diff --git a/src/metadata/file.rs b/src/metadata/file.rs
index 406052d4..676b3701 100644
--- a/src/metadata/file.rs
+++ b/src/metadata/file.rs
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ use super::{
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Hash)]
 pub struct File {
     name: Filename,
-    display_name: Option<String>,
-    detail: Vec<MessageContent>,
-    condition: Option<String>,
+    display_name: Option<Box<str>>,
+    detail: Box<[MessageContent]>,
+    condition: Option<Box<str>>,
 }
 
 impl File {
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ impl File {
     /// Set the name to be displayed for the file in messages, formatted using
     /// CommonMark.
     pub fn set_display_name(&mut self, display_name: String) -> &mut Self {
-        self.display_name = Some(display_name);
+        self.display_name = Some(display_name.into_boxed_str());
         self
     }
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ impl File {
         detail: Vec<MessageContent>,
     ) -> Result<&mut Self, MultilingualMessageContentsError> {
         validate_message_contents(&detail)?;
-        self.detail = detail;
+        self.detail = detail.into_boxed_slice();
         Ok(self)
     }
 
@@ -104,20 +104,20 @@ impl File {
 
     /// Set the condition string.
     pub fn set_condition(&mut self, condition: String) -> &mut Self {
-        self.condition = Some(condition);
+        self.condition = Some(condition.into_boxed_str());
         self
     }
 }
 
 /// Represents a case-insensitive filename.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default)]
-pub struct Filename(String);
+pub struct Filename(Box<str>);
 
 impl Filename {
     /// Construct a Filename using the given string.
     #[must_use]
     pub fn new(s: String) -> Self {
-        Filename(s)
+        Filename(s.into())
     }
 
     /// Get this Filename as a string.
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ impl TryFromYaml for File {
             YamlData::String(s) => Ok(File {
                 name: Filename::new(s.clone()),
                 display_name: None,
-                detail: Vec::new(),
+                detail: Box::default(),
                 condition: None,
             }),
             YamlData::Hash(h) => {
@@ -185,14 +185,14 @@ impl TryFromYaml for File {
                         "detail",
                         YamlObjectType::PluginCleaningData,
                     )?,
-                    None => Vec::new(),
+                    None => Box::default(),
                 };
 
                 let condition = parse_condition(h, YamlObjectType::File)?;
 
                 Ok(File {
                     name: Filename::new(name.to_string()),
-                    display_name: display_name.map(|(_, s)| s.to_string()),
+                    display_name: display_name.map(|(_, s)| s.into()),
                     detail,
                     condition,
                 })
diff --git a/src/metadata/group.rs b/src/metadata/group.rs
index 00c20a0c..cbbb235c 100644
--- a/src/metadata/group.rs
+++ b/src/metadata/group.rs
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ use super::{
 /// Represents a group to which plugin metadata objects can belong.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Hash)]
 pub struct Group {
-    name: String,
-    description: Option<String>,
-    after_groups: Vec<String>,
+    name: Box<str>,
+    description: Option<Box<str>>,
+    after_groups: Box<[String]>,
 }
 
 impl Group {
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ impl Group {
     #[must_use]
     pub fn new(name: String) -> Self {
         Self {
-            name,
+            name: name.into_boxed_str(),
             ..Default::default()
         }
     }
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ impl Group {
 
     /// Set a description for the group.
     pub fn set_description(&mut self, description: String) -> &mut Self {
-        self.description = Some(description);
+        self.description = Some(description.into_boxed_str());
         self
     }
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ impl Group {
 
     /// Set the names of the groups that this group loads after.
     pub fn set_after_groups(&mut self, after_groups: Vec<String>) -> &mut Self {
-        self.after_groups = after_groups;
+        self.after_groups = after_groups.into_boxed_slice();
         self
     }
 }
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ impl std::default::Default for Group {
     #[must_use]
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
-            name: Group::DEFAULT_NAME.to_string(),
+            name: Group::DEFAULT_NAME.into(),
             description: Default::default(),
             after_groups: Default::default(),
         }
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ impl TryFromYaml for Group {
         let after = get_strings_vec_value(hash, "after", YamlObjectType::Group)?;
 
         Ok(Group {
-            name: name.to_string(),
-            description: description.map(|d| d.1.to_string()),
+            name: name.into(),
+            description: description.map(|d| d.1.into()),
             after_groups: after.iter().map(|a| a.to_string()).collect(),
         })
     }
diff --git a/src/metadata/location.rs b/src/metadata/location.rs
index dcbb88d4..67f0faf2 100644
--- a/src/metadata/location.rs
+++ b/src/metadata/location.rs
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ use super::{
 /// Represents a URL at which the parent plugin can be found.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Hash)]
 pub struct Location {
-    url: String,
-    name: Option<String>,
+    url: Box<str>,
+    name: Option<Box<str>>,
 }
 
 impl Location {
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ impl Location {
     #[must_use]
     pub fn new(url: String) -> Self {
         Location {
-            url,
+            url: url.into_boxed_str(),
             ..Default::default()
         }
     }
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ impl Location {
 
