diff --git a/include/json/value.h b/include/json/value.h
index efc34ac..0c507a3 100644
--- a/include/json/value.h
+++ b/include/json/value.h
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ public:
   typedef Json::LargestUInt LargestUInt;
   typedef Json::ArrayIndex ArrayIndex;
 
-  static const Value& null;
+  static const Value& null;  ///! We regret this reference to a global instance; prefer the simpler Value().
+  static const Value& nullRef;  ///! just a kludge for binary-compatibility; same as null
   /// Minimum signed integer value that can be stored in a Json::Value.
   static const LargestInt minLargestInt;
   /// Maximum signed integer value that can be stored in a Json::Value.
diff --git a/include/json/writer.h b/include/json/writer.h
index 2b081a7..9f51d07 100644
--- a/include/json/writer.h
+++ b/include/json/writer.h
@@ -90,8 +90,15 @@ public:
   // without a major version bump.
   /** Configuration of this builder.
     Available settings (case-sensitive):
-    - "commentStyle": "None", "Some", or "All"
+    - "commentStyle": "None" or "All"
     - "indentation":  "<anything>"
+    - "enableYAMLCompatibility": False or True
+      - slightly change the whitespace around colons
+    - "dropNullPlaceholders": False or True
+      - Drop the "null" string from the writer's output for nullValues.
+        Strictly speaking, this is not valid JSON. But when the output is being
+        fed to a browser's Javascript, it makes for smaller output and the
+        browser can handle the output just fine.
 
     You can examine 'settings_` yourself
     to see the defaults. You can also write and read them just like any
@@ -120,54 +127,6 @@ public:
   static void setDefaults(Json::Value* settings);
 };
 
-/** \brief Build a StreamWriter implementation.
- * Comments are not written, and most whitespace is omitted.
- * In addition, there are some special settings to allow compatibility
- * with the old FastWriter.
- * Usage:
- * \code
- *   OldCompressingStreamWriterBuilder b;
- *   b.dropNullPlaceHolders_ = true; // etc.
- *   StreamWriter* w = b.newStreamWriter();
- *   w->write(value, &std::cout);
- *   delete w;
- * \endcode
- *
- * \deprecated Use StreamWriterBuilder
- */
-class JSON_API OldCompressingStreamWriterBuilder : public StreamWriter::Factory
-{
-public:
-  // Note: We cannot add data-members to this class without a major version bump.
-  // So these might as well be completely exposed.
-
-  /** \brief Drop the "null" string from the writer's output for nullValues.
-  * Strictly speaking, this is not valid JSON. But when the output is being
-  * fed to a browser's Javascript, it makes for smaller output and the
-  * browser can handle the output just fine.
-  */
-  bool dropNullPlaceholders_;
-  /** \brief Do not add \n at end of document.
-    * Normally, we add an extra newline, just because.
-    */
-  bool omitEndingLineFeed_;
-  /** \brief Add a space after ':'.
-    * If indentation is non-empty, we surround colon with whitespace,
-    * e.g. " : "
-    * This will add back the trailing space when there is no indentation.
-    * This seems dubious when the entire document is on a single line,
-    * but we leave this here to repduce the behavior of the old `FastWriter`.
-    */
-  bool enableYAMLCompatibility_;
-
-  OldCompressingStreamWriterBuilder()
-    : dropNullPlaceholders_(false)
-    , omitEndingLineFeed_(false)
-    , enableYAMLCompatibility_(false)
-  {}
-  virtual StreamWriter* newStreamWriter() const;
-};
-
 /** \brief Abstract class for writers.
  * \deprecated Use StreamWriter.
  */
@@ -185,7 +144,7 @@ public:
  *consumption,
  * but may be usefull to support feature such as RPC where bandwith is limited.
  * \sa Reader, Value
- * \deprecated Use OldCompressingStreamWriterBuilder.
+ * \deprecated Use StreamWriterBuilder.
