diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 0bdf0ed..9b62f8a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,29 +1,14 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.14 FATAL_ERROR)
-project(libpressio VERSION "0.8.0" LANGUAGES CXX C)
+project(libpressio VERSION "0.9.0" LANGUAGES CXX C)
 
 enable_testing()
 set(CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS ON)
 option(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS "build libpressio as a shared library" ON)
 
 include(GNUInstallDirs)
-find_package(ZFP REQUIRED)
-find_package(SZ REQUIRED)
-find_package(ZLIB REQUIRED)
-find_package(PkgConfig REQUIRED)
-find_package(Python COMPONENTS Interpreter Development NumPy)
-pkg_search_module(ZSTD IMPORTED_TARGET GLOBAL libzstd)
 
 
-set(LIBPRESSIO_FEATURES "sz zfp")
-configure_file(
-  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/pressio_version.h.in
-  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/include/pressio_version.h
-  )
-configure_file(
-  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/libpressio.pc.in
-  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/libpressio.pc
-  @ONLY
-  )
+set(LIBPRESSIO_FEATURES "")
 
 add_library(libpressio
   #core implementation
@@ -38,8 +23,6 @@ add_library(libpressio
 
   #plugins
   ./src/plugins/compressors/compressor_base.cc
-  ./src/plugins/compressors/sz_plugin.cc
-  ./src/plugins/compressors/zfp_plugin.cc
   ./src/plugins/metrics/composite.cc
   ./src/plugins/metrics/metrics_base.cc
   ./src/plugins/metrics/size.cc
@@ -48,8 +31,6 @@ add_library(libpressio
 
   #public headers
   include/libpressio.h
-  include/libpressio_ext/compressors/sz.h
-  include/libpressio_ext/compressors/zfp.h
   include/libpressio_ext/cpp/compressor.h
   include/libpressio_ext/cpp/metrics.h
   include/libpressio_ext/cpp/plugins.h
@@ -74,9 +55,57 @@ target_include_directories(libpressio
   PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/include
   )
 target_compile_options(libpressio PRIVATE $<$<CONFIG:Debug>: -Wall -Werror -Wextra -Wpedantic>)
-target_link_libraries(libpressio PUBLIC zfp::zfp SZ)
 target_compile_features(libpressio PUBLIC cxx_std_17)
 
+option(LIBPRESSIO_HAS_MGARD "build the MGARD plugin" OFF)
+if(LIBPRESSIO_HAS_MGARD)
+  set(LIBPRESSIO_FEATURES "${LIBPRESSIO_FEATURES} mgard")
+  find_package(mgard REQUIRED)
+  target_sources(libpressio
+    PRIVATE
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/plugins/compressors/mgard_plugin.cc
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/libpressio_ext/compressors/mgard.h
+    )
+  target_link_libraries(libpressio PUBLIC mgard::mgard)
+endif()
+
+option(LIBPRESSIO_HAS_ZFP "build the ZFP plugin" ON)
+if(LIBPRESSIO_HAS_ZFP)
+  set(LIBPRESSIO_FEATURES "${LIBPRESSIO_FEATURES} zfp")
+  find_package(ZFP REQUIRED)
+  target_sources(libpressio
+    PRIVATE
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/plugins/compressors/zfp_plugin.cc
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/libpressio_ext/compressors/zfp.h
+    )
+  target_link_libraries(libpressio PUBLIC zfp::zfp)
+endif()
+
+option(LIBPRESSIO_HAS_SZ "build the SZ plugin" ON)
+if(LIBPRESSIO_HAS_SZ)
+  set(LIBPRESSIO_FEATURES "${LIBPRESSIO_FEATURES} sz")
+  find_package(SZ REQUIRED)
+  find_package(ZLIB REQUIRED)
+  find_package(PkgConfig REQUIRED)
+  pkg_search_module(ZSTD IMPORTED_TARGET GLOBAL libzstd)
+  target_sources(libpressio
+    PRIVATE
+      ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/plugins/compressors/sz_plugin.cc
+      ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/libpressio_ext/compressors/sz.h
+    )
+  target_link_libraries(libpressio PUBLIC SZ)
+endif()
+
+configure_file(
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/pressio_version.h.in
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/include/pressio_version.h
+  )
+configure_file(
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/libpressio.pc.in
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/libpressio.pc
+  @ONLY
+  )
+
 export(TARGETS libpressio NAMESPACE LibPressio:: FILE LibPressio.cmake)
 install(TARGETS libpressio EXPORT LibPressioConfig
   ARCHIVE DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}
@@ -89,7 +118,6 @@ install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/include/pressio_version.h DESTINATION
 install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/libpressio.pc DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/pkgconfig)
 
