diff --git a/config.inc.php b/config.inc.php
index f00b2f4..0673d7e 100644
--- a/config.inc.php
+++ b/config.inc.php
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ function config_set_base_dirs(array $dirs)
   $CONFIG_BASE_DIRS = array_map(function($d) { return normalize_path($d); }, $dirs);
 }
 
-function config_base_dirs()
+function config_base_dirs() : array
 {
   global $CONFIG_BASE_DIRS;
   return $CONFIG_BASE_DIRS;
 }
 
-function config_map_base_dir($file, $normalized = false, $strict = true, $dirs = null)
+function config_map_base_dir(string $file, bool $normalized = false, bool $strict = true, ?array $dirs = null) : ?string
 {
   if(!is_array($dirs))
     $dirs = config_base_dirs();
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ function config_map_base_dir($file, $normalized = false, $strict = true, $dirs =
   return null;
 }
 
-function config_real_path($rel_path, $strict = true, $dirs = null)
+function config_real_path(string $rel_path, bool $strict = true, ?array $dirs = null) : ?string
 {
   if(!is_array($dirs))
     $dirs = config_base_dirs();
@@ -69,25 +69,25 @@ function config_real_path($rel_path, $strict = true, $dirs = null)
   return null;
 }
 
-function config_build_dir()
+function config_build_dir() : string
 {
   global $GAME_ROOT;
   return "$GAME_ROOT/build/tmp/";
 }
 
-function config_set_worker_init_fn($fn)
+function config_set_worker_init_fn(callable $fn)
 {
   global $CONFIG_INIT_WORKER_FUNC;
   $CONFIG_INIT_WORKER_FUNC = $fn;
 }
 
-function config_scan_files()
+function config_scan_files() : array
 {
   $files = scan_files_rec(config_base_dirs(), array('conf.js'));
   return config_filter_files($files);
 }
 
-function config_filter_files(array $files)
+function config_filter_files(array $files) : array
 {
   global $CONFIG_FILTER_FN;
   if($CONFIG_FILTER_FN != null)
@@ -101,13 +101,54 @@ function config_set_files_filter_fn(callable $fn)
   $CONFIG_FILTER_FN = $fn;
 }
 
-function config_pack_bundle(array $cache_entries, $use_lz4 = false, $use_config_refs = false)
+function config_pack_bundle(
+  array $cache_entries, 
+  bool $use_lz4 = false, 
+  bool $use_config_refs = false,
+  int $binary_format = 1,
+  ?int $version = null
+) : string
 {
   global $GAME_ROOT;
 
-  $binary_format = 1;
-  $version = game_version_code();
+  if(is_null($version))
+    $version = game_version_code();
 
+  $packed_data = null;
+
+  if($binary_format == 1)
+  {
+    $packed_data = _config_pack_bundle_fmt1(
+      $cache_entries, 
+      $use_lz4,
+      $use_config_refs,
+      $version
+    );
+  }
+  else if($binary_format == 2)
+  {
+    $packed_data = _config_pack_bundle_fmt2(
+      $cache_entries, 
+      $use_lz4,
+      $use_config_refs,
+      $version
+    );
+  }
+  else
+    throw new Exception("Unknown binary format: $binary_format");
+
+  echo "CONF.BUNDLE: entries " . sizeof($cache_entries) . "; total " . kb($packed_data) . 
+      "; format $binary_format; lz4 $use_lz4; refs $use_config_refs; CRC " . crc32($packed_data) . "\n";
+
+  return $packed_data;
+}
+
+function _config_pack_bundle_fmt1(
+  array $cache_entries, 
+  bool $use_lz4 = false, 
+  bool $use_config_refs = false,
+  int $version) : string
+{
   $MAP = array();
   $STRIDMAP = array();
 
@@ -149,21 +190,109 @@ function config_pack_bundle(array $cache_entries, $use_lz4 = false, $use_config_
     $payloads_bundle .= $item[1];
 