     /// Set a name for the URL, eg. the page or site name.
     pub fn set_name(&mut self, name: String) -> &mut Self {
-        self.name = Some(name);
+        self.name = Some(name.into_boxed_str());
         self
     }
 }
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ impl TryFromYaml for Location {
     fn try_from_yaml(value: &MarkedYaml) -> Result<Self, ParseMetadataError> {
         match &value.data {
             YamlData::String(s) => Ok(Location {
-                url: s.clone(),
+                url: s.clone().into_boxed_str(),
                 name: None,
             }),
             YamlData::Hash(h) => {
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ impl TryFromYaml for Location {
                 )?;
 
                 Ok(Location {
-                    url: link.to_string(),
-                    name: Some(name.to_string()),
+                    url: link.into(),
+                    name: Some(name.into()),
                 })
             }
             _ => Err(ParseMetadataError::unexpected_type(
diff --git a/src/metadata/message.rs b/src/metadata/message.rs
index ddf65138..fd4de675 100644
--- a/src/metadata/message.rs
+++ b/src/metadata/message.rs
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for MessageType {
 /// Represents a message's localised text content.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Hash)]
 pub struct MessageContent {
-    text: String,
-    language: String,
+    text: Box<str>,
+    language: Box<str>,
 }
 
 impl MessageContent {
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ impl MessageContent {
     #[must_use]
     pub fn new(text: String) -> Self {
         MessageContent {
-            text,
+            text: text.into_boxed_str(),
             ..Default::default()
         }
     }
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ impl MessageContent {
 
     /// Set the language code to the given value.
     pub fn set_language(&mut self, language: String) -> &mut Self {
-        self.language = language;
+        self.language = language.into_boxed_str();
         self
     }
 }
@@ -128,10 +128,10 @@ pub fn select_message_content<'a>(
         let mut english = None;
 
         for mc in content {
-            if mc.language == language {
+            if mc.language.as_ref() == language {
                 return Some(mc);
             } else if matched.is_none() {
-                if language_code.is_some_and(|c| c == mc.language) {
+                if language_code.is_some_and(|c| c == mc.language.as_ref()) {
                     matched = Some(mc);
                 } else if language_code.is_none() {
                     if let Some((content_language_code, _)) = mc.language.split_once('_') {
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ pub fn select_message_content<'a>(
                     }
                 }
 
-                if mc.language == MessageContent::DEFAULT_LANGUAGE {
+                if mc.language.as_ref() == MessageContent::DEFAULT_LANGUAGE {
                     english = Some(mc);
                 }
             }
@@ -161,8 +161,8 @@ pub fn select_message_content<'a>(
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Hash)]
 pub struct Message {
     message_type: MessageType,
-    content: Vec<MessageContent>,
-    condition: Option<String>,
+    content: Box<[MessageContent]>,
+    condition: Option<Box<str>>,
 }
 
 impl Message {
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ impl Message {
     pub fn new(message_type: MessageType, content: String) -> Self {
         Self {
             message_type,
-            content: vec![MessageContent::new(content)],
+            content: Box::new([MessageContent::new(content)]),
             condition: None,
         }
     }
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ impl Message {
 
         Ok(Self {
             message_type,
-            content,
+            content: content.into_boxed_slice(),
             condition: None,
         })
     }
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ impl Message {
 
     /// Set the condition string.
     pub fn set_condition(&mut self, condition: String) -> &mut Self {
-        self.condition = Some(condition);
+        self.condition = Some(condition.into_boxed_str());
         self
     }
 }
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ pub(crate) fn validate_message_contents(
     if contents.len() > 1 {
         let english_string_exists = contents
             .iter()
-            .any(|c| c.language == MessageContent::DEFAULT_LANGUAGE);
+            .any(|c| c.language.as_ref() == MessageContent::DEFAULT_LANGUAGE);
 
         if !english_string_exists {
             return Err(MultilingualMessageContentsError {});
@@ -249,8 +249,8 @@ impl TryFromYaml for MessageContent {
             get_required_string_value(value.span.start, hash, "lang", YamlObjectType::Message)?;
 
