diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index 53d30bf36085e..020d8a350a81e 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -255,6 +255,9 @@
 - Added `hasClosure` to `std/typetraits`.
 
 
+- Added `genasts.genAst` that avoids the problems inherent with `quote do` and can
+  be used as a replacement.
+
 ## Language changes
 
 - `nimscript` now handles `except Exception as e`.
diff --git a/lib/core/macros.nim b/lib/core/macros.nim
index 795909c6b4887..49c9a999c120e 100644
--- a/lib/core/macros.nim
+++ b/lib/core/macros.nim
@@ -539,6 +539,7 @@ proc parseStmt*(s: string): NimNode {.noSideEffect.} =
 
 proc getAst*(macroOrTemplate: untyped): NimNode {.magic: "ExpandToAst", noSideEffect.}
   ## Obtains the AST nodes returned from a macro or template invocation.
+  ## See also `genasts.genAst`.
   ## Example:
   ##
   ## .. code-block:: nim
@@ -559,6 +560,8 @@ proc quote*(bl: typed, op = "``"): NimNode {.magic: "QuoteAst", noSideEffect.} =
   ##
   ## A custom operator interpolation needs accent quoted (``) whenever it resolves
   ## to a symbol.
+  ##
+  ## See also `genasts <genasts.html>`_ which avoids some issues with `quote`.
   runnableExamples:
     macro check(ex: untyped) =
       # this is a simplified version of the check macro from the
@@ -1419,7 +1422,7 @@ proc expectIdent*(n: NimNode, name: string) {.since: (1,1).} =
   if not eqIdent(n, name):
     error("Expected identifier to be `" & name & "` here", n)
 
-proc hasArgOfName*(params: NimNode; name: string): bool=
+proc hasArgOfName*(params: NimNode; name: string): bool =
   ## Search `nnkFormalParams` for an argument.
   expectKind(params, nnkFormalParams)
   for i in 1..<params.len:
diff --git a/lib/std/genasts.nim b/lib/std/genasts.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c5f51e5d99c2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/std/genasts.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+import macros
+
+type GenAstOpt* = enum
+  kDirtyTemplate,
+    # When set, uses a dirty template in implementation of `genAst`. This
+    # is occasionally useful as workaround for issues such as #8220, see
+    # `strformat limitations <strformat.html#limitations>`_ for details.
+    # Default is unset, to avoid hijacking of uncaptured local symbols by
+    # symbols in caller scope.
+  kNoNewLit,
+    # don't call call newLit automatically in `genAst` capture parameters
+
+macro genAstOpt*(options: static set[GenAstOpt], args: varargs[untyped]): untyped =
+  ## Accepts a list of captured variables `a=b` or `a` and a block and returns the
+  ## AST that represents it. Local `{.inject.}` symbols (e.g. procs) are captured
+  ## unless `kDirtyTemplate in options`.
+  runnableExamples:
+    # This example shows how one could write a simplified version of `unittest.check`.
+    import std/[macros, strutils]
+    macro check2(cond: bool): untyped =
+      assert cond.kind == nnkInfix, "$# not implemented" % $cond.kind
+      result = genAst(cond, s = repr(cond), lhs = cond[1], rhs = cond[2]):
+        # each local symbol we access must be explicitly captured
+        if not cond:
+          doAssert false, "'$#'' failed: lhs: '$#', rhs: '$#'" % [s, $lhs, $rhs]
+    let a = 3
+    check2 a*2 == a+3
+    if false: check2 a*2 < a+1 # would error with: 'a * 2 < a + 1'' failed: lhs: '6', rhs: '4'
+
+  runnableExamples:
+    # This example goes in more details about the capture semantics.
+    macro fun(a: string, b: static bool): untyped =
+      let c = 'z'
+      var d = 11 # implicitly {.gensym.} and needs to be captured for use in `genAst`.
+      proc localFun(): auto = 12 # implicitly {.inject.}, doesn't need to be captured.
+      genAst(a, b, c = true):
+        # `a`, `b` are captured explicitly, `c` is a local definition masking `c = 'z'`.
+        const b2 = b # macro static param `b` is forwarded here as a static param.
+        # `echo d` would give: `var not init` because `d` is not captured.
+        (a & a, b, c, localFun()) # localFun can be called without capture.
