diff --git a/loader/src/loader/ModMetadataImpl.cpp b/loader/src/loader/ModMetadataImpl.cpp
index f16c82e7..54162a44 100644
--- a/loader/src/loader/ModMetadataImpl.cpp
+++ b/loader/src/loader/ModMetadataImpl.cpp
@@ -477,12 +477,6 @@ std::string ModMetadata::getName() const {
     return m_impl->m_name;
 }
 
-std::string ModMetadata::getDeveloper() const {
-    // m_developers should be guaranteed to never be empty, but this is 
-    // just in case it is anyway somehow
-    return m_impl->m_developers.empty() ? "" : m_impl->m_developers.front();
-}
-
 std::string ModMetadata::formatDeveloperDisplayString(std::vector<std::string> const& developers) {
     switch (developers.size()) {
         case 0: return "Unknown"; break;
@@ -510,9 +504,6 @@ std::optional<std::string> ModMetadata::getChangelog() const {
 std::optional<std::string> ModMetadata::getSupportInfo() const {
     return m_impl->m_supportInfo;
 }
-std::optional<std::string> ModMetadata::getRepository() const {
-    return m_impl->m_links.getSourceURL();
-}
 ModMetadataLinks ModMetadata::getLinks() const {
     return m_impl->m_links;
 }
@@ -629,10 +620,6 @@ void ModMetadata::setIncompatibilities(std::vector<Incompatibility> const& value
 void ModMetadata::setSpritesheets(std::vector<std::string> const& value) {
     m_impl->m_spritesheets = value;
 }
-void ModMetadata::setSettings(std::vector<std::pair<std::string, Setting>> const& value) {
-    // intentionally no-op because no one is supposed to be using this 
-    // without subscribing to "internals are not stable" mentality
-}
 void ModMetadata::setSettings(std::vector<std::pair<std::string, matjson::Value>> const& value) {
     m_impl->m_settings = value;
 }
diff --git a/loader/src/loader/SettingNodeV3.cpp b/loader/src/loader/SettingNodeV3.cpp
index 19573417..a925485a 100644
--- a/loader/src/loader/SettingNodeV3.cpp
+++ b/loader/src/loader/SettingNodeV3.cpp
@@ -682,51 +682,3 @@ UnresolvedCustomSettingNodeV3* UnresolvedCustomSettingNodeV3::create(std::string
     CC_SAFE_DELETE(ret);
     return nullptr;
 }
-
-// LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node
-
-bool LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node::init(std::shared_ptr<LegacyCustomSettingV3> original, float width) {
-    if (!SettingNodeV3::init(original, width))
-        return false;
-    
-    this->getNameMenu()->setVisible(false);
-    this->getButtonMenu()->setVisible(false);
-
-    m_original = original->getValue()->createNode(width);
-    m_original->setDelegate(this);
-    this->setContentSize({ width, m_original->getContentHeight() });
-    this->addChildAtPosition(m_original, Anchor::BottomLeft, ccp(0, 0), ccp(0, 0));
-    
-    return true;
-}
-
-void LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node::settingValueChanged(SettingNode*) {
-    SettingNodeValueChangeEventV3(this, false).post();
-}
-void LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node::settingValueCommitted(SettingNode*) {
-    SettingNodeValueChangeEventV3(this, true).post();
-}
-
-void LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node::onCommit() {
-    m_original->commit();
-}
-
-bool LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node::hasUncommittedChanges() const {
-    return m_original->hasUncommittedChanges();
-}
-bool LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node::hasNonDefaultValue() const {
-    return m_original->hasNonDefaultValue();
-}
-void LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node::onResetToDefault() {
-    m_original->resetToDefault();
-}
-
-LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node* LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node::create(std::shared_ptr<LegacyCustomSettingV3> original, float width) {
-    auto ret = new LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node();
-    if (ret && ret->init(original, width)) {
-        ret->autorelease();
-        return ret;
-    }
-    CC_SAFE_DELETE(ret);
-    return nullptr;
-}
diff --git a/loader/src/loader/SettingV3.cpp b/loader/src/loader/SettingV3.cpp
index 6ee54927..32511f0e 100644
--- a/loader/src/loader/SettingV3.cpp
+++ b/loader/src/loader/SettingV3.cpp
@@ -610,54 +610,6 @@ bool TitleSettingV3::isDefaultValue() const {
 }
 void TitleSettingV3::reset() {}
 
