+type env_vars = exp SM.map
+type action = env_vars * Ast.exp list -> env_vars
+val actions : action SM.map ref = ref SM.empty
+fun registerAction (name, action) = actions := SM.insert (!actions, name, action)
+fun action name = SM.find (!actions, name)
+
+val containers : (action * (unit -> unit)) SM.map ref = ref SM.empty
+fun registerContainer (name, befor, after) =
+ containers := SM.insert (!containers, name, (befor, after))
+fun container name = SM.find (!containers, name)
+
+fun badArgs name = raise Fail ("Invalid arguments to " ^ name)
+