diff --git a/.clang-tidy b/.clang-tidy
index a584c6ce..967f1fd6 100644
--- a/.clang-tidy
+++ b/.clang-tidy
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-Checks: '-*,performance-*,readability-*,modernize-use-*,modernize-*,-modernize-raw-string-literal,-modernize-use-bool-literals,-readability-implicit-bool-cast,-readability-else-after-return,-readability-named-parameter'
+Checks: '-*,performance-*,readability-*,clang-analyzer-alpha.core*,clang-analyzer-alpha.security*,clang-analyzer-alpha.unix.cstring*,clang-analyzer-core.uninitialized*,clang-analyzer-cplusplus.*,clang-analyzer-nullability*,clang-analyzer-unix*,cppcoreguidelines*,modernize-use-*,modernize-*,-modernize-raw-string-literal,-modernize-use-bool-literals,-readability-implicit-bool-cast,-readability-else-after-return,-readability-named-parameter,-cppcoreguidelines-pro-bounds-pointer-arithmetic,-cppcoreguidelines-pro-bounds-array-to-pointer-decay,-cppcoreguidelines-pro-type-vararg,-cppcoreguidelines-pro-type-reinterpret-cast,-cppcoreguidelines-pro-type-union-access,-cppcoreguidelines-pro-type-cstyle-cast,-cppcoreguidelines-pro-bounds-constant-array-index'
 CheckOptions:
   - key:             modernize-loop-convert.NamingStyle
     value:           lower_case
diff --git a/include/common.hpp b/include/common.hpp
index d9fe66fd..8417cbdf 100644
--- a/include/common.hpp
+++ b/include/common.hpp
@@ -27,10 +27,6 @@
 #define STDERR_FILENO 2
 #endif
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
-#include "debug.hpp"
-#endif
-
 POLYBAR_NS
 
 namespace placeholders = std::placeholders;
diff --git a/include/components/parser.hpp b/include/components/parser.hpp
index 7fb11f75..ea10488e 100644
--- a/include/components/parser.hpp
+++ b/include/components/parser.hpp
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ DEFINE_CHILD_ERROR(unclosed_actionblocks, parser_error);
 
 class parser {
  public:
+  struct packet {
+    uint16_t data[128]{0U};
+    size_t length{0};
+  };
+
   explicit parser(signal_emitter& emitter, const bar_settings& bar);
   void operator()(string data);
 
diff --git a/include/components/renderer.hpp b/include/components/renderer.hpp
index 5c5d9c90..20fa32ba 100644
--- a/include/components/renderer.hpp
+++ b/include/components/renderer.hpp
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ class renderer
       unique_ptr<font_manager> font_manager, const bar_settings& bar, const vector<string>& fonts);
   ~renderer();
 
+  renderer(const renderer& o) = delete;
+  renderer& operator=(const renderer& o) = delete;
+
   xcb_window_t window() const;
 
   void begin();
@@ -55,8 +58,7 @@ class renderer
   void fill_underline(int16_t x, uint16_t w);
   void fill_shift(const int16_t px);
 
-  void draw_character(const uint16_t character);
-  void draw_textstring(const char* text, const size_t len);
+  void draw_textstring(const uint16_t* text, size_t len);
 
   void begin_action(const mousebtn btn, const string& cmd);
   void end_action(const mousebtn btn);
diff --git a/include/debug.hpp b/include/debug.hpp
index d4b7436a..35b6b43f 100644
--- a/include/debug.hpp
+++ b/include/debug.hpp
@@ -1,21 +1,42 @@
-#ifdef DEBUG
 #pragma once
 
+#ifndef DEBUG
+#error "Not a debug build..."
+#endif
+
 #include <chrono>
 #include <iostream>
 
-template <class T>
-void benchmark_execution_speed(const T& expr) noexcept {
-  auto start = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
-  expr();
-  auto finish = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
-  std::cout << "execution speed: " << std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(finish - start).count()
-            << "ms" << std::endl;
+#include "common.hpp"
+
+POLYBAR_NS
+
+namespace debug_util {
+  template <class T>
+  void loop(const T& expr, size_t iterations) noexcept {
+    while (iterations--) {
+      expr();
+    }
+  }
+
+  template <class T>
+  void execution_speed(const T& expr) noexcept {
+    auto start = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
+    expr();
+    auto finish = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
+    std::cout << "execution speed: " << std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(finish - start).count()
+              << "ms" << std::endl;
+  }
+
+  template <class T>
+  void execution_speed(const T& expr, size_t iterations) noexcept {
+    execution_speed([=] { loop(expr, iterations); });
+  }
+
+  template <class T>
+  void memory_usage(const T& object) noexcept {
+    std::cout << "memory usage: " << sizeof(object) << "b" << std::endl;
+  }
 }
 
