diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 3ffabcda..122cc83f 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -88,6 +88,14 @@ dnl =============================
 AS_IF([test -z "${BOOST_LIB_SUFFIX+x}"], [BOOST_LIB_SUFFIX=-mt])
 AC_ARG_VAR([BOOST_LIB_SUFFIX], [Boost library name suffix [default=-mt]])
 
+dnl ======================================
+dnl = checking for various boost headers =
+dnl ======================================
+AC_CHECK_HEADERS([boost/lexical_cast.hpp], ,
+	AC_MSG_ERROR(boost/lexical_cast.hpp is missing))
+AC_CHECK_HEADERS([boost/algorithm/string.hpp], ,
+	AC_MSG_ERROR(boost/algorithm/string.hpp is missing))
+
 dnl =============================
 dnl = checking for boost.locale =
 dnl =============================
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 4b4fc919..35ede862 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ noinst_HEADERS = \
 	utility/comparators.h \
 	utility/html.h \
 	utility/string.h \
-	utility/numeric_conversions.h \
 	utility/type_conversions.h \
 	utility/wide_string.h \
 	bindings.h \
diff --git a/src/actions.cpp b/src/actions.cpp
index 3a04a276..d385721b 100644
--- a/src/actions.cpp
+++ b/src/actions.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cerrno>
 #include <cstring>
+#include <boost/locale/conversion.hpp>
+#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <iostream>
 
@@ -1192,7 +1194,7 @@ void SetCrossfade::run()
 	Statusbar::put() << "Set crossfade to: ";
 	std::string crossfade = wFooter->getString(3);
 	Statusbar::unlock();
-	int cf = stringToInt(crossfade);
+	int cf = boost::lexical_cast<int>(crossfade);
 	if (cf > 0)
 	{
 		Config.crossfade_time = cf;
@@ -1503,11 +1505,11 @@ void ToggleScreenLock::run()
 		{
 			Statusbar::lock();
 			Statusbar::put() << "% of the locked screen's width to be reserved (20-80): ";
-			std::string str_part = wFooter->getString(intTo<std::string>::apply(Config.locked_screen_width_part*100));
+			std::string str_part = wFooter->getString(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(Config.locked_screen_width_part*100));
 			Statusbar::unlock();
 			if (str_part.empty())
 				return;
-			part = stringToInt(str_part);
+			part = boost::lexical_cast<int>(str_part);
 		}
 		if (part < 20 || part > 80)
 		{
@@ -1562,7 +1564,8 @@ void JumpToPositionInSong::run()
 	int newpos = 0;
 	if (position.find(':') != std::string::npos) // probably time in mm:ss
 	{
-		newpos = stringToInt(position)*60 + stringToInt(position.substr(position.find(':')+1));
+		newpos = boost::lexical_cast<int>(position)*60
+		       + boost::lexical_cast<int>(position.substr(position.find(':')+1));
 		if (newpos >= 0 && newpos <= Mpd.GetTotalTime())
 			Mpd.Seek(newpos);
 		else
@@ -1570,7 +1573,7 @@ void JumpToPositionInSong::run()
 	}
 	else if (position.find('s') != std::string::npos) // probably position in seconds
 	{
-		newpos = stringToInt(position);
+		newpos = boost::lexical_cast<int>(position);
 		if (newpos >= 0 && newpos <= Mpd.GetTotalTime())
 			Mpd.Seek(newpos);
 		else
@@ -1578,7 +1581,7 @@ void JumpToPositionInSong::run()
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		newpos = stringToInt(position);
+		newpos = boost::lexical_cast<int>(position);
 		if (newpos >= 0 && newpos <= 100)
 			Mpd.Seek(Mpd.GetTotalTime()*newpos/100.0);
 		else
@@ -1934,14 +1937,14 @@ void AddRandomItems::run()
 	if (answer != 's')
 	{
 		tag_type = charToTagType(answer);
-		tag_type_str = lowercase(tagTypeToString(tag_type));
+		tag_type_str = boost::locale::to_lower(tagTypeToString(tag_type));
 	}
 	else
 		tag_type_str = "song";
 	