         Ok(MessageContent {
-            text: text.to_string(),
-            language: language.to_string(),
+            text: text.into(),
+            language: language.into(),
         })
     }
 }
@@ -259,15 +259,13 @@ pub(crate) fn parse_message_contents_yaml(
     value: &MarkedYaml,
     key: &'static str,
     parent_yaml_type: YamlObjectType,
-) -> Result<Vec<MessageContent>, ParseMetadataError> {
-    let mut contents = match &value.data {
-        YamlData::String(s) => {
-            vec![MessageContent::new(s.clone())]
-        }
+) -> Result<Box<[MessageContent]>, ParseMetadataError> {
+    let contents = match &value.data {
+        YamlData::String(s) => Box::new([MessageContent::new(s.clone())]),
         YamlData::Array(a) => a
             .iter()
             .map(MessageContent::try_from_yaml)
-            .collect::<Result<Vec<MessageContent>, _>>()?,
+            .collect::<Result<Box<[_]>, _>>()?,
         _ => {
             return Err(ParseMetadataError::unexpected_value_type(
                 value.span.start,
@@ -278,8 +276,6 @@ pub(crate) fn parse_message_contents_yaml(
         }
     };
 
-    contents.shrink_to_fit();
-
     if validate_message_contents(&contents).is_err() {
         Err(ParseMetadataError::new(
             value.span.start,
@@ -342,7 +338,7 @@ impl TryFromYaml for Message {
                     });
 
                     if let Cow::Owned(text) = result {
-                        mc.text = text;
+                        mc.text = text.into_boxed_str();
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -356,7 +352,7 @@ impl TryFromYaml for Message {
                         ));
                     }
 
-                    mc.text = mc.text.replace(&placeholder, sub);
+                    mc.text = mc.text.replace(&placeholder, sub).into_boxed_str();
                 }
 
                 if let Ok(Some(m)) = FMT_REGEX.find(&mc.text) {
diff --git a/src/metadata/plugin_cleaning_data.rs b/src/metadata/plugin_cleaning_data.rs
index ef09b09c..24392e4a 100644
--- a/src/metadata/plugin_cleaning_data.rs
+++ b/src/metadata/plugin_cleaning_data.rs
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ pub struct PluginCleaningData {
     itm_count: u32,
     deleted_reference_count: u32,
     deleted_navmesh_count: u32,
-    cleaning_utility: String,
-    detail: Vec<MessageContent>,
+    cleaning_utility: Box<str>,
+    detail: Box<[MessageContent]>,
 }
 
 impl PluginCleaningData {
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ impl PluginCleaningData {
     pub fn new(crc: u32, cleaning_utility: String) -> Self {
         Self {
             crc,
-            cleaning_utility,
+            cleaning_utility: cleaning_utility.into_boxed_str(),
             ..Default::default()
         }
     }
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ impl PluginCleaningData {
         detail: Vec<MessageContent>,
     ) -> Result<&mut Self, MultilingualMessageContentsError> {
         validate_message_contents(&detail)?;
-        self.detail = detail;
+        self.detail = detail.into_boxed_slice();
         Ok(self)
     }
 }
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ impl TryFromYaml for PluginCleaningData {
             Some(n) => {
                 parse_message_contents_yaml(n, "detail", YamlObjectType::PluginCleaningData)?
             }
-            None => Vec::new(),
+            None => Box::default(),
         };
 
         Ok(PluginCleaningData {
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ impl TryFromYaml for PluginCleaningData {
             itm_count: itm,
             deleted_reference_count: udr,
             deleted_navmesh_count: nav,
-            cleaning_utility: util.to_string(),
+            cleaning_utility: util.into(),
             detail,
         })
     }
diff --git a/src/metadata/plugin_metadata.rs b/src/metadata/plugin_metadata.rs
index bdb48856..1368d583 100644
--- a/src/metadata/plugin_metadata.rs
+++ b/src/metadata/plugin_metadata.rs
@@ -24,15 +24,15 @@ pub(crate) const GHOST_FILE_EXTENSION: &str = ".ghost";
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Hash)]
 pub struct PluginMetadata {
     name: PluginName,
-    group: Option<String>,
-    load_after: Vec<File>,
-    requirements: Vec<File>,
-    incompatibilities: Vec<File>,
-    messages: Vec<Message>,
-    tags: Vec<Tag>,
-    dirty_info: Vec<PluginCleaningData>,
-    clean_info: Vec<PluginCleaningData>,
-    locations: Vec<Location>,
+    group: Option<Box<str>>,
+    load_after: Box<[File]>,
+    requirements: Box<[File]>,
+    incompatibilities: Box<[File]>,
+    messages: Box<[Message]>,
+    tags: Box<[Tag]>,
+    dirty_info: Box<[PluginCleaningData]>,
+    clean_info: Box<[PluginCleaningData]>,
+    locations: Box<[Location]>,
 }
 
 impl PluginMetadata {
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ impl PluginMetadata {
 
     /// Set the plugin's group.
     pub fn set_group(&mut self, group: String) {
-        self.group = Some(group)
+        self.group = Some(group.into_boxed_str())
     }
 
     /// Unsets the plugin's group, so that it is implicitly a member of the
@@ -110,42 +110,42 @@ impl PluginMetadata {
 
