Use char* for strings in public API

The constant casting just makes user code a mess, for no benefit.

11 files changed, 185 insertions, 192 deletions

diff --git a/src/byte_source.c b/src/byte_source.c
index 329c89a3..51d6e986 100644
--- a/src/byte_source.c
+++ b/src/byte_source.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ serd_byte_source_open_source(SerdByteSource*     source,
                              SerdSource          read_func,
                              SerdStreamErrorFunc error_func,
                              void*               stream,
-                             const uint8_t*      name,
+                             const char*         name,
                              size_t              page_size)
 {
 	const Cursor cur = { name, 1, 1 };
@@ -86,13 +86,13 @@ serd_byte_source_prepare(SerdByteSource* source)
 }
 
 SerdStatus
-serd_byte_source_open_string(SerdByteSource* source, const uint8_t* utf8)
+serd_byte_source_open_string(SerdByteSource* source, const char* utf8)
 {
-	const Cursor cur = { (const uint8_t*)"(string)", 1, 1 };
+	const Cursor cur = { "(string)", 1, 1 };
 
 	memset(source, '\0', sizeof(*source));
 	source->cur      = cur;
-	source->read_buf = utf8;
+	source->read_buf = (const uint8_t*)utf8;
 	return SERD_SUCCESS;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/env.c b/src/env.c
index 623bc1c0..90060e84 100644
--- a/src/env.c
+++ b/src/env.c
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 #include "serd/serd.h"
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
-#include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ serd_env_set_base_uri(SerdEnv*        env,
 
 static inline SerdPrefix*
 serd_env_find(const SerdEnv* env,
-              const uint8_t* name,
+              const char*    name,
               size_t         name_len)
 {
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < env->n_prefixes; ++i) {
@@ -147,9 +146,9 @@ serd_env_set_prefix(SerdEnv*        env,
 }
 
 SerdStatus
-serd_env_set_prefix_from_strings(SerdEnv*       env,
-                                 const uint8_t* name,
-                                 const uint8_t* uri)
+serd_env_set_prefix_from_strings(SerdEnv*    env,
+                                 const char* name,
+                                 const char* uri)
 {
 	const SerdNode name_node = serd_node_from_string(SERD_LITERAL, name);
 	const SerdNode uri_node  = serd_node_from_string(SERD_URI, uri);
@@ -166,10 +165,8 @@ serd_env_qualify(const SerdEnv*  env,
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < env->n_prefixes; ++i) {
 		const SerdNode* const prefix_uri = &env->prefixes[i].uri;
 		if (uri->n_bytes >= prefix_uri->n_bytes) {
-			if (!strncmp((const char*)uri->buf,
-			             (const char*)prefix_uri->buf,
-			             prefix_uri->n_bytes)) {
-				*prefix = env->prefixes[i].name;
+			if (!strncmp(uri->buf, prefix_uri->buf, prefix_uri->n_bytes)) {
+				*prefix     = env->prefixes[i].name;
 				suffix->buf = uri->buf + prefix_uri->n_bytes;
 				suffix->len = uri->n_bytes - prefix_uri->n_bytes;
 				return true;
@@ -185,7 +182,7 @@ serd_env_expand(const SerdEnv*  env,
                 SerdChunk*      uri_prefix,
                 SerdChunk*      uri_suffix)
 {
-	const uint8_t* const colon = (const uint8_t*)memchr(
+	const char* const colon = (const char*)memchr(
 		curie->buf, ':', curie->n_bytes + 1);
 	if (curie->type != SERD_CURIE || !colon) {
 		return SERD_ERR_BAD_ARG;
@@ -215,9 +212,9 @@ serd_env_expand_node(const SerdEnv*  env,
 			return SERD_NODE_NULL;
 		}
 		const size_t len = prefix.len + suffix.len;
-		uint8_t*     buf = (uint8_t*)malloc(len + 1);
+		char*        buf = (char*)malloc(len + 1);
 		SerdNode     ret = { buf, len, 0, SERD_URI };
-		snprintf((char*)buf, ret.n_bytes + 1, "%s%s", prefix.buf, suffix.buf);
+		snprintf(buf, ret.n_bytes + 1, "%s%s", prefix.buf, suffix.buf);
 		return ret;
 	}
 	case SERD_URI: {
diff --git a/src/n3.c b/src/n3.c
index 4b1ed676..1e9b62a8 100644
--- a/src/n3.c
+++ b/src/n3.c
@@ -867,7 +867,7 @@ read_BLANK_NODE_LABEL(SerdReader* reader, bool* ate_dot)
 	eat_byte_safe(reader, '_');
 	eat_byte_check(reader, ':');
 	Ref ref = push_node(reader, SERD_BLANK,
-	                    reader->bprefix ? (char*)reader->bprefix : "",
+	                    reader->bprefix ? reader->bprefix : "",
 	                    reader->bprefix_len);
 
 	int c = peek_byte(reader);  // First: (PN_CHARS | '_' | [0-9])
@@ -1366,7 +1366,7 @@ tokcmp(SerdReader* reader, Ref ref, const char* tok, size_t n)
 	if (!node || node->n_bytes != n) {
 		return -1;
 	}
-	return serd_strncasecmp((const char*)node->buf, tok, n);
+	return serd_strncasecmp(node->buf, tok, n);
 }
 
 bool
diff --git a/src/node.c b/src/node.c
index 33373f3c..32953cb2 100644
--- a/src/node.c
+++ b/src/node.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 #endif
 
 SerdNode
-serd_node_from_string(SerdType type, const uint8_t* str)
+serd_node_from_string(SerdType type, const char* str)
 {
 	if (!str) {
 		return SERD_NODE_NULL;
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ serd_node_from_string(SerdType type, const uint8_t* str)
 }
 
 SerdNode
-serd_node_from_substring(SerdType type, const uint8_t* str, const size_t len)
+serd_node_from_substring(SerdType type, const char* str, const size_t len)
 {
 	if (!str) {
 		return SERD_NODE_NULL;
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ serd_node_copy(const SerdNode* node)
 	}
 
