diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 45a1b3f..524cb55 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.1.2
+1.1.1
diff --git a/couchrest_model.gemspec b/couchrest_model.gemspec
index cc22676..8e7e315 100644
--- a/couchrest_model.gemspec
+++ b/couchrest_model.gemspec
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
 
   s.required_rubygems_version = Gem::Requirement.new("> 1.3.1") if s.respond_to? :required_rubygems_version=
   s.authors = ["J. Chris Anderson", "Matt Aimonetti", "Marcos Tapajos", "Will Leinweber", "Sam Lown"]
-  s.date = File.mtime('VERSION')
+  s.date = %q{2011-04-29}
   s.description = %q{CouchRest Model provides aditional features to the standard CouchRest Document class such as properties, view designs, associations, callbacks, typecasting and validations.}
   s.email = %q{jchris@apache.org}
   s.extra_rdoc_files = [
@@ -23,14 +23,13 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.executables   = `git ls-files -- bin/*`.split("\n").map{ |f| File.basename(f) }
   s.require_paths = ["lib"]
 
-  s.add_dependency(%q<couchrest>, "~> 1.1.2")
+  s.add_dependency(%q<couchrest>, "1.1.1")
   s.add_dependency(%q<mime-types>, "~> 1.15")
   s.add_dependency(%q<activemodel>, "~> 3.0")
   s.add_dependency(%q<tzinfo>, "~> 0.3.22")
   s.add_development_dependency(%q<rspec>, "~> 2.6.0")
   s.add_development_dependency(%q<json>, ["~> 1.5.1"])
   s.add_development_dependency(%q<rack-test>, ">= 0.5.7")
-  s.add_development_dependency("rake", ">= 0.8.0")
   # s.add_development_dependency("jruby-openssl", ">= 0.7.3")
 end
 
diff --git a/history.md b/history.md
index a8b18ce..e1c8329 100644
--- a/history.md
+++ b/history.md
@@ -1,16 +1,5 @@
 # CouchRest Model Change History
 
-## 1.1.3
-	
-	* CouchRest::Model::Base.respond_to_missing? and respond_to? (Kim Burgestrand)
-
-## 1.1.2 - 2011-07-23
-
-* Minor fixes
-  * Upgrade to couchrest 1.1.2
-  * Override as_couch_json to ensure nil values not stored
-  * Removing restriction that prohibited objects that cast as an array to be loaded.
-
 ## 1.1.1 - 2011-07-04
 
 * Minor fix
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/base.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/base.rb
index 40cb968..ed46699 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/base.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/base.rb
@@ -82,21 +82,6 @@ module CouchRest
         super
       end
 
-      # compatbility for 1.8, it does not use respond_to_missing?
-      # thing is, when using it like this only, doing method(:find_by_view)
-      # will throw an error
-      def self.respond_to?(m, include_private = false)
-        super || respond_to_missing?(m, include_private)
-      end
-
-      # ruby 1.9 feature
-      # this allows ruby to know that the method is defined using
-      # method_missing, and as such, method(:find_by_view) will actually
-      # give a Method back, and not throw an error like in 1.8!
-      def self.respond_to_missing?(m, include_private = false)
-        has_view?(m) || has_view?(m.to_s[/^find_(by_.+)/, 1])
-      end
-
       def to_key
         new? ? nil : [id]
       end
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/design_doc.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/design_doc.rb
index 36c3940..b634351 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/design_doc.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/design_doc.rb
@@ -7,11 +7,7 @@ module CouchRest
       module ClassMethods
 
         def design_doc
-          @design_doc ||= if auto_update_design_doc
-                            ::CouchRest::Design.new(default_design_doc)
-                          else
-                            stored_design_doc || ::CouchRest::Design.new(default_design_doc)
-                          end
+          @design_doc ||= ::CouchRest::Design.new(default_design_doc)
         end
 
         def design_doc_id
@@ -79,25 +75,16 @@ module CouchRest
           # If auto updates enabled, check checksum cache
           return design_doc if auto_update_design_doc && design_doc_cache_checksum(db) == checksum
 
-          retries = 1
-          begin
-            # Load up the stored doc (if present), update, and save
-            saved = stored_design_doc(db)
-            if saved
-              if force || saved['couchrest-hash'] != checksum
-                saved.merge!(design_doc)
-                db.save_doc(saved)
-                @design_doc = saved  # update memo to point to the document we actually saved
-              end
-            else
-              design_doc.delete('_rev') # This is a new document and so doesn't have a revision yet
-              db.save_doc(design_doc)
+          # Load up the stored doc (if present), update, and save
+          saved = stored_design_doc(db)
+          if saved
+            if force || saved['couchrest-hash'] != checksum
+              saved.merge!(design_doc)
+              db.save_doc(saved)
             end
-          rescue RestClient::Conflict
-            # if we get a conflict retry the operation...
-            raise if retries < 1
-            retries -= 1
-            retry
+          else
+            db.save_doc(design_doc)
+            design_doc.delete('_rev') # Prevent conflicts, never store rev as DB specific
           end
 