-class LegacyCustomSettingV3::Impl final {
-public:
-    matjson::Value json;
-    std::shared_ptr<SettingValue> legacyValue = nullptr;
-};
-
-LegacyCustomSettingV3::LegacyCustomSettingV3(PrivateMarker) : m_impl(std::make_shared<Impl>()) {}
-
-Result<std::shared_ptr<LegacyCustomSettingV3>> LegacyCustomSettingV3::parse(std::string const& key, std::string const& modID, matjson::Value const& json) {
-    auto ret = std::make_shared<LegacyCustomSettingV3>(PrivateMarker());
-    ret->init(key, modID);
-    ret->m_impl->json = json;
-    return Ok(ret);
-}
-
-std::shared_ptr<SettingValue> LegacyCustomSettingV3::getValue() const {
-    return m_impl->legacyValue;
-}
-void LegacyCustomSettingV3::setValue(std::shared_ptr<SettingValue> value) {
-    m_impl->legacyValue = value;
-}
-
-bool LegacyCustomSettingV3::load(matjson::Value const& json) {
-    if (m_impl->legacyValue) {
-        return m_impl->legacyValue->load(json);
-    }
-    return true;
-}
-bool LegacyCustomSettingV3::save(matjson::Value& json) const {
-    if (m_impl->legacyValue) {
-        return m_impl->legacyValue->save(json);
-    }
-    return true;
-}
-SettingNodeV3* LegacyCustomSettingV3::createNode(float width) {
-    if (m_impl->legacyValue) {
-        return LegacyCustomSettingToV3Node::create(
-            std::static_pointer_cast<LegacyCustomSettingV3>(shared_from_this()), width
-        );
-    }
-    return UnresolvedCustomSettingNodeV3::create(this->getKey(), this->getMod(), width);
-}
-
-bool LegacyCustomSettingV3::isDefaultValue() const {
-    return true;
-}
-void LegacyCustomSettingV3::reset() {}
-
 class BoolSettingV3::Impl final {
 public:
 };
diff --git a/loader/src/loader/updater.cpp b/loader/src/loader/updater.cpp
index e5868a11..9fda6f27 100644
--- a/loader/src/loader/updater.cpp
+++ b/loader/src/loader/updater.cpp
@@ -105,8 +105,7 @@ void updater::downloadLatestLoaderResources() {
             auto root = checkJson(raw, "[]");
 
             // find release asset
-            for (auto asset : root.needs("assets").iterate()) {
-                auto obj = asset.obj();
+            for (auto& obj : root.needs("assets").items()) {
                 if (obj.needs("name").get<std::string>() == "resources.zip") {
                     updater::tryDownloadLoaderResources(
                         obj.needs("browser_download_url").get<std::string>(),
@@ -207,8 +206,7 @@ void updater::downloadLoaderResources(bool useLatestRelease) {
                     auto root = checkJson(ok.unwrap(), "[]");
 
                     // find release asset
-                    for (auto asset : root.needs("assets").iterate()) {
-                        auto obj = asset.obj();
+                    for (auto& obj : root.needs("assets").items()) {
                         if (obj.needs("name").get<std::string>() == "resources.zip") {
                             updater::tryDownloadLoaderResources(
                                 obj.needs("browser_download_url").get<std::string>(),
@@ -382,8 +380,7 @@ void updater::checkForLoaderUpdates() {
             }
 
