diff --git a/src/core/editor/Ctx.re b/src/core/editor/Ctx.re
index 5506845f..04fead1a 100644
--- a/src/core/editor/Ctx.re
+++ b/src/core/editor/Ctx.re
@@ -167,6 +167,17 @@ let push_zigg = (~onto as d: Dir.t, zigg: Zigg.t, ~fill=Cell.empty, ctx: t) => {
   map_hd(Frame.Open.cat(rest), ctx);
 };
 
+let trim_space = (~side: Dir.t, ctx: t) =>
+  switch (pull(~from=side, ctx)) {
+  | (Node(tok), ctx) when Mtrl.is_space(tok.mtrl) =>
+    let tok =
+      Strings.chop_prefix(~prefix=" ", tok.text)
+      |> Option.map(text => {...tok, text})
+      |> Option.value(~default=tok);
+    Token.is_empty(tok) ? ctx : push(~onto=side, tok, ctx);
+  | _ => ctx
+  };
+
 let zip_toks = (~save_cursor=false, ctx: t): option((Meld.t, t)) => {
   let (hd, tl) = uncons(ctx);
   Frame.Open.zip_toks(~save_cursor, hd)
diff --git a/src/core/editor/Modify.re b/src/core/editor/Modify.re
index 094739d0..47d418a7 100644
--- a/src/core/editor/Modify.re
+++ b/src/core/editor/Modify.re
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ let expand = (tok: Token.t) =>
 let try_expand = (s: string, z: Zipper.t): option(Zipper.t) => {
   open Options.Syntax;
   let* () = Options.of_bool(String.starts_with(~prefix=" ", s));
+  // todo: check if in middle of token
   let (face, rest) = Ctx.pull(~from=L, z.ctx);
   let* tok = Delim.is_tok(face);
   // if expandable, consider all expandable const labels
@@ -314,6 +315,7 @@ let try_expand = (s: string, z: Zipper.t): option(Zipper.t) => {
           )
     )
     |> Ctx.push(~onto=L, Token.space())
+    |> Ctx.trim_space(~side=R)
     |> finalize(~mode=Inserting(" "), ~fill=Cell.point(~dirty=true, Focus))
     |> return;
   };
diff --git a/src/web/view/Code.re b/src/web/view/Code.re
index f507121b..be34bd5f 100644
--- a/src/web/view/Code.re
+++ b/src/web/view/Code.re
@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@ let cursor = (~font, z: Zipper.t) => {
     switch (ind_lc.meld) {
     | None => []
     | Some(lm) =>
-      Dec.Meld.Profile.mk(~whole=lc, ~state, lm) |> snd |> Dec.Meld.mk(~font)
+      Dec.Meld.Profile.mk(~whole=lc, ~state, lm)
+      |> snd
+      |> Dec.Layers.view(~font)
     }
   | Select(ind_zigg) =>
     let sel = Option.get(Cursor.get_select(z.cur));
@@ -66,24 +68,10 @@ let cursor = (~font, z: Zipper.t) => {
     );
     ind_zigg
     |> Dec.Zigg.Profile.mk(~whole=lc, ~state, ~null, ~eqs, ~rolled)
-    |> Dec.Zigg.mk(~font);
+    |> Dec.Layers.view(~font);
   };
 };
 
-// let cursor = (~font, z: Zipper.t) =>
-//   switch (z.cur) {
-//   | Select(_) => []
-//   | Point(_) =>
-//     let tree = Layout.mk_cell(Zipper.zip(~save_cursor=true, z));
-//     let (cell, ctx) = Zipper.zip_indicated(z);
-//     switch (Cell.get(cell)) {
-//     | None => []
-//     | Some(m) =>
-//       let path = Zipper.path_of_ctx(ctx);
-//       m |> Dec.Meld.Profile.mk(~tree, ~path) |> Dec.Meld.mk(~font);
-//     };
-//   };
-
 let view = (~font: Model.Font.t, ~zipper: Zipper.t): Node.t => {
   // print_endline("--- Code.view ---");
   // print_endline("z = " ++ Zipper.show(zipper));
diff --git a/src/web/view/dec/Child.re b/src/web/view/dec/Child.re
index b3c65d1a..5216802c 100644
--- a/src/web/view/dec/Child.re
+++ b/src/web/view/dec/Child.re
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ let includes_all_but_padding =
   };
 };
 
