diff --git a/1.10.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt b/1.10.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
index 632da73..7b6eefa 100644
--- a/1.10.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
+++ b/1.10.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@ import org.apache.logging.log4j.Level
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger
 import java.util.*
 
-lateinit var logger: Logger
-
 @Mod(
         modid = MODID,
         name = NAME, version = MODVERSION,
@@ -37,7 +35,7 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     @Mod.EventHandler
     fun preInit(event: FMLPreInitializationEvent) {
-        logger = event.modLog
+        logger = event.modLog as org.apache.logging.log4j.core.Logger
         logger.info("Building bridge!")
 
         cfg = BaseConfig(event.modConfigurationDirectory).load()
@@ -79,11 +77,11 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun wrappedSendToPlayer(uuid: UUID, msg: String) {
         val profile = profileByUUID(uuid) ?: run {
-            error("cannot find player by uuid $uuid")
+            logger.error("cannot find player by uuid $uuid")
             return
         }
         val player = playerByProfile(profile) ?: run {
-            error("${profile.name} is not online")
+            logger.error("${profile.name} is not online")
             return
         }
         player.sendMessage(TextComponentString(msg))
@@ -97,14 +95,14 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
     private fun profileByUUID(uuid: UUID): GameProfile? = try {
         FMLCommonHandler.instance().minecraftServerInstance.playerProfileCache.getProfileByUUID(uuid)
     } catch (e: IllegalArgumentException) {
-        warn("cannot find profile by uuid $uuid")
+        logger.warn("cannot find profile by uuid $uuid")
         null
     }
 
     private fun profileByName(username: String): GameProfile? = try {
         FMLCommonHandler.instance().minecraftServerInstance.playerProfileCache.getGameProfileForUsername(username)
     } catch (e: IllegalArgumentException) {
-        warn("cannot find profile by username $username")
+        logger.warn("cannot find profile by username $username")
         null
     }
 
@@ -112,10 +110,6 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun uuidToName(uuid: UUID): String? = profileByUUID(uuid)?.name
 
-    override fun log(level: String, formatString: String, vararg data: Any) =
-            logger.log(Level.toLevel(level, Level.INFO), formatString, *data)
-
-
     override fun commandSenderFor(
             user: String,
             env: IBridgeCommand.CommandEnvironment,
diff --git a/1.11.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt b/1.11.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
index 7a71741..22a7171 100644
--- a/1.11.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
+++ b/1.11.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 package matterlink
 
 import com.mojang.authlib.GameProfile
+import jline.internal.Log.warn
 import matterlink.bridge.command.IBridgeCommand
 import matterlink.command.MatterLinkCommand
 import matterlink.command.MatterLinkCommandSender
 import matterlink.config.BaseConfig
 import matterlink.config.cfg
+import net.minecraft.entity.ai.EntityMoveHelper
 import net.minecraft.entity.player.EntityPlayerMP
 import net.minecraft.util.text.TextComponentString
 import net.minecraftforge.common.ForgeVersion
@@ -19,8 +21,6 @@ import org.apache.logging.log4j.Level
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger
 import java.util.*
 
-lateinit var logger: Logger
-
 @Mod(
         modid = MODID,
         name = NAME, version = MODVERSION,
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     @Mod.EventHandler
     fun preInit(event: FMLPreInitializationEvent) {
-        logger = event.modLog
+        logger = event.modLog as org.apache.logging.log4j.core.Logger
         logger.info("Building bridge!")
 
         cfg = BaseConfig(event.modConfigurationDirectory).load()
@@ -67,11 +67,11 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun wrappedSendToPlayer(username: String, msg: String) {
         val profile = profileByName(username) ?: run {
-            error("cannot find player by name $username")
+            logger.error("cannot find player by name $username")
             return
         }
         val player = playerByProfile(profile) ?: run {
-            error("${profile.name} is not online")
+            logger.error("${profile.name} is not online")
             return
         }
         player.sendMessage(TextComponentString(msg))
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun wrappedSendToPlayer(uuid: UUID, msg: String) {
         val profile = profileByUUID(uuid) ?: run {
-            error("cannot find player by uuid $uuid")
+            logger.error("cannot find player by uuid $uuid")
             return
         }
         val player = playerByProfile(profile) ?: run {
-            error("${profile.name} is not online")
+            logger.error("${profile.name} is not online")
             return
         }
         player.sendMessage(TextComponentString(msg))
@@ -97,14 +97,14 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
     private fun profileByUUID(uuid: UUID): GameProfile? = try {
         FMLCommonHandler.instance().minecraftServerInstance.playerProfileCache.getProfileByUUID(uuid)
     } catch (e: IllegalArgumentException) {
-        warn("cannot find profile by uuid $uuid")
+        logger.warn("cannot find profile by uuid $uuid")
         null
     }
 
     private fun profileByName(username: String): GameProfile? = try {
         FMLCommonHandler.instance().minecraftServerInstance.playerProfileCache.getGameProfileForUsername(username)
     } catch (e: IllegalArgumentException) {
-        warn("cannot find profile by username $username")
+        logger.warn("cannot find profile by username $username")
         null
     }
 