   $packed_data =  
-         pack("C", $binary_format) . 
+         pack("C", 1) . 
          pack("V", $version) . 
          pack("V", strlen($header_msgpack)) .
          $header_msgpack .
          $payloads_bundle;
 
-  echo "CONF.BUNDLE: entries " . sizeof($cache_entries) . "; total " . kb($packed_data) . 
-      "; lz4 $use_lz4; refs $use_config_refs; CRC " . crc32($packed_data) . "\n";
+  return $packed_data;
+}
+
+function _config_pack_bundle_fmt2(
+  array $cache_entries, 
+  bool $use_lz4 = false, 
+  bool $use_config_refs = false,
+  int $version) : string
+{
+  $MAP = array();
+  $STRIDMAP = array();
+  $STRIDLIST = array();
+
+  $payloads = array();
+  $strids = array();
+  $payloads_offset = 0;
+  foreach($cache_entries as $entry)
+  {
+    list($format, $payload) = _config_get_payload($entry, $use_lz4, $use_config_refs);
+    $payload_size = strlen($payload);
+    $payloads[] = array($payloads_offset, $payload, $format, $payload_size);
+    $payloads_offset += $payload_size;
+
+    $strids_indices = array();
+    $strid_parts = explode('/', ltrim($entry->strid, '@'));
+    foreach($strid_parts as $strid_part)
+    {
+      if(!isset($STRIDMAP[$strid_part]))
+      {
+        $strid_index = count($STRIDLIST);
+        $STRIDLIST[] = $strid_part; 
+        $STRIDMAP[$strid_part] = $strid_index;
+        $strids_indices[] = $strid_index;
+      }
+      else
+        $strids_indices[] = $STRIDMAP[$strid_part];
+    }
+    $strids[] = $strids_indices;
+  }
+
+  $header = array();
+  foreach($cache_entries as $idx => $entry)
+  { 
+    if(isset($MAP[$entry->id]))
+      throw new Exception("Duplicating config id for '{$entry->strid}' conflicts with '{$MAP[$entry->id]}'");
+    $MAP[$entry->id] = $entry->strid; 
+
+    $header[] = array(
+      $payloads[$idx][2], //format
+      $entry->id, 
+      $strids[$idx], //strid as a lookup indices 
+      $entry->class_id, 
+      $payloads[$idx][0], //offset
+      $payloads[$idx][3]  //size
+    );
+  }
+
+  $strids_msgpack = config_msgpack_pack($STRIDLIST);
+
+  $header_msgpack = config_msgpack_pack($header);
+  $payloads_bundle = '';
+  foreach($payloads as $item)
+    $payloads_bundle .= $item[1];
+
+  $packed_data =  
+         pack("C", 2) . 
+         pack("V", $version) . 
+         pack("V", strlen($strids_msgpack)) .
+         pack("V", strlen($header_msgpack)) .
+         $strids_msgpack .
+         $header_msgpack .
+         $payloads_bundle;
 
   return $packed_data;
 }
 
-function config_unpack_bundle($packed_data)
+function config_unpack_bundle(string $packed_data) : array
+{
+  $packed_info = substr($packed_data, 0, 1);
+  $info = unpack('Cformat', $packed_info);
+
+  if($info['format'] === 1)
+  {
+    return _config_unpack_bundle_fmt1($packed_data);
+  }
+  else if($info['format'] === 2)
+  {
+    return _config_unpack_bundle_fmt2($packed_data);
+  }
+  else
+    throw new Exception("Unknown format: {$info['format']}");
+}
+
+function _config_unpack_bundle_fmt1(string $packed_data) : array
 {
   $packed_info = substr($packed_data, 0, 1+4+4);
+
   $info = unpack('Cformat/Vversion/Vheader_len', $packed_info);
 
   if($info['format'] !== 1)
@@ -172,7 +301,7 @@ function config_unpack_bundle($packed_data)
   $header_msgpack = substr($packed_data, 1+4+4, $info['header_len']); 
   $header = config_msgpack_unpack($header_msgpack);
 