 	SerdNode copy = *node;
-	uint8_t* buf  = (uint8_t*)malloc(copy.n_bytes + 1);
+	char* buf  = (char*)malloc(copy.n_bytes + 1);
 	memcpy(buf, node->buf, copy.n_bytes + 1);
 	copy.buf = buf;
 	return copy;
@@ -81,9 +81,7 @@ serd_node_equals(const SerdNode* a, const SerdNode* b)
 	return (a == b)
 		|| (a->type == b->type
 		    && a->n_bytes == b->n_bytes
-		    && ((a->buf == b->buf) || !memcmp((const char*)a->buf,
-		                                      (const char*)b->buf,
-		                                      a->n_bytes + 1)));
+		    && ((a->buf == b->buf) || !memcmp(a->buf, b->buf, a->n_bytes + 1)));
 }
 
 static size_t
@@ -106,7 +104,7 @@ serd_uri_string_length(const SerdURI* uri)
 static size_t
 string_sink(const void* buf, size_t len, void* stream)
 {
-	uint8_t** ptr = (uint8_t**)stream;
+	char** ptr = (char**)stream;
 	memcpy(*ptr, buf, len);
 	*ptr += len;
 	return len;
@@ -123,7 +121,7 @@ serd_node_new_uri_from_node(const SerdNode* uri_node,
 }
 
 SerdNode
-serd_node_new_uri_from_string(const uint8_t* str,
+serd_node_new_uri_from_string(const char*    str,
                               const SerdURI* base,
                               SerdURI*       out)
 {
@@ -138,7 +136,7 @@ serd_node_new_uri_from_string(const uint8_t* str,
 }
 
 static inline bool
-is_uri_path_char(const uint8_t c)
+is_uri_path_char(const char c)
 {
 	if (is_alpha(c) || is_digit(c)) {
 		return true;
@@ -157,23 +155,22 @@ is_uri_path_char(const uint8_t c)
 }
 
 SerdNode
-serd_node_new_file_uri(const uint8_t* path,
-                       const uint8_t* hostname,
-                       SerdURI*       out,
-                       bool           escape)
+serd_node_new_file_uri(const char* path,
+                       const char* hostname,
+                       SerdURI*    out,
+                       bool        escape)
 {
-	const size_t path_len     = strlen((const char*)path);
-	const size_t hostname_len = hostname ? strlen((const char*)hostname) : 0;
+	const size_t path_len     = strlen(path);
+	const size_t hostname_len = hostname ? strlen(hostname) : 0;
 	const bool   evil         = is_windows_path(path);
 	size_t       uri_len      = 0;
-	uint8_t*     uri          = NULL;
+	char*        uri          = NULL;
 
 	if (path[0] == '/' || is_windows_path(path)) {
 		uri_len = strlen("file://") + hostname_len + evil;
-		uri = (uint8_t*)malloc(uri_len + 1);
-		snprintf((char*)uri, uri_len + 1, "file://%s%s",
-		         hostname ? (const char*)hostname : "",
-		         evil ? "/" : "");
+		uri = (char*)malloc(uri_len + 1);
+		snprintf(uri, uri_len + 1, "file://%s%s",
+		         hostname ? hostname : "", evil ? "/" : "");
 	}
 
 	SerdBuffer buffer = { uri, uri_len };
@@ -193,11 +190,11 @@ serd_node_new_file_uri(const uint8_t* path,
 	serd_buffer_sink_finish(&buffer);
 
 	if (out) {
-		serd_uri_parse((const uint8_t*)buffer.buf, out);
+		serd_uri_parse((const char*)buffer.buf, out);
 	}
 
 	return serd_node_from_substring(
-		SERD_URI, (const uint8_t*)buffer.buf, buffer.len);
+		SERD_URI, (const char*)buffer.buf, buffer.len);
 }
 
 SerdNode
@@ -209,9 +206,9 @@ serd_node_new_uri(const SerdURI* uri, const SerdURI* base, SerdURI* out)
 	}
 
 	const size_t len        = serd_uri_string_length(&abs_uri);
-	uint8_t*     buf        = (uint8_t*)malloc(len + 1);
+	char*        buf        = (char*)malloc(len + 1);
 	SerdNode     node       = { buf, len, 0, SERD_URI };
-	uint8_t*     ptr        = buf;
+	char*        ptr        = buf;
 	const size_t actual_len = serd_uri_serialise(&abs_uri, string_sink, &ptr);
 
 	buf[actual_len] = '\0';
@@ -230,11 +227,11 @@ serd_node_new_relative_uri(const SerdURI* uri,
                            const SerdURI* root,
                            SerdURI*       out)
 {
-	const size_t uri_len  = serd_uri_string_length(uri);
-	const size_t base_len = serd_uri_string_length(base);
-	uint8_t*     buf        = (uint8_t*)malloc(uri_len + base_len + 1);
+	const size_t uri_len    = serd_uri_string_length(uri);
+	const size_t base_len   = serd_uri_string_length(base);
+	char*        buf        = (char*)malloc(uri_len + base_len + 1);
 	SerdNode     node       = { buf, 0, 0, SERD_URI };
-	uint8_t*     ptr        = buf;
+	char*        ptr        = buf;
 	const size_t actual_len = serd_uri_serialise_relative(
 		uri, base, root, string_sink, &ptr);
 
@@ -265,7 +262,7 @@ serd_node_new_decimal(double d, unsigned frac_digits)
 	const double   abs_d      = fabs(d);
 	const unsigned int_digits = serd_digits(abs_d);
 	char*          buf        = (char*)calloc(int_digits + frac_digits + 3, 1);
-	SerdNode       node       = { (const uint8_t*)buf, 0, 0, SERD_LITERAL };
+	SerdNode       node       = { buf, 0, 0, SERD_LITERAL };
 	const double   int_part   = floor(abs_d);
 
 	// Point s to decimal point location
@@ -315,7 +312,7 @@ serd_node_new_integer(int64_t i)
 	int64_t        abs_i  = (i < 0) ? -i : i;
 	const unsigned digits = serd_digits((double)abs_i);
 	char*          buf    = (char*)calloc(digits + 2, 1);
-	SerdNode       node   = { (const uint8_t*)buf, 0, 0, SERD_LITERAL };
+	SerdNode       node   = { (const char*)buf, 0, 0, SERD_LITERAL };
 
