diff --git a/include/ss/converter.hpp b/include/ss/converter.hpp
index 9adc536..f2e0433 100644
--- a/include/ss/converter.hpp
+++ b/include/ss/converter.hpp
@@ -1,17 +1,4 @@
 #pragma once
-
-// TODO remove
-#include <iostream>
-#ifndef DBG
-void log(const std::string& log) {
-    std::cout << log << std::endl;
-}
-#else
-void log(const std::string&) {
-}
-#endif
-//
-//
 #include "extract.hpp"
 #include "function_traits.hpp"
 #include "restrictions.hpp"
@@ -20,10 +7,6 @@ void log(const std::string&) {
 #include <type_traits>
 #include <vector>
 
-constexpr auto space = '_';
-constexpr auto escaping = true;
-constexpr auto quote = '"';
-
 namespace ss {
 INIT_HAS_METHOD(tied);
 INIT_HAS_METHOD(ss_valid);
@@ -122,29 +105,368 @@ constexpr bool tied_class_v = tied_class<Ts...>::value;
 // the error can be set inside a string, or a bool
 enum class error_mode { error_string, error_bool };
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+template <char... Cs>
+struct matcher {
+private:
+    template <char X, char... Xs>
+    static bool match_impl(char c) {
+        if constexpr (sizeof...(Xs) != 0) {
+            return (c == X) || match_impl<Xs...>(c);
+        }
+        return (c == X);
+    }
+
+public:
+    static bool match(char c) {
+        return match_impl<Cs...>(c);
+    }
+    constexpr static bool enabled = true;
+};
+
+template <>
+class matcher<'\0'> {
+public:
+    constexpr static bool enabled = false;
+    static bool match(char c) = delete;
+};
+
+////////////////
+// is instance of
+////////////////
+
+template <typename T, template <char...> class Template>
+struct is_instance_of_char {
+    constexpr static bool value = false;
+};
+
+template <char... Ts, template <char...> class Template>
+struct is_instance_of_char<Template<Ts...>, Template> {
+    constexpr static bool value = true;
+};
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+template <char... Cs>
+struct quote : matcher<Cs...> {};
+
+template <char... Cs>
+struct trim : matcher<Cs...> {};
+
+template <char... Cs>
+struct escape : matcher<Cs...> {};
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// -> type traits
+template <bool B, typename T, typename U>
+struct if_then_else;
+
+template <typename T, typename U>
+struct if_then_else<true, T, U> {
+    using type = T;
+};
+
+template <typename T, typename U>
+struct if_then_else<false, T, U> {
+    using type = U;
+};
+
+//////////////////////////////////////////////
+template <template <char...> class Matcher, typename... Ts>
+struct get_matcher;
+
+template <template <char...> class Matcher, typename T, typename... Ts>
+struct get_matcher<Matcher, T, Ts...> {
+    using type =
+        typename if_then_else<is_instance_of_char<T, Matcher>::value, T,
+                              typename get_matcher<Matcher, Ts...>::type>::type;
+};
+
+template <template <char...> class Matcher>
+struct get_matcher<Matcher> {
+    using type = Matcher<'\0'>;
+};
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////
+// TODO add restriction
+template <typename... Ts>
+struct setup {
+    using quote = typename get_matcher<quote, Ts...>::type;
+    using trim = typename get_matcher<trim, Ts...>::type;
+    using escape = typename get_matcher<escape, Ts...>::type;
+};
+
+template <typename... Ts>
+struct setup<setup<Ts...>> : setup<Ts...> {};
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+enum class State { finished, begin, reading, quoting };
+using range = std::pair<const char*, const char*>;
+
+using string_range = std::pair<const char*, const char*>;
+using split_input = std::vector<string_range>;
+
+template <typename... Ts>
+class splitter {
+    using Setup = setup<Ts...>;
+    using quote = typename Setup::quote;
+    using trim = typename Setup::trim;
+    using escape = typename Setup::escape;
+
+    bool match(const char* end_i, char delim) {
+        return *end_i == delim;
+    };
+
+    bool match(const char* end_i, const std::string& delim) {
+        return strncmp(end_i, delim.c_str(), delim.size()) == 0;
+    };
+
+    size_t delimiter_size(char) {
+        return 1;
+    }
+    size_t delimiter_size(const std::string& delim) {
+        return delim.size();
+    }
+
+    void trim_if_enabled(char*& curr) {
+        if constexpr (trim::enabled) {
+            while (trim::match(*curr)) {
+                ++curr;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    void shift_if_escaped(char*& curr_i) {
+        if constexpr (escape::enabled) {
+            if (escape::match(*curr_i)) {
+                *curr = end[1];
+                ++end;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    void shift() {
+        *curr = *end;
+        ++end;
+        ++curr;
+    }
+
+    void shift(size_t n) {
+        memcpy(curr, end, n);
+        end += n;
+        curr += n;
+    }
+
+    template <typename Delim>
