diff --git a/src/codegen_riscv.rs b/src/codegen_riscv.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2de86e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/codegen_riscv.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,501 @@
+use std::{collections::HashMap, fmt::Write};
+
+use crate::{
+    parser::{Expr, Stmt},
+    tokenizer::{TokenType, ZernError, error},
+};
+
+pub struct Var {
+    // pub var_type: String,
+    pub stack_offset: usize,
+}
+
+pub struct Env {
+    scopes: Vec<HashMap<String, Var>>,
+    next_offset: usize,
+    loop_begin_label: String,
+    loop_end_label: String,
+}
+
+impl Env {
+    pub fn new() -> Env {
+        Env {
+            scopes: vec![HashMap::new()],
+            next_offset: 24,
+            loop_begin_label: String::new(),
+            loop_end_label: String::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn push_scope(&mut self) {
+        self.scopes.push(HashMap::new());
+    }
+
+    pub fn pop_scope(&mut self) {
+        self.scopes.pop();
+    }
+
+    pub fn define_var(&mut self, name: String, _var_type: String) -> usize {
+        let offset = self.next_offset;
+        self.next_offset += 16;
+        self.scopes.last_mut().unwrap().insert(name, Var {
+            stack_offset: offset,
+        });
+        offset
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_var(&self, name: &str) -> Option<&Var> {
+        for scope in self.scopes.iter().rev() {
+            if let Some(var) = scope.get(name) {
+                return Some(var);
+            }
+        }
+        None
+    }
+}
+
+macro_rules! emit {
+    ($($arg:tt)*) => {
+        let _ = writeln!($($arg)*);
+    };
+}
+
+static REGISTERS: [&str; 8] = ["a0", "a1", "a2", "a3", "a4", "a5", "a6", "a7"];
+
+pub struct CodegenRISCV {
+    output: String,
+    data_section: String,
+    label_counter: usize,
+    data_counter: usize,
+}
+
+impl CodegenRISCV {
+    pub fn new() -> CodegenRISCV {
+        CodegenRISCV {
+            output: String::new(),
+            data_section: String::new(),
+            label_counter: 0,
+            data_counter: 1,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn label(&mut self) -> String {
+        self.label_counter += 1;
+        format!(".L{}", self.label_counter)
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_output(&self) -> String {
+        format!(
+            ".section .data
+{}{}",
+            self.data_section, self.output
+        )
+    }
+
+    pub fn emit_prologue(&mut self) -> Result<(), ZernError> {
+        emit!(
+            &mut self.output,
+            ".section .note.GNU-stack,\"\",@progbits
+
+.section .text"
+        );
+
+        // take that rustfmt
+        for name in "malloc,calloc,realloc,free,puts,printf,sprintf,snprintf,strtol,strlen,strcmp,strcat,strcpy,strdup,strncpy,syscall,fopen,fseek,ftell,fread,fwrite,fclose,rewind,system,opendir,readdir,closedir,exit,gettimeofday,connect,socket,send,write,read,close,bind,listen,accept,getchar,gethostbyname".split(",")
+        {
+            emit!(&mut self.output, ".extern {}", name);
+            emit!(&mut self.output, ".equ c.{}, {}", name, name);
+        }
+
+        emit!(
+            &mut self.output,
+            "
+.section .text._builtin_deref8
+_builtin_deref8:
+    lbu a0, 0(a0)
+    ret
+
+.section .text._builtin_deref64
+_builtin_deref64:
+    ld a0, 0(a0)
+    ret
+
+.section .text._builtin_set8
+_builtin_set8:
+    sb a1, 0(a0)
+    ret
+
+.section .text._builtin_set64
+_builtin_set64:
+    sd a1, 0(a0)
+    ret
+
+.section .text._builtin_lshift
+_builtin_lshift:
+    sll a0, a0, a1
+    ret
+
+.section .text._builtin_rshift
+_builtin_rshift:
+    sra a0, a0, a1
+    ret
+"
+        );
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn compile_stmt(&mut self, env: &mut Env, stmt: Stmt) -> Result<(), ZernError> {
+        match stmt {
+            Stmt::Expression(expr) => self.compile_expr(env, expr)?,
+            Stmt::Let {
+                name,
+                var_type,
+                initializer,
+            } => {
+                // TODO: move to analyzer
+                if env.get_var(&name.lexeme).is_some() {
+                    return error!(
+                        name.loc,
+                        format!("variable already defined: {}", &name.lexeme)
+                    );
+                }
+
+                self.compile_expr(env, initializer)?;
+                let offset = env.define_var(name.lexeme.clone(), var_type.lexeme);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd a0, -{}(fp)", offset);
+            }
+            Stmt::Block(statements) => {
+                env.push_scope();
+                for stmt in statements {
+                    self.compile_stmt(env, stmt)?;
+                }
+                env.pop_scope();
+            }
+            Stmt::If {
+                condition,
+                then_branch,
+                else_branch,
+            } => {
+                let else_label = self.label();
+                let end_label = self.label();
+
+                self.compile_expr(env, condition)?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    beqz a0, {}", else_label);
+                self.compile_stmt(env, *then_branch.clone())?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    j {}", end_label);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "{}:", else_label);
+                self.compile_stmt(env, *else_branch.clone())?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "{}:", end_label);
+            }
+            Stmt::While { condition, body } => {
+                let old_loop_begin_label = env.loop_begin_label.clone();
+                let old_loop_end_label = env.loop_end_label.clone();
+                env.loop_begin_label = self.label();
+                env.loop_end_label = self.label();
+
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "{}:", env.loop_begin_label);
+                self.compile_expr(env, condition)?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    beqz a0, {}", env.loop_end_label);
+                self.compile_stmt(env, *body.clone())?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    j {}", env.loop_begin_label);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "{}:", env.loop_end_label);
+
+                env.loop_begin_label = old_loop_begin_label;
+                env.loop_end_label = old_loop_end_label;
+            }
+            Stmt::Function {
+                name,
+                params,
+                return_type: _,
+                body,
+            } => {
+                if name.lexeme == "main" {
