diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 8ee2734..d59abcd 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ mikusays_SOURCES = \
 	src/helper.c \
 	defs/all.h \
 	defs/mikuart.h \
-	defs/helper.h
+	defs/helper.h \
+	defs/colors.h \
+	defs/widechar.h 
 
 AM_CFLAGS = -Wall -Wextra
 
diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 5756903..e0f8d58 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -296,7 +296,9 @@ mikusays_SOURCES = \
 	src/helper.c \
 	defs/all.h \
 	defs/mikuart.h \
-	defs/helper.h
+	defs/helper.h \
+	defs/colors.h \
+	defs/widechar.h 
 
 AM_CFLAGS = -Wall -Wextra
 EXTRA_DIST = LICENSE README.md
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index a9fc3c8..3e54f22 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #! /bin/sh
 # Guess values for system-dependent variables and create Makefiles.
-# Generated by GNU Autoconf 2.73 for mikusays 0.3.1.
+# Generated by GNU Autoconf 2.73 for mikusays 1.0.0.
 #
 #
 # Copyright (C) 1992-1996, 1998-2017, 2020-2026 Free Software Foundation,
@@ -584,8 +584,8 @@ MAKEFLAGS=
 # Identity of this package.
 PACKAGE_NAME='mikusays'
 PACKAGE_TARNAME='mikusays'
-PACKAGE_VERSION='0.3.1'
-PACKAGE_STRING='mikusays 0.3.1'
+PACKAGE_VERSION='1.0.0'
+PACKAGE_STRING='mikusays 1.0.0'
 PACKAGE_BUGREPORT=''
 PACKAGE_URL='https://git.squeakyrat.moe/mikusays-c'
 
@@ -1281,7 +1281,7 @@ if test "$ac_init_help" = "long"; then
   # Omit some internal or obsolete options to make the list less imposing.
   # This message is too long to be a string in the A/UX 3.1 sh.
   cat <<_ACEOF
-'configure' configures mikusays 0.3.1 to adapt to many kinds of systems.
+'configure' configures mikusays 1.0.0 to adapt to many kinds of systems.
 
 Usage: $0 [OPTION]... [VAR=VALUE]...
 
@@ -1348,7 +1348,7 @@ fi
 
 if test -n "$ac_init_help"; then
   case $ac_init_help in
-     short | recursive ) echo "Configuration of mikusays 0.3.1:";;
+     short | recursive ) echo "Configuration of mikusays 1.0.0:";;
    esac
   cat <<\_ACEOF
 
@@ -1443,7 +1443,7 @@ fi
 test -n "$ac_init_help" && exit $ac_status
 if $ac_init_version; then
   cat <<\_ACEOF
-mikusays configure 0.3.1
+mikusays configure 1.0.0
 generated by GNU Autoconf 2.73
 
 Copyright (C) 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@@ -1555,7 +1555,7 @@ cat >config.log <<_ACEOF
 This file contains any messages produced by compilers while
 running configure, to aid debugging if configure makes a mistake.
 
-It was created by mikusays $as_me 0.3.1, which was
+It was created by mikusays $as_me 1.0.0, which was
 generated by GNU Autoconf 2.73.  Invocation command line was
 
   $ $0$ac_configure_args_raw
@@ -3171,7 +3171,7 @@ fi
 
 # Define the identity of the package.
  PACKAGE='mikusays'
- VERSION='0.3.1'
+ VERSION='1.0.0'
 
 
 printf '%s\n' "#define PACKAGE \"$PACKAGE\"" >>confdefs.h
@@ -5437,7 +5437,7 @@ cat >>"$CONFIG_STATUS" <<\_ACEOF || ac_write_fail=1
 # report actual input values of CONFIG_FILES etc. instead of their
 # values after options handling.
 ac_log="
-This file was extended by mikusays $as_me 0.3.1, which was
+This file was extended by mikusays $as_me 1.0.0, which was
 generated by GNU Autoconf 2.73.  Invocation command line was
 