 option(BUILD_TESTS "build the test cases and examples" OFF)
-
 if(BUILD_TESTS)
   add_subdirectory(test)
 endif()
diff --git a/COPYRIGHT.txt b/COPYRIGHT.txt
index faac82c..e4c46e0 100644
--- a/COPYRIGHT.txt
+++ b/COPYRIGHT.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Copyright © 2019 , UChicago Argonne, LLC
 All Rights Reserved
-[libpressio, Version 0.8.0]
+[libpressio, Version 0.9.0]
 Robert Underwood
 Argonne National Laboratory
 
diff --git a/include/libpressio_ext/compressors/mgard.h b/include/libpressio_ext/compressors/mgard.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0628432
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/libpressio_ext/compressors/mgard.h
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+/** 
+ * \file
+ * \brief Includes definitions needed to use the MGRAD pressio compressor
+ * */
+#include <mgard_capi.h>
diff --git a/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/compressor.h b/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/compressor.h
index 66ef2d6..c3c6e98 100644
--- a/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/compressor.h
+++ b/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/compressor.h
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ class libpressio_compressor_plugin {
   /** compresses a pressio_data buffer
    * \see pressio_compressor_compress for the semantics this function should obey
    */
-  int compress(struct pressio_data* input, struct pressio_data* output);
+  int compress(const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output);
   /** decompress a pressio_data buffer
    * \see pressio_compressor_decompress for the semantics this function should obey
    */
-  int decompress(struct pressio_data* input, struct pressio_data* output);
+  int decompress(const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output);
   /** get a version string for the compressor
    * \see pressio_compressor_version for the semantics this function should obey
    */
@@ -123,11 +123,11 @@ class libpressio_compressor_plugin {
   /** compresses a pressio_data buffer
    * \see pressio_compressor_compress for the semantics this function should obey
    */
-  virtual int compress_impl(struct pressio_data* input, struct pressio_data* output)=0;
+  virtual int compress_impl(const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output)=0;
   /** decompress a pressio_data buffer
    * \see pressio_compressor_decompress for the semantics this function should obey
    */
-  virtual int decompress_impl(struct pressio_data* input, struct pressio_data* output)=0;
+  virtual int decompress_impl(const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output)=0;
 
   /** checks for extra arguments set for the compressor.
    * Unlike other functions, this option is NOT required
diff --git a/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/data.h b/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/data.h
index e3c8315..4eb8a48 100644
--- a/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/data.h
+++ b/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/data.h
@@ -233,16 +233,23 @@ struct pressio_data {
   /**
    * \returns the number of dimensions
    */
-  size_t dimensions() const {
+  size_t num_dimensions() const {
     return dims.size();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * \returns a copy of the vector of dimensions
+   */
+  std::vector<size_t> dimensions() const {
+    return dims;
+  }
+
   /**
    * \param idx the specific index to query
    * \returns a specific dimension of the buffer of zero if the index exceeds dimensions()
    */
   size_t get_dimension(size_t idx) const {
-    if(idx >= dimensions()) return 0;
+    if(idx >= num_dimensions()) return 0;
     else return dims[idx];
   }
 
@@ -250,14 +257,14 @@ struct pressio_data {
    * \returns the size of the buffer in bytes
    */
   size_t size_in_bytes() const {
-    return data_size_in_bytes(data_dtype, dimensions(), dims.data());
+    return data_size_in_bytes(data_dtype, num_dimensions(), dims.data());
   }
 
   /**
    * \returns the size of the buffer in elements
    */
   size_t num_elements() const {
-    return data_size_in_elements(dimensions(), dims.data());
+    return data_size_in_elements(num_dimensions(), dims.data());
   }
 
   private:
diff --git a/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/options.h b/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/options.h
index 832f7d3..f4cb443 100644
--- a/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/options.h
+++ b/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/options.h
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+#ifndef PRESSIO_OPTIONS_CPP
+#define PRESSIO_OPTIONS_CPP
+
 #include <optional>
 #include <variant>
 #include <string>
@@ -53,11 +56,6 @@ struct pressio_option final {
   template<class T>
   pressio_option(T value): option(std::optional<T>(value)) {}
 
