diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 3e424c01..c9d43d33 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ authors = ["Ziyang Hu"]
 
 [dependencies]
 uuid = { version = "0.8", features = ["v1", "v4", "serde"] }
+nanoid = { version = "0.4.0", features = [] }
 rand = "0.8.5"
 anyhow = "1.0"
 lazy_static = "1.4.0"
diff --git a/src/data/keyword.rs b/src/data/keyword.rs
index c23d9462..d4624a37 100644
--- a/src/data/keyword.rs
+++ b/src/data/keyword.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use std::fmt::{Debug, Display, Formatter};
 use std::str::Utf8Error;
 
+use nanoid::nanoid;
 use serde_derive::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use smartstring::{LazyCompact, SmartString};
 
@@ -51,15 +52,25 @@ impl TryFrom<&[u8]> for Keyword {
 }
 
 impl Keyword {
+    pub(crate) fn rand() -> Self {
+        let id = nanoid!();
+        Keyword::from(&id as &str)
+    }
     pub(crate) fn is_reserved(&self) -> bool {
         self.0.is_empty() || self.0.starts_with(['_', ':', '<', '.', '*', '?', '!'])
     }
-    pub(crate) fn is_user_binding(&self) -> bool {
+    pub(crate) fn is_query_binding(&self) -> bool {
         self.0.starts_with('?')
     }
-    pub(crate) fn is_anon_binding(&self) -> bool {
+    pub(crate) fn is_ignored_binding(&self) -> bool {
         self.0.starts_with('_')
     }
+    pub(crate) fn is_ignored_wildcard(&self) -> bool {
+        self.0 == "_"
+    }
+    pub(crate) fn is_binding(&self) -> bool {
+        self.is_query_binding() || self.is_ignored_binding()
+    }
     pub(crate) fn to_string_no_prefix(&self) -> String {
         format!("{}", self.0)
     }
diff --git a/src/data/tuple.rs b/src/data/tuple.rs
index f2002e6f..39c60603 100644
--- a/src/data/tuple.rs
+++ b/src/data/tuple.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 use std::cmp::{min, Ordering};
+use std::fmt::{Debug, Formatter};
 
 use anyhow::Result;
 use itertools::Itertools;
 use rmp_serde::Serializer;
 use serde::Serialize;
 
+use crate::data::json::JsonValue;
 use crate::data::value::DataValue;
 
 pub(crate) const SCRATCH_DB_KEY_PREFIX_LEN: usize = 4;
@@ -15,7 +17,21 @@ pub enum TupleError {
     BadData(String, Vec<u8>),
 }
 
-pub(crate) struct Tuple(pub(crate) Vec<DataValue>);
+pub struct Tuple(pub(crate) Vec<DataValue>);
+
+impl Debug for Tuple {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "[")?;
+        for (i, v) in self.0.iter().enumerate() {
+            if i > 0 {
+                write!(f, ", ")?;
+            }
+            let j = JsonValue::from(v.clone());
+            write!(f, "{}", j)?;
+        }
+        write!(f, "]")
+    }
+}
 
 pub(crate) type TupleIter<'a> = Box<dyn Iterator<Item = Result<Tuple>> + 'a>;
 
diff --git a/src/preprocess/query.rs b/src/preprocess/query.rs
index 1b26833d..744b7542 100644
--- a/src/preprocess/query.rs
+++ b/src/preprocess/query.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+use std::collections::BTreeSet;
+
 use anyhow::Result;
 use itertools::Itertools;
 
@@ -7,6 +9,9 @@ use crate::data::keyword::Keyword;
 use crate::data::value::DataValue;
 use crate::preprocess::triple::TxError;
 use crate::runtime::transact::SessionTx;
+use crate::transact::query::{
+    InlineFixedRelation, InnerJoin, Joiner, ProjectedRelation, Relation, TripleRelation,
+};
 use crate::{EntityId, Validity};
 
 #[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
@@ -17,11 +22,25 @@ pub enum QueryClauseError {
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub(crate) enum MaybeVariable<T> {
-    Ignore,
     Variable(Keyword),
     Const(T),
 }
 
