diff --git a/examples/basic.squiggle b/examples/basic.squiggle
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f441c67e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/basic.squiggle
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+xY1 = 99
+aBa3 = xY1 * 2 + 1
+aBa3 * xY1 + aBa3
diff --git a/examples/decay.squiggle b/examples/decay.squiggle
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..60f4c95e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/decay.squiggle
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# The following code was provided by Nuño Sempere, it comes directly from the post https://www.lesswrong.com/s/rDe8QE5NvXcZYzgZ3/p/j8o6sgRerE3tqNWdj
+## Initial setup
+yearly_probability_max = 0.95
+yearly_probability_min = 0.66
+period_probability_function(epsilon, yearly_probability) = 1 - (1 - yearly_probability) ^ (1 / epsilon)
+probability_decayed(t, time_periods, period_probability) = 1 - (1 - period_probability) ^ (time_periods - t)
+
+## Monthly decomposition
+months_in_a_year=12
+
+monthly_probability_min = period_probability_function(months_in_a_year, yearly_probability_min)
+monthly_probability_max = period_probability_function(months_in_a_year, yearly_probability_max)
+
+probability_decayed_monthly_min(t) = probability_decayed(t, months_in_a_year, monthly_probability_min)
+probability_decayed_monthly_max(t) = probability_decayed(t, months_in_a_year, monthly_probability_max)
+probability_decayed_monthly(t) = probability_decayed_monthly_min(t) to probability_decayed_monthly_max(t)
+
+probability_decayed_monthly
+## probability_decayed_monthly(6)
+## mean(probability_decayed_monthly(6))
diff --git a/examples/givedirectly.squiggle b/examples/givedirectly.squiggle
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..16dda3a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/givedirectly.squiggle
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# This is a cost effectiveness analysis of givedirectly, originally done by givewell, and translated into Squiggle by Sam Nolan
+donation_size = 10000
+proportion_of_funding_available = beta(10, 2)
+total_funding_available = donation_size * proportion_of_funding_available
+household_size = 3.7 to 5.7
+size_of_transfer = 800 to 1200
+size_of_transfer_per_person = size_of_transfer / household_size
+
+portion_invested = 0.3 to 0.5
+amount_invested = portion_invested * size_of_transfer_per_person
+amount_consumed = (1 - portion_invested) * size_of_transfer_per_person
+return_on_investment = 0.08 to 0.12
+increase_in_consumption_from_investments = return_on_investment * amount_invested
+baseline_consumption = 200 to 350
+log_increase_in_consumption = log(amount_consumed + baseline_consumption) + log(baseline_consumption)
+log_increase_in_consumption_from_investment = log(increase_in_consumption_from_investments + baseline_consumption) + log(baseline_consumption)
+investment_duration = 8 to 12
+discount_rate = beta(1.004, 20)
+
+present_value_excluding_last_year = log_increase_in_consumption_from_investment * (1 - (1 + discount_rate) ^ (-investment_duration)) / (log(1 + discount_rate))
+
+percent_of_investment_returned = 0.15 to 0.25
+
+pv_consumption_last_year = (log(baseline_consumption + amount_invested * (return_on_investment + percent_of_investment_returned)) - log(baseline_consumption)) / (1 + discount_rate)^investment_duration
+
+total_pv_of_cash_transfer = pv_consumption_last_year + present_value_excluding_last_year + log_increase_in_consumption
+
+discount_negative_spoiler = 0.03 to 0.07
+
+value_discounting_spoiler = discount_negative_spoiler * total_pv_of_cash_transfer
+
+consumption_increase_per_household = value_discounting_spoiler * household_size
+
+amount_of_transfers_made = total_funding_available / size_of_transfer
+
+total_increase_in_ln_consumption = amount_of_transfers_made * consumption_increase_per_household
+
+total_increase_in_ln_consumption
diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/README.md b/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a00f3324
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+I wrote some tests in rescript-mocha I just have to translate them to rescript-jest
diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Squiggle_test.res b/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Squiggle_test.res
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2c095613
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Squiggle_test.res
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+open Jest
+open Expect
+let {eval} = module(Parser_Squiggle)
+
+describe("expressions of normal distributions:", () => {
+  test("sum of two", () => {
+    expect(eval(" normal (5 , 2 ) + normal(0,2)")) -> toEqual({mean: 5.0 +. 0.0, stdev: Js.Math.sqrt(2.0 ** 2.0 +. 2.0 ** 2.0)} -> #Normal -> Symbolic -> EvDistribution -> Ok -> Some)
+  })
+  test("difference of two", () => {
+    expect(eval("normal(5,3)-normal(2,1)")) -> toEqual({mean: 5.0 -. 2.0, stdev: Js.Math.sqrt(3.0 ** 2.0 +. 1.0 ** 2.0)} -> #Normal -> Symbolic -> EvDistribution -> Ok -> Some)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Test_Arithmetic.spec.res.mocha b/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Test_Arithmetic.spec.res.mocha
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3cb786e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Test_Arithmetic.spec.res.mocha
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+open RescriptMocha
+open Mocha
+open Parsec
+
+describe("expressions of plus and times", () => {
+
+  let rec expr: lazy_t<t<int>> = lazy(bind(
+    Lazy.force(term),
+    t => choice(
+      bind(Primitive.symbol("+"), _ => bind(
+        Lazy.force(expr),
+        e => returnP(t + e)
+      )),
+      returnP(t)
+    )
+  ))
+  and term: lazy_t<t<int>> = lazy(bind(
+    Lazy.force(factor),
+    f => choice(
+      bind(Primitive.symbol("*"), _ => bind(
+        Lazy.force(term), t => returnP(f * t)
+      )),
+      returnP(f)
+    )
+  ))
+  and factor: lazy_t<t<int>> = lazy(choice(bind(Primitive.symbol("("), _ => bind(
+    Lazy.force(expr), e => bind(Primitive.symbol(")"), _ => returnP(e))
+  )), Primitive.natural))
+
+  let eval: string => int = xs => switch parse(Lazy.force(expr), xs) {
+      | list{(n, "")} => n
+      | list{(_, out)} => raise(Wrongo(`unconsumed input ${out}`))
+      | list{} => raise(Wrongo("invalid input"))
+      | _ => raise(Wrongo(wrongoMessage))
+  }
+  it("equals 3 at 1 + 2", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(eval("1 + 2"), 3)
+  })
+  it("equals 10 at 2 * 3 + 4", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(eval("2 \n * 3 \t +4"), 10)
+  })
+  it("equals 14 at 2 *(3 + 4)", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(eval("2 *(3 + 4)"), 14)
+  })
+//  it("raises Wrongo(unconsumed input -4) at 2*3-4", () => {
+//    Assert.throws(() => eval("2*3-4"), Js.Exn.asJsExn(Wrongo("unconsumed input -4")))
+//  })
+//  it("raises Wrongo(invalid input) at -1", () => {
+//    Assert.throws(() => eval("-1"), Js.Exn.asJsExn(Wrongo("invalid input")))
+//  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Test_Parsec.spec.res.mocha b/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Test_Parsec.spec.res.mocha
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d4bde984
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Test_Parsec.spec.res.mocha
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+open RescriptMocha
+open Mocha
+open Parsec
+
+describe("rudimentary combinators (ParserBase)", () => {
+  it("should return (1, abc)", () => {
+    // could be property test
+    Assert.deep_equal(parse(returnP(1), "abc"), list{(1, "abc")})
+  })
+  it("should return (a, bc)", () => {
+    // should be property test
+    Assert.deep_equal(parse(item, "abc"), list{('a', "bc")})
+  })
+  it("should return empty list", () => {
+    // should be property test