@@ -112,9 +112,6 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun uuidToName(uuid: UUID): String? = profileByUUID(uuid)?.name
 
-    override fun log(level: String, formatString: String, vararg data: Any) =
-            logger.log(Level.toLevel(level, Level.INFO), formatString, *data)
-
     override fun commandSenderFor(
             user: String,
             env: IBridgeCommand.CommandEnvironment,
diff --git a/1.12.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/EventHandler.kt b/1.12.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/EventHandler.kt
index 7f39daa..ffdf3da 100644
--- a/1.12.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/EventHandler.kt
+++ b/1.12.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/EventHandler.kt
@@ -49,15 +49,10 @@ object EventHandler {
     @SubscribeEvent
     @JvmStatic
     fun commandEvent(e: CommandEvent) {
-        instance.log("DEBUG","commandEvent ${e.sender.javaClass.simpleName}")
-        instance.log("DEBUG","commandEvent ${e.sender.javaClass.typeName}")
-        instance.log("DEBUG","command ${e.command.aliases}")
-        instance.log("DEBUG","command ${e.command.name}")
         val sender = when {
             e.sender is DedicatedServer -> cfg.outgoing.systemUser
             else -> e.sender.displayName.unformattedText
         }
-        instance.log("DEBUG","sender $sender")
         val args = e.parameters.joinToString(" ")
         val type = when {
             e.command is CommandEmote -> USER_ACTION
diff --git a/1.12.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt b/1.12.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
index 7f10f9c..6b4eb23 100644
--- a/1.12.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
+++ b/1.12.2/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package matterlink
 
 import com.mojang.authlib.GameProfile
+import jline.internal.Log.warn
 import matterlink.bridge.command.IBridgeCommand
 import matterlink.command.AuthCommand
 import matterlink.command.MatterLinkCommand
@@ -17,10 +18,9 @@ import net.minecraftforge.fml.common.event.FMLPreInitializationEvent
 import net.minecraftforge.fml.common.event.FMLServerStartingEvent
 import net.minecraftforge.fml.common.event.FMLServerStoppingEvent
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Level
-import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.config.Configurator
 import java.util.*
 
-lateinit var logger: Logger
 
 @Mod(
         modid = MODID,
@@ -34,12 +34,14 @@ lateinit var logger: Logger
 object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     init {
+        Configurator.setLevel(MODID, Level.DEBUG)
         instance = this
     }
 
     @Mod.EventHandler
     fun preInit(event: FMLPreInitializationEvent) {
-        logger = event.modLog
+        logger = event.modLog as org.apache.logging.log4j.core.Logger
+        logger.level = Level.DEBUG
         logger.info("Building bridge!")
 
         cfg = BaseConfig(event.modConfigurationDirectory).load()
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     @Mod.EventHandler
     fun serverStarting(event: FMLServerStartingEvent) {
-        log("DEBUG", "Registering server commands")
+        logger.debug("Registering server commands")
         event.registerServerCommand(MatterLinkCommand())
         event.registerServerCommand(AuthCommand())
         start()
@@ -70,11 +72,11 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun wrappedSendToPlayer(username: String, msg: String) {
         val profile = profileByName(username) ?: run {
-            error("cannot find player by name $username")
+            logger.error("cannot find player by name $username")
             return
         }
         val player = playerByProfile(profile) ?: run {
-            error("${profile.name} is not online")
+            logger.error("${profile.name} is not online")
             return
         }
         player.sendMessage(TextComponentString(msg))
@@ -82,11 +84,11 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun wrappedSendToPlayer(uuid: UUID, msg: String) {
         val profile = profileByUUID(uuid) ?: run {
-            error("cannot find player by uuid $uuid")
+            logger.error("cannot find player by uuid $uuid")
             return
         }
         val player = playerByProfile(profile) ?: run {
-            error("${profile.name} is not online")
+            logger.error("${profile.name} is not online")
             return
         }
         player.sendMessage(TextComponentString(msg))
@@ -115,8 +117,8 @@ object MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun uuidToName(uuid: UUID): String? = profileByUUID(uuid)?.name
 
-    override fun log(level: String, formatString: String, vararg data: Any) =
-            logger.log(Level.toLevel(level, Level.INFO), formatString, *data)
+//    override fun log(level: String, formatString: String, vararg data: Any) =
+//            logger.log(Level.toLevel(level, Level.INFO), formatString, *data)
 
     override fun commandSenderFor(
             user: String,
diff --git a/1.7.10/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt b/1.7.10/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
index d64a6ea..be6dff7 100644
--- a/1.7.10/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
+++ b/1.7.10/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/MatterLink.kt
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@ import org.apache.logging.log4j.Level
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger
 import java.util.*
 
-lateinit var logger: Logger
-
 @Mod(
         modid = MODID,
         name = NAME, version = MODVERSION,
@@ -39,7 +37,7 @@ class MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
         MinecraftForge.EVENT_BUS.register(EventHandler)
         FMLCommonHandler.instance().bus().register(EventHandler)
 
-        logger = event.modLog
+        logger = event.modLog as org.apache.logging.log4j.core.Logger
         logger.info("Building bridge!")
 
