diff --git a/src/buffer/Buffer.zig b/src/buffer/Buffer.zig
index 4733e33..a5b2b16 100644
--- a/src/buffer/Buffer.zig
+++ b/src/buffer/Buffer.zig
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ pub const Metrics = struct {
     egc_chunk_width: egc_chunk_width_func,
     egc_last: egc_last_func,
     tab_width: usize,
-    pub const egc_length_func = *const fn (self: Metrics, egcs: []const u8, colcount: *c_int, abs_col: usize) usize;
+    pub const egc_length_func = *const fn (self: Metrics, egcs: []const u8, colcount: *usize, abs_col: usize) usize;
     pub const egc_chunk_width_func = *const fn (self: Metrics, chunk_: []const u8, abs_col_: usize) usize;
     pub const egc_last_func = *const fn (self: Metrics, egcs: []const u8) []const u8;
 };
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ pub const Leaf = struct {
     fn pos_to_width(self: *const Leaf, pos: *usize, abs_col_: usize, metrics: Metrics) usize {
         var col: usize = 0;
         var abs_col = abs_col_;
-        var cols: c_int = 0;
+        var cols: usize = 0;
         var buf = self.buf;
         while (buf.len > 0 and pos.* > 0) {
             if (buf[0] == '\t') {
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ pub const Leaf = struct {
     inline fn width_to_pos(self: *const Leaf, col_: usize, abs_col_: usize, metrics: Metrics) !usize {
         var abs_col = abs_col_;
         var col = col_;
-        var cols: c_int = 0;
+        var cols: usize = 0;
         var buf = self.buf;
         return while (buf.len > 0) {
             if (col == 0)
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ pub const Leaf = struct {
     }
 
     fn debug_render_chunk(chunk: []const u8, l: *std.Io.Writer, metrics: Metrics) !void {
-        var cols: c_int = 0;
+        var cols: usize = 0;
         var buf = chunk;
         while (buf.len > 0) {
             switch (buf[0]) {
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ const Node = union(enum) {
                 const ctx = @as(*@This(), @ptrCast(@alignCast(ctx_)));
                 var buf: []const u8 = leaf.buf;
                 while (buf.len > 0) {
-                    var cols: c_int = undefined;
+                    var cols: usize = undefined;
                     const bytes = metrics.egc_length(metrics, buf, &cols, ctx.abs_col);
                     const ret = ctx.walker_f(ctx.walker_ctx, buf[0..bytes], @intCast(cols), metrics);
                     if (ret.err) |e| return .{ .err = e };
diff --git a/src/renderer/vaxis/Plane.zig b/src/renderer/vaxis/Plane.zig
index ac02778..5cf7aeb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/vaxis/Plane.zig
+++ b/src/renderer/vaxis/Plane.zig
@@ -78,23 +78,23 @@ pub fn erase(self: Plane) void {
     self.window.fill(.{ .style = self.style_base });
 }
 
-pub inline fn abs_y(self: Plane) c_int {
-    return @intCast(self.window.y_off);
+pub inline fn abs_y(self: Plane) i32 {
+    return self.window.y_off;
 }
 
-pub inline fn abs_x(self: Plane) c_int {
-    return @intCast(self.window.x_off);
+pub inline fn abs_x(self: Plane) i32 {
+    return self.window.x_off;
 }
 
-pub inline fn dim_y(self: Plane) c_uint {
-    return @intCast(self.window.height);
+pub inline fn dim_y(self: Plane) u31 {
+    return self.window.height;
 }
 
-pub inline fn dim_x(self: Plane) c_uint {
-    return @intCast(self.window.width);
+pub inline fn dim_x(self: Plane) u31 {
+    return self.window.width;
 }
 