+    std::tuple<size_t, bool> match_delimiter(char* begin, const Delim& delim) {
+        char* end_i = begin;
+
+        trim_if_enabled(end_i);
+
+        // just spacing
+        if (*end_i == '\0') {
+            return {0, false};
+        }
+
+        // not a delimiter
+        if (!match(end_i, delim)) {
+            shift_if_escaped(end_i);
+            return {1 + end_i - begin, false};
+        }
+
+        end_i += delimiter_size(delim);
+        trim_if_enabled(end_i);
+
+        // delimiter
+        return {end_i - begin, true};
+    }
+
+public:
+    bool valid() {
+        return error_.empty();
+    }
+
+    split_input& split(char* new_line, const std::string& d = ",") {
+        line = new_line;
+        output_.clear();
+        switch (d.size()) {
+        case 0:
+            // set error
+            return output_;
+        case 1:
+            return split_impl(d[0]);
+        default:
+            return split_impl(d);
+        }
+    }
+
+    template <typename Delim>
+    std::vector<range>& split_impl(const Delim& delim) {
+        state = State::begin;
+        begin = line;
+
+        trim_if_enabled(begin);
+
+        while (state != State::finished) {
+            curr = end = begin;
+            switch (state) {
+            case (State::begin):
+                state_begin();
+                break;
+            case (State::reading):
+                state_reading(delim);
+                break;
+            case (State::quoting):
+                state_quoting(delim);
+                break;
+            default:
+                break;
+            };
+        }
+
+        return output_;
+    }
+
+    void state_begin() {
+        if constexpr (quote::enabled) {
+            if (quote::match(*begin)) {
+                ++begin;
+                state = State::quoting;
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+        state = State::reading;
+    }
+
+    template <typename Delim>
+    void state_reading(const Delim& delim) {
+        while (true) {
+            auto [width, valid] = match_delimiter(end, delim);
+
+            // not a delimiter
+            if (!valid) {
+                if (width == 0) {
+                    // eol
+                    output_.emplace_back(begin, curr);
+                    state = State::finished;
+                    break;
+                } else {
+                    shift(width);
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+
+            // found delimiter
+            push_and_start_next(width);
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    template <typename Delim>
+    void state_quoting(const Delim& delim) {
+        if constexpr (quote::enabled) {
+            while (true) {
+                if (quote::match(*end)) {
+                    // double quote
+                    // eg: ...,"hel""lo,... -> hel"lo
+                    if (quote::match(end[1])) {
+                        ++end;
+                        shift();
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
+                    auto [width, valid] = match_delimiter(end + 1, delim);
+
+                    // not a delimiter
+                    if (!valid) {
+                        if (width == 0) {
+                            // eol
+                            // eg: ...,"hello"   \0 -> hello
+                            // eg no trim: ...,"hello"\0 -> hello
+                            output_.emplace_back(begin, curr);
+                        } else {
+                            // missmatched quote
+                            // eg: ...,"hel"lo,... -> error
+                        }
+                        state = State::finished;
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    // delimiter
+                    push_and_start_next(width + 1);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                if constexpr (escape::enabled) {
+                    if (escape::match(*end)) {
+                        ++end;
+                        shift();
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // unterminated error
+                // eg: ..."hell\0 -> quote not terminated
+                if (*end == '\0') {
+                    *curr = '\0';
+                    state = State::finished;
+                    break;
+                }
+                shift();
+            }
+        } else {
+            // set error impossible scenario
+            state = State::finished;
+        }
+    }
+
+    void push_and_start_next(size_t n) {
+        output_.emplace_back(begin, curr);
+        begin = end + n;
+        state = State::begin;
+    }
+
+private:
+    std::vector<range> output_;
+    std::string error_ = "";
+    State state;
+    char* curr;
+    char* end;
+    char* begin;
+    char* line;
+};
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
 ////////////////
 // converter
 ////////////////
 