+    assert fun("ab", false) == ("abab", false, true, 12)
+
+  let params = newTree(nnkFormalParams, newEmptyNode())
+  let pragmas =
+    if kDirtyTemplate in options:
+      nnkPragma.newTree(ident"dirty")
+    else:
+      newEmptyNode()
+
+  template newLitMaybe(a): untyped =
+    when (a is type) or (typeof(a) is (proc | iterator | func | NimNode)):
+      a # `proc` actually also covers template, macro
+    else: newLit(a)
+
+  # using `_` as workaround, see https://github.com/nim-lang/Nim/issues/2465#issuecomment-511076669
+  let name = genSym(nskTemplate, "_fun")
+  let call = newCall(name)
+  for a in args[0..^2]:
+    var varName: NimNode
+    var varVal: NimNode
+    case a.kind
+    of nnkExprEqExpr:
+      varName = a[0]
+      varVal = a[1]
+    of nnkIdent:
+      varName = a
+      varVal = a
+    else: error("invalid argument kind: " & $a.kind, a)
+    if kNoNewLit notin options: varVal = newCall(bindSym"newLitMaybe", varVal)
+
+    params.add newTree(nnkIdentDefs, varName, newEmptyNode(), newEmptyNode())
+    call.add varVal
+
+  result = newStmtList()
+  result.add nnkTemplateDef.newTree(
+      name,
+      newEmptyNode(),
+      newEmptyNode(),
+      params,
+      pragmas,
+      newEmptyNode(),
+      args[^1])
+  result.add newCall(bindSym"getAst", call)
+
+template genAst*(args: varargs[untyped]): untyped =
+  ## Convenience wrapper around `genAstOpt`.
+  genAstOpt({}, args)
diff --git a/tests/stdlib/mgenast.nim b/tests/stdlib/mgenast.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..2b5381891fcbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/stdlib/mgenast.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import std/genasts
+import std/macros
+
+# Using a enum instead of, say, int, to make apparent potential bugs related to
+# forgetting converting to NimNode via newLit, see bug #9607
+
+type Foo* = enum kfoo0, kfoo1, kfoo2, kfoo3, kfoo4
+
+proc myLocalPriv(): auto = kfoo1
+proc myLocalPriv2(): auto = kfoo1
+macro bindme2*(): untyped =
+  genAst: myLocalPriv()
+macro bindme3*(): untyped =
+  ## myLocalPriv must be captured explicitly
+  genAstOpt({kDirtyTemplate}, myLocalPriv): myLocalPriv()
+
+macro bindme4*(): untyped =
+  ## calling this won't compile because `myLocalPriv` isn't captured
+  genAstOpt({kDirtyTemplate}): myLocalPriv()
+
+macro bindme5UseExpose*(): untyped =
+  genAst: myLocalPriv2()
+
+macro bindme5UseExposeFalse*(): untyped =
+  genAstOpt({kDirtyTemplate}): myLocalPriv2()
+
+# example from bug #7889
+from std/streams import newStringStream, readData, writeData
+
+macro bindme6UseExpose*(): untyped =
+  genAst:
+    var tst = "sometext"
+    var ss = newStringStream("anothertext")
+    writeData(ss, tst[0].addr, 2)
+    discard readData(ss, tst[0].addr, 2)
+
+macro bindme6UseExposeFalse*(): untyped =
+  ## with `kDirtyTemplate`, requires passing all referenced symbols
+  ## which can be tedious
+  genAstOpt({kDirtyTemplate}, newStringStream, writeData, readData):
+    var tst = "sometext"
+    var ss = newStringStream("anothertext")
+    writeData(ss, tst[0].addr, 2)
+    discard readData(ss, tst[0].addr, 2)
+
+
+proc locafun1(): auto = "in locafun1"
+proc locafun2(): auto = "in locafun2"
+# locafun3 in caller scope only
+macro mixinExample*(): untyped =
+  genAst:
+    mixin locafun1
+    (locafun1(), locafun2(), locafun3())
diff --git a/tests/stdlib/tgenast.nim b/tests/stdlib/tgenast.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..0904b83dd1a0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/stdlib/tgenast.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,269 @@
+# xxx also test on js
+
+import std/genasts
+import std/macros
+from std/strformat import `&`
+import ./mgenast
+
+proc main =
+  block:
+    macro bar(x0: static Foo, x1: Foo, x2: Foo, xignored: Foo): untyped =
+      let s0 = "not captured!"
+      let s1 = "not captured!"
+      let xignoredLocal = kfoo4
+
+      # newLit optional:
+      let x3 = newLit kfoo4
+      let x3b = kfoo4
+
+      result = genAstOpt({kDirtyTemplate}, s1=true, s2="asdf", x0, x1=x1, x2, x3, x3b):
+        doAssert not declared(xignored)
+        doAssert not declared(xignoredLocal)
+        (s1, s2, s0, x0, x1, x2, x3, x3b)
+
+    let s0 = "caller scope!"
