diff --git a/conductor.go b/conductor.go
index ae400a7..af5f04a 100644
--- a/conductor.go
+++ b/conductor.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package prox5
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"strings"
 	"sync/atomic"
 )
 
@@ -39,7 +40,9 @@ func (pe *ProxyEngine) Pause() error {
 		return errors.New("not running")
 	}
 
-	pe.dbgPrint("pausing...")
+	buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+	buf.WriteString("pausing...")
+	pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 
 	pe.quit()
 
diff --git a/daemons.go b/daemons.go
index 24742dd..94ba182 100644
--- a/daemons.go
+++ b/daemons.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package prox5
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
@@ -76,10 +77,10 @@ func (pe *ProxyEngine) mapBuilder() {
 		pe.pool.Reboot()
 	}
 
-	pe.dbgPrint("map builder started")
+	pe.dbgPrint(simpleString("map builder started"))
 
 	go func() {
-		defer pe.dbgPrint("map builder paused")
+		defer pe.dbgPrint(simpleString("map builder paused"))
 		for {
 			select {
 			case <-pe.ctx.Done():
@@ -128,8 +129,8 @@ func (pe *ProxyEngine) jobSpawner() {
 		pe.pool.Reboot()
 	}
 
-	pe.dbgPrint("job spawner started")
-	defer pe.dbgPrint("job spawner paused")
+	pe.dbgPrint(simpleString("job spawner started"))
+	defer pe.dbgPrint(simpleString("job spawner paused"))
 
 	q := make(chan bool)
 
@@ -142,12 +143,16 @@ func (pe *ProxyEngine) jobSpawner() {
 				return
 			case sock := <-pe.Pending:
 				if err := pe.pool.Submit(sock.validate); err != nil {
-					pe.dbgPrint(err.Error())
+					pe.dbgPrint(simpleString(err.Error()))
 				}
 			default:
 				time.Sleep(25 * time.Millisecond)
 				count := pe.recycling()
-				pe.dbgPrint("recycled " + strconv.Itoa(count) + " proxies from our map")
+				buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+				buf.WriteString("recycled ")
+				buf.WriteString(strconv.Itoa(count))
+				buf.WriteString(" proxies from our map")
+				pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 			}
 		}
 	}()
diff --git a/debug.go b/debug.go
index cddda57..5431886 100644
--- a/debug.go
+++ b/debug.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package prox5
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 )
 
@@ -63,18 +64,29 @@ func (pe *ProxyEngine) DisableDebug() {
 	pe.swampopt.debug = false
 }
 
-func (pe *ProxyEngine) dbgPrint(str string) {
+func simpleString(s string) *strings.Builder {
+	buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+	buf.WriteString(s)
+	return buf
+}
+
+func (pe *ProxyEngine) dbgPrint(builder *strings.Builder) {
+	defer discardBuffer(builder)
 	if !pe.swampopt.debug {
 		return
 	}
 	if !useDebugChannel {
-		pe.Debug.Print(str)
+		pe.Debug.Print(builder.String())
 		return
 	}
 	select {
-	case debugChan <- str:
+	case debugChan <- builder.String():
 		return
 	default:
-		pe.Debug.Print("overflow: " + str)
+		buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		buf.WriteString("overflow: ")
+		buf.WriteString(builder.String())
+		pe.Debug.Print(buf.String())
+		discardBuffer(buf)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/defs.go b/defs.go
index 43d1304..f0d8ea5 100644
--- a/defs.go
+++ b/defs.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package prox5
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
@@ -190,7 +191,10 @@ func NewProxyEngine() *ProxyEngine {
 	}))
 
 	if err != nil {
-		pe.dbgPrint("CRITICAL: " + err.Error())
+		buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		buf.WriteString("CRITICAL: ")
+		buf.WriteString(err.Error())
+		pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/dispense.go b/dispense.go
index 3c95657..67e76b6 100644
--- a/dispense.go
+++ b/dispense.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package prox5
 
 import (
+	"strings"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
@@ -103,19 +104,28 @@ func (pe *ProxyEngine) stillGood(sock *Proxy) bool {
 	defer atomic.StoreUint32(&sock.lock, stateUnlocked)
 
