diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e3186fa76..ad5684123 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ perl/Makefile.config
 
 /src/nix-copy-closure/nix-copy-closure
 
+/src/error-demo/error-demo
+
 /src/build-remote/build-remote
 
 # /tests/
diff --git a/src/error-demo/error-demo.cc b/src/error-demo/error-demo.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a9ff6057c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/error-demo/error-demo.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#include "error.hh"
+#include "nixexpr.hh"
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <optional>
+
+int main()
+{
+    using namespace nix;
+
+    // In each program where errors occur, this has to be set.
+    ErrorInfo::programName = std::optional("error-demo");
+
+    // Error in a program; no hint and no nix code.
+    printErrorInfo(
+        ErrorInfo { .level = elError,
+                    .name = "name",
+                    .description = "error description",
+                  });
+
+    // Warning with name, description, and hint.
+    // The hintfmt function makes all the substituted text yellow.
+    printErrorInfo(
+        ErrorInfo { .level = elWarning,
+                    .name = "name",
+                    .description = "error description",
+                    .hint =  std::optional(
+                                 hintfmt("there was a %1%", "warning")),
+                  });
+
+
+    // Warning with nix file, line number, column, and the lines of
+    // code where a warning occurred.
+    SymbolTable testTable;
+    auto problem_file = testTable.create("myfile.nix");
+
+    printErrorInfo(
+        ErrorInfo{
+            .level = elWarning,
+            .name = "warning name",
+            .description = "warning description",
+            .hint = hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!", "yellow", "values"),
+            .nixCode = NixCode {
+                .errPos = Pos(problem_file, 40, 13),
+                .prevLineOfCode = std::nullopt,
+                .errLineOfCode = "this is the problem line of code",
+                .nextLineOfCode = std::nullopt
+            }});
+
+    // Error with previous and next lines of code.
+    printErrorInfo(
+        ErrorInfo{
+            .level = elError,
+            .name = "error name",
+            .description = "error description",
+            .hint = hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!", "yellow", "values"),
+            .nixCode = NixCode {
+                .errPos = Pos(problem_file, 40, 13),
+                .prevLineOfCode = std::optional("previous line of code"),
+                .errLineOfCode = "this is the problem line of code",
+                .nextLineOfCode = std::optional("next line of code"),
+            }});
+
+
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/error-demo/local.mk b/src/error-demo/local.mk
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2c528490a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/error-demo/local.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+programs += error-demo
+
+error-demo_DIR := $(d)
+
+error-demo_SOURCES := \
+  $(wildcard $(d)/*.cc) \
+
+error-demo_CXXFLAGS += -I src/libutil -I src/libexpr
+
+error-demo_LIBS = libutil libexpr
+
+error-demo_LDFLAGS = -pthread $(SODIUM_LIBS) $(EDITLINE_LIBS) $(BOOST_LDFLAGS) -lboost_context -lboost_thread -lboost_system
diff --git a/src/libexpr/eval-inline.hh b/src/libexpr/eval-inline.hh
index c27116e3b..942cda1ea 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/eval-inline.hh
+++ b/src/libexpr/eval-inline.hh
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ inline void EvalState::forceAttrs(Value & v)
 
 inline void EvalState::forceAttrs(Value & v, const Pos & pos)
 {
-    forceValue(v);
+    forceValue(v, pos);
     if (v.type != tAttrs)
         throwTypeError("value is %1% while a set was expected, at %2%", v, pos);
 }
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ inline void EvalState::forceList(Value & v)
 
 inline void EvalState::forceList(Value & v, const Pos & pos)
 {
-    forceValue(v);
+    forceValue(v, pos);
     if (!v.isList())
         throwTypeError("value is %1% while a list was expected, at %2%", v, pos);
 }
diff --git a/src/libexpr/eval.cc b/src/libexpr/eval.cc
index 4cb2c7654..95f52dc93 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/eval.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/eval.cc
@@ -1551,7 +1551,7 @@ NixFloat EvalState::forceFloat(Value & v, const Pos & pos)
 
 bool EvalState::forceBool(Value & v, const Pos & pos)
 {
-    forceValue(v);
+    forceValue(v, pos);
     if (v.type != tBool)
         throwTypeError("value is %1% while a Boolean was expected, at %2%", v, pos);
     return v.boolean;
@@ -1566,7 +1566,7 @@ bool EvalState::isFunctor(Value & fun)
 
