diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/analysis.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/analysis.cpp
index d579a32397..f914035c40 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/analysis.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/analysis.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@
 #include <timemory/unwind/dlinfo.hpp>
 #include <timemory/unwind/types.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/filepath.hpp>
-#include <timemory/utility/join.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/procfs/maps.hpp>
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/symbol.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/symbol.cpp
index 4e283cfaa2..ae9bd5a39a 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/symbol.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/symbol.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 
 #include "core/config.hpp"
 
+#include <spdlog/fmt/fmt.h>
+
 #if !defined(TIMEMORY_USE_BFD)
 #    error "BFD support not enabled"
 #endif
@@ -119,7 +121,8 @@ symbol::operator()(const std::vector<scope_filter>& _filters) const
     return (sf::satisfies_filter(_filters, sf::FUNCTION_FILTER,
                                  rocprofsys::utility::demangle(func)) &&
             (sf::satisfies_filter(_filters, sf::SOURCE_FILTER, file) ||
-             sf::satisfies_filter(_filters, sf::SOURCE_FILTER, join(':', file, line))));
+             sf::satisfies_filter(_filters, sf::SOURCE_FILTER,
+                                  fmt::format("{}:{}", file, line))));
 }
 
 symbol&
@@ -288,7 +291,7 @@ symbol::get_inline_symbols(const std::vector<scope_filter>& _filters) const
                                 rocprofsys::utility::demangle(itr.func)) &&
            (sf::satisfies_filter(_filters, sf::SOURCE_FILTER, itr.file) ||
             sf::satisfies_filter(_filters, sf::SOURCE_FILTER,
-                                 join(':', itr.file, itr.line))))
+                                 fmt::format("{}:{}", itr.file, itr.line))))
         {
             if constexpr(concepts::is_unqualified_same<value_type, symbol>::value)
             {
@@ -325,7 +328,7 @@ symbol::get_debug_line_info(const std::vector<scope_filter>& _filters) const
         {
             if(sf::satisfies_filter(_filters, sf::SOURCE_FILTER, itr.file) ||
                sf::satisfies_filter(_filters, sf::SOURCE_FILTER,
-                                    join(':', itr.file, itr.line)))
+                                    fmt::format("{}:{}", itr.file, itr.line)))
             {
                 if constexpr(concepts::is_unqualified_same<value_type, symbol>::value)
                 {
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/argparse.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/argparse.cpp
index b4ea4c41d1..f19e2ee309 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/argparse.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/argparse.cpp
@@ -30,21 +30,20 @@
 
 #include <timemory/settings/types.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/filepath.hpp>
-#include <timemory/utility/join.hpp>
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
 
+#include <spdlog/fmt/ranges.h>
+
 namespace rocprofsys
 {
 namespace argparse
 {
 namespace
 {
-namespace filepath   = ::tim::filepath;
-namespace path       = rocprofsys::common::path;
-using array_config_t = ::timemory::join::array_config;
+namespace filepath = ::tim::filepath;
+namespace path     = rocprofsys::common::path;
 using rocprofsys::common::remove_env;
-using ::timemory::join::join;
 
 auto
 get_clock_id_choices()
@@ -305,7 +304,7 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
             .dtype("filepath")
             .action([&](parser_t& p) {
                 update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_CONFIG_FILE",
-                           join(array_config_t{ ":" }, p.get<strvec_t>("config")));
+                           fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(p.get<strvec_t>("config"), ":")));
             });
 
         _data.processed_environs.emplace("config");
@@ -501,10 +500,9 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
             .min_count(1)
             .dtype("period-spec(s)")
             .action([&](parser_t& p) {
-                update_env(
-                    _data, "ROCPROFSYS_TRACE_PERIODS",
-                    join(array_config_t{ " ", "", "" }, p.get<strvec_t>("periods")),
-                    update_mode::WEAK);
+                update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_TRACE_PERIODS",
+                           fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(p.get<strvec_t>("periods"), " ")),
+                           update_mode::WEAK);
             });
 
         _data.processed_environs.emplace("periods");
@@ -732,9 +730,9 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
             .min_count(1)
             .dtype("period-spec(s)")
             .action([&](parser_t& p) {
-                update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_TRACE_PERIODS",
-                           join(array_config_t{ ",", "", "" },
-                                p.get<strvec_t>("trace-periods")));
+                update_env(
+                    _data, "ROCPROFSYS_TRACE_PERIODS",
+                    fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(p.get<strvec_t>("trace-periods"), ",")));
             });
 
         _data.processed_environs.emplace("trace_periods");
@@ -887,7 +885,7 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
             .required({ "host" })
             .action([&](parser_t& p) {
                 update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_SAMPLING_CPUS",
-                           join(array_config_t{ "," }, p.get<strvec_t>("cpus")));
+                           fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(p.get<strvec_t>("cpus"), ",")));
             });
 
         _data.processed_environs.emplace("cpus");
@@ -903,7 +901,7 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
             .required({ "device" })
             .action([&](parser_t& p) {
                 update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_SAMPLING_GPUS",
-                           join(array_config_t{ "," }, p.get<strvec_t>("gpus")));
+                           fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(p.get<strvec_t>("gpus"), ",")));
             });
 
         _data.processed_environs.emplace("gpus");
@@ -942,7 +940,8 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
             .action([&](parser_t& p) {
                 update_env(
                     _data, "ROCPROFSYS_SAMPLING_TIDS",
-                    join(array_config_t{ ", " }, p.get<std::vector<int64_t>>("tids")));
+                    fmt::format("{}",
+                                fmt::join(p.get<std::vector<int64_t>>("tids"), ", ")));
             });
 
         _data.processed_environs.emplace("tids");
@@ -1013,7 +1012,7 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
                 if(!_v.empty())
                 {
                     update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_SAMPLING_CPUTIME_TIDS",
-                               join(array_config_t{ "," }, _v));
+                               fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(_v, ",")));
                 }
             });
 
@@ -1041,7 +1040,7 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
                 if(!_v.empty())
                 {
                     update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_SAMPLING_REALTIME_TIDS",
-                               join(array_config_t{ "," }, _v));
+                               fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(_v, ",")));
                 }
             });
 
@@ -1061,10 +1060,10 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
                 {
                     if(p.exists("sampling-overflow-event") &&
                        _v.front() != p.get<std::string>("sampling-overflow-event"))
-                        throw exception<std::runtime_error>(join(
-                            "", "'--sample-overflow ", _v.front(),
-                            " ...' conflicts with '--sampling-overflow-event ",
-                            p.get<std::string>("sampling-overflow-event"), "' option"));
+                        throw exception<std::runtime_error>(fmt::format(
+                            "'--sample-overflow {} ...' conflicts with "
+                            "'--sampling-overflow-event {}' option",
+                            _v.front(), p.get<std::string>("sampling-overflow-event")));
                     update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_SAMPLING_OVERFLOW_EVENT", _v.front());
                     _v.pop_front();
                 }
@@ -1076,7 +1075,7 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
                 if(!_v.empty())
                 {
                     update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_SAMPLING_OVERFLOW_TIDS",
-                               join(array_config_t{ "," }, _v));
+                               fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(_v, ",")));
                 }
             });
 
@@ -1100,7 +1099,8 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
             .min_count(1)
             .dtype("[EVENT ...]")
             .action([&](parser_t& p) {
-                auto _events = join(array_config_t{ "," }, p.get<strvec_t>("cpu-events"));
+                auto _events =
+                    fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(p.get<strvec_t>("cpu-events"), ","));
                 update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_PAPI_EVENTS", _events);
             });
 
@@ -1117,7 +1117,8 @@ add_core_arguments(parser_t& _parser, parser_data& _data)
             .min_count(1)
             .dtype("[EVENT ...]")
             .action([&](parser_t& p) {
-                auto _events = join(array_config_t{ "," }, p.get<strvec_t>("gpu-events"));
+                auto _events =
+                    fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(p.get<strvec_t>("gpu-events"), ","));
                 update_env(_data, "ROCPROFSYS_ROCM_EVENTS", _events);
             });
 
@@ -1196,10 +1197,9 @@ add_group_arguments(parser_t& _parser, const std::string& _group_name, parser_da
         if(_arg)
         {
             _arg->action([&_data, itr, _name](parser_t& p) {
-                using namespace timemory::join;
-                auto _value = join(array_config{ " ", "", "" }, p.get<strvec_t>(_name));
+                auto _value = fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(p.get<strvec_t>(_name), " "));
                 if(_value.empty()) _value = p.get<std::string>(_name);
-                if(_value.empty()) _value = join("", std::boolalpha, p.get<bool>(_name));
+                if(_value.empty()) _value = fmt::format("{}", p.get<bool>(_name));
                 if(_value.empty())
                     throw exception<std::runtime_error>("Error! no value for " + _name);
                 update_env(_data, itr->get_env_name(), _value);
@@ -1210,9 +1210,8 @@ add_group_arguments(parser_t& _parser, const std::string& _group_name, parser_da
             LOG_WARNING("Option {} ({}) is not enabled", _name, itr->get_env_name());
             _parser.add_argument({ _opt_name }, itr->get_description())
                 .action([&](parser_t& p) {
-                    using namespace timemory::join;
                     auto _value =
-                        join(array_config{ " ", "", "" }, p.get<strvec_t>(_name));
+                        fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(p.get<strvec_t>(_name), " "));
                     if(_value.empty())
                         throw exception<std::runtime_error>("Error! no value for " +
                                                             _name);
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/categories.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/categories.hpp
index 05ad8906d5..8366930374 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/categories.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/categories.hpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "common/join.hpp"
 #include "defines.hpp"
 #include "rocprofiler-systems/categories.h"  // in rocprof-sys-user
 
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/common.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/common.hpp
index 9759328bc1..c0828a82c5 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/common.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/common.hpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "common/join.hpp"
 #include "core/categories.hpp"
 #include "core/concepts.hpp"
 #include "core/defines.hpp"
@@ -125,8 +124,3 @@ struct construct_on_thread
     int64_t index = threading::get_id();
 };
 }  // namespace rocprofsys
-
-// same sort of functionality as python's " ".join([...])
-#if !defined(JOIN)
-#    define JOIN(...) ::rocprofsys::common::join(__VA_ARGS__)
-#endif
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/config.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/config.cpp
index 87ae1dfa51..cc61c57cc0 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/config.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/config.cpp
@@ -51,12 +51,13 @@
 #include <timemory/utility/declaration.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/delimit.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/filepath.hpp>
-#include <timemory/utility/join.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/signals.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/types.hpp>
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
 
+#include <spdlog/fmt/ranges.h>
+
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
 #include <atomic>
@@ -432,7 +433,7 @@ configure_settings(bool _init)
     for(const auto& itr : constraint::get_valid_clock_ids())
     {
         _clock_choices.emplace_back(
-            join("", "(", join('|', itr.name, itr.value, itr.raw_name), ")"));
+            fmt::format("({}|{}|{})", itr.name, itr.value, itr.raw_name));
     }
 
     ROCPROFSYS_CONFIG_SETTING(std::string, "ROCPROFSYS_TRACE_PERIODS",
@@ -1558,8 +1559,6 @@ print_banner(std::ostream& _os)
     std::stringstream _version_info{};
     _version_info << "rocprof-sys v" << ROCPROFSYS_VERSION_STRING;
 
