diff --git a/gui.cpp b/gui.cpp
index c046c24..0bae0d8 100644
--- a/gui.cpp
+++ b/gui.cpp
@@ -16,11 +16,14 @@
 
 using std::string, std::vector;
 
-GUI::GUI(SFMLBackend &backend, int timer_seconds) :
-  sfml(backend), $timer_seconds(timer_seconds)
+GUI::GUI(int timer_seconds) :
+  $timer_seconds(timer_seconds),
+  $window(sf::VideoMode({SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT}), "Turing's Tarpit")
 {
   using namespace guecs;
 
+  $timer_end = std::chrono::system_clock::now() + std::chrono::seconds(timer_seconds);
+
   $gui.position(0, 0, SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT);
   $gui.layout(
      "[*%(200,300)face|_|*%(100,300)status|*%(200,500)log|_]"
@@ -43,10 +46,10 @@ GUI::GUI(SFMLBackend &backend, int timer_seconds) :
   auto status = $gui.entity("status");
   $gui.set<Textual>(status, {L""});
 
-  auto log = $gui.entity("log");
-  auto& rect = $gui.get<Rectangle>(log);
+  $log = $gui.entity("log");
+  auto& rect = $gui.get<Rectangle>($log);
   rect.color = {255,255,255,255};
-  $gui.set<Effect>(log, {(float)$timer_seconds, "build_status"});
+  $gui.set<Effect>($log, {(float)$timer_seconds, "build_status"});
 
   auto clock = $gui.entity("clock");
   $gui.set<Label>(clock, {L"00:00:00", 110});
@@ -58,22 +61,19 @@ GUI::GUI(SFMLBackend &backend, int timer_seconds) :
 }
 
 void GUI::output(const string msg) {
-  // _lines.push_back(msg);
   std::cout << msg << std::endl;
 }
 
 void GUI::main_loop() {
-  auto clock_time = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
+  auto clock_time = $timer_end - std::chrono::system_clock::now();
   std::wstring time = std::format(L"{:%H:%M:%OS}", clock_time);
 
   $gui.show_label("clock", time);
   $gui.show_text("status", $status);
-  $gui.render(sfml.window);
+  $gui.render($window);
 
-  // $gui.debug_layout(sfml.window);
-  sfml.handle_events();
-  // sfml.update_entities();
-  sfml.update_log(_lines);
+  $window.display();
+  handle_events();
 }
 
 void GUI::build_success() {
@@ -96,10 +96,8 @@ void GUI::build_failed(bool play_sound, const string &command) {
   output(fmt::format("!!! BUILD FAILED. Your command correct? '{}'", command));
 }
 
-void GUI::update_status(GameEngine &game, size_t line_length, bool is_error) {
-
-  auto log = $gui.entity("log");
-  auto& effect = $gui.get<guecs::Effect>(log);
+void GUI::configure_status_shader(size_t line_length, bool is_error) {
+  auto& effect = $gui.get<guecs::Effect>($log);
   effect.$shader->setUniform("line_length", (int)line_length);
   if(!$hit_error && is_error) {
     $hit_error = is_error;
@@ -107,6 +105,10 @@ void GUI::update_status(GameEngine &game, size_t line_length, bool is_error) {
 
   effect.$shader->setUniform("is_error", $hit_error);
   effect.run();
+}
+
+void GUI::update_status(GameEngine &game, size_t line_length, bool is_error) {
+  configure_status_shader(line_length, is_error);
 
   $status = fmt::format(L"HP {}\nRounds {}\nStreaks {}\nDeaths {}",
       game.hit_points, game.rounds,
@@ -131,3 +133,20 @@ void GUI::building() {
   output(">>>> Will it Build?");
   sound::play("building");
 }
+
+void GUI::handle_events() {
+  // is this a main event loop
+  while(const auto ev = $window.pollEvent()) {
+    if(ev->is<sf::Event::Closed>()) {
+      fmt::print("Exiting...\n");
+      $window.close();
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+void GUI::startup() {
+  $window.setPosition({0,0});
+
+  $window.setFramerateLimit(FRAME_LIMIT);
+  $window.setVerticalSyncEnabled(VSYNC);
+}
diff --git a/gui.hpp b/gui.hpp
index 692c8d8..d5c2593 100644
--- a/gui.hpp
+++ b/gui.hpp
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 #include <string>
 #include "game_engine.hpp"
-#include "sfmlbackend.hpp"
 #include "guecs.hpp"
 
 using std::string;
@@ -10,22 +9,27 @@ using std::string;
 class Builder;
 
 class GUI {
-  std::vector<string> _lines;
-  SFMLBackend &sfml;
+  int $timer_seconds;
+  sf::RenderWindow $window;
   guecs::UI $gui;
   std::wstring $status;
+  DinkyECS::Entity $log;
   DinkyECS::Entity $hp_bar;
   bool $hit_error = false;
-  int $timer_seconds;
+  std::chrono::time_point<std::chrono::system_clock> $timer_end;
 
   public:
 
