diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index ca5454d..7dde666 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ version = "2.0.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "524cbf6897b527295dff137cec09ecf3a05f4fddffd7dfcd1585403449e74198"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "dyn-clone"
+version = "1.0.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ee2626afccd7561a06cf1367e2950c4718ea04565e20fb5029b6c7d8ad09abcf"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "either"
 version = "1.6.1"
@@ -258,6 +264,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "bincode",
  "debug_stub_derive",
  "derive_more",
+ "dyn-clone",
  "extend",
  "futures-core",
  "futures-util",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 5937eb4..dc8241d 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ futures-core = "0.3"
 futures-util = "0.3"
 tokio-util = "0.6"
 
+dyn-clone = "1.0"
+
 
 [target.'cfg(target_os="linux")'.dependencies]
 inotify = "0.9"
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index 045b1a7..b319872 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@ use crate::{
     config::{window_definition::WindowName, AnchorPoint, WindowStacking},
     display_backend, eww_state,
     script_var_handler::*,
-    value::{AttrValue, Coords, NumWithUnit, PrimitiveValue, VarName},
-    widgets,
+    value::{Coords, NumWithUnit, PrimitiveValue, VarName},
 };
 use anyhow::*;
 use debug_stub_derive::*;
@@ -67,7 +66,7 @@ pub enum DaemonCommand {
     PrintWindows(DaemonResponseSender),
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct EwwWindow {
     pub name: WindowName,
     pub definition: config::EwwWindowDefinition,
@@ -105,13 +104,14 @@ impl App {
                 DaemonCommand::NoOp => {}
                 DaemonCommand::UpdateVars(mappings) => {
                     for (var_name, new_value) in mappings {
-                        self.update_state(var_name, new_value)?;
+                        self.update_state(var_name, new_value);
                     }
                 }
                 DaemonCommand::ReloadConfigAndCss(sender) => {
                     let mut errors = Vec::new();
 
-                    let config_result = config::EwwConfig::read_from_file(&self.config_file_path);
+                    let config_result =
+                        config::RawEwwConfig::read_from_file(&self.config_file_path).and_then(config::EwwConfig::generate);
                     match config_result {
                         Ok(new_config) => self.handle_command(DaemonCommand::UpdateConfig(new_config)),
                         Err(e) => errors.push(e),
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ impl App {
         gtk::main_quit();
     }
 
-    fn update_state(&mut self, fieldname: VarName, value: PrimitiveValue) -> Result<()> {
+    fn update_state(&mut self, fieldname: VarName, value: PrimitiveValue) {
         self.eww_state.update_variable(fieldname, value)
     }
 
@@ -247,13 +247,7 @@ impl App {
         let mut window_def = self.eww_config.get_window(window_name)?.clone();
         window_def.geometry = window_def.geometry.override_if_given(anchor, pos, size);
 
-        let root_widget = widgets::widget_use_to_gtk_widget(
-            &self.eww_config.get_widgets(),
-            &mut self.eww_state,
-            window_name,
-            &maplit::hashmap! { "window_name".into() => AttrValue::from_primitive(window_name.to_string()) },
-            &window_def.widget,
-        )?;
+        let root_widget = window_def.widget.render(&mut self.eww_state, window_name)?;
         root_widget.get_style_context().add_class(&window_name.to_string());
 
