diff --git a/lib/Database.php b/lib/Database.php
index 78821a25..e3e0145a 100644
--- a/lib/Database.php
+++ b/lib/Database.php
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 declare(strict_types=1);
 namespace JKingWeb\Arsse;
 use PasswordGenerator\Generator as PassGen;
+use JKingWeb\Arsse\Database\Query;
 
 class Database {
 
@@ -356,42 +357,36 @@ class Database {
 
     public function subscriptionList(string $user, int $folder = null, int $id = null): Db\Result {
         if(!Data::$user->authorize($user, __FUNCTION__)) throw new User\ExceptionAuthz("notAuthorized", ["action" => __FUNCTION__, "user" => $user]);
-        // lay out the base query parts
-        $queryCTE = ["topmost(f_id,top) as (select id,id from arsse_folders where owner is ? and parent is null union select id,top from arsse_folders join topmost on parent=f_id)"];
-        $queryWhere = ["owner is ?"];
-        $queryTypes = ["str", "str", "str", "str"];
-        $queryValues = [$user, $this->dateFormatDefault, $user, $user];
-        if(!is_null($folder)) {
-            // if a folder is specified, make sure it exists
-            $this->folderValidateId($user, $folder);
-            // if it does exist, add a common table expression to list it and its children so that we select from the entire subtree
-            array_unshift($queryCTE, "folders(folder) as (SELECT ? union select id from arsse_folders join folders on parent is folder)");
-            // add a suitable WHERE condition and bindings
-            $queryWhere[] = "folder in (select folder from folders)";
-            array_unshift($queryTypes, "int");
-            array_unshift($queryValues, $folder);
-        }
-        if(!is_null($id)) {
-            // this condition facilitates the implementation of subscriptionPropertiesGet, which would otherwise have to duplicate the complex query
-            // if an ID is specified, add a suitable WHERE condition and bindings
-            $queryWhere[] = "arsse_subscriptions.id is ?";
-            $queryTypes[] = "int";
-            $queryValues[] = $id;
-        }
-        // stitch the query together
-        $queryCTE = "WITH RECURSIVE ".implode(", ", $queryCTE)." ";
-        $queryWhere = implode(" AND ", $queryWhere);
-        $query = 
-            $queryCTE."SELECT 
+        // create a complex query
+        $q = new Query(
+            "SELECT 
                 arsse_subscriptions.id,
                 url,favicon,source,folder,pinned,err_count,err_msg,order_type,
                 DATEFORMAT(?, added) as added,
                 topmost.top as top_folder,
                 CASE WHEN arsse_subscriptions.title is not null THEN arsse_subscriptions.title ELSE arsse_feeds.title END as title,
-                (SELECT count(*) from arsse_articles where feed is arsse_subscriptions.feed) - (SELECT count(*) from arsse_marks join arsse_articles on article = arsse_articles.id where owner is ? and feed is arsse_feeds.id and read is 1) as unread
-             from arsse_subscriptions join arsse_feeds on feed = arsse_feeds.id left join topmost on folder=f_id where $queryWhere order by pinned desc, title";
-        // execute the query
-        return $this->db->prepare($query, $queryTypes)->run($queryValues);
+                (SELECT count(*) from arsse_articles where feed is arsse_subscriptions.feed) - (SELECT count(*) from arsse_marks join user on user is owner join arsse_articles on article = arsse_articles.id where feed is arsse_feeds.id and read is 1) as unread
+             from arsse_subscriptions join user on user is owner join arsse_feeds on feed = arsse_feeds.id left join topmost on folder=f_id",
+             "", // where terms
+             "pinned desc, title" // order by terms
+        );
+        // define common table expressions
+        $q->setCTE("user(user) as (SELECT ?)", "str", $user);  // the subject user; this way we only have to pass it to prepare() once
+        // topmost folders belonging to the user
+        $q->setCTE("topmost(f_id,top) as (select id,id from arsse_folders join user on owner is user where parent is null union select id,top from arsse_folders join topmost on parent=f_id)");
+        if(!is_null($id)) {
+            // this condition facilitates the implementation of subscriptionPropertiesGet, which would otherwise have to duplicate the complex query; it takes precedence over a specified folder
+            // if an ID is specified, add a suitable WHERE condition and bindings
+            $q->setWhere("arsse_subscriptions.id is ?", "int", $id);
+        } else if(!is_null($folder)) {
+            // if a folder is specified, make sure it exists
+            $this->folderValidateId($user, $folder);
+            // if it does exist, add a common table expression to list it and its children so that we select from the entire subtree
+            $q->setCTE("folders(folder) as (SELECT ? union select id from arsse_folders join folders on parent is folder)", "int", $folder);
+            // add a suitable WHERE condition
+            $q->setWhere("folder in (select folder from folders)");
+        }
+        return $this->db->prepare($q, "str")->run($this->dateFormatDefault);
     }
 