     /// Get the plugins that the plugin must load after.
     pub fn set_load_after_files(&mut self, files: Vec<File>) {
-        self.load_after = files;
+        self.load_after = files.into_boxed_slice();
     }
 
     /// Get the files that the plugin requires to be installed.
     pub fn set_requirements(&mut self, files: Vec<File>) {
-        self.requirements = files;
+        self.requirements = files.into_boxed_slice();
     }
 
     /// Get the files that the plugin is incompatible with.
     pub fn set_incompatibilities(&mut self, files: Vec<File>) {
-        self.incompatibilities = files;
+        self.incompatibilities = files.into_boxed_slice();
     }
 
     /// Get the plugin's messages.
     pub fn set_messages(&mut self, messages: Vec<Message>) {
-        self.messages = messages;
+        self.messages = messages.into_boxed_slice();
     }
 
     /// Get the plugin's Bash Tag suggestions.
     pub fn set_tags(&mut self, tags: Vec<Tag>) {
-        self.tags = tags;
+        self.tags = tags.into_boxed_slice();
     }
 
     /// Get the plugin's dirty plugin information.
     pub fn set_dirty_info(&mut self, dirty_info: Vec<PluginCleaningData>) {
-        self.dirty_info = dirty_info;
+        self.dirty_info = dirty_info.into_boxed_slice();
     }
 
     /// Get the plugin's clean plugin information.
     pub fn set_clean_info(&mut self, clean_info: Vec<PluginCleaningData>) {
-        self.clean_info = clean_info;
+        self.clean_info = clean_info.into_boxed_slice();
     }
 
     /// Get the locations at which this plugin can be found.
     pub fn set_locations(&mut self, locations: Vec<Location>) {
-        self.locations = locations;
+        self.locations = locations.into_boxed_slice();
     }
 
     /// Merge metadata from the given [PluginMetadata] object into this object.
@@ -162,14 +162,21 @@ impl PluginMetadata {
             self.group = plugin.group.clone();
         }
 
-        merge_vecs(&mut self.load_after, &plugin.load_after);
-        merge_vecs(&mut self.requirements, &plugin.requirements);
-        merge_vecs(&mut self.incompatibilities, &plugin.incompatibilities);
-        merge_vecs(&mut self.tags, &plugin.tags);
-        self.messages.extend(plugin.messages.iter().cloned());
-        merge_vecs(&mut self.dirty_info, &plugin.dirty_info);
-        merge_vecs(&mut self.clean_info, &plugin.clean_info);
-        merge_vecs(&mut self.locations, &plugin.locations);
+        merge_slices(&mut self.load_after, &plugin.load_after);
+        merge_slices(&mut self.requirements, &plugin.requirements);
+        merge_slices(&mut self.incompatibilities, &plugin.incompatibilities);
+        merge_slices(&mut self.tags, &plugin.tags);
+
+        self.messages = self
+            .messages
+            .iter()
+            .chain(plugin.messages.iter())
+            .cloned()
+            .collect();
+
+        merge_slices(&mut self.dirty_info, &plugin.dirty_info);
+        merge_slices(&mut self.clean_info, &plugin.clean_info);
+        merge_slices(&mut self.locations, &plugin.locations);
     }
 
     /// Check if no plugin metadata is set.
@@ -214,13 +221,13 @@ impl PluginMetadata {
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default)]
 struct PluginName {
-    string: String,
+    string: Box<str>,
     regex: Option<Regex>,
 }
 
 impl PluginName {
     fn new(name: &str) -> Result<Self, Box<RegexImplError>> {
-        let name = trim_dot_ghost(name).to_string();
+        let name: Box<str> = trim_dot_ghost(name).into();
 
         if is_regex_name(&name) {
             let non_capturing_name = replace_capturing_groups(&name);
@@ -245,7 +252,7 @@ impl PluginName {
                 logging::error!("Encountered an error while trying to match the regex {} to the string {}: {}", regex.as_str(), other_name, e);
             }).unwrap_or(false)
         } else {
-            unicase::eq(self.string.as_str(), other_name)
+            unicase::eq(self.string.as_ref(), other_name)
         }
     }
 
@@ -307,13 +314,15 @@ fn is_regex_name(name: &str) -> bool {
     name.contains(|c| ":\\*?|".chars().any(|n| c == n))
 }
 
-fn merge_vecs<T: Clone + PartialEq>(target: &mut Vec<T>, source: &[T]) {
-    let initial_target_len = target.len();
+fn merge_slices<T: Clone + PartialEq>(target: &mut Box<[T]>, source: &[T]) {
+    let mut vec = target.to_vec();
     for element in source {
-        if !target[..initial_target_len].contains(element) {
-            target.push(element.clone())
+        if !target.contains(element) {
+            vec.push(element.clone())
         }
     }
+
+    *target = vec.into_boxed_slice()
 }
 
 fn replace_capturing_groups(regex_string: &str) -> Cow<'_, str> {
@@ -375,18 +384,18 @@ impl TryFromYaml for PluginMetadata {
 
         let group = get_string_value(hash, "group", YamlObjectType::PluginMetadata)?;
 