-pub fn abs_yx_to_rel_nearest_x(self: Plane, y: c_int, x: c_int, xoffset: c_int) struct { c_int, c_int } {
+pub fn abs_yx_to_rel_nearest_x(self: Plane, y: i32, x: i32, xoffset: i32) struct { i32, i32 } {
     if (self.window.screen.width == 0 or self.window.screen.height == 0) return self.abs_yx_to_rel(y, x);
     const xextra = self.window.screen.width_pix % self.window.screen.width;
     const xcell = (self.window.screen.width_pix - xextra) / self.window.screen.width;
@@ -105,26 +105,26 @@ pub fn abs_yx_to_rel_nearest_x(self: Plane, y: c_int, x: c_int, xoffset: c_int)
     return self.abs_yx_to_rel(y, x);
 }
 
-pub fn abs_yx_to_rel(self: Plane, y: c_int, x: c_int) struct { c_int, c_int } {
+pub fn abs_yx_to_rel(self: Plane, y: i32, x: i32) struct { i32, i32 } {
     return .{ y - self.abs_y(), x - self.abs_x() };
 }
 
-pub fn abs_y_to_rel(self: Plane, y: c_int) c_int {
+pub fn abs_y_to_rel(self: Plane, y: i32) i32 {
     return y - self.abs_y();
 }
 
-pub fn rel_yx_to_abs(self: Plane, y: c_int, x: c_int) struct { c_int, c_int } {
+pub fn rel_yx_to_abs(self: Plane, y: i32, x: i32) struct { i32, i32 } {
     return .{ self.abs_y() + y, self.abs_x() + x };
 }
 
 pub fn hide(_: Plane) void {}
 
-pub fn move_yx(self: *Plane, y: c_int, x: c_int) !void {
+pub fn move_yx(self: *Plane, y: i32, x: i32) !void {
     self.window.y_off = @intCast(y);
     self.window.x_off = @intCast(x);
 }
 
-pub fn resize_simple(self: *Plane, ylen: c_uint, xlen: c_uint) !void {
+pub fn resize_simple(self: *Plane, ylen: u32, xlen: u32) !void {
     self.window.height = @intCast(ylen);
     self.window.width = @intCast(xlen);
 }
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ pub fn home(self: *Plane) void {
 pub fn fill(self: *Plane, egc: []const u8) void {
     for (0..self.dim_y()) |y|
         for (0..self.dim_x()) |x|
-            self.write_cell(x, y, egc);
+            self.write_cell(@intCast(x), @intCast(y), egc);
     if (self.col > 100000) std.log.debug("column: {}", .{self.col});
 }
 
@@ -160,12 +160,12 @@ pub fn print(self: *Plane, comptime fmt: anytype, args: anytype) !usize {
     return self.putstr(text);
 }
 
-pub fn print_aligned_right(self: *Plane, y: c_int, comptime fmt: anytype, args: anytype) !usize {
+pub fn print_aligned_right(self: *Plane, y: i32, comptime fmt: anytype, args: anytype) !usize {
     var buf: [fmt.len + 4096]u8 = undefined;
     const width = self.window.width;
     const text = try std.fmt.bufPrint(&buf, fmt, args);
     const text_width = self.egc_chunk_width(text, 0, 8);
-    self.row = @intCast(y);
+    self.row = y;
     self.col = @intCast(if (text_width >= width) 0 else width - text_width);
     return self.putstr(text);
 }
@@ -181,12 +181,12 @@ pub fn print_right(self: *Plane, comptime fmt: anytype, args: anytype) !usize {
     return self.putstr(text);
 }
 
-pub fn print_aligned_center(self: *Plane, y: c_int, comptime fmt: anytype, args: anytype) !usize {
+pub fn print_aligned_center(self: *Plane, y: i32, comptime fmt: anytype, args: anytype) !usize {
     var buf: [fmt.len + 4096]u8 = undefined;
     const width = self.window.width;
     const text = try std.fmt.bufPrint(&buf, fmt, args);
     const text_width = self.egc_chunk_width(text, 0, 8);
-    self.row = @intCast(y);
+    self.row = y;
     self.col = @intCast(if (text_width >= width) 0 else (width - text_width) / 2);
     return self.putstr(text);
 }
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ pub fn putstr(self: *Plane, text: []const u8) !usize {
                 self.col = 0;
             } else return result;
         }
-        self.write_cell(@intCast(self.col), @intCast(self.row), s);
+        self.write_cell(self.col, self.row, s);
         result += 1;
     }
     return result;
@@ -228,30 +228,30 @@ pub fn putstr_unicode(self: *Plane, text: []const u8) !usize {
             0...31 => |code| Buffer.unicode.control_code_to_unicode(code),
             else => s_,
         };
-        self.write_cell(@intCast(self.col), @intCast(self.row), s);
+        self.write_cell(self.col, self.row, s);
         result += 1;
     }
     return result;
 }
 