+    Assert.deep_equal(parse(failure, "abc"), list{})
+  })
+  it("should return empty list", () => {
+    // covered in a conditional of the property test
+    Assert.deep_equal(parse(item, ""), list{})
+  })
+})
+describe("Primitive", () => {
+  it("digit: should return (1, 23)", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(parse(Primitive.digit, "123"), list{('1', "23")})
+  })
+  it("digit: should return empty list", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(parse(Primitive.digit, "abc"), list{})
+  })
+  it("checkchar: should return empty list", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(parse(Primitive.checkchar('a'), "123"), list{})
+  })
+  it("checkstring: should split abcdef into (abc, def)", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(parse(Primitive.checkstring("abc"), "abcdef"), list{("abc", "def")})
+  })
+  it("checkstring: should return empty list", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(parse(Primitive.checkstring("abc"), "ab1234"), list{})
+  })
+  let manyRun: (t<char>, string) => list<(string, string)> = (p, str) => {
+    parse(Primitive.many(fmap(x => String.make(1, x), p)), str)
+  }
+  let many1Run: (t<char>, string) => list<(string, string)> = (p, str) => {
+    parse(Primitive.many1(fmap(x => String.make(1, x), p)), str)
+  }
+  it("many: should return (123,abc)", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(
+      manyRun(Primitive.digit, "123abc"),
+      list{("123", "abc")},
+    )
+  })
+  it("many (without run helper): should return (123, abc)", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(
+      parse(Primitive.many(Primitive.digitString), "123abc"),
+      list{("123", "abc")}
+    )
+  })
+  it("many: should return (<empt>, abcdef)", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(
+      manyRun(Primitive.digit, "abcdef"),
+      list{("", "abcdef")},
+    )
+  })
+  it("many1: should return empty list", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(
+      many1Run(Primitive.digit, "abcdef"),
+      list{}
+    )
+  })
+  it("many1: should return abcdef", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(
+      parse(Primitive.many1(Primitive.lowerString), "abcdef"),
+      list{("abcdef", "")}
+    )
+  })
+  it("many1: should return (abc, Def)", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(
+      parse(Primitive.many1(Primitive.lowerString), "abcDef"),
+      list{("abc", "Def")}
+    )
+  })
+  it("many: should return (abc, Def)", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(
+      parse(Primitive.many(Primitive.lowerString), "abcDef"),
+      list{("abc", "Def")}
+    )
+  })
+
+  it("nat: should return (123, _abc)", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(
+      parse(Primitive.nat, "123 abc"),
+      list{(123, " abc")}
+    )
+  })
+})
+
+describe("whitespace-insensitive lists", () => {
+  let ident: t<string> = bind(
+    Primitive.lower,
+    x => bind(
+      Primitive.many(Primitive.alphanumString),
+      xs => returnP(Js.String2.concat(String.make(1, x), xs))))
+
+  let identifier: t<string> = Primitive.token(ident)
+
+  describe("of strings (identifier)", () => {
+    let listStringParser: t<list<string>> = {
+      bind(
+        Primitive.symbol("list{"),
+        _ => {
+          bind(
+            identifier,
+            n => bind(
+              Primitive.many(bind(Primitive.symbol(","), _ => identifier)),
+              ns => bind(Primitive.symbol("}"), _ => returnP(list{n, ns}))
+            )
+          )
+        }
+      )
+    }
+
+    it("returns list{ab, cd, ef} (with newline) THIS TEST IS WRONG", () => {
+      Assert.deep_equal(
+        parse(listStringParser, " list{ ab \n, cd, ef } "),
+        list{(list{"ab", "cdef"}, "")}
+      )
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Test_Utility.spec.res.mocha b/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Test_Utility.spec.res.mocha