         cfg = BaseConfig(event.modConfigurationDirectory).load()
@@ -69,11 +67,11 @@ class MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun wrappedSendToPlayer(username: String, msg: String) {
         val profile = profileByName(username) ?: run {
-            error("cannot find player by name $username")
+            logger.error("cannot find player by name $username")
             return
         }
         val player = playerByProfile(profile) ?: run {
-            error("${profile.name} is not online")
+            logger.error("${profile.name} is not online")
             return
         }
         player.addChatMessage(ChatComponentText(msg))
@@ -81,11 +79,11 @@ class MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun wrappedSendToPlayer(uuid: UUID, msg: String) {
         val profile = profileByUUID(uuid) ?: run {
-            error("cannot find player by uuid $uuid")
+            logger.error("cannot find player by uuid $uuid")
             return
         }
         val player = playerByProfile(profile) ?: run {
-            error("${profile.name} is not online")
+            logger.error("${profile.name} is not online")
             return
         }
         player.addChatMessage(ChatComponentText(msg))
@@ -101,14 +99,14 @@ class MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
     private fun profileByUUID(uuid: UUID): GameProfile? = try {
         FMLCommonHandler.instance().minecraftServerInstance.playerProfileCache.func_152652_a(uuid)
     } catch (e: IllegalArgumentException) {
-        warn("cannot find profile by uuid $uuid")
+        logger.warn("cannot find profile by uuid $uuid")
         null
     }
 
     private fun profileByName(username: String): GameProfile? = try {
         FMLCommonHandler.instance().minecraftServerInstance.playerProfileCache.getGameProfileForUsername(username)
     } catch (e: IllegalArgumentException) {
-        warn("cannot find profile by username $username")
+        logger.warn("cannot find profile by username $username")
         null
     }
 
@@ -116,9 +114,6 @@ class MatterLink : IMatterLink() {
 
     override fun uuidToName(uuid: UUID): String? = profileByUUID(uuid)?.name
 
-    override fun log(level: String, formatString: String, vararg data: Any) =
-            logger.log(Level.toLevel(level, Level.INFO), formatString, *data)
-
     override fun commandSenderFor(
             user: String,
             env: IBridgeCommand.CommandEnvironment,
diff --git a/Jankson b/Jankson
index bb136c1..93ab86e 160000
--- a/Jankson
+++ b/Jankson
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit bb136c12e3ae50498b3435fc11dbd833efdb6a1c
+Subproject commit 93ab86ee821380584c22ac60d77737388976e531
diff --git a/api b/api
index 15e4d11..75138ce 160000
--- a/api
+++ b/api
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 15e4d115dd0e1ac1e5d287c48d6dc76a6a488ed7
+Subproject commit 75138cec00c66d479709f4b44d78ca3005993474
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 84632ce..12a58db 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 plugins {
-    id "org.jetbrains.kotlin.jvm" version '1.2.51'
+    id "org.jetbrains.kotlin.jvm" version '1.2.41'
     id 'idea'
 }
 
diff --git a/core/build.gradle b/core/build.gradle
index 5ad0456..9ed1658 100644
--- a/core/build.gradle
+++ b/core/build.gradle
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ dependencies {
 
     compile project(":Jankson")
 
-    compile group: 'commons-logging', name: 'commons-logging', version: '1.1.3'
+//    compile group: 'org.apache.logging.log4j', name: 'log4j-api', version: '+'
+    compile group: 'org.apache.logging.log4j', name: 'log4j-core', version: '+'
+//    compile group: 'commons-logging', name: 'commons-logging', version: '1.1.3'
     compile group: 'com.google.code.gson', name: 'gson', version: '+'
     compile group: 'com.google.guava', name: 'guava', version: '+'
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/IMatterLink.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/IMatterLink.kt
index 30d361b..63d0a02 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/IMatterLink.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/IMatterLink.kt
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 package matterlink
 
+import matterlink.api.MessageHandler
 import matterlink.bridge.MessageHandlerInst
 import matterlink.bridge.command.BridgeCommandRegistry
 import matterlink.bridge.command.IBridgeCommand
 import matterlink.bridge.command.IMinecraftCommandSender
 import matterlink.config.cfg
 import matterlink.update.UpdateChecker
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.Logger
 import java.util.*
 
 lateinit var instance: IMatterLink
+lateinit var logger: Logger
 
 abstract class IMatterLink {
     abstract val mcVersion: String
@@ -26,16 +29,17 @@ abstract class IMatterLink {
     abstract fun uuidToName(uuid: UUID): String?
 
     fun start() {
-        MessageHandlerInst.logger = { level, msg ->
-            when (level) {
-                "FATAL" -> fatal(msg)
-                "ERROR" -> error(msg)
-                "WARN" -> warn(msg)
-                "INFO" -> info(msg)
-                "DEBUG" -> debug(msg)
-                "TRACE" -> trace(msg)
-            }
-        }
+//        MessageHandlerInst.logger = { level, msg ->
+//            when (level) {
+//                "FATAL" -> logger.fatal(msg)
+//                "ERROR" -> logger.error(msg)
+//                "WARN" -> logger.warn(msg)
+//                "INFO" -> logger.info(msg)
+//                "DEBUG" -> logger.debug(msg)
+//                "TRACE" -> logger.trace(msg)
+//            }
+//        }
+        MessageHandlerInst.logger = logger
         serverStartTime = System.currentTimeMillis()
 
         if (cfg.connect.autoConnect)
@@ -47,22 +51,22 @@ abstract class IMatterLink {
         MessageHandlerInst.stop("Server shutting down, disconnecting from matterbridge API")
     }
 
