diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
index 673ad4e..9e81f80 100644
--- a/.vscode/settings.json
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     },
     "Lua.hint.setType": true,
     "Lua.diagnostics.disable": [
-        "duplicate-set-field"
+        "duplicate-set-field",
+        "inject-field"
     ]
 }
diff --git a/coordinator/ui/layout/main_view.lua b/coordinator/ui/layout/main_view.lua
index a1b3b5b..c0e2769 100644
--- a/coordinator/ui/layout/main_view.lua
+++ b/coordinator/ui/layout/main_view.lua
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 -- Main SCADA Coordinator GUI
 --
 
-local util          = require("scada-common.util")
-
 local iocontrol     = require("coordinator.iocontrol")
 
 local style         = require("coordinator.ui.style")
@@ -77,7 +75,7 @@ local function init(main)
 
     assert(cnc_bottom_align_start >= cnc_y_start, "main display not of sufficient vertical resolution (add an additional row of monitors)")
 
-    TextBox{parent=main,y=cnc_bottom_align_start,text=util.strrep("\x8c", header.get_width()),alignment=TEXT_ALIGN.CENTER,height=1,fg_bg=cpair(colors.lightGray,colors.gray)}
+    TextBox{parent=main,y=cnc_bottom_align_start,text=string.rep("\x8c", header.get_width()),alignment=TEXT_ALIGN.CENTER,height=1,fg_bg=cpair(colors.lightGray,colors.gray)}
 
     cnc_bottom_align_start = cnc_bottom_align_start + 2
 
diff --git a/graphics/elements/controls/hazard_button.lua b/graphics/elements/controls/hazard_button.lua
index fcec4bd..0c03fc3 100644
--- a/graphics/elements/controls/hazard_button.lua
+++ b/graphics/elements/controls/hazard_button.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 -- Hazard-bordered Button Graphics Element
 
 local tcd     = require("scada-common.tcd")
-local util    = require("scada-common.util")
 
 local core    = require("graphics.core")
 local element = require("graphics.element")
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@ local function hazard_button(args)
         e.window.setTextColor(accent)
         e.window.setBackgroundColor(args.fg_bg.bkg)
         e.window.setCursorPos(1, 1)
-        e.window.write("\x99" .. util.strrep("\x89", args.width - 2) .. "\x99")
+        e.window.write("\x99" .. string.rep("\x89", args.width - 2) .. "\x99")
 
         -- center left
         e.window.setCursorPos(1, 2)
@@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ local function hazard_button(args)
         e.window.setTextColor(accent)
         e.window.setBackgroundColor(args.fg_bg.bkg)
         e.window.setCursorPos(1, 3)
-        e.window.write("\x99" .. util.strrep("\x98", args.width - 2) .. "\x99")
+        e.window.write("\x99" .. string.rep("\x98", args.width - 2) .. "\x99")
     end
 
     -- on request timeout: recursively calls itself to double flash button text
diff --git a/graphics/elements/controls/spinbox_numeric.lua b/graphics/elements/controls/spinbox_numeric.lua
index 1cdfa26..41940b5 100644
--- a/graphics/elements/controls/spinbox_numeric.lua
+++ b/graphics/elements/controls/spinbox_numeric.lua
@@ -61,14 +61,14 @@ local function spinbox(args)
         e.window.setBackgroundColor(args.arrow_fg_bg.bkg)
         e.window.setTextColor(color)
         e.window.setCursorPos(1, 1)
-        e.window.write(util.strrep("\x1e", wn_prec))
+        e.window.write(string.rep("\x1e", wn_prec))
         e.window.setCursorPos(1, 3)
-        e.window.write(util.strrep("\x1f", wn_prec))
+        e.window.write(string.rep("\x1f", wn_prec))
         if fr_prec > 0 then
             e.window.setCursorPos(1 + wn_prec, 1)
-            e.window.write(" " .. util.strrep("\x1e", fr_prec))
+            e.window.write(" " .. string.rep("\x1e", fr_prec))
             e.window.setCursorPos(1 + wn_prec, 3)
-            e.window.write(" " .. util.strrep("\x1f", fr_prec))
+            e.window.write(" " .. string.rep("\x1f", fr_prec))
         end
     end
 
diff --git a/graphics/elements/indicators/coremap.lua b/graphics/elements/indicators/coremap.lua
index 997bec8..1b47d6a 100644
--- a/graphics/elements/indicators/coremap.lua
+++ b/graphics/elements/indicators/coremap.lua
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ local function core_map(args)
         e.window.setTextColor(e.fg_bg.bkg)
         e.window.setBackgroundColor(args.parent.get_fg_bg().bkg)
         e.window.setCursorPos(1, e.frame.h)
-        e.window.write(util.strrep("\x8f", e.frame.w))
+        e.window.write(string.rep("\x8f", e.frame.w))
         e.window.setTextColor(e.fg_bg.fgd)
         e.window.setBackgroundColor(e.fg_bg.bkg)
     end
diff --git a/graphics/elements/indicators/icon.lua b/graphics/elements/indicators/icon.lua
index 710fa5b..3e01de6 100644
--- a/graphics/elements/indicators/icon.lua
+++ b/graphics/elements/indicators/icon.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 -- Icon Indicator Graphics Element
 