-  /** specialization for option to reset the type to hold no type or value
-   * \param[in] value the monostate singleton
-   * */
-  template<>
-  pressio_option(std::monostate value): option(value) {}
 
   /** returns a pressio option that has the appropriate type if the conversion is allowed for the specified safety
    * \param[in] type the type to convert to
@@ -75,7 +73,7 @@ struct pressio_option final {
    * \returns returns true if the option holds the current type
    */
   template <class T>
-  constexpr bool holds_alternative() const {
+  bool holds_alternative() const {
     return std::holds_alternative<std::optional<T>>(option);
   }
 
@@ -83,13 +81,13 @@ struct pressio_option final {
    * \returns true if the option has no specified type or value
    */
   template <>
-  constexpr bool holds_alternative<std::monostate>() const;
+  bool holds_alternative<std::monostate>() const;
 
   /** 
    * \returns a std::optional which holds a value if the option has one or an empty optional otherwise
    */
   template <class T>
-  constexpr std::optional<T> const& get() const{
+  std::optional<T> const& get() const{
     return std::get<std::optional<T>>(option);
   }
 
@@ -98,7 +96,7 @@ struct pressio_option final {
    * \returns the value contained by the option
    */
   template <class T>
-  constexpr T const& get_value() const{
+  T const& get_value() const{
     return get<T>().value();
   }
 
@@ -187,14 +185,17 @@ struct pressio_option final {
   option_type option;
 };
 
+/** specialization for option to reset the type to hold no type or value
+ * \param[in] value the monostate singleton
+ * */
+template<>
+pressio_option::pressio_option(std::monostate value);
+
 /** Specialization for the std::monostate singleton
  * \returns true if the option has no specified type or value
  */
 template <>
-constexpr bool pressio_option::holds_alternative<std::monostate>() const {
-  return std::holds_alternative<std::monostate>(option);
-}
-
+bool pressio_option::holds_alternative<std::monostate>() const;
 /**
  * represents a map of dynamically typed objects
  */
@@ -381,3 +382,5 @@ enum pressio_options_key_status pressio_options::get(std::string const& key, con
  */
 template <>
 enum pressio_options_key_status pressio_options::cast(std::string const& key, char** value, enum pressio_conversion_safety safety) const;
+
+#endif
diff --git a/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/plugins.h b/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/plugins.h
index 5b1a353..10e0856 100644
--- a/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/plugins.h
+++ b/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/plugins.h
@@ -5,12 +5,24 @@
 #define LIBPRESSIO_PLUGINS_PUBLIC
 #include <memory>
 #include <vector>
+#include "pressio_version.h"
 #include "libpressio_ext/cpp/compressor.h"
 #include "libpressio_ext/cpp/metrics.h"
+
+#if LIBPRESSIO_HAS_SZ
 /** construct the sz plugin */
 std::unique_ptr<libpressio_compressor_plugin> make_c_sz();
+#endif
+
+#if LIBPRESSIO_HAS_ZFP
 /** construct the zfp plugin */
 std::unique_ptr<libpressio_compressor_plugin> make_c_zfp();
+#endif
+
+#if LIBPRESSIO_HAS_MGARD
+std::unique_ptr<libpressio_compressor_plugin> make_c_mgard();
+#endif
+
 /** construct the time metrics plugin */
 std::unique_ptr<libpressio_metrics_plugin> make_m_time();
 /** construct the size metrics plugin */
diff --git a/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/printers.h b/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/printers.h
index ad08cc2..400fec0 100644
--- a/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/printers.h
+++ b/include/libpressio_ext/cpp/printers.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <ostream>
 #include "options.h"
+#include "pressio_dtype.h"
 
 /** \file 
  *  \brief C++ stream compatible IO functions
@@ -82,3 +83,37 @@ operator<<(std::basic_ostream<CharT, Traits>& out, pressio_options const& option
   return out;
 }
 
