Use ID() macro in all of passes/opt/

This was obtained by running the following SED command in passes/opt/
and then using "meld foo.cc foo.cc.orig" to manually fix all resulting
compiler errors.

sed -i.orig -r 's/"\\\\([a-zA-Z0-9_]+)"/ID(\1)/g; s/"(\$[a-zA-Z0-9_]+)"/ID(\1)/g;' *.cc

Signed-off-by: Clifford Wolf <clifford@clifford.at>

12 files changed, 998 insertions, 998 deletions

diff --git a/passes/opt/muxpack.cc b/passes/opt/muxpack.cc
index 225c30d9a..cf6752b6e 100644
--- a/passes/opt/muxpack.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/muxpack.cc
@@ -37,22 +37,22 @@ struct ExclusiveDatabase
 		SigBit y_port;
 		pool<Cell*> reduce_or;
 		for (auto cell : module->cells()) {
-			if (cell->type == "$eq") {
-				nonconst_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-				const_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+			if (cell->type == ID($eq)) {
+				nonconst_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+				const_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 				if (!const_sig.is_fully_const()) {
 					if (!nonconst_sig.is_fully_const())
 						continue;
 					std::swap(nonconst_sig, const_sig);
 				}
-				y_port = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+				y_port = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 			}
-			else if (cell->type == "$logic_not") {
-				nonconst_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+			else if (cell->type == ID($logic_not)) {
+				nonconst_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 				const_sig = Const(State::S0, GetSize(nonconst_sig));
-				y_port = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+				y_port = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 			}
-			else if (cell->type == "$reduce_or") {
+			else if (cell->type == ID($reduce_or)) {
 				reduce_or.insert(cell);
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ struct ExclusiveDatabase
 		for (auto cell : reduce_or) {
 			nonconst_sig = SigSpec();
 			std::vector<Const> values;
-			SigSpec a_port = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+			SigSpec a_port = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 			for (auto bit : a_port) {
 				auto it = sig_cmp_prev.find(bit);
 				if (it == sig_cmp_prev.end()) {
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ struct ExclusiveDatabase
 			}
 			if (nonconst_sig.empty())
 				continue;
-			y_port = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+			y_port = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 			sig_cmp_prev[y_port] = std::make_pair(nonconst_sig,std::move(values));
 		}
 	}
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ struct MuxpackWorker
 	{
 		for (auto wire : module->wires())
 		{
-			if (wire->port_output || wire->get_bool_attribute("\\keep")) {
+			if (wire->port_output || wire->get_bool_attribute(ID(keep))) {
 				for (auto bit : sigmap(wire))
 					sigbit_with_non_chain_users.insert(bit);
 			}
@@ -143,13 +143,13 @@ struct MuxpackWorker
 
 		for (auto cell : module->cells())
 		{
-			if (cell->type.in("$mux", "$pmux") && !cell->get_bool_attribute("\\keep"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($pmux)) && !cell->get_bool_attribute(ID(keep)))
 			{
-				SigSpec a_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+				SigSpec a_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 				SigSpec b_sig;
-				if (cell->type == "$mux")
-					b_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\B"));
-				SigSpec y_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+				if (cell->type == ID($mux))
+					b_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+				SigSpec y_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
    
 				if (sig_chain_next.count(a_sig))
 					for (auto a_bit : a_sig.bits())
@@ -186,16 +186,16 @@ struct MuxpackWorker
 		{
 			log_debug("Considering %s (%s)\n", log_id(cell), log_id(cell->type));
 
-			SigSpec a_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-			if (cell->type == "$mux") {
-				SigSpec b_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+			SigSpec a_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+			if (cell->type == ID($mux)) {
+				SigSpec b_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 				if (sig_chain_prev.count(a_sig) + sig_chain_prev.count(b_sig) != 1)
 					goto start_cell;
 
 				if (!sig_chain_prev.count(a_sig))
 					a_sig = b_sig;
 			}
-			else if (cell->type == "$pmux") {
+			else if (cell->type == ID($pmux)) {
 				if (!sig_chain_prev.count(a_sig))
 					goto start_cell;
 			}
@@ -208,8 +208,8 @@ struct MuxpackWorker
 			{
 				Cell *prev_cell = sig_chain_prev.at(a_sig);
 				log_assert(prev_cell);
-				SigSpec s_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\S"));
-				s_sig.append(sigmap(prev_cell->getPort("\\S")));
+				SigSpec s_sig = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(S)));
+				s_sig.append(sigmap(prev_cell->getPort(ID(S))));
 				if (!excl_db.query(s_sig))
 					goto start_cell;
 			}
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ struct MuxpackWorker
 		{
 			chain.push_back(c);
 
-			SigSpec y_sig = sigmap(c->getPort("\\Y"));
+			SigSpec y_sig = sigmap(c->getPort(ID(Y)));
 
 			if (sig_chain_next.count(y_sig) == 0)
 				break;
@@ -269,29 +269,29 @@ struct MuxpackWorker
 			mux_count += cases;
 			pmux_count += 1;
 
-			first_cell->type = "$pmux";
-			SigSpec b_sig = first_cell->getPort("\\B");
-			SigSpec s_sig = first_cell->getPort("\\S");
+			first_cell->type = ID($pmux);
+			SigSpec b_sig = first_cell->getPort(ID(B));
+			SigSpec s_sig = first_cell->getPort(ID(S));
 
 			for (int i = 1; i < cases; i++) {
 				Cell* prev_cell = chain[cursor+i-1];
 				Cell* cursor_cell = chain[cursor+i];
-				if (sigmap(prev_cell->getPort("\\Y")) == sigmap(cursor_cell->getPort("\\A"))) {
-					b_sig.append(cursor_cell->getPort("\\B"));
-					s_sig.append(cursor_cell->getPort("\\S"));
+				if (sigmap(prev_cell->getPort(ID(Y))) == sigmap(cursor_cell->getPort(ID(A)))) {
+					b_sig.append(cursor_cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+					s_sig.append(cursor_cell->getPort(ID(S)));
 				}
 				else {
-					log_assert(cursor_cell->type == "$mux");
-					b_sig.append(cursor_cell->getPort("\\A"));
-					s_sig.append(module->LogicNot(NEW_ID, cursor_cell->getPort("\\S")));
+					log_assert(cursor_cell->type == ID($mux));
+					b_sig.append(cursor_cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+					s_sig.append(module->LogicNot(NEW_ID, cursor_cell->getPort(ID(S))));
 				}
 				remove_cells.insert(cursor_cell);
 			}
 
-			first_cell->setPort("\\B", b_sig);
-			first_cell->setPort("\\S", s_sig);
-			first_cell->setParam("\\S_WIDTH", GetSize(s_sig));
-			first_cell->setPort("\\Y", last_cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+			first_cell->setPort(ID(B), b_sig);
+			first_cell->setPort(ID(S), s_sig);
+			first_cell->setParam(ID(S_WIDTH), GetSize(s_sig));
+			first_cell->setPort(ID(Y), last_cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 
 			cursor += cases;
 		}
diff --git a/passes/opt/opt_clean.cc b/passes/opt/opt_clean.cc
index 905c95b6c..1d3a85b3a 100644
--- a/passes/opt/opt_clean.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/opt_clean.cc
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ struct keep_cache_t
 			return cache.at(module);
 
 		cache[module] = true;
-		if (!module->get_bool_attribute("\\keep")) {
+		if (!module->get_bool_attribute(ID(keep))) {
 			bool found_keep = false;
 			for (auto cell : module->cells())
 				if (query(cell)) found_keep = true;
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ struct keep_cache_t
 
 	bool query(Cell *cell)
 	{
-		if (cell->type.in("$memwr", "$meminit", "$assert", "$assume", "$live", "$fair", "$cover", "$specify2", "$specify3", "$specrule"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($memwr), ID($meminit), ID($assert), ID($assume), ID($live), ID($fair), ID($cover), ID($specify2), ID($specify3), ID($specrule)))
 			return true;
 
 		if (cell->has_keep_attr())
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ void rmunused_module_cells(Module *module, bool verbose)
 
 	for (auto &it : module->wires_) {
 		Wire *wire = it.second;
-		if (wire->port_output || wire->get_bool_attribute("\\keep")) {
+		if (wire->port_output || wire->get_bool_attribute(ID(keep))) {
 			for (auto bit : sigmap(wire))
 			for (auto c : wire2driver[bit])
 				queue.insert(c), unused.erase(c);
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ void rmunused_module_cells(Module *module, bool verbose)
 int count_nontrivial_wire_attrs(RTLIL::Wire *w)
 {
 	int count = w->attributes.size();
-	count -= w->attributes.count("\\src");
-	count -= w->attributes.count("\\unused_bits");
+	count -= w->attributes.count(ID(src));
+	count -= w->attributes.count(ID(unused_bits));
 	return count;
 }
 
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ bool rmunused_module_signals(RTLIL::Module *module, bool purge_mode, bool verbos
 			if (!wire->port_input)
 				used_signals_nodrivers.add(sig);
 		}
-		if (wire->get_bool_attribute("\\keep")) {
+		if (wire->get_bool_attribute(ID(keep))) {
 			RTLIL::SigSpec sig = RTLIL::SigSpec(wire);
 			assign_map.apply(sig);
 			used_signals.add(sig);
@@ -311,19 +311,19 @@ bool rmunused_module_signals(RTLIL::Module *module, bool purge_mode, bool verbos
 		log_assert(GetSize(s1) == GetSize(s2));
 
 		Const initval;
-		if (wire->attributes.count("\\init"))
-			initval = wire->attributes.at("\\init");
+		if (wire->attributes.count(ID(init)))
+			initval = wire->attributes.at(ID(init));
 		if (GetSize(initval) != GetSize(wire))
 			initval.bits.resize(GetSize(wire), State::Sx);
 		if (initval.is_fully_undef())
-			wire->attributes.erase("\\init");
+			wire->attributes.erase(ID(init));
 
 		if (GetSize(wire) == 0) {
 			// delete zero-width wires, unless they are module ports
 			if (wire->port_id == 0)
 				goto delete_this_wire;
 		} else
-		if (wire->port_id != 0 || wire->get_bool_attribute("\\keep") || !initval.is_fully_undef()) {
+		if (wire->port_id != 0 || wire->get_bool_attribute(ID(keep)) || !initval.is_fully_undef()) {
 			// do not delete anything with "keep" or module ports or initialized wires
 		} else
 		if (!purge_mode && check_public_name(wire->name) && (raw_used_signals.check_any(s1) || used_signals.check_any(s2) || s1 != s2)) {
@@ -357,9 +357,9 @@ bool rmunused_module_signals(RTLIL::Module *module, bool purge_mode, bool verbos
 				}
 			if (new_conn.first.size() > 0) {
 				if (initval.is_fully_undef())
-					wire->attributes.erase("\\init");
+					wire->attributes.erase(ID(init));
 				else
-					wire->attributes.at("\\init") = initval;
+					wire->attributes.at(ID(init)) = initval;
 				used_signals.add(new_conn.first);
 				used_signals.add(new_conn.second);
 				module->connect(new_conn);
@@ -377,11 +377,11 @@ bool rmunused_module_signals(RTLIL::Module *module, bool purge_mode, bool verbos
 					}
 				}
 				if (unused_bits.empty() || wire->port_id != 0)
-					wire->attributes.erase("\\unused_bits");
+					wire->attributes.erase(ID(unused_bits));
 				else
-					wire->attributes["\\unused_bits"] = RTLIL::Const(unused_bits);
+					wire->attributes[ID(unused_bits)] = RTLIL::Const(unused_bits);
 			} else {
-				wire->attributes.erase("\\unused_bits");
+				wire->attributes.erase(ID(unused_bits));
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -413,18 +413,18 @@ bool rmunused_module_init(RTLIL::Module *module, bool purge_mode, bool verbose)
 	dict<SigBit, State> qbits;
 
 	for (auto cell : module->cells())
-		if (fftypes.cell_known(cell->type) && cell->hasPort("\\Q"))
+		if (fftypes.cell_known(cell->type) && cell->hasPort(ID(Q)))
 		{
-			SigSpec sig = cell->getPort("\\Q");
+			SigSpec sig = cell->getPort(ID(Q));
 
 			for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(sig); i++)
 			{
 				SigBit bit = sig[i];
 
-				if (bit.wire == nullptr || bit.wire->attributes.count("\\init") == 0)
+				if (bit.wire == nullptr || bit.wire->attributes.count(ID(init)) == 0)
 					continue;
 
-				Const init = bit.wire->attributes.at("\\init");
+				Const init = bit.wire->attributes.at(ID(init));
 
 				if (i >= GetSize(init) || init[i] == State::Sx || init[i] == State::Sz)
 					continue;
@@ -439,10 +439,10 @@ bool rmunused_module_init(RTLIL::Module *module, bool purge_mode, bool verbose)
 		if (!purge_mode && wire->name[0] == '\\')
 			continue;
 
-		if (wire->attributes.count("\\init") == 0)
+		if (wire->attributes.count(ID(init)) == 0)
 			continue;
 
-		Const init = wire->attributes.at("\\init");
+		Const init = wire->attributes.at(ID(init));
 
 		for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(wire) && i < GetSize(init); i++)
 		{
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ bool rmunused_module_init(RTLIL::Module *module, bool purge_mode, bool verbose)
 		if (verbose)
 			log_debug("  removing redundant init attribute on %s.\n", log_id(wire));
 
-		wire->attributes.erase("\\init");
+		wire->attributes.erase(ID(init));
 		did_something = true;
 	next_wire:;
 	}
@@ -480,10 +480,10 @@ void rmunused_module(RTLIL::Module *module, bool purge_mode, bool verbose, bool
 
 	std::vector<RTLIL::Cell*> delcells;
 	for (auto cell : module->cells())
-		if (cell->type.in("$pos", "$_BUF_") && !cell->has_keep_attr()) {
-			bool is_signed = cell->type == "$pos" && cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort("\\A");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec y = cell->getPort("\\Y");
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($pos), ID($_BUF_)) && !cell->has_keep_attr()) {
+			bool is_signed = cell->type == ID($pos) && cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec y = cell->getPort(ID(Y));
 			a.extend_u0(GetSize(y), is_signed);
 			module->connect(y, a);
 			delcells.push_back(cell);
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ void rmunused_module(RTLIL::Module *module, bool purge_mode, bool verbose, bool
 	for (auto cell : delcells) {
 		if (verbose)
 			log_debug("  removing buffer cell `%s': %s = %s\n", cell->name.c_str(),
-					log_signal(cell->getPort("\\Y")), log_signal(cell->getPort("\\A")));
+					log_signal(cell->getPort(ID(Y))), log_signal(cell->getPort(ID(A))));
 		module->remove(cell);
 	}
 	if (!delcells.empty())
diff --git a/passes/opt/opt_demorgan.cc b/passes/opt/opt_demorgan.cc
index 1699a6454..7defef442 100644
--- a/passes/opt/opt_demorgan.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/opt_demorgan.cc
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ void demorgan_worker(
 	//TODO: Add support for reduce_xor
 	//DeMorgan of XOR is either XOR (if even number of inputs) or XNOR (if odd number)
 
-	if( (cell->type != "$reduce_and") && (cell->type != "$reduce_or") )
+	if( (cell->type != ID($reduce_and)) && (cell->type != ID($reduce_or)) )
 		return;
 
-	auto insig = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+	auto insig = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 	log("Inspecting %s cell %s (%d inputs)\n", log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell->name), GetSize(insig));
 	int num_inverted = 0;
 	for(int i=0; i<GetSize(insig); i++)
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void demorgan_worker(
 		bool inverted = false;
 		for(auto x : ports)
 		{
-			if(x.port == "\\Y" && x.cell->type == "$_NOT_")
+			if(x.port == ID(Y) && x.cell->type == ID($_NOT_))
 			{
 				inverted = true;
 				break;
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ void demorgan_worker(
 		RTLIL::Cell* srcinv = NULL;
 		for(auto x : ports)
 		{
-			if(x.port == "\\Y" && x.cell->type == "$_NOT_")
+			if(x.port == ID(Y) && x.cell->type == ID($_NOT_))
 			{
 				srcinv = x.cell;
 				break;
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void demorgan_worker(
 		//We ARE inverted - bypass it
 		//Don't automatically delete the inverter since other stuff might still use it
 		else
-			insig[i] = srcinv->getPort("\\A");
+			insig[i] = srcinv->getPort(ID(A));
 	}
 
 	//Cosmetic fixup: If our input is just a scrambled version of one bus, rearrange it
@@ -151,20 +151,20 @@ void demorgan_worker(
 	}
 
 	//Push the new input signal back to the reduction (after bypassing/adding inverters)
-	cell->setPort("\\A", insig);
+	cell->setPort(ID(A), insig);
 
 	//Change the cell type
-	if(cell->type == "$reduce_and")
-		cell->type = "$reduce_or";
-	else if(cell->type == "$reduce_or")
-		cell->type = "$reduce_and";
+	if(cell->type == ID($reduce_and))
+		cell->type = ID($reduce_or);
+	else if(cell->type == ID($reduce_or))
+		cell->type = ID($reduce_and);
 	//don't change XOR
 
 	//Add an inverter to the output
-	auto inverted_output = cell->getPort("\\Y");
+	auto inverted_output = cell->getPort(ID(Y));
 	auto uninverted_output = m->addWire(NEW_ID);
 	m->addNot(NEW_ID, RTLIL::SigSpec(uninverted_output), inverted_output);
-	cell->setPort("\\Y", uninverted_output);
+	cell->setPort(ID(Y), uninverted_output);
 }
 
 struct OptDemorganPass : public Pass {
diff --git a/passes/opt/opt_expr.cc b/passes/opt/opt_expr.cc
index b2dc9a448..8f6e660a2 100644
--- a/passes/opt/opt_expr.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/opt_expr.cc
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ void replace_undriven(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module)
 	}
 
 	for (auto wire : module->wires()) {
-		if (wire->attributes.count("\\init")) {
+		if (wire->attributes.count(ID(init))) {
 			SigSpec sig = sigmap(wire);
-			Const initval = wire->attributes.at("\\init");
+			Const initval = wire->attributes.at(ID(init));
 			for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(initval) && i < GetSize(wire); i++) {
 				if (initval[i] == State::S0 || initval[i] == State::S1)
 					initbits[sig[i]] = make_pair(wire, initval[i]);
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ void replace_undriven(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module)
 		}
 		if (wire->port_input)
 			driven_signals.add(sigmap(wire));
-		if (wire->port_output || wire->get_bool_attribute("\\keep"))
+		if (wire->port_output || wire->get_bool_attribute(ID(keep)))
 			used_signals.add(sigmap(wire));
 		all_signals.add(sigmap(wire));
 	}
@@ -99,25 +99,25 @@ void replace_undriven(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module)
 
 		for (auto wire : revisit_initwires) {
 			SigSpec sig = sm2(wire);
-			Const initval = wire->attributes.at("\\init");
+			Const initval = wire->attributes.at(ID(init));
 			for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(initval) && i < GetSize(wire); i++) {
 				if (SigBit(initval[i]) == sig[i])
 					initval[i] = State::Sx;
 			}
 			if (initval.is_fully_undef()) {
 				log_debug("Removing init attribute from %s/%s.\n", log_id(module), log_id(wire));
-				wire->attributes.erase("\\init");
+				wire->attributes.erase(ID(init));
 				did_something = true;
-			} else if (initval != wire->attributes.at("\\init")) {
+			} else if (initval != wire->attributes.at(ID(init))) {
 				log_debug("Updating init attribute on %s/%s: %s\n", log_id(module), log_id(wire), log_signal(initval));
-				wire->attributes["\\init"] = initval;
+				wire->attributes[ID(init)] = initval;
 				did_something = true;
 			}
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-void replace_cell(SigMap &assign_map, RTLIL::Module *module, RTLIL::Cell *cell, std::string info, std::string out_port, RTLIL::SigSpec out_val)
+void replace_cell(SigMap &assign_map, RTLIL::Module *module, RTLIL::Cell *cell, std::string info, IdString out_port, RTLIL::SigSpec out_val)
 {
 	RTLIL::SigSpec Y = cell->getPort(out_port);
 	out_val.extend_u0(Y.size(), false);
@@ -134,14 +134,14 @@ void replace_cell(SigMap &assign_map, RTLIL::Module *module, RTLIL::Cell *cell,
 
 bool group_cell_inputs(RTLIL::Module *module, RTLIL::Cell *cell, bool commutative, SigMap &sigmap)
 {
-	std::string b_name = cell->hasPort("\\B") ? "\\B" : "\\A";
+	IdString b_name = cell->hasPort(ID(B)) ? ID(B) : ID(A);
 
-	bool a_signed = cell->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
-	bool b_signed = cell->parameters.at(b_name + "_SIGNED").as_bool();
+	bool a_signed = cell->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
+	bool b_signed = cell->parameters.at(b_name.str() + "_SIGNED").as_bool();
 
-	RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+	RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 	RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = sigmap(cell->getPort(b_name));
-	RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+	RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 
 	sig_a.extend_u0(sig_y.size(), a_signed);
 	sig_b.extend_u0(sig_y.size(), b_signed);
@@ -156,10 +156,10 @@ bool group_cell_inputs(RTLIL::Module *module, RTLIL::Cell *cell, bool commutativ
 		int group_idx = GRP_DYN;
 		RTLIL::SigBit bit_a = bits_a[i], bit_b = bits_b[i];
 
-		if (cell->type == "$or" && (bit_a == RTLIL::State::S1 || bit_b == RTLIL::State::S1))
+		if (cell->type == ID($or) && (bit_a == RTLIL::State::S1 || bit_b == RTLIL::State::S1))
 			bit_a = bit_b = RTLIL::State::S1;
 
-		if (cell->type == "$and" && (bit_a == RTLIL::State::S0 || bit_b == RTLIL::State::S0))
+		if (cell->type == ID($and) && (bit_a == RTLIL::State::S0 || bit_b == RTLIL::State::S0))
 			bit_a = bit_b = RTLIL::State::S0;
 
 		if (bit_a.wire == NULL && bit_b.wire == NULL)
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ bool group_cell_inputs(RTLIL::Module *module, RTLIL::Cell *cell, bool commutativ
 			new_b.append_bit(it.first.second);
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$and", "$or") && i == GRP_CONST_A) {
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($and), ID($or)) && i == GRP_CONST_A) {
 			log_debug("  Direct Connection: %s (%s with %s)\n", log_signal(new_b), log_id(cell->type), log_signal(new_a));
 			module->connect(new_y, new_b);
 			module->connect(new_conn);
@@ -208,24 +208,24 @@ bool group_cell_inputs(RTLIL::Module *module, RTLIL::Cell *cell, bool commutativ
 
 		RTLIL::Cell *c = module->addCell(NEW_ID, cell->type);
 
-		c->setPort("\\A", new_a);
-		c->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = new_a.size();
-		c->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = false;
+		c->setPort(ID(A), new_a);
+		c->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = new_a.size();
+		c->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = false;
 
