diff --git a/.ycm_extra_conf.py b/.ycm_extra_conf.py
index 3da679cf..aa6a7c06 100644
--- a/.ycm_extra_conf.py
+++ b/.ycm_extra_conf.py
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ def DirectoryOfThisScript():
 
 flags.append('-I'+ DirectoryOfThisScript() +'/src')
 flags.append('-I'+ DirectoryOfThisScript() +'/include')
-flags.append('-I'+ DirectoryOfThisScript() +'/lib/boost/include')
 flags.append('-I'+ DirectoryOfThisScript() +'/lib/concurrentqueue/include')
 flags.append('-I'+ DirectoryOfThisScript() +'/lib/i3ipcpp/include')
 flags.append('-I'+ DirectoryOfThisScript() +'/lib/xpp/include')
diff --git a/include/components/config.hpp b/include/components/config.hpp
index a49539e6..2cf216ec 100644
--- a/include/components/config.hpp
+++ b/include/components/config.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 #pragma once
-
-#include <boost/optional.hpp>
 #include <unordered_map>
 
 #include "common.hpp"
@@ -12,9 +10,6 @@
 
 POLYBAR_NS
 
-using boost::optional;
-using boost::none;
-
 #define GET_CONFIG_VALUE(section, var, name) var = m_conf.get<decltype(var)>(section, name, var)
 #define REQ_CONFIG_VALUE(section, var, name) var = m_conf.get<decltype(var)>(section, name)
 #define DEPR_CONFIG_VALUE(section, var, old, name) var = m_conf.deprecated<decltype(var)>(section, old, name, var)
@@ -58,19 +53,11 @@ class config {
    */
   template <typename T>
   T get(const string& section, const string& key) const {
-    optional<T> value{opt<T>(section, key)};
-
-    if (value == none) {
+    auto it = m_sections.find(section);
+    if (it == m_sections.end() || it->second.find(key) == it->second.end()) {
       throw key_error("Missing parameter [" + section + "." + key + "]");
     }
-
-    string string_value{opt<string>(section, key).get()};
-
-    if (!string_value.empty()) {
-      return dereference<T>(section, key, opt<string>(section, key).get(), value.get());
-    }
-
-    return move(value.get());
+    return dereference<T>(section, key, it->second.at(key), convert<T>(string{it->second.at(key)}));
   }
 
   /**
@@ -79,19 +66,13 @@ class config {
    */
   template <typename T>
   T get(const string& section, const string& key, const T& default_value) const {
-    optional<T> value{opt<T>(section, key)};
-
-    if (value == none) {
+    try {
+      T result{get<T>(section, key)};
+      string string_value{get<string>(section, key)};
+      return dereference<T>(move(section), move(key), move(string_value), move(result));
+    } catch (const key_error& err) {
       return default_value;
     }
-
-    string string_value{opt<string>(section, key).get()};
-
-    if (!string_value.empty()) {
-      return dereference<T>(section, key, opt<string>(section, key).get(), value.get());
-    }
-
-    return move(value.get());
   }
 
   /**
@@ -107,23 +88,28 @@ class config {
    */
   template <typename T>
   vector<T> get_list(const string& section, const string& key) const {
-    vector<T> vec;
-    optional<T> value;
+    vector<T> results;
 
-    while ((value = opt<T>(section, key + "-" + to_string(vec.size()))) != none) {
-      string string_value{get<string>(section, key + "-" + to_string(vec.size()))};
+    while (true) {
+      try {
+        string string_value{get<string>(section, key + "-" + to_string(results.size()))};
+        T value{get<T>(section, key + "-" + to_string(results.size()))};
 
-      if (!string_value.empty()) {
-        vec.emplace_back(dereference<T>(section, key, move(string_value), move(value.get())));
-      } else {
-        vec.emplace_back(move(value.get()));
+        if (!string_value.empty()) {
+          results.emplace_back(dereference<T>(section, key, move(string_value), move(value)));
+        } else {
+          results.emplace_back(move(value));
+        }
+      } catch (const key_error& err) {
+        break;
       }
     }
 
