diff --git a/backends/aiger/aiger.cc b/backends/aiger/aiger.cc
index 1320937a0..36c0e6ca1 100644
--- a/backends/aiger/aiger.cc
+++ b/backends/aiger/aiger.cc
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ struct AigerWriter
 
 			for (auto wire : module->wires())
 			{
-				if (wire->name[0] == '$')
+				if (!wire->name.isPublic())
 					continue;
 
 				SigSpec sig = sigmap(wire);
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ struct AigerWriter
 
 		for (auto wire : module->wires())
 		{
-			if (!verbose_map && wire->name[0] == '$')
+			if (!verbose_map && !wire->name.isPublic())
 				continue;
 
 			SigSpec sig = sigmap(wire);
diff --git a/backends/aiger/xaiger.cc b/backends/aiger/xaiger.cc
index 522929c50..82c471b83 100644
--- a/backends/aiger/xaiger.cc
+++ b/backends/aiger/xaiger.cc
@@ -681,6 +681,14 @@ struct XAigerWriter
 
 	void write_map(std::ostream &f)
 	{
+		return "#" + std::to_string((uint64_t)name.raw());
+	}
+
+	void write_map(std::ostream &f, bool refs)
+	{
+		if (refs)
+			f << "refs\n";
+
 		dict<int, string> input_lines;
 		dict<int, string> output_lines;
 
diff --git a/backends/aiger2/aiger.cc b/backends/aiger2/aiger.cc
index d24e4be99..97eb7421e 100644
--- a/backends/aiger2/aiger.cc
+++ b/backends/aiger2/aiger.cc
@@ -847,7 +847,7 @@ struct Index {
 
 		int idx = cursor.bitwire_index(*this, bit);
 		if (lits[idx] == Writer::EMPTY_LIT - 1)
-			log_error("Combinational cycle through %s in %s\n", log_signal(bit), log_id(cursor.leaf_module(*this)));
+			log_error("Combinational cycle through %s in %s\n", log_signal(bit), cursor.leaf_module(*this));
 		if (lits[idx] != Writer::EMPTY_LIT) {
 			// literal already assigned
 			return lits[idx];
@@ -1325,6 +1325,13 @@ struct XAigerWriter : AigerWriter {
 		return found->second;
 	}
 
+	std::string map_sym(IdString name) const
+	{
+		if (map_refs)
+			return "#" + std::to_string((uint64_t)name.raw());
+		return design->twines.str(name);
+	}
+
 	typedef std::pair<SigBit, HierCursor> HierBit;
 	std::vector<HierBit> pos;
 	std::vector<HierBit> pis;
@@ -1952,6 +1959,8 @@ struct XAiger2Backend : Backend {
 			writer.map_file.open(map_filename);
 			if (!writer.map_file)
 				log_cmd_error("Failed to open '%s' for writing\n", map_filename);
+			if (writer.map_refs)
+				writer.map_file << "refs " << (uint64_t)top->name.ref().raw() << "\n";
 		}
 
 		design->bufNormalize(true);
diff --git a/backends/cxxrtl/cxxrtl_backend.cc b/backends/cxxrtl/cxxrtl_backend.cc
index ac69bda27..e5eeb5c0a 100644
--- a/backends/cxxrtl/cxxrtl_backend.cc
+++ b/backends/cxxrtl/cxxrtl_backend.cc
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ bool is_ff_cell(RTLIL::IdString type)
 		ID($dlatch), ID($adlatch), ID($dlatchsr), ID($sr));
 }
 
-bool is_internal_cell(RTLIL::IdString type)
+bool is_internal_cell(PooledName type)
 {
 	return !type.isPublic() && !type.begins_with("$paramod");
 }
@@ -728,6 +728,8 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 	std::string indent;
 	int temporary = 0;
 
