B);
-			if (cell->type == "$logic_or")  Y = mk.or_gate(A, B);
+		int A = mk.inport(ID(A), 0), Y = -1;
+		for (int i = 1; i < GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(A))); i++)
+			A = mk.or_gate(mk.inport(ID(A), i), A);
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($logic_and), ID($logic_or))) {
+			int B = mk.inport(ID(B), 0);
+			for (int i = 1; i < GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(B))); i++)
+				B = mk.or_gate(mk.inport(ID(B), i), B);
+			if (cell->type == ID($logic_and)) Y = mk.and_gate(A, B);
+			if (cell->type == ID($logic_or))  Y = mk.or_gate(A, B);
 		} else {
-			if (cell->type == "$logic_not") Y = mk.not_gate(A);
+			if (cell->type == ID($logic_not)) Y = mk.not_gate(A);
 		}
-		mk.outport_bool(Y, "\\Y");
+		mk.outport_bool(Y, ID(Y));
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$add", "$sub"))
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($add), ID($sub)))
 	{
-		int width = GetSize(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
-		vector<int> A = mk.inport_vec("\\A", width);
-		vector<int> B = mk.inport_vec("\\B", width);
+		int width = GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
+		vector<int> A = mk.inport_vec(ID(A), width);
+		vector<int> B = mk.inport_vec(ID(B), width);
 		int carry = mk.bool_node(false);
-		if (cell->type == "$sub") {
+		if (cell->type == ID($sub)) {
 			for (auto &n : B)
 				n = mk.not_gate(n);
 			carry = mk.not_gate(carry);
 		}
 		vector<int> Y = mk.adder(A, B, carry);
-		mk.outport_vec(Y, "\\Y");
+		mk.outport_vec(Y, ID(Y));
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type == "$alu")
+	if (cell->type == ID($alu))
 	{
-		int width = GetSize(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
-		vector<int> A = mk.inport_vec("\\A", width);
-		vector<int> B = mk.inport_vec("\\B", width);
-		int carry = mk.inport("\\CI");
-		int binv = mk.inport("\\BI");
+		int width = GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
+		vector<int> A = mk.inport_vec(ID(A), width);
+		vector<int> B = mk.inport_vec(ID(B), width);
+		int carry = mk.inport(ID(CI));
+		int binv = mk.inport(ID(BI));
 		for (auto &n : B)
 			n = mk.xor_gate(n, binv);
 		vector<int> X(width), CO(width);
 		vector<int> Y = mk.adder(A, B, carry, &X, &CO);
 		for (int i = 0; i < width; i++)
 			X[i] = mk.xor_gate(A[i], B[i]);
-		mk.outport_vec(Y, "\\Y");
-		mk.outport_vec(X, "\\X");
-		mk.outport_vec(CO, "\\CO");
+		mk.outport_vec(Y, ID(Y));
+		mk.outport_vec(X, ID(X));
+		mk.outport_vec(CO, ID(CO));
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$eq", "$ne"))
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($eq), ID($ne)))
 	{
-		int width = max(GetSize(cell->getPort("\\A")), GetSize(cell->getPort("\\B")));
-		vector<int> A = mk.inport_vec("\\A", width);
-		vector<int> B = mk.inport_vec("\\B", width);
+		int width = max(GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(A))), GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(B))));
+		vector<int> A = mk.inport_vec(ID(A), width);
+		vector<int> B = mk.inport_vec(ID(B), width);
 		int Y = mk.bool_node(false);
 		for (int i = 0; i < width; i++)
 			Y = mk.or_gate(Y, mk.xor_gate(A[i], B[i]));
-		if (cell->type == "$eq")
+		if (cell->type == ID($eq))
 			Y = mk.not_gate(Y);
-		mk.outport_bool(Y, "\\Y");
+		mk.outport_bool(Y, ID(Y));
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type == "$_AOI3_")
+	if (cell->type == ID($_AOI3_))
 	{
-		int A = mk.inport("\\A");
-		int B = mk.inport("\\B");
-		int C = mk.inport("\\C");
+		int A = mk.inport(ID(A));
+		int B = mk.inport(ID(B));
+		int C = mk.inport(ID(C));
 		int Y = mk.nor_gate(mk.and_gate(A, B), C);
-		mk.outport(Y, "\\Y");
+		mk.outport(Y, ID(Y));
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type == "$_OAI3_")
+	if (cell->type == ID($_OAI3_))
 	{
-		int A = mk.inport("\\A");
-		int B = mk.inport("\\B");
-		int C = mk.inport("\\C");
+		int A = mk.inport(ID(A));
+		int B = mk.inport(ID(B));
+		int C = mk.inport(ID(C));
 		int Y = mk.nand_gate(mk.or_gate(A, B), C);
-		mk.outport(Y, "\\Y");
+		mk.outport(Y, ID(Y));
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type == "$_AOI4_")
+	if (cell->type == ID($_AOI4_))
 	{
-		int A = mk.inport("\\A");
-		int B = mk.inport("\\B");
-		int C = mk.inport("\\C");
-		int D = mk.inport("\\D");
+		int A = mk.inport(ID(A));
+		int B = mk.inport(ID(B));
+		int C = mk.inport(ID(C));
+		int D = mk.inport(ID(D));
 		int Y = mk.nor_gate(mk.and_gate(A, B), mk.and_gate(C, D));
-		mk.outport(Y, "\\Y");
+		mk.outport(Y, ID(Y));
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type == "$_OAI4_")
+	if (cell->type == ID($_OAI4_))
 	{
-		int A = mk.inport("\\A");
-		int B = mk.inport("\\B");
-		int C = mk.inport("\\C");
-		int D = mk.inport("\\D");
+		int A = mk.inport(ID(A));
+		int B = mk.inport(ID(B));
+		int C = mk.inport(ID(C));
+		int D = mk.inport(ID(D));
 		int Y = mk.nand_gate(mk.or_gate(A, B), mk.or_gate(C, D));
-		mk.outport(Y, "\\Y");
+		mk.outport(Y, ID(Y));
 		goto optimize;
 	}
 
diff --git a/kernel/celledges.cc b/kernel/celledges.cc
index 556e8b826..7a324a06e 100644
--- a/kernel/celledges.cc
+++ b/kernel/celledges.cc
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ PRIVATE_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
 
 void bitwise_unary_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 {
-	IdString A = "\\A", Y = "\\Y";
+	IdString A = ID(A), Y = ID(Y);
 
-	bool is_signed = cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
+	bool is_signed = cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
 	int a_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(A));
 	int y_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(Y));
 
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ void bitwise_unary_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 
 void bitwise_binary_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 {
-	IdString A = "\\A", B = "\\B", Y = "\\Y";
+	IdString A = ID(A), B = ID(B), Y = ID(Y);
 
-	bool is_signed = cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
+	bool is_signed = cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
 	int a_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(A));
 	int b_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(B));
 	int y_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(Y));
 
-	if (cell->type == "$and" && !is_signed) {
+	if (cell->type == ID($and) && !is_signed) {
 		if (a_width > b_width)
 			a_width = b_width;
 		else
@@ -71,9 +71,9 @@ void bitwise_binary_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 
 void arith_neg_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 {
-	IdString A = "\\A", Y = "\\Y";
+	IdString A = ID(A), Y = ID(Y);
 
-	bool is_signed = cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
+	bool is_signed = cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
 	int a_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(A));
 	int y_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(Y));
 
@@ -87,14 +87,14 @@ void arith_neg_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 
 void arith_binary_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 {
-	IdString A = "\\A", B = "\\B", Y = "\\Y";
+	IdString A = ID(A), B = ID(B), Y = ID(Y);
 
-	bool is_signed = cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
+	bool is_signed = cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
 	int a_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(A));
 	int b_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(B));
 	int y_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(Y));
 
-	if (!is_signed && cell->type != "$sub") {
+	if (!is_signed && cell->type != ID($sub)) {
 		int ab_width = std::max(a_width, b_width);
 		y_width = std::min(y_width, ab_width+1);
 	}
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ void arith_binary_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 
 void reduce_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 {
-	IdString A = "\\A", Y = "\\Y";
+	IdString A = ID(A), Y = ID(Y);
 
 	int a_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(A));
 
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ void reduce_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 
 void compare_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 {
-	IdString A = "\\A", B = "\\B", Y = "\\Y";
+	IdString A = ID(A), B = ID(B), Y = ID(Y);
 
 	int a_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(A));
 	int b_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(B));
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ void compare_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 
 void mux_op(AbstractCellEdgesDatabase *db, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 {
-	IdString A = "\\A", B = "\\B", S = "\\S", Y = "\\Y";
+	IdString A = ID(A), B = ID(B), S = ID(S), Y = ID(Y);
 
 	int a_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(A));
 	int b_width = GetSize(cell->getPort(B));
@@ -160,43 +160,43 @@ PRIVATE_NAMESPACE_END
 
 bool YOSYS_NAMESPACE_PREFIX AbstractCellEdgesDatabase::add_edges_from_cell(RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 {
-	if (cell->type.in("$not", "$pos")) {
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($not), ID($pos))) {
 		bitwise_unary_op(this, cell);
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$and", "$or", "$xor", "$xnor")) {
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($and), ID($or), ID($xor), ID($xnor))) {
 		bitwise_binary_op(this, cell);
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type == "$neg") {
+	if (cell->type == ID($neg)) {
 		arith_neg_op(this, cell);
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$add", "$sub")) {
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($add), ID($sub))) {
 		arith_binary_op(this, cell);
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$reduce_and", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_xor", "$reduce_xnor", "$reduce_bool", "$logic_not")) {
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($reduce_and), ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_xor), ID($reduce_xnor), ID($reduce_bool), ID($logic_not))) {
 		reduce_op(this, cell);
 		return true;
 	}
 
 	// FIXME:
-	// if (cell->type.in("$shl", "$shr", "$sshl", "$sshr", "$shift", "$shiftx")) {
+	// if (cell->type.in(ID($shl), ID($shr), ID($sshl), ID($sshr), ID($shift), ID($shiftx))) {
 	// 	shift_op(this, cell);
 	// 	return true;
 	// }
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$lt", "$le", "$eq", "$ne", "$eqx", "$nex", "$ge", "$gt")) {
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($lt), ID($le), ID($eq), ID($ne), ID($eqx), ID($nex), ID($ge), ID($gt))) {
 		compare_op(this, cell);
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$mux", "$pmux")) {
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($pmux))) {
 		mux_op(this, cell);
 		return true;
 	}
diff --git a/kernel/celltypes.h b/kernel/celltypes.h
index 1256fbcba..ade305e83 100644
--- a/kernel/celltypes.h
+++ b/kernel/celltypes.h
@@ -84,46 +84,46 @@ struct CellTypes
 	{
 		setup_internals_eval();
 
-		IdString A = "\\A", B = "\\B", EN = "\\EN", Y = "\\Y";
-		IdString SRC = "\\SRC", DST = "\\DST", DAT = "\\DAT";
-		IdString EN_SRC = "\\EN_SRC", EN_DST = "\\EN_DST";
-
-		setup_type("$tribuf", {A, EN}, {Y}, true);
-
-		setup_type("$assert", {A, EN}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
-		setup_type("$assume", {A, EN}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
-		setup_type("$live", {A, EN}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
-		setup_type("$fair", {A, EN}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
-		setup_type("$cover", {A, EN}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
-		setup_type("$initstate", pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$anyconst", pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$anyseq", pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$allconst", pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$allseq", pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$equiv", {A, B}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$specify2", {EN, SRC, DST}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
-		setup_type("$specify3", {EN, SRC, DST, DAT}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
-		setup_type("$specrule", {EN_SRC, EN_DST, SRC, DST}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
+		IdString A = ID(A), B = ID(B), EN = ID(EN), Y = ID(Y);
+		IdString SRC = ID(SRC), DST = ID(DST), DAT = ID(DAT);
+		IdString EN_SRC = ID(EN_SRC), EN_DST = ID(EN_DST);
+
+		setup_type(ID($tribuf), {A, EN}, {Y}, true);
+
+		setup_type(ID($assert), {A, EN}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
+		setup_type(ID($assume), {A, EN}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
+		setup_type(ID($live), {A, EN}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
+		setup_type(ID($fair), {A, EN}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
+		setup_type(ID($cover), {A, EN}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
+		setup_type(ID($initstate), pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($anyconst), pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($anyseq), pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($allconst), pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($allseq), pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($equiv), {A, B}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($specify2), {EN, SRC, DST}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
+		setup_type(ID($specify3), {EN, SRC, DST, DAT}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
+		setup_type(ID($specrule), {EN_SRC, EN_DST, SRC, DST}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>(), true);
 	}
 
 	void setup_internals_eval()
 	{
 		std::vector<RTLIL::IdString> unary_ops = {
-			"$not", "$pos", "$neg",
-			"$reduce_and", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_xor", "$reduce_xnor", "$reduce_bool",
-			"$logic_not", "$slice", "$lut", "$sop"
+			ID($not), ID($pos), ID($neg),
+			ID($reduce_and), ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_xor), ID($reduce_xnor), ID($reduce_bool),
+			ID($logic_not), ID($slice), ID($lut), ID($sop)
 		};
 
 		std::vector<RTLIL::IdString> binary_ops = {
-			"$and", "$or", "$xor", "$xnor",
-			"$shl", "$shr", "$sshl", "$sshr", "$shift", "$shiftx",
-			"$lt", "$le", "$eq", "$ne", "$eqx", "$nex", "$ge", "$gt",
-			"$add", "$sub", "$mul", "$div", "$mod", "$pow",
-			"$logic_and", "$logic_or", "$concat", "$macc"
+			ID($and), ID($or), ID($xor), ID($xnor),
+			ID($shl), ID($shr), ID($sshl), ID($sshr), ID($shift), ID($shiftx),
+			ID($lt), ID($le), ID($eq), ID($ne), ID($eqx), ID($nex), ID($ge), ID($gt),
+			ID($add), ID($sub), ID($mul), ID($div), ID($mod), ID($pow),
+			ID($logic_and), ID($logic_or), ID($concat), ID($macc)
 		};
-		IdString A = "\\A", B = "\\B", S = "\\S", Y = "\\Y";
-		IdString P = "\\P", G = "\\G", C = "\\C", X = "\\X";
-		IdString BI = "\\BI", CI = "\\CI", CO = "\\CO", EN = "\\EN";
+		IdString A = ID(A), B = ID(B), S = ID(S), Y = ID(Y);
+		IdString P = ID(P), G = ID(G), C = ID(C), X = ID(X);
+		IdString BI = ID(BI), CI = ID(CI), CO = ID(CO), EN = ID(EN);
 
 		for (auto type : unary_ops)
 			setup_type(type, {A}, {Y}, true);
@@ -131,27 +131,27 @@ struct CellTypes
 		for (auto type : binary_ops)
 			setup_type(type, {A, B}, {Y}, true);
 
-		for (auto type : std::vector<RTLIL::IdString>({"$mux", "$pmux"}))
+		for (auto type : std::vector<RTLIL::IdString>({ID($mux), ID($pmux)}))
 			setup_type(type, {A, B, S}, {Y}, true);
 
-		setup_type("$lcu", {P, G, CI}, {CO}, true);
-		setup_type("$alu", {A, B, CI, BI}, {X, Y, CO}, true);
-		setup_type("$fa", {A, B, C}, {X, Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($lcu), {P, G, CI}, {CO}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($alu), {A, B, CI, BI}, {X, Y, CO}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($fa), {A, B, C}, {X, Y}, true);
 	}
 
 	void setup_internals_ff()
 	{
-		IdString SET = "\\SET", CLR = "\\CLR", CLK = "\\CLK", ARST = "\\ARST", EN = "\\EN";
-		IdString Q = "\\Q", D = "\\D";
-
-		setup_type("$sr", {SET, CLR}, {Q});
-		setup_type("$ff", {D}, {Q});
-		setup_type("$dff", {CLK, D}, {Q});
-		setup_type("$dffe", {CLK, EN, D}, {Q});
-		setup_type("$dffsr", {CLK, SET, CLR, D}, {Q});
-		setup_type("$adff", {CLK, ARST, D}, {Q});
-		setup_type("$dlatch", {EN, D}, {Q});
-		setup_type("$dlatchsr", {EN, SET, CLR, D}, {Q});
+		IdString SET = ID(SET), CLR = ID(CLR), CLK = ID(CLK), ARST = ID(ARST), EN = ID(EN);
+		IdString Q = ID(Q), D = ID(D);
+
+		setup_type(ID($sr), {SET, CLR}, {Q});
+		setup_type(ID($ff), {D}, {Q});
+		setup_type(ID($dff), {CLK, D}, {Q});
+		setup_type(ID($dffe), {CLK, EN, D}, {Q});
+		setup_type(ID($dffsr), {CLK, SET, CLR, D}, {Q});
+		setup_type(ID($adff), {CLK, ARST, D}, {Q});
+		setup_type(ID($dlatch), {EN, D}, {Q});
+		setup_type(ID($dlatchsr), {EN, SET, CLR, D}, {Q});
 
 	}
 
@@ -159,63 +159,63 @@ struct CellTypes
 	{
 		setup_internals_ff();
 
-		IdString CLK = "\\CLK", ARST = "\\ARST", EN = "\\EN";
-		IdString ADDR = "\\ADDR", DATA = "\\DATA", RD_EN = "\\RD_EN";
-		IdString RD_CLK = "\\RD_CLK", RD_ADDR = "\\RD_ADDR", WR_CLK = "\\WR_CLK", WR_EN = "\\WR_EN";
-		IdString WR_ADDR = "\\WR_ADDR", WR_DATA = "\\WR_DATA", RD_DATA = "\\RD_DATA";
-		IdString CTRL_IN = "\\CTRL_IN", CTRL_OUT = "\\CTRL_OUT";
+		IdString CLK = ID(CLK), ARST = ID(ARST), EN = ID(EN);
+		IdString ADDR = ID(ADDR), DATA = ID(DATA), RD_EN = ID(RD_EN);
+		IdString RD_CLK = ID(RD_CLK), RD_ADDR = ID(RD_ADDR), WR_CLK = ID(WR_CLK), WR_EN = ID(WR_EN);
+		IdString WR_ADDR = ID(WR_ADDR), WR_DATA = ID(WR_DATA), RD_DATA = ID(RD_DATA);
+		IdString CTRL_IN = ID(CTRL_IN), CTRL_OUT = ID(CTRL_OUT);
 