-    abstract fun log(level: String, formatString: String, vararg data: Any)
+//    abstract fun log(level: String, formatString: String, vararg data: Any)
 
-    fun fatal(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) = log("FATAL", formatString, *data)
-    fun error(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) = log("ERROR", formatString, *data)
-    fun warn(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) = log("WARN", formatString, *data)
-    fun info(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) = log("INFO", formatString, *data)
-
-    fun debug(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) {
-        if (cfg.debug.logLevel == "DEBUG" || cfg.debug.logLevel == "TRACE")
-            log("INFO", "DEBUG: " + formatString.replace("\n", "\nDEBUG: "), *data)
-    }
-
-    fun trace(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) {
-        if (cfg.debug.logLevel == "TRACE")
-            log("INFO", "TRACE: " + formatString.replace("\n", "\nTRACE: "), *data)
-    }
+//    fun fatal(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) = log("FATAL", formatString, *data)
+//    fun error(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) = log("ERROR", formatString, *data)
+//    fun warn(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) = log("WARN", formatString, *data)
+//    fun info(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) = log("INFO", formatString, *data)
+//
+//    fun debug(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) {
+//        if (cfg.debug.logLevel == "DEBUG" || cfg.debug.logLevel == "TRACE")
+//            log("INFO", "DEBUG: " + formatString.replace("\n", "\nDEBUG: "), *data)
+//    }
+//
+//    fun trace(formatString: String, vararg data: Any) {
+//        if (cfg.debug.logLevel == "TRACE")
+//            log("INFO", "TRACE: " + formatString.replace("\n", "\nTRACE: "), *data)
+//    }
 
     /**
      * in milliseconds
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/PasteUtil.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/PasteUtil.kt
index e40b574..852f75d 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/PasteUtil.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/PasteUtil.kt
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ object PasteUtil {
         }
 
         val textResponse = http.inputStream.bufferedReader().use { it.readText() }
-        instance.debug("response: $textResponse")
+        logger.debug("response: $textResponse")
 //        val jsonObject = jankson.load(http.inputStream)
         return jankson.fromJson(textResponse)
     }
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/Util.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/Util.kt
index 7351f5b..1fbc478 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/Util.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/Util.kt
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ fun randomString(length: Int = 6): String =
         java.util.UUID.randomUUID().toString().replace("-", "").take(length)
 
 fun <T : Any> JsonObject.getOrDefault(key: String, default: T, comment: String? = null): T {
-//    instance.info("type: ${default.javaClass.name} key: $key json: >>>${this.getObject(key)?.toJson()}<<< default: $default")
+//    logger.info("type: ${default.javaClass.name} key: $key json: >>>${this.getObject(key)?.toJson()}<<< default: $default")
     return putDefault(key, default, comment)!!
 }
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/MessageHandlerInst.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/MessageHandlerInst.kt
index a9de88d..0a5bcec 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/MessageHandlerInst.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/MessageHandlerInst.kt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ object MessageHandlerInst : MessageHandler() {
     }
 
     fun transmit(msg: ApiMessage, cause: String, maxLines: Int = cfg.outgoing.inlineLimit) {
-        if (msg.text.count { it == '\n' } >= maxLines) {
+        if (msg.text.lines().count() >= maxLines) {
             try {
                 val response = PasteUtil.paste(
                         Paste(
@@ -20,15 +20,15 @@ object MessageHandlerInst : MessageHandler() {
                                         PasteSection(
                                                 name = "log.txt",
                                                 syntax = "text",
-                                                contents = msg.text.replace("\n", "\\n")
+                                                contents = msg.text
                                         )
                                 )
                         )
                 )
                 msg.text = msg.text.substringBefore('\n')
-                        .take(20) + "...  " + response.link
+                        .take(25) + "...  " + response.link
             } catch(e: Exception) {
-                instance.error(e.stackTraceString)
+                logger.error(e.stackTraceString)
             }
         }
         super.transmit(msg)
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/BridgeCommandRegistry.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/BridgeCommandRegistry.kt
index 113c341..d689197 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/BridgeCommandRegistry.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/BridgeCommandRegistry.kt
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import matterlink.config.IdentitiesConfig
 import matterlink.config.PermissionConfig
 import matterlink.config.cfg
 import matterlink.instance
+import matterlink.logger
 import matterlink.stripColorOut
 import java.util.*
 
