diff --git a/demos/calc.cpp b/demos/calc.cpp
index dcfbb4c..d22e1b5 100644
--- a/demos/calc.cpp
+++ b/demos/calc.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ struct Calculator {
         temp = left / right;
         break;
       default:
-        dbc::sentinel("invalid op passed to op()");
+        assert(true && "invalid op passed to op()");
     }
 
     stack.push_back(temp);
diff --git a/include/guecs/dbc.hpp b/include/guecs/dbc.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 87e4fb0..0000000
--- a/include/guecs/dbc.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,50 +0,0 @@
-#pragma once
-
-#include <string>
-#include <fmt/core.h>
-#include <functional>
-#include <source_location>
-
-using std::string;
-
-namespace dbc {
-  class Error {
-    public:
-      const string message;
-      Error(string m) : message{m} {}
-      Error(const char *m) : message{m} {}
-  };
-
-  class CheckError : public Error {};
-  class SentinelError : public Error {};
-  class PreCondError : public Error {};
-  class PostCondError : public Error {};
-
-  void log(const string &message,
-      const std::source_location location =
-      std::source_location::current());
-
-  [[noreturn]] void sentinel(const string &message,
-      const std::source_location location =
-      std::source_location::current());
-
-  void pre(const string &message, bool test,
-      const std::source_location location =
-      std::source_location::current());
-
-  void pre(const string &message, std::function<bool()> tester,
-      const std::source_location location =
-      std::source_location::current());
-
-  void post(const string &message, bool test,
-      const std::source_location location =
-      std::source_location::current());
-
-  void post(const string &message, std::function<bool()> tester,
-      const std::source_location location =
-      std::source_location::current());
-
-  void check(bool test, const string &message,
-      const std::source_location location =
-      std::source_location::current());
-}
diff --git a/include/guecs/sfml/backend.hpp b/include/guecs/sfml/backend.hpp
index a5c4985..fed18f8 100644
--- a/include/guecs/sfml/backend.hpp
+++ b/include/guecs/sfml/backend.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include "guecs/ui.hpp"
 
 namespace sfml {
+  using std::string;
+
   class Backend : public guecs::Backend {
     int $shaders_version = 0;
 
diff --git a/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp b/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp
index 0222d5d..1cf0244 100644
--- a/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp
+++ b/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #pragma once
 #include <SFML/Graphics.hpp>
-#include "guecs/dbc.hpp"
 #include "guecs/lel.hpp"
 #include <string>
 #include <memory>
diff --git a/include/guecs/ui.hpp b/include/guecs/ui.hpp
index 82b51e0..f2022cc 100644
--- a/include/guecs/ui.hpp
+++ b/include/guecs/ui.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "guecs/dbc.hpp"
 #include "guecs/lel.hpp"
 #include <string>
 #include <memory>
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <unordered_map>
 #include "guecs/theme.hpp"
 #include "guecs/sfml/components.hpp"
+#include <cassert>
 
 namespace guecs {
   using std::shared_ptr, std::wstring, std::string;
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ namespace guecs {
 
       template <typename Comp>
         void set_init(Entity ent, Comp val) {
-          dbc::check(has<lel::Cell>(ent),"WRONG! slot is missing its cell?!");
+          assert(has<lel::Cell>(ent) && "WRONG! slot is missing its cell?!");
           auto& cell = get<lel::Cell>(ent);
           val.init(cell);
           set<Comp>(ent, val);
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 46ac8f9..96d175a 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ dependencies += [
 