-    namespace join = ::timemory::join;
-
     // assemble the list of properties
     auto _generate_properties =
         [](std::initializer_list<std::pair<std::string, std::string>>&& _data) {
@@ -1570,7 +1569,7 @@ print_banner(std::ostream& _os)
                 if(!itr.second.empty())
                     _property_info.emplace_back(
                         itr.first.empty() ? itr.second
-                                          : join::join(": ", itr.first, itr.second));
+                                          : fmt::format("{}: {}", itr.first, itr.second));
             }
             return _property_info;
         };
@@ -1584,7 +1583,7 @@ print_banner(std::ostream& _os)
 
     // <NAME> <VERSION> (<PROPERTIES>)
     if(!_properties.empty())
-        _version_info << join::join(join::array_config{ ", ", " (", ")" }, _properties);
+        _version_info << fmt::format(" ({})", fmt::join(_properties, ", "));
 
     _os << _banner << "\n";
     _os << _version_info.str() << "\n";
@@ -2216,8 +2215,8 @@ get_perfetto_output_filename()
 
     if(!_val.empty() && _val.at(0) != '/')
     {
-        auto _result =
-            settings::format(JOIN('/', "%env{PWD}%", _val), get_config()->get_tag());
+        auto _result = settings::format(fmt::format("{}/{}", getenv("PWD"), _val),
+                                        get_config()->get_tag());
         LOG_DEBUG("Path is relative, prepending PWD: '{}'", _result);
         return _result;
     }
@@ -2472,7 +2471,8 @@ get_database_absolute_path(std::string_view database_name, std::string_view suff
     setenv("ROCPROFSYS_DATABASE_DIR", _dir.c_str(), 1);
 
     if(!_val.empty() && _val.at(0) != '/')
-        return settings::format(JOIN('/', "%env{PWD}%", _val), get_config()->get_tag());
+        return settings::format(fmt::format("{}/{}", getenv("PWD"), _val),
+                                get_config()->get_tag());
     return _val;
 }
 
@@ -2530,8 +2530,8 @@ get_perfetto_output_filename_with_suffix(std::string_view suffix)
 
     if(!_val.empty() && _val.at(0) != '/')
     {
-        auto _result =
-            settings::format(JOIN('/', "%env{PWD}%", _val), get_config()->get_tag());
+        auto _result = settings::format(fmt::format("{}/{}", getenv("PWD"), _val),
+                                        get_config()->get_tag());
         LOG_DEBUG("Path is relative, prepending PWD: '{}'", _result);
         return _result;
     }
@@ -2747,7 +2747,7 @@ get_tmp_file(std::string _basename, std::string _ext)
     _cfg.use_suffix    = true;
     _cfg.suffix        = "%pid%";
     _cfg.explicit_path = get_tmpdir();
-    _cfg.subdirectory  = JOIN('/', settings::output_path(), "%ppid%", "");
+    _cfg.subdirectory  = fmt::format("{}/{}", settings::output_path(), "%ppid%");
     auto _fname =
         settings::compose_output_filename(std::move(_basename), std::move(_ext), _cfg);
 
@@ -2782,10 +2782,9 @@ get_causal_backend()
     } catch(std::runtime_error& _e)
     {
         auto _mode = static_cast<tim::tsettings<std::string>&>(*_v->second).get();
-        throw std::runtime_error(fmt::format(
-            "[{}] invalid causal backend {}. Choices: {}", __FUNCTION__, _mode,
-            timemory::join::join(timemory::join::array_config{ ", ", "", "" },
-                                 _v->second->get_choices())));
+        throw std::runtime_error(
+            fmt::format("[{}] invalid causal backend {}. Choices: {}", __FUNCTION__,
+                        _mode, fmt::join(_v->second->get_choices(), ", ")));
     }
     return CausalBackend::Auto;
 }
@@ -2813,10 +2812,9 @@ get_causal_mode()
         } catch(std::runtime_error& _e)
         {
             auto _mode = static_cast<tim::tsettings<std::string>&>(*_v->second).get();
-            throw std::runtime_error(fmt::format(
-                "[{}] invalid causal mode {}. Choices: {}", __FUNCTION__, _mode,
-                timemory::join::join(timemory::join::array_config{ ", ", "", "" },
-                                     _v->second->get_choices())));
+            throw std::runtime_error(
+                fmt::format("[{}] invalid causal mode {}. Choices: {}", __FUNCTION__,
+                            _mode, fmt::join(_v->second->get_choices(), ", ")));
         }
         return CausalMode::Function;
     }();
@@ -2871,7 +2869,7 @@ format_causal_scopes(std::vector<std::string> _value, const std::string& _tag)
         {
             itr = std::regex_replace(
                 itr, _main_re,
-                join("", "$1", "(", get_exe_name(), "|", get_exe_realpath(), ")", "$3"));
+                fmt::format("$1({}|{})$3", get_exe_name(), get_exe_realpath()));
         }
         // trim leading and trailing spaces since we didn't delimit spaces
         if(std::regex_search(itr, _space_re))
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/constraint.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/constraint.cpp
index 1f8cd5eb2b..e2e153e347 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/constraint.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/constraint.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
 
+#include <spdlog/fmt/ranges.h>
+
 #include <chrono>
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <ratio>
@@ -102,10 +104,13 @@ find_clock_identifier(const Tp& _v)
         }
     }
 
-    throw std::runtime_error(
-        fmt::format("Unknown clock id {}: {}. Valid choices: {}", _descript,
-                    timemory::join::join("", _v).c_str(),
-                    timemory::join::join("", accepted_clock_ids).c_str()));
+    auto _choices = std::vector<std::string>{};
+    _choices.reserve(accepted_clock_ids.size());
+    for(const auto& itr : accepted_clock_ids)
+        _choices.emplace_back(itr.as_string());
+
+    throw std::runtime_error(fmt::format("Unknown clock id {}: {}. Valid choices: {}",
+                                         _descript, _v, fmt::join(_choices, "")));
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/dynamic_library.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/dynamic_library.cpp
index 29393b9ac7..bb9948ce14 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/dynamic_library.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/dynamic_library.cpp
@@ -66,11 +66,11 @@ find_library_path(const std::string& _name, const std::vector<std::string>& _env
 
     for(auto& itr : _paths)
     {
-        auto _v = JOIN('/', itr, _name);
+        auto _v = fmt::format("{}/{}", itr, _name);
         if(filepath::exists(_v)) return _v;
         for(const auto& litr : _path_suffixes)
         {
-            _v = JOIN('/', itr, litr, _name);
+            _v = fmt::format("{}/{}/{}", itr, litr, _name);
             if(filepath::exists(_v)) return _v;
         }
     }
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/mproc.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/mproc.cpp
index 9a7574c62b..8e53351b07 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/mproc.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/mproc.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ get_concurrent_processes(int _ppid)
     std::set<int> _children = {};
     if(_ppid > 0)
     {
-        auto          _inp = JOIN('/', "/proc", _ppid, "task", _ppid, "children");
+        auto          _inp = fmt::format("/proc/{}/task/{}/children", _ppid, _ppid);
         std::ifstream _ifs{ _inp };
         if(!_ifs)
         {
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/perfetto.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/perfetto.cpp
index dd4ae1114a..8da0f32ce4 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/perfetto.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/perfetto.cpp
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ post_process(tim::manager* _timemory_manager, bool& _perfetto_output_error)
 
         if(!_script_dir.empty())
         {
-            _script_path = rocprofsys::common::join("/", _script_dir, _script_path);
+            _script_path = fmt::format("{}/{}", _script_dir, _script_path);
         }
 
         // Test that the script exists
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/rocprofiler-sdk.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/rocprofiler-sdk.cpp
index a0df719742..a2507e34df 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/rocprofiler-sdk.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/rocprofiler-sdk.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
 
+#include <spdlog/fmt/ranges.h>
+
 #if defined(ROCPROFSYS_USE_ROCM) && ROCPROFSYS_USE_ROCM > 0
 
 #    include <timemory/defines.h>
@@ -281,11 +283,11 @@ config_settings(const std::shared_ptr<settings>& _config)
 
         if(_skip_domains.count(_v) > 0) return;
 
-        auto _op_option_name = JOIN('_', "ROCPROFSYS_ROCM", _domain_name, "OPERATIONS");
+        auto _op_option_name = fmt::format("ROCPROFSYS_ROCM_{}_OPERATIONS", _domain_name);
         auto _eop_option_name =
-            JOIN('_', "ROCPROFSYS_ROCM", _domain_name, "OPERATIONS_EXCLUDE");
+            fmt::format("ROCPROFSYS_ROCM_{}_OPERATIONS_EXCLUDE", _domain_name);
         auto _bt_option_name =
-            JOIN('_', "ROCPROFSYS_ROCM", _domain_name, "OPERATIONS_ANNOTATE_BACKTRACE");
+            fmt::format("ROCPROFSYS_ROCM_{}_OPERATIONS_ANNOTATE_BACKTRACE", _domain_name);
 
         auto _op_choices = std::vector<std::string>{};
         for(auto itr : _domain.operations)
@@ -343,10 +345,9 @@ config_settings(const std::shared_ptr<settings>& _config)
 
     std::sort(_domain_choices.begin(), _domain_choices.end());
 
-    namespace join = ::timemory::join;
     auto _domain_description =
-        JOIN("", "Specification of ROCm domains to trace/profile. Choices: ",
-             join::join(join::array_config{ ", ", "", "" }, _domain_choices));
+        fmt::format("Specification of ROCm domains to trace/profile. Choices: {}",
+                    fmt::join(_domain_choices, ", "));
     auto _domain_defaults = std::string{ "hip_runtime_api,marker_api,kernel_dispatch,"
                                          "memory_copy,scratch_memory" };
 
