diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 5c6eb57..01a985d 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ conf_to_color(const struct yml_node *node)
 struct font *
 conf_to_font(const struct yml_node *node)
 {
-    return font_new(yml_value_as_string(node));
+    return font_from_name(yml_value_as_string(node));;
 }
 
 struct deco *
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ conf_to_bar(const struct yml_node *bar, enum bar_backend backend)
      * and particles. This allows us to specify a default font and
      * foreground color at top-level.
      */
-    struct font *font = font_new("sans");
+    struct font *font = font_from_name("sans");
     struct rgba foreground = (struct rgba){1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0}; /* White */
 
     const struct yml_node *font_node = yml_get_value(bar, "font");
diff --git a/font.c b/font.c
index dba1a5b..d61fea6 100644
--- a/font.c
+++ b/font.c
@@ -1,29 +1,32 @@
 #include "font.h"
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <stdbool.h>
-#include <assert.h>
 
-#include <fontconfig/fontconfig.h>
-#include <cairo-ft.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <wchar.h>
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <threads.h>
 
 #define LOG_MODULE "font"
 #define LOG_ENABLE_DBG 0
 #include "log.h"
-#include "tllist.h"
+#include "stride.h"
 
-struct font {
-    char *name;
-    cairo_scaled_font_t *scaled_font;
-    int ref_counter;
-};
+#define min(x, y) ((x) < (y) ? (x) : (y))
 
-static tll(const struct font *) cache = tll_init();
+static FT_Library ft_lib;
+static mtx_t ft_lock;
+
+static tll(const struct font *) font_cache = tll_init();
+
+static const size_t glyph_cache_size = 512;
 
 static void __attribute__((constructor))
 init(void)
 {
     FcInit();
+    FT_Init_FreeType(&ft_lib);
+    mtx_init(&ft_lock, mtx_plain);
 
