diff --git a/resources/to-array.py b/resources/to-array.py
index e1a56cfc7..ef89f9ecb 100644
--- a/resources/to-array.py
+++ b/resources/to-array.py
@@ -20,15 +20,30 @@ bytes_str = ', '.join([ str(ch) for ch in data ])
 with open(output_cpp_path, 'w') as output_cpp_f:
 	output_cpp_f.write(f'''
 #include "{output_h_path}"
-const unsigned char {symbol_name}[] = {{ {bytes_str} }};
-const unsigned int {symbol_name}_size = {data_size};
+
+const struct {symbol_name}Resource {symbol_name} = {{{{{{ {bytes_str} }}}}}};
 ''')
 
 with open(output_h_path, 'w') as output_h_f:
 	output_h_f.write(f'''
 #pragma once
-extern const unsigned char {symbol_name}[];
-extern const unsigned int {symbol_name}_size;
+#include <array>
+#include <span>
+
+extern const struct {symbol_name}Resource
+{{
+	std::array<unsigned char, {data_size}> data;
+
+	std::span<const char> AsCharSpan() const
+	{{
+		return std::span(reinterpret_cast<const char *>(data.data()), data.size());
+	}}
+
+	std::span<const unsigned char> AsUcharSpan() const
+	{{
+		return std::span(data.data(), data.size());
+	}}
+}} {symbol_name};
 ''')
 
 def dep_escape(s):
diff --git a/src/Format.cpp b/src/Format.cpp
index 121c2872b..fd0d320c1 100644
--- a/src/Format.cpp
+++ b/src/Format.cpp
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ std::vector<char> format::PixelsToPPM(PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel>> const &in
 }
 
 static std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<uint32_t>>> readPNG(
-	std::vector<char> const &data,
+	std::span<const char> data,
 	// If omitted,
 	//   RGB data is returned with A=0xFF
 	//   RGBA data is returned as itself
@@ -218,12 +218,12 @@ static std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<uint32_t>>> readPNG(
 	return output;
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel_rgba>>> format::PixelsFromPNG(std::vector<char> const &data)
+std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel_rgba>>> format::PixelsFromPNG(std::span<const char> data)
 {
 	return readPNG(data, std::nullopt);
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel>>> format::PixelsFromPNG(std::vector<char> const &data, RGB<uint8_t> background)
+std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel>>> format::PixelsFromPNG(std::span<const char> data, RGB<uint8_t> background)
 {
 	return readPNG(data, background);
 }
diff --git a/src/Format.h b/src/Format.h
index b406d13fb..bfdf3e542 100644
--- a/src/Format.h
+++ b/src/Format.h
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 #include <memory>
+#include <span>
 #include <vector>
 #include "common/String.h"
 #include "common/Plane.h"
@@ -16,8 +17,8 @@ namespace format
 	String CleanString(String dirtyString, bool ascii, bool color, bool newlines, bool numeric = false);
 	std::vector<char> PixelsToPPM(PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel>> const &);
 	std::unique_ptr<std::vector<char>> PixelsToPNG(PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel>> const &);
-	std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel_rgba>>> PixelsFromPNG(std::vector<char> const &);
-	std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel>>> PixelsFromPNG(std::vector<char> const &, RGB<uint8_t> background);
+	std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel_rgba>>> PixelsFromPNG(std::span<const char> data);
+	std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel>>> PixelsFromPNG(std::span<const char> data, RGB<uint8_t> background);
 	void RenderTemperature(StringBuilder &sb, float temp, int scale);
 	float StringToTemperature(String str, int defaultScale);
 }
diff --git a/src/PowderToy.cpp b/src/PowderToy.cpp
index 6de44ea8e..c6e94cd9b 100644
--- a/src/PowderToy.cpp
+++ b/src/PowderToy.cpp
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ static void BlueScreen(String detailMessage, std::optional<std::vector<String>>
 
 	auto crashLogData = errorText.ToUtf8();
 	std::cerr << crashLogData << std::endl;
-	Platform::WriteFile(std::vector<char>(crashLogData.begin(), crashLogData.end()), crashLogPath);
+	Platform::WriteFile(crashLogData, crashLogPath);
 