   CONFIG_FILES    = $CONFIG_FILES
@@ -5497,7 +5497,7 @@ ac_cs_config_escaped=`printf '%s\n' "$ac_cs_config" | sed "s/^ //; s/'/'\\\\\\\\
 cat >>"$CONFIG_STATUS" <<_ACEOF || ac_write_fail=1
 ac_cs_config='$ac_cs_config_escaped'
 ac_cs_version="\\
-mikusays config.status 0.3.1
+mikusays config.status 1.0.0
 configured by $0, generated by GNU Autoconf 2.73,
   with options \\"\$ac_cs_config\\"
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 70de584..a4bf19a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 AC_PREREQ([2.69])
-AC_INIT([mikusays], [0.3.1], [], [mikusays], [https://git.squeakyrat.moe/mikusays-c])
+AC_INIT([mikusays], [1.0.0], [], [mikusays], [https://git.squeakyrat.moe/mikusays-c])
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/main.c])
 AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR([build-aux])
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign subdir-objects -Wall])
diff --git a/defs/all.h b/defs/all.h
index 681b34d..61bdf6e 100644
--- a/defs/all.h
+++ b/defs/all.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <locale.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <ctype.h>
+#include <stdarg.h>
 
 #include "helper.h"
 
diff --git a/defs/colors.h b/defs/colors.h
index a3179f8..1bb7408 100644
--- a/defs/colors.h
+++ b/defs/colors.h
@@ -11,24 +11,6 @@ typedef enum color_mode {
     MODE_TRUECOLOR 
 }color_mode;
 
-typedef enum NamedColor {
-    Black,
-    Red,
-    Green,
-    Yellow,
-    Blue,
-    Magenta,
-    Cyan,
-    White,
-    BrightBlack,
-    BrightRed,
-    BrightGreen,
-    BrightYellow,
-    BrightBlue,
-    BrightMagenta,
-    BrightCyan,
-    BrightWhite,
-}NamedColor;
 
 typedef struct{
     unsigned char red;
@@ -45,6 +27,9 @@ typedef struct colorconfig {
     int brightness;          //default 50
     rgbcolor *rainbow_cache;    //array of rgbcolor malloced
     size_t rainbow_count;
+    bool has_gradient;
+    rgbcolor gradient_start; 
+    rgbcolor gradient_end; 
 }colorconfig;
 
 typedef enum ColorParseError {
@@ -53,13 +38,11 @@ typedef enum ColorParseError {
     COLOR_ERR_HEX,
     COLOR_ERR_RGB,
     COLOR_ERR_HSL,
-    COLOR_ERR_UNKNOWN_NAME
 }ColorParseError;
 
