diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 44daeb6..7fd70ed 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
-# Makefile for ringbuffer
-#
-CPP = g++ --std=c++11
-CFLAGS = -Wall
-LDFLAGS= -lpthread -ljack
+# Makefile for RingBuffer
+
 
+ifeq ($(OS),Linux)
+	LDFLAGS= -lpthread -ljack
+	CPP = g++ --std=c++17
+else
+	CPP = clang++ --std=c++17
+endif
+
+CFLAGS = -Wall
 
 OBJ = ringbuffer.o ringbuffer_main.o
 
@@ -20,4 +25,3 @@ ringbuffer: $(OBJ)
 clean:
 	rm -f *.o
 	rm -f `find . -perm /111 -type f`
-
diff --git a/ringbuffer.cpp b/ringbuffer.cpp
index b301e4a..6b94657 100644
--- a/ringbuffer.cpp
+++ b/ringbuffer.cpp
@@ -1,142 +1,155 @@
-/*
- * Block-free ringbuffer for synchronisation of producer and consumer threads.
- *
- * Audio callback delivers data, the other thread reads data.
- *
- * Size must be a multiple of the real-time buffer size (e.g. JACK buffer).
- * For the non-realtime thread this is not an issue as long as it's large
- * enough to hold at least two consumer frames (theoretical minimum)
- *
- * Caveats: if consumer threads waits too long, producer can overrun the
- * buffer. This may not be a problem, for this we have resync() that puts
- * the consumer readpointer right on top of the consumer writepointer.
- */
+
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include "ringbuffer.h"
 #include <unistd.h>
-#include <string.h> // memcpy
+#include <string.h>
+
 
+// Size is specified as #items, not bytes.
 
- /*
-  * Size is specified as #items, not bytes. Item type is now float and will
-  * eventually be set in template form
-  */
-RingBuffer::RingBuffer(unsigned long size,std::string name)
+template<typename FloatType>
+RingBuffer<FloatType>::RingBuffer(const uint64 size, const std::string& name) :
+    size(size),
+    buffer(new FloatType[size]),
+    tail(0),
+    head(0),
+    name(name),
+    blockingPush(false),
+    blockingPop(false)
 {
-  tail=0;
-  head=0;
-  this->size=size;
-  itemsize=sizeof(float);
-  buffer = new float [size]; // allocate storage
-  this->name=name;
-  blockingPush=false;
-  blockingPop=false;
-} // RingBuffer()
-
-
-RingBuffer::~RingBuffer()
+
+}
+
+
+template<typename FloatType>
+RingBuffer<FloatType>::~RingBuffer()
 {
-  delete [] buffer;
-} // ~RingBuffer()
+    delete[] buffer;
+}
 
 
-unsigned long RingBuffer::items_available_for_write()
+template<typename FloatType>
+auto RingBuffer<FloatType>::numItemsAvailableForWrite() const -> uint64
 {
-long pointerspace=head.load()-tail.load(); // signed
+    // signed space between head and tail index
+    const long pointerSpace = head.load() - tail.load();
 
-  if(pointerspace > 0) return pointerspace; // NB: > 0 so NOT including 0
-  else return pointerspace+size;
-} // items_available_for_write()
+    // NB: > 0 so NOT including 0
+    return pointerSpace > 0 ? pointerSpace : pointerSpace + size;
+}
 
 
-unsigned long RingBuffer::items_available_for_read()
+template<typename FloatType>
+auto RingBuffer<FloatType>::numItemsAvailableForRead() const -> uint64
 {
-long pointerspace=tail.load()-head.load(); // signed
+    // signed space between tail and head index
+    const long pointerSpace = tail.load() - head.load();
 
-  if(pointerspace >= 0) return pointerspace; // NB: >= 0 so including 0
-  else return pointerspace+size;
-} // items_available_for_read()
+    // NB: >= 0 so including 0
+    return pointerSpace >= 0 ? pointerSpace : pointerSpace + size;
+}
 
 
-void RingBuffer::pushMayBlock(bool block)
+template<typename FloatType>
+auto RingBuffer<FloatType>::pushMayBlock(bool block) -> void
 {
-  this->blockingPush=block;
-} // pushMayBlock()
+    blockingPush = block;
+}
 