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/perfetto_processor.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/perfetto_processor.cpp
index 6303824aa8..6394ed1484 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/perfetto_processor.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/perfetto_processor.cpp
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ setup_amd_smi_tracks(const uint32_t _device_id, bool is_busy_enabled,
     if(amd_smi_gfx_track::exists(_device_id)) return;
 
     auto make_track_name = [&](const char* metric) {
-        return JOIN(" ", "GPU", JOIN("", '[', _device_id, ']'), metric, "(S)");
+        return fmt::format("GPU [{}] {} (S)", _device_id, metric);
     };
 
     if(is_busy_enabled)
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ perfetto_processor_t::start_session()
     int temp_fd = -1;
     if(config::get_use_tmp_files())
     {
-        auto _base = JOIN("-", "cached-perfetto-trace", std::to_string(m_process_id));
+        auto _base = fmt::format("cached-perfetto-trace-{}", m_process_id);
         m_tmp_file = config::get_tmp_file(_base, "proto");
         m_tmp_file->open(O_RDWR | O_CREAT | O_TRUNC, 0600);
         temp_fd = m_tmp_file->fd;
@@ -484,7 +484,8 @@ perfetto_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const kernel_dispatch_sample& _kds
 {
 #if ROCPROFSYS_USE_ROCM > 0
     static auto _track_desc = [](uint64_t _device_id_v, uint64_t _queue_id_v) {
-        return JOIN("", "GPU Kernel Dispatch [", _device_id_v, "] Queue ", _queue_id_v);
+        return fmt::format("GPU Kernel Dispatch [{}] Queue {}", _device_id_v,
+                           _queue_id_v);
     };
 
     auto kernel_symbol = m_metadata.get_kernel_symbol(_kds.kernel_id);
@@ -511,24 +512,20 @@ perfetto_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const kernel_dispatch_sample& _kds
         if(!m_use_annotations) return;
 
         annotate_perfetto(
-            ctx,
-            { { "begin_ns", _beg_ts },
-              { "end_ns", _end_ts },
-              { "corr_id", _corr_id },
-              { "stream_id", _stream_handle },
-              { "queue", _queue_id_handle },
-              { "dispatch_id", _kds.dispatch_id },
-              { "kernel_id", _kds.kernel_id },
-              { "private_segment_size", _kds.private_segment_size },
-              { "group_segment_size", _kds.group_segment_size },
-              { "workgroup_size", JOIN("", "(",
-                                       JOIN(',', _kds.workgroup_size_x,
-                                            _kds.workgroup_size_y, _kds.workgroup_size_z),
-                                       ")") },
-              { "grid_size",
-                JOIN("", "(",
-                     JOIN(',', _kds.grid_size_x, _kds.grid_size_y, _kds.grid_size_z),
-                     ")") } });
+            ctx, { { "begin_ns", _beg_ts },
+                   { "end_ns", _end_ts },
+                   { "corr_id", _corr_id },
+                   { "stream_id", _stream_handle },
+                   { "queue", _queue_id_handle },
+                   { "dispatch_id", _kds.dispatch_id },
+                   { "kernel_id", _kds.kernel_id },
+                   { "private_segment_size", _kds.private_segment_size },
+                   { "group_segment_size", _kds.group_segment_size },
+                   { "workgroup_size",
+                     fmt::format("({},{},{})", _kds.workgroup_size_x,
+                                 _kds.workgroup_size_y, _kds.workgroup_size_z) },
+                   { "grid_size", fmt::format("({},{},{})", _kds.grid_size_x,
+                                              _kds.grid_size_y, _kds.grid_size_z) } });
     };
 
     tracing::push_perfetto(category::rocm_kernel_dispatch{}, kernel_name.c_str(), _track,
@@ -566,8 +563,8 @@ perfetto_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const scratch_memory_sample& _sms)
 
     if(!counter_track::exists(_agent_device_id))
     {
-        auto _track_desc_alloc_size = JOIN("", "GPU Scratch Memory [", _agent_device_id,
-                                           "] Thread ", _thread_id_sequent);
+        auto _track_desc_alloc_size = fmt::format("GPU Scratch Memory [{}] Thread {}",
+                                                  _agent_device_id, _thread_id_sequent);
         counter_track::emplace(_agent_device_id, _track_desc_alloc_size, "bytes");
     }
 
@@ -579,7 +576,7 @@ perfetto_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const scratch_memory_sample& _sms)
 #    endif
 
     auto _track_desc_events = [&]() {
-        return JOIN("", "GPU Scratch Memory Events Thread ", _thread_id_sequent);
+        return fmt::format("GPU Scratch Memory Events Thread {}", _thread_id_sequent);
     };
 
     const auto _track =
@@ -626,8 +623,8 @@ perfetto_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const memory_copy_sample& _mcs)
 
     auto _track_desc = [](int32_t _device_id_v, rocprofiler_thread_id_t _tid) {
         const auto& _tid_v = thread_info::get(_tid, SystemTID);
-        return JOIN("", "GPU Memory Copy to Agent [", _device_id_v, "] Thread ",
-                    _tid_v->index_data->sequent_value);
+        return fmt::format("GPU Memory Copy to Agent [{}] Thread {}", _device_id_v,
+                           _tid_v->index_data->sequent_value);
     };
 
     const auto _track = tracing::get_perfetto_track(
@@ -688,8 +685,8 @@ perfetto_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const memory_allocate_sample& _mas
 
         auto _track_desc = [](int32_t _device_id_v, rocprofiler_thread_id_t _tid) {
             const auto& _tid_v = thread_info::get(_tid, SystemTID);
-            return JOIN("", "GPU Memory Allocation to Agent [", _device_id_v, "] Thread ",
-                        _tid_v->index_data->sequent_value);
+            return fmt::format("GPU Memory Allocation to Agent [{}] Thread {}",
+                               _device_id_v, _tid_v->index_data->sequent_value);
         };
 
         auto _agent_logical_node_id =
@@ -1095,16 +1092,14 @@ perfetto_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const amd_smi_sample& _amd_smi)
             if(_idx.has_value())
             {
                 // Per-XCP format
-                track_name = JOIN(
-                    " ", "GPU", JOIN("", '[', _device_id, ']'), metric_name,
-                    JOIN("", "XCP_", _idx.value(), ": [", (i < 10 ? "0" : ""), i, ']'),
-                    "(S)");
+                track_name = fmt::format("GPU [{}] {} XCP_{}: [{:02}] (S)", _device_id,
+                                         metric_name, _idx.value(), i);
             }
             else
             {
                 // Device-level format
-                track_name = JOIN(" ", "GPU", JOIN("", '[', _device_id, ']'), metric_name,
-                                  JOIN("", "[", (i < 10 ? "0" : ""), i, ']'), "(S)");
+                track_name =
+                    fmt::format("GPU [{}] {} [{:02}] (S)", _device_id, metric_name, i);
             }
 
             auto generate_track_key = [](uint32_t _dev_idx, size_t _xcp_idx,
@@ -1149,9 +1144,8 @@ perfetto_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const amd_smi_sample& _amd_smi)
             const auto value = data[i];
             if(value == std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max()) continue;
 
-            std::string track_name =
-                JOIN(" ", "GPU", JOIN("", '[', _device_id, ']'),
-                     trait::name<Category>::value, JOIN("", "[", i, ']'), "(S)");
+            std::string track_name = fmt::format("GPU [{}] {} [{:02}] (S)", _device_id,
+                                                 trait::name<Category>::value, i);
 
             auto unique_key = (_device_id << 8) | i;
 
@@ -1213,7 +1207,7 @@ perfetto_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const amd_smi_sample& _amd_smi)
     if(is_xgmi_enabled)
     {
         auto make_track_name = [&](const char* metric) {
-            return JOIN(" ", "GPU", JOIN("", '[', _device_id, ']'), metric, "(S)");
+            return fmt::format("GPU [{}] {} (S)", _device_id, metric);
         };
 
         if(!amd_smi_xgmi_link_width_track::exists(_device_id))
@@ -1245,7 +1239,7 @@ perfetto_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const amd_smi_sample& _amd_smi)
     if(is_pcie_enabled)
     {
         auto make_track_name = [&](const char* metric) {
-            return JOIN(" ", "GPU", JOIN("", '[', _device_id, ']'), metric, "(S)");
+            return fmt::format("GPU [{}] {} (S)", _device_id, metric);
         };
 
         if(!amd_smi_pcie_link_width_track::exists(_device_id))
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/rocpd_processor.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/rocpd_processor.cpp
index cded11c3a8..3d6b469b91 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/rocpd_processor.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/rocpd_processor.cpp
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ rocpd_processor_t::handle([[maybe_unused]] const scratch_memory_sample& _sms)
 
     auto [memory_operation, memory_type] = parse_memory_operation_name(_name);
 
-    auto extdata_json_str = JOIN("", "{\"flags\": ", _sms.flags, "}");
+    auto extdata_json_str = fmt::format("{{\"flags\": {}}}", _sms.flags);
 
     m_data_processor->insert_memory_alloc(
         n_info.id, process.pid, thread_primary_key, agent_primary_key,
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/utility.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/utility.hpp
index 4fd05a1be6..8bd42adb09 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/utility.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/utility.hpp
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 
 #include <timemory/mpl/concepts.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/delimit.hpp>
-#include <timemory/utility/join.hpp>
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
@@ -216,8 +215,13 @@ get_regex_or(const ContainerT<Tp, TailT...>& _container, const std::string& _fal
 
     if(_container.empty()) return _fallback;
 
-    namespace join = timemory::join;
-    return join::join(join::array_config{ "|", "(", ")" }, _container);
+    auto _ss  = std::stringstream{};
+    auto _idx = size_t{ 0 };
+    _ss << "(";
+    for(const auto& itr : _container)
+        _ss << (_idx++ > 0 ? "|" : "") << itr;
+    _ss << ")";
+    return _ss.str();
 }
 
 template <template <typename, typename...> class ContainerT, typename Tp,
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library.cpp
index 921e7f4390..21ea7670c2 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library.cpp
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@
 #include <timemory/signals/types.hpp>
 #include <timemory/units.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/backtrace.hpp>
-#include <timemory/utility/join.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/procfs/maps.hpp>
 
 #if ROCPROFSYS_USE_ROCM > 0
@@ -98,6 +97,7 @@
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <mutex>
 #include <pthread.h>
+#include <sstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <string_view>
 #include <unistd.h>
@@ -224,11 +224,12 @@ ensure_finalization(bool _static_init = false)
     {
         auto _verbose =
             get_verbose_env() + ((get_debug_env() || get_debug_init()) ? 16 : 0);
-        auto _search_paths = JOIN(':', tim::get_env<std::string>("ROCPROFSYS_PATH", ""),
-                                  tim::get_env<std::string>("PWD"), ".",
-                                  tim::get_env<std::string>("LD_LIBRARY_PATH", ""),
-                                  tim::get_env<std::string>("LIBRARY_PATH", ""),
-                                  tim::get_env<std::string>("PATH", ""));
+        auto _search_paths = fmt::format("{}:{}:{}:{}:{}",
+                                         tim::get_env<std::string>("ROCPROFSYS_PATH", ""),
+                                         tim::get_env<std::string>("PWD"), ".",
+                                         tim::get_env<std::string>("LD_LIBRARY_PATH", ""),
+                                         tim::get_env<std::string>("LIBRARY_PATH", ""),
+                                         tim::get_env<std::string>("PATH", ""));
         common::setup_environ(_verbose, _search_paths);
     }
 
@@ -266,7 +267,8 @@ struct fini_bundle
     {
         std::stringstream _ss;
         if(_print_prefix && m_label.length() > 0) _ss << m_label << " : ";
-        _ss << timemory::join::join(", ", std::get<Tp>(m_data)...);
+        size_t _idx = 0;
+        ((_ss << (_idx++ > 0 ? ", " : "") << std::get<Tp>(m_data)), ...);
         return _ss.str();
     }
 