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ object BridgeCommandRegistry {
         val env = IBridgeCommand.CommandEnvironment.BridgeEnv(input.username, input.userid, input.account, uuid)
         return commandMap[cmd[0]]?.let {
             if (!it.reachedTimeout()) {
-                instance.debug("dropped command ${it.alias}")
+                logger.debug("dropped command ${it.alias}")
                 return false
             }
             it.preExecute() // resets the tickCounter
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ object BridgeCommandRegistry {
 
         return commandMap[cmd[0]]?.let {
             if (!it.reachedTimeout()) {
-                instance.debug("dropped command ${it.alias}")
+                logger.debug("dropped command ${it.alias}")
                 return false
             }
             it.preExecute() // resets the tickCounter
@@ -74,11 +75,11 @@ object BridgeCommandRegistry {
 
     fun register(alias: String, cmd: IBridgeCommand): Boolean {
         if (alias.isBlank() || commandMap.containsKey(alias)) {
-            instance.error("Failed to register command: '$alias'")
+            logger.error("Failed to register command: '$alias'")
             return false
         }
         if (!cmd.validate()) {
-            instance.error("Failed to validate command: '$alias'")
+            logger.error("Failed to validate command: '$alias'")
             return false
         }
         //TODO: maybe write alias to command here ?
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/CustomCommand.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/CustomCommand.kt
index f50e07f..81c301e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/CustomCommand.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/CustomCommand.kt
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package matterlink.bridge.command
 
 import matterlink.instance
 import matterlink.lazyFormat
+import matterlink.logger
 import matterlink.stripColorIn
 
 data class CustomCommand(
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ data class CustomCommand(
 
     override fun execute(alias: String, user: String, env: CommandEnvironment, args: String): Boolean {
         if (argumentsRegex != null) {
-            instance.debug("testing '$args' against '${argumentsRegex.pattern}'")
+            logger.debug("testing '$args' against '${argumentsRegex.pattern}'")
             if (!argumentsRegex.matches(args)) {
                 env.respond("$user sent invalid input to command $alias")
                 return false
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/IBridgeCommand.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/IBridgeCommand.kt
index eb996fa..b97034c 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/IBridgeCommand.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/bridge/command/IBridgeCommand.kt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import matterlink.config.PermissionConfig
 import matterlink.config.cfg
 import matterlink.handlers.TickHandler
 import matterlink.instance
+import matterlink.logger
 import matterlink.stripColorOut
 import java.util.*
 
@@ -72,9 +73,9 @@ abstract class IBridgeCommand {
     abstract fun execute(alias: String, user: String, env: CommandEnvironment, args: String): Boolean
 
     fun canExecute(uuid: UUID?): Boolean {
-        instance.trace("canExecute this: $this  uuid: $uuid permLevel: $permLevel")
+        logger.trace("canExecute this: $this  uuid: $uuid permLevel: $permLevel")
         val canExec = getPermLevel(uuid) >= permLevel
-        instance.trace("canExecute return $canExec")
+        logger.trace("canExecute return $canExec")
         return canExec
     }
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/BaseConfig.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/BaseConfig.kt
index e3c90c4..204c377 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/BaseConfig.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/BaseConfig.kt
@@ -4,11 +4,8 @@ import blue.endless.jankson.Jankson
 import blue.endless.jankson.JsonObject
 import blue.endless.jankson.impl.Marshaller
 import blue.endless.jankson.impl.SyntaxError
+import matterlink.*
 import matterlink.bridge.MessageHandlerInst
-import matterlink.getOrDefault
-import matterlink.instance
-import matterlink.registerTypeAdapter
-import matterlink.stackTraceString
 import java.io.File
 import java.io.FileNotFoundException
 
@@ -20,13 +17,12 @@ data class BaseConfig(val rootDir: File) {
     val configFile: File = cfgDirectory.resolve("matterlink.hjson")
 
     init {
-        instance.info("Reading bridge blueprints... from {}", rootDir)
+        logger.info("Reading bridge blueprints... from {}", rootDir)
         baseCfg = this
     }
 
     data class MatterLinkConfig(
             val connect: ConnectOptions = ConnectOptions(),
-            val debug: DebugOptions = DebugOptions(),
             val incoming: IncomingOptions = IncomingOptions(),
             val outgoing: OutgoingOptions = OutgoingOptions(),
             val command: CommandOptions = CommandOptions(),
@@ -51,10 +47,6 @@ data class BaseConfig(val rootDir: File) {
             val reconnectWait: Long = 500
     )
 