+	const RTLIL::Design *design = nullptr;
+
 	dict<const RTLIL::Module*, SigMap> sigmaps;
 	dict<const RTLIL::Module*, std::vector<Mem>> mod_memories;
 	pool<std::pair<const RTLIL::Module*, RTLIL::IdString>> writable_memories;
@@ -756,7 +758,7 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 	//  1b. Generated identifiers for internal names (beginning with `$`) start with `i_`.
 	//  2. An underscore is escaped with another underscore, i.e. `__`.
 	//  3. Any other non-alnum character is escaped with underscores around its lowercase hex code, e.g. `@` as `_40_`.
-	std::string mangle_name(RTLIL::IdString name)
+	std::string mangle_name(PooledName name)
 	{
 		std::string mangled;
 		bool first = true;
@@ -786,7 +788,7 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 		return mangled;
 	}
 
-	std::string mangle_module_name(RTLIL::IdString name, bool is_blackbox = false)
+	std::string mangle_module_name(PooledName name, bool is_blackbox = false)
 	{
 		// Class namespace.
 		if (is_blackbox)
@@ -794,19 +796,19 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 		return mangle_name(name);
 	}
 
-	std::string mangle_memory_name(RTLIL::IdString name)
+	std::string mangle_memory_name(PooledName name)
 	{
 		// Class member namespace.
 		return "memory_" + mangle_name(name);
 	}
 
-	std::string mangle_cell_name(RTLIL::IdString name)
+	std::string mangle_cell_name(PooledName name)
 	{
 		// Class member namespace.
 		return "cell_" + mangle_name(name);
 	}
 
-	std::string mangle_wire_name(RTLIL::IdString name)
+	std::string mangle_wire_name(PooledName name)
 	{
 		// Class member namespace.
 		return mangle_name(name);
@@ -904,7 +906,7 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 				params += ", ";
 			first = false;
 			params += "/*" + param_name + "=*/";
-			RTLIL::IdString id_param_name = '\\' + param_name;
+			IdString id_param_name = cell->module->design->twines.find('\\' + param_name);
 			if (!cell->hasParam(id_param_name))
 				log_cmd_error("Cell `%s.%s' does not have a parameter `%s', which is required by the templated module `%s'.\n",
 				              cell->module, cell, param_name.c_str(), cell_module);
@@ -927,7 +929,7 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 	void dump_attrs(const RTLIL::AttrObject *object)
 	{
 		for (auto attr : object->attributes) {
-			f << indent << "// " << attr.first.str() << ": ";
+			f << indent << "// " << design->twines.str(attr.first) << ": ";
 			if (attr.second.flags & RTLIL::CONST_FLAG_STRING) {
 				f << attr.second.decode_string();
 			} else {
@@ -1127,7 +1129,7 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 				if (is_cxxrtl_sync_port(cell, conn.first) && !conn.second.empty()) {
 					f << indent;
 					dump_sigspec_lhs(conn.second, for_debug);
-					f << " = " << mangle(cell) << access << mangle_wire_name(conn.first) << ".curr;\n";
+					f << " = " << mangle(cell) << access << mangle_wire_name({design, conn.first}) << ".curr;\n";
 				}
 	}
 