 pub fn putchar(self: *Plane, ecg: []const u8) void {
-    self.write_cell(@intCast(self.col), @intCast(self.row), ecg);
+    self.write_cell(self.col, self.row, ecg);
 }
 
 pub fn putc(self: *Plane, cell: *const Cell) !usize {
-    return self.putc_yx(@intCast(self.row), @intCast(self.col), cell);
+    return self.putc_yx(self.row, self.col, cell);
 }
 
-pub fn putc_yx(self: *Plane, y: c_int, x: c_int, cell: *const Cell) !usize {
+pub fn putc_yx(self: *Plane, y: i32, x: i32, cell: *const Cell) !usize {
     try self.cursor_move_yx(y, x);
     const w = if (cell.cell.char.width == 0) self.window.gwidth(cell.cell.char.grapheme) else cell.cell.char.width;
     if (w == 0) return w;
     self.window.writeCell(@intCast(self.col), @intCast(self.row), cell.cell);
-    self.col += @intCast(w);
+    self.col += w;
     return w;
 }
 
-fn write_cell(self: *Plane, col: usize, row: usize, egc: []const u8) void {
+fn write_cell(self: *Plane, col: i32, row: i32, egc: []const u8) void {
     var cell: vaxis.Cell = self.window.readCell(@intCast(col), @intCast(row)) orelse .{ .style = self.style };
     const w = self.window.gwidth(egc);
     cell.char.grapheme = self.cache.put(egc);
@@ -262,41 +262,39 @@ fn write_cell(self: *Plane, col: usize, row: usize, egc: []const u8) void {
         cell.style = self.style;
     }
     self.window.writeCell(@intCast(col), @intCast(row), cell);
-    self.row = @intCast(row);
-    self.col = @intCast(col);
-    self.col += @intCast(w);
+    self.row = row;
+    self.col = col;
+    self.col += w;
 }
 
-pub fn cursor_yx(self: Plane, y: *c_uint, x: *c_uint) void {
-    y.* = @intCast(self.row);
-    x.* = @intCast(self.col);
+pub fn cursor_yx(self: Plane, y: *i32, x: *i32) void {
+    y.* = self.row;
+    x.* = self.col;
 }
 
-pub fn cursor_y(self: Plane) c_uint {
-    return @intCast(self.row);
+pub fn cursor_y(self: Plane) i32 {
+    return self.row;
 }
 
-pub fn cursor_x(self: Plane) c_uint {
-    return @intCast(self.col);
+pub fn cursor_x(self: Plane) i32 {
+    return self.col;
 }
 
-pub fn cursor_move_yx(self: *Plane, y: c_int, x: c_int) !void {
+pub fn cursor_move_yx(self: *Plane, y: i32, x: i32) !void {
     if (self.window.height == 0 or self.window.width == 0) return;
     if (self.window.height <= y or self.window.width <= x) return;
-    if (y >= 0)
-        self.row = @intCast(y);
-    if (x >= 0)
-        self.col = @intCast(x);
+    self.row = y;
+    self.col = x;
 }
 
