diff --git a/src/modules/graphics.lua b/src/modules/graphics.lua
index b07811c..a49f918 100644
--- a/src/modules/graphics.lua
+++ b/src/modules/graphics.lua
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
    local NA = 'N/A'
    local NVIDIA_EXE = 'nvidia-settings'
    local __string_match	= string.match
+   local __string_format = string.format
    local __tonumber = tonumber
 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -112,18 +113,9 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
    -- gpu status
 
    local mk_status = function(y)
-      local obj = common.make_text_row(
-         point.x,
-         y,
-         width,
-         'Status'
-      )
+      local obj = common.make_text_row(point.x, y, width, 'Status')
       local update = function()
-         if mod_state.error == false then
-            common.text_row_set(obj, 'On')
-         else
-            common.text_row_set(obj, mod_state.error)
-         end
+         common.text_row_set(obj, mod_state.error == false and 'On' or mod_state.error)
       end
       local static = pure.partial(common.text_row_draw_static, obj)
       local dynamic = pure.partial(common.text_row_draw_dynamic, obj)
@@ -140,13 +132,13 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
          width,
          'Internal Temperature',
          function(s)
-            if s == -1 then return NA else return string.format('%s°C', s) end
+            if s == -1 then return NA else return __string_format('%s°C', s) end
          end,
          80
       )
       local update = _from_state(
          -1,
-         function(s) return __tonumber(s.temp_reading) end,
+         pure.compose(__tonumber, pure.getter("temp_reading")),
          pure.partial(common.threshold_text_row_set, obj)
       )
       local static = pure.partial(common.threshold_text_row_draw_static, obj)
@@ -185,7 +177,7 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
    local mk_gpu_util = pure.partial(
       _mk_plot,
       'GPU utilization',
-      function(s) return s.gpu_utilization end
+      pure.getter("gpu_utilization")
    )
 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -203,7 +195,7 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
    local mk_vid_util = pure.partial(
       _mk_plot,
       'Video utilization',
-      function(s) return s.vid_utilization end
+      pure.getter("vid_utilization")
    )
 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/modules/memory.lua b/src/modules/memory.lua
index 56dd1c0..4c1aec2 100644
--- a/src/modules/memory.lua
+++ b/src/modules/memory.lua
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
    local TABLE_SECTION_BREAK = 20
 
    local __math_floor = math.floor
+   local __string_format = string.format
 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -- state
@@ -59,9 +60,7 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
          CACHE_X = MEM_X + CACHE_X_OFFSET + DIAL_DIAMETER / 2
       end
       local CACHE_WIDTH = point.x + width - CACHE_X
-      local format_percent = function(x)
-         return string.format('%i%%', x)
-      end
+      local format_percent = pure.partial(__string_format, '%i%%', true)
 
       -- memory bits (used no matter what)
       local mem = common.make_dial(
@@ -188,13 +187,7 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
             }
          end,
          num_rows)
-      local obj = common.make_text_table(
-         point.x,
-         y,
-         width,
-         num_rows,
-         'Mem (%)'
-      )
+      local obj = common.make_text_table(point.x, y, width, num_rows, 'Mem (%)')
       local update = function()
          for r = 1, num_rows do
             text_table.set(obj, 1, r, i_o.conky(table_conky[r].comm, '(%S+)'))
diff --git a/src/modules/power.lua b/src/modules/power.lua
index c646454..a634fc4 100644
--- a/src/modules/power.lua
+++ b/src/modules/power.lua
@@ -58,22 +58,14 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
 
 
    local format_ac = function(watts)
-      if watts == 0 then
-         return "A/C"
-      else
-         return format_rapl(watts)
-      end
+      return watts == 0 and "A/C" or format_rapl(watts)
    end
 
    local mk_bat = function(y)
       local _read_battery_power = sys.battery_power_reader(config.battery)
 
       local read_battery_power = function(is_using_ac)
-         if is_using_ac then
-            return 0
-         else
-            return _read_battery_power()
-         end
+         return is_using_ac and 0 or _read_battery_power()
       end
       local read_bat_status = sys.battery_status_reader(config.battery)
       local obj = common.make_tagged_scaled_timeseries(
@@ -104,7 +96,7 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -- main functions
-   
+
    return {
       header = 'POWER',
       point = point,
diff --git a/src/modules/processor.lua b/src/modules/processor.lua
index 78036e7..25497f9 100644
--- a/src/modules/processor.lua
+++ b/src/modules/processor.lua
@@ -47,11 +47,20 @@ return function(update_freq, config, main_state, common, width, point)
       end
    end
 