  */
 class JSON_API FastWriter : public Writer {
 public:
diff --git a/src/lib_json/json_reader.cpp b/src/lib_json/json_reader.cpp
index 703a5c2..51d0feb 100644
--- a/src/lib_json/json_reader.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_json/json_reader.cpp
@@ -892,13 +892,936 @@ bool Reader::good() const {
   return !errors_.size();
 }
 
-class OldReader : public CharReader {
-  bool const collectComments_;
-  Reader reader_;
+// exact copy of Features
+class OldFeatures {
 public:
-  OldReader(
+  static OldFeatures all();
+  static OldFeatures strictMode();
+  OldFeatures();
+  bool allowComments_;
+  bool strictRoot_;
+  bool allowDroppedNullPlaceholders_;
+  bool allowNumericKeys_;
+};  // OldFeatures
+
+// exact copy of Implementation of class Features
+// ////////////////////////////////
+
+OldFeatures::OldFeatures()
+    : allowComments_(true), strictRoot_(false),
+      allowDroppedNullPlaceholders_(false), allowNumericKeys_(false) {}
+
+OldFeatures OldFeatures::all() { return OldFeatures(); }
+
+OldFeatures OldFeatures::strictMode() {
+  OldFeatures features;
+  features.allowComments_ = false;
+  features.strictRoot_ = true;
+  features.allowDroppedNullPlaceholders_ = false;
+  features.allowNumericKeys_ = false;
+  return features;
+}
+
+// Implementation of class Reader
+// ////////////////////////////////
+
+// exact copy of Reader, renamed to OldReader
+class OldReader {
+public:
+  typedef char Char;
+  typedef const Char* Location;
+  struct StructuredError {
+    size_t offset_start;
+    size_t offset_limit;
+    std::string message;
+  };
+
+  OldReader(OldFeatures const& features);
+  bool parse(const char* beginDoc,
+             const char* endDoc,
+             Value& root,
+             bool collectComments = true);
+  std::string getFormattedErrorMessages() const;
+  std::vector<StructuredError> getStructuredErrors() const;
+  bool pushError(const Value& value, const std::string& message);
+  bool pushError(const Value& value, const std::string& message, const Value& extra);
+  bool good() const;
+
+private:
+  OldReader(OldReader const&);  // no impl
+  void operator=(OldReader const&);  // no impl
+
+  enum TokenType {
+    tokenEndOfStream = 0,
+    tokenObjectBegin,
+    tokenObjectEnd,
+    tokenArrayBegin,
+    tokenArrayEnd,
+    tokenString,
+    tokenNumber,
+    tokenTrue,
+    tokenFalse,
+    tokenNull,
+    tokenArraySeparator,
+    tokenMemberSeparator,
+    tokenComment,
+    tokenError
+  };
+
+  class Token {
+  public:
+    TokenType type_;
+    Location start_;
+    Location end_;
+  };
+
+  class ErrorInfo {
+  public:
+    Token token_;
+    std::string message_;
+    Location extra_;
+  };
+
+  typedef std::deque<ErrorInfo> Errors;
+
+  bool readToken(Token& token);
+  void skipSpaces();
+  bool match(Location pattern, int patternLength);
+  bool readComment();
+  bool readCStyleComment();
+  bool readCppStyleComment();
+  bool readString();
+  void readNumber();
+  bool readValue();
+  bool readObject(Token& token);
+  bool readArray(Token& token);
+  bool decodeNumber(Token& token);
+  bool decodeNumber(Token& token, Value& decoded);
+  bool decodeString(Token& token);
+  bool decodeString(Token& token, std::string& decoded);
+  bool decodeDouble(Token& token);
+  bool decodeDouble(Token& token, Value& decoded);
+  bool decodeUnicodeCodePoint(Token& token,
+                              Location& current,
+                              Location end,
+                              unsigned int& unicode);
+  bool decodeUnicodeEscapeSequence(Token& token,
+                                   Location& current,
+                                   Location end,
+                                   unsigned int& unicode);
+  bool addError(const std::string& message, Token& token, Location extra = 0);
+  bool recoverFromError(TokenType skipUntilToken);
+  bool addErrorAndRecover(const std::string& message,
+                          Token& token,
+                          TokenType skipUntilToken);
+  void skipUntilSpace();
+  Value& currentValue();
+  Char getNextChar();
+  void
+  getLocationLineAndColumn(Location location, int& line, int& column) const;
+  std::string getLocationLineAndColumn(Location location) const;
+  void addComment(Location begin, Location end, CommentPlacement placement);
+  void skipCommentTokens(Token& token);
+
+  typedef std::stack<Value*> Nodes;
+  Nodes nodes_;
+  Errors errors_;
+  std::string document_;
+  Location begin_;
+  Location end_;
+  Location current_;
+  Location lastValueEnd_;
