diff --git a/libmamba/include/mamba/core/channel_context.hpp b/libmamba/include/mamba/core/channel_context.hpp
index 522942472e..672f04c9d2 100644
--- a/libmamba/include/mamba/core/channel_context.hpp
+++ b/libmamba/include/mamba/core/channel_context.hpp
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ namespace mamba
          */
         ChannelContext(ChannelResolveParams params, std::vector<Channel> has_zst);
 
-        auto make_channel(std::string_view name) -> const channel_list&;
+        [[nodiscard]] auto make_channel(specs::ChannelSpec spec) -> const channel_list&;
+        [[nodiscard]] auto make_channel(std::string_view name) -> const channel_list&;
 
         [[nodiscard]] auto params() const -> const specs::ChannelResolveParams&;
 
diff --git a/libmamba/include/mamba/core/match_spec.hpp b/libmamba/include/mamba/core/match_spec.hpp
index 2b8259e0d2..b781474115 100644
--- a/libmamba/include/mamba/core/match_spec.hpp
+++ b/libmamba/include/mamba/core/match_spec.hpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace mamba
 
         bool is_simple() const;
 
-        static std::tuple<std::string, std::string> parse_version_and_build(const std::string& s);
+        static std::tuple<std::string, std::string> parse_version_and_build(std::string_view s);
         std::string spec;
 
         std::string name;
diff --git a/libmamba/include/mamba/specs/channel_spec.hpp b/libmamba/include/mamba/specs/channel_spec.hpp
index dd3200cd1f..2bf7e0389e 100644
--- a/libmamba/include/mamba/specs/channel_spec.hpp
+++ b/libmamba/include/mamba/specs/channel_spec.hpp
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <string_view>
 
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <fmt/format.h>
+
 #include "mamba/util/flat_set.hpp"
 
 namespace mamba::specs
@@ -98,6 +101,8 @@ namespace mamba::specs
         [[nodiscard]] auto platform_filters() && -> dynamic_platform_set;
         auto clear_platform_filters() -> dynamic_platform_set;
 
+        [[nodiscard]] auto str() const -> std::string;
+
     private:
 
         std::string m_location = std::string(unknown_channel);
@@ -105,4 +110,23 @@ namespace mamba::specs
         Type m_type = Type::Unknown;
     };
 }
+
+template <>
+struct fmt::formatter<mamba::specs::ChannelSpec>
+{
+    using ChannelSpec = ::mamba::specs::ChannelSpec;
+
+    constexpr auto parse(format_parse_context& ctx) -> format_parse_context::iterator
+    {
+        // make sure that range is empty
+        if (ctx.begin() != ctx.end() && *ctx.begin() != '}')
+        {
+            throw fmt::format_error("Invalid format");
+        }
+        return ctx.begin();
+    }
+
+    auto format(const ChannelSpec& spec, format_context& ctx) const -> format_context::iterator;
+};
+
 #endif
diff --git a/libmamba/src/core/channel_context.cpp b/libmamba/src/core/channel_context.cpp
index 07e9324567..98368be75b 100644
--- a/libmamba/src/core/channel_context.cpp
+++ b/libmamba/src/core/channel_context.cpp
@@ -214,6 +214,22 @@ namespace mamba
         return { std::move(params), has_zst };
     }
 
+    auto ChannelContext::make_channel(specs::ChannelSpec spec) -> const channel_list&
+    {
+        auto str = spec.str();
+        if (const auto it = m_channel_cache.find(str); it != m_channel_cache.end())
+        {
+            return it->second;
+        }
+
+        auto [it, inserted] = m_channel_cache.emplace(
+            std::move(str),
+            Channel::resolve(std::move(spec), params())
+        );
+        assert(inserted);
+        return it->second;
+    }
+
     auto ChannelContext::make_channel(std::string_view name) -> const channel_list&
     {
         if (const auto it = m_channel_cache.find(std::string(name)); it != m_channel_cache.end())
diff --git a/libmamba/src/core/match_spec.cpp b/libmamba/src/core/match_spec.cpp
index 5ed46b9e95..3ebc5e8fc8 100644
--- a/libmamba/src/core/match_spec.cpp
+++ b/libmamba/src/core/match_spec.cpp
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ namespace mamba
         parse(ctx, channel_context);
     }
 
