diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index dc59879f..49295fc6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ make-bin-BUCK.sh
 #####################
 lib/qcd/spin/gamma-gen/*.h
 lib/qcd/spin/gamma-gen/*.cc
+lib/version.h
 
 # vs code editor files #
 ########################
diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 3a65cf1b..d507bf08 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ include $(top_srcdir)/doxygen.inc
 
 bin_SCRIPTS=grid-config
 
+BUILT_SOURCES = version.h
+
+version.h:
+	echo "`git log -n 1 --format=format:"#define GITHASH \\"%H:%d\\"%n" HEAD`" > $(srcdir)/lib/version.h
 
 .PHONY: bench check tests doxygen-run doxygen-doc $(DX_PS_GOAL) $(DX_PDF_GOAL)
 
diff --git a/lib/lattice/Lattice_comparison_utils.h b/lib/lattice/Lattice_comparison_utils.h
index 14a19383..9580d4d2 100644
--- a/lib/lattice/Lattice_comparison_utils.h
+++ b/lib/lattice/Lattice_comparison_utils.h
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ namespace Grid {
       typedef typename vsimd::scalar_type scalar;\
       return Comparison(functor<scalar,scalar>(),lhs,rhs);\
     }\
-  template<class vsimd>\
+  template<class vsimd,IfSimd<vsimd> = 0>\
     inline vInteger operator op(const iScalar<vsimd> &lhs,const iScalar<vsimd> &rhs)\
     {									\
       return lhs._internal op rhs._internal;				\
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/BaseIO.h b/lib/serialisation/BaseIO.h
index 24e1cec7..c9b3fb9e 100644
--- a/lib/serialisation/BaseIO.h
+++ b/lib/serialisation/BaseIO.h
@@ -31,113 +31,10 @@ Author: Guido Cossu <guido.cossu@ed.ac.uk>
 #define GRID_SERIALISATION_ABSTRACT_READER_H
 
 #include <type_traits>
+#include <Grid/tensors/Tensors.h>
+#include <Grid/serialisation/VectorUtils.h>
 
 namespace Grid {
-  // Vector IO utilities ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-  // helper function to read space-separated values
-  template <typename T>
-  std::vector<T> strToVec(const std::string s)
-  {
-    std::istringstream sstr(s);
-    T                  buf;
-    std::vector<T>     v;
-    
-    while(!sstr.eof())
-    {
-      sstr >> buf;
-      v.push_back(buf);
-    }
-    
-    return v;
-  }
-  
-  // output to streams for vectors
-  template < class T >
-  inline std::ostream & operator<<(std::ostream &os, const std::vector<T> &v)
-  {
-    os << "[";
-    for (auto &x: v)
-    {
-      os << x << " ";
-    }
-    if (v.size() > 0)
-    {
-      os << "\b";
-    }
-    os << "]";
-    
-    return os;
-  }
-  
-  // Vector element trait //////////////////////////////////////////////////////  
-  template <typename T>
-  struct element
-  {
-    typedef T type;
-    static constexpr bool is_number = false;
-  };
-  
-  template <typename T>
-  struct element<std::vector<T>>
-  {
-    typedef typename element<T>::type type;
-    static constexpr bool is_number = std::is_arithmetic<T>::value
-                                      or is_complex<T>::value
-                                      or element<T>::is_number;
-  };
-  
-  // Vector flattening utility class ////////////////////////////////////////////
-  // Class to flatten a multidimensional std::vector
-  template <typename V>
-  class Flatten
-  {
-  public:
-    typedef typename element<V>::type Element;
-  public:
-    explicit                     Flatten(const V &vector);
-    const V &                    getVector(void);
-    const std::vector<Element> & getFlatVector(void);
-    const std::vector<size_t>  & getDim(void);
-  private:
-    void accumulate(const Element &e);
-    template <typename W>
-    void accumulate(const W &v);
-    void accumulateDim(const Element &e);
-    template <typename W>
-    void accumulateDim(const W &v);
-  private:
-    const V              &vector_;
-    std::vector<Element> flatVector_;
-    std::vector<size_t>  dim_;
-  };
-  
-  // Class to reconstruct a multidimensional std::vector
-  template <typename V>
-  class Reconstruct
-  {
-  public:
-    typedef typename element<V>::type Element;
-  public:
-    Reconstruct(const std::vector<Element> &flatVector,
-                const std::vector<size_t> &dim);
-    const V &                    getVector(void);
-    const std::vector<Element> & getFlatVector(void);
-    const std::vector<size_t>  & getDim(void);
-  private:
-    void fill(std::vector<Element> &v);
-    template <typename W>
-    void fill(W &v);
-    void resize(std::vector<Element> &v, const unsigned int dim);
-    template <typename W>
-    void resize(W &v, const unsigned int dim);
-  private:
-    V                          vector_;
-    const std::vector<Element> &flatVector_;
-    std::vector<size_t>        dim_;
-    size_t                     ind_{0};
-    unsigned int               dimInd_{0};
-  };
-  
   // Pair IO utilities /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
   // helper function to parse input in the format "<obj1 obj2>"
   template <typename T1, typename T2>
@@ -151,15 +48,15 @@ namespace Grid {
     do
     {
       is.get(c);
-    } while (c != '<' && !is.eof());
-    if (c == '<')
+    } while (c != '(' && !is.eof());
+    if (c == '(')
     {
       int start = is.tellg();
       do
       {
         is.get(c);
-      } while (c != '>' && !is.eof());
-      if (c == '>')
+      } while (c != ')' && !is.eof());
+      if (c == ')')
       {
         int end = is.tellg();
         int psize = end - start - 1;
@@ -182,7 +79,7 @@ namespace Grid {
   template <class T1, class T2>
   inline std::ostream & operator<<(std::ostream &os, const std::pair<T1, T2> &p)
   {
-    os << "<" << p.first << " " << p.second << ">";
+    os << "(" << p.first << " " << p.second << ")";
     return os;
   }
 
