+-- getters
+bValToInteger :: BVal -> Maybe Integer
+bValToInteger (Bint x) = Just x
+bValToInteger _ = Nothing
+
+bValToBstr :: BVal -> Maybe ByteString
+bValToBstr (Bstr bs) = Just bs
+bValToBstr _ = Nothing
+
+bValToBList :: BVal -> Maybe [BVal]
+bValToBList (Blist lst) = Just lst
+bValToBList _ = Nothing
+
+bValToInfoDict :: BVal -> Maybe InfoDict
+bValToInfoDict (Bdict dict) = Just dict
+bValToInfoDict _ = Nothing
+
+bstrToString :: BVal -> Maybe String
+bstrToString bval = unpack <$> bValToBstr bval
+