diff --git a/TODOS.md b/TODOS.md
index 21bbe96..96b9f43 100644
--- a/TODOS.md
+++ b/TODOS.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 12. Rewrite `write_command_help` to use text/tables
 
-13. Instead of using a writer to strip colors, just don't print the colors.
+13. Consider getting rid of color global.
 
 14. Add a text filter to the multi_select.
 
diff --git a/cli.odin b/cli.odin
index a201df3..7e490c4 100644
--- a/cli.odin
+++ b/cli.odin
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ parse_args :: proc(args: []string, out: io.Stream, err: io.Stream) -> (cmd: Comm
 		cmd.flags.color = terminal.is_terminal(os.stdout) ? .Always : .Never
 	}
 	if cmd.flags.color == .Never {
-		cmd.out = make_ansi_strip_writer(cmd.out)
+		disable_color = true
 	}
 
 	if cmd.flags.config_file == "" {
@@ -141,36 +141,23 @@ write_command_help :: proc(name: string, w: io.Writer) -> bool {
 
 	fmt.wprintf(
 		w,
-		"%s\n\n\n" +
-		COLOR_HEADINGS +
-		"Usage:" +
-		ANSI_RESET +
-		"\n\n  " +
-		COLOR_FLAGS +
-		"%s" +
-		ANSI_RESET +
-		" [flags]\n\n",
+		"%s\n\n\n%s\n\n  %s [flags]\n\n",
 		info.short,
-		info.usage,
+		colorize(.Heading, "Usage:"),
+		colorize(.Flag, info.usage),
 		flush = false,
 	)
 
 	if len(info.aliases) > 0 {
 		fmt.wprintf(
 			w,
-			"\n" +
-			COLOR_HEADINGS +
-			"Aliases:" +
-			ANSI_RESET +
-			"\n\n  " +
-			COLOR_COMMANDS +
-			"%s" +
-			ANSI_RESET,
-			info.name,
+			"\n%s\n\n  %s",
+			colorize(.Heading, "Aliases:"),
+			colorize(.Command, info.name),
 			flush = false,
 		)
 		for a in info.aliases {
-			fmt.wprintf(w, ", " + COLOR_COMMANDS + "%s" + ANSI_RESET, a, flush = false)
+			fmt.wprintf(w, ", %s", colorize(.Command, a), flush = false)
 		}
 		fmt.wprintf(w, "\n", flush = false)
 	}
@@ -181,21 +168,14 @@ write_command_help :: proc(name: string, w: io.Writer) -> bool {
 
 	fmt.wprintf(
 		w,
-		"\n" +
-		COLOR_HEADINGS +
-		"Flags:" +
-		ANSI_RESET +
-		"\n\n  " +
-		COLOR_FLAGS +
-		"-h, --help" +
-		ANSI_RESET +
-		"   help for %s\n  " +
-		COLOR_FLAGS +
-		"-c, --config-file" +
-		ANSI_RESET +
-		` <path>   config file (default "~/.envr/config.json")
+		"\n%s\n\n  %s" +
+		`   help for %s
+  %s <path>   config file (default "~/.envr/config.json")
 `,
+		colorize(.Heading, "Flags:"),
+		colorize(.Flag, "-h, --help"),
 		info.name,
+		colorize(.Flag, "-c, --config-file"),
 		flush = false,
 	)
 	return true
@@ -250,15 +230,13 @@ at before, restore your backup with:
 
 > envr restore ~/<path to repository>/.env
 
-%sUsage:%s
+%s
 
-  %senvr%s [command]
+  %s [command]
 
 `,
-		COLOR_HEADINGS,
-		ANSI_RESET,
-		COLOR_FLAGS,
-		ANSI_RESET,
+		colorize(.Heading, "Usage:"),
+		colorize(.Flag, "envr"),
 		flush = false,
 	)
 
@@ -274,7 +252,7 @@ at before, restore your backup with:
 		for a in c.aliases {
 			name = strings.join([]string{name, a}, ", ", tbl.format_allocator)
 		}
-		table.row(&tbl, table.format(&tbl, "%s%s%s", COLOR_COMMANDS, name, ANSI_RESET), c.short)
+		table.row(&tbl, colorize(.Command, name, tbl.format_allocator), c.short)
 	}
 
 	write_borderless_table(w, &tbl)
@@ -282,29 +260,40 @@ at before, restore your backup with:
 
 	table.caption(&tbl, "Flags:")
 