           # Ensure checksum cached for next attempt if using auto updates
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/designs.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/designs.rb
index 3862567..e17f1bc 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/designs.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/designs.rb
@@ -58,11 +58,10 @@ module CouchRest
           self.model = model
         end
 
-        # Generate a method that will provide a new View instance when
-        # requested.  This will also define the view in CouchDB unless
-        # auto_update_design_doc is disabled.
+        # Define a view and generate a method that will provide a new 
+        # View instance when requested.
         def view(name, opts = {})
-          View.create(model, name, opts) if model.auto_update_design_doc
+          View.create(model, name, opts)
           create_view_method(name)
         end
 
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/properties.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/properties.rb
index 54cfb71..7b2c494 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/properties.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/properties.rb
@@ -12,10 +12,8 @@ module CouchRest
         raise "You can only mixin Properties in a class responding to [] and []=, if you tried to mixin CastedModel, make sure your class inherits from Hash or responds to the proper methods" unless (method_defined?(:[]) && method_defined?(:[]=))
       end
 
-      # Provide an attribute hash ready to be sent to CouchDB but with
-      # all the nil attributes removed.
-      def as_couch_json
-        super.delete_if{|k,v| v.nil?}
+      def as_json(options = nil)
+        Hash[self].reject{|k,v| v.nil?}.as_json(options)
       end
 
       # Returns the Class properties with their values
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/property.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/property.rb
index 6058fda..f303b07 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/property.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/property.rb
@@ -43,8 +43,9 @@ module CouchRest::Model
       end
     end
 
-    # Cast an individual value
+    # Cast an individual value, not an array
     def cast_value(parent, value)
+      raise "An array inside an array cannot be casted, use Embeddable module" if value.is_a?(Array)
       value = typecast_value(value, self)
       associate_casted_value_to_parent(parent, value)
     end
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/views.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/views.rb
index f8331e5..89dffbd 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/views.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/views.rb
@@ -72,12 +72,9 @@ module CouchRest
         # <tt>spec/couchrest/more/extended_doc_spec.rb</tt>.
 
         def view_by(*keys)
-          return unless auto_update_design_doc
-
           opts = keys.pop if keys.last.is_a?(Hash)
           opts ||= {}
           ducktype = opts.delete(:ducktype)
-
           unless ducktype || opts[:map]
             opts[:guards] ||= []
             opts[:guards].push "(doc['#{model_type_key}'] == '#{self.to_s}')"
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/models/base.rb b/spec/fixtures/models/base.rb
index 8e62eb8..b64df11 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/models/base.rb
+++ b/spec/fixtures/models/base.rb
@@ -85,13 +85,11 @@ end
 
 # Following two fixture classes have __intentionally__ diffent syntax for setting the validation context
 class WithContextualValidationOnCreate < CouchRest::Model::Base
-  use_database TEST_SERVER.default_database
   property(:name, String)
   validates(:name, :presence => {:on => :create})
 end
 
 class WithContextualValidationOnUpdate < CouchRest::Model::Base
-  use_database TEST_SERVER.default_database
   property(:name, String)
   validates(:name, :presence => true, :on => :update)
 end
diff --git a/spec/unit/design_doc_spec.rb b/spec/unit/design_doc_spec.rb
index 299f5e6..d034d68 100644
--- a/spec/unit/design_doc_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/design_doc_spec.rb
@@ -159,68 +159,39 @@ describe CouchRest::Model::DesignDoc do
     end
 
     describe "when auto_update_design_doc false" do
-      # We really do need a new class for each of example. If we try
-      # to use the same class the examples interact with each in ways
-      # that can hide failures because the design document gets cached
-      # at the class level.
-      let(:model_class) {
-        class_name = "#{example.metadata[:full_description].gsub(/\s+/,'_').camelize}Model"
-        doc = CouchRest::Document.new("_id" => "_design/#{class_name}")
-        doc["language"] = "javascript"
-        doc["views"] = {"all" => {"map" => 
-                                  "function(doc) {
-                                 if (doc['type'] == 'Article') {
-                                   emit(doc['_id'],1);
-                                 }
-                               }"},
-                         "by_name" => {"map" => 
-                                       "function(doc) {
-                                     if ((doc['type'] == '#{class_name}') && (doc['name'] != null)) {
-                                       emit(doc['name'], null);
-                                     }",
-                                      "reduce" => 
-                                      "function(keys, values, rereduce) {
-                                        return sum(values);
-                                      }"}}
-        
-        DB.save_doc doc
+  
+      before :all do
+        Article.auto_update_design_doc = false
+        Article.save_design_doc!
+      end
 
-        eval <<-KLASS
-          class ::#{class_name} < CouchRest::Model::Base
-            use_database DB
-            self.auto_update_design_doc = false
-            design do 
-              view :by_name
-            end
-            property :name, String
-          end
-        KLASS
+      after :all do
+        Article.auto_update_design_doc = true
+      end
 