 	Statusbar::lock();
 	Statusbar::put() << "Number of random " << tag_type_str << "s: ";
-	size_t number = stringToLongInt(wFooter->getString());
+	size_t number = boost::lexical_cast<size_t>(wFooter->getString());
 	Statusbar::unlock();
 	if (number && (answer == 's' ? Mpd.AddRandomSongs(number) : Mpd.AddRandomTag(tag_type, number)))
 		Statusbar::msg("%zu random %s%s added to playlist", number, tag_type_str.c_str(), number == 1 ? "" : "s");
@@ -2005,7 +2008,7 @@ void ToggleLibraryTagType::run()
 		std::string item_type = tagTypeToString(Config.media_lib_primary_tag);
 		myLibrary->Tags.setTitle(Config.titles_visibility ? item_type + "s" : "");
 		myLibrary->Tags.reset();
-		item_type = lowercase(item_type);
+		item_type = boost::locale::to_lower(item_type);
 		std::string and_mtime = Config.media_library_sort_by_mtime ?
 		                        " and mtime" :
 		                        "";
@@ -2088,7 +2091,7 @@ void SetSelectedItemsPriority::run()
 	Statusbar::unlock();
 	if (!isInteger(strprio.c_str(), true))
 		return;
-	int prio = stringToInt(strprio);
+	int prio = boost::lexical_cast<int>(strprio);
 	if (prio < 0 || prio > 255)
 	{
 		Statusbar::msg("Number is out of range");
@@ -2112,7 +2115,7 @@ void FilterPlaylistOnPriorities::run()
 	Statusbar::unlock();
 	if (!isInteger(strprio.c_str(), false))
 		return;
-	unsigned prio = stringToInt(strprio);
+	unsigned prio = boost::lexical_cast<unsigned>(strprio);
 	myPlaylist->main().filter(myPlaylist->main().begin(), myPlaylist->main().end(),
 		[prio](const NC::Menu<MPD::Song>::Item &s) {
 			return s.value().getPrio() > prio;
diff --git a/src/bindings.cpp b/src/bindings.cpp
index 3a9534b1..55e3e499 100644
--- a/src/bindings.cpp
+++ b/src/bindings.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
  *   51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.              *
  ***************************************************************************/
 
+#include <boost/algorithm/string/trim.hpp>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <iostream>
 #include "global.h"
@@ -312,7 +313,7 @@ bool BindingsConfiguration::read(const std::string &file)
 		}
 		else if (isspace(line[0])) // name of action to be bound
 		{
-			trim(line);
+			boost::trim(line);
 			auto action = parseActionLine(line, error);
 			if (action)
 				actions.push_back(action);
diff --git a/src/browser.cpp b/src/browser.cpp
index e39f4f4e..f1754887 100644
--- a/src/browser.cpp
+++ b/src/browser.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <cerrno>
 #include <cstring>
+#include <boost/locale/conversion.hpp>
 #include <algorithm>
 
 #include "browser.h"
@@ -32,14 +33,15 @@
 #include "helpers.h"
 #include "playlist.h"
 #include "regex_filter.h"
+#include "screen_switcher.h"
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "status.h"
 #include "statusbar.h"
 #include "tag_editor.h"
-#include "utility/comparators.h"
 #include "title.h"
 #include "tags.h"
-#include "screen_switcher.h"
+#include "utility/comparators.h"
+#include "utility/string.h"
 
 using namespace std::placeholders;
 
@@ -587,7 +589,7 @@ bool hasSupportedExtension(const std::string &file)
 	if (last_dot > file.length())
 		return false;
 	
-	std::string ext = lowercase(file.substr(last_dot+1));
+	std::string ext = boost::locale::to_lower(file.substr(last_dot+1));
 	return SupportedExtensions.find(ext) != SupportedExtensions.end();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cmdargs.cpp b/src/cmdargs.cpp
index 785f53b5..f9145df7 100644
--- a/src/cmdargs.cpp
+++ b/src/cmdargs.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cstring>
+#include <boost/algorithm/string/replace.hpp>
 #include <iostream>
 