-  $payloads_bundle = substr($packed_data, 1+4+4 + $info['header_len']);
+  $payloads_bundle = substr($packed_data, 1+4+4+$info['header_len']);
   
   $entries = array();
   foreach($header as $item)
@@ -187,7 +316,37 @@ function config_unpack_bundle($packed_data)
   return $entries;
 }
 
-function _config_get_payload(ConfigCacheEntry $ce, $use_lz4, $use_config_refs)
+function _config_unpack_bundle_fmt2(string $packed_data) : array
+{
+  $packed_info = substr($packed_data, 0, 1+4+4+4);
+
+  $info = unpack('Cformat/Vversion/Vstrids_len/Vheader_len', $packed_info);
+
+  if($info['format'] !== 2)
+    throw new Exception("Unknown format: {$info['format']}");
+
+  $strids_msgpack = substr($packed_data, 1+4+4+4, $info['strids_len']); 
+  $strids = config_msgpack_unpack($strids_msgpack);
+
+  $header_msgpack = substr($packed_data, 1+4+4+4+$info['strids_len'], $info['header_len']); 
+  $header = config_msgpack_unpack($header_msgpack);
+
+  $payloads_bundle = substr($packed_data, 1+4+4+4+$info['strids_len']+$info['header_len']);
+  
+  $entries = array();
+  foreach($header as $item)
+  {
+    list($format, $id, $strid_crc, $class_id, $offset, $size) = $item;
+
+    $payload = substr($payloads_bundle, $offset, $size);
+
+    $entries[$id] = array($class_id, _config_unpack_payload($format, $payload)); 
+  }
+
+  return $entries;
+}
+
+function _config_get_payload(ConfigCacheEntry $ce, bool $use_lz4, bool $use_config_refs) : array
 {
   $format = ConfigCacheEntry::FMT_BINARY;
   $payload = null;
@@ -210,7 +369,7 @@ function _config_get_payload(ConfigCacheEntry $ce, $use_lz4, $use_config_refs)
   return array($format, $payload);
 }
 
-function _config_unpack_payload($format, $payload)
+function _config_unpack_payload(int $format, string $payload) : array
 {
   $msg_packed = null;
   if($format === ConfigCacheEntry::FMT_LZ4)
@@ -224,7 +383,13 @@ function _config_unpack_payload($format, $payload)
   return config_msgpack_unpack($msg_packed);
 }
 
-function config_make_standalone_ext_bundle(array $configs, $file_path, $use_lz4 = true)
+function config_make_standalone_ext_bundle(
+  array $configs, 
+  string $file_path, 
+  bool $use_lz4 = true, 
+  int $binary_format = 1, 
+  ?int $version = null
+)
 {
   $cache_entries = array();
   foreach($configs as $conf)
@@ -243,41 +408,41 @@ function config_make_standalone_ext_bundle(array $configs, $file_path, $use_lz4
     $cache_entries[] = $entry;
   }
 
-  $packed_data = config_pack_bundle($cache_entries, $use_lz4);
+  $packed_data = config_pack_bundle($cache_entries, $use_lz4, false, $binary_format, $version);
 
   ensure_write($file_path, $packed_data);
 }
 
-function config_bench_load($file)
+function config_bench_load(string $file)
 {
   $base_dir = config_map_base_dir($file);
 
-  list($proto_id, $_) = config_ensure_header($base_dir, $file);
-  if(!$proto_id)
-    throw new Exception("Bad proto_id: {$proto_id}");
+  list($conf_id, $_) = config_ensure_header($base_dir, $file);
+  if(!$conf_id)
+    throw new Exception("Bad conf id: {$conf_id}");
   $t = microtime(true);
   $parse_res = config_parse(config_base_dirs(), $file);
   if($parse_res->error !== 0)
     throw new Exception("Error({$parse_res->error}) while loading JSON from {$file}:\n" . $parse_res->error_descr);
   echo "PARSE: " . (microtime(true) - $t) . "\n";
   $t = microtime(true);
-  $config = config_load_ex($base_dir, $file, $parse_res->parsed_arr, $proto_id); 
+  $config = config_load_ex($base_dir, $file, $parse_res->parsed_arr, $conf_id); 
   echo "LOAD: " . (microtime(true) - $t) . "\n";
 }
 