 void EvalState::forceFunction(Value & v, const Pos & pos)
 {
-    forceValue(v);
+    forceValue(v, pos);
     if (v.type != tLambda && v.type != tPrimOp && v.type != tPrimOpApp && !isFunctor(v))
         throwTypeError("value is %1% while a function was expected, at %2%", v, pos);
 }
@@ -1643,7 +1643,7 @@ std::optional<string> EvalState::tryAttrsToString(const Pos & pos, Value & v,
 string EvalState::coerceToString(const Pos & pos, Value & v, PathSet & context,
     bool coerceMore, bool copyToStore)
 {
-    forceValue(v);
+    forceValue(v, pos);
 
     string s;
 
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops.cc b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
index 6be88e6fd..e9cb3df10 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ void prim_exec(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 /* Return a string representing the type of the expression. */
 static void prim_typeOf(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     string t;
     switch (args[0]->type) {
         case tInt: t = "int"; break;
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ static void prim_typeOf(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Valu
 /* Determine whether the argument is the null value. */
 static void prim_isNull(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     mkBool(v, args[0]->type == tNull);
 }
 
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ static void prim_isNull(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Valu
 /* Determine whether the argument is a function. */
 static void prim_isFunction(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     bool res;
     switch (args[0]->type) {
         case tLambda:
@@ -297,21 +297,21 @@ static void prim_isFunction(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args,
 /* Determine whether the argument is an integer. */
 static void prim_isInt(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     mkBool(v, args[0]->type == tInt);
 }
 
 /* Determine whether the argument is a float. */
 static void prim_isFloat(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     mkBool(v, args[0]->type == tFloat);
 }
 
 /* Determine whether the argument is a string. */
 static void prim_isString(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     mkBool(v, args[0]->type == tString);
 }
 
@@ -319,14 +319,14 @@ static void prim_isString(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Va
 /* Determine whether the argument is a Boolean. */
 static void prim_isBool(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     mkBool(v, args[0]->type == tBool);
 }
 
 /* Determine whether the argument is a path. */
 static void prim_isPath(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     mkBool(v, args[0]->type == tPath);
 }
 
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ static void prim_genericClosure(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * ar
         args[0]->attrs->find(state.symbols.create("operator"));
     if (op == args[0]->attrs->end())
         throw EvalError(format("attribute 'operator' required, at %1%") % pos);
-    state.forceValue(*op->value);
+    state.forceValue(*op->value, pos);
 
     /* Construct the closure by applying the operator to element of
        `workSet', adding the result to `workSet', continuing until
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ static void prim_genericClosure(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * ar
             e->attrs->find(state.symbols.create("key"));
         if (key == e->attrs->end())
             throw EvalError(format("attribute 'key' required, at %1%") % pos);
-        state.forceValue(*key->value);
+        state.forceValue(*key->value, pos);
 
         if (!doneKeys.insert(key->value).second) continue;
         res.push_back(e);
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ static void prim_genericClosure(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * ar
 
         /* Add the values returned by the operator to the work set. */
         for (unsigned int n = 0; n < call.listSize(); ++n) {
-            state.forceValue(*call.listElems()[n]);
+            state.forceValue(*call.listElems()[n], pos);
             workSet.push_back(call.listElems()[n]);
         }
     }
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ static void prim_throw(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value
 static void prim_addErrorContext(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
     try {
-        state.forceValue(*args[1]);
+        state.forceValue(*args[1], pos);
         v = *args[1];
     } catch (Error & e) {
         PathSet context;
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ static void prim_tryEval(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Val
 {
     state.mkAttrs(v, 2);
     try {
-        state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+        state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
         v.attrs->push_back(Attr(state.sValue, args[0]));
         mkBool(*state.allocAttr(v, state.symbols.create("success")), true);
     } catch (AssertionError & e) {
@@ -484,8 +484,8 @@ static void prim_getEnv(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Valu
 /* Evaluate the first argument, then return the second argument. */
 static void prim_seq(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
-    state.forceValue(*args[1]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
+    state.forceValue(*args[1], pos);
     v = *args[1];
 }
 
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ static void prim_seq(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value &
 static void prim_deepSeq(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
     state.forceValueDeep(*args[0]);
-    state.forceValue(*args[1]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[1], pos);
     v = *args[1];
 }
 