 #include "actions.h"
@@ -181,12 +182,13 @@ void ParseArgv(int argc, char **argv)
 						now_playing_format = "{";
 						now_playing_format += argv[i];
 						now_playing_format += "}";
-						replace(now_playing_format, "\\n", "\n");
-						replace(now_playing_format, "\\t", "\t");
+						boost::replace_all(now_playing_format, "\\n", "\n");
+						boost::replace_all(now_playing_format, "\\t", "\t");
 					}
 				}
-				std::cout << Charset::utf8ToLocale(
-					Mpd.GetCurrentlyPlayingSong().toString(now_playing_format, Config.tags_separator)) << "\n";
+				std::string np = Mpd.GetCurrentlyPlayingSong().toString(
+					now_playing_format, Config.tags_separator);
+				std::cout << Charset::utf8ToLocale(np) << "\n";
 			}
 			exit(0);
 		}
diff --git a/src/display.cpp b/src/display.cpp
index cf3c330b..3c273e5f 100644
--- a/src/display.cpp
+++ b/src/display.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "playlist.h"
 #include "global.h"
 #include "tag_editor.h"
+#include "utility/string.h"
 #include "utility/type_conversions.h"
 
 using Global::myScreen;
diff --git a/src/help.cpp b/src/help.cpp
index 47821150..fd65e448 100644
--- a/src/help.cpp
+++ b/src/help.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ std::string keyToString(const Key &key, bool *print_backspace)
 	else if (key >= Key(KEY_F1, Key::NCurses) && key <= Key(KEY_F12, Key::NCurses))
 	{
 		result += "F";
-		result += intTo<std::string>::apply(key.getChar()-264);
+		result += boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(key.getChar()-264);
 	}
 	else if ((key == Key(KEY_BACKSPACE, Key::NCurses) || key == Key(KEY_BACKSPACE_2, Key::Standard)))
 	{
diff --git a/src/helpers.h b/src/helpers.h
index b81721a7..6d7b5b01 100644
--- a/src/helpers.h
+++ b/src/helpers.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "screen.h"
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "status.h"
+#include "utility/string.h"
 #include "utility/wide_string.h"
 
 inline HasColumns *hasColumns(BaseScreen *screen)
diff --git a/src/lastfm.cpp b/src/lastfm.cpp
index 4700be5e..a10fbe9e 100644
--- a/src/lastfm.cpp
+++ b/src/lastfm.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cerrno>
 #include <cstring>
+#include <boost/locale/conversion.hpp>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <iostream>
 
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@
 #include "statusbar.h"
 #include "title.h"
 #include "screen_switcher.h"
+#include "utility/string.h"
 
 using Global::MainHeight;
 using Global::MainStartY;
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ void Lastfm::Load()
 	w.reset();
 	
 	std::string artist = itsArgs.find("artist")->second;
-	std::string file = lowercase(artist + ".txt");
+	std::string file = boost::locale::to_lower(artist + ".txt");
 	removeInvalidCharsFromFilename(file);
 	
 	itsFilename = itsFolder + "/" + file;
diff --git a/src/lastfm_service.cpp b/src/lastfm_service.cpp
index c2e32516..40e62bad 100644
--- a/src/lastfm_service.cpp
+++ b/src/lastfm_service.cpp
@@ -22,9 +22,11 @@
 
 #ifdef HAVE_CURL_CURL_H
 
+#include <boost/algorithm/string/trim.hpp>
 #include "curl_handle.h"
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "utility/html.h"
+#include "utility/string.h"
 
 const char *LastfmService::baseURL = "http://ws.audioscrobbler.com/2.0/?api_key=d94e5b6e26469a2d1ffae8ef20131b79&method=";
 
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@ bool LastfmService::actionFailed(const std::string &data)
 void LastfmService::postProcess(std::string &data)
 {
 	stripHtmlTags(data);
-	trim(data);
+	boost::trim(data);
 }
 
 /***********************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/lyrics.cpp b/src/lyrics.cpp
index b14b5d0c..9ff6116f 100644
--- a/src/lyrics.cpp
+++ b/src/lyrics.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "statusbar.h"
 #include "title.h"
 #include "screen_switcher.h"
+#include "utility/string.h"
 
 using Global::MainHeight;
 using Global::MainStartY;
diff --git a/src/lyrics_fetcher.cpp b/src/lyrics_fetcher.cpp
index 94c8a19e..1bf94fad 100644
--- a/src/lyrics_fetcher.cpp
+++ b/src/lyrics_fetcher.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <cstring>
+#include <boost/algorithm/string/replace.hpp>
+#include <boost/algorithm/string/trim.hpp>
 