 void colorconfig_init(colorconfig *config);
 enum color_mode detect_color_mode(void);
 bool enable_windows_ansi(void);
-int parse_namedcolors(const char *name, rgbcolor *out_rgb);
 ColorParseError parse_color(const char *s, rgbcolor *out);
 const char *color_parse_error_message(ColorParseError error);
 unsigned char rgb_to_ansi16(rgbcolor rgb);
@@ -67,5 +50,6 @@ unsigned char rgb_to_ansi256(rgbcolor rgb);
 rgbcolor hsl_to_rgb(unsigned short h, unsigned char s, unsigned char l);
 rgbcolor lerp_color_hsv(rgbcolor start, rgbcolor end, float t);
 void rgb_to_fg_escape(rgbcolor rgb, color_mode mode, char *out, size_t size);
+void print_color_debug(const colorconfig *config, bool ansi_enabled);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/colors.c b/src/colors.c
index 0978c60..973ebf6 100644
--- a/src/colors.c
+++ b/src/colors.c
@@ -560,17 +560,49 @@ ColorParseError parse_color(const char *s, rgbcolor *out){
 const char *color_parse_error_message(ColorParseError error){
     switch(error){
         case COLOR_ERR_FORMAT:
-            return "Invaliid color format";
+            return "Invalid color format";
         case COLOR_ERR_HEX: 
-            return "Invaliid hex color code";
+            return "Invalid hex color code";
         case COLOR_ERR_RGB:
-            return "Invaliid RGB format. Expected format: R,G,B";
+            return "Invalid RGB format. Expected format: R,G,B";
         case COLOR_ERR_HSL:
-            return "Invaliid HSL format. Expected format: hsl(H,S%,L%)";
-        case COLOR_ERR_UNKNOWN_NAME:
-            return "Unkown named color";
+            return "Invalid HSL format. Expected format: hsl(H,S%,L%)";
         case COLOR_OK:
         default:                     
             return "";
     }
+} 
+static const char *color_mode_name(color_mode mode){
+    switch(mode){
+        case MODE_TRUECOLOR: return "Truecolor";
+        case MODE_ANSI256:   return "Ansi256";
+        case MODE_ANSI16:    return "Ansi16";
+        case MODE_NONE:
+        default:             return "NoColor";
+    }
+}
+
+static void print_env_debug(const char *name){
+    const char *value = getenv(name);
+    if(value)
+        printf("%s: Some(\"%s\")\n", name, value);
+    else
+        printf("%s: None\n", name);
+}
+
+void print_color_debug(const colorconfig *config, bool ansi_enabled){
+    printf("Detected color mode: %s\n", color_mode_name(config->mode));
+    printf("ANSI enabled: %s\n", ansi_enabled ? "true" : "false");
+    print_env_debug("NO_COLOR");
+    print_env_debug("COLORTERM");
+    print_env_debug("TERM");
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    {
+        const char *shell = detect_windows_shell();
+        if(shell)
+            printf("Windows shell hint: Some(\"%s\")\n", shell);
+        else
+            printf("Windows shell hint: None\n");
+    }
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 350832e..00c6f5f 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -16,28 +16,46 @@ static struct win term = {80, 24};  //if the function fails this is the defualt
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
     #include <windows.h>
-    //i have no way to test this because i don't have any windows pc in my house qwq 
-    //(i asked claude to write this for windows because i never looked at the windows api in my life)
     static void getterminalsize(void) {
+        CONSOLE_SCREEN_BUFFER_INFO info;
+        HANDLE console = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
+        int found = GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo(console, &info);
+
         SetConsoleOutputCP(CP_UTF8);
-        CONSOLE_SCREEN_BUFFER_INFO csbi;
-        if (GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), &csbi)) {
-            term.winwidth  = csbi.srWindow.Right - csbi.srWindow.Left + 1;
-            term.winheight = csbi.srWindow.Bottom - csbi.srWindow.Top + 1;
+        if(!found){
+            HANDLE fallback = CreateFileA("CONOUT$", GENERIC_READ | GENERIC_WRITE,
+                FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE, NULL, OPEN_EXISTING, 0, NULL);
+            if(fallback != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE){
+                found = GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo(fallback, &info);
+                CloseHandle(fallback);
+            }
+        }
+        if(found){
+            term.winwidth  = info.srWindow.Right - info.srWindow.Left + 1;
+            term.winheight = info.srWindow.Bottom - info.srWindow.Top + 1;
         }
     }
-#else //or this if they're not on windows which should be posixish like linux or macos
+#else
     #include <sys/ioctl.h>
     #include <unistd.h>
+    #include <fcntl.h>
 