+/**
+ * human readable debugging IO function for pressio_dtype, the format is unspecified
+ * \param[in] out the stream to write to
+ * \param[in] type the type to print
+ */
+template <class CharT = char, class Traits = std::char_traits<CharT>>
+std::basic_ostream<CharT, Traits>&
+operator<<(std::basic_ostream<CharT, Traits>& out, enum pressio_dtype type)
+{
+  switch (type) {
+    case pressio_double_dtype:
+      return out << "double";
+    case pressio_float_dtype:
+      return out << "float";
+    case pressio_uint8_dtype:
+      return out << "uint8_t";
+    case pressio_uint16_dtype:
+      return out << "uint16_t";
+    case pressio_uint32_dtype:
+      return out << "uint32_t";
+    case pressio_uint64_dtype:
+      return out << "uint64_t";
+    case pressio_int8_dtype:
+      return out << "int8_t";
+    case pressio_int16_dtype:
+      return out << "int16_t";
+    case pressio_int32_dtype:
+      return out << "int32_t";
+    case pressio_int64_dtype:
+      return out << "int64_t";
+    case pressio_byte_dtype:
+      return out << "byte";
+  }
+}
diff --git a/include/pressio_compressor.h b/include/pressio_compressor.h
index 60213a8..77e16ec 100644
--- a/include/pressio_compressor.h
+++ b/include/pressio_compressor.h
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ int pressio_compressor_check_options(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, stru
  *      2. A new owning pressio_data structure with the results of the compression
  * \returns 0 if successful, positive values on errors, negative values on warnings
  */
-int pressio_compressor_compress(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, struct pressio_data * input, struct pressio_data* output);
+int pressio_compressor_compress(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, const struct pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output);
 /*!
  * decompresses the compressed data using the specified compressor
  * calling this without calling libpressio_compressor_set_options() has undefined behavior
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ int pressio_compressor_compress(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, struct pr
  * \see pressio_data_new_empty often used as the pointer passed into \c output
  * \see pressio_data_new_move often used as the pointer passed out of \c output
  */
-int pressio_compressor_decompress(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, struct pressio_data * input, struct pressio_data* output);
+int pressio_compressor_decompress(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, const struct pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output);
 
 /**
  * \param[in] compressor the compressor to get results from
diff --git a/include/pressio_version.h.in b/include/pressio_version.h.in
index f65cbd1..dad9972 100644
--- a/include/pressio_version.h.in
+++ b/include/pressio_version.h.in
@@ -3,3 +3,5 @@
 #define LIBPRESSIO_MAJOR_VERSION @PROJECT_VERSION_MAJOR@
 #define LIBPRESSIO_MINOR_VERSION @PROJECT_VERSION_MINOR@
 #define LIBPRESSIO_PATCH_VERSION @PROJECT_VERSION_PATCH@
+#cmakedefine01 LIBPRESSIO_HAS_SZ
+#cmakedefine01 LIBPRESSIO_HAS_ZFP
diff --git a/src/plugins/compressors/compressor_base.cc b/src/plugins/compressors/compressor_base.cc
index 7b081e4..02c75e3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/compressors/compressor_base.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/compressors/compressor_base.cc
@@ -87,14 +87,14 @@ int libpressio_compressor_plugin::set_options(struct pressio_options const* opti
   return ret;
 }
 
-int libpressio_compressor_plugin::compress(struct pressio_data* input, struct pressio_data* output) {
+int libpressio_compressor_plugin::compress(const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output) {
   if(metrics_plugin) (*metrics_plugin)->begin_compress(input, output);
   auto ret = compress_impl(input, output);
   if(metrics_plugin) (*metrics_plugin)->end_compress(input, output, ret);
   return ret;
 }
 
