diff --git a/src/background.c b/src/background.c
index 5302b87..0cee896 100644
--- a/src/background.c
+++ b/src/background.c
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 
 void background_init(struct background* background) {
   background->enabled = false;
+  background->overrides_height = false;
 
   background->height = 0;
+  background->width = 0;
   background->border_width = 0;
   background->padding_left = 0;
   background->padding_right = 0;
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ bool background_set_enabled(struct background* background, bool enabled) {
 bool background_set_height(struct background* background, uint32_t height) {
   if (background->height == height) return false;
   background->height = height;
+  background->overrides_height = height != 0;
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -71,6 +74,12 @@ bool background_set_padding_right(struct background* background, uint32_t pad) {
   return true;
 }
 
+void background_draw(struct background* background, CGPoint origin, CGContextRef context) {
+  if (!background->enabled) return;
+  CGRect draw_region = {{origin.x, origin.y}, {background->width, background->height}};
+  draw_rect(context, draw_region, &background->color, background->corner_radius, background->border_width, &background->border_color, false);
+}
+
 static bool background_parse_sub_domain(struct background* background, FILE* rsp, struct token property, char* message) {
   if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_DRAWING))
     return background_set_enabled(background, evaluate_boolean_state(get_token(&message), background->enabled));
diff --git a/src/background.h b/src/background.h
index 59edd08..14df446 100644
--- a/src/background.h
+++ b/src/background.h
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 #ifndef BACKGROUND_H
 #define BACKGROUND_H
 
+#include <stdint.h>
 struct background {
   bool enabled;
+  bool overrides_height;
   uint32_t height;
+  uint32_t width;
   uint32_t corner_radius;
   uint32_t border_width;
   int padding_left;
@@ -22,6 +25,8 @@ bool background_set_corner_radius(struct background* background, uint32_t corner
 bool background_set_padding_left(struct background* background, uint32_t pad);
 bool background_set_padding_right(struct background* background, uint32_t pad);
 
+void background_draw(struct background* background, CGPoint origin, CGContextRef context);
+
 static bool background_parse_sub_domain(struct background* background, FILE* rsp, struct token property, char* message);
 
 #endif // !BACKGROUND_H
diff --git a/src/bar.c b/src/bar.c
index 8324601..a3b3fa3 100644
--- a/src/bar.c
+++ b/src/bar.c
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 #include "alias.h"
 #include "bar_item.h"
 #include "display.h"
+#include "graph.h"
 #include "misc/helpers.h"
+#include "text.h"
 #include <_types/_uint32_t.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 
@@ -34,12 +36,6 @@ static CGPoint bar_align_line(struct bar *bar, struct text_line* line, int align
   return (CGPoint) { x, y };
 }
 
-static void bar_draw_line(struct bar *bar, struct text_line* line, float x, float y) {
-  CGContextSetRGBFillColor(bar->context, line->color.r, line->color.g, line->color.b, line->color.a);
-  CGContextSetTextPosition(bar->context, x, y);
-  CTLineDraw(line->line, bar->context);
-}
-
 void bar_draw_graph_line(struct bar *bar, struct graph* graph, uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t height, bool right_to_left) {
   y-= height / 2;
   uint32_t sample_width = 1;
@@ -121,30 +117,11 @@ bool bar_draws_item(struct bar* bar, struct bar_item* bar_item) {
 }
 
 void bar_draw_bar_items(struct bar* bar) {
-  bool atomic_redraw = true;
   SLSDisableUpdate(g_connection);
   SLSOrderWindow(g_connection, bar->id, -1, 0);
   SLSRemoveAllTrackingAreas(g_connection, bar->id);
 