+  Value* lastValue_;
+  std::string commentsBefore_;
+  OldFeatures features_;
+  bool collectComments_;
+};  // OldReader
+
+// complete copy of Read impl, for OldReader
+
+OldReader::OldReader(OldFeatures const& features)
+    : errors_(), document_(), begin_(), end_(), current_(), lastValueEnd_(),
+      lastValue_(), commentsBefore_(), features_(features), collectComments_() {
+}
+
+bool OldReader::parse(const char* beginDoc,
+                   const char* endDoc,
+                   Value& root,
+                   bool collectComments) {
+  if (!features_.allowComments_) {
+    collectComments = false;
+  }
+
+  begin_ = beginDoc;
+  end_ = endDoc;
+  collectComments_ = collectComments;
+  current_ = begin_;
+  lastValueEnd_ = 0;
+  lastValue_ = 0;
+  commentsBefore_ = "";
+  errors_.clear();
+  while (!nodes_.empty())
+    nodes_.pop();
+  nodes_.push(&root);
+
+  bool successful = readValue();
+  Token token;
+  skipCommentTokens(token);
+  if (collectComments_ && !commentsBefore_.empty())
+    root.setComment(commentsBefore_, commentAfter);
+  if (features_.strictRoot_) {
+    if (!root.isArray() && !root.isObject()) {
+      // Set error location to start of doc, ideally should be first token found
+      // in doc
+      token.type_ = tokenError;
+      token.start_ = beginDoc;
+      token.end_ = endDoc;
+      addError(
+          "A valid JSON document must be either an array or an object value.",
+          token);
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+  return successful;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::readValue() {
+  Token token;
+  skipCommentTokens(token);
+  bool successful = true;
+
+  if (collectComments_ && !commentsBefore_.empty()) {
+    currentValue().setComment(commentsBefore_, commentBefore);
+    commentsBefore_ = "";
+  }
+
+  switch (token.type_) {
+  case tokenObjectBegin:
+    successful = readObject(token);
+    currentValue().setOffsetLimit(current_ - begin_);
+    break;
+  case tokenArrayBegin:
+    successful = readArray(token);
+    currentValue().setOffsetLimit(current_ - begin_);
+    break;
+  case tokenNumber:
+    successful = decodeNumber(token);
+    break;
+  case tokenString:
+    successful = decodeString(token);
+    break;
+  case tokenTrue:
+    {
+    Value v(true);
+    currentValue().swapPayload(v);
+    currentValue().setOffsetStart(token.start_ - begin_);
+    currentValue().setOffsetLimit(token.end_ - begin_);
+    }
+    break;
+  case tokenFalse:
+    {
+    Value v(false);
+    currentValue().swapPayload(v);
+    currentValue().setOffsetStart(token.start_ - begin_);
+    currentValue().setOffsetLimit(token.end_ - begin_);
+    }
+    break;
+  case tokenNull:
+    {
+    Value v;
+    currentValue().swapPayload(v);
+    currentValue().setOffsetStart(token.start_ - begin_);
+    currentValue().setOffsetLimit(token.end_ - begin_);
+    }
+    break;
+  case tokenArraySeparator:
+    if (features_.allowDroppedNullPlaceholders_) {
+      // "Un-read" the current token and mark the current value as a null
+      // token.
+      current_--;
+      Value v;
+      currentValue().swapPayload(v);
+      currentValue().setOffsetStart(current_ - begin_ - 1);
+      currentValue().setOffsetLimit(current_ - begin_);
+      break;
+    }
+  // Else, fall through...
+  default:
+    currentValue().setOffsetStart(token.start_ - begin_);
+    currentValue().setOffsetLimit(token.end_ - begin_);
+    return addError("Syntax error: value, object or array expected.", token);
+  }
+
+  if (collectComments_) {
+    lastValueEnd_ = current_;
+    lastValue_ = &currentValue();
+  }
+
+  return successful;
+}
+
+void OldReader::skipCommentTokens(Token& token) {
+  if (features_.allowComments_) {
+    do {
+      readToken(token);
+    } while (token.type_ == tokenComment);
+  } else {
+    readToken(token);
+  }
+}
+
+bool OldReader::readToken(Token& token) {
+  skipSpaces();
+  token.start_ = current_;
+  Char c = getNextChar();
+  bool ok = true;
+  switch (c) {
+  case '{':
+    token.type_ = tokenObjectBegin;
+    break;
+  case '}':
+    token.type_ = tokenObjectEnd;
+    break;
+  case '[':
+    token.type_ = tokenArrayBegin;
+    break;
+  case ']':
+    token.type_ = tokenArrayEnd;
+    break;
+  case '"':
+    token.type_ = tokenString;
+    ok = readString();
+    break;
+  case '/':
+    token.type_ = tokenComment;
+    ok = readComment();
+    break;
+  case '0':
+  case '1':
+  case '2':
+  case '3':
+  case '4':
+  case '5':
+  case '6':
+  case '7':
+  case '8':