 	if atomic.LoadInt64(&sock.timesBad) > int64(pe.GetRemoveAfter()) && pe.GetRemoveAfter() != -1 {
-		pe.dbgPrint("deleting from map (too many failures): " + sock.Endpoint)
+		buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		buf.WriteString("deleting from map (too many failures): ")
+		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 		if err := pe.swampmap.delete(sock.Endpoint); err != nil {
-			pe.dbgPrint(err.Error())
+			pe.dbgPrint(simpleString(err.Error()))
 		}
 	}
 
 	if pe.badProx.Peek(sock) {
-		pe.dbgPrint("badProx dial ratelimited: " + sock.Endpoint)
+		buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		buf.WriteString("badProx dial ratelimited: ")
+		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 		return false
 	}
 
 	if time.Since(sock.lastValidated) > pe.swampopt.stale {
-		pe.dbgPrint("proxy stale: " + sock.Endpoint)
+		buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		buf.WriteString("proxy stale: ")
+		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 		go pe.stats.stale()
 		return false
 	}
diff --git a/example/go.mod b/example/go.mod
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..daf6ca3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/go.mod
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+module p5example
+
+go 1.18
+
+require (
+	git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5 v0.5.3-0.20220709184754-7ecedfdd0c63
+	github.com/haxii/socks5 v1.0.0
+	github.com/mattn/go-tty v0.0.4
+)
+
+require (
+	git.tcp.direct/kayos/common v0.7.0 // indirect
+	git.tcp.direct/kayos/go-socks5 v1.0.1 // indirect
+	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.14 // indirect
+	github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.50 // indirect
+	github.com/panjf2000/ants/v2 v2.5.0 // indirect
+	github.com/patrickmn/go-cache v2.1.0+incompatible // indirect
+	github.com/yunginnanet/Rate5 v1.0.1 // indirect
+	go4.org/intern v0.0.0-20211027215823-ae77deb06f29 // indirect
+	go4.org/unsafe/assume-no-moving-gc v0.0.0-20220617031537-928513b29760 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/mod v0.4.2 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20220630215102-69896b714898 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220520151302-bc2c85ada10a // indirect
+	golang.org/x/tools v0.1.6-0.20210726203631-07bc1bf47fb2 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20200804184101-5ec99f83aff1 // indirect
+	h12.io/socks v1.0.3 // indirect
+	inet.af/netaddr v0.0.0-20220617031823-097006376321 // indirect
+	nullprogram.com/x/rng v1.1.0 // indirect
+)
diff --git a/example/go.sum b/example/go.sum
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40b7063
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/go.sum
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+git.tcp.direct/kayos/common v0.7.0 h1:KZDwoCzUiwQaYSWESr080N8wUVyLD27QYgzXgc7LiAQ=
+git.tcp.direct/kayos/common v0.7.0/go.mod h1:7tMZBVNPLFSZk+JXTA6pgXWpf/XHqYRfT7Q3OziI++Y=
+git.tcp.direct/kayos/go-socks5 v1.0.1 h1:Pe9PlSXofibIJyWkrr9rwWcgyfUxSdUcDCQ//6fAi0U=
+git.tcp.direct/kayos/go-socks5 v1.0.1/go.mod h1:I9xU/uzFAZKukMJgEgWPrfC6rDlcPQe8wXMibF3qvhE=
+git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5 v0.5.3-0.20220709184754-7ecedfdd0c63 h1:eidAXI7o5gIf4linhOIFEtSiYQQOsqHLcMqhBrF9vgA=
+git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5 v0.5.3-0.20220709184754-7ecedfdd0c63/go.mod h1:/44/UlcKPOXZ/jr+NdftkZvLkW0k4QokPXqAdQ2O3BQ=
+github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 h1:vj9j/u1bqnvCEfJOwUhtlOARqs3+rkHYY13jYWTU97c=