 #if defined(LOG_ENABLE_DBG) && LOG_ENABLE_DBG
     int raw_version = FcGetVersion();
@@ -40,16 +43,232 @@ init(void)
 static void __attribute__((destructor))
 fini(void)
 {
+    assert(tll_length(font_cache) == 0);
+
+    mtx_destroy(&ft_lock);
+    FT_Done_FreeType(ft_lib);
     FcFini();
-    assert(tll_length(cache) == 0);
+}
+
+static bool
+font_destroy_no_free(struct font *font)
+{
+    assert(font->ref_counter > 0);
+    if (--font->ref_counter > 0)
+        return false;
+
+    if (font->face != NULL) {
+        mtx_lock(&ft_lock);
+        FT_Done_Face(font->face);
+        mtx_unlock(&ft_lock);
+    }
+
+    mtx_destroy(&font->lock);
+
+    if (font->fc_pattern != NULL)
+        FcPatternDestroy(font->fc_pattern);
+    if (font->fc_fonts != NULL)
+        FcFontSetDestroy(font->fc_fonts);
+
+    free(font->name);
+
+    if (font->cache == NULL)
+        return true;
+
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < glyph_cache_size; i++) {
+        if (font->cache[i] == NULL)
+            continue;
+
+        tll_foreach(*font->cache[i], it) {
+            if (!it->item.valid)
+                continue;
+
+            void *image = pixman_image_get_data(it->item.pix);
+            pixman_image_unref(it->item.pix);
+            free(image);
+        }
+
+        tll_free(*font->cache[i]);
+        free(font->cache[i]);
+    }
+    free(font->cache);
+
+    tll_foreach(font_cache, it) {
+        if (it->item == font) {
+            tll_remove(font_cache, it);
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+from_font_set(FcPattern *pattern, FcFontSet *fonts, int start_idx,
+              struct font *font, bool is_fallback)
+{
+    memset(font, 0, sizeof(*font));
+
+    FcChar8 *face_file = NULL;
+    FcPattern *final_pattern = NULL;
+    int font_idx = -1;
+
+    for (int i = start_idx; i < fonts->nfont; i++) {
+        FcPattern *pat = FcFontRenderPrepare(NULL, pattern, fonts->fonts[i]);
+        assert(pat != NULL);
+
+        if (FcPatternGetString(pat, FC_FT_FACE, 0, &face_file) != FcResultMatch) {
+            if (FcPatternGetString(pat, FC_FILE, 0, &face_file) != FcResultMatch) {
+                FcPatternDestroy(pat);
+                continue;
+            }
+        }
+
+        final_pattern = pat;
+        font_idx = i;
+        break;
+    }
+
+    assert(font_idx != -1);
+    assert(final_pattern != NULL);
+
+    double dpi;
+    if (FcPatternGetDouble(final_pattern, FC_DPI, 0, &dpi) != FcResultMatch)
+        dpi = 96;
+
+    double size;
+    if (FcPatternGetDouble(final_pattern, FC_PIXEL_SIZE, 0, &size)) {
+        LOG_ERR("%s: failed to get size", face_file);
+        FcPatternDestroy(final_pattern);
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    FcBool scalable;
+    if (FcPatternGetBool(final_pattern, FC_SCALABLE, 0, &scalable) != FcResultMatch)
+        scalable = FcTrue;
+
+    double pixel_fixup;
+    if (FcPatternGetDouble(final_pattern, "pixelsizefixupfactor", 0, &pixel_fixup) != FcResultMatch)
+        pixel_fixup = 1.;
+
+    LOG_DBG("loading: %s", face_file);
+
+    mtx_lock(&ft_lock);
+    FT_Face ft_face;
+    FT_Error ft_err = FT_New_Face(ft_lib, (const char *)face_file, 0, &ft_face);
+    mtx_unlock(&ft_lock);
+    if (ft_err != 0)
+        LOG_ERR("%s: failed to create FreeType face", face_file);
+
+    if ((ft_err = FT_Set_Char_Size(ft_face, size * 64, 0, 0, 0)) != 0)
+        LOG_WARN("failed to set character size");
+
+    FcBool fc_hinting;
+    if (FcPatternGetBool(final_pattern, FC_HINTING,0,  &fc_hinting) != FcResultMatch)
+        fc_hinting = FcTrue;
+
+    FcBool fc_antialias;
+    if (FcPatternGetBool(final_pattern, FC_ANTIALIAS, 0, &fc_antialias) != FcResultMatch)
+        fc_antialias = FcTrue;
+
+    int fc_hintstyle;
+    if (FcPatternGetInteger(final_pattern, FC_HINT_STYLE, 0, &fc_hintstyle) != FcResultMatch)
+        fc_hintstyle = FC_HINT_SLIGHT;
+
+    int fc_rgba;
+    if (FcPatternGetInteger(final_pattern, FC_RGBA, 0, &fc_rgba) != FcResultMatch)
+        fc_rgba = FC_RGBA_UNKNOWN;
+
+    int load_flags = 0;
+    if (!fc_antialias) {
+        if (!fc_hinting || fc_hintstyle == FC_HINT_NONE)
+            load_flags |= FT_LOAD_MONOCHROME | FT_LOAD_NO_HINTING | FT_LOAD_TARGET_NORMAL;
+        else
+            load_flags |= FT_LOAD_MONOCHROME | FT_LOAD_TARGET_MONO;
+    } else {
+        if (!fc_hinting || fc_hintstyle == FC_HINT_NONE)
+            load_flags |= FT_LOAD_DEFAULT | FT_LOAD_NO_HINTING | FT_LOAD_TARGET_NORMAL;
+        else if (fc_hinting && fc_hintstyle == FC_HINT_SLIGHT)
+            load_flags |= FT_LOAD_DEFAULT | FT_LOAD_TARGET_LIGHT;
+        else if (fc_rgba == FC_RGBA_RGB || fc_rgba == FC_RGBA_BGR)
+            load_flags |= FT_LOAD_DEFAULT | FT_LOAD_TARGET_LCD;
+        else if (fc_rgba == FC_RGBA_VRGB || fc_rgba == FC_RGBA_VBGR)
+            load_flags |= FT_LOAD_DEFAULT | FT_LOAD_TARGET_LCD_V;
+        else
+            load_flags |= FT_LOAD_DEFAULT | FT_LOAD_TARGET_NORMAL;
+    }
+
+    FcBool fc_embeddedbitmap;
+    if (FcPatternGetBool(final_pattern, FC_EMBEDDED_BITMAP, 0, &fc_embeddedbitmap) != FcResultMatch)
+        fc_embeddedbitmap = FcTrue;
+
+    if (!fc_embeddedbitmap)
+        load_flags |= FT_LOAD_NO_BITMAP;
+
+    int render_flags = 0;
+    if (!fc_antialias)
+        render_flags |= FT_RENDER_MODE_MONO;
+    else {
+        if (fc_rgba == FC_RGBA_RGB || fc_rgba == FC_RGBA_BGR)
+            render_flags |= FT_RENDER_MODE_LCD;
+        else if (fc_rgba == FC_RGBA_VRGB || fc_rgba == FC_RGBA_VBGR)
+            render_flags |= FT_RENDER_MODE_LCD_V;
+        else
+            render_flags |= FT_RENDER_MODE_NORMAL;
+    }
+
+    int fc_lcdfilter;
+    if (FcPatternGetInteger(final_pattern, FC_LCD_FILTER, 0, &fc_lcdfilter) != FcResultMatch)
+        fc_lcdfilter = FC_LCD_DEFAULT;
+
+    switch (fc_lcdfilter) {
+    case FC_LCD_NONE:    font->lcd_filter = FT_LCD_FILTER_NONE; break;
+    case FC_LCD_DEFAULT: font->lcd_filter = FT_LCD_FILTER_DEFAULT; break;
+    case FC_LCD_LIGHT:   font->lcd_filter = FT_LCD_FILTER_LIGHT; break;
+    case FC_LCD_LEGACY:  font->lcd_filter = FT_LCD_FILTER_LEGACY; break;
+    }
+
+    FcPatternDestroy(final_pattern);
+
+    int max_x_advance = ft_face->size->metrics.max_advance / 64;
+    int height = ft_face->size->metrics.height / 64;
+    int descent = ft_face->size->metrics.descender / 64;
+    int ascent = ft_face->size->metrics.ascender / 64;
+
+    mtx_init(&font->lock, mtx_plain);
+    font->face = ft_face;
+    font->load_flags = load_flags | FT_LOAD_COLOR;
+    font->render_flags = render_flags;
+    font->pixel_size_fixup = scalable ? pixel_fixup : 1.;
+    font->bgr = fc_rgba == FC_RGBA_BGR || fc_rgba == FC_RGBA_VBGR;
+    font->fc_idx = font_idx;
+    font->is_fallback = is_fallback;
+    font->ref_counter = 1;
+
+    font->fextents.height = height * font->pixel_size_fixup;
+    font->fextents.descent = -descent * font->pixel_size_fixup;
+    font->fextents.ascent = ascent * font->pixel_size_fixup;
+    font->fextents.max_x_advance = max_x_advance * font->pixel_size_fixup;
+
+    LOG_DBG("metrics: height: %d, descent: %d, ascent: %d, x-advance: %d",
+            height, descent, ascent, max_x_advance);
+
+    if (!is_fallback) {
+        font->fc_pattern = pattern;
+        font->fc_fonts = fonts;
+        font->cache = calloc(glyph_cache_size, sizeof(font->cache[0]));
+    }
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 struct font *
-font_new(const char *name)
+font_from_name(const char *name)
 {
-    /* Check if font have already been loaded */
-    tll_foreach(cache, it) {
-        if (strcmp(name, it->item->name) == 0)
+    LOG_DBG("instantiating %s", name);
+
+    tll_foreach(font_cache, it) {
+        if (strcmp(it->item->name, name) == 0)
             return font_clone(it->item);
     }
 