-    data class DebugOptions(
-            val logLevel: String = "INFO"
-    )
-
     data class IncomingOptions(
             val chat: String = "<{username}> {text}",
             val joinPart: String = "§6-- {username} {text}",
@@ -137,11 +129,6 @@ data class BaseConfig(val rootDir: File) {
                                     ConnectOptions(),
                                     "Connection Settings"
                             ),
-                            debug = it.getOrDefault(
-                                    "debug",
-                                    DebugOptions(),
-                                    "Options to help you figure out what happens and why, because computers can be silly"
-                            ),
                             incoming = it.getOrDefault(
                                     "incoming",
                                     IncomingOptions(),
@@ -229,13 +216,6 @@ data class BaseConfig(val rootDir: File) {
                         )
                     }
                 }
-                .registerTypeAdapter {
-                    with(DebugOptions()) {
-                        DebugOptions(
-                                logLevel = it.getOrDefault("loglevel", logLevel, "MatterLink log level")
-                        )
-                    }
-                }
                 .registerTypeAdapter {
                     with(IncomingOptions()) {
                         IncomingOptions(
@@ -384,33 +364,34 @@ data class BaseConfig(val rootDir: File) {
         val jsonObject = try {
             jankson.load(configFile)
         } catch (e: SyntaxError) {
-            instance.error("error loading config: ${e.completeMessage}")
+            logger.error("error loading config: ${e.completeMessage}")
             jankson.marshaller.serialize(MatterLinkConfig()) as JsonObject
         } catch (e: FileNotFoundException) {
-            instance.error("creating config file $configFile")
+            logger.error("creating config file $configFile")
             configFile.absoluteFile.parentFile.mkdirs()
             configFile.createNewFile()
             jankson.marshaller.serialize(MatterLinkConfig()) as JsonObject
         }
-        instance.info("finished loading base config")
+        logger.info("finished loading base config")
 
         val tmpCfg = try {
             //cfgDirectory.resolve("debug.matterlink.hjson").writeText(jsonObject.toJson(false, true))
             jankson.fromJson(jsonObject, MatterLinkConfig::class.java).apply {
                 configFile.writeText(jsonObject.toJson(true, true))
-                instance.info("loaded config: $this")
+                logger.info("loaded config: Main config")
+                logger.debug("loaded config: $this")
             }
         } catch (e: SyntaxError) {
-            instance.error("error parsing config: ${e.completeMessage} ")
-            instance.error(e.stackTraceString)
+            logger.error("error parsing config: ${e.completeMessage} ")
+            logger.error(e.stackTraceString)
             cfgDirectory.resolve("error.matterlink.hjson").writeText(jsonObject.toJson(false, true))
             MatterLinkConfig()
         } catch (e: IllegalStateException) {
-            instance.error(e.stackTraceString)
+            logger.error(e.stackTraceString)
             cfgDirectory.resolve("error.matterlink.hjson").writeText(jsonObject.toJson(false, true))
             MatterLinkConfig()
         } catch (e: NullPointerException) {
-            instance.error("error loading config: ${e.stackTraceString}")
+            logger.error("error loading config: ${e.stackTraceString}")
             cfgDirectory.resolve("error.matterlink.hjson").writeText(jsonObject.toJson(false, true))
             MatterLinkConfig()
         }
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/CommandConfig.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/CommandConfig.kt
index eb39afe..cb7e53d 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/CommandConfig.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/CommandConfig.kt
@@ -4,12 +4,9 @@ import blue.endless.jankson.Jankson
 import blue.endless.jankson.JsonObject
 import blue.endless.jankson.JsonPrimitive
 import blue.endless.jankson.impl.SyntaxError
+import matterlink.*
 import matterlink.bridge.command.CommandType
 import matterlink.bridge.command.CustomCommand
-import matterlink.getOrDefault
-import matterlink.instance
-import matterlink.registerPrimitiveTypeAdapter
-import matterlink.registerTypeAdapter
 import java.io.File
 import java.io.FileNotFoundException
 
@@ -103,7 +100,7 @@ object CommandConfig {
         val jsonObject = try {
             jankson.load(configFile)
         } catch (e: SyntaxError) {
-            instance.error("error parsing config: ${e.completeMessage}")
+            logger.error("error parsing config: ${e.completeMessage}")
             JsonObject()
         } catch (e: FileNotFoundException) {
             configFile.createNewFile()
@@ -112,13 +109,13 @@ object CommandConfig {
         // clear commands
         commands.clear()
         jsonObject.forEach { key, element ->
-            instance.trace("loading command '$key'")
+            logger.trace("loading command '$key'")
             val command = jsonObject.get(CustomCommand::class.java, key)
             if (command != null)
                 commands[key] = command
             else {
-                instance.error("could not parse key: $key, value: '$element' as CustomCommand")
-                instance.error("skipping $key")
+                logger.error("could not parse key: $key, value: '$element' as CustomCommand")
+                logger.error("skipping $key")
             }
         }
 
@@ -131,8 +128,8 @@ object CommandConfig {
             }
         }
 
-        instance.debug("loaded jsonObj: $jsonObject")
-        instance.debug("loaded commandMap: $commands")
+        logger.debug("loaded jsonObj: $jsonObject")
+        logger.debug("loaded commandMap: $commands")
 