-    if (vec.empty())
+    if (results.empty()) {
       throw key_error("Missing parameter [" + section + "." + key + "-0]");
+    }
 
-    return vec;
+    return results;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -132,23 +118,29 @@ class config {
    */
   template <typename T>
   vector<T> get_list(const string& section, const string& key, const vector<T>& default_value) const {
-    vector<T> vec;
-    optional<T> value;
+    vector<T> results;
 
-    while ((value = opt<T>(section, key + "-" + to_string(vec.size()))) != none) {
-      string string_value{get<string>(section, key + "-" + to_string(vec.size()))};
+    while (true) {
+      try {
+        string string_value{get<string>(section, key + "-" + to_string(results.size()))};
+        T value{get<T>(section, key + "-" + to_string(results.size()))};
 
-      if (!string_value.empty()) {
-        vec.emplace_back(dereference<T>(section, key, move(string_value), move(value.get())));
-      } else {
-        vec.emplace_back(move(value.get()));
+        if (!string_value.empty()) {
+          results.emplace_back(dereference<T>(section, key, move(string_value), move(value)));
+        } else {
+          results.emplace_back(move(value));
+        }
+      } catch (const key_error& err) {
+        break;
       }
     }
 
-    if (vec.empty())
-      return default_value;
-    else
-      return vec;
+    if (!results.empty()) {
+      return results;
+      ;
+    }
+
+    return default_value;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -188,18 +180,6 @@ class config {
   template <typename T>
   T convert(string&& value) const;
 
-  template <typename T>
-  const optional<T> opt(const string& section, const string& key) const {
-    sectionmap_t::const_iterator s;
-    valuemap_t::const_iterator v;
-
-    if ((s = m_sections.find(section)) != m_sections.end() && (v = s->second.find(key)) != s->second.end()) {
-      return {convert<T>(string{v->second})};
-    }
-
-    return none;
-  }
-
   /**
    * Dereference value reference
    */
@@ -232,20 +212,19 @@ class config {
   template <typename T>
   T dereference_local(string section, const string& key, const string& current_section) const {
     if (section == "BAR") {
-      m_logger.warn("${BAR.key} is deprecated. Use ${root.key} instead");
+      m_log.warn("${BAR.key} is deprecated. Use ${root.key} instead");
     }
 
     section = string_util::replace(section, "BAR", this->section(), 0, 3);
     section = string_util::replace(section, "root", this->section(), 0, 4);
     section = string_util::replace(section, "self", current_section, 0, 4);
 
-    optional<T> result{opt<T>(section, key)};
-
-    if (result == none) {
+    try {
+      T result{get<T>(section, key)};
+      return dereference<T>(string(section), move(key), get<string>(section, key), move(result));
+    } catch (const key_error& err) {
       throw value_error("Unexisting reference defined [" + section + "." + key + "]");
     }
-
-    return dereference<T>(section, key, opt<string>(section, key).get(), result.get());
   }
 
   /**
@@ -265,14 +244,13 @@ class config {
 
     if (env_util::has(var.c_str())) {
       string env_value{env_util::get(var.c_str())};
-      m_logger.info("Found matching environment variable ${" + var + "} with the value \"" + env_value + "\"");
+      m_log.info("Found matching environment variable ${" + var + "} with the value \"" + env_value + "\"");
       return convert<T>(move(env_value));
-    }
-
-    if (!env_default.empty()) {
-      m_logger.info("The environment variable ${" + var + "} is undefined or empty, using defined fallback value \"" + env_default + "\"");
+    } else if (!env_default.empty()) {
+      m_log.info("The environment variable ${" + var + "} is undefined or empty, using defined fallback value \"" +
+                 env_default + "\"");
     } else {
-      m_logger.info("The environment variable ${" + var + "} is undefined or empty");
+      m_log.info("The environment variable ${" + var + "} is undefined or empty");
     }
 
     return convert<T>(move(env_default));
@@ -298,7 +276,7 @@ class config {
  private:
   static constexpr const char* KEY_INHERIT{"inherit"};
 