@@ -205,6 +102,12 @@ namespace Grid {
     template <typename U>
     typename std::enable_if<!std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value, void>::type
     write(const std::string& s, const U &output);
+    template <typename U>
+    void write(const std::string &s, const iScalar<U> &output);
+    template <typename U, int N>
+    void write(const std::string &s, const iVector<U, N> &output);
+    template <typename U, int N>
+    void write(const std::string &s, const iMatrix<U, N> &output);
   private:
     T *upcast;
   };
@@ -224,6 +127,12 @@ namespace Grid {
     template <typename U>
     typename std::enable_if<!std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value, void>::type
     read(const std::string& s, U &output);
+    template <typename U>
+    void read(const std::string &s, iScalar<U> &output);
+    template <typename U, int N>
+    void read(const std::string &s, iVector<U, N> &output);
+    template <typename U, int N>
+    void read(const std::string &s, iMatrix<U, N> &output);
   protected:
     template <typename U>
     void fromString(U &output, const std::string &s);
@@ -237,203 +146,9 @@ namespace Grid {
   };
   template<typename T> struct isWriter {
     static const bool value = false;
-  }; 
-
-
-
-  // Generic writer interface
-  // serializable base class
-  class Serializable
-  {
-  public:
-    template <typename T>
-    static inline void write(Writer<T> &WR,const std::string &s,
-                             const Serializable &obj)
-    {}
-    
-    template <typename T>
-    static inline void read(Reader<T> &RD,const std::string &s,
-                            Serializable &obj)
-    {}
-    
-    friend inline std::ostream & operator<<(std::ostream &os,
-                                            const Serializable &obj)
-    {
-      return os;
-    }
   };
-  
-  // Flatten class template implementation /////////////////////////////////////
-  template <typename V>
-  void Flatten<V>::accumulate(const Element &e)
-  {
-    flatVector_.push_back(e);
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  template <typename W>
-  void Flatten<V>::accumulate(const W &v)
-  {
-    for (auto &e: v)
-    {
-      accumulate(e);
-    }
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  void Flatten<V>::accumulateDim(const Element &e) {};
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  template <typename W>
-  void Flatten<V>::accumulateDim(const W &v)
-  {
-    dim_.push_back(v.size());
-    accumulateDim(v[0]);
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  Flatten<V>::Flatten(const V &vector)
-  : vector_(vector)
-  {
-    accumulate(vector_);
-    accumulateDim(vector_);
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  const V & Flatten<V>::getVector(void)
-  {
-    return vector_;
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  const std::vector<typename Flatten<V>::Element> &
-  Flatten<V>::getFlatVector(void)
-  {
-    return flatVector_;
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  const std::vector<size_t> & Flatten<V>::getDim(void)
-  {
-    return dim_;
-  }
-  
-  // Reconstruct class template implementation /////////////////////////////////
-  template <typename V>
-  void Reconstruct<V>::fill(std::vector<Element> &v)
-  {