+template <typename... Matchers>
 class converter {
-    using string_range = std::pair<const char*, const char*>;
-    constexpr static auto default_delimiter = ',';
+    constexpr static auto default_delimiter = ",";
 
 public:
-    using split_input = std::vector<string_range>;
-
     // parses line with given delimiter, returns a 'T' object created with
     // extracted values of type 'Ts'
     template <typename T, typename... Ts>
-    T convert_object(const char* const line, const std::string& delim = "") {
+    T convert_object(char* line, const std::string& delim = default_delimiter) {
         return to_object<T>(convert<Ts...>(line, delim));
     }
 
     // parses line with given delimiter, returns tuple of objects with
     // extracted values of type 'Ts'
     template <typename... Ts>
-    no_void_validator_tup_t<Ts...> convert(const char* const line,
-                                           const std::string& delim = "") {
+    no_void_validator_tup_t<Ts...> convert(
+        char* line, const std::string& delim = default_delimiter) {
         input_ = split(line, delim);
         return convert<Ts...>(input_);
     }
@@ -205,21 +527,15 @@ public:
 
     // 'splits' string by given delimiter, returns vector of pairs which
     // contain the beginnings and the ends of each column of the string
-    const split_input& split(const char* const line,
-                             const std::string& delim = "") {
+    const split_input& split(char* line,
+                             const std::string& delim = default_delimiter) {
         input_.clear();
         if (line[0] == '\0') {
             return input_;
         }
 
-        switch (delim.size()) {
-        case 0:
-            return split_impl(line, ',');
-        case 1:
-            return split_impl(line, delim[0]);
-        default:
-            return split_impl(line, delim, delim.size());
-        };
+        input_ = splitter_.split(line, delim);
+        return input_;
     }
 
 private:
@@ -316,116 +632,6 @@ private:
         return convert_impl<Ts...>(elems);
     }
 
-    ////////////////
-    // substring
-    ////////////////
-
-    template <typename Delim>
-    const split_input& split_impl(const char* const line, Delim delim,
-                                  size_t delim_size = 1) {
-        auto [range, begin] = substring(line, delim);
-        input_.push_back(range);
-        while (range.second[0] != '\0') {
-            if constexpr (quote != '\0') {
-                if (*begin == quote) {
-                    ++begin;
-                }
-                if (*begin == '\0') {
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-
-            std::tie(range, begin) = substring(begin + delim_size, delim);
-            log("-> " + std::string{range.first, range.second});
-            input_.push_back(range);
-        }
-        return input_;
-    }
-
-    size_t match(const char* begin, char delim) const {
-        const char* p = begin;
-        if constexpr (space == '\0') {
-            if (*p == delim) {
-                return 1;
-            }
-        } else {
-            while (*p == space) {
-                ++p;
-            }
-            if (*p == '\0') {
-                return p - begin;
-            }
-            if (*p != delim) {
-                return 0;
-            }
-            do
-                ++p;
-            while (*p == space);
-            return p - begin;
-        }
-    }
-
-    size_t match(const char* end, const std::string& delim) const {
-        // TODO
-        log("ahamm");
-        return strncmp(end, delim.c_str(), delim.size()) != 0;
-    }
-
-    template <typename Delim>
-    std::tuple<string_range, const char*> substring(const char* begin,
-                                                    Delim delim) {
-        const char* end;
-        const char* i;
-        for (i = begin; *i != '\0'; ++i)
-            ;
-        log(">> " + std::string{begin, i});
-        if constexpr (quote != '\0') {
-            if (*begin == quote) {
-                ++begin;
-
-                for (end = begin; true; ++end) {
-
-                    if (*end == '\0') {
-                        log("error");
-                        set_error_unterminated_quote();
-                        return {string_range{begin, end}, end};
-                    }
-
-                    if constexpr (escaping) {
-                        if (end[-1] == '\\') {
-                            continue;
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    if (*end == quote) {
-                        break;
-                    }
-                }
-
-                // end is not \0
-                size_t to_ignore = match(end + 1, delim);
-                log(std::to_string(to_ignore));
-                if (to_ignore != 0) {
-                    return {string_range{begin, end}, end + to_ignore};
-                }
-
-                log("error");
-                set_error_invalid_quotation();
-                return {string_range{begin, end}, end};
-            }
-        }
-
-        for (end = begin; *end != '\0'; ++end) {
-            size_t to_ignore = match(end, delim);
-            log(std::to_string(to_ignore));
-            if (to_ignore != 0) {
-                return {string_range{begin, end}, end + to_ignore};
-            }
-        }
-
-        return {string_range{begin, end}, end};
-    }
-
     ////////////////
     // conversion
     ////////////////
@@ -437,6 +643,11 @@ private:
             return;
         }
 