@@ -780,7 +782,7 @@ rocprofsys_reset_preload_hidden(void)
         for(const auto& itr : delimit(_preload_libs, ":"))
         {
             if(itr.find("librocprof-sys") != std::string::npos) continue;
-            _modified_preload += common::join("", ":", itr);
+            _modified_preload += fmt::format(":{}", itr);
         }
         if(!_modified_preload.empty() && _modified_preload.find(':') == 0)
             _modified_preload = _modified_preload.substr(1);
@@ -990,7 +992,7 @@ rocprofsys_finalize_hidden(void)
     // report the high-level metrics for the process
     if(get_main_bundle())
     {
-        std::string _msg = JOIN("", *get_main_bundle());
+        std::string _msg = get_main_bundle()->as_string();
         auto        _pos = _msg.find(">>>  ");
         if(_pos != std::string::npos) _msg = _msg.substr(_pos + 5);
         LOG_INFO("{}", _msg);
@@ -1010,7 +1012,7 @@ rocprofsys_finalize_hidden(void)
             if(itr && itr->get<comp::wall_clock>() &&
                !itr->get<comp::wall_clock>()->get_is_running())
             {
-                std::string _msg = JOIN("", *itr);
+                std::string _msg = itr->as_string();
                 auto        _pos = _msg.find(">>>  ");
                 if(_pos != std::string::npos) _msg = _msg.substr(_pos + 5);
                 if(_thr_verbose >= 0)
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/amd_smi.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/amd_smi.cpp
index da38dfe77b..ed26d7a5aa 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/amd_smi.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/amd_smi.cpp
@@ -864,22 +864,20 @@ data::post_process(uint32_t _dev_id)
             if(counter_track::exists(_dev_id)) return;
 
             auto addendum = [&](const char* _v) {
-                return JOIN(" ", "GPU", _v, JOIN("", '[', _dev_id, ']'), "(S)");
+                return fmt::format("GPU {} [{}] (S)", _v, _dev_id);
             };
 
             auto addendum_blk = [&](std::size_t _i, const char* _metric,
                                     std::size_t xcp_idx = SIZE_MAX) {
                 if(xcp_idx != SIZE_MAX)
                 {
-                    return JOIN(
-                        " ", "GPU", JOIN("", '[', _dev_id, ']'), _metric,
-                        JOIN("", "XCP_", xcp_idx, ": [", (_i < 10 ? "0" : ""), _i, ']'),
-                        "(S)");
+                    return fmt::format("GPU [{}] {} XCP_{}: [{}] (S)", _dev_id, _metric,
+                                       xcp_idx, (_i < 10 ? "0" : ""), _i);
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    return JOIN(" ", "GPU", JOIN("", '[', _dev_id, ']'), _metric,
-                                JOIN("", "[", (_i < 10 ? "0" : ""), _i, ']'), "(S)");
+                    return fmt::format("GPU [{}] {} [{}] (S)", _dev_id, _metric,
+                                       (_i < 10 ? "0" : ""), _i);
                 }
             };
 
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/causal/data.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/causal/data.cpp
index 81bba5400e..0d25b4577d 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/causal/data.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/causal/data.cpp
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ compute_eligible_lines_impl()
         {
             if(sf::satisfies_filter(_filters, sf::SOURCE_FILTER, ditr.file) ||
                sf::satisfies_filter(_filters, sf::SOURCE_FILTER,
-                                    join(':', ditr.file, ditr.line)))
+                                    fmt::format("{}:{}", ditr.file, ditr.line)))
             {
                 _scoped.debug_info.emplace_back(ditr);
             }
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ compute_eligible_lines_impl()
 void
 save_maps_info_impl(std::ostream& _ofs)
 {
-    auto _maps_file = join("/", "/proc", process::get_id(), "maps");
+    auto _maps_file = fmt::format("/proc/{}/maps", process::get_id());
     auto _ifs       = std::ifstream{ _maps_file };
     auto _maps      = std::stringstream{};
     if(_ifs)
@@ -729,12 +729,14 @@ save_line_info(const settings::compose_filename_config& _cfg, int _verbose)
         }
     };
 
-    _write(tim::settings::compose_output_filename(
-               join('-', config::get_causal_output_filename(), "binary"), "txt", _cfg),
-           get_cached_binary_info().first, { true, true, true });
-    _write(tim::settings::compose_output_filename(
-               join('-', config::get_causal_output_filename(), "scoped"), "txt", _cfg),
-           get_cached_binary_info().second, { true, true, false });
+    _write(
+        tim::settings::compose_output_filename(
+            fmt::format("{}-binary", config::get_causal_output_filename()), "txt", _cfg),
+        get_cached_binary_info().first, { true, true, true });
+    _write(
+        tim::settings::compose_output_filename(
+            fmt::format("{}-scoped", config::get_causal_output_filename()), "txt", _cfg),
+        get_cached_binary_info().second, { true, true, false });
 }
 
 size_t
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/causal/experiment.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/causal/experiment.cpp
index bece8c9eb9..627141f30e 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/causal/experiment.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/causal/experiment.cpp
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ experiment::sample::serialize(ArchiveT& ar, const unsigned)
 std::string
 experiment::sample::get_identifier() const
 {
-    return (lineno > 0 && !location.empty()) ? join(":", location, lineno)
+    return (lineno > 0 && !location.empty()) ? fmt::format("{}:{}", location, lineno)
                                              : rocprofsys::utility::demangle(name);
 }
 
@@ -606,9 +606,10 @@ experiment::save_experiments(std::string _fname_base, const filename_config_t& _
             auto& _selection = itr.selection;
             auto& _line_info = _selection.symbol;
 
-            std::string _name = (_selection.symbol_address > 0)
-                                    ? _line_info.func
-                                    : join(":", _line_info.file, _line_info.line);
+            std::string _name =
+                (_selection.symbol_address > 0)
+                    ? _line_info.func
+                    : fmt::format("{}:{}", _line_info.file, _line_info.line);
 
             if(_name.empty())
             {
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/backtrace_metrics.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/backtrace_metrics.cpp
index ff717fe28c..bb97769619 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/backtrace_metrics.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/backtrace_metrics.cpp
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ void
 cache_backtrace_metrics_events(const uint32_t device_id, uint64_t timestamp_ns,
                                Value value, int64_t _tid)
 {
-    auto _tid_name = JOIN("", '[', _tid, ']');
+    auto _tid_name = fmt::format("[{}]", _tid);
 
     size_t      stack_id        = 0;
     size_t      parent_stack_id = 0;
@@ -378,22 +378,22 @@ void
 backtrace_metrics::init_perfetto(int64_t _tid, valid_array_t _valid)
 {
     auto _hw_cnt_labels = *get_papi_labels(_tid);
-    auto _tid_name      = JOIN("", '[', _tid, ']');
+    auto _tid_name      = fmt::format("[{}]", _tid);
 
     if(!perfetto_counter_track<perfetto_rusage>::exists(_tid))
     {
         if(get_valid(category::thread_cpu_time{}, _valid))
             perfetto_counter_track<perfetto_rusage>::emplace(
-                _tid, JOIN(' ', "Thread CPU time", _tid_name, "(S)"), "sec");
+                _tid, fmt::format("Thread CPU time {} (S)", _tid_name), "sec");
         if(get_valid(category::thread_peak_memory{}, _valid))
             perfetto_counter_track<perfetto_rusage>::emplace(
-                _tid, JOIN(' ', "Thread Peak Memory Usage", _tid_name, "(S)"), "MB");
+                _tid, fmt::format("Thread Peak Memory Usage {} (S)", _tid_name), "MB");
         if(get_valid(category::thread_context_switch{}, _valid))
             perfetto_counter_track<perfetto_rusage>::emplace(
-                _tid, JOIN(' ', "Thread Context Switches", _tid_name, "(S)"));
+                _tid, fmt::format("Thread Context Switches {} (S)", _tid_name));
         if(get_valid(category::thread_page_fault{}, _valid))
             perfetto_counter_track<perfetto_rusage>::emplace(
-                _tid, JOIN(' ', "Thread Page Faults", _tid_name, "(S)"));
+                _tid, fmt::format("Thread Page Faults {} (S)", _tid_name));
     }
 
     if(!perfetto_counter_track<hw_counters>::exists(_tid) &&
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ backtrace_metrics::init_perfetto(int64_t _tid, valid_array_t _valid)
                     fmt::format("Empty description for {}", itr.c_str()));
             }
             perfetto_counter_track<hw_counters>::emplace(
-                _tid, JOIN(' ', "Thread", _desc, _tid_name, "(S)"));
+                _tid, fmt::format("Thread {} {} (S)", _desc, _tid_name));
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/category_region.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/category_region.hpp
index 7b3704c675..3c3938cf5a 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/category_region.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/category_region.hpp
@@ -42,9 +42,12 @@
 #include <timemory/mpl/concepts.hpp>
 #include <timemory/mpl/types.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/types.hpp>
+#include <tuple>
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
 
+#include <spdlog/fmt/ranges.h>
+
 #include <string_view>
 #include <utility>
 
@@ -209,7 +212,7 @@ struct category_region : comp::base<category_region<CategoryT>, void>
 
     static std::string label()
     {
-        return JOIN('_', "rocprofsys", category_name, "region");
+        return fmt::format("rocprofsys_{}_region", category_name);
     }
 
     template <typename... OptsT, typename... Args>
@@ -446,7 +449,9 @@ category_region<CategoryT>::audit(const gotcha_data_t& _data, audit::outgoing,
 {
     stop<OptsT...>(_data.tool_id.c_str(), [&](::perfetto::EventContext ctx) {
         if(config::get_perfetto_annotations())
-            tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(ctx, "return", JOIN(", ", _args...));
+            tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(
+                ctx, "return",
+                fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(std::forward_as_tuple(_args...), ", ")));
     });
 }
 
@@ -475,7 +480,9 @@ category_region<CategoryT>::audit(std::string_view _name, audit::outgoing,
 {
     stop<OptsT...>(_name.data(), [&](::perfetto::EventContext ctx) {
         if(config::get_perfetto_annotations())
-            tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(ctx, "return", JOIN(", ", _args...));
+            tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(
+                ctx, "return",
+                fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(std::forward_as_tuple(_args...), ", ")));
     });
 }
 
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/comm_data.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/comm_data.cpp
index 6500acbd4e..9ca75f5aad 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/comm_data.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/comm_data.cpp
@@ -49,9 +49,8 @@ write_perfetto_counter_track(uint64_t _val)
         auto _emplace = [](const size_t _idx) {
             if(!counter_track::exists(_idx))
             {
-                std::string _label = (_idx > 0)
-                                         ? JOIN(" ", Tp::label, JOIN("", '[', _idx, ']'))
-                                         : Tp::label;
+                std::string _label =
+                    (_idx > 0) ? fmt::format(" {} [{}]", Tp::label, _idx) : Tp::label;
                 counter_track::emplace(_idx, _label, "bytes");
             }
         };
@@ -239,10 +238,9 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, const void*, int cou
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _a{ _name };
         add(_a, count * _size);
-        tracker_t _b{ JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "dst", dst)) };
+        tracker_t _b{ fmt::format("{}/dst={}", _name, dst) };
         add(_b, count * _size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "dst", dst), JOIN('=', "tag", tag)),
-            count * _size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/dst={}/tag={}", _name, dst, tag), count * _size);
     }
 }
 
@@ -265,10 +263,9 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, void*, int count,
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _a{ _name };
         add(_a, count * _size);
-        tracker_t _b{ JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "dst", dst)) };
+        tracker_t _b{ fmt::format("{}/dst={}", _name, dst) };
         add(_b, count * _size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "dst", dst), JOIN('=', "tag", tag)),
-            count * _size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/dst={}/tag={}", _name, dst, tag), count * _size);
     }
 }
 
@@ -291,10 +288,9 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, const void*, int cou
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _a{ _name };
         add(_a, count * _size);
-        tracker_t _b{ JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "dst", dst)) };
+        tracker_t _b{ fmt::format("{}/dst={}", _name, dst) };
         add(_b, count * _size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "dst", dst), JOIN('=', "tag", tag)),
-            count * _size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/dst={}/tag={}", _name, dst, tag), count * _size);
     }
 }
 