-let mk = (~font, p: Profile.t) => {
+let view = (~font, p: Profile.t) => {
   let end_loc: Loc.t = Dims.skip(p.loc, ~over=p.dims, ~ind=p.ind);
   let Dims.{height, widths: (hd, _)} = p.dims;
 
diff --git a/src/web/view/dec/Dec.re b/src/web/view/dec/Dec.re
index 2e8d678a..466682aa 100644
--- a/src/web/view/dec/Dec.re
+++ b/src/web/view/dec/Dec.re
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 module DecUtil = DecUtil;
 
+module Layers = Layers;
+
 module Token = Token;
 module Meld = Meld;
 module Zigg = Zigg;
diff --git a/src/web/view/dec/Layers.re b/src/web/view/dec/Layers.re
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a3ae7b8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/web/view/dec/Layers.re
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+open Sexplib.Std;
+open Ppx_yojson_conv_lib.Yojson_conv.Primitives;
+open Virtual_dom.Vdom;
+
+[@deriving (show({with_path: false}), sexp, yojson)]
+type t = {
+  outer: list(Silhouette.Outer.Profile.t),
+  inner: list(Silhouette.Inner.Profile.t),
+  cells: list(Child.Profile.t),
+  tokens: list(Token.Profile.t),
+};
+
+let mk = (~outer=[], ~inner=[], ~cells=[], ~tokens=[], ()) => {
+  outer,
+  inner,
+  cells,
+  tokens,
+};
+let empty = {outer: [], inner: [], tokens: [], cells: []};
+let cat = (l: t, r: t) => {
+  let outer = l.outer @ r.outer;
+  let inner = l.inner @ r.inner;
+  let cells = l.cells @ r.cells;
+  let tokens = l.tokens @ r.tokens;
+  {outer, inner, tokens, cells};
+};
+let concat = List.fold_left(cat, empty);
+
+let view = (~font, {outer, inner, tokens, cells}: t): list(Node.t) =>
+  List.concat([
+    List.map(Silhouette.Outer.view(~font), outer),
+    List.concat_map(Silhouette.Inner.view(~font), inner),
+    List.map(Child.view(~font), cells),
+    List.map(Token.view(~font), tokens),
+  ]);
diff --git a/src/web/view/dec/Meld.re b/src/web/view/dec/Meld.re
index 2c09d942..b7f043e7 100644
--- a/src/web/view/dec/Meld.re
+++ b/src/web/view/dec/Meld.re
@@ -37,16 +37,16 @@ module Profile = {
     let s_init = state |> L.State.jump_cell(~over=p_l);
     let s_tok = L.State.jump_cell(s_init, ~over=lc_l);
 
-    let silhouette =
+    let inner =
       sil
-        ? Some(
-            Silhouette.Inner.Profile.mk(
-              ~is_space=Mtrl.is_space(LMeld.sort(lm)),
-              ~state=s_init,
-              LMeld.flatten(~flatten=LCell.flatten, lm),
-            ),
-          )
-        : None;
+        ? [
+          Silhouette.Inner.Profile.mk(
+            ~is_space=Mtrl.is_space(LMeld.sort(lm)),
+            ~state=s_init,
+            LMeld.flatten(~flatten=LCell.flatten, lm),
+          ),
+        ]
+        : [];
 
