diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 43d0172..730e0b3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -11,9 +11,6 @@ build:
 	go mod download
 	CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -tags release -ldflags $(LD_FLAGS) -o ctop
 
-build-dev:
-	go build -ldflags "-w -X main.version=$(VERSION)-dev -X main.build=$(BUILD) -extldflags=$(EXT_LD_FLAGS)"
-
 build-all:
 	mkdir -p _build
 	GOOS=darwin  GOARCH=amd64 go build -tags release -ldflags $(LD_FLAGS) -o _build/ctop-$(VERSION)-darwin-amd64
@@ -23,6 +20,11 @@ build-all:
 	GOOS=windows GOARCH=amd64 go build -tags release -ldflags $(LD_FLAGS) -o _build/ctop-$(VERSION)-windows-amd64
 	cd _build; sha256sum * > sha256sums.txt
 
+run-dev:
+	rm -f ctop.sock ctop
+	go build -ldflags $(LD_FLAGS) -o ctop
+	CTOP_DEBUG=1 ./ctop
+
 image:
 	docker build -t ctop -f Dockerfile .
 
diff --git a/container/main.go b/container/main.go
index 416b878..88b3619 100644
--- a/container/main.go
+++ b/container/main.go
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ const (
 type Container struct {
 	models.Metrics
 	Id        string
-	Meta      map[string]string
-	Widgets   *compact.Compact
+	Meta      models.Meta
+	Widgets   *compact.CompactRow
 	Display   bool // display this container in compact view
 	updater   cwidgets.WidgetUpdater
 	collector collector.Collector
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@ type Container struct {
 }
 
 func New(id string, collector collector.Collector, manager manager.Manager) *Container {
-	widgets := compact.NewCompact(id)
+	widgets := compact.NewCompactRow()
 	return &Container{
 		Metrics:   models.NewMetrics(),
 		Id:        id,
-		Meta:      make(map[string]string),
+		Meta:      models.NewMeta("id", id),
 		Widgets:   widgets,
 		updater:   widgets,
 		collector: collector,
@@ -44,21 +44,16 @@ func New(id string, collector collector.Collector, manager manager.Manager) *Con
 
 func (c *Container) SetUpdater(u cwidgets.WidgetUpdater) {
 	c.updater = u
-	for k, v := range c.Meta {
-		c.updater.SetMeta(k, v)
-	}
+	c.updater.SetMeta(c.Meta)
 }
 
 func (c *Container) SetMeta(k, v string) {
 	c.Meta[k] = v
-	c.updater.SetMeta(k, v)
+	c.updater.SetMeta(c.Meta)
 }
 
 func (c *Container) GetMeta(k string) string {
-	if v, ok := c.Meta[k]; ok {
-		return v
-	}
-	return ""
+	return c.Meta.Get(k)
 }
 
 func (c *Container) SetState(s string) {
diff --git a/cwidgets/compact/gauge.go b/cwidgets/compact/gauge.go
index 481fb32..fdf3a03 100644
--- a/cwidgets/compact/gauge.go
+++ b/cwidgets/compact/gauge.go
@@ -1,21 +1,59 @@
 package compact
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/bcicen/ctop/cwidgets"
+	"github.com/bcicen/ctop/models"
 	ui "github.com/gizak/termui"
 )
 
