diff --git a/compiler/compiler.go b/compiler/compiler.go
index faa5038a..e25cc673 100644
--- a/compiler/compiler.go
+++ b/compiler/compiler.go
@@ -84,12 +84,13 @@ type compilerContext struct {
 // importantly with a newly created LLVM context and module.
 func newCompilerContext(moduleName string, machine llvm.TargetMachine, config *Config, dumpSSA bool) *compilerContext {
 	c := &compilerContext{
-		Config:     config,
-		DumpSSA:    dumpSSA,
-		difiles:    make(map[string]llvm.Metadata),
-		ditypes:    make(map[types.Type]llvm.Metadata),
-		machine:    machine,
-		targetData: machine.CreateTargetData(),
+		Config:      config,
+		DumpSSA:     dumpSSA,
+		difiles:     make(map[string]llvm.Metadata),
+		ditypes:     make(map[types.Type]llvm.Metadata),
+		machine:     machine,
+		targetData:  machine.CreateTargetData(),
+		astComments: map[string]*ast.CommentGroup{},
 	}
 
 	c.ctx = llvm.NewContext()
@@ -251,12 +252,6 @@ func CompileProgram(lprogram *loader.Program, machine llvm.TargetMachine, config
 	c.program.Build()
 	c.runtimePkg = c.program.ImportedPackage("runtime").Pkg
 
-	// Run a simple dead code elimination pass.
-	functions, err := c.simpleDCE(lprogram)
-	if err != nil {
-		return llvm.Module{}, []error{err}
-	}
-
 	// Initialize debug information.
 	if c.Debug {
 		c.cu = c.dibuilder.CreateCompileUnit(llvm.DICompileUnit{
@@ -268,27 +263,22 @@ func CompileProgram(lprogram *loader.Program, machine llvm.TargetMachine, config
 		})
 	}
 
-	c.loadASTComments(lprogram)
+	for _, pkg := range lprogram.Sorted() {
+		c.loadASTComments(pkg)
+	}
 
 	// Predeclare the runtime.alloc function, which is used by the wordpack
 	// functionality.
 	c.getFunction(c.program.ImportedPackage("runtime").Members["alloc"].(*ssa.Function))
 
-	// Add definitions to declarations.
+	// Define all functions.
 	var initFuncs []llvm.Value
 	irbuilder := c.ctx.NewBuilder()
 	defer irbuilder.Dispose()
-	for _, f := range functions {
-		if f.Synthetic == "package initializer" {
-			initFuncs = append(initFuncs, c.getFunction(f))
-		}
-		if f.Blocks == nil {
-			continue // external function
-		}
-
-		// Create the function definition.
-		b := newBuilder(c, irbuilder, f)
-		b.createFunction()
+	for _, pkg := range lprogram.Sorted() {
+		ssaPkg := c.program.Package(pkg.Pkg)
+		c.createPackage(irbuilder, ssaPkg)
+		initFuncs = append(initFuncs, c.getFunction(ssaPkg.Members["init"].(*ssa.Function)))
 	}
 
 	// After all packages are imported, add a synthetic initializer function
@@ -341,38 +331,10 @@ func CompilePackage(moduleName string, pkg *loader.Package, machine llvm.TargetM
 	ssaPkg := pkg.LoadSSA()
 	ssaPkg.Build()
 
-	// Sort by position, so that the order of the functions in the IR matches
-	// the order of functions in the source file. This is useful for testing,
-	// for example.
-	var members []string
-	for name := range ssaPkg.Members {
-		members = append(members, name)
-	}
-	sort.Slice(members, func(i, j int) bool {
-		iPos := ssaPkg.Members[members[i]].Pos()
-		jPos := ssaPkg.Members[members[j]].Pos()
-		if i == j {
-			// Cannot sort by pos, so do it by name.
-			return members[i] < members[j]
-		}
-		return iPos < jPos
-	})
-
-	// Define all functions.
+	// Compile all functions, methods, and global variables in this package.
 	irbuilder := c.ctx.NewBuilder()
 	defer irbuilder.Dispose()
-	for _, name := range members {
-		member := ssaPkg.Members[name]
-		switch member := member.(type) {
-		case *ssa.Function:
-			if member.Blocks == nil {
-				continue // external function
-			}
-			// Create the function definition.
-			b := newBuilder(c, irbuilder, member)
-			b.createFunction()
-		}
-	}
+	c.createPackage(irbuilder, ssaPkg)
 
 	return c.mod, nil
 }
@@ -759,6 +721,83 @@ func (c *compilerContext) getDIFile(filename string) llvm.Metadata {
 	return c.difiles[filename]
 }
 
