diff --git a/benches/benchmark.rs b/benches/benchmark.rs
index 8d62082..da3250a 100644
--- a/benches/benchmark.rs
+++ b/benches/benchmark.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use criterion::{Criterion, criterion_group, criterion_main};
 use microfetch_lib::{
   UtsName,
-  colors::print_dots,
   desktop::get_desktop_info,
+  dots::print_dots,
   release::{get_os_pretty_name, get_system_info},
   system::{
     get_memory_usage,
diff --git a/src/colors.rs b/src/colors.rs
index 7c65944..0a7af23 100644
--- a/src/colors.rs
+++ b/src/colors.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,22 @@
 use std::sync::LazyLock;
 
+// All this because concat!() doesn't accept const parameters
+// See https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/31383
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! RESET    {() => {"\x1b[0m"}}
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! BLUE     {() => {"\x1b[34m"}}
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! CYAN     {() => {"\x1b[34m"}}
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! GREEN    {() => {"\x1b[32m"}}
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! YELLOW   {() => {"\x1b[33m"}}
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! RED      {() => {"\x1b[31m"}}
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! MAGENTA  {() => {"\x1b[35m"}}
+
 pub struct Colors {
   pub reset:   &'static str,
   pub blue:    &'static str,
@@ -7,7 +24,6 @@ pub struct Colors {
   pub green:   &'static str,
   pub yellow:  &'static str,
   pub red:     &'static str,
-  pub magenta: &'static str,
 }
 
 impl Colors {
@@ -20,62 +36,26 @@ impl Colors {
         green:   "",
         yellow:  "",
         red:     "",
-        magenta: "",
       }
     } else {
       Self {
-        reset:   "\x1b[0m",
-        blue:    "\x1b[34m",
-        cyan:    "\x1b[36m",
-        green:   "\x1b[32m",
-        yellow:  "\x1b[33m",
-        red:     "\x1b[31m",
-        magenta: "\x1b[35m",
+        reset:   RESET!(),
+        blue:    BLUE!(),
+        cyan:    CYAN!(),
+        green:   GREEN!(),
+        yellow:  YELLOW!(),
+        red:     RED!(),
       }
     }
   }
 }
 
-pub static COLORS: LazyLock<Colors> = LazyLock::new(|| {
+pub static IS_NO_COLOR: LazyLock<bool> = LazyLock::new(|| {
+  // Check for NO_COLOR once at startup
   const NO_COLOR: *const libc::c_char = c"NO_COLOR".as_ptr();
-  let is_no_color = unsafe { !libc::getenv(NO_COLOR).is_null() };
-  Colors::new(is_no_color)
+  unsafe { !libc::getenv(NO_COLOR).is_null() }
 });
 
-#[must_use]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "hotpath", hotpath::measure)]
-pub fn print_dots() -> String {
-  // Pre-calculate capacity: 6 color codes + "  " (glyph + 2 spaces) per color
-  const GLYPH: &str = "";
-  let capacity = COLORS.blue.len()
-    + COLORS.cyan.len()
-    + COLORS.green.len()
-    + COLORS.yellow.len()
-    + COLORS.red.len()
-    + COLORS.magenta.len()
-    + COLORS.reset.len()
-    + (GLYPH.len() + 2) * 6;
-
-  let mut result = String::with_capacity(capacity);
-  result.push_str(COLORS.blue);
-  result.push_str(GLYPH);
-  result.push_str("  ");
-  result.push_str(COLORS.cyan);
-  result.push_str(GLYPH);
-  result.push_str("  ");
-  result.push_str(COLORS.green);
-  result.push_str(GLYPH);
-  result.push_str("  ");
-  result.push_str(COLORS.yellow);
-  result.push_str(GLYPH);
-  result.push_str("  ");
-  result.push_str(COLORS.red);
-  result.push_str(GLYPH);
-  result.push_str("  ");
-  result.push_str(COLORS.magenta);
-  result.push_str(GLYPH);
-  result.push_str("  ");
-  result.push_str(COLORS.reset);
-
-  result
-}
+pub static COLORS: LazyLock<Colors> = LazyLock::new(|| {
+  Colors::new(*IS_NO_COLOR)
+});
diff --git a/src/desktop.rs b/src/desktop.rs
index 501e967..09caf3b 100644
--- a/src/desktop.rs
+++ b/src/desktop.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-use std::{ffi::CStr, fmt::Write};
+use std::ffi::CStr;
+
+use crate::unknown;
 