-        let load_after = get_vec(hash, "after")?;
-        let requirements = get_vec(hash, "req")?;
-        let incompatibilities = get_vec(hash, "inc")?;
-        let messages = get_vec(hash, "msg")?;
-        let tags = get_vec(hash, "tag")?;
-        let dirty_info = get_vec(hash, "dirty")?;
-        let clean_info = get_vec(hash, "clean")?;
-        let locations = get_vec(hash, "url")?;
+        let load_after = get_boxed_slice(hash, "after")?;
+        let requirements = get_boxed_slice(hash, "req")?;
+        let incompatibilities = get_boxed_slice(hash, "inc")?;
+        let messages = get_boxed_slice(hash, "msg")?;
+        let tags = get_boxed_slice(hash, "tag")?;
+        let dirty_info = get_boxed_slice(hash, "dirty")?;
+        let clean_info = get_boxed_slice(hash, "clean")?;
+        let locations = get_boxed_slice(hash, "url")?;
 
         Ok(PluginMetadata {
             name,
-            group: group.map(|g| g.1.to_string()),
+            group: group.map(|g| g.1.into()),
             load_after,
             requirements,
             incompatibilities,
@@ -399,18 +408,14 @@ impl TryFromYaml for PluginMetadata {
     }
 }
 
-fn get_vec<T: TryFromYaml>(
+fn get_boxed_slice<T: TryFromYaml>(
     hash: &saphyr::AnnotatedHash<MarkedYaml>,
     key: &'static str,
-) -> Result<Vec<T>, ParseMetadataError> {
-    let mut vec = get_as_slice(hash, key, YamlObjectType::PluginMetadata)?
+) -> Result<Box<[T]>, ParseMetadataError> {
+    get_as_slice(hash, key, YamlObjectType::PluginMetadata)?
         .iter()
         .map(|e| T::try_from_yaml(e))
-        .collect::<Result<Vec<T>, _>>()?;
-
-    vec.shrink_to_fit();
-
-    Ok(vec)
+        .collect()
 }
 
 impl EmitYaml for PluginMetadata {
diff --git a/src/metadata/tag.rs b/src/metadata/tag.rs
index b9276c36..b3db1d13 100644
--- a/src/metadata/tag.rs
+++ b/src/metadata/tag.rs
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ pub enum TagSuggestion {
 /// Represents a Bash Tag suggestion for a plugin.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Hash)]
 pub struct Tag {
-    name: String,
+    name: Box<str>,
     suggestion: TagSuggestion,
-    condition: Option<String>,
+    condition: Option<Box<str>>,
 }
 
 impl Tag {
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ impl Tag {
     #[must_use]
     pub fn new(name: String, suggestion: TagSuggestion) -> Self {
         Self {
-            name,
+            name: name.into_boxed_str(),
             suggestion,
             condition: None,
         }
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ impl Tag {
 
     /// Set the condition string.
     pub fn set_condition(&mut self, condition: String) -> &mut Self {
-        self.condition = Some(condition);
+        self.condition = Some(condition.into_boxed_str());
         self
     }
 }
@@ -97,11 +97,11 @@ impl TryFromYaml for Tag {
     }
 }
 
-fn name_and_suggestion(value: &str) -> (String, TagSuggestion) {
+fn name_and_suggestion(value: &str) -> (Box<str>, TagSuggestion) {
     if let Some(name) = value.strip_prefix("-") {
-        (name.to_string(), TagSuggestion::Removal)
+        (name.into(), TagSuggestion::Removal)
     } else {
-        (value.to_string(), TagSuggestion::Addition)
+        (value.into(), TagSuggestion::Addition)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/metadata/yaml/emit.rs b/src/metadata/yaml/emit.rs
index 33eb6266..01f94dd0 100644
--- a/src/metadata/yaml/emit.rs
+++ b/src/metadata/yaml/emit.rs
@@ -331,6 +331,12 @@ impl<T: EmitYaml> EmitYaml for Vec<T> {
     }
 }
 