-type GaugeCol struct {
-	*ui.Gauge
+type CPUCol struct {
+	*GaugeCol
 }
 
-func NewGaugeCol() *GaugeCol {
-	g := ui.NewGauge()
+func NewCPUCol() CompactCol {
+	return &CPUCol{NewGaugeCol("CPU")}
+}
+
+func (w *CPUCol) SetMetrics(m models.Metrics) {
+	val := m.CPUUtil
+	w.BarColor = colorScale(val)
+	w.Label = fmt.Sprintf("%d%%", val)
+
+	if val > 100 {
+		val = 100
+	}
+	w.Percent = val
+}
+
+type MemCol struct {
+	*GaugeCol
+}
+
+func NewMemCol() CompactCol {
+	return &MemCol{NewGaugeCol("MEM")}
+}
+
+func (w *MemCol) SetMetrics(m models.Metrics) {
+	w.BarColor = ui.ThemeAttr("gauge.bar.bg")
+	w.Label = fmt.Sprintf("%s / %s", cwidgets.ByteFormat(m.MemUsage), cwidgets.ByteFormat(m.MemLimit))
+	w.Percent = m.MemPercent
+}
+
+type GaugeCol struct {
+	*ui.Gauge
+	header string
+	fWidth int
+}
+
+func NewGaugeCol(header string) *GaugeCol {
+	g := &GaugeCol{ui.NewGauge(), header, 0}
 	g.Height = 1
 	g.Border = false
-	g.Percent = 0
 	g.PaddingBottom = 0
-	g.Label = "-"
-	return &GaugeCol{g}
+	g.Reset()
+	return g
 }
 
 func (w *GaugeCol) Reset() {
@@ -23,11 +61,30 @@ func (w *GaugeCol) Reset() {
 	w.Percent = 0
 }
 
+func (w *GaugeCol) Buffer() ui.Buffer {
+	// if bar would not otherwise be visible, set a minimum
+	// percentage value and low-contrast color for structure
+	if w.Percent < 5 {
+		w.Percent = 5
+		w.BarColor = ui.ColorBlack
+	}
+
+	return w.Gauge.Buffer()
+}
+
+// GaugeCol implements CompactCol
+func (w *GaugeCol) SetMeta(models.Meta)       {}
+func (w *GaugeCol) SetMetrics(models.Metrics) {}
+func (w *GaugeCol) Header() string            { return w.header }
+func (w *GaugeCol) FixedWidth() int           { return w.fWidth }
+
+// GaugeCol implements CompactCol
 func (w *GaugeCol) Highlight() {
 	w.Bg = ui.ThemeAttr("par.text.fg")
 	w.PercentColor = ui.ThemeAttr("par.text.hi")
 }
 
+// GaugeCol implements CompactCol
 func (w *GaugeCol) UnHighlight() {
 	w.Bg = ui.ThemeAttr("par.text.bg")
 	w.PercentColor = ui.ThemeAttr("par.text.bg")
diff --git a/cwidgets/compact/grid.go b/cwidgets/compact/grid.go
index 8b483c2..710d7f2 100644
--- a/cwidgets/compact/grid.go
+++ b/cwidgets/compact/grid.go
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ import (
 	ui "github.com/gizak/termui"
 )
 
-var header *CompactHeader
-
 type CompactGrid struct {
 	ui.GridBufferer
-	Rows   []ui.GridBufferer
+	header *CompactHeader
+	cols   []CompactCol // reference columns
+	Rows   []RowBufferer
 	X, Y   int
 	Width  int
 	Height int
@@ -16,8 +16,13 @@ type CompactGrid struct {
 }
 
 func NewCompactGrid() *CompactGrid {
-	header = NewCompactHeader() // init column header
-	return &CompactGrid{}
+	cg := &CompactGrid{header: NewCompactHeader()}
+	for _, wFn := range allCols {
+		w := wFn()
+		cg.cols = append(cg.cols, w)
+		cg.header.addFieldPar(w.Header())
+	}
+	return cg
 }
 
 func (cg *CompactGrid) Align() {
@@ -28,22 +33,47 @@ func (cg *CompactGrid) Align() {
 	}
 
 	// update row ypos, width recursively
+	colWidths := cg.calcWidths()
 	for _, r := range cg.pageRows() {
 		r.SetY(y)
 		y += r.GetHeight()
-		r.SetWidth(cg.Width)
+		r.SetWidths(cg.Width, colWidths)
 	}
 }
 
-func (cg *CompactGrid) Clear()         { cg.Rows = []ui.GridBufferer{} }
-func (cg *CompactGrid) GetHeight() int { return len(cg.Rows) + header.Height }
+func (cg *CompactGrid) Clear()         { cg.Rows = []RowBufferer{} }
+func (cg *CompactGrid) GetHeight() int { return len(cg.Rows) + cg.header.Height }
 func (cg *CompactGrid) SetX(x int)     { cg.X = x }
 func (cg *CompactGrid) SetY(y int)     { cg.Y = y }
 func (cg *CompactGrid) SetWidth(w int) { cg.Width = w }
-func (cg *CompactGrid) MaxRows() int   { return ui.TermHeight() - header.Height - cg.Y }
+func (cg *CompactGrid) MaxRows() int   { return ui.TermHeight() - cg.header.Height - cg.Y }
 