-	table.row(&tbl, COLOR_FLAGS + "-h, --help" + ANSI_RESET, `show this documentation`)
+	table.row(&tbl, colorize(.Flag, "-h, --help", tbl.format_allocator), `show this documentation`)
 	table.row(
 		&tbl,
-		COLOR_FLAGS + "-c, --config-file" + ANSI_RESET + " <path>",
+		table.format(
+			&tbl,
+			"%s <path>",
+			colorize(.Flag, "-c, --config-file", tbl.format_allocator),
+		),
 		`config file (default "~/.envr/config.json")`,
 	)
 	table.row(
 		&tbl,
-		COLOR_FLAGS + "-o, --output" + ANSI_RESET + " 'table'|'json'",
-		`the format of output data. (default 'table')`,
+		table.format(
+			&tbl,
+			"%s 'table'|'json'",
+			colorize(.Flag, "-o, --output", tbl.format_allocator),
+		),
+		`The format of output data. (default 'table')`,
 	)
 	table.row(
 		&tbl,
-		COLOR_FLAGS + "--color" + ANSI_RESET + " 'auto'|'always'|'never'",
+		table.format(
+			&tbl,
+			"%s 'auto'|'always'|'never'",
+			colorize(.Flag, "--color", tbl.format_allocator),
+		),
 		`Whether or not to colorize output. (default 'auto')`,
 	)
 	write_borderless_table(w, &tbl)
 
 	fmt.wprintf(
 		w,
-		`Use "%senvr%s [command] --help" for more information about a command.`,
-		COLOR_FLAGS,
-		ANSI_RESET,
+		`Use "%s [command] --help" for more information about a command.`,
+		colorize(.Flag, "envr", tbl.format_allocator),
 		flush = false,
 	)
 }
diff --git a/cmd_init.odin b/cmd_init.odin
index 9322fdb..9b36ced 100644
--- a/cmd_init.odin
+++ b/cmd_init.odin
@@ -38,11 +38,7 @@ Generate one with: ssh-keygen -t ed25519`,
 	selected, result := multi_select("Select SSH private keys:", keys[:])
 	defer delete(selected)
 	if result == .Cancel {
-		fmt.wprintln(
-			cmd.out,
-			ansi.CSI + ansi.FAINT + ansi.SGR + "Cancelled." + ANSI_RESET,
-			flush = false,
-		)
+		fmt.wprintln(cmd.out, colorize(.Message, "Cancelled."), flush = false)
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/cmd_list.odin b/cmd_list.odin
index c3ba9f9..2bb9965 100644
--- a/cmd_list.odin
+++ b/cmd_list.odin
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ cmd_list :: proc(cmd: ^Command) {
 		table.aligned_header_of_values(
 			&t,
 			.Center,
-			COLOR_TABLE_HEADING + "Directory" + ANSI_RESET,
-			COLOR_TABLE_HEADING + "Path" + ANSI_RESET,
+			colorize(.Table_Heading, "Directory"),
+			colorize(.Table_Heading, "Path"),
 		)
 
 		for row in rows {
diff --git a/cmd_scan.odin b/cmd_scan.odin
index 437c09d..e775f69 100644
--- a/cmd_scan.odin
+++ b/cmd_scan.odin
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import "core:encoding/json"
 import "core:fmt"
 import "core:os"
 import "core:terminal"
-import "core:terminal/ansi"
 
 cmd_scan :: proc(cmd: ^Command) {
 	db, db_ok := db_open(cmd.flags.config_file)
@@ -72,11 +71,7 @@ cmd_scan :: proc(cmd: ^Command) {
 	selected, result := multi_select("Select .env files to backup:", files[:])
 	defer delete(selected)
 	if result == .Cancel {
-		fmt.wprintln(
-			cmd.out,
-			ansi.CSI + ansi.FAINT + ansi.SGR + "Cancelled." + ANSI_RESET,
-			flush = false,
-		)
+		fmt.wprintln(cmd.out, colorize(.Message, "Cancelled."), flush = false)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -100,25 +95,16 @@ cmd_scan :: proc(cmd: ^Command) {
 	}
 
 	if added_count > 0 {
-		fmt.wprintf(
+		fmt.wprintln(
 			cmd.out,
-			ansi.CSI +
-			ansi.BOLD +
-			";" +
-			ansi.FG_GREEN +
-			ansi.SGR +
-			"Successfully added %d file(s) to backup." +
-			ANSI_RESET +
-			"\n",
-			added_count,
+			colorize(
+				.Sucess,
+				fmt.tprintf("Successfully added %d file(s) to backup.", added_count),
+			),
 			flush = false,
 		)
 	} else {
-		fmt.wprintln(
-			cmd.out,
-			ansi.CSI + ansi.FAINT + ansi.SGR + "No files were added." + ANSI_RESET,
-			flush = false,
-		)
+		fmt.wprintln(cmd.out, colorize(.Message, "No files were added."), flush = false)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd_sync.odin b/cmd_sync.odin
index dbd3e51..f3c7e80 100644
--- a/cmd_sync.odin
+++ b/cmd_sync.odin
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ cmd_sync :: proc(cmd: ^Command) {
 		table.aligned_header_of_values(
 			&t,
 			.Center,
-			COLOR_TABLE_HEADING + "File" + ANSI_RESET,
-			COLOR_TABLE_HEADING + "Status" + ANSI_RESET,
+			colorize(.Table_Heading, "File"),
+			colorize(.Table_Heading, "Status"),
 		)
 
 		for res in results {
diff --git a/colors.odin b/colors.odin
index 214a6bc..24e04ba 100644
--- a/colors.odin
+++ b/colors.odin
@@ -1,86 +1,66 @@
 package main
 
