diff --git a/src/frontend/gui/controls.cpp b/src/frontend/gui/controls.cpp
index 041def85..e05c66d2 100644
--- a/src/frontend/gui/controls.cpp
+++ b/src/frontend/gui/controls.cpp
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ Button::Button(std::shared_ptr<UINode> content, glm::vec4 padding)
     add(content);
     setScrollable(false);
     setHoverColor(glm::vec4(0.05f, 0.1f, 0.15f, 0.75f));
+    content->setInteractive(false);
 }
 
 Button::Button(
@@ -122,6 +123,7 @@ Button::Button(
     label = std::make_shared<Label>(text);
     label->setAlign(Align::center);
     label->setSize(size-vec2(padding.z+padding.x, padding.w+padding.y));
+    label->setInteractive(false);
     add(label);
     setHoverColor(glm::vec4(0.05f, 0.1f, 0.15f, 0.75f));
 }
@@ -161,10 +163,6 @@ void Button::drawBackground(const GfxContext* pctx, Assets* assets) {
     batch->rect(coord.x, coord.y, size.x, size.y);
 }
 
-std::shared_ptr<UINode> Button::getAt(vec2 pos, std::shared_ptr<UINode> self) {
-    return UINode::getAt(pos, self);
-}
-
 void Button::mouseRelease(GUI* gui, int x, int y) {
     UINode::mouseRelease(gui, x, y);
     if (isInside(vec2(x, y))) {
@@ -219,6 +217,7 @@ TextBox::TextBox(std::wstring placeholder, vec4 padding)
       input(L""),
       placeholder(placeholder) {
     label = std::make_shared<Label>(L"");
+    label->setSize(size-vec2(padding.z+padding.x, padding.w+padding.y));
     add(label);
     setHoverColor(glm::vec4(0.05f, 0.1f, 0.2f, 0.75f));
 }
@@ -289,6 +288,11 @@ void TextBox::focus(GUI* gui) {
     }
 }
 
+void TextBox::refresh() {
+    Panel::refresh();
+    label->setSize(size-vec2(padding.z+padding.x, padding.w+padding.y));
+}
+
 void TextBox::keyPressed(int key) {
     if (key == keycode::BACKSPACE) {
         if (!input.empty()){
@@ -327,13 +331,13 @@ void TextBox::textValidator(wstringchecker validator) {
     this->validator = validator;
 }
 
-std::wstring TextBox::text() const {
+std::wstring TextBox::getText() const {
     if (input.empty())
         return placeholder;
     return input;
 }
 
-void TextBox::text(std::wstring value) {
+void TextBox::setText(std::wstring value) {
     this->input = value;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/frontend/gui/controls.h b/src/frontend/gui/controls.h
index 970e203a..281ec1ee 100644
--- a/src/frontend/gui/controls.h
+++ b/src/frontend/gui/controls.h
@@ -70,8 +70,6 @@ namespace gui {
 
         virtual void drawBackground(const GfxContext* pctx, Assets* assets) override;
 
-        virtual std::shared_ptr<UINode> getAt(glm::vec2 pos, std::shared_ptr<UINode> self) override;
-
         virtual void mouseRelease(GUI*, int x, int y) override;
         virtual Button* listenAction(onaction action);
 
@@ -123,13 +121,14 @@ namespace gui {
         virtual void textConsumer(wstringconsumer consumer);
         virtual void textValidator(wstringchecker validator);
         virtual bool isFocuskeeper() const override {return true;}
-        virtual std::wstring text() const;
-        virtual void text(std::wstring value);
+        virtual std::wstring getText() const;
+        virtual void setText(std::wstring value);
         virtual bool validate();
         virtual void setValid(bool valid);
         virtual bool isValid() const;
         virtual void setOnEditStart(runnable oneditstart);
         virtual void focus(GUI*) override;
+        virtual void refresh() override;
     };
 
