diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d02ea5c..d3b3343 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 *.exe
 *.exe
 cln
+cln.log
diff --git a/instruction.go b/instruction.go
index cb5efaa..decaf83 100644
--- a/instruction.go
+++ b/instruction.go
@@ -132,12 +132,14 @@ func isTrue(value string) bool {
 func (instruction *LinkInstruction) RunAsync(status chan (error)) {
 	defer close(status)
 	if !FileExists(instruction.Source) {
-		status <- fmt.Errorf("instruction source %s%s%s does not exist", SourceColor, instruction.Source, DefaultColor)
+		status <- fmt.Errorf("instruction source %s does not exist", FormatSourcePath(instruction.Source))
 		return
 	}
 
 	if !instruction.Force && AreSame(instruction.Source, instruction.Target) {
-		status <- fmt.Errorf("source %s%s%s and target %s%s%s are the same, %snothing to do...%s", SourceColor, instruction.Source, DefaultColor, TargetColor, instruction.Target, DefaultColor, PathColor, DefaultColor)
+		status <- fmt.Errorf("source %s and target %s are the same, nothing to do...",
+			FormatSourcePath(instruction.Source),
+			FormatTargetPath(instruction.Target))
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -145,21 +147,24 @@ func (instruction *LinkInstruction) RunAsync(status chan (error)) {
 		if instruction.Force {
 			isSymlink, err := IsSymlink(instruction.Target)
 			if err != nil {
-				status <- fmt.Errorf("could not determine whether %s%s%s is a sym link or not, stopping; err: %s%+v%s", TargetColor, instruction.Target, DefaultColor, ErrorColor, err, DefaultColor)
+				status <- fmt.Errorf("could not determine whether %s is a sym link or not, stopping; err: %v",
+					FormatTargetPath(instruction.Target), err)
 				return
 			}
 
 			if instruction.Hard {
 				info, err := os.Stat(instruction.Target)
 				if err != nil {
-					status <- fmt.Errorf("could not stat %s%s%s, stopping; err: %s%+v%s", TargetColor, instruction.Target, DefaultColor, ErrorColor, err, DefaultColor)
+					status <- fmt.Errorf("could not stat %s, stopping; err: %v",
+						FormatTargetPath(instruction.Target), err)
 					return
 				}
 				if info.Mode().IsRegular() && info.Name() == filepath.Base(instruction.Source) {
 					LogTarget("Overwriting existing file %s", instruction.Target)
 					err := os.Remove(instruction.Target)
 					if err != nil {
-						status <- fmt.Errorf("could not remove existing file %s%s%s; err: %s%+v%s", TargetColor, instruction.Target, DefaultColor, ErrorColor, err, DefaultColor)
+						status <- fmt.Errorf("could not remove existing file %s; err: %v",
+							FormatTargetPath(instruction.Target), err)
 						return
 					}
 				}
@@ -169,23 +174,27 @@ func (instruction *LinkInstruction) RunAsync(status chan (error)) {
 				LogTarget("Removing symlink at %s", instruction.Target)
 				err = os.Remove(instruction.Target)
 				if err != nil {
-					status <- fmt.Errorf("failed deleting %s%s%s due to %s%+v%s", TargetColor, instruction.Target, DefaultColor, ErrorColor, err, DefaultColor)
+					status <- fmt.Errorf("failed deleting %s due to %v",
+						FormatTargetPath(instruction.Target), err)
 					return
 				}
 			} else {
 				if !instruction.Delete {
-					status <- fmt.Errorf("refusing to delte actual (non symlink) file %s%s%s", TargetColor, instruction.Target, DefaultColor)
+					status <- fmt.Errorf("refusing to delte actual (non symlink) file %s",
+						FormatTargetPath(instruction.Target))
 					return
 				}
 				LogImportant("Deleting (!!!) %s", instruction.Target)
 				err = os.RemoveAll(instruction.Target)
 				if err != nil {
-					status <- fmt.Errorf("failed deleting %s%s%s due to %s%+v%s", TargetColor, instruction.Target, DefaultColor, ErrorColor, err, DefaultColor)
+					status <- fmt.Errorf("failed deleting %s due to %v",
+						FormatTargetPath(instruction.Target), err)
 					return
 				}
 			}
 		} else {
-			status <- fmt.Errorf("target %s%s%s exists - handle manually or set the 'forced' flag (3rd field)", TargetColor, instruction.Target, DefaultColor)
+			status <- fmt.Errorf("target %s exists - handle manually or set the 'forced' flag (3rd field)",
+				FormatTargetPath(instruction.Target))
 			return
 		}
 	}
@@ -194,7 +203,8 @@ func (instruction *LinkInstruction) RunAsync(status chan (error)) {
 	if _, err := os.Stat(targetDir); os.IsNotExist(err) {
 		err = os.MkdirAll(targetDir, 0755)
 		if err != nil {
-			status <- fmt.Errorf("failed creating directory %s%s%s due to %s%+v%s", TargetColor, targetDir, DefaultColor, ErrorColor, err, DefaultColor)
+			status <- fmt.Errorf("failed creating directory %s due to %v",
+				FormatTargetPath(targetDir), err)
 			return
 		}
 	}
@@ -206,7 +216,10 @@ func (instruction *LinkInstruction) RunAsync(status chan (error)) {
 		err = os.Symlink(instruction.Source, instruction.Target)
 	}
 	if err != nil {
-		status <- fmt.Errorf("failed creating symlink between %s%s%s and %s%s%s with error %s%+v%s", SourceColor, instruction.Source, DefaultColor, TargetColor, instruction.Target, DefaultColor, ErrorColor, err, DefaultColor)
+		status <- fmt.Errorf("failed creating symlink between %s and %s with error %v",
+			FormatSourcePath(instruction.Source),
+			FormatTargetPath(instruction.Target),
+			err)
 		return
 	}
 	LogInfo("Created symlink between %s and %s",
diff --git a/logger.go b/logger.go
index e7e0877..a32036b 100644
--- a/logger.go
+++ b/logger.go
@@ -5,62 +5,88 @@ import (
 	"log"
 )
 