@@ -504,12 +504,12 @@ static void prim_deepSeq(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Val
    return the second expression.  Useful for debugging. */
 static void prim_trace(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     if (args[0]->type == tString)
         printError(format("trace: %1%") % args[0]->string.s);
     else
         printError(format("trace: %1%") % *args[0]);
-    state.forceValue(*args[1]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[1], pos);
     v = *args[1];
 }
 
@@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ static void prim_derivationStrict(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * *
         try {
 
             if (ignoreNulls) {
-                state.forceValue(*i->value);
+                state.forceValue(*i->value, pos);
                 if (i->value->type == tNull) continue;
             }
 
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ static void prim_filterSource(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args
     if (!context.empty())
         throw EvalError(format("string '%1%' cannot refer to other paths, at %2%") % path % pos);
 
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     if (args[0]->type != tLambda)
         throw TypeError(format("first argument in call to 'filterSource' is not a function but %1%, at %2%") % showType(*args[0]) % pos);
 
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ static void prim_path(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value
         } else if (attr.name == state.sName)
             name = state.forceStringNoCtx(*attr.value, *attr.pos);
         else if (n == "filter") {
-            state.forceValue(*attr.value);
+            state.forceValue(*attr.value, pos);
             filterFun = attr.value;
         } else if (n == "recursive")
             recursive = state.forceBool(*attr.value, *attr.pos);
@@ -1190,7 +1190,7 @@ void prim_getAttr(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
         throw EvalError(format("attribute '%1%' missing, at %2%") % attr % pos);
     // !!! add to stack trace?
     if (state.countCalls && i->pos) state.attrSelects[*i->pos]++;
-    state.forceValue(*i->value);
+    state.forceValue(*i->value, pos);
     v = *i->value;
 }
 
@@ -1220,7 +1220,7 @@ static void prim_hasAttr(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Val
 /* Determine whether the argument is a set. */
 static void prim_isAttrs(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     mkBool(v, args[0]->type == tAttrs);
 }
 
@@ -1346,7 +1346,7 @@ static void prim_catAttrs(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Va
 */
 static void prim_functionArgs(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     if (args[0]->type != tLambda)
         throw TypeError(format("'functionArgs' requires a function, at %1%") % pos);
 
@@ -1392,7 +1392,7 @@ static void prim_mapAttrs(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Va
 /* Determine whether the argument is a list. */
 static void prim_isList(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     mkBool(v, args[0]->isList());
 }
 
@@ -1402,7 +1402,7 @@ static void elemAt(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value & list, int n, Valu
     state.forceList(list, pos);
     if (n < 0 || (unsigned int) n >= list.listSize())
         throw Error(format("list index %1% is out of bounds, at %2%") % n % pos);
-    state.forceValue(*list.listElems()[n]);
+    state.forceValue(*list.listElems()[n], pos);
     v = *list.listElems()[n];
 }
 
@@ -1525,9 +1525,9 @@ static void prim_foldlStrict(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args,
             vCur = n == args[2]->listSize() - 1 ? &v : state.allocValue();
             state.callFunction(vTmp, *args[2]->listElems()[n], *vCur, pos);
         }
-        state.forceValue(v);
+        state.forceValue(v, pos);
     } else {
-        state.forceValue(*args[1]);
+        state.forceValue(*args[1], pos);
         v = *args[1];
     }
 }
@@ -1592,7 +1592,7 @@ static void prim_sort(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value
     auto len = args[1]->listSize();
     state.mkList(v, len);
     for (unsigned int n = 0; n < len; ++n) {
-        state.forceValue(*args[1]->listElems()[n]);
+        state.forceValue(*args[1]->listElems()[n], pos);
         v.listElems()[n] = args[1]->listElems()[n];
     }
 
@@ -1627,7 +1627,7 @@ static void prim_partition(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, V
 
     for (unsigned int n = 0; n < len; ++n) {
         auto vElem = args[1]->listElems()[n];
-        state.forceValue(*vElem);
+        state.forceValue(*vElem, pos);
         Value res;
         state.callFunction(*args[0], *vElem, res, pos);
         if (state.forceBool(res, pos))
@@ -1758,8 +1758,8 @@ static void prim_bitXor(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Valu
 
 static void prim_lessThan(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
 {
-    state.forceValue(*args[0]);
-    state.forceValue(*args[1]);
+    state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
+    state.forceValue(*args[1], pos);
     CompareValues comp;
     mkBool(v, comp(args[0], args[1]));
 }
diff --git a/src/libstore/build.cc b/src/libstore/build.cc
index b4207e1b8..572634765 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build.cc
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <sys/utsname.h>
-#include <sys/select.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 #include <sys/un.h>
@@ -43,6 +42,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <cstring>
 #include <termios.h>
+#include <poll.h>
 