+impl<T: EmitYaml> EmitYaml for Box<[T]> {
+    fn emit_yaml(&self, emitter: &mut YamlEmitter) {
+        self.as_ref().emit_yaml(emitter);
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
diff --git a/src/metadata/yaml/parse.rs b/src/metadata/yaml/parse.rs
index 8b426887..9318cd15 100644
--- a/src/metadata/yaml/parse.rs
+++ b/src/metadata/yaml/parse.rs
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ pub fn get_strings_vec_value<'a>(
                         ExpectedType::String,
                     )),
                 })
-                .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>(),
+                .collect(),
             None => Err(ParseMetadataError::unexpected_value_type(
                 n.span.start,
                 key,
@@ -180,14 +180,14 @@ pub fn get_as_slice<'a>(
 pub fn parse_condition(
     hash: &saphyr::AnnotatedHash<MarkedYaml>,
     yaml_type: YamlObjectType,
-) -> Result<Option<String>, ParseMetadataError> {
+) -> Result<Option<Box<str>>, ParseMetadataError> {
     match get_string_value(hash, "condition", yaml_type)? {
         Some((marker, s)) => {
             let s = s.to_string();
             if let Err(e) = Expression::from_str(&s) {
                 return Err(ParseMetadataError::invalid_condition(marker, s, e));
             }
-            Ok(Some(s))
+            Ok(Some(s.into_boxed_str()))
         }
         None => Ok(None),
     }
diff --git a/src/plugin/mod.rs b/src/plugin/mod.rs
index d829450b..178f7619 100644
--- a/src/plugin/mod.rs
+++ b/src/plugin/mod.rs
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ pub struct Plugin {
     game_type: GameType,
     crc: Option<u32>,
     version: Option<String>,
-    tags: Vec<String>,
-    archive_paths: Vec<PathBuf>,
+    tags: Box<[String]>,
+    archive_paths: Box<[PathBuf]>,
     archive_assets: BTreeMap<u64, BTreeSet<u64>>,
 }
 
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ impl Plugin {
         };
 
         let mut version = None;
-        let mut tags = Vec::new();
-        let mut archive_paths = Vec::new();
+        let mut tags = Box::default();
+        let mut archive_paths = Box::default();
         let mut archive_assets = BTreeMap::new();
         let plugin =
             if game_type != GameType::OpenMW || !has_ascii_extension(plugin_path, "omwscripts") {
@@ -79,11 +79,12 @@ impl Plugin {
                 plugin.parse_file(parse_options)?;
 
                 if let Some(description) = plugin.description()? {
-                    tags = extract_bash_tags(&description);
+                    tags = extract_bash_tags(&description).into_boxed_slice();
                     version = extract_version(&description)?;
                 }
 
-                archive_paths = find_associated_archives(game_type, game_cache, plugin_path);
+                archive_paths =
+                    find_associated_archives(game_type, game_cache, plugin_path).into_boxed_slice();
 
                 if load_scope == LoadScope::WholePlugin {
                     archive_assets = assets_in_archives(&archive_paths);
diff --git a/src/sorting/groups.rs b/src/sorting/groups.rs
index feba93b6..66bde9a0 100644
--- a/src/sorting/groups.rs
+++ b/src/sorting/groups.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use super::{
     error::GroupsPathError,
 };
 
-pub type GroupsGraph = Graph<String, EdgeType>;
+pub type GroupsGraph = Graph<Box<str>, EdgeType>;
 
 pub fn build_groups_graph(
     masterlist_groups: &[Group],
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ pub fn build_groups_graph(
         EdgeType::UserLoadAfter,
     )?;
 
-    if let Some(cycle) = find_cycle(&graph, |node| node.clone()) {
+    if let Some(cycle) = find_cycle(&graph, |node| node.clone().into_string()) {
         Err(CyclicInteractionError::new(cycle).into())
     } else {
         Ok(graph)
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ fn add_groups<'a>(
     for group in groups {
         let key = group.name();
         if !group_nodes.contains_key(key) {
-            let node_index = graph.add_node(group.name().to_string());
+            let node_index = graph.add_node(group.name().into());
             group_nodes.insert(key, node_index);
         }
     }
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ pub fn find_path(
     from_group_name: &str,
     to_group_name: &str,
 ) -> Result<Vec<Vertex>, GroupsPathError> {
-    let float_graph: Graph<&String, f32> = graph.map(
+    let float_graph: Graph<&Box<str>, f32> = graph.map(
         |_, n| n,
         |_, e| {
             if *e == EdgeType::UserLoadAfter {
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ pub fn find_path(
     let paths =
         bellman_ford(&float_graph, from_vertex).map_err(|_| PathfindingError::NegativeCycle)?;
 
-    let mut path = vec![Vertex::new(graph[to_vertex].clone())];
+    let mut path = vec![Vertex::new(graph[to_vertex].clone().into_string())];
     let mut current = to_vertex;
     while current != from_vertex {
         let preceding_vertex = match paths.predecessors.get(current.index()) {
@@ -147,7 +147,10 @@ pub fn find_path(
                 return Ok(Vec::new());
             }
             _ => {
-                return Err(PathfindingError::PrecedingNodeNotFound(graph[current].clone()).into());
+                return Err(PathfindingError::PrecedingNodeNotFound(
+                    graph[current].clone().into_string(),
+                )
+                .into());
             }
         };
 