-    std::tuple<std::string, std::string> MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build(const std::string& s)
+    std::tuple<std::string, std::string> MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build(std::string_view s)
     {
-        std::size_t pos = s.find_last_of(" =");
+        std::size_t const pos = s.find_last_of(" =");
         if (pos == s.npos || pos == 0)
         {
-            std::string tmp = s;
+            std::string tmp = std::string(s);
             util::replace_all(tmp, " ", "");
-            return { tmp, "" };
+            return { std::move(tmp), "" };
         }
         else
         {
@@ -59,17 +59,18 @@ namespace mamba
                 char d = s[pm1];
                 if (d == '=' || d == '!' || d == '|' || d == ',' || d == '<' || d == '>' || d == '~')
                 {
-                    std::string tmp = s;
+                    auto tmp = std::string(s);
                     util::replace_all(tmp, " ", "");
                     return { tmp, "" };
                 }
             }
             // c is either ' ' or pm1 is none of the forbidden chars
 
-            std::string v = s.substr(0, pos), b = s.substr(pos + 1);
+            auto v = std::string(s.substr(0, pos));
+            auto b = std::string(s.substr(pos + 1));
             util::replace_all(v, " ", "");
             util::replace_all(b, " ", "");
-            return { v, b };
+            return { std::move(v), std::move(b) };
         }
     }
 
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ namespace mamba
 
         auto extract_kv = [&spec_str](const std::string& kv_string, auto& map)
         {
-            static std::regex kv_re("([a-zA-Z0-9_-]+?)=([\"\']?)([^\'\"]*?)(\\2)(?:[\'\", ]|$)");
+            static const std::regex kv_re("([a-zA-Z0-9_-]+?)=([\"\']?)([^\'\"]*?)(\\2)(?:[\'\", ]|$)");
             std::cmatch kv_match;
             const char* text_iter = kv_string.c_str();
 
diff --git a/libmamba/src/specs/channel_spec.cpp b/libmamba/src/specs/channel_spec.cpp
index 93f2c0179a..85614c8c8c 100644
--- a/libmamba/src/specs/channel_spec.cpp
+++ b/libmamba/src/specs/channel_spec.cpp
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ namespace mamba::specs
         if (m_type == Type::Unknown)
         {
             m_location = unknown_channel;
-            m_platform_filters = {};
+            // Allowing in any platform filters for unkown type can be useful in MatchSpec
         }
         if (m_location.empty())
         {
@@ -208,4 +208,21 @@ namespace mamba::specs
     {
         return std::exchange(m_platform_filters, {});
     }
+
+    auto ChannelSpec::str() const -> std::string
+    {
+        return fmt::format("{}", *this);
+    }
+}
+
+auto
+fmt::formatter<mamba::specs::ChannelSpec>::format(const ChannelSpec& spec, format_context& ctx) const
+    -> format_context::iterator
+{
+    auto out = fmt::format_to(ctx.out(), "{}", spec.location());
+    if (!spec.platform_filters().empty())
+    {
+        out = fmt::format_to(ctx.out(), "[{}]", fmt::join(spec.platform_filters(), ","));
+    }
+    return out;
 }
diff --git a/libmamba/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/libmamba/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 96d313883b..4ae099eb19 100644
--- a/libmamba/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libmamba/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ set(
     src/core/test_activation.cpp
     src/core/test_channel_context.cpp
     src/core/test_configuration.cpp
+    src/core/test_match_spec.cpp
     src/core/test_cpp.cpp
     src/core/test_downloader.cpp
     src/core/test_env_file_reading.cpp
diff --git a/libmamba/tests/src/core/test_cpp.cpp b/libmamba/tests/src/core/test_cpp.cpp
index 0315fdda64..8c4d3c35ea 100644
--- a/libmamba/tests/src/core/test_cpp.cpp
+++ b/libmamba/tests/src/core/test_cpp.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #include "mamba/core/fsutil.hpp"
 #include "mamba/core/history.hpp"
 #include "mamba/core/link.hpp"
-#include "mamba/core/match_spec.hpp"
 #include "mamba/core/output.hpp"
 #include "mamba/core/subdirdata.hpp"
 #include "mamba/util/build.hpp"
@@ -47,268 +46,6 @@ namespace mamba
     //     lp.execute();
     // }
 
