diff --git a/common/pango.c b/common/pango.c
index 2ae7883c0..658d2876e 100644
--- a/common/pango.c
+++ b/common/pango.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include "log.h"
 
 PangoLayout *get_pango_layout(cairo_t *cairo, const char *font,
 		const char *text, int32_t scale, bool markup) {
@@ -13,7 +14,13 @@ PangoLayout *get_pango_layout(cairo_t *cairo, const char *font,
 	PangoAttrList *attrs;
 	if (markup) {
 		char *buf;
-		pango_parse_markup(text, -1, 0, &attrs, &buf, NULL, NULL);
+		GError *error = NULL;
+		if (!sway_assert(pango_parse_markup(
+					text, -1, 0, &attrs, &buf, NULL, &error),
+				"pango_parse_markup '%s' -> error %s", text,
+				error ? error->message : NULL)) {
+			return NULL;
+		}
 		pango_layout_set_markup(layout, buf, -1);
 		free(buf);
 	} else {
diff --git a/include/swaybar/ipc.h b/include/swaybar/ipc.h
index 6ea7c4d67..a1696bcf9 100644
--- a/include/swaybar/ipc.h
+++ b/include/swaybar/ipc.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "swaybar/bar.h"
 
 void ipc_initialize(struct swaybar *bar, const char *bar_id);
-bool handle_ipc_event(struct swaybar *bar);
+bool handle_ipc_readable(struct swaybar *bar);
 void ipc_get_workspaces(struct swaybar *bar);
 void ipc_send_workspace_command(struct swaybar *bar, const char *ws);
 
diff --git a/include/swaybar/status_line.h b/include/swaybar/status_line.h
index 6c595df0f..3538f49ce 100644
--- a/include/swaybar/status_line.h
+++ b/include/swaybar/status_line.h
@@ -7,10 +7,52 @@
 
 enum status_protocol {
 	PROTOCOL_UNDEF,
+	PROTOCOL_ERROR,
 	PROTOCOL_TEXT,
 	PROTOCOL_I3BAR,
 };
 
+struct text_protocol_state {
+	char *buffer;
+	size_t buffer_size;
+};
+
+enum json_node_type {
+	JSON_NODE_UNKNOWN,
+	JSON_NODE_ARRAY,
+	JSON_NODE_STRING,
+};
+
+struct i3bar_protocol_state {
+	bool click_events;
+	char *buffer;
+	size_t buffer_size;
+	size_t buffer_index;
+	const char *current_node;
+	bool escape;
+	size_t depth;
+	enum json_node_type nodes[16];
+};
+
+struct i3bar_block {
+	struct wl_list link;
+	char *full_text, *short_text, *align;
+	bool urgent;
+	uint32_t *color;
+	int min_width;
+	char *name, *instance;
+	bool separator;
+	int separator_block_width;
+	bool markup;
+	// Airblader features
+	uint32_t background;
+	uint32_t border;
+	int border_top;
+	int border_bottom;
+	int border_left;
+	int border_right;
+};
+
 struct status_line {
 	pid_t pid;
 	int read_fd, write_fd;
@@ -18,13 +60,18 @@ struct status_line {
 
 	enum status_protocol protocol;
 	const char *text;
+	struct wl_list blocks; // i3bar_block::link
 
-	char *buffer;
-	size_t buffer_size;
+	struct text_protocol_state text_state;
+	struct i3bar_protocol_state i3bar_state;
 };
 