-		setup_type("$memrd", {CLK, EN, ADDR}, {DATA});
-		setup_type("$memwr", {CLK, EN, ADDR, DATA}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>());
-		setup_type("$meminit", {ADDR, DATA}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>());
-		setup_type("$mem", {RD_CLK, RD_EN, RD_ADDR, WR_CLK, WR_EN, WR_ADDR, WR_DATA}, {RD_DATA});
+		setup_type(ID($memrd), {CLK, EN, ADDR}, {DATA});
+		setup_type(ID($memwr), {CLK, EN, ADDR, DATA}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>());
+		setup_type(ID($meminit), {ADDR, DATA}, pool<RTLIL::IdString>());
+		setup_type(ID($mem), {RD_CLK, RD_EN, RD_ADDR, WR_CLK, WR_EN, WR_ADDR, WR_DATA}, {RD_DATA});
 
-		setup_type("$fsm", {CLK, ARST, CTRL_IN}, {CTRL_OUT});
+		setup_type(ID($fsm), {CLK, ARST, CTRL_IN}, {CTRL_OUT});
 	}
 
 	void setup_stdcells()
 	{
 		setup_stdcells_eval();
 
-		IdString A = "\\A", E = "\\E", Y = "\\Y";
+		IdString A = ID(A), E = ID(E), Y = ID(Y);
 
-		setup_type("$_TBUF_", {A, E}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_TBUF_), {A, E}, {Y}, true);
 	}
 
 	void setup_stdcells_eval()
 	{
-		IdString A = "\\A", B = "\\B", C = "\\C", D = "\\D";
-		IdString E = "\\E", F = "\\F", G = "\\G", H = "\\H";
-		IdString I = "\\I", J = "\\J", K = "\\K", L = "\\L";
-		IdString M = "\\M", N = "\\N", O = "\\O", P = "\\P";
-		IdString S = "\\S", T = "\\T", U = "\\U", V = "\\V";
-		IdString Y = "\\Y";
-
-		setup_type("$_BUF_", {A}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_NOT_", {A}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_AND_", {A, B}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_NAND_", {A, B}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_OR_",  {A, B}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_NOR_",  {A, B}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_XOR_", {A, B}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_XNOR_", {A, B}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_ANDNOT_", {A, B}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_ORNOT_", {A, B}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_MUX_", {A, B, S}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_NMUX_", {A, B, S}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_MUX4_", {A, B, C, D, S, T}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_MUX8_", {A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, S, T, U}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_MUX16_", {A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, S, T, U, V}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_AOI3_", {A, B, C}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_OAI3_", {A, B, C}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_AOI4_", {A, B, C, D}, {Y}, true);
-		setup_type("$_OAI4_", {A, B, C, D}, {Y}, true);
+		IdString A = ID(A), B = ID(B), C = ID(C), D = ID(D);
+		IdString E = ID(E), F = ID(F), G = ID(G), H = ID(H);
+		IdString I = ID(I), J = ID(J), K = ID(K), L = ID(L);
+		IdString M = ID(M), N = ID(N), O = ID(O), P = ID(P);
+		IdString S = ID(S), T = ID(T), U = ID(U), V = ID(V);
+		IdString Y = ID(Y);
+
+		setup_type(ID($_BUF_), {A}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_NOT_), {A}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_AND_), {A, B}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_NAND_), {A, B}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_OR_),  {A, B}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_NOR_),  {A, B}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_XOR_), {A, B}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_XNOR_), {A, B}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_ANDNOT_), {A, B}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_ORNOT_), {A, B}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_MUX_), {A, B, S}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_NMUX_), {A, B, S}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_MUX4_), {A, B, C, D, S, T}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_MUX8_), {A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, S, T, U}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_MUX16_), {A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, S, T, U, V}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_AOI3_), {A, B, C}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_OAI3_), {A, B, C}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_AOI4_), {A, B, C, D}, {Y}, true);
+		setup_type(ID($_OAI4_), {A, B, C, D}, {Y}, true);
 	}
 
 	void setup_stdcells_mem()
 	{
-		IdString S = "\\S", R = "\\R", C = "\\C";
-		IdString D = "\\D", Q = "\\Q", E = "\\E";
+		IdString S = ID(S), R = ID(R), C = ID(C);
+		IdString D = ID(D), Q = ID(Q), E = ID(E);
 
 		std::vector<char> list_np = {'N', 'P'}, list_01 = {'0', '1'};
 
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ struct CellTypes
 		for (auto c2 : list_np)
 			setup_type(stringf("$_SR_%c%c_", c1, c2), {S, R}, {Q});
 
-		setup_type("$_FF_", {D}, {Q});
+		setup_type(ID($_FF_), {D}, {Q});
 
 		for (auto c1 : list_np)
 			setup_type(stringf("$_DFF_%c_", c1), {C, D}, {Q});
@@ -289,13 +289,13 @@ struct CellTypes
 
 	static RTLIL::Const eval(RTLIL::IdString type, const RTLIL::Const &arg1, const RTLIL::Const &arg2, bool signed1, bool signed2, int result_len, bool *errp = nullptr)
 	{
-		if (type == "$sshr" && !signed1)
-			type = "$shr";
-		if (type == "$sshl" && !signed1)
-			type = "$shl";
+		if (type == ID($sshr) && !signed1)
+			type = ID($shr);
+		if (type == ID($sshl) && !signed1)
+			type = ID($shl);
 
-		if (type != "$sshr" && type != "$sshl" && type != "$shr" && type != "$shl" && type != "$shift" && type != "$shiftx" &&
-				type != "$pos" && type != "$neg" && type != "$not") {
+		if (type != ID($sshr) && type != ID($sshl) && type != ID($shr) && type != ID($shl) && type != ID($shift) && type != ID($shiftx) &&
+				type != ID($pos) && type != ID($neg) && type != ID($not)) {
 			if (!signed1 || !signed2)
 				signed1 = false, signed2 = false;
 		}
@@ -338,25 +338,25 @@ struct CellTypes
 		HANDLE_CELL_TYPE(neg)
 #undef HANDLE_CELL_TYPE
 
-		if (type == "$_BUF_")
+		if (type == ID($_BUF_))
 			return arg1;
-		if (type == "$_NOT_")
+		if (type == ID($_NOT_))
 			return eval_not(arg1);
-		if (type == "$_AND_")
+		if (type == ID($_AND_))
 			return const_and(arg1, arg2, false, false, 1);
-		if (type == "$_NAND_")
+		if (type == ID($_NAND_))
 			return eval_not(const_and(arg1, arg2, false, false, 1));
-		if (type == "$_OR_")
+		if (type == ID($_OR_))
 			return const_or(arg1, arg2, false, false, 1);
-		if (type == "$_NOR_")
+		if (type == ID($_NOR_))
 			return eval_not(const_or(arg1, arg2, false, false, 1));
-		if (type == "$_XOR_")
+		if (type == ID($_XOR_))
 			return const_xor(arg1, arg2, false, false, 1);
-		if (type == "$_XNOR_")
+		if (type == ID($_XNOR_))
 			return const_xnor(arg1, arg2, false, false, 1);
-		if (type == "$_ANDNOT_")
+		if (type == ID($_ANDNOT_))
 			return const_and(arg1, eval_not(arg2), false, false, 1);
-		if (type == "$_ORNOT_")
+		if (type == ID($_ORNOT_))
 			return const_or(arg1, eval_not(arg2), false, false, 1);
 
 		if (errp != nullptr) {
@@ -369,25 +369,25 @@ struct CellTypes
 
 	static RTLIL::Const eval(RTLIL::Cell *cell, const RTLIL::Const &arg1, const RTLIL::Const &arg2, bool *errp = nullptr)
 	{
-		if (cell->type == "$slice") {
+		if (cell->type == ID($slice)) {
 			RTLIL::Const ret;
-			int width = cell->parameters.at("\\Y_WIDTH").as_int();
-			int offset = cell->parameters.at("\\OFFSET").as_int();
+			int width = cell->parameters.at(ID(Y_WIDTH)).as_int();
+			int offset = cell->parameters.at(ID(OFFSET)).as_int();
 			ret.bits.insert(ret.bits.end(), arg1.bits.begin()+offset, arg1.bits.begin()+offset+width);
 			return ret;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$concat") {
+		if (cell->type == ID($concat)) {
 			RTLIL::Const ret = arg1;
 			ret.bits.insert(ret.bits.end(), arg2.bits.begin(), arg2.bits.end());
 			return ret;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$lut")
+		if (cell->type == ID($lut))
 		{
-			int width = cell->parameters.at("\\WIDTH").as_int();
+			int width = cell->parameters.at(ID(WIDTH)).as_int();
 
-			std::vector<RTLIL::State> t = cell->parameters.at("\\LUT").bits;
+			std::vector<RTLIL::State> t = cell->parameters.at(ID(LUT)).bits;
 			while (GetSize(t) < (1 << width))
 				t.push_back(State::S0);
 			t.resize(1 << width);
@@ -409,11 +409,11 @@ struct CellTypes
 			return t;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$sop")
+		if (cell->type == ID($sop))
 		{
-			int width = cell->parameters.at("\\WIDTH").as_int();
-			int depth = cell->parameters.at("\\DEPTH").as_int();
-			std::vector<RTLIL::State> t = cell->parameters.at("\\TABLE").bits;
+			int width = cell->parameters.at(ID(WIDTH)).as_int();
+			int depth = cell->parameters.at(ID(DEPTH)).as_int();
+			std::vector<RTLIL::State> t = cell->parameters.at(ID(TABLE)).bits;
 
 			while (GetSize(t) < width*depth*2)
 				t.push_back(State::S0);
@@ -447,15 +447,15 @@ struct CellTypes
 			return default_ret;
 		}
 
-		bool signed_a = cell->parameters.count("\\A_SIGNED") > 0 && cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool();
-		bool signed_b = cell->parameters.count("\\B_SIGNED") > 0 && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool();
-		int result_len = cell->parameters.count("\\Y_WIDTH") > 0 ? cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"].as_int() : -1;
+		bool signed_a = cell->parameters.count(ID(A_SIGNED)) > 0 && cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool();
+		bool signed_b = cell->parameters.count(ID(B_SIGNED)) > 0 && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool();
+		int result_len = cell->parameters.count(ID(Y_WIDTH)) > 0 ? cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)].as_int() : -1;
 		return eval(cell->type, arg1, arg2, signed_a, signed_b, result_len, errp);
 	}
 
 	static RTLIL::Const eval(RTLIL::Cell *cell, const RTLIL::Const &arg1, const RTLIL::Const &arg2, const RTLIL::Const &arg3, bool *errp = nullptr)
 	{
-		if (cell->type.in("$mux", "$pmux", "$_MUX_")) {
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($pmux), ID($_MUX_))) {
 			RTLIL::Const ret = arg1;
 			for (size_t i = 0; i < arg3.bits.size(); i++)
 				if (arg3.bits[i] == RTLIL::State::S1) {
@@ -465,9 +465,9 @@ struct CellTypes
 			return ret;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$_AOI3_")
+		if (cell->type == ID($_AOI3_))
 			return eval_not(const_or(const_and(arg1, arg2, false, false, 1), arg3, false, false, 1));
-		if (cell->type == "$_OAI3_")
+		if (cell->type == ID($_OAI3_))
 			return eval_not(const_and(const_or(arg1, arg2, false, false, 1), arg3, false, false, 1));
 
 		log_assert(arg3.bits.size() == 0);
@@ -476,9 +476,9 @@ struct CellTypes
 
 	static RTLIL::Const eval(RTLIL::Cell *cell, const RTLIL::Const &arg1, const RTLIL::Const &arg2, const RTLIL::Const &arg3, const RTLIL::Const &arg4, bool *errp = nullptr)
 	{
-		if (cell->type == "$_AOI4_")
+		if (cell->type == ID($_AOI4_))
 			return eval_not(const_or(const_and(arg1, arg2, false, false, 1), const_and(arg3, arg4, false, false, 1), false, false, 1));
-		if (cell->type == "$_OAI4_")
+		if (cell->type == ID($_OAI4_))
 			return eval_not(const_and(const_or(arg1, arg2, false, false, 1), const_or(arg3, arg4, false, false, 1), false, false, 1));
 
 		log_assert(arg4.bits.size() == 0);
diff --git a/kernel/consteval.h b/kernel/consteval.h
index 521ce96d4..09b4c434b 100644
--- a/kernel/consteval.h
+++ b/kernel/consteval.h
@@ -89,12 +89,12 @@ struct ConstEval
 
 	bool eval(RTLIL::Cell *cell, RTLIL::SigSpec &undef)
 	{
-		if (cell->type == "$lcu")
+		if (cell->type == ID($lcu))
 		{
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_p = cell->getPort("\\P");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_g = cell->getPort("\\G");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_ci = cell->getPort("\\CI");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_co = values_map(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\CO")));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_p = cell->getPort(ID(P));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_g = cell->getPort(ID(G));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_ci = cell->getPort(ID(CI));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_co = values_map(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(CO))));
 
 			if (sig_co.is_fully_const())
 				return true;
@@ -128,24 +128,24 @@ struct ConstEval
 
 		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, sig_b, sig_s, sig_y;
 
-		log_assert(cell->hasPort("\\Y"));
-		sig_y = values_map(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Y")));
+		log_assert(cell->hasPort(ID(Y)));
+		sig_y = values_map(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Y))));
 		if (sig_y.is_fully_const())
 			return true;
 
-		if (cell->hasPort("\\S")) {
-			sig_s = cell->getPort("\\S");
+		if (cell->hasPort(ID(S))) {
+			sig_s = cell->getPort(ID(S));
 			if (!eval(sig_s, undef, cell))
 				return false;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->hasPort("\\A"))
-			sig_a = cell->getPort("\\A");
+		if (cell->hasPort(ID(A)))
+			sig_a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
 
-		if (cell->hasPort("\\B"))
-			sig_b = cell->getPort("\\B");
+		if (cell->hasPort(ID(B)))
+			sig_b = cell->getPort(ID(B));
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$mux", "$pmux", "$_MUX_", "$_NMUX_"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($pmux), ID($_MUX_), ID($_NMUX_)))
 		{
 			std::vector<RTLIL::SigSpec> y_candidates;
 			int count_maybe_set_s_bits = 0;
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ struct ConstEval
 			for (auto &yc : y_candidates) {
 				if (!eval(yc, undef, cell))
 					return false;
-				if (cell->type == "$_NMUX_")
+				if (cell->type == ID($_NMUX_))
 					y_values.push_back(RTLIL::const_not(yc.as_const(), Const(), false, false, GetSize(yc)));
 				else
 					y_values.push_back(yc.as_const());
@@ -198,10 +198,10 @@ struct ConstEval
 			else
 				set(sig_y, y_values.front());
 		}
-		else if (cell->type == "$fa")
+		else if (cell->type == ID($fa))
 		{
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_c = cell->getPort("\\C");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_x = cell->getPort("\\X");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_c = cell->getPort(ID(C));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_x = cell->getPort(ID(X));
 			int width = GetSize(sig_c);
 
 			if (!eval(sig_a, undef, cell))
@@ -227,13 +227,13 @@ struct ConstEval
 			set(sig_y, val_y);
 			set(sig_x, val_x);
 		}
-		else if (cell->type == "$alu")
+		else if (cell->type == ID($alu))
 		{
-			bool signed_a = cell->parameters.count("\\A_SIGNED") > 0 && cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool();
-			bool signed_b = cell->parameters.count("\\B_SIGNED") > 0 && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool();
+			bool signed_a = cell->parameters.count(ID(A_SIGNED)) > 0 && cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool();
+			bool signed_b = cell->parameters.count(ID(B_SIGNED)) > 0 && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool();
 
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_ci = cell->getPort("\\CI");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_bi = cell->getPort("\\BI");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_ci = cell->getPort(ID(CI));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_bi = cell->getPort(ID(BI));
 
 			if (!eval(sig_a, undef, cell))
 				return false;
@@ -247,8 +247,8 @@ struct ConstEval
 			if (!eval(sig_bi, undef, cell))
 				return false;
 
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_x = cell->getPort("\\X");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_co = cell->getPort("\\CO");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_x = cell->getPort(ID(X));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_co = cell->getPort(ID(CO));
 
 			bool any_input_undef = !(sig_a.is_fully_def() && sig_b.is_fully_def() && sig_ci.is_fully_def() && sig_bi.is_fully_def());
 			sig_a.extend_u0(GetSize(sig_y), signed_a);
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ struct ConstEval
 				}
 			}
 		}
-		else if (cell->type == "$macc")
+		else if (cell->type == ID($macc))
 		{
 			Macc macc;
 			macc.from_cell(cell);
@@ -298,21 +298,21 @@ struct ConstEval
 					return false;
 			}
 
-			RTLIL::Const result(0, GetSize(cell->getPort("\\Y")));
+			RTLIL::Const result(0, GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(Y))));
 			if (!macc.eval(result))
 				log_abort();
 