-    TEST_SUITE("match_spec")
-    {
-        TEST_CASE("parse_version_build")
-        {
-            std::string v, b;
-            // >>> _parse_version_plus_build("=1.2.3 0")
-            // ('=1.2.3', '0')
-            // >>> _parse_version_plus_build("1.2.3=0")
-            // ('1.2.3', '0')
-            // >>> _parse_version_plus_build(">=1.0 , < 2.0 py34_0")
-            // ('>=1.0,<2.0', 'py34_0')
-            // >>> _parse_version_plus_build(">=1.0 , < 2.0 =py34_0")
-            // ('>=1.0,<2.0', 'py34_0')
-            // >>> _parse_version_plus_build("=1.2.3 ")
-            // ('=1.2.3', None)
-            // >>> _parse_version_plus_build(">1.8,<2|==1.7")
-            // ('>1.8,<2|==1.7', None)
-            // >>> _parse_version_plus_build("* openblas_0")
-            // ('*', 'openblas_0')
-            // >>> _parse_version_plus_build("* *")
-            // ('*', '*')
-            std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build("=1.2.3 0");
-            CHECK_EQ(v, "=1.2.3");
-            CHECK_EQ(b, "0");
-            std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build("=1.2.3=0");
-            CHECK_EQ(v, "=1.2.3");
-            CHECK_EQ(b, "0");
-            std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build(">=1.0 , < 2.0 py34_0");
-            CHECK_EQ(v, ">=1.0,<2.0");
-            CHECK_EQ(b, "py34_0");
-            std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build(">=1.0 , < 2.0 =py34_0");
-            CHECK_EQ(v, ">=1.0,<2.0");
-            CHECK_EQ(b, "py34_0");
-            std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build("=1.2.3 ");
-            CHECK_EQ(v, "=1.2.3");
-            CHECK_EQ(b, "");
-            std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build(">1.8,<2|==1.7");
-            CHECK_EQ(v, ">1.8,<2|==1.7");
-            CHECK_EQ(b, "");
-            std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build("* openblas_0");
-            CHECK_EQ(v, "*");
-            CHECK_EQ(b, "openblas_0");
-            std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build("* *");
-            CHECK_EQ(v, "*");
-            CHECK_EQ(b, "*");
-        }
-
-        TEST_CASE("parse")
-        {
-            auto& ctx = mambatests::context();
-            auto channel_context = ChannelContext::make_conda_compatible(ctx);
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("xtensor==0.12.3", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "0.12.3");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "xtensor");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("ipykernel", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "ipykernel");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("ipykernel ", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "ipykernel");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("numpy 1.7*", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "1.7*");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "numpy");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "numpy 1.7*");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "numpy=1.7");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("numpy[version='1.7|1.8']", ctx, channel_context);
-                // TODO!
-                // CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "1.7|1.8");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "numpy");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.brackets["version"], "1.7|1.8");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "numpy[version='1.7|1.8']");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("conda-forge/linux64::xtensor==0.12.3", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "0.12.3");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "xtensor");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.channel, "conda-forge/linux64");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.optional, false);
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("conda-forge::foo[build=3](target=blarg,optional)", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "foo");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.channel, "conda-forge");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.brackets["build"], "3");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.parens["target"], "blarg");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.optional, true);
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("python[build_number=3]", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "python");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.brackets["build_number"], "3");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.build_number, "3");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("python[build_number='<=3']", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "python");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.brackets["build_number"], "<=3");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.build_number, "<=3");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms(
-                    "https://conda.anaconda.org/conda-forge/linux-64/_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2",
-                    ctx,
-                    channel_context
-                );
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "_libgcc_mutex");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "0.1");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.build_string, "conda_forge");
-                CHECK_EQ(
-                    ms.url,
-                    "https://conda.anaconda.org/conda-forge/linux-64/_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2"
-                );
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.fn, "_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms(
-                    "/home/randomguy/Downloads/linux-64/_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2",
-                    ctx,
-                    channel_context
-                );
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "_libgcc_mutex");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "0.1");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.build_string, "conda_forge");
-#ifdef _WIN32
-                std::string driveletter = fs::absolute(fs::u8path("/")).string().substr(0, 1);
-                CHECK_EQ(
-                    ms.url,
-                    std::string("file://") + driveletter
-                        + ":/home/randomguy/Downloads/linux-64/_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2"
-                );
-#else
-                CHECK_EQ(
-                    ms.url,
-                    "file:///home/randomguy/Downloads/linux-64/_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2"
-                );
-#endif
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.fn, "_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms(
-                    "xtensor[url=file:///home/wolfv/Downloads/"
-                    "xtensor-0.21.4-hc9558a2_0.tar.bz2]",
-                    ctx,
-                    channel_context
-                );
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "xtensor");
-                CHECK_EQ(
-                    ms.brackets["url"],
-                    "file:///home/wolfv/Downloads/xtensor-0.21.4-hc9558a2_0.tar.bz2"
-                );
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.url, "file:///home/wolfv/Downloads/xtensor-0.21.4-hc9558a2_0.tar.bz2");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("foo=1.0=2", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "foo 1.0 2");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "foo==1.0=2");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms(