 
 sources = [
-  'src/guecs/dbc.cpp',
   'src/guecs/ui.cpp',
   'src/guecs/lel.cpp',
   'src/guecs/theme.cpp',
diff --git a/src/guecs/dbc.cpp b/src/guecs/dbc.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 3bb28d1..0000000
--- a/src/guecs/dbc.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,47 +0,0 @@
-#include "guecs/dbc.hpp"
-#include <iostream>
-
-void dbc::log(const string &message, const std::source_location location) {
-  std::cout << '[' << location.file_name() << ':'
-     << location.line() << "|"
-     << location.function_name() << "] "
-     << message << std::endl;
-}
-
-void dbc::sentinel(const string &message, const std::source_location location) {
-  string err = fmt::format("[SENTINEL!] {}", message);
-  dbc::log(err, location);
-  throw dbc::SentinelError{err};
-}
-
-void dbc::pre(const string &message, bool test, const std::source_location location) {
-  if(!test) {
-    string err = fmt::format("[PRE!] {}", message);
-    dbc::log(err, location);
-    throw dbc::PreCondError{err};
-  }
-}
-
-void dbc::pre(const string &message, std::function<bool()> tester, const std::source_location location) {
-  dbc::pre(message, tester(), location);
-}
-
-void dbc::post(const string &message, bool test, const std::source_location location) {
-  if(!test) {
-    string err = fmt::format("[POST!] {}", message);
-    dbc::log(err, location);
-    throw dbc::PostCondError{err};
-  }
-}
-
-void dbc::post(const string &message, std::function<bool()> tester, const std::source_location location) {
-  dbc::post(message, tester(), location);
-}
-
-void dbc::check(bool test, const string &message, const std::source_location location) {
-  if(!test) {
-    string err = fmt::format("[CHECK!] {}\n", message);
-    dbc::log(err, location);
-    throw dbc::CheckError{err};
-  }
-}
diff --git a/src/guecs/lel.cpp b/src/guecs/lel.cpp
index 1c47359..5c18989 100644
--- a/src/guecs/lel.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/lel.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "guecs/lel.hpp"
 #include <fmt/core.h>
-#include "guecs/dbc.hpp"
 #include <numeric>
+#include <cassert>
 
 #include "./lel_parser.cpp"
 
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ namespace lel {
 
   void Parser::id(std::string name) {
     if(name != "_") {
-      dbc::check(!cells.contains(name),
-          fmt::format("duplicate cell name {}", name));
+      assert(!cells.contains(name) && "duplicate cell name");
       cells.insert_or_assign(name, cur);
     }
 
@@ -44,8 +43,8 @@ namespace lel {
     for(auto& row : grid) {
       size_t columns = row.size();
       int cell_width = grid_w / columns;
-      dbc::check(cell_width > 0, "invalid cell width calc");
-      dbc::check(cell_height > 0, "invalid cell height calc");
+      assert(cell_width > 0 && "invalid cell width calc");
+      assert(cell_height > 0 && "invalid cell height calc");
 
       for(auto& name : row) {
         if(name == "_") continue;
@@ -66,8 +65,8 @@ namespace lel {
         cell.w = cell.expand ? std::min(cell.max_w, grid_w) : std::min(cell_width, cell.max_w);
         cell.h = cell.expand ? std::min(cell.max_h, grid_h) : std::min(cell_height, cell.max_h);
 
-        dbc::check(cell.h > 0, fmt::format("invalid height cell {}", name));
-        dbc::check(cell.w > 0, fmt::format("invalid width cell {}", name));
+        assert(cell.h > 0 && "invalid height cell is <= 0");
+        assert(cell.w > 0 && "invalid width cell is <= 0");
 
         cell.x = grid_x + (cell.col * cell_width);
         cell.y = grid_y + (cell.row * cell_height);
diff --git a/src/guecs/lel_parser.cpp b/src/guecs/lel_parser.cpp
index f1952d7..47218d6 100644
--- a/src/guecs/lel_parser.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/lel_parser.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-#line 1 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 1 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 #include "guecs/lel.hpp"
 #include <fmt/core.h>
 #include <iostream>
@@ -7,11 +7,11 @@
 namespace lel {
 
 
-#line 41 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 41 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 
 
 
-#line 10 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.cpp"
+#line 10 "src/guecs/lel_parser.cpp"
 static const char _Parser_actions[] = {
 	0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 
 	4, 1, 5, 1, 6, 1, 9, 1, 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static const int Parser_error = 0;
 static const int Parser_en_main = 1;
 
 
-#line 44 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 44 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 
 bool Parser::parse(std::string input) {
   reset();
@@ -96,14 +96,14 @@ bool Parser::parse(std::string input) {
   std::string tk;
 