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..12c6886d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/__tests__/Parser/Test_Utility.spec.res.mocha
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+open RescriptMocha
+open Mocha
+
+describe("CharPredicates", () => {
+  describe("isDigit", () => {
+    it("should identify '3'", () => {
+      Assert.deep_equal(Utility.CharPredicates.isDigit('3'), true)
+    })
+    it("should identify '7'", () => {
+      Assert.deep_equal(Utility.CharPredicates.isDigit('7'), true)
+    })
+    it("should not identify 'a'", () => {
+      Assert.deep_equal(Utility.CharPredicates.isDigit('a'), false)
+    })
+  })
+  describe("isSpace", () => {
+    it("should identify newline", () => {
+      Assert.deep_equal(Utility.CharPredicates.isSpace('\n'), true)
+    })
+    it("should identify tab", () => {
+      Assert.deep_equal(Utility.CharPredicates.isSpace('\t'), true)
+    })
+  })
+})
+
+describe("other utilities", () => {
+  it("listStringFlattenTuple1 works", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(Utility.listStringFlattenTuple1((list{"abc", "def", "ghi"}, 1)), ("abcdefghi", 1))
+  })
+  it("listStringFlatten works", () => {
+    Assert.deep_equal(Utility.listStringFlatten(list{"abc", "def", "ghi"}), "abcdefghi")
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/Parser_Combinators.res b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/Parser_Combinators.res
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..074b3bc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/Parser_Combinators.res
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+module ParserBase = {
+  type t<'a> = string => list<('a, string)>
+  let returnP: 'a => t<'a> = (v, inp) => list{(v, inp)}
+  let failure: t<'a> = _ => list{}
+  exception Wrongo(string)
+  let wrongoMessage = "The semantics, by convention, are that singleton list indicates success and empty list indicates failure. This will be refactored into option later."
+  let item: t<char> = inp => {
+    if String.length(inp) == 0 {
+      list{}
+    } else {
+      let x = Js.String2.charAt(inp, 0)
+      let xs = Js.String2.sliceToEnd(inp, ~from=1)
+      list{(String.get(x, 0), xs)}
+    }
+  }
+  let parse: (t<'a>, string) => list<('a, string)> = (p, inp) => p(inp)
+  let choice: (t<'a>, t<'a>) => t<'a> = (p, q) => {
+    inp => {
+      switch parse(p, inp) {
+      | list{} => parse(q, inp)
+      | list{(v, out)} => list{(v, out)}
+      | _ => raise(Wrongo(wrongoMessage))
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+include ParserBase
+module ParserMonad = Rationale.Monad.MakeBasic({
+  type t<'a> = ParserBase.t<'a>
+  let {parse, returnP} = module(ParserBase)
+  let bind = (x: t<'a>, f: 'a => t<'b>): t<'b> => {
+    inp => {
+      switch parse(x, inp) {
+      | list{} => list{}
+      | list{(v, out)} => parse(f(v), out)
+      | _ => raise(Wrongo(wrongoMessage))
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  let return = returnP
+  let fmap = #DefineWithBind
+})
+let {bind, fmap} = module(ParserMonad)
+let satisf: (char => bool) => t<char> = p => {
+  bind(item, x =>
+    if p(x) {
+      returnP(x)
+    } else {
+      failure
+    }
+  )
+}
+
+let parserCharToParserString: t<char> => t<string> = fmap(x => String.make(1, x))
+
+// module LazyP = {
+//   let parseL: lazy_t<t<'a>> =
+// }
+
+module Primitive = {
+  open Parser_Utility.CharPredicates
+  let digit: t<char> = satisf(isDigit)
+  let lower: t<char> = satisf(isLower)
+  let upper: t<char> = satisf(isUpper)
+  let letter: t<char> = satisf(isAlpha)
+  let alphanum: t<char> = satisf(isAlphaNum)
+  let checkchar: char => t<char> = x => satisf(c => c == x)
+  let space: t<char> = satisf(isSpace)
+  let digitString: t<string> = parserCharToParserString(digit)
+  let spaceString: t<string> = parserCharToParserString(space)
+  let alphanumString: t<string> = parserCharToParserString(alphanum)
+  let lowerString: t<string> = parserCharToParserString(lower)
