diff --git a/apps/gophers/main.go b/apps/gophers/main.go
index b13ade4e..f0805be5 100644
--- a/apps/gophers/main.go
+++ b/apps/gophers/main.go
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ func init() {
 
 func (a *App) run() error {
 	a.w.Profiling = *stats
+	ops := new(ui.Ops)
 	for a.w.IsAlive() {
 		select {
 		case users := <-a.updateUsers:
@@ -194,23 +195,23 @@ func (a *App) run() error {
 					}
 				}
 			case app.Draw:
+				ops.Reset()
 				a.cfg = e.Config
 				a.faces.Cfg = a.cfg
 				cs := layout.ExactConstraints(a.w.Size())
-				root, _ := a.Layout(cs)
+				a.Layout(ops, cs)
 				if a.w.Profiling {
-					op, _ := layout.Align(
+					layout.Align(
 						layout.NE,
 						layout.Margin(a.cfg,
 							layout.Margins{Top: ui.Dp(16)},
 							text.Label{Src: textColor, Face: a.face(fonts.mono, 8), Text: a.w.Timings()},
 						),
-					).Layout(cs)
-					root = ui.Ops{root, op}
+					).Layout(ops, cs)
 				}
-				a.w.Draw(root)
-				a.w.SetTextInput(a.kqueue.Frame(root))
-				a.pqueue.Frame(root)
+				a.w.Draw(ops)
+				a.w.SetTextInput(a.kqueue.Frame(ops))
+				a.pqueue.Frame(ops)
 				a.faces.Frame()
 			}
 		}
@@ -361,12 +362,12 @@ func (a *App) face(f *sfnt.Font, size float32) text.Face {
 	return a.faces.For(f, ui.Sp(size))
 }
 
-func (a *App) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
+func (a *App) Layout(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
 	if a.selectedUser == nil {
-		return a.layoutUsers(cs)
+		return a.layoutUsers(ops, cs)
 	} else {
 		a.selectedUser.Update(a.cfg, a.pqueue)
-		return a.selectedUser.Layout(cs)
+		return a.selectedUser.Layout(ops, cs)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -387,22 +388,21 @@ func (up *userPage) Update(cfg *ui.Config, pqueue pointer.Events) {
 	up.commitsList.Scroll(up.cfg, pqueue)
 }
 
-func (up *userPage) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
+func (up *userPage) Layout(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
 	l := up.commitsList
-	var ops ui.Ops
 	if l.Dragging() {
-		ops = append(ops, key.OpHideInput{})
+		key.OpHideInput{}.Add(ops)
 	}
 	select {
 	case commits := <-up.commitsResult:
 		up.commits = commits
 	default:
 	}
-	for i, ok := l.Init(cs, len(up.commits)); ok; i, ok = l.Index() {
+	for i, ok := l.Init(ops, cs, len(up.commits)); ok; i, ok = l.Index() {
 		l.Elem(up.commit(i))
 	}
-	op, dims := l.Layout()
-	return append(ops, op), dims
+	dims := l.Layout()
+	return dims
 }
 
 func (up *userPage) commit(index int) layout.Widget {
@@ -414,9 +414,9 @@ func (up *userPage) commit(index int) layout.Widget {
 	label := text.Label{Src: textColor, Face: up.faces.For(fonts.regular, ui.Sp(12)), Text: msg}
 	return layout.Margin(c,
 		layout.Margins{Top: ui.Dp(16), Right: ui.Dp(8), Left: ui.Dp(8)},
-		layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
+		layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
 			return (&layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Horizontal, MainAxisAlignment: layout.Start, CrossAxisAlignment: layout.Start}).
-				Init(cs).
+				Init(ops, cs).
 				Rigid(avatar).
 				Flexible(-1, 1, layout.Fit, layout.Margin(c, layout.Margins{Left: ui.Dp(8)}, label)).
 				Layout()
@@ -446,10 +446,10 @@ func (up *userPage) fetchCommits() {
 	}()
 }
 
-func (a *App) layoutUsers(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
+func (a *App) layoutUsers(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
 	c := a.cfg
 	a.fab.Update(c, a.pqueue)
-	st := (&layout.Stack{Alignment: layout.Center}).Init(cs).
+	st := (&layout.Stack{Alignment: layout.Center}).Init(ops, cs).
 		Rigid(layout.Align(
 			layout.SE,
 			layout.Margin(c,
@@ -459,8 +459,8 @@ func (a *App) layoutUsers(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
 		))
 	a.edit.Update(c, a.pqueue, a.kqueue)
 	a.edit2.Update(c, a.pqueue, a.kqueue)
-	return st.Expand(0, layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
-		return (&layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical, MainAxisAlignment: layout.Start, CrossAxisAlignment: layout.Stretch}).Init(cs).
+	return st.Expand(0, layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
+		return (&layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical, MainAxisAlignment: layout.Start, CrossAxisAlignment: layout.Stretch}).Init(ops, cs).
 			Rigid(layout.Margin(c,
 				layout.EqualMargins(ui.Dp(16)),
 				layout.Sized(c, ui.Dp(0), ui.Dp(200), a.edit),
@@ -469,8 +469,8 @@ func (a *App) layoutUsers(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
 				layout.Margins{Bottom: ui.Dp(16), Left: ui.Dp(16), Right: ui.Dp(16)},
 				a.edit2,
 			)).
-			Rigid(layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
-				return (&layout.Stack{Alignment: layout.Center}).Init(cs).
+			Rigid(layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
+				return (&layout.Stack{Alignment: layout.Center}).Init(ops, cs).
 					Rigid(layout.Margin(c,
 						layout.Margins{Top: ui.Dp(16), Right: ui.Dp(8), Bottom: ui.Dp(8), Left: ui.Dp(8)},
 						text.Label{Src: rgb(0x888888), Face: a.face(fonts.regular, 9), Text: "GOPHERS"},
@@ -490,35 +490,34 @@ func (a *ActionButton) Update(c *ui.Config, q pointer.Events) {
 	a.btnClicker.Update(q)
 }
 
-func (a *ActionButton) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
+func (a *ActionButton) Layout(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
 	c := a.cfg
-	fl := (&layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical, MainAxisAlignment: layout.Start, CrossAxisAlignment: layout.End, MainAxisSize: layout.Min}).Init(cs)
+	fl := (&layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical, MainAxisAlignment: layout.Start, CrossAxisAlignment: layout.End, MainAxisSize: layout.Min}).Init(ops, cs)
 	fabCol := brandColor
 	fl.Rigid(layout.Margin(c,
 		layout.Margins{Top: ui.Dp(4)},
-		layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
-			op, dims := fab(c, a.sendIco.image(c), fabCol, ui.Dp(56)).Layout(cs)
-			ops := ui.Ops{op, a.btnClicker.Op(&gesture.Ellipse{dims.Size})}
-			return ops, dims
+		layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
+			dims := fab(c, a.sendIco.image(c), fabCol, ui.Dp(56)).Layout(ops, cs)
+			a.btnClicker.Op(ops, &gesture.Ellipse{dims.Size})
+			return dims
 		}),
 	))
 	return fl.Layout()
 }
 
 func (a *App) layoutContributors() layout.Widget {
-	return layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
+	return layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
 		c := a.cfg
 		l := a.usersList
 		l.Scroll(c, a.pqueue)
-		var ops ui.Ops
 		if l.Dragging() {
-			ops = append(ops, key.OpHideInput{})
+			key.OpHideInput{}.Add(ops)
 		}
-		for i, ok := l.Init(cs, len(a.users)); ok; i, ok = l.Index() {
+		for i, ok := l.Init(ops, cs, len(a.users)); ok; i, ok = l.Index() {
 			l.Elem(a.user(c, i))
 		}
-		op, dims := l.Layout()
-		return append(ops, op), dims
+		dims := l.Layout()
+		return dims
 	})
 }
 
@@ -532,13 +531,13 @@ func (a *App) user(c *ui.Config, index int) layout.Widget {
 		}
 	}
 	avatar := clipCircle(layout.Sized(a.cfg, sz, sz, widget.Image{Src: u.avatar, Rect: u.avatar.Bounds()}))
-	return layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
-		elem := (&layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical, MainAxisAlignment: layout.Start, CrossAxisAlignment: layout.Start}).Init(cs)
-		elem.Rigid(layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
-			op, dims := layout.Margin(c,
+	return layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
+		elem := (&layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical, MainAxisAlignment: layout.Start, CrossAxisAlignment: layout.Start}).Init(ops, cs)
+		elem.Rigid(layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
+			dims := layout.Margin(c,
 				layout.EqualMargins(ui.Dp(8)),
-				layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
-					return centerRowOpts().Init(cs).
+				layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
+					return centerRowOpts().Init(ops, cs).
 						Rigid(layout.Margin(c, layout.Margins{Right: ui.Dp(8)}, avatar)).
 						Rigid(column(
 							baseline(
@@ -555,9 +554,9 @@ func (a *App) user(c *ui.Config, index int) layout.Widget {
 						)).
 						Layout()
 				}),
-			).Layout(cs)
-			ops := ui.Ops{op, click.Op(&gesture.Rect{dims.Size})}
-			return ops, dims
+			).Layout(ops, cs)
+			click.Op(ops, &gesture.Rect{dims.Size})
+			return dims
 		}))
 		return elem.Layout()
 	})
@@ -588,8 +587,8 @@ func baseline(widgets ...layout.Widget) layout.Widget {
 }
 