+// createPackage builds the LLVM IR for all types, methods, and global variables
+// in the given package.
+func (c *compilerContext) createPackage(irbuilder llvm.Builder, pkg *ssa.Package) {
+	// Sort by position, so that the order of the functions in the IR matches
+	// the order of functions in the source file. This is useful for testing,
+	// for example.
+	var members []string
+	for name := range pkg.Members {
+		members = append(members, name)
+	}
+	sort.Slice(members, func(i, j int) bool {
+		iPos := pkg.Members[members[i]].Pos()
+		jPos := pkg.Members[members[j]].Pos()
+		if i == j {
+			// Cannot sort by pos, so do it by name.
+			return members[i] < members[j]
+		}
+		return iPos < jPos
+	})
+
+	// Define all functions.
+	for _, name := range members {
+		member := pkg.Members[name]
+		switch member := member.(type) {
+		case *ssa.Function:
+			if member.Blocks == nil {
+				continue // external function
+			}
+			// Create the function definition.
+			b := newBuilder(c, irbuilder, member)
+			b.createFunction()
+		case *ssa.Type:
+			if types.IsInterface(member.Type()) {
+				// Interfaces don't have concrete methods.
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// Named type. We should make sure all methods are created.
+			// This includes both functions with pointer receivers and those
+			// without.
+			methods := getAllMethods(pkg.Prog, member.Type())
+			methods = append(methods, getAllMethods(pkg.Prog, types.NewPointer(member.Type()))...)
+			for _, method := range methods {
+				// Parse this method.
+				fn := pkg.Prog.MethodValue(method)
+				if fn.Blocks == nil {
+					continue // external function
+				}
+				if member.Type().String() != member.String() {
+					// This is a member on a type alias. Do not build such a
+					// function.
+					continue
+				}
+				if fn.Synthetic != "" && fn.Synthetic != "package initializer" {
+					// This function is a kind of wrapper function (created by
+					// the ssa package, not appearing in the source code) that
+					// is created by the getFunction method as needed.
+					// Therefore, don't build it here to avoid "function
+					// redeclared" errors.
+					continue
+				}
+				// Create the function definition.
+				b := newBuilder(c, irbuilder, fn)
+				b.createFunction()
+			}
+		case *ssa.Global:
+			// Global variable.
+			info := c.getGlobalInfo(member)
+			if !info.extern {
+				global := c.getGlobal(member)
+				global.SetInitializer(llvm.ConstNull(global.Type().ElementType()))
+				global.SetLinkage(llvm.InternalLinkage)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // createFunction builds the LLVM IR implementation for this function. The
 // function must not yet be defined, otherwise this function will create a
 // diagnostic.
@@ -767,7 +806,7 @@ func (b *builder) createFunction() {
 		fmt.Printf("\nfunc %s:\n", b.fn)
 	}
 	if !b.llvmFn.IsDeclaration() {
-		errValue := b.fn.Name() + " redeclared in this program"
+		errValue := b.llvmFn.Name() + " redeclared in this program"
 		fnPos := getPosition(b.llvmFn)
 		if fnPos.IsValid() {
 			errValue += "\n\tprevious declaration at " + fnPos.String()
@@ -948,6 +987,12 @@ func (b *builder) createFunction() {
 			b.trackValue(phi.llvm)
 		}
 	}
+
+	// Create anonymous functions (closures etc.).
+	for _, sub := range b.fn.AnonFuncs {
+		b := newBuilder(b.compilerContext, b.Builder, sub)
+		b.createFunction()
+	}
 }
 