+
+    doAssert bar(kfoo1, kfoo2, kfoo3, kfoo4) ==
+      (true, "asdf", "caller scope!", kfoo1, kfoo2, kfoo3, kfoo4, kfoo4)
+
+  block:
+    # doesn't have limitation mentioned in https://github.com/nim-lang/RFCs/issues/122#issue-401636535
+    macro abc(name: untyped): untyped =
+      result = genAst(name):
+        type name = object
+
+    abc(Bar)
+    doAssert Bar.default == Bar()
+
+  block:
+    # backticks parser limitations / ambiguities not are an issue with `genAst`:
+    # (#10326 #9745 are fixed but `quote do` still has underlying ambiguity issue
+    # with backticks)
+    type Foo = object
+      a: int
+
+    macro m1(): untyped =
+      # result = quote do: # Error: undeclared identifier: 'a1'
+      result = genAst:
+        template `a1=`(x: var Foo, val: int) =
+          x.a = val
+
+    m1()
+    var x0: Foo
+    x0.a1 = 10
+    doAssert x0 == Foo(a: 10)
+
+  block:
+    # avoids bug #7375
+    macro fun(b: static[bool], b2: bool): untyped =
+      result = newStmtList()
+    macro foo(c: bool): untyped =
+      var b = false
+      result = genAst(b, c):
+        fun(b, c)
+
+    foo(true)
+
+  block:
+    # avoids bug #7589
+    # since `==` works with genAst, the problem goes away
+    macro foo2(): untyped =
+      # result = quote do: # Error: '==' cannot be passed to a procvar
+      result = genAst:
+        `==`(3,4)
+    doAssert not foo2()
+
+  block:
+    # avoids bug #7726
+    # expressions such as `a.len` are just passed as arguments to `genAst`, and
+    # caller scope is not polluted with definitions such as `let b = newLit a.len`
+    macro foo(): untyped =
+      let a = @[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
+      result = genAst(a, b = a.len): # shows 2 ways to get a.len
+        (a.len, b)
+    doAssert foo() == (5, 5)
+
+  block:
+    # avoids bug #9607
+    proc fun1(info:LineInfo): string = "bar1"
+    proc fun2(info:int): string = "bar2"
+
+    macro bar2(args: varargs[untyped]): untyped =
+      let info = args.lineInfoObj
+      let fun1 = bindSym"fun1" # optional; we can remove this and also the
+      # capture of fun1, as show in next example
+      result = genAst(info, fun1):
+        (fun1(info), fun2(info.line))
+    doAssert bar2() == ("bar1", "bar2")
+
+    macro bar3(args: varargs[untyped]): untyped =
+      let info = args.lineInfoObj
+      result = genAst(info):
+        (fun1(info), fun2(info.line))
+    doAssert bar3() == ("bar1", "bar2")
+
+    macro bar(args: varargs[untyped]): untyped =
+      let info = args.lineInfoObj
+      let fun1 = bindSym"fun1"
+      let fun2 = bindSym"fun2"
+      result = genAstOpt({kDirtyTemplate}, info):
+        (fun1(info), fun2(info.line))
+    doAssert bar() == ("bar1", "bar2")
+
+  block:
+    # example from bug #7889 works
+    # after changing method call syntax to regular call syntax; this is a
+    # limitation described in bug #7085
+    # note that `quote do` would also work after that change in this example.
+    doAssert bindme2() == kfoo1
+    doAssert bindme3() == kfoo1
+    doAssert not compiles(bindme4()) # correctly gives Error: undeclared identifier: 'myLocalPriv'
+    proc myLocalPriv2(): auto = kfoo2
+    doAssert bindme5UseExpose() == kfoo1
+
+    # example showing hijacking behavior when using `kDirtyTemplate`
+    doAssert bindme5UseExposeFalse() == kfoo2
+      # local `myLocalPriv2` hijacks symbol `mgenast.myLocalPriv2`. In most
+      # use cases this is probably not what macro writer intends as it's
+      # surprising; hence `kDirtyTemplate` is not the default.
+
+    when nimvm: # disabled because `newStringStream` is used
+      discard
+    else:
+      bindme6UseExpose()
+      bindme6UseExposeFalse()
+
+  block:
+    macro mbar(x3: Foo, x3b: static Foo): untyped =
+      var x1=kfoo3
+      var x2=newLit kfoo3
+      var x4=kfoo3
+      var xLocal=kfoo3
+
+      proc funLocal(): auto = kfoo4
+
+      result = genAst(x1, x2, x3, x4):
+        # local x1 overrides remote x1
+        when false:
+          # one advantage of using `kDirtyTemplate` is that these would hold:
+          doAssert not declared xLocal
+          doAssert not compiles(echo xLocal)
+          # however, even without it, we at least correctly generate CT error
+          # if trying to use un-captured symbol; this correctly gives:
+          # Error: internal error: environment misses: xLocal
+          echo xLocal
+
+        proc foo1(): auto =
+          # note that `funLocal` is captured implicitly, according to hygienic
+          # template rules; with `kDirtyTemplate` it would not unless
+          # captured in `genAst` capture list explicitly
+          (a0: xRemote, a1: x1, a2: x2, a3: x3, a4: x4, a5: funLocal())
+
+      return result
+
+    proc main()=
+      var xRemote=kfoo1
+      var x1=kfoo2
+      mbar(kfoo4, kfoo4)
+      doAssert foo1() == (a0: kfoo1, a1: kfoo3, a2: kfoo3, a3: kfoo4, a4: kfoo3, a5: kfoo4)
+
+    main()
+
+  block:
+    # With `kDirtyTemplate`, the example from #8220 works.