+github.com/dvyukov/go-fuzz v0.0.0-20210103155950-6a8e9d1f2415/go.mod h1:11Gm+ccJnvAhCNLlf5+cS9KjtbaD5I5zaZpFMsTHWTw=
+github.com/h12w/go-socks5 v0.0.0-20200522160539-76189e178364 h1:5XxdakFhqd9dnXoAZy1Mb2R/DZ6D1e+0bGC/JhucGYI=
+github.com/h12w/go-socks5 v0.0.0-20200522160539-76189e178364/go.mod h1:eDJQioIyy4Yn3MVivT7rv/39gAJTrA7lgmYr8EW950c=
+github.com/haxii/socks5 v1.0.0 h1:78BIzd4lHibdRNOKdMwKCnnsgYLW9SeotqU+nMhWSSo=
+github.com/haxii/socks5 v1.0.0/go.mod h1:6O9Ba2yrLlvuSe/L1e84eZI8cPw6H+q1Ilr4hjgm4uY=
+github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.4/go.mod h1:U0ppj6V5qS13XJ6of8GYAs25YV2eR4EVcfRqFIhoBtE=
+github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.8/go.mod h1:Iq45c/XA43vh69/j3iqttzPXn0bhXyGjM0Hdxcsrc5s=
+github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.10/go.mod h1:qgIWMr58cqv1PHHyhnkY9lrL7etaEgOFcMEpPG5Rm84=
+github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.14 h1:yVuAays6BHfxijgZPzw+3Zlu5yQgKGP2/hcQbHb7S9Y=
+github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.14/go.mod h1:7GGIvUiUoEMVVmxf/4nioHXj79iQHKdU27kJ6hsGG94=
+github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.7/go.mod h1:H031xJmbD/WCDINGzjvQ9THkh0rPKHF+m2gUSrubnMI=
+github.com/mattn/go-tty v0.0.4 h1:NVikla9X8MN0SQAqCYzpGyXv0jY7MNl3HOWD2dkle7E=
+github.com/mattn/go-tty v0.0.4/go.mod h1:u5GGXBtZU6RQoKV8gY5W6UhMudbR5vXnUe7j3pxse28=
+github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.50 h1:DQUfb9uc6smULcREF09Uc+/Gd46YWqJd5DbpPE9xkcA=
+github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.50/go.mod h1:e3IlAVfNqAllflbibAZEWOXOQ+Ynzk/dDozDxY7XnME=
+github.com/panjf2000/ants/v2 v2.5.0 h1:1rWGWSnxCsQBga+nQbA4/iY6VMeNoOIAM0ZWh9u3q2Q=
+github.com/panjf2000/ants/v2 v2.5.0/go.mod h1:cU93usDlihJZ5CfRGNDYsiBYvoilLvBF5Qp/BT2GNRE=
+github.com/patrickmn/go-cache v2.1.0+incompatible h1:HRMgzkcYKYpi3C8ajMPV8OFXaaRUnok+kx1WdO15EQc=
+github.com/patrickmn/go-cache v2.1.0+incompatible/go.mod h1:3Qf8kWWT7OJRJbdiICTKqZju1ZixQ/KpMGzzAfe6+WQ=
+github.com/phayes/freeport v0.0.0-20180830031419-95f893ade6f2 h1:JhzVVoYvbOACxoUmOs6V/G4D5nPVUW73rKvXxP4XUJc=
+github.com/phayes/freeport v0.0.0-20180830031419-95f893ade6f2/go.mod h1:iIss55rKnNBTvrwdmkUpLnDpZoAHvWaiq5+iMmen4AE=
+github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 h1:4DBwDE0NGyQoBHbLQYPwSUPoCMWR5BEzIk/f1lZbAQM=
+github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.1 h1:5TQK59W5E3v0r2duFAb7P95B6hEeOyEnHRa8MjYSMTY=
+github.com/yuin/goldmark v1.2.1/go.mod h1:3hX8gzYuyVAZsxl0MRgGTJEmQBFcNTphYh9decYSb74=
+github.com/yuin/goldmark v1.3.5/go.mod h1:mwnBkeHKe2W/ZEtQ+71ViKU8L12m81fl3OWwC1Zlc8k=
+github.com/yunginnanet/Rate5 v1.0.1 h1:OePwNrj9/A/flmhyr/gKI5RYgrW6d1oWCqrZRXUev3k=
+github.com/yunginnanet/Rate5 v1.0.1/go.mod h1:f0r66kVQZojRqUgVdLC/CKexMlF0nUDAmd01tBeF4Ms=
+go4.org/intern v0.0.0-20211027215823-ae77deb06f29 h1:UXLjNohABv4S58tHmeuIZDO6e3mHpW2Dx33gaNt03LE=
+go4.org/intern v0.0.0-20211027215823-ae77deb06f29/go.mod h1:cS2ma+47FKrLPdXFpr7CuxiTW3eyJbWew4qx0qtQWDA=
+go4.org/unsafe/assume-no-moving-gc v0.0.0-20211027215541-db492cf91b37/go.mod h1:FftLjUGFEDu5k8lt0ddY+HcrH/qU/0qk+H8j9/nTl3E=
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+golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20190308221718-c2843e01d9a2/go.mod h1:djNgcEr1/C05ACkg1iLfiJU5Ep61QUkGW8qpdssI0+w=
+golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20191011191535-87dc89f01550/go.mod h1:yigFU9vqHzYiE8UmvKecakEJjdnWj3jj499lnFckfCI=
+golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20200622213623-75b288015ac9/go.mod h1:LzIPMQfyMNhhGPhUkYOs5KpL4U8rLKemX1yGLhDgUto=