 // createInstruction builds the LLVM IR equivalent instructions for the
diff --git a/compiler/passes.go b/compiler/passes.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 092f5f0b..00000000
--- a/compiler/passes.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,164 +0,0 @@
-package compiler
-
-// This file implements a simple reachability analysis, to reduce compile time.
-// This DCE pass used to be necessary for improving other passes but now it
-// isn't necessary anymore.
-
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"go/types"
-	"sort"
-
-	"github.com/tinygo-org/tinygo/loader"
-	"golang.org/x/tools/go/ssa"
-)
-
-type dceState struct {
-	*compilerContext
-	functions   []*dceFunction
-	functionMap map[*ssa.Function]*dceFunction
-}
-
-type dceFunction struct {
-	*ssa.Function
-	functionInfo
-	flag bool // used by dead code elimination
-}
-
-func (p *dceState) addFunction(ssaFn *ssa.Function) {
-	if _, ok := p.functionMap[ssaFn]; ok {
-		return
-	}
-	f := &dceFunction{Function: ssaFn}
-	f.functionInfo = p.getFunctionInfo(ssaFn)
-	p.functions = append(p.functions, f)
-	p.functionMap[ssaFn] = f
-
-	for _, anon := range ssaFn.AnonFuncs {
-		p.addFunction(anon)
-	}
-}
-
-// simpleDCE returns a list of alive functions in the program. Compiling only
-// these functions makes the compiler faster.
-//
-// This functionality will likely be replaced in the future with build caching.
-func (c *compilerContext) simpleDCE(lprogram *loader.Program) ([]*ssa.Function, error) {
-	mainPkg := c.program.Package(lprogram.MainPkg().Pkg)
-	if mainPkg == nil {
-		panic("could not find main package")
-	}
-	p := &dceState{
-		compilerContext: c,
-		functionMap:     make(map[*ssa.Function]*dceFunction),
-	}
-
-	for _, pkg := range lprogram.Sorted() {
-		pkg := c.program.Package(pkg.Pkg)
-		memberNames := make([]string, 0)
-		for name := range pkg.Members {
-			memberNames = append(memberNames, name)
-		}
-		sort.Strings(memberNames)
-
-		for _, name := range memberNames {
-			member := pkg.Members[name]
-			switch member := member.(type) {
-			case *ssa.Function:
-				p.addFunction(member)
-			case *ssa.Type:
-				methods := getAllMethods(pkg.Prog, member.Type())
-				if !types.IsInterface(member.Type()) {
-					// named type
-					for _, method := range methods {
-						p.addFunction(pkg.Prog.MethodValue(method))
-					}
-				}
-			case *ssa.Global:
-				// Ignore. Globals are not handled here.
-			case *ssa.NamedConst:
-				// Ignore: these are already resolved.
-			default:
-				panic("unknown member type: " + member.String())
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Initial set of live functions. Include main.main, *.init and runtime.*
-	// functions.
-	main, ok := mainPkg.Members["main"].(*ssa.Function)
-	if !ok {
-		if mainPkg.Members["main"] == nil {
-			return nil, errors.New("function main is undeclared in the main package")
-		} else {
-			return nil, errors.New("cannot declare main - must be func")
-		}
-	}
-	runtimePkg := c.program.ImportedPackage("runtime")
-	mathPkg := c.program.ImportedPackage("math")
-	taskPkg := c.program.ImportedPackage("internal/task")
-	p.functionMap[main].flag = true
-	worklist := []*ssa.Function{main}
-	for _, f := range p.functions {
-		if f.exported || f.Synthetic == "package initializer" || f.Pkg == runtimePkg || f.Pkg == taskPkg || (f.Pkg == mathPkg && f.Pkg != nil) {
-			if f.flag {
-				continue
-			}
-			f.flag = true
-			worklist = append(worklist, f.Function)
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Mark all called functions recursively.
-	for len(worklist) != 0 {
-		f := worklist[len(worklist)-1]
-		worklist = worklist[:len(worklist)-1]
-		for _, block := range f.Blocks {
-			for _, instr := range block.Instrs {
-				if instr, ok := instr.(*ssa.MakeInterface); ok {
-					for _, sel := range getAllMethods(c.program, instr.X.Type()) {
-						fn := c.program.MethodValue(sel)
-						callee := p.functionMap[fn]
-						if callee == nil {
-							// TODO: why is this necessary?
-							p.addFunction(fn)
-							callee = p.functionMap[fn]
-						}
-						if !callee.flag {
-							callee.flag = true
-							worklist = append(worklist, callee.Function)
-						}
-					}
-				}
-				for _, operand := range instr.Operands(nil) {
-					if operand == nil || *operand == nil {
-						continue
-					}
-					switch operand := (*operand).(type) {
-					case *ssa.Function:
-						f := p.functionMap[operand]
-						if f == nil {
-							// FIXME HACK: this function should have been
-							// discovered already. It is not for bound methods.
-							p.addFunction(operand)
-							f = p.functionMap[operand]
-						}
-						if !f.flag {
-							f.flag = true
-							worklist = append(worklist, operand)
-						}
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Return all live functions.
-	liveFunctions := []*ssa.Function{}
-	for _, f := range p.functions {
-		if f.flag {
-			liveFunctions = append(liveFunctions, f.Function)
-		}
-	}
-	return liveFunctions, nil
-}
diff --git a/compiler/symbol.go b/compiler/symbol.go
index b819b5ab..ea0b01d1 100644
--- a/compiler/symbol.go
+++ b/compiler/symbol.go
@@ -172,6 +172,21 @@ func (c *compilerContext) getFunction(fn *ssa.Function) llvm.Value {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Synthetic functions are functions that do not appear in the source code,
+	// they are artificially constructed. Usually they are wrapper functions
+	// that are not referenced anywhere except in a SSA call instruction so
+	// should be created right away.
+	// The exception is the package initializer, which does appear in the
+	// *ssa.Package members and so shouldn't be created here.
+	if fn.Synthetic != "" && fn.Synthetic != "package initializer" {
+		irbuilder := c.ctx.NewBuilder()
+		b := newBuilder(c, irbuilder, fn)
+		b.createFunction()
+		irbuilder.Dispose()
+		llvmFn.SetLinkage(llvm.InternalLinkage)
+		llvmFn.SetUnnamedAddr(true)
+	}
+
 	return llvmFn
 }
 