 struct status_line *status_line_init(char *cmd);
+void status_error(struct status_line *status, const char *text);
+bool status_handle_readable(struct status_line *status);
 void status_line_free(struct status_line *status);
-bool handle_status_readable(struct status_line *status);
+bool i3bar_handle_readable(struct status_line *status);
+void i3bar_block_send_click(struct status_line *status,
+		struct i3bar_block *block, int x, int y, uint32_t button);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/sway/tree/layout.c b/sway/tree/layout.c
index a8941a40f..de2107526 100644
--- a/sway/tree/layout.c
+++ b/sway/tree/layout.c
@@ -274,8 +274,8 @@ void arrange_windows(struct sway_container *container,
 			struct wlr_box *area = &output->sway_output->usable_area;
 			wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "Usable area for ws: %dx%d@%d,%d",
 					area->width, area->height, area->x, area->y);
-			container->width = area->width;
-			container->height = area->height;
+			container->width = width = area->width;
+			container->height = height = area->height;
 			container->x = x = area->x;
 			container->y = y = area->y;
 			wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "Arranging workspace '%s' at %f, %f",
diff --git a/swaybar/bar.c b/swaybar/bar.c
index f743236c2..fb4170954 100644
--- a/swaybar/bar.c
+++ b/swaybar/bar.c
@@ -308,14 +308,14 @@ static void display_in(int fd, short mask, void *_bar) {
 
 static void ipc_in(int fd, short mask, void *_bar) {
 	struct swaybar *bar = (struct swaybar *)_bar;
-	if (handle_ipc_event(bar)) {
+	if (handle_ipc_readable(bar)) {
 		render_all_frames(bar);
 	}
 }
 