+golang.org/x/mod v0.3.0/go.mod h1:s0Qsj1ACt9ePp/hMypM3fl4fZqREWJwdYDEqhRiZZUA=
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+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20191008105621-543471e840be/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
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+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200930185726-fdedc70b468f/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20201119102817-f84b799fce68/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210119212857-b64e53b001e4/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210330210617-4fbd30eecc44/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
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+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210510120138-977fb7262007/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210630005230-0f9fa26af87c/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220520151302-bc2c85ada10a h1:dGzPydgVsqGcTRVwiLJ1jVbufYwmzD3LfVPLKsKg+0k=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220520151302-bc2c85ada10a/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
+golang.org/x/term v0.0.0-20201126162022-7de9c90e9dd1/go.mod h1:bj7SfCRtBDWHUb9snDiAeCFNEtKQo2Wmx5Cou7ajbmo=
+golang.org/x/text v0.3.0/go.mod h1:NqM8EUOU14njkJ3fqMW+pc6Ldnwhi/IjpwHt7yyuwOQ=
+golang.org/x/text v0.3.3/go.mod h1:5Zoc/QRtKVWzQhOtBMvqHzDpF6irO9z98xDceosuGiQ=
+golang.org/x/text v0.3.6/go.mod h1:5Zoc/QRtKVWzQhOtBMvqHzDpF6irO9z98xDceosuGiQ=
+golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20180917221912-90fa682c2a6e/go.mod h1:n7NCudcB/nEzxVGmLbDWY5pfWTLqBcC2KZ6jyYvM4mQ=
+golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20191119224855-298f0cb1881e/go.mod h1:b+2E5dAYhXwXZwtnZ6UAqBI28+e2cm9otk0dWdXHAEo=
+golang.org/x/tools v0.1.0/go.mod h1:xkSsbof2nBLbhDlRMhhhyNLN/zl3eTqcnHD5viDpcZ0=
+golang.org/x/tools v0.1.6-0.20210726203631-07bc1bf47fb2 h1:BonxutuHCTL0rBDnZlKjpGIQFTjyUVTexFOdWkB6Fg0=
+golang.org/x/tools v0.1.6-0.20210726203631-07bc1bf47fb2/go.mod h1:o0xws9oXOQQZyjljx8fwUC0k7L1pTE6eaCbjGeHmOkk=
+golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20190717185122-a985d3407aa7/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=
+golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20191011141410-1b5146add898/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=
+golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20200804184101-5ec99f83aff1 h1:go1bK/D/BFZV2I8cIQd1NKEZ+0owSTG1fDTci4IqFcE=
+golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20200804184101-5ec99f83aff1/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=
+gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20210107192922-496545a6307b h1:h8qDotaEPuJATrMmW04NCwg7v22aHH28wwpauUhK9Oo=
+h12.io/socks v1.0.3 h1:Ka3qaQewws4j4/eDQnOdpr4wXsC//dXtWvftlIcCQUo=
+h12.io/socks v1.0.3/go.mod h1:AIhxy1jOId/XCz9BO+EIgNL2rQiPTBNnOfnVnQ+3Eck=
+inet.af/netaddr v0.0.0-20220617031823-097006376321 h1:B4dC8ySKTQXasnjDTMsoCMf1sQG4WsMej0WXaHxunmU=
+inet.af/netaddr v0.0.0-20220617031823-097006376321/go.mod h1:OIezDfdzOgFhuw4HuWapWq2e9l0H9tK4F1j+ETRtF3k=
+nullprogram.com/x/rng v1.1.0 h1:SMU7DHaQSWtKJNTpNFIFt8Wd/KSmOuSDPXrMFp/UMro=
+nullprogram.com/x/rng v1.1.0/go.mod h1:glGw6V87vyfawxCzqOABL3WfL95G65az9Z2JZCylCkg=
diff --git a/example/main.go b/example/main.go
index fcf0fb2..88f4d16 100644
--- a/example/main.go
+++ b/example/main.go
@@ -6,20 +6,47 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/mattn/go-tty"
-
 	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5"
+	"github.com/haxii/socks5"
+	"github.com/mattn/go-tty"
 )
 
