diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 1c74e4c7..e832e7fc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ jobs:
           sudo apt-get update
           sudo apt-get install gcc-arm-linux-gnueabi qemu-user
       - name: Compile the project
-        run: make RUN="qemu-arm -L /usr/arm-linux-gnueabi/" CC=arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc LD=arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc 
+        run: make RUN="qemu-arm -L /usr/arm-linux-gnueabi/" CC=arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc LD=arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc
       - name: Test the project
         run: make RUN="qemu-arm -L /usr/arm-linux-gnueabi/" SUBRUN="qemu-arm -L /usr/arm-linux-gnueabi/" test VERBOSE=1
 
@@ -132,4 +132,4 @@ jobs:
     - name: Do Qemu build and test
       run: |
         docker run --rm --privileged multiarch/qemu-user-static --reset -p yes
-        docker run --rm -v .:/janet s390x/ubuntu bash -c "apt-get -y update && apt-get -y install git build-essential && cd /janet && make -j3 && make test"
+        docker run --rm -v .:/janet --platform linux/s390x ubuntu bash -c "apt-get -y update && apt-get -y install git build-essential && cd /janet && make -j3 && make test"
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c9fdb6ae..308f32f7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,10 +2,15 @@
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ## ??? - Unreleased
+- Change string hashing.
+- Fix string equality bug.
+- Add `assertf`
 - Change how JANET_PROFILE is loaded to allow more easily customizing the environment.
 - Add `*repl-prompt*` dynamic binding to allow customizing the built in repl.
 - Add multiple path support in the `JANET_PATH` environment variables. This lets
   user more easily import modules from many directories.
+- Add `nth` and `only-tags` PEG specials to select from sub-captures while
+  dropping the rest.
 
 ## 1.36.0 - 2024-09-07
 - Improve error messages in `bundle/add*` functions.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 274ed4ce..7376b433 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -250,8 +250,10 @@ Emacs, and Atom each have syntax packages for the Janet language, though.
 
 ## Installation
 
-See the [Introduction](https://janet-lang.org/docs/index.html) for more details. If you just want
-to try out the language, you don't need to install anything. You can also move the `janet` executable wherever you want on your system and run it.
+If you just want to try out the language, you don't need to install anything.
+In this case you can also move the `janet` executable wherever you want on
+your system and run it.  However, for a fuller setup, please see the
+[Introduction](https://janet-lang.org/docs/index.html) for more details.
 
 ## Usage
 
diff --git a/src/boot/boot.janet b/src/boot/boot.janet
index d00e46c2..461e8928 100644
--- a/src/boot/boot.janet
+++ b/src/boot/boot.janet
@@ -154,6 +154,11 @@
        ,v
        (,error ,(if err err (string/format "assert failure in %j" x))))))
 
+(defmacro assertf
+  "Convenience macro that combines `assert` and `string/format`."
+  [x & args]
+  ~(as-macro ,assert ,x (,string/format ,;args)))
+
 (defmacro defdyn
   ``Define an alias for a keyword that is used as a dynamic binding. The
   alias is a normal, lexically scoped binding that can be used instead of
@@ -3944,7 +3949,7 @@
     (defn make-sig []
       (ffi/signature :default real-ret-type ;computed-type-args))
     (defn make-ptr []
-      (assert (ffi/lookup (if lazy (llib) lib) raw-symbol) (string "failed to find ffi symbol " raw-symbol)))
+      (assertf (ffi/lookup (if lazy (llib) lib) raw-symbol) "failed to find ffi symbol %v" raw-symbol))
     (if lazy
       ~(defn ,alias ,;meta [,;formal-args]
          (,ffi/call (,(delay (make-ptr))) (,(delay (make-sig))) ,;formal-args))
@@ -4121,7 +4126,7 @@
     "Get the manifest for a give installed bundle"
     [bundle-name]
     (def name (get-manifest-filename bundle-name))
-    (assert (fexists name) (string "no bundle " bundle-name " found"))
+    (assertf (fexists name) "no bundle %v found" bundle-name)
     (parse (slurp name)))
 
   (defn- get-bundle-module
@@ -4264,11 +4269,9 @@
       (def missing (seq [d :in deps :when (not (bundle/installed? d))] (string d)))
       (when (next missing) (errorf "missing dependencies %s" (string/join missing ", "))))
     (def bundle-name (get config :name default-bundle-name))
-    (assert bundle-name (errorf "unable to infer bundle name for %v, use :name argument" path))
-    (assert (not (string/check-set "\\/" bundle-name))
-            (string "bundle name "
-                    bundle-name
-                    " cannot contain path separators"))
+    (assertf bundle-name "unable to infer bundle name for %v, use :name argument" path)
+    (assertf (not (string/check-set "\\/" bundle-name))
+             "bundle name %v cannot contain path separators" bundle-name)
     (assert (next bundle-name) "cannot use empty bundle-name")
     (assert (not (fexists (get-manifest-filename bundle-name)))
             "bundle is already installed")
@@ -4320,7 +4323,7 @@
     (var i 0)
     (def man (bundle/manifest bundle-name))
     (def files (get man :files @[]))
-    (assert (os/mkdir dest-dir) (string "could not create directory " dest-dir " (or it already exists)"))
+    (assertf (os/mkdir dest-dir) "could not create directory %v (or it already exists)" dest-dir)
     (def s (sep))
     (os/mkdir (string dest-dir s "bundle"))
     (def install-hook (string dest-dir s "bundle" s "init.janet"))
diff --git a/src/core/ffi.c b/src/core/ffi.c
index 9b149542..c95642ad 100644
--- a/src/core/ffi.c
+++ b/src/core/ffi.c
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ static JanetFFIStruct *build_struct_type(int32_t argc, const Janet *argv) {
 