-  if (g_bar_manager.picky_redraw) {
-    for (int i = 0; i < g_bar_manager.bar_item_count; i++) {
-      struct bar_item* bar_item = g_bar_manager.bar_items[i];
-
-      if (!bar_item->queued_for_redraw || !bar_draws_item(bar, bar_item)) continue;
-      if (atomic_redraw && bar_item->num_rects >= bar->adid && bar_item->bounding_rects[bar->adid - 1]) {
-        CGRect draw_region = {{bar_item->bounding_rects[bar->adid - 1]->origin.x - bar->origin.x, 0},
-                              {bar_item->bounding_rects[bar->adid - 1]->size.width, bar->frame.size.height}};
-        draw_rect(bar->context, CGRectInset(draw_region, g_bar_manager.background.border_width, 0), &g_bar_manager.background.color, 0, 0, &g_bar_manager.background.border_color, true);
-      }
-      atomic_redraw &= bar_item->redraw_in_place;
-    }
-  } else
-    atomic_redraw = false;
-    
-  if (!bar->background_exists || !atomic_redraw) {
-    draw_rect(bar->context, bar->frame, &g_bar_manager.background.color, g_bar_manager.background.corner_radius, g_bar_manager.background.border_width, &g_bar_manager.background.border_color, true);
-    bar->background_exists = true;
-  }
+  draw_rect(bar->context, bar->frame, &g_bar_manager.background.color, g_bar_manager.background.corner_radius, g_bar_manager.background.border_width, &g_bar_manager.background.border_color, true);
 
   for (int i = 0; i < g_bar_manager.bar_item_count; i++) {
     struct bar_item* bar_item = g_bar_manager.bar_items[i];
@@ -153,20 +130,18 @@ void bar_draw_bar_items(struct bar* bar) {
     if (!bar_draws_item(bar, bar_item)) continue;
 
     bar_item_append_associated_bar(bar_item, bar->adid);
-    if (!bar_item->queued_for_redraw && atomic_redraw) continue;
 
     if (bar_item->update_mask & UPDATE_MOUSE_ENTERED || bar_item->update_mask & UPDATE_MOUSE_EXITED)
       SLSAddTrackingRect(g_connection, bar->id, CGRectInset(bar_item_construct_bounding_rect(bar_item), 1, 1));
 
-    struct text_line* label = &bar_item->label.line;
-    struct text_line* icon = &bar_item->icon.line;
-
     bar_item_set_bounding_rect_for_display(bar_item, bar->adid, bar->origin);
 
     bar_draw_group(bar, bar_item, bar->adid);
     bar_draw_item_background(bar, bar_item, bar->adid);
-    bar_draw_line(bar, icon, icon->bounds.origin.x, icon->bounds.origin.y + bar_item->y_offset);
-    bar_draw_line(bar, label, label->bounds.origin.x, label->bounds.origin.y + bar_item->y_offset);
+
+    text_draw(&bar_item->icon, bar_item->icon.line.bounds.origin, bar->context);
+    text_draw(&bar_item->label, bar_item->label.line.bounds.origin, bar->context);
+
     bar_draw_alias(bar, bar_item, bar_item->sandwich_position);
     bar_draw_graph(bar, bar_item, bar_item->sandwich_position, bar_item->graph.rtl);
   }
@@ -191,93 +166,83 @@ void bar_redraw(struct bar* bar) {
 
     struct text_line* label = &bar_item->label.line;
     struct text_line* icon = &bar_item->icon.line;
+
     CGPoint icon_position = bar_align_line(bar, icon, ALIGN_CENTER, ALIGN_CENTER);
+    icon_position.y += bar_item->y_offset;
+
     CGPoint label_position = bar_align_line(bar, label, ALIGN_CENTER, ALIGN_CENTER);
+    label_position.y += bar_item->y_offset;
+
     uint32_t sandwich_position = 0;
-    bool graph_rtl = false;
+    bool rtl = false;
 
     if (bar_item->position == POSITION_LEFT) {
-      icon_position.x = bar_left_final_item_x + bar_item->icon.padding_left + bar_item->background.padding_left + 1;
-      label_position.x = icon_position.x + icon->bounds.size.width + bar_item->icon.padding_right + bar_item->label.padding_left;
+      icon_position.x = bar_left_final_item_x + bar_item->background.padding_left + 1;
+      label_position.x = icon_position.x + text_get_length(&bar_item->icon);
       
       if (!bar_item->has_const_width)
-        bar_left_final_item_x = label_position.x + label->bounds.size.width + bar_item->label.padding_right + bar_item->background.padding_right;
+        bar_left_final_item_x = label_position.x + text_get_length(&bar_item->label) + bar_item->background.padding_right;
       else
         bar_left_final_item_x += bar_item->custom_width;
       