-		if (b_name == "\\B") {
-			c->setPort("\\B", new_b);
-			c->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = new_b.size();
-			c->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"] = false;
+		if (b_name == ID(B)) {
+			c->setPort(ID(B), new_b);
+			c->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = new_b.size();
+			c->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)] = false;
 		}
 
-		c->setPort("\\Y", new_y);
-		c->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = new_y->width;
+		c->setPort(ID(Y), new_y);
+		c->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = new_y->width;
 		c->check();
 
 		module->connect(new_conn);
 
 		log_debug("  New cell `%s': A=%s", log_id(c), log_signal(new_a));
-		if (b_name == "\\B")
+		if (b_name == ID(B))
 			log_debug(", B=%s", log_signal(new_b));
 		log_debug("\n");
 	}
@@ -367,12 +367,12 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 
 	for (auto cell : module->cells())
 		if (design->selected(module, cell) && cell->type[0] == '$') {
-			if (cell->type.in("$_NOT_", "$not", "$logic_not") &&
-					cell->getPort("\\A").size() == 1 && cell->getPort("\\Y").size() == 1)
-				invert_map[assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Y"))] = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-			if (cell->type.in("$mux", "$_MUX_") &&
-					cell->getPort("\\A") == SigSpec(State::S1) && cell->getPort("\\B") == SigSpec(State::S0))
-				invert_map[assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Y"))] = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\S"));
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($_NOT_), ID($not), ID($logic_not)) &&
+					cell->getPort(ID(A)).size() == 1 && cell->getPort(ID(Y)).size() == 1)
+				invert_map[assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Y)))] = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($_MUX_)) &&
+					cell->getPort(ID(A)) == SigSpec(State::S1) && cell->getPort(ID(B)) == SigSpec(State::S0))
+				invert_map[assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Y)))] = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(S)));
 			if (ct_combinational.cell_known(cell->type))
 				for (auto &conn : cell->connections()) {
 					RTLIL::SigSpec sig = assign_map(conn.second);
@@ -396,66 +396,66 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 	for (auto cell : cells.sorted)
 	{
 #define ACTION_DO(_p_, _s_) do { cover("opt.opt_expr.action_" S__LINE__); replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, input.as_string(), _p_, _s_); goto next_cell; } while (0)
-#define ACTION_DO_Y(_v_) ACTION_DO("\\Y", RTLIL::SigSpec(RTLIL::State::S ## _v_))
+#define ACTION_DO_Y(_v_) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), RTLIL::SigSpec(RTLIL::State::S ## _v_))
 
 		if (clkinv)
 		{
-			if (cell->type.in("$dff", "$dffe", "$dffsr", "$adff", "$fsm", "$memrd", "$memwr"))
-				handle_polarity_inv(cell, "\\CLK", "\\CLK_POLARITY", assign_map, invert_map);
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($dff), ID($dffe), ID($dffsr), ID($adff), ID($fsm), ID($memrd), ID($memwr)))
+				handle_polarity_inv(cell, ID(CLK), ID(CLK_POLARITY), assign_map, invert_map);
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$sr", "$dffsr", "$dlatchsr")) {
-				handle_polarity_inv(cell, "\\SET", "\\SET_POLARITY", assign_map, invert_map);
-				handle_polarity_inv(cell, "\\CLR", "\\CLR_POLARITY", assign_map, invert_map);
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($sr), ID($dffsr), ID($dlatchsr))) {
+				handle_polarity_inv(cell, ID(SET), ID(SET_POLARITY), assign_map, invert_map);
+				handle_polarity_inv(cell, ID(CLR), ID(CLR_POLARITY), assign_map, invert_map);
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$dffe", "$dlatch", "$dlatchsr"))
-				handle_polarity_inv(cell, "\\EN", "\\EN_POLARITY", assign_map, invert_map);
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($dffe), ID($dlatch), ID($dlatchsr)))
+				handle_polarity_inv(cell, ID(EN), ID(EN_POLARITY), assign_map, invert_map);
 
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_SR_N?_", "$_SR_P?_", "\\S", assign_map, invert_map);
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_SR_?N_", "$_SR_?P_", "\\R", assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_SR_N?_", "$_SR_P?_", ID(S), assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_SR_?N_", "$_SR_?P_", ID(R), assign_map, invert_map);
 
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFF_N_", "$_DFF_P_", "\\C", assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFF_N_", "$_DFF_P_", ID(C), assign_map, invert_map);
 
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFFE_N?_", "$_DFFE_P?_", "\\C", assign_map, invert_map);
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFFE_?N_", "$_DFFE_?P_", "\\E", assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFFE_N?_", "$_DFFE_P?_", ID(C), assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFFE_?N_", "$_DFFE_?P_", ID(E), assign_map, invert_map);
 
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFF_N??_", "$_DFF_P??_", "\\C", assign_map, invert_map);
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFF_?N?_", "$_DFF_?P?_", "\\R", assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFF_N??_", "$_DFF_P??_", ID(C), assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFF_?N?_", "$_DFF_?P?_", ID(R), assign_map, invert_map);
 
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFFSR_N??_", "$_DFFSR_P??_", "\\C", assign_map, invert_map);
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFFSR_?N?_", "$_DFFSR_?P?_", "\\S", assign_map, invert_map);
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFFSR_??N_", "$_DFFSR_??P_", "\\R", assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFFSR_N??_", "$_DFFSR_P??_", ID(C), assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFFSR_?N?_", "$_DFFSR_?P?_", ID(S), assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DFFSR_??N_", "$_DFFSR_??P_", ID(R), assign_map, invert_map);
 
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DLATCH_N_", "$_DLATCH_P_", "\\E", assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DLATCH_N_", "$_DLATCH_P_", ID(E), assign_map, invert_map);
 
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DLATCHSR_N??_", "$_DLATCHSR_P??_", "\\E", assign_map, invert_map);
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DLATCHSR_?N?_", "$_DLATCHSR_?P?_", "\\S", assign_map, invert_map);
-			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DLATCHSR_??N_", "$_DLATCHSR_??P_", "\\R", assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DLATCHSR_N??_", "$_DLATCHSR_P??_", ID(E), assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DLATCHSR_?N?_", "$_DLATCHSR_?P?_", ID(S), assign_map, invert_map);
+			handle_clkpol_celltype_swap(cell, "$_DLATCHSR_??N_", "$_DLATCHSR_??P_", ID(R), assign_map, invert_map);
 		}
 
 		bool detect_const_and = false;
 		bool detect_const_or = false;
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$reduce_and", "$_AND_"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($reduce_and), ID($_AND_)))
 			detect_const_and = true;
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$and", "$logic_and") && GetSize(cell->getPort("\\A")) == 1 && GetSize(cell->getPort("\\B")) == 1 && !cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool())
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($and), ID($logic_and)) && GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(A))) == 1 && GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(B))) == 1 && !cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool())
 			detect_const_and = true;
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$reduce_or", "$reduce_bool", "$_OR_"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_bool), ID($_OR_)))
 			detect_const_or = true;
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$or", "$logic_or") && GetSize(cell->getPort("\\A")) == 1 && GetSize(cell->getPort("\\B")) == 1 && !cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool())
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($or), ID($logic_or)) && GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(A))) == 1 && GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(B))) == 1 && !cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool())
 			detect_const_or = true;
 
 		if (detect_const_and || detect_const_or)
 		{
-			pool<SigBit> input_bits = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A")).to_sigbit_pool();
+			pool<SigBit> input_bits = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A))).to_sigbit_pool();
 			bool found_zero = false, found_one = false, found_undef = false, found_inv = false, many_conconst = false;
 			SigBit non_const_input = State::Sm;
 
-			if (cell->hasPort("\\B")) {
-				vector<SigBit> more_bits = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B")).to_sigbit_vector();
+			if (cell->hasPort(ID(B))) {
+				vector<SigBit> more_bits = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B))).to_sigbit_vector();
 				input_bits.insert(more_bits.begin(), more_bits.end());
 			}
 
@@ -495,14 +495,14 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$reduce_and", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_bool", "$reduce_xor", "$reduce_xnor", "$neg") &&
-				GetSize(cell->getPort("\\A")) == 1 && GetSize(cell->getPort("\\Y")) == 1)
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($reduce_and), ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_bool), ID($reduce_xor), ID($reduce_xnor), ID($neg)) &&
+				GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(A))) == 1 && GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(Y))) == 1)
 		{
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_xnor") {
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_xnor)) {
 				cover("opt.opt_expr.reduce_xnor_not");
 				log_debug("Replacing %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with $not cell.\n",
 						log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell->name), log_id(module));
-				cell->type = "$not";
+				cell->type = ID($not);
 				did_something = true;
 			} else {
 				cover("opt.opt_expr.unary_buffer");
@@ -513,15 +513,15 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 
 		if (do_fine)
 		{
-			if (cell->type.in("$not", "$pos", "$and", "$or", "$xor", "$xnor"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($not), ID($pos), ID($and), ID($or), ID($xor), ID($xnor)))
 				if (group_cell_inputs(module, cell, true, assign_map))
 					goto next_cell;
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$logic_not", "$logic_and", "$logic_or", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_and", "$reduce_bool"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($logic_not), ID($logic_and), ID($logic_or), ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_and), ID($reduce_bool)))
 			{
-				SigBit neutral_bit = cell->type == "$reduce_and" ? State::S1 : State::S0;
+				SigBit neutral_bit = cell->type == ID($reduce_and) ? State::S1 : State::S0;
 
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 				RTLIL::SigSpec new_sig_a;
 
 				for (auto bit : sig_a)
@@ -534,17 +534,17 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 					cover_list("opt.opt_expr.fine.neutral_A", "$logic_not", "$logic_and", "$logic_or", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_and", "$reduce_bool", cell->type.str());
 					log_debug("Replacing port A of %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with shorter expression: %s -> %s\n",
 							cell->type.c_str(), cell->name.c_str(), module->name.c_str(), log_signal(sig_a), log_signal(new_sig_a));
-					cell->setPort("\\A", new_sig_a);
-					cell->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH") = GetSize(new_sig_a);
+					cell->setPort(ID(A), new_sig_a);
+					cell->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)) = GetSize(new_sig_a);
 					did_something = true;
 				}
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$logic_and", "$logic_or"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($logic_and), ID($logic_or)))
 			{
 				SigBit neutral_bit = State::S0;
 
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 				RTLIL::SigSpec new_sig_b;
 
 				for (auto bit : sig_b)
@@ -557,15 +557,15 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 					cover_list("opt.opt_expr.fine.neutral_B", "$logic_and", "$logic_or", cell->type.str());
 					log_debug("Replacing port B of %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with shorter expression: %s -> %s\n",
 							cell->type.c_str(), cell->name.c_str(), module->name.c_str(), log_signal(sig_b), log_signal(new_sig_b));
-					cell->setPort("\\B", new_sig_b);
-					cell->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH") = GetSize(new_sig_b);
+					cell->setPort(ID(B), new_sig_b);
+					cell->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)) = GetSize(new_sig_b);
 					did_something = true;
 				}
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$reduce_and")
+			if (cell->type == ID($reduce_and))
 			{
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 
 				RTLIL::State new_a = RTLIL::State::S1;
 				for (auto &bit : sig_a.to_sigbit_vector())
@@ -583,15 +583,15 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 					cover("opt.opt_expr.fine.$reduce_and");
 					log_debug("Replacing port A of %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with constant driver: %s -> %s\n",
 							cell->type.c_str(), cell->name.c_str(), module->name.c_str(), log_signal(sig_a), log_signal(new_a));
-					cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a = new_a);
-					cell->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH") = 1;
+					cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a = new_a);
+					cell->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)) = 1;
 					did_something = true;
 				}
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$logic_not", "$logic_and", "$logic_or", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_bool"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($logic_not), ID($logic_and), ID($logic_or), ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_bool)))
 			{
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 
 				RTLIL::State new_a = RTLIL::State::S0;
 				for (auto &bit : sig_a.to_sigbit_vector())
@@ -609,15 +609,15 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 					cover_list("opt.opt_expr.fine.A", "$logic_not", "$logic_and", "$logic_or", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_bool", cell->type.str());
 					log_debug("Replacing port A of %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with constant driver: %s -> %s\n",
 							cell->type.c_str(), cell->name.c_str(), module->name.c_str(), log_signal(sig_a), log_signal(new_a));
-					cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a = new_a);
-					cell->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH") = 1;
+					cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a = new_a);
+					cell->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)) = 1;
 					did_something = true;
 				}
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$logic_and", "$logic_or"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($logic_and), ID($logic_or)))
 			{
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 
 				RTLIL::State new_b = RTLIL::State::S0;
 				for (auto &bit : sig_b.to_sigbit_vector())
@@ -635,17 +635,17 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 					cover_list("opt.opt_expr.fine.B", "$logic_and", "$logic_or", cell->type.str());
 					log_debug("Replacing port B of %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with constant driver: %s -> %s\n",
 							cell->type.c_str(), cell->name.c_str(), module->name.c_str(), log_signal(sig_b), log_signal(new_b));
-					cell->setPort("\\B", sig_b = new_b);
-					cell->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH") = 1;
+					cell->setPort(ID(B), sig_b = new_b);
+					cell->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)) = 1;
 					did_something = true;
 				}
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$add", "$sub")) {
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = cell->getPort("\\Y");
-				bool sub = cell->type == "$sub";
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($add), ID($sub))) {
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = cell->getPort(ID(Y));
+				bool sub = cell->type == ID($sub);
 
 				int i;
 				for (i = 0; i < GetSize(sig_y); i++) {
@@ -658,22 +658,22 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 				}
 				if (i > 0) {
 					cover_list("opt.opt_expr.fine", "$add", "$sub", cell->type.str());
-					cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a.extract_end(i));
-					cell->setPort("\\B", sig_b.extract_end(i));
-					cell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y.extract_end(i));
+					cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a.extract_end(i));
+					cell->setPort(ID(B), sig_b.extract_end(i));
+					cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y.extract_end(i));
 					cell->fixup_parameters();
 					did_something = true;
 				}
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$reduce_xor", "$reduce_xnor", "$shift", "$shiftx", "$shl", "$shr", "$sshl", "$sshr",
-					"$lt", "$le", "$ge", "$gt", "$neg", "$add", "$sub", "$mul", "$div", "$mod", "$pow"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($reduce_xor), ID($reduce_xnor), ID($shift), ID($shiftx), ID($shl), ID($shr), ID($sshl), ID($sshr),
+					ID($lt), ID($le), ID($ge), ID($gt), ID($neg), ID($add), ID($sub), ID($mul), ID($div), ID($mod), ID($pow)))
 		{
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = cell->hasPort("\\B") ? assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B")) : RTLIL::SigSpec();
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = cell->hasPort(ID(B)) ? assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B))) : RTLIL::SigSpec();
 
-			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)))
 				sig_a = RTLIL::SigSpec();
 
 			for (auto &bit : sig_a.to_sigbit_vector())
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 		found_the_x_bit:
 				cover_list("opt.opt_expr.xbit", "$reduce_xor", "$reduce_xnor", "$shl", "$shr", "$sshl", "$sshr", "$shift", "$shiftx",
 						"$lt", "$le", "$ge", "$gt", "$neg", "$add", "$sub", "$mul", "$div", "$mod", "$pow", cell->type.str());
-				if (cell->type.in("$reduce_xor", "$reduce_xnor", "$lt", "$le", "$ge", "$gt"))
+				if (cell->type.in(ID($reduce_xor), ID($reduce_xnor), ID($lt), ID($le), ID($ge), ID($gt)))
 					replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "x-bit in input", "\\Y", RTLIL::State::Sx);
 				else
 					replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "x-bit in input", "\\Y", RTLIL::SigSpec(RTLIL::State::Sx, cell->getPort("\\Y").size()));
@@ -696,36 +696,36 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$_NOT_", "$not", "$logic_not") && cell->getPort("\\Y").size() == 1 &&
-				invert_map.count(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"))) != 0) {
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($_NOT_), ID($not), ID($logic_not)) && cell->getPort(ID(Y)).size() == 1 &&
+				invert_map.count(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)))) != 0) {
 			cover_list("opt.opt_expr.invert.double", "$_NOT_", "$not", "$logic_not", cell->type.str());
 			replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "double_invert", "\\Y", invert_map.at(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"))));
 			goto next_cell;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$_MUX_", "$mux") && invert_map.count(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\S"))) != 0) {
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($_MUX_), ID($mux)) && invert_map.count(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(S)))) != 0) {
 			cover_list("opt.opt_expr.invert.muxsel", "$_MUX_", "$mux", cell->type.str());
 			log_debug("Optimizing away select inverter for %s cell `%s' in module `%s'.\n", log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), log_id(module));
-			RTLIL::SigSpec tmp = cell->getPort("\\A");
-			cell->setPort("\\A", cell->getPort("\\B"));
-			cell->setPort("\\B", tmp);
-			cell->setPort("\\S", invert_map.at(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\S"))));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec tmp = cell->getPort(ID(A));
+			cell->setPort(ID(A), cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+			cell->setPort(ID(B), tmp);
+			cell->setPort(ID(S), invert_map.at(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(S)))));
 			did_something = true;
 			goto next_cell;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$_NOT_") {
-			RTLIL::SigSpec input = cell->getPort("\\A");
+		if (cell->type == ID($_NOT_)) {
+			RTLIL::SigSpec input = cell->getPort(ID(A));
 			assign_map.apply(input);
 			if (input.match("1")) ACTION_DO_Y(0);
 			if (input.match("0")) ACTION_DO_Y(1);
 			if (input.match("*")) ACTION_DO_Y(x);
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$_AND_") {
+		if (cell->type == ID($_AND_)) {
 			RTLIL::SigSpec input;
-			input.append(cell->getPort("\\B"));
-			input.append(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+			input.append(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+			input.append(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 			assign_map.apply(input);
 			if (input.match(" 0")) ACTION_DO_Y(0);
 			if (input.match("0 ")) ACTION_DO_Y(0);
@@ -737,14 +737,14 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 				if (input.match(" *")) ACTION_DO_Y(0);
 				if (input.match("* ")) ACTION_DO_Y(0);
 			}
-			if (input.match(" 1")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(1, 1));
-			if (input.match("1 ")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(0, 1));
+			if (input.match(" 1")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(1, 1));
+			if (input.match("1 ")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(0, 1));
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$_OR_") {
+		if (cell->type == ID($_OR_)) {
 			RTLIL::SigSpec input;
-			input.append(cell->getPort("\\B"));
-			input.append(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+			input.append(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+			input.append(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 			assign_map.apply(input);
 			if (input.match(" 1")) ACTION_DO_Y(1);
 			if (input.match("1 ")) ACTION_DO_Y(1);
@@ -756,14 +756,14 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 				if (input.match(" *")) ACTION_DO_Y(1);
 				if (input.match("* ")) ACTION_DO_Y(1);
 			}
-			if (input.match(" 0")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(1, 1));
-			if (input.match("0 ")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(0, 1));
+			if (input.match(" 0")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(1, 1));
+			if (input.match("0 ")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(0, 1));
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$_XOR_") {
+		if (cell->type == ID($_XOR_)) {
 			RTLIL::SigSpec input;
-			input.append(cell->getPort("\\B"));
-			input.append(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+			input.append(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+			input.append(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 			assign_map.apply(input);
 			if (input.match("00")) ACTION_DO_Y(0);
 			if (input.match("01")) ACTION_DO_Y(1);
@@ -771,27 +771,27 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			if (input.match("11")) ACTION_DO_Y(0);
 			if (input.match(" *")) ACTION_DO_Y(x);
 			if (input.match("* ")) ACTION_DO_Y(x);
-			if (input.match(" 0")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(1, 1));
-			if (input.match("0 ")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(0, 1));
+			if (input.match(" 0")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(1, 1));
+			if (input.match("0 ")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(0, 1));
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type == "$_MUX_") {
+		if (cell->type == ID($_MUX_)) {
 			RTLIL::SigSpec input;
-			input.append(cell->getPort("\\S"));
-			input.append(cell->getPort("\\B"));
-			input.append(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+			input.append(cell->getPort(ID(S)));
+			input.append(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+			input.append(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 			assign_map.apply(input);
 			if (input.extract(2, 1) == input.extract(1, 1))
-				ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(2, 1));
-			if (input.match("  0")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(2, 1));
-			if (input.match("  1")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(1, 1));
-			if (input.match("01 ")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(0, 1));
+				ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(2, 1));
+			if (input.match("  0")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(2, 1));
+			if (input.match("  1")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(1, 1));
+			if (input.match("01 ")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(0, 1));
 			if (input.match("10 ")) {
 				cover("opt.opt_expr.mux_to_inv");
-				cell->type = "$_NOT_";
-				cell->setPort("\\A", input.extract(0, 1));
-				cell->unsetPort("\\B");
-				cell->unsetPort("\\S");
+				cell->type = ID($_NOT_);
+				cell->setPort(ID(A), input.extract(0, 1));
+				cell->unsetPort(ID(B));
+				cell->unsetPort(ID(S));
 				goto next_cell;
 			}
 			if (input.match("11 ")) ACTION_DO_Y(1);
@@ -800,38 +800,38 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			if (input.match("01*")) ACTION_DO_Y(x);
 			if (input.match("10*")) ACTION_DO_Y(x);
 			if (mux_undef) {
-				if (input.match("*  ")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(1, 1));
-				if (input.match(" * ")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(2, 1));
-				if (input.match("  *")) ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.extract(2, 1));
+				if (input.match("*  ")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(1, 1));
+				if (input.match(" * ")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(2, 1));
+				if (input.match("  *")) ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.extract(2, 1));
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$_TBUF_", "$tribuf")) {
-			RTLIL::SigSpec input = cell->getPort(cell->type == "$_TBUF_" ? "\\E" : "\\EN");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort("\\A");
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($_TBUF_), ID($tribuf))) {
+			RTLIL::SigSpec input = cell->getPort(cell->type == ID($_TBUF_) ? ID(E) : ID(EN));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
 			assign_map.apply(input);
 			assign_map.apply(a);
 			if (input == State::S1)
-				ACTION_DO("\\Y", cell->getPort("\\A"));
+				ACTION_DO(ID(Y), cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 			if (input == State::S0 && !a.is_fully_undef()) {
 				cover("opt.opt_expr.action_" S__LINE__);
 				log_debug("Replacing data input of %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with constant undef.\n",
 					cell->type.c_str(), cell->name.c_str(), module->name.c_str());
-				cell->setPort("\\A", SigSpec(State::Sx, GetSize(a)));
+				cell->setPort(ID(A), SigSpec(State::Sx, GetSize(a)));
 				did_something = true;
 				goto next_cell;
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$eq", "$ne", "$eqx", "$nex"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($eq), ID($ne), ID($eqx), ID($nex)))
 		{
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort("\\A");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec b = cell->getPort("\\B");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec b = cell->getPort(ID(B));
 
-			if (cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"].as_int() != cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"].as_int()) {
-				int width = max(cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"].as_int(), cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"].as_int());
-				a.extend_u0(width, cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool());
-				b.extend_u0(width, cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool() && cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool());
+			if (cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)].as_int() != cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)].as_int()) {
+				int width = max(cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)].as_int(), cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)].as_int());
+				a.extend_u0(width, cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool());
+				b.extend_u0(width, cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool() && cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool());
 			}
 