     JanetFFIStruct *st = janet_abstract(&janet_struct_type,
                                         sizeof(JanetFFIStruct) + argc * sizeof(JanetFFIStructMember));
-    st->field_count = member_count;
+    st->field_count = 0;
     st->size = 0;
     st->align = 1;
     if (argc == 0) {
@@ -418,6 +418,7 @@ static JanetFFIStruct *build_struct_type(int32_t argc, const Janet *argv) {
         st->fields[i].type = decode_ffi_type(argv[j]);
         size_t el_size = type_size(st->fields[i].type);
         size_t el_align = type_align(st->fields[i].type);
+        if (el_align <= 0) janet_panicf("bad field type %V", argv[j]);
         if (all_packed || pack_one) {
             if (st->size % el_align != 0) is_aligned = 0;
             st->fields[i].offset = st->size;
@@ -433,6 +434,7 @@ static JanetFFIStruct *build_struct_type(int32_t argc, const Janet *argv) {
     st->size += (st->align - 1);
     st->size /= st->align;
     st->size *= st->align;
+    st->field_count = member_count;
     return st;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/parse.c b/src/core/parse.c
index cfb566b2..6faa7948 100644
--- a/src/core/parse.c
+++ b/src/core/parse.c
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ static void delim_error(JanetParser *parser, size_t stack_index, char c, const c
                 janet_buffer_push_u8(buffer, '`');
             }
         }
-        janet_formatb(buffer, " opened at line %d, column %d", s->line, s->column);
+        janet_formatb(buffer, " opened at line %d, column %d", (int32_t) s->line, (int32_t) s->column);
     }
     parser->error = (const char *) janet_string(buffer->data, buffer->count);
     parser->flag |= JANET_PARSER_GENERATED_ERROR;
diff --git a/src/core/string.c b/src/core/string.c
index 277b1a25..6a67482c 100644
--- a/src/core/string.c
+++ b/src/core/string.c
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ int janet_string_compare(const uint8_t *lhs, const uint8_t *rhs) {
 int janet_string_equalconst(const uint8_t *lhs, const uint8_t *rhs, int32_t rlen, int32_t rhash) {
     int32_t lhash = janet_string_hash(lhs);
     int32_t llen = janet_string_length(lhs);
-    if (lhs == rhs)
-        return 1;
     if (lhash != rhash || llen != rlen)
         return 0;
+    if (lhs == rhs)
+        return 1;
     return !memcmp(lhs, rhs, rlen);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/util.c b/src/core/util.c
index d4c5aef3..9ad64c56 100644
--- a/src/core/util.c
+++ b/src/core/util.c
@@ -117,14 +117,20 @@ const char *const janet_status_names[16] = {
     "alive"
 };
 
+uint32_t janet_hash_mix(uint32_t input, uint32_t more) {
+    uint32_t mix1 = (more + 0x9e3779b9 + (input << 6) + (input >> 2));
+    return input ^ (0x9e3779b9 + (mix1 << 6) + (mix1 >> 2));
+}
+
 #ifndef JANET_PRF
 
 int32_t janet_string_calchash(const uint8_t *str, int32_t len) {
-    if (NULL == str) return 5381;
+    if (NULL == str || len == 0) return 5381;
     const uint8_t *end = str + len;
     uint32_t hash = 5381;
     while (str < end)
         hash = (hash << 5) + hash + *str++;
+    hash = janet_hash_mix(hash, (uint32_t) len);
     return (int32_t) hash;
 }
 
@@ -240,11 +246,6 @@ int32_t janet_string_calchash(const uint8_t *str, int32_t len) {
 
 #endif
 
-uint32_t janet_hash_mix(uint32_t input, uint32_t more) {
-    uint32_t mix1 = (more + 0x9e3779b9 + (input << 6) + (input >> 2));
-    return input ^ (0x9e3779b9 + (mix1 << 6) + (mix1 >> 2));
-}
-
 /* Computes hash of an array of values */
 int32_t janet_array_calchash(const Janet *array, int32_t len) {
     const Janet *end = array + len;
diff --git a/test/suite-boot.janet b/test/suite-boot.janet
index c3c8b743..2168c410 100644
--- a/test/suite-boot.janet
+++ b/test/suite-boot.janet
@@ -997,4 +997,14 @@
 (assert (deep= (get (dyn 'a) :source-form) source))
 (setdyn *debug* nil)
 
+# issue #1516
+(assert (assertf true) "assertf 1 argument")
+(assert (assertf true "fun message") "assertf 2 arguments")
+(assert (assertf true "%s message" "mystery") "assertf 3 arguments")
+(assert (assertf (not nil) "%s message" "ordinary") "assertf not nil")
+(assert-error "assertf error 1" (assertf false))
+(assert-error "assertf error 2" (assertf false "fun message"))
+(assert-error "assertf error 3" (assertf false "%s message" "mystery"))
+(assert-error "assertf error 4" (assertf nil "%s %s" "alice" "bob"))
+
 (end-suite)
diff --git a/test/suite-ffi.janet b/test/suite-ffi.janet
index 0a810198..6305651e 100644
--- a/test/suite-ffi.janet
+++ b/test/suite-ffi.janet
@@ -52,5 +52,7 @@
   (assert (= 26 (ffi/size [:char :pack :int @[:char 21]]))
           "array struct size"))
 
-(end-suite)
+(compwhen has-ffi
+  (assert-error "bad struct issue #1512" (ffi/struct :void)))
 
+(end-suite)