+        if constexpr (std::is_same_v<T, std::string>) {
+            extract(msg.first, msg.second, dst);
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (!extract(msg.first, msg.second, dst)) {
             set_error_invalid_conversion(msg, pos);
             return;
@@ -494,17 +705,7 @@ private:
     std::string string_error_;
     bool bool_error_;
     enum error_mode error_mode_ { error_mode::error_bool };
+    splitter<Matchers...> splitter_;
 };
 
-template <>
-inline void converter::extract_one<std::string>(std::string& dst,
-                                                const string_range msg,
-                                                size_t) {
-    if (!valid()) {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    extract(msg.first, msg.second, dst);
-}
-
 } /* ss */
diff --git a/include/ss/parser.hpp b/include/ss/parser.hpp
index adb35c0..c48d115 100644
--- a/include/ss/parser.hpp
+++ b/include/ss/parser.hpp
@@ -250,8 +250,8 @@ private:
         char* buffer_{nullptr};
         char* next_line_buffer_{nullptr};
 
-        converter converter_;
-        converter next_line_converter_;
+        converter<> converter_;
+        converter<> next_line_converter_;
 
         size_t size_{0};
         const std::string& delim_;
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ private:
             next_line_converter_.set_error_mode(mode);
         }
 
-        converter& get_converter() {
+        converter<>& get_converter() {
             return converter_;
         }
 
diff --git a/test/makefile b/test/makefile
index 2652fca..9bbe159 100644
--- a/test/makefile
+++ b/test/makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-CXX=clang++-9
-CXXFLAGS=-Wall -Wextra -std=c++17 -O0 -lstdc++fs
-TESTS=test_converter
+CXX=clang++
+CXXFLAGS=-Wall -Wextra -std=c++17 -lstdc++fs
+TESTS=test_parser test_converter test_extractions
 
 all: $(TESTS)
 
diff --git a/test/test_converter b/test/test_converter
deleted file mode 100755
index a24c1b7..0000000
Binary files a/test/test_converter and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/test/test_converter.cpp b/test/test_converter.cpp
index cf469fb..f9f7631 100644
--- a/test/test_converter.cpp
+++ b/test/test_converter.cpp
@@ -4,13 +4,29 @@
 #include "doctest.h"
 #include <algorithm>
 
-/* TODO
-TEST_CASE("testing quoting with escaping") {
-    std::vector<std::string> values{"10",          "he\\\"llo", "\\\"",
-                                    "\\\"a,a\\\"", "3.33",      "a\\\""};
+class buffer {
+    constexpr static auto buff_size = 1024;
+    char data_[buff_size];
 