+  case '9':
+  case '-':
+    token.type_ = tokenNumber;
+    readNumber();
+    break;
+  case 't':
+    token.type_ = tokenTrue;
+    ok = match("rue", 3);
+    break;
+  case 'f':
+    token.type_ = tokenFalse;
+    ok = match("alse", 4);
+    break;
+  case 'n':
+    token.type_ = tokenNull;
+    ok = match("ull", 3);
+    break;
+  case ',':
+    token.type_ = tokenArraySeparator;
+    break;
+  case ':':
+    token.type_ = tokenMemberSeparator;
+    break;
+  case 0:
+    token.type_ = tokenEndOfStream;
+    break;
+  default:
+    ok = false;
+    break;
+  }
+  if (!ok)
+    token.type_ = tokenError;
+  token.end_ = current_;
+  return true;
+}
+
+void OldReader::skipSpaces() {
+  while (current_ != end_) {
+    Char c = *current_;
+    if (c == ' ' || c == '\t' || c == '\r' || c == '\n')
+      ++current_;
+    else
+      break;
+  }
+}
+
+bool OldReader::match(Location pattern, int patternLength) {
+  if (end_ - current_ < patternLength)
+    return false;
+  int index = patternLength;
+  while (index--)
+    if (current_[index] != pattern[index])
+      return false;
+  current_ += patternLength;
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::readComment() {
+  Location commentBegin = current_ - 1;
+  Char c = getNextChar();
+  bool successful = false;
+  if (c == '*')
+    successful = readCStyleComment();
+  else if (c == '/')
+    successful = readCppStyleComment();
+  if (!successful)
+    return false;
+
+  if (collectComments_) {
+    CommentPlacement placement = commentBefore;
+    if (lastValueEnd_ && !containsNewLine(lastValueEnd_, commentBegin)) {
+      if (c != '*' || !containsNewLine(commentBegin, current_))
+        placement = commentAfterOnSameLine;
+    }
+
+    addComment(commentBegin, current_, placement);
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+void
+OldReader::addComment(Location begin, Location end, CommentPlacement placement) {
+  assert(collectComments_);
+  const std::string& normalized = normalizeEOL(begin, end);
+  if (placement == commentAfterOnSameLine) {
+    assert(lastValue_ != 0);
+    lastValue_->setComment(normalized, placement);
+  } else {
+    commentsBefore_ += normalized;
+  }
+}
+
+bool OldReader::readCStyleComment() {
+  while (current_ != end_) {
+    Char c = getNextChar();
+    if (c == '*' && *current_ == '/')
+      break;
+  }
+  return getNextChar() == '/';
+}
+
+bool OldReader::readCppStyleComment() {
+  while (current_ != end_) {
+    Char c = getNextChar();
+    if (c == '\n')
+      break;
+    if (c == '\r') {
+      // Consume DOS EOL. It will be normalized in addComment.
+      if (current_ != end_ && *current_ == '\n')
+        getNextChar();
+      // Break on Moc OS 9 EOL.
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+void OldReader::readNumber() {
+  const char *p = current_;
+  char c = '0'; // stopgap for already consumed character
+  // integral part
+  while (c >= '0' && c <= '9')
+    c = (current_ = p) < end_ ? *p++ : 0;
+  // fractional part
+  if (c == '.') {
+    c = (current_ = p) < end_ ? *p++ : 0;
+    while (c >= '0' && c <= '9')
+      c = (current_ = p) < end_ ? *p++ : 0;
+  }
+  // exponential part
+  if (c == 'e' || c == 'E') {
+    c = (current_ = p) < end_ ? *p++ : 0;
+    if (c == '+' || c == '-')
+      c = (current_ = p) < end_ ? *p++ : 0;
+    while (c >= '0' && c <= '9')
+      c = (current_ = p) < end_ ? *p++ : 0;
+  }
+}
+
+bool OldReader::readString() {
+  Char c = 0;
+  while (current_ != end_) {
+    c = getNextChar();
+    if (c == '\\')
+      getNextChar();
+    else if (c == '"')
+      break;
+  }
+  return c == '"';
+}
+
+bool OldReader::readObject(Token& tokenStart) {
+  Token tokenName;
+  std::string name;
+  Value init(objectValue);
+  currentValue().swapPayload(init);
+  currentValue().setOffsetStart(tokenStart.start_ - begin_);
+  while (readToken(tokenName)) {
+    bool initialTokenOk = true;
+    while (tokenName.type_ == tokenComment && initialTokenOk)
+      initialTokenOk = readToken(tokenName);
+    if (!initialTokenOk)
+      break;
+    if (tokenName.type_ == tokenObjectEnd && name.empty()) // empty object
+      return true;
+    name = "";
+    if (tokenName.type_ == tokenString) {
+      if (!decodeString(tokenName, name))
+        return recoverFromError(tokenObjectEnd);
+    } else if (tokenName.type_ == tokenNumber && features_.allowNumericKeys_) {
+      Value numberName;
+      if (!decodeNumber(tokenName, numberName))
+        return recoverFromError(tokenObjectEnd);
+      name = numberName.asString();