   
-#line 91 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.cpp"
+#line 91 "src/guecs/lel_parser.cpp"
 	{
 	cs = Parser_start;
 	}
 
-#line 55 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 55 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
   
-#line 94 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.cpp"
+#line 94 "src/guecs/lel_parser.cpp"
 	{
 	int _klen;
 	unsigned int _trans;
@@ -178,62 +178,62 @@ _match:
 		switch ( *_acts++ )
 		{
 	case 0:
-#line 11 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 11 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{tk = input.substr(start - begin, p - start); }
 	break;
 	case 1:
-#line 13 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 13 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{}
 	break;
 	case 2:
-#line 14 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 14 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{ grid.push_back(Row()); }
 	break;
 	case 3:
-#line 15 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 15 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{ cur.bottom = (*p) == '.'; }
 	break;
 	case 4:
-#line 16 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 16 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{ id(input.substr(start - begin, p - start)); }
 	break;
 	case 5:
-#line 17 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 17 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{ cur.col = 0; cur.row++; }
 	break;
 	case 6:
-#line 18 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 18 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{ cur.right = (*p) == '>'; }
 	break;
 	case 7:
-#line 19 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 19 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{cur.max_w = std::stoi(tk); }
 	break;
 	case 8:
-#line 20 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 20 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{ cur.max_h = std::stoi(tk); }
 	break;
 	case 9:
-#line 21 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 21 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{ cur.expand = true; }
 	break;
 	case 10:
-#line 22 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 22 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{ cur.center = true; }
 	break;
 	case 11:
-#line 23 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 23 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{ cur.percent = true; }
 	break;
 	case 12:
-#line 33 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 33 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{ start = p; }
 	break;
 	case 13:
-#line 36 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 36 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 	{start = p;}
 	break;
-#line 209 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.cpp"
+#line 209 "src/guecs/lel_parser.cpp"
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -246,13 +246,13 @@ _again:
 	_out: {}
 	}
 
-#line 56 ".\\src\\guecs\\lel_parser.rl"
+#line 56 "src/guecs/lel_parser.rl"
 
   bool good = pe - p == 0;
   if(good) {
     finalize();
   } else {
-    dbc::log("error at:");
+    std::cout << "error at:";
     std::cout << p;
   }
   return good;
diff --git a/src/guecs/lel_parser.rl b/src/guecs/lel_parser.rl
index 61dfa2f..75578b4 100644
--- a/src/guecs/lel_parser.rl
+++ b/src/guecs/lel_parser.rl
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ bool Parser::parse(std::string input) {
   if(good) {
     finalize();
   } else {
-    dbc::log("error at:");
+    std::cout << "error at:";
     std::cout << p;
   }
   return good;
diff --git a/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp b/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp
index 970bd9a..f41feed 100644
--- a/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 #include "guecs/ui.hpp"
 #include "guecs/sfml/backend.hpp"
+#include <cassert>
 
 namespace guecs {
   using std::make_shared;
 
   void Textual::init(lel::Cell &cell, shared_ptr<sf::Font> font_ptr) {
-    dbc::check(font_ptr != nullptr, "you failed to initialize this WideText");
+    assert(font_ptr != nullptr && "you failed to initialize this WideText");
     if(font == nullptr) font = font_ptr;
     if(text == nullptr) text = make_shared<sf::Text>(*font, content, size);
     text->setFillColor(color);
diff --git a/src/guecs/sfml/config.cpp b/src/guecs/sfml/config.cpp
index f0e6b01..3118126 100644
--- a/src/guecs/sfml/config.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/sfml/config.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #include "guecs/sfml/config.hpp"
-#include "guecs/dbc.hpp"
 #include <fmt/core.h>
 
 using nlohmann::json;
@@ -11,13 +10,14 @@ Config::Config(const std::string src_path) : $src_path(src_path) {
 }
 
 json &Config::operator[](const std::string &key) {
-  dbc::check($config.contains(key), fmt::format("ERROR in config, key {} doesn't exist.", key));
+  assert($config.contains(key) &&
+      "ERROR in config, key doesn't exist.");
   return $config[key];
 }
 