@@ -289,25 +304,22 @@ type globalInfo struct {
 
 // loadASTComments loads comments on globals from the AST, for use later in the
 // program. In particular, they are required for //go:extern pragmas on globals.
-func (c *compilerContext) loadASTComments(lprogram *loader.Program) {
-	c.astComments = map[string]*ast.CommentGroup{}
-	for _, pkgInfo := range lprogram.Sorted() {
-		for _, file := range pkgInfo.Files {
-			for _, decl := range file.Decls {
-				switch decl := decl.(type) {
-				case *ast.GenDecl:
-					switch decl.Tok {
-					case token.VAR:
-						if len(decl.Specs) != 1 {
-							continue
-						}
-						for _, spec := range decl.Specs {
-							switch spec := spec.(type) {
-							case *ast.ValueSpec: // decl.Tok == token.VAR
-								for _, name := range spec.Names {
-									id := pkgInfo.Pkg.Path() + "." + name.Name
-									c.astComments[id] = decl.Doc
-								}
+func (c *compilerContext) loadASTComments(pkg *loader.Package) {
+	for _, file := range pkg.Files {
+		for _, decl := range file.Decls {
+			switch decl := decl.(type) {
+			case *ast.GenDecl:
+				switch decl.Tok {
+				case token.VAR:
+					if len(decl.Specs) != 1 {
+						continue
+					}
+					for _, spec := range decl.Specs {
+						switch spec := spec.(type) {
+						case *ast.ValueSpec: // decl.Tok == token.VAR
+							for _, name := range spec.Names {
+								id := pkg.Pkg.Path() + "." + name.Name
+								c.astComments[id] = decl.Doc
 							}
 						}
 					}
@@ -326,10 +338,6 @@ func (c *compilerContext) getGlobal(g *ssa.Global) llvm.Value {
 		typ := g.Type().(*types.Pointer).Elem()
 		llvmType := c.getLLVMType(typ)
 		llvmGlobal = llvm.AddGlobal(c.mod, llvmType, info.linkName)
-		if !info.extern {
-			llvmGlobal.SetInitializer(llvm.ConstNull(llvmType))
-			llvmGlobal.SetLinkage(llvm.InternalLinkage)
-		}
 
 		// Set alignment from the //go:align comment.
 		var alignInBits uint32
@@ -347,8 +355,6 @@ func (c *compilerContext) getGlobal(g *ssa.Global) llvm.Value {
 
 		if c.Debug && !info.extern {
 			// Add debug info.
-			// TODO: this should be done for every global in the program, not just
-			// the ones that are referenced from some code.
 			pos := c.program.Fset.Position(g.Pos())
 			diglobal := c.dibuilder.CreateGlobalVariableExpression(c.difiles[pos.Filename], llvm.DIGlobalVariableExpression{
 				Name:        g.RelString(nil),