-			set(cell->getPort("\\Y"), result);
+			set(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), result);
 		}
 		else
 		{
 			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_c, sig_d;
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$_AOI3_", "$_OAI3_", "$_AOI4_", "$_OAI4_")) {
-				if (cell->hasPort("\\C"))
-					sig_c = cell->getPort("\\C");
-				if (cell->hasPort("\\D"))
-					sig_d = cell->getPort("\\D");
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($_AOI3_), ID($_OAI3_), ID($_AOI4_), ID($_OAI4_))) {
+				if (cell->hasPort(ID(C)))
+					sig_c = cell->getPort(ID(C));
+				if (cell->hasPort(ID(D)))
+					sig_d = cell->getPort(ID(D));
 			}
 
 			if (sig_a.size() > 0 && !eval(sig_a, undef, cell))
diff --git a/kernel/cost.h b/kernel/cost.h
index 10fa50fb3..ea2a4c1f0 100644
--- a/kernel/cost.h
+++ b/kernel/cost.h
@@ -28,44 +28,44 @@ struct CellCosts
 {
 	static const dict<RTLIL::IdString, int>& default_gate_cost() {
 		static const dict<RTLIL::IdString, int> db = {
-			{ "$_BUF_",    1 },
-			{ "$_NOT_",    2 },
-			{ "$_AND_",    4 },
-			{ "$_NAND_",   4 },
-			{ "$_OR_",     4 },
-			{ "$_NOR_",    4 },
-			{ "$_ANDNOT_", 4 },
-			{ "$_ORNOT_",  4 },
-			{ "$_XOR_",    5 },
-			{ "$_XNOR_",   5 },
-			{ "$_AOI3_",   6 },
-			{ "$_OAI3_",   6 },
-			{ "$_AOI4_",   7 },
-			{ "$_OAI4_",   7 },
-			{ "$_MUX_",    4 },
-			{ "$_NMUX_",   4 }
+			{ ID($_BUF_),    1 },
+			{ ID($_NOT_),    2 },
+			{ ID($_AND_),    4 },
+			{ ID($_NAND_),   4 },
+			{ ID($_OR_),     4 },
+			{ ID($_NOR_),    4 },
+			{ ID($_ANDNOT_), 4 },
+			{ ID($_ORNOT_),  4 },
+			{ ID($_XOR_),    5 },
+			{ ID($_XNOR_),   5 },
+			{ ID($_AOI3_),   6 },
+			{ ID($_OAI3_),   6 },
+			{ ID($_AOI4_),   7 },
+			{ ID($_OAI4_),   7 },
+			{ ID($_MUX_),    4 },
+			{ ID($_NMUX_),   4 }
 		};
 		return db;
 	}
 
 	static const dict<RTLIL::IdString, int>& cmos_gate_cost() {
 		static const dict<RTLIL::IdString, int> db = {
-			{ "$_BUF_",     1 },
-			{ "$_NOT_",     2 },
-			{ "$_AND_",     6 },
-			{ "$_NAND_",    4 },
-			{ "$_OR_",      6 },
-			{ "$_NOR_",     4 },
-			{ "$_ANDNOT_",  6 },
-			{ "$_ORNOT_",   6 },
-			{ "$_XOR_",    12 },
-			{ "$_XNOR_",   12 },
-			{ "$_AOI3_",    6 },
-			{ "$_OAI3_",    6 },
-			{ "$_AOI4_",    8 },
-			{ "$_OAI4_",    8 },
-			{ "$_MUX_",    12 },
-			{ "$_NMUX_",   10 }
+			{ ID($_BUF_),     1 },
+			{ ID($_NOT_),     2 },
+			{ ID($_AND_),     6 },
+			{ ID($_NAND_),    4 },
+			{ ID($_OR_),      6 },
+			{ ID($_NOR_),     4 },
+			{ ID($_ANDNOT_),  6 },
+			{ ID($_ORNOT_),   6 },
+			{ ID($_XOR_),    12 },
+			{ ID($_XNOR_),   12 },
+			{ ID($_AOI3_),    6 },
+			{ ID($_OAI3_),    6 },
+			{ ID($_AOI4_),    8 },
+			{ ID($_OAI4_),    8 },
+			{ ID($_MUX_),    12 },
+			{ ID($_NMUX_),   10 }
 		};
 		return db;
 	}
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ struct CellCosts
 		{
 			RTLIL::Module *mod = design->module(cell->type);
 
-			if (mod->attributes.count("\\cost"))
-				return mod->attributes.at("\\cost").as_int();
+			if (mod->attributes.count(ID(cost)))
+				return mod->attributes.at(ID(cost)).as_int();
 
 			if (mod_cost_cache.count(mod->name))
 				return mod_cost_cache.at(mod->name);
diff --git a/kernel/macc.h b/kernel/macc.h
index c7595ebc1..e07e7e01a 100644
--- a/kernel/macc.h
+++ b/kernel/macc.h
@@ -99,16 +99,16 @@ struct Macc
 
 	void from_cell(RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 	{
-		RTLIL::SigSpec port_a = cell->getPort("\\A");
+		RTLIL::SigSpec port_a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
 
 		ports.clear();
-		bit_ports = cell->getPort("\\B");
+		bit_ports = cell->getPort(ID(B));
 
-		std::vector<RTLIL::State> config_bits = cell->getParam("\\CONFIG").bits;
+		std::vector<RTLIL::State> config_bits = cell->getParam(ID(CONFIG)).bits;
 		int config_cursor = 0;
 
 #ifndef NDEBUG
-		int config_width = cell->getParam("\\CONFIG_WIDTH").as_int();
+		int config_width = cell->getParam(ID(CONFIG_WIDTH)).as_int();
 		log_assert(GetSize(config_bits) >= config_width);
 #endif
 
@@ -191,12 +191,12 @@ struct Macc
 			port_a.append(port.in_b);
 		}
 
-		cell->setPort("\\A", port_a);
-		cell->setPort("\\B", bit_ports);
-		cell->setParam("\\CONFIG", config_bits);
-		cell->setParam("\\CONFIG_WIDTH", GetSize(config_bits));
-		cell->setParam("\\A_WIDTH", GetSize(port_a));
-		cell->setParam("\\B_WIDTH", GetSize(bit_ports));
+		cell->setPort(ID(A), port_a);
+		cell->setPort(ID(B), bit_ports);
+		cell->setParam(ID(CONFIG), config_bits);
+		cell->setParam(ID(CONFIG_WIDTH), GetSize(config_bits));
+		cell->setParam(ID(A_WIDTH), GetSize(port_a));
+		cell->setParam(ID(B_WIDTH), GetSize(bit_ports));
 	}
 
 	bool eval(RTLIL::Const &result) const
diff --git a/kernel/rtlil.cc b/kernel/rtlil.cc
index fade0bc36..d01bd0c62 100644
--- a/kernel/rtlil.cc
+++ b/kernel/rtlil.cc
@@ -29,12 +29,23 @@
 YOSYS_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
 
 RTLIL::IdString::destruct_guard_t RTLIL::IdString::destruct_guard;
-std::vector<int> RTLIL::IdString::global_refcount_storage_;
 std::vector<char*> RTLIL::IdString::global_id_storage_;
 dict<char*, int, hash_cstr_ops> RTLIL::IdString::global_id_index_;
+#ifndef YOSYS_NO_IDS_REFCNT
+std::vector<int> RTLIL::IdString::global_refcount_storage_;
 std::vector<int> RTLIL::IdString::global_free_idx_list_;
+#endif
+#ifdef YOSYS_USE_STICKY_IDS
 int RTLIL::IdString::last_created_idx_[8];
 int RTLIL::IdString::last_created_idx_ptr_;
+#endif
+
+IdString RTLIL::ID::A;
+IdString RTLIL::ID::B;
+IdString RTLIL::ID::Y;
+IdString RTLIL::ID::keep;
+IdString RTLIL::ID::whitebox;
+IdString RTLIL::ID::blackbox;
 
 RTLIL::Const::Const()
 {
@@ -264,16 +275,16 @@ pool<string> RTLIL::AttrObject::get_strpool_attribute(RTLIL::IdString id) const
 void RTLIL::AttrObject::set_src_attribute(const std::string &src)
 {
 	if (src.empty())
-		attributes.erase("\\src");
+		attributes.erase(ID(src));
 	else
-		attributes["\\src"] = src;
+		attributes[ID(src)] = src;
 }
 
 std::string RTLIL::AttrObject::get_src_attribute() const
 {
 	std::string src;
-	if (attributes.count("\\src"))
-		src = attributes.at("\\src").decode_string();
+	if (attributes.count(ID(src)))
+		src = attributes.at(ID(src)).decode_string();
 	return src;
 }
 
@@ -417,7 +428,7 @@ RTLIL::Module *RTLIL::Design::top_module()
 	int module_count = 0;
 
 	for (auto mod : selected_modules()) {
-		if (mod->get_bool_attribute("\\top"))
+		if (mod->get_bool_attribute(ID(top)))
 			return mod;
 		module_count++;
 		module = mod;
@@ -706,7 +717,7 @@ void RTLIL::Module::makeblackbox()
 	processes.clear();
 
 	remove(delwires);
-	set_bool_attribute("\\blackbox");
+	set_bool_attribute(ID(blackbox));
 }
 
 void RTLIL::Module::reprocess_module(RTLIL::Design *, dict<RTLIL::IdString, RTLIL::Module *>)
@@ -754,7 +765,7 @@ namespace {
 					cell->name.c_str(), cell->type.c_str(), __FILE__, linenr, buf.str().c_str());
 		}
 
-		int param(const char *name)
+		int param(RTLIL::IdString name)
 		{
 			if (cell->parameters.count(name) == 0)
 				error(__LINE__);
@@ -762,7 +773,7 @@ namespace {
 			return cell->parameters.at(name).as_int();
 		}
 
-		int param_bool(const char *name)
+		int param_bool(RTLIL::IdString name)
 		{
 			int v = param(name);
 			if (cell->parameters.at(name).bits.size() > 32)
@@ -772,14 +783,14 @@ namespace {
 			return v;
 		}
 
-		void param_bits(const char *name, int width)
+		void param_bits(RTLIL::IdString name, int width)
 		{
 			param(name);
 			if (int(cell->parameters.at(name).bits.size()) != width)
 				error(__LINE__);
 		}
 
-		void port(const char *name, int width)
+		void port(RTLIL::IdString name, int width)
 		{
 			if (!cell->hasPort(name))
 				error(__LINE__);
@@ -797,9 +808,9 @@ namespace {
 				if (expected_ports.count(conn.first) == 0)
 					error(__LINE__);
 