-  GUI(SFMLBackend &backend, int timer_seconds);
+  GUI(int timer_seconds);
 
   void output(const string msg);
   void update_status(GameEngine &game, size_t line_length, bool is_error);
+  void configure_status_shader(size_t line_length, bool is_error);
 
+  void startup();
+  bool is_open() { return $window.isOpen(); }
   void main_loop();
+  void handle_events();
 
   void build_success();
   void build_failed(bool play_sound, const string &command);
diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index f8996d8..9721ade 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -25,19 +25,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   textures::init();
 
   GameEngine game{100};
-  auto backend = SFMLBackend(game);
-  GUI gui(backend, timer_seconds);
+  GUI gui(timer_seconds);
   auto builder = Builder(gui, game);
 
-  backend.startup();
+  gui.startup();
 
-  while(backend.is_open()) {
+  while(gui.is_open()) {
     builder.event(BuildEvent::GO);
     gui.main_loop();
-    backend.window.display();
   }
 
   builder.event(BuildEvent::QUIT);
-  backend.shutdown();
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 59793d6..ea7e8b0 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ sources = [
     'lel.cpp',
     'matrix.cpp',
     'rand.cpp',
-    'sfmlbackend.cpp',
     'shaders.cpp',
     'sound.cpp',
     'textures.cpp',
diff --git a/sfmlbackend.cpp b/sfmlbackend.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index f4a2a61..0000000
--- a/sfmlbackend.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,158 +0,0 @@
-#define _USE_MATH_DEFINES
-#include <math.h>
-#include <fmt/core.h>
-#include <chrono>
-#include <fmt/chrono.h>
-#include <SFML/Graphics/Texture.hpp>
-#include <SFML/Graphics/RectangleShape.hpp>
-#include <SFML/Graphics/CircleShape.hpp>
-#include <SFML/Graphics/Text.hpp>
-#include <SFML/Audio.hpp>
-#include <SFML/Window/Event.hpp>
-#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
-#include "sfmlbackend.hpp"
-#include <fstream>
-#include <iostream>
-#include "dbc.hpp"
-#include "constants.hpp"
-
-using namespace nlohmann;
-using std::string, std::make_shared;
-
-std::array<sf::Color, 10> VALUES{
-  sf::Color{1, 4, 2},  // black
-  sf::Color{9, 29, 16}, // dark dark
-  sf::Color{14, 50, 26}, // dark mid
-  sf::Color{0, 109, 44}, // dark light
-  sf::Color{63, 171, 92}, // mid
-  sf::Color{161, 217, 155}, // light dark
-  sf::Color{199, 233, 192}, // light mid
-  sf::Color{229, 245, 224}, // light light
-  sf::Color{255, 255, 255}, // white
-  sf::Color::Transparent, // white
-};
-
-SFMLBackend::SFMLBackend(GameEngine &g)
-  : window(sf::VideoMode({SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT}), "Turing's Tarpit"),
-  game(g), current_face(textures::get("building"))
-{
-}
-
-
-sf::Color SFMLBackend::value(Value level) {
-  return VALUES.at(int(level));
-}
-
-void SFMLBackend::handle_events() {
-  // is this a main event loop
-  while(const auto ev = window.pollEvent()) {
-    if(ev->is<sf::Event::Closed>()) {
-      fmt::print("Exiting...\n");
-      window.close();
-    }
-  }
-}
-
-sf::Vector2f translate(int x, int y) {
-  float step_x = SCREEN_WIDTH / TEXT_SIZE;
-  float step_y = (SCREEN_HEIGHT - 12) / TEXT_SIZE;
-
-  sf::Vector2f position{step_x * x, step_y * y * 2};
-
-  return position;
-}
-
-
-void SFMLBackend::write_text(int x, int y, string content, float size_mult, Value color) {
-  sf::Vector2f position = translate(x,y);
-  sf::Text text(font);
-  text.setString(content);
-  text.setCharacterSize(TEXT_SIZE * size_mult);
-  text.setFillColor(value(color));
-  text.setPosition(position);
-  window.draw(text);
-}
-
-sf::RectangleShape SFMLBackend::box(int x, int y, int width, int height,
-    Value fill, Value outline, int thickness)
-{
-  sf::RectangleShape box(translate(width, height));
-  box.setPosition(translate(x,y));
-  box.setOutlineColor(value(outline));
-  box.setOutlineThickness(thickness);
-  box.setFillColor(value(fill));
-  window.draw(box);
-  return box;
