diff --git a/BRANCH_TODO b/BRANCH_TODO
index 5ddc34a099..29cafe75c4 100644
--- a/BRANCH_TODO
+++ b/BRANCH_TODO
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
+* remove Cache from configurer
 * implement the build options
 * don't forget to add -listen arg back
 * get zig init template working
 * finish migrating the rest of the build steps
 * make zig-pkg path root configurable in maker (make sure --system still works)
 * eliminate calls to getPath, getPath2, getPath3
-* replace b.dupe() with string internment
 * solve the TODOs added in this branch
 * get zig tests passing
 * test a bunch of third party projects / help people migrate
diff --git a/lib/compiler/configurer.zig b/lib/compiler/configurer.zig
index 816f71158c..ad59f57f91 100644
--- a/lib/compiler/configurer.zig
+++ b/lib/compiler/configurer.zig
@@ -24,31 +24,22 @@ pub const std_options: std.Options = .{
 };
 
 pub fn main(init: process.Init.Minimal) !void {
-    // The build runner is often short-lived, but thanks to `--watch` and `--webui`, that's not
-    // always the case. So, we do need a true gpa for some things.
-    var debug_gpa_state: std.heap.DebugAllocator(.{
-        // We'd rather have `zig build` run faster than catch harmless leaks in
-        // the user's build.zig script.
-        .stack_trace_frames = 0,
-    }) = .init;
-    defer _ = debug_gpa_state.deinit();
-    const gpa = debug_gpa_state.allocator();
+    var arena_allocator: std.heap.ArenaAllocator = .init(std.heap.page_allocator);
+    defer arena_allocator.deinit();
+    const arena = arena_allocator.allocator();
 
-    var threaded: std.Io.Threaded = .init(gpa, .{
+    // The configurer is always short-lived because all it does is serialize
+    // the configuration, which is picked up by a separate maker process.
+    var threaded: std.Io.Threaded = .init(arena, .{
         .environ = init.environ,
         .argv0 = .init(init.args),
     });
     defer threaded.deinit();
     const io = threaded.io();
 
-    // ...but we'll back our arena by `std.heap.page_allocator` for efficiency.
-    var arena_allocator: std.heap.ArenaAllocator = .init(std.heap.page_allocator);
-    defer arena_allocator.deinit();
-    const arena = arena_allocator.allocator();
-
     const args = try init.args.toSlice(arena);
 
-    // skip my own exe name
+    // Skip own executable name.
     var arg_idx: usize = 1;
 
     const zig_exe = expectArgOrFatal(args, &arg_idx, "--zig");
@@ -84,7 +75,7 @@ pub fn main(init: process.Init.Minimal) !void {
         .arena = arena,
         .cache = .{
             .io = io,
-            .gpa = gpa,
+            .gpa = arena,
             .manifest_dir = try local_cache_directory.handle.createDirPathOpen(io, "h", .{}),
             .cwd = try process.currentPathAlloc(io, arena),
         },
@@ -97,7 +88,18 @@ pub fn main(init: process.Init.Minimal) !void {
             .result = try std.zig.system.resolveTargetQuery(io, .{}),
         },
         .generated_files = .empty,
+
+        // Created before running the user's configure script so that some things
+        // can be added during script execution such as strings.
+        //
+        // Use of arena here is load-bearing because `std.Build.dupe` is
+        // implemented by string internment, and then returning the interned
+        // slice. When the string bytes array is reallocated, that reference
+        // must stay alive.
+        .wip_configuration = .init(arena),
     };
+    assert(try graph.wip_configuration.addString("") == .empty);
+    assert(try graph.wip_configuration.addString("root") == .root);
 
     graph.cache.addPrefix(.{ .path = null, .handle = cwd });
     graph.cache.addPrefix(build_root_directory);
@@ -200,19 +202,15 @@ pub fn main(init: process.Init.Minimal) !void {
         fatal("  access the help menu with 'zig build -h'", .{});
     }
 