@@ -68,58 +287,273 @@ font_new(const char *name)
     FcDefaultSubstitute(pattern);
 
     FcResult result;
-    FcPattern *final_pattern = FcFontMatch(NULL, pattern, &result);
-    FcPatternDestroy(pattern);
-
-    if (final_pattern == NULL) {
+    FcFontSet *fonts = FcFontSort(NULL, pattern, FcTrue, NULL, &result);
+    if (result != FcResultMatch) {
         LOG_ERR("%s: failed to match font", name);
-        return NULL;
-    }
-
-    double font_size;
-    if (FcPatternGetDouble(final_pattern, FC_PIXEL_SIZE, 0, &font_size)) {
-        LOG_ERR("%s: failed to get size", name);
-        FcPatternDestroy(final_pattern);
-        return NULL;
-    }
-
-    cairo_font_face_t *face = cairo_ft_font_face_create_for_pattern(
-        final_pattern);
-
-    FcPatternDestroy(final_pattern);
-
-    if (cairo_font_face_status(face) != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
-        LOG_ERR("%s: failed to create cairo font face", name);
-        cairo_font_face_destroy(face);
-        return NULL;
-    }
-
-    cairo_matrix_t matrix, ctm;
-    cairo_matrix_init_identity(&ctm);
-    cairo_matrix_init_scale(&matrix, font_size, font_size);
-
-    cairo_font_options_t *options = cairo_font_options_create();
-    cairo_scaled_font_t *scaled_font = cairo_scaled_font_create(
-        face, &matrix, &ctm, options);
-
-    cairo_font_options_destroy(options);
-    cairo_font_face_destroy(face);
-
-    if (cairo_scaled_font_status(scaled_font) != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
-        LOG_ERR("%s: failed to create scaled font", name);
-        cairo_scaled_font_destroy(scaled_font);
+        FcPatternDestroy(pattern);
         return NULL;
     }
 
     struct font *font = malloc(sizeof(*font));
-    font->name = strdup(name);
-    font->scaled_font = scaled_font;
-    font->ref_counter = 1;
+    if (!from_font_set(pattern, fonts, 0, font, false)) {
+        free(font);
+        FcFontSetDestroy(fonts);
+        FcPatternDestroy(pattern);
+        return NULL;
+    }
 