         let monitor_geometry = get_monitor_geometry(window_def.screen_number.unwrap_or_else(get_default_monitor_index));
diff --git a/src/config/element.rs b/src/config/element.rs
index b7924d8..a3ea17a 100644
--- a/src/config/element.rs
+++ b/src/config/element.rs
@@ -35,11 +35,6 @@ impl WidgetDefinition {
             }
         }
     }
-
-    /// returns all the variables that are referenced in this widget
-    pub fn referenced_vars(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &VarName> {
-        self.structure.referenced_vars()
-    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
@@ -106,17 +101,6 @@ impl WidgetUse {
         self.text_pos = Some(text_pos);
         self
     }
-
-    pub fn get_attr(&self, key: &str) -> Result<&AttrValue> {
-        self.attrs
-            .get(key)
-            .context(format!("attribute '{}' missing from widgetuse of '{}'", key, &self.name))
-    }
-
-    /// returns all the variables that are referenced in this widget
-    pub fn referenced_vars(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &VarName> {
-        self.attrs.iter().flat_map(|(_, value)| value.var_refs())
-    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/src/config/eww_config.rs b/src/config/eww_config.rs
index ff0f0c2..87df525 100644
--- a/src/config/eww_config.rs
+++ b/src/config/eww_config.rs
@@ -9,22 +9,87 @@ use crate::{
 use super::{
     element::WidgetDefinition,
     xml_ext::{XmlElement, XmlNode},
-    EwwWindowDefinition, ScriptVar, WindowName,
+    EwwWindowDefinition, RawEwwWindowDefinition, ScriptVar, WindowName,
 };
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
+/// Eww configuration structure.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-/// Structure to hold the eww config
 pub struct EwwConfig {
-    widgets: HashMap<String, WidgetDefinition>,
     windows: HashMap<WindowName, EwwWindowDefinition>,
     initial_variables: HashMap<VarName, PrimitiveValue>,
     script_vars: HashMap<VarName, ScriptVar>,
     pub filepath: PathBuf,
 }
-
 impl EwwConfig {
-    pub fn merge_includes(mut eww_config: EwwConfig, includes: Vec<EwwConfig>) -> Result<EwwConfig> {
+    pub fn read_from_file<P: AsRef<std::path::Path>>(path: P) -> Result<Self> {
+        Ok(Self::generate(RawEwwConfig::read_from_file(path)?)?)
+    }
+
+    pub fn generate(conf: RawEwwConfig) -> Result<Self> {
+        let RawEwwConfig {
+            windows,
+            initial_variables,
+            script_vars,
+            filepath,
+            widgets,
+        } = conf;
+        Ok(EwwConfig {
+            initial_variables,
+            script_vars,
+            filepath,
+            windows: windows
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|(name, window)| {
+                    Ok((
+                        name,
+                        EwwWindowDefinition::generate(&widgets, window).context("Failed expand window definition")?,
+                    ))
+                })
+                .collect::<Result<HashMap<_, _>>>()?,
+        })
+    }
+
+    // TODO this is kinda ugly
+    pub fn generate_initial_state(&self) -> Result<HashMap<VarName, PrimitiveValue>> {
+        let mut vars = self
+            .script_vars
+            .iter()
+            .map(|var| Ok((var.0.clone(), var.1.initial_value()?)))
+            .collect::<Result<HashMap<_, _>>>()?;
+        vars.extend(self.initial_variables.clone());
+        Ok(vars)
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_windows(&self) -> &HashMap<WindowName, EwwWindowDefinition> {
+        &self.windows
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_window(&self, name: &WindowName) -> Result<&EwwWindowDefinition> {
+        self.windows
+            .get(name)
+            .with_context(|| format!("No window named '{}' exists", name))
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_script_var(&self, name: &VarName) -> Result<&ScriptVar> {
+        self.script_vars
+            .get(name)
+            .with_context(|| format!("No script var named '{}' exists", name))
+    }
+}
+
+/// Raw Eww configuration, before expanding widget usages.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct RawEwwConfig {
+    widgets: HashMap<String, WidgetDefinition>,
+    windows: HashMap<WindowName, RawEwwWindowDefinition>,
+    initial_variables: HashMap<VarName, PrimitiveValue>,
+    script_vars: HashMap<VarName, ScriptVar>,
+    pub filepath: PathBuf,
+}
+
+impl RawEwwConfig {
+    pub fn merge_includes(mut eww_config: RawEwwConfig, includes: Vec<RawEwwConfig>) -> Result<RawEwwConfig> {
         let config_path = eww_config.filepath.clone();
         let log_conflict = |what: &str, conflict: &str, included_path: &std::path::PathBuf| {
             eprintln!(
@@ -37,16 +102,16 @@ impl EwwConfig {
         };
 
         for included_config in includes {
-            for conflict in extend_safe(&mut eww_config.widgets, included_config.widgets) {
+            for conflict in util::extend_safe(&mut eww_config.widgets, included_config.widgets) {
                 log_conflict("widget", &conflict, &included_config.filepath)
             }
-            for conflict in extend_safe(&mut eww_config.windows, included_config.windows) {
+            for conflict in util::extend_safe(&mut eww_config.windows, included_config.windows) {
                 log_conflict("window", &conflict.to_string(), &included_config.filepath)
             }
-            for conflict in extend_safe(&mut eww_config.script_vars, included_config.script_vars) {
+            for conflict in util::extend_safe(&mut eww_config.script_vars, included_config.script_vars) {
                 log_conflict("script-var", &conflict.to_string(), &included_config.filepath)
             }
-            for conflict in extend_safe(&mut eww_config.initial_variables, included_config.initial_variables) {
+            for conflict in util::extend_safe(&mut eww_config.initial_variables, included_config.initial_variables) {
                 log_conflict("var", &conflict.to_string(), &included_config.filepath)
             }
         }
@@ -60,16 +125,16 @@ impl EwwConfig {
             let root_node = XmlNode::from(document.root_element());
             let root_element = root_node.as_element()?;
 
-            let (config, included_paths) = EwwConfig::from_xml_element(root_element.clone(), path.as_ref())
+            let (config, included_paths) = Self::from_xml_element(root_element.clone(), path.as_ref())
                 .with_context(|| format!("Error parsing eww config file {}", path.as_ref().display()))?;
 
             let parsed_includes = included_paths
                 .into_iter()
-                .map(|included_path| EwwConfig::read_from_file(included_path))
+                .map(|included_path| Self::read_from_file(included_path))
                 .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()
                 .with_context(|| format!("Included in {}", path.as_ref().display()))?;
 
-            EwwConfig::merge_includes(config, parsed_includes)
+            Self::merge_includes(config, parsed_includes)
                 .context("Failed to merge included files into parent configuration file")?
         };
         result.with_context(|| format!("Failed to load eww config file {}", path.as_ref().display()))
@@ -83,7 +148,7 @@ impl EwwConfig {
                 .child_elements()
                 .map(|child| {
                     crate::ensure_xml_tag_is!(child, "file");
-                    Ok(join_path_pretty(path, PathBuf::from(child.attr("path")?)))
+                    Ok(util::join_path_pretty(path, PathBuf::from(child.attr("path")?)))
                 })
                 .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?,
             None => Default::default(),
@@ -106,7 +171,7 @@ impl EwwConfig {
             Some(tag) => tag
                 .child_elements()
                 .map(|child| {
-                    let def = EwwWindowDefinition::from_xml_element(&child).with_context(|| {
+                    let def = RawEwwWindowDefinition::from_xml_element(&child).with_context(|| {
                         format!("Error parsing window definition at {}:{}", path.display(), &child.text_pos())
                     })?;
                     Ok((def.name.to_owned(), def))
@@ -120,7 +185,7 @@ impl EwwConfig {
             None => Default::default(),
         };
 