-}
-
-void SFMLBackend::update_entities() {
-  window.clear();
-
-  sf::RectangleShape face_box = box(2, 2, X_ROWS/4, Y_LINES/2, Value::DARK_DARK);
-  current_face.sprite->setPosition(translate(2,2));
-  window.draw(*current_face.sprite);
-
-  sf::RectangleShape stats_box = box(X_ROWS/4 + 4, 2,
-      X_ROWS - X_ROWS/4 - 5, Y_LINES/2, Value::DARK_DARK);
-
-  constexpr int hp_box_len = 45;
-  int current_hp = (float(game.hit_points) / float(game.starting_hp)) * float(hp_box_len);
-
-  sf::RectangleShape hp_bar = box(2, 21, current_hp, 2,
-      Value::LIGHT_MID, Value::LIGHT_MID, 0);
-
-  sf::RectangleShape hp_box = box(2, 21, hp_box_len, 2, Value::TRANSPARENT);
-
-  string status = fmt::format("HP {}\nRounds {}\nStreaks {}\nDeaths {}",
-      game.hit_points, game.rounds,
-      game.streak, game.deaths);
-  write_text(X_ROWS/4 + 5, 2, status);
-
-  if(buttons == Button::START) {
-    // better thing here please
-  } else if(buttons == Button::STOP) {
-    clock_start = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
-  }
-
-  auto elapsed_time = std::chrono::system_clock::now() - clock_start;
-
-  string time = fmt::format("{:%H:%M:%OS}", elapsed_time);
-  write_text(7, 14, time, 2.0f);
-}
-
-void SFMLBackend::change_face(const string& name) {
-  current_face = textures::get(name);
-}
-
-/*
- * This makes my soul hurt. Make it stop.
- *
- * TODO: Make this more efficient, and don't display
- * more than 10 or so errors since more than that is
- * not very useful.
- */
-void SFMLBackend::update_log(std::vector<string> &lines) {
-  log.clear();
-  for(string &line : lines) {
-    log.push_back(line);
-  }
-}
-
-void SFMLBackend::startup() {
-  fmt::print("Setting up a window for you...\n");
-  if(!font.openFromFile(FONT_FILE_NAME)) {
-    fmt::println("Cannot load font.");
-  }
-
-  window.setPosition({0,0});
-
-  window.setFramerateLimit(FRAME_LIMIT);
-  window.setVerticalSyncEnabled(VSYNC);
-}
-
-bool SFMLBackend::is_open() {
-  return window.isOpen();
-}
-
-void SFMLBackend::shutdown() {
-}
diff --git a/sfmlbackend.hpp b/sfmlbackend.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 76866d4..0000000
--- a/sfmlbackend.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,70 +0,0 @@
-#pragma once
-#include <SFML/System.hpp>
-#include <SFML/Graphics/RectangleShape.hpp>
-#include <SFML/Graphics/RenderWindow.hpp>
-#include <SFML/Graphics/Sprite.hpp>
-#include <SFML/Graphics/Font.hpp>
-#include <SFML/Audio.hpp>
-#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
-#include "game_engine.hpp"
-#include <string>
-#include "textures.hpp"
-
-using std::string;
-
-enum class Value {
-  BLACK=0, DARK_DARK, DARK_MID,
-  DARK_LIGHT, MID, LIGHT_DARK, LIGHT_MID,
-  LIGHT_LIGHT, WHITE, TRANSPARENT
-};
-
-constexpr int TEXT_SIZE = 48;
-constexpr Value TEXT_COLOR = Value::LIGHT_LIGHT;
-constexpr int Y_LINES = 23;
-constexpr int X_ROWS = 48;
-constexpr Value BOX_OUTLINE = Value::MID;
-constexpr int BOX_THICKNESS=10;
-constexpr Value BOX_FILL = Value::TRANSPARENT;
-
-enum class Button {
-  NONE, START, STOP
-};
-
-class SFMLBackend {
-public:
-  sf::ContextSettings settings;
-  sf::RenderWindow window;
-  std::chrono::time_point<std::chrono::system_clock> clock_start;
-  Button buttons = Button::STOP;
-  int hit_points = 50;
-  sf::Font font;
-  std::vector<string> log;
-  GameEngine &game;
-  textures::SpriteTexture current_face;
-
-  SFMLBackend(GameEngine &g);
-
-  // prevent copy
-  SFMLBackend(SFMLBackend &g) = delete;
-
-  void startup();
-
-  bool is_open();
-  void shutdown();
-
-  void change_face(const string& name);
-  void handle_events();
-  void update_entities();
-  void update_log(std::vector<string> &lines);
-
-  sf::Color value(Value level);
-
-  sf::RectangleShape box(int x, int y, int width, int height,
-    Value fill=BOX_FILL,
-    Value outline=BOX_OUTLINE,
-    int thickness=BOX_THICKNESS);
-
-  void write_text(int x, int y, string content, float size_mult=1.0f, Value color=TEXT_COLOR);
-
-  void Window_update();
-};