-    tll_push_back(cache, font);
+    font->name = strdup(name);
+    tll_push_back(font_cache, font);
     return font;
 }
 
+static size_t
+hash_index(wchar_t wc)
+{
+    return wc % glyph_cache_size;
+}
+
+static bool
+glyph_for_wchar(const struct font *font, wchar_t wc, struct glyph *glyph)
+{
+    /*
+     * LCD filter is per library instance. Thus we need to re-set it
+     * every time...
+     *
+     * Also note that many freetype builds lack this feature
+     * (FT_CONFIG_OPTION_SUBPIXEL_RENDERING must be defined, and isn't
+     * by default) */
+    FT_Error err = FT_Library_SetLcdFilter(ft_lib, font->lcd_filter);
+    if (err != 0 && err != FT_Err_Unimplemented_Feature)
+        goto err;
+
+    FT_UInt idx = FT_Get_Char_Index(font->face, wc);
+    if (idx == 0) {
+        /* No glyph in this font, try fontconfig fallback fonts */
+
+        /* Try fontconfig fallback fonts */
+        assert(font->fc_pattern != NULL);
+        assert(font->fc_fonts != NULL);
+        assert(font->fc_idx != -1);
+
+        for (int i = font->fc_idx + 1; i < font->fc_fonts->nfont; i++) {
+            struct font fallback;
+            if (!from_font_set(font->fc_pattern, font->fc_fonts, i, &fallback, true))
+                continue;
+
+            if (glyph_for_wchar(&fallback, wc, glyph)) {
+                LOG_DBG("%C: used fontconfig fallback", wc);
+                font_destroy_no_free(&fallback);
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            font_destroy_no_free(&fallback);
+        }
+
+        LOG_WARN("%C: no glyph found (in neither the main font, "
+                 "nor any fallback fonts)", wc);
+    }
+
+    err = FT_Load_Glyph(font->face, idx, font->load_flags);
+    if (err != 0) {
+        LOG_ERR("load failed");
+        goto err;
+    }
+
+    err = FT_Render_Glyph(font->face->glyph, font->render_flags);
+    if (err != 0)
+        goto err;
+
+    assert(font->face->glyph->format == FT_GLYPH_FORMAT_BITMAP);
+
+    FT_Bitmap *bitmap = &font->face->glyph->bitmap;
+    if (bitmap->width == 0)
+        goto err;
+
+    pixman_format_code_t pix_format;
+    int width;
+    int rows;
+
+    switch (bitmap->pixel_mode) {
+    case FT_PIXEL_MODE_MONO:
+        pix_format = PIXMAN_a1;
+        width = bitmap->width;
+        rows = bitmap->rows;
+        break;
+
+    case FT_PIXEL_MODE_GRAY:
+        pix_format = PIXMAN_a8;
+        width = bitmap->width;
+        rows = bitmap->rows;
+        break;
+
+    case FT_PIXEL_MODE_LCD:
+        pix_format = PIXMAN_x8r8g8b8;
+        width = bitmap->width / 3;
+        rows = bitmap->rows;
+        break;
+
+    case FT_PIXEL_MODE_LCD_V:
+        pix_format = PIXMAN_x8r8g8b8;
+        width = bitmap->width;
+        rows = bitmap->rows / 3;
+        break;
+
+    case FT_PIXEL_MODE_BGRA:
+        pix_format = PIXMAN_a8r8g8b8;
+        width = bitmap->width;
+        rows = bitmap->rows;
+        break;
+
+    default:
+        LOG_ERR("unimplemented: FT pixel mode: %d", bitmap->pixel_mode);
+        goto err;
+        break;
+    }
+
+    int stride = stride_for_format_and_width(pix_format, width);
+    assert(stride >= bitmap->pitch);
+
+    uint8_t *data = malloc(rows * stride);
+
+    /* Convert FT bitmap to pixman image */
+    switch (bitmap->pixel_mode) {
+    case FT_PIXEL_MODE_MONO:
+        for (size_t r = 0; r < bitmap->rows; r++) {
+            for (size_t c = 0; c < (bitmap->width + 7) / 8; c++) {
+                uint8_t v = bitmap->buffer[r * bitmap->pitch + c];
+                uint8_t reversed = 0;
+                for (size_t i = 0; i < min(8, bitmap->width - c * 8); i++)
+                    reversed |= ((v >> (7 - i)) & 1) << i;
+
+                data[r * stride + c] = reversed;
+            }
+        }
+        break;
+
+    case FT_PIXEL_MODE_GRAY:
+        for (size_t r = 0; r < bitmap->rows; r++) {
+            for (size_t c = 0; c < bitmap->width; c++)
+                data[r * stride + c] = bitmap->buffer[r * bitmap->pitch + c];
+        }
+        break;
+
+    case FT_PIXEL_MODE_BGRA:
+        assert(stride == bitmap->pitch);
+        memcpy(data, bitmap->buffer, bitmap->rows * bitmap->pitch);
+        break;
+
+    case FT_PIXEL_MODE_LCD:
+        for (size_t r = 0; r < bitmap->rows; r++) {