-			if (expected_params.count("\\A_SIGNED") != 0 && expected_params.count("\\B_SIGNED") && check_matched_sign) {
-				bool a_is_signed = param("\\A_SIGNED") != 0;
-				bool b_is_signed = param("\\B_SIGNED") != 0;
+			if (expected_params.count(ID(A_SIGNED)) != 0 && expected_params.count(ID(B_SIGNED)) && check_matched_sign) {
+				bool a_is_signed = param(ID(A_SIGNED)) != 0;
+				bool b_is_signed = param(ID(B_SIGNED)) != 0;
 				if (a_is_signed != b_is_signed)
 					error(__LINE__);
 			}
@@ -832,478 +843,478 @@ namespace {
 					cell->type.begins_with("$verific$") || cell->type.begins_with("$array:") || cell->type.begins_with("$extern:"))
 				return;
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$not", "$pos", "$neg")) {
-				param_bool("\\A_SIGNED");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($not), ID($pos), ID($neg))) {
+				param_bool(ID(A_SIGNED));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$and", "$or", "$xor", "$xnor")) {
-				param_bool("\\A_SIGNED");
-				param_bool("\\B_SIGNED");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\B_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($and), ID($or), ID($xor), ID($xnor))) {
+				param_bool(ID(A_SIGNED));
+				param_bool(ID(B_SIGNED));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(B_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$reduce_and", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_xor", "$reduce_xnor", "$reduce_bool")) {
-				param_bool("\\A_SIGNED");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($reduce_and), ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_xor), ID($reduce_xnor), ID($reduce_bool))) {
+				param_bool(ID(A_SIGNED));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$shl", "$shr", "$sshl", "$sshr", "$shift", "$shiftx")) {
-				param_bool("\\A_SIGNED");
-				param_bool("\\B_SIGNED");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\B_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($shl), ID($shr), ID($sshl), ID($sshr), ID($shift), ID($shiftx))) {
+				param_bool(ID(A_SIGNED));
+				param_bool(ID(B_SIGNED));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(B_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected(false);
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$lt", "$le", "$eq", "$ne", "$eqx", "$nex", "$ge", "$gt")) {
-				param_bool("\\A_SIGNED");
-				param_bool("\\B_SIGNED");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\B_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($lt), ID($le), ID($eq), ID($ne), ID($eqx), ID($nex), ID($ge), ID($gt))) {
+				param_bool(ID(A_SIGNED));
+				param_bool(ID(B_SIGNED));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(B_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$add", "$sub", "$mul", "$div", "$mod", "$pow")) {
-				param_bool("\\A_SIGNED");
-				param_bool("\\B_SIGNED");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\B_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
-				check_expected(cell->type != "$pow");
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($add), ID($sub), ID($mul), ID($div), ID($mod), ID($pow))) {
+				param_bool(ID(A_SIGNED));
+				param_bool(ID(B_SIGNED));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(B_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
+				check_expected(cell->type != ID($pow));
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$fa") {
-				port("\\A", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\C", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\X", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($fa)) {
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(C), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(X), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$lcu") {
-				port("\\P", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\G", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\CI", 1);
-				port("\\CO", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($lcu)) {
+				port(ID(P), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(G), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(CI), 1);
+				port(ID(CO), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$alu") {
-				param_bool("\\A_SIGNED");
-				param_bool("\\B_SIGNED");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\B_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\CI", 1);
-				port("\\BI", 1);
-				port("\\X", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\CO", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($alu)) {
+				param_bool(ID(A_SIGNED));
+				param_bool(ID(B_SIGNED));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(B_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(CI), 1);
+				port(ID(BI), 1);
+				port(ID(X), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(CO), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$macc") {
-				param("\\CONFIG");
-				param("\\CONFIG_WIDTH");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\B_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($macc)) {
+				param(ID(CONFIG));
+				param(ID(CONFIG_WIDTH));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(B_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				Macc().from_cell(cell);
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$logic_not") {
-				param_bool("\\A_SIGNED");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($logic_not)) {
+				param_bool(ID(A_SIGNED));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$logic_and", "$logic_or")) {
-				param_bool("\\A_SIGNED");
-				param_bool("\\B_SIGNED");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\B_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($logic_and), ID($logic_or))) {
+				param_bool(ID(A_SIGNED));
+				param_bool(ID(B_SIGNED));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(B_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected(false);
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$slice") {
-				param("\\OFFSET");
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\Y_WIDTH"));
-				if (param("\\OFFSET") + param("\\Y_WIDTH") > param("\\A_WIDTH"))
+			if (cell->type == ID($slice)) {
+				param(ID(OFFSET));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(Y_WIDTH)));
+				if (param(ID(OFFSET)) + param(ID(Y_WIDTH)) > param(ID(A_WIDTH)))
 					error(__LINE__);
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$concat") {
-				port("\\A", param("\\A_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\B_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\A_WIDTH") + param("\\B_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($concat)) {
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(A_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(B_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(A_WIDTH)) + param(ID(B_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$mux") {
-				port("\\A", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\S", 1);
-				port("\\Y", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($mux)) {
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(S), 1);
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$pmux") {
-				port("\\A", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\B", param("\\WIDTH") * param("\\S_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\S", param("\\S_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($pmux)) {
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(B), param(ID(WIDTH)) * param(ID(S_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(S), param(ID(S_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$lut") {
-				param("\\LUT");
-				port("\\A", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", 1);
+			if (cell->type == ID($lut)) {
+				param(ID(LUT));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), 1);
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$sop") {
-				param("\\DEPTH");
-				param("\\TABLE");
-				port("\\A", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", 1);
+			if (cell->type == ID($sop)) {
+				param(ID(DEPTH));
+				param(ID(TABLE));
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), 1);
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$sr") {
-				param_bool("\\SET_POLARITY");
-				param_bool("\\CLR_POLARITY");
-				port("\\SET", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\CLR", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Q",   param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($sr)) {
+				param_bool(ID(SET_POLARITY));
+				param_bool(ID(CLR_POLARITY));
+				port(ID(SET), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(CLR), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Q),   param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$ff") {
-				port("\\D", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Q", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($ff)) {
+				port(ID(D), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Q), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$dff") {
-				param_bool("\\CLK_POLARITY");
-				port("\\CLK", 1);
-				port("\\D", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Q", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($dff)) {
+				param_bool(ID(CLK_POLARITY));
+				port(ID(CLK), 1);
+				port(ID(D), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Q), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$dffe") {
-				param_bool("\\CLK_POLARITY");
-				param_bool("\\EN_POLARITY");
-				port("\\CLK", 1);
-				port("\\EN", 1);
-				port("\\D", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Q", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($dffe)) {
+				param_bool(ID(CLK_POLARITY));
+				param_bool(ID(EN_POLARITY));
+				port(ID(CLK), 1);
+				port(ID(EN), 1);
+				port(ID(D), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Q), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$dffsr") {
-				param_bool("\\CLK_POLARITY");
-				param_bool("\\SET_POLARITY");
-				param_bool("\\CLR_POLARITY");
-				port("\\CLK", 1);
-				port("\\SET", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\CLR", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\D", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Q", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($dffsr)) {
+				param_bool(ID(CLK_POLARITY));
+				param_bool(ID(SET_POLARITY));
+				param_bool(ID(CLR_POLARITY));
+				port(ID(CLK), 1);
+				port(ID(SET), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(CLR), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(D), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Q), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$adff") {
-				param_bool("\\CLK_POLARITY");
-				param_bool("\\ARST_POLARITY");
-				param_bits("\\ARST_VALUE", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\CLK", 1);
-				port("\\ARST", 1);
-				port("\\D", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Q", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($adff)) {
+				param_bool(ID(CLK_POLARITY));
+				param_bool(ID(ARST_POLARITY));
+				param_bits(ID(ARST_VALUE), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(CLK), 1);
+				port(ID(ARST), 1);
+				port(ID(D), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Q), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$dlatch") {
-				param_bool("\\EN_POLARITY");
-				port("\\EN", 1);
-				port("\\D", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Q", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($dlatch)) {
+				param_bool(ID(EN_POLARITY));
+				port(ID(EN), 1);
+				port(ID(D), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Q), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$dlatchsr") {
-				param_bool("\\EN_POLARITY");
-				param_bool("\\SET_POLARITY");
-				param_bool("\\CLR_POLARITY");
-				port("\\EN", 1);
-				port("\\SET", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\CLR", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\D", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Q", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($dlatchsr)) {
+				param_bool(ID(EN_POLARITY));
+				param_bool(ID(SET_POLARITY));
+				param_bool(ID(CLR_POLARITY));
+				port(ID(EN), 1);
+				port(ID(SET), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(CLR), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(D), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Q), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$fsm") {
-				param("\\NAME");
-				param_bool("\\CLK_POLARITY");
-				param_bool("\\ARST_POLARITY");
-				param("\\STATE_BITS");
-				param("\\STATE_NUM");
-				param("\\STATE_NUM_LOG2");
-				param("\\STATE_RST");
-				param_bits("\\STATE_TABLE", param("\\STATE_BITS") * param("\\STATE_NUM"));
-				param("\\TRANS_NUM");
-				param_bits("\\TRANS_TABLE", param("\\TRANS_NUM") * (2*param("\\STATE_NUM_LOG2") + param("\\CTRL_IN_WIDTH") + param("\\CTRL_OUT_WIDTH")));
-				port("\\CLK", 1);
-				port("\\ARST", 1);
-				port("\\CTRL_IN", param("\\CTRL_IN_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\CTRL_OUT", param("\\CTRL_OUT_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($fsm)) {
+				param(ID(NAME));
+				param_bool(ID(CLK_POLARITY));
+				param_bool(ID(ARST_POLARITY));
+				param(ID(STATE_BITS));
+				param(ID(STATE_NUM));
+				param(ID(STATE_NUM_LOG2));
+				param(ID(STATE_RST));
+				param_bits(ID(STATE_TABLE), param(ID(STATE_BITS)) * param(ID(STATE_NUM)));
+				param(ID(TRANS_NUM));
+				param_bits(ID(TRANS_TABLE), param(ID(TRANS_NUM)) * (2*param(ID(STATE_NUM_LOG2)) + param(ID(CTRL_IN_WIDTH)) + param(ID(CTRL_OUT_WIDTH))));
+				port(ID(CLK), 1);
+				port(ID(ARST), 1);
+				port(ID(CTRL_IN), param(ID(CTRL_IN_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(CTRL_OUT), param(ID(CTRL_OUT_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$memrd") {
-				param("\\MEMID");
-				param_bool("\\CLK_ENABLE");
-				param_bool("\\CLK_POLARITY");
-				param_bool("\\TRANSPARENT");
-				port("\\CLK", 1);
-				port("\\EN", 1);
-				port("\\ADDR", param("\\ABITS"));
-				port("\\DATA", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($memrd)) {
+				param(ID(MEMID));
+				param_bool(ID(CLK_ENABLE));
+				param_bool(ID(CLK_POLARITY));
+				param_bool(ID(TRANSPARENT));
+				port(ID(CLK), 1);
+				port(ID(EN), 1);
+				port(ID(ADDR), param(ID(ABITS)));
+				port(ID(DATA), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$memwr") {
-				param("\\MEMID");
-				param_bool("\\CLK_ENABLE");
-				param_bool("\\CLK_POLARITY");
-				param("\\PRIORITY");
-				port("\\CLK", 1);
-				port("\\EN", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\ADDR", param("\\ABITS"));
-				port("\\DATA", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($memwr)) {
+				param(ID(MEMID));
+				param_bool(ID(CLK_ENABLE));
+				param_bool(ID(CLK_POLARITY));
+				param(ID(PRIORITY));
+				port(ID(CLK), 1);
+				port(ID(EN), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(ADDR), param(ID(ABITS)));
+				port(ID(DATA), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$meminit") {
-				param("\\MEMID");
-				param("\\PRIORITY");
-				port("\\ADDR", param("\\ABITS"));
-				port("\\DATA", param("\\WIDTH") * param("\\WORDS"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($meminit)) {
+				param(ID(MEMID));
+				param(ID(PRIORITY));
+				port(ID(ADDR), param(ID(ABITS)));
+				port(ID(DATA), param(ID(WIDTH)) * param(ID(WORDS)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$mem") {
-				param("\\MEMID");
-				param("\\SIZE");
-				param("\\OFFSET");
-				param("\\INIT");
-				param_bits("\\RD_CLK_ENABLE", max(1, param("\\RD_PORTS")));
-				param_bits("\\RD_CLK_POLARITY", max(1, param("\\RD_PORTS")));
-				param_bits("\\RD_TRANSPARENT", max(1, param("\\RD_PORTS")));
-				param_bits("\\WR_CLK_ENABLE", max(1, param("\\WR_PORTS")));
-				param_bits("\\WR_CLK_POLARITY", max(1, param("\\WR_PORTS")));
-				port("\\RD_CLK", param("\\RD_PORTS"));
-				port("\\RD_EN", param("\\RD_PORTS"));
-				port("\\RD_ADDR", param("\\RD_PORTS") * param("\\ABITS"));
-				port("\\RD_DATA", param("\\RD_PORTS") * param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\WR_CLK", param("\\WR_PORTS"));
-				port("\\WR_EN", param("\\WR_PORTS") * param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\WR_ADDR", param("\\WR_PORTS") * param("\\ABITS"));
-				port("\\WR_DATA", param("\\WR_PORTS") * param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($mem)) {
+				param(ID(MEMID));
+				param(ID(SIZE));
+				param(ID(OFFSET));
+				param(ID(INIT));
+				param_bits(ID(RD_CLK_ENABLE), max(1, param(ID(RD_PORTS))));
+				param_bits(ID(RD_CLK_POLARITY), max(1, param(ID(RD_PORTS))));
+				param_bits(ID(RD_TRANSPARENT), max(1, param(ID(RD_PORTS))));
+				param_bits(ID(WR_CLK_ENABLE), max(1, param(ID(WR_PORTS))));
+				param_bits(ID(WR_CLK_POLARITY), max(1, param(ID(WR_PORTS))));
+				port(ID(RD_CLK), param(ID(RD_PORTS)));
+				port(ID(RD_EN), param(ID(RD_PORTS)));
+				port(ID(RD_ADDR), param(ID(RD_PORTS)) * param(ID(ABITS)));
+				port(ID(RD_DATA), param(ID(RD_PORTS)) * param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(WR_CLK), param(ID(WR_PORTS)));
+				port(ID(WR_EN), param(ID(WR_PORTS)) * param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(WR_ADDR), param(ID(WR_PORTS)) * param(ID(ABITS)));
+				port(ID(WR_DATA), param(ID(WR_PORTS)) * param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$tribuf") {
-				port("\\A", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\Y", param("\\WIDTH"));
-				port("\\EN", 1);
+			if (cell->type == ID($tribuf)) {
+				port(ID(A), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(EN), 1);
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$assert", "$assume", "$live", "$fair", "$cover")) {
-				port("\\A", 1);
-				port("\\EN", 1);
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($assert), ID($assume), ID($live), ID($fair), ID($cover))) {
+				port(ID(A), 1);
+				port(ID(EN), 1);
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$initstate") {
-				port("\\Y", 1);
+			if (cell->type == ID($initstate)) {
+				port(ID(Y), 1);
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$anyconst", "$anyseq", "$allconst", "$allseq")) {
-				port("\\Y", param("\\WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($anyconst), ID($anyseq), ID($allconst), ID($allseq))) {
+				port(ID(Y), param(ID(WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$equiv") {
-				port("\\A", 1);
-				port("\\B", 1);
-				port("\\Y", 1);
+			if (cell->type == ID($equiv)) {
+				port(ID(A), 1);
+				port(ID(B), 1);
+				port(ID(Y), 1);
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$specify2", "$specify3")) {
-				param_bool("\\FULL");
-				param_bool("\\SRC_DST_PEN");
-				param_bool("\\SRC_DST_POL");
-				param("\\T_RISE_MIN");
-				param("\\T_RISE_TYP");
-				param("\\T_RISE_MAX");
-				param("\\T_FALL_MIN");
-				param("\\T_FALL_TYP");
-				param("\\T_FALL_MAX");
-				port("\\EN", 1);
-				port("\\SRC", param("\\SRC_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\DST", param("\\DST_WIDTH"));
-				if (cell->type == "$specify3") {
-					param_bool("\\EDGE_EN");
-					param_bool("\\EDGE_POL");
-					param_bool("\\DAT_DST_PEN");
-					param_bool("\\DAT_DST_POL");
-					port("\\DAT", param("\\DST_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($specify2), ID($specify3))) {
+				param_bool(ID(FULL));
+				param_bool(ID(SRC_DST_PEN));
+				param_bool(ID(SRC_DST_POL));
+				param(ID(T_RISE_MIN));
+				param(ID(T_RISE_TYP));
+				param(ID(T_RISE_MAX));
+				param(ID(T_FALL_MIN));
+				param(ID(T_FALL_TYP));
+				param(ID(T_FALL_MAX));
+				port(ID(EN), 1);
+				port(ID(SRC), param(ID(SRC_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(DST), param(ID(DST_WIDTH)));
+				if (cell->type == ID($specify3)) {
+					param_bool(ID(EDGE_EN));
+					param_bool(ID(EDGE_POL));
+					param_bool(ID(DAT_DST_PEN));
+					param_bool(ID(DAT_DST_POL));
+					port(ID(DAT), param(ID(DST_WIDTH)));
 				}
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$specrule") {
-				param("\\TYPE");
-				param_bool("\\SRC_PEN");
-				param_bool("\\SRC_POL");
-				param_bool("\\DST_PEN");
-				param_bool("\\DST_POL");
-				param("\\T_LIMIT");
-				param("\\T_LIMIT2");
-				port("\\SRC_EN", 1);
-				port("\\DST_EN", 1);
-				port("\\SRC", param("\\SRC_WIDTH"));
-				port("\\DST", param("\\DST_WIDTH"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($specrule)) {
+				param(ID(TYPE));
+				param_bool(ID(SRC_PEN));
+				param_bool(ID(SRC_POL));
+				param_bool(ID(DST_PEN));
+				param_bool(ID(DST_POL));
+				param(ID(T_LIMIT));
+				param(ID(T_LIMIT2));
+				port(ID(SRC_EN), 1);
+				port(ID(DST_EN), 1);
+				port(ID(SRC), param(ID(SRC_WIDTH)));
+				port(ID(DST), param(ID(DST_WIDTH)));
 				check_expected();
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$_BUF_")    { check_gate("AY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_NOT_")    { check_gate("AY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_AND_")    { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_NAND_")   { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_OR_")     { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_NOR_")    { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_XOR_")    { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_XNOR_")   { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_ANDNOT_") { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_ORNOT_")  { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_MUX_")    { check_gate("ABSY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_NMUX_")   { check_gate("ABSY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_AOI3_")   { check_gate("ABCY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_OAI3_")   { check_gate("ABCY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_AOI4_")   { check_gate("ABCDY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_OAI4_")   { check_gate("ABCDY"); return; }
-
-			if (cell->type == "$_TBUF_")  { check_gate("AYE"); return; }
-
-			if (cell->type == "$_MUX4_")  { check_gate("ABCDSTY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_MUX8_")  { check_gate("ABCDEFGHSTUY"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_MUX16_") { check_gate("ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPSTUVY"); return; }
-
-			if (cell->type == "$_SR_NN_") { check_gate("SRQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_SR_NP_") { check_gate("SRQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_SR_PN_") { check_gate("SRQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_SR_PP_") { check_gate("SRQ"); return; }
-
-			if (cell->type == "$_FF_")    { check_gate("DQ");  return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFF_N_") { check_gate("DQC"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFF_P_") { check_gate("DQC"); return; }
-
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFE_NN_") { check_gate("DQCE"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFE_NP_") { check_gate("DQCE"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFE_PN_") { check_gate("DQCE"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFE_PP_") { check_gate("DQCE"); return; }
-
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFF_NN0_") { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFF_NN1_") { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFF_NP0_") { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFF_NP1_") { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFF_PN0_") { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFF_PN1_") { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFF_PP0_") { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFF_PP1_") { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
-
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFSR_NNN_") { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFSR_NNP_") { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFSR_NPN_") { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFSR_NPP_") { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFSR_PNN_") { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFSR_PNP_") { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFSR_PPN_") { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DFFSR_PPP_") { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
-
-			if (cell->type == "$_DLATCH_N_") { check_gate("EDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DLATCH_P_") { check_gate("EDQ"); return; }
-
-			if (cell->type == "$_DLATCHSR_NNN_") { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DLATCHSR_NNP_") { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DLATCHSR_NPN_") { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DLATCHSR_NPP_") { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DLATCHSR_PNN_") { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DLATCHSR_PNP_") { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DLATCHSR_PPN_") { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
-			if (cell->type == "$_DLATCHSR_PPP_") { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_BUF_))    { check_gate("AY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_NOT_))    { check_gate("AY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_AND_))    { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_NAND_))   { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_OR_))     { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_NOR_))    { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_XOR_))    { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_XNOR_))   { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_ANDNOT_)) { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_ORNOT_))  { check_gate("ABY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_MUX_))    { check_gate("ABSY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_NMUX_))   { check_gate("ABSY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_AOI3_))   { check_gate("ABCY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_OAI3_))   { check_gate("ABCY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_AOI4_))   { check_gate("ABCDY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_OAI4_))   { check_gate("ABCDY"); return; }
+
+			if (cell->type == ID($_TBUF_))  { check_gate("AYE"); return; }
+
+			if (cell->type == ID($_MUX4_))  { check_gate("ABCDSTY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_MUX8_))  { check_gate("ABCDEFGHSTUY"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_MUX16_)) { check_gate("ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPSTUVY"); return; }
+
+			if (cell->type == ID($_SR_NN_)) { check_gate("SRQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_SR_NP_)) { check_gate("SRQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_SR_PN_)) { check_gate("SRQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_SR_PP_)) { check_gate("SRQ"); return; }
+
+			if (cell->type == ID($_FF_))    { check_gate("DQ");  return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFF_N_)) { check_gate("DQC"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFF_P_)) { check_gate("DQC"); return; }
+
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFE_NN_)) { check_gate("DQCE"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFE_NP_)) { check_gate("DQCE"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFE_PN_)) { check_gate("DQCE"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFE_PP_)) { check_gate("DQCE"); return; }
+
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFF_NN0_)) { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFF_NN1_)) { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFF_NP0_)) { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFF_NP1_)) { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFF_PN0_)) { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFF_PN1_)) { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFF_PP0_)) { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFF_PP1_)) { check_gate("DQCR"); return; }
+
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFSR_NNN_)) { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFSR_NNP_)) { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFSR_NPN_)) { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFSR_NPP_)) { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFSR_PNN_)) { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFSR_PNP_)) { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFSR_PPN_)) { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DFFSR_PPP_)) { check_gate("CSRDQ"); return; }
+
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DLATCH_N_)) { check_gate("EDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DLATCH_P_)) { check_gate("EDQ"); return; }
+
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DLATCHSR_NNN_)) { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DLATCHSR_NNP_)) { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DLATCHSR_NPN_)) { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DLATCHSR_NPP_)) { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DLATCHSR_PNN_)) { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DLATCHSR_PNP_)) { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DLATCHSR_PPN_)) { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
+			if (cell->type == ID($_DLATCHSR_PPP_)) { check_gate("ESRDQ"); return; }
 
 			error(__LINE__);
 		}
@@ -1817,11 +1828,11 @@ RTLIL::Cell *RTLIL::Module::addCell(RTLIL::IdString name, const RTLIL::Cell *oth
 #define DEF_METHOD(_func, _y_size, _type) \
 	RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::add ## _func(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y, bool is_signed, const std::string &src) { \
 		RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, _type);           \
-		cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = is_signed;         \
-		cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = sig_a.size();       \
-		cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = sig_y.size();       \
-		cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);                        \
-		cell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y);                        \
+		cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = is_signed;         \
+		cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = sig_a.size();       \
+		cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = sig_y.size();       \
+		cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);                        \
+		cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y);                        \
 		cell->set_src_attribute(src);                       \
 		return cell;                                        \
 	} \
@@ -1830,28 +1841,28 @@ RTLIL::Cell *RTLIL::Module::addCell(RTLIL::IdString name, const RTLIL::Cell *oth
 		add ## _func(name, sig_a, sig_y, is_signed, src);   \
 		return sig_y;                                       \
 	}
-DEF_METHOD(Not,        sig_a.size(), "$not")
-DEF_METHOD(Pos,        sig_a.size(), "$pos")
-DEF_METHOD(Neg,        sig_a.size(), "$neg")
-DEF_METHOD(ReduceAnd,  1, "$reduce_and")
-DEF_METHOD(ReduceOr,   1, "$reduce_or")
-DEF_METHOD(ReduceXor,  1, "$reduce_xor")
-DEF_METHOD(ReduceXnor, 1, "$reduce_xnor")
-DEF_METHOD(ReduceBool, 1, "$reduce_bool")
-DEF_METHOD(LogicNot,   1, "$logic_not")
+DEF_METHOD(Not,        sig_a.size(), ID($not))
+DEF_METHOD(Pos,        sig_a.size(), ID($pos))
+DEF_METHOD(Neg,        sig_a.size(), ID($neg))
+DEF_METHOD(ReduceAnd,  1, ID($reduce_and))
+DEF_METHOD(ReduceOr,   1, ID($reduce_or))
+DEF_METHOD(ReduceXor,  1, ID($reduce_xor))
+DEF_METHOD(ReduceXnor, 1, ID($reduce_xnor))
+DEF_METHOD(ReduceBool, 1, ID($reduce_bool))
+DEF_METHOD(LogicNot,   1, ID($logic_not))
 #undef DEF_METHOD
 