-    var wc: Configuration.Wip = .init(gpa);
-    defer wc.deinit();
-    assert(try wc.addString("") == .empty);
-    assert(try wc.addString("root") == .root);
-
-    try serializeSystemIntegrationOptions(&graph, &wc);
+    try serializeSystemIntegrationOptions(&graph, &graph.wip_configuration);
 
     var stdout_buffer: [1024]u8 = undefined;
     var file_writer = Io.File.stdout().writerStreaming(io, &stdout_buffer);
-    serialize(builder, &wc, &file_writer.interface) catch |err| switch (err) {
+    serialize(builder, &graph.wip_configuration, &file_writer.interface) catch |err| switch (err) {
         error.WriteFailed => fatal("failed to write configuration output: {t}", .{file_writer.err.?}),
         error.OutOfMemory => |e| return e,
     };
+    file_writer.flush() catch |err| fatal("failed to write configuration output: {t}", .{err});
 
     // This executable is short-lived and run in Debug mode, so we'd rather
     // have `zig build` run faster than catch resource leaks in the user's
diff --git a/lib/std/Build.zig b/lib/std/Build.zig
index cfe9dfa946..bc9e1e98a0 100644
--- a/lib/std/Build.zig
+++ b/lib/std/Build.zig
@@ -115,11 +115,37 @@ pub const Graph = struct {
 
     /// Indexes correspond to `Configuration.GeneratedFileIndex`.
     generated_files: std.ArrayList(*Step),
+    wip_configuration: Configuration.Wip,
 
     pub fn addGeneratedFile(graph: *Graph, owner: *Step) Configuration.GeneratedFileIndex {
         graph.generated_files.append(graph.arena, owner) catch @panic("OOM");
         return @enumFromInt(graph.generated_files.items.len - 1);
     }
+
+    pub fn dupeString(graph: *Graph, bytes: []const u8) [:0]const u8 {
+        // This code assumes the `Configuration.Wip` uses arena allocation such
+        // that references to string_bytes never die even when the ArrayList is
+        // reallocated.
+        const wc = &graph.wip_configuration;
+        const i = wc.addString(bytes) catch @panic("OOM");
+        return wc.string_bytes.items[@intFromEnum(i)..][0..bytes.len :0];
+    }
+
+    pub fn dupePath(graph: *Graph, bytes: []const u8) [:0]const u8 {
+        if (builtin.os.tag != .windows) return dupeString(graph, bytes);
+        const arena = graph.arena;
+        const the_copy = arena.dupe(u8, bytes) catch @panic("OOM");
+        defer arena.free(the_copy);
+        mem.replaceScalar(u8, the_copy, '/', '\\');
+        return dupeString(graph, the_copy);
+    }
+
+    pub fn dupeStrings(graph: *Graph, strings: []const []const u8) []const []const u8 {
+        const arena = graph.arena;
+        const array = arena.alloc([]const u8, strings.len) catch @panic("OOM");
+        for (array, strings) |*dest, source| dest.* = dupeString(graph, source);
+        return array;
+    }
 };
 
 const AvailableDeps = []const struct { []const u8, []const u8 };
@@ -869,36 +895,18 @@ pub fn addConfigHeader(
     return config_header_step;
 }
 
-/// Allocator.dupe without the need to handle out of memory.
-pub fn dupe(b: *Build, bytes: []const u8) []u8 {
-    return dupeInner(b.allocator, bytes);
-}
-
-pub fn dupeInner(allocator: Allocator, bytes: []const u8) []u8 {
-    return allocator.dupe(u8, bytes) catch @panic("OOM");
+pub fn dupe(b: *Build, bytes: []const u8) [:0]const u8 {
+    return b.graph.dupeString(bytes);
 }
 
 /// Duplicates an array of strings without the need to handle out of memory.
-pub fn dupeStrings(b: *Build, strings: []const []const u8) [][]u8 {
-    const array = b.allocator.alloc([]u8, strings.len) catch @panic("OOM");
-    for (array, strings) |*dest, source| dest.* = b.dupe(source);
-    return array;
+pub fn dupeStrings(b: *Build, strings: []const []const u8) []const []const u8 {
+    return b.graph.dupeStrings(strings);
 }
 