+            for (size_t c = 0; c < bitmap->width; c += 3) {
+                unsigned char _r = bitmap->buffer[r * bitmap->pitch + c + (font->bgr ? 2 : 0)];
+                unsigned char _g = bitmap->buffer[r * bitmap->pitch + c + 1];
+                unsigned char _b = bitmap->buffer[r * bitmap->pitch + c + (font->bgr ? 0 : 2)];
+
+                uint32_t *p = (uint32_t *)&data[r * stride + 4 * (c / 3)];
+                *p =  _r << 16 | _g << 8 | _b;
+            }
+        }
+        break;
+
+    case FT_PIXEL_MODE_LCD_V:
+        /* Unverified */
+        for (size_t r = 0; r < bitmap->rows; r += 3) {
+            for (size_t c = 0; c < bitmap->width; c++) {
+                unsigned char _r = bitmap->buffer[(r + (font->bgr ? 2 : 0)) * bitmap->pitch + c];
+                unsigned char _g = bitmap->buffer[(r + 1) * bitmap->pitch + c];
+                unsigned char _b = bitmap->buffer[(r + (font->bgr ? 0 : 2)) * bitmap->pitch + c];
+
+                uint32_t *p = (uint32_t *)&data[r / 3 * stride + 4 * c];
+                *p =  _r << 16 | _g << 8 | _b;
+            }
+        }
+        break;
+
+    default:
+        abort();
+        break;
+    }
+
+    pixman_image_t *pix = pixman_image_create_bits_no_clear(
+        pix_format, width, rows, (uint32_t *)data, stride);
+
+    if (pix == NULL) {
+        free(data);
+        goto err;
+    }
+
+    pixman_image_set_component_alpha(
+        pix,
+        bitmap->pixel_mode == FT_PIXEL_MODE_LCD ||
+        bitmap->pixel_mode == FT_PIXEL_MODE_LCD_V);
+
+    if (font->pixel_size_fixup != 1.) {
+        struct pixman_transform scale;
+        pixman_transform_init_scale(
+            &scale,
+            pixman_double_to_fixed(1. / font->pixel_size_fixup),
+            pixman_double_to_fixed(1. / font->pixel_size_fixup));
+        pixman_image_set_transform(pix, &scale);
+    }
+
+    *glyph = (struct glyph){
+        .wc = wc,
+        .cols = wcwidth(wc),
+        .pix = pix,
+        .x = font->face->glyph->bitmap_left / font->pixel_size_fixup,
+        .y = font->face->glyph->bitmap_top * font->pixel_size_fixup,
+        .x_advance = font->face->glyph->advance.x / 64,
+        .width = width,
+        .height = rows,
+        .valid = true,
+    };
+
+    return true;
+
+err:
+    *glyph = (struct glyph){
+        .wc = wc,
+        .valid = false,
+    };
+    return false;
+}
+
+const struct glyph *
+font_glyph_for_wc(struct font *font, wchar_t wc)
+{
+    mtx_lock(&font->lock);
+
+    assert(font->cache != NULL);
+    size_t hash_idx = hash_index(wc);
+    hash_entry_t *hash_entry = font->cache[hash_idx];
+
+    if (hash_entry != NULL) {
+        tll_foreach(*hash_entry, it) {
+            if (it->item.wc == wc) {
+                mtx_unlock(&font->lock);
+                return it->item.valid ? &it->item : NULL;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    struct glyph glyph;
+    bool got_glyph = glyph_for_wchar(font, wc, &glyph);
+
+    if (hash_entry == NULL) {
+        hash_entry = calloc(1, sizeof(*hash_entry));
+
+        assert(font->cache[hash_idx] == NULL);
+        font->cache[hash_idx] = hash_entry;
+    }
+
+    assert(hash_entry != NULL);
+    tll_push_back(*hash_entry, glyph);
+
+    mtx_unlock(&font->lock);
+    return got_glyph ? &tll_back(*hash_entry) : NULL;
+}
+
 struct font *
 font_clone(const struct font *_font)
 {
@@ -131,33 +565,6 @@ font_clone(const struct font *_font)
 void
 font_destroy(struct font *font)
 {
-    if (font == NULL)
-        return;
-
-    assert(font->ref_counter > 0);
-    if (--font->ref_counter > 0)
-        return;
-
-    tll_foreach(cache, it) {
-        if (it->item == font) {
-            tll_remove(cache, it);
-            break;
-        }
-    }
-
-    cairo_scaled_font_destroy(font->scaled_font);
-    free(font->name);
-    free(font);
-}
-
-const char *
-font_face(const struct font *font)
-{
-    return font->name;
-}
-
-cairo_scaled_font_t *
-font_scaled_font(const struct font *font)
-{
-    return font->scaled_font;
+    if (font_destroy_no_free(font))
+        free(font);
 }
diff --git a/font.h b/font.h
index 45c8987..3953ac9 100644
--- a/font.h
+++ b/font.h
@@ -1,15 +1,71 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
-#include <cairo.h>
+#include <threads.h>
 