-        let config = EwwConfig {
+        let config = RawEwwConfig {
             widgets: definitions,
             windows,
             initial_variables,
@@ -129,45 +194,6 @@ impl EwwConfig {
         };
         Ok((config, included_paths))
     }
-
-    // TODO this is kinda ugly
-    pub fn generate_initial_state(&self) -> Result<HashMap<VarName, PrimitiveValue>> {
-        let mut vars = self
-            .script_vars
-            .iter()
-            .map(|var| Ok((var.0.clone(), var.1.initial_value()?)))
-            .collect::<Result<HashMap<_, _>>>()?;
-        vars.extend(self.get_default_vars().clone());
-        Ok(vars)
-    }
-
-    pub fn get_widgets(&self) -> &HashMap<String, WidgetDefinition> {
-        &self.widgets
-    }
-
-    pub fn get_windows(&self) -> &HashMap<WindowName, EwwWindowDefinition> {
-        &self.windows
-    }
-
-    pub fn get_window(&self, name: &WindowName) -> Result<&EwwWindowDefinition> {
-        self.windows
-            .get(name)
-            .with_context(|| format!("No window named '{}' exists", name))
-    }
-
-    pub fn get_default_vars(&self) -> &HashMap<VarName, PrimitiveValue> {
-        &self.initial_variables
-    }
-
-    pub fn get_script_vars(&self) -> Vec<ScriptVar> {
-        self.script_vars.values().cloned().collect()
-    }
-
-    pub fn get_script_var(&self, name: &VarName) -> Result<&ScriptVar> {
-        self.script_vars
-            .get(name)
-            .with_context(|| format!("No script var named '{}' exists", name))
-    }
 }
 
 fn parse_variables_block(xml: XmlElement) -> Result<(HashMap<VarName, PrimitiveValue>, HashMap<VarName, ScriptVar>)> {
@@ -176,12 +202,11 @@ fn parse_variables_block(xml: XmlElement) -> Result<(HashMap<VarName, PrimitiveV
     for node in xml.child_elements() {
         match node.tag_name() {
             "var" => {
-                let var_name = VarName(node.attr("name")?.to_owned());
                 let value = node
                     .only_child()
                     .map(|c| c.as_text_or_sourcecode())
                     .unwrap_or_else(|_| String::new());
-                normal_vars.insert(var_name, PrimitiveValue::from_string(value));
+                normal_vars.insert(VarName(node.attr("name")?.to_owned()), PrimitiveValue::from_string(value));
             }
             "script-var" => {
                 let script_var = ScriptVar::from_xml_element(node)?;
@@ -193,33 +218,9 @@ fn parse_variables_block(xml: XmlElement) -> Result<(HashMap<VarName, PrimitiveV
     Ok((normal_vars, script_vars))
 }
 
-/// Joins two paths while keeping it somewhat pretty.
-/// If the second path is absolute, this will just return the second path.
-/// If it is relative, it will return the second path joined onto the first path, removing any `./` if present.
-/// TODO this is not yet perfect, as it will still leave ../ and multiple ./ etc,... check for a Path::simplify or something.
-fn join_path_pretty<P: AsRef<std::path::Path>, P2: AsRef<std::path::Path>>(a: P, b: P2) -> PathBuf {
-    let a = a.as_ref();
-    let b = b.as_ref();
-    if b.is_absolute() {
-        b.to_path_buf()
-    } else {
-        a.parent().unwrap().join(b.strip_prefix("./").unwrap_or(&b))
-    }
-}
-
-/// extends a hashmap, returning a list of keys that already where present in the hashmap.
-fn extend_safe<K: std::cmp::Eq + std::hash::Hash + Clone, V, T: IntoIterator<Item = (K, V)>>(
-    a: &mut HashMap<K, V>,
-    b: T,
-) -> Vec<K> {
-    b.into_iter()
-        .filter_map(|(k, v)| a.insert(k.clone(), v).map(|_| k.clone()))
-        .collect()
-}
-
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
-    use crate::config::{EwwConfig, XmlNode};
+    use crate::config::{RawEwwConfig, XmlNode};
     use std::collections::HashMap;
 
     #[test]
@@ -274,13 +275,13 @@ mod test {
 
         let document1 = roxmltree::Document::parse(&input1).unwrap();
         let document2 = roxmltree::Document::parse(input2).unwrap();
-        let config1 = EwwConfig::from_xml_element(XmlNode::from(document1.root_element()).as_element().unwrap().clone(), "")
+        let config1 = RawEwwConfig::from_xml_element(XmlNode::from(document1.root_element()).as_element().unwrap().clone(), "")
             .unwrap()
             .0;
-        let config2 = EwwConfig::from_xml_element(XmlNode::from(document2.root_element()).as_element().unwrap().clone(), "")
+        let config2 = RawEwwConfig::from_xml_element(XmlNode::from(document2.root_element()).as_element().unwrap().clone(), "")
             .unwrap()
             .0;
-        let base_config = EwwConfig {
+        let base_config = RawEwwConfig {
             widgets: HashMap::new(),
             windows: HashMap::new(),
             initial_variables: HashMap::new(),
@@ -288,7 +289,7 @@ mod test {
             filepath: "test_path".into(),
         };
 