-    for (auto &e: v)
-    {
-      e = flatVector_[ind_++];
-    }
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  template <typename W>
-  void Reconstruct<V>::fill(W &v)
-  {
-    for (auto &e: v)
-    {
-      fill(e);
-    }
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  void Reconstruct<V>::resize(std::vector<Element> &v, const unsigned int dim)
-  {
-    v.resize(dim_[dim]);
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  template <typename W>
-  void Reconstruct<V>::resize(W &v, const unsigned int dim)
-  {
-    v.resize(dim_[dim]);
-    for (auto &e: v)
-    {
-      resize(e, dim + 1);
-    }
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  Reconstruct<V>::Reconstruct(const std::vector<Element> &flatVector,
-                              const std::vector<size_t> &dim)
-  : flatVector_(flatVector)
-  , dim_(dim)
-  {
-    resize(vector_, 0);
-    fill(vector_);
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  const V & Reconstruct<V>::getVector(void)
-  {
-    return vector_;
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  const std::vector<typename Reconstruct<V>::Element> &
-  Reconstruct<V>::getFlatVector(void)
-  {
-    return flatVector_;
-  }
-  
-  template <typename V>
-  const std::vector<size_t> & Reconstruct<V>::getDim(void)
-  {
-    return dim_;
-  }
-  
-  // Generic writer interface //////////////////////////////////////////////////
-  template <typename T>
-  inline void push(Writer<T> &w, const std::string &s) {
-    w.push(s);
-  }
-  
-  template <typename T>
-  inline void push(Writer<T> &w, const char *s)
-  {
-    w.push(std::string(s));
-  }
-  
-  template <typename T>
-  inline void pop(Writer<T> &w)
-  {
-    w.pop();
-  }
-  
-  template <typename T, typename U>
-  inline void write(Writer<T> &w, const std::string& s, const U &output)
-  {
-    w.write(s, output);
-  }
-  
-  // Generic reader interface
-  template <typename T>
-  inline bool push(Reader<T> &r, const std::string &s)
-  {
-    return r.push(s);
-  }
-  
-  template <typename T>
-  inline bool push(Reader<T> &r, const char *s)
-  {
-    return r.push(std::string(s));
-  }
-  
-  template <typename T>
-  inline void pop(Reader<T> &r)
-  {
-    r.pop();
-  }
-  
-  template <typename T, typename U>
-  inline void read(Reader<T> &r, const std::string &s, U &output)
-  {
-    r.read(s, output);
-  }
-  
-  // Writer template implementation ////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+  // Writer template implementation
   template <typename T>
   Writer<T>::Writer(void)
   {
@@ -467,6 +182,27 @@ namespace Grid {
   {
     upcast->writeDefault(s, output);
   }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  template <typename U>
+  void Writer<T>::write(const std::string &s, const iScalar<U> &output)
+  {
+    upcast->writeDefault(s, tensorToVec(output));
+  }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  template <typename U, int N>
+  void Writer<T>::write(const std::string &s, const iVector<U, N> &output)
+  {
+    upcast->writeDefault(s, tensorToVec(output));
+  }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  template <typename U, int N>
+  void Writer<T>::write(const std::string &s, const iMatrix<U, N> &output)
+  {
+    upcast->writeDefault(s, tensorToVec(output));
+  }
   