+    # See https://nim-lang.github.io/Nim/strformat.html#limitations for
+    # an explanation of why {.dirty.} is needed.
+    macro foo(): untyped =
+      result = genAstOpt({kDirtyTemplate}):
+        let bar = "Hello, World"
+        &"Let's interpolate {bar} in the string"
+    doAssert foo() == "Let's interpolate Hello, World in the string"
+
+
+  block: # nested application of genAst
+    macro createMacro(name, obj, field: untyped): untyped =
+      result = genAst(obj = newDotExpr(obj, field), lit = 10, name, field):
+        # can't reuse `result` here, would clash
+        macro name(arg: untyped): untyped =
+          genAst(arg2=arg): # somehow `arg2` rename is needed
+            (obj, astToStr(field), lit, arg2)
+
+    var x = @[1, 2, 3]
+    createMacro foo, x, len
+    doAssert (foo 20) == (3, "len", 10, 20)
+
+  block: # test with kNoNewLit
+    macro bar(): untyped =
+      let s1 = true
+      template boo(x): untyped =
+        fun(x)
+      result = genAstOpt({kNoNewLit}, s1=newLit(s1), s1b=s1): (s1, s1b)
+    doAssert bar() == (true, 1)
+
+  block: # sanity check: check passing `{}` also works
+    macro bar(): untyped =
+      result = genAstOpt({}, s1=true): s1
+    doAssert bar() == true
+
+  block: # test passing function and type symbols
+    proc z1(): auto = 41
+    type Z4 = type(1'i8)
+    macro bar(Z1: typedesc): untyped =
+      proc z2(): auto = 42
+      proc z3[T](a: T): auto = 43
+      let Z2 = genAst():
+        type(true)
+      let z4 = genAst():
+        proc myfun(): auto = 44
+        myfun
+      type Z3 = type(1'u8)
+      result = genAst(z4, Z1, Z2):
+        # z1, z2, z3, Z3, Z4 are captured automatically
+        # z1, z2, z3 can optionally be specified in capture list
+        (z1(), z2(), z3('a'), z4(), $Z1, $Z2, $Z3, $Z4)
+    type Z1 = type('c')
+    doAssert bar(Z1) == (41, 42, 43, 44, "char", "bool", "uint8", "int8")
+
+  block: # fix bug #11986
+    proc foo(): auto =
+      var s = { 'a', 'b' }
+      # var n = quote do: `s` # would print {97, 98}
+      var n = genAst(s): s
+      n.repr
+    static: doAssert foo() == "{'a', 'b'}"
+
+  block: # also from #11986
+    macro foo(): untyped =
+      var s = { 'a', 'b' }
+      # quote do:
+      #   let t = `s`
+      #   $typeof(t) # set[range 0..65535(int)]
+      genAst(s):
+        let t = s
+        $typeof(t)
+    doAssert foo() == "set[char]"
+
+  block:
+    macro foo(): untyped =
+      type Foo = object
+      template baz2(a: int): untyped = a*10
+      macro baz3(a: int): untyped = newLit 13
+      result = newStmtList()
+
+      result.add genAst(Foo, baz2, baz3) do: # shows you can pass types, templates etc
+        var x: Foo
+        $($typeof(x), baz2(3), baz3(4))
+
+      let ret = genAst() do: # shows you don't have to, since they're inject'd
+        var x: Foo
+        $($typeof(x), baz2(3), baz3(4))
+    doAssert foo() == """("Foo", 30, 13)"""
+
+  block: # illustrates how symbol visiblity can be controlled precisely using `mixin`
+    proc locafun1(): auto = "in locafun1 (caller scope)" # this will be used because of `mixin locafun1` => explicit hijacking is ok
+    proc locafun2(): auto = "in locafun2 (caller scope)" # this won't be used => no hijacking
+    proc locafun3(): auto = "in locafun3 (caller scope)"
+    doAssert mixinExample() == ("in locafun1 (caller scope)", "in locafun2", "in locafun3 (caller scope)")
+
+static: main()
+main()