diff --git a/src/examples.rs b/src/examples.rs
index 201dedb3..59c971ab 100644
--- a/src/examples.rs
+++ b/src/examples.rs
@@ -105,156 +105,99 @@ pub fn eth_dos_pod_builder(
 
     // Include Alice and Bob's keys as public statements. We don't
     // want to reveal the middleman.
-    let alice_pubkey_copy = alice_bob_ethdos.pub_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::NewEntry),
-        vec![OperationArg::Entry(
-            "Alice".to_string(),
-            alice_pubkey.into(),
-        )],
-    ))?;
-    let bob_pubkey_copy = alice_bob_ethdos.pub_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::NewEntry),
-        vec![OperationArg::Entry("Bob".to_string(), bob_pubkey.clone())],
-    ))?;
-    let charlie_pubkey = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::NewEntry),
-        vec![OperationArg::Entry(
-            "Charlie".to_string(),
-            charlie_pubkey.into(),
-        )],
-    ))?;
+    let alice_pubkey_copy = alice_bob_ethdos.pub_op(op!(new_entry, ("Alice", alice_pubkey)))?;
+    let bob_pubkey_copy = alice_bob_ethdos.pub_op(op!(new_entry, ("Bob", bob_pubkey.clone())))?;
+    let charlie_pubkey = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(new_entry, ("Charlie", charlie_pubkey)))?;
 
     // The ETHDoS distance from Alice to Alice is 0.
-    let zero = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::NewEntry),
-        vec![OperationArg::Entry("ZERO".to_string(), Value::from(0i64))],
-    ))?;
-    let alice_equals_alice = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::EqualFromEntries),
-        vec![
-            (alice_attestation, KEY_SIGNER).into(),
-            OperationArg::Statement(alice_pubkey_copy.clone()),
-        ],
+    let zero = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_literal(&0)?;
+    let alice_equals_alice = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(
+        eq,
+        (alice_attestation, KEY_SIGNER),
+        alice_pubkey_copy.clone()
     ))?;
-    let ethdos_alice_alice_is_zero_base = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Custom(eth_dos_base.clone()),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::Statement(alice_equals_alice),
-            OperationArg::Statement(zero.clone()),
-        ],
+    let ethdos_alice_alice_is_zero_base = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(
+        custom,
+        eth_dos_base.clone(),
+        alice_equals_alice,
+        zero.clone()
     ))?;
-    let ethdos_alice_alice_is_zero = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Custom(eth_dos.clone()),
-        vec![OperationArg::Statement(ethdos_alice_alice_is_zero_base)],
+    let ethdos_alice_alice_is_zero = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(
+        custom,
+        eth_dos.clone(),
+        ethdos_alice_alice_is_zero_base
     ))?;
 
     // Alice and Charlie are ETH friends.
     let attestation_is_signed_pod = Statement::from((alice_attestation, KEY_TYPE));
-    let attestation_signed_by_alice = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::EqualFromEntries),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::from((alice_attestation, KEY_SIGNER)),
-            OperationArg::Statement(alice_pubkey_copy),
-        ],
-    ))?;
-    let alice_attests_to_charlie = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::EqualFromEntries),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::from((alice_attestation, "attestation")),
-            OperationArg::Statement(charlie_pubkey.clone()),
-        ],
+    let attestation_signed_by_alice =
+        alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(eq, (alice_attestation, KEY_SIGNER), alice_pubkey_copy))?;
+    let alice_attests_to_charlie = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(
+        eq,
+        (alice_attestation, "attestation"),
+        charlie_pubkey.clone()
     ))?;
-    let ethfriends_alice_charlie = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Custom(eth_friend.clone()),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::Statement(attestation_is_signed_pod),
-            OperationArg::Statement(attestation_signed_by_alice),
-            OperationArg::Statement(alice_attests_to_charlie),
-        ],
+    let ethfriends_alice_charlie = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(
+        custom,
+        eth_friend.clone(),
+        attestation_is_signed_pod,
+        attestation_signed_by_alice,
+        alice_attests_to_charlie
     ))?;
 