-import "core:io"
+import "base:runtime"
+import "core:strings"
 import "core:terminal/ansi"
 
-COLOR_HEADINGS ::
-	ansi.CSI + ansi.FG_BRIGHT_GREEN + ";" + ansi.BOLD + ";" + ansi.UNDERLINE + ansi.SGR
-
-COLOR_COMMANDS :: ansi.CSI + ansi.FG_BRIGHT_CYAN + ";" + ansi.BOLD + ansi.SGR
-
-COLOR_EXAMPLE :: ansi.CSI + ansi.ITALIC + ansi.SGR
-
-COLOR_FLAGS :: ansi.CSI + ansi.BOLD + ";" + ansi.FG_BRIGHT_WHITE + ansi.SGR
-
-COLOR_TABLE_HEADING :: ansi.CSI + ansi.FG_BRIGHT_GREEN + ansi.SGR
-
-ANSI_RESET :: ansi.CSI + ansi.RESET + ansi.SGR
-
-ANSI_Strip_State :: enum { Normal, GotESC, InCSI }
-
-ANSI_Strip_Data :: struct {
-	inner: io.Writer,
-	state: ANSI_Strip_State,
+Color_Code :: enum {
+	Heading,
+	Command,
+	// Example
+	Flag,
+	Table_Heading,
+	Message,
+	Sucess,
+	Caret,
+	Option_Label,
 }
 
-ansi_strip_proc :: proc(
-	stream_data: rawptr,
-	mode:        io.Stream_Mode,
-	p:           []byte,
-	offset:      i64,
-	whence:      io.Seek_From,
-) -> (n: i64, err: io.Error) {
-	data := cast(^ANSI_Strip_Data) stream_data
+// COLOR_EXAMPLE :: ansi.CSI + ansi.ITALIC + ansi.SGR
 
-	#partial switch mode {
-	case .Write:
-		start := 0
-		for i in 0..<len(p) {
-			b := p[i]
+@(private = "file")
+ANSI_RESET :: ansi.CSI + ansi.RESET + ansi.SGR
 
-			switch data.state {
-			case .Normal:
-				if b == 0x1b {
-					if i > start {
-						io.write(data.inner, p[start:i])
-					}
-					data.state = .GotESC
-				}
+disable_color := false
 
-			case .GotESC:
-				if b == '[' {
-					data.state = .InCSI
-				} else {
-					start = i
-					data.state = .Normal
-				}
-
-			case .InCSI:
-				if b >= 0x40 && b <= 0x7E {
-					start = i + 1
-					data.state = .Normal
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		if data.state == .Normal && len(p) > start {
-			io.write(data.inner, p[start:])
-		}
-
-		n = i64(len(p))
-		return
-
-	case .Flush:
-		return 0, io.flush(data.inner)
-	case .Close:
-		return 0, io.close(data.inner)
-	case:
-		return data.inner.procedure(data.inner.data, mode, p, offset, whence)
+colorize :: proc(
+	color: Color_Code,
+	text: string,
+	allocator := context.temp_allocator,
+	disable := disable_color,
+) -> (
+	string,
+	runtime.Allocator_Error,
+) #optional_allocator_error {
+	if disable {
+		return text, nil
+	} else {
+		return strings.concatenate(
+			{ansi.CSI, color_code(color), ansi.SGR, text, ANSI_RESET},
+			allocator,
+		)
 	}
 }
 