-int libpressio_compressor_plugin::decompress(struct pressio_data* input, struct pressio_data* output) {
+int libpressio_compressor_plugin::decompress(const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output) {
   if(metrics_plugin) (*metrics_plugin)->begin_decompress(input, output);
   auto ret = decompress_impl(input, output);
   if(metrics_plugin) (*metrics_plugin)->end_decompress(input, output, ret);
diff --git a/src/plugins/compressors/mgard_plugin.cc b/src/plugins/compressors/mgard_plugin.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1505fa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/compressors/mgard_plugin.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+#include <memory>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <mgard_capi.h>
+#include "pressio_data.h"
+#include "pressio_options.h"
+#include "libpressio_ext/cpp/data.h"
+#include "libpressio_ext/cpp/compressor.h"
+#include "libpressio_ext/cpp/options.h"
+#include "libpressio_ext/cpp/printers.h"
+
+namespace {
+
+  template <class... Options>
+  bool all_has_value(Options const& ... options) {
+    return ((options.has_value()) && ... );
+  }
+}
+
+class mgard_plugin: public libpressio_compressor_plugin {
+  struct pressio_options * 	get_options_impl () const override {
+    struct pressio_options* options = pressio_options_new();
+    auto set_if_set = [options](const char* key, pressio_option_type type, pressio_option const& option) {
+      if(option.has_value()) {
+        options->set(key, option);
+      } else {
+        options->set_type(key, type);
+      }
+    };
+    set_if_set("mgrad:tol", pressio_option_double_type, tolerance);
+    set_if_set("mgrad:s", pressio_option_double_type, s);
+    set_if_set("mgrad:nfib", pressio_option_int32_type, nfib);
+    return options;
+  };
+
+  int 	set_options_impl (struct pressio_options const *options) override {
+    auto set_fn = [options](const char* key, pressio_option& option_out) {
+      if(options->key_status(key) == pressio_options_key_set) {
+        option_out.cast_set(options->get(key), pressio_conversion_explicit);
+      }
+    };
+    set_fn("mgrad:tol", tolerance);
+    set_fn("mgrad:s", s);
+    set_fn("mgrad:nfib", nfib);
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  int 	compress_impl (const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data *output) override {
+    auto type = pressio_data_dtype(input);
+    if(!all_has_value(tolerance, s, nfib)) {
+     return missing_configuration(); 
+    } else if(type != pressio_double_dtype) {
+      return invalid_type(type);
+    } else if(pressio_data_num_dimensions(input) != 2) {
+      return invalid_dims(input);
+    }
+
+    auto dims = input->dimensions();
+    auto input_copy = pressio_data::copy(
+        input->dtype(),
+        input->data(),
+        dims
+        );
+
+    int out_size;
+    double tol = tolerance.get_value<double>();
+    unsigned char* compressed_data = mgard_compress(
+        dtype_to_itype(input_copy.dtype()),
+        input_copy.data(),
+        &out_size,
+        dims.at(0),
+        dims.at(1),
+        nfib.get_value<int>(),
+        &tol,
+        s.get_value<double>()
+        );
+    std::vector<size_t> output_dims = {static_cast<size_t>(out_size)};
+    *output = pressio_data::move(pressio_byte_dtype, compressed_data, output_dims, pressio_data_libc_free_fn, nullptr);
+
+    return 0;
+  };
+
+   int 	decompress_impl (const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data *output) override {
+     auto type = pressio_data_dtype(output);
+     if(!all_has_value(s, nfib)) {
+       return missing_configuration();
+     } else if(type != pressio_double_dtype) {
+       return invalid_type(type);
+     } else if(pressio_data_num_dimensions(input) != 2) {
+       return invalid_dims(input);
+     }
+
+     auto input_copy = pressio_data::copy(
+         input->dtype(),
+         input->data(),
+         input->dimensions()
+     );
+
+
+     void* decompressed_data = mgard_decompress(
+         dtype_to_itype(output->dtype()),
+         static_cast<unsigned char*>(input_copy.data()),
+         input->get_dimension(0),
+         output->get_dimension(0),
+         output->get_dimension(1),
+         nfib.get_value<int>(),
+         s.get_value<double>()
+         );
+
+     *output = pressio_data::move(output->dtype(), decompressed_data, output->dimensions(), pressio_data_libc_free_fn, nullptr);
+     return 0;
+   }
+
+  public:
+  int	major_version () const override {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  int minor_version () const override {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  int patch_version () const override {
+    return 0;
+  }
+  int tweak_version () const {
+    return 2;
+  }
+
+  const char* version() const override {
+    return "0.0.0.2";
+  }
+
+  private:
+  int dtype_to_itype(pressio_dtype type) const {
+    if(type == pressio_float_dtype) return 1;
+    else if (type == pressio_double_dtype) return 2;
+    else return -1;
+  }
+
+  int missing_configuration() {
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss << "missing a required configuration elements";
+    if(tolerance.has_value())
+      ss << "tolerance, ";
+    if(s.has_value())
+      ss << "s, ";
+    if(nfib.has_value())
+      ss << "nfib, ";
+
+    return set_error(1, ss.str());
+  }
+
+  int invalid_type(pressio_dtype dtype) {
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss << "invalid type " << dtype;
+    return set_error(2, ss.str());
+  }
+
+  int invalid_dims(const pressio_data* data) {
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss << "invalid dimentions (" << pressio_data_get_dimension(data, 0);
+    for (size_t i = 1; i < pressio_data_num_dimensions(data); ++i) {
+      ss << ", " << pressio_data_get_dimension(data, i);
+    }
+    ss << ")";
+    return set_error(3, ss.str());
+  }
+
+  pressio_option tolerance;
+  pressio_option s;
+  pressio_option nfib;
+};
+
+std::unique_ptr<libpressio_compressor_plugin> make_c_mgard() {
+  return std::make_unique<mgard_plugin>();
+}
+
diff --git a/src/plugins/compressors/sz_plugin.cc b/src/plugins/compressors/sz_plugin.cc
index 52134b7..018b189 100644
--- a/src/plugins/compressors/sz_plugin.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/compressors/sz_plugin.cc
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class sz_plugin: public libpressio_compressor_plugin {
     return 0;
   }
 