     // ...and so are Chuck and Bob.
     let attestation_is_signed_pod = Statement::from((charlie_attestation, KEY_TYPE));
-    let attestation_signed_by_charlie = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::EqualFromEntries),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::from((charlie_attestation, KEY_SIGNER)),
-            OperationArg::Statement(charlie_pubkey),
-        ],
-    ))?;
-    let charlie_attests_to_bob = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::EqualFromEntries),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::from((charlie_attestation, "attestation")),
-            OperationArg::Statement(bob_pubkey_copy),
-        ],
+    let attestation_signed_by_charlie =
+        alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(eq, (charlie_attestation, KEY_SIGNER), charlie_pubkey))?;
+    let charlie_attests_to_bob = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(
+        eq,
+        (charlie_attestation, "attestation"),
+        bob_pubkey_copy
     ))?;
-    let ethfriends_charlie_bob = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Custom(eth_friend.clone()),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::Statement(attestation_is_signed_pod),
-            OperationArg::Statement(attestation_signed_by_charlie),
-            OperationArg::Statement(charlie_attests_to_bob),
-        ],
+    let ethfriends_charlie_bob = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(
+        custom,
+        eth_friend.clone(),
+        attestation_is_signed_pod,
+        attestation_signed_by_charlie,
+        charlie_attests_to_bob
     ))?;
 
     // The ETHDoS distance from Alice to Charlie is 1.
-    let one = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::NewEntry),
-        vec![OperationArg::Entry("ONE".to_string(), Value::from(1i64))],
-    ))?;
+    let one = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_literal(&1)?;
     // 1 = 0 + 1
-    let ethdos_sum = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::SumOf),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::Statement(one.clone()),
-            OperationArg::Statement(zero.clone()),
-            OperationArg::Statement(one.clone()),
-        ],
+    let ethdos_sum =
+        alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(sum_of, one.clone(), zero.clone(), one.clone()))?;
+    let ethdos_alice_charlie_is_one_ind = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(
+        custom,
+        eth_dos_ind.clone(),
+        ethdos_alice_alice_is_zero,
+        one.clone(),
+        ethdos_sum,
+        ethfriends_alice_charlie
     ))?;
-    let ethdos_alice_charlie_is_one_ind = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Custom(eth_dos_ind.clone()),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::Statement(ethdos_alice_alice_is_zero),
-            OperationArg::Statement(one.clone()),
-            OperationArg::Statement(ethdos_sum),
-            OperationArg::Statement(ethfriends_alice_charlie),
-        ],
-    ))?;
-    let ethdos_alice_charlie_is_one = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Custom(eth_dos.clone()),
-        vec![OperationArg::Statement(ethdos_alice_charlie_is_one_ind)],
+    let ethdos_alice_charlie_is_one = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(
+        custom,
+        eth_dos.clone(),
+        ethdos_alice_charlie_is_one_ind
     ))?;
 
     // The ETHDoS distance from Alice to Bob is 2.
     // The constant "TWO" and the final statement are both to be
     // public.
-    let two = alice_bob_ethdos.pub_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::NewEntry),
-        vec![OperationArg::Entry("TWO".to_string(), Value::from(2i64))],
-    ))?;
+    let two = alice_bob_ethdos.pub_literal(&2)?;
     // 2 = 1 + 1
-    let ethdos_sum = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::SumOf),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::Statement(two.clone()),
-            OperationArg::Statement(one.clone()),
-            OperationArg::Statement(one.clone()),
-        ],
-    ))?;
-    let ethdos_alice_bob_is_two_ind = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Custom(eth_dos_ind.clone()),
-        vec![
-            OperationArg::Statement(ethdos_alice_charlie_is_one),
-            OperationArg::Statement(one.clone()),
-            OperationArg::Statement(ethdos_sum),
-            OperationArg::Statement(ethfriends_charlie_bob),
-        ],
-    ))?;
-    let _ethdos_alice_bob_is_two = alice_bob_ethdos.pub_op(Operation(
-        OperationType::Custom(eth_dos.clone()),
-        vec![OperationArg::Statement(ethdos_alice_bob_is_two_ind)],
+    let ethdos_sum =
+        alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(sum_of, two.clone(), one.clone(), one.clone()))?;
+    let ethdos_alice_bob_is_two_ind = alice_bob_ethdos.priv_op(op!(
+        custom,
+        eth_dos_ind.clone(),
+        ethdos_alice_charlie_is_one,
+        one.clone(),
+        ethdos_sum,
+        ethfriends_charlie_bob
     ))?;
+    let _ethdos_alice_bob_is_two =
+        alice_bob_ethdos.pub_op(op!(custom, eth_dos.clone(), ethdos_alice_bob_is_two_ind))?;
 
     Ok(alice_bob_ethdos)
 }
diff --git a/src/frontend/mod.rs b/src/frontend/mod.rs
index 960e3385..69a42363 100644
--- a/src/frontend/mod.rs
+++ b/src/frontend/mod.rs
@@ -330,15 +330,7 @@ impl MainPodBuilder {
                 }
                 // todo: better error handling
                 OperationArg::Literal(v) => {
-                    let k = format!("c{}", self.const_cnt);
-                    self.const_cnt += 1;
-                    let value_of_st = self.op(
-                        public,
-                        Operation(
-                            OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::NewEntry),
-                            vec![OperationArg::Entry(k.clone(), v.clone())],
-                        ),
-                    )?;
+                    let value_of_st = self.literal(public, v)?;
                     *arg = OperationArg::Statement(value_of_st.clone());
                     st_args.push(value_of_st.1[0].clone())
                 }
@@ -650,6 +642,29 @@ impl MainPodBuilder {
         Ok(self.statements[self.statements.len() - 1].clone())
     }
 
