diff --git a/core/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/core/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index f1f274ec..2a8df7bc 100644
--- a/core/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/core/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 repos:
   - repo: https://github.com/golangci/golangci-lint
-    rev: v2.9.0
+    rev: v2.11.3
     hooks:
       - id: golangci-lint-fmt
         require_serial: true
diff --git a/core/cmd/dms/commands_doctor.go b/core/cmd/dms/commands_doctor.go
index 8e744fa9..7fc05470 100644
--- a/core/cmd/dms/commands_doctor.go
+++ b/core/cmd/dms/commands_doctor.go
@@ -1079,14 +1079,14 @@ func formatResultsPlain(results []checkResult) string {
 			if currentCategory != -1 {
 				sb.WriteString("\n")
 			}
-			sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("**%s**\n", r.category.String()))
+			fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "**%s**\n", r.category.String())
 			currentCategory = r.category
 		}
 
-		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("- [%s] %s: %s\n", r.status, r.name, r.message))
+		fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "- [%s] %s: %s\n", r.status, r.name, r.message)
 
 		if doctorVerbose && r.details != "" {
-			sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  - %s\n", r.details))
+			fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "  - %s\n", r.details)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1096,8 +1096,8 @@ func formatResultsPlain(results []checkResult) string {
 	}
 
 	sb.WriteString("\n---\n")
-	sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("**Summary:** %d error(s), %d warning(s), %d ok\n",
-		ds.ErrorCount(), ds.WarningCount(), ds.OKCount()))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "**Summary:** %d error(s), %d warning(s), %d ok\n",
+		ds.ErrorCount(), ds.WarningCount(), ds.OKCount())
 
 	return sb.String()
 }
diff --git a/core/go.mod b/core/go.mod
index 0db881de..16f925e0 100644
--- a/core/go.mod
+++ b/core/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/AvengeMedia/DankMaterialShell/core
 
-go 1.25.0
+go 1.26.0
 
 require (
 	github.com/Wifx/gonetworkmanager/v2 v2.2.0
diff --git a/core/internal/server/brightness/udev.go b/core/internal/server/brightness/udev.go
index 7e0fcd05..b7f02a83 100644
--- a/core/internal/server/brightness/udev.go
+++ b/core/internal/server/brightness/udev.go
@@ -6,12 +6,20 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/AvengeMedia/DankMaterialShell/core/internal/log"
 	"github.com/pilebones/go-udev/netlink"
 )
 
+const (
+	udevRecvBufSize = 8 * 1024 * 1024
+	udevMaxRetries  = 5
+	udevBaseDelay   = 2 * time.Second
+	udevMaxDelay    = 60 * time.Second
+)
+
 type UdevMonitor struct {
 	stop          chan struct{}
 	rescanMutex   sync.Mutex
@@ -29,13 +37,6 @@ func NewUdevMonitor(manager *Manager) *UdevMonitor {
 }
 
 func (m *UdevMonitor) run(manager *Manager) {
-	conn := &netlink.UEventConn{}
-	if err := conn.Connect(netlink.UdevEvent); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Failed to connect to udev netlink: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-	defer conn.Close()
-
 	matcher := &netlink.RuleDefinitions{
 		Rules: []netlink.RuleDefinition{
 			{Env: map[string]string{"SUBSYSTEM": "backlight"}},
@@ -48,6 +49,46 @@ func (m *UdevMonitor) run(manager *Manager) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	failures := 0
+	for {
+		if err := m.monitorLoop(manager, matcher); err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("Udev monitor error: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		select {
+		case <-m.stop:
+			return
+		default:
+		}
+
+		failures++
+		if failures > udevMaxRetries {
+			log.Errorf("Udev monitor exceeded %d retries, giving up", udevMaxRetries)
+			return
+		}
+
+		delay := min(udevBaseDelay*time.Duration(1<<(failures-1)), udevMaxDelay)
+		log.Infof("Udev monitor reconnecting in %v (attempt %d/%d)", delay, failures, udevMaxRetries)
+
+		select {
+		case <-m.stop:
+			return
+		case <-time.After(delay):
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *UdevMonitor) monitorLoop(manager *Manager, matcher *netlink.RuleDefinitions) error {
+	conn := &netlink.UEventConn{}
+	if err := conn.Connect(netlink.UdevEvent); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+
+	if err := syscall.SetsockoptInt(conn.Fd, syscall.SOL_SOCKET, syscall.SO_RCVBUF, udevRecvBufSize); err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("Failed to set udev socket receive buffer: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	events := make(chan netlink.UEvent)
 	errs := make(chan error)
 	conn.Monitor(events, errs, matcher)
@@ -57,10 +98,9 @@ func (m *UdevMonitor) run(manager *Manager) {
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-m.stop:
-			return
+			return nil
 		case err := <-errs:
-			log.Errorf("Udev monitor error: %v", err)
-			return
+			return err
 		case event := <-events:
 			m.handleEvent(manager, event)
 		}
diff --git a/core/internal/tui/views_config.go b/core/internal/tui/views_config.go
index 3bff4448..14daff37 100644
--- a/core/internal/tui/views_config.go
+++ b/core/internal/tui/views_config.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func (m Model) viewDeployingConfigs() string {
 