-   local create_core = function(x, y)
+   local create_core = function(core_cols, y, c)
+      local dial_x = point.x +
+         (core_cols == 1
+          and (width / 2)
+          or (config.core_padding + DIAL_OUTER_RADIUS +
+              (width - 2 * (DIAL_OUTER_RADIUS + config.core_padding))
+              * math.fmod(c - 1, core_cols) / (core_cols - 1)))
+      local dial_y = y + DIAL_OUTER_RADIUS +
+         (2 * DIAL_OUTER_RADIUS + DIAL_SPACING)
+         * math.floor((c - 1) / core_cols)
       return {
          loads = common.make_compound_dial(
-            x,
-            y,
+            dial_x,
+            dial_y,
             DIAL_OUTER_RADIUS,
             DIAL_INNER_RADIUS,
             DIAL_THICKNESS,
@@ -59,8 +68,8 @@ return function(update_freq, config, main_state, common, width, point)
             nthreads
          ),
          coretemp = common.make_text_circle(
-            x,
-            y,
+            dial_x,
+            dial_y,
             DIAL_INNER_RADIUS - 2,
             '%s°C',
             80,
@@ -71,19 +80,7 @@ return function(update_freq, config, main_state, common, width, point)
 
    local mk_cores = function(y)
       local core_cols = ncores / config.core_rows
-      local cores = {}
-      for c = 1, ncores do
-         local dial_x = point.x +
-            (core_cols == 1
-             and (width / 2)
-             or (config.core_padding + DIAL_OUTER_RADIUS +
-                 (width - 2 * (DIAL_OUTER_RADIUS + config.core_padding))
-                 * math.fmod(c - 1, core_cols) / (core_cols - 1)))
-         local dial_y = y + DIAL_OUTER_RADIUS +
-            (2 * DIAL_OUTER_RADIUS + DIAL_SPACING)
-            * math.floor((c - 1) / core_cols)
-         cores[c] = create_core(dial_x, dial_y)
-      end
+      local cores = pure.map_n(pure.partial(create_core, core_cols, y), ncores)
       local coretemp_paths = cpu.get_coretemp_paths()
       if #coretemp_paths ~= ncores then
          i_o.warnf('could not find all coretemp paths')
diff --git a/src/pure.lua b/src/pure.lua
index 6c91ff9..32a73e3 100644
--- a/src/pure.lua
+++ b/src/pure.lua
@@ -136,6 +136,15 @@ end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- random list things
 
+-- a stupid but composable function
+M.get = function(key, tbl)
+   return tbl[key]
+end
+
+M.getter = function(key)
+   return M.partial(M.get, key)
+end
+
 M.set = function(tbl, key, value)
    local r = {}
    for k, v in pairs(tbl) do
@@ -283,6 +292,8 @@ M.memoize = function(f)
    end
 end
 
+M.id = function(x) return x end
+
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- maybe
 
diff --git a/src/widget/arc/dial.lua b/src/widget/arc/dial.lua
index 7f9b920..734b57a 100644
--- a/src/widget/arc/dial.lua
+++ b/src/widget/arc/dial.lua
@@ -42,9 +42,7 @@ M.make_setter = function(_arc, thickness, threshold_config)
          )
       end
    )
-   return function(percent)
-      return f(pure.round_percent(percent))
-   end
+   return pure.compose(f, pure.round_percent)
 end
 
 M.make = function(_arc, bg_config, fg_threshold_config)
diff --git a/src/widget/line/bar.lua b/src/widget/line/bar.lua
index b2bdc84..f669988 100644
--- a/src/widget/line/bar.lua
+++ b/src/widget/line/bar.lua
@@ -36,9 +36,7 @@ M.make_setter = function(_line, config, threshold_config)
          )
       end
    )
-   return function(percent)
-      return f(pure.round_percent(percent))
-   end
+   return pure.compose(f, pure.round_percent)
 end
 