-function config_get_tmp_build_path($file)
+function config_get_tmp_build_path(string $file) : string
 {
   $name = str_replace(":", "-", str_replace("\\", "-", str_replace("/", "-", normalize_path($file))));
   $name = ltrim($name, "-");
   return normalize_path(config_build_dir() . "/$name");
 }
 
-function config_get_includes_map_path() 
+function config_get_includes_map_path() : string 
 {
   return config_build_dir() . "/includes.map";
 }
 
-function config_load_includes_map($file = null)
+function config_load_includes_map(?string $file = null) : array
 {
   $file = $file ? $file : config_get_includes_map_path();
 
@@ -293,7 +458,7 @@ function config_load_includes_map($file = null)
   return $includes_map;
 }
 
-function config_save_includes_map(array $includes_map, $file = null)
+function config_save_includes_map(array $includes_map, ?string $file = null)
 {
   $file = $file ? $file : config_get_includes_map_path();
 
@@ -302,19 +467,19 @@ function config_save_includes_map(array $includes_map, $file = null)
 
 class ConfigFetchResult
 {
-  public $all = array();
-  public $by_id = array();
-  public $by_path = array();
-  public $by_alias = array();
+  public array $all = array();
+  public array $by_id = array();
+  public array $by_path = array();
+  public array $by_alias = array();
 }
 
 function config_fetch_ex(
   array $files, 
-  $force_stale = false, 
-  $verbose = false, 
-  $includes_map_file = null, 
-  $max_workers = null
-)
+  bool $force_stale = false, 
+  bool $verbose = false, 
+  ?string $includes_map_file = null, 
+  ?int $max_workers = null
+) : ConfigFetchResult
 {
   if(!$files)
     return new ConfigFetchResult();
@@ -363,7 +528,7 @@ function config_fetch_ex(
   return $result;
 }
 
-function _config_fetch_cache_ex(array $results_by_job)
+function _config_fetch_cache_ex(array $results_by_job) : array
 {
   $result = new ConfigFetchResult();
   $total_stales = 0;
@@ -409,7 +574,7 @@ function _config_fetch_cache_ex(array $results_by_job)
   return array($result, $total_stales);
 }
 
-function _config_worker_run_procs(array $jobs, $includes_map_file, $force, $verbose)
+function _config_worker_run_procs(array $jobs, string $includes_map_file, bool $force, bool $verbose) : array
 {
   $worker_args = array();
   foreach($jobs as $idx => $job)
@@ -418,7 +583,7 @@ function _config_worker_run_procs(array $jobs, $includes_map_file, $force, $verb
   return run_background_gamectl_workers('config_worker', $worker_args);
 }
 
-function _config_worker_func(array $job, array $includes_map, $force, $verbose)
+function _config_worker_func(array $job, array $includes_map, bool $force, bool $verbose) : array
 {
   global $CONFIG_INIT_WORKER_FUNC;
   if(is_callable($CONFIG_INIT_WORKER_FUNC))
@@ -454,19 +619,19 @@ function _config_worker_func(array $job, array $includes_map, $force, $verbose)
   return $results;
 }
 
-function _config_invalidate_cache($file, $cache_file) : ConfigCacheEntry
+function _config_invalidate_cache(string $file, string $cache_file) : ConfigCacheEntry
 {
   $cache_payload_file = config_get_cache_payload_path($file);
 
   //TODO: pass it from above?
   $base_dir = config_map_base_dir($file);
 
-  list($proto_id, $_) = config_ensure_header($base_dir, $file);
-  if(!$proto_id)
-    throw new Exception("Bad proto_id: {$proto_id}");
+  list($conf_id, $_) = config_ensure_header($base_dir, $file);
+  if(!$conf_id)
+    throw new Exception("Bad conf id: {$conf_id}");
 