   // Reader template implementation
   template <typename T>
@@ -502,7 +238,37 @@ namespace Grid {
   {
     upcast->readDefault(s, output);
   }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  template <typename U>
+  void Reader<T>::read(const std::string &s, iScalar<U> &output)
+  {
+    typename TensorToVec<iScalar<U>>::type v;
+
+    upcast->readDefault(s, v);
+    vecToTensor(output, v);
+  }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  template <typename U, int N>
+  void Reader<T>::read(const std::string &s, iVector<U, N> &output)
+  {
+    typename TensorToVec<iVector<U, N>>::type v;
+    
+    upcast->readDefault(s, v);
+    vecToTensor(output, v);
+  }
   
+  template <typename T>
+  template <typename U, int N>
+  void Reader<T>::read(const std::string &s, iMatrix<U, N> &output)
+  {
+    typename TensorToVec<iMatrix<U, N>>::type v;
+    
+    upcast->readDefault(s, v);
+    vecToTensor(output, v);
+  }
+
   template <typename T>
   template <typename U>
   void Reader<T>::fromString(U &output, const std::string &s)
@@ -521,6 +287,76 @@ namespace Grid {
       abort();
     }
   }
+
+  // serializable base class ///////////////////////////////////////////////////
+  class Serializable
+  {
+  public:
+    template <typename T>
+    static inline void write(Writer<T> &WR,const std::string &s,
+                             const Serializable &obj)
+    {}
+    
+    template <typename T>
+    static inline void read(Reader<T> &RD,const std::string &s,
+                            Serializable &obj)
+    {}
+    
+    friend inline std::ostream & operator<<(std::ostream &os,
+                                            const Serializable &obj)
+    {
+      return os;
+    }
+  };
+  
+  // Generic writer interface //////////////////////////////////////////////////
+  template <typename T>
+  inline void push(Writer<T> &w, const std::string &s) {
+    w.push(s);
+  }
+  
+  template <typename T>
+  inline void push(Writer<T> &w, const char *s)
+  {
+    w.push(std::string(s));
+  }
+  
+  template <typename T>
+  inline void pop(Writer<T> &w)
+  {
+    w.pop();
+  }
+  
+  template <typename T, typename U>
+  inline void write(Writer<T> &w, const std::string& s, const U &output)
+  {
+    w.write(s, output);
+  }
+  
+  // Generic reader interface //////////////////////////////////////////////////
+  template <typename T>
+  inline bool push(Reader<T> &r, const std::string &s)
+  {
+    return r.push(s);
+  }
+  
+  template <typename T>
+  inline bool push(Reader<T> &r, const char *s)
+  {
+    return r.push(std::string(s));
+  }
+  
+  template <typename T>
+  inline void pop(Reader<T> &r)
+  {
+    r.pop();
+  }
+  
+  template <typename T, typename U>
+  inline void read(Reader<T> &r, const std::string &s, U &output)
+  {
+    r.read(s, output);
+  }
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/Hdf5IO.h b/lib/serialisation/Hdf5IO.h
index 94ad9736..12625ab8 100644
--- a/lib/serialisation/Hdf5IO.h
+++ b/lib/serialisation/Hdf5IO.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 #include <H5Cpp.h>
+#include <Grid/tensors/Tensors.h>
 #include "Hdf5Type.h"
 