+      sandwich_position = label_position.x;
       if (bar_item->has_graph) { 
         if (!bar_item->has_const_width)
-          bar_left_final_item_x += bar_item->graph.width;
-        sandwich_position = label_position.x - bar_item->label.padding_left;
-        label_position.x += bar_item->graph.width;
+          bar_left_final_item_x += graph_get_length(&bar_item->graph);
+        label_position.x += graph_get_length(&bar_item->graph);
       } else if (bar_item->has_alias) {
         if (!bar_item->has_const_width)
-          bar_left_final_item_x += bar_item->alias.bounds.size.width;
-        sandwich_position = label_position.x - bar_item->label.padding_left;
-        label_position.x += bar_item->alias.bounds.size.width;
+          bar_left_final_item_x += alias_get_length(&bar_item->alias);
+        label_position.x += alias_get_length(&bar_item->alias);
       }
     }
     else if (bar_item->position == POSITION_RIGHT) {
-      label_position.x = bar_right_first_item_x - label->bounds.size.width - bar_item->label.padding_right - bar_item->background.padding_right;
-      icon_position.x = label_position.x - icon->bounds.size.width - bar_item->icon.padding_right - bar_item->label.padding_left - 1;
+      rtl = true;
+      label_position.x = bar_right_first_item_x - text_get_length(&bar_item->label) - bar_item->background.padding_right;
+      icon_position.x = label_position.x - text_get_length(&bar_item->icon) - 1;
 
       if (!bar_item->has_const_width)
-        bar_right_first_item_x = icon_position.x - bar_item->icon.padding_left - bar_item->background.padding_left;
+        bar_right_first_item_x = icon_position.x - bar_item->background.padding_left;
       else 
         bar_right_first_item_x -= bar_item->custom_width;
 
       if (bar_item->has_graph) {
-        graph_rtl = true;
         if (!bar_item->has_const_width)
-          bar_right_first_item_x -= bar_item->graph.width;
-        sandwich_position = icon_position.x + bar_item->icon.padding_right + icon->bounds.size.width;
-        icon_position.x -= bar_item->graph.width;
+          bar_right_first_item_x -= graph_get_length(&bar_item->graph);
+        sandwich_position = icon_position.x + text_get_length(&bar_item->icon);
+        icon_position.x -= graph_get_length(&bar_item->graph);
       } else if (bar_item->has_alias) {
         if (!bar_item->has_const_width)
-          icon_position.x -= bar_item->alias.bounds.size.width;
-        sandwich_position = icon_position.x + bar_item->icon.padding_right + icon->bounds.size.width;
-        bar_right_first_item_x -= bar_item->alias.bounds.size.width;
+          icon_position.x -= alias_get_length(&bar_item->alias);
+        bar_right_first_item_x -= alias_get_length(&bar_item->alias); 
+        sandwich_position = icon_position.x + text_get_length(&bar_item->icon);
       }
     }
     else if (bar_item->position == POSITION_CENTER) {
-      icon_position.x = bar_center_first_item_x + bar_item->icon.padding_left + bar_item->background.padding_left + 1;
-      label_position.x = icon_position.x + icon->bounds.size.width + bar_item->icon.padding_right + bar_item->label.padding_left;
+      icon_position.x = bar_center_first_item_x + bar_item->background.padding_left + 1;
+      label_position.x = icon_position.x + text_get_length(&bar_item->icon);
 
       if (!bar_item->has_const_width)
-        bar_center_first_item_x = label_position.x + label->bounds.size.width + bar_item->label.padding_right + bar_item->background.padding_right;
+        bar_center_first_item_x = label_position.x + text_get_length(&bar_item->label) + bar_item->background.padding_right;
       else
         bar_center_first_item_x += bar_item->custom_width;
 