-func (cg *CompactGrid) pageRows() (rows []ui.GridBufferer) {
-	rows = append(rows, header)
+// calculate and return per-column width
+func (cg *CompactGrid) calcWidths() []int {
+	var autoCols int
+	width := cg.Width
+	colWidths := make([]int, len(cg.cols))
+
+	for n, w := range cg.cols {
+		colWidths[n] = w.FixedWidth()
+		width -= w.FixedWidth()
+		if w.FixedWidth() == 0 {
+			autoCols++
+		}
+	}
+
+	spacing := colSpacing * len(cg.cols)
+	autoWidth := (width - spacing) / autoCols
+	for n, val := range colWidths {
+		if val == 0 {
+			colWidths[n] = autoWidth
+		}
+	}
+	return colWidths
+}
+
+func (cg *CompactGrid) pageRows() (rows []RowBufferer) {
+	rows = append(rows, cg.header)
 	rows = append(rows, cg.Rows[cg.Offset:]...)
 	return rows
 }
@@ -56,6 +86,6 @@ func (cg *CompactGrid) Buffer() ui.Buffer {
 	return buf
 }
 
-func (cg *CompactGrid) AddRows(rows ...ui.GridBufferer) {
+func (cg *CompactGrid) AddRows(rows ...RowBufferer) {
 	cg.Rows = append(cg.Rows, rows...)
 }
diff --git a/cwidgets/compact/header.go b/cwidgets/compact/header.go
index 6dbd298..2d5ecc9 100644
--- a/cwidgets/compact/header.go
+++ b/cwidgets/compact/header.go
@@ -8,63 +8,52 @@ type CompactHeader struct {
 	X, Y   int
 	Width  int
 	Height int
+	cols   []CompactCol
+	widths []int
 	pars   []*ui.Par
 }
 
 func NewCompactHeader() *CompactHeader {
-	fields := []string{"", "NAME", "CID", "CPU", "MEM", "NET RX/TX", "IO R/W", "PIDS"}
-	ch := &CompactHeader{}
-	ch.Height = 2
-	for _, f := range fields {
-		ch.addFieldPar(f)
+	return &CompactHeader{Height: 2}
+}
+
+func (row *CompactHeader) GetHeight() int {
+	return row.Height
+}
+
+func (row *CompactHeader) SetWidths(totalWidth int, widths []int) {
+	x := row.X
+
+	for n, w := range row.pars {
+		w.SetX(x)
+		w.SetWidth(widths[n])
+		x += widths[n] + colSpacing
 	}
-	return ch
+	row.Width = totalWidth
 }
 
-func (ch *CompactHeader) GetHeight() int {
-	return ch.Height
+func (row *CompactHeader) SetX(x int) {
+	row.X = x
 }
 
-func (ch *CompactHeader) SetWidth(w int) {
-	x := ch.X
-	autoWidth := calcWidth(w)
-	for n, col := range ch.pars {
-		// set column to static width
-		if colWidths[n] != 0 {
-			col.SetX(x)
-			col.SetWidth(colWidths[n])
-			x += colWidths[n]
-			continue
-		}
-		col.SetX(x)
-		col.SetWidth(autoWidth)
-		x += autoWidth + colSpacing
-	}
-	ch.Width = w
-}
-
-func (ch *CompactHeader) SetX(x int) {
-	ch.X = x
-}
-
-func (ch *CompactHeader) SetY(y int) {
-	for _, p := range ch.pars {
+func (row *CompactHeader) SetY(y int) {
+	for _, p := range row.pars {
 		p.SetY(y)
 	}
-	ch.Y = y
+	row.Y = y
 }
 