+    } else {
+      break;
+    }
+
+    Token colon;
+    if (!readToken(colon) || colon.type_ != tokenMemberSeparator) {
+      return addErrorAndRecover(
+          "Missing ':' after object member name", colon, tokenObjectEnd);
+    }
+    Value& value = currentValue()[name];
+    nodes_.push(&value);
+    bool ok = readValue();
+    nodes_.pop();
+    if (!ok) // error already set
+      return recoverFromError(tokenObjectEnd);
+
+    Token comma;
+    if (!readToken(comma) ||
+        (comma.type_ != tokenObjectEnd && comma.type_ != tokenArraySeparator &&
+         comma.type_ != tokenComment)) {
+      return addErrorAndRecover(
+          "Missing ',' or '}' in object declaration", comma, tokenObjectEnd);
+    }
+    bool finalizeTokenOk = true;
+    while (comma.type_ == tokenComment && finalizeTokenOk)
+      finalizeTokenOk = readToken(comma);
+    if (comma.type_ == tokenObjectEnd)
+      return true;
+  }
+  return addErrorAndRecover(
+      "Missing '}' or object member name", tokenName, tokenObjectEnd);
+}
+
+bool OldReader::readArray(Token& tokenStart) {
+  Value init(arrayValue);
+  currentValue().swapPayload(init);
+  currentValue().setOffsetStart(tokenStart.start_ - begin_);
+  skipSpaces();
+  if (*current_ == ']') // empty array
+  {
+    Token endArray;
+    readToken(endArray);
+    return true;
+  }
+  int index = 0;
+  for (;;) {
+    Value& value = currentValue()[index++];
+    nodes_.push(&value);
+    bool ok = readValue();
+    nodes_.pop();
+    if (!ok) // error already set
+      return recoverFromError(tokenArrayEnd);
+
+    Token token;
+    // Accept Comment after last item in the array.
+    ok = readToken(token);
+    while (token.type_ == tokenComment && ok) {
+      ok = readToken(token);
+    }
+    bool badTokenType =
+        (token.type_ != tokenArraySeparator && token.type_ != tokenArrayEnd);
+    if (!ok || badTokenType) {
+      return addErrorAndRecover(
+          "Missing ',' or ']' in array declaration", token, tokenArrayEnd);
+    }
+    if (token.type_ == tokenArrayEnd)
+      break;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::decodeNumber(Token& token) {
+  Value decoded;
+  if (!decodeNumber(token, decoded))
+    return false;
+  currentValue().swapPayload(decoded);
+  currentValue().setOffsetStart(token.start_ - begin_);
+  currentValue().setOffsetLimit(token.end_ - begin_);
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::decodeNumber(Token& token, Value& decoded) {
+  // Attempts to parse the number as an integer. If the number is
+  // larger than the maximum supported value of an integer then
+  // we decode the number as a double.
+  Location current = token.start_;
+  bool isNegative = *current == '-';
+  if (isNegative)
+    ++current;
+  // TODO: Help the compiler do the div and mod at compile time or get rid of them.
+  Value::LargestUInt maxIntegerValue =
+      isNegative ? Value::LargestUInt(-Value::minLargestInt)
+                 : Value::maxLargestUInt;
+  Value::LargestUInt threshold = maxIntegerValue / 10;
+  Value::LargestUInt value = 0;
+  while (current < token.end_) {
+    Char c = *current++;
+    if (c < '0' || c > '9')
+      return decodeDouble(token, decoded);
+    Value::UInt digit(c - '0');
+    if (value >= threshold) {
+      // We've hit or exceeded the max value divided by 10 (rounded down). If
+      // a) we've only just touched the limit, b) this is the last digit, and
+      // c) it's small enough to fit in that rounding delta, we're okay.
+      // Otherwise treat this number as a double to avoid overflow.
+      if (value > threshold || current != token.end_ ||
+          digit > maxIntegerValue % 10) {
+        return decodeDouble(token, decoded);
+      }
+    }
+    value = value * 10 + digit;
+  }
+  if (isNegative)
+    decoded = -Value::LargestInt(value);
+  else if (value <= Value::LargestUInt(Value::maxInt))
+    decoded = Value::LargestInt(value);
+  else
+    decoded = value;
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::decodeDouble(Token& token) {
+  Value decoded;
+  if (!decodeDouble(token, decoded))
+    return false;
+  currentValue().swapPayload(decoded);
+  currentValue().setOffsetStart(token.start_ - begin_);
+  currentValue().setOffsetLimit(token.end_ - begin_);
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::decodeDouble(Token& token, Value& decoded) {
+  double value = 0;
+  const int bufferSize = 32;
+  int count;
+  int length = int(token.end_ - token.start_);
+
+  // Sanity check to avoid buffer overflow exploits.