-template <class T>
-void benchmark_memory_usage(const T& object) noexcept {
-  std::cout << "memory usage: " << sizeof(object) << "b" << std::endl;
-}
-
-#endif
+POLYBAR_NS_END
diff --git a/include/events/signal.hpp b/include/events/signal.hpp
index e0494127..9b15f37f 100644
--- a/include/events/signal.hpp
+++ b/include/events/signal.hpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include "components/eventloop.hpp"
 #include "components/ipc.hpp"
+#include "components/parser.hpp"
 #include "components/types.hpp"
 #include "utils/functional.hpp"
 
@@ -114,6 +115,8 @@ namespace signals {
   }
 
   namespace parser {
+    using parser_t = polybar::parser;
+
     DEFINE_VALUE_SIGNAL(70, change_background, uint32_t);
     DEFINE_VALUE_SIGNAL(71, change_foreground, uint32_t);
     DEFINE_VALUE_SIGNAL(72, change_underline, uint32_t);
@@ -128,7 +131,7 @@ namespace signals {
     DEFINE_VALUE_SIGNAL(81, action_end, mousebtn);
     DEFINE_VALUE_SIGNAL(82, write_text_ascii, uint16_t);
     DEFINE_VALUE_SIGNAL(83, write_text_unicode, uint16_t);
-    DEFINE_VALUE_SIGNAL(84, write_text_string, string);
+    DEFINE_VALUE_SIGNAL(84, write_text_string, parser_t::packet);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/include/x11/fonts.hpp b/include/x11/fonts.hpp
index 4952d119..5361ef3a 100644
--- a/include/x11/fonts.hpp
+++ b/include/x11/fonts.hpp
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <ft2build.h>
+#include FT_FREETYPE_H
+#include FT_OUTLINE_H
+#include FT_GLYPH_H
+
 #include <X11/Xft/Xft.h>
 #include <xcb/xcbext.h>
+#include <unordered_map>
 
 #include "common.hpp"
 #include "x11/color.hpp"
@@ -9,12 +15,17 @@
 
 POLYBAR_NS
 
+using std::map;
+using std::unordered_map;
+
 // fwd
 class connection;
 class logger;
 
-struct fonttype {
-  explicit fonttype() = default;
+struct font_ref {
+  explicit font_ref() = default;
+  font_ref(const font_ref& o) = delete;
+  font_ref& operator=(const font_ref& o) = delete;
   XftFont* xft{nullptr};
   xcb_font_t ptr{XCB_NONE};
   int offset_y{0};
@@ -25,57 +36,61 @@ struct fonttype {
   uint16_t char_max{0};
   uint16_t char_min{0};
   vector<xcb_charinfo_t> width_lut{};
-};
+  unordered_map<uint16_t, wchar_t> glyph_widths{};
 
-struct fonttype_deleter {
-  void operator()(fonttype* f);
+  static struct _deleter {
+    void operator()(font_ref* font);
+  } deleter;
 };
 
-using fonttype_pointer = unique_ptr<fonttype, fonttype_deleter>;
-
 class font_manager {
  public:
   using make_type = unique_ptr<font_manager>;
   static make_type make();
 
-  explicit font_manager(connection& conn, const logger& logger, shared_ptr<Display>&& dsp, shared_ptr<Visual>&& vis);
+  explicit font_manager(
+      connection& conn, const logger& logger, shared_ptr<Display>&& dsp, shared_ptr<Visual>&& vis, Colormap&& cm);
   ~font_manager();
 
+  font_manager(const font_manager& o) = delete;
+  font_manager& operator=(const font_manager& o) = delete;
+
+  void cleanup();
   bool load(const string& name, int8_t fontindex = DEFAULT_FONT_INDEX, int8_t offset_y = 0);
-
   void set_preferred_font(int8_t index);
-
-  fonttype_pointer& match_char(uint16_t chr);
-  uint8_t char_width(fonttype_pointer& font, uint16_t chr);
-
-  XftColor* xftcolor();
-  XftDraw* xftdraw();
-
-  void create_xftdraw(xcb_pixmap_t pm);
-  void destroy_xftdraw();
+  shared_ptr<font_ref> match_char(const uint16_t chr);
+  uint8_t glyph_width(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, const uint16_t chr);
+  void drawtext(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, xcb_pixmap_t pm, xcb_gcontext_t gc, int16_t x, int16_t y,
+      const uint16_t* chars, size_t num_chars);
 
   void allocate_color(uint32_t color);
   void allocate_color(XRenderColor color);
 
-  void set_gcontext_font(xcb_gcontext_t gc, xcb_font_t font);
+  void set_gcontext_font(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, xcb_gcontext_t, xcb_font_t*);
 
  protected:
-  bool open_xcb_font(fonttype_pointer& fontptr, string fontname);
-  bool has_glyph(fonttype_pointer& font, uint16_t chr);
+  bool open_xcb_font(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, string fontname);
+
+  uint8_t glyph_width_xft(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, const uint16_t chr);
+  uint8_t glyph_width_xcb(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, const uint16_t chr);
+
+  bool has_glyph_xft(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, const uint16_t chr);
+  bool has_glyph_xcb(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, const uint16_t chr);
 
  private:
   connection& m_connection;
   const logger& m_logger;
 