-func (ch *CompactHeader) Buffer() ui.Buffer {
+func (row *CompactHeader) Buffer() ui.Buffer {
 	buf := ui.NewBuffer()
-	for _, p := range ch.pars {
+	for _, p := range row.pars {
 		buf.Merge(p.Buffer())
 	}
 	return buf
 }
 
-func (ch *CompactHeader) addFieldPar(s string) {
+func (row *CompactHeader) addFieldPar(s string) {
 	p := ui.NewPar(s)
-	p.Height = ch.Height
+	p.Height = row.Height
 	p.Border = false
-	ch.pars = append(ch.pars, p)
+	row.pars = append(row.pars, p)
 }
diff --git a/cwidgets/compact/main.go b/cwidgets/compact/main.go
deleted file mode 100644
index af948fc..0000000
--- a/cwidgets/compact/main.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,195 +0,0 @@
-package compact
-
-import (
-	"github.com/bcicen/ctop/config"
-	"github.com/bcicen/ctop/logging"
-	"github.com/bcicen/ctop/models"
-	ui "github.com/gizak/termui"
-)
-
-var log = logging.Init()
-
-type Compact struct {
-	Status *Status
-	Name   *TextCol
-	Cid    *TextCol
-	Cpu    *GaugeCol
-	Mem    *GaugeCol
-	Net    *TextCol
-	IO     *TextCol
-	Pids   *TextCol
-	Bg     *RowBg
-	X, Y   int
-	Width  int
-	Height int
-}
-
-func NewCompact(id string) *Compact {
-	// truncate container id
-	if len(id) > 12 {
-		id = id[:12]
-	}
-	row := &Compact{
-		Status: NewStatus(),
-		Name:   NewTextCol("-"),
-		Cid:    NewTextCol(id),
-		Cpu:    NewGaugeCol(),
-		Mem:    NewGaugeCol(),
-		Net:    NewTextCol("-"),
-		IO:     NewTextCol("-"),
-		Pids:   NewTextCol("-"),
-		Bg:     NewRowBg(),
-		X:      1,
-		Height: 1,
-	}
-	return row
-}
-
-//func (row *Compact) ToggleExpand() {
-//if row.Height == 1 {
-//row.Height = 4
-//} else {
-//row.Height = 1
-//}
-//}
-
-func (row *Compact) SetMeta(k, v string) {
-	switch k {
-	case "name":
-		row.Name.Set(v)
-	case "state":
-		row.Status.Set(v)
-	case "health":
-		row.Status.SetHealth(v)
-	}
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) SetMetrics(m models.Metrics) {
-	row.SetCPU(m.CPUUtil)
-	row.SetNet(m.NetRx, m.NetTx)
-	row.SetMem(m.MemUsage, m.MemLimit, m.MemPercent)
-	row.SetIO(m.IOBytesRead, m.IOBytesWrite)
-	row.SetPids(m.Pids)
-}
-
-// Set gauges, counters to default unread values
-func (row *Compact) Reset() {
-	row.Cpu.Reset()
-	row.Mem.Reset()
-	row.Net.Reset()
-	row.IO.Reset()
-	row.Pids.Reset()
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) GetHeight() int {
-	return row.Height
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) SetX(x int) {
-	row.X = x
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) SetY(y int) {
-	if y == row.Y {
-		return
-	}
-
-	row.Bg.Y = y
-	for _, col := range row.all() {
-		col.SetY(y)
-	}
-	row.Y = y
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) SetWidth(width int) {
-	if width == row.Width {
-		return
-	}
-	x := row.X
-
-	row.Bg.SetX(x + colWidths[0] + 1)
-	row.Bg.SetWidth(width)
-
-	autoWidth := calcWidth(width)
-	for n, col := range row.all() {
-		if colWidths[n] != 0 {
-			col.SetX(x)
-			col.SetWidth(colWidths[n])
-			x += colWidths[n]
-			continue
-		}
-		col.SetX(x)
-		col.SetWidth(autoWidth)
-		x += autoWidth + colSpacing
-	}
-	row.Width = width
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) Buffer() ui.Buffer {
-	buf := ui.NewBuffer()
-
-	buf.Merge(row.Bg.Buffer())