   $GLOBALS['CONFIG_CURRENT_FILE'] = $file; 
-  $GLOBALS['CONFIG_CURRENT_PROTO_ID'] = $proto_id; 
+  $GLOBALS['CONFIG_CURRENT_PROTO_ID'] = $conf_id; 
   $GLOBALS['CONFIG_EXTRAS'] = ConfigCacheEntryExtras::create();
 
   $pres = config_parse(config_base_dirs(), $file);
@@ -475,7 +640,7 @@ function _config_invalidate_cache($file, $cache_file) : ConfigCacheEntry
 
   $includes = config_get_module_includes($pres->jsm_module);
 
-  $config = config_load_ex($base_dir, $file, $pres->parsed_arr, $proto_id); 
+  $config = config_load_ex($base_dir, $file, $pres->parsed_arr, $conf_id); 
   $payload_data = config_msgpack_pack($config->export());
 
   $cache_entry = new ConfigCacheEntry();
@@ -497,61 +662,61 @@ function _config_invalidate_cache($file, $cache_file) : ConfigCacheEntry
   return $cache_entry;
 }
 
-function config_find_by_alias(ConfigFetchResult $cache_entries, $strid) : ConfigCacheEntry
+function config_find_by_alias(ConfigFetchResult $cache_entries, string $strid) : ConfigCacheEntry
 {
   if(array_key_exists($strid, $cache_entries->by_alias))
     return $cache_entries->by_alias[$strid];
   throw new Exception("Failed to find config by alias '$strid'!");
 }
 
-function config_find_by_id(ConfigFetchResult $cache_entries, $id) : ConfigCacheEntry
+function config_find_by_id(ConfigFetchResult $cache_entries, int $id) : ConfigCacheEntry
 {
   if(array_key_exists($id, $cache_entries->by_id))
     return $cache_entries->by_id[$id];
   throw new Exception("Failed to find config by id '$id'!");
 }
 
-function config_find_by_path(ConfigFetchResult $cache_entries, $path) : ConfigCacheEntry
+function config_find_by_path(ConfigFetchResult $cache_entries, string $path) : ConfigCacheEntry
 {
   if(array_key_exists($path, $cache_entries->by_path))
     return $cache_entries->by_path[$path];
   throw new Exception("Failed to find config by path '$path'!");
 }
 
-function config_fetch_by_path(string $path, $force_stale = false) : ConfigCacheEntry
+function config_fetch_by_path(string $path, bool $force_stale = false) : ConfigCacheEntry
 {
   $ces = config_fetch_ex(array($path), $force_stale);
-  if(!$ces)
+  if(empty($ces->all))
     throw new Exception("Config not found at path '$path'");
   return $ces->all[0];
 }
 
-function config_fetch_all($force_stale = false)
+function config_fetch_all(bool $force_stale = false) : ConfigFetchResult
 {
   return config_fetch_ex(config_scan_files(), $force_stale);
 }
 
 class ConfigCacheEntryExtras
 {
-  private static $klass = ConfigCacheEntryExtras::class;
+  private static string $klass = ConfigCacheEntryExtras::class;
 
-  static function init($project_specific_klass)
+  static function init(string $project_specific_klass)
   {
     self::$klass = $project_specific_klass;
   }
 
-  static function create()
+  static function create() : object
   {
     return new self::$klass();
   }
 
-  function export()
+  function export() : array
   {
     $as_array = get_object_vars($this);
     return $as_array;
   }
 
-  function import($as_array)
+  function import(array $as_array)
   {
     foreach($as_array as $field_name => $field_value)
       $this->$field_name = $field_value;
@@ -568,28 +733,28 @@ class ConfigCacheEntry
   const FMT_LZ4        = 1;
   const FMT_FILE_REF   = 2;
 