     let l =
       Child.Profile.mk(
@@ -71,16 +71,8 @@ module Profile = {
       );
     let state =
       state |> L.State.jump_cell(~over=lc_r) |> L.State.jump_cell(~over=p_r);
-    let p = {chain: Chain.consnoc(~hd=l, w, ~ft=r), sil: silhouette};
+    let p = {...w, inner, cells: [l] @ w.cells @ [r]};
+    // let p = {chain: Chain.consnoc(~hd=l, w, ~ft=r), sil: silhouette};
     (state, p);
   };
 };
-
-let mk = (~font, p: Profile.t) =>
-  List.concat([
-    p.sil
-    |> Option.map(Silhouette.Inner.mk(~font))
-    |> Option.value(~default=[]),
-    List.map(T.mk(~font), Profile.tokens(p)),
-    List.map(Child.mk(~font), Profile.cells(p)),
-  ]);
diff --git a/src/web/view/dec/Silhouette.re b/src/web/view/dec/Silhouette.re
index 02bf0f3e..c3ac9fcc 100644
--- a/src/web/view/dec/Silhouette.re
+++ b/src/web/view/dec/Silhouette.re
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ module Inner = {
   let h_pad = 0.1;
   let v_trunc = T.v_trunc -. 0.06;
 
-  let mk = (~font, p: Profile.t) => {
+  let view = (~font, p: Profile.t) => {
     p.is_space
       ? []
       : Block.flatten(p.block)
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ module Inner = {
 module Outer = {
   module Profile = {
     open Util.Svgs;
+    [@deriving (show({with_path: false}), sexp, yojson)]
     type t = list(Rect.t);
     let mk = (~state: L.State.t, block: Block.t) => {
       Block.flatten(block)
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ module Outer = {
     };
   };
 
-  let mk = (~font, p: Profile.t) => {
+  let view = (~font, p: Profile.t) => {
     p
     |> Util.Svgs.OrthogonalPolygon.mk(~corner_radii=(0.35, 0.15))
     |> Util.Svgs.Path.view
diff --git a/src/web/view/dec/Terr.re b/src/web/view/dec/Terr.re
index 55ef4bce..9365a2cb 100644
--- a/src/web/view/dec/Terr.re
+++ b/src/web/view/dec/Terr.re
@@ -23,6 +23,16 @@ module Profile = {
     let ind = L.Indent.curr(state.ind);
     // let (null_l, null_r) = ;
     // let state = eq ? state : L.State.push_ind(state);
+    let inner =
+      sil
+        ? [
+          Silhouette.Inner.Profile.mk(
+            ~is_space=Mtrl.is_space(LTerr.sort(terr)),
+            ~state,
+            LTerr.L.flatten(terr),
+          ),
+        ]
+        : [];
     let (state, wald) =
       W.Profile.mk(
         ~sil,
@@ -41,7 +51,8 @@ module Profile = {
         terr.cell,
       );
     let state = L.State.jump_cell(state, ~over=terr.cell);
-    (state, {cell, wald});
+    let p = {...wald, inner, cells: wald.cells @ [cell]};
+    (state, p);
   };
 
   let mk_r =
@@ -53,6 +64,17 @@ module Profile = {
         ~eq,
         terr: LTerr.t,
       ) => {
+    let inner =
+      sil
+        ? [
+          Silhouette.Inner.Profile.mk(
+            ~is_space=Mtrl.is_space(LTerr.sort(terr)),
+            ~state,
+            LTerr.R.flatten(terr),
+          ),
+        ]
+        : [];
+
     let s_mid = L.State.jump_cell(state, ~over=terr.cell);
     let cell =
       Child.Profile.mk(
@@ -72,11 +94,7 @@ module Profile = {
         ~eq=(false, eq),
         Wald.rev(terr.wald),
       );
-    (state, {cell, wald});
+    let p = {...wald, inner, cells: [cell] @ wald.cells};
+    (state, p);
   };
 };
-
-let mk = (~font, p: Profile.t) => [
-  Child.mk(~font, p.cell),
-  ...W.mk(~font, p.wald),
-];
diff --git a/src/web/view/dec/Token.re b/src/web/view/dec/Token.re
index 57ac27fa..d8ac48bd 100644
--- a/src/web/view/dec/Token.re
+++ b/src/web/view/dec/Token.re
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ module Sil = {
   };
 };
 