-#include "color.h"
+#include <ft2build.h>
+#include FT_FREETYPE_H
+#include FT_LCD_FILTER_H
+#include <fontconfig/fontconfig.h>
+#include <pixman.h>
 
-struct font;
+#include "tllist.h"
 
-struct font *font_new(const char *name);
+struct glyph {
+    wchar_t wc;
+    int cols;
+
+    pixman_image_t *pix;
+    int x;
+    int y;
+    int x_advance;
+    int width;
+    int height;
+
+    bool valid;
+};
+
+typedef tll(struct glyph) hash_entry_t;
+
+struct font {
+    char *name;
+
+    FcPattern *fc_pattern;
+    FcFontSet *fc_fonts;
+    int fc_idx;
+
+    FT_Face face;
+    int load_flags;
+    int render_flags;
+    FT_LcdFilter lcd_filter;
+    double pixel_size_fixup; /* Scale factor - should only be used with ARGB32 glyphs */
+    bool bgr;  /* True for FC_RGBA_BGR and FC_RGBA_VBGR */
+
+    struct {
+        int height;
+        int descent;
+        int ascent;
+        int max_x_advance;
+    } fextents;
+
+    struct {
+        int position;
+        int thickness;
+    } underline;
+
+    struct {
+        int position;
+        int thickness;
+    } strikeout;
+
+    hash_entry_t **cache;
+    mtx_t lock;
+
+    bool is_fallback;
+    int ref_counter;
+};
+
+struct font *font_from_name(const char *name);
 struct font *font_clone(const struct font *font);
+const struct glyph *font_glyph_for_wc(struct font *font, wchar_t wc);
 void font_destroy(struct font *font);
-
-const char *font_face(const struct font *font);
-cairo_scaled_font_t *font_scaled_font(const struct font *font);
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 34c9c95..f1014a7 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ endif
 cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
 dl = cc.find_library('dl')
 threads = dependency('threads')
+freetype = dependency('freetype2')
 fontconfig = dependency('fontconfig')
+pixman = dependency('pixman-1')
 cairo = dependency('cairo')
 cairo_ft = dependency('cairo-ft')
 yaml = dependency('yaml-0.1')
@@ -104,7 +106,7 @@ f00bar = executable(
   'tag.c', 'tag.h',
   'tllist.h',
   'yml.c', 'yml.h',
-  dependencies: [bar, cairo, cairo_ft, fontconfig, yaml, threads, dl] +
+  dependencies: [bar, freetype, fontconfig, pixman, cairo, cairo_ft, yaml, threads, dl] +
                 decorations + particles + modules,
   build_rpath: '$ORIGIN/modules:$ORIGIN/decorations:$ORIGIN/particles',
   export_dynamic: true,
@@ -122,6 +124,7 @@ install_headers(
   'log.h',
   'module.h',
   'particle.h',
+  'stride.h',
   'tag.h',
   'tllist.h',
   'yml.h',
diff --git a/particles/string.c b/particles/string.c
index a276c75..e4818dc 100644
--- a/particles/string.c
+++ b/particles/string.c
@@ -19,13 +19,8 @@ struct eprivate {
     /* Set when instantiating */
     char *text;
 
-    /* Set in begin_expose() */
-    cairo_font_extents_t fextents;
-    cairo_glyph_t *glyphs;
-    cairo_text_cluster_t *clusters;
-    cairo_text_cluster_flags_t cluster_flags;
+    const struct glyph **glyphs;
     int num_glyphs;
-    int num_clusters;
 };
 
 static void
@@ -34,11 +29,7 @@ exposable_destroy(struct exposable *exposable)
     struct eprivate *e = exposable->private;
 
     free(e->text);
-    if (e->glyphs != NULL)
-        cairo_glyph_free(e->glyphs);
-    if (e->clusters != NULL)
-        cairo_text_cluster_free(e->clusters);
-
+    free(e->glyphs);
     free(e);
     exposable_default_destroy(exposable);
 }
@@ -48,48 +39,58 @@ begin_expose(struct exposable *exposable, cairo_t *cr)
 {
     struct eprivate *e = exposable->private;
 