 func flex(f *layout.Flex, widgets ...layout.Widget) layout.Widget {
-	return layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
-		f.Init(cs)
+	return layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
+		f.Init(ops, cs)
 		for _, w := range widgets {
 			f.Rigid(w)
 		}
@@ -598,41 +597,39 @@ func flex(f *layout.Flex, widgets ...layout.Widget) layout.Widget {
 }
 
 func clipCircle(w layout.Widget) layout.Widget {
-	return layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
-		op, dims := w.Layout(cs)
+	return layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
+		ops.Begin()
+		dims := w.Layout(ops, cs)
+		block := ops.End()
 		max := dims.Size.X
 		if dy := dims.Size.Y; dy > max {
 			max = dy
 		}
 		szf := float32(max)
 		rr := szf * .5
-		op = gdraw.OpClip{
-			Path: rrect(szf, szf, rr, rr, rr, rr),
-			Op:   op,
-		}
-		return op, dims
+		ops.Begin()
+		gdraw.OpClip{Path: rrect(szf, szf, rr, rr, rr, rr)}.Add(ops)
+		block.Add(ops)
+		ops.End().Add(ops)
+		return dims
 	})
 }
 
 func fab(c *ui.Config, ico, col image.Image, size ui.Value) layout.Widget {
-	return layout.F(func(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
+	return layout.F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
 		szf := c.Pixels(size)
 		sz := int(szf + .5)
 		rr := szf * .5
 		dp := image.Point{X: (sz - ico.Bounds().Dx()) / 2, Y: (sz - ico.Bounds().Dy()) / 2}
 		dims := image.Point{X: sz, Y: sz}
-		op := gdraw.OpClip{
-			Path: rrect(szf, szf, rr, rr, rr, rr),
-			Op: ui.Ops{
-				gdraw.OpImage{Rect: f32.Rectangle{Max: f32.Point{X: float32(sz), Y: float32(sz)}}, Src: col, SrcRect: col.Bounds()},
-				gdraw.OpImage{
-					Rect:    toRectF(ico.Bounds().Add(dp)),
-					Src:     ico,
-					SrcRect: ico.Bounds(),
-				},
-			},
-		}
-		return op, layout.Dimens{Size: dims}
+		gdraw.OpClip{Path: rrect(szf, szf, rr, rr, rr, rr)}.Add(ops)
+		gdraw.OpImage{Rect: f32.Rectangle{Max: f32.Point{X: float32(sz), Y: float32(sz)}}, Src: col, SrcRect: col.Bounds()}.Add(ops)
+		gdraw.OpImage{
+			Rect:    toRectF(ico.Bounds().Add(dp)),
+			Src:     ico,
+			SrcRect: ico.Bounds(),
+		}.Add(ops)
+		return layout.Dimens{Size: dims}
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/hello/hello.go b/apps/hello/hello.go
index 89fabb0d..bd108c7b 100644
--- a/apps/hello/hello.go
+++ b/apps/hello/hello.go
@@ -46,14 +46,16 @@ func loop(w *app.Window) {
 	maroon := &image.Uniform{color.RGBA{127, 0, 0, 255}}
 	face := faces.For(regular, ui.Sp(72))
 	message := "Hello, Gio"
+	ops := new(ui.Ops)
 	for w.IsAlive() {
 		e := <-w.Events()
 		switch e := e.(type) {
 		case app.Draw:
 			faces.Cfg = e.Config
 			cs := layout.ExactConstraints(w.Size())
-			root, _ := (text.Label{Src: maroon, Face: face, Alignment: text.Center, Text: message}).Layout(cs)
-			w.Draw(root)
+			ops.Reset()
+			(text.Label{Src: maroon, Face: face, Alignment: text.Center, Text: message}).Layout(ops, cs)
+			w.Draw(ops)
 			faces.Frame()
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/ui/app/internal/gpu/gpu.go b/ui/app/internal/gpu/gpu.go
index d0ae58b7..bc4fedc0 100644
--- a/ui/app/internal/gpu/gpu.go
+++ b/ui/app/internal/gpu/gpu.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"gioui.org/ui/app/internal/gl"
 	gdraw "gioui.org/ui/draw"
 	"gioui.org/ui/f32"
+	"gioui.org/ui/internal/ops"
 	"gioui.org/ui/internal/path"
 	"golang.org/x/image/draw"
 )
@@ -31,13 +32,13 @@ type GPU struct {
 	refreshErr chan error
 	stop       chan struct{}
 	stopped    chan struct{}
-	ops        ops
+	ops        drawOps
 }
 
 type frame struct {
 	collectStats bool
 	viewport     image.Point
-	ops          ops
+	ops          drawOps
 }
 
 type frameResult struct {
@@ -54,7 +55,8 @@ type renderer struct {
 	intersections packer
 }
 
-type ops struct {
+type drawOps struct {
+	reader     ops.Reader
 	cache      *resourceCache
 	viewport   image.Point
 	clearColor [3]float32
@@ -66,6 +68,14 @@ type ops struct {
 	pathOps   []*pathOp
 }
 
+type drawState struct {
+	clip  f32.Rectangle
+	t     ui.Transform
+	cpath *pathOp
+	rect  bool
+	z     int
+}
+
 type pathOp struct {
 	off f32.Point
 	// clip is the union of all
@@ -298,12 +308,13 @@ func (g *GPU) Refresh() {
 	g.setErr(<-g.refreshErr)
 }
 
-func (g *GPU) Draw(profile bool, viewport image.Point, op ui.Op) {
+func (g *GPU) Draw(profile bool, viewport image.Point, root *ui.Ops) {
 	if g.err != nil {
 		return
 	}
 	g.Flush()
-	g.ops.collect(g.cache, op, viewport)
+	g.ops.reset(g.cache, viewport)
+	g.ops.collect(g.cache, root, viewport)
 	g.frames <- frame{profile, viewport, g.ops}
 	g.drawing = true
 }
@@ -629,84 +640,99 @@ func floor(v float32) int {
 	}
 }
 
-func (ops *ops) collect(cache *resourceCache, op ui.Op, viewport image.Point) {
-	ops.clearColor = [3]float32{1.0, 1.0, 1.0}
-	ops.cache = cache
-	ops.viewport = viewport
-	ops.imageOps = ops.imageOps[:0]
-	ops.zimageOps = ops.zimageOps[:0]
-	ops.pathOps = ops.pathOps[:0]
+func (d *drawOps) reset(cache *resourceCache, viewport image.Point) {
+	d.clearColor = [3]float32{1.0, 1.0, 1.0}
+	d.cache = cache
+	d.viewport = viewport
+	d.imageOps = d.imageOps[:0]
+	d.zimageOps = d.zimageOps[:0]
+	d.pathOps = d.pathOps[:0]
+}
+
+func (d *drawOps) collect(cache *resourceCache, root *ui.Ops, viewport image.Point) {
+	d.reset(cache, viewport)
 	clip := f32.Rectangle{
 		Max: f32.Point{X: float32(viewport.X), Y: float32(viewport.Y)},
 	}
-	ops.collectOp(op, clip, ui.Transform{}, nil, true, 0)
+	d.reader.Reset(root.Data(), root.Refs())
+	d.collectOps(&d.reader, clip, ui.Transform{}, nil, true, 0)
 }
 