 #include <pwd.h>
 #include <grp.h>
@@ -4789,8 +4789,7 @@ void Worker::waitForInput()
        terminated. */
 
     bool useTimeout = false;
-    struct timeval timeout;
-    timeout.tv_usec = 0;
+    long timeout = 0;
     auto before = steady_time_point::clock::now();
 
     /* If we're monitoring for silence on stdout/stderr, or if there
@@ -4808,7 +4807,7 @@ void Worker::waitForInput()
             nearest = std::min(nearest, i.timeStarted + std::chrono::seconds(settings.buildTimeout));
     }
     if (nearest != steady_time_point::max()) {
-        timeout.tv_sec = std::max(1L, (long) std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::seconds>(nearest - before).count());
+        timeout = std::max(1L, (long) std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::seconds>(nearest - before).count());
         useTimeout = true;
     }
 
@@ -4819,30 +4818,28 @@ void Worker::waitForInput()
         if (lastWokenUp == steady_time_point::min())
             printError("waiting for locks or build slots...");
         if (lastWokenUp == steady_time_point::min() || lastWokenUp > before) lastWokenUp = before;
-        timeout.tv_sec = std::max(1L,
+        timeout = std::max(1L,
             (long) std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::seconds>(
                 lastWokenUp + std::chrono::seconds(settings.pollInterval) - before).count());
     } else lastWokenUp = steady_time_point::min();
 
     if (useTimeout)
-        vomit("sleeping %d seconds", timeout.tv_sec);
+        vomit("sleeping %d seconds", timeout);
 
     /* Use select() to wait for the input side of any logger pipe to
        become `available'.  Note that `available' (i.e., non-blocking)
        includes EOF. */
-    fd_set fds;
-    FD_ZERO(&fds);
-    int fdMax = 0;
+    std::vector<struct pollfd> pollStatus;
+    std::map <int, int> fdToPollStatus;
     for (auto & i : children) {
         for (auto & j : i.fds) {
-            if (j >= FD_SETSIZE)
-                throw Error("reached FD_SETSIZE limit");
-            FD_SET(j, &fds);
-            if (j >= fdMax) fdMax = j + 1;
+            pollStatus.push_back((struct pollfd) { .fd = j, .events = POLLIN });
+            fdToPollStatus[j] = pollStatus.size() - 1;
         }
     }
 