-        let merged_config = EwwConfig::merge_includes(base_config, vec![config1, config2]).unwrap();
+        let merged_config = RawEwwConfig::merge_includes(base_config, vec![config1, config2]).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(merged_config.widgets.len(), 2);
         assert_eq!(merged_config.windows.len(), 2);
diff --git a/src/config/script_var.rs b/src/config/script_var.rs
index d71b18e..b50f8b3 100644
--- a/src/config/script_var.rs
+++ b/src/config/script_var.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ impl ScriptVar {
 
     pub fn initial_value(&self) -> Result<PrimitiveValue> {
         match self {
-            ScriptVar::Poll(x) => Ok(run_command(&x.command)?),
+            ScriptVar::Poll(x) => {
+                run_command(&x.command).with_context(|| format!("Failed to compute initial value for {}", &self.name()))
+            }
             ScriptVar::Tail(_) => Ok(PrimitiveValue::from_string(String::new())),
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/config/window_definition.rs b/src/config/window_definition.rs
index 3a178c4..6527079 100644
--- a/src/config/window_definition.rs
+++ b/src/config/window_definition.rs
@@ -1,28 +1,42 @@
-use crate::{ensure_xml_tag_is, value::NumWithUnit};
+use crate::{ensure_xml_tag_is, value::NumWithUnit, widgets::widget_node};
 use anyhow::*;
 use derive_more::*;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use smart_default::SmartDefault;
+use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 use super::*;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Eq, PartialEq, smart_default::SmartDefault)]
-pub enum Side {
-    #[default]
-    Top,
-    Left,
-    Right,
-    Bottom,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Eq, PartialEq, Default)]
-pub struct StrutDefinition {
-    pub side: Side,
-    pub dist: NumWithUnit,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+/// Full window-definition containing the fully expanded widget tree.
+/// **Use this** rather than `[RawEwwWindowDefinition]`.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct EwwWindowDefinition {
+    pub name: WindowName,
+    pub geometry: EwwWindowGeometry,
+    pub stacking: WindowStacking,
+    pub screen_number: Option<i32>,
+    pub widget: Box<dyn widget_node::WidgetNode>,
+    pub struts: StrutDefinition,
+    pub focusable: bool,
+}
+
+impl EwwWindowDefinition {
+    pub fn generate(defs: &HashMap<String, WidgetDefinition>, window: RawEwwWindowDefinition) -> Result<Self> {
+        Ok(EwwWindowDefinition {
+            name: window.name,
+            geometry: window.geometry,
+            stacking: window.stacking,
+            screen_number: window.screen_number,
+            widget: widget_node::generate_generic_widget_node(defs, &HashMap::new(), window.widget)?,
+            struts: window.struts,
+            focusable: window.focusable,
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+/// Window-definition storing the raw WidgetUse, as received directly from parsing.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub struct RawEwwWindowDefinition {
     pub name: WindowName,
     pub geometry: EwwWindowGeometry,
     pub stacking: WindowStacking,
@@ -32,7 +46,7 @@ pub struct EwwWindowDefinition {
     pub focusable: bool,
 }
 
-impl EwwWindowDefinition {
+impl RawEwwWindowDefinition {
     pub fn from_xml_element(xml: &XmlElement) -> Result<Self> {
         ensure_xml_tag_is!(xml, "window");
         let stacking: WindowStacking = xml.parse_optional_attr("stacking")?.unwrap_or_default();
@@ -44,11 +58,11 @@ impl EwwWindowDefinition {
         let struts: Option<StrutDefinition> = xml
             .child("reserve")
             .ok()
-            .map(parse_strut_definition)
+            .map(StrutDefinition::from_xml_element)
             .transpose()
             .context("Failed to parse <reserve>")?;
 
-        Ok(EwwWindowDefinition {
+        Ok(RawEwwWindowDefinition {
             name: WindowName(xml.attr("name")?.to_owned()),
             geometry: match xml.child("geometry") {
                 Ok(node) => EwwWindowGeometry::from_xml_element(node)?,
@@ -61,30 +75,45 @@ impl EwwWindowDefinition {
             struts: struts.unwrap_or_default(),
         })
     }
+}
 
-    /// returns all the variables that are referenced in this window
-    pub fn referenced_vars(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &VarName> {
-        self.widget.referenced_vars()
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Eq, PartialEq, smart_default::SmartDefault)]
+pub enum Side {
+    #[default]
+    Top,
+    Left,
+    Right,
+    Bottom,
+}
+impl std::str::FromStr for Side {
+    type Err = anyhow::Error;
+
+    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Side> {
+        match s {
+            "l" | "left" => Ok(Side::Left),
+            "r" | "right" => Ok(Side::Right),
+            "t" | "top" => Ok(Side::Top),
+            "b" | "bottom" => Ok(Side::Bottom),
+            _ => Err(anyhow!(
+                "Failed to parse {} as valid side. Must be one of \"left\", \"right\", \"top\", \"bottom\"",
+                s
+            )),
+        }
     }
 }
 
-fn parse_strut_definition(xml: XmlElement) -> Result<StrutDefinition> {
-    Ok(StrutDefinition {
-        side: parse_side(xml.attr("side")?)?,
-        dist: xml.attr("distance")?.parse()?,
-    })
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Eq, PartialEq, Default)]
+pub struct StrutDefinition {
+    pub side: Side,
+    pub dist: NumWithUnit,
 }
 
-fn parse_side(s: &str) -> Result<Side> {
-    match s {
-        "l" | "left" => Ok(Side::Left),
-        "r" | "right" => Ok(Side::Right),
-        "t" | "top" => Ok(Side::Top),
-        "b" | "bottom" => Ok(Side::Bottom),
-        _ => Err(anyhow!(
-            "Failed to parse {} as valid side. Must be one of \"left\", \"right\", \"top\", \"bottom\"",
-            s
-        )),
+impl StrutDefinition {
+    pub fn from_xml_element(xml: XmlElement) -> Result<Self> {
+        Ok(StrutDefinition {
+            side: xml.attr("side")?.parse()?,
+            dist: xml.attr("distance")?.parse()?,
+        })
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/eww_state.rs b/src/eww_state.rs
index dbfc76b..40bed5a 100644
--- a/src/eww_state.rs
+++ b/src/eww_state.rs
@@ -7,11 +7,11 @@ use std::{collections::HashMap, sync::Arc};
 
 use crate::value::{AttrValue, PrimitiveValue};
 