 std::wstring Config::wstring(const std::string main_key, const std::string sub_key) {
-  dbc::check($config.contains(main_key), fmt::format("ERROR wstring main/key in config, main_key {} doesn't exist.", main_key));
-  dbc::check($config[main_key].contains(sub_key), fmt::format("ERROR wstring in config, main_key/key {}/{} doesn't exist.", main_key, sub_key));
+  assert($config.contains(main_key) && "ERROR wstring main/key in config, main_key doesn't exist.");
+  assert($config[main_key].contains(sub_key) && "ERROR wstring in config, main_key/key doesn't exist.");
 
   const std::string& str_val = $config[main_key][sub_key];
   std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8_utf16<wchar_t>> $converter;
diff --git a/src/guecs/sfml/shaders.cpp b/src/guecs/sfml/shaders.cpp
index 491dd6d..d6194ac 100644
--- a/src/guecs/sfml/shaders.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/sfml/shaders.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #include "guecs/sfml/shaders.hpp"
 #include "guecs/sfml/config.hpp"
-#include "guecs/dbc.hpp"
 #include <SFML/Graphics/Image.hpp>
 #include <fmt/core.h>
 #include <memory>
@@ -30,21 +29,21 @@ namespace shaders {
 
   void init() {
     if(!INITIALIZED) {
-      dbc::check(sf::Shader::isAvailable(), "no shaders?!");
+      assert(sf::Shader::isAvailable() && "no shaders?!");
       INITIALIZED = true;
       Config config("assets/shaders.json");
       bool good = load_shader("ERROR", config["ERROR"]);
-      dbc::check(good, "Failed to load ERROR shader. Look in assets/shaders.json");
+      assert(good && "Failed to load ERROR shader. Look in assets/shaders.json");
 
       for(auto& [name, settings] : config.json().items()) {
         if(name == "ERROR") continue;
 
-        dbc::check(!SMGR.shaders.contains(name),
-            fmt::format("shader name '{}' duplicated in assets/shaders.json", name));
+        assert(!SMGR.shaders.contains(name) &&
+            "shader name duplicated in assets/shaders.json");
         good = load_shader(name, settings);
 
         if(!good) {
-          dbc::log(fmt::format("failed to load shader {}", name));
+          fmt::println("[SOUND] failed to load shader {}", name);
           SMGR.shaders.insert_or_assign(name, SMGR.shaders.at("ERROR"));
         }
       }
@@ -52,9 +51,9 @@ namespace shaders {
   }
 
   std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> get(const std::string& name) {
-    dbc::check(INITIALIZED, "you forgot to shaders::init()");
-    dbc::check(SMGR.shaders.contains(name),
-        fmt::format("shader name '{}' not in assets/shaders.json", name));
+    assert(INITIALIZED && "you forgot to shaders::init()");
+    assert(SMGR.shaders.contains(name) &&
+        "shader name not in assets/shaders.json");
     auto& rec = SMGR.shaders.at(name);
     return rec.ptr;
   }
diff --git a/src/guecs/sfml/sound.cpp b/src/guecs/sfml/sound.cpp
index cc27cd3..9e1812a 100644
--- a/src/guecs/sfml/sound.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/sfml/sound.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "guecs/sfml/sound.hpp"
 #include "guecs/sfml/config.hpp"
-#include "guecs/dbc.hpp"
 #include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <cassert>
 
 namespace sound {
   static SoundManager SMGR;
@@ -13,14 +13,13 @@ namespace sound {
   namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 
   SoundPair& get_sound_pair(const std::string& name) {
-    dbc::check(initialized, "You need to call sound::init() first");
+    assert(initialized && "You need to call sound::init() first");
 
     if(SMGR.sounds.contains(name)) {
       // get the sound from the sound map
       return SMGR.sounds.at(name);
     } else {
-      dbc::log(fmt::format("Attempted to stop {} sound but not available.",
-            name));
+      fmt::println("[SOUND] Attempted to stop {} sound but not available.", name);
       return SMGR.sounds.at("blank");
     }
   }
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ namespace sound {
   }
 
   void load(const std::string& name, const std::string& sound_path) {
-    dbc::check(fs::exists(sound_path), fmt::format("sound file {} does not exist", sound_path));
+    assert(fs::exists(sound_path) && "sound file does not exist");
 