+impl<T> MaybeVariable<T> {
+    pub(crate) fn get_var(&self) -> Option<&Keyword> {
+        match self {
+            Self::Variable(k) => Some(k),
+            Self::Const(_) => None,
+        }
+    }
+    pub(crate) fn get_const(&self) -> Option<&T> {
+        match self {
+            Self::Const(v) => Some(v),
+            Self::Variable(_) => None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct AttrTripleClause {
     pub(crate) attr: Attribute,
@@ -45,6 +64,224 @@ impl SessionTx {
             .map(|el| self.parse_clause(el, vld))
             .try_collect()
     }
+    pub fn compile_clauses(&mut self, clauses: Vec<Clause>, vld: Validity) -> Result<Relation> {
+        let mut ret = Relation::unit();
+        let mut seen_variables = BTreeSet::new();
+        for clause in clauses {
+            match clause {
+                Clause::AttrTriple(a_triple) => match (a_triple.entity, a_triple.value) {
+                    (MaybeVariable::Const(eid), MaybeVariable::Variable(v_kw)) => {
+                        let mut to_eliminate = BTreeSet::new();
+
+                        let temp_join_key_left = Keyword::rand();
+                        let temp_join_key_right = Keyword::rand();
+                        to_eliminate.insert(temp_join_key_left.clone());
+                        to_eliminate.insert(temp_join_key_right.clone());
+                        let const_rel = Relation::Fixed(InlineFixedRelation {
+                            bindings: vec![temp_join_key_left.clone()],
+                            data: vec![vec![DataValue::EnId(eid)]],
+                        });
+                        ret = Relation::Join(Box::new(InnerJoin {
+                            left: ret,
+                            right: const_rel,
+                            joiner: Joiner {
+                                left_keys: vec![],
+                                right_keys: vec![],
+                            },
+                        }));
+
+                        let mut join_left_keys = vec![temp_join_key_left];
+                        let mut join_right_keys = vec![temp_join_key_right.clone()];
+
+                        let v_kw = {
+                            if seen_variables.contains(&v_kw) {
+                                let ret = Keyword::rand();
+                                to_eliminate.insert(ret.clone());
+                                join_left_keys.push(v_kw);
+                                join_right_keys.push(ret.clone());
+                                ret
+                            } else {
+                                seen_variables.insert(v_kw.clone());
+                                v_kw
+                            }
+                        };
+                        let right = Relation::Triple(TripleRelation {
+                            attr: a_triple.attr,
+                            vld,
+                            bindings: [temp_join_key_right, v_kw],
+                        });
+                        ret = Relation::Join(Box::new(InnerJoin {
+                            left: ret,
+                            right,
+                            joiner: Joiner {
+                                left_keys: join_left_keys,
+                                right_keys: join_right_keys,
+                            },
+                        }));
+                        ret = Relation::Project(Box::new(ProjectedRelation {
+                            relation: ret,
+                            eliminate: to_eliminate,
+                        }))
+                    }
+                    (MaybeVariable::Variable(e_kw), MaybeVariable::Const(val)) => {
+                        let mut to_eliminate = BTreeSet::new();
+
+                        let temp_join_key_left = Keyword::rand();
+                        let temp_join_key_right = Keyword::rand();
+                        to_eliminate.insert(temp_join_key_left.clone());
+                        to_eliminate.insert(temp_join_key_right.clone());
+                        let const_rel = Relation::Fixed(InlineFixedRelation {
+                            bindings: vec![temp_join_key_left.clone()],
+                            data: vec![vec![val]],
+                        });
+                        ret = Relation::Join(Box::new(InnerJoin {
+                            left: ret,
+                            right: const_rel,
+                            joiner: Joiner {
+                                left_keys: vec![],
+                                right_keys: vec![],
+                            },
+                        }));
+
+                        let mut join_left_keys = vec![temp_join_key_left];
+                        let mut join_right_keys = vec![temp_join_key_right.clone()];
+
+                        let e_kw = {
+                            if seen_variables.contains(&e_kw) {
+                                let ret = Keyword::rand();
+                                to_eliminate.insert(ret.clone());
+                                join_left_keys.push(e_kw);
+                                join_right_keys.push(ret.clone());
+                                ret
+                            } else {
+                                seen_variables.insert(e_kw.clone());
+                                e_kw
+                            }
+                        };
+                        let right = Relation::Triple(TripleRelation {
+                            attr: a_triple.attr,
+                            vld,
+                            bindings: [e_kw, temp_join_key_right],
+                        });
+                        ret = Relation::Join(Box::new(InnerJoin {
+                            left: ret,
+                            right,
+                            joiner: Joiner {
+                                left_keys: join_left_keys,
+                                right_keys: join_right_keys,
+                            },
+                        }));
+                        ret = Relation::Project(Box::new(ProjectedRelation {
+                            relation: ret,
+                            eliminate: to_eliminate,
+                        }))
+                    }
+                    (MaybeVariable::Variable(e_kw), MaybeVariable::Variable(v_kw)) => {