+      sandwich_position = label_position.x;
       if (bar_item->has_graph) {
         if (!bar_item->has_const_width)
-          bar_center_first_item_x += bar_item->graph.width;
-        sandwich_position = label_position.x - bar_item->label.padding_left;
-        label_position.x += bar_item->graph.width;
+          bar_center_first_item_x += graph_get_length(&bar_item->graph);
+        label_position.x += graph_get_length(&bar_item->graph);
       } else if (bar_item->has_alias) {
         if (!bar_item->has_const_width)
-          bar_center_first_item_x += bar_item->alias.bounds.size.width;
-        sandwich_position = label_position.x - bar_item->label.padding_left;
-        label_position.x += bar_item->alias.bounds.size.width;
+          bar_center_first_item_x += alias_get_length(&bar_item->alias); 
+        label_position.x += alias_get_length(&bar_item->alias); 
       }
     }
 
-    bar_item->queued_for_redraw = true;
-    bar_item->redraw_in_place = false;
-    if (g_bar_manager.picky_redraw) {
-      if (bar_item->num_rects >= bar->adid && bar_item->bounding_rects[bar->adid - 1]) {
-        if ((bar_item->bounding_rects[bar->adid - 1]->origin.x == icon_position.x - bar_item->icon.padding_left + bar->origin.x) && !bar_item->needs_update) {
-          bar_item->queued_for_redraw = false;
-        }
-        else if (bar_item->bounding_rects[bar->adid - 1]->origin.x == icon_position.x - bar_item->icon.padding_left + bar->origin.x 
-                 && bar_item->needs_update 
-                 && bar_item->bounding_rects[bar->adid - 1]->size.width >= bar_item_construct_bounding_rect(bar_item).size.width)
-          bar_item->redraw_in_place = true;
-      }
-    }
+    bar_item->icon.line.bounds.origin = icon_position;
+    bar_item->label.line.bounds.origin = label_position;
 
-    label->bounds.origin = label_position;
-    icon->bounds.origin = icon_position;
-    bar_item->graph.rtl = graph_rtl;
+    bar_item->graph.rtl = rtl;
     bar_item->sandwich_position = sandwich_position;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/bar.h b/src/bar.h
index 570e73f..b9e87ec 100644
--- a/src/bar.h
+++ b/src/bar.h
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ extern CGError SLSWindowSetShadowProperties(uint32_t wid, CFDictionaryRef proper
 
 struct bar {
   bool hidden;
-  bool background_exists;
   uint32_t id;
   uint32_t did;
   uint32_t sid;
diff --git a/src/bar_item.c b/src/bar_item.c
index 510cfac..acd62ef 100644
--- a/src/bar_item.c
+++ b/src/bar_item.c
@@ -295,7 +295,6 @@ void bar_item_remove_bounding_rect_for_display(struct bar_item* bar_item, uint32
 CGRect bar_item_construct_bounding_rect(struct bar_item* bar_item) {
   CGRect bounding_rect;
   bounding_rect.origin = bar_item->icon.line.bounds.origin;
-  bounding_rect.origin.x -= bar_item->icon.padding_left;
   bounding_rect.origin.y = bar_item->icon.line.bounds.origin.y < bar_item->label.line.bounds.origin.y ? bar_item->icon.line.bounds.origin.y : bar_item->label.line.bounds.origin.y + bar_item->y_offset;
   bounding_rect.size.width = bar_item_get_length(bar_item);
   bounding_rect.size.height = bar_item_get_height(bar_item);
diff --git a/src/bar_item.h b/src/bar_item.h
index 01ae135..a366c12 100644
--- a/src/bar_item.h
+++ b/src/bar_item.h
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ struct bar_item {
   bool drawing;
   bool has_const_width;
   uint32_t custom_width;
-  bool queued_for_redraw;
-  bool redraw_in_place;
 
   // These are 32bit masks where the ith bit represents the ith screen/display/bar association
   uint32_t associated_bar;
diff --git a/src/misc/helpers.h b/src/misc/helpers.h
index ae0b5f6..c2833d0 100644
--- a/src/misc/helpers.h
+++ b/src/misc/helpers.h
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 #define array_count(a) (sizeof((a)) / sizeof(*(a)))
 #define MAXLEN 512
-#define FORK_TIMEOUT 10
+#define FORK_TIMEOUT 60
 