-/// Duplicates a path and converts all slashes to the OS's canonical path separator.
-pub fn dupePath(b: *Build, bytes: []const u8) []u8 {
-    return dupePathInner(b.allocator, bytes);
-}
-
-fn dupePathInner(allocator: Allocator, bytes: []const u8) []u8 {
-    const the_copy = dupeInner(allocator, bytes);
-    for (the_copy) |*byte| {
-        switch (byte.*) {
-            '/', '\\' => byte.* = fs.path.sep,
-            else => {},
-        }
-    }
-    return the_copy;
+/// Duplicates a path, canonicalizing path separators.
+pub fn dupePath(b: *Build, bytes: []const u8) [:0]const u8 {
+    return b.graph.dupePath(bytes);
 }
 
 pub fn addWriteFile(b: *Build, file_path: []const u8, data: []const u8) *Step.WriteFile {
@@ -2268,25 +2276,18 @@ pub const LazyPath = union(enum) {
     ///
     /// The `b` parameter is only used for its allocator. All *Build instances
     /// share the same allocator.
-    pub fn dupe(lazy_path: LazyPath, b: *Build) LazyPath {
-        return lazy_path.dupeInner(b.allocator);
-    }
-
-    fn dupeInner(lazy_path: LazyPath, allocator: Allocator) LazyPath {
+    pub fn dupe(lazy_path: LazyPath, graph: *Graph) LazyPath {
         return switch (lazy_path) {
-            .src_path => |sp| .{ .src_path = .{
-                .owner = sp.owner,
-                .sub_path = sp.owner.dupePath(sp.sub_path),
-            } },
-            .cwd_relative => |p| .{ .cwd_relative = dupePathInner(allocator, p) },
+            .src_path => |sp| .{ .src_path = .{ .owner = sp.owner, .sub_path = sp.owner.dupePath(sp.sub_path) } },
+            .cwd_relative => |p| .{ .cwd_relative = graph.dupePath(p) },
             .generated => |gen| .{ .generated = .{
                 .index = gen.index,
                 .up = gen.up,
-                .sub_path = dupePathInner(allocator, gen.sub_path),
+                .sub_path = graph.dupePath(gen.sub_path),
             } },
             .dependency => |dep| .{ .dependency = .{
                 .dependency = dep.dependency,
-                .sub_path = dupePathInner(allocator, dep.sub_path),
+                .sub_path = graph.dupePath(dep.sub_path),
             } },
         };
     }
diff --git a/lib/std/Build/Configuration.zig b/lib/std/Build/Configuration.zig
index 7c4f06562d..47fe0009a6 100644
--- a/lib/std/Build/Configuration.zig
+++ b/lib/std/Build/Configuration.zig
@@ -1419,13 +1419,6 @@ pub const Path = extern struct {
         global_cache,
         build_root,
     };
-
-    pub fn toCachePath(path: Path, c: *const Configuration, arena: Allocator) std.Build.Cache.Path {
-        _ = c;
-        _ = arena;
-        _ = path;
-        @panic("TODO");
-    }
 };
 
 pub const InstallDestDir = enum(u32) {
diff --git a/lib/std/Build/Module.zig b/lib/std/Build/Module.zig
index 22100e1b2e..1c271023ef 100644
--- a/lib/std/Build/Module.zig
+++ b/lib/std/Build/Module.zig
@@ -240,13 +240,14 @@ pub fn init(
     owner: *std.Build,
     value: union(enum) { options: CreateOptions, existing: *const Module },
 ) void {
-    const allocator = owner.allocator;
+    const graph = owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
 
     switch (value) {
         .options => |options| {
             m.* = .{
                 .owner = owner,
-                .root_source_file = if (options.root_source_file) |lp| lp.dupe(owner) else null,
+                .root_source_file = if (options.root_source_file) |lp| lp.dupe(graph) else null,
                 .import_table = .empty,
                 .resolved_target = options.target,
                 .optimize = options.optimize,
@@ -277,7 +278,7 @@ pub fn init(
                 .no_builtin = options.no_builtin,
             };
 
-            m.import_table.ensureUnusedCapacity(allocator, options.imports.len) catch @panic("OOM");
+            m.import_table.ensureUnusedCapacity(arena, options.imports.len) catch @panic("OOM");
             for (options.imports) |dep| {
                 m.import_table.putAssumeCapacity(dep.name, dep.module);
             }
diff --git a/lib/std/Build/Step/Compile.zig b/lib/std/Build/Step/Compile.zig
index d9c1a283e1..b48a3c114e 100644
--- a/lib/std/Build/Step/Compile.zig
+++ b/lib/std/Build/Step/Compile.zig
@@ -296,10 +296,10 @@ pub const HeaderInstallation = union(enum) {
         source: LazyPath,
         dest_rel_path: []const u8,
 