+                        let mut to_eliminate = BTreeSet::new();
+                        let mut join_left_keys = vec![];
+                        let mut join_right_keys = vec![];
+                        if e_kw == v_kw {
+                            unimplemented!();
+                        }
+                        let e_kw = {
+                            if seen_variables.contains(&e_kw) {
+                                let ret = Keyword::rand();
+                                to_eliminate.insert(ret.clone());
+                                join_left_keys.push(e_kw);
+                                join_right_keys.push(ret.clone());
+                                ret
+                            } else {
+                                seen_variables.insert(e_kw.clone());
+                                e_kw
+                            }
+                        };
+                        let v_kw = {
+                            if seen_variables.contains(&v_kw) {
+                                let ret = Keyword::rand();
+                                to_eliminate.insert(ret.clone());
+                                join_left_keys.push(v_kw);
+                                join_right_keys.push(ret.clone());
+                                ret
+                            } else {
+                                seen_variables.insert(v_kw.clone());
+                                v_kw
+                            }
+                        };
+                        let right = Relation::Triple(TripleRelation {
+                            attr: a_triple.attr,
+                            vld,
+                            bindings: [e_kw, v_kw],
+                        });
+                        ret = Relation::Join(Box::new(InnerJoin {
+                            left: ret,
+                            right,
+                            joiner: Joiner {
+                                left_keys: join_left_keys,
+                                right_keys: join_right_keys,
+                            },
+                        }));
+                        if !to_eliminate.is_empty() {
+                            ret = Relation::Project(Box::new(ProjectedRelation {
+                                relation: ret,
+                                eliminate: to_eliminate,
+                            }))
+                        }
+                    }
+                    (MaybeVariable::Const(eid), MaybeVariable::Const(val)) => {
+                        let (left_var_1, left_var_2) = (Keyword::rand(), Keyword::rand());
+                        let const_rel = Relation::Fixed(InlineFixedRelation {
+                            bindings: vec![left_var_1.clone(), left_var_2.clone()],
+                            data: vec![vec![DataValue::EnId(eid), val]],
+                        });
+                        ret = Relation::Join(Box::new(InnerJoin {
+                            left: ret,
+                            right: const_rel,
+                            joiner: Joiner {
+                                left_keys: vec![],
+                                right_keys: vec![],
+                            },
+                        }));
+                        let (right_var_1, right_var_2) = (Keyword::rand(), Keyword::rand());
+
+                        let right = Relation::Triple(TripleRelation {
+                            attr: a_triple.attr,
+                            vld,
+                            bindings: [right_var_1.clone(), right_var_2.clone()],
+                        });
+                        ret = Relation::Join(Box::new(InnerJoin {
+                            left: ret,
+                            right,
+                            joiner: Joiner {
+                                left_keys: vec![left_var_1.clone(), left_var_2.clone()],
+                                right_keys: vec![right_var_1.clone(), right_var_2.clone()],
+                            },
+                        }));
+                        ret = Relation::Project(Box::new(ProjectedRelation {
+                            relation: ret,
+                            eliminate: BTreeSet::from([
+                                left_var_1,
+                                left_var_2,
+                                right_var_1,
+                                right_var_2,
+                            ]),
+                        }))
+                    }
+                },
+            }
+        }
+        let eliminate: BTreeSet<Keyword> = seen_variables
+            .into_iter()
+            .filter(|kw| !kw.is_query_binding())
+            .collect();
+        if !eliminate.is_empty() {
+            ret = Relation::Project(Box::new(ProjectedRelation {
+                relation: ret,
+                eliminate,
+            }))
+        }
+
+        Ok(ret)
+    }
     fn parse_clause(&mut self, payload: &JsonValue, vld: Validity) -> Result<Clause> {
         match payload {
             JsonValue::Array(arr) => match arr as &[JsonValue] {
@@ -79,10 +316,8 @@ impl SessionTx {
         vld: Validity,
     ) -> Result<MaybeVariable<DataValue>> {
         if let Some(s) = value_rep.as_str() {
-            if s.starts_with('?') {
+            if s.starts_with(['?', '_']) {
                 return Ok(MaybeVariable::Variable(Keyword::from(s)));
-            } else if s.starts_with('_') {
-                return Ok(MaybeVariable::Ignore);
             }
         }
         if let Some(o) = value_rep.as_object() {
@@ -99,10 +334,8 @@ impl SessionTx {
         entity_rep: &JsonValue,
     ) -> Result<MaybeVariable<EntityId>> {
         if let Some(s) = entity_rep.as_str() {
-            if s.starts_with('?') {
+            if s.starts_with(['?', '_']) {
                 return Ok(MaybeVariable::Variable(Keyword::from(s)));
-            } else if s.starts_with('_') {
-                return Ok(MaybeVariable::Ignore);
             }
         }
         if let Some(u) = entity_rep.as_u64() {
diff --git a/src/transact/query.rs b/src/transact/query.rs
index 0266c8f8..a98253a3 100644
--- a/src/transact/query.rs
+++ b/src/transact/query.rs
@@ -12,18 +12,34 @@ use crate::transact::pull::PullSpec;
 use crate::transact::throwaway::ThrowawayArea;
 use crate::Validity;
 