-                    "foo=1.0=2[md5=123123123, license=BSD-3, fn='test 123.tar.bz2']",
-                    ctx,
-                    channel_context
-                );
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "foo 1.0 2");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "foo==1.0=2[md5=123123123,license=BSD-3,fn='test 123.tar.bz2']");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms(
-                    "foo=1.0=2[md5=123123123, license=BSD-3, fn='test 123.tar.bz2', url='abcdef']",
-                    ctx,
-                    channel_context
-                );
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "foo 1.0 2");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "foo==1.0=2[url=abcdef,md5=123123123,license=BSD-3]");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("libblas=*=*mkl", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "libblas * *mkl");
-                // CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "foo==1.0=2");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("libblas=0.15*", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "libblas 0.15*");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("xtensor =0.15*", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "xtensor 0.15*");
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "xtensor=0.15");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("numpy=1.20", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "numpy=1.20");
-            }
-
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("conda-forge::tzdata", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "conda-forge::tzdata");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("conda-forge::noarch/tzdata", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "conda-forge::noarch/tzdata");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("pkgs/main::tzdata", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "pkgs/main::tzdata");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("pkgs/main/noarch::tzdata", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "pkgs/main/noarch::tzdata");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("conda-forge/noarch::tzdata[subdir=linux64]", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "conda-forge/noarch::tzdata");
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("conda-forge::tzdata[subdir=linux64]", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "conda-forge/linux64::tzdata");
-            }
-        }
-
-        TEST_CASE("is_simple")
-        {
-            auto& ctx = mambatests::context();
-            auto channel_context = ChannelContext::make_conda_compatible(ctx);
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("libblas", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK(ms.is_simple());
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("libblas=12.9=abcdef", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_FALSE(ms.is_simple());
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("libblas=0.15*", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_FALSE(ms.is_simple());
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("libblas[version=12.2]", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_FALSE(ms.is_simple());
-            }
-            {
-                MatchSpec ms("xtensor =0.15*", ctx, channel_context);
-                CHECK_FALSE(ms.is_simple());
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     TEST_SUITE("history")
     {
         TEST_CASE("user_request")
diff --git a/libmamba/tests/src/core/test_match_spec.cpp b/libmamba/tests/src/core/test_match_spec.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..11d1a1510b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libmamba/tests/src/core/test_match_spec.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,276 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2023, QuantStack and Mamba Contributors
+//
+// Distributed under the terms of the BSD 3-Clause License.
+//
+// The full license is in the file LICENSE, distributed with this software.
+
+#include <doctest/doctest.h>
+
+#include "mamba/core/channel_context.hpp"
+#include "mamba/core/match_spec.hpp"
+
+#include "mambatests.hpp"
+
+using namespace mamba;
+
+TEST_SUITE("MatchSpec")
+{
+    TEST_CASE("parse_version_build")
+    {
+        std::string v, b;
+        // >>> _parse_version_plus_build("=1.2.3 0")
+        // ('=1.2.3', '0')
+        // >>> _parse_version_plus_build("1.2.3=0")
+        // ('1.2.3', '0')
+        // >>> _parse_version_plus_build(">=1.0 , < 2.0 py34_0")
+        // ('>=1.0,<2.0', 'py34_0')
+        // >>> _parse_version_plus_build(">=1.0 , < 2.0 =py34_0")
+        // ('>=1.0,<2.0', 'py34_0')
+        // >>> _parse_version_plus_build("=1.2.3 ")
+        // ('=1.2.3', None)
+        // >>> _parse_version_plus_build(">1.8,<2|==1.7")
+        // ('>1.8,<2|==1.7', None)
+        // >>> _parse_version_plus_build("* openblas_0")
+        // ('*', 'openblas_0')
+        // >>> _parse_version_plus_build("* *")
+        // ('*', '*')
+        std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build("=1.2.3 0");
+        CHECK_EQ(v, "=1.2.3");
+        CHECK_EQ(b, "0");
+        std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build("=1.2.3=0");
+        CHECK_EQ(v, "=1.2.3");
+        CHECK_EQ(b, "0");
+        std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build(">=1.0 , < 2.0 py34_0");
+        CHECK_EQ(v, ">=1.0,<2.0");
+        CHECK_EQ(b, "py34_0");
+        std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build(">=1.0 , < 2.0 =py34_0");
+        CHECK_EQ(v, ">=1.0,<2.0");
+        CHECK_EQ(b, "py34_0");
+        std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build("=1.2.3 ");
+        CHECK_EQ(v, "=1.2.3");
+        CHECK_EQ(b, "");
+        std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build(">1.8,<2|==1.7");
+        CHECK_EQ(v, ">1.8,<2|==1.7");
+        CHECK_EQ(b, "");
+        std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build("* openblas_0");
+        CHECK_EQ(v, "*");
+        CHECK_EQ(b, "openblas_0");
+        std::tie(v, b) = MatchSpec::parse_version_and_build("* *");
+        CHECK_EQ(v, "*");
+        CHECK_EQ(b, "*");
+    }
+
+    TEST_CASE("parse")
+    {
+        auto& ctx = mambatests::context();
+        auto channel_context = ChannelContext::make_conda_compatible(ctx);
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("xtensor==0.12.3", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "0.12.3");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "xtensor");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("ipykernel", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "ipykernel");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("ipykernel ", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "ipykernel");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("numpy 1.7*", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "1.7*");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "numpy");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "numpy 1.7*");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "numpy=1.7");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("numpy[version='1.7|1.8']", ctx, channel_context);
+            // TODO!
+            // CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "1.7|1.8");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "numpy");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.brackets["version"], "1.7|1.8");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "numpy[version='1.7|1.8']");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("conda-forge/linux64::xtensor==0.12.3", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "0.12.3");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "xtensor");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.channel, "conda-forge/linux64");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.optional, false);