-  shared_ptr<Display> m_display{nullptr};
-  shared_ptr<Visual> m_visual{nullptr};
-  Colormap m_colormap{};
+  shared_ptr<Display> m_display;
+  shared_ptr<Visual> m_visual;
+  Colormap m_colormap;
 
-  std::map<uint8_t, fonttype_pointer> m_fonts;
+  map<uint8_t, shared_ptr<font_ref>> m_fonts{};
   int8_t m_fontindex{DEFAULT_FONT_INDEX};
 
-  XftColor* m_xftcolor{nullptr};
   XftDraw* m_xftdraw{nullptr};
+  XftColor m_xftcolor{};
+  bool m_xftcolor_allocated{false};
 };
 
 POLYBAR_NS_END
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 3033c5b0..376195d2 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ make_executable(${PROJECT_NAME} SOURCES
 target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME} Threads::Threads)
 
 target_compile_definitions(${PROJECT_NAME} PUBLIC
+  ${X11_Xft_DEFINITIONS}
   ${X11_XCB_DEFINITIONS}
   ${XCB_DEFINITIONS})
 
diff --git a/src/components/parser.cpp b/src/components/parser.cpp
index 438b4a94..8a1adc06 100644
--- a/src/components/parser.cpp
+++ b/src/components/parser.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "events/signal.hpp"
 #include "events/signal_emitter.hpp"
 #include "utils/math.hpp"
+#include "utils/memory.hpp"
 #include "utils/string.hpp"
 
 POLYBAR_NS
@@ -29,8 +30,7 @@ void parser::operator()(string data) {
     } else if ((pos = data.find("%{")) != string::npos) {
       data.erase(0, text(data.substr(0, pos)));
     } else {
-      text(move(data));
-      return;
+      data.erase(0, text(data.substr(0)));
     }
   }
 
@@ -155,20 +155,32 @@ void parser::codeblock(string&& data) {
  * Process text contents
  */
 size_t parser::text(string&& data) {
-  uint8_t* utf = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(const_cast<char*>(data.c_str()));
+  const uint8_t* utf{reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&data[0])};
 
   if (utf[0] < 0x80) {
-    // grab all consecutive ascii chars
-    size_t next_tag = data.find("%{");
-    if (next_tag != string::npos) {
-      data.erase(next_tag);
+    size_t pos{0};
+
+    // grab consecutive ascii chars
+    while (utf[pos] && utf[pos] < 0x80) {
+      packet pkt{};
+      size_t limit{memory_util::countof(pkt.data)};
+      size_t len{0};
+
+      while (len + 1 < limit && utf[pos] && utf[pos] < 0x80) {
+        pkt.data[len++] = utf[pos++];
+      }
+
+      if (!len) {
+        break;
+      }
+
+      pkt.length = len;
+      m_sig.emit(write_text_string{move(pkt)});
     }
-    size_t n = 0;
-    while (utf[n] != '\0' && utf[++n] < 0x80) {
-      ;
+
+    if (pos > 0) {
+      return pos;
     }
-    m_sig.emit(write_text_string{data.substr(0, n)});
-    return n;
   } else if ((utf[0] & 0xe0) == 0xc0) {  // 2 byte utf-8 sequence
     m_sig.emit(write_text_unicode{static_cast<uint16_t>((utf[0] & 0x1f) << 6 | (utf[1] & 0x3f))});
     return 2;
@@ -185,10 +197,13 @@ size_t parser::text(string&& data) {
   } else if ((utf[0] & 0xfe) == 0xfc) {  // 6 byte utf-8 sequence
     m_sig.emit(write_text_unicode{static_cast<uint16_t>(0xfffd)});
     return 6;
-  } else {  // invalid utf-8 sequence
-    m_sig.emit(write_text_ascii{utf[0]});
-    return 1;
   }
+
+  if (utf[0] < 0x80) {
+    m_sig.emit(write_text_ascii{utf[0]});
+  }
+
+  return 1;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/components/renderer.cpp b/src/components/renderer.cpp
index 4f1fee26..2bdaaeec 100644
--- a/src/components/renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/components/renderer.cpp
@@ -47,14 +47,17 @@ renderer::renderer(connection& conn, signal_emitter& emitter, const logger& logg
 
   if ((m_visual = m_connection.visual_type(m_connection.screen(), 32)) == nullptr) {
     m_log.err("No 32-bit TrueColor visual found...");
+
+    if ((m_visual = m_connection.visual_type(m_connection.screen(), 24)) == nullptr) {
+      m_log.err("No 24-bit TrueColor visual found, aborting...");
+    }
+
+    if (m_visual == nullptr) {
+      throw application_error("No matching TrueColor visual found...");
+    }
+
     m_depth = 24;
   }
-  if ((m_visual = m_connection.visual_type(m_connection.screen(), 24)) == nullptr) {
-    m_log.err("No 24-bit TrueColor visual found, aborting...");
-  }
-  if (m_visual == nullptr) {
-    throw application_error("No matching TrueColor visual found...");
-  }
 