 M.make = function(p1, p2, bg_config, fg_threshold_config)
diff --git a/src/widget/text/text_internal.lua b/src/widget/text/text_internal.lua
index fae08e8..51e5db3 100644
--- a/src/widget/text/text_internal.lua
+++ b/src/widget/text/text_internal.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ local M = {}
 
 local err = require 'err'
 local geom = require 'geom'
+local pure = require 'pure'
 
 local __string_sub = string.sub
 local __cairo_toy_font_face_create = cairo_toy_font_face_create
@@ -13,12 +14,14 @@ local __cairo_set_source = cairo_set_source
 local __cairo_move_to = cairo_move_to
 local __cairo_show_text = cairo_show_text
 
+local __string_format = string.format
+
 M.NULL_TEXT_STRING = '<null>'
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- pure
 
-local trim_to_length = function(text, len)
+local trim_to_length = function(len, text)
    if #text > len then
       return __string_sub(text, 1, len)..'...'
    else
@@ -30,11 +33,11 @@ M.make_format_function = function(format)
    if type(format) == "function" then
       return format
    elseif type(format) == "number" and format > 0 then
-      return function(_text) return trim_to_length(_text, format) end
+      return pure.partial(trim_to_length, format)
    elseif type(format) == "string" then
-      return function(_text) return string.format(format, _text) end
+      return pure.partial(__string_format, format, true)
    elseif format == nil or format == false then
-      return function(_text) return _text end
+      return pure.id
    else
       local msg = "format must be a printf string, positive int, or function: got "
       local t = type(format)
@@ -106,37 +109,31 @@ M.font_height = function(font)
 end
 
 M.x_align_function = function(x_align, font)
-   if x_align == 'left' then
-      return function(text)
+   local funs = {
+      left = function(text)
          local te = set_text_extents(text, font)
          return -te.x_bearing
-      end
-   elseif x_align == 'center' then
-      return function(text)
+      end,
+      center = function(text)
          local te = set_text_extents(text, font)
          return -(te.x_bearing + te.width * 0.5)
-      end
-   elseif x_align == 'right' then
-      return function(text)
+      end,
+      right = function(text)
          local te = set_text_extents(text, font)
          return -(te.x_bearing + te.width)
       end
-   else
-      err.assert_trace(nil, "invalid x_align")
-   end
+   }
+   return funs[x_align] or err.assert_trace(nil, "invalid x_align")
 end
 
 M.get_delta_y = function(y_align, font)
    local fe = set_font_extents(font)
-   if y_align == 'bottom' then
-      return -fe.descent
-   elseif y_align == 'top'	then
-      return fe.height
-   elseif y_align == 'center' then
-      return 0.92 * fe.height * 0.5 - fe.descent
-   else
-      err.assert_trace(nil, "invalid y_align")
-   end
+   local descents = {
+      top = fe.height,
+      center = 0.92 * fe.height * 0.5 - fe.descent,
+      bottom = -fe.descent
+   }
+   return descents[y_align] or err.assert_trace(nil, "invalid y_align")
 end
 
 M.set_font_spec = function(cr, font, source)
diff --git a/src/widget/text/text_threshold.lua b/src/widget/text/text_threshold.lua
index 6acbb2b..e0a56c2 100644
--- a/src/widget/text/text_threshold.lua
+++ b/src/widget/text/text_threshold.lua
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ local _make = function(point, chars, config, threshold_config, format)
    local f = threshold_config.pre_function
    local setter
    if f then
-      setter = function(x) return _setter(f(x)) end
+      setter = pure.compose(_setter, f)
    else
       setter = _setter
    end
diff --git a/src/widget/timeseries/ylabels.lua b/src/widget/timeseries/ylabels.lua
index be076fc..06365b3 100644
--- a/src/widget/timeseries/ylabels.lua
+++ b/src/widget/timeseries/ylabels.lua
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ local make_y_label_text = function(point, chars, font)
    )
 end
 
-
 -- TODO this function smells funny
 M.make = function(point, h, n, font, y_format, scale_factor)
    local y_labels = {width = 0}