 static void status_in(int fd, short mask, void *_bar) {
 	struct swaybar *bar = (struct swaybar *)_bar;
-	if (handle_status_readable(bar->status)) {
+	if (status_handle_readable(bar->status)) {
 		render_all_frames(bar);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/swaybar/i3bar.c b/swaybar/i3bar.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..46459e248
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swaybar/i3bar.c
@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+#define _POSIX_C_SOURCE 200809L
+#include <json-c/json.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <wlr/util/log.h>
+#include "swaybar/config.h"
+#include "swaybar/status_line.h"
+
+static void i3bar_block_free(struct i3bar_block *block) {
+	if (!block) {
+		return;
+	}
+	wl_list_remove(&block->link);
+	free(block->full_text);
+	free(block->short_text);
+	free(block->align);
+	free(block->name);
+	free(block->instance);
+	free(block->color);
+}
+
+static bool i3bar_parse_json(struct status_line *status, const char *text) {
+	struct i3bar_block *block, *tmp;
+	wl_list_for_each_safe(block, tmp, &status->blocks, link) {
+		i3bar_block_free(block);
+	}
+	json_object *results = json_tokener_parse(text);
+	if (!results) {
+		status_error(status, "[failed to parse i3bar json]");
+		return false;
+	}
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "Got i3bar json: '%s'", text);
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < json_object_array_length(results); ++i) {
+		json_object *full_text, *short_text, *color, *min_width, *align, *urgent;
+		json_object *name, *instance, *separator, *separator_block_width;
+		json_object *background, *border, *border_top, *border_bottom;
+		json_object *border_left, *border_right, *markup;
+		json_object *json = json_object_array_get_idx(results, i);
+		if (!json) {
+			continue;
+		}
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "full_text", &full_text);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "short_text", &short_text);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "color", &color);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "min_width", &min_width);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "align", &align);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "urgent", &urgent);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "name", &name);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "instance", &instance);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "markup", &markup);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "separator", &separator);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "separator_block_width", &separator_block_width);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "background", &background);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "border", &border);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "border_top", &border_top);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "border_bottom", &border_bottom);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "border_left", &border_left);
+		json_object_object_get_ex(json, "border_right", &border_right);
+
+		struct i3bar_block *block = calloc(1, sizeof(struct i3bar_block));
+		block->full_text = full_text ?
+			strdup(json_object_get_string(full_text)) : NULL;
+		block->short_text = short_text ?
+			strdup(json_object_get_string(short_text)) : NULL;
+		if (color) {
+			block->color = malloc(sizeof(uint32_t));
+			*block->color = parse_color(json_object_get_string(color));
+		}
+		if (min_width) {
+			json_type type = json_object_get_type(min_width);
+			if (type == json_type_int) {
+				block->min_width = json_object_get_int(min_width);
+			} else if (type == json_type_string) {
+				/* the width will be calculated when rendering */
+				block->min_width = 0;
+			}
+		}
+		block->align = strdup(align ? json_object_get_string(align) : "left");
+		block->urgent = urgent ? json_object_get_int(urgent) : false;
+		block->name = name ? strdup(json_object_get_string(name)) : NULL;
+		block->instance = instance ?
+			strdup(json_object_get_string(instance)) : NULL;
+		if (markup) {
+			block->markup = false;
+			const char *markup_str = json_object_get_string(markup);
+			if (strcmp(markup_str, "pango") == 0) {
+				block->markup = true;
+			}
+		}
+		block->separator = separator ? json_object_get_int(separator) : true;
+		block->separator_block_width = separator_block_width ?
+			json_object_get_int(separator_block_width) : 9;
+		// Airblader features
+		block->background = background ?
+			parse_color(json_object_get_string(background)) : 0;
+		block->border = border ? 
+			parse_color(json_object_get_string(border)) : 0;
+		block->border_top = border_top ? json_object_get_int(border_top) : 1;
+		block->border_bottom = border_bottom ?
+			json_object_get_int(border_bottom) : 1;
+		block->border_left = border_left ? json_object_get_int(border_left) : 1;
+		block->border_right = border_right ?
+			json_object_get_int(border_right) : 1;
+		wl_list_insert(&status->blocks, &block->link);
+	}
+	return true;
+}
+
+bool i3bar_handle_readable(struct status_line *status) {
+	struct i3bar_protocol_state *state = &status->i3bar_state;
+
+	char *cur = &state->buffer[state->buffer_index];
+	ssize_t n = read(status->read_fd, cur,
+			state->buffer_size - state->buffer_index);
+	if (n == 0) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	if (n == (ssize_t)(state->buffer_size - state->buffer_index)) {
+		state->buffer_size = state->buffer_size * 2;
+		char *new_buffer = realloc(state->buffer, state->buffer_size);
+		if (!new_buffer) {
+			free(state->buffer);
+			status_error(status, "[failed to allocate buffer]");
+			return -1;
+		}
+		state->buffer = new_buffer;
+	}
+
+	bool redraw = false;
+	while (*cur) {
+		if (state->nodes[state->depth] == JSON_NODE_STRING) {
+			if (!state->escape && *cur == '"') {
+				--state->depth;
+			}
+			state->escape = !state->escape && *cur == '\\';
+		} else {
+			switch (*cur) {
+			case '[':
+				++state->depth;
+				if (state->depth >
+						sizeof(state->nodes) / sizeof(state->nodes[0])) {
+					status_error(status, "[i3bar json too deep]");
+					return false;
+				}
+				state->nodes[state->depth] = JSON_NODE_ARRAY;
+				if (state->depth == 1) {
+					state->current_node = cur;
+				}
+				break;
+			case ']':
+				if (state->nodes[state->depth] != JSON_NODE_ARRAY) {
+					status_error(status, "[failed to parse i3bar json]");
+					return false;
+				}
+				--state->depth;
+				if (state->depth == 0) {
+					// cur[1] is valid since cur[0] != '\0'
+					char p = cur[1];
+					cur[1] = '\0';
+					redraw = i3bar_parse_json(
+							status, state->current_node) || redraw;
+					cur[1] = p;
+					memmove(state->buffer, cur,
+							state->buffer_size - (cur - state->buffer));
+					cur = state->buffer;
+					state->current_node = cur + 1;
+				}
+				break;
+			case '"':
+				++state->depth;
+				if (state->depth >
+						sizeof(state->nodes) / sizeof(state->nodes[0])) {
+					status_error(status, "[i3bar json too deep]");
+					return false;
+				}
+				state->nodes[state->depth] = JSON_NODE_STRING;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+		++cur;
+	}
+	state->buffer_index = cur - state->buffer;
+	return redraw;
+}
+
+void i3bar_block_send_click(struct status_line *status,
+		struct i3bar_block *block, int x, int y, uint32_t button) {
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "block %s clicked", block->name ? block->name : "(nil)");
+	if (!block->name || !status->i3bar_state.click_events) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	struct json_object *event_json = json_object_new_object();
+	json_object_object_add(event_json, "name",
+			json_object_new_string(block->name));
+	if (block->instance) {
+		json_object_object_add(event_json, "instance",
+				json_object_new_string(block->instance));
+	}
+
+	json_object_object_add(event_json, "button", json_object_new_int(button));
+	json_object_object_add(event_json, "x", json_object_new_int(x));
+	json_object_object_add(event_json, "y", json_object_new_int(y));
+	dprintf(status->write_fd, "%s\n", json_object_to_json_string(event_json));
+	json_object_put(event_json);
+}
diff --git a/swaybar/ipc.c b/swaybar/ipc.c
index 64583df06..ed5d9a315 100644
--- a/swaybar/ipc.c
+++ b/swaybar/ipc.c
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ void ipc_initialize(struct swaybar *bar, const char *bar_id) {
 			IPC_SUBSCRIBE, subscribe, &len));
 }
 