-let mk = (prof: Profile.t) =>
+let view = (prof: Profile.t) =>
   prof.style
   |> Option.map((style: Style.t) =>
        (style.sil ? [Sil.mk(prof.len, style.shape)] : [])
diff --git a/src/web/view/dec/Wald.re b/src/web/view/dec/Wald.re
index 95ad0566..fb94e079 100644
--- a/src/web/view/dec/Wald.re
+++ b/src/web/view/dec/Wald.re
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ module L = Layout;
 
 module Profile = {
   [@deriving (show({with_path: false}), sexp, yojson)]
-  type t = Chain.t(T.Profile.t, Child.Profile.t);
+  type t = Layers.t;
 
   let tokens = fst;
   let cells = snd;
@@ -18,43 +18,51 @@ module Profile = {
         ~state: L.State.t,
         ~null: (bool, bool),
         ~eq: (bool, bool),
-        W(w): LWald.t,
+        W(w) as lw: LWald.t,
       ) => {
     let state = fst(eq) ? L.State.pop_ind(state) : L.State.push_ind(state);
     let ind = L.Indent.curr(state.ind);
     // let ind = state.ind + state.rel;
     let n = Chain.length(w);
+    let inner =
+      sil
+        ? [
+          Silhouette.Inner.Profile.mk(
+            ~is_space=Mtrl.is_space(LWald.sort(lw)),
+            ~state,
+            LWald.flatten(~flatten=LCell.flatten, lw),
+          ),
+        ]
+        : [];
     // logic below assumes w won't be space
-    w
-    |> Chain.mapi_loop((i, b) => (i, b))
-    |> Chain.fold_left_map(
-         ((_, b_tok)) => {
-           let null = (fst(null), n == 1 && snd(null));
-           let t = T.Profile.mk(~sil, ~loc=state.loc, ~null, b_tok);
-           let state = L.State.jump_tok(state, ~over=b_tok);
-           (state, t);
-         },
-         (state, cell, (i, b_tok)) => {
-           let c =
-             Child.Profile.mk(
-               ~sil,
-               ~whole,
-               ~ind,
-               ~loc=state.loc,
-               ~null=(false, false),
-               cell,
-             );
-           let state = L.State.jump_cell(state, ~over=cell);
-           let null = (false, i == n - 1 && snd(null));
-           let t = T.Profile.mk(~sil, ~loc=state.loc, ~null, b_tok);
-           let state = L.State.jump_tok(state, ~over=b_tok);
-           (state, c, t);
-         },
-       )
-    |> Stds.Tuples.map_fst(snd(eq) ? Fun.id : L.State.pop_ind);
+    let (state, (tokens, cells)) =
+      w
+      |> Chain.mapi_loop((i, b) => (i, b))
+      |> Chain.fold_left_map(
+           ((_, b_tok)) => {
+             let null = (fst(null), n == 1 && snd(null));
+             let t = T.Profile.mk(~sil, ~loc=state.loc, ~null, b_tok);
+             let state = L.State.jump_tok(state, ~over=b_tok);
+             (state, t);
+           },
+           (state, cell, (i, b_tok)) => {
+             let c =
+               Child.Profile.mk(
+                 ~sil,
+                 ~whole,
+                 ~ind,
+                 ~loc=state.loc,
+                 ~null=(false, false),
+                 cell,
+               );
+             let state = L.State.jump_cell(state, ~over=cell);
+             let null = (false, i == n - 1 && snd(null));
+             let t = T.Profile.mk(~sil, ~loc=state.loc, ~null, b_tok);
+             let state = L.State.jump_tok(state, ~over=b_tok);
+             (state, c, t);
+           },
+         )
+      |> Stds.Tuples.map_fst(snd(eq) ? Fun.id : L.State.pop_ind);
+    (state, Layers.mk(~inner, ~cells, ~tokens, ()));
   };
 };
-
-let mk = (~font, p: Profile.t) =>
-  List.map(T.mk(~font), Profile.tokens(p))
-  @ List.map(Child.mk(~font), Profile.cells(p));
diff --git a/src/web/view/dec/Zigg.re b/src/web/view/dec/Zigg.re
index ebe36c79..61e1003e 100644
--- a/src/web/view/dec/Zigg.re
+++ b/src/web/view/dec/Zigg.re
@@ -8,45 +8,16 @@ open Tylr_core;
 