     public function subscriptionRemove(string $user, int $id): bool {
@@ -608,4 +603,32 @@ class Database {
         }
         return (int) $this->db->prepare("SELECT max(id) from arsse_editions")->run()->getValue();
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+
+    public function articleList(string $user): Db\Result {
+        if(!Data::$user->authorize($user, __FUNCTION__)) throw new User\ExceptionAuthz("notAuthorized", ["action" => __FUNCTION__, "user" => $user]);
+        return $this->db->prepare(
+            "WITH
+                user(user) as (SELECT ?), 
+                subscribed_feeds(id) as (SELECT feed from arsse_subscriptions join user on user is owner) 
+            ".
+            "SELECT 
+                arsse_articles.id,
+                arsse_articles.url,
+                title,author,content,feed,guid,
+                DATEFORMAT(?, edited) as edited,
+                DATEFORMAT(?, modified) as modified,
+                CASE (SELECT count(*) from arsse_marks join user on user is owner where article is arsse_articles.id and read is 1) when 1 then 0 else 1 end as unread,
+                (SELECT count(*) from arsse_marks join user on user is owner where article is arsse_articles.id and starred is 1) as starred,
+                (SELECT max(id) from arsse_editions where article is arsse_articles.id) as latestEdition,
+                url_title_hash||':'||url_content_hash||':'||title_content_hash as fingerprint,
+                arsse_enclosures.url as media_url,
+                arsse_enclosures.type as media_type
+            FROM arsse_articles 
+                join subscribed_feeds on arsse_articles.feed is subscribed_feeds.id
+                left join arsse_enclosures on arsse_enclosures.article is arsse_articles.id
+            ",
+            "str","str","str"
+        )-run($user, $this->dateFormatDefault, $this->dateFormatDefault);
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/lib/Database/Query.php b/lib/Database/Query.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..260bcb4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/Database/Query.php
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+<?php
+declare(strict_types=1);
+namespace JKingWeb\Arsse\Database;
+use JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\Driver;
+use JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\Statement;
+
+class Query {
+    protected $body = "";
+    protected $qCTE = []; // Common table expression query components
+    protected $tCTE = []; // Common table expression type bindings
+    protected $vCTE = []; // Common table expression binding values
+    protected $jCTE = []; // Common Table Expression joins
+    protected $qWhere = []; // WHERE clause components
+    protected $tWhere = []; // WHERE clause type bindings
+    protected $vWhere = []; // WHERE clause binding values
+    protected $order = []; // ORDER BY clause components
+    protected $limit = 0;
+    protected $offset = 0;
+
+
+    function __construct(string $body, string $where = "", string $order = "", int $limit = 0, int $offset = 0) {
+        if(strlen($body)) $this->body = $body;
+        if(strlen($where)) $this->where[] = $where;
+        if(strlen($order)) $this->order[] = $order;
+        $this->limit = $limit;
+        $this->offset = $offset;
+    }
+
+    function setCTE(string $body, $types = null, $values = null, string $join = ''): bool {
+        if(!strlen($body)) return false;
+        $this->qCTE[] = $body;
+        if(!is_null($types)) {
+            $this->tCTE[] = $types;
+            $this->vCTE[] = $values;
+        }
+        if(strlen($join)) $this->jCTE[] = $join; // the CTE may only participate in subqueries rather than a join on the main query
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    function setWhere(string $where, $types = null, $values = null): bool {
+        if(!strlen($where)) return false;
+        $this->qWhere[] = $where;
+        if(!is_null($types)) {
+            $this->tWhere[] = $types;
+            $this->vWhere[] = $values;
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    function setOrder(string $oder, bool $prepend = false): bool {
+        if(!strlen($order)) return false;
+        if($prepend) {
+            array_unshift($this->order, $order);
+        } else {
+            $this->order[] = $order;
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    function prepare(Driver $drv, ...$userTypes): Statement {
+        return new QueryStatement($drv->prepare($this->getQuery(), $this->getCTETypes(), $userTypes, $this->getWhereTypes()), $this->getCTEValues(), $this->getWhereValues());
+    } 
+
+    function getQuery(bool $pretty = false): string {
+        $cte = sizeof($this->qCTE);
+        $out = "";
+        if($cte) {
+            // start with common table expressions
+            $out .= "WITH RECURSIVE ".implode(", ", $this->qCTE)." ";
+        }
+        // add the body
+        $out .= $this->body;
+        if($cte) {
+            // add any joins against CTEs
+            $out .= " ".implode(" ", $this->jCTE);
+        }
+        // add any WHERE terms
+        if(sizeof($this->qWhere)) {
+            $out .= " WHERE ".implode(" AND ", $this->qWhere);
+        }
+        // add any ORDER BY terms
+        if(sizeof($this->order)) {
+            $out .= " ORDER BY ".implode(", ", $this->order);
+        }
+        // add LIMIT and OFFSET if the former is specified
+        if($this->limit > 0) {
+            $out .= " LIMIT ".$this->limit;
+            if($this->offset > 0) {
+                $out .= " OFFSET ".$this->offset;
+            }
+        }
+        return $out;
+    }
+
+    function getWhereTypes(): array {
+        return $this->tWhere;
+    }
+
+    function getWhereValues(): array {
+        return $this->vWhere;
+    }
+
+    function getCTETypes(): array {
+        return $this->tCTE;
+    }
+
+    function getCTEValues(): array {
+        return $this->vCTE;
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/Db/AbstractDriver.php b/lib/Db/AbstractDriver.php
index 770c38da..d92556f8 100644
--- a/lib/Db/AbstractDriver.php
+++ b/lib/Db/AbstractDriver.php
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ abstract class AbstractDriver implements Driver {
     protected $transDepth = 0;
     protected $transStatus = [];
 