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, ".globl {}", name.lexeme);
+                }
+                emit!(&mut self.output, ".section .text.{}", name.lexeme);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "{}:", name.lexeme);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, -16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd ra, 8(sp)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd fp, 0(sp)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi fp, sp, 16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, -256"); // TODO
+
+                for (i, param) in params.iter().enumerate() {
+                    let offset = env
+                        .define_var(param.var_name.lexeme.clone(), param.var_type.lexeme.clone());
+                    let reg = match REGISTERS.get(i) {
+                        Some(x) => x,
+                        None => return error!(&name.loc, "only up to 8 params allowed"),
+                    };
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd {}, -{}(fp)", reg, offset);
+                }
+
+                self.compile_stmt(env, *body)?;
+
+                if name.lexeme == "main" {
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    li a0, 0");
+                }
+
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, fp, -16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld ra, 8(sp)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld fp, 0(sp)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, 16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ret");
+            }
+            Stmt::Return(expr) => {
+                self.compile_expr(env, expr)?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, fp, -16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld ra, 8(sp)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld fp, 0(sp)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, 16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ret");
+            }
+            Stmt::For {
+                var,
+                start,
+                end,
+                body,
+            } => {
+                let old_loop_begin_label = env.loop_begin_label.clone();
+                let old_loop_end_label = env.loop_end_label.clone();
+                env.loop_begin_label = self.label();
+                env.loop_end_label = self.label();
+
+                env.push_scope();
+                let offset = env.define_var(var.lexeme, "I64".into());
+
+                self.compile_expr(env, start)?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd a0, -{}(fp)", offset);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "{}:", env.loop_begin_label);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld a0, -{}(fp)", offset);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, -16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd a0, 0(sp)");
+                self.compile_expr(env, end)?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld a1, 0(sp)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, 16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    bge a1, a0, {}", env.loop_end_label);
+                self.compile_stmt(env, *body)?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld a0, -{}(fp)", offset);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi a0, a0, 1");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd a0, -{}(fp)", offset);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    j {}", env.loop_begin_label);
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "{}:", env.loop_end_label);
+                env.pop_scope();
+
+                env.loop_begin_label = old_loop_begin_label;
+                env.loop_end_label = old_loop_end_label;
+            }
+            Stmt::Break => {
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    j {}", env.loop_end_label);
+            }
+            Stmt::Continue => {
+                // TODO: skips incrementing when used in a for loop
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    j {}", env.loop_begin_label);
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn compile_expr(&mut self, env: &mut Env, expr: Expr) -> Result<(), ZernError> {
+        match expr {
+            Expr::Binary { left, op, right } => {
+                self.compile_expr(env, *left)?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, -16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd a0, 0(sp)");
+                self.compile_expr(env, *right)?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    mv a1, a0");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld a0, 0(sp)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, 16");
+
+                match op.token_type {
+                    TokenType::Plus => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    add a0, a0, a1");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::Minus => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    sub a0, a0, a1");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::Star => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    mul a0, a0, a1");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::Slash => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    div a0, a0, a1");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::Mod => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    rem a0, a0, a1");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::Xor => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    xor a0, a0, a1");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::And => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    and a0, a0, a1");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::Or => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    or a0, a0, a1");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::DoubleEqual => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    xor a0, a0, a1");
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    seqz a0, a0");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::NotEqual => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    xor a0, a0, a1");
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    snez a0, a0");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::Greater => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    slt a0, a1, a0");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::GreaterEqual => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    slt a0, a0, a1");