   m_log.trace("renderer: Allocate colormap");
   m_colormap = m_connection.generate_id();
@@ -66,7 +69,7 @@ renderer::renderer(connection& conn, signal_emitter& emitter, const logger& logg
     m_window = winspec(m_connection)
       << cw_size(m_bar.size)
       << cw_pos(m_bar.pos)
-      << cw_depth(32)
+      << cw_depth(m_depth)
       << cw_visual(m_visual->visual_id)
       << cw_class(XCB_WINDOW_CLASS_INPUT_OUTPUT)
       << cw_params_back_pixel(0)
@@ -83,7 +86,7 @@ renderer::renderer(connection& conn, signal_emitter& emitter, const logger& logg
 
   m_log.trace("renderer: Allocate window pixmap");
   m_pixmap = m_connection.generate_id();
-  m_connection.create_pixmap(32, m_pixmap, m_window, m_rect.width, m_rect.height);
+  m_connection.create_pixmap(m_depth, m_pixmap, m_window, m_rect.width, m_rect.height);
 
   m_log.trace("renderer: Allocate graphic contexts");
   {
@@ -180,8 +183,6 @@ void renderer::begin() {
   m_currentx = 0;
   m_attributes = 0;
   m_actions.clear();
-
-  m_fontmanager->create_xftdraw(m_pixmap);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@ void renderer::begin() {
 void renderer::end() {
   m_log.trace_x("renderer: end");
 
-  m_fontmanager->destroy_xftdraw();
+  m_fontmanager->cleanup();
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_HINTS
   debug_hints();
@@ -356,79 +357,39 @@ void renderer::fill_shift(const int16_t px) {
   shift_content(px);
 }
 
-/**
- * Draw character glyph
- */
-void renderer::draw_character(uint16_t character) {
-  m_log.trace_x("renderer: draw_character");
-
-  auto& font = m_fontmanager->match_char(character);
-
-  if (!font) {
-    return m_log.warn("No suitable font found (character=%i)", character);
-  }
-
-  if (font->ptr && font->ptr != m_gcfont) {
-    m_gcfont = font->ptr;
-    m_fontmanager->set_gcontext_font(m_gcontexts.at(gc::FG), m_gcfont);
-  }
-
-  auto width = m_fontmanager->char_width(font, character);
-  auto x = shift_content(width);
-  auto y = m_rect.height / 2 + font->height / 2 - font->descent + font->offset_y;
-
-  if (font->xft != nullptr) {
-    XftDrawString16(m_fontmanager->xftdraw(), m_fontmanager->xftcolor(), font->xft, x, y, &character, 1);
-  } else {
-    uint16_t ucs = ((character >> 8) | (character << 8));
-    draw_util::xcb_poly_text_16_patched(m_connection, m_pixmap, m_gcontexts.at(gc::FG), x, y, 1, &ucs);
-  }
-
-  fill_underline(x, width);
-  fill_overline(x, width);
-}
-
 /**
  * Draw consecutive character glyphs
  */
-void renderer::draw_textstring(const char* text, size_t len) {
+void renderer::draw_textstring(const uint16_t* text, size_t len) {
   m_log.trace_x("renderer: draw_textstring(\"%s\")", text);
 
   for (size_t n = 0; n < len; n++) {
-    vector<uint16_t> chars;
-    chars.emplace_back(text[n]);
-
-    auto& font = m_fontmanager->match_char(chars[0]);
+    vector<uint16_t> chars{text[n]};
+    shared_ptr<font_ref> font{m_fontmanager->match_char(chars[0])};
+    uint8_t width{static_cast<const uint8_t>(m_fontmanager->glyph_width(font, chars[0]) * chars.size())};
 
     if (!font) {
-      return m_log.warn("No suitable font found (character=%i)", chars[0]);
-    }
-
-    if (font->ptr && font->ptr != m_gcfont) {
-      m_gcfont = font->ptr;
-      m_fontmanager->set_gcontext_font(m_gcontexts.at(gc::FG), m_gcfont);
+      m_log.warn("Could not find glyph for %i", chars[0]);
+      continue;
+    } else if (!width) {
+      m_log.warn("Could not determine glyph width for %i", chars[0]);
+      continue;
     }
 
     while (n + 1 < len && text[n + 1] == chars[0]) {
-      chars.emplace_back(text[++n]);
+      chars.emplace_back(text[n++]);
     }
 
-    auto width = m_fontmanager->char_width(font, chars[0]) * chars.size();
+    width *= chars.size();
     auto x = shift_content(width);
     auto y = m_rect.height / 2 + font->height / 2 - font->descent + font->offset_y;
 