@@ -1532,7 +1534,7 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 					RTLIL::Module *cell_module = cell->module->design->module(cell->type);
 					log_assert(cell_module != nullptr && cell_module->wire(conn.first));
 					RTLIL::Wire *cell_module_wire = cell_module->wire(conn.first);
-					f << indent << mangle(cell) << access << mangle_wire_name(conn.first);
+					f << indent << mangle(cell) << access << mangle_wire_name({design, conn.first});
 					if (!is_cxxrtl_blackbox_cell(cell) && wire_types[cell_module_wire].is_buffered()) {
 						buffered_inputs = true;
 						f << ".next";
@@ -1564,7 +1566,7 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 							continue; // fully sync ports are handled in CELL_SYNC nodes
 						f << indent;
 						dump_sigspec_lhs(conn.second);
-						f << " = " << mangle(cell) << access << mangle_wire_name(conn.first);
+						f << " = " << mangle(cell) << access << mangle_wire_name({design, conn.first});
 						// Similarly to how there is no purpose to buffering cell inputs, there is also no purpose to buffering
 						// combinatorial cell outputs in case the cell converges within one cycle. (To convince yourself that
 						// this optimization is valid, consider that, since the cell converged within one cycle, it would not
@@ -2296,10 +2298,10 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 			if (!metadata_item.first.isPublic())
 				continue;
 			if (metadata_item.second.size() > 64 && (metadata_item.second.flags & RTLIL::CONST_FLAG_STRING) == 0) {
-				f << indent << "/* attribute " << metadata_item.first.str().substr(1) << " is over 64 bits wide */\n";
+				f << indent << "/* attribute " << design->twines.str(metadata_item.first).substr(1) << " is over 64 bits wide */\n";
 				continue;
 			}
-			data += metadata_item.first.str().substr(1) + '\0';
+			data += design->twines.str(metadata_item.first).substr(1) + '\0';
 			// In Yosys, a real is a type of string.
 			if (metadata_item.second.flags & RTLIL::CONST_FLAG_REAL) {
 				double dvalue = std::stod(metadata_item.second.decode_string());
@@ -2333,10 +2335,10 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 					if (!metadata_item.first.isPublic())
 						continue;
 					if (metadata_item.second.size() > 64 && (metadata_item.second.flags & RTLIL::CONST_FLAG_STRING) == 0) {
-						f << indent << "/* attribute " << metadata_item.first.str().substr(1) << " is over 64 bits wide */\n";
+						f << indent << "/* attribute " << design->twines.str(metadata_item.first).substr(1) << " is over 64 bits wide */\n";
 						continue;
 					}
-					f << indent << "{ " << escape_cxx_string(metadata_item.first.str().substr(1)) << ", ";
+					f << indent << "{ " << escape_cxx_string(design->twines.str(metadata_item.first).substr(1)) << ", ";
 					// In Yosys, a real is a type of string.
 					if (metadata_item.second.flags & RTLIL::CONST_FLAG_REAL) {
 						f << std::showpoint << std::stod(metadata_item.second.decode_string()) << std::noshowpoint;
@@ -2774,9 +2776,10 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 
 	void dump_design(RTLIL::Design *design)
 	{
+		this->design = design;
 		RTLIL::Module *top_module = nullptr;
 		std::vector<RTLIL::Module*> modules;
-		using Order = IdString::compare_ptr_by_name<RTLIL::NamedObject>;
+		using Order = IdString::compare_ptr_by_name<RTLIL::Module>;
 		TopoSort<RTLIL::Module*, Order> topo_design;
 		for (auto module : design->modules()) {
 			if (!design->selected_module(module))
@@ -2911,6 +2914,7 @@ struct CxxrtlWorker {
 
 	void analyze_design(RTLIL::Design *design)
 	{
+		this->design = design;
 		bool has_feedback_arcs = false;
 		bool has_buffered_comb_wires = false;
 
diff --git a/backends/edif/edif.cc b/backends/edif/edif.cc
index 51abc98bd..826bf48e4 100644
--- a/backends/edif/edif.cc
+++ b/backends/edif/edif.cc
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@
 USING_YOSYS_NAMESPACE
 PRIVATE_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
 
-#define EDIF_DEF(_id) edif_names(_id.unescape(), true)
-#define EDIF_DEFR(_id, _ren, _bl, _br) edif_names(_id.unescape(), true, _ren, _bl, _br)
-#define EDIF_REF(_id) edif_names(_id.unescape(), false)
+#define EDIF_DEF(_id) edif_names(design->twines.unescaped_str(_id), true)
+#define EDIF_DEFR(_id, _ren, _bl, _br) edif_names(design->twines.unescaped_str(_id), true, _ren, _bl, _br)
+#define EDIF_REF(_id) edif_names(design->twines.unescaped_str(_id), false)
 #define EDIF_DEF_STR(_id) edif_names(RTLIL::unescape_id(_id), true)
 #define EDIF_REF_STR(_id) edif_names(RTLIL::unescape_id(_id), false)
 