-pub fn cursor_move_rel(self: *Plane, y: c_int, x: c_int) !void {
+pub fn cursor_move_rel(self: *Plane, y: i32, x: i32) !void {
     if (self.window.height == 0 or self.window.width == 0) return error.OutOfBounds;
-    const new_y: isize = @as(c_int, @intCast(self.row)) + y;
-    const new_x: isize = @as(c_int, @intCast(self.col)) + x;
+    const new_y = self.row + y;
+    const new_x = self.col + x;
     if (new_y < 0 or new_x < 0) return error.OutOfBounds;
     if (self.window.height <= new_y or self.window.width <= new_x) return error.OutOfBounds;
-    self.row = @intCast(new_y);
-    self.col = @intCast(new_x);
+    self.row = new_y;
+    self.col = new_x;
 }
 
 pub fn cell_init(self: Plane) Cell {
@@ -304,7 +302,7 @@ pub fn cell_init(self: Plane) Cell {
 }
 
 pub fn cell_load(self: *Plane, cell: *Cell, gcluster: []const u8) !usize {
-    var cols: c_int = 0;
+    var cols: usize = 0;
     const bytes = self.egc_length(gcluster, &cols, 0, 1);
     cell.cell.char.grapheme = self.cache.put(gcluster[0..bytes]);
     cell.cell.char.width = @intCast(cols);
@@ -357,12 +355,12 @@ pub fn set_bg_rgb_alpha(self: *Plane, alpha_bg: ThemeColor, col: ThemeColor) !vo
     self.style.bg = apply_alpha_theme(alpha_bg, col);
 }
 
-pub fn set_fg_palindex(self: *Plane, idx: c_uint) !void {
-    self.style.fg = .{ .index = @intCast(idx) };
+pub fn set_fg_palindex(self: *Plane, idx: u8) !void {
+    self.style.fg = .{ .index = idx };
 }
 
-pub fn set_bg_palindex(self: *Plane, idx: c_uint) !void {
-    self.style.bg = .{ .index = @intCast(idx) };
+pub fn set_bg_palindex(self: *Plane, idx: u8) !void {
+    self.style.bg = .{ .index = idx };
 }
 
 pub inline fn set_base_style(self: *Plane, style_: Style) void {
@@ -446,7 +444,7 @@ inline fn is_control_code(c: u8) bool {
     };
 }
 
-pub fn egc_length(self: *const Plane, egcs: []const u8, colcount: *c_int, abs_col: usize, tab_width: usize) usize {
+pub fn egc_length(self: *const Plane, egcs: []const u8, colcount: *usize, abs_col: usize, tab_width: usize) usize {
     if (egcs.len == 0) {
         colcount.* = 0;
         return 0;
@@ -456,7 +454,7 @@ pub fn egc_length(self: *const Plane, egcs: []const u8, colcount: *c_int, abs_co
         return 1;
     }
     if (egcs[0] == '\t') {
-        colcount.* = @intCast(tab_width - (abs_col % tab_width));
+        colcount.* = tab_width - (abs_col % tab_width);
         return 1;
     }
     var iter = vaxis.unicode.graphemeIterator(egcs);
@@ -466,7 +464,7 @@ pub fn egc_length(self: *const Plane, egcs: []const u8, colcount: *c_int, abs_co
     };
     const s = grapheme.bytes(egcs);
     const w = self.window.gwidth(s);
-    colcount.* = @intCast(w);
+    colcount.* = w;
     return s.len;
 }
 