@@ -317,10 +313,9 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, void*, int count,
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _a{ _name };
         add(_a, count * _size);
-        tracker_t _b{ JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "dst", dst)) };
+        tracker_t _b{ fmt::format("{}/dst={}", _name, dst) };
         add(_b, count * _size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "dst", dst), JOIN('=', "tag", tag)),
-            count * _size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/dst={}/tag={}", _name, dst, tag), count * _size);
     }
 }
 
@@ -343,7 +338,7 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, void*, int count,
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, count * _size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "root", root)), count * _size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/root={}", _name, root), count * _size);
     }
 }
 
@@ -396,23 +391,21 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, const void*, int sen
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, sendcount * _send_size + recvcount * _recv_size);
         {
-            tracker_t _b{ JOIN('/', _name, "send") };
+            tracker_t _b{ fmt::format("{}/send", _name) };
             add(_b, sendcount * _send_size);
-            tracker_t _c{ JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "send", dst)) };
+            tracker_t _c{ fmt::format("{}/send={}", _name, dst) };
             add(_b, sendcount * _send_size);
-            add(JOIN('/', _name, "send", JOIN('=', "tag", sendtag)),
-                sendcount * _send_size);
-            add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "send", dst), JOIN('=', "tag", sendtag)),
+            add(fmt::format("{}/send={}/tag={}", _name, sendtag), sendcount * _send_size);
+            add(fmt::format("{}/send={}/tag={}", _name, dst, sendtag),
                 sendcount * _send_size);
         }
         {
-            tracker_t _b{ JOIN('/', _name, "recv") };
+            tracker_t _b{ fmt::format("{}/recv", _name) };
             add(_b, recvcount * _recv_size);
-            tracker_t _c{ JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "recv", src)) };
+            tracker_t _c{ fmt::format("{}/recv={}", _name, src) };
             add(_b, recvcount * _recv_size);
-            add(JOIN('/', _name, "recv", JOIN('=', "tag", recvtag)),
-                recvcount * _recv_size);
-            add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "recv", src), JOIN('=', "tag", recvtag)),
+            add(fmt::format("{}/recv={}/tag={}", _name, recvtag), recvcount * _recv_size);
+            add(fmt::format("{}/recv={}/tag={}", _name, src, recvtag),
                 recvcount * _recv_size);
         }
     }
@@ -445,10 +438,10 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, const void*, int sen
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, sendcount * _send_size + recvcount * _recv_size);
-        tracker_t _r(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "root", root)));
+        tracker_t _r(fmt::format("{}/root={}", _name, root));
         add(_r, sendcount * _send_size + recvcount * _recv_size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "root", root), "send"), sendcount * _send_size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "root", root), "recv"), recvcount * _recv_size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/root={}/send", _name, root), sendcount * _send_size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/root={}/recv", _name, root), recvcount * _recv_size);
     }
 }
 
@@ -478,8 +471,8 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, const void*, int sen
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, sendcount * _send_size + recvcount * _recv_size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, "send"), sendcount * _send_size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, "recv"), recvcount * _recv_size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/send", _name), sendcount * _send_size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/recv", _name), recvcount * _recv_size);
     }
 }
 #endif
@@ -505,7 +498,7 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, void*, const void*,
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, count);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "tag", tag)), count);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/tag={}", _name, tag), count);
     }
 }
 
@@ -528,9 +521,8 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, void*, void*, size_t
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, count);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "tag", tag)), count);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "tag", tag), JOIN('=', "tag_mask", tag_mask)),
-            count);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/tag={}", _name, tag), count);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/tag={}/tag_mask={}", _name, tag, tag_mask), count);
     }
 }
 
@@ -553,7 +545,7 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, void*, const void*,
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, count);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "remote_addr", remote_addr)), count);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/remote_addr={}", _name, remote_addr), count);
     }
 }
 
@@ -576,7 +568,7 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, void*, void*, size_t
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, count);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "remote_addr", remote_addr)), count);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/remote_addr={}", _name, remote_addr), count);
     }
 }
 
@@ -601,7 +593,7 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, void*, unsigned id,
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, total_size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "am_id", id)), total_size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/am_id={}", _name, id), total_size);
     }
 }
 
@@ -797,7 +789,7 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, const void*, const v
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, count * _size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', "root", root)), count * _size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/root={}", _name, root), count * _size);
     }
 }
 
@@ -838,7 +830,7 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, const void*, size_t
 
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, count * _size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _name, JOIN('=', _label, peer)), count * _size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/{}={}", _name, _label, peer), count * _size);
     }
 }
 
@@ -858,7 +850,7 @@ comm_data::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, const void*, const v
         auto      _name = std::string_view{ _data.tool_id };
         tracker_t _t{ _name };
         add(_t, count * _size);
-        add(JOIN('/', _data.tool_id, JOIN('=', "root", root)), count * _size);
+        add(fmt::format("{}/root={}", _data.tool_id, root), count * _size);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/comm_data.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/comm_data.hpp
index 5ec770da3b..6480f4586c 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/comm_data.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/comm_data.hpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 // OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 // SOFTWARE.
 
-#include "common/join.hpp"
 #include "core/common.hpp"
 #include "core/components/fwd.hpp"
 #include "core/defines.hpp"
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/exit_gotcha.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/exit_gotcha.cpp
index ce8654f206..729e616783 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/exit_gotcha.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/exit_gotcha.cpp
@@ -33,8 +33,12 @@
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
 
+#include <spdlog/fmt/ranges.h>
+
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <cstdlib>
+#include <tuple>
+#include <unistd.h>
 
 namespace rocprofsys
 {
@@ -64,13 +68,13 @@ invoke_exit_gotcha(const exit_gotcha::gotcha_data& _data, FuncT _func, Args... _
     if(get_state() < State::Finalized && !is_child_process())
     {
         LOG_DEBUG("Finalizing {} before calling {}({})...", get_exe_name(), _data.tool_id,
-                  JOIN(", ", _args...).c_str());
+                  fmt::join(std::forward_as_tuple(_args...), ", "));
 
         rocprofsys_finalize();
     }
 
-    LOG_DEBUG("Calling {}({}) in {}...", _data.tool_id, JOIN(", ", _args...),
-              get_exe_name());
+    LOG_DEBUG("Calling {}({}) in {}...", _data.tool_id,
+              fmt::join(std::forward_as_tuple(_args...), ", "), get_exe_name().c_str());
 
     if(_exit_info.is_known && _exit_info.exit_code != 0)
     {
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/numa_gotcha.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/numa_gotcha.cpp
index b4ad9e2f22..1b925d5f0e 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/numa_gotcha.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/numa_gotcha.cpp
@@ -148,8 +148,7 @@ numa_gotcha::audit(const gotcha_data& _data, audit::incoming, int pid,
                    struct bitmask* from, struct bitmask* to)
 {
     category_region<category::numa>::start(std::string_view{ _data.tool_id }, "pid", pid,
-                                           "from", JOIN("", from).c_str(), "to",
-                                           JOIN("", to).c_str());
+                                           "from", fmt::ptr(from), "to", fmt::ptr(to));
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/pthread_create_gotcha.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/pthread_create_gotcha.cpp
index 0f829265d7..a49e396b4d 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/pthread_create_gotcha.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/components/pthread_create_gotcha.cpp
@@ -243,14 +243,13 @@ pthread_create_gotcha::wrapper::operator()() const
         LOG_DEBUG("[PID={}][rank={}] Thread {} (parent: {}) created", process::get_id(),
                   dmp::rank(), _info->index_data->as_string(),
                   _parent_info->index_data->as_string());
-        threading::set_thread_name(TIMEMORY_JOIN(" ", "Thread", _tid).c_str());
+        threading::set_thread_name(fmt::format("Thread {}", _tid).c_str());
         auto _manager = tim::manager::instance();
         if(_manager) _manager->initialize();
         if(!thread_bundle_data_t::get()->at(_tid))
         {
             thread_data<thread_bundle_t>::construct(
-                TIMEMORY_JOIN('/', "rocprofsys/process", process::get_id(), "thread",
-                              _tid),
+                fmt::format("rocprofsys/process/{}/thread/{}", process::get_id(), _tid),
                 quirk::config<quirk::auto_start>{});
             thread_bundle_data_t::get()->at(_tid)->start();
         }
@@ -607,7 +606,7 @@ pthread_create_gotcha::operator()(pthread_t* thread, const pthread_attr_t* attr,
             std::to_string(_use_causal), std::to_string(_use_sampling),
             std::to_string(_sample_child), std::to_string(_tid),
             std::to_string(_use_bundle), std::to_string(_enable_causal),
-            std::to_string(_enable_sampling), JOIN("", *_info));
+            std::to_string(_enable_sampling), _info->as_string());
 
         std::stringstream _backtrace_ss;
         timemory_print_demangled_backtrace<8>(_backtrace_ss, std::string{},
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/coverage.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/coverage.cpp
index 95cad6b465..190d322219 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/coverage.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/coverage.cpp
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ post_process()
                 // if(get_debug() && get_verbose() >= 2)
                 if(true)
                 {
-                    auto _addr = TIMEMORY_JOIN("", "0x", std::hex, itr.address);
+                    auto _addr = fmt::format("0x{:x}", itr.address);
                     ofs << std::setw(8) << itr.count << "  " << std::setw(8) << _addr
                         << "  " << itr.source << "\n";
                 }
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/cpu_freq.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/cpu_freq.cpp
index 548566204f..4c590cdcdc 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/cpu_freq.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/cpu_freq.cpp
@@ -300,7 +300,9 @@ config_perfetto_counter_tracks(type_list<Types...>, std::array<const char*, N> _
         constexpr auto _idx = tim::index_of<type, type_list<Types...>>::value;
         if(!track::exists(0))
         {
-            auto addendum = [&](const char* _v) { return JOIN(" ", "CPU", _v, "(S)"); };
+            auto addendum = [&](const char* _v) {
+                return fmt::format("CPU [{}] (S)", _v);
+            };
             track::emplace(0, addendum(_labels.at(_idx)), _units.at(_idx));
         }
     };
@@ -351,7 +353,7 @@ post_process()
         if(!freq_track::exists(_idx))
         {
             auto addendum = [&](const char* _v) {
-                return JOIN(" ", "CPU", _v, JOIN("", '[', _idx, ']'), "(S)");
+                return fmt::format("CPU {} [{}] (S)", _v, _idx);
             };
             freq_track::emplace(_idx, addendum("Frequency"), "MHz");
         }
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/kokkosp.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/kokkosp.cpp
index 03fe4acde9..9bb7f825e9 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/kokkosp.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/kokkosp.cpp
@@ -356,8 +356,8 @@ extern "C"
 
         ROCPROFSYS_SCOPED_THREAD_STATE(ThreadState::Internal);
         auto pname = (devid > std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max())  // junk device number
-                         ? JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, name, "[for]")
-                         : JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, name, JOIN("", "[for][dev", devid, ']'));
+                         ? fmt::format("{} {} [for]", _kp_prefix, name)
+                         : fmt::format("{} {} [for][dev{}]", _kp_prefix, name, devid);
         *kernid    = kokkosp::get_unique_id();
         kokkosp::logger_t{}.mark(1, __FUNCTION__, name, *kernid);
         kokkosp::create_profiler<kokkosp_region>(pname, *kernid);
@@ -381,11 +381,10 @@ extern "C"
         if(violates_name_rules(name)) return set_invalid_id(kernid);
 