-bool handle_ipc_event(struct swaybar *bar) {
+bool handle_ipc_readable(struct swaybar *bar) {
 	struct ipc_response *resp = ipc_recv_response(bar->ipc_event_socketfd);
 	if (!resp) {
 		return false;
diff --git a/swaybar/meson.build b/swaybar/meson.build
index bf6f6d7a2..d65edb11e 100644
--- a/swaybar/meson.build
+++ b/swaybar/meson.build
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ executable(
 		'bar.c',
 		'config.c',
 		'event_loop.c',
+		'i3bar.c',
 		'ipc.c',
 		'main.c',
 		'render.c',
diff --git a/swaybar/render.c b/swaybar/render.c
index c23587245..6f3b07889 100644
--- a/swaybar/render.c
+++ b/swaybar/render.c
@@ -18,10 +18,33 @@ static const int ws_horizontal_padding = 5;
 static const double ws_vertical_padding = 1.5;
 static const double border_width = 1;
 
+static uint32_t render_status_line_error(cairo_t *cairo,
+		struct swaybar_config *config, const char *error,
+		double *x, uint32_t width, uint32_t height) {
+	if (!error) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+	cairo_set_source_u32(cairo, 0xFF0000FF);
+	static const int margin = 3;
+	int text_width, text_height;
+	get_text_size(cairo, config->font,
+			&text_width, &text_height, 1, false, "%s", error);
+	uint32_t ideal_height = text_height + ws_vertical_padding * 2;
+	if (height < ideal_height) {
+		return ideal_height;
+	}
+	*x -= text_width + margin;
+	double text_y = height / 2.0 - text_height / 2.0;
+	cairo_move_to(cairo, *x, (int)floor(text_y));
+	pango_printf(cairo, config->font, 1, false, "%s", error);
+	*x -= margin;
+	return ideal_height;
+}
+
 static uint32_t render_status_line_text(cairo_t *cairo,
-		struct swaybar_config *config, struct status_line *status,
-		bool focused, uint32_t width, uint32_t height) {
-	if (!status->text) {
+		struct swaybar_config *config, const char *text,
+		bool focused, double *x, uint32_t width, uint32_t height) {
+	if (!text) {
 		return 0;
 	}
 	cairo_set_source_u32(cairo, focused ?
@@ -29,38 +52,211 @@ static uint32_t render_status_line_text(cairo_t *cairo,
 	static const int margin = 3;
 	int text_width, text_height;
 	get_text_size(cairo, config->font, &text_width, &text_height,
-			1, config->pango_markup, "%s", status->text);
+			1, config->pango_markup, "%s", text);
 	uint32_t ideal_height = text_height + ws_vertical_padding * 2;
 	if (height < ideal_height) {
 		return ideal_height;
 	}
+	*x -= text_width + margin;
 	double text_y = height / 2.0 - text_height / 2.0;
-	cairo_move_to(cairo, width - text_width - margin, (int)floor(text_y));
-	pango_printf(cairo, config->font, 1, config->pango_markup,
-			"%s", status->text);
+	cairo_move_to(cairo, *x, (int)floor(text_y));
+	pango_printf(cairo, config->font, 1, config->pango_markup, "%s", text);
+	*x -= margin;
+	return ideal_height;
+}
+
+static void render_sharp_line(cairo_t *cairo, uint32_t color,
+		double x, double y, double width, double height) {
+	cairo_set_source_u32(cairo, color);
+	if (width > 1 && height > 1) {
+		cairo_rectangle(cairo, x, y, width, height);
+		cairo_fill(cairo);
+	} else {
+		if (width == 1) {
+			x += 0.5;
+			height += y;
+			width = x;
+		}
+		if (height == 1) {
+			y += 0.5;
+			width += x;
+			height = y;
+		}
+		cairo_move_to(cairo, x, y);
+		cairo_set_line_width(cairo, 1.0);
+		cairo_line_to(cairo, width, height);
+		cairo_stroke(cairo);
+	}
+}
+
+static void block_hotspot_callback(struct swaybar_output *output,
+			int x, int y, uint32_t button, void *data) {
+	struct i3bar_block *block = data;
+	struct status_line *status = output->bar->status;
+	i3bar_block_send_click(status, block, x, y, button);
+}
+
+static uint32_t render_status_block(cairo_t *cairo,
+		struct swaybar_config *config, struct swaybar_output *output,
+		struct i3bar_block *block, double *x,
+		uint32_t height, bool focused, bool edge) {