 	//Death loop
 	SDL_Event event;
diff --git a/src/WindowIcon.cpp b/src/WindowIcon.cpp
index 99c7c76a5..0088e433b 100644
--- a/src/WindowIcon.cpp
+++ b/src/WindowIcon.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 void WindowIcon(SDL_Window *window)
 {
-	if (auto image = format::PixelsFromPNG(std::vector<char>(icon_exe_png, icon_exe_png + icon_exe_png_size)))
+	if (auto image = format::PixelsFromPNG(icon_exe_png.AsCharSpan()))
 	{
 		SDL_Surface *icon = SDL_CreateRGBSurfaceFrom(image->data(), image->Size().X, image->Size().Y, 32, image->Size().Y * sizeof(pixel), 0x00FF0000, 0x0000FF00, 0x000000FF, 0xFF000000);
 		SDL_SetWindowIcon(window, icon);
diff --git a/src/bzip2/bz2wrap.cpp b/src/bzip2/bz2wrap.cpp
index 8bf119f29..b86fecf40 100644
--- a/src/bzip2/bz2wrap.cpp
+++ b/src/bzip2/bz2wrap.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 static size_t outputSizeIncrement = 0x100000U;
 
-BZ2WCompressResult BZ2WCompress(std::vector<char> &dest, const char *srcData, size_t srcSize, size_t maxSize)
+BZ2WCompressResult BZ2WCompress(std::vector<char> &dest, std::span<const char> srcData, size_t maxSize)
 {
 	bz_stream stream;
 	stream.bzalloc = NULL;
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ BZ2WCompressResult BZ2WCompress(std::vector<char> &dest, const char *srcData, si
 		return BZ2WCompressNomem;
 	}
 	std::unique_ptr<bz_stream, std::function<int (bz_stream *)>> bz2Data(&stream, BZ2_bzCompressEnd);
-	stream.next_in = const_cast<char *>(srcData); // I hope bz2 doesn't actually write anything here...
-	stream.avail_in = srcSize;
+	stream.next_in = const_cast<char *>(srcData.data()); // I hope bz2 doesn't actually write anything here...
+	stream.avail_in = srcData.size();
 	dest.resize(0);
 	bool done = false;
 	while (!done)
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ BZ2WCompressResult BZ2WCompress(std::vector<char> &dest, const char *srcData, si
 	return BZ2WCompressOk;
 }
 
-BZ2WDecompressResult BZ2WDecompress(std::vector<char> &dest, const char *srcData, size_t srcSize, size_t maxSize)
+BZ2WDecompressResult BZ2WDecompress(std::vector<char> &dest, std::span<const char> srcData, size_t maxSize)
 {
 	bz_stream stream;
 	stream.bzalloc = NULL;
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ BZ2WDecompressResult BZ2WDecompress(std::vector<char> &dest, const char *srcData
 		return BZ2WDecompressNomem;
 	}
 	std::unique_ptr<bz_stream, std::function<int (bz_stream *)>> bz2Data(&stream, BZ2_bzDecompressEnd); 
-	stream.next_in = const_cast<char *>(srcData); // I hope bz2 doesn't actually write anything here...
-	stream.avail_in = srcSize;
+	stream.next_in = const_cast<char *>(srcData.data()); // I hope bz2 doesn't actually write anything here...
+	stream.avail_in = srcData.size();
 	dest.resize(0);
 	bool done = false;
 	while (!done)
diff --git a/src/bzip2/bz2wrap.h b/src/bzip2/bz2wrap.h
index 3404c0a31..faaf668fc 100644
--- a/src/bzip2/bz2wrap.h
+++ b/src/bzip2/bz2wrap.h
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 #include <cstddef>
+#include <span>
 #include <vector>
 