-    if (font->xft != nullptr) {
-      XftDrawString16(m_fontmanager->xftdraw(), m_fontmanager->xftcolor(), font->xft, x, y,
-          static_cast<uint16_t*>(chars.data()), chars.size());
-    } else {
-      for (unsigned short& i : chars) {
-        i = ((i >> 8) | (i << 8));
-      }
-
-      draw_util::xcb_poly_text_16_patched(
-          m_connection, m_pixmap, m_gcontexts.at(gc::FG), x, y, chars.size(), chars.data());
+    if (font->ptr != XCB_NONE && m_gcfont != font->ptr) {
+      m_fontmanager->set_gcontext_font(font, m_gcontexts.at(gc::FG), &m_gcfont);
     }
 
+    m_fontmanager->drawtext(font, m_pixmap, m_gcontexts.at(gc::FG), x, y, chars.data(), chars.size());
+
     fill_underline(x, width);
     fill_overline(x, width);
   }
@@ -531,7 +492,7 @@ void renderer::debug_hints() {
       << cw_size(action.width() - border_width * 2, m_rect.height - border_width * 2)
       << cw_pos(action.start_x + num * DEBUG_HINTS_OFFSET_X, m_bar.pos.y + m_rect.y + num * DEBUG_HINTS_OFFSET_Y)
       << cw_border(border_width)
-      << cw_depth(32)
+      << cw_depth(m_depth)
       << cw_visual(m_visual->visual_id)
       << cw_params_colormap(m_colormap)
       << cw_params_back_pixel(0)
@@ -713,18 +674,20 @@ bool renderer::on(const action_end& evt) {
 }
 
 bool renderer::on(const write_text_ascii& evt) {
-  draw_character(*evt());
+  const uint16_t data[1]{*evt()};
+  draw_textstring(data, 1);
   return true;
 }
 
 bool renderer::on(const write_text_unicode& evt) {
-  draw_character(*evt());
+  const uint16_t data[1]{*evt()};
+  draw_textstring(data, 1);
   return true;
 }
 
 bool renderer::on(const write_text_string& evt) {
-  string text{*evt()};
-  draw_textstring(text.c_str(), text.size());
+  parser::packet pkt{(*evt())};
+  draw_textstring(pkt.data, pkt.length);
   return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/x11/fonts.cpp b/src/x11/fonts.cpp
index b079d856..4f492159 100644
--- a/src/x11/fonts.cpp
+++ b/src/x11/fonts.cpp
@@ -6,55 +6,63 @@
 #include "utils/factory.hpp"
 #include "utils/memory.hpp"
 #include "x11/connection.hpp"
+#include "x11/draw.hpp"
 #include "x11/fonts.hpp"
 #include "x11/xlib.hpp"
 #include "x11/xutils.hpp"
 
 POLYBAR_NS
 
-#define XFT_MAXCHARS (1 << 16)
+void font_ref::_deleter::operator()(font_ref* font) {
+  font->glyph_widths.clear();
+  font->width_lut.clear();
 
-array<char, XFT_MAXCHARS> g_xft_widths;
-array<wchar_t, XFT_MAXCHARS> g_xft_chars;
+  if (font->xft != nullptr) {
+    XftFontClose(xlib::get_display().get(), font->xft);
+  }
+  if (font->ptr != XCB_NONE) {
+    xcb_close_font(xutils::get_connection().get(), font->ptr);
+  }
+  delete font;
+}
 
 /**
  * Create instance
  */
 font_manager::make_type font_manager::make() {
   return factory_util::unique<font_manager>(
-      connection::make(), logger::make(), xlib::get_display(), xlib::get_visual());
+      connection::make(), logger::make(), xlib::get_display(), xlib::get_visual(), xlib::create_colormap());
 }
 
-void fonttype_deleter::operator()(fonttype* f) {
-  if (f->xft != nullptr) {
-    XftFontClose(xlib::get_display().get(), f->xft);
-    free(f->xft);
-  }
-  if (f->ptr != XCB_NONE) {
-    connection::make().close_font(f->ptr);
-  }
-  delete f;
-}
-
-font_manager::font_manager(connection& conn, const logger& logger, shared_ptr<Display>&& dsp, shared_ptr<Visual>&& vis)
+font_manager::font_manager(
+    connection& conn, const logger& logger, shared_ptr<Display>&& dsp, shared_ptr<Visual>&& vis, Colormap&& cm)
     : m_connection(conn)
     , m_logger(logger)
     , m_display(forward<decltype(dsp)>(dsp))
-    , m_visual(forward<decltype(vis)>(vis)) {
-  m_colormap = xlib::create_colormap(conn.default_screen());
+    , m_visual(forward<decltype(vis)>(vis))
+    , m_colormap(forward<decltype(cm)>(cm)) {
+  if (!XftInit(nullptr) || !XftInitFtLibrary()) {
+    throw application_error("Could not initialize Xft library");
+  }
 }
 
 font_manager::~font_manager() {
+  cleanup();
   if (m_display) {
-    if (m_xftcolor != nullptr) {
-      XftColorFree(m_display.get(), m_visual.get(), m_colormap, m_xftcolor);
-      free(m_xftcolor);
+    if (m_xftcolor_allocated) {
+      XftColorFree(m_display.get(), m_visual.get(), m_colormap, &m_xftcolor);
     }
-    destroy_xftdraw();
     XFreeColormap(m_display.get(), m_colormap);
   }
 }
 