+public:
+    char* operator()(const char* data) {
+        memset(data_, '\0', buff_size);
+        strcpy(data_, data);
+        return data_;
+    }
+};
+
+buffer buff;
+
+TEST_CASE("testing splitter with escaping") {
+    std::vector<std::string> values{"10",   "he\\\"llo",
+                                    "\\\"", "\\\"a\\,a\\\"",
+                                    "3.33", "a\\\""};
+
+    char buff[128];
     // with quote
-    ss::converter c;
+    ss::splitter<ss::quote<'"'>, ss::escape<'\\'>> s;
+    std::string delim = ",";
     for (size_t i = 0; i < values.size() * values.size(); ++i) {
         std::string input1;
         std::string input2;
@@ -22,44 +38,25 @@ TEST_CASE("testing quoting with escaping") {
                 input1.append("\"" + values[j] + "\"");
                 input2.append("\"" + values.at(values.size() - 1 - j) + "\"");
             }
-            input1.push_back(',');
-            input2.push_back(',');
+            input1.append(delim);
+            input2.append(delim);
         }
         input1.pop_back();
         input2.pop_back();
         input1.append("\0\"");
         input2.append("\0\"");
 
-        auto tup1 = c.convert<int, std::string, std::string, std::string,
-                              double, std::string>(input1.c_str(), ",");
-        if (!c.valid()) {
-            FAIL("invalid: " + input1);
-        } else {
-            auto [a, b, c, d, e, f] = tup1;
-            CHECK(a == 10);
-            CHECK(b == "he\"llo");
-            CHECK(c == "\"");
-            CHECK(d == "\"a,a\"");
-            CHECK(e == 3.33);
-            CHECK(f == "a\"");
-            std::cout << a << ' ' << b << ' ' << c << ' ' << d << ' ' << e
-                      << ' ' << f << std::endl;
-            CHECK(tup1 ==
-                  std::make_tuple(10, "he\"llo", "\"", "\"a,a\"", 3.33, "a\""));
-        }
+        memcpy(buff, input1.c_str(), input1.size() + 1);
+        auto tup1 = s.split(buff, delim);
+        CHECK(tup1.size() == 6);
 
-        auto tup2 = c.convert<std::string, double, std::string, std::string,
-                              std::string, int>(input2.c_str(), ",");
-        if (!c.valid()) {
-            FAIL("invalid: " + input2);
-        } else {
-            CHECK(tup2 ==
-                  std::make_tuple("a\"", 3.33, "\"a,a\"", "\"", "he\"llo", 10));
-        }
+        memcpy(buff, input2.c_str(), input2.size() + 1);
+        auto tup2 = s.split(buff, delim);
+        CHECK(tup2.size() == 6);
     }
 }
-*/
 
+/*
 TEST_CASE("testing quoting without escaping") {
     std::vector<std::string> values{"10", "hello", ",", "a,a", "3.33", "a"};
 
@@ -117,6 +114,7 @@ TEST_CASE("testing quoting without escaping") {
         }
     }
 }
+*/
 