         ROCPROFSYS_SCOPED_THREAD_STATE(ThreadState::Internal);
-        auto pname =
-            (devid > std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max())  // junk device number
-                ? JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, name, "[reduce]")
-                : JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, name, JOIN("", "[reduce][dev", devid, ']'));
-        *kernid = kokkosp::get_unique_id();
+        auto pname = (devid > std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max())  // junk device number
+                         ? fmt::format("{} {} [reduce]", _kp_prefix, name)
+                         : fmt::format("{} {} [reduce][dev{}]", _kp_prefix, name, devid);
+        *kernid    = kokkosp::get_unique_id();
         kokkosp::logger_t{}.mark(1, __FUNCTION__, name, *kernid);
         kokkosp::create_profiler<kokkosp_region>(pname, *kernid);
         kokkosp::start_profiler<kokkosp_region>(*kernid);
@@ -408,11 +407,10 @@ extern "C"
         if(violates_name_rules(name)) return set_invalid_id(kernid);
 
         ROCPROFSYS_SCOPED_THREAD_STATE(ThreadState::Internal);
-        auto pname =
-            (devid > std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max())  // junk device number
-                ? JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, name, "[scan]")
-                : JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, name, JOIN("", "[scan][dev", devid, ']'));
-        *kernid = kokkosp::get_unique_id();
+        auto pname = (devid > std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max())  // junk device number
+                         ? fmt::format("{} {} [scan]", _kp_prefix, name)
+                         : fmt::format("{} {} [scan][dev{}]", _kp_prefix, name, devid);
+        *kernid    = kokkosp::get_unique_id();
         kokkosp::logger_t{}.mark(1, __FUNCTION__, name, *kernid);
         kokkosp::create_profiler<kokkosp_region>(pname, *kernid);
         kokkosp::start_profiler<kokkosp_region>(*kernid);
@@ -435,11 +433,10 @@ extern "C"
         if(violates_name_rules(name)) return set_invalid_id(kernid);
 
         ROCPROFSYS_SCOPED_THREAD_STATE(ThreadState::Internal);
-        auto pname =
-            (devid > std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max())  // junk device number
-                ? JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, name, "[fence]")
-                : JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, name, JOIN("", "[fence][dev", devid, ']'));
-        *kernid = kokkosp::get_unique_id();
+        auto pname = (devid > std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max())  // junk device number
+                         ? fmt::format("{} {} [fence]", _kp_prefix, name)
+                         : fmt::format("{} {} [fence][dev{}]", _kp_prefix, name, devid);
+        *kernid    = kokkosp::get_unique_id();
         kokkosp::logger_t{}.mark(1, __FUNCTION__, name, *kernid);
         kokkosp::create_profiler<kokkosp_region>(pname, *kernid);
         kokkosp::start_profiler<kokkosp_region>(*kernid);
@@ -517,9 +514,8 @@ extern "C"
 
         ROCPROFSYS_SCOPED_THREAD_STATE(ThreadState::Internal);
         kokkosp::logger_t{}.mark(0, __FUNCTION__, space.name, label,
-                                 JOIN("", '[', ptr, ']'), size);
-        auto pname =
-            JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, label, JOIN("", '[', space.name, "][allocate]"));
+                                 fmt::format("[{}]", ptr), size);
+        auto pname = fmt::format("{} {} [allocate][{}]", _kp_prefix, label, space.name);
         kokkosp::profiler_alloc_t<>{ pname }.store(std::plus<int64_t>{}, size);
         kokkosp::profiler_t<kokkosp_region>{ pname }.mark();
     }
@@ -532,9 +528,8 @@ extern "C"
 
         ROCPROFSYS_SCOPED_THREAD_STATE(ThreadState::Internal);
         kokkosp::logger_t{}.mark(0, __FUNCTION__, space.name, label,
-                                 JOIN("", '[', ptr, ']'), size);
-        auto pname =
-            JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, label, JOIN("", '[', space.name, "][deallocate]"));
+                                 fmt::format("[{}]", ptr), size);
+        auto pname = fmt::format("{} {} [deallocate][{}]", _kp_prefix, label, space.name);
         kokkosp::profiler_alloc_t<>{ pname }.store(std::plus<int64_t>{}, size);
         kokkosp::profiler_t<kokkosp_region>{ pname }.mark();
     }
@@ -550,11 +545,11 @@ extern "C"
 
         ROCPROFSYS_SCOPED_THREAD_STATE(ThreadState::Internal);
         kokkosp::logger_t{}.mark(1, __FUNCTION__, dst_handle.name, dst_name,
-                                 JOIN("", '[', dst_ptr, ']'), src_handle.name, src_name,
-                                 JOIN("", '[', src_ptr, ']'), size);
+                                 fmt::format("[{}]", dst_ptr), src_handle.name, src_name,
+                                 fmt::format("[{}]", src_ptr), size);
 
-        auto name = JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, JOIN('=', dst_handle.name, dst_name), "<-",
-                         JOIN('=', src_handle.name, src_name), "[deep_copy]");
+        auto name = fmt::format("{} {} <- {} [deep_copy]", _kp_prefix, dst_handle.name,
+                                dst_name, src_handle.name, src_name);
 
         auto& _data = kokkosp::get_profiler_stack<kokkosp_region>();
         _data.emplace_back(name);
@@ -599,20 +594,22 @@ extern "C"
         ROCPROFSYS_SCOPED_THREAD_STATE(ThreadState::Internal);
         if(rocprofsys::config::get_use_perfetto())
         {
-            auto _name = tim::get_hash_identifier_fast(
-                tim::add_hash_id(JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, label, "[dual_view_sync]")));
+            auto _name = tim::get_hash_identifier_fast(tim::add_hash_id(
+                fmt::format("{} {} [dual_view_sync]", _kp_prefix, label)));
             TRACE_EVENT_INSTANT("user", ::perfetto::StaticString{ _name.data() },
                                 "target", (is_device) ? "device" : "host");
         }
         else if(rocprofsys::config::get_use_causal())
         {
-            auto _name = tim::get_hash_identifier_fast(tim::add_hash_id(JOIN(
-                "", label, " [dual_view_sync][", (is_device) ? "device" : "host", "]")));
+            auto _name = tim::get_hash_identifier_fast(
+                tim::add_hash_id(fmt::format("{} {} [dual_view_sync][{}]", _kp_prefix,
+                                             label, (is_device) ? "device" : "host")));
             kokkosp::profiler_t<kokkosp_region>{ _name }.mark();
         }
 
-        cache_kokkos_event(JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, label).c_str(), "[dual_view_sync]",
-                           (is_device) ? "device" : "host", timestamp);
+        cache_kokkos_event(fmt::format("{} {}", _kp_prefix, label).c_str(),
+                           "[dual_view_sync]", (is_device) ? "device" : "host",
+                           timestamp);
     }
 
     void kokkosp_dual_view_modify(const char* label, const void* const, bool is_device)
@@ -623,21 +620,22 @@ extern "C"
         ROCPROFSYS_SCOPED_THREAD_STATE(ThreadState::Internal);
         if(rocprofsys::config::get_use_perfetto())
         {
-            auto _name = tim::get_hash_identifier_fast(
-                tim::add_hash_id(JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, label, "[dual_view_modify]")));
+            auto _name = tim::get_hash_identifier_fast(tim::add_hash_id(
+                fmt::format("{} {} [dual_view_modify]", _kp_prefix, label)));
             TRACE_EVENT_INSTANT("user", ::perfetto::StaticString{ _name.data() },
                                 "target", (is_device) ? "device" : "host");
         }
         else if(rocprofsys::config::get_use_causal())
         {
             auto _name = tim::get_hash_identifier_fast(
-                tim::add_hash_id(JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, label, "[dual_view_modify][",
-                                      (is_device) ? "device" : "host", "]")));
+                tim::add_hash_id(fmt::format("{} {} [dual_view_modify][{}]", _kp_prefix,
+                                             label, (is_device) ? "device" : "host")));
             kokkosp::profiler_t<kokkosp_region>{ _name }.mark();
         }
 
-        cache_kokkos_event(JOIN(" ", _kp_prefix, label).c_str(), "[dual_view_modify]",
-                           (is_device) ? "device" : "host", timestamp);
+        cache_kokkos_event(fmt::format("{} {}", _kp_prefix, label).c_str(),
+                           "[dual_view_modify]", (is_device) ? "device" : "host",
+                           timestamp);
     }
 
     //----------------------------------------------------------------------------------//
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/ptl.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/ptl.cpp
index c2c6574b65..8ddfa1edac 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/ptl.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/ptl.cpp
@@ -74,11 +74,11 @@ auto _thread_pool_cfg = []() {
     _v.use_tbb      = false;
     _v.verbose      = -1;
     _v.initializer  = []() {
-        thread_info::init(true);
-        threading::set_thread_name(
-            JOIN('.', "ptl", PTL::Threading::GetThreadId()).c_str());
-        set_thread_state(ThreadState::Disabled);
-        sampling::block_signals();
+        rocprofsys::thread_info::init(true);
+        tim::threading::set_thread_name(
+            fmt::format("ptl.{}", PTL::Threading::GetThreadId()).c_str());
+        rocprofsys::set_thread_state(rocprofsys::ThreadState::Disabled);
+        rocprofsys::sampling::block_signals();
     };
     _v.finalizer  = []() {};
     _v.priority   = 5;
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk.cpp
index bdf94326fd..495e10cd50 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
 #include <timemory/utility/types.hpp>
 
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#include <spdlog/fmt/ranges.h>
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
 
@@ -290,10 +291,8 @@ create_agent_profile(rocprofiler_agent_id_t          agent_id,
 
     if(counters_v.size() != expected_v)
     {
-        auto requested_counters =
-            timemory::join::join(timemory::join::array_config{ ", ", "", "" }, counters);
-        auto found_counters =
-            timemory::join::join(timemory::join::array_config{ ", ", "", "" }, found_v);
+        auto requested_counters = fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(counters, ", "));
+        auto found_counters     = fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(found_v, ", "));
 
         // Determine which counters were not found
         auto missing_counters = std::vector<std::string>{};
@@ -302,8 +301,7 @@ create_agent_profile(rocprofiler_agent_id_t          agent_id,
             if(std::find(found_v.begin(), found_v.end(), counter) == found_v.end())
                 missing_counters.emplace_back(counter);
         }
-        auto missing_counters_str = timemory::join::join(
-            timemory::join::array_config{ ", ", "", "" }, missing_counters);
+        auto missing_counters_str = fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(missing_counters, ", "));
 