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    xori a0, a0, 1");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::Less => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    slt a0, a0, a1");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::LessEqual => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    slt a0, a1, a0");
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    xori a0, a0, 1");
+                    }
+                    _ => unreachable!(),
+                }
+            }
+            Expr::Grouping(expr) => self.compile_expr(env, *expr)?,
+            Expr::Literal(token) => match token.token_type {
+                TokenType::Number => {
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    li a0, {}", token.lexeme);
+                }
+                TokenType::Char => {
+                    emit!(
+                        &mut self.output,
+                        "    li a0, {}",
+                        token.lexeme.chars().nth(1).unwrap() as u8
+                    );
+                }
+                TokenType::String => {
+                    // TODO: actual string parsing in the tokenizer
+                    let value = &token.lexeme[1..token.lexeme.len() - 1]
+                        .replace("\\n", "\n")
+                        .replace("\\r", "\r")
+                        .replace("\\t", "\t")
+                        .replace("\\033", "\x1b")
+                        .replace("\\0", "\0");
+
+                    let label = format!("str_{:03}", self.data_counter);
+
+                    if value.is_empty() {
+                        emit!(&mut self.data_section, "    {}: .byte 0", label);
+                    } else {
+                        let charcodes = value
+                            .chars()
+                            .map(|x| (x as u8).to_string())
+                            .collect::<Vec<String>>()
+                            .join(",");
+                        emit!(
+                            &mut self.data_section,
+                            "    {}: .byte {},0",
+                            label,
+                            charcodes,
+                        );
+                    }
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    la a0, {}", label);
+                    self.data_counter += 1;
+                }
+                TokenType::True => {
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    li a0, 1");
+                }
+                TokenType::False => {
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    li a0, 0");
+                }
+                _ => unreachable!(),
+            },
+            Expr::Unary { op, right } => {
+                self.compile_expr(env, *right)?;
+                match op.token_type {
+                    TokenType::Minus => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    sub a0, x0, a0");
+                    }
+                    TokenType::Bang => {
+                        emit!(&mut self.output, "    seqz a0, a0");
+                    }
+                    _ => unreachable!(),
+                }
+            }
+            Expr::Variable(name) => {
+                // TODO: move to analyzer
+                let var = match env.get_var(&name.lexeme) {
+                    Some(x) => x,
+                    None => {
+                        return error!(name.loc, format!("undefined variable: {}", &name.lexeme));
+                    }
+                };
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld a0, -{}(fp)", var.stack_offset);
+            }
+            Expr::Assign { name, value } => {
+                self.compile_expr(env, *value)?;
+
+                // TODO: move to analyzer
+                let var = match env.get_var(&name.lexeme) {
+                    Some(x) => x,
+                    None => {
+                        return error!(name.loc, format!("undefined variable: {}", &name.lexeme));
+                    }
+                };
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd a0, -{}(fp)", var.stack_offset);
+            }
+            Expr::Call {
+                callee,
+                paren,
+                args,
+            } => {
+                let callee = match *callee {
+                    Expr::Variable(name) => name.lexeme,
+                    _ => return error!(&paren.loc, "tried to call a non-constant expression"),
+                };
+
+                for arg in &args {
+                    self.compile_expr(env, arg.clone())?;
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, -16");
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd a0, 0(sp)");
+                }
+
+                for i in (0..args.len()).rev() {
+                    let reg = match REGISTERS.get(i) {
+                        Some(x) => x,
+                        None => return error!(&paren.loc, "only up to 8 args allowed"),
+                    };
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld {}, 0(sp)", reg);
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, 16");
+                }
+
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    call {}", callee);
+            }
+            Expr::ArrayLiteral(exprs) => {
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    call array.new");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, -16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd a0, 0(sp)");
+
+                for expr in exprs {
+                    self.compile_expr(env, expr)?;
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    mv a1, a0");
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld a0, 0(sp)");
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd a0, 0(sp)");
+                    emit!(&mut self.output, "    call array.push");
+                }
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld a0, 0(sp)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, 16");
+            }
+            Expr::Index { expr, index } => {
+                self.compile_expr(env, *expr)?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, -16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    sd a0, 0(sp)");
+                self.compile_expr(env, *index)?;
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld t0, 0(sp)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    addi sp, sp, 16");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld t0, 0(t0)");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    li t1, 8");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    mul t2, a0, t1");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    add t0, t0, t2");
+                emit!(&mut self.output, "    ld a0, 0(t0)");
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}