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ struct EdifBackend : public Backend {
 					for (int i = 0; i < GetSize(sig); i++)
 						if (sig[i].wire == NULL && sig[i] != RTLIL::State::S0 && sig[i] != RTLIL::State::S1)
 							log_warning("Bit %d of cell port %s.%s.%s driven by %s will be left unconnected in EDIF output.\n",
-									i, module, cell, p.first.unescape(), log_signal(sig[i]));
+									i, module, cell, design->twines.unescaped_str(p.first), log_signal(sig[i]));
 						else {
 							int member_idx = lsbidx ? i : GetSize(sig)-i-1;
 							auto m = design->module(cell->type);
diff --git a/backends/functional/cxx.cc b/backends/functional/cxx.cc
index d67bc9143..714e7ab3b 100644
--- a/backends/functional/cxx.cc
+++ b/backends/functional/cxx.cc
@@ -71,14 +71,14 @@ using CxxWriter = Functional::Writer;
 
 struct CxxStruct {
 	std::string name;
-	dict<IdString, CxxType> types;
+	dict<PooledName, CxxType> types;
 	CxxScope<IdString> scope;
 	CxxStruct(std::string name) : name(name)
 	{
 		scope.reserve("fn");
 		scope.reserve("visit");
 	}
-	void insert(IdString name, CxxType type) {
+	void insert(PooledName name, CxxType type) {
 		scope(name, name);
 		types.insert({name, type});
 	}
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ struct CxxStruct {
 		f.print("\t\t}}\n");
 		f.print("\t}};\n\n");
 	};
-	std::string operator[](IdString field) {
+	std::string operator[](PooledName field) {
 		return scope(field, field);
 	}
 };
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ template<class NodePrinter> struct CxxPrintVisitor : public Functional::Abstract
 	void arithmetic_shift_right(Node, Node a, Node b) override { print("{}.arithmetic_shift_right({})", a, b); }
 	void mux(Node, Node a, Node b, Node s) override { print("{2}.any() ? {1} : {0}", a, b, s); }
 	void constant(Node, RTLIL::Const const & value) override { print("{}", cxx_const(value)); }
-	void input(Node, IdString name, IdString kind) override { log_assert(kind == ID($input)); print("input.{}", input_struct[name]); }
-	void state(Node, IdString name, IdString kind) override { log_assert(kind == ID($state)); print("current_state.{}", state_struct[name]); }
+	void input(Node self, IdString name, IdString kind) override { log_assert(kind == ID($input)); print("input.{}", input_struct[{self.design, name}]); }
+	void state(Node self, IdString name, IdString kind) override { log_assert(kind == ID($state)); print("current_state.{}", state_struct[{self.design, name}]); }
 	void memory_read(Node, Node mem, Node addr) override { print("{}.read({})", mem, addr); }
 	void memory_write(Node, Node mem, Node addr, Node data) override { print("{}.write({}, {})", mem, addr, data); }
 };
diff --git a/backends/functional/smtlib.cc b/backends/functional/smtlib.cc
index 128dbda6c..fb97437f7 100644
--- a/backends/functional/smtlib.cc
+++ b/backends/functional/smtlib.cc
@@ -72,13 +72,13 @@ class SmtStruct {
 		SmtSort sort;
 		std::string accessor;
 	};
-	idict<IdString> field_names;
+	idict<PooledName> field_names;
 	vector<Field> fields;
 	SmtScope &scope;
 public:
 	std::string name;
 	SmtStruct(std::string name, SmtScope &scope) : scope(scope), name(name) {}
-	void insert(IdString field_name, SmtSort sort) {
+	void insert(PooledName field_name, SmtSort sort) {
 		field_names(field_name);
 		auto accessor = scope.unique_name("\\" + name + "_" + field_name.unescape());
 		fields.emplace_back(Field{sort, accessor});
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ public:
 		}
 	}
 	SExpr access(SExpr record, IdString name) {
-		size_t i = field_names.at(name);
+		size_t i = field_names.at(PooledName(name));
 		return list(fields[i].accessor, std::move(record));
 	}
 };
diff --git a/backends/functional/smtlib_rosette.cc b/backends/functional/smtlib_rosette.cc
index 1adceddd5..c678dbdbd 100644
--- a/backends/functional/smtlib_rosette.cc
+++ b/backends/functional/smtlib_rosette.cc
@@ -73,14 +73,14 @@ class SmtrStruct {
 		std::string accessor;
 		std::string name;
 	};
-	idict<IdString> field_names;
+	idict<PooledName> field_names;
 	vector<Field> fields;
 	SmtrScope &global_scope;
 	SmtrScope local_scope;
 public:
 	std::string name;
 	SmtrStruct(std::string name, SmtrScope &scope) : global_scope(scope), local_scope(), name(name) {}
-	void insert(IdString field_name, SmtrSort sort) {
+	void insert(PooledName field_name, SmtrSort sort) {
 		field_names(field_name);
 		auto base_name = local_scope.unique_name(field_name);
 		auto accessor = name + "-" + base_name;
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ public:
 		w.close();
 	}
 	SExpr access(SExpr record, IdString name) {
-		size_t i = field_names.at(name);
+		size_t i = field_names.at(PooledName(name));
 		return list(fields[i].accessor, std::move(record));
 	}
 };
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ struct FunctionalSmtrBackend : public Backend {
 		}
 