@@ -164,14 +167,15 @@ pub fn find_path(
             Some(e) => e,
             None => {
                 return Err(PathfindingError::EdgeNotFound {
-                    from_group: graph[*preceding_vertex].clone(),
-                    to_group: graph[current].clone(),
+                    from_group: graph[*preceding_vertex].clone().into_string(),
+                    to_group: graph[current].clone().into_string(),
                 }
                 .into());
             }
         };
 
-        let vertex = Vertex::new(graph[*preceding_vertex].clone()).with_out_edge_type(graph[edge]);
+        let vertex = Vertex::new(graph[*preceding_vertex].clone().into_string())
+            .with_out_edge_type(graph[edge]);
         path.push(vertex);
 
         current = *preceding_vertex;
@@ -183,13 +187,15 @@ pub fn find_path(
 }
 
 fn find_node_by_weight(
-    graph: &Graph<String, EdgeType>,
+    graph: &Graph<Box<str>, EdgeType>,
     weight: &str,
 ) -> Result<NodeIndex, UndefinedGroupError> {
-    match graph
-        .node_indices()
-        .find(|i| graph.node_weight(*i).map(|w| *w == weight).unwrap_or(false))
-    {
+    match graph.node_indices().find(|i| {
+        graph
+            .node_weight(*i)
+            .map(|w| w.as_ref() == weight)
+            .unwrap_or(false)
+    }) {
         Some(n) => Ok(n),
         None => {
             logging::error!("Can't find group with name {}", weight);
@@ -267,7 +273,7 @@ impl<'a> DfsVisitor<'a> for GroupsPathLengthVisitor {
 pub fn get_default_group_node(graph: &GroupsGraph) -> Result<NodeIndex, UndefinedGroupError> {
     graph
         .node_indices()
-        .find(|n| graph[*n] == Group::DEFAULT_NAME)
+        .find(|n| graph[*n].as_ref() == Group::DEFAULT_NAME)
         .ok_or_else(|| UndefinedGroupError::new(Group::DEFAULT_NAME.to_string()))
 }
 
diff --git a/src/sorting/plugins.rs b/src/sorting/plugins.rs
index 9b5a190b..57c393d7 100644
--- a/src/sorting/plugins.rs
+++ b/src/sorting/plugins.rs
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ pub struct PluginSortingData<'a, T: SortingPlugin> {
 
     load_order_index: usize,
 
-    pub(super) group: String,
+    pub(super) group: Box<str>,
     group_is_user_metadata: bool,
-    pub(super) masterlist_load_after: Vec<String>,
-    pub(super) user_load_after: Vec<String>,
-    pub(super) masterlist_req: Vec<String>,
-    pub(super) user_req: Vec<String>,
+    pub(super) masterlist_load_after: Box<[String]>,
+    pub(super) user_load_after: Box<[String]>,
+    pub(super) masterlist_req: Box<[String]>,
+    pub(super) user_req: Box<[String]>,
 }
 
 impl<'a, T: SortingPlugin> PluginSortingData<'a, T> {
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ impl<'a, T: SortingPlugin> PluginSortingData<'a, T> {
                 .and_then(|m| m.group())
                 .or_else(|| masterlist_metadata.and_then(|m| m.group()))
                 .unwrap_or(Group::DEFAULT_NAME)
-                .to_string(),
+                .into(),
             group_is_user_metadata: user_metadata.and_then(|m| m.group()).is_some(),
             masterlist_load_after: masterlist_metadata
                 .map(|m| to_filenames(m.load_after_files()))
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ impl SortingPlugin for Plugin {
     }
 }
 
-fn to_filenames(files: &[File]) -> Vec<String> {
+fn to_filenames(files: &[File]) -> Box<[String]> {
     files
         .iter()
         .map(|f| f.name().as_str().to_string())
@@ -987,8 +987,8 @@ struct PathCacher<'a> {
 
 fn get_plugins_in_groups<T: SortingPlugin>(
     graph: &InnerPluginsGraph<T>,
-) -> HashMap<String, Vec<NodeIndex>> {
-    let mut plugins_in_groups: HashMap<String, Vec<NodeIndex>> = HashMap::default();
+) -> HashMap<Box<str>, Vec<NodeIndex>> {
+    let mut plugins_in_groups: HashMap<Box<str>, Vec<NodeIndex>> = HashMap::default();
 