@@ -474,11 +472,11 @@ pub fn egc_chunk_width(self: *const Plane, chunk_: []const u8, abs_col_: usize,
     var abs_col = abs_col_;
     var chunk = chunk_;
     var colcount: usize = 0;
-    var cols: c_int = 0;
+    var cols: usize = 0;
     while (chunk.len > 0) {
         const bytes = self.egc_length(chunk, &cols, abs_col, tab_width);
-        colcount += @intCast(cols);
-        abs_col += @intCast(cols);
+        colcount += cols;
+        abs_col += cols;
         if (chunk.len < bytes) break;
         chunk = chunk[bytes..];
     }
@@ -489,11 +487,11 @@ pub fn egc_chunk_col_pos(self: *const Plane, chunk_: []const u8, abs_col_: usize
     var abs_col = abs_col_;
     var chunk = chunk_;
     var colcount: usize = 0;
-    var cols: c_int = 0;
+    var cols: usize = 0;
     while (chunk.len > 0 and colcount < col) {
         const bytes = self.egc_length(chunk, &cols, abs_col, tab_width);
-        colcount += @intCast(cols);
-        abs_col += @intCast(cols);
+        colcount += cols;
+        abs_col += cols;
         if (chunk.len < bytes) break;
         chunk = chunk[bytes..];
     }
@@ -511,7 +509,7 @@ pub fn metrics(self: *const Plane, tab_width: usize) Buffer.Metrics {
     return .{
         .ctx = self,
         .egc_length = struct {
-            fn f(self_: Buffer.Metrics, egcs: []const u8, colcount: *c_int, abs_col: usize) usize {
+            fn f(self_: Buffer.Metrics, egcs: []const u8, colcount: *usize, abs_col: usize) usize {
                 const plane: *const Plane = @ptrCast(@alignCast(self_.ctx));
                 return plane.egc_length(egcs, colcount, abs_col, self_.tab_width);
             }
diff --git a/src/renderer/vaxis/renderer.zig b/src/renderer/vaxis/renderer.zig
index fbf6abf..d687333 100644
--- a/src/renderer/vaxis/renderer.zig
+++ b/src/renderer/vaxis/renderer.zig
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ bracketed_paste_buffer: std.Io.Writer.Allocating,
 
 handler_ctx: *anyopaque,
 dispatch_input: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
-dispatch_mouse: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, y: c_int, x: c_int, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
-dispatch_mouse_drag: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, y: c_int, x: c_int, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
+dispatch_mouse: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, y: i32, x: i32, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
+dispatch_mouse_drag: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, y: i32, x: i32, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
 dispatch_event: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
 
 logger: log.Logger,
diff --git a/src/renderer/win32/renderer.zig b/src/renderer/win32/renderer.zig
index 52acfbc..499e1d1 100644
--- a/src/renderer/win32/renderer.zig
+++ b/src/renderer/win32/renderer.zig
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ event_buffer: std.Io.Writer.Allocating,
 handler_ctx: *anyopaque,
 dispatch_initialized: *const fn (ctx: *anyopaque) void,
 dispatch_input: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
-dispatch_mouse: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, y: c_int, x: c_int, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
-dispatch_mouse_drag: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, y: c_int, x: c_int, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
+dispatch_mouse: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, y: i32, x: i32, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
+dispatch_mouse_drag: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, y: i32, x: i32, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
 dispatch_event: ?*const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, cbor_msg: []const u8) void = null,
 
 thread: ?std.Thread = null,
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ pub fn request_mouse_cursor_default(self: *Self, push_or_pop: bool) void {
     _ = push_or_pop;
     //@panic("todo");
 }
-pub fn cursor_enable(self: *Self, y: c_int, x: c_int, shape: CursorShape) !void {
+pub fn cursor_enable(self: *Self, y: i32, x: i32, shape: CursorShape) !void {
     _ = self;
     _ = y;
     _ = x;
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ pub fn clear_all_multi_cursors(self: *Self) !void {
     _ = self;
     //@panic("todo");
 }
-pub fn show_multi_cursor_yx(self: *Self, y: c_int, x: c_int) !void {
+pub fn show_multi_cursor_yx(self: *Self, y: i32, x: i32) !void {
     _ = self;
     _ = y;
     _ = x;
diff --git a/src/tui/editor.zig b/src/tui/editor.zig
index 005887e..63e34cc 100644
--- a/src/tui/editor.zig
+++ b/src/tui/editor.zig
@@ -1361,8 +1361,8 @@ pub const Editor = struct {
     }
 
     fn render_matches(self: *const Self, last_idx: *usize, theme: *const Widget.Theme, cell: *Cell) void {
-        var y: c_uint = undefined;
-        var x: c_uint = undefined;
+        var y: i32 = undefined;
+        var x: i32 = undefined;
         self.plane.cursor_yx(&y, &x);
         while (true) {
             if (last_idx.* >= self.matches.items.len)
@@ -1380,8 +1380,8 @@ pub const Editor = struct {
     }
 
     fn render_selections(self: *const Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme, cell: *Cell) void {
-        var y: c_uint = undefined;
-        var x: c_uint = undefined;
+        var y: i32 = undefined;
+        var x: i32 = undefined;
         self.plane.cursor_yx(&y, &x);
 
         for (self.cursels.items) |*cursel_| if (cursel_.*) |*cursel|
@@ -1728,7 +1728,9 @@ pub const Editor = struct {
         return style_cache_lookup(theme, cache, scope, id);
     }
 