     // create the buffer and keep in the buffer map
     auto buffer = make_shared<sf::SoundBuffer>(sound_path);
diff --git a/src/guecs/sfml/textures.cpp b/src/guecs/sfml/textures.cpp
index 1bbc14f..cd6b2f1 100644
--- a/src/guecs/sfml/textures.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/sfml/textures.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-#include "guecs/dbc.hpp"
 #include "guecs/sfml/textures.hpp"
 #include "guecs/sfml/config.hpp"
 #include <SFML/Graphics/Image.hpp>
@@ -36,16 +35,16 @@ namespace textures {
   }
 
   SpriteTexture get(const std::string& name) {
-    dbc::check(initialized, "you forgot to call textures::init()");
-    dbc::check(TMGR.sprite_textures.contains(name),
-        fmt::format("!!!!! texture pack does not contain {} sprite", name));
+    assert(initialized && "you forgot to call textures::init()");
+    assert(TMGR.sprite_textures.contains(name) &&
+        "!!!!! texture pack does not contain sprite");
 
     auto result = TMGR.sprite_textures.at(name);
 
-    dbc::check(result.sprite != nullptr,
-        fmt::format("bad sprite from textures::get named {}", name));
-    dbc::check(result.texture != nullptr,
-        fmt::format("bad texture from textures::get named {}", name));
+    assert(result.sprite != nullptr &&
+        "bad sprite from textures::get named can't be null");
+    assert(result.texture != nullptr &&
+        "bad texture from textures::get named can't be null");
 
     return result;
   }
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ namespace textures {
   sf::Image load_image(const std::string& filename) {
     sf::Image texture;
     bool good = texture.loadFromFile(filename);
-    dbc::check(good, fmt::format("failed to load {}", filename));
+    assert(good && "failed to load image file");
     return texture;
   }
 };
diff --git a/src/guecs/ui.cpp b/src/guecs/ui.cpp
index b97dbb6..2e233c1 100644
--- a/src/guecs/ui.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/ui.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #include "guecs/ui.hpp"
 #include <typeinfo>
+#include <cassert>
+#include <fmt/core.h>
 
 namespace guecs {
   using std::make_shared;
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ namespace guecs {
   void UI::layout(const string& grid) {
     $grid = grid;
     bool good = $parser.parse($grid);
-    dbc::check(good, "LEL parsing failed.");
+    assert(good && "LEL parsing failed.");
 
     for(auto& [name, cell] : $parser.cells) {
       auto ent = init_entity(name);
@@ -41,8 +43,8 @@ namespace guecs {
   }
 
   Entity UI::entity(const string& name) {
-    dbc::check($name_ents.contains(name),
-        fmt::format("GUECS entity {} does not exist. Mispelled cell name?", name));
+    assert($name_ents.contains(name) &&
+        "GUECS entity does not exist. Mispelled cell name?");
     return $name_ents.at(name);
   }
 
@@ -190,8 +192,8 @@ namespace guecs {
     auto ent = entity(name);
 
     if(required) {
-      dbc::check(has<Clickable>(ent),
-          fmt::format("click_on required '{}' to exist but it doesn't", name));
+      assert(has<Clickable>(ent) &&
+          "click_on required '{}' to exist but it doesn't");
     }
 
     click_on(ent);
diff --git a/tests/dbc.cpp b/tests/dbc.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index a686bdd..0000000
--- a/tests/dbc.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
-#include "guecs/dbc.hpp"
-
-using namespace dbc;
-
-TEST_CASE("basic feature tests", "[dbc]") {
-  log("Logging a message.");
-
-  pre("confirm positive cases work", 1 == 1);
-
-  pre("confirm positive lambda", [&]{ return 1 == 1;});
-
-  post("confirm positive post", 1 == 1);
-
-  post("confirm postitive post with lamdba", [&]{ return 1 == 1;});
-
-  check(1 == 1, "one equals 1");
-}