@@ -13,16 +13,43 @@
 	capitalize = function(str)
 		return string.upper(string.sub(str, 1,1)) .. string.sub(str, 2)
 	end;
 
-	explode = function(str,delim)
+	beginswith = function(str,pfx)
+		if #str < #pfx then return false end
+		return string.sub(str,1,#pfx) == pfx
+	end;
+
+	endswith = function(str,sfx)
+		if #str < #sfx then return false end
+		return string.sub(str,#sfx) == sfx
+	end;
+
+	explode = function(str,delim,pat) -- this is messy as fuck but it works so im keeping it
 		local i = 1
 		local tbl = {}
+		if pat == nil then pat = false end
 		repeat
 			local ss = string.sub(str, i)
-			local d = string.find(ss, delim, 1, true) or string.len(ss)+1
-			tbl[#tbl+1] = string.sub(ss,1,d-1)
-			i = i + d 
+			local d
+			if pat then
+				local matches = {string.match(ss, '()' .. delim .. '()')}
+				if #matches > 0 then
+					local start,stop = matches[1], matches[#matches]
+					d = start
+					i = i + stop - 1
+				end
+			else
+				local dl = string.len(delim)
+				d = string.find(ss, delim, 1, not pat)
+				if d then i = i + d + dl - 1 end
+			end
+			if not d then
+				tbl[#tbl+1] = string.sub(ss,1,string.len(ss))
+				break
+			else
+				tbl[#tbl+1] = string.sub(ss,1,d-1)
+			end
 		until i > string.len(str)
 		return tbl
 	end;