+// Message type prefixes
+const (
+	InfoPrefix      = "INFO"
+	ErrorPrefix     = "ERROR"
+	WarningPrefix   = "WARN"
+	SourcePrefix    = "SOURCE"
+	TargetPrefix    = "TARGET"
+	PathPrefix      = "PATH"
+	ImportantPrefix = "IMPORTANT"
+)
+
 // LogInfo logs an informational message
 func LogInfo(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	log.Printf(format, args...)
+	message := fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)
+	log.Printf("%s[%s]%s %s", BGreen, InfoPrefix, Reset, message)
 }
 
 // LogSource logs a message about a source file/path with proper coloring
 func LogSource(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	message := fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)
-	log.Printf("%s%s%s", SourceColor, message, DefaultColor)
+	log.Printf("%s[%s]%s %s%s%s", BPurple, SourcePrefix, Reset, SourceColor, message, Reset)
 }
 
 // LogTarget logs a message about a target file/path with proper coloring
 func LogTarget(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	message := fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)
-	log.Printf("%s%s%s", TargetColor, message, DefaultColor)
+	log.Printf("%s[%s]%s %s%s%s", BYellow, TargetPrefix, Reset, TargetColor, message, Reset)
 }
 
 // LogPath logs a message about a path with proper coloring
 func LogPath(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	message := fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)
-	log.Printf("%s%s%s", PathColor, message, DefaultColor)
+	log.Printf("%s[%s]%s %s%s%s", BGreen, PathPrefix, Reset, PathColor, message, Reset)
 }
 
 // LogImportant logs a message that needs attention with proper coloring
 func LogImportant(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	message := fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)
-	log.Printf("%s%s%s", ImportantColor, message, DefaultColor)
+	log.Printf("%s[%s]%s %s%s%s", BRed, ImportantPrefix, Reset, ImportantColor, message, Reset)
 }
 
 // LogError logs an error message with proper coloring that won't be cut off
 func LogError(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+	// Format the message first with normal text (no red coloring)
 	message := fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)
-	log.Printf("%s%s%s", ErrorColor, message, DefaultColor)
-	// Make sure we're properly resetting before applying error color to avoid cutoffs
-	log.Printf("%s%s%s", ErrorColor, fmt.Sprintf(format, args...), DefaultColor)
+
+	// The Error prefix itself is bold red on a light background for maximum visibility
+	prefix := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s[%s]%s ", BRed, On_White, ErrorPrefix, Reset)
+
+	// The message is in default color (no red), only the [ERROR] prefix is colored
+	log.Printf("%s%s", prefix, message)
 }
 
-// FormatSourcePath formats a source path with proper coloring
+// FormatSourcePath returns a source path with proper coloring
 func FormatSourcePath(path string) string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s%s%s", SourceColor, path, DefaultColor)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s%s%s", SourceColor, path, Reset)
 }
 
-// FormatTargetPath formats a target path with proper coloring
+// FormatTargetPath returns a target path with proper coloring
 func FormatTargetPath(path string) string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s%s%s", TargetColor, path, DefaultColor)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s%s%s", TargetColor, path, Reset)
 }
 
-// FormatPathValue formats a path value with proper coloring
+// FormatPathValue returns a path with proper coloring
 func FormatPathValue(path string) string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s%s%s", PathColor, path, DefaultColor)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s%s%s", PathColor, path, Reset)
 }
 
