diff --git a/src/attributes/fleechance.c b/src/attributes/fleechance.c
index 232037972..afba2d301 100644
--- a/src/attributes/fleechance.c
+++ b/src/attributes/fleechance.c
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #include <util/attrib.h>
 
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
 attrib_type at_fleechance = {
     "fleechance",
     NULL,
diff --git a/src/attributes/key.test.c b/src/attributes/key.test.c
index 46343d19f..2b7632917 100644
--- a/src/attributes/key.test.c
+++ b/src/attributes/key.test.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include <util/attrib.h>
 #include <CuTest.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
 static void test_get_set_keys(CuTest *tc) {
     attrib *a = 0;
diff --git a/src/attributes/matmod.c b/src/attributes/matmod.c
index f885de99b..0cf1955d8 100644
--- a/src/attributes/matmod.c
+++ b/src/attributes/matmod.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include "matmod.h"
 
 #include <util/attrib.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
 
 attrib_type at_matmod = {
     "matmod",
diff --git a/src/console.h b/src/console.h
index a00a3ad58..fdc869f11 100644
--- a/src/console.h
+++ b/src/console.h
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #ifndef H_LUA_CONSOLE
 #define H_LUA_CONSOLE
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
diff --git a/src/creport.c b/src/creport.c
index b63a30ad4..c05377e2e 100644
--- a/src/creport.c
+++ b/src/creport.c
@@ -1468,7 +1468,7 @@ static void cr_output_region(FILE * F, report_context * ctx, region * r)
 
 /* main function of the creport. creates the header and traverses all regions */
 static int
-report_computer(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *charset)
+report_computer(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *bom)
 {
     static int era = -1;
     int i;
@@ -1488,9 +1488,8 @@ report_computer(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *charset)
         perror(filename);
         return -1;
     }
-    else if (_strcmpl(charset, "utf-8") == 0 || _strcmpl(charset, "utf8") == 0) {
-        const unsigned char utf8_bom[4] = { 0xef, 0xbb, 0xbf, 0 };
-        fwrite(utf8_bom, 1, 3, F);
+    else if (bom) {
+        fwrite(bom, 1, strlen(bom), F);
     }
 
     /* must call this to get all the neighbour regions */
@@ -1498,8 +1497,8 @@ report_computer(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *charset)
     /* initialisations, header and lists */
 
     fprintf(F, "VERSION %d\n", C_REPORT_VERSION);
-    fprintf(F, "\"%s\";charset\n", charset);
-    fprintf(F, "\"%s\";locale\n", locale_name(f->locale));
+    fprintf(F, "\"utf-8\";charset\n\"%s\";locale\n",
+            locale_name(f->locale));
     fprintf(F, "%d;noskillpoints\n", 1);
     fprintf(F, "%lld;date\n", (long long)ctx->report_time);
     fprintf(F, "\"%s\";Spiel\n", game_name());
diff --git a/src/creport.test.c b/src/creport.test.c
index 3a84ea566..72669e99f 100644
--- a/src/creport.test.c
+++ b/src/creport.test.c
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #include <platform.h>
-#include <config.h>
 #include "creport.h"
 #include "move.h"
 #include "travelthru.h"
diff --git a/src/game.pkg b/src/game.pkg
index 88b3bda9a..dc2b324e4 100644
--- a/src/game.pkg
+++ b/src/game.pkg
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 $#undef tolua_reg_types
 $#define tolua_reg_types tolua_reg_types_game
-$#include "config.h"
 $#include "bind_eressea.h"
 
 module eressea {
diff --git a/src/game.pkg.c b/src/game.pkg.c
index abd7832ca..30671021d 100644
--- a/src/game.pkg.c
+++ b/src/game.pkg.c
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ LUALIB_API int luaopen_game (lua_State* tolua_S);
 
 #undef tolua_reg_types
 #define tolua_reg_types tolua_reg_types_game
-#include "config.h"
 #include "bind_eressea.h"
 
 /* function to register type */
diff --git a/src/kernel/building.h b/src/kernel/building.h
index aee387e7f..92b006b98 100644
--- a/src/kernel/building.h
+++ b/src/kernel/building.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include <kernel/types.h>
 #include <util/variant.h>
 
+#include <stddef.h>
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
diff --git a/src/kernel/config.h b/src/kernel/config.h
index df0004e8b..91d5d576f 100644
--- a/src/kernel/config.h
+++ b/src/kernel/config.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #endif
 