-local util    = require("scada-common.util")
-
 local element = require("graphics.element")
 
 ---@class icon_sym_color
@@ -44,8 +42,8 @@ local function icon(args)
 
         table.insert(state_blit_cmds, {
             text = " " .. sym_color.symbol .. " ",
-            fgd = util.strrep(sym_color.color.blit_fgd, 3),
-            bkg = util.strrep(sym_color.color.blit_bkg, 3)
+            fgd = string.rep(sym_color.color.blit_fgd, 3),
+            bkg = string.rep(sym_color.color.blit_bkg, 3)
         })
     end
 
diff --git a/graphics/elements/indicators/state.lua b/graphics/elements/indicators/state.lua
index cff1798..1ee461f 100644
--- a/graphics/elements/indicators/state.lua
+++ b/graphics/elements/indicators/state.lua
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ local function state_indicator(args)
 
         table.insert(state_blit_cmds, {
             text = text,
-            fgd = util.strrep(state_def.color.blit_fgd, string.len(text)),
-            bkg = util.strrep(state_def.color.blit_bkg, string.len(text))
+            fgd = string.rep(state_def.color.blit_fgd, string.len(text)),
+            bkg = string.rep(state_def.color.blit_bkg, string.len(text))
         })
     end
 
diff --git a/graphics/elements/indicators/vbar.lua b/graphics/elements/indicators/vbar.lua
index 36cc74d..8b72f82 100644
--- a/graphics/elements/indicators/vbar.lua
+++ b/graphics/elements/indicators/vbar.lua
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@ local function vbar(args)
     local e = element.new(args)
 
     -- blit strings
-    local fgd = util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_fgd, e.frame.w)
-    local bkg = util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w)
+    local fgd = string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_fgd, e.frame.w)
+    local bkg = string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w)
     local spaces = util.spaces(e.frame.w)
-    local one_third = util.strrep("\x8f", e.frame.w)
-    local two_thirds = util.strrep("\x83", e.frame.w)
+    local one_third = string.rep("\x8f", e.frame.w)
+    local two_thirds = string.rep("\x83", e.frame.w)
 
     -- handle data changes
     ---@param fraction number 0.0 to 1.0
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ local function vbar(args)
     -- change bar color
     ---@param fg_bg cpair new bar colors
     function e.recolor(fg_bg)
-        fgd = util.strrep(fg_bg.blit_fgd, e.frame.w)
-        bkg = util.strrep(fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w)
+        fgd = string.rep(fg_bg.blit_fgd, e.frame.w)
+        bkg = string.rep(fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w)
 
         -- re-draw
         last_num_bars = 0
diff --git a/graphics/elements/rectangle.lua b/graphics/elements/rectangle.lua
index 1d8afae..e3d66e1 100644
--- a/graphics/elements/rectangle.lua
+++ b/graphics/elements/rectangle.lua
@@ -70,45 +70,45 @@ local function rectangle(args)
 
         -- form the basic line strings and top/bottom blit strings
         local spaces = util.spaces(e.frame.w)
-        local blit_fg = util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_fgd, e.frame.w)
+        local blit_fg = string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_fgd, e.frame.w)
         local blit_fg_sides = blit_fg
         local blit_bg_sides = ""
-        local blit_bg_top_bot = util.strrep(border_blit, e.frame.w)
+        local blit_bg_top_bot = string.rep(border_blit, e.frame.w)
 