-func (ops *ops) collectOp(op ui.Op, clip f32.Rectangle, t ui.Transform, cpath *pathOp, rect bool, z int) int {
-	type childOp interface {
-		ChildOp() ui.Op
-	}
-	switch op := op.(type) {
-	case ui.OpTransform:
-		t := t.Mul(op.Transform)
-		z = ops.collectOp(op.ChildOp(), clip, t, cpath, rect, z)
-	case gdraw.OpClip:
-		data := op.Path.Data().(*path.Path)
-		off := t.Transform(f32.Point{})
-		clip := clip.Intersect(data.Bounds.Add(off))
-		if clip.Empty() {
+func (d *drawOps) collectOps(r *ops.Reader, clip f32.Rectangle, t ui.Transform, cpath *pathOp, rect bool, z int) int {
+loop:
+	for {
+		data, ok := r.Decode()
+		if !ok {
 			break
 		}
-		cpath := &pathOp{
-			parent: cpath,
-			off:    off,
+		switch ops.OpType(data[0]) {
+		case ops.TypeTransform:
+			var op ui.OpTransform
+			op.Decode(data)
+			t = t.Mul(op.Transform)
+		case ops.TypeClip:
+			var op gdraw.OpClip
+			op.Decode(data, r.Refs)
+			if op.Path == nil {
+				clip = f32.Rectangle{}
+				continue
+			}
+			data := op.Path.Data().(*path.Path)
+			off := t.Transform(f32.Point{})
+			clip = clip.Intersect(data.Bounds.Add(off))
+			if clip.Empty() {
+				continue
+			}
+			cpath = &pathOp{
+				parent: cpath,
+				off:    off,
+			}
+			if len(data.Vertices) > 0 {
+				rect = false
+				cpath.path = data
+				d.pathOps = append(d.pathOps, cpath)
+			}
+		case ops.TypeImage:
+			var op gdraw.OpImage
+			op.Decode(data, r.Refs)
+			off := t.Transform(f32.Point{})
+			clip := clip.Intersect(op.Rect.Add(off))
+			if clip.Empty() {
+				continue
+			}
+			bounds := boundRectF(clip)
+			mat := materialFor(d.cache, op, off, bounds)
+			if bounds.Min == (image.Point{}) && bounds.Max == d.viewport && mat.opaque && mat.material == materialColor {
+				// The image is a uniform opaque color and takes up the whole screen.
+				// Scrap images up to and including this image and set clear color.
+				d.zimageOps = d.zimageOps[:0]
+				d.imageOps = d.imageOps[:0]
+				z = 0
+				copy(d.clearColor[:], mat.color[:3])
+				continue
+			}
+			z++
+			// Assume 16-bit depth buffer.
+			const zdepth = 1 << 16
+			// Convert z to window-space, assuming depth range [0;1].
+			zf := float32(z)*2/zdepth - 1.0
+			img := imageOp{
+				z:        zf,
+				path:     cpath,
+				off:      off,
+				clip:     bounds,
+				material: mat,
+			}
+			if rect && img.material.opaque {
+				d.zimageOps = append(d.zimageOps, img)
+			} else {
+				d.imageOps = append(d.imageOps, img)
+			}
+		case ops.TypePush:
+			z = d.collectOps(r, clip, t, cpath, rect, z)
+		case ops.TypePop:
+			break loop
 		}
-		if len(data.Vertices) > 0 {
-			rect = false
-			cpath.path = data
-			ops.pathOps = append(ops.pathOps, cpath)
-		}
-		z = ops.collectOp(op.ChildOp(), clip, t, cpath, rect, z)
-	case gdraw.OpImage:
-		off := t.Transform(f32.Point{})
-		clip := clip.Intersect(op.Rect.Add(off))
-		if clip.Empty() {
-			break
-		}
-		bounds := boundRectF(clip)
-		mat := materialFor(ops.cache, op, off, bounds)
-		if bounds.Min == (image.Point{}) && bounds.Max == ops.viewport && mat.opaque && mat.material == materialColor {
-			// The image is a uniform opaque color and takes up the whole screen.
-			// Scrap images up to and including this image and set clear color.
-			ops.zimageOps = ops.zimageOps[:0]
-			ops.imageOps = ops.imageOps[:0]
-			z = 0
-			copy(ops.clearColor[:], mat.color[:3])
-			break
-		}
-		z++
-		// Assume 16-bit depth buffer.
-		const zdepth = 1 << 16
-		// Convert z to window-space, assuming depth range [0;1].
-		zf := float32(z)*2/zdepth - 1.0
-		img := imageOp{
-			z:        zf,
-			path:     cpath,
-			off:      off,
-			clip:     bounds,
-			material: mat,
-		}
-		if rect && img.material.opaque {
-			ops.zimageOps = append(ops.zimageOps, img)
-		} else {
-			ops.imageOps = append(ops.imageOps, img)
-		}
-	case ui.Ops:
-		for _, op := range op {
-			z = ops.collectOp(op, clip, t, cpath, rect, z)
-		}
-	case childOp:
-		z = ops.collectOp(op.ChildOp(), clip, t, cpath, rect, z)
 	}
 	return z
 }
diff --git a/ui/app/window.go b/ui/app/window.go
index 829adb9d..001ffc85 100644
--- a/ui/app/window.go
+++ b/ui/app/window.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 	"gioui.org/ui"
 	"gioui.org/ui/app/internal/gpu"
+	"gioui.org/ui/internal/ops"
 	"gioui.org/ui/key"
 	"gioui.org/ui/pointer"
 )
@@ -41,6 +42,8 @@ type Window struct {
 	hasNextFrame bool
 	nextFrame    time.Time
 	delayedDraw  *time.Timer
+
+	reader ops.Reader
 }
 
 // driver is the interface for the platform implementation
@@ -89,7 +92,7 @@ func (w *Window) Err() error {
 	return w.err
 }
 
-func (w *Window) Draw(root ui.Op) {
+func (w *Window) Draw(root *ui.Ops) {
 	if !w.IsAlive() {
 		return
 	}
@@ -132,13 +135,35 @@ func (w *Window) Draw(root ui.Op) {
 		w.timings = fmt.Sprintf("t:%7s %s", frameDur, w.gpu.Timings())
 		w.setNextFrame(time.Time{})
 	}
-	if t, ok := collectRedraws(root); ok {
+	w.reader.Reset(root.Data(), root.Refs())
+	if t, ok := collectRedraws(&w.reader); ok {
 		w.setNextFrame(t)
 	}
 	w.updateAnimation()
 	w.gpu.Draw(w.Profiling, size, root)
 }
 
+func collectRedraws(r *ops.Reader) (time.Time, bool) {
+	var t time.Time
+	redraw := false
+	for {
+		data, ok := r.Decode()
+		if !ok {
+			break
+		}
+		switch ops.OpType(data[0]) {
+		case ops.TypeRedraw:
+			var op ui.OpRedraw
+			op.Decode(data)
+			if !redraw || op.At.Before(t) {
+				redraw = true
+				t = op.At
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return t, redraw
+}
+
 func (w *Window) Redraw() {
 	if !w.IsAlive() {
 		return
@@ -256,29 +281,3 @@ func (w *Window) event(e Event) {
 		close(w.events)
 	}
 }
-
-func collectRedraws(op ui.Op) (time.Time, bool) {
-	type childOp interface {
-		ChildOp() ui.Op
-	}
-	switch op := op.(type) {
-	case ui.Ops:
-		var earliest time.Time
-		var valid bool
-		for _, op := range op {
-			if t, ok := collectRedraws(op); ok {
-				if !valid || t.Before(earliest) {
-					valid = true
-					earliest = t
-				}
-			}
-		}
-		return earliest, valid
-	case ui.OpRedraw:
-		return op.At, true
-	case childOp:
-		return collectRedraws(op.ChildOp())
-	default:
-		return time.Time{}, false
-	}
-}
diff --git a/ui/draw/draw.go b/ui/draw/draw.go
index 59920485..989c44a1 100644
--- a/ui/draw/draw.go
+++ b/ui/draw/draw.go
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@
 package draw
 
 import (
+	"encoding/binary"
 	"image"
 	"math"
 
 	"gioui.org/ui"
 	"gioui.org/ui/f32"
+	"gioui.org/ui/internal/ops"
 	"gioui.org/ui/internal/path"
 )
 
@@ -17,18 +19,65 @@ type OpImage struct {
 	SrcRect image.Rectangle
 }
 
+func (i OpImage) Add(o *ui.Ops) {
+	data := make([]byte, ops.TypeImageLen)
+	data[0] = byte(ops.TypeImage)
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	ref := o.Ref(i.Src)
+	bo.PutUint32(data[1:], uint32(ref))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[5:], math.Float32bits(i.Rect.Min.X))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[9:], math.Float32bits(i.Rect.Min.Y))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[13:], math.Float32bits(i.Rect.Max.X))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[17:], math.Float32bits(i.Rect.Max.Y))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[21:], uint32(i.SrcRect.Min.X))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[25:], uint32(i.SrcRect.Min.Y))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[29:], uint32(i.SrcRect.Max.X))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[33:], uint32(i.SrcRect.Max.Y))
+	o.Write(data)
+}
+
+func (i *OpImage) Decode(d []byte, refs []interface{}) {
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	if ops.OpType(d[0]) != ops.TypeImage {
+		panic("invalid op")
+	}
+	ref := int(bo.Uint32(d[1:]))
+	r := f32.Rectangle{
+		Min: f32.Point{
+			X: math.Float32frombits(bo.Uint32(d[5:])),
+			Y: math.Float32frombits(bo.Uint32(d[9:])),
+		},
+		Max: f32.Point{
+			X: math.Float32frombits(bo.Uint32(d[13:])),
+			Y: math.Float32frombits(bo.Uint32(d[17:])),
+		},
+	}
+	sr := image.Rectangle{
+		Min: image.Point{
+			X: int(bo.Uint32(d[21:])),
+			Y: int(bo.Uint32(d[25:])),
+		},
+		Max: image.Point{
+			X: int(bo.Uint32(d[29:])),
+			Y: int(bo.Uint32(d[33:])),
+		},
+	}
+	*i = OpImage{
+		Rect:    r,
+		Src:     refs[ref].(image.Image),
+		SrcRect: sr,
+	}
+}
+
 func (OpImage) ImplementsOp() {}
 
-// ClipRect returns a special case of OpClip
-// that clips to a pixel aligned rectangular area.
-func ClipRect(r image.Rectangle, op ui.Op) OpClip {
-	return OpClip{
-		Path: &Path{
-			data: &path.Path{
-				Bounds: toRectF(r),
-			},
+// RectPath constructs a path corresponding to
+// a pixel aligned rectangular area.
+func RectPath(r image.Rectangle) *Path {
+	return &Path{
+		data: &path.Path{
+			Bounds: toRectF(r),
 		},
-		Op: op,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/ui/draw/path.go b/ui/draw/path.go
index 7b105dbd..787d4bc7 100644
--- a/ui/draw/path.go
+++ b/ui/draw/path.go
@@ -3,16 +3,17 @@
 package draw
 
 import (
+	"encoding/binary"
 	"math"
 
 	"gioui.org/ui"
 	"gioui.org/ui/f32"
+	"gioui.org/ui/internal/ops"
 	"gioui.org/ui/internal/path"
 )
 
 type OpClip struct {
 	Path *Path
-	Op   ui.Op
 }
 
 type Path struct {
@@ -33,11 +34,25 @@ func (p *Path) Data() interface{} {
 	return p.data
 }
 