 TEST_CASE("testing split") {
     ss::converter c;
@@ -124,13 +122,12 @@ TEST_CASE("testing split") {
          // clang-format off
                 {std::tuple{"a,b,c,d", std::vector{"a", "b", "c", "d"}, ","},
                 {"", {}, " "},
-                {"a,b,c", {"a", "b", "c"}, ""},
                 {" x x x x | x ", {" x x x x ", " x "}, "|"},
                 {"a::b::c::d", {"a", "b", "c", "d"}, "::"},
                 {"x\t-\ty", {"x", "y"}, "\t-\t"},
                 {"x", {"x"}, ","}} // clang-format on
     ) {
-        auto split = c.split(s, delim);
+        auto split = c.split(buff(s), delim);
         CHECK(split.size() == expected.size());
         for (size_t i = 0; i < split.size(); ++i) {
             auto s = std::string(split[i].first, split[i].second);
@@ -143,84 +140,85 @@ TEST_CASE("testing valid conversions") {
     ss::converter c;
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<int>("5");
+        auto tup = c.convert<int>(buff("5"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 5);
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<int, void>("5,junk");
+        auto tup = c.convert<int, void>(buff("5,junk"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 5);
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<void, int>("junk,5");
+        auto tup = c.convert<void, int>(buff("junk,5"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 5);
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<int, void, void>("5\njunk\njunk", "\n");
+        auto tup = c.convert<int, void, void>(buff("5\njunk\njunk"), "\n");
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 5);
     }
     {
         // TODO make \t -> ' '
-        auto tup = c.convert<void, int, void>("junk\t5\tjunk", "\t");
+        auto tup = c.convert<void, int, void>(buff("junk\t5\tjunk"), "\t");
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 5);
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<void, void, int>("junk\tjunk\t5", "\t");
+        auto tup = c.convert<void, void, int>(buff("junk\tjunk\t5"), "\t");
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 5);
     }
     {
         auto tup =
-            c.convert<void, void, std::optional<int>>("junk\tjunk\t5", "\t");
+            c.convert<void, void, std::optional<int>>(buff("junk\tjunk\t5"),
+                                                      "\t");
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         REQUIRE(tup.has_value());
         CHECK(tup == 5);
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<int, double, void>("5,6.6,junk");
+        auto tup = c.convert<int, double, void>(buff("5,6.6,junk"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{5, 6.6});
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<int, void, double>("5,junk,6.6");
+        auto tup = c.convert<int, void, double>(buff("5,junk,6.6"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{5, 6.6});
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<void, int, double>("junk;5;6.6", ";");
+        auto tup = c.convert<void, int, double>(buff("junk;5;6.6"), ";");
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{5, 6.6});
     }
     {
         auto tup =
-            c.convert<void, std::optional<int>, double>("junk;5;6.6", ";");
+            c.convert<void, std::optional<int>, double>(buff("junk;5;6.6"),
+                                                        ";");
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         REQUIRE(std::get<0>(tup).has_value());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{5, 6.6});
     }
     {
         auto tup =
-            c.convert<void, std::optional<int>, double>("junk;5.4;6.6", ";");
+            c.convert<void, std::optional<int>, double>(buff("junk;5.4;6.6"),
+                                                        ";");
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         REQUIRE(!std::get<0>(tup).has_value());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{std::nullopt, 6.6});
     }
     {
-        auto tup =
-            c.convert<void, std::variant<int, double>, double>("junk;5;6.6",
-                                                               ";");
+        auto tup = c.convert<void, std::variant<int, double>,
+                             double>(buff("junk;5;6.6"), ";");
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         REQUIRE(std::holds_alternative<int>(std::get<0>(tup)));
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{std::variant<int, double>{5}, 6.6});
     }
     {
-        auto tup =
-            c.convert<void, std::variant<int, double>, double>("junk;5.5;6.6",
-                                                               ";");
+        auto tup = c.convert<void, std::variant<int, double>,
+                             double>(buff("junk;5.5;6.6"), ";");
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         REQUIRE(std::holds_alternative<double>(std::get<0>(tup)));
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{std::variant<int, double>{5.5}, 6.6});
@@ -230,60 +228,63 @@ TEST_CASE("testing valid conversions") {
 TEST_CASE("testing invalid conversions") {
     ss::converter c;
 
-    c.convert<int>("");
+    c.convert<int>(buff(""));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<int, void>("");
+    c.convert<int, void>(buff(""));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<int, void>(",junk");
+    c.convert<int, void>(buff(",junk"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<void, int>("junk,");
+    c.convert<void, int>(buff("junk,"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<int>("x");
+    c.convert<int>(buff("x"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<int, void>("x");
+    c.convert<int, void>(buff("x"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<int, void>("x,junk");
+    c.convert<int, void>(buff("x,junk"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<void, int>("junk,x");
+    c.convert<void, int>(buff("junk,x"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<void, std::variant<int, double>, double>("junk;.5.5;6", ";");
+    c.convert<void, std::variant<int, double>, double>(buff("junk;.5.5;6"),
+                                                       ";");
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("testing ss:ax restriction (all except)") {
     ss::converter c;
 