-    if (select(fdMax, &fds, 0, 0, useTimeout ? &timeout : 0) == -1) {
+    if (poll(pollStatus.data(), pollStatus.size(),
+            useTimeout ? timeout * 1000 : -1) == -1) {
         if (errno == EINTR) return;
         throw SysError("waiting for input");
     }
@@ -4863,7 +4860,7 @@ void Worker::waitForInput()
         set<int> fds2(j->fds);
         std::vector<unsigned char> buffer(4096);
         for (auto & k : fds2) {
-            if (FD_ISSET(k, &fds)) {
+            if (pollStatus.at(fdToPollStatus.at(k)).revents) {
                 ssize_t rd = read(k, buffer.data(), buffer.size());
                 // FIXME: is there a cleaner way to handle pt close
                 // than EIO? Is this even standard?
diff --git a/src/libutil/ansicolor.hh b/src/libutil/ansicolor.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..390bd4d17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libutil/ansicolor.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#pragma once 
+
+namespace nix 
+{
+  /* Some ANSI escape sequences. */
+  #define ANSI_NORMAL "\e[0m"
+  #define ANSI_BOLD "\e[1m"
+  #define ANSI_FAINT "\e[2m"
+  #define ANSI_RED "\e[31;1m"
+  #define ANSI_GREEN "\e[32;1m"
+  #define ANSI_YELLOW "\e[33;1m"
+  #define ANSI_BLUE "\e[34;1m"
+}
diff --git a/src/libutil/error.cc b/src/libutil/error.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a5571d4ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libutil/error.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+#include "error.hh"
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <optional>
+
+namespace nix
+{
+
+std::optional<string> ErrorInfo::programName = std::nullopt;
+
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream &os, const hintformat &hf)
+{
+    return os << hf.str();
+}
+
+string showErrPos(const ErrPos &errPos)
+{
+    if (errPos.column > 0) {
+        return fmt("(%1%:%2%)", errPos.lineNumber, errPos.column);
+    } else {
+        return fmt("(%1%)", errPos.lineNumber);
+    };
+}
+
+void printCodeLines(const string &prefix, const NixCode &nixCode)
+{
+    // previous line of code.
+    if (nixCode.prevLineOfCode.has_value()) {
+        std::cout << fmt("%1% %|2$5d|| %3%",
+                         prefix,
+                         (nixCode.errPos.lineNumber - 1),
+                         *nixCode.prevLineOfCode)
+                  << std::endl;
+    }
+
+    // line of code containing the error.%2$+5d%
+    std::cout << fmt("%1% %|2$5d|| %3%",
+                     prefix,
+                     (nixCode.errPos.lineNumber),
+                     nixCode.errLineOfCode)
+              << std::endl;
+
+    // error arrows for the column range.
+    if (nixCode.errPos.column > 0) {
+        int start = nixCode.errPos.column;
+        std::string spaces;
+        for (int i = 0; i < start; ++i) {
+            spaces.append(" ");
+        }
+
+        std::string arrows("^");
+
+        std::cout << fmt("%1%      |%2%" ANSI_RED "%3%" ANSI_NORMAL,
+                         prefix,
+                         spaces,
+                         arrows) << std::endl;
+    }
+
+    // next line of code.
+    if (nixCode.nextLineOfCode.has_value()) {
+        std::cout << fmt("%1% %|2$5d|| %3%",
+                         prefix,
+                         (nixCode.errPos.lineNumber + 1),
+                         *nixCode.nextLineOfCode)
+                  << std::endl;
+    }
+}
+
+void printErrorInfo(const ErrorInfo &einfo)
+{
+    int errwidth = 80;
+    string prefix = "    ";
+
+    string levelString;
+    switch (einfo.level) {
+    case ErrLevel::elError: {
+        levelString = ANSI_RED;
+        levelString += "error:";
+        levelString += ANSI_NORMAL;
+        break;
+    }
+    case ErrLevel::elWarning: {
+        levelString = ANSI_YELLOW;
+        levelString += "warning:";
+        levelString += ANSI_NORMAL;
+        break;
+    }
+    default: {
+        levelString = fmt("invalid error level: %1%", einfo.level);
+        break;
+    }
+    }
+
+    int ndl = prefix.length() + levelString.length() + 3 + einfo.name.length() + einfo.programName.value_or("").length();
+    int dashwidth = ndl > (errwidth - 3) ? 3 : errwidth - ndl;
+
+    string dashes;
+    for (int i = 0; i < dashwidth; ++i)
+        dashes.append("-");
+
+    // divider.
+    std::cout << fmt("%1%%2%" ANSI_BLUE " %3% %4% %5% %6%" ANSI_NORMAL,
+                     prefix,
+                     levelString,
+                     "---",
+                     einfo.name,
+                     dashes,
+                     einfo.programName.value_or(""))
+              << std::endl;
+
+    // filename.
+    if (einfo.nixCode.has_value()) {
+        if (einfo.nixCode->errPos.nixFile != "") {
+            string eline = einfo.nixCode->errLineOfCode != ""
+                           ? string(" ") + showErrPos(einfo.nixCode->errPos)
+                           : "";
+
+            std::cout << fmt("%1%in file: " ANSI_BLUE "%2%%3%" ANSI_NORMAL,
+                             prefix, 
+                             einfo.nixCode->errPos.nixFile,
+                             eline) << std::endl;
+            std::cout << prefix << std::endl;
+        } else {
+            std::cout << fmt("%1%from command line argument", prefix) << std::endl;
+            std::cout << prefix << std::endl;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // description
+    std::cout << prefix << einfo.description << std::endl;
+    std::cout << prefix << std::endl;
+
+    // lines of code.
+    if (einfo.nixCode->errLineOfCode != "") {
+        printCodeLines(prefix, *einfo.nixCode);
+        std::cout << prefix << std::endl;
+    }
+
+    // hint
+    if (einfo.hint.has_value()) {
+        std::cout << prefix << *einfo.hint << std::endl;
+        std::cout << prefix << std::endl;
+    }
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/src/libutil/error.hh b/src/libutil/error.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f402b692e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libutil/error.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+#ifndef error_hh
+#define error_hh
+
+#include "ansicolor.hh"
+#include <string>
+#include <optional>
+#include <iostream>
+#include "types.hh"
+
+namespace nix
+{
+
+typedef enum {
+    elWarning,
+    elError
+} ErrLevel;
+
+struct ErrPos
+{
+    int lineNumber;
+    int column;
+    string nixFile;
+
+    template <class P>
+    ErrPos& operator=(const P &pos)
+    {
+        lineNumber = pos.line;
+        column = pos.column;
+        nixFile = pos.file;
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    template <class P>
+    ErrPos(const P &p)
+    {
+      *this = p;
+    }
+};
+
+struct NixCode
+{
+    ErrPos errPos;
+    std::optional<string> prevLineOfCode;
+    string errLineOfCode;
+    std::optional<string> nextLineOfCode;
+};
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------
+// format function for hints.  same as fmt, except templated values
+// are always in yellow.
+
+template <class T>
+struct yellowify
+{
+    yellowify(T &s) : value(s) {}
+    T &value;
+};
+
+template <class T>
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream &out, const yellowify<T> &y)
+{
+    return out << ANSI_YELLOW << y.value << ANSI_NORMAL;
+}
+
+class hintformat
+{
+public:
+    hintformat(string format) :fmt(format)
+    {
+        fmt.exceptions(boost::io::all_error_bits ^ boost::io::too_many_args_bit);
+    }
+    template<class T>
+    hintformat& operator%(const T &value)
+    {
+        fmt % yellowify(value);
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    std::string str() const
+    {
+        return fmt.str();
+    }
+
+    template <typename U>
+    friend class AddHint;
+private:
+    format fmt;
+};
+
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream &os, const hintformat &hf);
+
+template<typename... Args>
+inline hintformat hintfmt(const std::string & fs, const Args & ... args)
+{
+    hintformat f(fs);
+    formatHelper(f, args...);
+    return f;
+}
+
+// -------------------------------------------------
+// ErrorInfo.
+struct ErrorInfo
+{
+    ErrLevel level;
+    string name;
+    string description;
+    std::optional<hintformat> hint;
+    std::optional<NixCode> nixCode;
+
+    static std::optional<string> programName;
+};
+
+// --------------------------------------------------------
+// error printing
+
+// just to cout for now.
+void printErrorInfo(const ErrorInfo &einfo);
+
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/libutil/types.hh b/src/libutil/types.hh
index a1ce7b372..250c9581d 100644
--- a/src/libutil/types.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/types.hh
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ struct FormatOrString
 {
     string s;
     FormatOrString(const string & s) : s(s) { };
-    FormatOrString(const format & f) : s(f.str()) { };
+    template<class F>
+    FormatOrString(const F & f) : s(f.str()) { };
     FormatOrString(const char * s) : s(s) { };
 };
 