-/// Handler that get's executed to apply the necessary parts of the eww state to
+/// Handler that gets executed to apply the necessary parts of the eww state to
 /// a gtk widget. These are created and initialized in EwwState::resolve.
 pub struct StateChangeHandler {
     func: Box<dyn Fn(HashMap<AttrName, PrimitiveValue>) -> Result<()> + 'static>,
-    unresolved_values: Vec<(AttrName, AttrValue)>,
+    unresolved_values: HashMap<AttrName, AttrValue>,
 }
 
 impl StateChangeHandler {
@@ -24,19 +24,16 @@ impl StateChangeHandler {
     fn run_with_state(&self, state: &HashMap<VarName, PrimitiveValue>) {
         let resolved_attrs = self
             .unresolved_values
-            .iter()
-            .cloned()
+            .clone()
+            .into_iter()
             .map(|(attr_name, value)| Ok((attr_name, value.resolve_fully(state)?)))
             .collect::<Result<_>>();
 
         match resolved_attrs {
             Ok(resolved_attrs) => {
-                let result: Result<_> = (self.func)(resolved_attrs);
-                crate::print_result_err!("while updating UI based after state change", &result);
-            }
-            Err(err) => {
-                eprintln!("Error while resolving attributes: {:?}", err);
+                crate::print_result_err!("while updating UI based after state change", &(self.func)(resolved_attrs))
             }
+            Err(err) => eprintln!("Error while resolving attributes: {:?}", err),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -100,73 +97,56 @@ impl EwwState {
 
     /// Update the value of a variable, running all registered
     /// [StateChangeHandler]s.
-    pub fn update_variable(&mut self, key: VarName, value: PrimitiveValue) -> Result<()> {
+    pub fn update_variable(&mut self, key: VarName, value: PrimitiveValue) {
         self.variables_state.insert(key.clone(), value);
 
-        let handlers = self
-            .windows
+        // run all of the handlers
+        self.windows
             .values()
             .filter_map(|window_state| window_state.state_change_handlers.get(&key))
-            .flatten();
-
-        for handler in handlers {
-            handler.run_with_state(&self.variables_state)
-        }
-        Ok(())
+            .flatten()
+            .for_each(|handler| handler.run_with_state(&self.variables_state));
     }
 
-    /// resolves a value if possible, using the current eww_state
-    /// Expects there to be at max one level of nesting var_refs from local-env.
-    /// This means that no elements in the local_env may be var-refs into the
-    /// local_env again, but only into the global state.
-    pub fn resolve_once<'a>(
-        &'a self,
-        local_env: &'a HashMap<VarName, AttrValue>,
-        value: &'a AttrValue,
-    ) -> Result<PrimitiveValue> {
+    /// Look up a single variable in the eww state, returning an `Err` when the value is not found.
+    pub fn lookup(&self, var_name: &VarName) -> Result<&PrimitiveValue> {
+        self.variables_state
+            .get(var_name)
+            .with_context(|| format!("Unknown variable '{}' referenced", var_name))
+    }
+
+    /// resolves a value if possible, using the current eww_state.
+    pub fn resolve_once<'a>(&'a self, value: &'a AttrValue) -> Result<PrimitiveValue> {
         value
             .iter()
             .map(|element| match element {
                 AttrValueElement::Primitive(primitive) => Ok(primitive.clone()),
-                AttrValueElement::VarRef(var_name) => self
-                    .variables_state
-                    .get(var_name)
-                    .cloned()
-                    .or_else(|| local_env.get(var_name).and_then(|x| self.resolve_once(local_env, x).ok()))
-                    .with_context(|| format!("Unknown variable '{}' referenced", var_name)),
+                AttrValueElement::VarRef(var_name) => self.lookup(var_name).cloned(),
             })
             .collect()
     }
 
     /// Resolve takes a function that applies a set of fully resolved attribute
-    /// values to it's gtk widget. Expects there to be at max one level of
-    /// nesting var_refs from local-env. This means that no elements in the
-    /// local_env may be var-refs into the local_env again, but only into the
-    /// global state.
+    /// values to it's gtk widget.
     pub fn resolve<F: Fn(HashMap<AttrName, PrimitiveValue>) -> Result<()> + 'static + Clone>(
         &mut self,
         window_name: &WindowName,
-        local_env: &HashMap<VarName, AttrValue>,
         required_attributes: HashMap<AttrName, AttrValue>,
         set_value: F,
     ) {
         let handler = StateChangeHandler {
             func: Box::new(set_value),
-            unresolved_values: required_attributes
-                .into_iter()
-                .map(|(attr_name, attr_value)| (attr_name, attr_value.resolve_one_level(local_env)))
-                .collect(),
+            unresolved_values: required_attributes,
         };
 
         handler.run_with_state(&self.variables_state);
 
         // only store the handler if at least one variable is being used
         if handler.used_variables().next().is_some() {
-            let window_state = self
-                .windows
+            self.windows
                 .entry(window_name.clone())
-                .or_insert_with(EwwWindowState::default);
-            window_state.put_handler(handler);
+                .or_insert_with(EwwWindowState::default)
+                .put_handler(handler);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/util.rs b/src/util.rs
index 49c4a7d..a254017 100644
--- a/src/util.rs
+++ b/src/util.rs
@@ -50,6 +50,30 @@ macro_rules! loop_select {
     }
 }
 