-  const logger& m_logger;
+  const logger& m_log;
   const xresource_manager& m_xrm;
   string m_file;
   string m_barname;
diff --git a/include/components/renderer.hpp b/include/components/renderer.hpp
index 659d600c..5c5d9c90 100644
--- a/include/components/renderer.hpp
+++ b/include/components/renderer.hpp
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ class renderer
   xcb_rectangle_t m_cleared{0, 0, 0U, 0U};
   reserve_area m_cleararea{};
 
+  uint8_t m_depth{32};
   xcb_window_t m_window;
   xcb_colormap_t m_colormap;
   xcb_visualtype_t* m_visual;
diff --git a/include/components/types.hpp b/include/components/types.hpp
index 583b3107..e0485e12 100644
--- a/include/components/types.hpp
+++ b/include/components/types.hpp
@@ -96,7 +96,6 @@ struct bar_settings {
   bar_settings(const bar_settings& other) = default;
 
   xcb_window_t window{XCB_NONE};
-
   monitor_t monitor{};
   edge origin{edge::TOP};
   struct size size {
diff --git a/include/x11/connection.hpp b/include/x11/connection.hpp
index bb50b09e..42583f7a 100644
--- a/include/x11/connection.hpp
+++ b/include/x11/connection.hpp
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 #include <X11/X.h>
 #include <X11/Xlib-xcb.h>
 #include <xcb/xcb.h>
-#include <boost/optional.hpp>
 #include <iomanip>
 
 #include "common.hpp"
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ class connection : public xpp_connection {
 
   void send_dummy_event(xcb_window_t target, uint32_t event = XCB_EVENT_MASK_STRUCTURE_NOTIFY) const;
 
-  boost::optional<xcb_visualtype_t*> visual_type(xcb_screen_t* screen, int match_depth = 32);
+  xcb_visualtype_t* visual_type(xcb_screen_t* screen, int match_depth = 32);
 
   static string error_str(int error_code);
 
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 005044ac..3033c5b0 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ endif()
 # Locate dependencies {{{
 
 set(THREADS_PREFER_PTHREAD_FLAG ON)
-find_package(Boost REQUIRED)
 find_package(Threads REQUIRED)
 find_package(X11 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Xft Xutil)
 find_package(X11_XCB REQUIRED)
@@ -51,9 +50,8 @@ pkg_check_modules(FONTCONFIG REQUIRED fontconfig)
 
 set(APP_LIBRARIES ${APP_LIBRARIES} ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT})
 set(APP_LIBRARIES ${APP_LIBRARIES} ${X11_Xft_LIB})
-set(APP_LIBRARIES ${APP_LIBRARIES} ${FONTCONFIG_LIBRARIES})
+#set(APP_LIBRARIES ${APP_LIBRARIES} ${FONTCONFIG_LIBRARIES})
 
-set(APP_INCLUDE_DIRS ${APP_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${Boost_INCLUDE_DIR})
 set(APP_INCLUDE_DIRS ${APP_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${FONTCONFIG_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 set(APP_INCLUDE_DIRS ${APP_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/include)
 set(APP_INCLUDE_DIRS ${APP_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/lib/concurrentqueue/include)
diff --git a/src/components/config.cpp b/src/components/config.cpp
index 81936700..574a65b3 100644
--- a/src/components/config.cpp
+++ b/src/components/config.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ config::make_type config::make(string path, string bar) {
  * Construct config object
  */
 config::config(const logger& logger, const xresource_manager& xrm, string&& path, string&& bar)
-    : m_logger(logger), m_xrm(xrm), m_file(forward<string>(path)), m_barname(forward<string>(bar)) {
+    : m_log(logger), m_xrm(xrm), m_file(forward<string>(path)), m_barname(forward<string>(bar)) {
   if (!file_util::exists(m_file)) {
     throw application_error("Could not find config file: " + m_file);
   }
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ config::config(const logger& logger, const xresource_manager& xrm, string&& path
     throw application_error("Undefined bar: " + m_barname);
   }
 
-  m_logger.trace("config: Loaded %s", m_file);
-  m_logger.trace("config: Current bar section: [%s]", section());
+  m_log.trace("config: Loaded %s", m_file);
+  m_log.trace("config: Current bar section: [%s]", section());
 }
 