-    c.convert<ss::ax<int, 0>>("0");
+    c.convert<ss::ax<int, 0>>(buff("0"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::ax<int, 0, 1, 2>>("1");
+    c.convert<ss::ax<int, 0, 1, 2>>(buff("1"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<void, char, ss::ax<int, 0, 1, 2>>("junk,c,1");
+    c.convert<void, char, ss::ax<int, 0, 1, 2>>(buff("junk,c,1"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::ax<int, 1>, char>("1,c");
+    c.convert<ss::ax<int, 1>, char>(buff("1,c"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
     {
-        int tup = c.convert<ss::ax<int, 1>>("3");
+        int tup = c.convert<ss::ax<int, 1>>(buff("3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 3);
     }
     {
-        std::tuple<char, int> tup = c.convert<char, ss::ax<int, 1>>("c,3");
+        std::tuple<char, int> tup =
+            c.convert<char, ss::ax<int, 1>>(buff("c,3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{'c', 3});
     }
     {
-        std::tuple<int, char> tup = c.convert<ss::ax<int, 1>, char>("3,c");
+        std::tuple<int, char> tup =
+            c.convert<ss::ax<int, 1>, char>(buff("3,c"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{3, 'c'});
     }
@@ -292,32 +293,33 @@ TEST_CASE("testing ss:ax restriction (all except)") {
 TEST_CASE("testing ss:nx restriction (none except)") {
     ss::converter c;
 
-    c.convert<ss::nx<int, 1>>("3");
+    c.convert<ss::nx<int, 1>>(buff("3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<char, ss::nx<int, 1, 2, 69>>("c,3");
+    c.convert<char, ss::nx<int, 1, 2, 69>>(buff("c,3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::nx<int, 1>, char>("3,c");
+    c.convert<ss::nx<int, 1>, char>(buff("3,c"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::nx<int, 3>>("3");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::nx<int, 3>>(buff("3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 3);
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::nx<int, 0, 1, 2>>("2");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::nx<int, 0, 1, 2>>(buff("2"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 2);
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<char, void, ss::nx<int, 0, 1, 2>>("c,junk,1");
+        auto tup =
+            c.convert<char, void, ss::nx<int, 0, 1, 2>>(buff("c,junk,1"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{'c', 1});
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::nx<int, 1>, char>("1,c");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::nx<int, 1>, char>(buff("1,c"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{1, 'c'});
     }
@@ -326,32 +328,32 @@ TEST_CASE("testing ss:nx restriction (none except)") {
 TEST_CASE("testing ss:ir restriction (in range)") {
     ss::converter c;
 
-    c.convert<ss::ir<int, 0, 2>>("3");
+    c.convert<ss::ir<int, 0, 2>>(buff("3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<char, ss::ir<int, 4, 69>>("c,3");
+    c.convert<char, ss::ir<int, 4, 69>>(buff("c,3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::ir<int, 1, 2>, char>("3,c");
+    c.convert<ss::ir<int, 1, 2>, char>(buff("3,c"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::ir<int, 1, 5>>("3");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::ir<int, 1, 5>>(buff("3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 3);
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::ir<int, 0, 2>>("2");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::ir<int, 0, 2>>(buff("2"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 2);
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<char, void, ss::ir<int, 0, 1>>("c,junk,1");
+        auto tup = c.convert<char, void, ss::ir<int, 0, 1>>(buff("c,junk,1"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{'c', 1});
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::ir<int, 1, 20>, char>("1,c");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::ir<int, 1, 20>, char>(buff("1,c"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{1, 'c'});
     }
@@ -360,32 +362,32 @@ TEST_CASE("testing ss:ir restriction (in range)") {
 TEST_CASE("testing ss:oor restriction (out of range)") {
     ss::converter c;
 
-    c.convert<ss::oor<int, 1, 5>>("3");
+    c.convert<ss::oor<int, 1, 5>>(buff("3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::oor<int, 0, 2>>("2");
+    c.convert<ss::oor<int, 0, 2>>(buff("2"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<char, ss::oor<int, 0, 1>, void>("c,1,junk");
+    c.convert<char, ss::oor<int, 0, 1>, void>(buff("c,1,junk"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::oor<int, 1, 20>, char>("1,c");
+    c.convert<ss::oor<int, 1, 20>, char>(buff("1,c"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::oor<int, 0, 2>>("3");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::oor<int, 0, 2>>(buff("3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 3);
     }
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<char, void, ss::oor<int, 4, 69>>("c,junk,3");
+        auto tup = c.convert<char, void, ss::oor<int, 4, 69>>(buff("c,junk,3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{'c', 3});
     }
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::oor<int, 1, 2>, char>("3,c");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::oor<int, 1, 2>, char>(buff("3,c"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{3, 'c'});
     }
@@ -407,33 +409,34 @@ inline bool ss::extract(const char* begin, const char* end,
 TEST_CASE("testing ss:ne restriction (not empty)") {
     ss::converter c;
 