 
-void RingBuffer::popMayBlock(bool block)
+template<typename FloatType>
+auto RingBuffer<FloatType>::popMayBlock(bool block) -> void
 {
-  this->blockingPop=block;
-} // popMayBlock()
+    blockingPop = block;
+}
 
 
-void RingBuffer::setBlockingNap(unsigned long blockingNap)
+template<typename FloatType>
+auto RingBuffer<FloatType>::setBlockingNap(const uint64 newBlockingNap) -> void
 {
-  this->blockingNap=blockingNap;
-} // setBlockingNap()
+    blockingNap = newBlockingNap;
+}
+
 
+// Try to write as many items as possible and return the number actually written
 
-/*
- * Try to write as many items as possible and return the number actually written
- */
-unsigned long RingBuffer::push(float *data,unsigned long n)
+template<typename FloatType>
+auto RingBuffer<FloatType>::push(FloatType* data, const uint64 numSamples) -> uint64
 {
-  unsigned long space=size;
-
-  if(blockingPush){
-    while((space=items_available_for_write())<n){ // blocking
-      usleep(blockingNap);
-    } // while
-  } // if
-  if(space==0) return 0;
-  unsigned long n_to_write = n<=space ? n : space; // limit
-
-  const auto current_tail = tail.load();
-  if(current_tail + n_to_write <= size){ // chunk fits without wrapping
-    memcpy(buffer+current_tail,data,n_to_write*itemsize);
-  }
-  else {
-    unsigned long first_chunk=size-current_tail;
-    memcpy(buffer+current_tail,data,first_chunk*itemsize);
-    memcpy(buffer,data+first_chunk,(n_to_write-first_chunk)*itemsize);
-  }
-  tail.store((current_tail+n_to_write)%size);
-  return n_to_write;
-} // push()
-
-
-/*
- * Try to read as many items as possible and return the number actually read
- */
-unsigned long RingBuffer::pop(float *data,unsigned long n)
+    auto space = size;
+
+    if(blockingPush)
+        while((space = numItemsAvailableForWrite()) < numSamples)
+            usleep(static_cast<useconds_t>(blockingNap));
+
+    if(space == 0) return 0;
+
+    const auto numToWrite = numSamples <= space ? numSamples : space;
+
+    const auto currentTail = tail.load();
+
+    // wrap if needed
+    if(currentTail + numToWrite <= size)
+    {
+        memcpy(buffer + currentTail, data, numToWrite * itemSize);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        const auto firstChunk = size - currentTail;
+        memcpy(buffer + currentTail, data, firstChunk * itemSize);
+        memcpy(buffer, data + firstChunk, (numToWrite - firstChunk) * itemSize);
+    }
+
+    tail.store((currentTail + numToWrite) % size);
+
+    return numToWrite;
+}
+
+
+
+// Try to read as many items as possible and return the number actually read
+
+template<typename FloatType>
+auto RingBuffer<FloatType>::pop(FloatType* data, const uint64 numSamples) -> uint64
 {
-  unsigned long space=size;
-
-  if(blockingPop){
-    while((space=items_available_for_read())<n){ // blocking
-      usleep(blockingNap);
-    } // while
-  } // if
-  if(space==0) return 0;
-  unsigned long n_to_read = n<=space ? n : space; // limit
-
-  const auto current_head = head.load();
-  if(current_head + n_to_read <= size){ // no wrapping necessary
-    memcpy(data,buffer+current_head,n_to_read*itemsize);
-  }
-  else {
-    unsigned long first_chunk=size-current_head;
-    memcpy(data,buffer+current_head,first_chunk*itemsize);
-    memcpy(data+first_chunk,buffer,(n_to_read-first_chunk)*itemsize);
-  }
-  head.store((current_head+n_to_read)%size); // zo ongeveer
-  return n_to_read;
-} // pop()
-
-
-bool RingBuffer::isLockFree()
+    auto space = size;
+
+    if(blockingPop)
+        while((space = numItemsAvailableForRead()) < numSamples)
+            usleep(static_cast<useconds_t>(blockingNap));
+
+    if(space == 0) return 0;
+
+    const auto numToRead = numSamples <= space ? numSamples : space;
+
+    const auto currentHead = head.load();
+
+    //wrap if needed
+    if(currentHead + numToRead <= size)
+    {
+        memcpy(data, buffer + currentHead, numToRead * itemSize);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        const auto firstChunk = size - currentHead;
+        memcpy(data, buffer + currentHead, firstChunk * itemSize);
+        memcpy(data + firstChunk, buffer, (numToRead - firstChunk) * itemSize);
+    }
+
+    head.store((currentHead + numToRead) % size);
+
+    return numToRead;
+}
+
+
+template<typename FloatType>
+auto RingBuffer<FloatType>::isLockFree() const -> bool
 {
-  return (tail.is_lock_free() && head.is_lock_free());
-} // isLockFree()
+    return (tail.is_lock_free() && head.is_lock_free());
+}
 