 #ifndef H5_NO_NAMESPACE
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/VectorUtils.h b/lib/serialisation/VectorUtils.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f5c76b84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/serialisation/VectorUtils.h
@@ -0,0 +1,336 @@
+#ifndef GRID_SERIALISATION_VECTORUTILS_H
+#define GRID_SERIALISATION_VECTORUTILS_H
+
+#include <type_traits>
+#include <Grid/tensors/Tensors.h>
+
+namespace Grid {
+  // Grid scalar tensors to nested std::vectors //////////////////////////////////
+  template <typename T>
+  struct TensorToVec
+  {
+    typedef T type;
+  };
+
+  template <typename T>
+  struct TensorToVec<iScalar<T>>
+  {
+    typedef typename TensorToVec<T>::type type;
+  };
+
+  template <typename T, int N>
+  struct TensorToVec<iVector<T, N>>
+  {
+    typedef typename std::vector<typename TensorToVec<T>::type> type;
+  };
+
+  template <typename T, int N>
+  struct TensorToVec<iMatrix<T, N>>
+  {
+    typedef typename std::vector<std::vector<typename TensorToVec<T>::type>> type;
+  };
+
+  template <typename T>
+  typename TensorToVec<T>::type tensorToVec(const T &t)
+  {
+    return t;
+  }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  typename TensorToVec<iScalar<T>>::type tensorToVec(const iScalar<T>& t)
+  {
+    return tensorToVec(t._internal);
+  }
+
+  template <typename T, int N>
+  typename TensorToVec<iVector<T, N>>::type tensorToVec(const iVector<T, N>& t)
+  {
+    typename TensorToVec<iVector<T, N>>::type v;
+
+    v.resize(N);
+    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < N; i++) 
+    {
+      v[i] = tensorToVec(t._internal[i]);
+    }
+
+    return v;
+  }
+
+  template <typename T, int N>
+  typename TensorToVec<iMatrix<T, N>>::type tensorToVec(const iMatrix<T, N>& t)
+  {
+    typename TensorToVec<iMatrix<T, N>>::type v;
+
+    v.resize(N);
+    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < N; i++)
+    {
+      v[i].resize(N);
+      for (unsigned int j = 0; j < N; j++) 
+      {
+        v[i][j] = tensorToVec(t._internal[i][j]);
+      }
+    }
+
+    return v;
+  }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  void vecToTensor(T &t, const typename TensorToVec<T>::type &v)
+  {
+    t = v;
+  }
+
+
+  template <typename T>
+  void vecToTensor(iScalar<T> &t, const typename TensorToVec<iScalar<T>>::type &v)
+  {
+    vecToTensor(t._internal, v);
+  }
+
+  template <typename T, int N>
+  void vecToTensor(iVector<T, N> &t, const typename TensorToVec<iVector<T, N>>::type &v)
+  {
+    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < N; i++) 
+    {
+      vecToTensor(t._internal[i], v[i]);
+    }
+  }
+
+  template <typename T, int N>
+  void vecToTensor(iMatrix<T, N> &t, const typename TensorToVec<iMatrix<T, N>>::type &v)
+  {
+    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < N; i++)
+    for (unsigned int j = 0; j < N; j++)
+    {
+      vecToTensor(t._internal[i][j], v[i][j]);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Vector element trait //////////////////////////////////////////////////////  
+  template <typename T>
+  struct element
+  {
+    typedef T type;
+    static constexpr bool is_number = false;
+  };
+  
+  template <typename T>
+  struct element<std::vector<T>>
+  {
+    typedef typename element<T>::type type;
+    static constexpr bool is_number = std::is_arithmetic<T>::value
+                                      or is_complex<T>::value
+                                      or element<T>::is_number;
+  };
+  
+  // Vector flattening utility class ////////////////////////////////////////////
+  // Class to flatten a multidimensional std::vector
+  template <typename V>
+  class Flatten
+  {
+  public:
+    typedef typename element<V>::type Element;
+  public:
+    explicit                     Flatten(const V &vector);
+    const V &                    getVector(void);
+    const std::vector<Element> & getFlatVector(void);
+    const std::vector<size_t>  & getDim(void);
+  private:
+    void accumulate(const Element &e);
+    template <typename W>
+    void accumulate(const W &v);
+    void accumulateDim(const Element &e);
+    template <typename W>
+    void accumulateDim(const W &v);
+  private:
+    const V              &vector_;
+    std::vector<Element> flatVector_;
+    std::vector<size_t>  dim_;
+  };
+  
+  // Class to reconstruct a multidimensional std::vector
+  template <typename V>
+  class Reconstruct
+  {
+  public:
+    typedef typename element<V>::type Element;