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("conda-forge::foo[build=3](target=blarg,optional)", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "foo");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.channel, "conda-forge");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.brackets["build"], "3");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.parens["target"], "blarg");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.optional, true);
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("python[build_number=3]", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "python");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.brackets["build_number"], "3");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.build_number, "3");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("python[build_number='<=3']", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "python");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.brackets["build_number"], "<=3");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.build_number, "<=3");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms(
+                "https://conda.anaconda.org/conda-forge/linux-64/_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2",
+                ctx,
+                channel_context
+            );
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "_libgcc_mutex");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "0.1");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.build_string, "conda_forge");
+            CHECK_EQ(
+                ms.url,
+                "https://conda.anaconda.org/conda-forge/linux-64/_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2"
+            );
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.fn, "_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms(
+                "/home/randomguy/Downloads/linux-64/_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2",
+                ctx,
+                channel_context
+            );
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "_libgcc_mutex");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.version, "0.1");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.build_string, "conda_forge");
+#ifdef _WIN32
+            std::string driveletter = fs::absolute(fs::u8path("/")).string().substr(0, 1);
+            CHECK_EQ(
+                ms.url,
+                std::string("file://") + driveletter
+                    + ":/home/randomguy/Downloads/linux-64/_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2"
+            );
+#else
+            CHECK_EQ(
+                ms.url,
+                "file:///home/randomguy/Downloads/linux-64/_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2"
+            );
+#endif
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.fn, "_libgcc_mutex-0.1-conda_forge.tar.bz2");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms(
+                "xtensor[url=file:///home/wolfv/Downloads/"
+                "xtensor-0.21.4-hc9558a2_0.tar.bz2]",
+                ctx,
+                channel_context
+            );
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.name, "xtensor");
+            CHECK_EQ(
+                ms.brackets["url"],
+                "file:///home/wolfv/Downloads/xtensor-0.21.4-hc9558a2_0.tar.bz2"
+            );
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.url, "file:///home/wolfv/Downloads/xtensor-0.21.4-hc9558a2_0.tar.bz2");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("foo=1.0=2", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "foo 1.0 2");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "foo==1.0=2");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms(
+                "foo=1.0=2[md5=123123123, license=BSD-3, fn='test 123.tar.bz2']",
+                ctx,
+                channel_context
+            );
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "foo 1.0 2");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "foo==1.0=2[md5=123123123,license=BSD-3,fn='test 123.tar.bz2']");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms(
+                "foo=1.0=2[md5=123123123, license=BSD-3, fn='test 123.tar.bz2', url='abcdef']",
+                ctx,
+                channel_context
+            );
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "foo 1.0 2");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "foo==1.0=2[url=abcdef,md5=123123123,license=BSD-3]");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("libblas=*=*mkl", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "libblas * *mkl");
+            // CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "foo==1.0=2");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("libblas=0.15*", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "libblas 0.15*");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("xtensor =0.15*", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.conda_build_form(), "xtensor 0.15*");
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "xtensor=0.15");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("numpy=1.20", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "numpy=1.20");
+        }
+
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("conda-forge::tzdata", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "conda-forge::tzdata");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("conda-forge::noarch/tzdata", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "conda-forge::noarch/tzdata");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("pkgs/main::tzdata", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "pkgs/main::tzdata");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("pkgs/main/noarch::tzdata", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "pkgs/main/noarch::tzdata");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("conda-forge/noarch::tzdata[subdir=linux64]", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "conda-forge/noarch::tzdata");
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("conda-forge::tzdata[subdir=linux64]", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_EQ(ms.str(), "conda-forge/linux64::tzdata");
+        }
+    }
+
+    TEST_CASE("is_simple")
+    {
+        auto& ctx = mambatests::context();
+        auto channel_context = ChannelContext::make_conda_compatible(ctx);
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("libblas", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK(ms.is_simple());
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("libblas=12.9=abcdef", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_FALSE(ms.is_simple());
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("libblas=0.15*", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_FALSE(ms.is_simple());
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("libblas[version=12.2]", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_FALSE(ms.is_simple());
+        }
+        {
+            MatchSpec ms("xtensor =0.15*", ctx, channel_context);
+            CHECK_FALSE(ms.is_simple());
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/libmamba/tests/src/specs/test_channel_spec.cpp b/libmamba/tests/src/specs/test_channel_spec.cpp
index 3fe6a26e25..c2bd010bf0 100644
--- a/libmamba/tests/src/specs/test_channel_spec.cpp
+++ b/libmamba/tests/src/specs/test_channel_spec.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ using namespace mamba::specs;
 