-func (p OpClip) ChildOp() ui.Op {
-	return p.Op
+func (c OpClip) Add(o *ui.Ops) {
+	data := make([]byte, ops.TypeClipLen)
+	data[0] = byte(ops.TypeClip)
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	ref := o.Ref(c.Path)
+	bo.PutUint32(data[1:], uint32(ref))
+	o.Write(data)
 }
 
-func (p OpClip) ImplementsOp() {}
+func (c *OpClip) Decode(d []byte, refs []interface{}) {
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	if ops.OpType(d[0]) != ops.TypeClip {
+		panic("invalid op")
+	}
+	ref := int(bo.Uint32(d[1:]))
+	*c = OpClip{
+		Path: refs[ref].(*Path),
+	}
+}
 
 // MoveTo moves the pen to the given position.
 func (p *PathBuilder) Move(to f32.Point) {
@@ -265,3 +280,5 @@ func (p *PathBuilder) Path() *Path {
 	}
 	return data
 }
+
+func (p OpClip) ImplementsOp() {}
diff --git a/ui/gesture/gestures.go b/ui/gesture/gestures.go
index 83f04764..0b91f407 100644
--- a/ui/gesture/gestures.go
+++ b/ui/gesture/gestures.go
@@ -83,8 +83,9 @@ const (
 	thresholdVelocity = 1
 )
 
-func (c *Click) Op(a pointer.Area) pointer.OpHandler {
-	return pointer.OpHandler{Area: a, Key: c}
+func (c *Click) Op(ops *ui.Ops, a pointer.Area) {
+	op := pointer.OpHandler{Area: a, Key: c}
+	op.Add(ops)
 }
 
 func (c *Click) Update(q pointer.Events) []ClickEvent {
@@ -115,12 +116,12 @@ func (c *Click) Update(q pointer.Events) []ClickEvent {
 	return events
 }
 
-func (s *Scroll) Op(a pointer.Area) ui.Op {
+func (s *Scroll) Op(ops *ui.Ops, a pointer.Area) {
 	oph := pointer.OpHandler{Area: a, Key: s, Grab: s.grab}
-	if !s.flinger.Active() {
-		return oph
+	oph.Add(ops)
+	if s.flinger.Active() {
+		ui.OpRedraw{}.Add(ops)
 	}
-	return ui.Ops{oph, ui.OpRedraw{}}
 }
 
 func (s *Scroll) Stop() {
diff --git a/ui/internal/ops/ops.go b/ui/internal/ops/ops.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3070286e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/internal/ops/ops.go
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+package ops
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+)
+
+type Reader struct {
+	pc    int
+	stack []block
+	Refs  []interface{}
+	data  []byte
+
+	pseudoOp [1]byte
+}
+
+type block struct {
+	retPC int
+	endPC int
+}
+
+type OpType byte
+
+const (
+	TypeBlockDef OpType = iota
+	TypeBlock
+	TypeTransform
+	TypeLayer
+	TypeRedraw
+	TypeClip
+	TypeImage
+	TypePointerHandler
+	TypeKeyHandler
+	TypeHideInput
+	TypePush
+	TypePop
+)
+
+const (
+	TypeBlockDefLen       = 1 + 4
+	TypeBlockLen          = 1 + 4
+	TypeTransformLen      = 1 + 4*2
+	TypeLayerLen          = 1
+	TypeRedrawLen         = 1 + 8
+	TypeClipLen           = 1 + 4
+	TypeImageLen          = 1 + 4 + 4*4 + 4*4
+	TypePointerHandlerLen = 1 + 4 + 4 + 1
+	TypeKeyHandlerLen     = 1 + 4 + 1
+	TypeHideInputLen      = 1
+	TypePushLen           = 1
+	TypePopLen            = 1
+)
+
+var typeLengths = [...]int{
+	TypeBlockDefLen,
+	TypeBlockLen,
+	TypeTransformLen,
+	TypeLayerLen,
+	TypeRedrawLen,
+	TypeClipLen,
+	TypeImageLen,
+	TypePointerHandlerLen,
+	TypeKeyHandlerLen,
+	TypeHideInputLen,
+	TypePushLen,
+	TypePopLen,
+}
+
+// Reset start reading from the op list.
+func (r *Reader) Reset(data []byte, refs []interface{}) {
+	r.Refs = refs
+	r.data = data
+	r.stack = r.stack[:0]
+	r.pc = 0
+}
+
+func (r *Reader) Decode() ([]byte, bool) {
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	for {
+		if r.pc == len(r.data) {
+			return nil, false
+		}
+		if len(r.stack) > 0 {
+			b := r.stack[len(r.stack)-1]
+			if r.pc == b.endPC {
+				r.pc = b.retPC
+				r.stack = r.stack[:len(r.stack)-1]
+				r.pseudoOp[0] = byte(TypePop)
+				return r.pseudoOp[:], true
+			}
+		}
+		t := OpType(r.data[r.pc])
+		n := typeLengths[t]
+		data := r.data[r.pc : r.pc+n]
+		switch t {
+		case TypeBlock:
+			blockIdx := int(bo.Uint32(data[1:]))
+			if OpType(r.data[blockIdx]) != TypeBlockDef {
+				panic("invalid block reference")
+			}
+			blockLen := int(bo.Uint32(r.data[blockIdx+1:]))
+			r.stack = append(r.stack, block{r.pc + n, blockIdx + blockLen})
+			r.pc = blockIdx + TypeBlockDefLen
+			r.pseudoOp[0] = byte(TypePush)
+			return r.pseudoOp[:], true
+		case TypeBlockDef:
+			r.pc += int(bo.Uint32(data[1:]))
+			continue
+		}
+		r.pc += n
+		return data, true
+	}
+}
diff --git a/ui/key/key.go b/ui/key/key.go
index 2c5e4577..e69566c0 100644
--- a/ui/key/key.go
+++ b/ui/key/key.go
@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
 
 package key
 
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+
+	"gioui.org/ui"
+	"gioui.org/ui/internal/ops"
+)
+
 type OpHandler struct {
 	Key   Key
 	Focus bool
@@ -63,6 +70,35 @@ const (
 	NamePageDown       = '⇟'
 )
 
+func (h OpHandler) Add(o *ui.Ops) {
+	data := make([]byte, ops.TypeKeyHandlerLen)
+	data[0] = byte(ops.TypeKeyHandler)
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	if h.Focus {
+		data[1] = 1
+	}
+	bo.PutUint32(data[2:], uint32(o.Ref(h.Key)))
+	o.Write(data)
+}
+
+func (h *OpHandler) Decode(d []byte, refs []interface{}) {
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	if ops.OpType(d[0]) != ops.TypeKeyHandler {
+		panic("invalid op")
+	}
+	key := int(bo.Uint32(d[2:]))
+	*h = OpHandler{
+		Focus: d[1] != 0,
+		Key:   refs[key].(Key),
+	}
+}
+
+func (h OpHideInput) Add(o *ui.Ops) {
+	data := make([]byte, ops.TypeHideInputLen)
+	data[0] = byte(ops.TypeHideInput)
+	o.Write(data)
+}
+
 func (OpHandler) ImplementsOp()   {}
 func (OpHideInput) ImplementsOp() {}
 
diff --git a/ui/key/queue.go b/ui/key/queue.go
index 1445868b..0ed02817 100644
--- a/ui/key/queue.go
+++ b/ui/key/queue.go
@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@ package key
 
 import (
 	"gioui.org/ui"
+	"gioui.org/ui/internal/ops"
 )
 
 type Queue struct {
 	focus    Key
 	events   []Event
 	handlers map[Key]bool
+	reader   ops.Reader
 }
 
 type listenerPriority uint8
@@ -21,9 +23,10 @@ const (
 	priNewFocus
 )
 
-func (q *Queue) Frame(op ui.Op) TextInputState {
+func (q *Queue) Frame(root *ui.Ops) TextInputState {
 	q.events = q.events[:0]
-	f, pri, hide := resolveFocus(op, q.focus)
+	q.reader.Reset(root.Data(), root.Refs())
+	f, pri, hide := resolveFocus(&q.reader, q.focus)
 	changed := f != nil && f != q.focus
 	for k, active := range q.handlers {
 		if !active || changed {
@@ -71,39 +74,43 @@ func (q *Queue) For(k Key) []Event {
 	return q.events
 }
 
-func resolveFocus(op ui.Op, focus Key) (Key, listenerPriority, bool) {
-	type childOp interface {
-		ChildOp() ui.Op
-	}
+func resolveFocus(r *ops.Reader, focus Key) (Key, listenerPriority, bool) {
 	var k Key
 	var pri listenerPriority
 	var hide bool
-	switch op := op.(type) {
-	case ui.Ops:
-		for i := len(op) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
-			newK, newPri, h := resolveFocus(op[i], focus)
+loop:
+	for {
+		data, ok := r.Decode()
+		if !ok {
+			break
+		}
+		switch ops.OpType(data[0]) {
+		case ops.TypeKeyHandler:
+			var op OpHandler
+			op.Decode(data, r.Refs)
+			var newPri listenerPriority
+			switch {
+			case op.Focus:
+				newPri = priNewFocus
+			case op.Key == focus:
+				newPri = priCurrentFocus
+			default:
+				newPri = priDefault
+			}
+			if newPri >= pri {
+				k, pri = op.Key, newPri
+			}
+		case ops.TypeHideInput:
+			hide = true
+		case ops.TypePush:
+			newK, newPri, h := resolveFocus(r, focus)
 			hide = hide || h
-			if newPri > pri {
+			if newPri >= pri {
 				k, pri = newK, newPri
 			}
+		case ops.TypePop:
+			break loop
 		}
-	case OpHandler:
-		var newPri listenerPriority
-		switch {
-		case op.Focus:
-			newPri = priNewFocus
-		case op.Key == focus:
-			newPri = priCurrentFocus
-		default:
-			newPri = priDefault
-		}
-		if newPri > pri {
-			k, pri = op.Key, newPri
-		}
-	case OpHideInput:
-		hide = true
-	case childOp:
-		return resolveFocus(op.ChildOp(), focus)
 	}
 	return k, pri, hide
 }
diff --git a/ui/layout/flex.go b/ui/layout/flex.go
index 491ff0f9..9911dc59 100644
--- a/ui/layout/flex.go
+++ b/ui/layout/flex.go
@@ -15,20 +15,20 @@ type Flex struct {
 	CrossAxisAlignment CrossAxisAlignment
 	MainAxisSize       MainAxisSize
 