 			RTLIL::SigSpec new_a, new_b;
@@ -840,8 +840,8 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(a); i++) {
 				if (a[i].wire == NULL && b[i].wire == NULL && a[i] != b[i] && a[i].data <= RTLIL::State::S1 && b[i].data <= RTLIL::State::S1) {
 					cover_list("opt.opt_expr.eqneq.isneq", "$eq", "$ne", "$eqx", "$nex", cell->type.str());
-					RTLIL::SigSpec new_y = RTLIL::SigSpec(cell->type.in("$eq", "$eqx") ?  RTLIL::State::S0 : RTLIL::State::S1);
-					new_y.extend_u0(cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"].as_int(), false);
+					RTLIL::SigSpec new_y = RTLIL::SigSpec(cell->type.in(ID($eq), ID($eqx)) ?  RTLIL::State::S0 : RTLIL::State::S1);
+					new_y.extend_u0(cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)].as_int(), false);
 					replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "isneq", "\\Y", new_y);
 					goto next_cell;
 				}
@@ -853,83 +853,83 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 
 			if (new_a.size() == 0) {
 				cover_list("opt.opt_expr.eqneq.empty", "$eq", "$ne", "$eqx", "$nex", cell->type.str());
-				RTLIL::SigSpec new_y = RTLIL::SigSpec(cell->type.in("$eq", "$eqx") ?  RTLIL::State::S1 : RTLIL::State::S0);
-				new_y.extend_u0(cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"].as_int(), false);
-				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "empty", "\\Y", new_y);
+				RTLIL::SigSpec new_y = RTLIL::SigSpec(cell->type.in(ID($eq), ID($eqx)) ?  RTLIL::State::S1 : RTLIL::State::S0);
+				new_y.extend_u0(cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)].as_int(), false);
+				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "empty", ID(Y), new_y);
 				goto next_cell;
 			}
 
 			if (new_a.size() < a.size() || new_b.size() < b.size()) {
 				cover_list("opt.opt_expr.eqneq.resize", "$eq", "$ne", "$eqx", "$nex", cell->type.str());
-				cell->setPort("\\A", new_a);
-				cell->setPort("\\B", new_b);
-				cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = new_a.size();
-				cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = new_b.size();
+				cell->setPort(ID(A), new_a);
+				cell->setPort(ID(B), new_b);
+				cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = new_a.size();
+				cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = new_b.size();
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$eq", "$ne") && cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"].as_int() == 1 &&
-				cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"].as_int() == 1 && cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"].as_int() == 1)
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($eq), ID($ne)) && cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)].as_int() == 1 &&
+				cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)].as_int() == 1 && cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)].as_int() == 1)
 		{
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-			RTLIL::SigSpec b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 
 			if (a.is_fully_const() && !b.is_fully_const()) {
 				cover_list("opt.opt_expr.eqneq.swapconst", "$eq", "$ne", cell->type.str());
-				cell->setPort("\\A", b);
-				cell->setPort("\\B", a);
+				cell->setPort(ID(A), b);
+				cell->setPort(ID(B), a);
 				std::swap(a, b);
 			}
 
 			if (b.is_fully_const()) {
-				if (b.as_bool() == (cell->type == "$eq")) {
+				if (b.as_bool() == (cell->type == ID($eq))) {
 					RTLIL::SigSpec input = b;
-					ACTION_DO("\\Y", cell->getPort("\\A"));
+					ACTION_DO(ID(Y), cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 				} else {
 					cover_list("opt.opt_expr.eqneq.isnot", "$eq", "$ne", cell->type.str());
 					log_debug("Replacing %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with inverter.\n", log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), log_id(module));
-					cell->type = "$not";
-					cell->parameters.erase("\\B_WIDTH");
-					cell->parameters.erase("\\B_SIGNED");
-					cell->unsetPort("\\B");
+					cell->type = ID($not);
+					cell->parameters.erase(ID(B_WIDTH));
+					cell->parameters.erase(ID(B_SIGNED));
+					cell->unsetPort(ID(B));
 					did_something = true;
 				}
 				goto next_cell;
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$eq", "$ne") &&
-				(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A")).is_fully_zero() || assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B")).is_fully_zero()))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($eq), ID($ne)) &&
+				(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A))).is_fully_zero() || assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B))).is_fully_zero()))
 		{
 			cover_list("opt.opt_expr.eqneq.cmpzero", "$eq", "$ne", cell->type.str());
 			log_debug("Replacing %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with %s.\n", log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell),
 					log_id(module), "$eq" ? "$logic_not" : "$reduce_bool");
-			cell->type = cell->type == "$eq" ? "$logic_not" : "$reduce_bool";
-			if (assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A")).is_fully_zero()) {
-				cell->setPort("\\A", cell->getPort("\\B"));
-				cell->setParam("\\A_SIGNED", cell->getParam("\\B_SIGNED"));
-				cell->setParam("\\A_WIDTH", cell->getParam("\\B_WIDTH"));
+			cell->type = cell->type == ID($eq) ? ID($logic_not) : ID($reduce_bool);
+			if (assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A))).is_fully_zero()) {
+				cell->setPort(ID(A), cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+				cell->setParam(ID(A_SIGNED), cell->getParam(ID(B_SIGNED)));
+				cell->setParam(ID(A_WIDTH), cell->getParam(ID(B_WIDTH)));
 			}
-			cell->unsetPort("\\B");
-			cell->unsetParam("\\B_SIGNED");
-			cell->unsetParam("\\B_WIDTH");
+			cell->unsetPort(ID(B));
+			cell->unsetParam(ID(B_SIGNED));
+			cell->unsetParam(ID(B_WIDTH));
 			did_something = true;
 			goto next_cell;
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$shl", "$shr", "$sshl", "$sshr", "$shift", "$shiftx") && assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B")).is_fully_const())
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($shl), ID($shr), ID($sshl), ID($sshr), ID($shift), ID($shiftx)) && assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B))).is_fully_const())
 		{
-			bool sign_ext = cell->type == "$sshr" && cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
-			int shift_bits = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B")).as_int(cell->type.in("$shift", "$shiftx") && cell->getParam("\\B_SIGNED").as_bool());
+			bool sign_ext = cell->type == ID($sshr) && cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
+			int shift_bits = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B))).as_int(cell->type.in(ID($shift), ID($shiftx)) && cell->getParam(ID(B_SIGNED)).as_bool());
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$shl", "$sshl"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($shl), ID($sshl)))
 				shift_bits *= -1;
 
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y(cell->type == "$shiftx" ? RTLIL::State::Sx : RTLIL::State::S0, cell->getParam("\\Y_WIDTH").as_int());
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y(cell->type == ID($shiftx) ? RTLIL::State::Sx : RTLIL::State::S0, cell->getParam(ID(Y_WIDTH)).as_int());
 
 			if (GetSize(sig_a) < GetSize(sig_y))
-				sig_a.extend_u0(GetSize(sig_y), cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool());
+				sig_a.extend_u0(GetSize(sig_y), cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool());
 
 			for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(sig_y); i++) {
 				int idx = i + shift_bits;
@@ -942,9 +942,9 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			cover_list("opt.opt_expr.constshift", "$shl", "$shr", "$sshl", "$sshr", "$shift", "$shiftx", cell->type.str());
 
 			log_debug("Replacing %s cell `%s' (B=%s, SHR=%d) in module `%s' with fixed wiring: %s\n",
-					log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), log_signal(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"))), shift_bits, log_id(module), log_signal(sig_y));
+					log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), log_signal(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)))), shift_bits, log_id(module), log_signal(sig_y));
 
-			module->connect(cell->getPort("\\Y"), sig_y);
+			module->connect(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), sig_y);
 			module->remove(cell);
 
 			did_something = true;
@@ -957,41 +957,41 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			bool identity_wrt_b = false;
 			bool arith_inverse = false;
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$add", "$sub", "$or", "$xor"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($add), ID($sub), ID($or), ID($xor)))
 			{
-				RTLIL::SigSpec a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-				RTLIL::SigSpec b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 
-				if (cell->type != "$sub" && a.is_fully_const() && a.as_bool() == false)
+				if (cell->type != ID($sub) && a.is_fully_const() && a.as_bool() == false)
 					identity_wrt_b = true;
 
 				if (b.is_fully_const() && b.as_bool() == false)
 					identity_wrt_a = true;
 			}
 
-			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)))
 			{
-				RTLIL::SigSpec b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 
 				if (b.is_fully_const() && b.as_bool() == false)
 					identity_wrt_a = true;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$mul")
+			if (cell->type == ID($mul))
 			{
-				RTLIL::SigSpec a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-				RTLIL::SigSpec b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 
-				if (a.is_fully_const() && is_one_or_minus_one(a.as_const(), cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool(), arith_inverse))
+				if (a.is_fully_const() && is_one_or_minus_one(a.as_const(), cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool(), arith_inverse))
 					identity_wrt_b = true;
 				else
-				if (b.is_fully_const() && is_one_or_minus_one(b.as_const(), cell->getParam("\\B_SIGNED").as_bool(), arith_inverse))
+				if (b.is_fully_const() && is_one_or_minus_one(b.as_const(), cell->getParam(ID(B_SIGNED)).as_bool(), arith_inverse))
 					identity_wrt_a = true;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$div")
+			if (cell->type == ID($div))
 			{
-				RTLIL::SigSpec b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 
 				if (b.is_fully_const() && b.size() <= 32 && b.as_int() == 1)
 					identity_wrt_a = true;
@@ -1008,15 +1008,15 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 					cell->type.c_str(), cell->name.c_str(), module->name.c_str(), identity_wrt_a ? 'A' : 'B');
 
 				if (!identity_wrt_a) {
-					cell->setPort("\\A", cell->getPort("\\B"));
-					cell->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH") = cell->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH");
-					cell->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED") = cell->parameters.at("\\B_SIGNED");
+					cell->setPort(ID(A), cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+					cell->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)) = cell->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH));
+					cell->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)) = cell->parameters.at(ID(B_SIGNED));
 				}
 
-				cell->type = arith_inverse ? "$neg" : "$pos";
-				cell->unsetPort("\\B");
-				cell->parameters.erase("\\B_WIDTH");
-				cell->parameters.erase("\\B_SIGNED");
+				cell->type = arith_inverse ? ID($neg) : ID($pos);
+				cell->unsetPort(ID(B));
+				cell->parameters.erase(ID(B_WIDTH));
+				cell->parameters.erase(ID(B_SIGNED));
 				cell->check();
 
 				did_something = true;
@@ -1024,91 +1024,91 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (mux_bool && cell->type.in("$mux", "$_MUX_") &&
-				cell->getPort("\\A") == State::S0 && cell->getPort("\\B") == State::S1) {
+		if (mux_bool && cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($_MUX_)) &&
+				cell->getPort(ID(A)) == State::S0 && cell->getPort(ID(B)) == State::S1) {
 			cover_list("opt.opt_expr.mux_bool", "$mux", "$_MUX_", cell->type.str());
-			replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "mux_bool", "\\Y", cell->getPort("\\S"));
+			replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "mux_bool", ID(Y), cell->getPort(ID(S)));
 			goto next_cell;
 		}
 
-		if (mux_bool && cell->type.in("$mux", "$_MUX_") &&
-				cell->getPort("\\A") == State::S1 && cell->getPort("\\B") == State::S0) {
+		if (mux_bool && cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($_MUX_)) &&
+				cell->getPort(ID(A)) == State::S1 && cell->getPort(ID(B)) == State::S0) {
 			cover_list("opt.opt_expr.mux_invert", "$mux", "$_MUX_", cell->type.str());
 			log_debug("Replacing %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with inverter.\n", log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), log_id(module));
-			cell->setPort("\\A", cell->getPort("\\S"));
-			cell->unsetPort("\\B");
-			cell->unsetPort("\\S");
-			if (cell->type == "$mux") {
-				Const width = cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"];
-				cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = width;
-				cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = width;
-				cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = 0;
-				cell->parameters.erase("\\WIDTH");
-				cell->type = "$not";
+			cell->setPort(ID(A), cell->getPort(ID(S)));
+			cell->unsetPort(ID(B));
+			cell->unsetPort(ID(S));
+			if (cell->type == ID($mux)) {
+				Const width = cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)];
+				cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = width;
+				cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = width;
+				cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = 0;
+				cell->parameters.erase(ID(WIDTH));
+				cell->type = ID($not);
 			} else
-				cell->type = "$_NOT_";
+				cell->type = ID($_NOT_);
 			did_something = true;
 			goto next_cell;
 		}
 
-		if (consume_x && mux_bool && cell->type.in("$mux", "$_MUX_") && cell->getPort("\\A") == State::S0) {
+		if (consume_x && mux_bool && cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($_MUX_)) && cell->getPort(ID(A)) == State::S0) {
 			cover_list("opt.opt_expr.mux_and", "$mux", "$_MUX_", cell->type.str());
 			log_debug("Replacing %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with and-gate.\n", log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), log_id(module));
-			cell->setPort("\\A", cell->getPort("\\S"));
-			cell->unsetPort("\\S");
-			if (cell->type == "$mux") {
-				Const width = cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"];
-				cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = width;
-				cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = width;
-				cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = width;
-				cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = 0;
-				cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"] = 0;
-				cell->parameters.erase("\\WIDTH");
-				cell->type = "$and";
+			cell->setPort(ID(A), cell->getPort(ID(S)));
+			cell->unsetPort(ID(S));
+			if (cell->type == ID($mux)) {
+				Const width = cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)];
+				cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = width;
+				cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = width;
+				cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = width;
+				cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = 0;
+				cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)] = 0;
+				cell->parameters.erase(ID(WIDTH));
+				cell->type = ID($and);
 			} else
-				cell->type = "$_AND_";
+				cell->type = ID($_AND_);
 			did_something = true;
 			goto next_cell;
 		}
 
-		if (consume_x && mux_bool && cell->type.in("$mux", "$_MUX_") && cell->getPort("\\B") == State::S1) {
+		if (consume_x && mux_bool && cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($_MUX_)) && cell->getPort(ID(B)) == State::S1) {
 			cover_list("opt.opt_expr.mux_or", "$mux", "$_MUX_", cell->type.str());
 			log_debug("Replacing %s cell `%s' in module `%s' with or-gate.\n", log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), log_id(module));
-			cell->setPort("\\B", cell->getPort("\\S"));
-			cell->unsetPort("\\S");
-			if (cell->type == "$mux") {
-				Const width = cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"];
-				cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = width;
-				cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = width;
-				cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = width;
-				cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = 0;
-				cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"] = 0;
-				cell->parameters.erase("\\WIDTH");
-				cell->type = "$or";
+			cell->setPort(ID(B), cell->getPort(ID(S)));
+			cell->unsetPort(ID(S));
+			if (cell->type == ID($mux)) {
+				Const width = cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)];
+				cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = width;
+				cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = width;
+				cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = width;
+				cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = 0;
+				cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)] = 0;
+				cell->parameters.erase(ID(WIDTH));
+				cell->type = ID($or);
 			} else
-				cell->type = "$_OR_";
+				cell->type = ID($_OR_);
 			did_something = true;
 			goto next_cell;
 		}
 
-		if (mux_undef && cell->type.in("$mux", "$pmux")) {
+		if (mux_undef && cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($pmux))) {
 			RTLIL::SigSpec new_a, new_b, new_s;
-			int width = cell->getPort("\\A").size();
-			if ((cell->getPort("\\A").is_fully_undef() && cell->getPort("\\B").is_fully_undef()) ||
-					cell->getPort("\\S").is_fully_undef()) {
+			int width = cell->getPort(ID(A)).size();
+			if ((cell->getPort(ID(A)).is_fully_undef() && cell->getPort(ID(B)).is_fully_undef()) ||
+					cell->getPort(ID(S)).is_fully_undef()) {
 				cover_list("opt.opt_expr.mux_undef", "$mux", "$pmux", cell->type.str());
-				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "mux_undef", "\\Y", cell->getPort("\\A"));
+				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "mux_undef", ID(Y), cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 				goto next_cell;
 			}
-			for (int i = 0; i < cell->getPort("\\S").size(); i++) {
-				RTLIL::SigSpec old_b = cell->getPort("\\B").extract(i*width, width);
-				RTLIL::SigSpec old_s = cell->getPort("\\S").extract(i, 1);
+			for (int i = 0; i < cell->getPort(ID(S)).size(); i++) {
+				RTLIL::SigSpec old_b = cell->getPort(ID(B)).extract(i*width, width);
+				RTLIL::SigSpec old_s = cell->getPort(ID(S)).extract(i, 1);
 				if (old_b.is_fully_undef() || old_s.is_fully_undef())
 					continue;
 				new_b.append(old_b);
 				new_s.append(old_s);
 			}
-			new_a = cell->getPort("\\A");
+			new_a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
 			if (new_a.is_fully_undef() && new_s.size() > 0) {
 				new_a = new_b.extract((new_s.size()-1)*width, width);
 				new_b = new_b.extract(0, (new_s.size()-1)*width);
@@ -1116,27 +1116,27 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			}
 			if (new_s.size() == 0) {
 				cover_list("opt.opt_expr.mux_empty", "$mux", "$pmux", cell->type.str());
-				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "mux_empty", "\\Y", new_a);
+				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "mux_empty", ID(Y), new_a);
 				goto next_cell;
 			}
 			if (new_a == RTLIL::SigSpec(RTLIL::State::S0) && new_b == RTLIL::SigSpec(RTLIL::State::S1)) {
 				cover_list("opt.opt_expr.mux_sel01", "$mux", "$pmux", cell->type.str());
-				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "mux_sel01", "\\Y", new_s);
+				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, "mux_sel01", ID(Y), new_s);
 				goto next_cell;
 			}
-			if (cell->getPort("\\S").size() != new_s.size()) {
+			if (cell->getPort(ID(S)).size() != new_s.size()) {
 				cover_list("opt.opt_expr.mux_reduce", "$mux", "$pmux", cell->type.str());
 				log_debug("Optimized away %d select inputs of %s cell `%s' in module `%s'.\n",
-						GetSize(cell->getPort("\\S")) - GetSize(new_s), log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), log_id(module));
-				cell->setPort("\\A", new_a);
-				cell->setPort("\\B", new_b);
-				cell->setPort("\\S", new_s);
+						GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(S))) - GetSize(new_s), log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), log_id(module));
+				cell->setPort(ID(A), new_a);
+				cell->setPort(ID(B), new_b);
+				cell->setPort(ID(S), new_s);
 				if (new_s.size() > 1) {
-					cell->type = "$pmux";
-					cell->parameters["\\S_WIDTH"] = new_s.size();
+					cell->type = ID($pmux);
+					cell->parameters[ID(S_WIDTH)] = new_s.size();
 				} else {
-					cell->type = "$mux";
-					cell->parameters.erase("\\S_WIDTH");
+					cell->type = ID($mux);
+					cell->parameters.erase(ID(S_WIDTH));
 				}
 				did_something = true;
 			}
@@ -1144,30 +1144,30 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 
 #define FOLD_1ARG_CELL(_t) \
 		if (cell->type == "$" #_t) { \
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort("\\A"); \
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort(ID(A)); \
 			assign_map.apply(a); \
 			if (a.is_fully_const()) { \
 				RTLIL::Const dummy_arg(RTLIL::State::S0, 1); \
 				RTLIL::SigSpec y(RTLIL::const_ ## _t(a.as_const(), dummy_arg, \
-						cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool(), false, \
-						cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"].as_int())); \
+						cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool(), false, \
+						cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)].as_int())); \
 				cover("opt.opt_expr.const.$" #_t); \
-				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, stringf("%s", log_signal(a)), "\\Y", y); \
+				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, stringf("%s", log_signal(a)), ID(Y), y); \
 				goto next_cell; \
 			} \
 		}
 #define FOLD_2ARG_CELL(_t) \
 		if (cell->type == "$" #_t) { \
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort("\\A"); \
-			RTLIL::SigSpec b = cell->getPort("\\B"); \
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a = cell->getPort(ID(A)); \
+			RTLIL::SigSpec b = cell->getPort(ID(B)); \
 			assign_map.apply(a), assign_map.apply(b); \
 			if (a.is_fully_const() && b.is_fully_const()) { \
 				RTLIL::SigSpec y(RTLIL::const_ ## _t(a.as_const(), b.as_const(), \
-						cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool(), \
-						cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool(), \
-						cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"].as_int())); \
+						cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool(), \
+						cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool(), \
+						cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)].as_int())); \
 				cover("opt.opt_expr.const.$" #_t); \
-				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, stringf("%s, %s", log_signal(a), log_signal(b)), "\\Y", y); \
+				replace_cell(assign_map, module, cell, stringf("%s, %s", log_signal(a), log_signal(b)), ID(Y), y); \
 				goto next_cell; \
 			} \
 		}
@@ -1213,25 +1213,25 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 		FOLD_1ARG_CELL(neg)
 
 		// be very conservative with optimizing $mux cells as we do not want to break mux trees
-		if (cell->type == "$mux") {
-			RTLIL::SigSpec input = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\S"));
-			RTLIL::SigSpec inA = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-			RTLIL::SigSpec inB = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+		if (cell->type == ID($mux)) {
+			RTLIL::SigSpec input = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(S)));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec inA = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec inB = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 			if (input.is_fully_const())
-				ACTION_DO("\\Y", input.as_bool() ? cell->getPort("\\B") : cell->getPort("\\A"));
+				ACTION_DO(ID(Y), input.as_bool() ? cell->getPort(ID(B)) : cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 			else if (inA == inB)
-				ACTION_DO("\\Y", cell->getPort("\\A"));
+				ACTION_DO(ID(Y), cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 		}
 
-		if (!keepdc && cell->type == "$mul")
+		if (!keepdc && cell->type == ID($mul))
 		{
-			bool a_signed = cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"].as_bool();
-			bool b_signed = cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool();
+			bool a_signed = cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)].as_bool();
+			bool b_signed = cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool();
 			bool swapped_ab = false;
 
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 
 			if (sig_b.is_fully_const() && sig_b.size() <= 32)
 				std::swap(sig_a, sig_b), std::swap(a_signed, b_signed), swapped_ab = true;
@@ -1266,9 +1266,9 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 								a_val, cell->name.c_str(), module->name.c_str(), i);
 
 						if (!swapped_ab) {
-							cell->setPort("\\A", cell->getPort("\\B"));
-							cell->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH") = cell->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH");
-							cell->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED") = cell->parameters.at("\\B_SIGNED");
+							cell->setPort(ID(A), cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+							cell->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)) = cell->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH));
+							cell->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)) = cell->parameters.at(ID(B_SIGNED));
 						}
 
 						std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> new_b = RTLIL::SigSpec(i, 6);
@@ -1276,10 +1276,10 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 						while (GetSize(new_b) > 1 && new_b.back() == RTLIL::State::S0)
 							new_b.pop_back();
 