             // find release asset
-            for (auto asset : root.needs("assets").iterate()) {
-                auto obj = asset.obj();
+            for (auto& obj : root.needs("assets").items()) {
                 if (string::endsWith(
                     obj.needs("name").get<std::string>(),
                     fmt::format("{}.zip", PlatformID::toShortString(GEODE_PLATFORM_TARGET, true))
diff --git a/loader/src/server/Server.cpp b/loader/src/server/Server.cpp
index 9437e807..43a9e08a 100644
--- a/loader/src/server/Server.cpp
+++ b/loader/src/server/Server.cpp
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ Result<ServerModVersion> ServerModVersion::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
     res.metadata.setGeodeVersion(root.needs("geode").get<VersionInfo>());
 
     // Verify target GD version
-    auto gd_obj = root.needs("gd").obj();
+    auto gd_obj = root.needs("gd");
     std::string gd = "0.000";
     if (gd_obj.has(GEODE_PLATFORM_SHORT_IDENTIFIER)) {
         gd = gd_obj.has(GEODE_PLATFORM_SHORT_IDENTIFIER). get<std::string>();
@@ -288,13 +288,11 @@ Result<ServerModVersion> ServerModVersion::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
     res.metadata.setIsAPI(root.needs("api").get<bool>());
 
     std::vector<ModMetadata::Dependency> dependencies {};
-    for (auto dep : root.has("dependencies").iterate()) {
+    for (auto& obj : root.has("dependencies").items()) {
         // todo: this should probably be generalized to use the same function as mod.json
 
-        auto obj = dep.obj();
-
         bool onThisPlatform = !obj.has("platforms");
-        for (auto& plat : obj.has("platforms").iterate()) {
+        for (auto& plat : obj.has("platforms").items()) {
             if (PlatformID::coveredBy(plat.get<std::string>(), GEODE_PLATFORM_TARGET)) {
                 onThisPlatform = true;
             }
@@ -304,7 +302,7 @@ Result<ServerModVersion> ServerModVersion::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
         }
 
         ModMetadata::Dependency dependency;
-        obj.needs("mod_id").validate(MiniFunction<bool(std::string const&)>(&ModMetadata::validateID)).into(dependency.id);
+        obj.needs("mod_id").mustBe<std::string>("a valid id", &ModMetadata::validateID).into(dependency.id);
         obj.needs("version").into(dependency.version);
         obj.has("importance").into(dependency.importance);
 
@@ -319,9 +317,7 @@ Result<ServerModVersion> ServerModVersion::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
     res.metadata.setDependencies(dependencies);
 
     std::vector<ModMetadata::Incompatibility> incompatibilities {};
-    for (auto& incompat : root.has("incompatibilities").iterate()) {
-        auto obj = incompat.obj();
-
+    for (auto& obj : root.has("incompatibilities").items()) {
         ModMetadata::Incompatibility incompatibility;
         obj.has("importance").into(incompatibility.importance);
 
@@ -331,7 +327,7 @@ Result<ServerModVersion> ServerModVersion::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
         if (incompatibility.importance == ModMetadata::Incompatibility::Importance::Superseded) {
             modIdValue.into(incompatibility.id);
         } else {
-            modIdValue.validate(MiniFunction<bool(std::string const&)>(&ModMetadata::validateID)).into(incompatibility.id);
+            modIdValue.mustBe<std::string>("a valid id", &ModMetadata::validateID).into(incompatibility.id);
         }
 
         obj.needs("version").into(incompatibility.version);
@@ -346,11 +342,7 @@ Result<ServerModVersion> ServerModVersion::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
     }
     res.metadata.setIncompatibilities(incompatibilities);
 
-    // Check for errors and return result
-    if (root.isError()) {
-        return Err(root.getError());
-    }
-    return Ok(res);
+    return root.ok(res);
 }
 