     /* this should always be the first thing included after platform.h */
+#include <stddef.h>
 #include "types.h"
 struct param;
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/curse.c b/src/kernel/curse.c
index 2ee89799d..123f858f5 100644
--- a/src/kernel/curse.c
+++ b/src/kernel/curse.c
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ const curse_type *ct_find(const char *c)
             }
             else {
                 size_t k = _min(c_len, strlen(type->cname));
-                if (!_memicmp(c, type->cname, k)) {
+                if (!memcmp(c, type->cname, k)) {
                     return type;
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/kernel/order.h b/src/kernel/order.h
index 8ad5592b7..69cf1ea33 100644
--- a/src/kernel/order.h
+++ b/src/kernel/order.h
@@ -12,12 +12,14 @@
 
 #ifndef KRNL_ORDER_H
 #define KRNL_ORDER_H
+
+#include "keyword.h"
+#include <stddef.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-#include "keyword.h"
-
     /* Encapsulation of an order
      *
      * This structure contains one order given by a unit. These used to be
diff --git a/src/kernel/order.test.c b/src/kernel/order.test.c
index 635e6e078..f5eb51c6f 100644
--- a/src/kernel/order.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/order.test.c
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #include <platform.h>
-#include <config.h>
 #include <kernel/config.h>
 #include "order.h"
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/race.h b/src/kernel/race.h
index c7dbe3669..022d09c86 100644
--- a/src/kernel/race.h
+++ b/src/kernel/race.h
@@ -18,13 +18,14 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #ifndef H_KRNL_RACE_H
 #define H_KRNL_RACE_H
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include "magic.h"              /* wegen MAXMAGIETYP */
+#include "skill.h"
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-#include "magic.h"              /* wegen MAXMAGIETYP */
-#include "skill.h"
-
 #define AT_NONE 0
 #define AT_STANDARD	1
 #define AT_DRAIN_EXP 2
diff --git a/src/kernel/ship.h b/src/kernel/ship.h
index 748315d44..964ee2124 100644
--- a/src/kernel/ship.h
+++ b/src/kernel/ship.h
@@ -18,13 +18,16 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #ifndef H_KRNL_SHIP
 #define H_KRNL_SHIP
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
 
 #include "types.h"
 #include "direction.h"
 
+#include <stddef.h>
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
 #define DAMAGE_SCALE 100        /* multiplier for sh->damage */
 
     /* ship_type::flags */
diff --git a/src/kernel/unit.h b/src/kernel/unit.h
index e81c43135..e846ca1f4 100644
--- a/src/kernel/unit.h
+++ b/src/kernel/unit.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include <util/variant.h>
 #include "types.h"
 #include "skills.h"
+#include <stddef.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 16f56bf57..44c1b9e2d 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -70,11 +70,6 @@ static void load_inifile(dictionary * d)
 
     lomem = iniparser_getint(d, "eressea:lomem", lomem) ? 1 : 0;
 
-    str = iniparser_getstring(d, "eressea:encoding", NULL);
-    if (str && (_strcmpl(str, "utf8") == 0 || _strcmpl(str, "utf-8") == 0)) {
-        enc_gamedata = ENCODING_UTF8;
-    }
-
     verbosity = iniparser_getint(d, "eressea:verbose", 2);
     battledebug = iniparser_getint(d, "eressea:debug", battledebug) ? 1 : 0;
 
diff --git a/src/modules/score.h b/src/modules/score.h
index b0f1b2a91..4fc1f52bb 100644
--- a/src/modules/score.h
+++ b/src/modules/score.h
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #ifndef SCORE_H
 #define SCORE_H
+
+#include <stddef.h>
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
diff --git a/src/names.h b/src/names.h
index 63e9c8628..d7ab417c1 100644
--- a/src/names.h
+++ b/src/names.h
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #ifndef H_KRNL_NAMES
 #define H_KRNL_NAMES
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
diff --git a/src/platform.h b/src/platform.h
index d813fab9d..553f734c9 100644
--- a/src/platform.h
+++ b/src/platform.h
@@ -81,10 +81,15 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #endif /* _MSC_VER_ */
 
 #if defined __GNUC__
+# define _POSIX_C_SOURCE 200809L
 # undef _DEFAULT_SOURCE
 # define _DEFAULT_SOURCE
 # undef __USE_BSD
 # define __USE_BSD
+# define HAVE_SNPRINTF
+# define HAVE_SYS_STAT_MKDIR
+# define HAVE_STRDUP
+# define HAVE_UNISTD_H
 #endif
 