 	// Point s to the end
 	char* s = buf + digits - 1;
@@ -360,7 +357,7 @@ serd_node_new_blob(const void* buf, size_t size, bool wrap_lines)
 {
 	const size_t len  = (size + 2) / 3 * 4 + (wrap_lines * ((size - 1) / 57));
 	uint8_t*     str  = (uint8_t*)calloc(len + 2, 1);
-	SerdNode     node = { str, len, 0, SERD_LITERAL };
+	SerdNode     node = { (const char*)str, len, 0, SERD_LITERAL };
 	for (size_t i = 0, j = 0; i < size; i += 3, j += 4) {
 		uint8_t in[4] = { 0, 0, 0, 0 };
 		size_t  n_in  = MIN(3, size - i);
@@ -380,7 +377,7 @@ void
 serd_node_free(SerdNode* node)
 {
 	if (node && node->buf) {
-		free((uint8_t*)node->buf);
+		free((char*)node->buf);
 		node->buf = NULL;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/reader.c b/src/reader.c
index d40cbc97..7a102cc0 100644
--- a/src/reader.c
+++ b/src/reader.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ Ref
 push_node_padded(SerdReader* reader, size_t maxlen,
                  SerdType type, const char* str, size_t n_bytes)
 {
-	void* mem = serd_stack_push_aligned(
+	char* mem = (char*)serd_stack_push_aligned(
 		&reader->stack, sizeof(SerdNode) + maxlen + 1, sizeof(SerdNode));
 
 	SerdNode* const node = (SerdNode*)mem;
@@ -88,15 +88,15 @@ push_node_padded(SerdReader* reader, size_t maxlen,
 	node->type    = type;
 	node->buf     = NULL;
 
-	uint8_t* buf = (uint8_t*)(node + 1);
+	char* buf = (char*)(node + 1);
 	memcpy(buf, str, n_bytes + 1);
 
 #ifdef SERD_STACK_CHECK
 	reader->allocs = realloc(
 		reader->allocs, sizeof(reader->allocs) * (++reader->n_allocs));
-	reader->allocs[reader->n_allocs - 1] = ((uint8_t*)mem - reader->stack.buf);
+	reader->allocs[reader->n_allocs - 1] = (mem - reader->stack.buf);
 #endif
-	return (Ref)((uint8_t*)node - reader->stack.buf);
+	return (Ref)((char*)node - reader->stack.buf);
 }
 
 Ref
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ deref(SerdReader* reader, const Ref ref)
 {
 	if (ref) {
 		SerdNode* node = (SerdNode*)(reader->stack.buf + ref);
-		node->buf = (uint8_t*)node + sizeof(SerdNode);
+		node->buf = (char*)node + sizeof(SerdNode);
 		return node;
 	}
 	return NULL;
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ pop_node(SerdReader* reader, Ref ref)
 		--reader->n_allocs;
 #endif
 		SerdNode* const node = deref(reader, ref);
-		uint8_t* const  top  = reader->stack.buf + reader->stack.size;
-		serd_stack_pop_aligned(&reader->stack, (size_t)(top - (uint8_t*)node));
+		char* const     top  = reader->stack.buf + reader->stack.size;
+		serd_stack_pop_aligned(&reader->stack, (size_t)(top - (char*)node));
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -233,15 +233,15 @@ serd_reader_get_handle(const SerdReader* reader)
 }
 
 void
-serd_reader_add_blank_prefix(SerdReader*    reader,
-                             const uint8_t* prefix)
+serd_reader_add_blank_prefix(SerdReader* reader,
+                             const char* prefix)
 {
 	free(reader->bprefix);
 	reader->bprefix_len = 0;
 	reader->bprefix     = NULL;
 	if (prefix) {
-		reader->bprefix_len = strlen((const char*)prefix);
-		reader->bprefix     = (uint8_t*)malloc(reader->bprefix_len + 1);
+		reader->bprefix_len = strlen(prefix);
+		reader->bprefix     = (char*)malloc(reader->bprefix_len + 1);
 		memcpy(reader->bprefix, prefix, reader->bprefix_len + 1);
 	}
 }
@@ -255,15 +255,15 @@ serd_reader_set_default_graph(SerdReader*     reader,
 }
 
 SerdStatus
-serd_reader_read_file(SerdReader*    reader,
-                      const uint8_t* uri)
+serd_reader_read_file(SerdReader* reader,
+                      const char* uri)
 {
-	uint8_t* const path = serd_file_uri_parse(uri, NULL);
+	char* const path = serd_file_uri_parse(uri, NULL);
 	if (!path) {
 		return SERD_ERR_BAD_ARG;
 	}
 
-	FILE* fd = serd_fopen((const char*)path, "rb");
+	FILE* fd = serd_fopen(path, "rb");
 	if (!fd) {
 		serd_free(path);
 		return SERD_ERR_UNKNOWN;
@@ -293,10 +293,10 @@ skip_bom(SerdReader* me)
 }
 
 SerdStatus
-serd_reader_start_stream(SerdReader*    reader,
-                         FILE*          file,
-                         const uint8_t* name,
-                         bool           bulk)
+serd_reader_start_stream(SerdReader* reader,
+                         FILE*       file,
+                         const char* name,
+                         bool        bulk)
 {
 	return serd_reader_start_source_stream(
 		reader,
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ serd_reader_start_source_stream(SerdReader*         reader,
                                 SerdSource          read_func,
                                 SerdStreamErrorFunc error_func,
                                 void*               stream,
-                                const uint8_t*      name,
+                                const char*         name,
                                 size_t              page_size)
 {
 	return serd_byte_source_open_source(
@@ -358,9 +358,9 @@ serd_reader_end_stream(SerdReader* reader)
 }
 
 SerdStatus
-serd_reader_read_file_handle(SerdReader*    reader,
-                             FILE*          file,
-                             const uint8_t* name)
+serd_reader_read_file_handle(SerdReader* reader,
+                             FILE*       file,
+                             const char* name)
 {
 	return serd_reader_read_source(
 		reader, (SerdSource)fread, (SerdStreamErrorFunc)ferror,
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ serd_reader_read_source(SerdReader*         reader,
                         SerdSource          source,
                         SerdStreamErrorFunc error,
                         void*               stream,
-                        const uint8_t*      name,
+                        const char*         name,
                         size_t              page_size)
 {
 	SerdStatus st = serd_reader_start_source_stream(
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ serd_reader_read_source(SerdReader*         reader,
 }
 
