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Is anybody actually depending on the old `CString'? Or is everybody using `PackedString' instead?

I don't believe anyone is using PackedString, except for Regex which arguably should be using CString instead. I'd like to see a simpler PackedString which just corresponded to ByteArrays.

The nhc98 compiler uses PackedString extensively. The interface is very standard - all of ghc, hbc, and nhc98 support it. Change the implementation by all means if you wish, but not the interface.

Not a problem. I wasn't suggesting changing the interface, sorry for the confusion. Cheers, Simon