diff --git a/lua/codemp/buffers.lua b/lua/codemp/buffers.lua
index 9e0c6c6..bfb985b 100644
--- a/lua/codemp/buffers.lua
+++ b/lua/codemp/buffers.lua
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ local function attach(name, buffer, content, nowait)
 				end
 				utils.buffer.set_content(buffer, event.content, event.start, event.finish)
 				if event.hash ~= nil then
-					if utils.hash(utils.buffer.get_content(buffer)) ~= event.hash then
+					if CODEMP.native.hash(utils.buffer.get_content(buffer)) ~= event.hash then
 						-- OUT OF SYNC!
 						-- TODO this may be destructive! we should probably prompt the user before doing this
 						print(" /!\\ out of sync, resynching...")
diff --git a/lua/codemp/init.lua b/lua/codemp/init.lua
index 0d1256d..1496212 100644
--- a/lua/codemp/init.lua
+++ b/lua/codemp/init.lua
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ if CODEMP == nil then
 			end)
 
 			require('codemp.command') -- not really related but should only happen once
+			require('codemp.utils').setup_colors() -- create highlight groups for users
 		end
 	}
 end
diff --git a/lua/codemp/neo-tree/components.lua b/lua/codemp/neo-tree/components.lua
index b6d5bd6..5a754f7 100644
--- a/lua/codemp/neo-tree/components.lua
+++ b/lua/codemp/neo-tree/components.lua
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ M.icon = function(config, node, state)
 		end
 	elseif node.type == "user" then
 		icon = ":"
-		highlight = codemp_utils.color(node.name)
+		highlight = codemp_utils.color(node.name).bg
 	elseif node.type == "entry" then
 		icon = "$"
 		highlight = highlights.GIT_STAGED
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ M.users = function(config, node, state)
 		if buf == node.name then
 			table.insert(out, {
 				text = " ",
-				highlight = codemp_utils.color(user),
+				highlight = codemp_utils.color(user).bg,
 				align = "end",
 			})
 		end
diff --git a/lua/codemp/utils.lua b/lua/codemp/utils.lua
index c628c0f..e40c107 100644
--- a/lua/codemp/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/codemp/utils.lua
@@ -1,19 +1,32 @@
-local native = require('codemp.loader').load()
-
-local available_colors = { -- TODO these are definitely not portable!
-	"ErrorMsg",
-	"WarningMsg",
-	"MatchParen",
-	"SpecialMode",
-	"CmpItemKindFunction",
-	"CmpItemKindValue",
-	"CmpItemKindInterface",
+local colors = {
+	{ "#AC7EA8", 175 },
+	{ "#81A1C1", 74  },
+	{ "#EBCB8B", 222 },
+	{ "#2E8757", 72  },
+	{ "#BF616A", 167 },
+	{ "#8F81D4", 98  },
+	{ "#D69C63", 179 },
 }
 
----@param x string
----@return string
-local function color(x)
-	return available_colors[ math.fmod(math.abs(native.hash(x)), #available_colors) + 1 ]
+local function setup_colors()
+	for n, color in ipairs(colors) do
+		vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, string.format("CodempUser#%s", n), { fg = color[1], bg = nil, ctermfg = color[2], ctermbg = 0 })
+		vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, string.format("CodempUserInverted#%s", n), { fg = "#201F29", bg = color[1], ctermfg = 234, ctermbg = color[2] })
+	end
+end
+
+---@class HighlightPair
+---@field fg string
+---@field bg string
+
+---@param name string
+---@return HighlightPair
+local function color(name)
+	local index = math.fmod(math.abs(CODEMP.native.hash(name)), #colors) + 1
+	return {
+		fg = "CodempUser#" .. index,
+		bg = "CodempUserInverted#" .. index,
+	}
 end
 
 local function async_poller(generator, callback)
@@ -183,9 +196,6 @@ local function separator()
 	end
 end
 
-local hash_fn = nil
-if native ~= nil then hash_fn = native.hash end
-
 return {
 	cursor = {
 		position = cursor_position,
@@ -195,9 +205,9 @@ return {
 		get_content = buffer_get_content,
 		set_content = buffer_set_content,
 	},
-	hash = hash_fn,
 	available_colors = available_colors,
 	color = color,
 	poller = async_poller,
 	sep = separator,
+	setup_colors = setup_colors,
 }
diff --git a/lua/codemp/window.lua b/lua/codemp/window.lua
index f9e3ebe..adb5dd5 100644
--- a/lua/codemp/window.lua
+++ b/lua/codemp/window.lua
@@ -77,11 +77,11 @@ local function update_window()
 		if off[row] == nil then
 			off[row] = 0
 		end
-		vim.highlight.range(buffer_id, ns, utils.color(user), {row-1,4+off[row]}, {row-1, 5+off[row]})
+		vim.highlight.range(buffer_id, ns, utils.color(user).bg, {row-1,4+off[row]}, {row-1, 5+off[row]})
 		off[row] = off[row] + 1
 		row = user_to_row[user]
 		vim.highlight.range(buffer_id, ns, 'InlayHint', {row-1, 0}, {row-1, 1})
-		vim.highlight.range(buffer_id, ns, utils.color(user), {row-1, 2}, {row-1, 3})
+		vim.highlight.range(buffer_id, ns, utils.color(user).bg, {row-1, 2}, {row-1, 3})
 	end
 	vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('modifiable', false, { buf = buffer_id })
 end
diff --git a/lua/codemp/workspace.lua b/lua/codemp/workspace.lua
index 0a76d04..8f7a885 100644
--- a/lua/codemp/workspace.lua
+++ b/lua/codemp/workspace.lua
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ local buffers = require('codemp.buffers')
 
 ---@class UserHighlight
 ---@field ns integer namespace to use for this user
----@field hi string color for user to use
+---@field hi HighlightPair color for user to use
 ---@field pos [integer, integer] cursor start position of this user
 
 ---@type table<string, UserHighlight>
@@ -94,23 +94,18 @@ local function register_cursor_handler(ws)
 						event.start[1],
 						event.start[2],
 						{
-							end_col = event.finish[1],
-							end_row = event.finish[2],
-							hl_group = user_hl[event.user].hi,
-							hl_eol = true,
-							virt_text_pos = "overlay",
+							end_row = event.finish[1],
+							end_col = event.finish[2],
+							hl_group = user_hl[event.user].hi.bg,
+							virt_text_pos = "right_align",
+							sign_text = string.sub(event.user, 0, 1),
+							sign_hl_group = user_hl[event.user].hi.fg,
+							strict = false,
 							virt_text = {
-								{ event.user, "InlayHint" }
+								{ event.user, user_hl[event.user].hi.fg }
 							},
 						}
 					)
-					utils.multiline_highlight(
-						buffer_id,
-						user_hl[event.user].ns,
-						user_hl[event.user].hi,
-						event.start,
-						event.finish
-					)
 				end
 				if old_buffer ~= event.buffer then
 					require('codemp.window').update() -- redraw user positions
@@ -170,4 +165,5 @@ return {
 	leave = leave,
 	map = user_hl,
 	list = fetch_workspaces_list,
+	setup_colors = setup_colors,
 }