 #ifdef SOLARIS
@@ -104,10 +109,6 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #define TOLUA_CAST (char*)
 
-#ifdef USE_AUTOCONF
-# include <autoconf.h>
-#endif
-
 #if !defined(MAX_PATH)
 #if defined(PATH_MAX)
 # define MAX_PATH PATH_MAX
@@ -124,5 +125,72 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include <strings.h>
 #endif
 
+#if defined(HAVE_STDBOOL_H)
+# include <stdbool.h>
+#else
+# if ! HAVE__BOOL
+#  ifdef __cplusplus
+typedef bool _Bool;
+#  else
+typedef unsigned char _Bool;
+#  endif
+# endif
+# define bool _Bool
+# define false 0
+# define true 1
+# define __bool_true_false_are_defined 1
+#endif
+
+#ifndef HAVE__ACCESS
+#ifdef HAVE_ACCESS
+#define _access(path, mode) access(path, mode)
+#endif
+#endif
+
+#if defined(HAVE_DIRECT__MKDIR)
+#include <direct.h>
+#elif defined(HAVE_DIRECT_MKDIR)
+#include <direct.h>
+#define _mkdir(a) mkdir(a)
+#elif defined(HAVE_SYS_STAT_MKDIR)
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#define _mkdir(a) mkdir(a, 0777)
+#endif
+
+#ifndef _min
+#define _min(a,b) ((a) < (b) ? (a) : (b))
+#endif
+#ifndef _max
+#define _max(a,b) ((a) > (b) ? (a) : (b))
+#endif
+
+#if !defined(HAVE__STRDUP)
+#if defined(HAVE_STRDUP)
+#define _strdup(a) strdup(a)
+#else
+#define _strdup(a) lcp_strdup(a)
+#endif
+#endif
+
+#if !defined(HAVE__SNPRINTF)
+#if defined(HAVE_SNPRINTF)
+#define _snprintf snprintf
+#endif
+#endif
+
+#if !defined(HAVE__STRCMPL)
+#if defined(HAVE_STRCMPL)
+#define _strcmpl(a, b) strcmpl(a, b)
+#elif defined(HAVE__STRICMP)
+#define _strcmpl(a, b) _stricmp(a, b)
+#elif defined(HAVE_STRICMP)
+#define _strcmpl(a, b) stricmp(a, b)
+#elif defined(HAVE_STRCASECMP)
+#define _strcmpl(a, b) strcasecmp(a, b)
+#else
+#define _strcmpl(a, b) lcp_strcmpl(a, b)
+#endif
+#endif
+
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/report.c b/src/report.c
index 040c44db1..dd6b29525 100644
--- a/src/report.c
+++ b/src/report.c
@@ -1379,7 +1379,7 @@ static int buildingmaintenance(const building * b, const resource_type * rtype)
 }
 
 static int
-report_template(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *charset)
+report_template(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *bom)
 {
     const resource_type *rsilver = get_resourcetype(R_SILVER);
     faction *f = ctx->f;
@@ -1389,7 +1389,6 @@ report_template(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *charset)
     char buf[8192], *bufp;
     size_t size;
     int bytes;
-    bool utf8 = _strcmpl(charset, "utf8") == 0 || _strcmpl(charset, "utf-8") == 0;
     const curse_type *nocost_ct = ct_find("nocostbuilding");
 
     if (F == NULL) {
@@ -1398,9 +1397,8 @@ report_template(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *charset)
     }
     fstream_init(&strm, F);
 
-    if (utf8) {
-        const unsigned char utf8_bom[4] = { 0xef, 0xbb, 0xbf, 0 };
-        swrite(utf8_bom, 1, 3, out);
+    if (bom) {
+        swrite(bom, 1, strlen(bom), out);
     }
 
     newline(out);
@@ -2026,7 +2024,7 @@ void write_travelthru(struct stream *out, region *r, const faction *f)
 
 int
 report_plaintext(const char *filename, report_context * ctx,
-    const char *charset)
+    const char *bom)
 {
     int flag = 0;
     char ch;
@@ -2044,7 +2042,6 @@ report_plaintext(const char *filename, report_context * ctx,
     stream strm = { 0 }, *out = &strm;
     char buf[8192];
     char *bufp;
-    bool utf8 = _strcmpl(charset, "utf8") == 0 || _strcmpl(charset, "utf-8") == 0;
     size_t size;
     int thisseason;
     int nextseason;
@@ -2061,9 +2058,8 @@ report_plaintext(const char *filename, report_context * ctx,
     }
     fstream_init(&strm, F);
 
