diff --git a/Data/Ix/List.hs b/Data/Ix/List.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Data/Ix/List.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+
+-- | Transform lists of bounded enumerables into an index. A version for lists
+-- of different sizes exists as well.
+
+module Data.Ix.List where
+
+import Control.Exception (assert)
+
+
+-- | transform a list of bounded enumerables into an integer index. the first
+-- character will be least significant, the last most significant
+
+list2idx :: (Enum a, Bounded a) => [a] -> Int
+list2idx xs = assert (not $ null xs) l2i 1 xs where
+  l2i k [x]    = k * fromEnum x
+  l2i k (x:xs) = k * fromEnum x + l2i (k * c) xs where
+    c = fromEnum (maxBound `asTypeOf` x) - fromEnum (minBound `asTypeOf` x) + 1
+{-# INLINE list2idx #-}
+
+-- | Version for lists of different sizes.
+
+listAll2idx :: (Enum a, Bounded a) => [a] -> Int
+listAll2idx [] = 0
+listAll2idx xs = l2i 1 xs where
+  l2i k [x]    = k * (fromEnum x +1)
+  l2i k (x:xs) = k * (fromEnum x +1) + l2i (k * c) xs where
+    c = fromEnum (maxBound `asTypeOf` x) - fromEnum (minBound `asTypeOf` x) + 2
+{-# INLINE listAll2idx #-}
+
+
+
+
+
+-- | same as above, but now the list is bounded (hence _b_oundedlist) by the
+-- user.
+
+-- TODO maybe assert that (fromEnum x >= emin) && (fromEnum x <= emax)
+
+blist2idx :: (Enum a, Bounded a) => (a,a) -> [a] -> Int
+blist2idx (bmin,bmax) xs = assert (not $ null xs) $ l2i 1 xs where
+  l2i k [x]    = k * (fromEnum x - emin)
+  l2i k (x:xs) = k * (fromEnum x - emin) + l2i (k*c) xs where
+    c = emax - emin + 1
+  emin = fromEnum bmin
+  emax = fromEnum bmax
+{-# INLINE blist2idx #-}
diff --git a/Data/Ix/Tuple.hs b/Data/Ix/Tuple.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Data/Ix/Tuple.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+
+{-# LANGUAGE StandaloneDeriving, TypeSynonymInstances #-}
+module Data.Ix.Tuple where
+
+import Data.Ix
+import GHC.Tuple
+
+deriving instance (Ix a, Ix b, Ix c, Ix d, Ix e, Ix f) => Ix (a,b,c,d,e,f)
+deriving instance (Ix a, Ix b, Ix c, Ix d, Ix e, Ix f, Ix g) => Ix (a,b,c,d,e,f,g)
+deriving instance (Ix a, Ix b, Ix c, Ix d, Ix e, Ix f, Ix g, Ix h) => Ix (a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h)
+
+-- how it would be done manually
+{-
+instance  (Ix a1, Ix a2, Ix a3, Ix a4, Ix a5, Ix a6) => Ix (a1,a2,a3,a4,a5,a6)  where
+    range ((l1,l2,l3,l4,l5,l6),(u1,u2,u3,u4,u5,u6)) =
+      [(i1,i2,i3,i4,i5,i6) | i1 <- range (l1,u1),
+                             i2 <- range (l2,u2),
+                             i3 <- range (l3,u3),
+                             i4 <- range (l4,u4),
+                             i5 <- range (l5,u5),
+                             i6 <- range (l6,u6)]
+
+    unsafeIndex ((l1,l2,l3,l4,l5,l6),(u1,u2,u3,u4,u5,u6)) (i1,i2,i3,i4,i5,i6) =
+      unsafeIndex (l6,u6) i6 + unsafeRangeSize (l6,u6) * (
+      unsafeIndex (l5,u5) i5 + unsafeRangeSize (l5,u5) * (
+      unsafeIndex (l4,u4) i4 + unsafeRangeSize (l4,u4) * (
+      unsafeIndex (l3,u3) i3 + unsafeRangeSize (l3,u3) * (
+      unsafeIndex (l2,u2) i2 + unsafeRangeSize (l2,u2) * (
+      unsafeIndex (l1,u1) i1)))))
+
+    inRange ((l1,l2,l3,l4,l5,l6),(u1,u2,u3,u4,u5,u6)) (i1,i2,i3,i4,i5,i6) =
+      inRange (l1,u1) i1 && inRange (l2,u2) i2 &&
+      inRange (l3,u3) i3 && inRange (l4,u4) i4 &&
+      inRange (l5,u5) i5 && inRange (l6,u6) i6
+-}
diff --git a/Debug/Trace/Tools.hs b/Debug/Trace/Tools.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Debug/Trace/Tools.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+
+module Debug.Trace.Tools where
+
+import Debug.Trace
+
+
+
+-- | inline output a variable
+
+traceVal msg x = trace (if msg /= "" then msg ++ " " ++ show x else show x) x
+
+
+
+-- | conditional tracing
+
+traceIf cnd msg x = if cnd then trace msg x else x
+
+-- | conditional inline tracing
+
+traceIfVal cnd msg x = if cnd then traceVal msg x else x
diff --git a/HsTools.cabal b/HsTools.cabal
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/HsTools.cabal
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+name:           HsTools
+version:        0.0.1.1
+author:         Christian Hoener zu Siederdissen
+maintainer:     choener@tbi.univie.ac.at
+copyright:      Christian Hoener zu Siederdissen, 2010
+category:       Generic
+synopsis:       Haskell helper functions
+license:        BSD3
+license-file:   LICENSE
+build-type:     Simple
+stability:      experimental
+cabal-version:  >= 1.4.0
+description:
+                Helper functions for a lot of different libraries. (unstable
+                library!)
+
+library
+  build-depends:
+    base >= 4 && < 5,
+    ghc-prim
+
+  exposed-modules:
+    Data.Ix.Tuple,
+    Data.Ix.List,
+    Debug.Trace.Tools
+
+  ghc-options:
+    -O2
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+Copyright Christian Hoener zu Siederdissen 2010
+
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+      copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
+      disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided
+      with the distribution.
+
+    * Neither the name of Christian Hoener zu Siederdissen nor the names of other
+      contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+      from this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+"AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
diff --git a/Setup.hs b/Setup.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Setup.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+import Distribution.Simple
+main = defaultMain