-        pub fn dupe(file: File, b: *std.Build) File {
+        pub fn dupe(file: File, graph: *std.Build.Graph) File {
             return .{
-                .source = file.source.dupe(b),
-                .dest_rel_path = b.dupePath(file.dest_rel_path),
+                .source = file.source.dupe(graph),
+                .dest_rel_path = graph.dupePath(file.dest_rel_path),
             };
         }
     };
@@ -424,13 +424,13 @@ pub fn create(owner: *std.Build, options: Options) *Compile {
     };
 
     if (options.zig_lib_dir) |lp| {
-        compile.zig_lib_dir = lp.dupe(compile.step.owner);
+        compile.zig_lib_dir = lp.dupe(graph);
         lp.addStepDependencies(&compile.step);
     }
 
     if (options.test_runner) |runner| {
         compile.test_runner = .{
-            .path = runner.path.dupe(compile.step.owner),
+            .path = runner.path.dupe(graph),
             .mode = runner.mode,
         };
         runner.path.addStepDependencies(&compile.step);
@@ -440,20 +440,20 @@ pub fn create(owner: *std.Build, options: Options) *Compile {
     // gets embedded, so for any other target the manifest file is just ignored.
     if (target.ofmt == .coff) {
         if (options.win32_manifest) |lp| {
-            compile.win32_manifest = lp.dupe(compile.step.owner);
+            compile.win32_manifest = lp.dupe(graph);
             lp.addStepDependencies(&compile.step);
         }
         if (compile.kind == .lib and compile.linkage != null and compile.linkage.? == .dynamic) {
             // Building a Win32 DLL, check for win32 .def file.
             if (options.win32_module_definition) |lp| {
-                compile.win32_module_definition = lp.dupe(compile.step.owner);
+                compile.win32_module_definition = lp.dupe(graph);
                 lp.addStepDependencies(&compile.step);
             }
         }
     }
 
     if (options.entitlements) |lp| {
-        compile.entitlements = lp.dupe(compile.step.owner);
+        compile.entitlements = lp.dupe(graph);
         lp.addStepDependencies(&compile.step);
     }
 
@@ -464,12 +464,13 @@ pub fn create(owner: *std.Build, options: Options) *Compile {
 /// When a module links with this artifact, all headers marked for installation are added to that
 /// module's include search path.
 pub fn installHeader(cs: *Compile, source: LazyPath, dest_rel_path: []const u8) void {
-    const b = cs.step.owner;
+    const graph = cs.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
     const installation: HeaderInstallation = .{ .file = .{
-        .source = source.dupe(b),
-        .dest_rel_path = b.dupePath(dest_rel_path),
+        .source = source.dupe(graph),
+        .dest_rel_path = graph.dupePath(dest_rel_path),
     } };
-    cs.installed_headers.append(b.allocator, installation) catch @panic("OOM");
+    cs.installed_headers.append(arena, installation) catch @panic("OOM");
     cs.addHeaderInstallationToIncludeTree(installation);
     installation.getSource().addStepDependencies(&cs.step);
 }
@@ -483,13 +484,14 @@ pub fn installHeadersDirectory(
     dest_rel_path: []const u8,
     options: HeaderInstallation.Directory.Options,
 ) void {
-    const b = cs.step.owner;
+    const graph = cs.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
     const installation: HeaderInstallation = .{ .directory = .{
-        .source = source.dupe(b),
-        .dest_rel_path = b.dupePath(dest_rel_path),
-        .options = options.dupe(b),
+        .source = source.dupe(graph),
+        .dest_rel_path = graph.dupePath(dest_rel_path),
+        .options = options.dupe(graph),
     } };
-    cs.installed_headers.append(b.allocator, installation) catch @panic("OOM");
+    cs.installed_headers.append(arena, installation) catch @panic("OOM");
     cs.addHeaderInstallationToIncludeTree(installation);
     installation.getSource().addStepDependencies(&cs.step);
 }
@@ -506,9 +508,10 @@ pub fn installConfigHeader(cs: *Compile, config_header: *Step.ConfigHeader) void
 /// module's include search path.
 pub fn installLibraryHeaders(cs: *Compile, lib: *Compile) void {
     assert(lib.kind == .lib);
-    const arena = cs.owner.allocator;
+    const graph = cs.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
     for (lib.installed_headers.items) |installation| {
-        const installation_copy = installation.dupe(lib.step.owner);
+        const installation_copy = installation.dupe(graph);
         cs.installed_headers.append(arena, installation_copy) catch @panic("OOM");
         cs.addHeaderInstallationToIncludeTree(installation_copy);
         installation_copy.getSource().addStepDependencies(&cs.step);
@@ -560,21 +563,21 @@ pub fn checkObject(compile: *Compile) *Step.CheckObject {
 }
 