-var swamp *prox5.ProxyEngine
-var quit chan bool
-var t *tty.TTY
+var (
+	swamp *prox5.ProxyEngine
+	quit  chan bool
+	t     *tty.TTY
+)
+
+type socksLogger struct{}
+
+var socklog = socksLogger{}
+
+// Printf is used to handle socks server logging.
+func (s socksLogger) Printf(format string, a ...interface{}) {
+	println(fmt.Sprintf(format, a))
+}
+
+func StartUpstreamProxy(listen string) {
+	conf := &socks5.Config{Dial: swamp.DialContext, Logger: socklog}
+	server, err := socks5.New(conf)
+	if err != nil {
+		println(err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+
+	socklog.Printf("starting proxy server on %s", listen)
+	if err := server.ListenAndServe("tcp", listen); err != nil {
+		println(err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+}
 
 func init() {
 	quit = make(chan bool)
 	swamp = prox5.NewProxyEngine()
 	swamp.SetMaxWorkers(5)
 	swamp.EnableDebug()
+	go StartUpstreamProxy("127.0.0.1:1555")
 
 	count := swamp.LoadProxyTXT(os.Args[1])
 	if count < 1 {
diff --git a/getters.go b/getters.go
index da126b5..6a8ea9e 100644
--- a/getters.go
+++ b/getters.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package prox5
 
 import (
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
@@ -13,6 +14,30 @@ func (sock *Proxy) GetProto() ProxyProtocol {
 	return sock.proto
 }
 
+// GetProto safely retrieves the protocol value of the Proxy.
+func (sock *Proxy) String() string {
+	tout := ""
+	if sock.parent.GetServerTimeoutStr() != "-1" {
+		tbuf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		tbuf.WriteString("?timeout=")
+		tbuf.WriteString(sock.parent.GetServerTimeoutStr())
+		tbuf.WriteString("s")
+		tout = tbuf.String()
+		discardBuffer(tbuf)
+	}
+	buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+	buf.WriteString("socks")
+	buf.WriteString(getProtoStr(sock.GetProto()))
+	buf.WriteString("://")
+	buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+	if tout != "" {
+		buf.WriteString(tout)
+	}
+	out := buf.String()
+	discardBuffer(buf)
+	return out
+}
+
 // GetStatistics returns all current statistics.
 // * This is a pointer, do not modify it!
 func (pe *ProxyEngine) GetStatistics() *statistics {
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index a9b8409..f130b3f 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@ module git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5
 go 1.18
 
 require (
-	git.tcp.direct/kayos/common v0.6.0
+	git.tcp.direct/kayos/common v0.7.0
 	git.tcp.direct/kayos/go-socks5 v1.0.1
-	github.com/mattn/go-tty v0.0.4
 	github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.50
 	github.com/panjf2000/ants/v2 v2.5.0
 	github.com/yunginnanet/Rate5 v1.0.1
@@ -14,13 +13,12 @@ require (
 )
 