         // In production, warn and continue with available counters
         LOG_WARNING("Unable to find all counters for agent {} (gpu-{}, {}). "
@@ -424,13 +422,13 @@ get_backtrace(std::optional<std::vector<tim::unwind::processed_entry>>& _bt_data
             const auto* _loc   = (_linfo && !_linfo.location.empty())
                                      ? &_linfo.location
                                      : ((itr.location.empty()) ? &_unk : &itr.location);
-            auto        _line =
-                (_linfo && _linfo.line > 0)
-                           ? join("", _linfo.line)
-                           : ((itr.lineno == 0) ? std::string{ "?" } : join("", itr.lineno));
-            auto _entry = join("", rocprofsys::utility::demangle(*_func), " @ ",
-                               join(':', ::basename(_loc->c_str()), _line));
-            backtrace[join("", "frame#", _bt_cnt++)] = _entry;
+            auto        _line  = (_linfo && _linfo.line > 0)
+                                     ? fmt::format("{}", _linfo.line)
+                                     : ((itr.lineno == 0) ? std::string{ "?" }
+                                                          : fmt::format("{}", itr.lineno));
+            auto _entry = fmt::format("{} @ {}:{}", rocprofsys::utility::demangle(*_func),
+                                      ::basename(_loc->c_str()), _line);
+            backtrace[fmt::format("frame#{}", _bt_cnt++)] = _entry;
         }
     }
     return backtrace;
@@ -846,25 +844,26 @@ tool_tracing_callback_stop(
                                 (_linfo && !_linfo.location.empty())
                                     ? &_linfo.location
                                     : ((itr.location.empty()) ? &_unk : &itr.location);
-                            auto _line = (_linfo && _linfo.line > 0)
-                                             ? join("", _linfo.line)
-                                             : ((itr.lineno == 0) ? std::string{ "?" }
-                                                                  : join("", itr.lineno));
-                            auto _entry =
-                                join("", rocprofsys::utility::demangle(*_func), " @ ",
-                                     join(':', ::basename(_loc->c_str()), _line));
+                            auto _line =
+                                (_linfo && _linfo.line > 0)
+                                    ? fmt::format("{}", _linfo.line)
+                                    : ((itr.lineno == 0) ? std::string{ "?" }
+                                                         : fmt::format("{}", itr.lineno));
+                            auto _entry = fmt::format(
+                                "{} @ {}:{}", rocprofsys::utility::demangle(*_func),
+                                ::basename(_loc->c_str()), _line);
                             if(_bt_cnt < 10)
                             {
                                 // Prepend zero for better ordering in UI. Only one
                                 // zero is ever necessary since stack depth is limited
                                 // to 16.
                                 tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(
-                                    ctx, join("", "frame#0", _bt_cnt++), _entry);
+                                    ctx, fmt::format("frame#0{}", _bt_cnt++), _entry);
                             }
                             else
                             {
                                 tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(
-                                    ctx, join("", "frame#", _bt_cnt++), _entry);
+                                    ctx, fmt::format("frame#{}", _bt_cnt++), _entry);
                             }
                         }
                     }
@@ -1219,24 +1218,25 @@ ompt_tracing_callback_stop(
                             (_linfo && !_linfo.location.empty())
                                 ? &_linfo.location
                                 : ((itr.location.empty()) ? &_unk : &itr.location);
-                        auto _line = (_linfo && _linfo.line > 0)
-                                         ? join("", _linfo.line)
-                                         : ((itr.lineno == 0) ? std::string{ "?" }
-                                                              : join("", itr.lineno));
-                        auto _entry =
-                            join("", rocprofsys::utility::demangle(*_func), " @ ",
-                                 join(':', ::basename(_loc->c_str()), _line));
+                        auto _line =
+                            (_linfo && _linfo.line > 0)
+                                ? fmt::format("{}", _linfo.line)
+                                : ((itr.lineno == 0) ? std::string{ "?" }
+                                                     : fmt::format("{}", itr.lineno));
+                        auto _entry = fmt::format("{} @ {}:{}",
+                                                  rocprofsys::utility::demangle(*_func),
+                                                  ::basename(_loc->c_str()), _line);
                         if(_bt_cnt < 10)
                         {
                             // Prepend zero for better ordering in UI. Only one zero
                             // is ever necessary since stack depth is limited to 16.
                             tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(
-                                ctx, join("", "frame#0", _bt_cnt++), _entry);
+                                ctx, fmt::format("frame#0{}", _bt_cnt++), _entry);
                         }
                         else
                         {
                             tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(
-                                ctx, join("", "frame#", _bt_cnt++), _entry);
+                                ctx, fmt::format("frame#{}", _bt_cnt++), _entry);
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -1644,7 +1644,7 @@ tool_tracing_buffered(rocprofiler_context_id_t /*context*/,
     if(num_headers == 0 || headers == nullptr) return;
 
     auto _track_desc_stream = [](uint64_t _stream_id) {
-        return JOIN("", "HIP Activity Stream ", _stream_id);
+        return fmt::format("HIP Activity Stream {}", _stream_id);
     };
 
     const bool _default_group_by_queue = get_group_by_queue();
@@ -1687,8 +1687,8 @@ tool_tracing_buffered(rocprofiler_context_id_t /*context*/,
                 {
                     cache_category<category::rocm_kernel_dispatch>();
                     cache_add_thread_info(record->thread_id);
-                    cache_add_track(JOIN("", "GPU Kernel Dispatch [", _agent->device_id,
-                                         "] Queue ", _queue_id.handle)
+                    cache_add_track(fmt::format("GPU Kernel Dispatch [{}] Queue {}",
+                                                _agent->device_id, _queue_id.handle)
                                         .c_str(),
                                     record->thread_id);
                     cache_kernel_dispatch(record, _stream_id);
@@ -1735,26 +1735,24 @@ tool_tracing_buffered(rocprofiler_context_id_t /*context*/,
                                 record->dispatch_info.group_segment_size);
                             tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(
                                 ctx, "workgroup_size",
-                                JOIN("", "(",
-                                     JOIN(',', record->dispatch_info.workgroup_size.x,
-                                          record->dispatch_info.workgroup_size.y,
-                                          record->dispatch_info.workgroup_size.z),
-                                     ")"));
+                                fmt::format("({},{},{})",
+                                            record->dispatch_info.workgroup_size.x,
+                                            record->dispatch_info.workgroup_size.y,
+                                            record->dispatch_info.workgroup_size.z));
                             tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(
                                 ctx, "grid_size",
-                                JOIN("", "(",
-                                     JOIN(',', record->dispatch_info.grid_size.x,
-                                          record->dispatch_info.grid_size.y,
-                                          record->dispatch_info.grid_size.z),
-                                     ")"));
+                                fmt::format("({},{},{})",
+                                            record->dispatch_info.grid_size.x,
+                                            record->dispatch_info.grid_size.y,
+                                            record->dispatch_info.grid_size.z));
                         }
                     };
 
                     if(_group_by_queue)
                     {
                         auto _track_desc = [](int32_t _device_id_v, int64_t _queue_id_v) {
-                            return JOIN("", "GPU Kernel Dispatch [", _device_id_v,
-                                        "] Queue ", _queue_id_v);
+                            return fmt::format("GPU Kernel Dispatch [{}] Queue {}",
+                                               _device_id_v, _queue_id_v);
                         };
 
                         const auto _track = tracing::get_perfetto_track(
@@ -1812,8 +1810,8 @@ tool_tracing_buffered(rocprofiler_context_id_t /*context*/,
                 }
 
                 {
-                    auto track_name = JOIN("", "GPU Scratch Memory [", device_id,
-                                           "] Thread ", record->thread_id);
+                    auto track_name = fmt::format("GPU Scratch Memory [{}] Thread {}",
+                                                  device_id, record->thread_id);
                     cache_category<category::rocm_scratch_memory>();
                     cache_add_thread_info(record->thread_id);
                     cache_add_track(track_name.c_str(), record->thread_id);
@@ -1843,8 +1841,8 @@ tool_tracing_buffered(rocprofiler_context_id_t /*context*/,
                     if(!counter_track::exists(device_id))
                     {
                         auto track_name_alloc_size =
-                            JOIN("", "GPU Scratch Memory [", device_id, "] (S) Thread ",
-                                 thread_id_sequent);
+                            fmt::format("GPU Scratch Memory [{}] (S) Thread {}",
+                                        device_id, thread_id_sequent);
                         counter_track::emplace(device_id, track_name_alloc_size, "bytes");
                     }
 
@@ -1869,8 +1867,8 @@ tool_tracing_buffered(rocprofiler_context_id_t /*context*/,
                     if(_group_by_queue)
                     {
                         auto track_name_events = [&]() {
-                            return JOIN("", "GPU Scratch Memory (S) Events Thread ",
-                                        thread_id_sequent);
+                            return fmt::format("GPU Scratch Memory (S) Events Thread {}",
+                                               thread_id_sequent);
                         };
                         const auto _track = tracing::get_perfetto_track(
                             category::rocm_scratch_memory{}, track_name_events);
@@ -1927,9 +1925,8 @@ tool_tracing_buffered(rocprofiler_context_id_t /*context*/,
                     size_t      thread_idx = record->thread_id;
                     std::string track_name;
 
-                    track_name =
-                        JOIN("", "GPU Memory Copy to Agent [",
-                             _dst_agent->logical_node_id, "] Thread ", thread_idx);
+                    track_name = fmt::format("GPU Memory Copy to Agent [{}] Thread {}",
+                                             _dst_agent->logical_node_id, thread_idx);
 
                     cache_category<category::rocm_memory_copy>();
                     cache_add_track(track_name.c_str(), record->thread_id);
@@ -1974,8 +1971,9 @@ tool_tracing_buffered(rocprofiler_context_id_t /*context*/,
                         auto _track_desc = [](int32_t                 _device_id_v,
                                               rocprofiler_thread_id_t _tid) {
                             const auto& _tid_v = thread_info::get(_tid, SystemTID);
-                            return JOIN("", "GPU Memory Copy to Agent [", _device_id_v,
-                                        "] Thread ", _tid_v->index_data->sequent_value);
+                            return fmt::format("GPU Memory Copy to Agent [{}] Thread {}",
+                                               _device_id_v,
+                                               _tid_v->index_data->sequent_value);
                         };
 
                         const auto _track = tracing::get_perfetto_track(
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/counters.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/counters.cpp
index 504636eba0..03de4689bc 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/counters.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/counters.cpp
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ counter_storage::counter_storage(const client_data* _tool_data, uint64_t _devid,
     auto _metric_name = std::string{ _name };
     _metric_name =
         std::regex_replace(_metric_name, std::regex{ "(.*)\\[([0-9]+)\\]" }, "$1_$2");
-    storage_name = JOIN('-', "rocprof", "device", device_id, _metric_name);
+    storage_name = fmt::format("rocprof-device-{}-{}", device_id, _metric_name);
     storage = std::make_unique<counter_storage_type>(tim::standalone_storage{}, index,
                                                      storage_name);
     tim::manager::instance()->add_cleanup(
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ counter_storage::counter_storage(const client_data* _tool_data, uint64_t _devid,
 
     {
         constexpr auto _unit = ::perfetto::CounterTrack::Unit::UNIT_COUNT;
-        track_name = JOIN(" ", "GPU", _metric_name, JOIN("", '[', device_id, ']'));
-        track      = std::make_unique<counter_track_type>(
+        track_name           = fmt::format(" GPU {} [{}]", _metric_name, device_id);
+        track                = std::make_unique<counter_track_type>(
             ::perfetto::StaticString(track_name.c_str()));
 
         metadata_initialize_counter_category();
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/fwd.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/fwd.cpp
index a739174bb9..f577103726 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/fwd.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/fwd.cpp
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@
 #include "library/rocprofiler-sdk/fwd.hpp"
 #include "core/state.hpp"
 
-#include <timemory/utility/join.hpp>
-
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
 
 #include <exception>
@@ -33,6 +31,8 @@
 #include <rocprofiler-sdk/fwd.h>
 #include <rocprofiler-sdk/rocprofiler.h>
 