 #[must_use]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "hotpath", hotpath::measure)]
@@ -7,9 +9,9 @@ pub fn get_desktop_info() -> String {
   let desktop_str = unsafe {
     let ptr = libc::getenv(c"XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP".as_ptr());
     if ptr.is_null() {
-      "Unknown"
+      unknown()
     } else {
-      let s = CStr::from_ptr(ptr).to_str().unwrap_or("Unknown");
+      let s = CStr::from_ptr(ptr).to_str().unwrap_or_else(|_| unknown());
       s.strip_prefix("none+").unwrap_or(s)
     }
   };
@@ -17,10 +19,10 @@ pub fn get_desktop_info() -> String {
   let backend_str = unsafe {
     let ptr = libc::getenv(c"XDG_SESSION_TYPE".as_ptr());
     if ptr.is_null() {
-      "Unknown"
+      unknown()
     } else {
-      let s = CStr::from_ptr(ptr).to_str().unwrap_or("Unknown");
-      if s.is_empty() { "Unknown" } else { s }
+      let s = CStr::from_ptr(ptr).to_str().unwrap_or_else(|_| unknown());
+      if s.is_empty() { unknown() } else { s }
     }
   };
 
@@ -29,11 +31,12 @@ pub fn get_desktop_info() -> String {
   let mut result =
     String::with_capacity(desktop_str.len() + backend_str.len() + 3);
   result.push_str(desktop_str);
-  result.push_str(" (");
+  result.push(' ');
+  result.push('(');
 
   // Capitalize first character of backend
   if let Some(first_char) = backend_str.chars().next() {
-    let _ = write!(result, "{}", first_char.to_ascii_uppercase());
+    result.push(first_char.to_ascii_uppercase());
     result.push_str(&backend_str[first_char.len_utf8()..]);
   }
 
diff --git a/src/dots.rs b/src/dots.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ed3e0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dots.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+use crate::{colors::IS_NO_COLOR, BLUE, CYAN, GREEN, MAGENTA, RED, RESET, YELLOW};
+
+macro_rules! GLYPH  {() => {""}}
+
+macro_rules! GAP    {() => {"  "}}
+
+const NO_COLORS_STR: &str = concat!(
+  GLYPH!(), GAP!(),
+  GLYPH!(), GAP!(),
+  GLYPH!(), GAP!(),
+  GLYPH!(), GAP!(),
+  GLYPH!(), GAP!(),
+  GLYPH!(),
+);
+
+const COLORS_STR: &str = concat!(
+  BLUE!(),    GLYPH!(), GAP!(),
+  CYAN!(),    GLYPH!(), GAP!(),
+  GREEN!(),   GLYPH!(), GAP!(),
+  YELLOW!(),  GLYPH!(), GAP!(),
+  RED!(),     GLYPH!(), GAP!(),
+  MAGENTA!(), GLYPH!(), RESET!(),
+);
+
+#[must_use]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "hotpath", hotpath::measure)]
+pub fn print_dots() -> &'static str {
+  if *IS_NO_COLOR {
+    NO_COLORS_STR
+  } else {
+    COLORS_STR
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 1e0f9f3..71e4e3d 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,22 @@
 pub mod colors;
 pub mod desktop;
+pub mod dots;
 pub mod release;
 pub mod syscall;
 pub mod system;
 pub mod uptime;
 
-use std::mem::MaybeUninit;
+use std::{io, mem::MaybeUninit};
+
+#[inline]
+#[cold]
+pub const fn unknown() -> &'static str { "Unknown" }
+
+#[inline]
+#[cold]
+pub fn last_os_error<T>() -> io::Result<T> {
+  Err(io::Error::last_os_error())
+}
 
 /// Wrapper for `libc::utsname` with safe accessor methods
 pub struct UtsName(libc::utsname);
@@ -19,7 +30,7 @@ impl UtsName {
   pub fn uname() -> Result<Self, std::io::Error> {
     let mut uts = MaybeUninit::uninit();
     if unsafe { libc::uname(uts.as_mut_ptr()) } != 0 {
-      return Err(std::io::Error::last_os_error());
+      return last_os_error();
     }
     Ok(Self(unsafe { uts.assume_init() }))
   }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index e29d6d1..edbe14a 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 mod colors;
 mod desktop;
+mod dots;
 mod release;
 mod syscall;
 mod system;
@@ -7,11 +8,11 @@ mod uptime;
 
 use std::io::{self, Cursor, Write};
 