-						cell->type = "$shl";
-						cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = GetSize(new_b);
-						cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"] = false;
-						cell->setPort("\\B", new_b);
+						cell->type = ID($shl);
+						cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = GetSize(new_b);
+						cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)] = false;
+						cell->setPort(ID(B), new_b);
 						cell->check();
 
 						did_something = true;
@@ -1288,11 +1288,11 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (!keepdc && cell->type.in("$div", "$mod"))
+		if (!keepdc && cell->type.in(ID($div), ID($mod)))
 		{
-			bool b_signed = cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"].as_bool();
-			SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
-			SigSpec sig_y = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+			bool b_signed = cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)].as_bool();
+			SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+			SigSpec sig_y = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 
 			if (sig_b.is_fully_def() && sig_b.size() <= 32)
 			{
@@ -1315,7 +1315,7 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 				for (int i = 1; i < (b_signed ? sig_b.size()-1 : sig_b.size()); i++)
 					if (b_val == (1 << i))
 					{
-						if (cell->type == "$div")
+						if (cell->type == ID($div))
 						{
 							cover("opt.opt_expr.div_shift");
 
@@ -1327,10 +1327,10 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 							while (GetSize(new_b) > 1 && new_b.back() == RTLIL::State::S0)
 								new_b.pop_back();
 
-							cell->type = "$shr";
-							cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = GetSize(new_b);
-							cell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"] = false;
-							cell->setPort("\\B", new_b);
+							cell->type = ID($shr);
+							cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = GetSize(new_b);
+							cell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)] = false;
+							cell->setPort(ID(B), new_b);
 							cell->check();
 						}
 						else
@@ -1345,9 +1345,9 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 							if (b_signed)
 								new_b.push_back(State::S0);
 
-							cell->type = "$and";
-							cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = GetSize(new_b);
-							cell->setPort("\\B", new_b);
+							cell->type = ID($and);
+							cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = GetSize(new_b);
+							cell->setPort(ID(B), new_b);
 							cell->check();
 						}
 
@@ -1359,7 +1359,7 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 
 		// remove redundant pairs of bits in ==, ===, !=, and !==
 		// replace cell with const driver if inputs can't be equal
-		if (do_fine && cell->type.in("$eq", "$ne", "$eqx", "$nex"))
+		if (do_fine && cell->type.in(ID($eq), ID($ne), ID($eqx), ID($nex)))
 		{
 			pool<pair<SigBit, SigBit>> redundant_cache;
 			mfp<SigBit> contradiction_cache;
@@ -1367,14 +1367,14 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 			contradiction_cache.promote(State::S0);
 			contradiction_cache.promote(State::S1);
 
-			int a_width = cell->getParam("\\A_WIDTH").as_int();
-			int b_width = cell->getParam("\\B_WIDTH").as_int();
+			int a_width = cell->getParam(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int();
+			int b_width = cell->getParam(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int();
 
-			bool is_signed = cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
+			bool is_signed = cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
 			int width = is_signed ? std::min(a_width, b_width) : std::max(a_width, b_width);
 
-			SigSpec sig_a = cell->getPort("\\A");
-			SigSpec sig_b = cell->getPort("\\B");
+			SigSpec sig_a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
+			SigSpec sig_b = cell->getPort(ID(B));
 
 			int redundant_bits = 0;
 
@@ -1404,8 +1404,8 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 
 			if (contradiction_cache.find(State::S0) == contradiction_cache.find(State::S1))
 			{
-				SigSpec y_sig = cell->getPort("\\Y");
-				Const y_value(cell->type.in("$eq", "$eqx") ? 0 : 1, GetSize(y_sig));
+				SigSpec y_sig = cell->getPort(ID(Y));
+				Const y_value(cell->type.in(ID($eq), ID($eqx)) ? 0 : 1, GetSize(y_sig));
 
 				log_debug("Replacing cell `%s' in module `%s' with constant driver %s.\n",
 					log_id(cell), log_id(module), log_signal(y_value));
@@ -1422,10 +1422,10 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 				log_debug("Removed %d redundant input bits from %s cell `%s' in module `%s'.\n",
 						redundant_bits, log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), log_id(module));
 
-				cell->setPort("\\A", sig_a);
-				cell->setPort("\\B", sig_b);
-				cell->setParam("\\A_WIDTH", GetSize(sig_a));
-				cell->setParam("\\B_WIDTH", GetSize(sig_b));
+				cell->setPort(ID(A), sig_a);
+				cell->setPort(ID(B), sig_b);
+				cell->setParam(ID(A_WIDTH), GetSize(sig_a));
+				cell->setParam(ID(B_WIDTH), GetSize(sig_b));
 
 				did_something = true;
 				goto next_cell;
@@ -1433,57 +1433,57 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 		}
 
 		// simplify comparisons
-		if (do_fine && cell->type.in("$lt", "$ge", "$gt", "$le"))
+		if (do_fine && cell->type.in(ID($lt), ID($ge), ID($gt), ID($le)))
 		{
 			IdString cmp_type = cell->type;
-			SigSpec var_sig = cell->getPort("\\A");
-			SigSpec const_sig = cell->getPort("\\B");
-			int var_width = cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"].as_int();
-			int const_width = cell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"].as_int();
-			bool is_signed = cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
+			SigSpec var_sig = cell->getPort(ID(A));
+			SigSpec const_sig = cell->getPort(ID(B));
+			int var_width = cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)].as_int();
+			int const_width = cell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)].as_int();
+			bool is_signed = cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
 
 			if (!const_sig.is_fully_const())
 			{
 				std::swap(var_sig, const_sig);
 				std::swap(var_width, const_width);
-				if (cmp_type == "$gt")
-					cmp_type = "$lt";
-				else if (cmp_type == "$lt")
-					cmp_type = "$gt";
-				else if (cmp_type == "$ge")
-					cmp_type = "$le";
-				else if (cmp_type == "$le")
-					cmp_type = "$ge";
+				if (cmp_type == ID($gt))
+					cmp_type = ID($lt);
+				else if (cmp_type == ID($lt))
+					cmp_type = ID($gt);
+				else if (cmp_type == ID($ge))
+					cmp_type = ID($le);
+				else if (cmp_type == ID($le))
+					cmp_type = ID($ge);
 			}
 
 			if (const_sig.is_fully_def() && const_sig.is_fully_const())
 			{
 				std::string condition, replacement;
-				SigSpec replace_sig(State::S0, GetSize(cell->getPort("\\Y")));
+				SigSpec replace_sig(State::S0, GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(Y))));
 				bool replace = false;
 				bool remove = false;
 
 				if (!is_signed)
 				{ /* unsigned */
-					if (const_sig.is_fully_zero() && cmp_type == "$lt") {
+					if (const_sig.is_fully_zero() && cmp_type == ID($lt)) {
 						condition   = "unsigned X<0";
 						replacement = "constant 0";
 						replace_sig[0] = State::S0;
 						replace = true;
 					}
-					if (const_sig.is_fully_zero() && cmp_type == "$ge") {
+					if (const_sig.is_fully_zero() && cmp_type == ID($ge)) {
 						condition   = "unsigned X>=0";
 						replacement = "constant 1";
 						replace_sig[0] = State::S1;
 						replace = true;
 					}
-					if (const_width == var_width && const_sig.is_fully_ones() && cmp_type == "$gt") {
+					if (const_width == var_width && const_sig.is_fully_ones() && cmp_type == ID($gt)) {
 						condition   = "unsigned X>~0";
 						replacement = "constant 0";
 						replace_sig[0] = State::S0;
 						replace = true;
 					}
-					if (const_width == var_width && const_sig.is_fully_ones() && cmp_type == "$le") {
+					if (const_width == var_width && const_sig.is_fully_ones() && cmp_type == ID($le)) {
 						condition   = "unsigned X<=~0";
 						replacement = "constant 1";
 						replace_sig[0] = State::S1;
@@ -1498,18 +1498,18 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 							var_high_sig[i - const_bit_hot] = var_sig[i];
 						}
 
-						if (cmp_type == "$lt")
+						if (cmp_type == ID($lt))
 						{
 							condition   = stringf("unsigned X<%s", log_signal(const_sig));
 							replacement = stringf("!X[%d:%d]", var_width - 1, const_bit_hot);
-							module->addLogicNot(NEW_ID, var_high_sig, cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+							module->addLogicNot(NEW_ID, var_high_sig, cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 							remove = true;
 						}
-						if (cmp_type == "$ge")
+						if (cmp_type == ID($ge))
 						{
 							condition   = stringf("unsigned X>=%s", log_signal(const_sig));
 							replacement = stringf("|X[%d:%d]", var_width - 1, const_bit_hot);
-							module->addReduceOr(NEW_ID, var_high_sig, cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+							module->addReduceOr(NEW_ID, var_high_sig, cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 							remove = true;
 						}
 					}
@@ -1518,19 +1518,19 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 					if(const_bit_set >= var_width)
 					{
 						string cmp_name;
-						if (cmp_type == "$lt" || cmp_type == "$le")
+						if (cmp_type == ID($lt) || cmp_type == ID($le))
 						{
-							if (cmp_type == "$lt") cmp_name = "<";
-							if (cmp_type == "$le") cmp_name = "<=";
+							if (cmp_type == ID($lt)) cmp_name = "<";
+							if (cmp_type == ID($le)) cmp_name = "<=";
 							condition   = stringf("unsigned X[%d:0]%s%s", var_width - 1, cmp_name.c_str(), log_signal(const_sig));
 							replacement = "constant 1";
 							replace_sig[0] = State::S1;
 							replace = true;
 						}
-						if (cmp_type == "$gt" || cmp_type == "$ge")
+						if (cmp_type == ID($gt) || cmp_type == ID($ge))
 						{
-							if (cmp_type == "$gt") cmp_name = ">";
-							if (cmp_type == "$ge") cmp_name = ">=";
+							if (cmp_type == ID($gt)) cmp_name = ">";
+							if (cmp_type == ID($ge)) cmp_name = ">=";
 							condition   = stringf("unsigned X[%d:0]%s%s", var_width - 1, cmp_name.c_str(), log_signal(const_sig));
 							replacement = "constant 0";
 							replace_sig[0] = State::S0;
@@ -1540,18 +1540,18 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 				}
 				else
 				{ /* signed */
-					if (const_sig.is_fully_zero() && cmp_type == "$lt")
+					if (const_sig.is_fully_zero() && cmp_type == ID($lt))
 					{
 						condition   = "signed X<0";
 						replacement = stringf("X[%d]", var_width - 1);
 						replace_sig[0] = var_sig[var_width - 1];
 						replace = true;
 					}
-					if (const_sig.is_fully_zero() && cmp_type == "$ge")
+					if (const_sig.is_fully_zero() && cmp_type == ID($ge))
 					{
 						condition   = "signed X>=0";
 						replacement = stringf("X[%d]", var_width - 1);
-						module->addNot(NEW_ID, var_sig[var_width - 1], cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+						module->addNot(NEW_ID, var_sig[var_width - 1], cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 						remove = true;
 					}
 				}
@@ -1561,7 +1561,7 @@ void replace_const_cells(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool cons
 					log_debug("Replacing %s cell `%s' (implementing %s) with %s.\n",
 							log_id(cell->type), log_id(cell), condition.c_str(), replacement.c_str());
 					if (replace)
-						module->connect(cell->getPort("\\Y"), replace_sig);
+						module->connect(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), replace_sig);
 					module->remove(cell);
 					did_something = true;
 					goto next_cell;
diff --git a/passes/opt/opt_lut.cc b/passes/opt/opt_lut.cc
index 4c199ba72..e9d72044b 100644
--- a/passes/opt/opt_lut.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/opt_lut.cc
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ struct OptLutWorker
 
 	bool evaluate_lut(RTLIL::Cell *lut, dict<SigBit, bool> inputs)
 	{
-		SigSpec lut_input = sigmap(lut->getPort("\\A"));
-		int lut_width = lut->getParam("\\WIDTH").as_int();
-		Const lut_table = lut->getParam("\\LUT");
+		SigSpec lut_input = sigmap(lut->getPort(ID(A)));
+		int lut_width = lut->getParam(ID(WIDTH)).as_int();
+		Const lut_table = lut->getParam(ID(LUT));
 		int lut_index = 0;
 
 		for (int i = 0; i < lut_width; i++)
@@ -99,16 +99,16 @@ struct OptLutWorker
 		log("Discovering LUTs.\n");
 		for (auto cell : module->selected_cells())
 		{
-			if (cell->type == "$lut")
+			if (cell->type == ID($lut))
 			{
 				if (cell->has_keep_attr())
 					continue;
-				SigBit lut_output = cell->getPort("\\Y");
-				if (lut_output.wire->get_bool_attribute("\\keep"))
+				SigBit lut_output = cell->getPort(ID(Y));
+				if (lut_output.wire->get_bool_attribute(ID(keep)))
 					continue;
 
-				int lut_width = cell->getParam("\\WIDTH").as_int();
-				SigSpec lut_input = cell->getPort("\\A");
+				int lut_width = cell->getParam(ID(WIDTH)).as_int();
+				SigSpec lut_input = cell->getPort(ID(A));
 				int lut_arity = 0;
 
 				log_debug("Found $lut\\WIDTH=%d cell %s.%s.\n", lut_width, log_id(module), log_id(cell));
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ struct OptLutWorker
 			}
 
 			auto lut = worklist.pop();
-			SigSpec lut_input = sigmap(lut->getPort("\\A"));
+			SigSpec lut_input = sigmap(lut->getPort(ID(A)));
 			pool<int> &lut_dlogic_inputs = luts_dlogic_inputs[lut];
 
 			vector<SigBit> lut_inputs;
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ struct OptLutWorker
 					log_debug("  Not eliminating cell (connected to dedicated logic).\n");
 				else
 				{
-					SigSpec lut_output = lut->getPort("\\Y");
+					SigSpec lut_output = lut->getPort(ID(Y));
 					for (auto &port : index.query_ports(lut_output))
 					{
 						if (port.cell != lut && luts.count(port.cell))
@@ -303,13 +303,13 @@ struct OptLutWorker
 			}
 
 			auto lutA = worklist.pop();
-			SigSpec lutA_input = sigmap(lutA->getPort("\\A"));
-			SigSpec lutA_output = sigmap(lutA->getPort("\\Y")[0]);
-			int lutA_width = lutA->getParam("\\WIDTH").as_int();
+			SigSpec lutA_input = sigmap(lutA->getPort(ID(A)));
+			SigSpec lutA_output = sigmap(lutA->getPort(ID(Y))[0]);
+			int lutA_width = lutA->getParam(ID(WIDTH)).as_int();
 			int lutA_arity = luts_arity[lutA];
 			pool<int> &lutA_dlogic_inputs = luts_dlogic_inputs[lutA];
 
-			auto lutA_output_ports = index.query_ports(lutA->getPort("\\Y"));
+			auto lutA_output_ports = index.query_ports(lutA->getPort(ID(Y)));
 			if (lutA_output_ports.size() != 2)
 				continue;
 
@@ -321,15 +321,15 @@ struct OptLutWorker
 				if (luts.count(port.cell))
 				{
 					auto lutB = port.cell;
-					SigSpec lutB_input = sigmap(lutB->getPort("\\A"));
-					SigSpec lutB_output = sigmap(lutB->getPort("\\Y")[0]);
-					int lutB_width = lutB->getParam("\\WIDTH").as_int();
+					SigSpec lutB_input = sigmap(lutB->getPort(ID(A)));
+					SigSpec lutB_output = sigmap(lutB->getPort(ID(Y))[0]);
+					int lutB_width = lutB->getParam(ID(WIDTH)).as_int();
 					int lutB_arity = luts_arity[lutB];
 					pool<int> &lutB_dlogic_inputs = luts_dlogic_inputs[lutB];
 
 					log_debug("Found %s.%s (cell A) feeding %s.%s (cell B).\n", log_id(module), log_id(lutA), log_id(module), log_id(lutB));
 
-					if (index.query_is_output(lutA->getPort("\\Y")))
+					if (index.query_is_output(lutA->getPort(ID(Y))))
 					{
 						log_debug("  Not combining LUTs (cascade connection feeds module output).\n");
 						continue;
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ struct OptLutWorker
 						log_debug("  Not combining LUTs into cell A (combined LUT wider than cell A).\n");
 					else if (lutB_dlogic_inputs.size() > 0)
 						log_debug("  Not combining LUTs into cell A (cell B is connected to dedicated logic).\n");
-					else if (lutB->get_bool_attribute("\\lut_keep"))
+					else if (lutB->get_bool_attribute(ID(lut_keep)))
 						log_debug("  Not combining LUTs into cell A (cell B has attribute \\lut_keep).\n");
 					else
 						combine_mask |= COMBINE_A;
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ struct OptLutWorker
 						log_debug("  Not combining LUTs into cell B (combined LUT wider than cell B).\n");
 					else if (lutA_dlogic_inputs.size() > 0)
 						log_debug("  Not combining LUTs into cell B (cell A is connected to dedicated logic).\n");
-					else if (lutA->get_bool_attribute("\\lut_keep"))
+					else if (lutA->get_bool_attribute(ID(lut_keep)))
 						log_debug("  Not combining LUTs into cell B (cell A has attribute \\lut_keep).\n");
 					else
 						combine_mask |= COMBINE_B;
@@ -440,8 +440,8 @@ struct OptLutWorker
 							lutR_unique.insert(bit);
 					}
 
-					int lutM_width = lutM->getParam("\\WIDTH").as_int();
-					SigSpec lutM_input = sigmap(lutM->getPort("\\A"));
+					int lutM_width = lutM->getParam(ID(WIDTH)).as_int();
+					SigSpec lutM_input = sigmap(lutM->getPort(ID(A)));
 					std::vector<SigBit> lutM_new_inputs;
 					for (int i = 0; i < lutM_width; i++)
 					{
@@ -482,13 +482,13 @@ struct OptLutWorker
 						lutM_new_table[eval] = (RTLIL::State) evaluate_lut(lutB, eval_inputs);
 					}
 
-					log_debug("  Cell A truth table: %s.\n", lutA->getParam("\\LUT").as_string().c_str());
-					log_debug("  Cell B truth table: %s.\n", lutB->getParam("\\LUT").as_string().c_str());
+					log_debug("  Cell A truth table: %s.\n", lutA->getParam(ID(LUT)).as_string().c_str());
+					log_debug("  Cell B truth table: %s.\n", lutB->getParam(ID(LUT)).as_string().c_str());
 					log_debug("  Merged truth table: %s.\n", lutM_new_table.as_string().c_str());
 
-					lutM->setParam("\\LUT", lutM_new_table);
-					lutM->setPort("\\A", lutM_new_inputs);
-					lutM->setPort("\\Y", lutB_output);
+					lutM->setParam(ID(LUT), lutM_new_table);
+					lutM->setPort(ID(A), lutM_new_inputs);
+					lutM->setPort(ID(Y), lutB_output);
 
 					luts_arity[lutM] = lutM_arity;
 					luts.erase(lutR);
diff --git a/passes/opt/opt_merge.cc b/passes/opt/opt_merge.cc
index cac7c0a6f..aa1a5c75c 100644
--- a/passes/opt/opt_merge.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/opt_merge.cc
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ struct OptMergeWorker
 
 	static void sort_pmux_conn(dict<RTLIL::IdString, RTLIL::SigSpec> &conn)
 	{
-		SigSpec sig_s = conn.at("\\S");
-		SigSpec sig_b = conn.at("\\B");
+		SigSpec sig_s = conn.at(ID(S));
+		SigSpec sig_b = conn.at(ID(B));
 
 		int s_width = GetSize(sig_s);
 		int width = GetSize(sig_b) / s_width;
@@ -59,12 +59,12 @@ struct OptMergeWorker
 
 		std::sort(sb_pairs.begin(), sb_pairs.end());
 
-		conn["\\S"] = SigSpec();
-		conn["\\B"] = SigSpec();
+		conn[ID(S)] = SigSpec();
+		conn[ID(B)] = SigSpec();
 
 		for (auto &it : sb_pairs) {
-			conn["\\S"].append(it.first);
-			conn["\\B"].append(it.second);
+			conn[ID(S)].append(it.first);
+			conn[ID(B)].append(it.second);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -94,32 +94,32 @@ struct OptMergeWorker
 		const dict<RTLIL::IdString, RTLIL::SigSpec> *conn = &cell->connections();
 		dict<RTLIL::IdString, RTLIL::SigSpec> alt_conn;
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$and", "$or", "$xor", "$xnor", "$add", "$mul",
-				"$logic_and", "$logic_or", "$_AND_", "$_OR_", "$_XOR_")) {
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($and), ID($or), ID($xor), ID($xnor), ID($add), ID($mul),
+				ID($logic_and), ID($logic_or), ID($_AND_), ID($_OR_), ID($_XOR_))) {
 			alt_conn = *conn;
-			if (assign_map(alt_conn.at("\\A")) < assign_map(alt_conn.at("\\B"))) {
-				alt_conn["\\A"] = conn->at("\\B");
-				alt_conn["\\B"] = conn->at("\\A");
+			if (assign_map(alt_conn.at(ID(A))) < assign_map(alt_conn.at(ID(B)))) {
+				alt_conn[ID(A)] = conn->at(ID(B));
+				alt_conn[ID(B)] = conn->at(ID(A));
 			}
 			conn = &alt_conn;
 		} else
-		if (cell->type.in("$reduce_xor", "$reduce_xnor")) {
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($reduce_xor), ID($reduce_xnor))) {
 			alt_conn = *conn;
-			assign_map.apply(alt_conn.at("\\A"));
-			alt_conn.at("\\A").sort();
+			assign_map.apply(alt_conn.at(ID(A)));
+			alt_conn.at(ID(A)).sort();
 			conn = &alt_conn;
 		} else
-		if (cell->type.in("$reduce_and", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_bool")) {
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($reduce_and), ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_bool))) {
 			alt_conn = *conn;
-			assign_map.apply(alt_conn.at("\\A"));
-			alt_conn.at("\\A").sort_and_unify();
+			assign_map.apply(alt_conn.at(ID(A)));
+			alt_conn.at(ID(A)).sort_and_unify();
 			conn = &alt_conn;
 		} else
-		if (cell->type == "$pmux") {
+		if (cell->type == ID($pmux)) {
 			alt_conn = *conn;
-			assign_map.apply(alt_conn.at("\\A"));
-			assign_map.apply(alt_conn.at("\\B"));
-			assign_map.apply(alt_conn.at("\\S"));
+			assign_map.apply(alt_conn.at(ID(A)));
+			assign_map.apply(alt_conn.at(ID(B)));
+			assign_map.apply(alt_conn.at(ID(S)));
 			sort_pmux_conn(alt_conn);
 			conn = &alt_conn;
 		}
@@ -189,28 +189,28 @@ struct OptMergeWorker
 				assign_map.apply(it.second);
 		}
 