         -- partial bars
         local p_a, p_b, p_s
         if args.thin == true then
             if args.even_inner == true then
-                p_a = "\x9c" .. util.strrep("\x8c", inner_width) .. "\x93"
-                p_b = "\x8d" .. util.strrep("\x8c", inner_width) .. "\x8e"
+                p_a = "\x9c" .. string.rep("\x8c", inner_width) .. "\x93"
+                p_b = "\x8d" .. string.rep("\x8c", inner_width) .. "\x8e"
             else
-                p_a = "\x97" .. util.strrep("\x83", inner_width) .. "\x94"
-                p_b = "\x8a" .. util.strrep("\x8f", inner_width) .. "\x85"
+                p_a = "\x97" .. string.rep("\x83", inner_width) .. "\x94"
+                p_b = "\x8a" .. string.rep("\x8f", inner_width) .. "\x85"
             end
 
             p_s = "\x95" .. util.spaces(inner_width) .. "\x95"
         else
             if args.even_inner == true then
-                p_a = util.strrep("\x83", inner_width + width_x2)
-                p_b = util.strrep("\x8f", inner_width + width_x2)
+                p_a = string.rep("\x83", inner_width + width_x2)
+                p_b = string.rep("\x8f", inner_width + width_x2)
             else
-                p_a = util.spaces(border_width) .. util.strrep("\x8f", inner_width) .. util.spaces(border_width)
-                p_b = util.spaces(border_width) .. util.strrep("\x83", inner_width) .. util.spaces(border_width)
+                p_a = util.spaces(border_width) .. string.rep("\x8f", inner_width) .. util.spaces(border_width)
+                p_b = util.spaces(border_width) .. string.rep("\x83", inner_width) .. util.spaces(border_width)
             end
 
             p_s = spaces
         end
 
-        local p_inv_fg = util.strrep(border_blit, border_width) .. util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, inner_width) ..
-                            util.strrep(border_blit, border_width)
-        local p_inv_bg = util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, border_width) .. util.strrep(border_blit, inner_width) ..
-                            util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, border_width)
+        local p_inv_fg = string.rep(border_blit, border_width) .. string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, inner_width) ..
+                            string.rep(border_blit, border_width)
+        local p_inv_bg = string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, border_width) .. string.rep(border_blit, inner_width) ..
+                            string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, border_width)
 
         if args.thin == true then
-            p_inv_fg = e.fg_bg.blit_bkg .. util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, inner_width) .. util.strrep(border_blit, border_width)
-            p_inv_bg = border_blit .. util.strrep(border_blit, inner_width) .. util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, border_width)
+            p_inv_fg = e.fg_bg.blit_bkg .. string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, inner_width) .. string.rep(border_blit, border_width)
+            p_inv_bg = border_blit .. string.rep(border_blit, inner_width) .. string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, border_width)
 
-            blit_fg_sides = border_blit .. util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, inner_width) .. e.fg_bg.blit_bkg
+            blit_fg_sides = border_blit .. string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, inner_width) .. e.fg_bg.blit_bkg
         end
 
         -- form the body blit strings (sides are border, inside is normal)
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ local function rectangle(args)
                     if args.thin == true then
                         e.window.blit(p_a, p_inv_bg, p_inv_fg)
                     else
-                        local _fg = util.trinary(args.even_inner == true, util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w), p_inv_bg)
+                        local _fg = util.trinary(args.even_inner == true, string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w), p_inv_bg)
                         local _bg = util.trinary(args.even_inner == true, blit_bg_top_bot, p_inv_fg)
 
                         if width_x2 % 3 == 1 then
@@ -156,13 +156,13 @@ local function rectangle(args)
                 if args.border.even and y == ((e.frame.h - border_width) + 1) then
                     if args.thin == true then
                         if args.even_inner == true then
-                            e.window.blit(p_b, blit_bg_top_bot, util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w))
+                            e.window.blit(p_b, blit_bg_top_bot, string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w))
                         else
-                            e.window.blit(p_b, util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w), blit_bg_top_bot)
+                            e.window.blit(p_b, string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w), blit_bg_top_bot)
                         end
                     else
                         local _fg = util.trinary(args.even_inner == true, blit_bg_top_bot, p_inv_fg)
-                        local _bg = util.trinary(args.even_inner == true, util.strrep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w), blit_bg_top_bot)
+                        local _bg = util.trinary(args.even_inner == true, string.rep(e.fg_bg.blit_bkg, e.frame.w), blit_bg_top_bot)
 
                         if width_x2 % 3 == 1 then
                             e.window.blit(p_a, _fg, _bg)
diff --git a/scada-common/util.lua b/scada-common/util.lua
index 597ba69..a9a9f5b 100644
--- a/scada-common/util.lua
+++ b/scada-common/util.lua
@@ -76,25 +76,12 @@ function util.strval(val)
     end
 end
 
--- repeat a string n times
----@nodiscard
----@param str string
----@param n integer
----@return string
-function util.strrep(str, n)
-    local repeated = ""
-
-    for _ = 1, n do repeated = repeated .. str end
-
-    return repeated
-end
-
 -- repeat a space n times
 ---@nodiscard
 ---@param n integer
 ---@return string
 function util.spaces(n)
-    return util.strrep(" ", n)
+    return string.rep(" ", n)
 end
 
 -- pad text to a minimum width