-pub use microfetch_lib::UtsName;
+pub use microfetch_lib::{UtsName, last_os_error, unknown};
 
 use crate::{
-  colors::print_dots,
   desktop::get_desktop_info,
+  dots::print_dots,
   release::{get_os_pretty_name, get_system_info},
   system::{
     get_memory_usage,
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
       uptime:         get_current()?,
       memory_usage:   get_memory_usage()?,
       storage:        get_root_disk_usage()?,
-      colors:         print_dots(),
+      dots:           print_dots(),
     };
     print_system_info(&fields)?;
   }
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ struct Fields {
   desktop:        String,
   memory_usage:   String,
   storage:        String,
-  colors:         String,
+  dots:           &'static str,
 }
 
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "hotpath", hotpath::measure)]
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ fn print_system_info(
     desktop,
     memory_usage,
     storage,
-    colors,
+    dots,
   } = fields;
 
   let cyan = COLORS.cyan;
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ fn print_system_info(
     {blue}   ▟█▛{cyan}▗█▖       {cyan}▟█▛         {cyan}  {blue}Desktop{reset}       {desktop}
     {blue}  ▝█▛  {cyan}██▖{blue}▗▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄      {cyan}󰍛  {blue}Memory{reset}        {memory_usage}
     {blue}   ▝  {cyan}▟█▜█▖{blue}▀▀▀▀▀██▛▀▀▘      {cyan}󱥎  {blue}Storage (/){reset}   {storage}
-    {cyan}     ▟█▘ ▜█▖    {blue}▝█▛         {cyan}  {blue}Colors{reset}        {colors}\n\n"
+    {cyan}     ▟█▘ ▜█▖    {blue}▝█▛         {cyan}  {blue}Colors{reset}        {dots}\n\n"
   )?;
 
   let len = cursor.position() as usize;
diff --git a/src/release.rs b/src/release.rs
index 8d3232e..5cf79ee 100644
--- a/src/release.rs
+++ b/src/release.rs
@@ -1,19 +1,25 @@
-use std::{fmt::Write as _, io};
+use std::io;
 
-use crate::{UtsName, syscall::read_file_fast};
+use crate::{syscall::read_file_fast, unknown, UtsName};
 
 #[must_use]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "hotpath", hotpath::measure)]
 pub fn get_system_info(utsname: &UtsName) -> String {
-  let sysname = utsname.sysname().to_str().unwrap_or("Unknown");
-  let release = utsname.release().to_str().unwrap_or("Unknown");
-  let machine = utsname.machine().to_str().unwrap_or("Unknown");
+  let sysname = utsname.sysname().to_str().unwrap_or_else(|_| unknown());
+  let release = utsname.release().to_str().unwrap_or_else(|_| unknown());
+  let machine = utsname.machine().to_str().unwrap_or_else(|_| unknown());
 
   // Pre-allocate capacity: sysname + " " + release + " (" + machine + ")"
   let capacity = sysname.len() + 1 + release.len() + 2 + machine.len() + 1;
   let mut result = String::with_capacity(capacity);
 
-  write!(result, "{sysname} {release} ({machine})").unwrap();
+  result.push_str(sysname);
+  result.push(' ');
+  result.push_str(release);
+  result.push(' ');
+  result.push('(');
+  result.push_str(machine);
+  result.push(')');
   result
 }
 
@@ -65,5 +71,5 @@ pub fn get_os_pretty_name() -> Result<String, io::Error> {
     offset += line_end + 1;
   }
 
-  Ok("Unknown".to_owned())
+  Ok(unknown().to_owned())
 }
diff --git a/src/syscall.rs b/src/syscall.rs
index 0c8634b..1afda3a 100644
--- a/src/syscall.rs
+++ b/src/syscall.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 
 use std::io;
 
+use crate::last_os_error;
+
 /// Direct syscall to open a file
 ///
 /// # Returns
@@ -169,6 +171,12 @@ pub unsafe fn sys_close(fd: i32) -> i32 {
   }
 }
 