 #define DEF_METHOD(_func, _y_size, _type) \
 	RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::add ## _func(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y, bool is_signed, const std::string &src) { \
 		RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, _type);           \
-		cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = is_signed;         \
-		cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"] = is_signed;         \
-		cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = sig_a.size();       \
-		cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = sig_b.size();       \
-		cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = sig_y.size();       \
-		cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);                        \
-		cell->setPort("\\B", sig_b);                        \
-		cell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y);                        \
+		cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = is_signed;         \
+		cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)] = is_signed;         \
+		cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = sig_a.size();       \
+		cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = sig_b.size();       \
+		cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = sig_y.size();       \
+		cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);                        \
+		cell->setPort(ID(B), sig_b);                        \
+		cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y);                        \
 		cell->set_src_attribute(src);                       \
 		return cell;                                        \
 	} \
@@ -1860,42 +1871,42 @@ DEF_METHOD(LogicNot,   1, "$logic_not")
 		add ## _func(name, sig_a, sig_b, sig_y, is_signed, src); \
 		return sig_y;                                            \
 	}
-DEF_METHOD(And,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), "$and")
-DEF_METHOD(Or,       max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), "$or")
-DEF_METHOD(Xor,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), "$xor")
-DEF_METHOD(Xnor,     max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), "$xnor")
-DEF_METHOD(Shl,      sig_a.size(), "$shl")
-DEF_METHOD(Shr,      sig_a.size(), "$shr")
-DEF_METHOD(Sshl,     sig_a.size(), "$sshl")
-DEF_METHOD(Sshr,     sig_a.size(), "$sshr")
-DEF_METHOD(Shift,    sig_a.size(), "$shift")
-DEF_METHOD(Shiftx,   sig_a.size(), "$shiftx")
-DEF_METHOD(Lt,       1, "$lt")
-DEF_METHOD(Le,       1, "$le")
-DEF_METHOD(Eq,       1, "$eq")
-DEF_METHOD(Ne,       1, "$ne")
-DEF_METHOD(Eqx,      1, "$eqx")
-DEF_METHOD(Nex,      1, "$nex")
-DEF_METHOD(Ge,       1, "$ge")
-DEF_METHOD(Gt,       1, "$gt")
-DEF_METHOD(Add,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), "$add")
-DEF_METHOD(Sub,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), "$sub")
-DEF_METHOD(Mul,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), "$mul")
-DEF_METHOD(Div,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), "$div")
-DEF_METHOD(Mod,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), "$mod")
-DEF_METHOD(LogicAnd, 1, "$logic_and")
-DEF_METHOD(LogicOr,  1, "$logic_or")
+DEF_METHOD(And,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), ID($and))
+DEF_METHOD(Or,       max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), ID($or))
+DEF_METHOD(Xor,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), ID($xor))
+DEF_METHOD(Xnor,     max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), ID($xnor))
+DEF_METHOD(Shl,      sig_a.size(), ID($shl))
+DEF_METHOD(Shr,      sig_a.size(), ID($shr))
+DEF_METHOD(Sshl,     sig_a.size(), ID($sshl))
+DEF_METHOD(Sshr,     sig_a.size(), ID($sshr))
+DEF_METHOD(Shift,    sig_a.size(), ID($shift))
+DEF_METHOD(Shiftx,   sig_a.size(), ID($shiftx))
+DEF_METHOD(Lt,       1, ID($lt))
+DEF_METHOD(Le,       1, ID($le))
+DEF_METHOD(Eq,       1, ID($eq))
+DEF_METHOD(Ne,       1, ID($ne))
+DEF_METHOD(Eqx,      1, ID($eqx))
+DEF_METHOD(Nex,      1, ID($nex))
+DEF_METHOD(Ge,       1, ID($ge))
+DEF_METHOD(Gt,       1, ID($gt))
+DEF_METHOD(Add,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), ID($add))
+DEF_METHOD(Sub,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), ID($sub))
+DEF_METHOD(Mul,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), ID($mul))
+DEF_METHOD(Div,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), ID($div))
+DEF_METHOD(Mod,      max(sig_a.size(), sig_b.size()), ID($mod))
+DEF_METHOD(LogicAnd, 1, ID($logic_and))
+DEF_METHOD(LogicOr,  1, ID($logic_or))
 #undef DEF_METHOD
 
 #define DEF_METHOD(_func, _type, _pmux) \
 	RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::add ## _func(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_s, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y, const std::string &src) { \
 		RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, _type);                 \
-		cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_a.size();               \
-		if (_pmux) cell->parameters["\\S_WIDTH"] = sig_s.size();  \
-		cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);                              \
-		cell->setPort("\\B", sig_b);                              \
-		cell->setPort("\\S", sig_s);                              \
-		cell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y);                              \
+		cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_a.size();               \
+		if (_pmux) cell->parameters[ID(S_WIDTH)] = sig_s.size();  \
+		cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);                              \
+		cell->setPort(ID(B), sig_b);                              \
+		cell->setPort(ID(S), sig_s);                              \
+		cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y);                              \
 		cell->set_src_attribute(src);                             \
 		return cell;                                              \
 	} \
@@ -1904,8 +1915,8 @@ DEF_METHOD(LogicOr,  1, "$logic_or")
 		add ## _func(name, sig_a, sig_b, sig_s, sig_y, src);      \
 		return sig_y;                                             \
 	}
-DEF_METHOD(Mux,      "$mux",        0)
-DEF_METHOD(Pmux,     "$pmux",       1)
+DEF_METHOD(Mux,      ID($mux),        0)
+DEF_METHOD(Pmux,     ID($pmux),       1)
 #undef DEF_METHOD
 
 #define DEF_METHOD_2(_func, _type, _P1, _P2) \
@@ -1966,22 +1977,22 @@ DEF_METHOD(Pmux,     "$pmux",       1)
 		add ## _func(name, sig1, sig2, sig3, sig4, sig5, src); \
 		return sig5;                                           \
 	}
-DEF_METHOD_2(BufGate,    "$_BUF_",    A, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_2(NotGate,    "$_NOT_",    A, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_3(AndGate,    "$_AND_",    A, B, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_3(NandGate,   "$_NAND_",   A, B, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_3(OrGate,     "$_OR_",     A, B, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_3(NorGate,    "$_NOR_",    A, B, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_3(XorGate,    "$_XOR_",    A, B, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_3(XnorGate,   "$_XNOR_",   A, B, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_3(AndnotGate, "$_ANDNOT_", A, B, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_3(OrnotGate,  "$_ORNOT_",  A, B, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_4(MuxGate,    "$_MUX_",    A, B, S, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_4(NmuxGate,   "$_NMUX_",   A, B, S, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_4(Aoi3Gate,   "$_AOI3_",   A, B, C, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_4(Oai3Gate,   "$_OAI3_",   A, B, C, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_5(Aoi4Gate,   "$_AOI4_",   A, B, C, D, Y)
-DEF_METHOD_5(Oai4Gate,   "$_OAI4_",   A, B, C, D, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_2(BufGate,    ID($_BUF_),    A, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_2(NotGate,    ID($_NOT_),    A, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_3(AndGate,    ID($_AND_),    A, B, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_3(NandGate,   ID($_NAND_),   A, B, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_3(OrGate,     ID($_OR_),     A, B, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_3(NorGate,    ID($_NOR_),    A, B, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_3(XorGate,    ID($_XOR_),    A, B, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_3(XnorGate,   ID($_XNOR_),   A, B, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_3(AndnotGate, ID($_ANDNOT_), A, B, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_3(OrnotGate,  ID($_ORNOT_),  A, B, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_4(MuxGate,    ID($_MUX_),    A, B, S, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_4(NmuxGate,   ID($_NMUX_),   A, B, S, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_4(Aoi3Gate,   ID($_AOI3_),   A, B, C, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_4(Oai3Gate,   ID($_OAI3_),   A, B, C, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_5(Aoi4Gate,   ID($_AOI4_),   A, B, C, D, Y)
+DEF_METHOD_5(Oai4Gate,   ID($_OAI4_),   A, B, C, D, Y)
 #undef DEF_METHOD_2
 #undef DEF_METHOD_3
 #undef DEF_METHOD_4
@@ -1989,165 +2000,165 @@ DEF_METHOD_5(Oai4Gate,   "$_OAI4_",   A, B, C, D, Y)
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addPow(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y, bool a_signed, bool b_signed, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$pow");
-	cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = a_signed;
-	cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"] = b_signed;
-	cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = sig_a.size();
-	cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = sig_b.size();
-	cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = sig_y.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\B", sig_b);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($pow));
+	cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = a_signed;
+	cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)] = b_signed;
+	cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = sig_a.size();
+	cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = sig_b.size();
+	cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = sig_y.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(B), sig_b);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addSlice(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y, RTLIL::Const offset, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$slice");
-	cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = sig_a.size();
-	cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = sig_y.size();
-	cell->parameters["\\OFFSET"] = offset;
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($slice));
+	cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = sig_a.size();
+	cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = sig_y.size();
+	cell->parameters[ID(OFFSET)] = offset;
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addConcat(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$concat");
-	cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = sig_a.size();
-	cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = sig_b.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\B", sig_b);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($concat));
+	cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = sig_a.size();
+	cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = sig_b.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(B), sig_b);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addLut(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y, RTLIL::Const lut, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$lut");
-	cell->parameters["\\LUT"] = lut;
-	cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_a.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($lut));
+	cell->parameters[ID(LUT)] = lut;
+	cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_a.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addTribuf(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$tribuf");
-	cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_a.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\EN", sig_en);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($tribuf));
+	cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_a.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(EN), sig_en);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addAssert(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$assert");
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\EN", sig_en);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($assert));
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(EN), sig_en);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addAssume(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$assume");
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\EN", sig_en);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($assume));
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(EN), sig_en);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addLive(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$live");
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\EN", sig_en);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($live));
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(EN), sig_en);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addFair(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$fair");
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\EN", sig_en);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($fair));
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(EN), sig_en);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addCover(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$cover");
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\EN", sig_en);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($cover));
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(EN), sig_en);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addEquiv(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$equiv");
-	cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-	cell->setPort("\\B", sig_b);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($equiv));
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+	cell->setPort(ID(B), sig_b);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addSr(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_set, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_clr, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool set_polarity, bool clr_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$sr");
-	cell->parameters["\\SET_POLARITY"] = set_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\CLR_POLARITY"] = clr_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_q.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\SET", sig_set);
-	cell->setPort("\\CLR", sig_clr);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($sr));
+	cell->parameters[ID(SET_POLARITY)] = set_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(CLR_POLARITY)] = clr_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_q.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(SET), sig_set);
+	cell->setPort(ID(CLR), sig_clr);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addFf(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$ff");
-	cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_q.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($ff));
+	cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_q.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDff(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_clk, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool clk_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$dff");
-	cell->parameters["\\CLK_POLARITY"] = clk_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_q.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\CLK", sig_clk);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($dff));
+	cell->parameters[ID(CLK_POLARITY)] = clk_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_q.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(CLK), sig_clk);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDffe(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_clk, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool clk_polarity, bool en_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$dffe");
-	cell->parameters["\\CLK_POLARITY"] = clk_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\EN_POLARITY"] = en_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_q.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\CLK", sig_clk);
-	cell->setPort("\\EN", sig_en);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($dffe));
+	cell->parameters[ID(CLK_POLARITY)] = clk_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(EN_POLARITY)] = en_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_q.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(CLK), sig_clk);
+	cell->setPort(ID(EN), sig_en);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
@@ -2155,16 +2166,16 @@ RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDffe(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_clk
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDffsr(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_clk, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_set, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_clr,
 		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool clk_polarity, bool set_polarity, bool clr_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$dffsr");
-	cell->parameters["\\CLK_POLARITY"] = clk_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\SET_POLARITY"] = set_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\CLR_POLARITY"] = clr_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_q.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\CLK", sig_clk);
-	cell->setPort("\\SET", sig_set);
-	cell->setPort("\\CLR", sig_clr);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($dffsr));
+	cell->parameters[ID(CLK_POLARITY)] = clk_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(SET_POLARITY)] = set_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(CLR_POLARITY)] = clr_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_q.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(CLK), sig_clk);
+	cell->setPort(ID(SET), sig_set);
+	cell->setPort(ID(CLR), sig_clr);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
@@ -2172,27 +2183,27 @@ RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDffsr(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_cl
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addAdff(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_clk, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_arst, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q,
 		RTLIL::Const arst_value, bool clk_polarity, bool arst_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$adff");
-	cell->parameters["\\CLK_POLARITY"] = clk_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\ARST_POLARITY"] = arst_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\ARST_VALUE"] = arst_value;
-	cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_q.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\CLK", sig_clk);
-	cell->setPort("\\ARST", sig_arst);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($adff));
+	cell->parameters[ID(CLK_POLARITY)] = clk_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(ARST_POLARITY)] = arst_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(ARST_VALUE)] = arst_value;
+	cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_q.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(CLK), sig_clk);
+	cell->setPort(ID(ARST), sig_arst);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDlatch(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool en_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$dlatch");
-	cell->parameters["\\EN_POLARITY"] = en_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_q.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\EN", sig_en);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($dlatch));
+	cell->parameters[ID(EN_POLARITY)] = en_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_q.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(EN), sig_en);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
@@ -2200,25 +2211,25 @@ RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDlatch(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_e
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDlatchsr(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_set, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_clr,
 		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool en_polarity, bool set_polarity, bool clr_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$dlatchsr");
-	cell->parameters["\\EN_POLARITY"] = en_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\SET_POLARITY"] = set_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\CLR_POLARITY"] = clr_polarity;
-	cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = sig_q.size();
-	cell->setPort("\\EN", sig_en);
-	cell->setPort("\\SET", sig_set);
-	cell->setPort("\\CLR", sig_clr);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($dlatchsr));
+	cell->parameters[ID(EN_POLARITY)] = en_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(SET_POLARITY)] = set_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(CLR_POLARITY)] = clr_polarity;
+	cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = sig_q.size();
+	cell->setPort(ID(EN), sig_en);
+	cell->setPort(ID(SET), sig_set);
+	cell->setPort(ID(CLR), sig_clr);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
 
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addFfGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, const std::string &src)
 {
-	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$_FF_");
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($_FF_));
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
@@ -2226,9 +2237,9 @@ RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addFfGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDffGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_clk, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool clk_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, stringf("$_DFF_%c_", clk_polarity ? 'P' : 'N'));
-	cell->setPort("\\C", sig_clk);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	cell->setPort(ID(C), sig_clk);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
@@ -2236,10 +2247,10 @@ RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDffGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDffeGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_clk, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool clk_polarity, bool en_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, stringf("$_DFFE_%c%c_", clk_polarity ? 'P' : 'N', en_polarity ? 'P' : 'N'));
-	cell->setPort("\\C", sig_clk);
-	cell->setPort("\\E", sig_en);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	cell->setPort(ID(C), sig_clk);
+	cell->setPort(ID(E), sig_en);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
@@ -2248,11 +2259,11 @@ RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDffsrGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec si
 		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool clk_polarity, bool set_polarity, bool clr_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, stringf("$_DFFSR_%c%c%c_", clk_polarity ? 'P' : 'N', set_polarity ? 'P' : 'N', clr_polarity ? 'P' : 'N'));
-	cell->setPort("\\C", sig_clk);
-	cell->setPort("\\S", sig_set);
-	cell->setPort("\\R", sig_clr);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	cell->setPort(ID(C), sig_clk);
+	cell->setPort(ID(S), sig_set);
+	cell->setPort(ID(R), sig_clr);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
@@ -2261,10 +2272,10 @@ RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addAdffGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig
 		bool arst_value, bool clk_polarity, bool arst_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, stringf("$_DFF_%c%c%c_", clk_polarity ? 'P' : 'N', arst_polarity ? 'P' : 'N', arst_value ? '1' : '0'));
-	cell->setPort("\\C", sig_clk);
-	cell->setPort("\\R", sig_arst);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	cell->setPort(ID(C), sig_clk);
+	cell->setPort(ID(R), sig_arst);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
@@ -2272,9 +2283,9 @@ RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addAdffGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig
 RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDlatchGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_en, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool en_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, stringf("$_DLATCH_%c_", en_polarity ? 'P' : 'N'));
-	cell->setPort("\\E", sig_en);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	cell->setPort(ID(E), sig_en);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
@@ -2283,11 +2294,11 @@ RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDlatchsrGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec
 		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, RTLIL::SigSpec sig_q, bool en_polarity, bool set_polarity, bool clr_polarity, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::Cell *cell = addCell(name, stringf("$_DLATCHSR_%c%c%c_", en_polarity ? 'P' : 'N', set_polarity ? 'P' : 'N', clr_polarity ? 'P' : 'N'));
-	cell->setPort("\\E", sig_en);
-	cell->setPort("\\S", sig_set);
-	cell->setPort("\\R", sig_clr);
-	cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-	cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+	cell->setPort(ID(E), sig_en);
+	cell->setPort(ID(S), sig_set);
+	cell->setPort(ID(R), sig_clr);
+	cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return cell;
 }
@@ -2295,9 +2306,9 @@ RTLIL::Cell* RTLIL::Module::addDlatchsrGate(RTLIL::IdString name, RTLIL::SigSpec
 RTLIL::SigSpec RTLIL::Module::Anyconst(RTLIL::IdString name, int width, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::SigSpec sig = addWire(NEW_ID, width);
-	Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$anyconst");
-	cell->setParam("\\WIDTH", width);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig);
+	Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($anyconst));
+	cell->setParam(ID(WIDTH), width);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return sig;
 }
@@ -2305,9 +2316,9 @@ RTLIL::SigSpec RTLIL::Module::Anyconst(RTLIL::IdString name, int width, const st
 RTLIL::SigSpec RTLIL::Module::Anyseq(RTLIL::IdString name, int width, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::SigSpec sig = addWire(NEW_ID, width);
-	Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$anyseq");
-	cell->setParam("\\WIDTH", width);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig);
+	Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($anyseq));
+	cell->setParam(ID(WIDTH), width);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return sig;
 }
@@ -2315,9 +2326,9 @@ RTLIL::SigSpec RTLIL::Module::Anyseq(RTLIL::IdString name, int width, const std:
 RTLIL::SigSpec RTLIL::Module::Allconst(RTLIL::IdString name, int width, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::SigSpec sig = addWire(NEW_ID, width);
-	Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$allconst");
-	cell->setParam("\\WIDTH", width);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig);
+	Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($allconst));
+	cell->setParam(ID(WIDTH), width);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return sig;
 }
@@ -2325,9 +2336,9 @@ RTLIL::SigSpec RTLIL::Module::Allconst(RTLIL::IdString name, int width, const st
 RTLIL::SigSpec RTLIL::Module::Allseq(RTLIL::IdString name, int width, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::SigSpec sig = addWire(NEW_ID, width);
-	Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$allseq");
-	cell->setParam("\\WIDTH", width);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig);
+	Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($allseq));
+	cell->setParam(ID(WIDTH), width);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return sig;
 }
@@ -2335,8 +2346,8 @@ RTLIL::SigSpec RTLIL::Module::Allseq(RTLIL::IdString name, int width, const std:
 RTLIL::SigSpec RTLIL::Module::Initstate(RTLIL::IdString name, const std::string &src)
 {
 	RTLIL::SigSpec sig = addWire(NEW_ID);
-	Cell *cell = addCell(name, "$initstate");
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", sig);
+	Cell *cell = addCell(name, ID($initstate));
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig);
 	cell->set_src_attribute(src);
 	return sig;
 }
@@ -2557,56 +2568,56 @@ void RTLIL::Cell::fixup_parameters(bool set_a_signed, bool set_b_signed)
 			type.begins_with("$verific$") || type.begins_with("$array:") || type.begins_with("$extern:"))
 		return;
 