     static void getterminalsize(void) {
-        struct winsize ws;
-        if (ioctl(STDOUT_FILENO, TIOCGWINSZ, &ws) == 0) {
-            if(ws.ws_col > 0)
-                term.winwidth  = ws.ws_col;
-            if(ws.ws_row > 0)
-                term.winheight = ws.ws_row;
+        struct winsize size_info;
+        int tty_descriptor = -1;
+        int status = ioctl(STDOUT_FILENO, TIOCGWINSZ, &size_info);
+
+        if(status != 0){
+            tty_descriptor = open("/dev/tty", O_RDONLY);
+            if(tty_descriptor >= 0)
+                status = ioctl(tty_descriptor, TIOCGWINSZ, &size_info);
         }
+        if(status == 0){
+            if(size_info.ws_col > 0) term.winwidth  = size_info.ws_col;
+            if(size_info.ws_row > 0) term.winheight = size_info.ws_row;
+        }
+        if(tty_descriptor >= 0)
+            close(tty_descriptor);
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -154,11 +172,9 @@ char **wraptext(const char *text, int max, int *count){
 #define MIN_BUBBLE_WIDTH 20
 char **getbubblelines(char *text){
     char **templines = wraptext(text, MAX_BUBBLE_WIDTH - 4, &count);
-    if(templines == NULL)
-        return NULL;
 
     size_t content_width = 0;
-    for (int i = 0; templines[i] != NULL; i++) {
+    for (int i = 0; templines != NULL && templines[i] != NULL; i++) {
         size_t current_len = displaywidth(templines[i]);
         if (current_len > content_width)
             content_width = current_len;
@@ -185,7 +201,7 @@ char **getbubblelines(char *text){
         strcat(bubblelines[0], horizontal);
     strcat(bubblelines[0], top_right);
     
-    for (int i = 0; lines[i] != NULL; i++) {
+    for (int i = 0; lines != NULL && lines[i] != NULL; i++) {
         int line_width = displaywidth(lines[i]);
         int padding_needed = (bubble_width - 2) - line_width;
         if (padding_needed < 0) padding_needed = 0;
@@ -215,15 +231,17 @@ static void print_help(void){
            "Arguments:\n"
            "  [TEXT]  Text to display in the speech bubble\n\n"
            "Options:\n"
-           "  -s, --style <STYLE>  Style of the Miku art. A random one is chosen if not specified\n"
-           "  -l, --list           List all available art styles with their indices\n"
-           "  -h, --help           Print help\n"
-           "  -V, --version        Print version\n"
-           "      --rainbow            Apply a smooth rainbow gradient across the art\n"
-           "      --saturation <0-100> Rainbow saturation (default: 100)\n"
-           "      --brightness <0-100> Rainbow brightness (default: 50)\n"
-            "      --color <COLOR>      Set a single solid color\n"
-            "      --no-color           Disable all coloring\n");
+           "  -s, --style <STYLE>            Style of the Miku art. A random one is chosen if not specified\n"
+           "  -l, --list                     List all available art styles with their indices\n"
+           "      --rainbow                  Apply a smooth rainbow gradient across the ASCII art\n"
+           "      --saturation <SATURATION>  Saturation level for rainbow gradient (0-100) [default: 100]\n"
+           "      --brightness <BRIGHTNESS>  Brightness level for rainbow gradient (0-100) [default: 50]\n"
+           "      --color <COLOR>            Override with a single solid color\n"
+           "      --gradient <START:END>     Define a custom two-color gradient (e.g., --gradient red:blue)\n"
+           "      --no-color                 Disable all coloring (respects NO_COLOR environment variable)\n"
+           "      --color-debug              Print color detection/debug info and exit\n"
+           "  -h, --help                     Print help\n"
+           "  -V, --version                  Print version\n");
 }
 
 static void list_all_art_styles(void){
@@ -238,11 +256,24 @@ static void list_all_art_styles(void){
     }
 
     printf("\nUse --style <number> to select a specific style, or omit for random selection.\n");
+
+    printf("\nColor Options:\n"
+           "  --rainbow                Apply a smooth rainbow gradient\n"
+           "  --saturation <0-100>     Set rainbow saturation level (default: 100)\n"
+           "  --brightness <0-100>     Set rainbow brightness level (default: 50)\n"
+           "  --color <COLOR>          Set a single solid color (supports named colors, hex, rgb, hsl, ansi)\n"
+           "  --gradient <START:END>   Define a custom two-color gradient\n"
+           "  --no-color               Disable all coloring\n"
+           "\nColor Format Examples:\n"
+           "  --color red              Named color\n"
+           "  --color #FF0000          Hex color\n"
+           "  --color 255,0,128        RGB tuple\n"
+           "  --color hsl(180,100%%,50%%) HSL value\n"
+           "  --color 93               ANSI color code\n"
+           "  --gradient red:blue      Custom gradient\n");
 }
 