 Result<ServerModReplacement> ServerModReplacement::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
@@ -360,10 +352,7 @@ Result<ServerModReplacement> ServerModReplacement::parse(matjson::Value const& r
     root.needs("id").into(res.id);
     root.needs("version").into(res.version);
 
-    if (root.isError()) {
-        return Err(root.getError());
-    }
-    return Ok(res);
+    return root.ok(res);
 }
 
 Result<ServerModUpdate> ServerModUpdate::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
@@ -377,18 +366,14 @@ Result<ServerModUpdate> ServerModUpdate::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
         GEODE_UNWRAP_INTO(res.replacement, ServerModReplacement::parse(root.has("replacement").json()));
     }
 
-    // Check for errors and return result
-    if (root.isError()) {
-        return Err(root.getError());
-    }
-    return Ok(res);
+    return root.ok(res);
 }
 
 Result<std::vector<ServerModUpdate>> ServerModUpdate::parseList(matjson::Value const& raw) {
     auto payload = checkJson(raw, "ServerModUpdatesList");
 
     std::vector<ServerModUpdate> list {};
-    for (auto item : payload.iterate()) {
+    for (auto& item : payload.items()) {
         auto mod = ServerModUpdate::parse(item.json());
         if (mod) {
             list.push_back(mod.unwrap());
@@ -398,11 +383,7 @@ Result<std::vector<ServerModUpdate>> ServerModUpdate::parseList(matjson::Value c
         }
     }
 
-    // Check for errors and return result
-    if (payload.isError()) {
-        return Err(payload.getError());
-    }
-    return Ok(list);
+    return payload.ok(list);
 }
 
 bool ServerModUpdate::hasUpdateForInstalledMod() const {
@@ -430,8 +411,7 @@ Result<ServerModMetadata> ServerModMetadata::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
     }
 
     std::vector<std::string> developerNames;
-    for (auto item : root.needs("developers").iterate()) {
-        auto obj = item.obj();
+    for (auto& obj : root.needs("developers").items()) {
         auto dev = ServerDeveloper();
         obj.needs("username").into(dev.username);
         obj.needs("display_name").into(dev.displayName);
@@ -439,7 +419,7 @@ Result<ServerModMetadata> ServerModMetadata::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
         res.developers.push_back(dev);
         developerNames.push_back(dev.displayName);
     }
-    for (auto item : root.needs("versions").iterate()) {
+    for (auto& item : root.needs("versions").items()) {
         auto versionRes = ServerModVersion::parse(item.json());
         if (versionRes) {
             auto version = versionRes.unwrap();
@@ -459,17 +439,13 @@ Result<ServerModMetadata> ServerModMetadata::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
         return Err("Mod '{}' has no (valid) versions", res.id);
     }
 
-    for (auto item : root.has("tags").iterate()) {
+    for (auto& item : root.has("tags").items()) {
         res.tags.insert(item.get<std::string>());
     }
 
     root.needs("download_count").into(res.downloadCount);
 
-    // Check for errors and return result
-    if (root.isError()) {
-        return Err(root.getError());
-    }
-    return Ok(res);
+    return root.ok(res);
 }
 
 std::string ServerModMetadata::formatDevelopersToString() const {
@@ -494,7 +470,7 @@ Result<ServerModsList> ServerModsList::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
     auto payload = checkJson(raw, "ServerModsList");
 
     auto list = ServerModsList();
-    for (auto item : payload.needs("data").iterate()) {
+    for (auto& item : payload.needs("data").items()) {
         auto mod = ServerModMetadata::parse(item.json());
         if (mod) {
             list.mods.push_back(mod.unwrap());
@@ -505,11 +481,7 @@ Result<ServerModsList> ServerModsList::parse(matjson::Value const& raw) {
     }
     payload.needs("count").into(list.totalModCount);
 
-    // Check for errors and return result
-    if (payload.isError()) {
-        return Err(payload.getError());
-    }
-    return Ok(list);
+    return payload.ok(list);
 }
 