 TEST_SUITE("specs::channel_spec")
 {
+    using PlatformSet = typename util::flat_set<std::string>;
+    using Type = typename ChannelSpec::Type;
+
     TEST_CASE("Constructor")
     {
         SUBCASE("Default")
@@ -29,15 +32,12 @@ TEST_SUITE("specs::channel_spec")
             const auto spec = ChannelSpec("hello", { "linux-78" }, ChannelSpec::Type::Unknown);
             CHECK_EQ(spec.type(), ChannelSpec::Type::Unknown);
             CHECK_EQ(spec.location(), "<unknown>");
-            CHECK(spec.platform_filters().empty());
+            CHECK_EQ(spec.platform_filters(), PlatformSet{ "linux-78" });
         }
     }
 
     TEST_CASE("Parsing")
     {
-        using Type = typename ChannelSpec::Type;
-        using PlatformSet = typename util::flat_set<std::string>;
-
         SUBCASE("Invalid channels")
         {
             for (std::string_view str : { "", "<unknown>", ":///<unknown>", "none" })
@@ -220,4 +220,13 @@ TEST_SUITE("specs::channel_spec")
             CHECK_EQ(spec.platform_filters(), PlatformSet{ "linux-64" });
         }
     }
+
+    TEST_CASE("str")
+    {
+        CHECK_EQ(ChannelSpec("location", {}, Type::Name).str(), "location");
+        CHECK_EQ(
+            ChannelSpec("location", { "linux-64", "noarch" }, Type::Name).str(),
+            "location[linux-64,noarch]"
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/libmambapy/src/libmambapy/bindings/legacy.cpp b/libmambapy/src/libmambapy/bindings/legacy.cpp
index d0c69b6785..07706f2584 100644
--- a/libmambapy/src/libmambapy/bindings/legacy.cpp
+++ b/libmambapy/src/libmambapy/bindings/legacy.cpp
@@ -714,7 +714,8 @@ bind_submodule_impl(pybind11::module_ m)
             py::arg("params"),
             py::arg("has_zst")
         )
-        .def("make_channel", &ChannelContext::make_channel)
+        .def("make_channel", py::overload_cast<std::string_view>(&ChannelContext::make_channel))
+        .def("make_channel", py::overload_cast<specs::ChannelSpec>(&ChannelContext::make_channel))
         .def("params", &ChannelContext::params)
         .def("has_zst", &ChannelContext::has_zst);