 static struct colorconfig colors;
-static int rainbow = 0, has_solid = 0;
-static rgbcolor solid;
 
 static int is_art_space(unsigned long codepoint){
     return (codepoint >= 0x09 && codepoint <= 0x0D) || codepoint == 0x20 || codepoint == 0x85 || codepoint == 0xA0
@@ -263,34 +294,42 @@ static size_t count_colored_chars(char **art){
     return total;
 }
 
-static void print_art_line(const char *line, size_t *index, size_t total){
-    char esc[32];
-    const unsigned char *p = (const unsigned char *)line;
+static rgbcolor color_for_index(size_t index, size_t total){
+    if(colors.has_gradient){
+        float position = total <= 1 ? 0.0f : (float)index / (float)(total - 1);
+        return lerp_color_hsv(colors.gradient_start, colors.gradient_end, position);
+    }
+    return hsl_to_rgb((unsigned short)((float)index / (float)total * 360.0f + 0.5f),
+                      (unsigned char)colors.saturation, (unsigned char)colors.brightness);
+}
 
-    if(colors.mode == MODE_NONE || (!rainbow && !has_solid)){
+static void print_art_line(const char *line, size_t *index, size_t total){
+    char escape[32];
+    const unsigned char *cursor = (const unsigned char *)line;
+    int per_character = colors.rainbow_enabled || colors.has_gradient;
+
+    if(colors.mode == MODE_NONE || (!per_character && !colors.has_solid_color)){
         fputs(line, stdout);
         return;
     }
-    if(!rainbow){//solid: one color for the whole line
-        rgb_to_fg_escape(solid, colors.mode, esc, sizeof(esc));
-        printf("%s%s\x1b[0m", esc, line);
+    if(!per_character){
+        rgb_to_fg_escape(colors.solid_color, colors.mode, escape, sizeof(escape));
+        printf("%s%s\x1b[0m", escape, line);
         return;
     }
-    while(*p){//rainbow: one color per non-space char
+    while(*cursor){
         unsigned long codepoint;
-        int len = utf8_decode(p, &codepoint);
+        int byte_count = utf8_decode(cursor, &codepoint);
         if(is_art_space(codepoint)){
-            fwrite(p, 1, (size_t)len, stdout);
+            fwrite(cursor, 1, (size_t)byte_count, stdout);
         }else{
-            unsigned short hue = (unsigned short)((float)*index / (float)total * 360.0f + 0.5f);
-            rgbcolor c = hsl_to_rgb(hue, colors.saturation, colors.brightness);
-            rgb_to_fg_escape(c, colors.mode, esc, sizeof(esc));
-            printf("%s", esc);
-            fwrite(p, 1, (size_t)len, stdout);
+            rgb_to_fg_escape(color_for_index(*index, total), colors.mode, escape, sizeof(escape));
+            fputs(escape, stdout);
+            fwrite(cursor, 1, (size_t)byte_count, stdout);
             fputs("\x1b[0m", stdout);
             (*index)++;
         }
-        p += len;
+        cursor += byte_count;
     }
 }
 