-    cairo_scaled_font_t *scaled = font_scaled_font(exposable->particle->font);
-
-    cairo_set_scaled_font(cr, scaled);
-    cairo_font_extents(cr, &e->fextents);
+    struct font *font = exposable->particle->font;
 
     LOG_DBG("%s: ascent=%f, descent=%f, height=%f",
-            font_face(exposable->particle->font),
-            e->fextents.ascent, e->fextents.descent, e->fextents.height);
+            font->name, font->fextents.ascent,
+            font->fextents.descent, font->fextents.height);
 
-    cairo_status_t status = cairo_scaled_font_text_to_glyphs(
-        scaled, 0, 0, e->text, -1, &e->glyphs, &e->num_glyphs,
-        &e->clusters, &e->num_clusters, &e->cluster_flags);
+    size_t chars = mbstowcs(NULL, e->text, 0);
+    wchar_t wtext[chars + 1];
+    mbstowcs(wtext, e->text, chars + 1);
 
-    if (status != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
-        LOG_WARN("failed to convert \"%s\" to glyphs: %s",
-                 e->text, cairo_status_to_string(status));
+    e->glyphs = malloc(chars * sizeof(e->glyphs[0]));
+    e->num_glyphs = 0;
 
-        e->num_glyphs = -1;
-        e->num_clusters = -1;
-        memset(&e->fextents, 0, sizeof(e->fextents));
-        exposable->width = 0;
-    } else {
-        cairo_text_extents_t extents;
-        cairo_scaled_font_glyph_extents(
-            scaled, e->glyphs, e->num_glyphs, &extents);
-
-        exposable->width = (exposable->particle->left_margin +
-                            extents.x_advance +
-                            exposable->particle->right_margin);
+    /* Convert text to glyph masks/images. */
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < chars; i++) {
+        const struct glyph *glyph = font_glyph_for_wc(font, wtext[i]);
+        if (glyph == NULL)
+            continue;
+        e->glyphs[e->num_glyphs++] = glyph;
     }
 
+    exposable->width = exposable->particle->left_margin +
+        exposable->particle->right_margin;
+
+    /* Calculate the size we need to render the glyphs */
+    for (int i = 0; i < e->num_glyphs; i++)
+        exposable->width += e->glyphs[i]->x_advance;
+
     return exposable->width;
 }
 
+static inline pixman_color_t
+color_hex_to_pixman_with_alpha(uint32_t color, uint16_t alpha)
+{
+    int alpha_div = 0xffff / alpha;
+    return (pixman_color_t){
+        .red =   ((color >> 16 & 0xff) | (color >> 8 & 0xff00)) / alpha_div,
+        .green = ((color >>  8 & 0xff) | (color >> 0 & 0xff00)) / alpha_div,
+        .blue =  ((color >>  0 & 0xff) | (color << 8 & 0xff00)) / alpha_div,
+        .alpha = alpha,
+    };
+}
+
 static void
 expose(const struct exposable *exposable, cairo_t *cr, int x, int y, int height)
 {
     exposable_render_deco(exposable, cr, x, y, height);
 
     const struct eprivate *e = exposable->private;
+    const struct font *font = exposable->particle->font;
 
-    if (e->num_glyphs == -1)
+    if (e->num_glyphs == 0)
         return;
 
     /*
@@ -108,63 +109,55 @@ expose(const struct exposable *exposable, cairo_t *cr, int x, int y, int height)
      * font family.
      */
     const double baseline = (double)y +
-      (double)(height + e->fextents.ascent + e->fextents.descent) / 2.0 -
-      (e->fextents.descent > 0 ? e->fextents.descent : 0);
+        (double)(height + font->fextents.ascent + font->fextents.descent) / 2.0 -
+        (font->fextents.descent > 0 ? font->fextents.descent : 0);
 