     for node in graph.node_indices() {
         let group_name = graph[node].group.clone();
@@ -1047,7 +1047,7 @@ type GroupNodeIndex = NodeIndex;
 struct GroupsPathVisitor<'a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e, T: SortingPlugin> {
     plugins_graph: &'a mut PluginsGraph<'b, T>,
     groups_graph: &'e GroupsGraph,
-    groups_plugins: &'c HashMap<String, Vec<PluginNodeIndex>>,
+    groups_plugins: &'c HashMap<Box<str>, Vec<PluginNodeIndex>>,
     finished_group_vertices: &'d mut HashSet<GroupNodeIndex>,
     group_node_to_ignore_as_source: Option<GroupNodeIndex>,
     edge_stack: Vec<(EdgeReference<'e, EdgeType>, &'c [PluginNodeIndex])>,
@@ -1058,7 +1058,7 @@ impl<'a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e, T: SortingPlugin> GroupsPathVisitor<'a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e,
     fn new(
         plugins_graph: &'a mut PluginsGraph<'b, T>,
         groups_graph: &'e GroupsGraph,
-        groups_plugins: &'c HashMap<String, Vec<PluginNodeIndex>>,
+        groups_plugins: &'c HashMap<Box<str>, Vec<PluginNodeIndex>>,
         finished_group_vertices: &'d mut HashSet<GroupNodeIndex>,
         group_node_to_ignore_as_source: Option<GroupNodeIndex>,
     ) -> Self {
@@ -1080,7 +1080,7 @@ impl<'a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e, T: SortingPlugin> GroupsPathVisitor<'a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e,
 
     fn find_plugins_in_group(&self, node_index: GroupNodeIndex) -> &'c [PluginNodeIndex] {
         self.groups_plugins
-            .get(&self.groups_graph[node_index])
+            .get(self.groups_graph[node_index].as_ref())
             .map(|v| v.as_slice())
             .unwrap_or_default()
     }
@@ -3269,7 +3269,7 @@ mod tests {
             let fixture = Fixture::with_plugins(&[PLUGIN_A, PLUGIN_B]);
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.masterlist_load_after = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.masterlist_load_after = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3285,7 +3285,7 @@ mod tests {
             let fixture = Fixture::with_plugins(&[PLUGIN_A, PLUGIN_B]);
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.masterlist_req = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.masterlist_req = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3381,7 +3381,7 @@ mod tests {
             fixture.get_plugin_mut(PLUGIN_A).is_master = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.masterlist_load_after = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.masterlist_load_after = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3407,7 +3407,7 @@ mod tests {
             fixture.get_plugin_mut(PLUGIN_A).is_master = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.user_load_after = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.user_load_after = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3433,7 +3433,7 @@ mod tests {
             fixture.get_plugin_mut(PLUGIN_A).is_master = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.masterlist_req = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.masterlist_req = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3459,7 +3459,7 @@ mod tests {
             fixture.get_plugin_mut(PLUGIN_A).is_master = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.user_req = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.user_req = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3560,7 +3560,7 @@ mod tests {
             b.is_blueprint_plugin = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.masterlist_load_after = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.masterlist_load_after = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3590,7 +3590,7 @@ mod tests {
             b.is_blueprint_plugin = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.masterlist_load_after = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.masterlist_load_after = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3621,7 +3621,7 @@ mod tests {
             b.is_blueprint_plugin = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.user_load_after = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.user_load_after = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3650,7 +3650,7 @@ mod tests {
             b.is_blueprint_plugin = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.user_load_after = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.user_load_after = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3681,7 +3681,7 @@ mod tests {
             b.is_blueprint_plugin = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.masterlist_req = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.masterlist_req = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3711,7 +3711,7 @@ mod tests {
             b.is_blueprint_plugin = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.masterlist_req = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.masterlist_req = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3742,7 +3742,7 @@ mod tests {
             b.is_blueprint_plugin = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.user_req = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.user_req = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
@@ -3771,7 +3771,7 @@ mod tests {
             b.is_blueprint_plugin = true;
 
             let mut a = fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_A);
-            a.user_req = vec![PLUGIN_B.into()];
+            a.user_req = Box::new([PLUGIN_B.into()]);
 
             let data = vec![a, fixture.sorting_data(PLUGIN_B)];
 
diff --git a/src/sorting/validate.rs b/src/sorting/validate.rs
index e2b193f1..f8caa7d6 100644
--- a/src/sorting/validate.rs
+++ b/src/sorting/validate.rs
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ pub fn validate_plugin_groups<T: SortingPlugin>(
     plugins_sorting_data: &[PluginSortingData<'_, T>],
     groups_graph: &GroupsGraph,
 ) -> Result<(), UndefinedGroupError> {
-    let group_names: HashSet<&String> = groups_graph
+    let group_names: HashSet<&str> = groups_graph
         .node_indices()
-        .map(|i| &groups_graph[i])
+        .map(|i| groups_graph[i].as_ref())
         .collect();
 
     for plugin in plugins_sorting_data {
-        if !group_names.contains(&plugin.group) {
-            return Err(UndefinedGroupError::new(plugin.group.clone()));
+        if !group_names.contains(plugin.group.as_ref()) {
+            return Err(UndefinedGroupError::new(plugin.group.clone().into_string()));
         }
     }