 require (
-	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.10 // indirect
 	github.com/patrickmn/go-cache v2.1.0+incompatible // indirect
 	go4.org/intern v0.0.0-20211027215823-ae77deb06f29 // indirect
 	go4.org/unsafe/assume-no-moving-gc v0.0.0-20220617031537-928513b29760 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/mod v0.4.2 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20210726213435-c6fcb2dbf985 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210809222454-d867a43fc93e // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210927094055-39ccf1dd6fa6 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/tools v0.1.6-0.20210726203631-07bc1bf47fb2 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20200804184101-5ec99f83aff1 // indirect
 	nullprogram.com/x/rng v1.1.0 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index d5b2951..e5afcd9 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,18 +1,11 @@
-git.tcp.direct/kayos/common v0.6.0 h1:x3qXJxGalhv3y4bX191Lx8R73Se1UzPgAP3fL2gqhyA=
-git.tcp.direct/kayos/common v0.6.0/go.mod h1:jG1yXbN+5PrRZwGe32qIGWgLC4x5JWdyNBbMj1gIWB0=
+git.tcp.direct/kayos/common v0.7.0 h1:KZDwoCzUiwQaYSWESr080N8wUVyLD27QYgzXgc7LiAQ=
+git.tcp.direct/kayos/common v0.7.0/go.mod h1:7tMZBVNPLFSZk+JXTA6pgXWpf/XHqYRfT7Q3OziI++Y=
 git.tcp.direct/kayos/go-socks5 v1.0.1 h1:Pe9PlSXofibIJyWkrr9rwWcgyfUxSdUcDCQ//6fAi0U=
 git.tcp.direct/kayos/go-socks5 v1.0.1/go.mod h1:I9xU/uzFAZKukMJgEgWPrfC6rDlcPQe8wXMibF3qvhE=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 h1:vj9j/u1bqnvCEfJOwUhtlOARqs3+rkHYY13jYWTU97c=
 github.com/dvyukov/go-fuzz v0.0.0-20210103155950-6a8e9d1f2415/go.mod h1:11Gm+ccJnvAhCNLlf5+cS9KjtbaD5I5zaZpFMsTHWTw=
 github.com/h12w/go-socks5 v0.0.0-20200522160539-76189e178364 h1:5XxdakFhqd9dnXoAZy1Mb2R/DZ6D1e+0bGC/JhucGYI=
 github.com/h12w/go-socks5 v0.0.0-20200522160539-76189e178364/go.mod h1:eDJQioIyy4Yn3MVivT7rv/39gAJTrA7lgmYr8EW950c=
-github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.4/go.mod h1:U0ppj6V5qS13XJ6of8GYAs25YV2eR4EVcfRqFIhoBtE=
-github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.8/go.mod h1:Iq45c/XA43vh69/j3iqttzPXn0bhXyGjM0Hdxcsrc5s=
-github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.10 h1:qxFzApOv4WsAL965uUPIsXzAKCZxN2p9UqdhFS4ZW10=
-github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.10/go.mod h1:qgIWMr58cqv1PHHyhnkY9lrL7etaEgOFcMEpPG5Rm84=
-github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.7/go.mod h1:H031xJmbD/WCDINGzjvQ9THkh0rPKHF+m2gUSrubnMI=
-github.com/mattn/go-tty v0.0.4 h1:NVikla9X8MN0SQAqCYzpGyXv0jY7MNl3HOWD2dkle7E=
-github.com/mattn/go-tty v0.0.4/go.mod h1:u5GGXBtZU6RQoKV8gY5W6UhMudbR5vXnUe7j3pxse28=
 github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.50 h1:DQUfb9uc6smULcREF09Uc+/Gd46YWqJd5DbpPE9xkcA=
 github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.50/go.mod h1:e3IlAVfNqAllflbibAZEWOXOQ+Ynzk/dDozDxY7XnME=
 github.com/panjf2000/ants/v2 v2.5.0 h1:1rWGWSnxCsQBga+nQbA4/iY6VMeNoOIAM0ZWh9u3q2Q=
@@ -49,10 +42,7 @@ golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20201020160332-67f06af15bc9/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJ
 golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20210220032951-036812b2e83c h1:5KslGYwFpkhGh+Q16bwMP3cOontH8FOep7tGV86Y7SQ=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20210220032951-036812b2e83c/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJTE5uejpjVlOe/izrB70Jof72aM=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190215142949-d0b11bdaac8a/go.mod h1:STP8DvDyc/dI5b8T5hshtkjS+E42TnysNCUPdjciGhY=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190222072716-a9d3bda3a223/go.mod h1:STP8DvDyc/dI5b8T5hshtkjS+E42TnysNCUPdjciGhY=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190412213103-97732733099d/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20191008105621-543471e840be/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20191120155948-bd437916bb0e/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200930185726-fdedc70b468f/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20201119102817-f84b799fce68/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210119212857-b64e53b001e4/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
@@ -60,8 +50,8 @@ golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210330210617-4fbd30eecc44/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7w
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210423082822-04245dca01da/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210510120138-977fb7262007/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210630005230-0f9fa26af87c/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210809222454-d867a43fc93e h1:WUoyKPm6nCo1BnNUvPGnFG3T5DUVem42yDJZZ4CNxMA=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210809222454-d867a43fc93e/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210927094055-39ccf1dd6fa6 h1:foEbQz/B0Oz6YIqu/69kfXPYeFQAuuMYFkjaqXzl5Wo=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210927094055-39ccf1dd6fa6/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
 golang.org/x/term v0.0.0-20201126162022-7de9c90e9dd1/go.mod h1:bj7SfCRtBDWHUb9snDiAeCFNEtKQo2Wmx5Cou7ajbmo=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.0/go.mod h1:NqM8EUOU14njkJ3fqMW+pc6Ldnwhi/IjpwHt7yyuwOQ=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.3/go.mod h1:5Zoc/QRtKVWzQhOtBMvqHzDpF6irO9z98xDceosuGiQ=
diff --git a/list_management.go b/list_management.go
index 731dc55..78cd5db 100644
--- a/list_management.go
+++ b/list_management.go
@@ -96,19 +96,19 @@ func (pe *ProxyEngine) filter(in string) (filtered string, ok bool) {
 func (pe *ProxyEngine) LoadProxyTXT(seedFile string) (count int) {
 	f, err := os.Open(seedFile)
 	if err != nil {
-		pe.dbgPrint(err.Error())
+		pe.dbgPrint(simpleString(err.Error()))
 		return 0
 	}
 