 	spinner := m.spinner.View()
 	status := m.styles.Normal.Render("Setting up configuration files...")
-	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", spinner, status))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "%s %s", spinner, status)
 	b.WriteString("\n\n")
 
 	// Show progress information
diff --git a/core/internal/tui/views_dependencies.go b/core/internal/tui/views_dependencies.go
index f55b6a10..13f03357 100644
--- a/core/internal/tui/views_dependencies.go
+++ b/core/internal/tui/views_dependencies.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func (m Model) viewDetectingDeps() string {
 
 	spinner := m.spinner.View()
 	status := m.styles.Normal.Render("Scanning system for existing packages and configurations...")
-	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", spinner, status))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "%s %s", spinner, status)
 
 	return b.String()
 }
diff --git a/core/internal/tui/views_install.go b/core/internal/tui/views_install.go
index c61c3373..c4181cae 100644
--- a/core/internal/tui/views_install.go
+++ b/core/internal/tui/views_install.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func (m Model) viewInstallingPackages() string {
 	if !m.packageProgress.isComplete {
 		spinner := m.spinner.View()
 		status := m.styles.Normal.Render(m.packageProgress.step)
-		b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", spinner, status))
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "%s %s", spinner, status)
 		b.WriteString("\n\n")
 
 		// Show progress bar
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ func (m Model) viewDebugLogs() string {
 
 		for i := startIdx; i < len(allLogs); i++ {
 			if allLogs[i] != "" {
-				b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%d: %s\n", i, allLogs[i]))
+				fmt.Fprintf(&b, "%d: %s\n", i, allLogs[i])
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/core/internal/tui/views_password.go b/core/internal/tui/views_password.go
index 2f386ae8..deec0610 100644
--- a/core/internal/tui/views_password.go
+++ b/core/internal/tui/views_password.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func (m Model) viewFingerprintAuth() string {
 
 		spinner := m.spinner.View()
 		status := m.styles.Normal.Render("Waiting for fingerprint...")
-		b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", spinner, status))
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "%s %s", spinner, status)
 	}
 
 	return b.String()
diff --git a/core/internal/tui/views_welcome.go b/core/internal/tui/views_welcome.go
index 4fe4b9cd..c5ae862c 100644
--- a/core/internal/tui/views_welcome.go
+++ b/core/internal/tui/views_welcome.go
@@ -132,9 +132,9 @@ func (m Model) viewWelcome() string {
 					contentStyle = contentStyle.Bold(true)
 				}
 
-				b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  %s %s\n",
+				fmt.Fprintf(&b, "  %s %s\n",
 					prefixStyle.Render(prefix),
-					contentStyle.Render(content)))
+					contentStyle.Render(content))
 			}
 
 			b.WriteString("\n")
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func (m Model) viewWelcome() string {
 	} else if m.isLoading {
 		spinner := m.spinner.View()
 		loading := m.styles.Normal.Render("Detecting system...")
-		b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s\n\n", spinner, loading))
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "%s %s\n\n", spinner, loading)
 	}
 
 	// Footer with better visual separation
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 4fd77119..63a89bca 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
             buildInputs =
               with pkgs;
               [
-                go_1_25
+                go_1_26
                 go-mockery_2
                 gopls
                 delve