-	buf.Merge(row.Status.Buffer())
-	buf.Merge(row.Name.Buffer())
-	buf.Merge(row.Cid.Buffer())
-	buf.Merge(row.Cpu.Buffer())
-	buf.Merge(row.Mem.Buffer())
-	buf.Merge(row.Net.Buffer())
-	buf.Merge(row.IO.Buffer())
-	buf.Merge(row.Pids.Buffer())
-	return buf
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) all() []ui.GridBufferer {
-	return []ui.GridBufferer{
-		row.Status,
-		row.Name,
-		row.Cid,
-		row.Cpu,
-		row.Mem,
-		row.Net,
-		row.IO,
-		row.Pids,
-	}
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) Highlight() {
-	row.Name.Highlight()
-	if config.GetSwitchVal("fullRowCursor") {
-		row.Bg.Highlight()
-		row.Cid.Highlight()
-		row.Cpu.Highlight()
-		row.Mem.Highlight()
-		row.Net.Highlight()
-		row.IO.Highlight()
-		row.Pids.Highlight()
-	}
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) UnHighlight() {
-	row.Name.UnHighlight()
-	if config.GetSwitchVal("fullRowCursor") {
-		row.Bg.UnHighlight()
-		row.Cid.UnHighlight()
-		row.Cpu.UnHighlight()
-		row.Mem.UnHighlight()
-		row.Net.UnHighlight()
-		row.IO.UnHighlight()
-		row.Pids.UnHighlight()
-	}
-}
-
-type RowBg struct {
-	*ui.Par
-}
-
-func NewRowBg() *RowBg {
-	bg := ui.NewPar("")
-	bg.Height = 1
-	bg.Border = false
-	bg.Bg = ui.ThemeAttr("par.text.bg")
-	return &RowBg{bg}
-}
-
-func (w *RowBg) Highlight()   { w.Bg = ui.ThemeAttr("par.text.fg") }
-func (w *RowBg) UnHighlight() { w.Bg = ui.ThemeAttr("par.text.bg") }
diff --git a/cwidgets/compact/setters.go b/cwidgets/compact/setters.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 779991e..0000000
--- a/cwidgets/compact/setters.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-package compact
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"strconv"
-
-	"github.com/bcicen/ctop/cwidgets"
-	ui "github.com/gizak/termui"
-)
-
-func (row *Compact) SetNet(rx int64, tx int64) {
-	label := fmt.Sprintf("%s / %s", cwidgets.ByteFormat(rx), cwidgets.ByteFormat(tx))
-	row.Net.Set(label)
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) SetIO(read int64, write int64) {
-	label := fmt.Sprintf("%s / %s", cwidgets.ByteFormat(read), cwidgets.ByteFormat(write))
-	row.IO.Set(label)
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) SetPids(val int) {
-	label := strconv.Itoa(val)
-	row.Pids.Set(label)
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) SetCPU(val int) {
-	row.Cpu.BarColor = colorScale(val)
-	row.Cpu.Label = fmt.Sprintf("%s%%", strconv.Itoa(val))
-	if val < 5 {
-		val = 5
-		row.Cpu.BarColor = ui.ThemeAttr("gauge.bar.bg")
-	}
-	if val > 100 {
-		val = 100
-	}
-	row.Cpu.Percent = val
-}
-
-func (row *Compact) SetMem(val int64, limit int64, percent int) {
-	row.Mem.Label = fmt.Sprintf("%s / %s", cwidgets.ByteFormat(val), cwidgets.ByteFormat(limit))
-	if percent < 5 {
-		percent = 5
-		row.Mem.BarColor = ui.ColorBlack
-	} else {
-		row.Mem.BarColor = ui.ThemeAttr("gauge.bar.bg")
-	}
-	row.Mem.Percent = percent
-}
diff --git a/cwidgets/compact/status.go b/cwidgets/compact/status.go
index d6b920f..fae7bdc 100644
--- a/cwidgets/compact/status.go
+++ b/cwidgets/compact/status.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package compact
 
 import (
+	"github.com/bcicen/ctop/models"
 	ui "github.com/gizak/termui"
 )
 