-// FormatErrorValue formats an error value with proper coloring
+// FormatErrorValue returns an error value without any additional formatting
+// Since error messages are no longer red, we don't need special formatting
 func FormatErrorValue(err error) string {
 	if err == nil {
 		return ""
 	}
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s%v%s", ErrorColor, err, DefaultColor)
+	// Just return the error string with no color formatting
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%v", err)
+}
+
+// FormatErrorMessage formats an error message with no additional color formatting,
+// while preserving the special formatting of embedded source/target/path elements.
+func FormatErrorMessage(format string, args ...interface{}) string {
+	// This just formats the message with no additional color formatting
+	// The path formatting will still be preserved
+	return fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)
 }
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 85eb833..f82f3f6 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ import (
 const deliminer = ","
 const SourceColor = Purple
 const TargetColor = Yellow
-const ErrorColor = URed
+const ErrorColor = Red
 const ImportantColor = BRed
-const DefaultColor = White
+const DefaultColor = Reset
 const PathColor = Green
 
 var FileRegex, _ = regexp.Compile(`sync\.ya?ml$`)
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	if *debug {
 		log.SetFlags(log.Lmicroseconds | log.Lshortfile)
-		logFile, err := os.Create("cln.log")
+		logFile, err := os.Create(programName + ".log")
 		if err != nil {
 			LogError("Error creating log file: %v", err)
 			os.Exit(1)
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func main() {
 		}
 	}()
 
-	var instructionsDone int32
+	var instructionsDone int32 = 0
 	var wg sync.WaitGroup
 	for {
 		instruction, ok := <-instructions
@@ -108,8 +108,7 @@ func main() {
 		wg.Add(1)
 		err := <-status
 		if err != nil {
-			LogError("Failed parsing instruction %s due to %v",
-				FormatSourcePath(instruction.String()), err)
+			LogError("Failed processing instruction: %v", err)
 		}
 		atomic.AddInt32(&instructionsDone, 1)
 		wg.Done()
@@ -136,7 +135,7 @@ func ReadFromFilesRecursively(input string, output chan *LinkInstruction, status
 
 	workdir, _ := os.Getwd()
 	input = NormalizePath(input, workdir)
-	LogInfo("Reading input from files recursively starting in %s%s%s", PathColor, input, DefaultColor)
+	LogInfo("Reading input from files recursively starting in %s", FormatPathValue(input))
 
 	files := make(chan string, 128)
 	fileStatus := make(chan error)
@@ -171,19 +170,21 @@ func ReadFromFilesRecursively(input string, output chan *LinkInstruction, status
 			defer wg.Done()
 			LogInfo(file)
 			file = NormalizePath(file, workdir)
-			LogInfo("Processing file: %s%s%s", PathColor, file, DefaultColor)
+			LogInfo("Processing file: %s", FormatPathValue(file))
 
 			// This "has" to be done because instructions are resolved in relation to cwd
 			fileDir := FileRegex.FindStringSubmatch(file)
 			if fileDir == nil {
-				LogError("Failed to extract directory from %s%s%s", SourceColor, file, DefaultColor)
+				LogError("Failed to extract directory from %s", FormatSourcePath(file))
 				return
 			}
-			LogInfo("Changing directory to %s%s%s (for %s%s%s)", PathColor, fileDir[1], DefaultColor, PathColor, file, DefaultColor)
+			LogInfo("Changing directory to %s (for %s)",
+				FormatPathValue(fileDir[1]),
+				FormatPathValue(file))
 			err := os.Chdir(fileDir[1])
 			if err != nil {
-				LogError("Failed to change directory to %s%s%s: %v",
-					SourceColor, fileDir[1], DefaultColor, err)
+				LogError("Failed to change directory to %s: %v",
+					FormatSourcePath(fileDir[1]), err)
 				return
 			}
 			ReadFromFile(file, output, status, false)
@@ -200,15 +201,15 @@ func ReadFromFile(input string, output chan *LinkInstruction, status chan error,
 	}
 
 	input = NormalizePath(input, filepath.Dir(input))
-	LogInfo("Reading input from file: %s%s%s", PathColor, input, DefaultColor)
+	LogInfo("Reading input from file: %s", FormatPathValue(input))
 
 	// Check if this is a YAML file
 	if IsYAMLFile(input) {
 		LogInfo("Parsing as YAML file")
 		instructions, err := ParseYAMLFile(input, filepath.Dir(input))
 		if err != nil {
-			LogError("Failed to parse YAML file %s%s%s: %s%+v%s",
-				SourceColor, input, DefaultColor, ErrorColor, err, DefaultColor)
+			LogError("Failed to parse YAML file %s: %v",
+				FormatSourcePath(input), err)
 			status <- err
 			return
 		}
@@ -231,8 +232,7 @@ func ReadFromArgs(output chan *LinkInstruction, status chan error) {
 	for _, arg := range flag.Args() {
 		instruction, err := ParseInstruction(arg, workdir)
 		if err != nil {
-			LogError("Error parsing arg: %s'%s'%s, error: %v",
-				SourceColor, arg, DefaultColor, err)
+			LogError("Error parsing arg '%s': %v", arg, err)
 			continue
 		}
 		output <- &instruction
@@ -251,8 +251,7 @@ func ReadFromStdin(output chan *LinkInstruction, status chan error) {
 		line := scanner.Text()
 		instruction, err := ParseInstruction(line, workdir)
 		if err != nil {
-			LogError("Error parsing line: %s'%s'%s, error: %v",
-				SourceColor, line, DefaultColor, err)
+			LogError("Error parsing line '%s': %v", line, err)
 			continue
 		}
 		output <- &instruction