-    if (utf8) {
-        const unsigned char utf8_bom[4] = { 0xef, 0xbb, 0xbf, 0 };
-        fwrite(utf8_bom, 1, 3, F);
+    if (bom) {
+        fwrite(bom, 1, strlen(bom), F);
     }
 
     strftime(pzTime, 64, "%A, %d. %B %Y, %H:%M", localtime(&ctx->report_time));
diff --git a/src/report.test.c b/src/report.test.c
index cf074b284..202458db5 100644
--- a/src/report.test.c
+++ b/src/report.test.c
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #include <platform.h>
-#include <config.h>
 #include "report.h"
 #include "move.h"
 #include "travelthru.h"
diff --git a/src/reports.c b/src/reports.c
index f0c82d024..a8b9e5cfb 100644
--- a/src/reports.c
+++ b/src/reports.c
@@ -1401,12 +1401,10 @@ void finish_reports(report_context *ctx) {
 
 int write_reports(faction * f, time_t ltime)
 {
-    unsigned int backup = 1, maxbackup = 128 * 1000;
     bool gotit = false;
     struct report_context ctx;
-    const char *encoding = "UTF-8";
+    const unsigned char utf8_bom[4] = { 0xef, 0xbb, 0xbf, 0 };
     report_type *rtype;
-
     if (noreports) {
         return false;
     }
@@ -1423,19 +1421,12 @@ int write_reports(faction * f, time_t ltime)
                     rtype->extension);
                 join_path(reportpath(), filename, path, sizeof(path));
                 errno = 0;
-                if (rtype->write(path, &ctx, encoding) == 0) {
+                if (rtype->write(path, &ctx, (const char *)utf8_bom) == 0) {
                     gotit = true;
                 }
                 if (errno) {
-                    char zText[64];
-                    log_warning("retrying, error %d during %s report for faction %s", errno, rtype->extension, factionname(f));
-                    sprintf(zText, "waiting %u seconds before we retry", backup);
-                    perror(zText);
-                    _sleep(backup);
-                    if (backup < maxbackup) {
-                        backup *= 2;
-                    }
                     error = errno;
+                    log_fatal("error %d during %s report for faction %s: %s", errno, rtype->extension, factionname(f), strerror(error));
                     errno = 0;
                 }
             } while (error);
diff --git a/src/reports.test.c b/src/reports.test.c
index bc89bb4b4..c9fe39c19 100644
--- a/src/reports.test.c
+++ b/src/reports.test.c
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #include <platform.h>
-#include <config.h>
 #include "reports.h"
 
 #include "move.h"
diff --git a/src/spells/magicresistance.c b/src/spells/magicresistance.c
index a897ea348..7b0c1413d 100644
--- a/src/spells/magicresistance.c
+++ b/src/spells/magicresistance.c
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 #include <kernel/messages.h>
 #include <util/language.h>
 
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
 static struct message *cinfo_magicresistance(const void *obj, objtype_t typ, const struct curse * c, int self)
 {
     if (typ == TYP_UNIT) {
diff --git a/src/util/nrmessage.h b/src/util/nrmessage.h
index 5d775be9e..122b1f1a8 100644
--- a/src/util/nrmessage.h
+++ b/src/util/nrmessage.h
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 
 #ifndef H_UTIL_NRMESSAGE
 #define H_UTIL_NRMESSAGE
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
diff --git a/src/util/parser.h b/src/util/parser.h
index 839968480..802fc56cb 100644
--- a/src/util/parser.h
+++ b/src/util/parser.h
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
 
 #ifndef UTIL_PARSER_H
 #define UTIL_PARSER_H
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
diff --git a/src/util/strings.h b/src/util/strings.h
index 7178cf179..05a435e2c 100644
--- a/src/util/strings.h
+++ b/src/util/strings.h
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #ifndef STRINGS_H
 #define STRINGS_H
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
diff --git a/src/util/translation.h b/src/util/translation.h
index 01c19a72d..76206021b 100644
--- a/src/util/translation.h
+++ b/src/util/translation.h
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 
 #ifndef H_UTIL_TRANSLATION
 #define H_UTIL_TRANSLATION
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif