diff --git a/src/chat.cpp b/src/chat.cpp
index 46555b3dc..de7483e22 100644
--- a/src/chat.cpp
+++ b/src/chat.cpp
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ s32 ChatBuffer::getBottomScrollPos() const
 
 
 
-ChatPrompt::ChatPrompt(std::wstring prompt, u32 history_limit):
+ChatPrompt::ChatPrompt(const std::wstring &prompt, u32 history_limit):
 	m_prompt(prompt),
 	m_line(L""),
 	m_history(),
diff --git a/src/chat.h b/src/chat.h
index 11061fd39..5de676a2e 100644
--- a/src/chat.h
+++ b/src/chat.h
@@ -38,14 +38,14 @@ struct ChatLine
 	// message text
 	EnrichedString text;
 
-	ChatLine(std::wstring a_name, std::wstring a_text):
+	ChatLine(const std::wstring &a_name, const std::wstring &a_text):
 		age(0.0),
 		name(a_name),
 		text(a_text)
 	{
 	}
 
-	ChatLine(EnrichedString a_name, EnrichedString a_text):
+	ChatLine(const EnrichedString &a_name, const EnrichedString &a_text):
 		age(0.0),
 		name(a_name),
 		text(a_text)
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ private:
 class ChatPrompt
 {
 public:
-	ChatPrompt(std::wstring prompt, u32 history_limit);
+	ChatPrompt(const std::wstring &prompt, u32 history_limit);
 	~ChatPrompt();
 
 	// Input character or string
diff --git a/src/craftdef.h b/src/craftdef.h
index 695ee0c2c..bdd741f7c 100644
--- a/src/craftdef.h
+++ b/src/craftdef.h
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ struct CraftOutput
 	CraftOutput():
 		item(""), time(0)
 	{}
-	CraftOutput(std::string item_, float time_):
+	CraftOutput(const std::string &item_, float time_):
 		item(item_), time(time_)
 	{}
 	std::string dump() const;
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ struct CraftReplacements
 	CraftReplacements():
 		pairs()
 	{}
-	CraftReplacements(std::vector<std::pair<std::string, std::string> > pairs_):
+	CraftReplacements(const std::vector<std::pair<std::string, std::string> > &pairs_):
 		pairs(pairs_)
 	{}
 	std::string dump() const;
@@ -359,10 +359,13 @@ public:
 	CraftDefinitionFuel():
 		recipe(""), hash_inited(false), burntime()
 	{}
-	CraftDefinitionFuel(std::string recipe_,
+	CraftDefinitionFuel(const std::string &recipe_,
 			float burntime_,
 			const CraftReplacements &replacements_):
-		recipe(recipe_), hash_inited(false), burntime(burntime_), replacements(replacements_)
+		recipe(recipe_),
+		hash_inited(false),
+		burntime(burntime_),
+		replacements(replacements_)
 	{}
 	virtual ~CraftDefinitionFuel(){}
 
diff --git a/src/environment.cpp b/src/environment.cpp
index 9c2ea8896..c1aeeec60 100644
--- a/src/environment.cpp
+++ b/src/environment.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void Environment::setTimeOfDay(u32 time)
 {
 	MutexAutoLock lock(this->m_time_lock);
 	if (m_time_of_day > time)
-		m_day_count++;
+		++m_day_count;
 	m_time_of_day = time;
 	m_time_of_day_f = (float)time / 24000.0;
 }
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void Environment::stepTimeOfDay(float dtime)
 		// Sync at overflow
 		if (m_time_of_day + units >= 24000) {
 			sync_f = true;
-			m_day_count++;
+			++m_day_count;
 		}
 		m_time_of_day = (m_time_of_day + units) % 24000;
 		if (sync_f)
diff --git a/src/exceptions.h b/src/exceptions.h
index 67a2d0df6..1b39c6725 100644
--- a/src/exceptions.h
+++ b/src/exceptions.h
@@ -27,10 +27,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 class BaseException : public std::exception
 {
 public:
-	BaseException(const std::string &s) throw()
-	{
-		m_s = s;
-	}
+	BaseException(const std::string &s) throw(): m_s(s) {}
 	~BaseException() throw() {}
 	virtual const char * what() const throw()
 	{
@@ -122,12 +119,12 @@ public:
 
 class ClientStateError : public BaseException {
 public:
-	ClientStateError(std::string s): BaseException(s) {}
+	ClientStateError(const std::string &s): BaseException(s) {}
 };
 
 class PrngException : public BaseException {
 public:
-	PrngException(std::string s): BaseException(s) {}
+	PrngException(const std::string &s): BaseException(s) {}
 };
 
 class ModError : public BaseException {
diff --git a/src/game.cpp b/src/game.cpp
index bcf378e4e..fbc0cf35f 100644
--- a/src/game.cpp
+++ b/src/game.cpp
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ struct TextDestPlayerInventory : public TextDest
 
 struct LocalFormspecHandler : public TextDest
 {
-	LocalFormspecHandler(std::string formname):
-		m_client(0)
+	LocalFormspecHandler(const std::string &formname):
+		m_client(NULL)
 	{
 		m_formname = formname;
 	}
@@ -139,11 +139,6 @@ struct LocalFormspecHandler : public TextDest
 		m_formname = formname;
 	}
 
-	void gotText(const std::wstring &message)
-	{
-		errorstream << "LocalFormspecHandler::gotText old style message received" << std::endl;
-	}
-
 	void gotText(const StringMap &fields)
 	{
 		if (m_formname == "MT_PAUSE_MENU") {
diff --git a/src/httpfetch.cpp b/src/httpfetch.cpp
index f64c9f717..21400355a 100644
--- a/src/httpfetch.cpp
+++ b/src/httpfetch.cpp
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ public:
 class HTTPFetchOngoing
 {
 public:
-	HTTPFetchOngoing(HTTPFetchRequest request, CurlHandlePool *pool);
+	HTTPFetchOngoing(const HTTPFetchRequest &request, CurlHandlePool *pool);
 	~HTTPFetchOngoing();
 
 	CURLcode start(CURLM *multi);
@@ -228,7 +228,8 @@ private:
 };
 
 
-HTTPFetchOngoing::HTTPFetchOngoing(HTTPFetchRequest request_, CurlHandlePool *pool_):
+HTTPFetchOngoing::HTTPFetchOngoing(const HTTPFetchRequest &request_,
+		CurlHandlePool *pool_):
 	pool(pool_),
 	curl(NULL),
 	multi(NULL),
diff --git a/src/inventory.cpp b/src/inventory.cpp
index 6d5b49916..8617f7263 100644
--- a/src/inventory.cpp
+++ b/src/inventory.cpp
@@ -46,12 +46,11 @@ static content_t content_translate_from_19_to_internal(content_t c_from)
 }
 
 ItemStack::ItemStack(const std::string &name_, u16 count_,
-		u16 wear_, IItemDefManager *itemdef)
+		u16 wear_, IItemDefManager *itemdef) :
+	name(itemdef->getAlias(name_)),
+	count(count_),
+	wear(wear_)
 {
-	name = itemdef->getAlias(name_);
-	count = count_;
-	wear = wear_;
-
 	if (name.empty() || count == 0)
 		clear();
 	else if (itemdef->get(name).type == ITEM_TOOL)
@@ -370,14 +369,13 @@ ItemStack ItemStack::peekItem(u32 peekcount) const
 	Inventory
 */
 
-InventoryList::InventoryList(std::string name, u32 size, IItemDefManager *itemdef)
+InventoryList::InventoryList(const std::string &name, u32 size, IItemDefManager *itemdef):
+	m_name(name),
+	m_size(size),
+	m_width(0),
+	m_itemdef(itemdef)
 {
-	m_name = name;
-	m_size = size;
-	m_width = 0;
-	m_itemdef = itemdef;
 	clearItems();
-	//m_dirty = false;
 }
 
 InventoryList::~InventoryList()
@@ -712,14 +710,6 @@ ItemStack InventoryList::takeItem(u32 i, u32 takecount)
 	return taken;
 }
 
-ItemStack InventoryList::peekItem(u32 i, u32 peekcount) const
-{
-	if(i >= m_items.size())
-		return ItemStack();
-
-	return m_items[i].peekItem(peekcount);
-}
-
 void InventoryList::moveItemSomewhere(u32 i, InventoryList *dest, u32 count)
 {
 	// Take item from source list
diff --git a/src/inventory.h b/src/inventory.h
index fe1639728..a9fef3b05 100644
--- a/src/inventory.h
+++ b/src/inventory.h
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ struct ItemStack
 class InventoryList
 {
 public:
-	InventoryList(std::string name, u32 size, IItemDefManager *itemdef);
+	InventoryList(const std::string &name, u32 size, IItemDefManager *itemdef);
 	~InventoryList();
 	void clearItems();
 	void setSize(u32 newsize);
@@ -239,9 +239,6 @@ public:
 	// Returns empty item if couldn't take any.
 	ItemStack takeItem(u32 i, u32 takecount);
 
-	// Similar to takeItem, but keeps the slot intact.
-	ItemStack peekItem(u32 i, u32 peekcount) const;
-
 	// Move an item to a different list (or a different stack in the same list)
 	// count is the maximum number of items to move (0 for everything)
 	// returns number of moved items
@@ -254,8 +251,8 @@ public:
 
 private:
 	std::vector<ItemStack> m_items;
-	u32 m_size, m_width;
 	std::string m_name;
+	u32 m_size, m_width;
 	IItemDefManager *m_itemdef;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/script/common/c_content.cpp b/src/script/common/c_content.cpp
index bcae874b9..8dfb851e6 100644
--- a/src/script/common/c_content.cpp
+++ b/src/script/common/c_content.cpp
@@ -43,15 +43,12 @@ struct EnumString es_TileAnimationType[] =
 };
 
 /******************************************************************************/
-ItemDefinition read_item_definition(lua_State* L,int index,
-		ItemDefinition default_def)
+void read_item_definition(lua_State* L, int index,
+		const ItemDefinition &default_def, ItemDefinition &def)
 {
-	if(index < 0)
+	if (index < 0)
 		index = lua_gettop(L) + 1 + index;
 
-	// Read the item definition
-	ItemDefinition def = default_def;
-
 	def.type = (ItemType)getenumfield(L, index, "type",
 			es_ItemType, ITEM_NONE);
 	getstringfield(L, index, "name", def.name);
@@ -118,8 +115,6 @@ ItemDefinition read_item_definition(lua_State* L,int index,
 	// "" = no prediction
 	getstringfield(L, index, "node_placement_prediction",
 			def.node_placement_prediction);
-
-	return def;
 }
 
 /******************************************************************************/
@@ -873,7 +868,7 @@ void push_tool_capabilities(lua_State *L,
 		lua_newtable(L);
 		// For each groupcap
 		for (ToolGCMap::const_iterator i = toolcap.groupcaps.begin();
-			i != toolcap.groupcaps.end(); i++) {
+			i != toolcap.groupcaps.end(); ++i) {
 			// Create groupcap table
 			lua_newtable(L);
 			const std::string &name = i->first;
@@ -881,7 +876,7 @@ void push_tool_capabilities(lua_State *L,
 			// Create subtable "times"
 			lua_newtable(L);
 			for (UNORDERED_MAP<int, float>::const_iterator
-					i = groupcap.times.begin(); i != groupcap.times.end(); i++) {
+					i = groupcap.times.begin(); i != groupcap.times.end(); ++i) {
 				lua_pushinteger(L, i->first);
 				lua_pushnumber(L, i->second);
 				lua_settable(L, -3);
@@ -900,7 +895,7 @@ void push_tool_capabilities(lua_State *L,
 		lua_newtable(L);
 		// For each damage group
 		for (DamageGroup::const_iterator i = toolcap.damageGroups.begin();
-			i != toolcap.damageGroups.end(); i++) {
+			i != toolcap.damageGroups.end(); ++i) {
 			// Create damage group table
 			lua_pushinteger(L, i->second);
 			lua_setfield(L, -2, i->first.c_str());
@@ -939,7 +934,7 @@ void read_inventory_list(lua_State *L, int tableindex,
 	InventoryList *invlist = inv->addList(name, listsize);
 	int index = 0;
 	for(std::vector<ItemStack>::const_iterator
-			i = items.begin(); i != items.end(); i++){
+			i = items.begin(); i != items.end(); ++i){
 		if(forcesize != -1 && index == forcesize)
 			break;
 		invlist->changeItem(index, *i);
diff --git a/src/script/common/c_content.h b/src/script/common/c_content.h
index 949b136eb..c701c0384 100644
--- a/src/script/common/c_content.h
+++ b/src/script/common/c_content.h
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ ToolCapabilities   read_tool_capabilities    (lua_State *L, int table);
 void               push_tool_capabilities    (lua_State *L,
                                               const ToolCapabilities &prop);
 
-ItemDefinition     read_item_definition      (lua_State *L, int index,
-                                              ItemDefinition default_def);
+void read_item_definition (lua_State *L, int index, const ItemDefinition &default_def,
+		ItemDefinition &def);
 void               read_object_properties    (lua_State *L, int index,
                                               ObjectProperties *prop,
                                               IItemDefManager *idef);
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_item.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_item.cpp
index 2d32093a7..0e4fc4ef0 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_item.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_item.cpp
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ int ModApiItemMod::l_register_item_raw(lua_State *L)
 	def.node_placement_prediction = "__default";
 
 	// Read the item definition
-	def = read_item_definition(L, table, def);
+	read_item_definition(L, table, def, def);
 
 	// Default to having client-side placement prediction for nodes
 	// ("" in item definition sets it off)
diff --git a/src/tool.h b/src/tool.h
index ebba5b749..f33152355 100644
--- a/src/tool.h
+++ b/src/tool.h
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ struct ToolCapabilities
 	ToolCapabilities(
 			float full_punch_interval_=1.4,
 			int max_drop_level_=1,
-			ToolGCMap groupcaps_=ToolGCMap(),
-			DamageGroup damageGroups_=DamageGroup()
+			const ToolGCMap &groupcaps_ = ToolGCMap(),
+			const DamageGroup &damageGroups_ = DamageGroup()
 	):
 		full_punch_interval(full_punch_interval_),
 		max_drop_level(max_drop_level_),
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ struct DigParams
 	u16 wear;
 	std::string main_group;
 
-	DigParams(bool a_diggable=false, float a_time=0, u16 a_wear=0,
-			std::string a_main_group=""):
+	DigParams(bool a_diggable = false, float a_time = 0.0f, u16 a_wear = 0,
+			const std::string &a_main_group = ""):
 		diggable(a_diggable),
 		time(a_time),
 		wear(a_wear),