+	static const int margin = 3;
+	if (!block->full_text || !*block->full_text) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	int text_width, text_height;
+	get_text_size(cairo, config->font, &text_width, &text_height,
+			1, block->markup, "%s", block->full_text);
+	int width = text_width;
+	if (width < block->min_width) {
+		width = block->min_width;
+	}
+	double block_width = width;
+	uint32_t ideal_height = text_height + ws_vertical_padding * 2;
+	if (height < ideal_height) {
+		return ideal_height;
+	}
+
+	*x -= width;
+	if (block->border && block->border_left > 0) {
+		*x -= (block->border_left + margin);
+		block_width += block->border_left + margin;
+	}
+	if (block->border && block->border_right > 0) {
+		*x -= (block->border_right + margin);
+		block_width += block->border_right + margin;
+	}
+
+	int sep_width;
+	if (!edge) {
+		if (config->sep_symbol) {
+			int _height;
+			get_text_size(cairo, config->font, &sep_width, &_height,
+					1, false, "%s", config->sep_symbol);
+			uint32_t _ideal_height = _height + ws_vertical_padding * 2;
+			if (height < _ideal_height) {
+				return _height;
+			}
+			if (sep_width > block->separator_block_width) {
+				block->separator_block_width = sep_width + margin * 2;
+			}
+		}
+		*x -= block->separator_block_width;
+	} else {
+		*x -= margin;
+	}
+
+	struct swaybar_hotspot *hotspot = calloc(1, sizeof(struct swaybar_hotspot));
+	hotspot->x = *x;
+	hotspot->y = 0;
+	hotspot->width = width;
+	hotspot->height = height;
+	hotspot->callback = block_hotspot_callback;
+	hotspot->destroy = NULL;
+	hotspot->data = block;
+	wl_list_insert(&output->hotspots, &hotspot->link);
+
+	double pos = *x;
+	if (block->background) {
+		cairo_set_source_u32(cairo, block->background);
+		cairo_rectangle(cairo, pos - 0.5, 1, block_width, height);
+		cairo_fill(cairo);
+	}
+
+	if (block->border && block->border_top > 0) {
+		render_sharp_line(cairo, block->border,
+				pos - 0.5, 1, block_width, block->border_top);
+	}
+	if (block->border && block->border_bottom > 0) {
+		render_sharp_line(cairo, block->border,
+				pos - 0.5, height - 1 - block->border_bottom,
+				block_width, block->border_bottom);
+	}
+	if (block->border != 0 && block->border_left > 0) {
+		render_sharp_line(cairo, block->border,
+				pos - 0.5, 1, block->border_left, height);
+		pos += block->border_left + margin;
+	}
+
+	double offset = 0;
+	if (strncmp(block->align, "left", 5) == 0) {
+		offset = pos;
+	} else if (strncmp(block->align, "right", 5) == 0) {
+		offset = pos + width - text_width;
+	} else if (strncmp(block->align, "center", 6) == 0) {
+		offset = pos + (width - text_width) / 2;
+	}
+	cairo_move_to(cairo, offset, height / 2.0 - text_height / 2.0);
+	uint32_t color = block->color ?  *block->color : config->colors.statusline;
+	cairo_set_source_u32(cairo, color);
+	pango_printf(cairo, config->font, 1, block->markup, "%s", block->full_text);
+	pos += width;
+
+	if (block->border && block->border_right > 0) {
+		pos += margin;
+		render_sharp_line(cairo, block->border,
+				pos - 0.5, 1, block->border_right, height);
+		pos += block->border_right;
+	}
+
+	if (!edge && block->separator) {
+		if (focused) {
+			cairo_set_source_u32(cairo, config->colors.focused_separator);
+		} else {
+			cairo_set_source_u32(cairo, config->colors.separator);
+		}
+		if (config->sep_symbol) {
+			offset = pos + (block->separator_block_width - sep_width) / 2;
+			cairo_move_to(cairo, offset, margin);
+			pango_printf(cairo, config->font, 1, false,
+					"%s", config->sep_symbol);
+		} else {
+			cairo_set_line_width(cairo, 1);
+			cairo_move_to(cairo,
+					pos + block->separator_block_width / 2, margin);
+			cairo_line_to(cairo,
+					pos + block->separator_block_width / 2, height - margin);
+			cairo_stroke(cairo);
+		}
+	}
 	return ideal_height;
 }
 