-    inline fn is_point_in_selection(self: *const Self, sel_: anytype, y: c_uint, x: c_uint) bool {
+    inline fn is_point_in_selection(self: *const Self, sel_: anytype, y_: i32, x_: i32) bool {
+        const y: u32 = if (y_ < 0) return false else @intCast(y_);
+        const x: u32 = if (x_ < 0) return false else @intCast(x_);
         const sel = sel_;
         const row = self.view.row + y;
         const col = self.view.col + x;
@@ -1737,11 +1739,14 @@ pub const Editor = struct {
         return sel.begin.row <= row and row <= sel.end.row and b_col <= col and col < e_col;
     }
 
-    inline fn is_point_before_selection(self: *const Self, sel_: anytype, y: c_uint, x: c_uint) bool {
+    inline fn is_point_before_selection(self: *const Self, sel_: anytype, y_: i32, x_: i32) bool {
+        const y: u32 = if (y_ < 0) return true else @intCast(y_);
         const sel = sel_;
         const row = self.view.row + y;
+        if (row < sel.begin.row) return true;
+        const x: u32 = if (x_ < 0) return true else @intCast(x_);
         const col = self.view.col + x;
-        return row < sel.begin.row or (row == sel.begin.row and col < sel.begin.col);
+        return row == sel.begin.row and col < sel.begin.col;
     }
 
     inline fn screen_cursor(self: *const Self, cursor: *const Cursor) ?Cursor {
@@ -3958,7 +3963,7 @@ pub const Editor = struct {
 
         var text_egcs = text;
         while (text_egcs.len > 0) {
-            var colcount: c_int = 1;
+            var colcount: usize = 1;
             const egc_len = self.metrics.egc_length(self.metrics, text_egcs, &colcount, 0);
             switch (text_egcs[0]) {
                 '\t' => underlined.writer.writeAll("\t") catch {},
diff --git a/src/tui/status/tabs.zig b/src/tui/status/tabs.zig
index 5a77307..4265eba 100644
--- a/src/tui/status/tabs.zig
+++ b/src/tui/status/tabs.zig
@@ -439,8 +439,8 @@ const Tab = struct {
     tabbar: *TabBar,
     buffer_ref: usize,
     tab_style: *const Style,
-    close_pos: ?c_uint = null,
-    save_pos: ?c_uint = null,
+    close_pos: ?i32 = null,
+    save_pos: ?i32 = null,
     on_event: ?EventHandler = null,
 
     const Mode = enum { active, inactive, selected };
diff --git a/test/tests_buffer.zig b/test/tests_buffer.zig
index a2a8560..03ecb97 100644
--- a/test/tests_buffer.zig
+++ b/test/tests_buffer.zig
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ fn metrics() Buffer.Metrics {
     return .{
         .ctx = undefined,
         .egc_length = struct {
-            fn f(_: Buffer.Metrics, _: []const u8, colcount: *c_int, _: usize) usize {
+            fn f(_: Buffer.Metrics, _: []const u8, colcount: *usize, _: usize) usize {
                 colcount.* = 1;
                 return 1;
             }
diff --git a/test/tests_helix.zig b/test/tests_helix.zig
index d74d511..02c3b6e 100644
--- a/test/tests_helix.zig
+++ b/test/tests_helix.zig
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ fn metrics() Buffer.Metrics {
     return .{
         .ctx = undefined,
         .egc_length = struct {
-            fn f(_: Buffer.Metrics, _: []const u8, colcount: *c_int, _: usize) usize {
+            fn f(_: Buffer.Metrics, _: []const u8, colcount: *usize, _: usize) usize {
                 colcount.* = 1;
                 return 1;
             }