 		for (auto module : design->selected_modules()) {
-			log("Processing module `%s`.\n", module->name.c_str());
+			log("Processing module `%s`.\n", module->name);
 			SmtrModule smtr(module, assoc_list_helpers);
 			smtr.write(*f);
 		}
diff --git a/backends/intersynth/intersynth.cc b/backends/intersynth/intersynth.cc
index 1704ba429..587843f50 100644
--- a/backends/intersynth/intersynth.cc
+++ b/backends/intersynth/intersynth.cc
@@ -171,18 +171,18 @@ struct IntersynthBackend : public Backend {
 					RTLIL::SigSpec sig = sigmap(port.second);
 					if (sig.size() != 0) {
 						conntypes_code.insert(stringf("conntype b%d %d 2 %d\n", sig.size(), sig.size(), sig.size()));
-						celltype_code += stringf(" b%d %s%s", sig.size(), ct.cell_output(cell->type, port.first) ? "*" : "", port.first.unescape());
-						node_code += stringf(" %s %s", port.first.unescape(), netname(conntypes_code, celltypes_code, constcells_code, sig));
+						celltype_code += stringf(" b%d %s%s", sig.size(), ct.cell_output(cell->type, port.first) ? "*" : "", design->twines.unescaped_str(port.first));
+						node_code += stringf(" %s %s", design->twines.unescaped_str(port.first), netname(conntypes_code, celltypes_code, constcells_code, sig));
 					}
 				}
 				for (auto &param : cell->parameters) {
-					celltype_code += stringf(" cfg:%d %s", int(param.second.size()), param.first.unescape());
+					celltype_code += stringf(" cfg:%d %s", int(param.second.size()), design->twines.unescaped_str(param.first));
 					if (param.second.size() != 32) {
-						node_code += stringf(" %s '", param.first.unescape());
+						node_code += stringf(" %s '", design->twines.unescaped_str(param.first));
 						for (int i = param.second.size()-1; i >= 0; i--)
 							node_code += param.second[i] == State::S1 ? "1" : "0";
 					} else
-						node_code += stringf(" %s 0x%x", param.first.unescape(), param.second.as_int());
+						node_code += stringf(" %s 0x%x", design->twines.unescaped_str(param.first), param.second.as_int());
 				}
 
 				celltypes_code.insert(celltype_code + "\n");
diff --git a/backends/jny/jny.cc b/backends/jny/jny.cc
index 2f6899f4a..a45d59d3e 100644
--- a/backends/jny/jny.cc
+++ b/backends/jny/jny.cc
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ struct JnyWriter
         // but for now for the PoC this looks to be sufficient
         std::unordered_map<std::string, std::vector<Cell*>> _cells{};
 