+/// Joins two paths while keeping it somewhat pretty.
+/// If the second path is absolute, this will just return the second path.
+/// If it is relative, it will return the second path joined onto the first path, removing any `./` if present.
+/// TODO this is not yet perfect, as it will still leave ../ and multiple ./ etc,... check for a Path::simplify or something.
+pub fn join_path_pretty<P: AsRef<std::path::Path>, P2: AsRef<std::path::Path>>(a: P, b: P2) -> std::path::PathBuf {
+    let a = a.as_ref();
+    let b = b.as_ref();
+    if b.is_absolute() {
+        b.to_path_buf()
+    } else {
+        a.parent().unwrap().join(b.strip_prefix("./").unwrap_or(&b))
+    }
+}
+
+/// extends a hashmap, returning a list of keys that already where present in the hashmap.
+pub fn extend_safe<K: std::cmp::Eq + std::hash::Hash + Clone, V, T: IntoIterator<Item = (K, V)>>(
+    a: &mut std::collections::HashMap<K, V>,
+    b: T,
+) -> Vec<K> {
+    b.into_iter()
+        .filter_map(|(k, v)| a.insert(k.clone(), v).map(|_| k.clone()))
+        .collect()
+}
+
 /// read an scss file, replace all environment variable references within it and
 /// then parse it into css.
 pub fn parse_scss_from_file(path: &Path) -> Result<String> {
diff --git a/src/value/attr_value.rs b/src/value/attr_value.rs
index d87c314..1c7545f 100644
--- a/src/value/attr_value.rs
+++ b/src/value/attr_value.rs
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ impl AttrValue {
         self.0.iter().filter_map(|x| x.as_var_ref())
     }
 
+    /// resolve partially.
+    /// If a var-ref links to another var-ref, that other var-ref is used.
+    /// If a referenced variable is not found in the given hashmap, returns the var-ref unchanged.
     pub fn resolve_one_level(self, variables: &HashMap<VarName, AttrValue>) -> AttrValue {
         self.into_iter()
             .flat_map(|entry| match entry {
@@ -55,6 +58,9 @@ impl AttrValue {
             .collect()
     }
 
+    /// resolve fully.
+    /// As the variables here have to be primitive values,
+    /// this enforces that var-refs are not linking to other variables.
     pub fn resolve_fully(self, variables: &HashMap<VarName, PrimitiveValue>) -> Result<PrimitiveValue> {
         self.into_iter()
             .map(|element| match element {
diff --git a/src/widgets/mod.rs b/src/widgets/mod.rs
index 52d893d..3b6ff19 100644
--- a/src/widgets/mod.rs
+++ b/src/widgets/mod.rs
@@ -1,17 +1,13 @@
-use crate::{
-    config::{element, window_definition::WindowName},
-    eww_state::*,
-    print_result_err,
-    value::{AttrName, AttrValue, VarName},
-};
+use crate::{config::window_definition::WindowName, eww_state::*, print_result_err, value::AttrName};
 use anyhow::*;
 use gtk::prelude::*;
 use itertools::Itertools;
 
-use std::{collections::HashMap, process::Command};
+use std::process::Command;
 use widget_definitions::*;
 
 pub mod widget_definitions;
+pub mod widget_node;
 
 const CMD_STRING_PLACEHODLER: &str = "{}";
 
@@ -27,71 +23,11 @@ pub(self) fn run_command<T: std::fmt::Display>(cmd: &str, arg: T) {
     print_result_err!(format!("executing command {}", &cmd), command_result);
 }
 
-struct BuilderArgs<'a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e> {
+struct BuilderArgs<'a, 'b, 'c, 'd> {
     eww_state: &'a mut EwwState,
-    local_env: &'b HashMap<VarName, AttrValue>,
-    widget: &'c element::WidgetUse,
+    widget: &'b widget_node::Generic,
     unhandled_attrs: Vec<&'c AttrName>,
     window_name: &'d WindowName,
-    widget_definitions: &'e HashMap<String, element::WidgetDefinition>,
-}
-
-/// Generate a [gtk::Widget] from a [element::WidgetUse].
-/// The widget_use may be using a builtin widget, or a custom
-/// [element::WidgetDefinition].
-///
-/// Also registers all the necessary state-change handlers in the eww_state.
-///
-/// This may return `Err` in case there was an actual error while parsing or
-/// resolving the widget, Or `Ok(None)` if the widget_use just didn't match any
-/// widget name.
-pub fn widget_use_to_gtk_widget(
-    widget_definitions: &HashMap<String, element::WidgetDefinition>,
-    eww_state: &mut EwwState,
-    window_name: &WindowName,
-    local_env: &HashMap<VarName, AttrValue>,
-    widget: &element::WidgetUse,
-) -> Result<gtk::Widget> {
-    let builtin_gtk_widget = build_builtin_gtk_widget(widget_definitions, eww_state, window_name, local_env, widget)?;
-
-    let gtk_widget = if let Some(builtin_gtk_widget) = builtin_gtk_widget {
-        builtin_gtk_widget
-    } else if let Some(def) = widget_definitions.get(widget.name.as_str()) {
-        // let mut local_env = local_env.clone();
-
-        // the attributes that are set on the widget need to be resolved as far as
-        // possible. If an attribute is a variable reference, it must either reference a
-        // variable in the current local_env, or in the global state. As we are building
-        // widgets from the outer most to the most nested, we can resolve attributes at
-        // every step. This way, any definition that is affected by changes in the
-        // eww_state will be directly linked to the eww_state's value. Example:
-        // foo="{{in_eww_state}}"  => attr_in_child="{{foo}}"  =>
-        // attr_in_nested_child="{{attr_in_child}}" will be resolved step by step. This
-        // code will first resolve attr_in_child to directly be
-        // attr_in_child={{in_eww_state}}. then, in the widget_use_to_gtk_widget call of
-        // that child element, attr_in_nested_child will again be resolved to point to
-        // the value of attr_in_child, and thus: attr_in_nested_child="{{in_eww_state}}"
-        let resolved_widget_attr_env = widget
-            .attrs
-            .clone()
-            .into_iter()
-            .map(|(attr_name, attr_value)| (VarName(attr_name.0), attr_value.resolve_one_level(local_env)))
-            .collect();
-
-        let custom_widget = widget_use_to_gtk_widget(
-            widget_definitions,
-            eww_state,
-            window_name,
-            &resolved_widget_attr_env,
-            &def.structure,
-        )?;
-        custom_widget.get_style_context().add_class(widget.name.as_str());
-        custom_widget
-    } else {
-        bail!("unknown widget: '{}'", &widget.name);
-    };
-
-    Ok(gtk_widget)
 }
 