+  public:
+    Reconstruct(const std::vector<Element> &flatVector,
+                const std::vector<size_t> &dim);
+    const V &                    getVector(void);
+    const std::vector<Element> & getFlatVector(void);
+    const std::vector<size_t>  & getDim(void);
+  private:
+    void fill(std::vector<Element> &v);
+    template <typename W>
+    void fill(W &v);
+    void resize(std::vector<Element> &v, const unsigned int dim);
+    template <typename W>
+    void resize(W &v, const unsigned int dim);
+  private:
+    V                          vector_;
+    const std::vector<Element> &flatVector_;
+    std::vector<size_t>        dim_;
+    size_t                     ind_{0};
+    unsigned int               dimInd_{0};
+  };
+
+  // Flatten class template implementation
+  template <typename V>
+  void Flatten<V>::accumulate(const Element &e)
+  {
+    flatVector_.push_back(e);
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  template <typename W>
+  void Flatten<V>::accumulate(const W &v)
+  {
+    for (auto &e: v)
+    {
+      accumulate(e);
+    }
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  void Flatten<V>::accumulateDim(const Element &e) {};
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  template <typename W>
+  void Flatten<V>::accumulateDim(const W &v)
+  {
+    dim_.push_back(v.size());
+    accumulateDim(v[0]);
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  Flatten<V>::Flatten(const V &vector)
+  : vector_(vector)
+  {
+    accumulate(vector_);
+    accumulateDim(vector_);
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  const V & Flatten<V>::getVector(void)
+  {
+    return vector_;
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  const std::vector<typename Flatten<V>::Element> &
+  Flatten<V>::getFlatVector(void)
+  {
+    return flatVector_;
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  const std::vector<size_t> & Flatten<V>::getDim(void)
+  {
+    return dim_;
+  }
+  
+  // Reconstruct class template implementation
+  template <typename V>
+  void Reconstruct<V>::fill(std::vector<Element> &v)
+  {
+    for (auto &e: v)
+    {
+      e = flatVector_[ind_++];
+    }
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  template <typename W>
+  void Reconstruct<V>::fill(W &v)
+  {
+    for (auto &e: v)
+    {
+      fill(e);
+    }
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  void Reconstruct<V>::resize(std::vector<Element> &v, const unsigned int dim)
+  {
+    v.resize(dim_[dim]);
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  template <typename W>
+  void Reconstruct<V>::resize(W &v, const unsigned int dim)
+  {
+    v.resize(dim_[dim]);
+    for (auto &e: v)
+    {
+      resize(e, dim + 1);
+    }
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  Reconstruct<V>::Reconstruct(const std::vector<Element> &flatVector,
+                              const std::vector<size_t> &dim)
+  : flatVector_(flatVector)
+  , dim_(dim)
+  {
+    resize(vector_, 0);
+    fill(vector_);
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  const V & Reconstruct<V>::getVector(void)
+  {
+    return vector_;
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  const std::vector<typename Reconstruct<V>::Element> &
+  Reconstruct<V>::getFlatVector(void)
+  {
+    return flatVector_;
+  }
+  
+  template <typename V>
+  const std::vector<size_t> & Reconstruct<V>::getDim(void)
+  {
+    return dim_;
+  }
+
+  // Vector IO utilities ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+  // helper function to read space-separated values
+  template <typename T>
+  std::vector<T> strToVec(const std::string s)
+  {
+    std::istringstream sstr(s);
+    T                  buf;
+    std::vector<T>     v;
+    
+    while(!sstr.eof())
+    {
+      sstr >> buf;
+      v.push_back(buf);
+    }
+    
+    return v;
+  }
+  
+  // output to streams for vectors
+  template < class T >
+  inline std::ostream & operator<<(std::ostream &os, const std::vector<T> &v)
+  {
+    os << "[";
+    for (auto &x: v)
+    {
+      os << x << " ";
+    }
+    if (v.size() > 0)
+    {
+      os << "\b";
+    }
+    os << "]";
+    
+    return os;
+  }
+}
+
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/tensors/Tensor_logical.h b/lib/tensors/Tensor_logical.h
index 7ab3668b..58b2b03b 100644
--- a/lib/tensors/Tensor_logical.h
+++ b/lib/tensors/Tensor_logical.h
@@ -55,5 +55,38 @@ LOGICAL_BINOP(&);
 LOGICAL_BINOP(||);
 LOGICAL_BINOP(&&);
 