+//three available types as of now...
+template class RingBuffer<float>;
+template class RingBuffer<double>;
+template class RingBuffer<long double>;
diff --git a/ringbuffer.h b/ringbuffer.h
index e8bc8cc..cc118ae 100644
--- a/ringbuffer.h
+++ b/ringbuffer.h
@@ -1,32 +1,44 @@
-/*
- * ringbuffer.h
- */
+
+//ringbuffer.h
 
 #include <atomic>
 #include <string>
 
+
+template<typename FloatType>
 class RingBuffer
 {
 public:
-  RingBuffer(unsigned long size,std::string name);
-  ~RingBuffer();
-  unsigned long push(float *data,unsigned long n);
-  unsigned long pop(float *data,unsigned long n);
-  unsigned long items_available_for_write();
-  unsigned long items_available_for_read();
-  bool isLockFree();
-  void pushMayBlock(bool block);
-  void popMayBlock(bool block);
-  void setBlockingNap(unsigned long blockingNap);
+
+    using uint64 = unsigned long;
+
+    RingBuffer(uint64 size, const std::string& name);
+    ~RingBuffer();
+
+    auto push(FloatType* data, uint64 numSamples) -> uint64;
+    auto pop(FloatType* data, uint64 numSamples) -> uint64;
+    auto numItemsAvailableForWrite() const -> uint64;
+    auto numItemsAvailableForRead() const -> uint64;
+
+    auto isLockFree() const -> bool;
+    auto pushMayBlock(bool block) -> void;
+    auto popMayBlock(bool block) -> void;
+    auto setBlockingNap(uint64 blockingNap) -> void;
+
 private:
-  unsigned long size;
-  float *buffer;
-  std::atomic<unsigned long> tail; // write pointer
-  std::atomic<unsigned long> head; // read pointer
-  unsigned long itemsize; // also depends on #channels
-  std::string name;
-  bool blockingPush;
-  bool blockingPop;
-  unsigned long blockingNap=500;
-}; // RingBuffer{}
 
+    uint64 size;
+    FloatType* buffer;
+
+    std::atomic<uint64> tail; // write index
+    std::atomic<uint64> head; // read index
+
+    static constexpr uint64 itemSize { sizeof(FloatType) };
+
+    const std::string name;
+
+    bool blockingPush;
+    bool blockingPop;
+
+    uint64 blockingNap { 500 };
+};
diff --git a/ringbuffer_main.cpp b/ringbuffer_main.cpp
index 2ea0d1e..a449e57 100644
--- a/ringbuffer_main.cpp
+++ b/ringbuffer_main.cpp
@@ -1,58 +1,80 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include "ringbuffer.h"
 
+//this makes the whole thing need C++17, but the RingBuffer class
+//on its own should also be able to work with C++14
+template<typename...Args>
+auto print(Args... args){
+    ([](auto&& arg){ std::cout << arg << ' '; }(args), ...);
+    std::cout << '\n';
+}
 