 enum BZ2WCompressResult
@@ -8,7 +9,7 @@ enum BZ2WCompressResult
 	BZ2WCompressNomem,
 	BZ2WCompressLimit,
 };
-BZ2WCompressResult BZ2WCompress(std::vector<char> &dest, const char *srcData, size_t srcSize, size_t maxSize = 0);
+BZ2WCompressResult BZ2WCompress(std::vector<char> &dest, std::span<const char> srcData, size_t maxSize = 0);
 
 enum BZ2WDecompressResult
 {
@@ -19,4 +20,4 @@ enum BZ2WDecompressResult
 	BZ2WDecompressBad,
 	BZ2WDecompressEof,
 };
-BZ2WDecompressResult BZ2WDecompress(std::vector<char> &dest, const char *srcData, size_t srcSize, size_t maxSize = 0);
+BZ2WDecompressResult BZ2WDecompress(std::vector<char> &dest, std::span<const char> srcData, size_t maxSize = 0);
diff --git a/src/client/GameSave.cpp b/src/client/GameSave.cpp
index 880d859d8..be3a6a575 100644
--- a/src/client/GameSave.cpp
+++ b/src/client/GameSave.cpp
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ void GameSave::readOPS(const std::vector<char> &data)
 
 	{
 		std::vector<char> bsonData;
-		switch (auto status = BZ2WDecompress(bsonData, (char *)(inputData + 12), inputDataLen - 12, toAlloc))
+		switch (auto status = BZ2WDecompress(bsonData, std::span(reinterpret_cast<const char *>(inputData + 12), inputDataLen - 12), toAlloc))
 		{
 		case BZ2WDecompressOk: break;
 		case BZ2WDecompressNomem: throw ParseException(ParseException::Corrupt, "Cannot allocate memory");
@@ -1393,7 +1393,7 @@ void GameSave::readPSv(const std::vector<char> &dataVec)
 		throw ParseException(ParseException::InvalidDimensions, "Save data too large");
 
 	std::vector<char> bsonData;
-	switch (auto status = BZ2WDecompress(bsonData, (char *)(saveData + 12), dataLength - 12, size))
+	switch (auto status = BZ2WDecompress(bsonData, std::span(reinterpret_cast<const char *>(saveData + 12), dataLength - 12), size))
 	{
 	case BZ2WDecompressOk: break;
 	case BZ2WDecompressNomem: throw ParseException(ParseException::Corrupt, "Cannot allocate memory");
@@ -2632,7 +2632,7 @@ std::pair<bool, std::vector<char>> GameSave::serialiseOPS() const
 
 
 	std::vector<char> outputData;
-	switch (auto status = BZ2WCompress(outputData, (char *)finalData, finalDataLen))
+	switch (auto status = BZ2WCompress(outputData, std::span(reinterpret_cast<const char *>(finalData), finalDataLen)))
 	{
 	case BZ2WCompressOk: break;
 	case BZ2WCompressNomem: throw BuildException(String::Build("Save error, out of memory"));
diff --git a/src/client/http/ImageRequest.cpp b/src/client/http/ImageRequest.cpp
index fe1379057..07332b767 100644
--- a/src/client/http/ImageRequest.cpp
+++ b/src/client/http/ImageRequest.cpp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ namespace http
 	{
 		auto [ status, data ] = Request::Finish();
 		ParseResponse(data, status, responseData);
-		auto vb = VideoBuffer::FromPNG(std::vector<char>(data.begin(), data.end()));
+		auto vb = VideoBuffer::FromPNG(data);
 		if (vb)
 		{
 			vb->Resize(requestedSize, true);
diff --git a/src/common/platform/Common.cpp b/src/common/platform/Common.cpp
index 8d665ff60..0d0ee6ded 100644
--- a/src/common/platform/Common.cpp
+++ b/src/common/platform/Common.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ bool ReadFile(std::vector<char> &fileData, ByteString filename)
 	return true;
 }
 