-	if (type == "$mux" || type == "$pmux") {
-		parameters["\\WIDTH"] = GetSize(connections_["\\Y"]);
-		if (type == "$pmux")
-			parameters["\\S_WIDTH"] = GetSize(connections_["\\S"]);
+	if (type == ID($mux) || type == ID($pmux)) {
+		parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = GetSize(connections_[ID(Y)]);
+		if (type == ID($pmux))
+			parameters[ID(S_WIDTH)] = GetSize(connections_[ID(S)]);
 		check();
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (type == "$lut" || type == "$sop") {
-		parameters["\\WIDTH"] = GetSize(connections_["\\A"]);
+	if (type == ID($lut) || type == ID($sop)) {
+		parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = GetSize(connections_[ID(A)]);
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (type == "$fa") {
-		parameters["\\WIDTH"] = GetSize(connections_["\\Y"]);
+	if (type == ID($fa)) {
+		parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = GetSize(connections_[ID(Y)]);
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (type == "$lcu") {
-		parameters["\\WIDTH"] = GetSize(connections_["\\CO"]);
+	if (type == ID($lcu)) {
+		parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = GetSize(connections_[ID(CO)]);
 		return;
 	}
 
-	bool signedness_ab = !type.in("$slice", "$concat", "$macc");
+	bool signedness_ab = !type.in(ID($slice), ID($concat), ID($macc));
 
-	if (connections_.count("\\A")) {
+	if (connections_.count(ID(A))) {
 		if (signedness_ab) {
 			if (set_a_signed)
-				parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = true;
-			else if (parameters.count("\\A_SIGNED") == 0)
-				parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = false;
+				parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = true;
+			else if (parameters.count(ID(A_SIGNED)) == 0)
+				parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = false;
 		}
-		parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = GetSize(connections_["\\A"]);
+		parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = GetSize(connections_[ID(A)]);
 	}
 
-	if (connections_.count("\\B")) {
+	if (connections_.count(ID(B))) {
 		if (signedness_ab) {
 			if (set_b_signed)
-				parameters["\\B_SIGNED"] = true;
-			else if (parameters.count("\\B_SIGNED") == 0)
-				parameters["\\B_SIGNED"] = false;
+				parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)] = true;
+			else if (parameters.count(ID(B_SIGNED)) == 0)
+				parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)] = false;
 		}
-		parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = GetSize(connections_["\\B"]);
+		parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = GetSize(connections_[ID(B)]);
 	}
 
-	if (connections_.count("\\Y"))
-		parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = GetSize(connections_["\\Y"]);
+	if (connections_.count(ID(Y)))
+		parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = GetSize(connections_[ID(Y)]);
 
-	if (connections_.count("\\Q"))
-		parameters["\\WIDTH"] = GetSize(connections_["\\Q"]);
+	if (connections_.count(ID(Q)))
+		parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = GetSize(connections_[ID(Q)]);
 
 	check();
 }
diff --git a/kernel/rtlil.h b/kernel/rtlil.h
index 37b5f984c..c08653b65 100644
--- a/kernel/rtlil.h
+++ b/kernel/rtlil.h
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ namespace RTLIL
 	{
 		#undef YOSYS_XTRACE_GET_PUT
 		#undef YOSYS_SORT_ID_FREE_LIST
+		#undef YOSYS_USE_STICKY_IDS
+		#undef YOSYS_NO_IDS_REFCNT
 
 		// the global id string cache
 
@@ -87,13 +89,17 @@ namespace RTLIL
 			~destruct_guard_t() { ok = false; }
 		} destruct_guard;
 
-		static std::vector<int> global_refcount_storage_;
 		static std::vector<char*> global_id_storage_;
 		static dict<char*, int, hash_cstr_ops> global_id_index_;
+	#ifndef YOSYS_NO_IDS_REFCNT
+		static std::vector<int> global_refcount_storage_;
 		static std::vector<int> global_free_idx_list_;
+	#endif
 
+	#ifdef YOSYS_USE_STICKY_IDS
 		static int last_created_idx_ptr_;
 		static int last_created_idx_[8];
+	#endif
 
 		static inline void xtrace_db_dump()
 		{
@@ -110,12 +116,14 @@ namespace RTLIL
 
 		static inline void checkpoint()
 		{
+		#ifdef YOSYS_USE_STICKY_IDS
 			last_created_idx_ptr_ = 0;
 			for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
 				if (last_created_idx_[i])
 					put_reference(last_created_idx_[i]);
 				last_created_idx_[i] = 0;
 			}
+		#endif
 		#ifdef YOSYS_SORT_ID_FREE_LIST
 			std::sort(global_free_idx_list_.begin(), global_free_idx_list_.end(), std::greater<int>());
 		#endif
@@ -123,36 +131,47 @@ namespace RTLIL
 
 		static inline int get_reference(int idx)
 		{
-			global_refcount_storage_.at(idx)++;
+			if (idx) {
+		#ifndef YOSYS_NO_IDS_REFCNT
+				global_refcount_storage_[idx]++;
+		#endif
 		#ifdef YOSYS_XTRACE_GET_PUT
-			if (yosys_xtrace) {
-				log("#X# GET-BY-INDEX '%s' (index %d, refcount %d)\n", global_id_storage_.at(idx), idx, global_refcount_storage_.at(idx));
-			}
+				if (yosys_xtrace)
+					log("#X# GET-BY-INDEX '%s' (index %d, refcount %d)\n", global_id_storage_.at(idx), idx, global_refcount_storage_.at(idx));
 		#endif
+			}
 			return idx;
 		}
 
-		static inline int get_reference(const char *p)
+		static int get_reference(const char *p)
 		{
 			log_assert(destruct_guard.ok);
 
-			if (p[0]) {
-				log_assert(p[1] != 0);
-				log_assert(p[0] == '$' || p[0] == '\\');
-			}
+			if (!p[0])
+				return 0;
+
+			log_assert(p[0] == '$' || p[0] == '\\');
+			log_assert(p[1] != 0);
 
 			auto it = global_id_index_.find((char*)p);
 			if (it != global_id_index_.end()) {
+		#ifndef YOSYS_NO_IDS_REFCNT
 				global_refcount_storage_.at(it->second)++;
+		#endif
 		#ifdef YOSYS_XTRACE_GET_PUT
-				if (yosys_xtrace) {
+				if (yosys_xtrace)
 					log("#X# GET-BY-NAME '%s' (index %d, refcount %d)\n", global_id_storage_.at(it->second), it->second, global_refcount_storage_.at(it->second));
-				}
 		#endif
 				return it->second;
 			}
 
+		#ifndef YOSYS_NO_IDS_REFCNT
 			if (global_free_idx_list_.empty()) {
+				if (global_id_storage_.empty()) {
+					global_refcount_storage_.push_back(0);
+					global_id_storage_.push_back((char*)"");
+					global_id_index_[global_id_storage_.back()] = 0;
+				}
 				log_assert(global_id_storage_.size() < 0x40000000);
 				global_free_idx_list_.push_back(global_id_storage_.size());
 				global_id_storage_.push_back(nullptr);
@@ -164,13 +183,15 @@ namespace RTLIL
 			global_id_storage_.at(idx) = strdup(p);
 			global_id_index_[global_id_storage_.at(idx)] = idx;
 			global_refcount_storage_.at(idx)++;
-
-			// Avoid Create->Delete->Create pattern
-			if (last_created_idx_[last_created_idx_ptr_])
-				put_reference(last_created_idx_[last_created_idx_ptr_]);
-			last_created_idx_[last_created_idx_ptr_] = idx;
-			get_reference(last_created_idx_[last_created_idx_ptr_]);
-			last_created_idx_ptr_ = (last_created_idx_ptr_ + 1) & 7;
+		#else
+			if (global_id_storage_.empty()) {
+				global_id_storage_.push_back((char*)"");
+				global_id_index_[global_id_storage_.back()] = 0;
+			}
+			int idx = global_id_storage_.size();
+			global_id_storage_.push_back(strdup(p));
+			global_id_index_[global_id_storage_.back()] = idx;
+		#endif
 
 			if (yosys_xtrace) {
 				log("#X# New IdString '%s' with index %d.\n", p, idx);
@@ -178,18 +199,28 @@ namespace RTLIL
 			}
 
 		#ifdef YOSYS_XTRACE_GET_PUT
-			if (yosys_xtrace) {
+			if (yosys_xtrace)
 				log("#X# GET-BY-NAME '%s' (index %d, refcount %d)\n", global_id_storage_.at(idx), idx, global_refcount_storage_.at(idx));
-			}
 		#endif
+
+		#ifdef YOSYS_USE_STICKY_IDS
+			// Avoid Create->Delete->Create pattern
+			if (last_created_idx_[last_created_idx_ptr_])
+				put_reference(last_created_idx_[last_created_idx_ptr_]);
+			last_created_idx_[last_created_idx_ptr_] = idx;
+			get_reference(last_created_idx_[last_created_idx_ptr_]);
+			last_created_idx_ptr_ = (last_created_idx_ptr_ + 1) & 7;
+		#endif
+
 			return idx;
 		}
 
+	#ifndef YOSYS_NO_IDS_REFCNT
 		static inline void put_reference(int idx)
 		{
 			// put_reference() may be called from destructors after the destructor of
 			// global_refcount_storage_ has been run. in this case we simply do nothing.
-			if (!destruct_guard.ok)
+			if (!destruct_guard.ok || !idx)
 				return;
 
 		#ifdef YOSYS_XTRACE_GET_PUT
@@ -198,11 +229,13 @@ namespace RTLIL
 			}
 		#endif
 
-			log_assert(global_refcount_storage_.at(idx) > 0);
+			int &refcount = global_refcount_storage_[idx];
 
-			if (--global_refcount_storage_.at(idx) != 0)
+			if (--refcount > 0)
 				return;
 
+			log_assert(refcount == 0);
+
 			if (yosys_xtrace) {
 				log("#X# Removed IdString '%s' with index %d.\n", global_id_storage_.at(idx), idx);
 				log_backtrace("-X- ", yosys_xtrace-1);
@@ -213,46 +246,50 @@ namespace RTLIL
 			global_id_storage_.at(idx) = nullptr;
 			global_free_idx_list_.push_back(idx);
 		}
+	#else
+		static inline void put_reference(int) { }
+	#endif
 
 		// the actual IdString object is just is a single int
 
 		int index_;
 
-		IdString() : index_(get_reference("")) { }
-		IdString(const char *str) : index_(get_reference(str)) { }
-		IdString(const IdString &str) : index_(get_reference(str.index_)) { }
-		IdString(const std::string &str) : index_(get_reference(str.c_str())) { }
-		~IdString() { put_reference(index_); }
+		inline IdString() : index_(0) { }
+		inline IdString(const char *str) : index_(get_reference(str)) { }
+		inline IdString(const IdString &str) : index_(get_reference(str.index_)) { }
+		inline IdString(IdString &&str) : index_(str.index_) { str.index_ = 0; }
+		inline IdString(const std::string &str) : index_(get_reference(str.c_str())) { }
+		inline ~IdString() { put_reference(index_); }
 
-		void operator=(const IdString &rhs) {
+		inline void operator=(const IdString &rhs) {
 			put_reference(index_);
 			index_ = get_reference(rhs.index_);
 		}
 
-		void operator=(const char *rhs) {
+		inline void operator=(const char *rhs) {
 			IdString id(rhs);
 			*this = id;
 		}
 
-		void operator=(const std::string &rhs) {
+		inline void operator=(const std::string &rhs) {
 			IdString id(rhs);
 			*this = id;
 		}
 
-		const char *c_str() const {
+		inline const char *c_str() const {
 			return global_id_storage_.at(index_);
 		}
 
-		std::string str() const {
+		inline std::string str() const {
 			return std::string(global_id_storage_.at(index_));
 		}
 
-		bool operator<(const IdString &rhs) const {
+		inline bool operator<(const IdString &rhs) const {
 			return index_ < rhs.index_;
 		}
 
-		bool operator==(const IdString &rhs) const { return index_ == rhs.index_; }
-		bool operator!=(const IdString &rhs) const { return index_ != rhs.index_; }
+		inline bool operator==(const IdString &rhs) const { return index_ == rhs.index_; }
+		inline bool operator!=(const IdString &rhs) const { return index_ != rhs.index_; }
 
 		// The methods below are just convenience functions for better compatibility with std::string.
 
@@ -332,6 +369,14 @@ namespace RTLIL
 		bool in(const pool<IdString> &rhs) const { return rhs.count(*this) != 0; }
 	};
 
+	namespace ID {
+		// defined in rtlil.cc, initialized in yosys.cc
+		extern IdString A, B, Y;
+		extern IdString keep;
+		extern IdString whitebox;
+		extern IdString blackbox;
+	};
+
 	static inline std::string escape_id(std::string str) {
 		if (str.size() > 0 && str[0] != '\\' && str[0] != '$')
 			return "\\" + str;
@@ -604,7 +649,7 @@ struct RTLIL::AttrObject
 	bool get_bool_attribute(RTLIL::IdString id) const;
 
 	bool get_blackbox_attribute(bool ignore_wb=false) const {
-		return get_bool_attribute("\\blackbox") || (!ignore_wb && get_bool_attribute("\\whitebox"));
+		return get_bool_attribute(ID::blackbox) || (!ignore_wb && get_bool_attribute(ID::whitebox));
 	}
 
 	void set_strpool_attribute(RTLIL::IdString id, const pool<string> &data);
@@ -1339,8 +1384,8 @@ public:
 	void fixup_parameters(bool set_a_signed = false, bool set_b_signed = false);
 
 	bool has_keep_attr() const {
-		return get_bool_attribute("\\keep") || (module && module->design && module->design->module(type) &&
-				module->design->module(type)->get_bool_attribute("\\keep"));
+		return get_bool_attribute(ID::keep) || (module && module->design && module->design->module(type) &&
+				module->design->module(type)->get_bool_attribute(ID::keep));
 	}
 
 	template<typename T> void rewrite_sigspecs(T &functor);
diff --git a/kernel/satgen.h b/kernel/satgen.h
index 596f522ec..de480f28e 100644
--- a/kernel/satgen.h
+++ b/kernel/satgen.h
@@ -224,8 +224,8 @@ struct SatGen
 	void extendSignalWidth(std::vector<int> &vec_a, std::vector<int> &vec_b, RTLIL::Cell *cell, size_t y_width = 0, bool forced_signed = false)
 	{
 		bool is_signed = forced_signed;
-		if (!forced_signed && cell->parameters.count("\\A_SIGNED") > 0 && cell->parameters.count("\\B_SIGNED") > 0)
-			is_signed = cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool();
+		if (!forced_signed && cell->parameters.count(ID(A_SIGNED)) > 0 && cell->parameters.count(ID(B_SIGNED)) > 0)
+			is_signed = cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool();
 		while (vec_a.size() < vec_b.size() || vec_a.size() < y_width)
 			vec_a.push_back(is_signed && vec_a.size() > 0 ? vec_a.back() : ez->CONST_FALSE);
 		while (vec_b.size() < vec_a.size() || vec_b.size() < y_width)
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ struct SatGen
 
 	void extendSignalWidthUnary(std::vector<int> &vec_a, std::vector<int> &vec_y, RTLIL::Cell *cell, bool forced_signed = false)
 	{
-		bool is_signed = forced_signed || (cell->parameters.count("\\A_SIGNED") > 0 && cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool());
+		bool is_signed = forced_signed || (cell->parameters.count(ID(A_SIGNED)) > 0 && cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool());
 		while (vec_a.size() < vec_y.size())
 			vec_a.push_back(is_signed && vec_a.size() > 0 ? vec_a.back() : ez->CONST_FALSE);
 		while (vec_y.size() < vec_a.size())
@@ -277,13 +277,13 @@ struct SatGen
 	bool importCell(RTLIL::Cell *cell, int timestep = -1)
 	{
 		bool arith_undef_handled = false;
-		bool is_arith_compare = cell->type.in("$lt", "$le", "$ge", "$gt");
+		bool is_arith_compare = cell->type.in(ID($lt), ID($le), ID($ge), ID($gt));
 
-		if (model_undef && (cell->type.in("$add", "$sub", "$mul", "$div", "$mod") || is_arith_compare))
+		if (model_undef && (cell->type.in(ID($add), ID($sub), ID($mul), ID($div), ID($mod)) || is_arith_compare))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 			if (is_arith_compare)
 				extendSignalWidth(undef_a, undef_b, cell, true);
 			else
@@ -293,8 +293,8 @@ struct SatGen
 			int undef_any_b = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_b);
 			int undef_y_bit = ez->OR(undef_any_a, undef_any_b);
 