-  public $class;
-  public $class_id;
-  public $id;
-  public $strid;
-  public $cache_file;
+  public string $class;
+  public int $class_id;
+  public int $id;
+  public string $strid;
+  public string $cache_file;
   //NOTE: actual payload is stored in a separate file for faster incremental retrievals
-  public $payload_file;
-  public $file;
-  public $includes = array();
-  public $refs = array();
-  public $extras;
+  public string $payload_file;
+  public string $file;
+  public array $includes = array();
+  public array $refs = array();
+  public object $extras;
 
   public $_config;
   public $_payload;
 
-  static function serialize($ce)
+  static function serialize(ConfigCacheEntry $ce) : string
   {
     $d = $ce->export();
     return serialize($d);
   }
 
-  static function unserialize($str)
+  static function unserialize(string $str) : ?ConfigCacheEntry
   {
     $d = @unserialize($str);
     if(!is_array($d))
@@ -604,7 +769,7 @@ class ConfigCacheEntry
     $this->extras = ConfigCacheEntryExtras::create();
   }
 
-  function __get($name)
+  function __get(string $name)
   {
     if($name === "config")
     {
@@ -627,7 +792,7 @@ class ConfigCacheEntry
       throw new Exception("No such property '$name'");
   }
 
-  function __set($name, $v)
+  function __set(string $name, $v)
   {
     if($name === "config")
       $this->_config = $v;
@@ -637,7 +802,7 @@ class ConfigCacheEntry
       throw new Exception("No such property '$name'");
   }
 
-  function export()
+  function export() : array
   {
     $d = array();
     $d[] = $this->class;
@@ -674,27 +839,17 @@ class ConfigCacheEntry
   }
 }
 
-function config_get_cache_path($file)
+function config_get_cache_path(string $file) : string
 {
   return config_get_tmp_build_path($file . '.cacheb');
 } 
 
-function config_get_cache_payload_path($file)
+function config_get_cache_payload_path(string $file) : string
 {
   return config_get_tmp_build_path($file . '.pdata');
 } 
 
-function config_get_id($conf_dir, $file_path)
-{
-  return config_file2id($conf_dir, $file_path);
-}
-
-function config_get_strid($conf_dir, $file_path)
-{
-  return config_file2strid($conf_dir, $file_path);
-}
-
-function config_extract_refs($src, $as_map = true)
+function config_extract_refs(string $src, bool $as_map = true) : array
 {
   $refs = array();
   if(preg_match_all('~"(@[^"]+)"~', $src, $matches))
@@ -709,7 +864,7 @@ function config_extract_refs($src, $as_map = true)
   return $as_map ? $refs : array_keys($refs);
 }
 
-function config_get_header($file, &$proto_id, &$alias)
+function config_get_header(string $file, ?int &$conf_id, ?string &$strid) : bool
 {
   $h = fopen($file, "r");
   $line = fgets($h, 256);
@@ -717,33 +872,33 @@ function config_get_header($file, &$proto_id, &$alias)
 
   if(preg_match('~\{\s*/\*\s*proto_id\s*=\s*(\d+)\s*;\s*alias\s*=\s*([^\s]+)~', $line, $matches))
   {
-    $proto_id = (int)$matches[1];
-    $alias = $matches[2];
+    $conf_id = (int)$matches[1];
+    $strid = $matches[2];
     return true;
   }
   else
     return false;
 }
 
-function config_set_header($contents, $proto_id, $alias, &$is_success)
+function config_set_header(string $contents, int $conf_id, string $strid, bool &$is_success) : string
 {
-  $contents = preg_replace('~\s*\{~', "{  /* proto_id = {$proto_id} ; alias = {$alias} */", $contents, 1/*limit*/, $count);
+  $contents = preg_replace('~\s*\{~', "{  /* proto_id = {$conf_id} ; alias = {$strid} */", $contents, 1/*limit*/, $count);
   $is_success = $count == 1;
   return $contents;
 }
 
-function config_extract_header($contents)
+function config_extract_header(string $contents) : string
 {
   return preg_replace('~(\s*\{)\s*/\*\s*proto_id\s*=\s*\d+\s*;\s*alias\s*=\s*[^\s]+\s*\*/~', '$1', $contents);
 }
 