 /// build a [`gtk::Widget`] out of a [`element::WidgetUse`] that uses a
@@ -104,19 +40,15 @@ pub fn widget_use_to_gtk_widget(
 /// resolving the widget, Or `Ok(None)` if the widget_use just didn't match any
 /// widget name.
 fn build_builtin_gtk_widget(
-    widget_definitions: &HashMap<String, element::WidgetDefinition>,
     eww_state: &mut EwwState,
     window_name: &WindowName,
-    local_env: &HashMap<VarName, AttrValue>,
-    widget: &element::WidgetUse,
+    widget: &widget_node::Generic,
 ) -> Result<Option<gtk::Widget>> {
     let mut bargs = BuilderArgs {
         eww_state,
-        local_env,
         widget,
         window_name,
         unhandled_attrs: widget.attrs.keys().collect(),
-        widget_definitions,
     };
     let gtk_widget = match widget_to_gtk_widget(&mut bargs) {
         Ok(Some(gtk_widget)) => gtk_widget,
@@ -136,8 +68,7 @@ fn build_builtin_gtk_widget(
     if let Some(gtk_widget) = gtk_widget.dynamic_cast_ref::<gtk::Container>() {
         resolve_container_attrs(&mut bargs, &gtk_widget);
         for child in &widget.children {
-            let child_widget = widget_use_to_gtk_widget(widget_definitions, bargs.eww_state, window_name, local_env, child);
-            let child_widget = child_widget.with_context(|| {
+            let child_widget = child.render(bargs.eww_state, window_name).with_context(|| {
                 format!(
                     "{}error while building child '{:#?}' of '{}'",
                     widget.text_pos.map(|x| format!("{} |", x)).unwrap_or_default(),
@@ -193,7 +124,6 @@ macro_rules! resolve_block {
             if let Ok(attr_map) = attr_map {
                 $args.eww_state.resolve(
                     $args.window_name,
-                    $args.local_env,
                     attr_map,
                     ::glib::clone!(@strong $gtk_widget => move |attrs| {
                         $(
diff --git a/src/widgets/widget_definitions.rs b/src/widgets/widget_definitions.rs
index 31c5c46..d92dc34 100644
--- a/src/widgets/widget_definitions.rs
+++ b/src/widgets/widget_definitions.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use super::{run_command, BuilderArgs};
-use crate::{config, eww_state, resolve_block, value::AttrValue};
+use crate::{config, eww_state, resolve_block, value::AttrValue, widgets::widget_node};
 use anyhow::*;
 use gtk::{prelude::*, ImageExt};
-use std::{cell::RefCell, rc::Rc};
+use std::{cell::RefCell, collections::HashMap, rc::Rc};
 
 // TODO figure out how to
 // TODO https://developer.gnome.org/gtk3/stable/GtkFixed.html
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ pub(super) fn resolve_widget_attrs(bargs: &mut BuilderArgs, gtk_widget: &gtk::Wi
     if let Ok(visible) = bargs
         .widget
         .get_attr("visible")
-        .and_then(|v| bargs.eww_state.resolve_once(bargs.local_env, v)?.as_bool())
+        .and_then(|v| bargs.eww_state.resolve_once(v)?.as_bool())
     {
         connect_first_map(gtk_widget, move |w| {
             if visible {
@@ -410,7 +410,6 @@ fn build_gtk_literal(bargs: &mut BuilderArgs) -> Result<gtk::Box> {
 