+  if (length < 0) {
+    return addError("Unable to parse token length", token);
+  }
+
+  // Avoid using a string constant for the format control string given to
+  // sscanf, as this can cause hard to debug crashes on OS X. See here for more
+  // info:
+  //
+  //     http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#DOCUMENTATION/DeveloperTools/gcc-4.0.1/gcc/Incompatibilities.html
+  char format[] = "%lf";
+
+  if (length <= bufferSize) {
+    Char buffer[bufferSize + 1];
+    memcpy(buffer, token.start_, length);
+    buffer[length] = 0;
+    count = sscanf(buffer, format, &value);
+  } else {
+    std::string buffer(token.start_, token.end_);
+    count = sscanf(buffer.c_str(), format, &value);
+  }
+
+  if (count != 1)
+    return addError("'" + std::string(token.start_, token.end_) +
+                        "' is not a number.",
+                    token);
+  decoded = value;
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::decodeString(Token& token) {
+  std::string decoded_string;
+  if (!decodeString(token, decoded_string))
+    return false;
+  Value decoded(decoded_string);
+  currentValue().swapPayload(decoded);
+  currentValue().setOffsetStart(token.start_ - begin_);
+  currentValue().setOffsetLimit(token.end_ - begin_);
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::decodeString(Token& token, std::string& decoded) {
+  decoded.reserve(token.end_ - token.start_ - 2);
+  Location current = token.start_ + 1; // skip '"'
+  Location end = token.end_ - 1;       // do not include '"'
+  while (current != end) {
+    Char c = *current++;
+    if (c == '"')
+      break;
+    else if (c == '\\') {
+      if (current == end)
+        return addError("Empty escape sequence in string", token, current);
+      Char escape = *current++;
+      switch (escape) {
+      case '"':
+        decoded += '"';
+        break;
+      case '/':
+        decoded += '/';
+        break;
+      case '\\':
+        decoded += '\\';
+        break;
+      case 'b':
+        decoded += '\b';
+        break;
+      case 'f':
+        decoded += '\f';
+        break;
+      case 'n':
+        decoded += '\n';
+        break;
+      case 'r':
+        decoded += '\r';
+        break;
+      case 't':
+        decoded += '\t';
+        break;
+      case 'u': {
+        unsigned int unicode;
+        if (!decodeUnicodeCodePoint(token, current, end, unicode))
+          return false;
+        decoded += codePointToUTF8(unicode);
+      } break;
+      default:
+        return addError("Bad escape sequence in string", token, current);
+      }
+    } else {
+      decoded += c;
+    }
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::decodeUnicodeCodePoint(Token& token,
+                                    Location& current,
+                                    Location end,
+                                    unsigned int& unicode) {
+
+  if (!decodeUnicodeEscapeSequence(token, current, end, unicode))
+    return false;
+  if (unicode >= 0xD800 && unicode <= 0xDBFF) {
+    // surrogate pairs
+    if (end - current < 6)
+      return addError(
+          "additional six characters expected to parse unicode surrogate pair.",
+          token,
+          current);
+    unsigned int surrogatePair;
+    if (*(current++) == '\\' && *(current++) == 'u') {
+      if (decodeUnicodeEscapeSequence(token, current, end, surrogatePair)) {
+        unicode = 0x10000 + ((unicode & 0x3FF) << 10) + (surrogatePair & 0x3FF);
+      } else
+        return false;
+    } else
+      return addError("expecting another \\u token to begin the second half of "
+                      "a unicode surrogate pair",
+                      token,
+                      current);
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::decodeUnicodeEscapeSequence(Token& token,
+                                         Location& current,
+                                         Location end,
+                                         unsigned int& unicode) {
+  if (end - current < 4)
+    return addError(
+        "Bad unicode escape sequence in string: four digits expected.",
+        token,
+        current);
+  unicode = 0;
+  for (int index = 0; index < 4; ++index) {
+    Char c = *current++;
+    unicode *= 16;
+    if (c >= '0' && c <= '9')
+      unicode += c - '0';
+    else if (c >= 'a' && c <= 'f')
+      unicode += c - 'a' + 10;
+    else if (c >= 'A' && c <= 'F')
+      unicode += c - 'A' + 10;
+    else
+      return addError(
+          "Bad unicode escape sequence in string: hexadecimal digit expected.",
+          token,
+          current);
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool
+OldReader::addError(const std::string& message, Token& token, Location extra) {
+  ErrorInfo info;
+  info.token_ = token;
+  info.message_ = message;
+  info.extra_ = extra;
+  errors_.push_back(info);
