diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioSound.cxx b/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioSound.cxx
index 9d9399bf4f..7c164b1d6a 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioSound.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioSound.cxx
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "subfileInfo.h"
 #include "reMutexHolder.h"
 #include "virtualFileSystem.h"
+#include "vector_uchar.h"
 
 TypeHandle FmodAudioSound::_type_handle;
 
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ FmodAudioSound(AudioManager *manager, Filename file_name, bool positional) {
     const char *name_or_data = _file_name.c_str();
     string os_filename;
 
-    pvector<unsigned char> mem_buffer;
+    vector_uchar mem_buffer;
     SubfileInfo info;
     if (preload) {
       // Pre-read the file right now, and pass it in as a memory buffer.  This
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/globalMilesManager.h b/panda/src/audiotraits/globalMilesManager.h
index e7e0a11646..3e9f2f0084 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/globalMilesManager.h
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/globalMilesManager.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public:
   // For software MIDI:
   HDLSDEVICE _dls_device;
   HDLSFILEID _dls_file;
-  pvector<unsigned char> _dls_data;
+  vector_uchar _dls_data;
 
 private:
   void open_api();
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.h b/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.h
index e203609fb7..e6e7f65555 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.h
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "pmutex.h"
 #include "lightReMutex.h"
 #include "conditionVar.h"
+#include "vector_uchar.h"
 
 class MilesAudioSound;
 
@@ -126,7 +127,7 @@ private:
 
     Filename _basename;
     S32 _file_type;
-    pvector<unsigned char> _raw_data;
+    vector_uchar _raw_data;
     bool _has_length;
     PN_stdfloat _length;  // in seconds.
   };
diff --git a/panda/src/express/hashVal.I b/panda/src/express/hashVal.I
index 2f78f5254a..9c67130f52 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/hashVal.I
+++ b/panda/src/express/hashVal.I
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ hash_string(const std::string &data) {
  * functionality) available.
  */
 INLINE void HashVal::
-hash_bytes(const pvector<unsigned char> &data) {
+hash_bytes(const vector_uchar &data) {
   hash_buffer((const char *)&data[0], data.size());
 }
 #endif  // HAVE_OPENSSL
diff --git a/panda/src/express/hashVal.h b/panda/src/express/hashVal.h
index 2067053a9f..2b1a6b49ed 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/hashVal.h
+++ b/panda/src/express/hashVal.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "datagramIterator.h"
 #include "streamWriter.h"
 #include "streamReader.h"
+#include "vector_uchar.h"
 
 /**
  * Stores a 128-bit value that represents the hashed contents (typically MD5)
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
   bool hash_stream(std::istream &stream);
   INLINE void hash_ramfile(const Ramfile &ramfile);
   INLINE void hash_string(const std::string &data);
-  INLINE void hash_bytes(const pvector<unsigned char> &data);
+  INLINE void hash_bytes(const vector_uchar &data);
   void hash_buffer(const char *buffer, int length);
 #endif  // HAVE_OPENSSL
 
diff --git a/panda/src/express/multifile.cxx b/panda/src/express/multifile.cxx
index 937bfa8435..064262747a 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/multifile.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/express/multifile.cxx
@@ -1863,7 +1863,7 @@ read_subfile(int index, string &result) {
   // We use a temporary pvector, because dynamic accumulation of a pvector
   // seems to be many times faster than that of a string, at least on the
   // Windows implementation of STL.
-  pvector<unsigned char> pv;
+  vector_uchar pv;
   if (!read_subfile(index, pv)) {
     return false;
   }
@@ -1879,7 +1879,7 @@ read_subfile(int index, string &result) {
  * Fills a pvector with the entire contents of the indicated subfile.
  */
 bool Multifile::
-read_subfile(int index, pvector<unsigned char> &result) {
+read_subfile(int index, vector_uchar &result) {
   nassertr(is_read_valid(), false);
   nassertr(index >= 0 && index < (int)_subfiles.size(), false);
   result.clear();
@@ -2388,7 +2388,7 @@ check_signatures() {
     size_t num_certs = reader.get_uint32();
 
     // Read the remaining buffer of certificate data.
-    pvector<unsigned char> buffer;
+    vector_uchar buffer;
     bool success = VirtualFile::simple_read_file(stream, buffer);
     nassertv(success);
     close_read_subfile(stream);
diff --git a/panda/src/express/multifile.h b/panda/src/express/multifile.h
index 49aac3cf82..540bf434d2 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/multifile.h
+++ b/panda/src/express/multifile.h
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ public:
 #endif  // HAVE_OPENSSL
 
   bool read_subfile(int index, std::string &result);
-  bool read_subfile(int index, pvector<unsigned char> &result);
+  bool read_subfile(int index, vector_uchar &result);
 
 private:
   enum SubfileFlags {
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFile.cxx b/panda/src/express/virtualFile.cxx
index 67595b586b..37068adcab 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFile.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFile.cxx
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ bool VirtualFile::
 read_file(string &result, bool auto_unwrap) const {
   result = string();
 