 SerdStatus
-serd_reader_read_string(SerdReader* reader, const uint8_t* utf8)
+serd_reader_read_string(SerdReader* reader, const char* utf8)
 {
 	serd_byte_source_open_string(&reader->source, utf8);
 
diff --git a/src/reader.h b/src/reader.h
index db6dba23..453cba5d 100644
--- a/src/reader.h
+++ b/src/reader.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ push_byte(SerdReader* reader, Ref ref, const int c)
 	assert(c != EOF);
 	SERD_STACK_ASSERT_TOP(reader, ref);
 
-	uint8_t* const  s    = serd_stack_push(&reader->stack, 1);
+	char* const     s    = serd_stack_push(&reader->stack, 1);
 	SerdNode* const node = (SerdNode*)(reader->stack.buf + ref);
 	++node->n_bytes;
 	*(s - 1) = (uint8_t)c;
diff --git a/src/serd_internal.h b/src/serd_internal.h
index 17ce381a..422d6228 100644
--- a/src/serd_internal.h
+++ b/src/serd_internal.h
@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@ serd_bufalloc(size_t size)
 /* Byte source */
 
 typedef struct {
-	const uint8_t* filename;
-	unsigned       line;
-	unsigned       col;
+	const char* filename;
+	unsigned    line;
+	unsigned    col;
 } Cursor;
 
 typedef struct {
@@ -110,14 +110,14 @@ serd_byte_source_open_file(SerdByteSource* source,
                            bool            bulk);
 
 SerdStatus
-serd_byte_source_open_string(SerdByteSource* source, const uint8_t* utf8);
+serd_byte_source_open_string(SerdByteSource* source, const char* utf8);
 
 SerdStatus
 serd_byte_source_open_source(SerdByteSource*     source,
                              SerdSource          read_func,
                              SerdStreamErrorFunc error_func,
                              void*               stream,
-                             const uint8_t*      name,
+                             const char*         name,
                              size_t              page_size);
 
 SerdStatus
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ serd_byte_source_advance(SerdByteSource* source)
 
 /** A dynamic stack in memory. */
 typedef struct {
-	uint8_t* buf;       ///< Stack memory
+	char*    buf;       ///< Stack memory
 	size_t   buf_size;  ///< Allocated size of buf (>= size)
 	size_t   size;      ///< Conceptual size of stack in buf
 } SerdStack;
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ static inline SerdStack
 serd_stack_new(size_t size)
 {
 	SerdStack stack;
-	stack.buf       = (uint8_t*)calloc(size, 1);
+	stack.buf       = (char*)calloc(size, 1);
 	stack.buf_size  = size;
 	stack.size      = SERD_STACK_BOTTOM;
 	return stack;
@@ -209,15 +209,15 @@ serd_stack_free(SerdStack* stack)
 	stack->size     = 0;
 }
 
-static inline uint8_t*
+static inline char*
 serd_stack_push(SerdStack* stack, size_t n_bytes)
 {
 	const size_t new_size = stack->size + n_bytes;
 	if (stack->buf_size < new_size) {
 		stack->buf_size += (stack->buf_size >> 1); // *= 1.5
-		stack->buf = (uint8_t*)realloc(stack->buf, stack->buf_size);
+		stack->buf = (char*)realloc(stack->buf, stack->buf_size);
 	}
-	uint8_t* const ret = (stack->buf + stack->size);
+	char* const ret = (stack->buf + stack->size);
 	stack->size = new_size;
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -242,8 +242,7 @@ serd_stack_push_aligned(SerdStack* stack, size_t n_bytes, size_t align)
 	}
 
 	// Set top of stack to pad count so we can properly pop later
-	assert(pad < UINT8_MAX);
-	stack->buf[stack->size - 1] = (uint8_t)pad;
+	stack->buf[stack->size - 1] = (char)pad;
 
 	// Push requested space at aligned location
 	return serd_stack_push(stack, n_bytes);
@@ -256,7 +255,7 @@ serd_stack_pop_aligned(SerdStack* stack, size_t n_bytes)
 	serd_stack_pop(stack, n_bytes);
 
 	// Get amount of padding from top of stack
-	const uint8_t pad = stack->buf[stack->size - 1];
+	const uint8_t pad = (uint8_t)stack->buf[stack->size - 1];
 
 	// Pop padding and pad count
 	serd_stack_pop(stack, pad + 1u);
@@ -267,7 +266,7 @@ serd_stack_pop_aligned(SerdStack* stack, size_t n_bytes)
 typedef struct SerdByteSinkImpl {
 	SerdSink sink;
 	void*    stream;
-	uint8_t* buf;
+	char*    buf;
 	size_t   size;
 	size_t   block_size;
 } SerdByteSink;
@@ -281,7 +280,7 @@ serd_byte_sink_new(SerdSink sink, void* stream, size_t block_size)
 	bsink.size       = 0;
 	bsink.block_size = block_size;
 	bsink.buf        = ((block_size > 1)
-	                    ? (uint8_t*)serd_bufalloc(block_size)
+	                    ? (char*)serd_bufalloc(block_size)
 	                    : NULL);
 	return bsink;
 }
@@ -320,7 +319,7 @@ serd_byte_sink_write(const void* buf, size_t len, SerdByteSink* bsink)
 		// Write as much as possible into the remaining buffer space
 		memcpy(bsink->buf + bsink->size, buf, n);
 		bsink->size += n;
-		buf          = (const uint8_t*)buf + n;
+		buf          = (const char*)buf + n;
 		len         -= n;
 
 		// Flush page if buffer is full
@@ -381,13 +380,13 @@ is_space(const char c)
 }
 
 static inline bool
-is_base64(const uint8_t c)
+is_base64(const char c)
 {
 	return is_alpha(c) || is_digit(c) || c == '+' || c == '/' || c == '=';
 }
 
 static inline bool
-is_windows_path(const uint8_t* path)
+is_windows_path(const char* path)
 {
 	return is_alpha(path[0]) && (path[1] == ':' || path[1] == '|')
 		&& (path[2] == '/' || path[2] == '\\');
@@ -396,7 +395,7 @@ is_windows_path(const uint8_t* path)
 /* String utilities */
 
 size_t
-serd_substrlen(const uint8_t* str, size_t len, SerdNodeFlags* flags);
+serd_substrlen(const char* str, size_t len, SerdNodeFlags* flags);
 
 static inline int
 serd_strncasecmp(const char* s1, const char* s2, size_t n)
@@ -454,8 +453,7 @@ parse_utf8_char(const uint8_t* utf8, size_t* size)
 static inline bool
 chunk_equals(const SerdChunk* a, const SerdChunk* b)
 {
-	return a->len == b->len
-		&& !strncmp((const char*)a->buf, (const char*)b->buf, a->len);
+	return a->len == b->len && !strncmp(a->buf, b->buf, a->len);
 }
 
 static inline size_t
@@ -464,7 +462,7 @@ uri_path_len(const SerdURI* uri)
 	return uri->path_base.len + uri->path.len;
 }
 