     // TODO these clones here are dumdum
     let window_name = bargs.window_name.clone();
-    let widget_definitions = bargs.widget_definitions.clone();
     resolve_block!(bargs, gtk_widget, {
         // @prop content - inline Eww XML that will be rendered as a widget.
         prop(content: as_string) {
@@ -418,13 +417,9 @@ fn build_gtk_literal(bargs: &mut BuilderArgs) -> Result<gtk::Box> {
             if !content.is_empty() {
                 let document = roxmltree::Document::parse(&content).map_err(|e| anyhow!("Failed to parse eww xml literal: {:?}", e))?;
                 let content_widget_use = config::element::WidgetUse::from_xml_node(document.root_element().into())?;
-                let child_widget = super::widget_use_to_gtk_widget(
-                    &widget_definitions,
-                    &mut eww_state::EwwState::default(),
-                    &window_name,
-                    &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
-                    &content_widget_use,
-                )?;
+
+                let widget_node = &*widget_node::generate_generic_widget_node(&HashMap::new(), &HashMap::new(), content_widget_use)?;
+                let child_widget = widget_node.render( &mut eww_state::EwwState::default(), &window_name)?;
                 gtk_widget.add(&child_widget);
                 child_widget.show();
             }
diff --git a/src/widgets/widget_node.rs b/src/widgets/widget_node.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0fc98b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/widgets/widget_node.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+use crate::{
+    config::{
+        element::{WidgetDefinition, WidgetUse},
+        WindowName,
+    },
+    eww_state::EwwState,
+    value::{AttrName, AttrValue, VarName},
+};
+use anyhow::*;
+use dyn_clone;
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+pub trait WidgetNode: std::fmt::Debug + dyn_clone::DynClone + Send + Sync {
+    fn get_name(&self) -> &str;
+    fn get_text_pos(&self) -> Option<&roxmltree::TextPos>;
+
+    /// Generate a [gtk::Widget] from a [element::WidgetUse].
+    ///
+    /// Also registers all the necessary state-change handlers in the eww_state.
+    ///
+    /// This may return `Err` in case there was an actual error while parsing or
+    /// resolving the widget, Or `Ok(None)` if the widget_use just didn't match any
+    /// widget name.
+    fn render(&self, eww_state: &mut EwwState, window_name: &WindowName) -> Result<gtk::Widget>;
+}
+
+dyn_clone::clone_trait_object!(WidgetNode);
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct UserDefined {
+    name: String,
+    text_pos: Option<roxmltree::TextPos>,
+    content: Box<dyn WidgetNode>,
+}
+
+impl WidgetNode for UserDefined {
+    fn get_name(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.name
+    }
+
+    fn get_text_pos(&self) -> Option<&roxmltree::TextPos> {
+        self.text_pos.as_ref()
+    }
+
+    fn render(&self, eww_state: &mut EwwState, window_name: &WindowName) -> Result<gtk::Widget> {
+        self.content.render(eww_state, window_name)
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct Generic {
+    pub name: String,
+    pub text_pos: Option<roxmltree::TextPos>,
+    pub children: Vec<Box<dyn WidgetNode>>,
+    pub attrs: HashMap<AttrName, AttrValue>,
+}
+
+impl Generic {
+    pub fn get_attr(&self, key: &str) -> Result<&AttrValue> {
+        self.attrs
+            .get(key)
+            .context(format!("attribute '{}' missing from use of '{}'", key, &self.name))
+    }
+
+    /// returns all the variables that are referenced in this widget
+    pub fn referenced_vars(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &VarName> {
+        self.attrs.iter().flat_map(|(_, value)| value.var_refs())
+    }
+}
+
+impl WidgetNode for Generic {
+    fn get_name(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.name
+    }
+
+    fn get_text_pos(&self) -> Option<&roxmltree::TextPos> {
+        self.text_pos.as_ref()
+    }
+
+    fn render(&self, eww_state: &mut EwwState, window_name: &WindowName) -> Result<gtk::Widget> {
+        Ok(crate::widgets::build_builtin_gtk_widget(eww_state, window_name, &self)?
+            .with_context(|| format!("Unknown widget '{}'", self.get_name()))?)
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn generate_generic_widget_node(
+    defs: &HashMap<String, WidgetDefinition>,
+    local_env: &HashMap<VarName, AttrValue>,
+    w: WidgetUse,
+) -> Result<Box<dyn WidgetNode>> {
+    if let Some(def) = defs.get(&w.name) {
+        ensure!(w.children.is_empty(), "User-defined widgets cannot be given children.");
+
+        let new_local_env = w
+            .attrs
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|(name, value)| (VarName(name.0), value.resolve_one_level(local_env)))
+            .collect::<HashMap<_, _>>();
+
+        let content = generate_generic_widget_node(defs, &new_local_env, def.structure.clone())?;
+        Ok(Box::new(UserDefined {
+            name: w.name,
+            text_pos: w.text_pos,
+            content,
+        }))
+    } else {
+        Ok(Box::new(Generic {
+            name: w.name,
+            text_pos: w.text_pos,
+            attrs: w
+                .attrs
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|(name, value)| (name, value.resolve_one_level(local_env)))
+                .collect(),
+            children: w
+                .children
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|child| generate_generic_widget_node(defs, local_env, child))
+                .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?,
+        }))
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::config::xml_ext::*;
+    use maplit::hashmap;
+    use pretty_assertions::assert_eq;
+    #[test]
+    fn test_generic_generate() {
+        let w_def1 = {
+            let input = r#"<def name="foo"><box><box>{{nested1}}{{raw1}}</box></box></def>"#;
+            let document = roxmltree::Document::parse(input).unwrap();
+            let xml = XmlNode::from(document.root_element().clone());
+            WidgetDefinition::from_xml_element(&xml.as_element().unwrap()).unwrap()
+        };
+        let w_def2 = {
+            let input = r#"<def name="bar"><box><foo nested1="{{nested2}}" raw1="raw value"/></box></def>"#;
+            let document = roxmltree::Document::parse(input).unwrap();
+            let xml = XmlNode::from(document.root_element().clone());
+            WidgetDefinition::from_xml_element(&xml.as_element().unwrap()).unwrap()
+        };
+        let w_use = {
+            let input = r#"<bar nested2="{{in_root}}"/>"#;
+            let document = roxmltree::Document::parse(input).unwrap();
+            let xml = XmlNode::from(document.root_element().clone());
+            WidgetUse::from_xml_node(xml).unwrap()
+        };
+
+        let generic = generate_generic_widget_node(
+            &hashmap! { "foo".to_string() => w_def1, "bar".to_string() => w_def2 },
+            &HashMap::new(),
+            w_use,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        // TODO actually implement this test ._.
+
+        dbg!(&generic);
+        // panic!("REEEEEEEEEE")
+    }
+}