-bool WriteFile(const std::vector<char> &fileData, ByteString filename)
+bool WriteFile(std::span<const char> fileData, ByteString filename)
 {
 	auto replace = FileExists(filename);
 	auto writeFileName = filename;
diff --git a/src/common/platform/Emscripten.cpp b/src/common/platform/Emscripten.cpp
index 7b379bf0e..cb282ac37 100644
--- a/src/common/platform/Emscripten.cpp
+++ b/src/common/platform/Emscripten.cpp
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ ByteString ExecutableName()
 	return DefaultDdir() + "/" + ExecutableNameFirstApprox(); // bogus
 }
 
-bool UpdateStart(const std::vector<char> &data)
+bool UpdateStart(std::span<const char> data)
 {
 	return false;
 }
diff --git a/src/common/platform/Linux.cpp b/src/common/platform/Linux.cpp
index ae13a051a..13570988a 100644
--- a/src/common/platform/Linux.cpp
+++ b/src/common/platform/Linux.cpp
@@ -92,13 +92,14 @@ bool Install()
 
 	if (ok)
 	{
-		ByteString desktopData(powder_desktop, powder_desktop + powder_desktop_size);
+		auto data = powder_desktop.AsCharSpan();
+		ByteString desktopData(data.begin(), data.end());
 		auto exe = Platform::ExecutableName();
 		auto path = exe.SplitFromEndBy('/').Before();
 		desktopData = desktopData.Substitute("Exec=" + ByteString(APPEXE), "Exec=" + desktopEscapeString(desktopEscapeExec(exe)));
 		desktopData += ByteString::Build("Path=", desktopEscapeString(path), "\n");
 		ByteString file = ByteString::Build(APPVENDOR, "-", APPID, ".desktop");
-		ok = ok && Platform::WriteFile(std::vector<char>(desktopData.begin(), desktopData.end()), file);
+		ok = ok && Platform::WriteFile(desktopData, file);
 		ok = ok && !system(ByteString::Build("xdg-desktop-menu install ", file).c_str());
 		ok = ok && !system(ByteString::Build("xdg-mime default ", file, " application/vnd.powdertoy.save").c_str());
 		ok = ok && !system(ByteString::Build("xdg-mime default ", file, " x-scheme-handler/ptsave").c_str());
@@ -107,21 +108,21 @@ bool Install()
 	if (ok)
 	{
 		ByteString file = ByteString(APPVENDOR) + "-save.xml";
-		ok = ok && Platform::WriteFile(std::vector<char>(save_xml, save_xml + save_xml_size), file);
+		ok = ok && Platform::WriteFile(save_xml.AsCharSpan(), file);
 		ok = ok && !system(ByteString::Build("xdg-mime install ", file).c_str());
 		Platform::RemoveFile(file);
 	}
 	if (ok)
 	{
 		ByteString file = ByteString(APPVENDOR) + "-cps.png";
-		ok = ok && Platform::WriteFile(std::vector<char>(icon_cps_png, icon_cps_png + icon_cps_png_size), file);
+		ok = ok && Platform::WriteFile(icon_cps_png.AsCharSpan(), file);
 		ok = ok && !system(ByteString::Build("xdg-icon-resource install --noupdate --context mimetypes --size 64 ", file, " application-vnd.powdertoy.save").c_str());
 		Platform::RemoveFile(file);
 	}
 	if (ok)
 	{
 		ByteString file = ByteString(APPVENDOR) + "-exe.png";
-		ok = ok && Platform::WriteFile(std::vector<char>(icon_exe_png, icon_exe_png + icon_exe_png_size), file);
+		ok = ok && Platform::WriteFile(icon_exe_png.AsCharSpan(), file);
 		ok = ok && !system(ByteString::Build("xdg-icon-resource install --noupdate --size 64 ", file, " ", APPVENDOR, "-", APPEXE).c_str());
 		Platform::RemoveFile(file);
 	}
diff --git a/src/common/platform/Platform.h b/src/common/platform/Platform.h
index 9e5475d66..b3f2a92d3 100644
--- a/src/common/platform/Platform.h
+++ b/src/common/platform/Platform.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 #include "common/String.h"
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <span>
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 #include <optional>
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ namespace Platform
 	std::vector<ByteString> DirectorySearch(ByteString directory, ByteString search, std::vector<ByteString> extensions);
 