-static inline uint8_t
+static inline char
 uri_path_at(const SerdURI* uri, size_t i)
 {
 	if (i < uri->path_base.len) {
@@ -492,8 +490,8 @@ uri_rooted_index(const SerdURI* uri, const SerdURI* root)
 	const size_t root_len        = uri_path_len(root);
 	size_t       last_root_slash = 0;
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < path_len && i < root_len; ++i) {
-		const uint8_t u = uri_path_at(uri, i);
-		const uint8_t r = uri_path_at(root, i);
+		const char u = uri_path_at(uri, i);
+		const char r = uri_path_at(root, i);
 
 		differ = differ || u != r;
 		if (r == '/') {
@@ -593,7 +591,7 @@ struct SerdReaderImpl {
 	unsigned          next_id;
 	SerdStatus        status;
 	uint8_t*          buf;
-	uint8_t*          bprefix;
+	char*             bprefix;
 	size_t            bprefix_len;
 	bool              strict;     ///< True iff strict parsing
 	bool              seen_genid;
diff --git a/src/serdi.c b/src/serdi.c
index 802a6ff5..23abc5a0 100644
--- a/src/serdi.c
+++ b/src/serdi.c
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 #endif
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
-#include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
@@ -140,14 +139,14 @@ main(int argc, char** argv)
 	bool           full_uris     = false;
 	bool           lax           = false;
 	bool           quiet         = false;
-	const uint8_t* in_name       = NULL;
-	const uint8_t* add_prefix    = NULL;
-	const uint8_t* chop_prefix   = NULL;
-	const uint8_t* root_uri      = NULL;
+	const char*    in_name       = NULL;
+	const char*    add_prefix    = NULL;
+	const char*    chop_prefix   = NULL;
+	const char*    root_uri      = NULL;
 	int            a             = 1;
 	for (; a < argc && argv[a][0] == '-'; ++a) {
 		if (argv[a][1] == '\0') {
-			in_name = (const uint8_t*)"(stdin)";
+			in_name = (const char*)"(stdin)";
 			in_fd   = stdin;
 			break;
 		} else if (argv[a][1] == 'a') {
@@ -167,7 +166,7 @@ main(int argc, char** argv)
 		} else if (argv[a][1] == 'v') {
 			return print_version();
 		} else if (argv[a][1] == 's') {
-			in_name = (const uint8_t*)"(string)";
+			in_name = (const char*)"(string)";
 			from_file = false;
 			++a;
 			break;
@@ -187,17 +186,17 @@ main(int argc, char** argv)
 			if (++a == argc) {
 				return missing_arg(argv[0], 'p');
 			}
-			add_prefix = (const uint8_t*)argv[a];
+			add_prefix = (const char*)argv[a];
 		} else if (argv[a][1] == 'c') {
 			if (++a == argc) {
 				return missing_arg(argv[0], 'c');
 			}
-			chop_prefix = (const uint8_t*)argv[a];
+			chop_prefix = (const char*)argv[a];
 		} else if (argv[a][1] == 'r') {
 			if (++a == argc) {
 				return missing_arg(argv[0], 'r');
 			}
-			root_uri = (const uint8_t*)argv[a];
+			root_uri = (const char*)argv[a];
 		} else {
 			SERDI_ERRORF("invalid option -- '%s'\n", argv[a] + 1);
 			return print_usage(argv[0], true);
@@ -214,18 +213,18 @@ main(int argc, char** argv)
 	_setmode(fileno(stdout), _O_BINARY);
 #endif
 
-	const uint8_t* input = (const uint8_t*)argv[a++];
+	const char* input = (const char*)argv[a++];
 	if (from_file) {
 		in_name = in_name ? in_name : input;
 		if (!in_fd) {
 			input = serd_uri_to_path(in_name);
-			if (!input || !(in_fd = serd_fopen((const char*)input, "rb"))) {
+			if (!input || !(in_fd = serd_fopen(input, "rb"))) {
 				return 1;
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!input_syntax && !(input_syntax = guess_syntax((const char*)in_name))) {
+	if (!input_syntax && !(input_syntax = guess_syntax(in_name))) {
 		input_syntax = SERD_TRIG;
 	}
 
@@ -240,7 +239,7 @@ main(int argc, char** argv)
 	SerdNode base     = SERD_NODE_NULL;
 	if (a < argc) {  // Base URI given on command line
 		base = serd_node_new_uri_from_string(
-			(const uint8_t*)argv[a], NULL, &base_uri);
+			(const char*)argv[a], NULL, &base_uri);
 	} else if (from_file && in_fd != stdin) {  // Use input file URI
 		base = serd_node_new_file_uri(input, NULL, &base_uri, true);
 	}
diff --git a/src/string.c b/src/string.c
index e71b6669..ccf9234c 100644
--- a/src/string.c
+++ b/src/string.c
@@ -30,26 +30,26 @@ serd_free(void* ptr)
 	free(ptr);
 }
 
-const uint8_t*
+const char*
 serd_strerror(SerdStatus status)
 {
 	switch (status) {
-	case SERD_SUCCESS:        return (const uint8_t*)"Success";
-	case SERD_FAILURE:        return (const uint8_t*)"Non-fatal failure";
-	case SERD_ERR_UNKNOWN:    return (const uint8_t*)"Unknown error";
-	case SERD_ERR_BAD_SYNTAX: return (const uint8_t*)"Invalid syntax";
-	case SERD_ERR_BAD_ARG:    return (const uint8_t*)"Invalid argument";
-	case SERD_ERR_NOT_FOUND:  return (const uint8_t*)"Not found";
-	case SERD_ERR_ID_CLASH:   return (const uint8_t*)"Blank node ID clash";
-	case SERD_ERR_BAD_CURIE:  return (const uint8_t*)"Invalid CURIE";
-	case SERD_ERR_INTERNAL:   return (const uint8_t*)"Internal error";
+	case SERD_SUCCESS:        return "Success";
+	case SERD_FAILURE:        return "Non-fatal failure";
+	case SERD_ERR_UNKNOWN:    return "Unknown error";
+	case SERD_ERR_BAD_SYNTAX: return "Invalid syntax";
+	case SERD_ERR_BAD_ARG:    return "Invalid argument";
+	case SERD_ERR_NOT_FOUND:  return "Not found";
+	case SERD_ERR_ID_CLASH:   return "Blank node ID clash";
+	case SERD_ERR_BAD_CURIE:  return "Invalid CURIE";
+	case SERD_ERR_INTERNAL:   return "Internal error";
 	default:                  break;
 	}
-	return (const uint8_t*)"Unknown error";  // never reached
+	return "Unknown error";  // never reached
 }
 