-		if (cell1->type == "$and" || cell1->type == "$or" || cell1->type == "$xor" || cell1->type == "$xnor" || cell1->type == "$add" || cell1->type == "$mul" ||
-				cell1->type == "$logic_and" || cell1->type == "$logic_or" || cell1->type == "$_AND_" || cell1->type == "$_OR_" || cell1->type == "$_XOR_") {
-			if (conn1.at("\\A") < conn1.at("\\B")) {
-				RTLIL::SigSpec tmp = conn1["\\A"];
-				conn1["\\A"] = conn1["\\B"];
-				conn1["\\B"] = tmp;
+		if (cell1->type == ID($and) || cell1->type == ID($or) || cell1->type == ID($xor) || cell1->type == ID($xnor) || cell1->type == ID($add) || cell1->type == ID($mul) ||
+				cell1->type == ID($logic_and) || cell1->type == ID($logic_or) || cell1->type == ID($_AND_) || cell1->type == ID($_OR_) || cell1->type == ID($_XOR_)) {
+			if (conn1.at(ID(A)) < conn1.at(ID(B))) {
+				RTLIL::SigSpec tmp = conn1[ID(A)];
+				conn1[ID(A)] = conn1[ID(B)];
+				conn1[ID(B)] = tmp;
 			}
-			if (conn2.at("\\A") < conn2.at("\\B")) {
-				RTLIL::SigSpec tmp = conn2["\\A"];
-				conn2["\\A"] = conn2["\\B"];
-				conn2["\\B"] = tmp;
+			if (conn2.at(ID(A)) < conn2.at(ID(B))) {
+				RTLIL::SigSpec tmp = conn2[ID(A)];
+				conn2[ID(A)] = conn2[ID(B)];
+				conn2[ID(B)] = tmp;
 			}
 		} else
-		if (cell1->type == "$reduce_xor" || cell1->type == "$reduce_xnor") {
-			conn1["\\A"].sort();
-			conn2["\\A"].sort();
+		if (cell1->type == ID($reduce_xor) || cell1->type == ID($reduce_xnor)) {
+			conn1[ID(A)].sort();
+			conn2[ID(A)].sort();
 		} else
-		if (cell1->type == "$reduce_and" || cell1->type == "$reduce_or" || cell1->type == "$reduce_bool") {
-			conn1["\\A"].sort_and_unify();
-			conn2["\\A"].sort_and_unify();
+		if (cell1->type == ID($reduce_and) || cell1->type == ID($reduce_or) || cell1->type == ID($reduce_bool)) {
+			conn1[ID(A)].sort_and_unify();
+			conn2[ID(A)].sort_and_unify();
 		} else
-		if (cell1->type == "$pmux") {
+		if (cell1->type == ID($pmux)) {
 			sort_pmux_conn(conn1);
 			sort_pmux_conn(conn2);
 		}
@@ -222,9 +222,9 @@ struct OptMergeWorker
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (cell1->type.begins_with("$") && conn1.count("\\Q") != 0) {
-			std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> q1 = dff_init_map(cell1->getPort("\\Q")).to_sigbit_vector();
-			std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> q2 = dff_init_map(cell2->getPort("\\Q")).to_sigbit_vector();
+		if (cell1->type.begins_with("$") && conn1.count(ID(Q)) != 0) {
+			std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> q1 = dff_init_map(cell1->getPort(ID(Q))).to_sigbit_vector();
+			std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> q2 = dff_init_map(cell2->getPort(ID(Q))).to_sigbit_vector();
 			for (size_t i = 0; i < q1.size(); i++)
 				if ((q1.at(i).wire == NULL || q2.at(i).wire == NULL) && q1.at(i) != q2.at(i)) {
 					lt = q1.at(i) < q2.at(i);
@@ -271,24 +271,24 @@ struct OptMergeWorker
 		ct.setup_stdcells_mem();
 
 		if (mode_nomux) {
-			ct.cell_types.erase("$mux");
-			ct.cell_types.erase("$pmux");
+			ct.cell_types.erase(ID($mux));
+			ct.cell_types.erase(ID($pmux));
 		}
 
-		ct.cell_types.erase("$tribuf");
-		ct.cell_types.erase("$_TBUF_");
-		ct.cell_types.erase("$anyseq");
-		ct.cell_types.erase("$anyconst");
-		ct.cell_types.erase("$allseq");
-		ct.cell_types.erase("$allconst");
+		ct.cell_types.erase(ID($tribuf));
+		ct.cell_types.erase(ID($_TBUF_));
+		ct.cell_types.erase(ID($anyseq));
+		ct.cell_types.erase(ID($anyconst));
+		ct.cell_types.erase(ID($allseq));
+		ct.cell_types.erase(ID($allconst));
 
 		log("Finding identical cells in module `%s'.\n", module->name.c_str());
 		assign_map.set(module);
 
 		dff_init_map.set(module);
 		for (auto &it : module->wires_)
-			if (it.second->attributes.count("\\init") != 0) {
-				Const initval = it.second->attributes.at("\\init");
+			if (it.second->attributes.count(ID(init)) != 0) {
+				Const initval = it.second->attributes.at(ID(init));
 				for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(initval) && i < GetSize(it.second); i++)
 					if (initval[i] == State::S0 || initval[i] == State::S1)
 						dff_init_map.add(SigBit(it.second, i), initval[i]);
diff --git a/passes/opt/opt_muxtree.cc b/passes/opt/opt_muxtree.cc
index 4b96fe524..61f194569 100644
--- a/passes/opt/opt_muxtree.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/opt_muxtree.cc
@@ -84,12 +84,12 @@ struct OptMuxtreeWorker
 		//	.const_deactivated
 		for (auto cell : module->cells())
 		{
-			if (cell->type.in("$mux", "$pmux"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($pmux)))
 			{
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = cell->getPort("\\A");
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = cell->getPort("\\B");
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_s = cell->getPort("\\S");
-				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = cell->getPort("\\Y");
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = cell->getPort(ID(B));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_s = cell->getPort(ID(S));
+				RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = cell->getPort(ID(Y));
 
 				muxinfo_t muxinfo;
 				muxinfo.cell = cell;
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ struct OptMuxtreeWorker
 			}
 		}
 		for (auto wire : module->wires()) {
-			if (wire->port_output || wire->get_bool_attribute("\\keep"))
+			if (wire->port_output || wire->get_bool_attribute(ID(keep)))
 				for (int idx : sig2bits(RTLIL::SigSpec(wire)))
 					bit2info[idx].seen_non_mux = true;
 		}
@@ -227,10 +227,10 @@ struct OptMuxtreeWorker
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = mi.cell->getPort("\\A");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = mi.cell->getPort("\\B");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_s = mi.cell->getPort("\\S");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = mi.cell->getPort("\\Y");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = mi.cell->getPort(ID(A));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = mi.cell->getPort(ID(B));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_s = mi.cell->getPort(ID(S));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = mi.cell->getPort(ID(Y));
 
 			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_ports = sig_b;
 			sig_ports.append(sig_a);
@@ -255,14 +255,14 @@ struct OptMuxtreeWorker
 					}
 				}
 
-				mi.cell->setPort("\\A", new_sig_a);
-				mi.cell->setPort("\\B", new_sig_b);
-				mi.cell->setPort("\\S", new_sig_s);
+				mi.cell->setPort(ID(A), new_sig_a);
+				mi.cell->setPort(ID(B), new_sig_b);
+				mi.cell->setPort(ID(S), new_sig_s);
 				if (GetSize(new_sig_s) == 1) {
-					mi.cell->type = "$mux";
-					mi.cell->parameters.erase("\\S_WIDTH");
+					mi.cell->type = ID($mux);
+					mi.cell->parameters.erase(ID(S_WIDTH));
 				} else {
-					mi.cell->parameters["\\S_WIDTH"] = RTLIL::Const(GetSize(new_sig_s));
+					mi.cell->parameters[ID(S_WIDTH)] = RTLIL::Const(GetSize(new_sig_s));
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -364,9 +364,9 @@ struct OptMuxtreeWorker
 
 		int width = 0;
 		idict<int> ctrl_bits;
-		if (portname == "\\B")
-			width = GetSize(muxinfo.cell->getPort("\\A"));
-		for (int bit : sig2bits(muxinfo.cell->getPort("\\S"), false))
+		if (portname == ID(B))
+			width = GetSize(muxinfo.cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+		for (int bit : sig2bits(muxinfo.cell->getPort(ID(S)), false))
 			ctrl_bits(bit);
 
 		int port_idx = 0, port_off = 0;
@@ -414,8 +414,8 @@ struct OptMuxtreeWorker
 
 		// set input ports to constants if we find known active or inactive signals
 		if (do_replace_known) {
-			replace_known(knowledge, muxinfo, "\\A");
-			replace_known(knowledge, muxinfo, "\\B");
+			replace_known(knowledge, muxinfo, ID(A));
+			replace_known(knowledge, muxinfo, ID(B));
 		}
 
 		// if there is a constant activated port we just use it
diff --git a/passes/opt/opt_reduce.cc b/passes/opt/opt_reduce.cc
index d99f1ca6a..332e0443e 100644
--- a/passes/opt/opt_reduce.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/opt_reduce.cc
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 			return;
 		cells.erase(cell);
 
-		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 		pool<RTLIL::SigBit> new_sig_a_bits;
 
 		for (auto &bit : sig_a.to_sigbit_set())
 		{
 			if (bit == RTLIL::State::S0) {
-				if (cell->type == "$reduce_and") {
+				if (cell->type == ID($reduce_and)) {
 					new_sig_a_bits.clear();
 					new_sig_a_bits.insert(RTLIL::State::S0);
 					break;
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (bit == RTLIL::State::S1) {
-				if (cell->type == "$reduce_or") {
+				if (cell->type == ID($reduce_or)) {
 					new_sig_a_bits.clear();
 					new_sig_a_bits.insert(RTLIL::State::S1);
 					break;
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 			for (auto child_cell : drivers.find(bit)) {
 				if (child_cell->type == cell->type) {
 					opt_reduce(cells, drivers, child_cell);
-					if (child_cell->getPort("\\Y")[0] == bit) {
-						pool<RTLIL::SigBit> child_sig_a_bits = assign_map(child_cell->getPort("\\A")).to_sigbit_pool();
+					if (child_cell->getPort(ID(Y))[0] == bit) {
+						pool<RTLIL::SigBit> child_sig_a_bits = assign_map(child_cell->getPort(ID(A))).to_sigbit_pool();
 						new_sig_a_bits.insert(child_sig_a_bits.begin(), child_sig_a_bits.end());
 					} else
 						new_sig_a_bits.insert(RTLIL::State::S0);
@@ -87,22 +87,22 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 
 		RTLIL::SigSpec new_sig_a(new_sig_a_bits);
 
-		if (new_sig_a != sig_a || sig_a.size() != cell->getPort("\\A").size()) {
+		if (new_sig_a != sig_a || sig_a.size() != cell->getPort(ID(A)).size()) {
 			log("    New input vector for %s cell %s: %s\n", cell->type.c_str(), cell->name.c_str(), log_signal(new_sig_a));
 			did_something = true;
 			total_count++;
 		}
 
-		cell->setPort("\\A", new_sig_a);
-		cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = RTLIL::Const(new_sig_a.size());
+		cell->setPort(ID(A), new_sig_a);
+		cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = RTLIL::Const(new_sig_a.size());
 		return;
 	}
 
 	void opt_mux(RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 	{
-		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"));
-		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_s = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\S"));
+		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+		RTLIL::SigSpec sig_s = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(S)));
 
 		RTLIL::SigSpec new_sig_b, new_sig_s;
 		pool<RTLIL::SigSpec> handled_sig;
@@ -123,15 +123,15 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 
 			if (this_s.size() > 1)
 			{
-				RTLIL::Cell *reduce_or_cell = module->addCell(NEW_ID, "$reduce_or");
-				reduce_or_cell->setPort("\\A", this_s);
-				reduce_or_cell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = RTLIL::Const(0);
-				reduce_or_cell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = RTLIL::Const(this_s.size());
-				reduce_or_cell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = RTLIL::Const(1);
+				RTLIL::Cell *reduce_or_cell = module->addCell(NEW_ID, ID($reduce_or));
+				reduce_or_cell->setPort(ID(A), this_s);
+				reduce_or_cell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = RTLIL::Const(0);
+				reduce_or_cell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = RTLIL::Const(this_s.size());
+				reduce_or_cell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = RTLIL::Const(1);
 
 				RTLIL::Wire *reduce_or_wire = module->addWire(NEW_ID);
 				this_s = RTLIL::SigSpec(reduce_or_wire);
-				reduce_or_cell->setPort("\\Y", this_s);
+				reduce_or_cell->setPort(ID(Y), this_s);
 			}
 
 			new_sig_b.append(this_b);
@@ -147,28 +147,28 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 
 		if (new_sig_s.size() == 0)
 		{
-			module->connect(RTLIL::SigSig(cell->getPort("\\Y"), cell->getPort("\\A")));
-			assign_map.add(cell->getPort("\\Y"), cell->getPort("\\A"));
+			module->connect(RTLIL::SigSig(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), cell->getPort(ID(A))));
+			assign_map.add(cell->getPort(ID(Y)), cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 			module->remove(cell);
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			cell->setPort("\\B", new_sig_b);
-			cell->setPort("\\S", new_sig_s);
+			cell->setPort(ID(B), new_sig_b);
+			cell->setPort(ID(S), new_sig_s);
 			if (new_sig_s.size() > 1) {
-				cell->parameters["\\S_WIDTH"] = RTLIL::Const(new_sig_s.size());
+				cell->parameters[ID(S_WIDTH)] = RTLIL::Const(new_sig_s.size());
 			} else {
-				cell->type = "$mux";
-				cell->parameters.erase("\\S_WIDTH");
+				cell->type = ID($mux);
+				cell->parameters.erase(ID(S_WIDTH));
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
 	void opt_mux_bits(RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 	{
-		std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A")).to_sigbit_vector();
-		std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B")).to_sigbit_vector();
-		std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_y = assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Y")).to_sigbit_vector();
+		std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_a = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A))).to_sigbit_vector();
+		std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_b = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B))).to_sigbit_vector();
+		std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_y = assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Y))).to_sigbit_vector();
 
 		std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> new_sig_y;
 		RTLIL::SigSig old_sig_conn;
@@ -209,29 +209,29 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 		if (new_sig_y.size() != sig_y.size())
 		{
 			log("    Consolidated identical input bits for %s cell %s:\n", cell->type.c_str(), cell->name.c_str());
-			log("      Old ports: A=%s, B=%s, Y=%s\n", log_signal(cell->getPort("\\A")),
-					log_signal(cell->getPort("\\B")), log_signal(cell->getPort("\\Y")));
+			log("      Old ports: A=%s, B=%s, Y=%s\n", log_signal(cell->getPort(ID(A))),
+					log_signal(cell->getPort(ID(B))), log_signal(cell->getPort(ID(Y))));
 
-			cell->setPort("\\A", RTLIL::SigSpec());
+			cell->setPort(ID(A), RTLIL::SigSpec());
 			for (auto &in_tuple : consolidated_in_tuples) {
-				RTLIL::SigSpec new_a = cell->getPort("\\A");
+				RTLIL::SigSpec new_a = cell->getPort(ID(A));
 				new_a.append(in_tuple.at(0));
-				cell->setPort("\\A", new_a);
+				cell->setPort(ID(A), new_a);
 			}
 
-			cell->setPort("\\B", RTLIL::SigSpec());
-			for (int i = 1; i <= cell->getPort("\\S").size(); i++)
+			cell->setPort(ID(B), RTLIL::SigSpec());
+			for (int i = 1; i <= cell->getPort(ID(S)).size(); i++)
 				for (auto &in_tuple : consolidated_in_tuples) {
-					RTLIL::SigSpec new_b = cell->getPort("\\B");
+					RTLIL::SigSpec new_b = cell->getPort(ID(B));
 					new_b.append(in_tuple.at(i));
-					cell->setPort("\\B", new_b);
+					cell->setPort(ID(B), new_b);
 				}
 
-			cell->parameters["\\WIDTH"] = RTLIL::Const(new_sig_y.size());
-			cell->setPort("\\Y", new_sig_y);
+			cell->parameters[ID(WIDTH)] = RTLIL::Const(new_sig_y.size());
+			cell->setPort(ID(Y), new_sig_y);
 
-			log("      New ports: A=%s, B=%s, Y=%s\n", log_signal(cell->getPort("\\A")),
-					log_signal(cell->getPort("\\B")), log_signal(cell->getPort("\\Y")));
+			log("      New ports: A=%s, B=%s, Y=%s\n", log_signal(cell->getPort(ID(A))),
+					log_signal(cell->getPort(ID(B))), log_signal(cell->getPort(ID(Y))));
 			log("      New connections: %s = %s\n", log_signal(old_sig_conn.first), log_signal(old_sig_conn.second));
 
 			module->connect(old_sig_conn);
@@ -253,15 +253,15 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 		SigPool mem_wren_sigs;
 		for (auto &cell_it : module->cells_) {
 			RTLIL::Cell *cell = cell_it.second;
-			if (cell->type == "$mem")
-				mem_wren_sigs.add(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\WR_EN")));
-			if (cell->type == "$memwr")
-				mem_wren_sigs.add(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\EN")));
+			if (cell->type == ID($mem))
+				mem_wren_sigs.add(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(WR_EN))));
+			if (cell->type == ID($memwr))
+				mem_wren_sigs.add(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(EN))));
 		}
 		for (auto &cell_it : module->cells_) {
 			RTLIL::Cell *cell = cell_it.second;
-			if (cell->type == "$dff" && mem_wren_sigs.check_any(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Q"))))
-				mem_wren_sigs.add(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\D")));
+			if (cell->type == ID($dff) && mem_wren_sigs.check_any(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Q)))))
+				mem_wren_sigs.add(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(D))));
 		}
 
 		bool keep_expanding_mem_wren_sigs = true;
@@ -269,12 +269,12 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 			keep_expanding_mem_wren_sigs = false;
 			for (auto &cell_it : module->cells_) {
 				RTLIL::Cell *cell = cell_it.second;
-				if (cell->type == "$mux" && mem_wren_sigs.check_any(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Y")))) {
-					if (!mem_wren_sigs.check_all(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A"))) ||
-							!mem_wren_sigs.check_all(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B"))))
+				if (cell->type == ID($mux) && mem_wren_sigs.check_any(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Y))))) {
+					if (!mem_wren_sigs.check_all(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A)))) ||
+							!mem_wren_sigs.check_all(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B)))))
 						keep_expanding_mem_wren_sigs = true;
-					mem_wren_sigs.add(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\A")));
-					mem_wren_sigs.add(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\B")));
+					mem_wren_sigs.add(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(A))));
+					mem_wren_sigs.add(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(B))));
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 			// merge trees of reduce_* cells to one single cell and unify input vectors
 			// (only handle reduce_and and reduce_or for various reasons)
 
-			const char *type_list[] = { "$reduce_or", "$reduce_and" };
+			const IdString type_list[] = { ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_and) };
 			for (auto type : type_list)
 			{
 				SigSet<RTLIL::Cell*> drivers;
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 					RTLIL::Cell *cell = cell_it.second;
 					if (cell->type != type || !design->selected(module, cell))
 						continue;
-					drivers.insert(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Y")), cell);
+					drivers.insert(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Y))), cell);
 					cells.insert(cell);
 				}
 
@@ -311,14 +311,14 @@ struct OptReduceWorker
 			std::vector<RTLIL::Cell*> cells;
 
 			for (auto &it : module->cells_)
-				if ((it.second->type == "$mux" || it.second->type == "$pmux") && design->selected(module, it.second))
+				if ((it.second->type == ID($mux) || it.second->type == ID($pmux)) && design->selected(module, it.second))
 					cells.push_back(it.second);
 
 			for (auto cell : cells)
 			{
 				// this optimization is to aggressive for most coarse-grain applications.
 				// but we always want it for multiplexers driving write enable ports.
-				if (do_fine || mem_wren_sigs.check_any(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Y"))))
+				if (do_fine || mem_wren_sigs.check_any(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Y)))))
 					opt_mux_bits(cell);
 
 				opt_mux(cell);
diff --git a/passes/opt/opt_rmdff.cc b/passes/opt/opt_rmdff.cc
index 8d42a37c3..4ba61e512 100644
--- a/passes/opt/opt_rmdff.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/opt_rmdff.cc
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ void remove_init_attr(SigSpec sig)
 	for (auto bit : assign_map(sig))
 		if (init_attributes.count(bit))
 			for (auto wbit : init_attributes.at(bit))
-				wbit.wire->attributes.at("\\init")[wbit.offset] = State::Sx;
+				wbit.wire->attributes.at(ID(init))[wbit.offset] = State::Sx;
 }
 
 bool handle_dffsr(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
@@ -49,17 +49,17 @@ bool handle_dffsr(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 	SigSpec sig_set, sig_clr;
 	State pol_set, pol_clr;
 
-	if (cell->hasPort("\\S"))
-		sig_set = cell->getPort("\\S");
+	if (cell->hasPort(ID(S)))
+		sig_set = cell->getPort(ID(S));
 
-	if (cell->hasPort("\\R"))
-		sig_clr = cell->getPort("\\R");
+	if (cell->hasPort(ID(R)))
+		sig_clr = cell->getPort(ID(R));
 
-	if (cell->hasPort("\\SET"))
-		sig_set = cell->getPort("\\SET");
+	if (cell->hasPort(ID(SET)))
+		sig_set = cell->getPort(ID(SET));
 
-	if (cell->hasPort("\\CLR"))
-		sig_clr = cell->getPort("\\CLR");
+	if (cell->hasPort(ID(CLR)))
+		sig_clr = cell->getPort(ID(CLR));
 
 	log_assert(GetSize(sig_set) == GetSize(sig_clr));
 
@@ -71,17 +71,17 @@ bool handle_dffsr(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 		pol_set = cell->type[12] == 'P' ? State::S1 : State::S0;
 		pol_clr = cell->type[13] == 'P' ? State::S1 : State::S0;
 	} else
-	if (cell->type.in("$dffsr", "$dlatchsr")) {
-		pol_set = cell->parameters["\\SET_POLARITY"].as_bool() ? State::S1 : State::S0;
-		pol_clr = cell->parameters["\\CLR_POLARITY"].as_bool() ? State::S1 : State::S0;
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($dffsr), ID($dlatchsr))) {
+		pol_set = cell->parameters[ID(SET_POLARITY)].as_bool() ? State::S1 : State::S0;
+		pol_clr = cell->parameters[ID(CLR_POLARITY)].as_bool() ? State::S1 : State::S0;
 	} else
 		log_abort();
 
 	State npol_set = pol_set == State::S0 ? State::S1 : State::S0;
 	State npol_clr = pol_clr == State::S0 ? State::S1 : State::S0;
 