-    c.convert<ss::ne<std::string>>("");
+    c.convert<ss::ne<std::string>>(buff(""));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<int, ss::ne<std::string>>("3,");
+    c.convert<int, ss::ne<std::string>>(buff("3,"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::ne<std::string>, int>(",3");
+    c.convert<ss::ne<std::string>, int>(buff(",3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<void, ss::ne<std::string>, int>("junk,,3");
+    c.convert<void, ss::ne<std::string>, int>(buff("junk,,3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::ne<std::vector<int>>>("");
+    c.convert<ss::ne<std::vector<int>>>(buff(""));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::ne<std::string>>("s");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::ne<std::string>>(buff("s"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == "s");
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<std::optional<int>, ss::ne<std::string>>("1,s");
+        auto tup =
+            c.convert<std::optional<int>, ss::ne<std::string>>(buff("1,s"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == std::tuple{1, "s"});
     }
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::ne<std::vector<int>>>("{1 2 3}");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::ne<std::vector<int>>>(buff("{1 2 3}"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == extracted_vector);
     }
@@ -442,56 +445,56 @@ TEST_CASE("testing ss:ne restriction (not empty)") {
 TEST_CASE("testing ss:lt ss::lte ss::gt ss::gte restriction (in range)") {
     ss::converter c;
 
-    c.convert<ss::lt<int, 3>>("3");
+    c.convert<ss::lt<int, 3>>(buff("3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::lt<int, 2>>("3");
+    c.convert<ss::lt<int, 2>>(buff("3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::gt<int, 3>>("3");
+    c.convert<ss::gt<int, 3>>(buff("3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::gt<int, 4>>("3");
+    c.convert<ss::gt<int, 4>>(buff("3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::lte<int, 2>>("3");
+    c.convert<ss::lte<int, 2>>(buff("3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
-    c.convert<ss::gte<int, 4>>("3");
+    c.convert<ss::gte<int, 4>>(buff("3"));
     REQUIRE(!c.valid());
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::lt<int, 4>>("3");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::lt<int, 4>>(buff("3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 3);
     }
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::gt<int, 2>>("3");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::gt<int, 2>>(buff("3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 3);
     }
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::lte<int, 4>>("3");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::lte<int, 4>>(buff("3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 3);
     }
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::lte<int, 3>>("3");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::lte<int, 3>>(buff("3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 3);
     }
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::gte<int, 2>>("3");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::gte<int, 2>>(buff("3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 3);
     }
 
     {
-        auto tup = c.convert<ss::gte<int, 3>>("3");
+        auto tup = c.convert<ss::gte<int, 3>>(buff("3"));
         REQUIRE(c.valid());
         CHECK(tup == 3);
     }
@@ -500,12 +503,12 @@ TEST_CASE("testing ss:lt ss::lte ss::gt ss::gte restriction (in range)") {
 TEST_CASE("testing error mode") {
     ss::converter c;
 
-    c.convert<int>("junk");
+    c.convert<int>(buff("junk"));
     CHECK(!c.valid());
     CHECK(c.error_msg().empty());
 
     c.set_error_mode(ss::error_mode::error_string);
-    c.convert<int>("junk");
+    c.convert<int>(buff("junk"));
     CHECK(!c.valid());
     CHECK(!c.error_msg().empty());
 }
diff --git a/test/test_parser.cpp b/test/test_parser.cpp
index 341a453..bbfe3b5 100644
--- a/test/test_parser.cpp
+++ b/test/test_parser.cpp
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ TEST_CASE("testing parser") {
     make_and_write(f.name, data);
     {
         ss::parser p{f.name, ","};
+        p.set_error_mode(ss::error_mode::error_string);
         std::vector<X> i;
 
         while (!p.eof()) {