 static inline void
-serd_update_flags(const uint8_t c, SerdNodeFlags* const flags)
+serd_update_flags(const char c, SerdNodeFlags* const flags)
 {
 	switch (c) {
 	case '\r': case '\n':
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ serd_update_flags(const uint8_t c, SerdNodeFlags* const flags)
 }
 
 size_t
-serd_substrlen(const uint8_t* const str,
+serd_substrlen(const char* const    str,
                const size_t         len,
                SerdNodeFlags* const flags)
 {
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ serd_substrlen(const uint8_t* const str,
 }
 
 size_t
-serd_strlen(const uint8_t* str, SerdNodeFlags* flags)
+serd_strlen(const char* str, SerdNodeFlags* flags)
 {
 	if (flags) {
 		size_t i = 0;
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ serd_strlen(const uint8_t* str, SerdNodeFlags* flags)
 		return i;
 	}
 
-	return strlen((const char*)str);
+	return strlen(str);
 }
 
 static inline double
@@ -184,16 +184,18 @@ decode_chunk(const uint8_t in[4], uint8_t out[3])
 }
 
 void*
-serd_base64_decode(const uint8_t* str, size_t len, size_t* size)
+serd_base64_decode(const char* str, size_t len, size_t* size)
 {
+	const uint8_t* ustr = (const uint8_t*)str;
+
 	void* buf = malloc((len * 3) / 4 + 2);
 	*size = 0;
 	for (size_t i = 0, j = 0; i < len; j += 3) {
 		uint8_t in[] = "====";
 		size_t  n_in = 0;
 		for (; i < len && n_in < 4; ++n_in) {
-			for (; i < len && !is_base64(str[i]); ++i) {}  // Skip junk
-			in[n_in] = str[i++];
+			for (; i < len && !is_base64(ustr[i]); ++i) {}  // Skip junk
+			in[n_in] = ustr[i++];
 		}
 		if (n_in > 1) {
 			*size += decode_chunk(in, (uint8_t*)buf + j);
diff --git a/src/uri.c b/src/uri.c
index 70113b79..a9f40937 100644
--- a/src/uri.c
+++ b/src/uri.c
@@ -24,17 +24,17 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
-const uint8_t*
-serd_uri_to_path(const uint8_t* uri)
+const char*
+serd_uri_to_path(const char* uri)
 {
-	const uint8_t* path = uri;
+	const char* path = uri;
 	if (!is_windows_path(uri) && serd_uri_string_has_scheme(uri)) {
-		if (strncmp((const char*)uri, "file:", 5)) {
+		if (strncmp(uri, "file:", 5)) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Non-file URI `%s'\n", uri);
 			return NULL;
-		} else if (!strncmp((const char*)uri, "file://localhost/", 17)) {
+		} else if (!strncmp(uri, "file://localhost/", 17)) {
 			path = uri + 16;
-		} else if (!strncmp((const char*)uri, "file://", 7)) {
+		} else if (!strncmp(uri, "file://", 7)) {
 			path = uri + 7;
 		} else {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Invalid file URI `%s'\n", uri);
@@ -47,23 +47,23 @@ serd_uri_to_path(const uint8_t* uri)
 	return path;
 }
 
-uint8_t*
-serd_file_uri_parse(const uint8_t* uri, uint8_t** hostname)
+char*
+serd_file_uri_parse(const char* uri, char** hostname)
 {
-	const uint8_t* path = uri;
+	const char* path = uri;
 	if (hostname) {
 		*hostname = NULL;
 	}
-	if (!strncmp((const char*)uri, "file://", 7)) {
-		const uint8_t* auth = uri + 7;
+	if (!strncmp(uri, "file://", 7)) {
+		const char* auth = uri + 7;
 		if (*auth == '/') {  // No hostname
 			path = auth;
 		} else {  // Has hostname
-			if (!(path = (const uint8_t*)strchr((const char*)auth, '/'))) {
+			if (!(path = strchr(auth, '/'))) {
 				return NULL;
 			}
 			if (hostname) {
-				*hostname = (uint8_t*)calloc((size_t)(path - auth + 1), 1);
+				*hostname = (char*)calloc((size_t)(path - auth + 1), 1);
 				memcpy(*hostname, auth, (size_t)(path - auth));
 			}
 		}
@@ -74,14 +74,14 @@ serd_file_uri_parse(const uint8_t* uri, uint8_t** hostname)
 	}
 
 	SerdBuffer buffer = { NULL, 0 };
-	for (const uint8_t* s = path; *s; ++s) {
+	for (const char* s = path; *s; ++s) {
 		if (*s == '%') {
 			if (*(s + 1) == '%') {
 				serd_buffer_sink("%", 1, &buffer);
 				++s;
 			} else if (is_hexdig(*(s + 1)) && is_hexdig(*(s + 2))) {
-				const uint8_t code[3] = {*(s + 1), *(s + 2), 0};
-				const uint8_t c = (uint8_t)strtoul((const char*)code, NULL, 16);
+				const char code[3] = {*(s + 1), *(s + 2), 0};
+				const char c       = (char)strtoul((const char*)code, NULL, 16);
 				serd_buffer_sink(&c, 1, &buffer);
 				s += 2;
 			} else {
@@ -95,14 +95,14 @@ serd_file_uri_parse(const uint8_t* uri, uint8_t** hostname)
 }
 
 bool
-serd_uri_string_has_scheme(const uint8_t* utf8)
+serd_uri_string_has_scheme(const char* utf8)
 {
 	// RFC3986: scheme ::= ALPHA *( ALPHA / DIGIT / "+" / "-" / "." )
 	if (!utf8 || !is_alpha(utf8[0])) {
 		return false;  // Invalid scheme initial character, URI is relative
 	}
 