-    /* Adjust glyph offsets */
+    /* TODO: get rid of cairo?... */
+    cairo_surface_t *surf = cairo_get_target(cr);
+    cairo_surface_flush(surf);
+
+    pixman_image_t *pix = pixman_image_create_bits_no_clear(
+        PIXMAN_a8r8g8b8,
+        cairo_image_surface_get_width(surf),
+        cairo_image_surface_get_height(surf),
+        (uint32_t *)cairo_image_surface_get_data(surf),
+        cairo_image_surface_get_stride(surf));
+
+    uint32_t hex_color =
+        (uint32_t)(uint8_t)(exposable->particle->foreground.red * 255) << 16 |
+        (uint32_t)(uint8_t)(exposable->particle->foreground.green * 255) << 8 |
+        (uint32_t)(uint8_t)(exposable->particle->foreground.blue * 255) << 0;
+    uint16_t alpha = exposable->particle->foreground.alpha * 65535;
+    pixman_color_t fg = color_hex_to_pixman_with_alpha(hex_color, alpha);
+
+    x += exposable->particle->left_margin;
+
+    /* Loop glyphs and render them, one by one */
     for (int i = 0; i < e->num_glyphs; i++) {
-        e->glyphs[i].x += x + exposable->particle->left_margin;
-        e->glyphs[i].y += baseline;
+        const struct glyph *glyph = e->glyphs[i];
+        assert(glyph != NULL);
+
+        if (pixman_image_get_format(glyph->pix) == PIXMAN_a8r8g8b8) {
+            /* Glyph surface is a pre-rendered image (typically a color emoji...) */
+            pixman_image_composite32(
+                PIXMAN_OP_OVER, glyph->pix, NULL, pix, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+                x + glyph->x, baseline - glyph->y,
+                glyph->width, glyph->height);
+        } else {
+            /* Glyph surface is an alpha mask */
+            pixman_image_t *src = pixman_image_create_solid_fill(&fg);
+            pixman_image_composite32(
+                PIXMAN_OP_OVER, src, glyph->pix, pix, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+                x + glyph->x, baseline - glyph->y,
+                glyph->width, glyph->height);
+            pixman_image_unref(src);
+        }
+
+        x += glyph->x_advance;
     }
 
-    cairo_scaled_font_t *scaled = font_scaled_font(exposable->particle->font);
-    cairo_set_scaled_font(cr, scaled);
-    cairo_set_source_rgba(cr,
-                          exposable->particle->foreground.red,
-                          exposable->particle->foreground.green,
-                          exposable->particle->foreground.blue,
-                          exposable->particle->foreground.alpha);
-    cairo_set_operator(cr, CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER);
-
-    cairo_show_text_glyphs(
-        cr, e->text, -1, e->glyphs, e->num_glyphs,
-        e->clusters, e->num_clusters, e->cluster_flags);
-
-#if 0
-    cairo_text_extents_t extents;
-    cairo_scaled_font_glyph_extents(scaled, e->glyphs, e->num_glyphs, &extents);
-
-    /* Bar center */
-    cairo_set_line_width(cr, 1);
-    cairo_set_source_rgba(cr, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
-    cairo_move_to(cr, x, (double)y + (double)height / 2 + 0.5);
-    cairo_line_to(cr, x + extents.x_advance, (double)y + (double)height / 2 + 0.5);
-    cairo_stroke(cr);
-
-    /* Ascent */
-    cairo_set_source_rgba(cr, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1.0);
-    cairo_move_to(cr, x, baseline - e->fextents.ascent + 0.5);
-    cairo_line_to(cr, x + extents.x_advance, baseline - e->fextents.ascent + 0.5);
-    cairo_stroke(cr);
-
-    /* Descent */
-    cairo_set_source_rgba(cr, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0);
-    cairo_move_to(cr, x, baseline + e->fextents.descent + 0.5);
-    cairo_line_to(cr, x + extents.x_advance, baseline + e->fextents.descent + 0.5);
-    cairo_stroke(cr);
-
-    /* Height (!= ascent + descent) */
-    cairo_set_source_rgba(cr, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
-    cairo_move_to(cr, x - 3 + 0.5, (double)y + (double)(height - e->fextents.height) / 2);
-    cairo_line_to(cr, x - 3 + 0.5, (double)y + (double)(height + e->fextents.height) / 2);
-    cairo_stroke(cr);
-
-    /* Height (ascent + descent) */
-    cairo_set_source_rgba(cr, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
-    cairo_move_to(cr, x - 1 + 0.5, (double)y + (double)(height - (e->fextents.ascent + e->fextents.descent)) / 2);
-    cairo_line_to(cr, x - 1 + 0.5, (double)y + (double)(height + (e->fextents.ascent + e->fextents.descent)) / 2);
-    cairo_stroke(cr);
-#endif
+    pixman_image_unref(pix);
+    cairo_surface_mark_dirty(surf);
 }
 
 static struct exposable *
@@ -174,8 +167,8 @@ instantiate(const struct particle *particle, const struct tag_set *tags)
     struct eprivate *e = calloc(1, sizeof(*e));
 
     e->text = tags_expand_template(p->text, tags);
-    e->num_glyphs = -1;
-    e->num_clusters = -1;
+    e->glyphs = NULL;
+    e->num_glyphs = 0;
 
     if (p->max_len > 0) {
         const size_t len = strlen(e->text);
diff --git a/stride.h b/stride.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2c71a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stride.h
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <pixman.h>
+
+static inline int
+stride_for_format_and_width(pixman_format_code_t format, int width)
+{
+    return (((PIXMAN_FORMAT_BPP(format) * width + 7) / 8 + 4 - 1) & -4);
+}