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::recoverFromError(TokenType skipUntilToken) {
+  int errorCount = int(errors_.size());
+  Token skip;
+  for (;;) {
+    if (!readToken(skip))
+      errors_.resize(errorCount); // discard errors caused by recovery
+    if (skip.type_ == skipUntilToken || skip.type_ == tokenEndOfStream)
+      break;
+  }
+  errors_.resize(errorCount);
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::addErrorAndRecover(const std::string& message,
+                                Token& token,
+                                TokenType skipUntilToken) {
+  addError(message, token);
+  return recoverFromError(skipUntilToken);
+}
+
+Value& OldReader::currentValue() { return *(nodes_.top()); }
+
+OldReader::Char OldReader::getNextChar() {
+  if (current_ == end_)
+    return 0;
+  return *current_++;
+}
+
+void OldReader::getLocationLineAndColumn(Location location,
+                                      int& line,
+                                      int& column) const {
+  Location current = begin_;
+  Location lastLineStart = current;
+  line = 0;
+  while (current < location && current != end_) {
+    Char c = *current++;
+    if (c == '\r') {
+      if (*current == '\n')
+        ++current;
+      lastLineStart = current;
+      ++line;
+    } else if (c == '\n') {
+      lastLineStart = current;
+      ++line;
+    }
+  }
+  // column & line start at 1
+  column = int(location - lastLineStart) + 1;
+  ++line;
+}
+
+std::string OldReader::getLocationLineAndColumn(Location location) const {
+  int line, column;
+  getLocationLineAndColumn(location, line, column);
+  char buffer[18 + 16 + 16 + 1];
+#if defined(_MSC_VER) && defined(__STDC_SECURE_LIB__)
+#if defined(WINCE)
+  _snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "Line %d, Column %d", line, column);
+#else
+  sprintf_s(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "Line %d, Column %d", line, column);
+#endif
+#else
+  snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "Line %d, Column %d", line, column);
+#endif
+  return buffer;
+}
+
+std::string OldReader::getFormattedErrorMessages() const {
+  std::string formattedMessage;
+  for (Errors::const_iterator itError = errors_.begin();
+       itError != errors_.end();
+       ++itError) {
+    const ErrorInfo& error = *itError;
+    formattedMessage +=
+        "* " + getLocationLineAndColumn(error.token_.start_) + "\n";
+    formattedMessage += "  " + error.message_ + "\n";
+    if (error.extra_)
+      formattedMessage +=
+          "See " + getLocationLineAndColumn(error.extra_) + " for detail.\n";
+  }
+  return formattedMessage;
+}
+
+std::vector<OldReader::StructuredError> OldReader::getStructuredErrors() const {
+  std::vector<OldReader::StructuredError> allErrors;
+  for (Errors::const_iterator itError = errors_.begin();
+       itError != errors_.end();
+       ++itError) {
+    const ErrorInfo& error = *itError;
+    OldReader::StructuredError structured;
+    structured.offset_start = error.token_.start_ - begin_;
+    structured.offset_limit = error.token_.end_ - begin_;
+    structured.message = error.message_;
+    allErrors.push_back(structured);
+  }
+  return allErrors;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::pushError(const Value& value, const std::string& message) {
+  size_t length = end_ - begin_;
+  if(value.getOffsetStart() > length
+    || value.getOffsetLimit() > length)
+    return false;
+  Token token;
+  token.type_ = tokenError;
+  token.start_ = begin_ + value.getOffsetStart();
+  token.end_ = end_ + value.getOffsetLimit();
+  ErrorInfo info;
+  info.token_ = token;
+  info.message_ = message;
+  info.extra_ = 0;
+  errors_.push_back(info);
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::pushError(const Value& value, const std::string& message, const Value& extra) {
+  size_t length = end_ - begin_;
+  if(value.getOffsetStart() > length
+    || value.getOffsetLimit() > length
+    || extra.getOffsetLimit() > length)
+    return false;
+  Token token;
+  token.type_ = tokenError;
+  token.start_ = begin_ + value.getOffsetStart();
+  token.end_ = begin_ + value.getOffsetLimit();
+  ErrorInfo info;
+  info.token_ = token;
+  info.message_ = message;
+  info.extra_ = begin_ + extra.getOffsetStart();
+  errors_.push_back(info);
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool OldReader::good() const {
+  return !errors_.size();
+}
+
+
+class OldCharReader : public CharReader {
+  bool const collectComments_;
+  OldReader reader_;
+public:
+  OldCharReader(
     bool collectComments,
-    Features const& features)
+    OldFeatures const& features)
   : collectComments_(collectComments)
   , reader_(features)
   {}
@@ -925,12 +1848,12 @@ CharReader* CharReaderBuilder::newCharReader() const
   // TODO: Maybe serialize the invalid settings into the exception.
