diff --git a/pkg/urbit/include/ur/bitstream.h b/pkg/urbit/include/ur/bitstream.h
index 5a6d5239c..66781f569 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/include/ur/bitstream.h
+++ b/pkg/urbit/include/ur/bitstream.h
@@ -3,25 +3,13 @@
 
 #include <inttypes.h>
 
-typedef enum {
-  ur_cue_good = 0,
-  ur_cue_back = 1,
-  ur_cue_gone = 2,
-  ur_cue_meme = 3
-} ur_cue_res_e;
-
-typedef enum {
-  ur_jam_atom = 0,
-  ur_jam_cell = 1,
-  ur_jam_back = 2
-} ur_cue_tag_e;
-
 /*
 **  stateful bitstream reader, backed by a byte-buffer,
-**  supporting a variety of read sizes/patterns.
+**  maintaing a 64-bit bit-cursor, and supporting a variety
+**  of read sizes and patterns.
 **
 **    NB: ur_bsr*_any() functions behave as if the stream were infinite,
-**    subject to overall limit of a 64-bit bit-cursor.
+**    subject to the overall limit of the bit-cursor.
 **
 */
 typedef struct ur_bsr_s {
@@ -31,6 +19,31 @@ typedef struct ur_bsr_s {
   const uint8_t *bytes;
 } ur_bsr_t;
 
+/*
+**  generalized bitstream-reader/cue response enum
+*/
+typedef enum {
+  ur_cue_good = 0,    //  successful read
+  ur_cue_back = 1,    //  missing backreference
+  ur_cue_gone = 2,    //  read off the end of the stream
+  ur_cue_meme = 3     //  exceeded memory representation
+} ur_cue_res_e;
+
+/*
+**  jam/cue type tag enumeration
+*/
+typedef enum {
+  ur_jam_atom = 0,
+  ur_jam_cell = 1,
+  ur_jam_back = 2
+} ur_cue_tag_e;
+
+/*
+**  stateful bitstream writer, backed by a byte-buffer automatically
+**  reallocated with fibonacc growth, maintaing a 64-bit bit-cursor,
+**  and supporting a variety of write sizes and patterns.
+**
+*/
 typedef struct ur_bsw_s {
   uint64_t    prev;
   uint64_t    size;
@@ -41,83 +54,169 @@ typedef struct ur_bsw_s {
 } ur_bsw_t;
 
 /*
-**  initialize bitstream and check for 64-bit bit-cursor overflow.
+**  initialize bitstream-reader and check for 64-bit bit-cursor overflow.
 */
 ur_cue_res_e
 ur_bsr_init(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint64_t len, const uint8_t *bytes);
 
+/*
+**  validate bitstream-reader invariants.
+*/
 ur_bool_t
 ur_bsr_sane(ur_bsr_t *bsr);
 
+/*
+**  read a bit, failing at EOS
+*/
 ur_cue_res_e
 ur_bsr_bit(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t *out);
 
+/*
+**  read a bit
+*/
 uint8_t
 ur_bsr_bit_any(ur_bsr_t *bsr);
 
+/*
+**  read N (up to 8) bits into a uint8.
+*/
 uint8_t
 ur_bsr8_any(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t len);
 
+/*
+**  read N (up to 32) bits into a uint32.
+*/
 uint32_t
 ur_bsr32_any(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t len);
 
+/*
+**  read N (up to 64) bits into a uint64.
+*/
 uint64_t
 ur_bsr64_any(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t len);
 
+/*
+**  read N bits into a zero-initialized byte array.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsr_bytes_any(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint64_t len, uint8_t *out);
 
+/*
+**  advance the bitstream cursor as if we had read N bits.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsr_skip_any(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint64_t len);
 
+/*
+**  read a jam/cue type tag.
+*/
 ur_cue_res_e
 ur_bsr_tag(ur_bsr_t *bsr, ur_cue_tag_e *out);
 
+/*
+**  read a binary exponent, producing the binary log.
+**
+**    read N (up to 255) zero bits followed by a 1, produce N.
+*/
 ur_cue_res_e
-ur_bsr_rub_log(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t *out);
+ur_bsr_log(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t *out);
 
+/*
+**  read an atomic run-length (a la +rub).
+**
+**    read a binary log N, then read N (up to 64) bits,
+**    produce (N-bits ^ (1 << N))
+*/
 ur_cue_res_e
 ur_bsr_rub_len(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint64_t *out);
 