+#include <spdlog/fmt/ranges.h>
+
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <utility>
 
@@ -171,11 +171,11 @@ client_data::initialize_event_info()
         {
             auto        _dev_index = aitr.device_id;
             const auto& _agent_id  = rocprofiler_agent_id_t{ aitr.agent->handle };
-            auto        _device_qualifier_sym = JOIN("", ":device=", _dev_index);
+            auto        _device_qualifier_sym = fmt::format(":device={}", _dev_index);
             auto        _device_qualifier =
                 tim::hardware_counters::qualifier{ true, static_cast<int>(_dev_index),
                                                    _device_qualifier_sym,
-                                                   JOIN(" ", "Device", _dev_index) };
+                                                   fmt::format("Device {}", _dev_index) };
 
             // Check if agent info is available ( i.e., counters are supported)
             auto agent_info_it = agent_counter_info.find(_agent_id);
@@ -219,8 +219,9 @@ client_data::initialize_event_info()
                 }
                 else if(ditr.is_derived)
                 {
-                    auto _sym        = JOIN("", ditr.name, _device_qualifier_sym);
-                    auto _short_desc = JOIN("", "Derived counter: ", ditr.expression);
+                    auto _sym = fmt::format("{}:device={}", ditr.name, _dev_index);
+                    auto _short_desc =
+                        fmt::format("Derived counter: {}", ditr.expression);
                     events_info.emplace_back(hardware_counter_info(
                         true, tim::hardware_counters::api::rocm, events_info.size(), 0,
                         _sym, _pysym, _short_desc, _long_desc, _units,
@@ -232,21 +233,19 @@ client_data::initialize_event_info()
 
                     for(const auto& itr : ditr.dimension_info)
                     {
-                        auto _info = (itr.instance_size > 1)
-                                         ? JOIN("", itr.name, "[", 0, ":",
-                                                itr.instance_size - 1, "]")
-                                         : std::string{};
+                        auto _info =
+                            (itr.instance_size > 1)
+                                ? fmt::format("{}[0:{}]", itr.name, itr.instance_size - 1)
+                                : std::string{};
                         if(!_info.empty()) _dim_info.emplace_back(_info);
                     }
 
-                    auto _sym        = JOIN("", ditr.name, _device_qualifier_sym);
-                    auto _short_desc = JOIN("", ditr.name, " on device ", _dev_index);
+                    auto _sym = fmt::format("{}:device={}", ditr.name, _dev_index);
+                    auto _short_desc =
+                        fmt::format("{} on device {}", ditr.name, _dev_index);
                     if(!_dim_info.empty())
                     {
-                        namespace join = ::timemory::join;
-                        _short_desc += JOIN(
-                            "", ". ",
-                            join::join(join::array_config{ ", ", "", "" }, _dim_info));
+                        _short_desc += fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(_dim_info, ". "));
                     }
                     events_info.emplace_back(hardware_counter_info(
                         true, tim::hardware_counters::api::rocm, events_info.size(), 0,
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/rccl.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/rccl.cpp
index 3886af5c2d..3fade262a5 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/rccl.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/rocprofiler-sdk/rccl.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ write_perfetto_counter_track(uint64_t _val, uint64_t _begin_ts, uint64_t _end_ts
         if(!counter_track::exists(_idx))
         {
             std::string _label =
-                (_idx > 0) ? JOIN(" ", Tp::label, JOIN("", '[', _idx, ']')) : Tp::label;
+                (_idx > 0) ? fmt::format("{} [{}]", Tp::label, _idx) : Tp::label;
             counter_track::emplace(_idx, _label, "bytes");
         }
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ cache_rccl_comm_data_events(size_t bytes, uint64_t timestamp_ns)
         static_cast<double>(cumulative_bytes) });
 }
 
-static auto
+inline auto
 rccl_type_size(ncclDataType_t datatype)
 {
     switch(datatype)
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/runtime.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/runtime.cpp
index 3a3a50e322..c682d6cedc 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/runtime.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/runtime.cpp
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ get_main_bundle()
         auto _self = RUSAGE_SELF;
         std::swap(_self, tim::get_rusage_type());
         auto _tmp = std::make_unique<main_bundle_t>(
-            JOIN('/', "rocprofsys/process", process::get_id()),
+            fmt::format("rocprofsys/process/{}", process::get_id()),
             quirk::config<quirk::auto_start>{});
         std::swap(_self, tim::get_rusage_type());
         return _tmp;
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<init_bundle_t>&
 get_init_bundle()
 {
     static auto _v = std::make_unique<init_bundle_t>(
-        JOIN('/', "rocprofsys/process", process::get_id()));
+        fmt::format("rocprofsys/process/{}", process::get_id()));
     return _v;
 }
 
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ get_preinit_bundle()
 {
     static auto _v =
         (setup_gotchas(), std::make_unique<preinit_bundle_t>(
-                              JOIN('/', "rocprofsys/process", process::get_id()),
+                              fmt::format("rocprofsys/process/{}", process::get_id()),
                               quirk::config<quirk::auto_start>{}));
     return _v;
 }
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/sampling.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/sampling.cpp
index 3366e10bed..a0dd3e8c73 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/sampling.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/sampling.cpp
@@ -1411,13 +1411,14 @@ post_process_perfetto(int64_t _tid, const std::vector<timer_sampling_data>& _tim
                 _overflow_event.substr(_overflow_pos + _overflow_prefix.length());
 
         const auto* _main_name =
-            static_strings.emplace(join(" ", _overflow_event, "samples [rocprof-sys]"))
+            static_strings
+                .emplace(fmt::format("{} samples [rocprof-sys]", _overflow_event))
                 .first->c_str();
 
         auto _track = tracing::get_perfetto_track(
             category::overflow_sampling{},
             [](auto _seq_id, auto _sys_id) {
-                return TIMEMORY_JOIN(" ", "Thread", _seq_id, "Overflow", "(S)", _sys_id);
+                return fmt::format("Thread {} Overflow (S) {}", _seq_id, _sys_id);
             },
             _thread_info->index_data->sequent_value,
             _thread_info->index_data->system_value);
@@ -1461,12 +1462,13 @@ post_process_perfetto(int64_t _tid, const std::vector<timer_sampling_data>& _tim
                                 size_t _n = 0;
                                 for(const auto& line : _lines)
                                 {
-                                    auto _label = JOIN('-', "lineinfo", _n++);
+                                    auto _label = fmt::format("lineinfo-{}", _n++);
                                     tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(
                                         ctx, _label.c_str(),
-                                        JOIN('@',
-                                             rocprofsys::utility::demangle(line.name),
-                                             JOIN(':', line.location, line.line)));
+                                        fmt::format(
+                                            "{}@{}:{}",
+                                            rocprofsys::utility::demangle(line.name),
+                                            line.location, line.line));
                                 }
                             }
                         }
@@ -1494,7 +1496,7 @@ post_process_perfetto(int64_t _tid, const std::vector<timer_sampling_data>& _tim
         auto _track = tracing::get_perfetto_track(
             category::timer_sampling{},
             [](auto _seq_id, auto _sys_id) {
-                return TIMEMORY_JOIN(" ", "Thread", _seq_id, "(S)", _sys_id);
+                return fmt::format("Thread {} (S) {}", _seq_id, _sys_id);
             },
             _thread_info->index_data->sequent_value,
             _thread_info->index_data->system_value);
@@ -1559,7 +1561,7 @@ post_process_perfetto(int64_t _tid, const std::vector<timer_sampling_data>& _tim
                             static_strings
                                 .emplace(rocprofsys::utility::demangle(line.name))
                                 .first->c_str();
-                        auto _info = JOIN(':', line.location, line.line);
+                        auto _info = fmt::format("{}:{}", line.location, line.line);
                         tracing::push_perfetto_track(
                             category::timer_sampling{}, _name, _track, _beg,
                             [&](::perfetto::EventContext ctx) {
@@ -1602,12 +1604,13 @@ post_process_perfetto(int64_t _tid, const std::vector<timer_sampling_data>& _tim
                                     size_t _n = 0;
                                     for(const auto& line : _lines)
                                     {
-                                        auto _label = JOIN('-', "lineinfo", _n++);
+                                        auto _label = fmt::format("lineinfo-{}", _n++);
                                         tracing::add_perfetto_annotation(
                                             ctx, _label.c_str(),
-                                            JOIN('@',
-                                                 rocprofsys::utility::demangle(line.name),
-                                                 JOIN(':', line.location, line.line)));
+                                            fmt::format(
+                                                "{}@{}:{}",
+                                                rocprofsys::utility::demangle(line.name),
+                                                line.location, line.line));
                                     }
                                 }
                             }
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing.cpp
index c61b0a133c..052083f549 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing.cpp
@@ -173,15 +173,15 @@ thread_init()
         {
             LOG_CRITICAL("thread setup failed. thread info not initialized: {}",
                          [&_tinfo]() {
-                             if(_tinfo) return JOIN("", *_tinfo);
+                             if(_tinfo) return _tinfo->as_string();
                              return std::string{ "no thread_info" };
                          }());
             std::exit(1);
         }
 
-        if(_tidx > 0) threading::set_thread_name(JOIN(" ", "Thread", _tidx).c_str());
+        if(_tidx > 0) threading::set_thread_name(fmt::format("Thread {}", _tidx).c_str());
         thread_data<thread_bundle_t>::construct(
-            JOIN('/', "rocprofsys/process", process::get_id(), "thread", _tidx),
+            fmt::format("rocprofsys/process/{}/thread/{}", process::get_id(), _tidx),
             quirk::config<quirk::auto_start>{});
         // save the hash maps
         get_timemory_hash_ids(_tidx)     = tim::get_hash_ids();
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing.hpp
index 3da6f8ea22..021762f3ed 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing.hpp
@@ -161,9 +161,9 @@ template <typename CategoryT, typename... Args>
 auto
 get_perfetto_category_uuid(Args&&... _args)
 {
-    return tim::hash::get_hash_id(
-        tim::hash::get_hash_id(JOIN('_', "rocprofsys", trait::name<CategoryT>::value)),
-        std::forward<Args>(_args)...);
+    return tim::hash::get_hash_id(tim::hash::get_hash_id(fmt::format(
+                                      "rocprofsys_{}", trait::name<CategoryT>::value)),
+                                  std::forward<Args>(_args)...);
 }
 
 template <typename CategoryT, typename TrackT = ::perfetto::Track, typename FuncT,
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing/annotation.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing/annotation.hpp
index 7a61be7c1e..6ea07426a1 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing/annotation.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/tracing/annotation.hpp
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ add_perfetto_annotation(
         auto* _dbg = ctx.event()->add_debug_annotations();
         if(_idx >= 0)
         {
-            auto _arg_name = JOIN("", "arg", _idx, "-", std::forward<Np>(_name));
+            auto _arg_name = fmt::format("arg{}-{}", _idx, std::forward<Np>(_name));
             _dbg->set_name(_arg_name);
         }
         else
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ add_perfetto_annotation(
     }
     else if constexpr(concepts::can_stringify<value_type>::value)
     {
-        _get_dbg()->set_string_value(JOIN("", std::forward<Tp>(_val)));
+        _get_dbg()->set_string_value(fmt::format("{}", std::forward<Tp>(_val)));
     }
     else
     {