 pub fn setLinkerScript(compile: *Compile, source: LazyPath) void {
-    const b = compile.step.owner;
-    compile.linker_script = source.dupe(b);
+    const graph = compile.step.owner.graph;
+    compile.linker_script = source.dupe(graph);
     source.addStepDependencies(&compile.step);
 }
 
 pub fn setVersionScript(compile: *Compile, source: LazyPath) void {
-    const b = compile.step.owner;
-    compile.version_script = source.dupe(b);
+    const graph = compile.step.owner.graph;
+    compile.version_script = source.dupe(graph);
     source.addStepDependencies(&compile.step);
 }
 
 pub fn forceUndefinedSymbol(compile: *Compile, symbol_name: []const u8) void {
-    const b = compile.step.owner;
-    const arena = b.allocator;
-    compile.force_undefined_symbols.put(arena, b.dupe(symbol_name), {}) catch @panic("OOM");
+    const graph = compile.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.allocator;
+    compile.force_undefined_symbols.put(arena, graph.dupeString(symbol_name), {}) catch @panic("OOM");
 }
 
 /// Returns whether the library, executable, or object depends on a particular system library.
@@ -659,9 +662,9 @@ pub fn setVerboseCC(compile: *Compile, value: bool) void {
 }
 
 pub fn setLibCFile(compile: *Compile, libc_file: ?LazyPath) void {
-    const b = compile.step.owner;
+    const graph = compile.step.owner.graph;
     if (libc_file) |f| {
-        compile.libc_file = f.dupe(b);
+        compile.libc_file = f.dupe(graph);
         f.addStepDependencies(&compile.step);
     } else {
         compile.libc_file = null;
@@ -737,11 +740,12 @@ pub fn getEmittedLlvmBc(compile: *Compile) LazyPath {
 }
 
 pub fn setExecCmd(compile: *Compile, args: []const ?[]const u8) void {
-    const b = compile.step.owner;
+    const graph = compile.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
     assert(compile.kind == .@"test");
-    const duped_args = b.allocator.alloc(?[]u8, args.len) catch @panic("OOM");
+    const duped_args = arena.alloc(?[]u8, args.len) catch @panic("OOM");
     for (args, 0..) |arg, i| {
-        duped_args[i] = if (arg) |a| b.dupe(a) else null;
+        duped_args[i] = if (arg) |a| graph.dupeString(a) else null;
     }
     compile.exec_cmd_args = duped_args;
 }
diff --git a/lib/std/Build/Step/Run.zig b/lib/std/Build/Step/Run.zig
index e51be09242..f55074109c 100644
--- a/lib/std/Build/Step/Run.zig
+++ b/lib/std/Build/Step/Run.zig
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ pub const Arg = union(enum) {
     lazy_path: PrefixedLazyPath,
     decorated_directory: DecoratedLazyPath,
     file_content: PrefixedLazyPath,
-    bytes: []u8,
+    bytes: [:0]const u8,
     output_file: *Output,
     output_directory: *Output,
     /// The arguments passed after "--" on the "zig build" CLI.
@@ -228,13 +228,14 @@ pub fn addArtifactArg(run: *Run, artifact: *Step.Compile) void {
 }
 
 pub fn addPrefixedArtifactArg(run: *Run, prefix: []const u8, artifact: *Step.Compile) void {
-    const b = run.step.owner;
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
 
     const prefixed_artifact: PrefixedArtifact = .{
-        .prefix = b.dupe(prefix),
+        .prefix = graph.dupeString(prefix),
         .artifact = artifact,
     };
-    run.argv.append(b.allocator, .{ .artifact = prefixed_artifact }) catch @panic("OOM");
+    run.argv.append(arena, .{ .artifact = prefixed_artifact }) catch @panic("OOM");
 
     const bin_file = artifact.getEmittedBin();
     bin_file.addStepDependencies(&run.step);
@@ -279,8 +280,8 @@ pub fn addPrefixedOutputFileArg(
 