     class InputBindBox : public Panel {
diff --git a/src/frontend/gui/gui_xml.cpp b/src/frontend/gui/gui_xml.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6601ad22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/frontend/gui/gui_xml.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+#include "gui_xml.h"
+
+#include <charconv>
+#include <stdexcept>
+
+#include "panels.h"
+#include "controls.h"
+
+#include "../locale/langs.h"
+#include "../../logic/scripting/scripting.h"
+#include "../../util/stringutil.h"
+
+using namespace gui;
+
+static double readDouble(const std::string& str, size_t offset, size_t len) {
+    double value;
+    auto res = std::from_chars(str.data()+offset, str.data()+offset+len, value);
+    if (res.ptr != str.data()+offset+len) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("invalid number format "+escape_string(str));
+    }
+    return value;
+}
+
+/* Read 2d vector formatted `x,y`*/
+static glm::vec2 readVec2(const std::string& str) {
+    size_t pos = str.find(',');
+    if (pos == std::string::npos) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("invalid vec2 value "+escape_string(str));
+    }
+    return glm::vec2(
+        readDouble(str, 0, pos),
+        readDouble(str, pos+1, str.length()-pos-1)
+    );
+}
+
+/* Read 3d vector formatted `x,y,z`*/
+[[maybe_unused]]
+static glm::vec3 readVec3(const std::string& str) {
+    size_t pos1 = str.find(',');
+    if (pos1 == std::string::npos) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("invalid vec3 value "+escape_string(str));
+    }
+    size_t pos2 = str.find(',', pos1+1);
+    if (pos2 == std::string::npos) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("invalid vec3 value "+escape_string(str));
+    }
+    return glm::vec3(
+        readDouble(str, 0, pos1),
+        readDouble(str, pos1+1, pos2),
+        readDouble(str, pos2+1, str.length()-pos2-1)
+    );
+}
+
+/* Read 4d vector formatted `x,y,z,w`*/
+static glm::vec4 readVec4(const std::string& str) {
+    size_t pos1 = str.find(',');
+    if (pos1 == std::string::npos) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("invalid vec4 value "+escape_string(str));
+    }
+    size_t pos2 = str.find(',', pos1+1);
+    if (pos2 == std::string::npos) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("invalid vec4 value "+escape_string(str));
+    }
+    size_t pos3 = str.find(',', pos2+1);
+    if (pos3 == std::string::npos) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("invalid vec4 value "+escape_string(str));
+    }
+    return glm::vec4(
+        readDouble(str, 0, pos1),
+        readDouble(str, pos1+1, pos2-pos1-1),
+        readDouble(str, pos2+1, pos3-pos2-1),
+        readDouble(str, pos3+1, str.length()-pos3-1)
+    );
+}
+
+/* Read RGBA color. Supported formats:
+   - "#RRGGBB" or "#RRGGBBAA" hex color */
+static glm::vec4 readColor(const std::string& str) {
+    if (str[0] == '#') {
+        if (str.length() != 7 && str.length() != 9) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("#RRGGBB or #RRGGBBAA required");
+        }
+        int a = 255;
+        int r = (hexchar2int(str[1]) << 4) | hexchar2int(str[2]);
+        int g = (hexchar2int(str[3]) << 4) | hexchar2int(str[4]);
+        int b = (hexchar2int(str[5]) << 4) | hexchar2int(str[6]);
+        if (str.length() == 9) {
+            a = (hexchar2int(str[7]) << 4) | hexchar2int(str[8]);
+        }
+        return glm::vec4(
+            r / 255.f,
+            g / 255.f,
+            b / 255.f,
+            a / 255.f
+        );
+    } else {
+        throw std::runtime_error("hex colors are only supported");
+    }
+}
+
+/* Read basic UINode properties */
+static void readUINode(xml::xmlelement element, UINode& node) {
+    if (element->has("coord")) {
+        node.setCoord(readVec2(element->attr("coord").getText()));
+    }
+    if (element->has("size")) {
+        node.setSize(readVec2(element->attr("size").getText()));
+    }
+    if (element->has("color")) {
+        node.setColor(readColor(element->attr("color").getText()));
+    }
+}
+
+static void _readContainer(UiXmlReader& reader, xml::xmlelement element, Container& container) {
+    readUINode(element, container);
+
+    for (auto& sub : element->getElements()) {
+        if (sub->isText())
+            continue;
+        container.add(reader.readUINode(sub));
+    }
+}
+
+static void _readPanel(UiXmlReader& reader, xml::xmlelement element, Panel& panel) {
+    readUINode(element, panel);
+
+    if (element->has("padding")) {
+        panel.setPadding(readVec4(element->attr("padding").getText()));
+    }
+
+    if (element->has("margin")) {
+        panel.setMargin(readVec4(element->attr("margin").getText()));
+    }
+
+    if (element->has("size")) {
+        panel.setResizing(false);
+    }
+
+    for (auto& sub : element->getElements()) {
+        if (sub->isText())
+            continue;
+        panel.add(reader.readUINode(sub));