-        class_name.constantize
-      }
+      it "will not send a request for the saved design doc" do
+        Article.should_not_receive(:stored_design_doc)
+        Article.by_date
+      end
 
       it "will not update stored design doc if view changed" do
-        model_class.by_name
-        orig = model_class.stored_design_doc
-        design = model_class.design_doc
-        view = design['views']['by_name']['map']
-        design['views']['by_name']['map'] = view + '  '
-        model_class.by_name
-        model_class.stored_design_doc['_rev'].should eql(orig['_rev'])
+        Article.by_date
+        orig = Article.stored_design_doc
+        design = Article.design_doc
+        view = design['views']['by_date']['map']
+        design['views']['by_date']['map'] = view + '  '
+        Article.by_date
+        Article.stored_design_doc['_rev'].should eql(orig['_rev'])
       end
 
       it "will update stored design if forced" do
-        model_class.by_name
-        orig = model_class.stored_design_doc
-        design = model_class.design_doc
-        view = design['views']['by_name']['map']
-        design['views']['by_name']['map'] = view + '  '
-        model_class.save_design_doc!
-        model_class.stored_design_doc['_rev'].should_not eql(orig['_rev'])
-      end
-
-      it "is able to use predefined views" do 
-        model_class.by_name(key: "special").all
+        Article.by_date
+        orig = Article.stored_design_doc
+        design = Article.design_doc
+        view = design['views']['by_date']['map']
+        design['views']['by_date']['map'] = view + '  '
+        Article.save_design_doc!
+        Article.stored_design_doc['_rev'].should_not eql(orig['_rev'])
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/unit/designs_spec.rb b/spec/unit/designs_spec.rb
index 96d02a3..e4e981d 100644
--- a/spec/unit/designs_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/designs_spec.rb
@@ -83,23 +83,7 @@ describe CouchRest::Model::Designs do
         @object.should_receive(:create_view_method).with('test')
         @object.view('test')
       end
-    end
 
-    context "for model with auto_update_design_doc disabled " do 
-      class ::DesignModelAutoUpdateDesignDocDisabled < ::CouchRest::Model::Base
-        self.auto_update_design_doc = false
-      end
-
-      describe "#view" do 
-        before :each do
-          @object = @klass.new(DesignModelAutoUpdateDesignDocDisabled)
-        end
-
-        it "does not attempt to create view" do 
-          CouchRest::Model::Designs::View.should_not_receive(:create)
-          @object.view('test')
-        end
-      end
     end
 
     describe "#filter" do
diff --git a/spec/unit/property_spec.rb b/spec/unit/property_spec.rb
index ce4bd89..b799908 100644
--- a/spec/unit/property_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/property_spec.rb
@@ -62,25 +62,17 @@ describe CouchRest::Model::Property do
     @card.updated_at.should_not be_nil
   end
 
-  describe "#as_couch_json" do
-
-    it "should provide a simple hash from model" do
-      @card.as_couch_json.class.should eql(Hash)
-    end
-
-    it "should remove properties from Hash if value is nil" do
-      @card.last_name = nil
-      @card.as_couch_json.keys.include?('last_name').should be_false
-    end
-
-  end
-
   describe "#as_json" do
 
     it "should provide a simple hash from model" do
       @card.as_json.class.should eql(Hash)
     end
 
+    it "should remove properties from Hash if value is nil" do
+      @card.last_name = nil
+      @card.as_json.keys.include?('last_name').should be_false
+    end
+
     it "should pass options to Active Support's as_json" do
       @card.last_name = "Aimonetti"
       @card.as_json(:only => 'last_name').should eql('last_name' => 'Aimonetti')
@@ -450,18 +442,15 @@ describe "Property Class" do
       ary.last.should eql(Date.new(2011, 05, 22))
     end
 
-    it "should cast an object that provides an array" do
-      prop = Class.new do
-        attr_accessor :ary
-        def initialize(val); self.ary = val; end
-        def as_json; ary; end
-      end
-      property = CouchRest::Model::Property.new(:test, prop)
+    it "should raise and error if value is array when type is not" do
+      property = CouchRest::Model::Property.new(:test, Date)
       parent = mock("FooClass")
-      cast = property.cast(parent, [1, 2])
-      cast.ary.should eql([1, 2])
+      lambda {
+        cast = property.cast(parent, [Date.new(2010, 6, 1)])
+      }.should raise_error
     end
 
+
     it "should set parent as casted_by object in CastedArray" do
       property = CouchRest::Model::Property.new(:test, [Object])
       parent = mock("FooObject")
diff --git a/spec/unit/view_spec.rb b/spec/unit/view_spec.rb
index d69630c..b58e037 100644
--- a/spec/unit/view_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/view_spec.rb
@@ -173,22 +173,7 @@ describe CouchRest::Model::Views do
     end
 
   end
-
-  describe "#method_missing for find_by methods" do
-    before(:all) { reset_test_db! }
-
-    specify { Course.should respond_to :find_by_title_and_active }
-    specify { Course.should respond_to :by_title }
-
-    specify "#method should work in ruby 1.9, but not 1.8" do
-      if RUBY_VERSION >= "1.9"
-        Course.method(:find_by_title_and_active).should be_a Method
-      else
-        expect { Course.method(:find_by_title_and_active) }.to raise_error(NameError)
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
+  
   describe "a ducktype view" do
     before(:all) do
       reset_test_db!