-	cs Constraints
+	ops *ui.Ops
+	cs  Constraints
 
 	children    []flexChild
 	taken       int
 	maxCross    int
 	maxBaseline int
 
-	ccache  [10]flexChild
-	opCache [10]ui.Op
+	ccache [10]flexChild
 }
 
 type flexChild struct {
-	op   ui.Op
-	dims Dimens
+	block ui.OpBlock
+	dims  Dimens
 }
 
 type MainAxisSize uint8
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ const (
 	Stretch
 )
 
-func (f *Flex) Init(cs Constraints) *Flex {
+func (f *Flex) Init(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) *Flex {
+	f.ops = ops
 	f.cs = cs
 	if f.children == nil {
 		f.children = f.ccache[:0]
@@ -78,7 +79,10 @@ func (f *Flex) Rigid(w Widget) *Flex {
 		mainMax -= f.taken
 	}
 	cs := axisConstraints(f.Axis, Constraint{Max: mainMax}, f.crossConstraintChild(f.cs))
-	op, dims := w.Layout(cs)
+	f.ops.Begin()
+	ui.OpLayer{}.Add(f.ops)
+	dims := w.Layout(f.ops, cs)
+	block := f.ops.End()
 	f.taken += axisMain(f.Axis, dims.Size)
 	if c := axisCross(f.Axis, dims.Size); c > f.maxCross {
 		f.maxCross = c
@@ -86,7 +90,7 @@ func (f *Flex) Rigid(w Widget) *Flex {
 	if b := dims.Baseline; b > f.maxBaseline {
 		f.maxBaseline = b
 	}
-	f.children = append(f.children, flexChild{op, dims})
+	f.children = append(f.children, flexChild{block, dims})
 	return f
 }
 
@@ -101,7 +105,10 @@ func (f *Flex) Flexible(idx int, flex float32, mode FlexMode, w Widget) *Flex {
 		submainc.Min = submainc.Max
 	}
 	cs := axisConstraints(f.Axis, submainc, f.crossConstraintChild(f.cs))
-	op, dims := w.Layout(cs)
+	f.ops.Begin()
+	ui.OpLayer{}.Add(f.ops)
+	dims := w.Layout(f.ops, cs)
+	block := f.ops.End()
 	f.taken += axisMain(f.Axis, dims.Size)
 	if c := axisCross(f.Axis, dims.Size); c > f.maxCross {
 		f.maxCross = c
@@ -109,15 +116,16 @@ func (f *Flex) Flexible(idx int, flex float32, mode FlexMode, w Widget) *Flex {
 	if b := dims.Baseline; b > f.maxBaseline {
 		f.maxBaseline = b
 	}
-	f.children = append(f.children, flexChild{op, dims})
 	if idx < 0 {
-		idx += len(f.children)
+		idx += len(f.children) + 1
 	}
-	f.children[idx], f.children[len(f.children)-1] = f.children[len(f.children)-1], f.children[idx]
+	f.children = append(f.children, flexChild{})
+	copy(f.children[idx+1:], f.children[idx:])
+	f.children[idx] = flexChild{block, dims}
 	return f
 }
 
-func (f *Flex) Layout() (ui.Op, Dimens) {
+func (f *Flex) Layout() Dimens {
 	mainc := axisMainConstraint(f.Axis, f.cs)
 	crossSize := axisCrossConstraint(f.Axis, f.cs).Constrain(f.maxCross)
 	var space int
@@ -140,13 +148,7 @@ func (f *Flex) Layout() (ui.Op, Dimens) {
 	case SpaceAround:
 		mainSize += space / (len(f.children) * 2)
 	}
-	var ops ui.Ops
-	if len(f.children) > len(f.opCache) {
-		ops = make([]ui.Op, len(f.children))
-	} else {
-		ops = f.opCache[:len(f.children)]
-	}
-	for i, child := range f.children {
+	for _, child := range f.children {
 		dims := child.dims
 		b := dims.Baseline
 		var cross int
@@ -160,8 +162,12 @@ func (f *Flex) Layout() (ui.Op, Dimens) {
 				cross = f.maxBaseline - b
 			}
 		}
-		off := ui.Offset(toPointF(axisPoint(f.Axis, mainSize, cross)))
-		ops[i] = ui.OpLayer{Op: ui.OpTransform{Transform: off, Op: child.op}}
+		f.ops.Begin()
+		ui.OpTransform{
+			Transform: ui.Offset(toPointF(axisPoint(f.Axis, mainSize, cross))),
+		}.Add(f.ops)
+		child.block.Add(f.ops)
+		f.ops.End().Add(f.ops)
 		mainSize += axisMain(f.Axis, dims.Size)
 		switch f.MainAxisAlignment {
 		case SpaceEvenly:
@@ -187,7 +193,7 @@ func (f *Flex) Layout() (ui.Op, Dimens) {
 	if baseline == 0 {
 		baseline = sz.Y
 	}
-	return ops, Dimens{Size: sz, Baseline: baseline}
+	return Dimens{Size: sz, Baseline: baseline}
 }
 
 func axisPoint(a Axis, main, cross int) image.Point {
diff --git a/ui/layout/list.go b/ui/layout/list.go
index 81e03b03..08edb946 100644
--- a/ui/layout/list.go
+++ b/ui/layout/list.go
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 type scrollChild struct {
-	op   ui.Op
-	size image.Point
+	size  image.Point
+	block ui.OpBlock
 }
 
 type List struct {
@@ -24,12 +24,14 @@ type List struct {
 	// The distance scrolled since last call to Init.
 	Distance int
 
+	area      gesture.Rect
 	scroll    gesture.Scroll
 	scrollDir int
 
 	offset int
 	first  int
 
+	ops *ui.Ops
 	cs  Constraints
 	len int
 
@@ -38,7 +40,6 @@ type List struct {
 	elem     func(w Widget)
 
 	size image.Point
-	ops  ui.Ops
 }
 
 type Interface interface {
@@ -46,19 +47,20 @@ type Interface interface {
 	At(i int) Widget
 }
 
-func (l *List) Init(cs Constraints, len int) (int, bool) {
+func (l *List) Init(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints, len int) (int, bool) {
 	l.maxSize = 0
 	l.children = l.children[:0]
+	l.ops = ops
 	l.cs = cs
 	l.len = len
 	l.elem = nil
 	if l.first > len {
 		l.first = len
 	}
-	l.ops = l.ops[:0]
 	if len == 0 {
 		return 0, false
 	}
+	l.scroll.Op(ops, &l.area)
 	return l.Index()
 }
 
@@ -82,9 +84,9 @@ func (l *List) Index() (int, bool) {
 	return i, ok
 }
 
-func (l *List) Layout() (ui.Op, Dimens) {
-	ops := append(ui.Ops{l.scroll.Op(&gesture.Rect{l.size})}, l.ops...)
-	return ops, Dimens{Size: l.size}
+func (l *List) Layout() Dimens {
+	l.area.Size = l.size
+	return Dimens{Size: l.size}
 }
 
 func (l *List) next() (int, bool) {
@@ -116,21 +118,28 @@ func (l *List) Elem(w Widget) {
 }
 
 func (l *List) backward(w Widget) {
-	subcs := axisConstraints(l.Axis, Constraint{Max: ui.Inf}, l.crossConstraintChild(l.cs))
 	l.first--
-	op, dims := w.Layout(subcs)
-	mainSize := axisMain(l.Axis, dims.Size)
+	child := l.add(w)
+	mainSize := axisMain(l.Axis, child.size)
 	l.offset += mainSize
 	l.maxSize += mainSize
-	l.children = append([]scrollChild{{op, dims.Size}}, l.children...)
+	l.children = append([]scrollChild{child}, l.children...)
 }
 
 func (l *List) forward(w Widget) {
-	subcs := axisConstraints(l.Axis, Constraint{Max: ui.Inf}, l.crossConstraintChild(l.cs))
-	op, dims := w.Layout(subcs)
-	mainSize := axisMain(l.Axis, dims.Size)
+	child := l.add(w)
+	mainSize := axisMain(l.Axis, child.size)
 	l.maxSize += mainSize
-	l.children = append(l.children, scrollChild{op, dims.Size})
+	l.children = append(l.children, child)
+}
+
+func (l *List) add(w Widget) scrollChild {
+	subcs := axisConstraints(l.Axis, Constraint{Max: ui.Inf}, l.crossConstraintChild(l.cs))
+	l.ops.Begin()
+	ui.OpLayer{}.Add(l.ops)
+	dims := w.Layout(l.ops, subcs)
+	block := l.ops.End()
+	return scrollChild{dims.Size, block}
 }
 
 func (l *List) draw() {
@@ -176,14 +185,17 @@ func (l *List) draw() {
 		if min < 0 {
 			min = 0
 		}
-		op := draw.ClipRect(
-			image.Rectangle{
-				Min: axisPoint(l.Axis, min, -ui.Inf),
-				Max: axisPoint(l.Axis, max, ui.Inf),
-			},
-			ui.OpTransform{Transform: ui.Offset(toPointF(axisPoint(l.Axis, pos, cross))), Op: child.op},
-		)
-		l.ops = append(l.ops, ui.OpLayer{Op: op})
+		r := image.Rectangle{
+			Min: axisPoint(l.Axis, min, -ui.Inf),
+			Max: axisPoint(l.Axis, max, ui.Inf),
+		}
+		l.ops.Begin()
+		draw.OpClip{Path: draw.RectPath(r)}.Add(l.ops)
+		ui.OpTransform{
+			Transform: ui.Offset(toPointF(axisPoint(l.Axis, pos, cross))),
+		}.Add(l.ops)
+		child.block.Add(l.ops)
+		l.ops.End().Add(l.ops)
 		pos += axisMain(l.Axis, sz)
 	}
 	atStart := l.first == 0 && l.offset <= 0
diff --git a/ui/layout/simple.go b/ui/layout/simple.go
index 858dc57d..d866e826 100644
--- a/ui/layout/simple.go
+++ b/ui/layout/simple.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Widget interface {
-	Layout(cs Constraints) (ui.Op, Dimens)
+	Layout(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) Dimens
 }
 
 type Constraints struct {
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ type Dimens struct {
 
 type Axis uint8
 
-type F func(cs Constraints) (ui.Op, Dimens)
+type F func(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) Dimens
 
 const (
 	Horizontal Axis = iota
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ func ExactConstraints(size image.Point) Constraints {
 	}
 }
 
-func (f F) Layout(cs Constraints) (ui.Op, Dimens) {
-	return f(cs)
+func (f F) Layout(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) Dimens {
+	return f(ops, cs)
 }
 
 type Margins struct {
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ type Margins struct {
 }
 
 func Margin(c *ui.Config, m Margins, w Widget) Widget {
-	return F(func(cs Constraints) (ui.Op, Dimens) {
+	return F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) Dimens {
 		mcs := cs
 		t, r, b, l := int(c.Pixels(m.Top)+0.5), int(c.Pixels(m.Right)+0.5), int(c.Pixels(m.Bottom)+0.5), int(c.Pixels(m.Left)+0.5)
 		if mcs.Width.Max != ui.Inf {
@@ -105,10 +105,11 @@ func Margin(c *ui.Config, m Margins, w Widget) Widget {
 				mcs.Height.Max = mcs.Height.Min
 			}
 		}
-
-		op, dims := w.Layout(mcs)
-		op = ui.OpTransform{Transform: ui.Offset(toPointF(image.Point{X: l, Y: t})), Op: op}
-		return op, Dimens{
+		ops.Begin()
+		ui.OpTransform{Transform: ui.Offset(toPointF(image.Point{X: l, Y: t}))}.Add(ops)
+		dims := w.Layout(ops, mcs)
+		ops.End().Add(ops)
+		return Dimens{
 			Size:     cs.Constrain(dims.Size.Add(image.Point{X: r + l, Y: t + b})),
 			Baseline: dims.Baseline + t,
 		}
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ func isInf(v ui.Value) bool {
 }
 
 func Capped(c *ui.Config, maxWidth, maxHeight ui.Value, wt Widget) Widget {
-	return F(func(cs Constraints) (ui.Op, Dimens) {
+	return F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) Dimens {
 		if !isInf(maxWidth) {
 			mw := int(c.Pixels(maxWidth) + .5)
 			if mw < cs.Width.Min {
@@ -143,12 +144,12 @@ func Capped(c *ui.Config, maxWidth, maxHeight ui.Value, wt Widget) Widget {
 				cs.Height.Max = mh
 			}
 		}
-		return wt.Layout(cs)
+		return wt.Layout(ops, cs)
 	})
 }
 
 func Sized(c *ui.Config, width, height ui.Value, wt Widget) Widget {
-	return F(func(cs Constraints) (ui.Op, Dimens) {
+	return F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) Dimens {
 		if h := int(c.Pixels(height) + 0.5); h != 0 {
 			if cs.Height.Min < h {
 				cs.Height.Min = h
@@ -165,25 +166,27 @@ func Sized(c *ui.Config, width, height ui.Value, wt Widget) Widget {
 				cs.Width.Max = w
 			}
 		}
-		return wt.Layout(cs)
+		return wt.Layout(ops, cs)
 	})
 }
 
 func Expand(w Widget) Widget {
-	return F(func(cs Constraints) (ui.Op, Dimens) {
+	return F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) Dimens {
 		if cs.Height.Max != ui.Inf {
 			cs.Height.Min = cs.Height.Max
 		}
 		if cs.Width.Max != ui.Inf {
 			cs.Width.Min = cs.Width.Max
 		}
-		return w.Layout(cs)
+		return w.Layout(ops, cs)
 	})
 }
 
 func Align(alignment Direction, w Widget) Widget {
-	return F(func(cs Constraints) (ui.Op, Dimens) {
-		op, dims := w.Layout(cs.Loose())
+	return F(func(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) Dimens {
+		ops.Begin()
+		dims := w.Layout(ops, cs.Loose())
+		block := ops.End()
 		sz := dims.Size
 		if cs.Width.Max != ui.Inf {
 			sz.X = cs.Width.Max
@@ -204,8 +207,11 @@ func Align(alignment Direction, w Widget) Widget {
 		case SW, S, SE:
 			p.Y = sz.Y - dims.Size.Y
 		}
-		op = ui.OpTransform{Transform: ui.Offset(toPointF(p)), Op: op}
-		return op, Dimens{
+		ops.Begin()
+		ui.OpTransform{Transform: ui.Offset(toPointF(p))}.Add(ops)
+		block.Add(ops)
+		ops.End().Add(ops)
+		return Dimens{
 			Size:     sz,
 			Baseline: dims.Baseline,
 		}
diff --git a/ui/layout/stack.go b/ui/layout/stack.go
index 71a51fa3..71a7dd3c 100644
--- a/ui/layout/stack.go
+++ b/ui/layout/stack.go
@@ -11,18 +11,18 @@ import (
 type Stack struct {
 	Alignment Direction
 
+	ops      *ui.Ops
 	cs       Constraints
 	children []stackChild
 	maxSZ    image.Point
 	baseline int
 
-	ccache  [10]stackChild
-	opCache [10]ui.Op
+	ccache [10]stackChild
 }
 
 type stackChild struct {
-	op   ui.Op
-	dims Dimens
+	block ui.OpBlock
+	dims  Dimens
 }
 
 type Direction uint8
@@ -38,26 +38,31 @@ const (
 	W
 )
 
-func (s *Stack) Init(cs Constraints) *Stack {
+func (s *Stack) Init(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) *Stack {
 	if s.children == nil {
 		s.children = s.ccache[:0]
 	}
 	s.children = s.children[:0]
 	s.maxSZ = image.Point{}
 	s.baseline = 0
+	s.ops = ops
 	s.cs = cs
 	return s
 }
 
 func (s *Stack) Rigid(w Widget) *Stack {
-	op, dims := w.Layout(s.cs)
+	s.ops.Begin()
+	ui.OpLayer{}.Add(s.ops)
+	dims := w.Layout(s.ops, s.cs)
+	b := s.ops.End()
 	if w := dims.Size.X; w > s.maxSZ.X {
 		s.maxSZ.X = w
 	}
 	if h := dims.Size.Y; h > s.maxSZ.Y {
 		s.maxSZ.Y = h
 	}
-	s.add(op, dims)
+	s.addjustBaseline(dims)
+	s.children = append(s.children, stackChild{b, dims})
 	return s
 }
 
@@ -66,16 +71,21 @@ func (s *Stack) Expand(idx int, w Widget) *Stack {
 		Width:  Constraint{Min: s.maxSZ.X, Max: s.maxSZ.X},
 		Height: Constraint{Min: s.maxSZ.Y, Max: s.maxSZ.Y},
 	}
-	s.add(w.Layout(cs))
+	s.ops.Begin()
+	ui.OpLayer{}.Add(s.ops)
+	dims := w.Layout(s.ops, cs)
+	b := s.ops.End()
+	s.addjustBaseline(dims)
 	if idx < 0 {
-		idx += len(s.children)
+		idx += len(s.children) + 1
 	}
-	s.children[idx], s.children[len(s.children)-1] = s.children[len(s.children)-1], s.children[idx]
+	s.children = append(s.children, stackChild{})
+	copy(s.children[idx+1:], s.children[idx:])
+	s.children[idx] = stackChild{b, dims}
 	return s
 }
 
-func (s *Stack) add(op ui.Op, dims Dimens) {
-	s.children = append(s.children, stackChild{op, dims})
+func (s *Stack) addjustBaseline(dims Dimens) {
 	if s.baseline == 0 {
 		if b := dims.Baseline; b != dims.Size.Y {
 			s.baseline = b
@@ -83,14 +93,8 @@ func (s *Stack) add(op ui.Op, dims Dimens) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (s *Stack) Layout() (ui.Op, Dimens) {
-	var ops ui.Ops
-	if len(s.children) > len(s.opCache) {
-		ops = make([]ui.Op, len(s.children))
-	} else {
-		ops = s.opCache[:len(s.children)]
-	}
-	for i, ch := range s.children {
+func (s *Stack) Layout() Dimens {
+	for _, ch := range s.children {
 		sz := ch.dims.Size
 		var p image.Point
 		switch s.Alignment {
@@ -105,13 +109,16 @@ func (s *Stack) Layout() (ui.Op, Dimens) {
 		case SW, S, SE:
 			p.Y = s.maxSZ.Y - sz.Y
 		}
-		ops[i] = ui.OpLayer{Op: ui.OpTransform{Transform: ui.Offset(toPointF(p)), Op: ch.op}}
+		s.ops.Begin()
+		ui.OpTransform{Transform: ui.Offset(toPointF(p))}.Add(s.ops)
+		ch.block.Add(s.ops)
+		s.ops.End().Add(s.ops)
 	}
 	b := s.baseline
 	if b == 0 {
 		b = s.maxSZ.Y
 	}
-	return ops, Dimens{
+	return Dimens{
 		Size:     s.maxSZ,
 		Baseline: b,
 	}
diff --git a/ui/ops.go b/ui/ops.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0830df5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/ops.go
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+package ui
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+
+	"gioui.org/ui/internal/ops"
+)
+
+// Ops hold a list of serialized Ops.
+type Ops struct {
+	// Stack of block start indices.
+	stack []int
+	// Serialized ops.
+	data []byte
+	// Op references.
+	refs []interface{}
+}
+
+type OpBlock struct {
+	idx int
+}
+
+// Begin a block of ops.
+func (o *Ops) Begin() {
+	o.stack = append(o.stack, o.Size())
+	data := make([]byte, ops.TypeBlockDefLen)
+	data[0] = byte(ops.TypeBlockDef)
+	o.Write(data)
+}
+
+// End the most recent block and return
+// an op for invoking the completed block.
+func (o *Ops) End() OpBlock {
+	start := o.stack[len(o.stack)-1]
+	o.stack = o.stack[:len(o.stack)-1]
+	blockLen := o.Size() - start
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	bo.PutUint32(o.data[start+1:], uint32(blockLen))
+	return OpBlock{start}
+}
+
+// Reset clears the Ops.
+func (o *Ops) Reset() {
+	o.refs = o.refs[:0]
+	o.stack = o.stack[:0]
+	o.data = o.data[:0]
+}
+
+func (o *Ops) Refs() []interface{} {
+	return o.refs
+}
+
+func (o *Ops) Data() []byte {
+	return o.data
+}
+
+func (o *Ops) Ref(r interface{}) int {
+	o.refs = append(o.refs, r)
+	return len(o.refs) - 1
+}
+
+func (o *Ops) Write(op []byte) {
+	o.data = append(o.data, op...)
+}
+
+// Size returns the length of the serialized Op data.
+func (o *Ops) Size() int {
+	return len(o.data)
+}
+
+func (b OpBlock) Add(o *Ops) {
+	data := make([]byte, ops.TypeBlockLen)
+	data[0] = byte(ops.TypeBlock)
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	bo.PutUint32(data[1:], uint32(b.idx))
+	o.Write(data)
+}
+
+func (OpBlock) ImplementsOp() {}
diff --git a/ui/pointer/pointer.go b/ui/pointer/pointer.go
index 061debe3..25edc7fe 100644
--- a/ui/pointer/pointer.go
+++ b/ui/pointer/pointer.go
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@
 package pointer
 
 import (
+	"encoding/binary"
 	"time"
 
+	"gioui.org/ui"
 	"gioui.org/ui/f32"
+	"gioui.org/ui/internal/ops"
 )
 
 type Event struct {
@@ -66,6 +69,32 @@ const (
 	Grabbed
 )
 
+func (h OpHandler) Add(o *ui.Ops) {
+	data := make([]byte, ops.TypePointerHandlerLen)
+	data[0] = byte(ops.TypePointerHandler)
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	if h.Grab {
+		data[1] = 1
+	}
+	bo.PutUint32(data[2:], uint32(o.Ref(h.Key)))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[6:], uint32(o.Ref(h.Area)))
+	o.Write(data)
+}
+
+func (h *OpHandler) Decode(d []byte, refs []interface{}) {
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	if ops.OpType(d[0]) != ops.TypePointerHandler {
+		panic("invalid op")
+	}
+	key := int(bo.Uint32(d[2:]))
+	area := int(bo.Uint32(d[6:]))
+	*h = OpHandler{
+		Grab: d[1] != 0,
+		Key:  refs[key].(Key),
+		Area: refs[area].(Area),
+	}
+}
+
 func (t Type) String() string {
 	switch t {
 	case Press:
diff --git a/ui/pointer/queue.go b/ui/pointer/queue.go
index c7723c37..28f0bc0c 100644
--- a/ui/pointer/queue.go
+++ b/ui/pointer/queue.go
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ package pointer
 import (
 	"gioui.org/ui"
 	"gioui.org/ui/f32"
+	"gioui.org/ui/internal/ops"
 )
 
 type Queue struct {
 	hitTree  []hitNode
 	handlers map[Key]*handler
 	pointers []pointerInfo
+	reader   ops.Reader
 	scratch  []Key
 }
 
@@ -35,49 +37,37 @@ type handler struct {
 	wantsGrab bool
 }
 
-type childOp interface {
-	ChildOp() ui.Op
-}
-
-func (q *Queue) collectHandlers(op ui.Op, t ui.Transform, layer int) ui.Op {
-	switch op := op.(type) {
-	case ui.Ops:
-		var all ui.Ops
-		for _, op := range op {
-			if op := q.collectHandlers(op, t, layer); op != nil {
-				if ops, ok := op.(ui.Ops); ok {
-					all = append(all, ops...)
-				} else {
-					all = append(all, op)
-				}
-			}
-		}
-		return all
-	case ui.OpLayer:
-		layer++
-		q.hitTree = append(q.hitTree, hitNode{level: layer})
-		child := q.collectHandlers(op.ChildOp(), t, layer)
-		if child == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-		return ui.OpLayer{Op: child}
-	case ui.OpTransform:
-		return q.collectHandlers(op.ChildOp(), t.Mul(op.Transform), layer)
-	case OpHandler:
-		q.hitTree = append(q.hitTree, hitNode{level: layer, key: op.Key})
-		h, ok := q.handlers[op.Key]
+func (q *Queue) collectHandlers(r *ops.Reader, t ui.Transform, layer int) {
+	for {
+		data, ok := r.Decode()
 		if !ok {
-			h = new(handler)
-			q.handlers[op.Key] = h
+			return
+		}
+		switch ops.OpType(data[0]) {
+		case ops.TypePush:
+			q.collectHandlers(r, t, layer)
+		case ops.TypePop:
+			return
+		case ops.TypeLayer:
+			layer++
+			q.hitTree = append(q.hitTree, hitNode{level: layer})
+		case ops.TypeTransform:
+			var op ui.OpTransform
+			op.Decode(data)
+			t = t.Mul(op.Transform)
+		case ops.TypePointerHandler:
+			var op OpHandler
+			op.Decode(data, r.Refs)
+			q.hitTree = append(q.hitTree, hitNode{level: layer, key: op.Key})
+			h, ok := q.handlers[op.Key]
+			if !ok {
+				h = new(handler)
+				q.handlers[op.Key] = h
+			}
+			h.area = op.Area
+			h.transform = t
+			h.wantsGrab = h.wantsGrab || op.Grab
 		}
-		h.area = op.Area
-		h.transform = t
-		h.wantsGrab = h.wantsGrab || op.Grab
-		return op
-	case childOp:
-		return q.collectHandlers(op.ChildOp(), t, layer)
-	default:
-		return nil
 	}
 }
 
@@ -115,7 +105,7 @@ func (q *Queue) init() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (q *Queue) Frame(op ui.Op) {
+func (q *Queue) Frame(root *ui.Ops) {
 	q.init()
 	for k, h := range q.handlers {
 		if !h.active {
@@ -126,7 +116,8 @@ func (q *Queue) Frame(op ui.Op) {
 		}
 	}
 	q.hitTree = q.hitTree[:0]
-	q.collectHandlers(op, ui.Transform{}, 0)
+	q.reader.Reset(root.Data(), root.Refs())
+	q.collectHandlers(&q.reader, ui.Transform{}, 0)
 }
 
 func (q *Queue) For(k Key) []Event {
diff --git a/ui/text/editor.go b/ui/text/editor.go
index f32820c7..fb07d04f 100644
--- a/ui/text/editor.go
+++ b/ui/text/editor.go
@@ -48,8 +48,6 @@ type Editor struct {
 	scrollOff image.Point
 
 	clicker gesture.Click
-
-	ops ui.Ops
 }
 
 type linePath struct {
@@ -126,7 +124,7 @@ func (e *Editor) caretWidth() fixed.Int26_6 {
 	return fixed.Int26_6(oneDp * 64)
 }
 