 	defer func() {
 		if err := f.Close(); err != nil {
-			pe.dbgPrint(err.Error())
+			pe.dbgPrint(simpleString(err.Error()))
 		}
 	}()
 
 	bs, err := io.ReadAll(f)
 	if err != nil {
-		pe.dbgPrint(err.Error())
+		pe.dbgPrint(simpleString(err.Error()))
 		return 0
 	}
 	sockstr := string(bs)
diff --git a/mystery_dialer.go b/mystery_dialer.go
index 74f0916..127eb27 100644
--- a/mystery_dialer.go
+++ b/mystery_dialer.go
@@ -2,22 +2,43 @@ package prox5
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"net"
-	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
+	"time"
 
 	"h12.io/socks"
 )
 
-// DialContext is a simple stub adapter to implement a net.Dialer.
-func (s *ProxyEngine) DialContext(ctx context.Context, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
-	return s.MysteryDialer(ctx, network, addr)
+var copABuffer = &sync.Pool{New: func() interface{} { return &strings.Builder{} }}
+
+func discardBuffer(buf *strings.Builder) {
+	buf.Reset()
+	copABuffer.Put(buf)
 }
 
 // DialContext is a simple stub adapter to implement a net.Dialer.
-func (s *ProxyEngine) Dial(network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
-	return s.DialContext(context.Background(), network, addr)
+func (pe *ProxyEngine) DialContext(ctx context.Context, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	return pe.MysteryDialer(ctx, network, addr)
+}
+
+// Dial is a simple stub adapter to implement a net.Dialer.
+func (pe *ProxyEngine) Dial(network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	return pe.MysteryDialer(context.Background(), network, addr)
+}
+
+// DialTimeout is a simple stub adapter to implement a net.Dialer with a timeout.
+func (pe *ProxyEngine) DialTimeout(network, addr string, timeout time.Duration) (net.Conn, error) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithDeadline(context.Background(), time.Now().Add(timeout))
+	go func() {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			cancel()
+		}
+	}()
+	return pe.MysteryDialer(ctx, network, addr)
 }
 