+    /// Convenience method for introducing public constants.
+    pub fn pub_literal<V: Clone + Into<Value>>(&mut self, v: &V) -> Result<Statement> {
+        self.literal(true, v)
+    }
+
+    /// Convenience method for introducing private constants.
+    pub fn priv_literal<V: Clone + Into<Value>>(&mut self, v: &V) -> Result<Statement> {
+        self.literal(false, v)
+    }
+
+    fn literal<V: Clone + Into<Value>>(&mut self, public: bool, v: &V) -> Result<Statement> {
+        let v: Value = v.clone().into();
+        let k = format!("c{}", self.const_cnt);
+        self.const_cnt += 1;
+        self.op(
+            public,
+            Operation(
+                OperationType::Native(NativeOperation::NewEntry),
+                vec![OperationArg::Entry(k.clone(), v)],
+            ),
+        )
+    }
+
     pub fn reveal(&mut self, st: &Statement) {
         self.public_statements.push(st.clone());
     }
@@ -875,6 +890,9 @@ pub mod build_utils {
 
     #[macro_export]
     macro_rules! op {
+        (new_entry, ($key:expr, $value:expr)) => { $crate::frontend::Operation(
+            $crate::middleware::OperationType::Native($crate::middleware::NativeOperation::NewEntry),
+            $crate::op_args!(($key, $value))) };
         (eq, $($arg:expr),+) => { $crate::frontend::Operation(
             $crate::middleware::OperationType::Native($crate::middleware::NativeOperation::EqualFromEntries),
             $crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
@@ -887,12 +905,33 @@ pub mod build_utils {
         (lt, $($arg:expr),+) => { crate::frontend::Operation(
             crate::middleware::OperationType::Native(crate::middleware::NativeOperation::LtFromEntries),
             crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
+        (transitive_eq, $($arg:expr),+) => { crate::frontend::Operation(
+            crate::middleware::OperationType::Native(crate::middleware::NativeOperation::TransitiveEqualFromStatements),
+            crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
+        (gt_to_ne, $($arg:expr),+) => { crate::frontend::Operation(
+            crate::middleware::OperationType::Native(crate::middleware::NativeOperation::GtToNotEqual),
+            crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
+        (lt_to_ne, $($arg:expr),+) => { crate::frontend::Operation(
+            crate::middleware::OperationType::Native(crate::middleware::NativeOperation::LtToNotEqual),
+            crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
         (contains, $($arg:expr),+) => { crate::frontend::Operation(
             crate::middleware::OperationType::Native(crate::middleware::NativeOperation::ContainsFromEntries),
             crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
         (not_contains, $($arg:expr),+) => { crate::frontend::Operation(
             crate::middleware::OperationType::Native(crate::middleware::NativeOperation::NotContainsFromEntries),
             crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
+        (sum_of, $($arg:expr),+) => { crate::frontend::Operation(
+            crate::middleware::OperationType::Native(crate::middleware::NativeOperation::SumOf),
+            crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
+        (product_of, $($arg:expr),+) => { crate::frontend::Operation(
+            crate::middleware::OperationType::Native(crate::middleware::NativeOperation::ProductOf),
+            crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
+        (max_of, $($arg:expr),+) => { crate::frontend::Operation(
+            crate::middleware::OperationType::Native(crate::middleware::NativeOperation::MaxOf),
+            crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
+        (custom, $op:expr, $($arg:expr),+) => { $crate::frontend::Operation(
+            $crate::middleware::OperationType::Custom($op),
+            $crate::op_args!($($arg),*)) };
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/frontend/operation.rs b/src/frontend/operation.rs
index 9b35a97a..9c0ace23 100644
--- a/src/frontend/operation.rs
+++ b/src/frontend/operation.rs
@@ -56,6 +56,18 @@ impl From<(&SignedPod, &str)> for OperationArg {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<Statement> for OperationArg {
+    fn from(s: Statement) -> Self {
+        Self::Statement(s)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<V: Into<Value>> From<(&str, V)> for OperationArg {
+    fn from((key, value): (&str, V)) -> Self {
+        Self::Entry(key.to_string(), value.into())
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct Operation(pub OperationType, pub Vec<OperationArg>);