-int main()
+auto main() -> int
 {
-RingBuffer buffer(10,"Buffer");
-float inputdata[8]={1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8};
-float anadata[8];
-
-  if(buffer.isLockFree()) std::cout << "Lock free\n";
-  else std::cout << "Not lock free\n";
-
-  std::cout << "Avail for write: " << buffer.items_available_for_write() << std::endl;
-  std::cout << "Avail for read: " << buffer.items_available_for_read() << std::endl;
-  buffer.push(inputdata,1);
-  buffer.push(inputdata,5);
-    buffer.pop(anadata,5);
-  std::cout << "Avail for write: " << buffer.items_available_for_write() << std::endl;
-  std::cout << "Avail for read: " << buffer.items_available_for_read() << std::endl;
-
-  buffer.push(inputdata,5);
-  std::cout << "Avail for write: " << buffer.items_available_for_write() << std::endl;
-  std::cout << "Avail for read: " << buffer.items_available_for_read() << std::endl;
-  buffer.push(inputdata,1);
-  std::cout << "Avail for write: " << buffer.items_available_for_write() << std::endl;
-  std::cout << "Avail for read: " << buffer.items_available_for_read() << std::endl;
-  buffer.push(inputdata,1);
-  std::cout << "Avail for write: " << buffer.items_available_for_write() << std::endl;
-  std::cout << "Avail for read: " << buffer.items_available_for_read() << std::endl;
-
-  if(buffer.items_available_for_read() >= 5){
-    buffer.pop(anadata,5);
-  std::cout << "Avail for write: " << buffer.items_available_for_write() << std::endl;
-  std::cout << "Avail for read: " << buffer.items_available_for_read() << std::endl;
-    for(unsigned long i=0; i<5; i++) std::cout << anadata[i] << " ";
-  }
-  else std::cout << "Not enough data" << std::endl;
-
-  buffer.push(inputdata,1);
-  std::cout << "Avail for write: " << buffer.items_available_for_write() << std::endl;
-  std::cout << "Avail for read: " << buffer.items_available_for_read() << std::endl;
-  buffer.push(inputdata,1);
-  std::cout << "Avail for write: " << buffer.items_available_for_write() << std::endl;
-  std::cout << "Avail for read: " << buffer.items_available_for_read() << std::endl;
-
-  if(buffer.items_available_for_read() >= 5){
-    buffer.pop(anadata,5);
-  std::cout << "Avail for write: " << buffer.items_available_for_write() << std::endl;
-  std::cout << "Avail for read: " << buffer.items_available_for_read() << std::endl;
-    for(unsigned long i=0; i<5; i++) std::cout << anadata[i] << " ";
-  }
-  else std::cout << "Not enough data" << std::endl;
-
-  std::cout << std::endl;
-  return 0;
-}
+    //could also be RingBuffer<double> or RingBuffer<long double> for more precision,
+    //To test this, change the using FloatType to double or long double
+    using FloatType = float;
+
+    RingBuffer<FloatType> buffer { 10, "Buffer" };
+
+    FloatType inputdata[] = { 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 };
+    FloatType anadata[8];
+
+    buffer.isLockFree() ? print("Lock free") : print("Not lock free");
+
+    print("Available for write:",   buffer.numItemsAvailableForWrite());
+    print("Available for read:",    buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead());
+
+    buffer.push(inputdata, 1);
+    buffer.push(inputdata, 5);
+    buffer.pop(anadata, 5);
+
+    print("Available for write:",   buffer.numItemsAvailableForWrite());
+    print("Available for read:",    buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead());
+
+    buffer.push(inputdata, 5);
+
+    print("Available for write:",   buffer.numItemsAvailableForWrite());
+    print("Available for read:",    buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead());
+
+    buffer.push(inputdata, 1);
 
+    print("Available for write:",   buffer.numItemsAvailableForWrite());
+    print("Available for read:",    buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead());
+
+    buffer.push(inputdata, 1);
+
+    print("Available for write:",   buffer.numItemsAvailableForWrite());
+    print("Available for read:",    buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead());
+
+    if(buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead() >= 5)
+    {
+        buffer.pop(anadata, 5);
+        print("Available for write:",   buffer.numItemsAvailableForWrite());
+        print("Available for read:",    buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead());
+        for(int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) print("Anadata: i =", i, ":", anadata[i]);
+    }
+    else print("Not enough data");
+
+    buffer.push(inputdata, 1);
+
+    print("Available for write:",   buffer.numItemsAvailableForWrite());
+    print("Available for read:",    buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead());
+
+    buffer.push(inputdata, 1);
+
+    print("Available for write:",   buffer.numItemsAvailableForWrite());
+    print("Available for read:",    buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead());
+
+    if(buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead() >= 5)
+    {
+        buffer.pop(anadata, 5);
+        print("Available for write:",   buffer.numItemsAvailableForWrite());
+        print("Available for read:",    buffer.numItemsAvailableForRead());
+        for(int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) print("Anadata: i =", i, ":", anadata[i]);
+    }
+    else print("Not enough data\n");
+
+
+    return 0;
+}