+        Design *_design = nullptr;
+
         bool _include_connections;
         bool _include_attributes;
         bool _include_properties;
@@ -120,6 +122,7 @@ struct JnyWriter
     void write_metadata(Design *design, uint16_t indent_level = 0, std::string invk = "")
     {
         log_assert(design != nullptr);
+        _design = design;
 
         design->sort();
 
@@ -214,7 +217,7 @@ struct JnyWriter
     void write_cell_conn(const std::pair<RTLIL::IdString, RTLIL::SigSpec>& sig, uint16_t indent_level = 0) {
         const auto _indent = gen_indent(indent_level);
         f << _indent << "  {\n";
-        f << _indent << "    \"name\": \"" << escape_string(sig.first.unescape()) << "\",\n";
+        f << _indent << "    \"name\": \"" << escape_string(_design->twines.unescaped_str(sig.first)) << "\",\n";
         f << _indent << "    \"signals\": [\n";
 
         write_sigspec(sig.second, indent_level + 2);
@@ -280,7 +283,7 @@ struct JnyWriter
                 f << ",\n";
 
             f << _indent << "  {\n";
-            f << stringf("    %s\"name\": \"%s\",\n", _indent, escape_string(con.first.unescape()));
+            f << stringf("    %s\"name\": \"%s\",\n", _indent, escape_string(_design->twines.unescaped_str(con.first)));
             f << _indent << "    \"direction\": \"";
             if (port_cell->input(con.first))
                 f << "i";
@@ -351,10 +354,10 @@ struct JnyWriter
                 f << stringf(",\n");
             const auto param_val = param.second;
             if (!param_val.empty()) {
-                f << stringf("  %s\"%s\": ", _indent, escape_string(param.first.unescape()));
+                f << stringf("  %s\"%s\": ", _indent, escape_string(_design->twines.unescaped_str(param.first)));
                 write_param_val(param_val);
             } else {
-                f << stringf("  %s\"%s\": true", _indent, escape_string(param.first.unescape()));
+                f << stringf("  %s\"%s\": true", _indent, escape_string(_design->twines.unescaped_str(param.first)));
             }
 
             first_param = false;
diff --git a/backends/json/json.cc b/backends/json/json.cc
index 23d18fb15..13e72e834 100644
--- a/backends/json/json.cc
+++ b/backends/json/json.cc
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ struct JsonWriter
 
 	string get_name(IdString name)
 	{
-		return get_string(name.unescape());
+		return get_string(design->twines.unescaped_str(name));
 	}
 
 	string get_bits(SigSpec sig)
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ struct JsonWriter
 				continue;
 			f << stringf("%s\n", first ? "" : ",");
 			f << stringf("        %s: {\n", get_name(c->name));
-			f << stringf("          \"hide_name\": %s,\n", c->name[0] == '$' ? "1" : "0");
+			f << stringf("          \"hide_name\": %s,\n", c->name.isPublic() ? "0" : "1");
 			f << stringf("          \"type\": %s,\n", get_name(c->type));
 			if (aig_mode) {
 				Aig aig(c);
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ struct JsonWriter
 					continue;
 				f << stringf("%s\n", first ? "" : ",");
 				f << stringf("        %s: {\n", get_name(it.second->name));
-				f << stringf("          \"hide_name\": %s,\n", it.second->name[0] == '$' ? "1" : "0");
+				f << stringf("          \"hide_name\": %s,\n", it.second->name.isPublic() ? "0" : "1");
 				f << stringf("          \"attributes\": {");
 				write_parameters(it.second->attributes);
 				f << stringf("\n          },\n");
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ struct JsonWriter
 				continue;
 			f << stringf("%s\n", first ? "" : ",");
 			f << stringf("        %s: {\n", get_name(w->name));
-			f << stringf("          \"hide_name\": %s,\n", w->name[0] == '$' ? "1" : "0");
+			f << stringf("          \"hide_name\": %s,\n", w->name.isPublic() ? "0" : "1");
 			f << stringf("          \"bits\": %s,\n", get_bits(w));
 			if (w->start_offset)
 				f << stringf("          \"offset\": %d,\n", w->start_offset);
@@ -316,13 +316,13 @@ struct JsonWriter
 					f << stringf("      /* %3d */ [ ", node_idx);
 					if (node.portbit >= 0)
 						f << stringf("\"%sport\", \"%s\", %d", node.inverter ? "n" : "",
-								node.portname.unescape(), node.portbit);
+								design->twines.unescaped_str(node.portname), node.portbit);
 					else if (node.left_parent < 0 && node.right_parent < 0)
 						f << stringf("\"%s\"", node.inverter ? "true" : "false");
 					else
 						f << stringf("\"%s\", %d, %d", node.inverter ? "nand" : "and", node.left_parent, node.right_parent);
 					for (auto &op : node.outports)
-						f << stringf(", \"%s\", %d", op.first.unescape(), op.second);
+						f << stringf(", \"%s\", %d", design->twines.unescaped_str(op.first), op.second);
 					f << stringf(" ]");
 					node_idx++;
 				}
diff --git a/backends/rtlil/rtlil_backend.cc b/backends/rtlil/rtlil_backend.cc
index 22da071ce..7849a01a2 100644
--- a/backends/rtlil/rtlil_backend.cc
+++ b/backends/rtlil/rtlil_backend.cc
@@ -32,13 +32,23 @@ USING_YOSYS_NAMESPACE
 using namespace RTLIL_BACKEND;
 YOSYS_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
 
-void RTLIL_BACKEND::dump_attributes(std::ostream &f, std::string indent, const RTLIL::AttrObject *obj)
+static std::string twine_handle(IdString ref)
 {
-	for (const auto& [name, value] : reversed(obj->attributes)) {
-		f << stringf("%s" "attribute %s ", indent, name);
-		dump_const(f, value);
-		f << stringf("\n");
-	}
+	return stringf("%s@%zu", ref.isPublic() ? "$pub" : "$priv", ref.untag().raw());
+}
+
+static std::string twine_ref(const RTLIL::Design *design, IdString ref, DumpMode mode)
+{
+	if (mode == DumpMode::Readable || ID::is_static(ref))
+		return design->twines.str(ref);
+	return twine_handle(ref);
+}
+
+static std::string twine_cmt(const RTLIL::Design *design, IdString ref, DumpMode mode)
+{
+	if (mode != DumpMode::Replayable || ID::is_static(ref))
+		return "";
+	return stringf("  # %s", design->twines.str(ref).c_str());
 }
 
 void RTLIL_BACKEND::dump_const(std::ostream &f, const RTLIL::Const &data, int width, int offset, bool autoint)
@@ -103,7 +113,70 @@ void RTLIL_BACKEND::dump_const(std::ostream &f, const RTLIL::Const &data, int wi
 	}
 }
 