 ModMetadata ServerModMetadata::latestVersion() const {
diff --git a/loader/src/ui/GeodeUI.cpp b/loader/src/ui/GeodeUI.cpp
index 9c1dce65..dff7dff6 100644
--- a/loader/src/ui/GeodeUI.cpp
+++ b/loader/src/ui/GeodeUI.cpp
@@ -147,10 +147,6 @@ Task<bool> geode::openInfoPopup(std::string const& modID) {
         return task;
     }
 }
-void geode::openIndexPopup(Mod* mod) {
-    // deprecated func
-    openInfoPopup(mod);
-}
 
 void geode::openChangelogPopup(Mod* mod) {
     auto popup = ModPopup::create(mod);
diff --git a/loader/src/utils/JsonValidation.cpp b/loader/src/utils/JsonValidation.cpp
index 71a5c908..1f1df324 100644
--- a/loader/src/utils/JsonValidation.cpp
+++ b/loader/src/utils/JsonValidation.cpp
@@ -3,165 +3,6 @@
 
 using namespace geode::prelude;
 
-matjson::Value& JsonMaybeSomething::json() {
-    return m_json;
-}
-
-JsonMaybeSomething::JsonMaybeSomething(
-    JsonChecker& checker, matjson::Value& json, std::string const& hierarchy, bool hasValue
-) :
-    m_checker(checker),
-    m_json(json), m_hierarchy(hierarchy), m_hasValue(hasValue) {}
-
-bool JsonMaybeSomething::isError() const {
-    return m_checker.isError() || !m_hasValue;
-}
-
-std::string JsonMaybeSomething::getError() const {
-    return m_checker.getError();
-}
-
-JsonMaybeSomething::operator bool() const {
-    return !isError();
-}
-
-void JsonMaybeSomething::setError(std::string const& error) {
-    m_checker.m_result = error;
-}
-
-JsonMaybeValue::JsonMaybeValue(
-    JsonChecker& checker, matjson::Value& json, std::string const& hierarchy, bool hasValue
-) : JsonMaybeSomething(checker, json, hierarchy, hasValue) {}
-
-JsonMaybeSomething& JsonMaybeValue::self() {
-    return *static_cast<JsonMaybeSomething*>(this);
-}
-
-JsonMaybeValue& JsonMaybeValue::array() {
-    this->as<value_t::Array>();
-    return *this;
-}
-
-JsonMaybeObject JsonMaybeValue::obj() {
-    this->as<value_t::Object>();
-    return JsonMaybeObject(self().m_checker, self().m_json, self().m_hierarchy, self().m_hasValue);
-}
-
-JsonMaybeValue JsonMaybeValue::at(size_t i) {
-    this->as<value_t::Array>();
-    if (this->isError()) return *this;
-
-    auto& json = self().m_json.as_array();
-    if (json.size() <= i) {
-        this->setError(
-            self().m_hierarchy + ": has " + std::to_string(json.size()) +
-            "items "
-            ", expected to have at least " +
-            std::to_string(i + 1)
-        );
-        return *this;
-    }
-    return JsonMaybeValue(
-        self().m_checker, json.at(i), self().m_hierarchy + "." + std::to_string(i), self().m_hasValue
-    );
-}
-
-typename JsonMaybeValue::template Iterator<JsonMaybeValue> JsonMaybeValue::iterate() {
-    this->as<value_t::Array>();
-    Iterator<JsonMaybeValue> iter;
-    if (this->isError()) return iter;
-
-    auto& json = self().m_json.as_array();
-    size_t i = 0;
-    for (auto& obj : json) {
-        iter.m_values.emplace_back(
-            self().m_checker, obj, self().m_hierarchy + "." + std::to_string(i++), self().m_hasValue
-        );
-    }
-    return iter;
-}
-
-typename JsonMaybeValue::template Iterator<std::pair<std::string, JsonMaybeValue>> JsonMaybeValue::items() {
-    this->as<value_t::Object>();
-    Iterator<std::pair<std::string, JsonMaybeValue>> iter;