@@ -17,14 +18,14 @@ type Status struct {
 	health []ui.Cell
 }
 
-func NewStatus() *Status {
+func NewStatus() CompactCol {
 	s := &Status{
 		Block:  ui.NewBlock(),
 		health: []ui.Cell{{Ch: ' '}},
 	}
 	s.Height = 1
 	s.Border = false
-	s.Set("")
+	s.setState("")
 	return s
 }
 
@@ -43,7 +44,20 @@ func (s *Status) Buffer() ui.Buffer {
 	return buf
 }
 
-func (s *Status) Set(val string) {
+func (s *Status) SetMeta(m models.Meta) {
+	s.setState(m.Get("state"))
+	s.setHealth(m.Get("health"))
+}
+
+// Status implements CompactCol
+func (s *Status) Reset()                    {}
+func (s *Status) SetMetrics(models.Metrics) {}
+func (s *Status) Highlight()                {}
+func (s *Status) UnHighlight()              {}
+func (s *Status) Header() string            { return "" }
+func (s *Status) FixedWidth() int           { return 3 }
+
+func (s *Status) setState(val string) {
 	// defaults
 	text := mark
 	color := ui.ColorDefault
@@ -60,21 +74,21 @@ func (s *Status) Set(val string) {
 	s.status = ui.TextCells(text, color, ui.ColorDefault)
 }
 
-func (s *Status) SetHealth(val string) {
-	if val == "" {
-		return
-	}
-
+func (s *Status) setHealth(val string) {
 	color := ui.ColorDefault
 	mark := healthMark
 
 	switch val {
+	case "":
+		return
 	case "healthy":
 		color = ui.ThemeAttr("status.ok")
 	case "unhealthy":
 		color = ui.ThemeAttr("status.danger")
 	case "starting":
 		color = ui.ThemeAttr("status.warn")
+	default:
+		log.Warningf("unknown health state string: \"%v\"", val)
 	}
 
 	s.health = ui.TextCells(mark, color, ui.ColorDefault)
diff --git a/cwidgets/compact/text.go b/cwidgets/compact/text.go
index e635e25..3ff9440 100644
--- a/cwidgets/compact/text.go
+++ b/cwidgets/compact/text.go
@@ -1,19 +1,93 @@
 package compact
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/bcicen/ctop/cwidgets"
+	"github.com/bcicen/ctop/models"
 	ui "github.com/gizak/termui"
 )
 
-type TextCol struct {
-	*ui.Par
+type NameCol struct {
+	*TextCol
 }
 
-func NewTextCol(s string) *TextCol {
-	p := ui.NewPar(s)
+func NewNameCol() CompactCol {
+	return &NameCol{NewTextCol("NAME")}
+}
+
+func (w *NameCol) SetMeta(m models.Meta) {
+	w.Text = m.Get("name")
+	// truncate container id
+	if len(w.Text) > 12 {
+		w.Text = w.Text[:12]
+	}
+}
+
+type CIDCol struct {
+	*TextCol
+}
+
+func NewCIDCol() CompactCol {
+	return &CIDCol{NewTextCol("CID")}
+}
+
+func (w *CIDCol) SetMeta(m models.Meta) {
+	w.Text = m.Get("id")
+}
+
+type NetCol struct {
+	*TextCol
+}
+
+func NewNetCol() CompactCol {
+	return &NetCol{NewTextCol("NET RX/TX")}
+}
+
+func (w *NetCol) SetMetrics(m models.Metrics) {
+	label := fmt.Sprintf("%s / %s", cwidgets.ByteFormat(m.NetRx), cwidgets.ByteFormat(m.NetTx))
+	w.Text = label
+}
+
+type IOCol struct {
+	*TextCol
+}
+
+func NewIOCol() CompactCol {
+	return &IOCol{NewTextCol("IO R/W")}
+}
+
+func (w *IOCol) SetMetrics(m models.Metrics) {
+	label := fmt.Sprintf("%s / %s", cwidgets.ByteFormat(m.IOBytesRead), cwidgets.ByteFormat(m.IOBytesWrite))
+	w.Text = label
+}
+
+type PIDCol struct {
+	*TextCol
+}
+
+func NewPIDCol() CompactCol {
+	w := &PIDCol{NewTextCol("PIDS")}
+	w.fWidth = 4
+	return w
+}
+
+func (w *PIDCol) SetMetrics(m models.Metrics) {
+	w.Text = fmt.Sprintf("%d", m.Pids)
+}
+
+type TextCol struct {
+	*ui.Par
+	header string
+	fWidth int
+}
+
+func NewTextCol(header string) *TextCol {
+	p := ui.NewPar("-")
 	p.Border = false
 	p.Height = 1
 	p.Width = 20
-	return &TextCol{p}
+	return &TextCol{p, header, 0}
 }
 