 	bool ReadFile(std::vector<char> &fileData, ByteString filename);
-	bool WriteFile(const std::vector<char> &fileData, ByteString filename);
+	bool WriteFile(std::span<const char> fileData, ByteString filename);
 
 	// TODO: Remove these and switch to *A Win32 API variants when we stop fully supporting windows
 	//       versions older than win10 1903, for example when win10 reaches EOL, see 18084d5aa0e5.
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ namespace Platform
 
 	bool ChangeDir(ByteString toDir);
 
-	bool UpdateStart(const std::vector<char> &data);
+	bool UpdateStart(std::span<const char> data);
 	bool UpdateFinish();
 	void UpdateCleanup();
 
diff --git a/src/common/platform/PosixProc.cpp b/src/common/platform/PosixProc.cpp
index e8792e9e2..9fa43eb1e 100644
--- a/src/common/platform/PosixProc.cpp
+++ b/src/common/platform/PosixProc.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ ByteString ExecutableName()
 	return rp.get();
 }
 
-bool UpdateStart(const std::vector<char> &data)
+bool UpdateStart(std::span<const char> data)
 {
 	ByteString exeName = Platform::ExecutableName();
 
diff --git a/src/common/platform/Windows.cpp b/src/common/platform/Windows.cpp
index d563dccf9..d11270416 100644
--- a/src/common/platform/Windows.cpp
+++ b/src/common/platform/Windows.cpp
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ bool Install()
 	return ok;
 }
 
-bool UpdateStart(const std::vector<char> &data)
+bool UpdateStart(std::span<const char> data)
 {
 	ByteString exeName = Platform::ExecutableName(), updName;
 
diff --git a/src/graphics/FontReader.cpp b/src/graphics/FontReader.cpp
index ae13ebee1..bdce98ac3 100644
--- a/src/graphics/FontReader.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/FontReader.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ static bool InitFontData()
 	static std::vector<char> fontDataBuf;
 	static std::vector<int> fontPtrsBuf;
 	static std::vector< std::array<int, 2> > fontRangesBuf;
-	if (BZ2WDecompress(fontDataBuf, reinterpret_cast<const char *>(compressed_font_data), compressed_font_data_size) != BZ2WDecompressOk)
+	if (BZ2WDecompress(fontDataBuf, compressed_font_data.AsCharSpan()) != BZ2WDecompressOk)
 	{
 		return false;
 	}
diff --git a/src/graphics/Graphics.cpp b/src/graphics/Graphics.cpp
index aa8ff287f..986035039 100644
--- a/src/graphics/Graphics.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/Graphics.cpp
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ void VideoBuffer::ResizeToFit(Vec2<int> bound, bool resample)
 	Resize(size, resample);
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<VideoBuffer> VideoBuffer::FromPNG(std::vector<char> const &data)
+std::unique_ptr<VideoBuffer> VideoBuffer::FromPNG(std::span<const char> data)
 {
 	auto video = format::PixelsFromPNG(data, 0x000000_rgb);
 	if (video)
diff --git a/src/graphics/VideoBuffer.h b/src/graphics/VideoBuffer.h
index 83634bf19..9f0c0802f 100644
--- a/src/graphics/VideoBuffer.h
+++ b/src/graphics/VideoBuffer.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 #include <array>
 #include <memory>
+#include <span>
 #include <vector>
 #include "common/Plane.h"
 #include "common/String.h"
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ public:
 	// Automatically choose a size to fit within the given box, keeping aspect ratio
 	void ResizeToFit(Vec2<int> bound, bool resample = false);
 