+void font_manager::cleanup() {
+  if (m_xftdraw != nullptr) {
+    XftDrawDestroy(m_xftdraw);
+    m_xftdraw = nullptr;
+  }
+}
+
 bool font_manager::load(const string& name, int8_t fontindex, int8_t offset_y) {
   if (fontindex != DEFAULT_FONT_INDEX && m_fonts.find(fontindex) != m_fonts.end()) {
     m_logger.warn("A font with index '%i' has already been loaded, skip...", fontindex);
@@ -66,39 +74,40 @@ bool font_manager::load(const string& name, int8_t fontindex, int8_t offset_y) {
     m_logger.trace("font_manager: Add font '%s' to index '%i'", name, fontindex);
   }
 
-  fonttype_pointer f{new fonttype_pointer::element_type{}, fonttype_deleter{}};
-  f->offset_y = offset_y;
+  shared_ptr<font_ref> font{new font_ref{}, font_ref::deleter};
 
-  if (open_xcb_font(f, name)) {
+  font->offset_y = offset_y;
+
+  if (open_xcb_font(font, name)) {
     m_logger.info("Loaded font (xlfd=%s)", name);
-  } else if (f->ptr != XCB_NONE) {
-    m_connection.close_font_checked(f->ptr);
-    f->ptr = XCB_NONE;
+  } else if (font->ptr != XCB_NONE) {
+    m_connection.close_font_checked(font->ptr);
+    font->ptr = XCB_NONE;
   }
 
-  if (f->ptr == XCB_NONE &&
-      (f->xft = XftFontOpenName(m_display.get(), m_connection.default_screen(), name.c_str())) != nullptr) {
-    f->ascent = f->xft->ascent;
-    f->descent = f->xft->descent;
-    f->height = f->ascent + f->descent;
+  if (font->ptr == XCB_NONE &&
+      (font->xft = XftFontOpenName(m_display.get(), m_connection.default_screen(), name.c_str())) != nullptr) {
+    font->ascent = font->xft->ascent;
+    font->descent = font->xft->descent;
+    font->height = font->ascent + font->descent;
 
-    if (f->xft->pattern != nullptr) {
-      FcChar8* file{nullptr};
-      FcPatternGetString(f->xft->pattern, "file", 0, &file);
-      m_logger.info("Loaded font (pattern=%s, file=%s)", name, file);
-      free(file);
+    if (font->xft->pattern != nullptr) {
+      // XftChar8* file;
+      // XftPatternGetString(font->xft->pattern, "file", 0, &file);
+      // m_logger.info("Loaded font (pattern=%s, file=%s)", name, file);
+      m_logger.info("Loaded font (pattern=%s)", name);
     } else {
       m_logger.info("Loaded font (pattern=%s)", name);
     }
   }
 
-  if (f->ptr == XCB_NONE && f->xft == nullptr) {
+  if (font->ptr == XCB_NONE && font->xft == nullptr) {
     return false;
   }
 
-  m_fonts.emplace(make_pair(fontindex, move(f)));
+  m_fonts.emplace(make_pair(fontindex, move(font)));
 
-  int max_height = 0;
+  int max_height{0};
 
   for (auto& iter : m_fonts) {
     if (iter.second->height > max_height) {
@@ -127,112 +136,95 @@ void font_manager::set_preferred_font(int8_t index) {
   }
 }
 
-fonttype_pointer& font_manager::match_char(uint16_t chr) {
-  static fonttype_pointer notfound;
-  if (!m_fonts.empty()) {
-    if (m_fontindex != DEFAULT_FONT_INDEX && size_t(m_fontindex) <= m_fonts.size()) {
-      auto iter = m_fonts.find(m_fontindex);
-      if (iter != m_fonts.end() && has_glyph(iter->second, chr)) {
-        return iter->second;
-      }
-    }
-    for (auto& font : m_fonts) {
-      if (has_glyph(font.second, chr)) {
-        return font.second;
-      }
+shared_ptr<font_ref> font_manager::match_char(const uint16_t chr) {
+  if (m_fonts.empty()) {
+    return {};
+  }
+
+  if (m_fontindex != DEFAULT_FONT_INDEX && static_cast<size_t>(m_fontindex) <= m_fonts.size()) {
+    auto iter = m_fonts.find(m_fontindex);
+    if (iter == m_fonts.end() || !iter->second) {
+      return {};
+    } else if (has_glyph_xft(iter->second, chr)) {
+      return iter->second;
+    } else if (has_glyph_xcb(iter->second, chr)) {
+      return iter->second;
     }
   }
-  return notfound;
+
+  for (auto&& font : m_fonts) {
+    if (!font.second) {
+      return {};
+    } else if (has_glyph_xft(font.second, chr)) {
+      return font.second;
+    } else if (has_glyph_xcb(font.second, chr)) {
+      return font.second;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {};
 }
 