-  pvector<unsigned char> pv;
+  vector_uchar pv;
   if (!read_file(pv, auto_unwrap)) {
     return false;
   }
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ read_file(string &result, bool auto_unwrap) const {
  * regular file.  Returns true on success, false otherwise.
  */
 bool VirtualFile::
-read_file(pvector<unsigned char> &result, bool auto_unwrap) const {
+read_file(vector_uchar &result, bool auto_unwrap) const {
   return false;
 }
 
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ write_file(const unsigned char *data, size_t data_size, bool auto_wrap) {
  * entry, the data read from the file will be appended onto it.
  */
 bool VirtualFile::
-simple_read_file(istream *in, pvector<unsigned char> &result) {
+simple_read_file(istream *in, vector_uchar &result) {
   static const size_t buffer_size = 4096;
   char buffer[buffer_size];
 
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ simple_read_file(istream *in, pvector<unsigned char> &result) {
  * max_bytes bytes from the file.
  */
 bool VirtualFile::
-simple_read_file(istream *in, pvector<unsigned char> &result, size_t max_bytes) {
+simple_read_file(istream *in, vector_uchar &result, size_t max_bytes) {
   static const size_t buffer_size = 4096;
   char buffer[buffer_size];
 
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFile.h b/panda/src/express/virtualFile.h
index 0763bc5e18..2198e2dde3 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFile.h
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFile.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 #include "pointerTo.h"
 #include "typedReferenceCount.h"
 #include "ordered_vector.h"
-#include "pvector.h"
+#include "vector_uchar.h"
 
 class VirtualFileMount;
 class VirtualFileList;
@@ -85,11 +85,11 @@ public:
 
   INLINE void set_original_filename(const Filename &filename);
   bool read_file(std::string &result, bool auto_unwrap) const;
-  virtual bool read_file(pvector<unsigned char> &result, bool auto_unwrap) const;
+  virtual bool read_file(vector_uchar &result, bool auto_unwrap) const;
   virtual bool write_file(const unsigned char *data, size_t data_size, bool auto_wrap);
 
-  static bool simple_read_file(std::istream *stream, pvector<unsigned char> &result);
-  static bool simple_read_file(std::istream *stream, pvector<unsigned char> &result, size_t max_bytes);
+  static bool simple_read_file(std::istream *stream, vector_uchar &result);
+  static bool simple_read_file(std::istream *stream, vector_uchar &result, size_t max_bytes);
 
 protected:
   virtual bool scan_local_directory(VirtualFileList *file_list,
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMount.cxx b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMount.cxx
index 0c60f96f7f..6f8a46afda 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMount.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMount.cxx
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ is_writable(const Filename &file) const {
  */
 bool VirtualFileMount::
 read_file(const Filename &file, bool do_uncompress,
-          pvector<unsigned char> &result) const {
+          vector_uchar &result) const {
   result.clear();
 
   istream *in = open_read_file(file, do_uncompress);
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMount.h b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMount.h
index 720139b78e..137400b1c0 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMount.h
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMount.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public:
   virtual bool is_writable(const Filename &file) const;
 
   virtual bool read_file(const Filename &file, bool do_uncompress,
-                         pvector<unsigned char> &result) const;
+                         vector_uchar &result) const;
   virtual bool write_file(const Filename &file, bool do_compress,
                           const unsigned char *data, size_t data_size);
 
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountAndroidAsset.cxx b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountAndroidAsset.cxx
index 8f8494b58a..b14edabb36 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountAndroidAsset.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountAndroidAsset.cxx
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ is_regular_file(const Filename &file) const {
  */
 bool VirtualFileMountAndroidAsset::
 read_file(const Filename &file, bool do_uncompress,
-          pvector<unsigned char> &result) const {
+          vector_uchar &result) const {
   if (do_uncompress) {
     // If the file is to be decompressed, we'd better just use the higher-
     // level implementation, which includes support for on-the-fly
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountAndroidAsset.h b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountAndroidAsset.h
index 3c87ac4fb7..1caccf98f5 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountAndroidAsset.h
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountAndroidAsset.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public:
   virtual bool is_regular_file(const Filename &file) const;
 
   virtual bool read_file(const Filename &file, bool do_uncompress,
-                         pvector<unsigned char> &result) const;
+                         vector_uchar &result) const;
 
   virtual std::istream *open_read_file(const Filename &file) const;
   virtual std::streamsize get_file_size(const Filename &file, std::istream *stream) const;
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountMultifile.cxx b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountMultifile.cxx
index da449c7bc9..1ecd5b7b5e 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountMultifile.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountMultifile.cxx
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ is_regular_file(const Filename &file) const {
  */
 bool VirtualFileMountMultifile::
 read_file(const Filename &file, bool do_uncompress,
-          pvector<unsigned char> &result) const {
+          vector_uchar &result) const {
   if (do_uncompress) {
     // If the file is to be decompressed, we'd better just use the higher-
     // level implementation, which includes support for on-the-fly
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountMultifile.h b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountMultifile.h
index 97dd658d06..23b60df447 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountMultifile.h
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFileMountMultifile.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public:
   virtual bool is_regular_file(const Filename &file) const;
 