-			if (cell->type == "$div" || cell->type == "$mod") {
-				std::vector<int> b = importSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
+			if (cell->type == ID($div) || cell->type == ID($mod)) {
+				std::vector<int> b = importSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
 				undef_y_bit = ez->OR(undef_y_bit, ez->NOT(ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, b)));
 			}
 
@@ -310,68 +310,68 @@ struct SatGen
 			arith_undef_handled = true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$_AND_", "$_NAND_", "$_OR_", "$_NOR_", "$_XOR_", "$_XNOR_", "$_ANDNOT_", "$_ORNOT_",
-				"$and", "$or", "$xor", "$xnor", "$add", "$sub"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($_AND_), ID($_NAND_), ID($_OR_), ID($_NOR_), ID($_XOR_), ID($_XNOR_), ID($_ANDNOT_), ID($_ORNOT_),
+				ID($and), ID($or), ID($xor), ID($xnor), ID($add), ID($sub)))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 			extendSignalWidth(a, b, y, cell);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 
-			if (cell->type == "$and" || cell->type == "$_AND_")
+			if (cell->type == ID($and) || cell->type == ID($_AND_))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_and(a, b), yy));
-			if (cell->type == "$_NAND_")
+			if (cell->type == ID($_NAND_))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_not(ez->vec_and(a, b)), yy));
-			if (cell->type == "$or" || cell->type == "$_OR_")
+			if (cell->type == ID($or) || cell->type == ID($_OR_))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_or(a, b), yy));
-			if (cell->type == "$_NOR_")
+			if (cell->type == ID($_NOR_))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_not(ez->vec_or(a, b)), yy));
-			if (cell->type == "$xor" || cell->type == "$_XOR_")
+			if (cell->type == ID($xor) || cell->type == ID($_XOR_))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_xor(a, b), yy));
-			if (cell->type == "$xnor" || cell->type == "$_XNOR_")
+			if (cell->type == ID($xnor) || cell->type == ID($_XNOR_))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_not(ez->vec_xor(a, b)), yy));
-			if (cell->type == "$_ANDNOT_")
+			if (cell->type == ID($_ANDNOT_))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_and(a, ez->vec_not(b)), yy));
-			if (cell->type == "$_ORNOT_")
+			if (cell->type == ID($_ORNOT_))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_or(a, ez->vec_not(b)), yy));
-			if (cell->type == "$add")
+			if (cell->type == ID($add))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_add(a, b), yy));
-			if (cell->type == "$sub")
+			if (cell->type == ID($sub))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_sub(a, b), yy));
 
 			if (model_undef && !arith_undef_handled)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				extendSignalWidth(undef_a, undef_b, undef_y, cell, false);
 
-				if (cell->type.in("$and", "$_AND_", "$_NAND_")) {
+				if (cell->type.in(ID($and), ID($_AND_), ID($_NAND_))) {
 					std::vector<int> a0 = ez->vec_and(ez->vec_not(a), ez->vec_not(undef_a));
 					std::vector<int> b0 = ez->vec_and(ez->vec_not(b), ez->vec_not(undef_b));
 					std::vector<int> yX = ez->vec_and(ez->vec_or(undef_a, undef_b), ez->vec_not(ez->vec_or(a0, b0)));
 					ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(yX, undef_y));
 				}
-				else if (cell->type.in("$or", "$_OR_", "$_NOR_")) {
+				else if (cell->type.in(ID($or), ID($_OR_), ID($_NOR_))) {
 					std::vector<int> a1 = ez->vec_and(a, ez->vec_not(undef_a));
 					std::vector<int> b1 = ez->vec_and(b, ez->vec_not(undef_b));
 					std::vector<int> yX = ez->vec_and(ez->vec_or(undef_a, undef_b), ez->vec_not(ez->vec_or(a1, b1)));
 					ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(yX, undef_y));
 				}
-				else if (cell->type.in("$xor", "$xnor", "$_XOR_", "$_XNOR_")) {
+				else if (cell->type.in(ID($xor), ID($xnor), ID($_XOR_), ID($_XNOR_))) {
 					std::vector<int> yX = ez->vec_or(undef_a, undef_b);
 					ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(yX, undef_y));
 				}
-				else if (cell->type == "$_ANDNOT_") {
+				else if (cell->type == ID($_ANDNOT_)) {
 					std::vector<int> a0 = ez->vec_and(ez->vec_not(a), ez->vec_not(undef_a));
 					std::vector<int> b1 = ez->vec_and(b, ez->vec_not(undef_b));
 					std::vector<int> yX = ez->vec_and(ez->vec_or(undef_a, undef_b), ez->vec_not(ez->vec_or(a0, b1)));
 					ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(yX, undef_y));
 				}
 
-				else if (cell->type == "$_ORNOT_") {
+				else if (cell->type == ID($_ORNOT_)) {
 					std::vector<int> a1 = ez->vec_and(a, ez->vec_not(undef_a));
 					std::vector<int> b0 = ez->vec_and(ez->vec_not(b), ez->vec_not(undef_b));
 					std::vector<int> yX = ez->vec_and(ez->vec_or(undef_a, undef_b), ez->vec_not(ez->vec_or(a1, b0)));
@@ -384,36 +384,36 @@ struct SatGen
 			}
 			else if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				undefGating(y, yy, undef_y);
 			}
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$_AOI3_", "$_OAI3_", "$_AOI4_", "$_OAI4_"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($_AOI3_), ID($_OAI3_), ID($_AOI4_), ID($_OAI4_)))
 		{
-			bool aoi_mode = cell->type.in("$_AOI3_", "$_AOI4_");
-			bool three_mode = cell->type.in("$_AOI3_", "$_OAI3_");
-
-			int a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep).at(0);
-			int b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep).at(0);
-			int c = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\C"), timestep).at(0);
-			int d = three_mode ? (aoi_mode ? ez->CONST_TRUE : ez->CONST_FALSE) : importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\D"), timestep).at(0);
-			int y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep).at(0);
+			bool aoi_mode = cell->type.in(ID($_AOI3_), ID($_AOI4_));
+			bool three_mode = cell->type.in(ID($_AOI3_), ID($_OAI3_));
+
+			int a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep).at(0);
+			int b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep).at(0);
+			int c = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(C)), timestep).at(0);
+			int d = three_mode ? (aoi_mode ? ez->CONST_TRUE : ez->CONST_FALSE) : importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(D)), timestep).at(0);
+			int y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep).at(0);
 			int yy = model_undef ? ez->literal() : y;
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$_AOI3_", "$_AOI4_"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($_AOI3_), ID($_AOI4_)))
 				ez->assume(ez->IFF(ez->NOT(ez->OR(ez->AND(a, b), ez->AND(c, d))), yy));
 			else
 				ez->assume(ez->IFF(ez->NOT(ez->AND(ez->OR(a, b), ez->OR(c, d))), yy));
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				int undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep).at(0);
-				int undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep).at(0);
-				int undef_c = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\C"), timestep).at(0);
-				int undef_d = three_mode ? ez->CONST_FALSE : importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\D"), timestep).at(0);
-				int undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep).at(0);
+				int undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep).at(0);
+				int undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep).at(0);
+				int undef_c = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(C)), timestep).at(0);
+				int undef_d = three_mode ? ez->CONST_FALSE : importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(D)), timestep).at(0);
+				int undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep).at(0);
 
 				if (aoi_mode)
 				{
@@ -456,18 +456,18 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$_NOT_" || cell->type == "$not")
+		if (cell->type == ID($_NOT_) || cell->type == ID($not))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 			extendSignalWidthUnary(a, y, cell);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 			ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_not(a), yy));
 
 			if (model_undef) {
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				extendSignalWidthUnary(undef_a, undef_y, cell, false);
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(undef_a, undef_y));
 				undefGating(y, yy, undef_y);
@@ -475,25 +475,25 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$_MUX_" || cell->type == "$mux" || cell->type == "$_NMUX_")
+		if (cell->type == ID($_MUX_) || cell->type == ID($mux) || cell->type == ID($_NMUX_))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> s = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\S"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> s = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(S)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
-			if (cell->type == "$_NMUX_")
+			if (cell->type == ID($_NMUX_))
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_not(ez->vec_ite(s.at(0), b, a)), yy));
 			else
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(ez->vec_ite(s.at(0), b, a), yy));
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_s = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\S"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_s = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(S)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 				std::vector<int> unequal_ab = ez->vec_not(ez->vec_iff(a, b));
 				std::vector<int> undef_ab = ez->vec_or(unequal_ab, ez->vec_or(undef_a, undef_b));
@@ -504,12 +504,12 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$pmux")
+		if (cell->type == ID($pmux))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> s = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\S"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> s = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(S)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 
@@ -522,10 +522,10 @@ struct SatGen
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_s = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\S"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_s = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(S)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 				int maybe_a = ez->CONST_TRUE;
 
@@ -555,15 +555,15 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$pos" || cell->type == "$neg")
+		if (cell->type == ID($pos) || cell->type == ID($neg))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 			extendSignalWidthUnary(a, y, cell);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 
-			if (cell->type == "$pos") {
+			if (cell->type == ID($pos)) {
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(a, yy));
 			} else {
 				std::vector<int> zero(a.size(), ez->CONST_FALSE);
@@ -572,11 +572,11 @@ struct SatGen
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				extendSignalWidthUnary(undef_a, undef_y, cell);
 
-				if (cell->type == "$pos") {
+				if (cell->type == ID($pos)) {
 					ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(undef_a, undef_y));
 				} else {
 					int undef_any_a = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_a);
@@ -589,42 +589,42 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$reduce_and" || cell->type == "$reduce_or" || cell->type == "$reduce_xor" ||
-				cell->type == "$reduce_xnor" || cell->type == "$reduce_bool" || cell->type == "$logic_not")
+		if (cell->type == ID($reduce_and) || cell->type == ID($reduce_or) || cell->type == ID($reduce_xor) ||
+				cell->type == ID($reduce_xnor) || cell->type == ID($reduce_bool) || cell->type == ID($logic_not))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_and")
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_and))
 				ez->SET(ez->expression(ez->OpAnd, a), yy.at(0));
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_or" || cell->type == "$reduce_bool")
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_or) || cell->type == ID($reduce_bool))
 				ez->SET(ez->expression(ez->OpOr, a), yy.at(0));
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_xor")
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_xor))
 				ez->SET(ez->expression(ez->OpXor, a), yy.at(0));
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_xnor")
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_xnor))
 				ez->SET(ez->NOT(ez->expression(ez->OpXor, a)), yy.at(0));
-			if (cell->type == "$logic_not")
+			if (cell->type == ID($logic_not))
 				ez->SET(ez->NOT(ez->expression(ez->OpOr, a)), yy.at(0));
 			for (size_t i = 1; i < y.size(); i++)
 				ez->SET(ez->CONST_FALSE, yy.at(i));
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				int aX = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_a);
 
-				if (cell->type == "$reduce_and") {
+				if (cell->type == ID($reduce_and)) {
 					int a0 = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, ez->vec_and(ez->vec_not(a), ez->vec_not(undef_a)));
 					ez->assume(ez->IFF(ez->AND(ez->NOT(a0), aX), undef_y.at(0)));
 				}
-				else if (cell->type == "$reduce_or" || cell->type == "$reduce_bool" || cell->type == "$logic_not") {
+				else if (cell->type == ID($reduce_or) || cell->type == ID($reduce_bool) || cell->type == ID($logic_not)) {
 					int a1 = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, ez->vec_and(a, ez->vec_not(undef_a)));
 					ez->assume(ez->IFF(ez->AND(ez->NOT(a1), aX), undef_y.at(0)));
 				}
-				else if (cell->type == "$reduce_xor" || cell->type == "$reduce_xnor") {
+				else if (cell->type == ID($reduce_xor) || cell->type == ID($reduce_xnor)) {
 					ez->assume(ez->IFF(aX, undef_y.at(0)));
 				} else
 					log_abort();
@@ -637,18 +637,18 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$logic_and" || cell->type == "$logic_or")
+		if (cell->type == ID($logic_and) || cell->type == ID($logic_or))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> vec_a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> vec_b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> vec_a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> vec_b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
 
 			int a = ez->expression(ez->OpOr, vec_a);
 			int b = ez->expression(ez->OpOr, vec_b);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 
-			if (cell->type == "$logic_and")
+			if (cell->type == ID($logic_and))
 				ez->SET(ez->expression(ez->OpAnd, a, b), yy.at(0));
 			else
 				ez->SET(ez->expression(ez->OpOr, a, b), yy.at(0));
@@ -657,9 +657,9 @@ struct SatGen
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 				int a0 = ez->NOT(ez->OR(ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, vec_a), ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_a)));
 				int b0 = ez->NOT(ez->OR(ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, vec_b), ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_b)));
@@ -668,9 +668,9 @@ struct SatGen
 				int aX = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_a);
 				int bX = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_b);
 
-				if (cell->type == "$logic_and")
+				if (cell->type == ID($logic_and))
 					ez->SET(ez->AND(ez->OR(aX, bX), ez->NOT(ez->AND(a1, b1)), ez->NOT(a0), ez->NOT(b0)), undef_y.at(0));
-				else if (cell->type == "$logic_or")
+				else if (cell->type == ID($logic_or))
 					ez->SET(ez->AND(ez->OR(aX, bX), ez->NOT(ez->AND(a0, b0)), ez->NOT(a1), ez->NOT(b1)), undef_y.at(0));
 				else
 					log_abort();
@@ -683,47 +683,47 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$lt" || cell->type == "$le" || cell->type == "$eq" || cell->type == "$ne" || cell->type == "$eqx" || cell->type == "$nex" || cell->type == "$ge" || cell->type == "$gt")
+		if (cell->type == ID($lt) || cell->type == ID($le) || cell->type == ID($eq) || cell->type == ID($ne) || cell->type == ID($eqx) || cell->type == ID($nex) || cell->type == ID($ge) || cell->type == ID($gt))
 		{
-			bool is_signed = cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool();
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			bool is_signed = cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool();
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 			extendSignalWidth(a, b, cell);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 
-			if (model_undef && (cell->type == "$eqx" || cell->type == "$nex")) {
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
+			if (model_undef && (cell->type == ID($eqx) || cell->type == ID($nex))) {
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
 				extendSignalWidth(undef_a, undef_b, cell, true);
 				a = ez->vec_or(a, undef_a);
 				b = ez->vec_or(b, undef_b);
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$lt")
+			if (cell->type == ID($lt))
 				ez->SET(is_signed ? ez->vec_lt_signed(a, b) : ez->vec_lt_unsigned(a, b), yy.at(0));
-			if (cell->type == "$le")
+			if (cell->type == ID($le))
 				ez->SET(is_signed ? ez->vec_le_signed(a, b) : ez->vec_le_unsigned(a, b), yy.at(0));
-			if (cell->type == "$eq" || cell->type == "$eqx")
+			if (cell->type == ID($eq) || cell->type == ID($eqx))
 				ez->SET(ez->vec_eq(a, b), yy.at(0));
-			if (cell->type == "$ne" || cell->type == "$nex")
+			if (cell->type == ID($ne) || cell->type == ID($nex))
 				ez->SET(ez->vec_ne(a, b), yy.at(0));
-			if (cell->type == "$ge")
+			if (cell->type == ID($ge))
 				ez->SET(is_signed ? ez->vec_ge_signed(a, b) : ez->vec_ge_unsigned(a, b), yy.at(0));
-			if (cell->type == "$gt")
+			if (cell->type == ID($gt))
 				ez->SET(is_signed ? ez->vec_gt_signed(a, b) : ez->vec_gt_unsigned(a, b), yy.at(0));
 			for (size_t i = 1; i < y.size(); i++)
 				ez->SET(ez->CONST_FALSE, yy.at(i));
 
-			if (model_undef && (cell->type == "$eqx" || cell->type == "$nex"))
+			if (model_undef && (cell->type == ID($eqx) || cell->type == ID($nex)))
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				extendSignalWidth(undef_a, undef_b, cell, true);
 
-				if (cell->type == "$eqx")
+				if (cell->type == ID($eqx))
 					yy.at(0) = ez->AND(yy.at(0), ez->vec_eq(undef_a, undef_b));
 				else
 					yy.at(0) = ez->OR(yy.at(0), ez->vec_ne(undef_a, undef_b));
@@ -733,11 +733,11 @@ struct SatGen
 
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(y, yy));
 			}
-			else if (model_undef && (cell->type == "$eq" || cell->type == "$ne"))
+			else if (model_undef && (cell->type == ID($eq) || cell->type == ID($ne)))
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				extendSignalWidth(undef_a, undef_b, cell, true);
 
 				int undef_any_a = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_a);
@@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ struct SatGen
 			else
 			{
 				if (model_undef) {
-					std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+					std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 					undefGating(y, yy, undef_y);
 				}
 				log_assert(!model_undef || arith_undef_handled);
@@ -767,15 +767,15 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$shl" || cell->type == "$shr" || cell->type == "$sshl" || cell->type == "$sshr" || cell->type == "$shift" || cell->type == "$shiftx")
+		if (cell->type == ID($shl) || cell->type == ID($shr) || cell->type == ID($sshl) || cell->type == ID($sshr) || cell->type == ID($shift) || cell->type == ID($shiftx))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 			int extend_bit = ez->CONST_FALSE;
 
-			if (!cell->type.in("$shift", "$shiftx") && cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool())
+			if (!cell->type.in(ID($shift), ID($shiftx)) && cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool())
 				extend_bit = a.back();
 
 			while (y.size() < a.size())
@@ -786,29 +786,29 @@ struct SatGen
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 			std::vector<int> shifted_a;
 
-			if (cell->type == "$shl" || cell->type == "$sshl")
+			if (cell->type == ID($shl) || cell->type == ID($sshl))
 				shifted_a = ez->vec_shift_left(a, b, false, ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
 
-			if (cell->type == "$shr")
+			if (cell->type == ID($shr))
 				shifted_a = ez->vec_shift_right(a, b, false, ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
 
-			if (cell->type == "$sshr")
-				shifted_a = ez->vec_shift_right(a, b, false, cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() ? a.back() : ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
+			if (cell->type == ID($sshr))
+				shifted_a = ez->vec_shift_right(a, b, false, cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() ? a.back() : ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
 