+    public abstract function prepareArray($query, array $paramTypes): Statement;
+
     public function schemaVersion(): int {
         try {
             return (int) $this->query("SELECT value from arsse_settings where key is schema_version")->getValue();
@@ -128,7 +130,7 @@ abstract class AbstractDriver implements Driver {
         return ($this->query("SELECT count(*) from arsse_settings where key is 'lock'")->getValue() > 0);
     }
 
-    public function prepare(string $query, ...$paramType): Statement {
+    public function prepare($query, ...$paramType): Statement {
         return $this->prepareArray($query, $paramType);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/Db/AbstractStatement.php b/lib/Db/AbstractStatement.php
index 74a849d7..029ef14c 100644
--- a/lib/Db/AbstractStatement.php
+++ b/lib/Db/AbstractStatement.php
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ namespace JKingWeb\Arsse\Db;
 abstract class AbstractStatement implements Statement {
     protected $types = [];
     protected $isNullable = [];
+    protected $values = ['pre' => [], 'post' => []];
 
-    abstract function runArray(array $values): Result;
+    abstract function runArray(array $values = []): Result;
     abstract static function dateFormat(int $part = self::TS_BOTH): string;
 
     public function run(...$values): Result {
diff --git a/lib/Db/Driver.php b/lib/Db/Driver.php
index 739aafef..51c50de1 100644
--- a/lib/Db/Driver.php
+++ b/lib/Db/Driver.php
@@ -33,5 +33,6 @@ interface Driver {
     // perform a single unsanitized query and return a result set
     function query(string $query): Result;
     // ready a prepared statement for later execution
-    function prepare(string $query, ...$paramType): Statement;
+    function prepare($query, ...$paramType): Statement;
+    function prepareArray($query, array $paramTypes): Statement;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/Db/SQLite3/Driver.php b/lib/Db/SQLite3/Driver.php
index a97e4732..71255317 100644
--- a/lib/Db/SQLite3/Driver.php
+++ b/lib/Db/SQLite3/Driver.php
@@ -125,13 +125,22 @@ class Driver extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\AbstractDriver {
         return new Result($r, [$changes, $lastId]);
     }
 