-  int compress_impl(struct pressio_data* input, struct pressio_data* output) override {
+  int compress_impl(const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output) override {
     size_t r1 = pressio_data_get_dimension(input, 0);
     size_t r2 = pressio_data_get_dimension(input, 1);
     size_t r3 = pressio_data_get_dimension(input, 2);
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ class sz_plugin: public libpressio_compressor_plugin {
     *output = pressio_data::move(pressio_byte_dtype, compressed_data, 1, &outsize, pressio_data_libc_free_fn, nullptr);
     return 0;
   }
-  int decompress_impl(struct pressio_data* input, struct pressio_data* output) override {
+  int decompress_impl(const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output) override {
 
     size_t r[] = {
      pressio_data_get_dimension(output, 0),
diff --git a/src/plugins/compressors/zfp_plugin.cc b/src/plugins/compressors/zfp_plugin.cc
index bce2b6b..e3aaf00 100644
--- a/src/plugins/compressors/zfp_plugin.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/compressors/zfp_plugin.cc
@@ -77,10 +77,11 @@ class zfp_plugin: public libpressio_compressor_plugin {
       return 0;
     }
 
-    int compress_impl(struct pressio_data* input, struct pressio_data* output) override {
+    int compress_impl(const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output) override {
 
       zfp_field* in_field;
-      if(int ret = convert_pressio_data_to_field(input, &in_field)) {
+      auto input_copy = pressio_data::copy(input->dtype(),input->data(), input->dimensions());
+      if(int ret = convert_pressio_data_to_field(&input_copy, &in_field)) {
         return ret;
       }
 
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ class zfp_plugin: public libpressio_compressor_plugin {
       return 0;
     }
 
-    int decompress_impl(struct pressio_data* input, struct pressio_data* output) override {
+    int decompress_impl(const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data* output) override {
       size_t size;
       void* ptr = pressio_data_ptr(input, &size);
       bitstream* stream = stream_open(ptr, size);
diff --git a/src/pressio.cc b/src/pressio.cc
index 2265d94..a40aa56 100644
--- a/src/pressio.cc
+++ b/src/pressio.cc
@@ -12,9 +12,17 @@
 
 namespace {
 
-  std::map compressor_constructors{
+  std::map<std::string, std::function<std::unique_ptr<libpressio_compressor_plugin>()>>
+    compressor_constructors{
+#if LIBPRESSIO_HAS_SZ
     std::pair(std::string("sz"), std::function(make_c_sz)),
+#endif
+#if LIBPRESSIO_HAS_ZFP
     std::pair(std::string("zfp"), std::function(make_c_zfp)),
+#endif
+#if LIBPRESSIO_HAS_MGARD
+    std::pair(std::string("mgard"), std::function(make_c_mgard)),
+#endif
   };
   std::map metrics_constructor{
     std::pair(std::string("time"), std::function(make_m_time)),
diff --git a/src/pressio_compressor.cc b/src/pressio_compressor.cc
index 885e05a..eadebdb 100644
--- a/src/pressio_compressor.cc
+++ b/src/pressio_compressor.cc
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ struct pressio_options* pressio_compressor_get_options(struct pressio_compressor
 int pressio_compressor_set_options(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, struct pressio_options const * options) {
   return compressor->plugin->set_options(options);
 }
-int pressio_compressor_compress(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, struct pressio_data * input, struct pressio_data * output) {
+int pressio_compressor_compress(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data * output) {
   return compressor->plugin->compress(input, output);
 }
-int pressio_compressor_decompress(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, struct pressio_data * input, struct pressio_data * output) {
+int pressio_compressor_decompress(struct pressio_compressor* compressor, const pressio_data *input, struct pressio_data * output) {
   return compressor->plugin->decompress(input, output);
 }
 const char* pressio_compressor_version(struct pressio_compressor const* compressor) {
diff --git a/src/pressio_data.cc b/src/pressio_data.cc
index d61a64a..3a73b81 100644
--- a/src/pressio_data.cc
+++ b/src/pressio_data.cc
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ bool pressio_data_has_data(struct pressio_data const* data) {
 }
 