-			if (cell->type == "$shift" || cell->type == "$shiftx")
-				shifted_a = ez->vec_shift_right(a, b, cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool(), ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
+			if (cell->type == ID($shift) || cell->type == ID($shiftx))
+				shifted_a = ez->vec_shift_right(a, b, cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool(), ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
 
 			ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(shifted_a, yy));
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				std::vector<int> undef_a_shifted;
 
-				extend_bit = cell->type == "$shiftx" ? ez->CONST_TRUE : ez->CONST_FALSE;
-				if (!cell->type.in("$shift", "$shiftx") && cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool())
+				extend_bit = cell->type == ID($shiftx) ? ez->CONST_TRUE : ez->CONST_FALSE;
+				if (!cell->type.in(ID($shift), ID($shiftx)) && cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool())
 					extend_bit = undef_a.back();
 
 				while (undef_y.size() < undef_a.size())
@@ -816,20 +816,20 @@ struct SatGen
 				while (undef_y.size() > undef_a.size())
 					undef_a.push_back(extend_bit);
 
-				if (cell->type == "$shl" || cell->type == "$sshl")
+				if (cell->type == ID($shl) || cell->type == ID($sshl))
 					undef_a_shifted = ez->vec_shift_left(undef_a, b, false, ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
 
-				if (cell->type == "$shr")
+				if (cell->type == ID($shr))
 					undef_a_shifted = ez->vec_shift_right(undef_a, b, false, ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
 
-				if (cell->type == "$sshr")
-					undef_a_shifted = ez->vec_shift_right(undef_a, b, false, cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() ? undef_a.back() : ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
+				if (cell->type == ID($sshr))
+					undef_a_shifted = ez->vec_shift_right(undef_a, b, false, cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() ? undef_a.back() : ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
 
-				if (cell->type == "$shift")
-					undef_a_shifted = ez->vec_shift_right(undef_a, b, cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool(), ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
+				if (cell->type == ID($shift))
+					undef_a_shifted = ez->vec_shift_right(undef_a, b, cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool(), ez->CONST_FALSE, ez->CONST_FALSE);
 
-				if (cell->type == "$shiftx")
-					undef_a_shifted = ez->vec_shift_right(undef_a, b, cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool(), ez->CONST_TRUE, ez->CONST_TRUE);
+				if (cell->type == ID($shiftx))
+					undef_a_shifted = ez->vec_shift_right(undef_a, b, cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool(), ez->CONST_TRUE, ez->CONST_TRUE);
 
 				int undef_any_b = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_b);
 				std::vector<int> undef_all_y_bits(undef_y.size(), undef_any_b);
@@ -839,11 +839,11 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$mul")
+		if (cell->type == ID($mul))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 			extendSignalWidth(a, b, y, cell);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
@@ -860,17 +860,17 @@ struct SatGen
 
 			if (model_undef) {
 				log_assert(arith_undef_handled);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				undefGating(y, yy, undef_y);
 			}
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$macc")
+		if (cell->type == ID($macc))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 			Macc macc;
 			macc.from_cell(cell);
@@ -919,13 +919,13 @@ struct SatGen
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
 
 				int undef_any_a = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_a);
 				int undef_any_b = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_b);
 
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(undef_y, std::vector<int>(GetSize(y), ez->OR(undef_any_a, undef_any_b))));
 
 				undefGating(y, tmp, undef_y);
@@ -936,17 +936,17 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$div" || cell->type == "$mod")
+		if (cell->type == ID($div) || cell->type == ID($mod))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 			extendSignalWidth(a, b, y, cell);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 
 			std::vector<int> a_u, b_u;
-			if (cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool()) {
+			if (cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool()) {
 				a_u = ez->vec_ite(a.back(), ez->vec_neg(a), a);
 				b_u = ez->vec_ite(b.back(), ez->vec_neg(b), b);
 			} else {
@@ -971,13 +971,13 @@ struct SatGen
 			}
 
 			std::vector<int> y_tmp = ignore_div_by_zero ? yy : ez->vec_var(y.size());
-			if (cell->type == "$div") {
-				if (cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool())
+			if (cell->type == ID($div)) {
+				if (cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool())
 					ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(y_tmp, ez->vec_ite(ez->XOR(a.back(), b.back()), ez->vec_neg(y_u), y_u)));
 				else
 					ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(y_tmp, y_u));
 			} else {
-				if (cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool())
+				if (cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool())
 					ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(y_tmp, ez->vec_ite(a.back(), ez->vec_neg(chain_buf), chain_buf)));
 				else
 					ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(y_tmp, chain_buf));
@@ -987,20 +987,20 @@ struct SatGen
 				ez->assume(ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, b));
 			} else {
 				std::vector<int> div_zero_result;
-				if (cell->type == "$div") {
-					if (cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool()) {
+				if (cell->type == ID($div)) {
+					if (cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool()) {
 						std::vector<int> all_ones(y.size(), ez->CONST_TRUE);
 						std::vector<int> only_first_one(y.size(), ez->CONST_FALSE);
 						only_first_one.at(0) = ez->CONST_TRUE;
 						div_zero_result = ez->vec_ite(a.back(), only_first_one, all_ones);
 					} else {
-						div_zero_result.insert(div_zero_result.end(), cell->getPort("\\A").size(), ez->CONST_TRUE);
+						div_zero_result.insert(div_zero_result.end(), cell->getPort(ID(A)).size(), ez->CONST_TRUE);
 						div_zero_result.insert(div_zero_result.end(), y.size() - div_zero_result.size(), ez->CONST_FALSE);
 					}
 				} else {
-					int copy_a_bits = min(cell->getPort("\\A").size(), cell->getPort("\\B").size());
+					int copy_a_bits = min(cell->getPort(ID(A)).size(), cell->getPort(ID(B)).size());
 					div_zero_result.insert(div_zero_result.end(), a.begin(), a.begin() + copy_a_bits);
-					if (cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool())
+					if (cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool())
 						div_zero_result.insert(div_zero_result.end(), y.size() - div_zero_result.size(), div_zero_result.back());
 					else
 						div_zero_result.insert(div_zero_result.end(), y.size() - div_zero_result.size(), ez->CONST_FALSE);
@@ -1010,19 +1010,19 @@ struct SatGen
 
 			if (model_undef) {
 				log_assert(arith_undef_handled);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				undefGating(y, yy, undef_y);
 			}
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$lut")
+		if (cell->type == ID($lut))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 			std::vector<int> lut;
-			for (auto bit : cell->getParam("\\LUT").bits)
+			for (auto bit : cell->getParam(ID(LUT)).bits)
 				lut.push_back(bit == State::S1 ? ez->CONST_TRUE : ez->CONST_FALSE);
 			while (GetSize(lut) < (1 << GetSize(a)))
 				lut.push_back(ez->CONST_FALSE);
@@ -1030,7 +1030,7 @@ struct SatGen
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
 				std::vector<int> t(lut), u(GetSize(t), ez->CONST_FALSE);
 
 				for (int i = GetSize(a)-1; i >= 0; i--)
@@ -1048,7 +1048,7 @@ struct SatGen
 				log_assert(GetSize(t) == 1);
 				log_assert(GetSize(u) == 1);
 				undefGating(y, t, u);
-				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep), u));
+				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep), u));
 			}
 			else
 			{
@@ -1066,15 +1066,15 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$sop")
+		if (cell->type == ID($sop))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			int y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep).at(0);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			int y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep).at(0);
 
-			int width = cell->getParam("\\WIDTH").as_int();
-			int depth = cell->getParam("\\DEPTH").as_int();
+			int width = cell->getParam(ID(WIDTH)).as_int();
+			int depth = cell->getParam(ID(DEPTH)).as_int();
 
-			vector<State> table_raw = cell->getParam("\\TABLE").bits;
+			vector<State> table_raw = cell->getParam(ID(TABLE)).bits;
 			while (GetSize(table_raw) < 2*width*depth)
 				table_raw.push_back(State::S0);
 
@@ -1097,8 +1097,8 @@ struct SatGen
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
 				std::vector<int> products, undef_products;
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				int undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep).at(0);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				int undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep).at(0);
 
 				for (int i = 0; i < depth; i++)
 				{
@@ -1148,13 +1148,13 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$fa")
+		if (cell->type == ID($fa))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> c = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\C"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> x = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\X"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> c = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(C)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> x = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(X)), timestep);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 			std::vector<int> xx = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(x.size()) : x;
@@ -1168,12 +1168,12 @@ struct SatGen
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_c = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\C"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_c = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(C)), timestep);
 
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_x = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\X"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_x = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(X)), timestep);
 
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(undef_y, ez->vec_or(ez->vec_or(undef_a, undef_b), undef_c)));
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(undef_x, undef_y));
@@ -1184,12 +1184,12 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$lcu")
+		if (cell->type == ID($lcu))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> p = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\P"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> g = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\G"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> ci = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\CI"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> co = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\CO"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> p = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(P)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> g = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(G)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> ci = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(CI)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> co = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(CO)), timestep);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(co.size()) : co;
 
@@ -1198,10 +1198,10 @@ struct SatGen
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_p = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\P"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_g = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\G"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_ci = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\CI"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_co = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\CO"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_p = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(P)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_g = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(G)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_ci = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(CI)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_co = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(CO)), timestep);
 
 				int undef_any_p = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_p);
 				int undef_any_g = ez->expression(ezSAT::OpOr, undef_g);
@@ -1216,15 +1216,15 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$alu")
+		if (cell->type == ID($alu))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> x = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\X"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> ci = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\CI"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> bi = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\BI"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> co = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\CO"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> b = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> x = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(X)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> ci = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(CI)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> bi = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(BI)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> co = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(CO)), timestep);
 
 			extendSignalWidth(a, b, y, cell);
 			extendSignalWidth(a, b, x, cell);
@@ -1249,14 +1249,14 @@ struct SatGen
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\B"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_ci = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\CI"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_bi = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\BI"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_b = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(B)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_ci = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(CI)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_bi = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(BI)), timestep);
 
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_x = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\X"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_co = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\CO"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_x = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(X)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_co = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(CO)), timestep);
 
 				extendSignalWidth(undef_a, undef_b, undef_y, cell);
 				extendSignalWidth(undef_a, undef_b, undef_x, cell);
@@ -1282,19 +1282,19 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$slice")
+		if (cell->type == ID($slice))
 		{
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort("\\A");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec y = cell->getPort("\\Y");
-			ez->assume(signals_eq(a.extract(cell->parameters.at("\\OFFSET").as_int(), y.size()), y, timestep));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec y = cell->getPort(ID(Y));
+			ez->assume(signals_eq(a.extract(cell->parameters.at(ID(OFFSET)).as_int(), y.size()), y, timestep));
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$concat")
+		if (cell->type == ID($concat))
 		{
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort("\\A");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec b = cell->getPort("\\B");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec y = cell->getPort("\\Y");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec b = cell->getPort(ID(B));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec y = cell->getPort(ID(Y));
 
 			RTLIL::SigSpec ab = a;
 			ab.append(b);
@@ -1303,24 +1303,24 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (timestep > 0 && cell->type.in("$ff", "$dff", "$_FF_", "$_DFF_N_", "$_DFF_P_"))
+		if (timestep > 0 && cell->type.in(ID($ff), ID($dff), ID($_FF_), ID($_DFF_N_), ID($_DFF_P_)))
 		{
 			if (timestep == 1)
 			{
-				initial_state.add((*sigmap)(cell->getPort("\\Q")));
+				initial_state.add((*sigmap)(cell->getPort(ID(Q))));
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				std::vector<int> d = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\D"), timestep-1);
-				std::vector<int> q = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Q"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> d = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(D)), timestep-1);
+				std::vector<int> q = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Q)), timestep);
 
 				std::vector<int> qq = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(q.size()) : q;
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(d, qq));
 
 				if (model_undef)
 				{
-					std::vector<int> undef_d = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\D"), timestep-1);
-					std::vector<int> undef_q = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Q"), timestep);
+					std::vector<int> undef_d = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(D)), timestep-1);
+					std::vector<int> undef_q = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Q)), timestep);
 
 					ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(undef_d, undef_q));
 					undefGating(q, qq, undef_q);
@@ -1329,21 +1329,21 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$anyconst")
+		if (cell->type == ID($anyconst))
 		{
 			if (timestep < 2)
 				return true;
 
-			std::vector<int> d = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep-1);
-			std::vector<int> q = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> d = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep-1);
+			std::vector<int> q = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 			std::vector<int> qq = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(q.size()) : q;
 			ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(d, qq));
 
 			if (model_undef)
 			{
-				std::vector<int> undef_d = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep-1);
-				std::vector<int> undef_q = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_d = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep-1);
+				std::vector<int> undef_q = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(undef_d, undef_q));
 				undefGating(q, qq, undef_q);
@@ -1351,23 +1351,23 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$anyseq")
+		if (cell->type == ID($anyseq))
 		{
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$_BUF_" || cell->type == "$equiv")
+		if (cell->type == ID($_BUF_) || cell->type == ID($equiv))
 		{
-			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> a = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 			extendSignalWidthUnary(a, y, cell);
 
 			std::vector<int> yy = model_undef ? ez->vec_var(y.size()) : y;
 			ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(a, yy));
 
 			if (model_undef) {
-				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\A"), timestep);
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_a = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(A)), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				extendSignalWidthUnary(undef_a, undef_y, cell, false);
 				ez->assume(ez->vec_eq(undef_a, undef_y));
 				undefGating(y, yy, undef_y);
@@ -1375,18 +1375,18 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$initstate")
+		if (cell->type == ID($initstate))
 		{
 			auto key = make_pair(prefix, timestep);
 			if (initstates.count(key) == 0)
 				initstates[key] = false;
 
-			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+			std::vector<int> y = importDefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 			log_assert(GetSize(y) == 1);
 			ez->SET(y[0], initstates[key] ? ez->CONST_TRUE : ez->CONST_FALSE);
 
 			if (model_undef) {
-				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort("\\Y"), timestep);
+				std::vector<int> undef_y = importUndefSigSpec(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), timestep);
 				log_assert(GetSize(undef_y) == 1);
 				ez->SET(undef_y[0], ez->CONST_FALSE);
 			}
@@ -1394,19 +1394,19 @@ struct SatGen
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$assert")
+		if (cell->type == ID($assert))
 		{
 			std::string pf = prefix + (timestep == -1 ? "" : stringf("@%d:", timestep));
-			asserts_a[pf].append((*sigmap)(cell->getPort("\\A")));
-			asserts_en[pf].append((*sigmap)(cell->getPort("\\EN")));
+			asserts_a[pf].append((*sigmap)(cell->getPort(ID(A))));
+			asserts_en[pf].append((*sigmap)(cell->getPort(ID(EN))));
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$assume")
+		if (cell->type == ID($assume))
 		{
 			std::string pf = prefix + (timestep == -1 ? "" : stringf("@%d:", timestep));
-			assumes_a[pf].append((*sigmap)(cell->getPort("\\A")));
-			assumes_en[pf].append((*sigmap)(cell->getPort("\\EN")));
+			assumes_a[pf].append((*sigmap)(cell->getPort(ID(A))));
+			assumes_en[pf].append((*sigmap)(cell->getPort(ID(EN))));
 			return true;
 		}
 
diff --git a/kernel/yosys.cc b/kernel/yosys.cc
index 5a53f90fd..747f2d739 100644
--- a/kernel/yosys.cc
+++ b/kernel/yosys.cc
@@ -510,10 +510,13 @@ void yosys_setup()
 	if(already_setup)
 		return;
 	already_setup = true;
-	// if there are already IdString objects then we have a global initialization order bug
-	IdString empty_id;
-	log_assert(empty_id.index_ == 0);
-	IdString::get_reference(empty_id.index_);
+
+	RTLIL::ID::A = "\\A";
+	RTLIL::ID::B = "\\B";
+	RTLIL::ID::Y = "\\Y";
+	RTLIL::ID::keep = "\\keep";
+	RTLIL::ID::whitebox = "\\whitebox";
+	RTLIL::ID::blackbox = "\\blackbox";
 
 	#ifdef WITH_PYTHON
 		PyImport_AppendInittab((char*)"libyosys", INIT_MODULE);
@@ -575,9 +578,6 @@ void yosys_shutdown()
 #ifdef WITH_PYTHON
 	Py_Finalize();
 #endif
-
-	IdString empty_id;
-	IdString::put_reference(empty_id.index_);
 }
 
 RTLIL::IdString new_id(std::string file, int line, std::string func)
diff --git a/kernel/yosys.h b/kernel/yosys.h
index 09e8139bb..49716ed52 100644
--- a/kernel/yosys.h
+++ b/kernel/yosys.h
@@ -305,8 +305,16 @@ RTLIL::IdString new_id(std::string file, int line, std::string func);
 #define NEW_ID \
 	YOSYS_NAMESPACE_PREFIX new_id(__FILE__, __LINE__, __FUNCTION__)
 
-#define ID(_str) \
-	([]() { static YOSYS_NAMESPACE_PREFIX RTLIL::IdString _id(_str); return _id; })()
+// Create a statically allocated IdString object, using for example ID(A) or ID($add).
+//
+// Recipe for Converting old code that is using conversion of strings like "\\A" and
+// "$add" for creating IdStrings: Run below SED command on the .cc file and then use for
+// example "meld foo.cc foo.cc.orig" to manually compile errors, if necessary.
+//
+//  sed -i.orig -r 's/"\\\\([a-zA-Z0-9_]+)"/ID(\1)/g; s/"(\$[a-zA-Z0-9_]+)"/ID(\1)/g;' <filename>
+//
+#define ID(_id) ([]() { const char *p = "\\" #_id, *q = p[1] == '$' ? p+1 : p; \
+        static const YOSYS_NAMESPACE_PREFIX RTLIL::IdString id(q); return id; })()
 
 RTLIL::Design *yosys_get_design();
 std::string proc_self_dirname();