-	SigSpec sig_d = cell->getPort("\\D");
-	SigSpec sig_q = cell->getPort("\\Q");
+	SigSpec sig_d = cell->getPort(ID(D));
+	SigSpec sig_q = cell->getPort(ID(Q));
 
 	bool did_something = false;
 	bool proper_sr = false;
@@ -137,20 +137,20 @@ bool handle_dffsr(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	if (cell->type.in("$dffsr", "$dlatchsr"))
+	if (cell->type.in(ID($dffsr), ID($dlatchsr)))
 	{
-		cell->setParam("\\WIDTH", GetSize(sig_d));
-		cell->setPort("\\SET", sig_set);
-		cell->setPort("\\CLR", sig_clr);
-		cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-		cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+		cell->setParam(ID(WIDTH), GetSize(sig_d));
+		cell->setPort(ID(SET), sig_set);
+		cell->setPort(ID(CLR), sig_clr);
+		cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+		cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		cell->setPort("\\S", sig_set);
-		cell->setPort("\\R", sig_clr);
-		cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-		cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+		cell->setPort(ID(S), sig_set);
+		cell->setPort(ID(R), sig_clr);
+		cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+		cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 	}
 
 	if (proper_sr)
@@ -159,36 +159,36 @@ bool handle_dffsr(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 	if (used_pol_set && used_pol_clr && pol_set != pol_clr)
 		return did_something;
 
-	if (cell->type == "$dlatchsr")
+	if (cell->type == ID($dlatchsr))
 		return did_something;
 
 	State unified_pol = used_pol_set ? pol_set : pol_clr;
 
-	if (cell->type == "$dffsr")
+	if (cell->type == ID($dffsr))
 	{
 		if (hasreset)
 		{
 			log("Converting %s (%s) to %s in module %s.\n", log_id(cell), log_id(cell->type), "$adff", log_id(mod));
 
-			cell->type = "$adff";
-			cell->setParam("\\ARST_POLARITY", unified_pol);
-			cell->setParam("\\ARST_VALUE", reset_val);
-			cell->setPort("\\ARST", sig_reset);
+			cell->type = ID($adff);
+			cell->setParam(ID(ARST_POLARITY), unified_pol);
+			cell->setParam(ID(ARST_VALUE), reset_val);
+			cell->setPort(ID(ARST), sig_reset);
 
-			cell->unsetParam("\\SET_POLARITY");
-			cell->unsetParam("\\CLR_POLARITY");
-			cell->unsetPort("\\SET");
-			cell->unsetPort("\\CLR");
+			cell->unsetParam(ID(SET_POLARITY));
+			cell->unsetParam(ID(CLR_POLARITY));
+			cell->unsetPort(ID(SET));
+			cell->unsetPort(ID(CLR));
 		}
 		else
 		{
 			log("Converting %s (%s) to %s in module %s.\n", log_id(cell), log_id(cell->type), "$dff", log_id(mod));
 
-			cell->type = "$dff";
-			cell->unsetParam("\\SET_POLARITY");
-			cell->unsetParam("\\CLR_POLARITY");
-			cell->unsetPort("\\SET");
-			cell->unsetPort("\\CLR");
+			cell->type = ID($dff);
+			cell->unsetParam(ID(SET_POLARITY));
+			cell->unsetParam(ID(CLR_POLARITY));
+			cell->unsetPort(ID(SET));
+			cell->unsetPort(ID(CLR));
 		}
 
 		return true;
@@ -208,8 +208,8 @@ bool handle_dffsr(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 		log("Converting %s (%s) to %s in module %s.\n", log_id(cell), log_id(cell->type), log_id(new_type), log_id(mod));
 
 		cell->type = new_type;
-		cell->unsetPort("\\S");
-		cell->unsetPort("\\R");
+		cell->unsetPort(ID(S));
+		cell->unsetPort(ID(R));
 
 		return true;
 	}
@@ -222,18 +222,18 @@ bool handle_dlatch(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *dlatch)
 	SigSpec sig_e;
 	State on_state, off_state;
 
-	if (dlatch->type == "$dlatch") {
-		sig_e = assign_map(dlatch->getPort("\\EN"));
-		on_state = dlatch->getParam("\\EN_POLARITY").as_bool() ? State::S1 : State::S0;
-		off_state = dlatch->getParam("\\EN_POLARITY").as_bool() ? State::S0 : State::S1;
+	if (dlatch->type == ID($dlatch)) {
+		sig_e = assign_map(dlatch->getPort(ID(EN)));
+		on_state = dlatch->getParam(ID(EN_POLARITY)).as_bool() ? State::S1 : State::S0;
+		off_state = dlatch->getParam(ID(EN_POLARITY)).as_bool() ? State::S0 : State::S1;
 	} else
-	if (dlatch->type == "$_DLATCH_P_") {
-		sig_e = assign_map(dlatch->getPort("\\E"));
+	if (dlatch->type == ID($_DLATCH_P_)) {
+		sig_e = assign_map(dlatch->getPort(ID(E)));
 		on_state = State::S1;
 		off_state = State::S0;
 	} else
-	if (dlatch->type == "$_DLATCH_N_") {
-		sig_e = assign_map(dlatch->getPort("\\E"));
+	if (dlatch->type == ID($_DLATCH_N_)) {
+		sig_e = assign_map(dlatch->getPort(ID(E)));
 		on_state = State::S0;
 		off_state = State::S1;
 	} else
@@ -242,15 +242,15 @@ bool handle_dlatch(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *dlatch)
 	if (sig_e == off_state)
 	{
 		RTLIL::Const val_init;
-		for (auto bit : dff_init_map(dlatch->getPort("\\Q")))
+		for (auto bit : dff_init_map(dlatch->getPort(ID(Q))))
 			val_init.bits.push_back(bit.wire == NULL ? bit.data : State::Sx);
-		mod->connect(dlatch->getPort("\\Q"), val_init);
+		mod->connect(dlatch->getPort(ID(Q)), val_init);
 		goto delete_dlatch;
 	}
 
 	if (sig_e == on_state)
 	{
-		mod->connect(dlatch->getPort("\\Q"), dlatch->getPort("\\D"));
+		mod->connect(dlatch->getPort(ID(Q)), dlatch->getPort(ID(D)));
 		goto delete_dlatch;
 	}
 
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ bool handle_dlatch(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *dlatch)
 
 delete_dlatch:
 	log("Removing %s (%s) from module %s.\n", log_id(dlatch), log_id(dlatch->type), log_id(mod));
-	remove_init_attr(dlatch->getPort("\\Q"));
+	remove_init_attr(dlatch->getPort(ID(Q)));
 	mod->remove(dlatch);
 	return true;
 }
@@ -268,24 +268,24 @@ bool handle_dff(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *dff)
 	RTLIL::SigSpec sig_d, sig_q, sig_c, sig_r, sig_e;
 	RTLIL::Const val_cp, val_rp, val_rv, val_ep;
 
-	if (dff->type == "$_FF_") {
-		sig_d = dff->getPort("\\D");
-		sig_q = dff->getPort("\\Q");
+	if (dff->type == ID($_FF_)) {
+		sig_d = dff->getPort(ID(D));
+		sig_q = dff->getPort(ID(Q));
 	}
-	else if (dff->type == "$_DFF_N_" || dff->type == "$_DFF_P_") {
-		sig_d = dff->getPort("\\D");
-		sig_q = dff->getPort("\\Q");
-		sig_c = dff->getPort("\\C");
-		val_cp = RTLIL::Const(dff->type == "$_DFF_P_", 1);
+	else if (dff->type == ID($_DFF_N_) || dff->type == ID($_DFF_P_)) {
+		sig_d = dff->getPort(ID(D));
+		sig_q = dff->getPort(ID(Q));
+		sig_c = dff->getPort(ID(C));
+		val_cp = RTLIL::Const(dff->type == ID($_DFF_P_), 1);
 	}
 	else if (dff->type.begins_with("$_DFF_") && dff->type.compare(9, 1, "_") == 0 &&
 			(dff->type[6] == 'N' || dff->type[6] == 'P') &&
 			(dff->type[7] == 'N' || dff->type[7] == 'P') &&
 			(dff->type[8] == '0' || dff->type[8] == '1')) {
-		sig_d = dff->getPort("\\D");
-		sig_q = dff->getPort("\\Q");
-		sig_c = dff->getPort("\\C");
-		sig_r = dff->getPort("\\R");
+		sig_d = dff->getPort(ID(D));
+		sig_q = dff->getPort(ID(Q));
+		sig_c = dff->getPort(ID(C));
+		sig_r = dff->getPort(ID(R));
 		val_cp = RTLIL::Const(dff->type[6] == 'P', 1);
 		val_rp = RTLIL::Const(dff->type[7] == 'P', 1);
 		val_rv = RTLIL::Const(dff->type[8] == '1', 1);
@@ -293,39 +293,39 @@ bool handle_dff(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *dff)
 	else if (dff->type.begins_with("$_DFFE_") && dff->type.compare(9, 1, "_") == 0 &&
 			(dff->type[7] == 'N' || dff->type[7] == 'P') &&
 			(dff->type[8] == 'N' || dff->type[8] == 'P')) {
-		sig_d = dff->getPort("\\D");
-		sig_q = dff->getPort("\\Q");
-		sig_c = dff->getPort("\\C");
-		sig_e = dff->getPort("\\E");
+		sig_d = dff->getPort(ID(D));
+		sig_q = dff->getPort(ID(Q));
+		sig_c = dff->getPort(ID(C));
+		sig_e = dff->getPort(ID(E));
 		val_cp = RTLIL::Const(dff->type[7] == 'P', 1);
 		val_ep = RTLIL::Const(dff->type[8] == 'P', 1);
 	}
-	else if (dff->type == "$ff") {
-		sig_d = dff->getPort("\\D");
-		sig_q = dff->getPort("\\Q");
+	else if (dff->type == ID($ff)) {
+		sig_d = dff->getPort(ID(D));
+		sig_q = dff->getPort(ID(Q));
 	}
-	else if (dff->type == "$dff") {
-		sig_d = dff->getPort("\\D");
-		sig_q = dff->getPort("\\Q");
-		sig_c = dff->getPort("\\CLK");
-		val_cp = RTLIL::Const(dff->parameters["\\CLK_POLARITY"].as_bool(), 1);
+	else if (dff->type == ID($dff)) {
+		sig_d = dff->getPort(ID(D));
+		sig_q = dff->getPort(ID(Q));
+		sig_c = dff->getPort(ID(CLK));
+		val_cp = RTLIL::Const(dff->parameters[ID(CLK_POLARITY)].as_bool(), 1);
 	}
-	else if (dff->type == "$dffe") {
-		sig_e = dff->getPort("\\EN");
-		sig_d = dff->getPort("\\D");
-		sig_q = dff->getPort("\\Q");
-		sig_c = dff->getPort("\\CLK");
-		val_cp = RTLIL::Const(dff->parameters["\\CLK_POLARITY"].as_bool(), 1);
-		val_ep = RTLIL::Const(dff->parameters["\\EN_POLARITY"].as_bool(), 1);
+	else if (dff->type == ID($dffe)) {
+		sig_e = dff->getPort(ID(EN));
+		sig_d = dff->getPort(ID(D));
+		sig_q = dff->getPort(ID(Q));
+		sig_c = dff->getPort(ID(CLK));
+		val_cp = RTLIL::Const(dff->parameters[ID(CLK_POLARITY)].as_bool(), 1);
+		val_ep = RTLIL::Const(dff->parameters[ID(EN_POLARITY)].as_bool(), 1);
 	}
-	else if (dff->type == "$adff") {
-		sig_d = dff->getPort("\\D");
-		sig_q = dff->getPort("\\Q");
-		sig_c = dff->getPort("\\CLK");
-		sig_r = dff->getPort("\\ARST");
-		val_cp = RTLIL::Const(dff->parameters["\\CLK_POLARITY"].as_bool(), 1);
-		val_rp = RTLIL::Const(dff->parameters["\\ARST_POLARITY"].as_bool(), 1);
-		val_rv = dff->parameters["\\ARST_VALUE"];
+	else if (dff->type == ID($adff)) {
+		sig_d = dff->getPort(ID(D));
+		sig_q = dff->getPort(ID(Q));
+		sig_c = dff->getPort(ID(CLK));
+		sig_r = dff->getPort(ID(ARST));
+		val_cp = RTLIL::Const(dff->parameters[ID(CLK_POLARITY)].as_bool(), 1);
+		val_rp = RTLIL::Const(dff->parameters[ID(ARST_POLARITY)].as_bool(), 1);
+		val_rv = dff->parameters[ID(ARST_VALUE)];
 	}
 	else
 		log_abort();
@@ -343,12 +343,12 @@ bool handle_dff(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *dff)
 		val_init.bits.push_back(bit.wire == NULL ? bit.data : RTLIL::State::Sx);
 	}
 
-	if (dff->type.in("$ff", "$dff") && mux_drivers.has(sig_d)) {
+	if (dff->type.in(ID($ff), ID($dff)) && mux_drivers.has(sig_d)) {
 		std::set<RTLIL::Cell*> muxes;
 		mux_drivers.find(sig_d, muxes);
 		for (auto mux : muxes) {
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(mux->getPort("\\A"));
-			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(mux->getPort("\\B"));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_a = assign_map(mux->getPort(ID(A)));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_b = assign_map(mux->getPort(ID(B)));
 			if (sig_a == sig_q && sig_b.is_fully_const() && (!has_init || val_init == sig_b.as_const())) {
 				mod->connect(sig_q, sig_b);
 				goto delete_dff;
@@ -420,17 +420,17 @@ bool handle_dff(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *dff)
 
 		log("Removing unused reset from %s (%s) from module %s.\n", log_id(dff), log_id(dff->type), log_id(mod));
 
-		if (dff->type == "$adff") {
-			dff->type = "$dff";
-			dff->unsetPort("\\ARST");
-			dff->unsetParam("\\ARST_POLARITY");
-			dff->unsetParam("\\ARST_VALUE");
+		if (dff->type == ID($adff)) {
+			dff->type = ID($dff);
+			dff->unsetPort(ID(ARST));
+			dff->unsetParam(ID(ARST_POLARITY));
+			dff->unsetParam(ID(ARST_VALUE));
 			return true;
 		}
 
 		log_assert(dff->type.begins_with("$_DFF_"));
 		dff->type = stringf("$_DFF_%c_", + dff->type[6]);
-		dff->unsetPort("\\R");
+		dff->unsetPort(ID(R));
 	}
 
 	// If enable signal is present, and is fully constant
@@ -445,16 +445,16 @@ bool handle_dff(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *dff)
 
 		log("Removing unused enable from %s (%s) from module %s.\n", log_id(dff), log_id(dff->type), log_id(mod));
 
-		if (dff->type == "$dffe") {
-			dff->type = "$dff";
-			dff->unsetPort("\\EN");
-			dff->unsetParam("\\EN_POLARITY");
+		if (dff->type == ID($dffe)) {
+			dff->type = ID($dff);
+			dff->unsetPort(ID(EN));
+			dff->unsetParam(ID(EN_POLARITY));
 			return true;
 		}
 
 		log_assert(dff->type.begins_with("$_DFFE_"));
 		dff->type = stringf("$_DFF_%c_", + dff->type[7]);
-		dff->unsetPort("\\E");
+		dff->unsetPort(ID(E));
 	}
 
 	if (sat && has_init && (!sig_r.size() || val_init == val_rv))
@@ -509,9 +509,9 @@ bool handle_dff(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *dff)
 				log("Setting constant %d-bit at position %d on %s (%s) from module %s.\n", sigbit_init_val ? 1 : 0,
 						position, log_id(dff), log_id(dff->type), log_id(mod));
 
-				SigSpec tmp = dff->getPort("\\D");
+				SigSpec tmp = dff->getPort(ID(D));
 				tmp[position] = sigbit_init_val;
-				dff->setPort("\\D", tmp);
+				dff->setPort(ID(D), tmp);
 
 				removed_sigbits = true;
 			}
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ bool handle_dff(RTLIL::Module *mod, RTLIL::Cell *dff)
 
 delete_dff:
 	log("Removing %s (%s) from module %s.\n", log_id(dff), log_id(dff->type), log_id(mod));
-	remove_init_attr(dff->getPort("\\Q"));
+	remove_init_attr(dff->getPort(ID(Q)));
 	mod->remove(dff);
 
 	for (auto &entry : bit2driver)
@@ -588,8 +588,8 @@ struct OptRmdffPass : public Pass {
 
 			for (auto wire : module->wires())
 			{
-				if (wire->attributes.count("\\init") != 0) {
-					Const initval = wire->attributes.at("\\init");
+				if (wire->attributes.count(ID(init)) != 0) {
+					Const initval = wire->attributes.at(ID(init));
 					for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(initval) && i < GetSize(wire); i++)
 						if (initval[i] == State::S0 || initval[i] == State::S1)
 							dff_init_map.add(SigBit(wire, i), initval[i]);
@@ -624,29 +624,29 @@ struct OptRmdffPass : public Pass {
 						}
 				}
 
-				if (cell->type.in("$mux", "$pmux")) {
-					if (cell->getPort("\\A").size() == cell->getPort("\\B").size())
-						mux_drivers.insert(assign_map(cell->getPort("\\Y")), cell);
+				if (cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($pmux))) {
+					if (cell->getPort(ID(A)).size() == cell->getPort(ID(B)).size())
+						mux_drivers.insert(assign_map(cell->getPort(ID(Y))), cell);
 					continue;
 				}
 
 				if (!design->selected(module, cell))
 					continue;
 
-				if (cell->type.in("$_DFFSR_NNN_", "$_DFFSR_NNP_", "$_DFFSR_NPN_", "$_DFFSR_NPP_",
-						"$_DFFSR_PNN_", "$_DFFSR_PNP_", "$_DFFSR_PPN_", "$_DFFSR_PPP_", "$dffsr",
-						"$_DLATCHSR_NNN_", "$_DLATCHSR_NNP_", "$_DLATCHSR_NPN_", "$_DLATCHSR_NPP_",
-						"$_DLATCHSR_PNN_", "$_DLATCHSR_PNP_", "$_DLATCHSR_PPN_", "$_DLATCHSR_PPP_", "$dlatchsr"))
+				if (cell->type.in(ID($_DFFSR_NNN_), ID($_DFFSR_NNP_), ID($_DFFSR_NPN_), ID($_DFFSR_NPP_),
+						ID($_DFFSR_PNN_), ID($_DFFSR_PNP_), ID($_DFFSR_PPN_), ID($_DFFSR_PPP_), ID($dffsr),
+						ID($_DLATCHSR_NNN_), ID($_DLATCHSR_NNP_), ID($_DLATCHSR_NPN_), ID($_DLATCHSR_NPP_),
+						ID($_DLATCHSR_PNN_), ID($_DLATCHSR_PNP_), ID($_DLATCHSR_PPN_), ID($_DLATCHSR_PPP_), ID($dlatchsr)))
 					dffsr_list.push_back(cell->name);
 
-				if (cell->type.in("$_FF_", "$_DFF_N_", "$_DFF_P_",
-						"$_DFF_NN0_", "$_DFF_NN1_", "$_DFF_NP0_", "$_DFF_NP1_",
-						"$_DFF_PN0_", "$_DFF_PN1_", "$_DFF_PP0_", "$_DFF_PP1_",
-						"$_DFFE_NN_", "$_DFFE_NP_", "$_DFFE_PN_", "$_DFFE_PP_",
-						"$ff", "$dff", "$dffe", "$adff"))
+				if (cell->type.in(ID($_FF_), ID($_DFF_N_), ID($_DFF_P_),
+						ID($_DFF_NN0_), ID($_DFF_NN1_), ID($_DFF_NP0_), ID($_DFF_NP1_),
+						ID($_DFF_PN0_), ID($_DFF_PN1_), ID($_DFF_PP0_), ID($_DFF_PP1_),
+						ID($_DFFE_NN_), ID($_DFFE_NP_), ID($_DFFE_PN_), ID($_DFFE_PP_),
+						ID($ff), ID($dff), ID($dffe), ID($adff)))
 					dff_list.push_back(cell->name);
 
-				if (cell->type.in("$dlatch", "$_DLATCH_P_", "$_DLATCH_N_"))
+				if (cell->type.in(ID($dlatch), ID($_DLATCH_P_), ID($_DLATCH_N_)))
 					dlatch_list.push_back(cell->name);
 			}
 
diff --git a/passes/opt/pmux2shiftx.cc b/passes/opt/pmux2shiftx.cc
index 65d8b8f32..3e34bfbbd 100644
--- a/passes/opt/pmux2shiftx.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/pmux2shiftx.cc
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ struct OnehotDatabase
 
 		for (auto wire : module->wires())
 		{
-			auto it = wire->attributes.find("\\init");
+			auto it = wire->attributes.find(ID(init));
 			if (it == wire->attributes.end())
 				continue;
 
@@ -63,19 +63,19 @@ struct OnehotDatabase
 			vector<SigSpec> inputs;
 			SigSpec output;
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$adff", "$dff", "$dffe", "$dlatch", "$ff"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($adff), ID($dff), ID($dffe), ID($dlatch), ID($ff)))
 			{
-				output = cell->getPort("\\Q");
-				if (cell->type == "$adff")
-					inputs.push_back(cell->getParam("\\ARST_VALUE"));
-				inputs.push_back(cell->getPort("\\D"));
+				output = cell->getPort(ID(Q));
+				if (cell->type == ID($adff))
+					inputs.push_back(cell->getParam(ID(ARST_VALUE)));
+				inputs.push_back(cell->getPort(ID(D)));
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$mux", "$pmux"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($pmux)))
 			{
-				output = cell->getPort("\\Y");
-				inputs.push_back(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-				SigSpec B = cell->getPort("\\B");
+				output = cell->getPort(ID(Y));
+				inputs.push_back(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+				SigSpec B = cell->getPort(ID(B));
 				for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(B); i += GetSize(output))
 					inputs.push_back(B.extract(i, GetSize(output)));
 			}
@@ -292,23 +292,23 @@ struct Pmux2ShiftxPass : public Pass {
 
 			for (auto cell : module->cells())
 			{
-				if (cell->type == "$eq")
+				if (cell->type == ID($eq))
 				{
 					dict<SigBit, State> bits;
 
-					SigSpec A = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-					SigSpec B = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+					SigSpec A = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+					SigSpec B = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 
-					int a_width = cell->getParam("\\A_WIDTH").as_int();
-					int b_width = cell->getParam("\\B_WIDTH").as_int();
+					int a_width = cell->getParam(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int();
+					int b_width = cell->getParam(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int();
 
 					if (a_width < b_width) {
-						bool a_signed = cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_int();
+						bool a_signed = cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_int();
 						A.extend_u0(b_width, a_signed);
 					}
 
 					if (b_width < a_width) {
-						bool b_signed = cell->getParam("\\B_SIGNED").as_int();
+						bool b_signed = cell->getParam(ID(B_SIGNED)).as_int();
 						B.extend_u0(a_width, b_signed);
 					}
 
@@ -335,15 +335,15 @@ struct Pmux2ShiftxPass : public Pass {
 						entry.second.bits.push_back(it.second);
 					}
 
-					eqdb[sigmap(cell->getPort("\\Y")[0])] = entry;
+					eqdb[sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(Y))[0])] = entry;
 					goto next_cell;
 				}
 
-				if (cell->type == "$logic_not")
+				if (cell->type == ID($logic_not))
 				{
 					dict<SigBit, State> bits;
 
-					SigSpec A = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+					SigSpec A = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 
 					for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(A); i++)
 						bits[A[i]] = State::S0;
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ struct Pmux2ShiftxPass : public Pass {
 						entry.second.bits.push_back(it.second);
 					}
 