-	for (uint8_t c = 0; (c = *++utf8) != '\0';) {
+	for (char c = 0; (c = *++utf8) != '\0';) {
 		if (!is_uri_scheme_char(c)) {
 			return false;
 		} else if (c == ':') {
@@ -114,11 +114,11 @@ serd_uri_string_has_scheme(const uint8_t* utf8)
 }
 
 SerdStatus
-serd_uri_parse(const uint8_t* utf8, SerdURI* out)
+serd_uri_parse(const char* utf8, SerdURI* out)
 {
 	*out = SERD_URI_NULL;
 
-	const uint8_t* ptr = utf8;
+	const char* ptr = utf8;
 
 	/* See http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3986#section-3
 	   URI = scheme ":" hier-part [ "?" query ] [ "#" fragment ]
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ serd_uri_parse(const uint8_t* utf8, SerdURI* out)
 
 	/* S3.1: scheme ::= ALPHA *( ALPHA / DIGIT / "+" / "-" / "." ) */
 	if (is_alpha(*ptr)) {
-		for (uint8_t c = *++ptr; true; c = *++ptr) {
+		for (char c = *++ptr; true; c = *++ptr) {
 			switch (c) {
 			case '\0': case '/': case '?': case '#':
 				ptr = utf8;
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ maybe_authority:
 	if (*ptr == '/' && *(ptr + 1) == '/') {
 		ptr += 2;
 		out->authority.buf = ptr;
-		for (uint8_t c = 0; (c = *ptr) != '\0'; ++ptr) {
+		for (char c = 0; (c = *ptr) != '\0'; ++ptr) {
 			switch (c) {
 			case '/': goto path;
 			case '?': goto query;
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ path:
 	}
 	out->path.buf = ptr;
 	out->path.len = 0;
-	for (uint8_t c = 0; (c = *ptr) != '\0'; ++ptr) {
+	for (char c = 0; (c = *ptr) != '\0'; ++ptr) {
 		switch (c) {
 		case '?': goto query;
 		case '#': goto fragment;
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ path:
 query:
 	if (*ptr == '?') {
 		out->query.buf = ++ptr;
-		for (uint8_t c = 0; (c = *ptr) != '\0'; ++ptr) {
+		for (char c = 0; (c = *ptr) != '\0'; ++ptr) {
 			if (c == '#') {
 				goto fragment;
 			}
@@ -222,11 +222,11 @@ end:
    @param up Set to the number of up-references (e.g. "../") trimmed
    @return A pointer to the new start of `path`
 */
-static const uint8_t*
-remove_dot_segments(const uint8_t* path, size_t len, size_t* up)
+static const char*
+remove_dot_segments(const char* path, size_t len, size_t* up)
 {
-	const uint8_t*       begin = path;
-	const uint8_t* const end   = path + len;
+	const char*       begin = path;
+	const char* const end   = path + len;
 
 	*up = 0;
 	while (begin < end) {
@@ -287,13 +287,13 @@ remove_dot_segments(const uint8_t* path, size_t len, size_t* up)
 static void
 merge(SerdChunk* base, SerdChunk* path)
 {
-	size_t         up    = 0;
-	const uint8_t* begin = remove_dot_segments(path->buf, path->len, &up);
-	const uint8_t* end   = path->buf + path->len;
+	size_t      up    = 0;
+	const char* begin = remove_dot_segments(path->buf, path->len, &up);
+	const char* end   = path->buf + path->len;
 
 	if (base->len) {
 		// Find the up'th last slash
-		const uint8_t* base_last = (base->buf + base->len - 1);
+		const char* base_last = (base->buf + base->len - 1);
 		++up;
 		do {
 			if (*base_last == '/') {
diff --git a/src/writer.c b/src/writer.c
index 4fea39e7..f1baaa40 100644
--- a/src/writer.c
+++ b/src/writer.c
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ struct SerdWriterImpl {
 	SerdNode      list_subj;
 	unsigned      list_depth;
 	unsigned      indent;
-	uint8_t*      bprefix;
+	char*         bprefix;
 	size_t        bprefix_len;
 	Sep           last_sep;
 	bool          empty;
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ w_err(SerdWriter* writer, SerdStatus st, const char* fmt, ...)
 
 	va_list args;
 	va_start(args, fmt);
-	const SerdError e = { st, (const uint8_t*)"", 0, 0, fmt, &args };
+	const SerdError e = { st, "", 0, 0, fmt, &args };
 	serd_error(writer->error_sink, writer->error_handle, &e);
 	va_end(args);
 }
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ static void
 copy_node(SerdNode* dst, const SerdNode* src)
 {
 	if (src) {
-		dst->buf = (uint8_t*)realloc((char*)dst->buf, src->n_bytes + 1);
+		dst->buf = (char*)realloc((char*)dst->buf, src->n_bytes + 1);
 		dst->n_bytes = src->n_bytes;
 		dst->flags   = src->flags;
 		dst->type    = src->type;
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ write_character(SerdWriter* writer, const uint8_t* utf8, size_t* size)
 }
 
 static inline bool
-uri_must_escape(const uint8_t c)
+uri_must_escape(const char c)
 {
 	switch (c) {
 	case ' ': case '"': case '<': case '>': case '\\':
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ uri_must_escape(const uint8_t c)
 }
 
 static size_t
-write_uri(SerdWriter* writer, const uint8_t* utf8, size_t n_bytes)
+write_uri(SerdWriter* writer, const char* utf8, size_t n_bytes)
 {
 	size_t len = 0;
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < n_bytes;) {
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ write_uri(SerdWriter* writer, const uint8_t* utf8, size_t n_bytes)
 