         val defaultJsonObject = jankson.marshaller.serialize(CustomCommand.DEFAULT) as JsonObject
         val nonDefaultJsonObj = jsonObject.clone()
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/IdentitiesConfig.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/IdentitiesConfig.kt
index 6461d34..9990483 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/IdentitiesConfig.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/IdentitiesConfig.kt
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ import blue.endless.jankson.impl.SyntaxError
 import com.google.common.cache.Cache
 import com.google.common.cache.CacheBuilder
 import matterlink.getList
-import matterlink.getOrDefault
-import matterlink.instance
+import matterlink.logger
 import java.io.File
 import java.io.FileNotFoundException
 import java.util.*
@@ -53,13 +52,13 @@ object IdentitiesConfig {
                 val jsonUserMap = this.putDefault(uuid, JsonObject(), uuidComment)
                 if (jsonUserMap is JsonObject) {
                     userMap.forEach { platform, (user, comment) ->
-                        instance.trace("loading uuid: $uuid platform: $platform user: $user")
+                        logger.trace("loading uuid: $uuid platform: $platform user: $user")
                         val element = Marshaller.getFallback().serialize(user)
                         jsonUserMap.putDefault(platform, element, comment.takeUnless { it.isBlank() })
                     }
                     this[uuid] = jsonUserMap
                 } else {
-                    instance.error("cannot parse uuid: $uuid , value: '$jsonUserMap' as Map, skipping")
+                    logger.error("cannot parse uuid: $uuid , value: '$jsonUserMap' as Map, skipping")
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -68,11 +67,11 @@ object IdentitiesConfig {
         jsonObject = try {
             jankson.load(configFile)
         } catch (e: SyntaxError) {
-            instance.error("error parsing config: ${e.completeMessage}")
+            logger.error("error parsing config: ${e.completeMessage}")
             save = false
             defaultJsonObject
         } catch (e: FileNotFoundException) {
-            instance.error("cannot find config: $configFile .. creating sample permissions mapping")
+            logger.error("cannot find config: $configFile .. creating sample permissions mapping")
             configFile.createNewFile()
             defaultJsonObject
         }
@@ -86,7 +85,7 @@ object IdentitiesConfig {
             val identMap: MutableMap<String, List<String>> = tmpIdents[uuid]?.toMutableMap() ?: mutableMapOf()
             if (jsonIdentifier is JsonObject) {
                 jsonIdentifier.forEach { platform, user ->
-                    instance.info("$uuid $platform $user")
+                    logger.info("$uuid $platform $user")
                     identMap[platform] = jsonIdentifier.getList(platform) ?: emptyList()
                 }
             }
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ object IdentitiesConfig {
         }
         idents = tmpIdents.toMap()
 
-        instance.info("Identities loaded")
+        logger.info("Identities loaded")
 
         if (save)
             configFile.writeText(jsonObject.toJson(true, true))
@@ -119,7 +118,7 @@ object IdentitiesConfig {
         return idents.entries.firstOrNull { (uuid, usermap) ->
             usermap.entries.any { (_platform, userids) ->
                 if (platform.equals(_platform, true))
-                    instance.info("platform: $_platform userids: $userids")
+                    logger.info("platform: $_platform userids: $userids")
                 platform.equals(_platform, true) && userids.contains(userid)
             }
         }?.key?.let { UUID.fromString(it) }
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/PermissionConfig.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/PermissionConfig.kt
index 6e5ee7d..a84704f 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/PermissionConfig.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/config/PermissionConfig.kt
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import com.google.common.cache.Cache
 import com.google.common.cache.CacheBuilder
 import matterlink.getReified
 import matterlink.instance
+import matterlink.logger
 import java.io.File
 import java.io.FileNotFoundException
 import java.util.*
@@ -49,11 +50,11 @@ object PermissionConfig {
         jsonObject = try {
             jankson.load(configFile)
         } catch (e: SyntaxError) {
-            instance.error("error parsing config: ${e.completeMessage}")
+            logger.error("error parsing config: ${e.completeMessage}")
             save = false
             defaultJsonObject
         } catch (e: FileNotFoundException) {
-            instance.error("cannot find config: $configFile .. creating sample permissions mapping")
+            logger.error("cannot find config: $configFile .. creating sample permissions mapping")
             configFile.createNewFile()
             defaultJsonObject
         }
@@ -66,13 +67,13 @@ object PermissionConfig {
         for ((uuid, powerlevel) in jsonObject) {
             val tmpLevel = jsonObject.getReified<Double>(uuid)
             if (tmpLevel == null) {
-                instance.warn("cannot parse permission uuid: $uuid level: $powerlevel")
+                logger.warn("cannot parse permission uuid: $uuid level: $powerlevel")
                 continue
             }
             tmpPerms[uuid] = tmpLevel
         }
 
-        instance.info("Permissions reloaded")
+        logger.info("Permissions reloaded")
 
         if (save)
             configFile.writeText(jsonObject.toJson(true, true))
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/handlers/ChatProcessor.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/handlers/ChatProcessor.kt
index 98c62ed..1ffa2a9 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/handlers/ChatProcessor.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/handlers/ChatProcessor.kt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import matterlink.api.ApiMessage
 import matterlink.bridge.MessageHandlerInst
 import matterlink.bridge.command.BridgeCommandRegistry
 import matterlink.instance
+import matterlink.logger
 import matterlink.stripColorOut
 import java.util.*
 