     const output = arena.create(Output) catch @panic("OOM");
     output.* = .{
-        .prefix = b.dupe(prefix),
-        .basename = b.dupe(basename),
+        .prefix = graph.dupeString(prefix),
+        .basename = graph.dupeString(basename),
         .generated_file = graph.addGeneratedFile(&run.step),
     };
     run.argv.append(arena, .{ .output_file = output }) catch @panic("OOM");
@@ -318,13 +319,14 @@ pub fn addFileArg(run: *Run, lp: std.Build.LazyPath) void {
 /// * `addFileArg` - same thing but without the prefix
 /// * `addOutputFileArg` - for files generated by the child process
 pub fn addPrefixedFileArg(run: *Run, prefix: []const u8, lp: std.Build.LazyPath) void {
-    const b = run.step.owner;
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
 
     const prefixed_file_source: PrefixedLazyPath = .{
-        .prefix = b.dupe(prefix),
-        .lazy_path = lp.dupe(b),
+        .prefix = graph.dupeString(prefix),
+        .lazy_path = lp.dupe(graph),
     };
-    run.argv.append(b.allocator, .{ .lazy_path = prefixed_file_source }) catch @panic("OOM");
+    run.argv.append(arena, .{ .lazy_path = prefixed_file_source }) catch @panic("OOM");
     lp.addStepDependencies(&run.step);
 }
 
@@ -365,7 +367,8 @@ pub fn addFileContentArg(run: *Run, lp: std.Build.LazyPath) void {
 /// Related:
 /// * `addFileContentArg` - same thing but without the prefix
 pub fn addPrefixedFileContentArg(run: *Run, prefix: []const u8, lp: std.Build.LazyPath) void {
-    const b = run.step.owner;
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
 
     // Some parts of this step's configure phase API rely on the first argument being somewhat
     // transparent/readable, but the content of the file specified by `lp` remains completely
@@ -375,10 +378,10 @@ pub fn addPrefixedFileContentArg(run: *Run, prefix: []const u8, lp: std.Build.La
     }
 
     const prefixed_file_source: PrefixedLazyPath = .{
-        .prefix = b.dupe(prefix),
-        .lazy_path = lp.dupe(b),
+        .prefix = graph.dupeString(prefix),
+        .lazy_path = lp.dupe(graph),
     };
-    run.argv.append(b.allocator, .{ .file_content = prefixed_file_source }) catch @panic("OOM");
+    run.argv.append(arena, .{ .file_content = prefixed_file_source }) catch @panic("OOM");
     lp.addStepDependencies(&run.step);
 }
 
@@ -415,18 +418,19 @@ pub fn addPrefixedOutputDirectoryArg(
     basename: []const u8,
 ) std.Build.LazyPath {
     if (basename.len == 0) @panic("basename must not be empty");
-    const b = run.step.owner;
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
 
-    const output = b.allocator.create(Output) catch @panic("OOM");
+    const output = arena.create(Output) catch @panic("OOM");
     output.* = .{
-        .prefix = b.dupe(prefix),
-        .basename = b.dupe(basename),
+        .prefix = graph.dupeString(prefix),
+        .basename = graph.dupeString(basename),
         .generated_file = .{ .step = &run.step },
     };
-    run.argv.append(b.allocator, .{ .output_directory = output }) catch @panic("OOM");
+    run.argv.append(arena, .{ .output_directory = output }) catch @panic("OOM");
 
     if (run.rename_step_with_output_arg) {
-        run.setName(b.fmt("{s} ({s})", .{ run.step.name, basename }));
+        run.setName(std.fmt.allocPrint(arena, "{s} ({s})", .{ run.step.name, basename }) catch @panic("OOM"));
     }
 
     return .{ .generated = .{ .file = &output.generated_file } };
@@ -437,10 +441,11 @@ pub fn addDirectoryArg(run: *Run, lazy_directory: std.Build.LazyPath) void {
 }
 