 static uint32_t render_status_line_i3bar(cairo_t *cairo,
-		struct swaybar_config *config, struct status_line *status,
-		bool focused, uint32_t width, uint32_t height) {
-	// TODO
-	return 0;
+		struct swaybar_config *config, struct swaybar_output *output,
+		struct status_line *status, bool focused,
+		double *x, uint32_t width, uint32_t height) {
+	uint32_t max_height = 0;
+	bool edge = true;
+	struct i3bar_block *block;
+	wl_list_for_each(block, &status->blocks, link) {
+		uint32_t h = render_status_block(cairo, config, output,
+				block, x, height, focused, edge);
+		max_height = h > max_height ? h : max_height;
+		edge = false;
+	}
+	return max_height;
 }
 
 static uint32_t render_status_line(cairo_t *cairo,
-		struct swaybar_config *config, struct status_line *status,
-		bool focused, uint32_t width, uint32_t height) {
+		struct swaybar_config *config, struct swaybar_output *output,
+		struct status_line *status, bool focused,
+		double *x, uint32_t width, uint32_t height) {
 	switch (status->protocol) {
+	case PROTOCOL_ERROR:
+		return render_status_line_error(cairo,
+				config, status->text, x, width, height);
 	case PROTOCOL_TEXT:
 		return render_status_line_text(cairo,
-				config, status, focused, width, height);
+				config, status->text, focused, x, width, height);
 	case PROTOCOL_I3BAR:
-		return render_status_line_i3bar(cairo,
-				config, status, focused, width, height);
-	default:
+		return render_status_line_i3bar(cairo, config, output, status,
+				focused, x, width, height);
+	case PROTOCOL_UNDEF:
 		return 0;
 	}
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static uint32_t render_binding_mode_indicator(cairo_t *cairo,
@@ -166,8 +362,8 @@ static uint32_t render_workspace_button(cairo_t *cairo,
 	struct swaybar_hotspot *hotspot = calloc(1, sizeof(struct swaybar_hotspot));
 	hotspot->x = *x;
 	hotspot->y = 0;
-	hotspot->height = height;
 	hotspot->width = width;
+	hotspot->height = height;
 	hotspot->callback = workspace_hotspot_callback;
 	hotspot->destroy = free;
 	hotspot->data = strdup(name);
@@ -180,6 +376,7 @@ static uint32_t render_workspace_button(cairo_t *cairo,
 static uint32_t render_to_cairo(cairo_t *cairo,
 		struct swaybar *bar, struct swaybar_output *output) {
 	struct swaybar_config *config = bar->config;
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "output %p", output);
 