-void RTLIL_BACKEND::dump_sigchunk(std::ostream &f, const RTLIL::SigChunk &chunk, bool autoint)
+void RTLIL_BACKEND::dump_attributes(std::ostream &f, std::string indent, const RTLIL::AttrObject *obj, const RTLIL::Design *design, DumpMode mode)
+{
+	for (const auto& [name, value] : reversed(obj->attributes)) {
+		f << stringf("%s" "attribute %s ", indent, twine_ref(design, name, mode));
+		dump_const(f, value);
+		f << stringf("\n");
+	}
+}
+
+static void collect_static_twine(IdString ref, pool<size_t> &out)
+{
+	if (ref != IdString::Null && ID::is_static(ref))
+		out.insert(ref.untag().raw());
+}
+
+void RTLIL_BACKEND::dump_twines(std::ostream &f, const RTLIL::Design *design)
+{
+	if (!design || design->twines.size() == 0)
+		return;
+	f << stringf("twines\n");
+	std::vector<IdString> ids;
+	for (IdString id : design->twines.slots())
+		ids.push_back(id);
+	pool<size_t> statics;
+	for (IdString id : ids) {
+		const TwineNode &n = design->twines[id];
+		if (n.is_suffix())
+			collect_static_twine(n.suffix().prefix, statics);
+	}
+	for (size_t value : statics)
+		ids.push_back(IdString(value));
+	std::sort(ids.begin(), ids.end());
+	for (IdString id : ids) {
+		const TwineNode &n = design->twines[id];
+		if (n.is_leaf()) {
+			f << stringf("  leaf %zu ", id.raw());
+			dump_const(f, RTLIL::Const(n.leaf()));
+			f << stringf("\n");
+		} else if (n.is_suffix()) {
+			f << stringf("  suffix %zu %zu ", id.raw(), n.suffix().prefix.raw());
+			dump_const(f, RTLIL::Const(n.suffix().tail));
+			f << stringf("\n");
+		}
+	}
+	f << stringf("end\n");
+}
+
+static std::string sigspec_str(const RTLIL::SigSpec &sig, DumpMode mode)
+{
+	std::ostringstream ss;
+	RTLIL_BACKEND::dump_sigspec(ss, sig, true, mode);
+	return ss.str();
+}
+
+static void dump_connect(std::ostream &f, const std::string &indent, DumpMode mode,
+		const std::string &operands, const std::string &readable)
+{
+	f << indent << "connect " << operands;
+	if (mode == DumpMode::Replayable && readable != operands)
+		f << "  # " << readable;
+	f << "\n";
+}
+
+void RTLIL_BACKEND::dump_sigchunk(std::ostream &f, const RTLIL::SigChunk &chunk, bool autoint, DumpMode mode)
 {
 	if (chunk.wire == NULL) {
 		dump_const(f, chunk.data, chunk.width, chunk.offset, autoint);
diff --git a/backends/spice/spice.cc b/backends/spice/spice.cc
index 5f14a2a66..80f9a501d 100644
--- a/backends/spice/spice.cc
+++ b/backends/spice/spice.cc
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 USING_YOSYS_NAMESPACE
 PRIVATE_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
 
-static string spice_id2str(IdString id)
+static string spice_id2str(PooledName id)
 {
 	static const char *escape_chars = "$\\[]()<>=";
 	string s = id.unescape();
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ static string spice_id2str(IdString id)
 	return s;
 }
 
-static string spice_id2str(IdString id, bool use_inames, idict<IdString, 1> &inums)
+static string spice_id2str(PooledName id, bool use_inames, idict<IdString, 1> &inums)
 {
-	if (!use_inames && *id.c_str() == '$')
+	if (!use_inames && !id.isPublic())
 		return stringf("%d", inums(id));
 	return spice_id2str(id);
 }
diff --git a/backends/table/table.cc b/backends/table/table.cc
index bbb533965..bd8f6685e 100644
--- a/backends/table/table.cc
+++ b/backends/table/table.cc
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ struct TableBackend : public Backend {
 				*f << module->name.unescape() << "\t";
 				*f << cell->name.unescape() << "\t";
 				*f << cell->type.unescape() << "\t";
-				*f << conn.first.unescape() << "\t";
+				*f << design->twines.unescaped_str(conn.first) << "\t";
 
 				if (cell->input(conn.first) && cell->output(conn.first))
 					*f << "inout" << "\t";