-func (e *Editor) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
+func (e *Editor) Layout(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
 	twoDp := int(e.cfg.Pixels(ui.Dp(2)) + 0.5)
 	e.padLeft, e.padRight = twoDp, twoDp
 	maxWidth := cs.Width.Max
@@ -155,8 +153,7 @@ func (e *Editor) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
 		Min: image.Point{X: 0, Y: 0},
 		Max: image.Point{X: e.viewSize.X, Y: e.viewSize.Y},
 	}
-	e.ops = e.ops[:0]
-	e.ops = append(e.ops, key.OpHandler{Key: e, Focus: e.requestFocus})
+	key.OpHandler{Key: e, Focus: e.requestFocus}.Add(ops)
 	e.requestFocus = false
 	e.it = lineIterator{
 		Lines:     lines,
@@ -171,10 +168,11 @@ func (e *Editor) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
 			break
 		}
 		path := e.Face.Path(str)
-		e.ops = append(e.ops, ui.OpTransform{
-			Transform: ui.Offset(lineOff),
-			Op:        draw.OpClip{Path: path, Op: draw.OpImage{Rect: toRectF(clip).Sub(lineOff), Src: e.Src, SrcRect: e.Src.Bounds()}},
-		})
+		ops.Begin()
+		ui.OpTransform{Transform: ui.Offset(lineOff)}.Add(ops)
+		draw.OpClip{Path: path}.Add(ops)
+		draw.OpImage{Rect: toRectF(clip).Sub(lineOff), Src: e.Src, SrcRect: e.Src.Bounds()}.Add(ops)
+		ops.End().Add(ops)
 	}
 	if e.focused {
 		now := e.cfg.Now
@@ -197,18 +195,21 @@ func (e *Editor) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
 			})
 			carRect = clip.Intersect(carRect)
 			if !carRect.Empty() {
-				e.ops = append(e.ops, draw.OpImage{Src: e.Src, Rect: toRectF(carRect), SrcRect: e.Src.Bounds()})
+				img := draw.OpImage{Src: e.Src, Rect: toRectF(carRect), SrcRect: e.Src.Bounds()}
+				img.Add(ops)
 			}
 		}
 		if blinking {
-			e.ops = append(e.ops, ui.OpRedraw{At: nextBlink})
+			redraw := ui.OpRedraw{At: nextBlink}
+			redraw.Add(ops)
 		}
 	}
 
 	baseline := e.padTop + e.dims.Baseline
 	area := &gesture.Rect{e.viewSize}
-	e.ops = append(e.ops, e.scroller.Op(area), e.clicker.Op(area))
-	return e.ops, layout.Dimens{Size: e.viewSize, Baseline: baseline}
+	e.scroller.Op(ops, area)
+	e.clicker.Op(ops, area)
+	return layout.Dimens{Size: e.viewSize, Baseline: baseline}
 }
 
 func (e *Editor) layout() {
diff --git a/ui/text/label.go b/ui/text/label.go
index 2374ac5a..ac02f4d2 100644
--- a/ui/text/label.go
+++ b/ui/text/label.go
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func (l *lineIterator) Next() (String, f32.Point, bool) {
 	return String{}, f32.Point{}, false
 }
 
-func (l Label) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
+func (l Label) Layout(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
 	textLayout := l.Face.Layout(l.Text, false, cs.Width.Max)
 	lines := textLayout.Lines
 	dims := linesDimens(lines)
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ func (l Label) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
 		Min: image.Point{X: -ui.Inf, Y: -padTop},
 		Max: image.Point{X: ui.Inf, Y: dims.Size.Y + padBottom},
 	}
-	var ops ui.Ops = make([]ui.Op, len(lines))[:0]
 	l.it = lineIterator{
 		Lines:     lines,
 		Clip:      clip,
@@ -104,13 +103,13 @@ func (l Label) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
 		}
 		path := l.Face.Path(str)
 		lclip := toRectF(clip).Sub(off)
-		op := ui.OpTransform{
-			Transform: ui.Offset(off),
-			Op:        draw.OpClip{Path: path, Op: draw.OpImage{Rect: lclip, Src: l.Src, SrcRect: l.Src.Bounds()}},
-		}
-		ops = append(ops, op)
+		ops.Begin()
+		ui.OpTransform{Transform: ui.Offset(off)}.Add(ops)
+		draw.OpClip{Path: path}.Add(ops)
+		draw.OpImage{Rect: lclip, Src: l.Src, SrcRect: l.Src.Bounds()}.Add(ops)
+		ops.End().Add(ops)
 	}
-	return ops, dims
+	return dims
 }
 
 func itof(i int) float32 {
diff --git a/ui/ui.go b/ui/ui.go
index 579b0e47..77a8303a 100644
--- a/ui/ui.go
+++ b/ui/ui.go
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@
 package ui
 
 import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"math"
 	"time"
 
 	"gioui.org/ui/f32"
+	"gioui.org/ui/internal/ops"
 )
 
 // Config contain the context for updating and
@@ -33,7 +36,7 @@ func (c *Config) Pixels(v Value) float32 {
 	}
 }
 
-// Op is implemented by all known drawing and control
+// Op is implemented by all drawing and control
 // operations.
 type Op interface {
 	ImplementsOp()
@@ -41,7 +44,6 @@ type Op interface {
 
 // OpLayer represents a semantic layer of UI.
 type OpLayer struct {
-	Op Op
 }
 
 // OpRedraw requests a redraw at the given time. Use
@@ -50,13 +52,9 @@ type OpRedraw struct {
 	At time.Time
 }
 
-// Ops is the operation for a list of ops.
-type Ops []Op
-
 // OpTransform transforms an op.
 type OpTransform struct {
 	Transform Transform
-	Op        Op
 }
 
 type Transform struct {
@@ -64,6 +62,30 @@ type Transform struct {
 	offset f32.Point
 }
 
+func (r OpRedraw) Add(o *Ops) {
+	data := make([]byte, ops.TypeRedrawLen)
+	data[0] = byte(ops.TypeRedraw)
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	// UnixNano cannot represent the zero time.
+	if t := r.At; !t.IsZero() {
+		nanos := t.UnixNano()
+		if nanos > 0 {
+			bo.PutUint64(data[1:], uint64(nanos))
+		}
+	}
+	o.Write(data)
+}
+
+func (r *OpRedraw) Decode(d []byte) {
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	if ops.OpType(d[0]) != ops.TypeRedraw {
+		panic("invalid op")
+	}
+	if nanos := bo.Uint64(d[1:]); nanos > 0 {
+		r.At = time.Unix(0, int64(nanos))
+	}
+}
+
 func (t Transform) InvTransform(p f32.Point) f32.Point {
 	return p.Sub(t.offset)
 }
@@ -78,12 +100,39 @@ func (t Transform) Mul(t2 Transform) Transform {
 	}
 }
 
-func (t OpTransform) ChildOp() Op {
-	return t.Op
+func (t OpTransform) Add(o *Ops) {
+	data := make([]byte, ops.TypeTransformLen)
+	data[0] = byte(ops.TypeTransform)
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	bo.PutUint32(data[1:], math.Float32bits(t.Transform.offset.X))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[5:], math.Float32bits(t.Transform.offset.Y))
+	o.Write(data)
 }
 
-func (o OpLayer) ChildOp() Op {
-	return o.Op
+func (t *OpTransform) Decode(d []byte) {
+	bo := binary.LittleEndian
+	if ops.OpType(d[0]) != ops.TypeTransform {
+		panic("invalid op")
+	}
+	*t = OpTransform{
+		Transform: Offset(f32.Point{
+			X: math.Float32frombits(bo.Uint32(d[1:])),
+			Y: math.Float32frombits(bo.Uint32(d[5:])),
+		}),
+	}
+}
+
+func (l OpLayer) Add(o *Ops) {
+	data := make([]byte, ops.TypeLayerLen)
+	data[0] = byte(ops.TypeLayer)
+	o.Write(data)
+}
+
+func (l *OpLayer) Decode(d []byte) {
+	if ops.OpType(d[0]) != ops.TypeLayer {
+		panic("invalid op")
+	}
+	*l = OpLayer{}
 }
 
 func Offset(o f32.Point) Transform {
@@ -93,7 +142,6 @@ func Offset(o f32.Point) Transform {
 // Inf is the int value that represents an unbounded maximum constraint.
 const Inf = int(^uint(0) >> 1)
 
-func (Ops) ImplementsOp()         {}
 func (OpLayer) ImplementsOp()     {}
 func (OpTransform) ImplementsOp() {}
 func (OpRedraw) ImplementsOp()    {}
diff --git a/ui/widget/image.go b/ui/widget/image.go
index 5d6f42c0..3eaef624 100644
--- a/ui/widget/image.go
+++ b/ui/widget/image.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ type Image struct {
 	Rect image.Rectangle
 }
 
-func (im Image) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
+func (im Image) Layout(ops *ui.Ops, cs layout.Constraints) layout.Dimens {
 	d := image.Point{X: cs.Width.Max, Y: cs.Height.Max}
 	if d.X == ui.Inf {
 		d.X = cs.Width.Min
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@ func (im Image) Layout(cs layout.Constraints) (ui.Op, layout.Dimens) {
 	dr := f32.Rectangle{
 		Max: f32.Point{X: float32(d.X), Y: float32(d.Y)},
 	}
-	op := draw.OpImage{Rect: dr, Src: im.Src, SrcRect: im.Rect}
-	return op, layout.Dimens{Size: d, Baseline: d.Y}
+	draw.OpImage{Rect: dr, Src: im.Src, SrcRect: im.Rect}.Add(ops)
+	return layout.Dimens{Size: d, Baseline: d.Y}
 }