 func (w *TextCol) Highlight() {
@@ -28,10 +102,8 @@ func (w *TextCol) UnHighlight() {
 	w.TextBgColor = ui.ThemeAttr("par.text.bg")
 }
 
-func (w *TextCol) Reset() {
-	w.Text = "-"
-}
-
-func (w *TextCol) Set(s string) {
-	w.Text = s
-}
+func (w *TextCol) Reset()                    { w.Text = "-" }
+func (w *TextCol) SetMeta(models.Meta)       {}
+func (w *TextCol) SetMetrics(models.Metrics) {}
+func (w *TextCol) Header() string            { return w.header }
+func (w *TextCol) FixedWidth() int           { return w.fWidth }
diff --git a/cwidgets/compact/util.go b/cwidgets/compact/util.go
index 9bd8f66..ec9b149 100644
--- a/cwidgets/compact/util.go
+++ b/cwidgets/compact/util.go
@@ -22,19 +22,6 @@ var colWidths = []int{
 	4, // pids
 }
 
-// Calculate per-column width, given total width
-func calcWidth(width int) int {
-	spacing := colSpacing * len(colWidths)
-	var staticCols int
-	for _, w := range colWidths {
-		width -= w
-		if w == 0 {
-			staticCols++
-		}
-	}
-	return (width - spacing) / staticCols
-}
-
 func centerParText(p *ui.Par) {
 	var text string
 	var padding string
diff --git a/cwidgets/main.go b/cwidgets/main.go
index 50e4d2e..fd2f68b 100644
--- a/cwidgets/main.go
+++ b/cwidgets/main.go
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ import (
 var log = logging.Init()
 
 type WidgetUpdater interface {
-	SetMeta(string, string)
+	SetMeta(models.Meta)
 	SetMetrics(models.Metrics)
 }
diff --git a/cwidgets/single/main.go b/cwidgets/single/main.go
index 8140b53..6f7b02c 100644
--- a/cwidgets/single/main.go
+++ b/cwidgets/single/main.go
@@ -55,11 +55,13 @@ func (e *Single) Down() {
 }
 
 func (e *Single) SetWidth(w int) { e.Width = w }
-func (e *Single) SetMeta(k, v string) {
-	if k == "[ENV-VAR]" {
-		e.Env.Set(k, v)
-	} else {
-		e.Info.Set(k, v)
+func (e *Single) SetMeta(m models.Meta) {
+	for k, v := range m {
+		if k == "[ENV-VAR]" {
+			e.Env.Set(k, v)
+		} else {
+			e.Info.Set(k, v)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/models/main.go b/models/main.go
index feb23ce..86168b2 100644
--- a/models/main.go
+++ b/models/main.go
@@ -7,6 +7,33 @@ type Log struct {
 	Message   string
 }
 
+type Meta map[string]string
+
+// NewMeta returns an initialized Meta map.
+// An optional series of key, values may be provided to populate the map prior to returning
+func NewMeta(kvs ...string) Meta {
+	m := make(Meta)
+
+	var k string
+	for i := 0; i < len(kvs)-1; i++ {
+		if k == "" {
+			k = kvs[i]
+		} else {
+			m[k] = kvs[i]
+			k = ""
+		}
+	}
+
+	return m
+}
+
+func (m Meta) Get(k string) string {
+	if s, ok := m[k]; ok {
+		return s
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 type Metrics struct {
 	CPUUtil      int
 	NetTx        int64