 module L = Layout;
 
-module Sil = {
-  type t = {
-    // total selection silhouette
-    outer: Silhouette.Outer.Profile.t,
-    // parsed inner silhouettes
-    inner: list(Silhouette.Inner.Profile.t),
-  };
-};
-
 module Profile = {
-  type t = {
-    l: option(Either.t(M.Profile.t, Child.Profile.t)),
-    up: list(T.Profile.t),
-    top: W.Profile.t,
-    dn: list(T.Profile.t),
-    r: option(Either.t(M.Profile.t, Child.Profile.t)),
-    sil: Sil.t,
-  };
-
-  // let tokens = ({up, top, dn, _}: t) =>
-  //   List.concat([
-  //     List.concat_map(T.Profile.tokens, up),
-  //     fst(top),
-  //     List.concat_map(T.Profile.tokens, dn),
-  //   ]);
-  // let cells = ({up, top, dn, _}: t) =>
-  //   List.concat_map(T.Profile.cells, up)
-  //   @ snd(top)
-  //   @ List.concat_map(T.Profile.cells, dn);
+  type t = Layers.t;
 
   let mk_rolled =
       (~side: Dir.t, ~whole, ~state, ~rel: Either.t(_), rolled: LCell.t) => {
     switch (rolled.meld) {
-    | None => (state, (None, []))
+    | None => (state, Layers.empty)
     | Some(m) =>
       switch (rel) {
-      | Left () =>
-        let (state, p) = M.Profile.mk(~sil=true, ~whole, ~state, m);
-        (state, (Some(Either.Left(p)), []));
+      | Left () => M.Profile.mk(~sil=true, ~whole, ~state, m)
       | Right((s_neighbor, neighbor)) =>
         let s_post = L.State.jump_cell(state, ~over=rolled);
         let s_tok = Dir.pick(side, (s_post, state));
@@ -60,7 +31,7 @@ module Profile = {
             |> Dir.order(side)
             |> Funs.uncurry(Block.hcat),
           );
-        let p =
+        let cell =
           Child.Profile.mk(
             ~sil=true,
             ~whole,
@@ -69,7 +40,8 @@ module Profile = {
             ~null=Dir.pick(side, ((true, false), (false, true))),
             rolled,
           );
-        (s_post, (Some(Either.Right(p)), [sil]));
+        let p = Layers.mk(~inner=[sil], ~cells=[cell], ());
+        (s_post, p);
       }
     };
   };
@@ -96,22 +68,16 @@ module Profile = {
            let (p_r, cell) = LCell.depad(terr.cell, ~side=R);
            let terr = {...terr, cell};
 
-           let sil =
-             Silhouette.Inner.Profile.mk(
-               ~is_space=Mtrl.is_space(LTerr.sort(terr)),
-               ~state,
-               LTerr.L.flatten(terr),
-             );
            let (state, p) =
              T.Profile.mk_l(~sil=true, ~whole, ~state, ~eq, ~null, terr);
 
            let state = L.State.jump_cell(state, ~over=p_r);
 