-uint8_t font_manager::char_width(fonttype_pointer& font, uint16_t chr) {
-  if (!font) {
+uint8_t font_manager::glyph_width(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, const uint16_t chr) {
+  if (font && font->xft != nullptr) {
+    return glyph_width_xft(move(font), chr);
+  } else if (font && font->ptr != XCB_NONE) {
+    return glyph_width_xcb(move(font), chr);
+  } else {
     return 0;
   }
+}
 
-  if (font->xft == nullptr) {
-    if (static_cast<size_t>(chr - font->char_min) < font->width_lut.size()) {
-      return font->width_lut[chr - font->char_min].character_width;
-    } else {
-      return font->width;
+void font_manager::drawtext(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, xcb_pixmap_t pm, xcb_gcontext_t gc, int16_t x, int16_t y,
+    const uint16_t* chars, size_t num_chars) {
+  if (m_xftdraw == nullptr) {
+    m_xftdraw = XftDrawCreate(m_display.get(), pm, m_visual.get(), m_colormap);
+  }
+  if (font->xft != nullptr) {
+    XftDrawString16(m_xftdraw, &m_xftcolor, font->xft, x, y, chars, num_chars);
+  } else if (font->ptr != XCB_NONE) {
+    uint16_t* ucs = static_cast<uint16_t*>(calloc(num_chars, sizeof(uint16_t)));
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < num_chars; i++) {
+      ucs[i] = ((chars[i] >> 8) | (chars[i] << 8));
     }
-  }
-
-  auto index = chr % XFT_MAXCHARS;
-  while (g_xft_chars[index] != 0 && g_xft_chars[index] != chr) {
-    index = (index + 1) % XFT_MAXCHARS;
-  }
-
-  if (!g_xft_chars[index]) {
-    XGlyphInfo gi;
-    FT_UInt glyph = XftCharIndex(m_display.get(), font->xft, static_cast<FcChar32>(chr));
-    XftFontLoadGlyphs(m_display.get(), font->xft, FcFalse, &glyph, 1);
-    XftGlyphExtents(m_display.get(), font->xft, &glyph, 1, &gi);
-    XftFontUnloadGlyphs(m_display.get(), font->xft, &glyph, 1);
-    g_xft_chars[index] = chr;
-    g_xft_widths[index] = gi.xOff;
-    return gi.xOff;
-  } else if (g_xft_chars[index] == chr) {
-    return g_xft_widths[index];
-  }
-
-  return 0;
-}
-
-XftColor* font_manager::xftcolor() {
-  return m_xftcolor;
-}
-
-XftDraw* font_manager::xftdraw() {
-  return m_xftdraw;
-}
-
-void font_manager::create_xftdraw(xcb_pixmap_t pm) {
-  destroy_xftdraw();
-  m_xftdraw = XftDrawCreate(m_display.get(), pm, m_visual.get(), m_colormap);
-}
-
-void font_manager::destroy_xftdraw() {
-  if (m_xftdraw != nullptr) {
-    XftDrawDestroy(m_xftdraw);
-    m_xftdraw = nullptr;
+    draw_util::xcb_poly_text_16_patched(m_connection, pm, gc, x, y, num_chars, ucs);
   }
 }
 
 void font_manager::allocate_color(uint32_t color) {
-  XRenderColor x;
-  x.red = color_util::red_channel<uint16_t>(color);
-  x.green = color_util::green_channel<uint16_t>(color);
-  x.blue = color_util::blue_channel<uint16_t>(color);
-  x.alpha = color_util::alpha_channel<uint16_t>(color);
+  // clang-format off
+  XRenderColor x{
+    color_util::red_channel<uint16_t>(color),
+    color_util::green_channel<uint16_t>(color),
+    color_util::blue_channel<uint16_t>(color),
+    color_util::alpha_channel<uint16_t>(color)};
+  // clang-format on
   allocate_color(x);
 }
 
 void font_manager::allocate_color(XRenderColor color) {
-  if (m_xftcolor != nullptr) {
-    XftColorFree(m_display.get(), m_visual.get(), m_colormap, m_xftcolor);
-    free(m_xftcolor);
+  if (m_xftcolor_allocated) {
+    XftColorFree(m_display.get(), m_visual.get(), m_colormap, &m_xftcolor);
   }
 
-  m_xftcolor = static_cast<XftColor*>(malloc(sizeof(XftColor)));
-
-  if (!XftColorAllocValue(m_display.get(), m_visual.get(), m_colormap, &color, m_xftcolor)) {
+  if (!(m_xftcolor_allocated = XftColorAllocValue(m_display.get(), m_visual.get(), m_colormap, &color, &m_xftcolor))) {
     m_logger.err("Failed to allocate color");
   }
 }
 