-    if (this->isError()) return iter;
-
-    for (auto& [k, v] : self().m_json.as_object()) {
-        iter.m_values.emplace_back(
-            k,
-            JsonMaybeValue(self().m_checker, v, self().m_hierarchy + "." + k, self().m_hasValue)
-        );
-    }
-
-    return iter;
-}
-
-JsonMaybeObject::JsonMaybeObject(
-    JsonChecker& checker, matjson::Value& json, std::string const& hierarchy, bool hasValue
-) : JsonMaybeSomething(checker, json, hierarchy, hasValue) {}
-
-JsonMaybeSomething& JsonMaybeObject::self() {
-    return *static_cast<JsonMaybeSomething*>(this);
-}
-
-void JsonMaybeObject::addKnownKey(std::string const& key) {
-    m_knownKeys.insert(key);
-}
-
-matjson::Value& JsonMaybeObject::json() {
-    return self().m_json;
-}
-
-JsonMaybeValue JsonMaybeObject::emptyValue() {
-    return JsonMaybeValue(self().m_checker, self().m_json, "", false);
-}
-
-JsonMaybeValue JsonMaybeObject::has(std::string const& key) {
-    this->addKnownKey(key);
-    if (this->isError()) return emptyValue();
-    if (!self().m_json.contains(key) || self().m_json[key].is_null()) {
-        return emptyValue();
-    }
-    return JsonMaybeValue(self().m_checker, self().m_json[key], key, true);
-}
-
-JsonMaybeValue JsonMaybeObject::needs(std::string const& key) {
-    this->addKnownKey(key);
-    if (this->isError()) return emptyValue();
-    if (!self().m_json.contains(key)) {
-        this->setError(self().m_hierarchy + " is missing required key \"" + key + "\"");
-        return emptyValue();
-    }
-    return JsonMaybeValue(self().m_checker, self().m_json[key], key, true);
-}
-
-// TODO: gross hack :3 (ctrl+f this comment to find the other part)
-extern bool s_jsonCheckerShouldCheckUnknownKeys;
-bool s_jsonCheckerShouldCheckUnknownKeys = true;
-void JsonMaybeObject::checkUnknownKeys() {
-    if (!s_jsonCheckerShouldCheckUnknownKeys)
-        return;
-    for (auto& [key, _] : self().m_json.as_object()) {
-        if (!m_knownKeys.count(key)) {
-            log::warn("{} contains unknown key \"{}\"", self().m_hierarchy, key);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-JsonChecker::JsonChecker(matjson::Value& json) : m_json(json), m_result(std::monostate()) {}
-
-bool JsonChecker::isError() const {
-    return std::holds_alternative<std::string>(m_result);
-}
-
-std::string JsonChecker::getError() const {
-    return std::get<std::string>(m_result);
-}
-
-JsonMaybeValue JsonChecker::root(std::string const& hierarchy) {
-    return JsonMaybeValue(*this, m_json, hierarchy, true);
-}
-
 // This is used for null JsonExpectedValues (for example when doing 
 // `json.has("key")` where "key" doesn't exist)
 static matjson::Value NULL_SCOPED_VALUE = nullptr;
diff --git a/loader/src/utils/VersionInfo.cpp b/loader/src/utils/VersionInfo.cpp
index a2271344..069f674b 100644
--- a/loader/src/utils/VersionInfo.cpp
+++ b/loader/src/utils/VersionInfo.cpp
@@ -113,9 +113,6 @@ Result<VersionInfo> VersionInfo::parse(std::string const& string) {
     return Ok(VersionInfo(major, minor, patch, tag));
 }
 
-std::string VersionInfo::toString(bool includeTag) const {
-    return this->toVString();
-}
 std::string VersionInfo::toVString(bool includeTag) const {
     return fmt::format("v{}", this->toNonVString(includeTag));
 }