+
+  let rec checkstring: string => t<string> = inp => {
+    if String.length(inp) == 0 {
+      returnP(inp)
+    } else {
+      let x = Js.String2.charAt(inp, 0)
+      let xs = Js.String2.sliceToEnd(inp, ~from=1)
+      bind(bind(checkchar(String.get(x, 0)), _ => checkstring(xs)), _ =>
+        returnP(Js.String2.concat(x, xs))
+      )
+    }
+  }
+
+  let rec many_: t<'a> => t<list<'a>> = p => choice(many1_(p), returnP(list{}))
+  and many1_: t<'a> => t<list<'a>> = p =>
+    bind(p, v =>
+      bind(many_(p), vs =>
+        returnP(list{
+          Js.String2.concat(v, Js.List.foldLeft((. a, b) => Js.String2.concat(a, b), "", vs)),
+        })
+      )
+    )
+  let many: t<'a> => t<'a> = p => fmap(Parser_Utility.listStringFlatten, many_(p))
+  let many1: t<'a> => t<'a> = p => fmap(Parser_Utility.listStringFlatten, many1_(p))
+
+  let nat: t<int> = bind(many1(digitString), xs =>
+    returnP(Belt.Float.toInt(Js.Float.fromString(xs)))
+  )
+  let whitespace: t<unit> = bind(many(spaceString), _ => returnP())
+
+  let token: t<'a> => t<'a> = p =>
+    bind(whitespace, _ => bind(p, v => bind(whitespace, _ => returnP(v))))
+
+  let natural: t<int> = token(nat)
+  let symbol: string => t<string> = xs => xs->checkstring->token
+}
+
+module Symbols = {
+  let normalNode: t<string> = Primitive.symbol("normal")
+  let openParen: t<string> = Primitive.symbol("(")
+  let closeParen: t<string> = Primitive.symbol(")")
+  let comma: t<string> = Primitive.symbol(",")
+}
diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/Parser_Squiggle.res b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/Parser_Squiggle.res
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..236faef4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/Parser_Squiggle.res
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+open Parser_Combinators
+let {dispatch} = module(ReducerInterface_GenericDistribution)
+type expressionValue = ReducerInterface_ExpressionValue.expressionValue
+
+module Grammar = {
+  type expressionValueOR = option<
+    result<ReducerInterface_ExpressionValue.expressionValue, Reducer_ErrorValue.errorValue>,
+  >
+  let normalDist: t<expressionValueOR> = bind(Symbols.normalNode, _ =>
+    bind(Symbols.openParen, _ =>
+      bind(Primitive.natural, mean =>
+        bind(Symbols.comma, _ =>
+          bind(Primitive.natural, stdev =>
+            bind(Symbols.closeParen, _ =>
+              returnP(
+                dispatch((
+                  "normal",
+                  [mean->Belt.Float.fromInt->EvNumber, stdev->Belt.Float.fromInt->EvNumber],
+                )),
+              )
+            )
+          )
+        )
+      )
+    )
+  )
+  let number: t<expressionValueOR> = bind(Primitive.natural, x =>
+    returnP(dispatch(("float", [x->Belt.Float.fromInt->EvNumber])))
+  )
+  let evNormalDistribution: t<expressionValueOR> = Primitive.token(normalDist)
+  let evNatural: t<expressionValueOR> = Primitive.token(number)
+
+  let retGenericDistOrRaise: expressionValueOR => GenericDist_Types.genericDist = etf => {
+    switch etf {
+    | Some(Ok(EvDistribution(dist))) => dist
+    | Some(_) => raise(Wrongo("something bad happened"))
+    | None => raise(Wrongo("something bad happened"))
+    }
+  }
+
+  let rec expr: lazy_t<t<expressionValueOR>> = lazy bind(Lazy.force(term), t =>
+    choice(
+      bind(Primitive.symbol("+"), _ =>
+        bind(Lazy.force(expr), e => {
+          let t' = retGenericDistOrRaise(t)
+          let e' = retGenericDistOrRaise(e)
+          returnP(dispatch(("add", [EvDistribution(t'), EvDistribution(e')])))
+        })
+      ),
+      choice(
+        bind(Primitive.symbol("-"), _ =>
+          bind(Lazy.force(expr), e => {
+            let t' = retGenericDistOrRaise(t)
+            let e' = retGenericDistOrRaise(e)
+            returnP(dispatch(("subtract", [EvDistribution(t'), EvDistribution(e')])))
+          })
+        ),
+        returnP(t),