+#[inline]
+#[cold]
+fn path_too_long() -> io::Result<usize> {
+  Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidInput, "Path too long"))
+}
+
 /// Read entire file using direct syscalls. This avoids libc overhead and can be
 /// significantly faster for small files.
 ///
@@ -182,7 +190,7 @@ pub fn read_file_fast(path: &str, buffer: &mut [u8]) -> io::Result<usize> {
   // Use stack-allocated buffer for null-terminated path (max 256 bytes)
   let path_bytes = path.as_bytes();
   if path_bytes.len() >= 256 {
-    return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidInput, "Path too long"));
+    return path_too_long();
   }
 
   let mut path_buf = [0u8; 256];
@@ -192,14 +200,14 @@ pub fn read_file_fast(path: &str, buffer: &mut [u8]) -> io::Result<usize> {
   unsafe {
     let fd = sys_open(path_buf.as_ptr(), O_RDONLY);
     if fd < 0 {
-      return Err(io::Error::last_os_error());
+      return last_os_error();
     }
 
     let bytes_read = sys_read(fd, buffer.as_mut_ptr(), buffer.len());
     let _ = sys_close(fd);
 
     if bytes_read < 0 {
-      return Err(io::Error::last_os_error());
+      return last_os_error();
     }
 
     #[allow(clippy::cast_sign_loss)]
diff --git a/src/system.rs b/src/system.rs
index ba8fe79..a152210 100644
--- a/src/system.rs
+++ b/src/system.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 use std::{ffi::CStr, fmt::Write as _, io, mem::MaybeUninit};
 
-use crate::{UtsName, colors::COLORS, syscall::read_file_fast};
+use crate::{colors::COLORS, last_os_error, syscall::read_file_fast, UtsName};
+
+#[inline]
+#[cold]
+const fn unknown_user() -> &'static str { "unknown_user" }
+
+#[inline]
+#[cold]
+const fn unknown_host() -> &'static str { "unknown_host" }
 
 #[must_use]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "hotpath", hotpath::measure)]
@@ -8,12 +16,12 @@ pub fn get_username_and_hostname(utsname: &UtsName) -> String {
   let username = unsafe {
     let ptr = libc::getenv(c"USER".as_ptr());
     if ptr.is_null() {
-      "unknown_user"
+      unknown_user()
     } else {
-      CStr::from_ptr(ptr).to_str().unwrap_or("unknown_user")
+      CStr::from_ptr(ptr).to_str().unwrap_or_else(|_| unknown_user())
     }
   };
-  let hostname = utsname.nodename().to_str().unwrap_or("unknown_host");
+  let hostname = utsname.nodename().to_str().unwrap_or_else(|_| unknown_host());
 
   let capacity = COLORS.yellow.len()
     + username.len()
@@ -35,13 +43,17 @@ pub fn get_username_and_hostname(utsname: &UtsName) -> String {
   result
 }
 
+#[inline]
+#[cold]
+const fn unknown_shell() -> &'static str { "unknown_shell" }
+
 #[must_use]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "hotpath", hotpath::measure)]
 pub fn get_shell() -> String {
   unsafe {
     let ptr = libc::getenv(c"SHELL".as_ptr());
     if ptr.is_null() {
-      return "unknown_shell".into();
+      return unknown_shell().into();
     }
 
     let bytes = CStr::from_ptr(ptr).to_bytes();
@@ -63,7 +75,7 @@ pub fn get_root_disk_usage() -> Result<String, io::Error> {
   let path = b"/\0";
 
   if unsafe { libc::statvfs(path.as_ptr().cast(), vfs.as_mut_ptr()) } != 0 {
-    return Err(io::Error::last_os_error());
+    return last_os_error();
   }
 
   let vfs = unsafe { vfs.assume_init() };
diff --git a/src/uptime.rs b/src/uptime.rs
index 095af7d..6a2cdfb 100644
--- a/src/uptime.rs
+++ b/src/uptime.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 use std::{io, mem::MaybeUninit};
 
+use crate::last_os_error;
+
 /// Faster integer to string conversion without the formatting overhead.
 #[inline]
 fn itoa(mut n: u64, buf: &mut [u8]) -> &str {
@@ -73,7 +75,7 @@ pub fn get_current() -> Result<String, io::Error> {
   let uptime_seconds = {
     let mut info = MaybeUninit::uninit();
     if unsafe { sys_sysinfo(info.as_mut_ptr()) } != 0 {
-      return Err(io::Error::last_os_error());
+      return last_os_error();
     }
     #[allow(clippy::cast_sign_loss)]
     unsafe {