 pub fn addPrefixedDirectoryArg(run: *Run, prefix: []const u8, lazy_directory: std.Build.LazyPath) void {
-    const b = run.step.owner;
-    run.argv.append(b.allocator, .{ .decorated_directory = .{
-        .prefix = b.dupe(prefix),
-        .lazy_path = lazy_directory.dupe(b),
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
+    run.argv.append(arena, .{ .decorated_directory = .{
+        .prefix = graph.dupeString(prefix),
+        .lazy_path = lazy_directory.dupe(graph),
         .suffix = "",
     } }) catch @panic("OOM");
     lazy_directory.addStepDependencies(&run.step);
@@ -452,11 +457,12 @@ pub fn addDecoratedDirectoryArg(
     lazy_directory: std.Build.LazyPath,
     suffix: []const u8,
 ) void {
-    const b = run.step.owner;
-    run.argv.append(b.allocator, .{ .decorated_directory = .{
-        .prefix = b.dupe(prefix),
-        .lazy_path = lazy_directory.dupe(b),
-        .suffix = b.dupe(suffix),
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
+    run.argv.append(arena, .{ .decorated_directory = .{
+        .prefix = graph.dupeString(prefix),
+        .lazy_path = lazy_directory.dupe(graph),
+        .suffix = graph.dupeString(suffix),
     } }) catch @panic("OOM");
     lazy_directory.addStepDependencies(&run.step);
 }
@@ -479,8 +485,8 @@ pub fn addPrefixedDepFileOutputArg(run: *Run, prefix: []const u8, basename: []co
 
     const dep_file = arena.create(Output) catch @panic("OOM");
     dep_file.* = .{
-        .prefix = b.dupe(prefix),
-        .basename = b.dupe(basename),
+        .prefix = graph.dupeString(prefix),
+        .basename = graph.dupeString(basename),
         .generated_file = graph.addGeneratedFile(&run.step),
     };
 
@@ -492,8 +498,9 @@ pub fn addPrefixedDepFileOutputArg(run: *Run, prefix: []const u8, basename: []co
 }
 
 pub fn addArg(run: *Run, arg: []const u8) void {
-    const b = run.step.owner;
-    run.argv.append(b.allocator, .{ .bytes = b.dupe(arg) }) catch @panic("OOM");
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
+    run.argv.append(arena, .{ .bytes = graph.dupeString(arg) }) catch @panic("OOM");
 }
 
 pub fn addArgs(run: *Run, args: []const []const u8) void {
@@ -509,8 +516,9 @@ pub fn setStdIn(run: *Run, stdin: StdIn) void {
 }
 
 pub fn setCwd(run: *Run, cwd: Build.LazyPath) void {
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
     cwd.addStepDependencies(&run.step);
-    run.cwd = cwd.dupe(run.step.owner);
+    run.cwd = cwd.dupe(graph);
 }
 
 pub fn clearEnvironment(run: *Run) void {
@@ -580,24 +588,28 @@ pub fn removeEnvironmentVariable(run: *Run, key: []const u8) void {
 
 /// Adds a check for exact stderr match. Does not add any other checks.
 pub fn expectStdErrEqual(run: *Run, bytes: []const u8) void {
-    run.addCheck(.{ .expect_stderr_exact = run.step.owner.dupe(bytes) });
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    run.addCheck(.{ .expect_stderr_exact = graph.dupeString(bytes) });
 }
 
 pub fn expectStdErrMatch(run: *Run, bytes: []const u8) void {
-    run.addCheck(.{ .expect_stderr_match = run.step.owner.dupe(bytes) });
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    run.addCheck(.{ .expect_stderr_match = graph.dupeString(bytes) });
 }
 
 /// Adds a check for exact stdout match as well as a check for exit code 0, if
 /// there is not already an expected termination check.
 pub fn expectStdOutEqual(run: *Run, bytes: []const u8) void {
-    run.addCheck(.{ .expect_stdout_exact = run.step.owner.dupe(bytes) });
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    run.addCheck(.{ .expect_stdout_exact = graph.dupeString(bytes) });
     if (!run.hasTermCheck()) run.expectExitCode(0);
 }
 
 /// Adds a check for stdout match as well as a check for exit code 0, if there
 /// is not already an expected termination check.
 pub fn expectStdOutMatch(run: *Run, bytes: []const u8) void {
-    run.addCheck(.{ .expect_stdout_match = run.step.owner.dupe(bytes) });
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    run.addCheck(.{ .expect_stdout_match = graph.dupeString(bytes) });
     if (!run.hasTermCheck()) run.expectExitCode(0);
 }
 