-					eqdb[sigmap(cell->getPort("\\Y")[0])] = entry;
+					eqdb[sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(Y))[0])] = entry;
 					goto next_cell;
 				}
 		next_cell:;
@@ -364,11 +364,11 @@ struct Pmux2ShiftxPass : public Pass {
 
 			for (auto cell : module->selected_cells())
 			{
-				if (cell->type != "$pmux")
+				if (cell->type != ID($pmux))
 					continue;
 
 				string src = cell->get_src_attribute();
-				int width = cell->getParam("\\WIDTH").as_int();
+				int width = cell->getParam(ID(WIDTH)).as_int();
 				int width_bits = ceil_log2(width);
 				int extwidth = width;
 
@@ -377,9 +377,9 @@ struct Pmux2ShiftxPass : public Pass {
 
 				dict<SigSpec, pool<int>> seldb;
 
-				SigSpec A = cell->getPort("\\A");
-				SigSpec B = cell->getPort("\\B");
-				SigSpec S = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\S"));
+				SigSpec A = cell->getPort(ID(A));
+				SigSpec B = cell->getPort(ID(B));
+				SigSpec S = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(S)));
 				for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(S); i++)
 				{
 					if (!eqdb.count(S[i]))
@@ -400,8 +400,8 @@ struct Pmux2ShiftxPass : public Pass {
 					log("  data width: %d (next power-of-2 = %d, log2 = %d)\n", width, extwidth, width_bits);
 				}
 
-				SigSpec updated_S = cell->getPort("\\S");
-				SigSpec updated_B = cell->getPort("\\B");
+				SigSpec updated_S = cell->getPort(ID(S));
+				SigSpec updated_B = cell->getPort(ID(B));
 
 				while (!seldb.empty())
 				{
@@ -727,9 +727,9 @@ struct Pmux2ShiftxPass : public Pass {
 				}
 
 				// update $pmux cell
-				cell->setPort("\\S", updated_S);
-				cell->setPort("\\B", updated_B);
-				cell->setParam("\\S_WIDTH", GetSize(updated_S));
+				cell->setPort(ID(S), updated_S);
+				cell->setPort(ID(B), updated_B);
+				cell->setParam(ID(S_WIDTH), GetSize(updated_S));
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -779,22 +779,22 @@ struct OnehotPass : public Pass {
 
 			for (auto cell : module->selected_cells())
 			{
-				if (cell->type != "$eq")
+				if (cell->type != ID($eq))
 					continue;
 
-				SigSpec A = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-				SigSpec B = sigmap(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+				SigSpec A = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+				SigSpec B = sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 
-				int a_width = cell->getParam("\\A_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int b_width = cell->getParam("\\B_WIDTH").as_int();
+				int a_width = cell->getParam(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int b_width = cell->getParam(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int();
 
 				if (a_width < b_width) {
-					bool a_signed = cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_int();
+					bool a_signed = cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_int();
 					A.extend_u0(b_width, a_signed);
 				}
 
 				if (b_width < a_width) {
-					bool b_signed = cell->getParam("\\B_SIGNED").as_int();
+					bool b_signed = cell->getParam(ID(B_SIGNED)).as_int();
 					B.extend_u0(a_width, b_signed);
 				}
 
@@ -830,7 +830,7 @@ struct OnehotPass : public Pass {
 					continue;
 				}
 
-				SigSpec Y = cell->getPort("\\Y");
+				SigSpec Y = cell->getPort(ID(Y));
 
 				if (not_onehot)
 				{
diff --git a/passes/opt/share.cc b/passes/opt/share.cc
index 7f66f749f..84290bb97 100644
--- a/passes/opt/share.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/share.cc
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ struct ShareWorker
 			queue_bits.clear();
 
 			for (auto &pbit : portbits) {
-				if (pbit.cell->type == "$mux" || pbit.cell->type == "$pmux") {
-					pool<RTLIL::SigBit> bits = modwalker.sigmap(pbit.cell->getPort("\\S")).to_sigbit_pool();
+				if (pbit.cell->type == ID($mux) || pbit.cell->type == ID($pmux)) {
+					pool<RTLIL::SigBit> bits = modwalker.sigmap(pbit.cell->getPort(ID(S))).to_sigbit_pool();
 					terminal_bits.insert(bits.begin(), bits.end());
 					queue_bits.insert(bits.begin(), bits.end());
 					visited_cells.insert(pbit.cell);
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ struct ShareWorker
 	static int bits_macc(RTLIL::Cell *c)
 	{
 		Macc m(c);
-		int width = GetSize(c->getPort("\\Y"));
+		int width = GetSize(c->getPort(ID(Y)));
 		return bits_macc(m, width);
 	}
 
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ struct ShareWorker
 	{
 		Macc m1(c1), m2(c2), supermacc;
 
-		int w1 = GetSize(c1->getPort("\\Y")), w2 = GetSize(c2->getPort("\\Y"));
+		int w1 = GetSize(c1->getPort(ID(Y))), w2 = GetSize(c2->getPort(ID(Y)));
 		int width = max(w1, w2);
 
 		m1.optimize(w1);
@@ -328,11 +328,11 @@ struct ShareWorker
 		{
 			RTLIL::SigSpec sig_y = module->addWire(NEW_ID, width);
 
-			supercell_aux->insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, sig_y, c1->getPort("\\Y")));
-			supercell_aux->insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, sig_y, c2->getPort("\\Y")));
+			supercell_aux->insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, sig_y, c1->getPort(ID(Y))));
+			supercell_aux->insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, sig_y, c2->getPort(ID(Y))));
 
-			supercell->setParam("\\Y_WIDTH", width);
-			supercell->setPort("\\Y", sig_y);
+			supercell->setParam(ID(Y_WIDTH), width);
+			supercell->setPort(ID(Y), sig_y);
 
 			supermacc.optimize(width);
 			supermacc.to_cell(supercell);
@@ -368,22 +368,22 @@ struct ShareWorker
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type == "$memrd") {
-				if (cell->parameters.at("\\CLK_ENABLE").as_bool())
+			if (cell->type == ID($memrd)) {
+				if (cell->parameters.at(ID(CLK_ENABLE)).as_bool())
 					continue;
-				if (config.opt_aggressive || !modwalker.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\ADDR")).is_fully_const())
+				if (config.opt_aggressive || !modwalker.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(ADDR))).is_fully_const())
 					shareable_cells.insert(cell);
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$mul", "$div", "$mod")) {
-				if (config.opt_aggressive || cell->parameters.at("\\Y_WIDTH").as_int() >= 4)
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($mul), ID($div), ID($mod))) {
+				if (config.opt_aggressive || cell->parameters.at(ID(Y_WIDTH)).as_int() >= 4)
 					shareable_cells.insert(cell);
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$shl", "$shr", "$sshl", "$sshr")) {
-				if (config.opt_aggressive || cell->parameters.at("\\Y_WIDTH").as_int() >= 8)
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($shl), ID($shr), ID($sshl), ID($sshr))) {
+				if (config.opt_aggressive || cell->parameters.at(ID(Y_WIDTH)).as_int() >= 8)
 					shareable_cells.insert(cell);
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -401,9 +401,9 @@ struct ShareWorker
 		if (c1->type != c2->type)
 			return false;
 
-		if (c1->type == "$memrd")
+		if (c1->type == ID($memrd))
 		{
-			if (c1->parameters.at("\\MEMID").decode_string() != c2->parameters.at("\\MEMID").decode_string())
+			if (c1->parameters.at(ID(MEMID)).decode_string() != c2->parameters.at(ID(MEMID)).decode_string())
 				return false;
 
 			return true;
@@ -413,11 +413,11 @@ struct ShareWorker
 		{
 			if (!config.opt_aggressive)
 			{
-				int a1_width = c1->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int y1_width = c1->parameters.at("\\Y_WIDTH").as_int();
+				int a1_width = c1->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int y1_width = c1->parameters.at(ID(Y_WIDTH)).as_int();
 
-				int a2_width = c2->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int y2_width = c2->parameters.at("\\Y_WIDTH").as_int();
+				int a2_width = c2->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int y2_width = c2->parameters.at(ID(Y_WIDTH)).as_int();
 
 				if (max(a1_width, a2_width) > 2 * min(a1_width, a2_width)) return false;
 				if (max(y1_width, y2_width) > 2 * min(y1_width, y2_width)) return false;
@@ -426,17 +426,17 @@ struct ShareWorker
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (config.generic_bin_ops.count(c1->type) || c1->type == "$alu")
+		if (config.generic_bin_ops.count(c1->type) || c1->type == ID($alu))
 		{
 			if (!config.opt_aggressive)
 			{
-				int a1_width = c1->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int b1_width = c1->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int y1_width = c1->parameters.at("\\Y_WIDTH").as_int();
+				int a1_width = c1->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int b1_width = c1->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int y1_width = c1->parameters.at(ID(Y_WIDTH)).as_int();
 
-				int a2_width = c2->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int b2_width = c2->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int y2_width = c2->parameters.at("\\Y_WIDTH").as_int();
+				int a2_width = c2->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int b2_width = c2->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int y2_width = c2->parameters.at(ID(Y_WIDTH)).as_int();
 
 				if (max(a1_width, a2_width) > 2 * min(a1_width, a2_width)) return false;
 				if (max(b1_width, b2_width) > 2 * min(b1_width, b2_width)) return false;
@@ -450,13 +450,13 @@ struct ShareWorker
 		{
 			if (!config.opt_aggressive)
 			{
-				int a1_width = c1->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int b1_width = c1->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int y1_width = c1->parameters.at("\\Y_WIDTH").as_int();
+				int a1_width = c1->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int b1_width = c1->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int y1_width = c1->parameters.at(ID(Y_WIDTH)).as_int();
 
-				int a2_width = c2->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int b2_width = c2->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH").as_int();
-				int y2_width = c2->parameters.at("\\Y_WIDTH").as_int();
+				int a2_width = c2->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int b2_width = c2->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int();
+				int y2_width = c2->parameters.at(ID(Y_WIDTH)).as_int();
 
 				int min1_width = min(a1_width, b1_width);
 				int max1_width = max(a1_width, b1_width);
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ struct ShareWorker
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (c1->type == "$macc")
+		if (c1->type == ID($macc))
 		{
 			if (!config.opt_aggressive)
 				if (share_macc(c1, c2) > 2 * min(bits_macc(c1), bits_macc(c2))) return false;
@@ -510,27 +510,27 @@ struct ShareWorker
 
 		if (config.generic_uni_ops.count(c1->type))
 		{
-			if (c1->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool() != c2->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool())
+			if (c1->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool() != c2->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool())
 			{
-				RTLIL::Cell *unsigned_cell = c1->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool() ? c2 : c1;
-				if (unsigned_cell->getPort("\\A").to_sigbit_vector().back() != RTLIL::State::S0) {
-					unsigned_cell->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH") = unsigned_cell->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int() + 1;
-					RTLIL::SigSpec new_a = unsigned_cell->getPort("\\A");
+				RTLIL::Cell *unsigned_cell = c1->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool() ? c2 : c1;
+				if (unsigned_cell->getPort(ID(A)).to_sigbit_vector().back() != RTLIL::State::S0) {
+					unsigned_cell->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)) = unsigned_cell->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int() + 1;
+					RTLIL::SigSpec new_a = unsigned_cell->getPort(ID(A));
 					new_a.append_bit(RTLIL::State::S0);
-					unsigned_cell->setPort("\\A", new_a);
+					unsigned_cell->setPort(ID(A), new_a);
 				}
-				unsigned_cell->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED") = true;
+				unsigned_cell->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)) = true;
 				unsigned_cell->check();
 			}
 
-			bool a_signed = c1->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
-			log_assert(a_signed == c2->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool());
+			bool a_signed = c1->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
+			log_assert(a_signed == c2->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool());
 
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a1 = c1->getPort("\\A");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec y1 = c1->getPort("\\Y");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a1 = c1->getPort(ID(A));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec y1 = c1->getPort(ID(Y));
 
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a2 = c2->getPort("\\A");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec y2 = c2->getPort("\\Y");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a2 = c2->getPort(ID(A));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec y2 = c2->getPort(ID(Y));
 
 			int a_width = max(a1.size(), a2.size());
 			int y_width = max(y1.size(), y2.size());
@@ -544,11 +544,11 @@ struct ShareWorker
 			RTLIL::Wire *y = module->addWire(NEW_ID, y_width);
 
 			RTLIL::Cell *supercell = module->addCell(NEW_ID, c1->type);
-			supercell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = a_signed;
-			supercell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = a_width;
-			supercell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = y_width;
-			supercell->setPort("\\A", a);
-			supercell->setPort("\\Y", y);
+			supercell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = a_signed;
+			supercell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = a_width;
+			supercell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = y_width;
+			supercell->setPort(ID(A), a);
+			supercell->setPort(ID(Y), y);
 
 			supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, y, y1));
 			supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, y, y2));
@@ -557,54 +557,54 @@ struct ShareWorker
 			return supercell;
 		}
 
-		if (config.generic_bin_ops.count(c1->type) || config.generic_cbin_ops.count(c1->type) || c1->type == "$alu")
+		if (config.generic_bin_ops.count(c1->type) || config.generic_cbin_ops.count(c1->type) || c1->type == ID($alu))
 		{
 			bool modified_src_cells = false;
 
 			if (config.generic_cbin_ops.count(c1->type))
 			{
-				int score_unflipped = max(c1->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int(), c2->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int()) +
-						max(c1->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH").as_int(), c2->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH").as_int());
+				int score_unflipped = max(c1->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int(), c2->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int()) +
+						max(c1->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int(), c2->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int());
 
-				int score_flipped = max(c1->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int(), c2->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH").as_int()) +
-						max(c1->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH").as_int(), c2->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int());
+				int score_flipped = max(c1->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int(), c2->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int()) +
+						max(c1->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int(), c2->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int());
 
 				if (score_flipped < score_unflipped)
 				{
-					RTLIL::SigSpec tmp = c2->getPort("\\A");
-					c2->setPort("\\A", c2->getPort("\\B"));
-					c2->setPort("\\B", tmp);
+					RTLIL::SigSpec tmp = c2->getPort(ID(A));
+					c2->setPort(ID(A), c2->getPort(ID(B)));
+					c2->setPort(ID(B), tmp);
 
-					std::swap(c2->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH"), c2->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH"));
-					std::swap(c2->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED"), c2->parameters.at("\\B_SIGNED"));
+					std::swap(c2->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)), c2->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)));
+					std::swap(c2->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)), c2->parameters.at(ID(B_SIGNED)));
 					modified_src_cells = true;
 				}
 			}
 
-			if (c1->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool() != c2->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool())
+			if (c1->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool() != c2->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool())
 
 			{
-				RTLIL::Cell *unsigned_cell = c1->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool() ? c2 : c1;
-				if (unsigned_cell->getPort("\\A").to_sigbit_vector().back() != RTLIL::State::S0) {
-					unsigned_cell->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH") = unsigned_cell->parameters.at("\\A_WIDTH").as_int() + 1;
-					RTLIL::SigSpec new_a = unsigned_cell->getPort("\\A");
+				RTLIL::Cell *unsigned_cell = c1->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool() ? c2 : c1;
+				if (unsigned_cell->getPort(ID(A)).to_sigbit_vector().back() != RTLIL::State::S0) {
+					unsigned_cell->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)) = unsigned_cell->parameters.at(ID(A_WIDTH)).as_int() + 1;
+					RTLIL::SigSpec new_a = unsigned_cell->getPort(ID(A));
 					new_a.append_bit(RTLIL::State::S0);
-					unsigned_cell->setPort("\\A", new_a);
+					unsigned_cell->setPort(ID(A), new_a);
 				}
-				unsigned_cell->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED") = true;
+				unsigned_cell->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)) = true;
 				modified_src_cells = true;
 			}
 
-			if (c1->parameters.at("\\B_SIGNED").as_bool() != c2->parameters.at("\\B_SIGNED").as_bool())
+			if (c1->parameters.at(ID(B_SIGNED)).as_bool() != c2->parameters.at(ID(B_SIGNED)).as_bool())
 			{
-				RTLIL::Cell *unsigned_cell = c1->parameters.at("\\B_SIGNED").as_bool() ? c2 : c1;
-				if (unsigned_cell->getPort("\\B").to_sigbit_vector().back() != RTLIL::State::S0) {
-					unsigned_cell->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH") = unsigned_cell->parameters.at("\\B_WIDTH").as_int() + 1;
-					RTLIL::SigSpec new_b = unsigned_cell->getPort("\\B");
+				RTLIL::Cell *unsigned_cell = c1->parameters.at(ID(B_SIGNED)).as_bool() ? c2 : c1;
+				if (unsigned_cell->getPort(ID(B)).to_sigbit_vector().back() != RTLIL::State::S0) {
+					unsigned_cell->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)) = unsigned_cell->parameters.at(ID(B_WIDTH)).as_int() + 1;
+					RTLIL::SigSpec new_b = unsigned_cell->getPort(ID(B));
 					new_b.append_bit(RTLIL::State::S0);
-					unsigned_cell->setPort("\\B", new_b);
+					unsigned_cell->setPort(ID(B), new_b);
 				}
-				unsigned_cell->parameters.at("\\B_SIGNED") = true;
+				unsigned_cell->parameters.at(ID(B_SIGNED)) = true;
 				modified_src_cells = true;
 			}
 
@@ -613,28 +613,28 @@ struct ShareWorker
 				c2->check();
 			}
 
-			bool a_signed = c1->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool();
-			bool b_signed = c1->parameters.at("\\B_SIGNED").as_bool();
+			bool a_signed = c1->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool();
+			bool b_signed = c1->parameters.at(ID(B_SIGNED)).as_bool();
 
-			log_assert(a_signed == c2->parameters.at("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool());
-			log_assert(b_signed == c2->parameters.at("\\B_SIGNED").as_bool());
+			log_assert(a_signed == c2->parameters.at(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool());
+			log_assert(b_signed == c2->parameters.at(ID(B_SIGNED)).as_bool());
 
-			if (c1->type == "$shl" || c1->type == "$shr" || c1->type == "$sshl" || c1->type == "$sshr")
+			if (c1->type == ID($shl) || c1->type == ID($shr) || c1->type == ID($sshl) || c1->type == ID($sshr))
 				b_signed = false;
 
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a1 = c1->getPort("\\A");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec b1 = c1->getPort("\\B");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec y1 = c1->getPort("\\Y");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a1 = c1->getPort(ID(A));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec b1 = c1->getPort(ID(B));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec y1 = c1->getPort(ID(Y));
 
-			RTLIL::SigSpec a2 = c2->getPort("\\A");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec b2 = c2->getPort("\\B");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec y2 = c2->getPort("\\Y");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec a2 = c2->getPort(ID(A));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec b2 = c2->getPort(ID(B));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec y2 = c2->getPort(ID(Y));
 
 			int a_width = max(a1.size(), a2.size());
 			int b_width = max(b1.size(), b2.size());
 			int y_width = max(y1.size(), y2.size());
 
-			if (c1->type == "$shr" && a_signed)
+			if (c1->type == ID($shr) && a_signed)
 			{
 				a_width = max(y_width, a_width);
 
@@ -660,43 +660,43 @@ struct ShareWorker
 			supercell_aux.insert(module->addMux(NEW_ID, b2, b1, act, b));
 
 			RTLIL::Wire *y = module->addWire(NEW_ID, y_width);
-			RTLIL::Wire *x = c1->type == "$alu" ? module->addWire(NEW_ID, y_width) : nullptr;
-			RTLIL::Wire *co = c1->type == "$alu" ? module->addWire(NEW_ID, y_width) : nullptr;
+			RTLIL::Wire *x = c1->type == ID($alu) ? module->addWire(NEW_ID, y_width) : nullptr;
+			RTLIL::Wire *co = c1->type == ID($alu) ? module->addWire(NEW_ID, y_width) : nullptr;
 
 			RTLIL::Cell *supercell = module->addCell(NEW_ID, c1->type);
-			supercell->parameters["\\A_SIGNED"] = a_signed;
-			supercell->parameters["\\B_SIGNED"] = b_signed;
-			supercell->parameters["\\A_WIDTH"] = a_width;
-			supercell->parameters["\\B_WIDTH"] = b_width;
-			supercell->parameters["\\Y_WIDTH"] = y_width;
-			supercell->setPort("\\A", a);
-			supercell->setPort("\\B", b);
-			supercell->setPort("\\Y", y);
-			if (c1->type == "$alu") {
+			supercell->parameters[ID(A_SIGNED)] = a_signed;
+			supercell->parameters[ID(B_SIGNED)] = b_signed;
+			supercell->parameters[ID(A_WIDTH)] = a_width;
+			supercell->parameters[ID(B_WIDTH)] = b_width;
+			supercell->parameters[ID(Y_WIDTH)] = y_width;
+			supercell->setPort(ID(A), a);
+			supercell->setPort(ID(B), b);
+			supercell->setPort(ID(Y), y);
+			if (c1->type == ID($alu)) {
 				RTLIL::Wire *ci = module->addWire(NEW_ID), *bi = module->addWire(NEW_ID);
-				supercell_aux.insert(module->addMux(NEW_ID, c2->getPort("\\CI"), c1->getPort("\\CI"), act, ci));
-				supercell_aux.insert(module->addMux(NEW_ID, c2->getPort("\\BI"), c1->getPort("\\BI"), act, bi));
-				supercell->setPort("\\CI", ci);
-				supercell->setPort("\\BI", bi);
-				supercell->setPort("\\CO", co);
-				supercell->setPort("\\X", x);
+				supercell_aux.insert(module->addMux(NEW_ID, c2->getPort(ID(CI)), c1->getPort(ID(CI)), act, ci));
+				supercell_aux.insert(module->addMux(NEW_ID, c2->getPort(ID(BI)), c1->getPort(ID(BI)), act, bi));
+				supercell->setPort(ID(CI), ci);
+				supercell->setPort(ID(BI), bi);
+				supercell->setPort(ID(CO), co);
+				supercell->setPort(ID(X), x);
 			}
 			supercell->check();
 
 			supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, y, y1));
 			supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, y, y2));
-			if (c1->type == "$alu") {
-				supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, co, c1->getPort("\\CO")));
-				supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, co, c2->getPort("\\CO")));
-				supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, x, c1->getPort("\\X")));
-				supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, x, c2->getPort("\\X")));
+			if (c1->type == ID($alu)) {
+				supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, co, c1->getPort(ID(CO))));
+				supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, co, c2->getPort(ID(CO))));
+				supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, x, c1->getPort(ID(X))));
+				supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, x, c2->getPort(ID(X))));
 			}
 
 			supercell_aux.insert(supercell);
 			return supercell;
 		}
 
-		if (c1->type == "$macc")
+		if (c1->type == ID($macc))
 		{
 			RTLIL::Cell *supercell = module->addCell(NEW_ID, c1->type);
 			supercell_aux.insert(supercell);
@@ -705,18 +705,18 @@ struct ShareWorker
 			return supercell;
 		}
 