-pub(crate) struct QuerySpec {
-    find: Vec<(Keyword, PullSpec)>,
-    rules: (),
-    input: (),
-    order: (),
-    limit: Option<usize>,
-    offset: Option<usize>,
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum Relation {
+    Fixed(InlineFixedRelation),
+    Triple(TripleRelation),
+    Derived(StoredDerivedRelation),
+    Join(Box<InnerJoin>),
+    Project(Box<ProjectedRelation>),
 }
 
-pub(crate) struct InlineFixedRelation {
-    bindings: Vec<Keyword>,
-    data: Vec<Vec<DataValue>>,
+impl Relation {
+    pub(crate) fn unit() -> Self {
+        Self::Fixed(InlineFixedRelation::unit())
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct InlineFixedRelation {
+    pub(crate) bindings: Vec<Keyword>,
+    pub(crate) data: Vec<Vec<DataValue>>,
+}
+
+impl InlineFixedRelation {
+    pub(crate) fn unit() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            bindings: vec![],
+            data: vec![vec![]],
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 impl InlineFixedRelation {
@@ -84,10 +100,11 @@ impl InlineFixedRelation {
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) struct TripleRelation {
-    attr: Attribute,
-    vld: Validity,
-    bindings: [Keyword; 2],
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct TripleRelation {
+    pub(crate) attr: Attribute,
+    pub(crate) vld: Validity,
+    pub(crate) bindings: [Keyword; 2],
 }
 
 fn flatten_err<T, E1: Into<anyhow::Error>, E2: Into<anyhow::Error>>(
@@ -309,9 +326,10 @@ impl TripleRelation {
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) struct ProjectedRelation {
-    relation: Relation,
-    eliminate: BTreeSet<Keyword>,
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct ProjectedRelation {
+    pub(crate) relation: Relation,
+    pub(crate) eliminate: BTreeSet<Keyword>,
 }
 