 size_t pressio_data_num_dimensions(struct pressio_data const* data) {
-  return data->dimensions();
+  return data->num_dimensions();
 }
 
 size_t pressio_data_get_dimension(struct pressio_data const* data, size_t dimension) {
diff --git a/src/pressio_option.cc b/src/pressio_option.cc
index ab8d820..7ce1647 100644
--- a/src/pressio_option.cc
+++ b/src/pressio_option.cc
@@ -3,6 +3,17 @@
 #include "pressio_option.h"
 #include "libpressio_ext/cpp/options.h"
 
+template<>
+pressio_option::pressio_option(std::monostate value): option(value) {}
+
+/** Specialization for the std::monostate singleton
+ * \returns true if the option has no specified type or value
+ */
+template <>
+bool pressio_option::holds_alternative<std::monostate>() const {
+  return std::holds_alternative<std::monostate>(option);
+}
+
 
 extern "C" {
 struct pressio_option* pressio_option_new() {
diff --git a/swig/CMakeLists.txt b/swig/CMakeLists.txt
index c3bf77d..a8f257c 100644
--- a/swig/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/swig/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+find_package(Python COMPONENTS Interpreter Development NumPy)
 find_package(SWIG)
 if(SWIG_FOUND AND PYTHON_FOUND)
   include(UseSWIG)
diff --git a/test/CMakeLists.txt b/test/CMakeLists.txt
index 056a940..af3b153 100644
--- a/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -36,27 +36,36 @@ endfunction()
 
 add_gtest(test_pressio_data.cc)
 add_gtest(test_pressio_options.cc)
-add_gtest(test_sz_plugin.cc)
 add_gtest(test_io.cc)
-target_include_directories(test_sz_plugin PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/../include)
 
-add_executable(sz_basic sz_basic.c make_input_data.cc)
-target_link_libraries(sz_basic libpressio)
-add_test(sz_basic_test sz_basic)
+if(LIBPRESSIO_HAS_SZ)
+  add_gtest(test_sz_plugin.cc)
+  target_include_directories(test_sz_plugin PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/../include)
 
-add_executable(zfp_basic zfp_basic.c make_input_data.cc)
-target_link_libraries(zfp_basic libpressio)
-add_test(zfp_basic_test zfp_basic)
+  add_executable(sz_basic sz_basic.c make_input_data.cc)
+  target_link_libraries(sz_basic libpressio)
+  add_test(sz_basic_test sz_basic)
 
-add_executable(full full.c make_input_data.cc)
-target_link_libraries(full libpressio)
-add_test(full_test full)
+  add_executable(metrics metrics.c make_input_data.cc)
+  target_link_libraries(metrics libpressio)
+  add_test(metrics_test metrics)
+endif()
+
+
+if(LIBPRESSIO_HAS_ZFP)
+  add_executable(zfp_basic zfp_basic.c make_input_data.cc)
+  target_link_libraries(zfp_basic libpressio)
+  add_test(zfp_basic_test zfp_basic)
+endif()
+
+if(LIBPRESSIO_HAS_SZ AND LIBPRESSIO_HAS_ZFP)
+  add_executable(full full.c make_input_data.cc)
+  target_link_libraries(full libpressio)
+  add_test(full_test full)
+endif()
 
-add_executable(metrics metrics.c make_input_data.cc)
-target_link_libraries(metrics libpressio)
-add_test(metrics_test metrics)
 
-if(BUILD_PYTHON_WRAPPER)
+if(BUILD_PYTHON_WRAPPER AND LIBPRESSIO_HAS_SZ)
   add_test(test_python_wrapper 
     ${Python_EXECUTABLE}
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test_python.py