-void font_manager::set_gcontext_font(xcb_gcontext_t gc, xcb_font_t font) {
-  const uint32_t values[1]{font};
-  m_connection.change_gc(gc, XCB_GC_FONT, values);
+void font_manager::set_gcontext_font(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, xcb_gcontext_t gc, xcb_font_t* xcb_font) {
+  const uint32_t val[1]{*xcb_font};
+  m_connection.change_gc(gc, XCB_GC_FONT, val);
+  *xcb_font = font->ptr;
 }
 
-bool font_manager::open_xcb_font(fonttype_pointer& fontptr, string fontname) {
+bool font_manager::open_xcb_font(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, string fontname) {
   try {
     uint32_t font_id{m_connection.generate_id()};
     m_connection.open_font_checked(font_id, fontname);
 
     m_logger.trace("Found X font '%s'", fontname);
-    fontptr->ptr = font_id;
+    font->ptr = font_id;
 
     auto query = m_connection.query_font(font_id);
     if (query->char_infos_len == 0) {
@@ -240,15 +232,15 @@ bool font_manager::open_xcb_font(fonttype_pointer& fontptr, string fontname) {
       return false;
     }
 
-    fontptr->descent = query->font_descent;
-    fontptr->height = query->font_ascent + query->font_descent;
-    fontptr->width = query->max_bounds.character_width;
-    fontptr->char_max = query->max_byte1 << 8 | query->max_char_or_byte2;
-    fontptr->char_min = query->min_byte1 << 8 | query->min_char_or_byte2;
+    font->descent = query->font_descent;
+    font->height = query->font_ascent + query->font_descent;
+    font->width = query->max_bounds.character_width;
+    font->char_max = query->max_byte1 << 8 | query->max_char_or_byte2;
+    font->char_min = query->min_byte1 << 8 | query->min_char_or_byte2;
 
     auto chars = query.char_infos();
     for (auto it = chars.begin(); it != chars.end(); it++) {
-      fontptr->width_lut.emplace_back(forward<xcb_charinfo_t>(*it));
+      font->width_lut.emplace_back(forward<xcb_charinfo_t>(*it));
     }
     return true;
   } catch (const std::exception& e) {
@@ -258,19 +250,54 @@ bool font_manager::open_xcb_font(fonttype_pointer& fontptr, string fontname) {
   return false;
 }
 
-bool font_manager::has_glyph(fonttype_pointer& font, uint16_t chr) {
-  if (font->xft != nullptr) {
-    return static_cast<bool>(XftCharExists(m_display.get(), font->xft, static_cast<FcChar32>(chr)));
+uint8_t font_manager::glyph_width_xft(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, const uint16_t chr) {
+  auto it = font->glyph_widths.find(chr);
+  if (it != font->glyph_widths.end()) {
+    return it->second;
+  }
+
+  XGlyphInfo extents{};
+  FT_UInt glyph{XftCharIndex(m_display.get(), font->xft, static_cast<FcChar32>(chr))};
+
+  XftFontLoadGlyphs(m_display.get(), font->xft, FcFalse, &glyph, 1);
+  XftGlyphExtents(m_display.get(), font->xft, &glyph, 1, &extents);
+  XftFontUnloadGlyphs(m_display.get(), font->xft, &glyph, 1);
+
+  font->glyph_widths.emplace_hint(it, chr, extents.xOff);  //.emplace_back(chr, extents.xOff);
+
+  return extents.xOff;
+}
+
+uint8_t font_manager::glyph_width_xcb(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, const uint16_t chr) {
+  if (!font || font->ptr == XCB_NONE) {
+    return 0;
+  } else if (static_cast<size_t>(chr - font->char_min) < font->width_lut.size()) {
+    return font->width_lut[chr - font->char_min].character_width;
+  } else {
+    return font->width;
+  }
+}
+
+bool font_manager::has_glyph_xft(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, const uint16_t chr) {
+  if (!font || font->xft == nullptr) {
+    return false;
+  } else if (XftCharExists(m_display.get(), font->xft, static_cast<FcChar32>(chr)) == FcFalse) {
+    return false;
+  } else {
+    return true;
+  }
+}
+
+bool font_manager::has_glyph_xcb(const shared_ptr<font_ref>& font, const uint16_t chr) {
+  if (font->ptr == XCB_NONE) {
+    return false;
+  } else if (chr < font->char_min || chr > font->char_max) {
+    return false;
+  } else if (static_cast<size_t>(chr - font->char_min) >= font->width_lut.size()) {
+    return false;
+  } else if (font->width_lut[chr - font->char_min].character_width == 0) {
+    return false;
   } else {
-    if (chr < font->char_min || chr > font->char_max) {
-      return false;
-    }
-    if (static_cast<size_t>(chr - font->char_min) >= font->width_lut.size()) {
-      return false;
-    }
-    if (font->width_lut[chr - font->char_min].character_width == 0) {
-      return false;
-    }
     return true;
   }
 }