   virtual bool read_file(const Filename &file, bool do_uncompress,
-                         pvector<unsigned char> &result) const;
+                         vector_uchar &result) const;
 
   virtual std::istream *open_read_file(const Filename &file) const;
   virtual std::streamsize get_file_size(const Filename &file, std::istream *stream) const;
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFileSimple.cxx b/panda/src/express/virtualFileSimple.cxx
index 1c521b6459..c5810934f9 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFileSimple.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFileSimple.cxx
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ atomic_read_contents(string &contents) const {
  * regular file.  Returns true on success, false otherwise.
  */
 bool VirtualFileSimple::
-read_file(pvector<unsigned char> &result, bool auto_unwrap) const {
+read_file(vector_uchar &result, bool auto_unwrap) const {
 
   // Will we be automatically unwrapping a .pz file?
   bool do_uncompress = (_implicit_pz_file ||
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFileSimple.h b/panda/src/express/virtualFileSimple.h
index 70811f1ae5..1f8608a2ec 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFileSimple.h
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFileSimple.h
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public:
   virtual bool atomic_compare_and_exchange_contents(std::string &orig_contents, const std::string &old_contents, const std::string &new_contents);
   virtual bool atomic_read_contents(std::string &contents) const;
 
-  virtual bool read_file(pvector<unsigned char> &result, bool auto_unwrap) const;
+  virtual bool read_file(vector_uchar &result, bool auto_unwrap) const;
   virtual bool write_file(const unsigned char *data, size_t data_size, bool auto_wrap);
 
 protected:
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFileSystem.I b/panda/src/express/virtualFileSystem.I
index cd9e9d8a03..b74b9edbee 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFileSystem.I
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFileSystem.I
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ read_file(const Filename &filename, std::string &result, bool auto_unwrap) const
  * extension .pz is *not* given.
  */
 INLINE bool VirtualFileSystem::
-read_file(const Filename &filename, pvector<unsigned char> &result, bool auto_unwrap) const {
+read_file(const Filename &filename, vector_uchar &result, bool auto_unwrap) const {
   PT(VirtualFile) file = get_file(filename, false);
   return (file != nullptr && file->read_file(result, auto_unwrap));
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/express/virtualFileSystem.h b/panda/src/express/virtualFileSystem.h
index 8113946524..3b1d3b3ed9 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/virtualFileSystem.h
+++ b/panda/src/express/virtualFileSystem.h
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ public:
   bool atomic_read_contents(const Filename &filename, std::string &contents) const;
 
   INLINE bool read_file(const Filename &filename, std::string &result, bool auto_unwrap) const;
-  INLINE bool read_file(const Filename &filename, pvector<unsigned char> &result, bool auto_unwrap) const;
+  INLINE bool read_file(const Filename &filename, vector_uchar &result, bool auto_unwrap) const;
   INLINE bool write_file(const Filename &filename, const unsigned char *data, size_t data_size, bool auto_wrap);
 
   void scan_mount_points(vector_string &names, const Filename &path) const;
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/shaderBuffer.I b/panda/src/gobj/shaderBuffer.I
index 3d76a9c2a2..59d62d0171 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/shaderBuffer.I
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/shaderBuffer.I
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ ShaderBuffer(const std::string &name, uint64_t size, UsageHint usage_hint) :
  * parameters cannot be modified, but this may change in the future.
  */
 INLINE ShaderBuffer::
-ShaderBuffer(const std::string &name, pvector<unsigned char> initial_data, UsageHint usage_hint) :
+ShaderBuffer(const std::string &name, vector_uchar initial_data, UsageHint usage_hint) :
   Namable(name),
   _data_size_bytes(initial_data.size()),
   _usage_hint(usage_hint),
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/shaderBuffer.h b/panda/src/gobj/shaderBuffer.h
index 70270fb0d3..69bdf985d9 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/shaderBuffer.h
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/shaderBuffer.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "geomEnums.h"
 #include "graphicsStateGuardianBase.h"
 #include "factoryParams.h"
+#include "vector_uchar.h"
 
 class BufferContext;
 class PreparedGraphicsObjects;
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
   ~ShaderBuffer();
 
   INLINE explicit ShaderBuffer(const std::string &name, uint64_t size, UsageHint usage_hint);
-  INLINE explicit ShaderBuffer(const std::string &name, pvector<unsigned char> initial_data, UsageHint usage_hint);
+  INLINE explicit ShaderBuffer(const std::string &name, vector_uchar initial_data, UsageHint usage_hint);
 
 public:
   INLINE uint64_t get_data_size_bytes() const;
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
 private:
   uint64_t _data_size_bytes;
   UsageHint _usage_hint;
-  pvector<unsigned char> _initial_data;
+  vector_uchar _initial_data;
 
   typedef pmap<PreparedGraphicsObjects *, BufferContext *> Contexts;
   Contexts *_contexts;