@@ -404,109 +443,224 @@ void draw_miku_says(char *text, int style){
     freelines(speech_bubble_lines);
     free(all_content_lines);
 }
+
+#define COLOR_FORMAT_HELP "expected a named color, #RRGGBB, #RGB, R,G,B, hsl(H,S%%,L%%), or ANSI value 0-255"
+
+static int usage_error(const char *format, ...){
+    va_list arguments;
+    va_start(arguments, format);
+    fputs("error: ", stderr);
+    vfprintf(stderr, format, arguments);
+    va_end(arguments);
+    fputs("\n\nUsage: mikusays [OPTIONS] [TEXT]\n\nFor more information, try '--help'.\n", stderr);
+    return 2;
+}
+
+//returns 1 if argv[*index] is this option; *value stays NULL when the value is missing
+static int match_value_option(int argc, char **argv, int *index, const char *long_name,
+                              char short_name, const char **value){
+    const char *argument = argv[*index];
+    size_t long_length = strlen(long_name);
+
+    *value = NULL;
+    if(strcmp(argument, long_name) == 0
+    || (short_name != '\0' && argument[0] == '-' && argument[1] == short_name && argument[2] == '\0')){
+        if(*index + 1 < argc){
+            (*index)++;
+            *value = argv[*index];
+        }
+        return 1;
+    }
+    if(strncmp(argument, long_name, long_length) == 0 && argument[long_length] == '='){
+        *value = argument + long_length + 1;
+        return 1;
+    }
+    if(short_name != '\0' && argument[0] == '-' && argument[1] == short_name && argument[2] != '\0'){
+        *value = argument + 2;
+        return 1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static int parse_percent_option(const char *flag, const char *value, int *destination){
+    char *end;
+    long parsed;
+
+    if(value == NULL)
+        return usage_error("a value is required for '%s' but none was supplied", flag);
+    parsed = strtol(value, &end, 10);
+    if(*value == '\0' || *end != '\0' || parsed < 0 || parsed > 100)
+        return usage_error("invalid value '%s' for '%s'", value, flag);
+    *destination = (int)parsed;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static int parse_gradient(const char *specification, rgbcolor *start, rgbcolor *end){
+    const char *separator = strchr(specification, ':');
+    char start_text[64];
+    size_t start_length;
+    ColorParseError error;
+
+    if(separator == NULL)
+        return usage_error("invalid gradient: expected START:END (for example, red:blue)");
+    start_length = (size_t)(separator - specification);
+    if(start_length == 0 || separator[1] == '\0' || strchr(separator + 1, ':') != NULL)
+        return usage_error("invalid gradient: expected exactly two colors as START:END");
+    if(start_length >= sizeof(start_text))
+        return usage_error("invalid gradient start: %s; " COLOR_FORMAT_HELP,
+                           color_parse_error_message(COLOR_ERR_FORMAT));
+
+    memcpy(start_text, specification, start_length);
+    start_text[start_length] = '\0';
+    error = parse_color(start_text, start);
+    if(error != COLOR_OK)
+        return usage_error("invalid gradient start '%s': %s; " COLOR_FORMAT_HELP,
+                           start_text, color_parse_error_message(error));
+    error = parse_color(separator + 1, end);
+    if(error != COLOR_OK)
+        return usage_error("invalid gradient end '%s': %s; " COLOR_FORMAT_HELP,
+                           separator + 1, color_parse_error_message(error));
+    return 0;
+}
     
 int main(int argc, char **argv){
+    long style = -1;   //-1 means random
+    int index, result = 0, list_requested = 0, color_debug = 0, no_color = 0;
+    int has_text = 0, options_ended = 0, ansi_enabled = 0;
+    const char *value, *color_text = NULL, *gradient_text = NULL;
+    ColorParseError color_error;
+    size_t length = 0;
+    char *text;
+
     srand(time(NULL));
     getterminalsize();
+    colorconfig_init(&colors);
 
-    colorconfig_init(&colors); 
-
-    long style = -1;   //-1 means random
-    int list = 0;
-    int ret = 0;
-
-    size_t length = 0;
-    for(int i = 1; i < argc; i++)
-        length += strlen(argv[i]);
-    char *text = malloc(length + argc);
+    for(index = 1; index < argc; index++)
+        length += strlen(argv[index]);
+    text = malloc(length + (size_t)argc);
     if(!text) return 1;
     *text = '\0';
 