-make_ansi_strip_writer :: proc(inner: io.Writer) -> io.Writer {
-	data := new(ANSI_Strip_Data, context.temp_allocator)
-	data.inner = inner
-	return io.Writer{procedure = ansi_strip_proc, data = rawptr(data)}
+@(private = "file")
+color_code :: proc(code: Color_Code) -> string {
+	switch code {
+	case .Heading:
+		return ansi.BOLD + ";" + ansi.UNDERLINE + ";" + ansi.FG_BRIGHT_GREEN
+	case .Command:
+		return ansi.BOLD + ";" + ansi.FG_BRIGHT_CYAN
+	case .Flag:
+		return ansi.BOLD + ";" + ansi.FG_BRIGHT_WHITE
+	case .Table_Heading:
+		return ansi.FG_BRIGHT_GREEN
+	case .Message:
+		return ansi.FAINT
+	case .Sucess, .Caret:
+		return ansi.BOLD + ";" + ansi.FG_GREEN
+	case .Option_Label:
+		return ansi.BOLD + ";" + ansi.FG_CYAN
+	case:
+		panic("Unknown case")
+	}
 }
+
diff --git a/prompt.odin b/prompt.odin
index e31b2a9..3b0d0b7 100644
--- a/prompt.odin
+++ b/prompt.odin
@@ -66,11 +66,17 @@ multi_select :: proc(
 		case .Space:
 			selected[cursor] = !selected[cursor]
 		case .Enter:
-			fmt.printf(ansi.CSI + "%d" + ansi.CUU + ansi.CSI + ansi.ED + ansi.CSI + ansi.DECTCEM_SHOW, visible + 1)
+			fmt.printf(
+				ansi.CSI + "%d" + ansi.CUU + ansi.CSI + ansi.ED + ansi.CSI + ansi.DECTCEM_SHOW,
+				visible + 1,
+			)
 			result = .Confirm
 			return
 		case .Escape:
-			fmt.printf(ansi.CSI + "%d" + ansi.CUU + ansi.CSI + ansi.ED + ansi.CSI + ansi.DECTCEM_SHOW, visible + 1)
+			fmt.printf(
+				ansi.CSI + "%d" + ansi.CUU + ansi.CSI + ansi.ED + ansi.CSI + ansi.DECTCEM_SHOW,
+				visible + 1,
+			)
 			result = .Cancel
 			return
 		case .Unknown:
@@ -89,7 +95,10 @@ render_options :: proc(
 	cursor: int,
 	scroll_offset: int,
 ) -> int {
-	fmt.printf(ansi.CSI + ansi.BOLD + ";" + ansi.FG_CYAN + ansi.SGR + "%s" + ANSI_RESET + " (↑/↓ move, space select, enter confirm)\r\n", prompt)
+	fmt.printf(
+		"%s (↑/↓ move, space select, enter confirm)\r\n",
+		colorize(.Option_Label, prompt),
+	)
 
 	end := scroll_offset + MAX_VISIBLE
 	if end > len(options) {
@@ -102,9 +111,14 @@ render_options :: proc(
 			checkbox = "x"
 		}
 		if i == cursor {
-			fmt.printf(ansi.CSI + ansi.BOLD + ";" + ansi.FG_GREEN + ansi.SGR + "> " + ANSI_RESET + "[" + ansi.CSI + ansi.FG_GREEN + ansi.SGR + "%s" + ANSI_RESET + "] %s\r\n", checkbox, options[i])
+			fmt.printf(
+				"%s [%s] %s\r\n",
+				colorize(.Caret, ">"),
+				colorize(.Sucess, checkbox),
+				options[i],
+			)
 		} else {
-			fmt.printf("  [" + ansi.CSI + ansi.FAINT + ansi.SGR + "%s" + ANSI_RESET + "] %s\r\n", checkbox, options[i])
+			fmt.printf("  [%s] %s\r\n", colorize(.Sucess, checkbox), options[i])
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/table.odin b/table.odin
index 5d3f186..4f3de8d 100644
--- a/table.odin
+++ b/table.odin
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ write_borderless_table :: proc(w: io.Writer, t: ^table.Table) {
 	if t.caption != "" {
 		table.write_text_align(
 			w,
-			fmt.tprintf("%s%s%s", COLOR_HEADINGS, t.caption, ANSI_RESET),
+			colorize(.Heading, t.caption),
 			.Left,
 			0, //t.lpad,
 			0, //t.rpad,
diff --git a/table_test.odin b/table_test.odin
index 0344c50..9330669 100644
--- a/table_test.odin
+++ b/table_test.odin
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 package main
 
+import "core:strings"
 import "core:testing"
 
 @(test)
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ test_ansi_aware_width_empty :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 
 @(test)
 test_ansi_aware_width_with_color_codes :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
-	colored := COLOR_TABLE_HEADING + "Directory" + ANSI_RESET
+	colored := colorize(.Heading, "Directory", disable = false)
 	testing.expect_value(t, ansi_aware_width(colored), 9)
 }
 
@@ -28,6 +29,13 @@ test_ansi_aware_width_multibyte :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 
 @(test)
 test_ansi_aware_width_multiple_escape_sequences :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
-	colored := COLOR_TABLE_HEADING + "a" + ANSI_RESET + "b" + COLOR_TABLE_HEADING + "c" + ANSI_RESET
+	colored := strings.concatenate(
+		{
+			colorize(.Heading, "a", disable = false),
+			colorize(.Heading, "b", disable = false),
+			colorize(.Heading, "c", disable = false),
+		},
+	)
 	testing.expect_value(t, ansi_aware_width(colored), 3)
 }
+