+    }
+}
+
+
+static std::wstring readAndProcessInnerText(xml::xmlelement element) {
+    std::wstring text = L"";
+    if (element->size() == 1) {
+        text = util::str2wstr_utf8(element->sub(0)->attr("#").getText()); 
+        if (text[0] == '@') {
+            text = langs::get(text.substr(1));
+        }
+    }
+    return text;
+}
+
+static std::shared_ptr<UINode> readLabel(UiXmlReader& reader, xml::xmlelement element) {
+    std::wstring text = readAndProcessInnerText(element);
+    auto label = std::make_shared<Label>(text);
+    readUINode(element, *label);
+    return label;
+}
+
+static std::shared_ptr<UINode> readContainer(UiXmlReader& reader, xml::xmlelement element) {
+    auto container = std::make_shared<Container>(glm::vec2(), glm::vec2());
+    _readContainer(reader, element, *container);
+    return container;
+}
+
+static std::shared_ptr<UINode> readButton(UiXmlReader& reader, xml::xmlelement element) {
+    std::wstring text = readAndProcessInnerText(element);
+    auto button = std::make_shared<Button>(text, glm::vec4(0.0f), nullptr);
+    _readPanel(reader, element, *button);
+
+    if (element->has("onclick")) {
+        runnable callback = scripting::create_runnable("<onclick>", element->attr("onclick").getText());
+        button->listenAction([callback](GUI*) {
+            callback();
+        });
+    }
+    return button;
+}
+
+static std::shared_ptr<UINode> readTextBox(UiXmlReader& reader, xml::xmlelement element) {
+    auto placeholder = util::str2wstr_utf8(element->attr("placeholder", "").getText());
+    auto text = readAndProcessInnerText(element);
+    auto textbox = std::make_shared<TextBox>(placeholder, glm::vec4(0.0f));
+    _readPanel(reader, element, *textbox);
+    textbox->setText(text);
+    return textbox;
+}
+
+UiXmlReader::UiXmlReader() {
+    add("label", readLabel);
+    add("button", readButton);
+    add("textbox", readTextBox);
+    add("container", readContainer);
+}
+
+void UiXmlReader::add(const std::string& tag, uinode_reader reader) {
+    readers[tag] = reader;
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<UINode> UiXmlReader::readUINode(xml::xmlelement element) {
+    const std::string& tag = element->getTag();
+
+    auto found = readers.find(tag);
+    if (found == readers.end()) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("unsupported element '"+tag+"'");
+    }
+    return found->second(*this, element);
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<UINode> UiXmlReader::readXML(
+    const std::string& filename,
+    const std::string& source
+) {
+    auto document = xml::parse(filename, source);
+    auto root = document->getRoot();
+    return readUINode(root);
+}
diff --git a/src/frontend/gui/gui_xml.h b/src/frontend/gui/gui_xml.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e83252bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/frontend/gui/gui_xml.h
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#ifndef FRONTEND_GUI_GUI_XML_H_
+#define FRONTEND_GUI_GUI_XML_H_
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <unordered_map>
+
+#include "GUI.h"
+#include "../../coders/xml.h"
+
+namespace gui {
+    class UiXmlReader;
+
+    using uinode_reader = std::function<std::shared_ptr<UINode>(UiXmlReader&, xml::xmlelement)>;
+
+    class UiXmlReader {
+        std::unordered_map<std::string, uinode_reader> readers;
+    public:
+        UiXmlReader();
+
+        void add(const std::string& tag, uinode_reader reader);
+        
+        std::shared_ptr<UINode> readUINode(xml::xmlelement element);
+
+        std::shared_ptr<UINode> readXML(
+            const std::string& filename,
+            const std::string& source
+        );
+    };
+}
+
+#endif // FRONTEND_GUI_GUI_XML_H_
diff --git a/src/frontend/hud.cpp b/src/frontend/hud.cpp
index 5792e626..7707e965 100644
--- a/src/frontend/hud.cpp
+++ b/src/frontend/hud.cpp
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ std::shared_ptr<UINode> HudRenderer::createDebugPanel(Engine* engine) {
         });
         box->setOnEditStart([=](){
             Hitbox* hitbox = level->player->hitbox.get();
-            box->text(std::to_wstring(int(hitbox->position[ax])));
+            box->setText(std::to_wstring(int(hitbox->position[ax])));
         });
 
         sub->add(box);
diff --git a/src/frontend/menu.cpp b/src/frontend/menu.cpp
index 1f1e29c0..3838e23a 100644
--- a/src/frontend/menu.cpp
+++ b/src/frontend/menu.cpp
@@ -417,8 +417,8 @@ void create_new_world_panel(Engine* engine) {
         if (!nameInput->validate())
             return;
 
-        std::string name = util::wstr2str_utf8(nameInput->text());
-        uint64_t seed = str2seed(seedInput->text());
+        std::string name = util::wstr2str_utf8(nameInput->getText());
+        uint64_t seed = str2seed(seedInput->getText());
         std::cout << "world seed: " << seed << std::endl;
 
         EnginePaths* paths = engine->getPaths();