 	cairo_set_operator(cairo, CAIRO_OPERATOR_SOURCE);
 	if (output->focused) {
@@ -211,9 +408,10 @@ static uint32_t render_to_cairo(cairo_t *cairo,
 				cairo, config, config->mode, x, output->height);
 		max_height = h > max_height ? h : max_height;
 	}
+	x = output->width;
 	if (bar->status) {
-		uint32_t h = render_status_line(cairo, config, bar->status,
-				output->focused, output->width, output->height);
+		uint32_t h = render_status_line(cairo, config, output, bar->status,
+				output->focused, &x, output->width, output->height);
 		max_height = h > max_height ? h : max_height;
 	}
 
diff --git a/swaybar/status_line.c b/swaybar/status_line.c
index 3454f2072..cc7e217f0 100644
--- a/swaybar/status_line.c
+++ b/swaybar/status_line.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #define _POSIX_C_SOURCE
 #include <fcntl.h>
+#include <json-c/json.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
@@ -9,35 +10,79 @@
 #include "swaybar/status_line.h"
 #include "readline.h"
 
-bool handle_status_readable(struct status_line *status) {
-	char *line = read_line_buffer(status->read,
-			status->buffer, status->buffer_size);
+void status_error(struct status_line *status, const char *text) {
+	close(status->read_fd);
+	close(status->write_fd);
+	status->protocol = PROTOCOL_ERROR;
+	status->text = text;
+}
+
+bool status_handle_readable(struct status_line *status) {
+	char *line;
 	switch (status->protocol) {
+	case PROTOCOL_ERROR:
+		return false;
 	case PROTOCOL_I3BAR:
-		// TODO
+		if (i3bar_handle_readable(status) > 0) {
+			return true;
+		}
 		break;
 	case PROTOCOL_TEXT:
-		status->text = line;
+		line = read_line_buffer(status->read,
+				status->text_state.buffer, status->text_state.buffer_size);
+		if (!line) {
+			status_error(status, "[error reading from status command]");
+		} else {
+			status->text = line;
+		}
 		return true;
 	case PROTOCOL_UNDEF:
+		line = read_line_buffer(status->read,
+				status->text_state.buffer, status->text_state.buffer_size);
 		if (!line) {
+			status_error(status, "[error reading from status command]");
 			return false;
 		}
 		if (line[0] == '{') {
-			// TODO: JSON
+			json_object *proto = json_tokener_parse(line);
+			if (proto) {
+				json_object *version;
+				if (json_object_object_get_ex(proto, "version", &version)
+							&& json_object_get_int(version) == 1) {
+					wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "Switched to i3bar protocol.");
+					status->protocol = PROTOCOL_I3BAR;
+				}
+				json_object *click_events;
+				if (json_object_object_get_ex(
+							proto, "click_events", &click_events)
+						&& json_object_get_boolean(click_events)) {
+					wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "Enabled click events.");
+					status->i3bar_state.click_events = true;
+					const char *events_array = "[\n";
+					write(status->write_fd, events_array, strlen(events_array));
+				}
+				json_object_put(proto);
+			}
+
+			status->protocol = PROTOCOL_I3BAR;
+			free(status->text_state.buffer);
+			wl_list_init(&status->blocks);
+			status->i3bar_state.buffer_size = 4096;
+			status->i3bar_state.buffer =
+				malloc(status->i3bar_state.buffer_size);
 		} else {
-			status->text = line;
 			status->protocol = PROTOCOL_TEXT;
+			status->text = line;
 		}
-		return false;
+		return true;
 	}
 	return false;
 }
 
 struct status_line *status_line_init(char *cmd) {
 	struct status_line *status = calloc(1, sizeof(struct status_line));
-	status->buffer_size = 4096;
-	status->buffer = malloc(status->buffer_size);
+	status->text_state.buffer_size = 8192;
+	status->text_state.buffer = malloc(status->text_state.buffer_size);
 
 	int pipe_read_fd[2];
 	int pipe_write_fd[2];