 /**
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ string config::section() const {
 void config::warn_deprecated(const string& section, const string& key, string replacement) const {
   try {
     auto value = get<string>(section, key);
-    m_logger.warn("The config parameter `%s.%s` is deprecated, use `%s` instead.", section, key, move(replacement));
+    m_log.warn("The config parameter `%s.%s` is deprecated, use `%s` instead.", section, key, move(replacement));
   } catch (const key_error& err) {
   }
 }
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ void config::copy_inherited() {
           throw value_error("[" + section.first + "." + KEY_INHERIT + "] invalid reference \"" + inherit + "\"");
         }
 
-        m_logger.trace("config: Copying missing params (sub=\"%s\", base=\"%s\")", section.first, inherit);
+        m_log.trace("config: Copying missing params (sub=\"%s\", base=\"%s\")", section.first, inherit);
 
         // Iterate the base and copy the parameters
         // that hasn't been defined for the sub-section
@@ -191,13 +191,13 @@ template <>
 bool config::convert(string&& value) const {
   string lower{string_util::lower(forward<string>(value))};
 
-  if (lower.compare(0, 4, "true") == 0) {
+  if (lower == "true") {
     return true;
-  } else if (lower.compare(0, 3, "yes") == 0) {
+  } else if (lower == "yes") {
     return true;
-  } else if (lower.compare(0, 2, "on") == 0) {
+  } else if (lower == "on") {
     return true;
-  } else if (lower.compare(0, 1, "1") == 0) {
+  } else if (lower == "1") {
     return true;
   } else {
     return false;
diff --git a/src/components/renderer.cpp b/src/components/renderer.cpp
index 16f59ddc..4f1fee26 100644
--- a/src/components/renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/components/renderer.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,17 @@ renderer::renderer(connection& conn, signal_emitter& emitter, const logger& logg
   m_sig.attach(this);
 
   m_log.trace("renderer: Get TrueColor visual");
-  m_visual = m_connection.visual_type(m_connection.screen(), 32).get();
+
+  if ((m_visual = m_connection.visual_type(m_connection.screen(), 32)) == nullptr) {
+    m_log.err("No 32-bit TrueColor visual found...");
+    m_depth = 24;
+  }
+  if ((m_visual = m_connection.visual_type(m_connection.screen(), 24)) == nullptr) {
+    m_log.err("No 24-bit TrueColor visual found, aborting...");
+  }
+  if (m_visual == nullptr) {
+    throw application_error("No matching TrueColor visual found...");
+  }
 
   m_log.trace("renderer: Allocate colormap");
   m_colormap = m_connection.generate_id();
diff --git a/src/utils/string.cpp b/src/utils/string.cpp
index 835d6d75..e96c8a3a 100644
--- a/src/utils/string.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/string.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-#include <boost/algorithm/string/replace.hpp>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <utility>
 
diff --git a/src/x11/connection.cpp b/src/x11/connection.cpp
index c9d42840..c04ba88f 100644
--- a/src/x11/connection.cpp
+++ b/src/x11/connection.cpp
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ void connection::send_dummy_event(xcb_window_t target, uint32_t event) const {
  * Try to get a visual type for the given screen that
  * matches the given depth
  */
-boost::optional<xcb_visualtype_t*> connection::visual_type(xcb_screen_t* screen, int match_depth) {
+xcb_visualtype_t* connection::visual_type(xcb_screen_t* screen, int match_depth) {
   xcb_depth_iterator_t depth_iter = xcb_screen_allowed_depths_iterator(screen);
   if (depth_iter.data) {
     for (; depth_iter.rem; xcb_depth_next(&depth_iter)) {
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ boost::optional<xcb_visualtype_t*> connection::visual_type(xcb_screen_t* screen,
       return visual_type(screen, 0);
     }
   }
-  return {};
+  return nullptr;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/x11/randr.cpp b/src/x11/randr.cpp
index a10e87d2..5af18940 100644
--- a/src/x11/randr.cpp
+++ b/src/x11/randr.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include <utility>
+#include <algorithm>
 
 #include "components/types.hpp"
 #include "utils/string.hpp"