+/*
+**  reallocate bitstream write buffer with max(fibonacci, step) growth.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw_grow(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint64_t step);
 
+/*
+**  validate bitstream-writer invariants.
+*/
 ur_bool_t
 ur_bsw_sane(ur_bsw_t *bsw);
 
+/*
+**  write a bit
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw_bit(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint8_t bit);
 
+/*
+**  write N (up to 8) bits of a uint8.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw8(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint8_t len, uint8_t byt);
 
+/*
+**  write N (up to 32) bits of a uint32.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw32(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint8_t len, uint32_t val);
 
+/*
+**  write N (up to 64) bits of a uint64.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw64(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint8_t len, uint64_t val);
 
+/*
+**  write N bits of a byte array.
+**
+**    NB: [byt] must contain at least N bits.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw_bytes(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint64_t len, uint8_t *byt);
 
+/*
+**  write a binary exponent (N zero bits, followed by a 1).
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw_bex(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint8_t n);
 
+/*
+**  write N (up to 64) run-length prefixed bits (a la +mat).
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw_mat64(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint8_t len, uint64_t val);
 
+/*
+**  write N run-length prefixed bits (a la +mat).
+**
+**    NB: [byt] must contain at least N bits.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw_mat_bytes(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint64_t len, uint8_t *byt);
 
+/*
+**  write a backref tag (1, 1) and N (up to 64) run-length prefixed bits.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw_back64(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint8_t len, uint64_t val);
 
+/*
+**  write an atom tag (0) and N (up to 64) run-length prefixed bits.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw_atom64(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint8_t len, uint64_t val);
 
+/*
+**  write an atom tag (0) and N run-length prefixed bits.
+**
+**    NB: [byt] must contain at least N bits.
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw_atom_bytes(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint64_t len, uint8_t *byt);
 
+/*
+**  write a cell tag (1, 0)
+*/
 void
 ur_bsw_cell(ur_bsw_t *bsw);
 
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/tests/ur_tests.c b/pkg/urbit/tests/ur_tests.c
index 2470ef5a7..f65a1fd4a 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/tests/ur_tests.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/tests/ur_tests.c
@@ -1321,7 +1321,7 @@ _bsr_cmp_check(const char* cap,
 }
 
 static ur_cue_res_e
-_bsr_rub_log_slow(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t *out)
+_bsr_log_slow(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t *out)
 {
   ur_cue_res_e res;
   uint8_t   bit, i = 0;
@@ -1341,7 +1341,7 @@ _bsr_rub_log_slow(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t *out)
 }
 
 static int
-_test_bsr_rub_log_loop(const char *cap, uint8_t len, uint8_t val)
+_test_bsr_log_loop(const char *cap, uint8_t len, uint8_t val)
 {
   int          ret = 1;
   ur_bsr_t    a, b;
@@ -1360,8 +1360,8 @@ _test_bsr_rub_log_loop(const char *cap, uint8_t len, uint8_t val)
       memset(bytes, 0x0, j);
       memset(bytes + j, val, len - j);
 
-      e = _bsr_rub_log_slow(&a, &c);
-      f = ur_bsr_rub_log(&b, &d);
+      e = _bsr_log_slow(&a, &c);
+      f = ur_bsr_log(&b, &d);
 
       ret &= _bsr_cmp_check(cap, i, j, &a, &b, c, d, e, f);
     }
@@ -1373,29 +1373,29 @@ _test_bsr_rub_log_loop(const char *cap, uint8_t len, uint8_t val)
 }
 
 static int
-_test_bsr_rub_log(void)
+_test_bsr_log(void)
 {
-  int ret = _test_bsr_rub_log_loop("bsr rub_log nought", 0, 0x0)
-          & _test_bsr_rub_log_loop("bsr rub_log ones odd", 3, 0xff)
-          & _test_bsr_rub_log_loop("bsr rub_log ones even", 4, 0xff)
-          & _test_bsr_rub_log_loop("bsr rub_log ones big", 50, 0xff)
-          & _test_bsr_rub_log_loop("bsr rub_log zeros odd", 5, 0x0)
-          & _test_bsr_rub_log_loop("bsr rub_log zeros even", 6, 0x0)
-          & _test_bsr_rub_log_loop("bsr rub_log zeros big", 50, 0x0);
+  int ret = _test_bsr_log_loop("bsr log nought", 0, 0x0)
+          & _test_bsr_log_loop("bsr log ones odd", 3, 0xff)
+          & _test_bsr_log_loop("bsr log ones even", 4, 0xff)
+          & _test_bsr_log_loop("bsr log ones big", 50, 0xff)
+          & _test_bsr_log_loop("bsr log zeros odd", 5, 0x0)
+          & _test_bsr_log_loop("bsr log zeros even", 6, 0x0)
+          & _test_bsr_log_loop("bsr log zeros big", 50, 0x0);
 