 #include <string.h>
 extern CFArrayRef SLSCopyManagedDisplaySpaces(int cid);
diff --git a/src/text.c b/src/text.c
index d9a29a9..6c89432 100644
--- a/src/text.c
+++ b/src/text.c
@@ -26,9 +26,13 @@ static CTFontRef text_create_font(char *cstring) {
 }
 
 void text_init(struct text* text) {
+  text->drawing = true;
   text->highlight = false;
+  text->has_const_width = false;
+  text->custom_width = 0;
   text->padding_left = 0;
   text->padding_right = 0;
+  text->y_offset = 0;
 
   text->color = rgba_color_from_hex(0xffffffff);
 
@@ -105,6 +109,8 @@ void text_clear_pointers(struct text* text) {
 }
 
 uint32_t text_get_length(struct text* text) {
+  if (!text->drawing) return 0;
+  if (text->has_const_width) return text->custom_width;
   return (text->line.bounds.size.width + text->padding_left + text->padding_right) > 0 ? (text->line.bounds.size.width + text->padding_left + text->padding_right) : 0;
 }
 
@@ -125,25 +131,45 @@ void text_destroy(struct text* text) {
   text_clear_pointers(text);
 }
 
+void text_draw(struct text* text, CGPoint origin, CGContextRef context) {
+  if (!text->drawing) return;
+  CGContextSetRGBFillColor(context, text->line.color.r, text->line.color.g, text->line.color.b, text->line.color.a);
+  CGContextSetTextPosition(context, origin.x + text->padding_left, origin.y + text->y_offset);
+  CTLineDraw(text->line.line, context);
+}
+
 static bool text_parse_sub_domain(struct text* text, FILE* rsp, struct token property, char* message) {
   if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_COLOR))
     return text_set_color(text, token_to_uint32t(get_token(&message)));
   else if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_HIGHLIGHT)) {
     text->highlight = evaluate_boolean_state(get_token(&message), text->highlight);
     return text_update_color(text);
-  } 
-  else if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_FONT))
+  } else if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_FONT))
     return text_set_font(text, string_copy(message), false);
   else if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_HIGHLIGHT_COLOR)) {
     text->highlight_color = rgba_color_from_hex(token_to_uint32t(get_token(&message)));
     return text_update_color(text);
-  } 
-  else if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_PADDING_LEFT)) {
+  } else if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_PADDING_LEFT)) {
     text->padding_left = token_to_int(get_token(&message));
     return true;
   } else if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_PADDING_RIGHT)) {
     text->padding_right = token_to_int(get_token(&message));
     return true;
+  } else if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_YOFFSET)) {
+    text->y_offset = token_to_int(get_token(&message));
+    return true;
+  } else if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_WIDTH)) {
+    struct token token = get_token(&message);
+    if (token_equals(token, "dynamic"))
+      text->has_const_width = false;
+    else {
+      text->has_const_width = true;
+      text->custom_width = token_to_uint32t(token);
+    }
+    return true;
+  } else if (token_equals(property, PROPERTY_DRAWING)) {
+    text->drawing = evaluate_boolean_state(get_token(&message), text->drawing);
+    return true;
   } 
   else {
     fprintf(rsp, "Unknown property: %s \n", property.text);
diff --git a/src/text.h b/src/text.h
index c26e26a..3e1b360 100644
--- a/src/text.h
+++ b/src/text.h
@@ -10,15 +10,21 @@ struct text_line {
 };
 
 struct text {
+  int y_offset;
   bool highlight;
-  struct text_line line;
+  bool drawing;
+  bool has_const_width;
+  uint32_t custom_width;
   char* string;
   char* font_name;
   CTFontRef font;
   int padding_left;
   int padding_right;
+  struct text_line line;
   struct rgba_color color;
   struct rgba_color highlight_color;
+
+  struct background background;
 };
 
 void text_init(struct text* text);
@@ -32,6 +38,8 @@ uint32_t text_get_length(struct text* text);
 uint32_t text_get_height(struct text* text);
 bool text_update_color(struct text* text);
 
+void text_draw(struct text* text, CGPoint origin, CGContextRef context);
+
 static bool text_parse_sub_domain(struct text* text, FILE* rsp, struct token property, char* message);
 
 #endif // !TEXT_H_