 // MysteryDialer is a dialer function that will use a different proxy for every request.
@@ -27,31 +48,60 @@ func (pe *ProxyEngine) MysteryDialer(ctx context.Context, network, addr string)
 		count       int
 	)
 	// pull down proxies from channel until we get a proxy good enough for our spoiled asses
+
 	for {
 		max := pe.GetDialerBailout()
 		if count > max {
-			return nil, errors.New("giving up after " + strconv.Itoa(max) + " tries")
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("giving up after %d tries", max)
 		}
 		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("context error: %v", err)
 		}
 		var sock *Proxy
+	popSockAndLockIt:
 		for {
 			sock = pe.GetAnySOCKS(false)
-			if !atomic.CompareAndSwapUint32(&sock.lock, stateUnlocked, stateLocked) {
-				continue
+			socksString = sock.String()
+			select {
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("context done: %v", ctx.Err())
+			default:
+				buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+				if atomic.CompareAndSwapUint32(&sock.lock, stateUnlocked, stateLocked) {
+					buf.WriteString("got lock for ")
+					buf.WriteString(socksString)
+					break popSockAndLockIt
+				}
+				select {
+				case pe.Pending <- sock:
+					buf.WriteString("can't get lock, putting back ")
+					buf.WriteString(socksString)
+					pe.dbgPrint(buf)
+					continue
+				default:
+					buf.WriteString("can't get lock, can't put back ")
+					buf.WriteString(socksString)
+					continue
+				}
 			}
-			break
 		}
-		pe.dbgPrint("dialer trying: " + sock.Endpoint + "...")
-		tout := ""
+		buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		buf.WriteString("try dial with: ")
+		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 		if pe.GetServerTimeoutStr() != "-1" {
-			tout = "?timeout=" + pe.GetServerTimeoutStr() + "s"
+			tout := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+			tout.WriteString("?timeout=")
+			tout.WriteString(pe.GetServerTimeoutStr())
+			tout.WriteRune('s')
 		}
-		socksString = "socks" + getProtoStr(sock.proto) + "://" + sock.Endpoint + tout
 		var ok bool
 		if sock, ok = pe.dispenseMiddleware(sock); !ok {
-			pe.dbgPrint("failed middleware check, " + socksString + ", cycling...")
+			buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+			buf.WriteString("failed middleware check, ")
+			buf.WriteString(sock.String())
+			buf.WriteString(", cycling...")
+			pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 			continue
 		}
 		atomic.StoreUint32(&sock.lock, stateUnlocked)
@@ -59,10 +109,17 @@ func (pe *ProxyEngine) MysteryDialer(ctx context.Context, network, addr string)
 		conn, err := dialSocks(network, addr)
 		if err != nil {
 			count++
-			pe.dbgPrint("unable to reach [redacted] with " + socksString + ", cycling...")
+			buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+			buf.WriteString("unable to reach [redacted] with ")
+			buf.WriteString(socksString)
+			buf.WriteString(", cycling...")
+			pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 			continue
 		}
-		pe.dbgPrint("MysteryDialer using socks: " + socksString)
+		buf = copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		buf.WriteString("MysteryDialer using socks: ")
+		buf.WriteString(socksString)
+		pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 		return conn, nil
 	}
 }
diff --git a/socks5_server.go b/socks5_server.go
index 66d062b..485933c 100644
--- a/socks5_server.go
+++ b/socks5_server.go
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ package prox5
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-
 	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/go-socks5"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 type socksLogger struct {
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ type socksLogger struct {
 
 // Printf is used to handle socks server logging.
 func (s socksLogger) Printf(format string, a ...interface{}) {
-	s.parent.dbgPrint(fmt.Sprintf(format, a...))
+	buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+	buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf(format, a...))
+	s.parent.dbgPrint(buf)
 }
 
 type socksCreds struct {
@@ -40,7 +42,10 @@ func (pe *ProxyEngine) StartSOCKS5Server(listen, username, password string) erro
 		Dial:        pe.MysteryDialer,
 	}
 
-	pe.dbgPrint("listening for SOCKS5 connections on " + listen)
+	buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+	buf.WriteString("listening for SOCKS5 connections on ")
+	buf.WriteString(listen)
+	pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 
 	server, err := socks5.New(conf)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/validator_engine.go b/validator_engine.go
index 00064ac..dd5f7b0 100644
--- a/validator_engine.go
+++ b/validator_engine.go
@@ -156,7 +156,10 @@ func (sock *Proxy) validate() {
 
 	// determined as bad, won't try again until it expires from that cache
 	if s.badProx.Peek(sock) {
-		s.dbgPrint("badProx ratelimited: " + sock.Endpoint)
+		buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		buf.WriteString("badProx ratelimited: ")
+		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		s.dbgPrint(buf)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -179,10 +182,18 @@ func (sock *Proxy) validate() {
 
 	switch sock.proto {
 	case ProtoSOCKS4, ProtoSOCKS4a, ProtoSOCKS5, ProtoHTTP:
-		s.dbgPrint("verified " + sock.Endpoint + " as SOCKS" + getProtoStr(sock.proto))
+		buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		buf.WriteString("verified ")
+		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		buf.WriteString(" as SOCKS")
+		buf.WriteString(getProtoStr(sock.proto))
+		s.dbgPrint(buf)
 		break
 	default:
-		s.dbgPrint("failed to verify: " + sock.Endpoint)
+		buf := copABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+		buf.WriteString("failed to verify: ")
+		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		s.dbgPrint(buf)
 		sock.bad()
 		s.badProx.Check(sock)
 		return