@@ -51,12 +52,13 @@ struct FormatOrString
    ... a_n’. However, ‘fmt(s)’ is equivalent to ‘s’ (so no %-expansion
    takes place). */
 
-inline void formatHelper(boost::format & f)
+template<class F>
+inline void formatHelper(F & f)
 {
 }
 
-template<typename T, typename... Args>
-inline void formatHelper(boost::format & f, const T & x, const Args & ... args)
+template<class F, typename T, typename... Args>
+inline void formatHelper(F & f, const T & x, const Args & ... args)
 {
     formatHelper(f % x, args...);
 }
diff --git a/src/libutil/util.hh b/src/libutil/util.hh
index d4d0b9f7e..7a846c131 100644
--- a/src/libutil/util.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/util.hh
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "types.hh"
 #include "logging.hh"
+#include "ansicolor.hh"
 
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
@@ -450,15 +451,6 @@ std::string shellEscape(const std::string & s);
 void ignoreException();
 
 
-/* Some ANSI escape sequences. */
-#define ANSI_NORMAL "\e[0m"
-#define ANSI_BOLD "\e[1m"
-#define ANSI_FAINT "\e[2m"
-#define ANSI_RED "\e[31;1m"
-#define ANSI_GREEN "\e[32;1m"
-#define ANSI_YELLOW "\e[33;1m"
-#define ANSI_BLUE "\e[34;1m"
-
 
 /* Tree formatting. */
 constexpr char treeConn[] = "├───";