+template <class T>
+strong_inline bool operator==(const iScalar<T> &t1, const iScalar<T> &t2)
+{
+  return (t1._internal == t2._internal);
+}
+
+template <class T, int N>
+strong_inline bool operator==(const iVector<T, N> &t1, const iVector<T, N> &t2)
+{
+  bool res = true;
+
+  for (unsigned int i = 0; i < N; ++i)
+  {
+    res = (res && (t1._internal[i] == t2._internal[i]));
+  }
+
+  return res;
+}
+
+template <class T, int N>
+strong_inline bool operator==(const iMatrix<T, N> &t1, const iMatrix<T, N> &t2)
+{
+  bool res = true;
+
+  for (unsigned int i = 0; i < N; ++i)
+  for (unsigned int j = 0; j < N; ++j)
+  {
+    res = (res && (t1._internal[i][j] == t2._internal[i][j]));
+  }
+  
+  return res;
+}
+
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/util/Init.cc b/lib/util/Init.cc
index fb3d7a1e..b4ac14b7 100644
--- a/lib/util/Init.cc
+++ b/lib/util/Init.cc
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ Author: paboyle <paboyle@ph.ed.ac.uk>
 #include <Grid/Grid.h>
 
 #include <Grid/util/CompilerCompatible.h>
+#include <version.h>
 
 
 #include <fenv.h>
@@ -288,6 +289,12 @@ void Grid_init(int *argc,char ***argv)
     std::cout << "but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of"<<std::endl;
     std::cout << "MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the"<<std::endl;
     std::cout << "GNU General Public License for more details."<<std::endl;
+#ifdef GITHASH
+    std::cout << "Current Grid git commit hash=" << GITHASH << std::endl;
+#else
+    std::cout << "Current Grid git commit hash is undefined. Check makefile." << std::endl;
+#endif
+#undef GITHASH
     std::cout << std::endl;
   }
 
diff --git a/tests/IO/Test_serialisation.cc b/tests/IO/Test_serialisation.cc
index 82638ad9..bca4d01c 100644
--- a/tests/IO/Test_serialisation.cc
+++ b/tests/IO/Test_serialisation.cc
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ public:
                           bool , b,
                           std::vector<double>, array,
                           std::vector<std::vector<double> >, twodimarray,
-                          std::vector<std::vector<std::vector<Complex> > >, cmplx3darray
+                          std::vector<std::vector<std::vector<Complex> > >, cmplx3darray,
+                          SpinColourMatrix, scm
                           );
   myclass() {}
   myclass(int i)
@@ -59,6 +60,12 @@ public:
     y=2*i;
     b=true;
     name="bother said pooh";
+    scm()(0, 1)(2, 1) = 2.356;
+    scm()(3, 0)(1, 1) = 1.323;
+    scm()(2, 1)(0, 1) = 5.3336;
+    scm()(0, 2)(1, 1) = 6.336;
+    scm()(2, 1)(2, 2) = 7.344;
+    scm()(1, 1)(2, 0) = 8.3534;
   }
 };
 
@@ -93,8 +100,30 @@ void ioTest(const std::string &filename, const O &object, const std::string &nam
   if (!good) exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
 
+template <typename T>
+void tensorConvTestFn(GridSerialRNG &rng, const std::string label)
+{
+  T    t, ft;
+  Real n;
+  bool good;
+
+  random(rng, t);
+  auto tv = tensorToVec(t);
+  vecToTensor(ft, tv);
+  n    = norm2(t - ft);
+  good = (n == 0);
+  std::cout << label << " norm 2 diff: " << n << " -- " 
+            << (good ? "success" : "failure") << std::endl;
+}
+
+#define tensorConvTest(rng, type) tensorConvTestFn<type>(rng, #type)
+
 int main(int argc,char **argv)
 {
+  GridSerialRNG    rng;
+
+  rng.SeedFixedIntegers(std::vector<int>({42,10,81,9}));
+  
   std::cout << "==== basic IO" << std::endl;
   XmlWriter WR("bother.xml");
 
@@ -120,7 +149,7 @@ int main(int argc,char **argv)
   std::cout << "-- serialisable class writing to 'bother.xml'..." << std::endl;
   write(WR,"obj",obj);
   WR.write("obj2", obj);
-  vec.push_back(myclass(1234));
+  vec.push_back(obj);
   vec.push_back(myclass(5678));
   vec.push_back(myclass(3838));
   pair = std::make_pair(myenum::red, myenum::blue);
@@ -131,8 +160,6 @@ int main(int argc,char **argv)
   std::cout << "-- serialisable class comparison:" << std::endl;
   std::cout << "vec[0] == obj: " << ((vec[0] == obj) ? "true" : "false") << std::endl;
   std::cout << "vec[1] == obj: " << ((vec[1] == obj) ? "true" : "false") << std::endl;
-
-  write(WR, "objpair", pair);
   std::cout << "-- pair writing to std::cout:" << std::endl;
   std::cout << pair << std::endl;
 