-           (state, (p, sil));
+           (state, p);
          },
          state,
        )
-    |> Tuples.map_snd(List.split);
+    |> Tuples.map_snd(Layers.concat);
   };
 
   let mk_dn =
@@ -141,21 +107,14 @@ module Profile = {
            let terr = {...terr, cell};
 
            let state = L.State.jump_cell(state, ~over=p_l);
-
-           let sil =
-             Silhouette.Inner.Profile.mk(
-               ~is_space=Mtrl.is_space(LTerr.sort(terr)),
-               ~state,
-               LTerr.R.flatten(terr),
-             );
            let (state, p) =
              T.Profile.mk_r(~sil=true, ~whole, ~state, ~eq, ~null, terr);
 
-           (state, (p, sil));
+           (state, p);
          },
          state,
        )
-    |> Tuples.map_snd(List.split);
+    |> Tuples.map_snd(Layers.concat);
   };
 
   let mk =
@@ -185,9 +144,9 @@ module Profile = {
         // this state doesn't matter, just to satisfy types
         Right((state, LZigg.hd_block(~side=L, rolled_z)))
       };
-    let (state, (m_l, m_l_sil)) =
+    let (state, m_l) =
       mk_rolled(~side=L, ~whole, ~state, ~rel=rel_l, rolled_l);
-    let (state, (up, up_sil)) =
+    let (state, up) =
       mk_up(
         ~whole,
         ~state,
@@ -202,24 +161,16 @@ module Profile = {
       state_before_right_hd := state;
     };
 
-    let (state, (top, top_sil)) = {
+    let (state, top) = {
       let null = (
         List.for_all(t => Mtrl.is_space(LTerr.sort(t)), zigg.up) && null_l,
         List.for_all(t => Mtrl.is_space(LTerr.sort(t)), zigg.dn) && null_r,
       );
       let eq = List.(mem(-1, eqs_l), mem(-1, eqs_r));
-      let sil =
-        Silhouette.Inner.Profile.mk(
-          ~is_space=Mtrl.is_space(LWald.sort(rolled_z.top)),
-          ~state,
-          LWald.flatten(~flatten=LCell.flatten, rolled_z.top),
-        );
-      let (state, p) =
-        W.Profile.mk(~sil=true, ~whole, ~state, ~null, ~eq, rolled_z.top);
-      (state, (p, sil));
+      W.Profile.mk(~sil=true, ~whole, ~state, ~null, ~eq, rolled_z.top);
     };
 
-    let (state, (dn, dn_sil)) =
+    let (state, dn) =
       mk_dn(
         ~whole,
         ~state,
@@ -236,37 +187,8 @@ module Profile = {
       | Neq(R) =>
         Right((state_before_right_hd^, LZigg.hd_block(~side=R, rolled_z)))
       };
-    let (_state, (m_r, m_r_sil)) =
+    let (_state, m_r) =
       mk_rolled(~side=R, ~whole, ~state, ~rel=rel_r, rolled_r);
-
-    let sil =
-      Sil.{
-        outer: outer_sil,
-        inner: List.concat([m_l_sil, up_sil, [top_sil], dn_sil, m_r_sil]),
-      };
-    {l: m_l, up, top, dn, r: m_r, sil};
+    {...Layers.concat([m_l, up, top, dn, m_r]), outer: [outer_sil]};
   };
 };
-
-let mk = (~font, p: Profile.t) =>
-  List.concat([
-    [Silhouette.Outer.mk(~font, p.sil.outer)],
-    List.concat_map(Silhouette.Inner.mk(~font), p.sil.inner),
-    p.l
-    |> Option.map(
-         fun
-         | Either.Left(p) => M.mk(~font, p)
-         | Right(p) => [Child.mk(~font, p)],
-       )
-    |> Option.value(~default=[]),
-    List.concat_map(T.mk(~font), p.up),
-    W.mk(~font, p.top),
-    List.concat_map(T.mk(~font), p.dn),
-    p.r
-    |> Option.map(
-         fun
-         | Either.Left(p) => M.mk(~font, p)
-         | Right(p) => [Child.mk(~font, p)],
-       )
-    |> Option.value(~default=[]),
-  ]);