-function config_ensure_header($conf_dir, $file, $force = false)
+function config_ensure_header(string $conf_dir, string $file, bool $force = false) : array
 {
   if(config_get_header($file, $curr_proto_id, $curr_alias))
   {
-    $alias = config_get_strid($conf_dir, $file);
+    $alias = config_file2strid($conf_dir, $file);
     if($force)
-      $curr_proto_id = config_get_id($conf_dir, $file);
+      $curr_proto_id = config_file2id($conf_dir, $file);
 
     //NOTE: keeping current proto id intact if not forced
     if($force || $curr_alias !== $alias)
@@ -760,34 +915,34 @@ function config_ensure_header($conf_dir, $file, $force = false)
   }
   else
   {
-    $proto_id = config_get_id($conf_dir, $file);
-    $alias = config_get_strid($conf_dir, $file);
+    $conf_id = config_file2id($conf_dir, $file);
+    $alias = config_file2strid($conf_dir, $file);
 
     $lines = file($file);
 
-    $lines[0] = config_set_header($lines[0], $proto_id, $alias, $is_success);
+    $lines[0] = config_set_header($lines[0], $conf_id, $alias, $is_success);
     if(!$is_success)
       throw new Exception("Could not set header for '$file' in line: {$lines[0]}");
     ensure_write($file, join("", $lines));
 
-    return array($proto_id, $alias);
+    return array($conf_id, $alias);
   }
 }
 
-function config_load($conf_dir, $conf_path)
+function config_load(string $conf_dir, string $conf_path) : object
 {
-  list($proto_id, $_) = config_ensure_header($conf_dir, $conf_path);
-  if(!$proto_id)
-    throw new Exception("Bad proto_id: {$proto_id}");
+  list($conf_id, $_) = config_ensure_header($conf_dir, $conf_path);
+  if(!$conf_id)
+    throw new Exception("Bad conf id: {$conf_id}");
 
-  $pres = config_parse($conf_dir, $conf_path);
+  $pres = config_parse(array($conf_dir), $conf_path);
   if($pres->error !== 0)
     throw new Exception("Error({$pres->error}) while loading JSON from {$conf_path}:\n" . $pres->error_descr);
 
-  return config_load_ex($conf_dir, $conf_path, $pres->parsed_arr, $proto_id); 
+  return config_load_ex($conf_dir, $conf_path, $pres->parsed_arr, $conf_id); 
 }
 
-function conf2json($conf, $json_flags = 0)
+function conf2json($conf, int $json_flags = 0)
 {
   $arr = $conf->export(true); 
   $arr['class'] = get_class($conf);
@@ -800,14 +955,14 @@ function conf2json($conf, $json_flags = 0)
 
 class ConfigParseResult
 {
-  public $error = 0;
-  public $error_descr;
-  public $normalized_jzon = '';
-  public $parsed_arr;
+  public int $error = 0;
+  public string $error_descr;
+  public string $normalized_jzon = '';
+  public array $parsed_arr;
   public $jsm_module;
 }
 
-function config_parse(array $base_dirs, $file) : ConfigParseResult
+function config_parse(array $base_dirs, string $file) : ConfigParseResult
 {
   $res = new ConfigParseResult();
 
@@ -841,7 +996,7 @@ function config_parse(array $base_dirs, $file) : ConfigParseResult
   return $res;
 }
 
-function config_check_and_decode_jzon($json)
+function config_check_and_decode_jzon(string $json) : array
 {
   try
   {
@@ -854,7 +1009,7 @@ function config_check_and_decode_jzon($json)
   }
 }
 
-function config_load_ex($conf_dir, $file, array $arr, $id = null)
+function config_load_ex(string $conf_dir, string $file, array $arr, ?int $id = null) : object
 {
   if(!isset($arr['class']) || !isset($arr['class'][0]))
     throw new Exception("Class is not set in file '$file'.");
@@ -887,18 +1042,18 @@ function config_load_ex($conf_dir, $file, array $arr, $id = null)
   return $cnf;
 }
 