 		// Write UTF-8 character
 		size_t size = 0;
-		len += write_character(writer, utf8 + i, &size);
+		len += write_character(writer, (const uint8_t*)utf8 + i, &size);
 		i   += size;
 		if (size == 0) {
 			// Corrupt input, scan to start of next character
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ write_uri(SerdWriter* writer, const uint8_t* utf8, size_t n_bytes)
 }
 
 static bool
-lname_must_escape(const uint8_t c)
+lname_must_escape(const char c)
 {
 	/* This arbitrary list of characters, most of which have nothing to do with
 	   Turtle, must be handled as special cases here because the RDF and SPARQL
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ lname_must_escape(const uint8_t c)
 }
 
 static size_t
-write_lname(SerdWriter* writer, const uint8_t* utf8, size_t n_bytes)
+write_lname(SerdWriter* writer, const char* utf8, size_t n_bytes)
 {
 	size_t len = 0;
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < n_bytes; ++i) {
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ write_lname(SerdWriter* writer, const uint8_t* utf8, size_t n_bytes)
 
 static size_t
 write_text(SerdWriter* writer, TextContext ctx,
-           const uint8_t* utf8, size_t n_bytes)
+           const char* utf8, size_t n_bytes)
 {
 	size_t len = 0;
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < n_bytes;) {
@@ -346,7 +346,8 @@ write_text(SerdWriter* writer, TextContext ctx,
 
 		// Write UTF-8 character
 		size_t size = 0;
-		len += write_character(writer, utf8 + i - 1, &size);
+		len += write_character(writer, (const uint8_t*)utf8 + i - 1, &size);
+
 		if (size == 0) {
 			// Corrupt input, scan to start of next character
 			for (; i < n_bytes && (utf8[i] & 0x80); ++i) {}
@@ -360,7 +361,7 @@ write_text(SerdWriter* writer, TextContext ctx,
 static size_t
 uri_sink(const void* buf, size_t len, void* stream)
 {
-	return write_uri((SerdWriter*)stream, (const uint8_t*)buf, len);
+	return write_uri((SerdWriter*)stream, (const char*)buf, len);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -429,7 +430,7 @@ write_literal(SerdWriter*        writer,
               SerdStatementFlags flags)
 {
 	if (supports_abbrev(writer) && datatype && datatype->buf) {
-		const char* type_uri = (const char*)datatype->buf;
+		const char* type_uri = datatype->buf;
 		if (!strncmp(type_uri, NS_XSD, sizeof(NS_XSD) - 1) && (
 			    !strcmp(type_uri + sizeof(NS_XSD) - 1, "boolean") ||
 			    !strcmp(type_uri + sizeof(NS_XSD) - 1, "integer"))) {
@@ -437,7 +438,7 @@ write_literal(SerdWriter*        writer,
 			return true;
 		} else if (!strncmp(type_uri, NS_XSD, sizeof(NS_XSD) - 1) &&
 		           !strcmp(type_uri + sizeof(NS_XSD) - 1, "decimal") &&
-		           strchr((const char*)node->buf, '.') &&
+		           strchr(node->buf, '.') &&
 		           node->buf[node->n_bytes - 1] != '.') {
 			/* xsd:decimal literals without trailing digits, e.g. "5.", can
 			   not be written bare in Turtle.  We could add a 0 which is
@@ -470,7 +471,7 @@ write_literal(SerdWriter*        writer,
 
 // Return true iff `buf` is a valid prefixed name suffix
 static inline bool
-is_name(const uint8_t* buf, const size_t len)
+is_name(const char* buf, const size_t len)
 {
 	// TODO: This is more strict than it should be.
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i) {
@@ -498,10 +499,10 @@ write_uri_node(SerdWriter* const        writer,
 
 	const bool has_scheme = serd_uri_string_has_scheme(node->buf);
 	if (field == FIELD_PREDICATE && supports_abbrev(writer)
-	    && !strcmp((const char*)node->buf, NS_RDF "type")) {
+	    && !strcmp(node->buf, NS_RDF "type")) {
 		return sink("a", 1, writer) == 1;
 	} else if (supports_abbrev(writer)
-	           && !strcmp((const char*)node->buf, NS_RDF "nil")) {
+	           && !strcmp(node->buf, NS_RDF "nil")) {
 		return sink("()", 2, writer) == 2;
 	} else if (has_scheme && (writer->style & SERD_STYLE_CURIED) &&
 	           serd_env_qualify(writer->env, node, &prefix, &suffix) &&
@@ -606,9 +607,8 @@ write_blank(SerdWriter* const        writer,
 	}
 
 	sink("_:", 2, writer);
-	if (writer->bprefix && !strncmp((const char*)node->buf,
-	                                (const char*)writer->bprefix,
-	                                writer->bprefix_len)) {
+	if (writer->bprefix &&
+	    !strncmp(node->buf, writer->bprefix, writer->bprefix_len)) {
 		sink(node->buf + writer->bprefix_len,
 		     node->n_bytes - writer->bprefix_len,
 		     writer);
@@ -668,11 +668,11 @@ write_list_obj(SerdWriter*        writer,
                const SerdNode*    datatype,
                const SerdNode*    lang)
 {
-	if (!strcmp((const char*)object->buf, NS_RDF "nil")) {
+	if (!strcmp(object->buf, NS_RDF "nil")) {
 		--writer->indent;
 		write_sep(writer, SEP_LIST_END);
 		return true;
-	} else if (!strcmp((const char*)predicate->buf, NS_RDF "first")) {
+	} else if (!strcmp(predicate->buf, NS_RDF "first")) {
 		write_sep(writer, SEP_LIST_SEP);
 		write_node(writer, object, datatype, lang, FIELD_OBJECT, flags);
 	}
@@ -889,15 +889,15 @@ serd_writer_set_error_sink(SerdWriter*   writer,
 }
 
 void
-serd_writer_chop_blank_prefix(SerdWriter*    writer,
-                              const uint8_t* prefix)
+serd_writer_chop_blank_prefix(SerdWriter* writer,
+                              const char* prefix)
 {
 	free(writer->bprefix);
 	writer->bprefix_len = 0;
 	writer->bprefix     = NULL;
 	if (prefix) {
-		writer->bprefix_len = strlen((const char*)prefix);
-		writer->bprefix     = (uint8_t*)malloc(writer->bprefix_len + 1);
+		writer->bprefix_len = strlen(prefix);
+		writer->bprefix     = (char*)malloc(writer->bprefix_len + 1);
 		memcpy(writer->bprefix, prefix, writer->bprefix_len + 1);
 	}
 }
@@ -995,9 +995,9 @@ serd_buffer_sink(const void* buf, size_t len, void* stream)
 	return len;
 }
 
-uint8_t*
+char*
 serd_buffer_sink_finish(SerdBuffer* stream)
 {
 	serd_buffer_sink("", 1, stream);
-	return (uint8_t*)stream->buf;
+	return (char*)stream->buf;
 }