-	static std::unique_ptr<VideoBuffer> FromPNG(std::vector<char> const &);
+	static std::unique_ptr<VideoBuffer> FromPNG(std::span<const char> data);
 	std::unique_ptr<std::vector<char>> ToPNG() const;
 	std::vector<char> ToPPM() const;
 };
diff --git a/src/gui/font/FontEditor.cpp b/src/gui/font/FontEditor.cpp
index a55807703..52922ff3d 100644
--- a/src/gui/font/FontEditor.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/font/FontEditor.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ void FontEditor::ReadDataFile(ByteString dataFile)
 	std::vector<char> fontDataBuf;
 	std::vector<int> fontPtrsBuf;
 	std::vector< std::array<int, 2> > fontRangesBuf;
-	if (BZ2WDecompress(fontDataBuf, fileData.data(), fileData.size()) != BZ2WDecompressOk)
+	if (BZ2WDecompress(fontDataBuf, fileData) != BZ2WDecompressOk)
 	{
 		throw std::runtime_error("Could not decompress font data");
 	}
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ void FontEditor::WriteDataFile(ByteString dataFile, std::vector<unsigned char> c
 	}
 
 	std::vector<char> compressed;
-	if (BZ2WCompress(compressed, uncompressed.data(), uncompressed.size()) != BZ2WCompressOk)
+	if (BZ2WCompress(compressed, uncompressed) != BZ2WCompressOk)
 	{
 		throw std::runtime_error("Could not compress font data");
 	}
diff --git a/src/gui/save/LocalSaveActivity.h b/src/gui/save/LocalSaveActivity.h
index 8c8b06f65..8081d75d5 100644
--- a/src/gui/save/LocalSaveActivity.h
+++ b/src/gui/save/LocalSaveActivity.h
@@ -23,9 +23,7 @@ class ThumbnailRendererTask;
 class LocalSaveActivity: public WindowActivity
 {
 	using OnSaved = std::function<void (std::unique_ptr<SaveFile>)>;
-	std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel_rgba>>> saveToDiskImage = format::PixelsFromPNG(
-		std::vector<char>(save_local_png, save_local_png + save_local_png_size)
-	);
+	std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel_rgba>>> saveToDiskImage = format::PixelsFromPNG(save_local_png.AsCharSpan());
 
 	std::unique_ptr<SaveFile> save;
 	ThumbnailRendererTask *thumbnailRenderer;
diff --git a/src/gui/save/ServerSaveActivity.h b/src/gui/save/ServerSaveActivity.h
index 8b64faaf2..d9f1e8257 100644
--- a/src/gui/save/ServerSaveActivity.h
+++ b/src/gui/save/ServerSaveActivity.h
@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@ class ServerSaveActivity: public WindowActivity, public TaskListener
 	std::unique_ptr<http::UploadSaveRequest> uploadSaveRequest;
 
 	using OnUploaded = std::function<void (std::unique_ptr<SaveInfo>)>;
-	std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel_rgba>>> saveToServerImage = format::PixelsFromPNG(
-		std::vector<char>(save_online_png, save_online_png + save_online_png_size)
-	);
+	std::unique_ptr<PlaneAdapter<std::vector<pixel_rgba>>> saveToServerImage = format::PixelsFromPNG(save_online_png.AsCharSpan());
 