-function config_is_file($filename)
+function config_is_file(string $filename) : bool
 {
   return (strrpos($filename, '.conf.js') === (strlen($filename) - 8));
 }
 
-function config_file2id($conf_dir, $filename)
+function config_file2id(string $conf_dir, string $filename) : int
 {
   $nfilename = config_make_path($conf_dir, $filename);
   return config_crc28($nfilename);
 }
 
-function config_file2strid($conf_dir, $filename)
+function config_file2strid(string $conf_dir, string $filename) : string
 {
   $strid = config_make_path($conf_dir, $filename); 
   $fname_idx = strrpos($strid, "/");
@@ -907,7 +1062,7 @@ function config_file2strid($conf_dir, $filename)
   return "@".$strid;
 }
 
-function config_make_path($conf_dir, $path)
+function config_make_path(string $conf_dir, string $path) : string
 {
   return ltrim(str_replace(normalize_path($conf_dir, true/*nix*/), 
                            '', 
@@ -915,19 +1070,12 @@ function config_make_path($conf_dir, $path)
                 '/');
 }
 
-function config_str2id($str)
-{
-  if(strpos($str, '@') === 0)
-    $str = substr($str, 1) . '.conf.js';
-  return config_crc28($str);
-}
-
-function config_crc28($what)
+function config_crc28(string $what) : int
 {
   return crc32($what) & 0xFFFFFFF;
 }
 
-function config_get_module_includes(\JSM_Module $cm)
+function config_get_module_includes(\JSM_Module $cm) : array
 {
   $includes = array();
   foreach($cm->getIncludes() as $include => $_)
@@ -940,7 +1088,7 @@ function config_get_module_includes(\JSM_Module $cm)
   return $includes;
 }
 
-function config_includes_map_find_text_origin(array $map, $file, $text)
+function config_includes_map_find_text_origin(array $map, string $file, string $text) : array
 {
   if(!isset($map[$file]))
     return array($file);
@@ -959,24 +1107,13 @@ function config_includes_map_find_text_origin(array $map, $file, $text)
   return $res;
 }
 
-function config_str_replace_in_files($subj, $repl, array $files)
-{
-  foreach($files as $file)
-  {
-    $contents = ensure_read($file);
-    $new_contents = str_replace($subj, $repl, $contents);
-    if($new_contents !== $contents)
-      ensure_write($file, $new_contents);
-  }
-}
-
-function config_str_ends_with($haystack, $needle)
+function config_str_ends_with(string $haystack, string $needle) : bool
 {
   // search forward starting from end minus needle length characters
   return $needle === "" || (($temp = strlen($haystack) - strlen($needle)) >= 0 && strpos($haystack, $needle, $temp) !== false);
 }
 
-function config_walk_fields($proto, $callback)
+function config_walk_fields($proto, callable $callback)
 {
   if(!method_exists($proto, 'CLASS_FIELDS_PROPS'))
     return;
@@ -1001,7 +1138,7 @@ function config_walk_fields($proto, $callback)
 
 if(function_exists('msgpack_pack'))
 {
-  function config_msgpack_pack($data)
+  function config_msgpack_pack(array $data) : string
   {
     $prev = ini_set('msgpack.use_str8_serialization', '0');
     $res =  msgpack_pack($data);
@@ -1010,14 +1147,14 @@ if(function_exists('msgpack_pack'))
     return $res;
   }
 
-  function config_msgpack_unpack($data)
+  function config_msgpack_unpack(string $data) : array
   {
     return msgpack_unpack($data);
   }
 }
 else
 {
-  function config_msgpack_pack($data)
+  function config_msgpack_pack(array $data) : string
   {
     include_once(__DIR__ . '/msgpack/msgpack_custom.inc.php');
 
@@ -1025,7 +1162,7 @@ else
     return $packer->pack($data);
   }
 
-  function config_msgpack_unpack($data)
+  function config_msgpack_unpack(string $data) : array
   {
     return \MessagePack\MessagePack::unpack($data);
   }