 
   bool collectComments = settings_["collectComments"].asBool();
-  Features features = Features::all();
+  OldFeatures features = OldFeatures::all();
   features.allowComments_ = settings_["allowComments"].asBool();
   features.strictRoot_ = settings_["strictRoot"].asBool();
   features.allowDroppedNullPlaceholders_ = settings_["allowDroppedNullPlaceholders"].asBool();
   features.allowNumericKeys_ = settings_["allowNumericKeys"].asBool();
-  return new OldReader(collectComments, features);
+  return new OldCharReader(collectComments, features);
 }
 static void getValidReaderKeys(std::set<std::string>* valid_keys)
 {
diff --git a/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp b/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
index ed5aafe..f9139c7 100644
--- a/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ namespace Json {
 static const unsigned char ALIGNAS(8) kNull[sizeof(Value)] = { 0 };
 const unsigned char& kNullRef = kNull[0];
 const Value& Value::null = reinterpret_cast<const Value&>(kNullRef);
+const Value& Value::nullRef = null;
 
 const Int Value::minInt = Int(~(UInt(-1) / 2));
 const Int Value::maxInt = Int(UInt(-1) / 2);
diff --git a/src/lib_json/json_writer.cpp b/src/lib_json/json_writer.cpp
index 27d5f56..7cf46f4 100644
--- a/src/lib_json/json_writer.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_json/json_writer.cpp
@@ -973,6 +973,8 @@ StreamWriter* StreamWriterBuilder::newStreamWriter() const
 
   std::string indentation = settings_["indentation"].asString();
   std::string cs_str = settings_["commentStyle"].asString();
+  bool eyc = settings_["enableYAMLCompatibility"].asBool();
+  bool dnp = settings_["dropNullPlaceholders"].asBool();
   CommentStyle::Enum cs = CommentStyle::All;
   if (cs_str == "All") {
     cs = CommentStyle::All;
@@ -982,10 +984,15 @@ StreamWriter* StreamWriterBuilder::newStreamWriter() const
     return NULL;
   }
   std::string colonSymbol = " : ";
-  if (indentation.empty()) {
+  if (eyc) {
+    colonSymbol = ": ";
+  } else if (indentation.empty()) {
     colonSymbol = ":";
   }
   std::string nullSymbol = "null";
+  if (dnp) {
+    nullSymbol = "";
+  }
   std::string endingLineFeedSymbol = "";
   return new BuiltStyledStreamWriter(
       indentation, cs,
@@ -996,6 +1003,8 @@ static void getValidWriterKeys(std::set<std::string>* valid_keys)
   valid_keys->clear();
   valid_keys->insert("indentation");
   valid_keys->insert("commentStyle");
+  valid_keys->insert("enableYAMLCompatibility");
+  valid_keys->insert("dropNullPlaceholders");
 }
 bool StreamWriterBuilder::validate(Json::Value* invalid) const
 {
@@ -1021,30 +1030,11 @@ void StreamWriterBuilder::setDefaults(Json::Value* settings)
   //! [StreamWriterBuilderDefaults]
   (*settings)["commentStyle"] = "All";
   (*settings)["indentation"] = "\t";
+  (*settings)["enableYAMLCompatibility"] = false;
+  (*settings)["dropNullPlaceholders"] = false;
   //! [StreamWriterBuilderDefaults]
 }
 
-StreamWriter* OldCompressingStreamWriterBuilder::newStreamWriter() const
-{
-  std::string colonSymbol = " : ";
-  if (enableYAMLCompatibility_) {
-    colonSymbol = ": ";
-  } else {
-    colonSymbol = ":";
-  }
-  std::string nullSymbol = "null";
-  if (dropNullPlaceholders_) {
-    nullSymbol = "";
-  }
-  std::string endingLineFeedSymbol = "\n";
-  if (omitEndingLineFeed_) {
-    endingLineFeedSymbol = "";
-  }
-  return new BuiltStyledStreamWriter(
-      "", CommentStyle::None,
-      colonSymbol, nullSymbol, endingLineFeedSymbol);
-}
-
 std::string writeString(StreamWriter::Factory const& builder, Value const& root) {
   std::ostringstream sout;
   StreamWriterPtr const writer(builder.newStreamWriter());