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ object ChatProcessor {
                     ),
                     cause = "Message from $user"
             )
-            else -> instance.warn("WARN: dropped blank message by '$user'")
+            else -> logger.warn("WARN: dropped blank message by '$user'")
         }
         return false
     }
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/handlers/ServerChatHandler.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/handlers/ServerChatHandler.kt
index 7fe504a..85de8fb 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/handlers/ServerChatHandler.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/handlers/ServerChatHandler.kt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import matterlink.bridge.command.BridgeCommandRegistry
 import matterlink.bridge.format
 import matterlink.config.cfg
 import matterlink.instance
+import matterlink.logger
 import matterlink.stripColorIn
 
 object ServerChatHandler {
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ object ServerChatHandler {
      */
     fun writeIncomingToChat() {
         if (MessageHandlerInst.queue.isNotEmpty())
-            instance.debug("incoming: " + MessageHandlerInst.queue.toString())
+            logger.debug("incoming: " + MessageHandlerInst.queue.toString())
         val nextMessage = MessageHandlerInst.queue.poll() ?: null
 
         if (nextMessage?.gateway == cfg.connect.gateway) {
@@ -32,11 +33,11 @@ object ServerChatHandler {
                         val user = nextMessage.username
                         val text = nextMessage.text
                         val json = nextMessage.encode()
-                        instance.debug("Threw out message with unhandled event: ${nextMessage.event}")
-                        instance.debug(" Message contents:")
-                        instance.debug(" User: $user")
-                        instance.debug(" Text: $text")
-                        instance.debug(" JSON: $json")
+                        logger.debug("Threw out message with unhandled event: ${nextMessage.event}")
+                        logger.debug(" Message contents:")
+                        logger.debug(" User: $user")
+                        logger.debug(" Text: $text")
+                        logger.debug(" JSON: $json")
                         return
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/update/UpdateChecker.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/update/UpdateChecker.kt
index 726d0d0..e9b5593 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/update/UpdateChecker.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/matterlink/update/UpdateChecker.kt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import matterlink.api.ApiMessage
 import matterlink.bridge.MessageHandlerInst
 import matterlink.config.cfg
 import matterlink.instance
+import matterlink.logger
 import java.io.BufferedReader
 import java.net.HttpURLConnection
 import java.net.URL
@@ -25,11 +26,11 @@ class UpdateChecker : Thread() {
 
     override fun run() {
         if (instance.modVersion.contains("-build")) {
-            instance.debug("Not checking updates on Jenkins build")
+            logger.debug("Not checking updates on Jenkins build")
             return
         }
         if (instance.modVersion.contains("-dev")) {
-            instance.debug("Not checking updates on developer build")
+            logger.debug("Not checking updates on developer build")
             return
         }
 
@@ -37,14 +38,14 @@ class UpdateChecker : Thread() {
                 .setFieldNamingPolicy(FieldNamingPolicy.UPPER_CAMEL_CASE)
                 .create()
 
-        instance.info("Checking for new versions...")
+        logger.info("Checking for new versions...")
 
         val url = URL("https://cursemeta.dries007.net/api/v2/direct/GetAllFilesForAddOn/287323")
         val con = url.openConnection() as HttpURLConnection
 
         with(instance) {
             val useragent = "MatterLink/$modVersion MinecraftForge/$mcVersion-$forgeVersion (https://github.com/elytra/MatterLink)"
-            instance.debug("setting User-Agent: '$useragent'")
+            logger.debug("setting User-Agent: '$useragent'")
             con.setRequestProperty("User-Agent", useragent)
         }
 
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ class UpdateChecker : Thread() {
 
             //put all of the buffer content onto the string
             val content = buffer.readText()
-            instance.trace("updateData: $content")
+            logger.trace("updateData: $content")
 
             gson.fromJson(content, Array<CurseFile>::class.java)
                     .filter {
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ class UpdateChecker : Thread() {
                     .sortedByDescending { it.fileName.substringAfterLast(" ") }
 
         } else {
-            instance.error("Could not check for updates!")
+            logger.error("Could not check for updates!")
             return
         }
 
@@ -78,13 +79,13 @@ class UpdateChecker : Thread() {
 
         val possibleUpdates = mutableListOf<CurseFile>()
         apiUpdateList.forEach {
-            instance.debug(it.toString())
+            logger.debug(it.toString())
             val version = it.fileName.substringAfterLast("-").split('.').map { it.toInt() }
             var bigger = false
             version.forEachIndexed { index, chunk ->
                 if (!bigger) {
                     val currentChunk = modVersionChunks.getOrNull(index) ?: 0
-                    instance.debug("$chunk > $currentChunk")
+                    logger.debug("$chunk > $currentChunk")
                     if (chunk < currentChunk)
                         return@forEach
 
@@ -102,12 +103,12 @@ class UpdateChecker : Thread() {
         val count = possibleUpdates.count()
         val version = if (count == 1) "version" else "versions"
 
-        instance.info("Matterlink out of date! You are $count $version behind")
+        logger.info("Matterlink out of date! You are $count $version behind")
         possibleUpdates.forEach {
-            instance.info("version: {} download: {}", it.fileName, it.downloadURL)
+            logger.info("version: {} download: {}", it.fileName, it.downloadURL)
         }
 
-        instance.warn("Mod out of date! New $version available at ${latest.downloadURL}")
+        logger.warn("Mod out of date! New $version available at ${latest.downloadURL}")
         MessageHandlerInst.transmit(
                 ApiMessage(
                         text = "MatterLink out of date! You are $count $version behind! Please download new version from ${latest.downloadURL}"