 public:
 	ServerSaveActivity(std::unique_ptr<SaveInfo> newSave, OnUploaded onUploaded);
diff --git a/src/lua/LuaBz2.cpp b/src/lua/LuaBz2.cpp
index 5d6e35508..c0dd330f6 100644
--- a/src/lua/LuaBz2.cpp
+++ b/src/lua/LuaBz2.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ static int compress(lua_State *L)
 	auto src = tpt_lua_checkByteString(L, 1);
 	auto maxSize = size_t(luaL_optinteger(L, 2, 0));
 	std::vector<char> dest;
-	auto result = BZ2WCompress(dest, src.data(), src.size(), maxSize);
+	auto result = BZ2WCompress(dest, src, maxSize);
 #define RETURN_ERR(str) lua_pushnil(L); lua_pushinteger(L, int(result)); lua_pushliteral(L, str); return 3
 	switch (result)
 	{
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ static int decompress(lua_State *L)
 	auto src = tpt_lua_checkByteString(L, 1);
 	auto maxSize = size_t(luaL_optinteger(L, 2, 0));
 	std::vector<char> dest;
-	auto result = BZ2WDecompress(dest, src.data(), src.size(), maxSize);
+	auto result = BZ2WDecompress(dest, src, maxSize);
 #define RETURN_ERR(str) lua_pushnil(L); lua_pushinteger(L, int(result)); lua_pushliteral(L, str); return 3
 	switch (result)
 	{
diff --git a/src/lua/LuaMisc.cpp b/src/lua/LuaMisc.cpp
index 31db21703..a2daeda8f 100644
--- a/src/lua/LuaMisc.cpp
+++ b/src/lua/LuaMisc.cpp
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ void LuaMisc::Tick(lua_State *L)
 				return;
 			}
 			ByteString filename = "autorun.lua";
-			if (!Platform::WriteFile(std::vector<char>(scriptData.begin(), scriptData.end()), filename))
+			if (!Platform::WriteFile(scriptData, filename))
 			{
 				complete({ Status::GetFailed{ String::Build("Unable to write to ", filename.FromUtf8()) } });
 				return;
@@ -177,7 +177,8 @@ static int record(lua_State *L)
 
 static int compatChunk(lua_State *L)
 {
-	lua_pushlstring(L, reinterpret_cast<const char *>(compat_lua), compat_lua_size);
+	auto data = compat_lua.AsCharSpan();
+	lua_pushlstring(L, data.data(), data.size());
 	return 1;
 }
 static int debug(lua_State *L)
diff --git a/src/lua/LuaScriptInterface.cpp b/src/lua/LuaScriptInterface.cpp
index 22b6b4e0c..1597b6d8a 100644
--- a/src/lua/LuaScriptInterface.cpp
+++ b/src/lua/LuaScriptInterface.cpp
@@ -176,7 +176,8 @@ LuaScriptInterface::LuaScriptInterface(GameController *newGameController, GameMo
 		ref.Assign(L, -1);
 		lua_pop(L, 1);
 	}
-	if (luaL_loadbuffer(L, (const char *)compat_lua, compat_lua_size, "@[built-in compat.lua]") || tpt_lua_pcall(L, 0, 0, 0, eventTraitNone))
+	auto compatSpan = compat_lua.AsCharSpan();
+	if (luaL_loadbuffer(L, compatSpan.data(), compatSpan.size(), "@[built-in compat.lua]") || tpt_lua_pcall(L, 0, 0, 0, eventTraitNone))
 	{
 		throw std::runtime_error(ByteString("failed to load built-in compat: ") + tpt_lua_toByteString(L, -1));
 	}
diff --git a/src/prefs/Prefs.cpp b/src/prefs/Prefs.cpp
index ddbcb5d32..94c1a51af 100644
--- a/src/prefs/Prefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/Prefs.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ void Prefs::Write()
 	Json::StreamWriterBuilder wbuilder;
 	wbuilder["indentation"] = "\t";
 	ByteString data = Json::writeString(wbuilder, root);
-	if (!Platform::WriteFile(std::vector<char>(data.begin(), data.end()), path))
+	if (!Platform::WriteFile(data, path))
 	{
 		return;
 	}