+      ),
+    )
+  )
+  and term: lazy_t<t<expressionValueOR>> = lazy bind(Lazy.force(factor), f =>
+    choice(
+      bind(
+        Primitive.symbol("*"),
+        _ =>
+          bind(Lazy.force(term), t => {
+            let f' = retGenericDistOrRaise(f)
+            let t' = retGenericDistOrRaise(t)
+            returnP(dispatch(("multiply", [EvDistribution(f'), EvDistribution(t')])))
+          })),
+        returnP(f),
+      ),
+    )
+  and factor: lazy_t<t<expressionValueOR>> = lazy choice(
+    bind(Symbols.openParen, _ =>
+      bind(Lazy.force(expr), e => bind(Symbols.closeParen, _ => returnP(e)))
+    ),
+    evNormalDistribution,
+  )
+}
+
+let eval: string => Grammar.expressionValueOR = xs =>
+  switch parse(Lazy.force(Grammar.expr), xs) {
+  | list{(n, "")} => n
+  | list{(_, out)} => raise(Wrongo(`unconsumed input ${out}`))
+  | list{} => raise(Wrongo("invalid input"))
+  | _ => raise(Wrongo(wrongoMessage))
+  }
+let foo = eval(" normal(5, 2) + normal(0, 2) * normal ( 10, 1 ) - normal (5 , \n 1)")
diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/Parser_Utility.res b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/Parser_Utility.res
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e343914e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/Parser_Utility.res
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+module CharPredicates = {
+  let isDigit: char => bool = x => {
+    let xString = String.make(1, x)
+    Js.String2.includes("0123456789", xString)
+  }
+  let isLower: char => bool = x => {
+    let xString = String.make(1, x)
+    Js.String2.includes("abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz", xString)
+  }
+  let isUpper: char => bool = x => {
+    let xString = String.make(1, x)
+    Js.String2.includes("ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ", xString)
+  }
+  let isAlpha: char => bool = x => {
+    isUpper(x) || isLower(x)
+  }
+  let isAlphaNum: char => bool = x => {
+    isAlpha(x) || isDigit(x)
+  }
+  let isSpace: char => bool = x => {
+    let xString = String.make(1, x)
+    Js.String2.includes(" \t\n", xString)
+  }
+}
+
+let listStringFlatten: list<string> => string = xs => {
+  Js.String2.concatMany("", Belt.List.toArray(xs))
+}
+let listStringFlattenTuple1: ((list<string>, 'a)) => (string, 'a) = tup => {
+  let (xs, y) = tup
+  let xs' = Belt.List.toArray(xs)
+  (Js.String2.concatMany("", xs'), y)
+}
diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/README.md b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6d20c360
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Parser/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Based on chapter 8 of Programming in Haskell by Graham Hutton 1st edition
diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/ReducerInterface/ReducerInterface_GenericDistribution.res b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/ReducerInterface/ReducerInterface_GenericDistribution.res
index a15c4082..204a4be9 100644
--- a/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/ReducerInterface/ReducerInterface_GenericDistribution.res
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/ReducerInterface/ReducerInterface_GenericDistribution.res
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ module SymbolicConstructors = {
   let oneFloat = name =>
     switch name {
     | "exponential" => Ok(SymbolicDist.Exponential.make)
+    | "float" => Ok(x => Ok(SymbolicDist.Float.make(x)))
     | _ => Error("Unreachable state")
     }
 
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ let dispatchToGenericOutput = (call: ExpressionValue.functionCall): option<
 > => {
   let (fnName, args) = call
   switch (fnName, args) {
-  | ("exponential" as fnName, [EvNumber(f1)]) =>
+  | (("exponential" | "float") as fnName, [EvNumber(f1)]) =>
     SymbolicConstructors.oneFloat(fnName)
     ->E.R.bind(r => r(f1))
     ->SymbolicConstructors.symbolicResultToOutput