-    public function prepareArray(string $query, array $paramTypes): \JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\Statement {
+    public function prepareArray($query, array $paramTypes): \JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\Statement {
+        if($query instanceof \JKingWeb\Arsse\Database\Query) {
+            $preValues = $query->getCTEValues();
+            $postValues = $query->getWhereValues();
+            $paramTypes = [$query->getCTETypes(), $paramTypes, $query->getWhereTypes()];
+            $query = $query->getQuery();
+        } else {
+            $preValues = [];
+            $postValues = [];
+        }
         try {
             $s = $this->db->prepare($query);
         } catch(\Exception $e) {
             list($excClass, $excMsg, $excData) = $this->exceptionBuild();
             throw new $excClass($excMsg, $excData);
         }
-        return new Statement($this->db, $s, $paramTypes);
+        return new Statement($this->db, $s, $paramTypes, $preValues, $postValues);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/Db/SQLite3/Statement.php b/lib/Db/SQLite3/Statement.php
index 44242786..14748bcd 100644
--- a/lib/Db/SQLite3/Statement.php
+++ b/lib/Db/SQLite3/Statement.php
@@ -26,10 +26,12 @@ class Statement extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\AbstractStatement {
     protected $db;
     protected $st;
 
-    public function __construct(\SQLite3 $db, \SQLite3Stmt $st, array $bindings = []) {
+    public function __construct(\SQLite3 $db, \SQLite3Stmt $st, array $bindings = [], array $preValues, array $postValues) {
         $this->db = $db;
         $this->st = $st;
         $this->rebindArray($bindings);
+        $this->values['pre'] = $preValues;
+        $this->values['post'] = $postValues;
     }
 
     public function __destruct() {
@@ -45,9 +47,10 @@ class Statement extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\AbstractStatement {
         ])[$part];
     }
 
-    public function runArray(array $values = null): \JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\Result {
+    public function runArray(array $values = []): \JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\Result {
         $this->st->clear();
-        if(!is_null($values)) $this->bindValues($values);
+        $values = [$this->values['pre'], $values, $this->values['post']];
+        $this->bindValues($values);
         try {
             $r = $this->st->execute();
         } catch(\Exception $e) {
diff --git a/lib/Db/Statement.php b/lib/Db/Statement.php
index 3a74d546..e5a631f0 100644
--- a/lib/Db/Statement.php
+++ b/lib/Db/Statement.php
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ interface Statement {
     static function dateFormat(int $part = self::TS_BOTH): string;
 
     function run(...$values): Result;
-    function runArray(array $values): Result;
+    function runArray(array $values = []): Result;
     function rebind(...$bindings): bool;
     function rebindArray(array $bindings): bool;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test.php b/tests/test.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 3fffe213..00000000
--- a/tests/test.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-namespace JKingWeb\Arsse;
-const INSTALL = true;
-require_once __DIR__."/../bootstrap.php";
-
-
-$user = "john.doe@example.com";
-$pass = "secret";
-$_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_USER'] = $user;
-$_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_PW'] = $pass;
-$conf = new Conf();
-$conf->dbSQLite3File = ":memory:";
-Data::load($conf);
-Data::$db->schemaUpdate();
-
-Data::$user->add($user, $pass);
-Data::$user->auth();
-Data::$user->authorizationEnabled(false);
-Data::$user->rightsSet($user, User\Driver::RIGHTS_GLOBAL_ADMIN);
-Data::$user->authorizationEnabled(true);
-Data::$db->folderAdd($user, ['name' => 'ook']);
-/*Data::$db->subscriptionAdd($user, "http://linuxfr.org/news.atom");
-Data::$db->subscriptionPropertiesSet($user, 1, [
-    'title'      => "OOOOOOOOK!",
-]);*/
-(new REST())->dispatch(new REST\Request(
-    "POST", "/index.php/apps/news/api/v1-2/feeds/", json_encode(['url'=> "http://linuxfr.org/news.atom"])
-));
\ No newline at end of file