-		if (c1->type == "$memrd")
+		if (c1->type == ID($memrd))
 		{
 			RTLIL::Cell *supercell = module->addCell(NEW_ID, c1);
-			RTLIL::SigSpec addr1 = c1->getPort("\\ADDR");
-			RTLIL::SigSpec addr2 = c2->getPort("\\ADDR");
+			RTLIL::SigSpec addr1 = c1->getPort(ID(ADDR));
+			RTLIL::SigSpec addr2 = c2->getPort(ID(ADDR));
 			if (GetSize(addr1) < GetSize(addr2))
 				addr1.extend_u0(GetSize(addr2));
 			else
 				addr2.extend_u0(GetSize(addr1));
-			supercell->setPort("\\ADDR", addr1 != addr2 ? module->Mux(NEW_ID, addr2, addr1, act) : addr1);
-			supercell->parameters["\\ABITS"] = RTLIL::Const(GetSize(addr1));
-			supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, supercell->getPort("\\DATA"), c2->getPort("\\DATA")));
+			supercell->setPort(ID(ADDR), addr1 != addr2 ? module->Mux(NEW_ID, addr2, addr1, act) : addr1);
+			supercell->parameters[ID(ABITS)] = RTLIL::Const(GetSize(addr1));
+			supercell_aux.insert(module->addPos(NEW_ID, supercell->getPort(ID(DATA)), c2->getPort(ID(DATA))));
 			supercell_aux.insert(supercell);
 			return supercell;
 		}
@@ -747,8 +747,8 @@ struct ShareWorker
 		modwalker.get_consumers(pbits, modwalker.cell_outputs[cell]);
 
 		for (auto &bit : pbits) {
-			if ((bit.cell->type == "$mux" || bit.cell->type == "$pmux") && bit.port == "\\S")
-				forbidden_controls_cache[cell].insert(bit.cell->getPort("\\S").extract(bit.offset, 1));
+			if ((bit.cell->type == ID($mux) || bit.cell->type == ID($pmux)) && bit.port == ID(S))
+				forbidden_controls_cache[cell].insert(bit.cell->getPort(ID(S)).extract(bit.offset, 1));
 			consumer_cells.insert(bit.cell);
 		}
 
@@ -874,7 +874,7 @@ struct ShareWorker
 			}
 			for (auto &pbit : modwalker.signal_consumers[bit]) {
 				log_assert(fwd_ct.cell_known(pbit.cell->type));
-				if ((pbit.cell->type == "$mux" || pbit.cell->type == "$pmux") && (pbit.port == "\\A" || pbit.port == "\\B"))
+				if ((pbit.cell->type == ID($mux) || pbit.cell->type == ID($pmux)) && (pbit.port == ID(A) || pbit.port == ID(B)))
 					driven_data_muxes.insert(pbit.cell);
 				else
 					driven_cells.insert(pbit.cell);
@@ -890,10 +890,10 @@ struct ShareWorker
 			bool used_in_a = false;
 			std::set<int> used_in_b_parts;
 
-			int width = c->parameters.at("\\WIDTH").as_int();
-			std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_a = modwalker.sigmap(c->getPort("\\A"));
-			std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_b = modwalker.sigmap(c->getPort("\\B"));
-			std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_s = modwalker.sigmap(c->getPort("\\S"));
+			int width = c->parameters.at(ID(WIDTH)).as_int();
+			std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_a = modwalker.sigmap(c->getPort(ID(A)));
+			std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_b = modwalker.sigmap(c->getPort(ID(B)));
+			std::vector<RTLIL::SigBit> sig_s = modwalker.sigmap(c->getPort(ID(S)));
 
 			for (auto &bit : sig_a)
 				if (cell_out_bits.count(bit))
@@ -1132,14 +1132,14 @@ struct ShareWorker
 		fwd_ct.setup_internals();
 
 		cone_ct.setup_internals();
-		cone_ct.cell_types.erase("$mul");
-		cone_ct.cell_types.erase("$mod");
-		cone_ct.cell_types.erase("$div");
-		cone_ct.cell_types.erase("$pow");
-		cone_ct.cell_types.erase("$shl");
-		cone_ct.cell_types.erase("$shr");
-		cone_ct.cell_types.erase("$sshl");
-		cone_ct.cell_types.erase("$sshr");
+		cone_ct.cell_types.erase(ID($mul));
+		cone_ct.cell_types.erase(ID($mod));
+		cone_ct.cell_types.erase(ID($div));
+		cone_ct.cell_types.erase(ID($pow));
+		cone_ct.cell_types.erase(ID($shl));
+		cone_ct.cell_types.erase(ID($shr));
+		cone_ct.cell_types.erase(ID($sshl));
+		cone_ct.cell_types.erase(ID($sshr));
 
 		modwalker.setup(design, module);
 
@@ -1153,9 +1153,9 @@ struct ShareWorker
 				GetSize(shareable_cells), log_id(module));
 
 		for (auto cell : module->cells())
-			if (cell->type == "$pmux")
-				for (auto bit : cell->getPort("\\S"))
-				for (auto other_bit : cell->getPort("\\S"))
+			if (cell->type == ID($pmux))
+				for (auto bit : cell->getPort(ID(S)))
+				for (auto other_bit : cell->getPort(ID(S)))
 					if (bit < other_bit)
 						exclusive_ctrls.push_back(std::pair<RTLIL::SigBit, RTLIL::SigBit>(bit, other_bit));
 
@@ -1466,43 +1466,43 @@ struct SharePass : public Pass {
 		config.opt_aggressive = false;
 		config.opt_fast = false;
 
-		config.generic_uni_ops.insert("$not");
-		// config.generic_uni_ops.insert("$pos");
-		config.generic_uni_ops.insert("$neg");
-
-		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert("$and");
-		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert("$or");
-		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert("$xor");
-		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert("$xnor");
-
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$shl");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$shr");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$sshl");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$sshr");
-
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$lt");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$le");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$eq");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$ne");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$eqx");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$nex");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$ge");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$gt");
-
-		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert("$add");
-		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert("$mul");
-
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$sub");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$div");
-		config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$mod");
-		// config.generic_bin_ops.insert("$pow");
-
-		config.generic_uni_ops.insert("$logic_not");
-		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert("$logic_and");
-		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert("$logic_or");
-
-		config.generic_other_ops.insert("$alu");
-		config.generic_other_ops.insert("$macc");
+		config.generic_uni_ops.insert(ID($not));
+		// config.generic_uni_ops.insert(ID($pos));
+		config.generic_uni_ops.insert(ID($neg));
+
+		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert(ID($and));
+		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert(ID($or));
+		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert(ID($xor));
+		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert(ID($xnor));
+
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($shl));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($shr));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($sshl));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($sshr));
+
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($lt));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($le));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($eq));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($ne));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($eqx));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($nex));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($ge));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($gt));
+
+		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert(ID($add));
+		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert(ID($mul));
+
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($sub));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($div));
+		config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($mod));
+		// config.generic_bin_ops.insert(ID($pow));
+
+		config.generic_uni_ops.insert(ID($logic_not));
+		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert(ID($logic_and));
+		config.generic_cbin_ops.insert(ID($logic_or));
+
+		config.generic_other_ops.insert(ID($alu));
+		config.generic_other_ops.insert(ID($macc));
 
 		log_header(design, "Executing SHARE pass (SAT-based resource sharing).\n");
 
diff --git a/passes/opt/wreduce.cc b/passes/opt/wreduce.cc
index 1eeca2748..ca0be54d2 100644
--- a/passes/opt/wreduce.cc
+++ b/passes/opt/wreduce.cc
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ struct WreduceConfig
 	WreduceConfig()
 	{
 		supported_cell_types = pool<IdString>({
-			"$not", "$pos", "$neg",
-			"$and", "$or", "$xor", "$xnor",
-			"$shl", "$shr", "$sshl", "$sshr", "$shift", "$shiftx",
-			"$lt", "$le", "$eq", "$ne", "$eqx", "$nex", "$ge", "$gt",
-			"$add", "$sub", "$mul", // "$div", "$mod", "$pow",
-			"$mux", "$pmux",
-			"$dff", "$adff"
+			ID($not), ID($pos), ID($neg),
+			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($mux), ID($pmux),
+			ID($dff), ID($adff)
 		});
 	}
 };
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 	{
 		// Reduce size of MUX if inputs agree on a value for a bit or a output bit is unused
 
-		SigSpec sig_a = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-		SigSpec sig_b = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\B"));
-		SigSpec sig_s = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\S"));
-		SigSpec sig_y = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+		SigSpec sig_a = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+		SigSpec sig_b = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
+		SigSpec sig_s = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(S)));
+		SigSpec sig_y = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 		std::vector<SigBit> bits_removed;
 
 		if (sig_y.has_const())
@@ -130,9 +130,9 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 		for (auto bit : new_work_queue_bits)
 			work_queue_bits.insert(bit);
 
-		cell->setPort("\\A", new_sig_a);
-		cell->setPort("\\B", new_sig_b);
-		cell->setPort("\\Y", new_sig_y);
+		cell->setPort(ID(A), new_sig_a);
+		cell->setPort(ID(B), new_sig_b);
+		cell->setPort(ID(Y), new_sig_y);
 		cell->fixup_parameters();
 
 		module->connect(sig_y.extract(n_kept, n_removed), sig_removed);
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 	{
 		// Reduce size of FF if inputs are just sign/zero extended or output bit is not used
 
-		SigSpec sig_d = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\D"));
-		SigSpec sig_q = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\Q"));
+		SigSpec sig_d = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(D)));
+		SigSpec sig_q = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(Q)));
 		Const initval;
 
 		int width_before = GetSize(sig_q);
@@ -214,14 +214,14 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 			work_queue_bits.insert(bit);
 
 		// Narrow ARST_VALUE parameter to new size.
-		if (cell->parameters.count("\\ARST_VALUE")) {
-			Const arst_value = cell->getParam("\\ARST_VALUE");
+		if (cell->parameters.count(ID(ARST_VALUE))) {
+			Const arst_value = cell->getParam(ID(ARST_VALUE));
 			arst_value.bits.resize(GetSize(sig_q));
-			cell->setParam("\\ARST_VALUE", arst_value);
+			cell->setParam(ID(ARST_VALUE), arst_value);
 		}
 
-		cell->setPort("\\D", sig_d);
-		cell->setPort("\\Q", sig_q);
+		cell->setPort(ID(D), sig_d);
+		cell->setPort(ID(Q), sig_q);
 		cell->fixup_parameters();
 	}
 
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 		port_signed = cell->getParam(stringf("\\%c_SIGNED", port)).as_bool();
 		SigSpec sig = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(stringf("\\%c", port)));
 
-		if (port == 'B' && cell->type.in("$shl", "$shr", "$sshl", "$sshr"))
+		if (port == 'B' && cell->type.in(ID($shl), ID($shr), ID($sshl), ID($sshr)))
 			port_signed = false;
 
 		int bits_removed = 0;
@@ -264,13 +264,13 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 		if (!cell->type.in(config->supported_cell_types))
 			return;
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$mux", "$pmux"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($mux), ID($pmux)))
 			return run_cell_mux(cell);
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$dff", "$adff"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($dff), ID($adff)))
 			return run_cell_dff(cell);
 
-		SigSpec sig = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\Y"));
+		SigSpec sig = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(Y)));
 
 		if (sig.has_const())
 			return;
@@ -278,10 +278,10 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 
 		// Reduce size of ports A and B based on constant input bits and size of output port
 
-		int max_port_a_size = cell->hasPort("\\A") ? GetSize(cell->getPort("\\A")) : -1;
-		int max_port_b_size = cell->hasPort("\\B") ? GetSize(cell->getPort("\\B")) : -1;
+		int max_port_a_size = cell->hasPort(ID(A)) ? GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(A))) : -1;
+		int max_port_b_size = cell->hasPort(ID(B)) ? GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(B))) : -1;
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$not", "$pos", "$neg", "$and", "$or", "$xor", "$add", "$sub")) {
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($not), ID($pos), ID($neg), ID($and), ID($or), ID($xor), ID($add), ID($sub))) {
 			max_port_a_size = min(max_port_a_size, GetSize(sig));
 			max_port_b_size = min(max_port_b_size, GetSize(sig));
 		}
@@ -289,32 +289,32 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 		bool port_a_signed = false;
 		bool port_b_signed = false;
 
-		if (max_port_a_size >= 0 && cell->type != "$shiftx")
+		if (max_port_a_size >= 0 && cell->type != ID($shiftx))
 			run_reduce_inport(cell, 'A', max_port_a_size, port_a_signed, did_something);
 
 		if (max_port_b_size >= 0)
 			run_reduce_inport(cell, 'B', max_port_b_size, port_b_signed, did_something);
 
-		if (cell->hasPort("\\A") && cell->hasPort("\\B") && port_a_signed && port_b_signed) {
-			SigSpec sig_a = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A")), sig_b = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+		if (cell->hasPort(ID(A)) && cell->hasPort(ID(B)) && port_a_signed && port_b_signed) {
+			SigSpec sig_a = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A))), sig_b = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 			if (GetSize(sig_a) > 0 && sig_a[GetSize(sig_a)-1] == State::S0 &&
 					GetSize(sig_b) > 0 && sig_b[GetSize(sig_b)-1] == State::S0) {
 				log("Converting cell %s.%s (%s) from signed to unsigned.\n",
 						log_id(module), log_id(cell), log_id(cell->type));
-				cell->setParam("\\A_SIGNED", 0);
-				cell->setParam("\\B_SIGNED", 0);
+				cell->setParam(ID(A_SIGNED), 0);
+				cell->setParam(ID(B_SIGNED), 0);
 				port_a_signed = false;
 				port_b_signed = false;
 				did_something = true;
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (cell->hasPort("\\A") && !cell->hasPort("\\B") && port_a_signed) {
-			SigSpec sig_a = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort("\\A"));
+		if (cell->hasPort(ID(A)) && !cell->hasPort(ID(B)) && port_a_signed) {
+			SigSpec sig_a = mi.sigmap(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
 			if (GetSize(sig_a) > 0 && sig_a[GetSize(sig_a)-1] == State::S0) {
 				log("Converting cell %s.%s (%s) from signed to unsigned.\n",
 						log_id(module), log_id(cell), log_id(cell->type));
-				cell->setParam("\\A_SIGNED", 0);
+				cell->setParam(ID(A_SIGNED), 0);
 				port_a_signed = false;
 				did_something = true;
 			}
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 		// Reduce size of port Y based on sizes for A and B and unused bits in Y
 
 		int bits_removed = 0;
-		if (port_a_signed && cell->type == "$shr") {
+		if (port_a_signed && cell->type == ID($shr)) {
 			// do not reduce size of output on $shr cells with signed A inputs
 		} else {
 			while (GetSize(sig) > 0)
@@ -342,20 +342,20 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (cell->type.in("$pos", "$add", "$mul", "$and", "$or", "$xor", "$sub"))
+		if (cell->type.in(ID($pos), ID($add), ID($mul), ID($and), ID($or), ID($xor), ID($sub)))
 		{
-			bool is_signed = cell->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool() || cell->type == "$sub";
+			bool is_signed = cell->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool() || cell->type == ID($sub);
 
 			int a_size = 0, b_size = 0;
-			if (cell->hasPort("\\A")) a_size = GetSize(cell->getPort("\\A"));
-			if (cell->hasPort("\\B")) b_size = GetSize(cell->getPort("\\B"));
+			if (cell->hasPort(ID(A))) a_size = GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(A)));
+			if (cell->hasPort(ID(B))) b_size = GetSize(cell->getPort(ID(B)));
 
 			int max_y_size = max(a_size, b_size);
 
-			if (cell->type.in("$add", "$sub"))
+			if (cell->type.in(ID($add), ID($sub)))
 				max_y_size++;
 
-			if (cell->type == "$mul")
+			if (cell->type == ID($mul))
 				max_y_size = a_size + b_size;
 
 			while (GetSize(sig) > 1 && GetSize(sig) > max_y_size) {
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 		if (bits_removed) {
 			log("Removed top %d bits (of %d) from port Y of cell %s.%s (%s).\n",
 					bits_removed, GetSize(sig) + bits_removed, log_id(module), log_id(cell), log_id(cell->type));
-			cell->setPort("\\Y", sig);
+			cell->setPort(ID(Y), sig);
 			did_something = true;
 		}
 
@@ -387,8 +387,8 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 	static int count_nontrivial_wire_attrs(RTLIL::Wire *w)
 	{
 		int count = w->attributes.size();
-		count -= w->attributes.count("\\src");
-		count -= w->attributes.count("\\unused_bits");
+		count -= w->attributes.count(ID(src));
+		count -= w->attributes.count(ID(unused_bits));
 		return count;
 	}
 
@@ -398,11 +398,11 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 		SigMap init_attr_sigmap = mi.sigmap;
 
 		for (auto w : module->wires()) {
-			if (w->get_bool_attribute("\\keep"))
+			if (w->get_bool_attribute(ID(keep)))
 				for (auto bit : mi.sigmap(w))
 					keep_bits.insert(bit);
-			if (w->attributes.count("\\init")) {
-				Const initval = w->attributes.at("\\init");
+			if (w->attributes.count(ID(init))) {
+				Const initval = w->attributes.at(ID(init));
 				SigSpec initsig = init_attr_sigmap(w);
 				int width = std::min(GetSize(initval), GetSize(initsig));
 				for (int i = 0; i < width; i++)
@@ -459,8 +459,8 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 
 		if (!remove_init_bits.empty()) {
 			for (auto w : module->wires()) {
-				if (w->attributes.count("\\init")) {
-					Const initval = w->attributes.at("\\init");
+				if (w->attributes.count(ID(init))) {
+					Const initval = w->attributes.at(ID(init));
 					Const new_initval(State::Sx, GetSize(w));
 					SigSpec initsig = init_attr_sigmap(w);
 					int width = std::min(GetSize(initval), GetSize(initsig));
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ struct WreduceWorker
 						if (!remove_init_bits.count(initsig[i]))
 							new_initval[i] = initval[i];
 					}
-					w->attributes.at("\\init") = new_initval;
+					w->attributes.at(ID(init)) = new_initval;
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -528,23 +528,23 @@ struct WreducePass : public Pass {
 
 			for (auto c : module->selected_cells())
 			{
-				if (c->type.in("$reduce_and", "$reduce_or", "$reduce_xor", "$reduce_xnor", "$reduce_bool",
-						"$lt", "$le", "$eq", "$ne", "$eqx", "$nex", "$ge", "$gt",
-						"$logic_not", "$logic_and", "$logic_or") && GetSize(c->getPort("\\Y")) > 1) {
-					SigSpec sig = c->getPort("\\Y");
+				if (c->type.in(ID($reduce_and), ID($reduce_or), ID($reduce_xor), ID($reduce_xnor), ID($reduce_bool),
+						ID($lt), ID($le), ID($eq), ID($ne), ID($eqx), ID($nex), ID($ge), ID($gt),
+						ID($logic_not), ID($logic_and), ID($logic_or)) && GetSize(c->getPort(ID(Y))) > 1) {
+					SigSpec sig = c->getPort(ID(Y));
 					if (!sig.has_const()) {
-						c->setPort("\\Y", sig[0]);
-						c->setParam("\\Y_WIDTH", 1);
+						c->setPort(ID(Y), sig[0]);
+						c->setParam(ID(Y_WIDTH), 1);
 						sig.remove(0);
 						module->connect(sig, Const(0, GetSize(sig)));
 					}
 				}
 
-				if (c->type.in("$div", "$mod", "$pow"))
+				if (c->type.in(ID($div), ID($mod), ID($pow)))
 				{
-					SigSpec A = c->getPort("\\A");
+					SigSpec A = c->getPort(ID(A));
 					int original_a_width = GetSize(A);
-					if (c->getParam("\\A_SIGNED").as_bool()) {
+					if (c->getParam(ID(A_SIGNED)).as_bool()) {
 						while (GetSize(A) > 1 && A[GetSize(A)-1] == State::S0 && A[GetSize(A)-2] == State::S0)
 							A.remove(GetSize(A)-1, 1);
 					} else {
@@ -554,13 +554,13 @@ struct WreducePass : public Pass {
 					if (original_a_width != GetSize(A)) {
 						log("Removed top %d bits (of %d) from port A of cell %s.%s (%s).\n",
 								original_a_width-GetSize(A), original_a_width, log_id(module), log_id(c), log_id(c->type));
-						c->setPort("\\A", A);
-						c->setParam("\\A_WIDTH", GetSize(A));
+						c->setPort(ID(A), A);
+						c->setParam(ID(A_WIDTH), GetSize(A));
 					}
 
-					SigSpec B = c->getPort("\\B");
+					SigSpec B = c->getPort(ID(B));
 					int original_b_width = GetSize(B);
-					if (c->getParam("\\B_SIGNED").as_bool()) {
+					if (c->getParam(ID(B_SIGNED)).as_bool()) {
 						while (GetSize(B) > 1 && B[GetSize(B)-1] == State::S0 && B[GetSize(B)-2] == State::S0)
 							B.remove(GetSize(B)-1, 1);
 					} else {
@@ -570,24 +570,24 @@ struct WreducePass : public Pass {
 					if (original_b_width != GetSize(B)) {
 						log("Removed top %d bits (of %d) from port B of cell %s.%s (%s).\n",
 								original_b_width-GetSize(B), original_b_width, log_id(module), log_id(c), log_id(c->type));
-						c->setPort("\\B", B);
-						c->setParam("\\B_WIDTH", GetSize(B));
+						c->setPort(ID(B), B);
+						c->setParam(ID(B_WIDTH), GetSize(B));
 					}
 				}
 
-				if (!opt_memx && c->type.in("$memrd", "$memwr", "$meminit")) {
-					IdString memid = c->getParam("\\MEMID").decode_string();
+				if (!opt_memx && c->type.in(ID($memrd), ID($memwr), ID($meminit))) {
+					IdString memid = c->getParam(ID(MEMID)).decode_string();
 					RTLIL::Memory *mem = module->memories.at(memid);
 					if (mem->start_offset >= 0) {
-						int cur_addrbits = c->getParam("\\ABITS").as_int();
+						int cur_addrbits = c->getParam(ID(ABITS)).as_int();
 						int max_addrbits = ceil_log2(mem->start_offset + mem->size);
 						if (cur_addrbits > max_addrbits) {
 							log("Removed top %d address bits (of %d) from memory %s port %s.%s (%s).\n",
 									cur_addrbits-max_addrbits, cur_addrbits,
-									c->type == "$memrd" ? "read" : c->type == "$memwr" ? "write" : "init",
+									c->type == ID($memrd) ? "read" : c->type == ID($memwr) ? "write" : "init",
 									log_id(module), log_id(c), log_id(memid));
-							c->setParam("\\ABITS", max_addrbits);
-							c->setPort("\\ADDR", c->getPort("\\ADDR").extract(0, max_addrbits));
+							c->setParam(ID(ABITS), max_addrbits);
+							c->setPort(ID(ADDR), c->getPort(ID(ADDR)).extract(0, max_addrbits));
 						}
 					}
 				}