   {
     uint8_t i, j = 5;
     char  cap[1024];
 
     for ( i = 0; i < 8; i++ ) {
-      snprintf(cap, 1000, "bsr rub_log 1<<%u odd", i);
-      ret &= _test_bsr_rub_log_loop((const char*)cap, j++, 0x1 << i);
+      snprintf(cap, 1000, "bsr log 1<<%u odd", i);
+      ret &= _test_bsr_log_loop((const char*)cap, j++, 0x1 << i);
 
-      snprintf(cap, 1000, "bsr rub_log 1<<%u even", i);
-      ret &= _test_bsr_rub_log_loop((const char*)cap, j++, 0x1 << i);
+      snprintf(cap, 1000, "bsr log 1<<%u even", i);
+      ret &= _test_bsr_log_loop((const char*)cap, j++, 0x1 << i);
 
-      snprintf(cap, 1000, "bsr rub_log 1<<%u big", i);
-      ret &= _test_bsr_rub_log_loop((const char*)cap, 50, 0x1 << i);
+      snprintf(cap, 1000, "bsr log 1<<%u big", i);
+      ret &= _test_bsr_log_loop((const char*)cap, 50, 0x1 << i);
     }
   }
 
@@ -1480,7 +1480,7 @@ _test_bsr(void)
        & _test_bsr8()
        & _test_bsr32()
        & _test_bsr64()
-       & _test_bsr_rub_log()
+       & _test_bsr_log()
        & _test_bsr_tag();
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/ur/bitstream.c b/pkg/urbit/ur/bitstream.c
index b91a107ee..d72548257 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/ur/bitstream.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/ur/bitstream.c
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ ur_bsr_tag(ur_bsr_t *bsr, ur_cue_tag_e *out)
 }
 
 static inline ur_cue_res_e
-_bsr_rub_log_meme(ur_bsr_t *bsr)
+_bsr_log_meme(ur_bsr_t *bsr)
 {
   bsr->bits += 256;
   bsr->bytes += 32;
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ _bsr_rub_log_meme(ur_bsr_t *bsr)
 }
 
 ur_cue_res_e
-ur_bsr_rub_log(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t *out)
+ur_bsr_log(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t *out)
 {
   uint64_t left = bsr->left;
 
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ ur_bsr_rub_log(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t *out)
 
     while ( !byt ) {
       if ( 32 == skip ) {
-        return _bsr_rub_log_meme(bsr);
+        return _bsr_log_meme(bsr);
       }
 
       skip++;
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ ur_bsr_rub_log(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint8_t *out)
       uint32_t zeros = ur_tz8(byt) + (skip ? ((skip << 3) - off) : 0);
 
       if ( 255 < zeros ) {
-        return _bsr_rub_log_meme(bsr);
+        return _bsr_log_meme(bsr);
       }
       else {
         uint32_t bits = off + 1 + zeros;
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ ur_bsr_rub_len(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint64_t *out)
   ur_cue_res_e res;
   uint8_t      len;
 
-  if ( ur_cue_good != (res = ur_bsr_rub_log(bsr, &len)) ) {
+  if ( ur_cue_good != (res = ur_bsr_log(bsr, &len)) ) {
     return res;
   }
   else if ( 64 <= len ) {
@@ -688,6 +688,19 @@ ur_bsr_rub_len(ur_bsr_t *bsr, uint64_t *out)
   return ur_cue_good;
 }
 
+/*
+**  bitstream-writer operations follow a pattern of an unsafe (inline)
+**  implementation, unsafe wrt to buffer size and reallocation,
+**  wrapped in a public function with buffer size checks.
+**
+**  higher-level operations made up of multiple discrete writes check
+**  the buffer size once for all involved writes.
+**
+**  this pattern should be easily adaptable to an alternate bitstream-writer
+**  implementation that flushes accumulated output periodically instead
+**  of reallocating the output buffer.
+*/
+
 void
 ur_bsw_grow(ur_bsw_t *bsw, uint64_t step)
 {