@@ -641,7 +653,7 @@ pub fn captureStdErr(run: *Run, options: CapturedStdIo.Options) std.Build.LazyPa
     captured.* = .{
         .output = .{
             .prefix = "",
-            .basename = if (options.basename) |basename| b.dupe(basename) else "stderr",
+            .basename = if (options.basename) |basename| graph.dupeString(basename) else "stderr",
             .generated_file = graph.addGeneratedFile(&run.step),
         },
         .trim_whitespace = options.trim_whitespace,
@@ -664,7 +676,7 @@ pub fn captureStdOut(run: *Run, options: CapturedStdIo.Options) std.Build.LazyPa
     captured.* = .{
         .output = .{
             .prefix = "",
-            .basename = if (options.basename) |basename| b.dupe(basename) else "stdout",
+            .basename = if (options.basename) |basename| graph.dupeString(basename) else "stdout",
             .generated_file = graph.addGeneratedFile(&run.step),
         },
         .trim_whitespace = options.trim_whitespace,
@@ -678,7 +690,9 @@ pub fn captureStdOut(run: *Run, options: CapturedStdIo.Options) std.Build.LazyPa
 /// If the Run step is determined to have side-effects, the Run step is always
 /// executed when it appears in the build graph, regardless of whether this
 /// file has been modified.
-pub fn addFileInput(self: *Run, file_input: std.Build.LazyPath) void {
-    file_input.addStepDependencies(&self.step);
-    self.file_inputs.append(self.step.owner.allocator, file_input.dupe(self.step.owner)) catch @panic("OOM");
+pub fn addFileInput(run: *Run, file_input: std.Build.LazyPath) void {
+    const graph = run.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
+    file_input.addStepDependencies(&run.step);
+    run.file_inputs.append(arena, file_input.dupe(graph)) catch @panic("OOM");
 }
diff --git a/lib/std/Build/Step/WriteFile.zig b/lib/std/Build/Step/WriteFile.zig
index 14097a76ed..3e269ded6d 100644
--- a/lib/std/Build/Step/WriteFile.zig
+++ b/lib/std/Build/Step/WriteFile.zig
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@ pub const Directory = struct {
         /// `exclude_extensions` takes precedence over `include_extensions`.
         include_extensions: ?[]const []const u8 = null,
 
-        pub fn dupe(opts: Options, b: *std.Build) Options {
+        pub fn dupe(opts: Options, graph: *std.Build.Graph) Options {
             return .{
-                .exclude_extensions = b.dupeStrings(opts.exclude_extensions),
-                .include_extensions = if (opts.include_extensions) |incs| b.dupeStrings(incs) else null,
+                .exclude_extensions = graph.dupeStrings(opts.exclude_extensions),
+                .include_extensions = if (opts.include_extensions) |incs| graph.dupeStrings(incs) else null,
             };
         }
 
@@ -103,13 +103,13 @@ pub fn create(owner: *std.Build) *WriteFile {
 }
 
 pub fn add(write_file: *WriteFile, sub_path: []const u8, bytes: []const u8) std.Build.LazyPath {
-    const b = write_file.step.owner;
-    const gpa = b.allocator;
-    const file = File{
-        .sub_path = b.dupePath(sub_path),
-        .contents = .{ .bytes = b.dupe(bytes) },
+    const graph = write_file.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
+    const file: File = .{
+        .sub_path = graph.dupePath(sub_path),
+        .contents = .{ .bytes = graph.dupeString(bytes) },
     };
-    write_file.files.append(gpa, file) catch @panic("OOM");
+    write_file.files.append(arena, file) catch @panic("OOM");
     write_file.maybeUpdateName();
     return .{
         .generated = .{
@@ -154,14 +154,14 @@ pub fn addCopyDirectory(
     sub_path: []const u8,
     options: Directory.Options,
 ) std.Build.LazyPath {
-    const b = write_file.step.owner;
-    const gpa = b.allocator;
+    const graph = write_file.step.owner.graph;
+    const arena = graph.arena;
     const dir = Directory{
-        .source = source.dupe(b),
-        .sub_path = b.dupePath(sub_path),
-        .options = options.dupe(b),
+        .source = source.dupe(graph),
+        .sub_path = graph.dupePath(sub_path),
+        .options = options.dupe(graph),
     };
-    write_file.directories.append(gpa, dir) catch @panic("OOM");
+    write_file.directories.append(arena, dir) catch @panic("OOM");
 
     write_file.maybeUpdateName();
     source.addStepDependencies(&write_file.step);
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
index fd9c64b0f9..bc4843748d 100644
--- a/src/main.zig
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -5369,6 +5369,7 @@ fn cmdBuild(
                 .cc_argv = &.{},
                 .inherited = .{
                     .resolved_target = resolved_target,
+                    .single_threaded = true,
                 },
                 .global = config,
                 .parent = null,