@@ -141,26 +168,20 @@ int main(int argc,char **argv)
   //// XML
   ioTest<XmlWriter, XmlReader>("iotest.xml", obj, "XML    (object)           ");
   ioTest<XmlWriter, XmlReader>("iotest.xml", vec, "XML    (vector of objects)");
-  ioTest<XmlWriter, XmlReader>("iotest.xml", pair, "XML    (pair of objects)");
   //// binary
   ioTest<BinaryWriter, BinaryReader>("iotest.bin", obj, "binary (object)           ");
   ioTest<BinaryWriter, BinaryReader>("iotest.bin", vec, "binary (vector of objects)");
-  ioTest<BinaryWriter, BinaryReader>("iotest.bin", pair, "binary (pair of objects)");
   //// text
   ioTest<TextWriter, TextReader>("iotest.dat", obj, "text   (object)           ");
   ioTest<TextWriter, TextReader>("iotest.dat", vec, "text   (vector of objects)");
-  ioTest<TextWriter, TextReader>("iotest.dat", pair, "text   (pair of objects)");
   //// text
   ioTest<JSONWriter, JSONReader>("iotest.json", obj,  "JSON   (object)           ");
   ioTest<JSONWriter, JSONReader>("iotest.json", vec,  "JSON   (vector of objects)");
-  ioTest<JSONWriter, JSONReader>("iotest.json", pair, "JSON   (pair of objects)");
 
   //// HDF5
-#undef HAVE_HDF5
 #ifdef HAVE_HDF5
   ioTest<Hdf5Writer, Hdf5Reader>("iotest.h5", obj, "HDF5   (object)           ");
   ioTest<Hdf5Writer, Hdf5Reader>("iotest.h5", vec, "HDF5   (vector of objects)");
-  ioTest<Hdf5Writer, Hdf5Reader>("iotest.h5", pair, "HDF5   (pair of objects)");
 #endif
 
   std::cout << "\n==== vector flattening/reconstruction" << std::endl;
@@ -197,68 +218,11 @@ int main(int argc,char **argv)
   std::cout << flatdv.getVector() << std::endl;
   std::cout << std::endl;
 
-
-  std::cout << ".:::::: Testing JSON classes "<< std::endl;
-
-
-  {
-    JSONWriter JW("bother.json");
-
-    // test basic type writing
-    myenum a = myenum::red;
-    push(JW,"BasicTypes");
-    write(JW,std::string("i16"),i16);
-    write(JW,"myenum",a);
-    write(JW,"u16",u16);
-    write(JW,"i32",i32);
-    write(JW,"u32",u32);
-    write(JW,"i64",i64);
-    write(JW,"u64",u64);
-    write(JW,"f",f);
-    write(JW,"d",d);
-    write(JW,"b",b);
-    pop(JW);
-
-
-    // test serializable class writing
-    myclass obj(1234); // non-trivial constructor
-    std::cout << obj << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "-- serialisable class writing to 'bother.json'..." << std::endl;
-    write(JW,"obj",obj);
-    JW.write("obj2", obj);
-
-
-    std::vector<myclass> vec;
-    vec.push_back(myclass(1234));
-    vec.push_back(myclass(5678));
-    vec.push_back(myclass(3838));
-    write(JW, "objvec", vec);
-
-  }
-
-
-  {
-    JSONReader RD("bother.json");
-    myclass jcopy1;
-    std::vector<myclass> jveccopy1;
-    read(RD,"obj",jcopy1);
-    read(RD,"objvec", jveccopy1);
-    std::cout << "Loaded (JSON) -----------------" << std::endl;
-    std::cout << jcopy1 << std::endl << jveccopy1 << std::endl;
-  }
- 
-
-/*
-  // This is still work in progress
-  {
-    // Testing the next element function
-    JSONReader RD("test.json");
-    RD.push("grid");
-    RD.push("Observable");
-    std::string name;
-    read(RD,"name", name);
-  }
-*/
-
-
+  std::cout << "==== Grid tensor to vector test" << std::endl;
+  tensorConvTest(rng, SpinColourMatrix);
+  tensorConvTest(rng, SpinColourVector);
+  tensorConvTest(rng, ColourMatrix);
+  tensorConvTest(rng, ColourVector);
+  tensorConvTest(rng, SpinMatrix);
+  tensorConvTest(rng, SpinVector);
 }