-    for(int i = 1; i < argc; i++){
-        if(strcmp(argv[i], "-h") == 0 || strcmp(argv[i], "--help") == 0){
+    for(index = 1; index < argc; index++){
+        const char *argument = argv[index];
+
+        if(!options_ended && strcmp(argument, "--") == 0){
+            options_ended = 1;
+        } else if(options_ended || argument[0] != '-' || argument[1] == '\0'){
+            strcat(text, argument);
+            strcat(text, " ");
+            has_text = 1;
+        } else if(strcmp(argument, "-h") == 0 || strcmp(argument, "--help") == 0){
             print_help();
             goto out;
-        } else if(strcmp(argv[i], "-V") == 0 || strcmp(argv[i], "--version") == 0){
+        } else if(strcmp(argument, "-V") == 0 || strcmp(argument, "--version") == 0){
             printf("mikusays " VERSION "\n");
             goto out;
-        } else if(strcmp(argv[i], "-l") == 0 || strcmp(argv[i], "--list") == 0){
-            list = 1;
-        } else if(strcmp(argv[i], "-s") == 0 || strcmp(argv[i], "--style") == 0){
-            if(i + 1 >= argc){ 
-                fprintf(stderr, "error: a value is required for '--style <STYLE>' but none was supplied\n"); 
-                ret = 2;
-                goto out;
-            }
-            i++;
-            char *end;
-            long v = strtol(argv[i], &end, 10);
-            if(*argv[i] == '\0' || *end != '\0'){
-                fprintf(stderr, "error: invalid value '%s' for '--style <STYLE>': not a number\n", argv[i]);
-                ret = 2;
-                goto out;
-            }
-            style = v < 0 ? -1 : v;   //negative = random
-        } else if(strcmp(argv[i], "--no-color") == 0){
+        } else if(strcmp(argument, "-l") == 0 || strcmp(argument, "--list") == 0){
+            list_requested = 1;
+        } else if(strcmp(argument, "--no-color") == 0){
+            no_color = 1;
             colors.mode = MODE_NONE;
-        } else if(strcmp(argv[i], "--rainbow") == 0){
-            rainbow = 1;
-        } else if(strcmp(argv[i], "--color") == 0){
-            if(i + 1 >= argc){
-                fprintf(stderr, "error: a value is required for '--color <COLOR>' but none was supplied\n");
-                ret = 2;
-                goto out;
-            }
-            i++;
-            ColorParseError err = parse_color(argv[i], &solid);
-            if(err != COLOR_OK){
-                fprintf(stderr, "error: invalid color '%s': %s; expected a named color, #RRGGBB, #RGB, R,G,B, hsl(H,S%%,L%%), or ANSI value 0-255\n",
-                        argv[i], color_parse_error_message(err));
-                ret = 2;
-                goto out;
-            }
-            has_solid = 1;
-        } else if(strcmp(argv[i], "--saturation") == 0 || strcmp(argv[i], "--brightness") == 0){
-            const char *flag = argv[i];
-            if(i + 1 >= argc){
-                fprintf(stderr, "error: a value is required for '%s <0-100>' but none was supplied\n", flag);
-                ret = 2;
-                goto out;
-            }
-            i++;
+        }else if(strcmp(argument, "--rainbow") == 0){
+            colors.rainbow_enabled = true;
+        } else if(strcmp(argument, "--color-debug") == 0){
+            color_debug = 1;
+        } else if(match_value_option(argc, argv, &index, "--style", 's', &value)){
             char *end;
-            long v = strtol(argv[i], &end, 10);
-            if(*argv[i] == '\0' || *end != '\0' || v < 0 || v > 100){
-                fprintf(stderr, "error: invalid value '%s' for '%s <0-100>'\n", argv[i], flag);
-                ret = 2;
+            long parsed;
+            if(value == NULL){
+                result = usage_error("a value is required for '--style <STYLE>' but none was supplied");
                 goto out;
             }
-            if(flag[2] == 's') colors.saturation = (unsigned char)v;
-            else               colors.brightness = (unsigned char)v;
+            parsed = strtol(value, &end, 10);
+            if(*value == '\0' || *end != '\0'){
+                result = usage_error("invalid value '%s' for '--style <STYLE>': invalid digit found in string", value);
+                goto out;
+            }
+            if(parsed < 0){
+                result = usage_error("invalid value '%s' for '--style <STYLE>': %ld is not in 0..2147483647", value, parsed);
+                goto out;
+            }
+            style = parsed;
+        } else if(match_value_option(argc, argv, &index, "--color", '\0', &value)){
+            if(value == NULL){
+                result = usage_error("a value is required for '--color <COLOR>' but none was supplied");
+                goto out;
+            }
+            color_text = value;
+        } else if(match_value_option(argc, argv, &index, "--gradient", '\0', &value)){
+            if(value == NULL){
+                result = usage_error("a value is required for '--gradient <START:END>' but none was supplied");
+                goto out;
+            }
+            gradient_text = value;
+        } else if(match_value_option(argc, argv, &index, "--saturation", '\0', &value)){
+            result = parse_percent_option("--saturation <SATURATION>", value, &colors.saturation);
+            if(result) goto out;
+        } else if(match_value_option(argc, argv, &index, "--brightness", '\0', &value)){
+            result = parse_percent_option("--brightness <BRIGHTNESS>", value, &colors.brightness);
+            if(result) goto out;
         } else {
-            strcat(text, argv[i]);
-            strcat(text, " ");
+            result = usage_error("unexpected argument '%s' found", argument);
+            goto out;
         }
     }
 