 impl ProjectedRelation {
@@ -329,9 +347,9 @@ impl ProjectedRelation {
             .enumerate()
             .filter_map(|(idx, kw)| {
                 if self.eliminate.contains(kw) {
-                    None
-                } else {
                     Some(idx)
+                } else {
+                    None
                 }
             })
             .collect::<BTreeSet<_>>();
@@ -354,15 +372,8 @@ impl ProjectedRelation {
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) enum Relation {
-    Fixed(InlineFixedRelation),
-    Triple(TripleRelation),
-    Derived(StoredDerivedRelation),
-    Join(Box<InnerJoin>),
-    Project(Box<ProjectedRelation>),
-}
-
-pub(crate) struct StoredDerivedRelation {
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct StoredDerivedRelation {
     arity: usize,
     bindings: Vec<Keyword>,
     storage: ThrowawayArea,
@@ -410,10 +421,11 @@ impl StoredDerivedRelation {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug)]
 pub(crate) struct Joiner {
     // invariant: these are of the same lengths
-    left_keys: Vec<Keyword>,
-    right_keys: Vec<Keyword>,
+    pub(crate) left_keys: Vec<Keyword>,
+    pub(crate) right_keys: Vec<Keyword>,
 }
 
 impl Joiner {
@@ -457,14 +469,15 @@ impl Joiner {
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) struct InnerJoin {
-    left: Relation,
-    right: Relation,
-    joiner: Joiner,
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct InnerJoin {
+    pub(crate) left: Relation,
+    pub(crate) right: Relation,
+    pub(crate) joiner: Joiner,
 }
 
 impl Relation {
-    pub(crate) fn bindings(&self) -> Vec<Keyword> {
+    pub fn bindings(&self) -> Vec<Keyword> {
         match self {
             Relation::Fixed(f) => f.bindings.clone(),
             Relation::Triple(t) => t.bindings.to_vec(),
@@ -473,7 +486,7 @@ impl Relation {
             Relation::Project(p) => p.bindings(),
         }
     }
-    pub(crate) fn iter<'a>(&'a self, tx: &'a SessionTx) -> TupleIter<'a> {
+    pub fn iter<'a>(&'a self, tx: &'a SessionTx) -> TupleIter<'a> {
         match self {
             Relation::Fixed(f) => Box::new(f.data.iter().map(|t| Ok(Tuple(t.clone())))),
             Relation::Triple(r) => Box::new(
diff --git a/src/transact/throwaway.rs b/src/transact/throwaway.rs
index 40d78413..8d9f048f 100644
--- a/src/transact/throwaway.rs
+++ b/src/transact/throwaway.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use std::fmt::{Debug, Formatter};
 use cozorocks::{DbIter, PinSlice, RawRocksDb, RocksDbStatus};
 
 use crate::data::tuple::{EncodedTuple, Tuple};
@@ -8,6 +9,12 @@ pub(crate) struct ThrowawayArea {
     pub(crate) prefix: u32,
 }
 
+impl Debug for ThrowawayArea {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "Throwaway<{}>", self.prefix)
+    }
+}
+
 impl ThrowawayArea {
     pub(crate) fn put(&mut self, tuple: &Tuple, value: &[u8]) -> Result<(), RocksDbStatus> {
         let key_encoded = tuple.encode_as_key(self.prefix);
diff --git a/tests/creation.rs b/tests/creation.rs
index 64520a50..d4994c08 100644
--- a/tests/creation.rs
+++ b/tests/creation.rs
@@ -107,6 +107,21 @@ fn creation() {
 
     println!("{}", to_string_pretty(&pulled).unwrap());
 
+    let query = json!([
+        ["_id", "person/first_name", "Eve"],
+        ["_id", "person/friend", "?friend"],
+        ["?friend", "person/first_name", "?friend_name"]
+    ]);
+    let mut tx = db.transact().unwrap();
+    let vld = Validity::current();
+    let query = tx.parse_clauses(&query, vld).unwrap();
+    dbg!(&query);
+    let compiled = tx.compile_clauses(query, vld).unwrap();
+    dbg!(&compiled);
+    for x in compiled.iter(&tx) {
+        dbg!(x.unwrap());
+    }
+
     // iteration
     // let mut it = db.total_iter();
     // while let Some((k_slice, v_slice)) = it.pair().unwrap() {