-    if(rainbow && has_solid){
-        fprintf(stderr, "error: --rainbow cannot be used with --color\n");
-        ret = 2;
+    if(colors.rainbow_enabled && color_text){
+        result = usage_error("the argument '--rainbow' cannot be used with '--color <COLOR>'");
+        goto out;
+    }
+    if(colors.rainbow_enabled && gradient_text){
+        result = usage_error("the argument '--rainbow' cannot be used with '--gradient <START:END>'");
+        goto out;
+    }
+    if(color_text && gradient_text){
+        result = usage_error("the argument '--color <COLOR>' cannot be used with '--gradient <START:END>'");
         goto out;
     }
 
-    if(list){
+    if(list_requested){
         list_all_art_styles();
-    } else if(text[0] == '\0'){
-        fprintf(stderr, "Error: Text is required when not using --list\n");
-        ret = 1;
-    } else if(style >= (long)migucount){
-        fprintf(stderr, "Style %ld does not exist! Choose one between 0 and %zu\n", style, migucount - 1);
-        ret = 1;
-    } else {
-        draw_miku_says(text, (int)style);
+        goto out;
     }
-//i didn't know you could do labels like in assembly (nasm) this is very useful knowledge 
+    if(!has_text){
+        fprintf(stderr, "Error: Text is required when not using --list\n");
+        result = 1;
+        goto out;
+    }
+    if(style >= (long)migucount){
+        result = usage_error("style %ld does not exist; choose a value between 0 and %lu",
+                             style, (unsigned long)(migucount - 1));
+        goto out;
+    }
+
+    if(color_text){
+        color_error = parse_color(color_text, &colors.solid_color);
+        if(color_error != COLOR_OK){
+            result = usage_error("invalid color '%s': %s; " COLOR_FORMAT_HELP,
+                                 color_text, color_parse_error_message(color_error));
+            goto out;
+        }
+        colors.has_solid_color = true;
+    }
+    if(gradient_text){
+        result = parse_gradient(gradient_text, &colors.gradient_start, &colors.gradient_end);
+        if(result) goto out;
+        colors.has_gradient = true;
+    }
+
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    ansi_enabled = !no_color && enable_windows_ansi();
+#endif
+    if(color_debug){
+        print_color_debug(&colors, ansi_enabled != 0);
+        goto out;
+    }
+
+    draw_miku_says(text, (int)style);
+//i didn't know you could do labels like in assembly (nasm) this is very useful knowledge
 out:
     free(text);
-    return ret;
-}
+    return result;
+} //ooooo 666 lines spookyyy evillll