 #include "charset.h"
 #include "lyrics_fetcher.h"
@@ -55,8 +57,8 @@ LyricsFetcher::Result LyricsFetcher::fetch(const std::string &artist, const std:
 	result.first = false;
 	
 	std::string url = getURL();
-	replace(url, "%artist%", artist.c_str());
-	replace(url, "%title%", title.c_str());
+	boost::replace_all(url, "%artist%", artist.c_str());
+	boost::replace_all(url, "%title%", title.c_str());
 	
 	std::string data;
 	CURLcode code = Curl::perform(data, url);
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@ bool LyricsFetcher::getContent(const char *open_tag, const char *close_tag, std:
 void LyricsFetcher::postProcess(std::string &data)
 {
 	stripHtmlTags(data);
-	trim(data);
+	boost::trim(data);
 }
 
 /***********************************************************************/
@@ -136,9 +138,9 @@ LyricsFetcher::Result LyricwikiFetcher::fetch(const std::string &artist, const s
 			return result;
 		}
 		
-		replace(data, "<br />", "\n");
+		boost::replace_all(data, "<br />", "\n");
 		stripHtmlTags(data);
-		trim(data);
+		boost::trim(data);
 		
 		result.second = data;
 		result.first = true;
@@ -227,8 +229,8 @@ void MetrolyricsFetcher::postProcess(std::string &data)
 	// some of lyrics have both \n chars and <br />, html tags
 	// are always present whereas \n chars are not, so we need to
 	// throw them away to avoid having line breaks doubled.
-	replace(data, "&#10;", "");
-	replace(data, "<br />", "\n");
+	boost::replace_all(data, "&#10;", "");
+	boost::replace_all(data, "<br />", "\n");
 	data = unescapeHtmlUtf8(data);
 	LyricsFetcher::postProcess(data);
 }
diff --git a/src/media_library.cpp b/src/media_library.cpp
index 355f6b29..55a1ac4e 100644
--- a/src/media_library.cpp
+++ b/src/media_library.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
  *   51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.              *
  ***************************************************************************/
 
+#include <boost/locale/conversion.hpp>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
 #include <cassert>
@@ -809,7 +810,8 @@ void MediaLibrary::toggleColumnsMode()
 			nextColumn();
 		if (Config.titles_visibility)
 		{
-			std::string item_type = lowercase(tagTypeToString(Config.media_lib_primary_tag));
+			std::string item_type = boost::locale::to_lower(
+				tagTypeToString(Config.media_lib_primary_tag));
 			std::string and_mtime = Config.media_library_sort_by_mtime ? " and mtime" : "";
 			Albums.setTitle("Albums (sorted by " + item_type + and_mtime + ")");
 		}
@@ -846,7 +848,8 @@ void MediaLibrary::toggleSortMode()
 		Songs.clear();
 		if (Config.titles_visibility)
 		{
-			std::string item_type = lowercase(tagTypeToString(Config.media_lib_primary_tag));
+			std::string item_type = boost::locale::to_lower(
+				tagTypeToString(Config.media_lib_primary_tag));
 			std::string and_mtime = Config.media_library_sort_by_mtime ? " and mtime" : "";
 			Albums.setTitle("Albums (sorted by " + item_type + and_mtime + ")");
 		}
@@ -887,7 +890,8 @@ void MediaLibrary::LocateSong(const MPD::Song &s)
 	}
 	if (primary_tag.empty())
 	{
-		std::string item_type = lowercase(tagTypeToString(Config.media_lib_primary_tag));
+		std::string item_type = boost::locale::to_lower(
+			tagTypeToString(Config.media_lib_primary_tag));
 		Statusbar::msg("Can't use this function because the song has no %s tag set", item_type.c_str());
 		return;
 	}
@@ -975,7 +979,8 @@ void MediaLibrary::AddToPlaylist(bool add_n_play)
 			if ((!Tags.empty() && isActiveWindow(Tags))
 			||  (isActiveWindow(Albums) && Albums.current().value().isAllTracksEntry()))
 			{
-				std::string tag_type = lowercase(tagTypeToString(Config.media_lib_primary_tag));
+				std::string tag_type = boost::locale::to_lower(
+					tagTypeToString(Config.media_lib_primary_tag));
 				Statusbar::msg("Songs with %s = \"%s\" added", tag_type.c_str(), Tags.current().value().tag().c_str());
 			}
 			else if (isActiveWindow(Albums))
diff --git a/src/mutable_song.cpp b/src/mutable_song.cpp
index 64b2b24e..761d41e4 100644
--- a/src/mutable_song.cpp
+++ b/src/mutable_song.cpp
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
  *   51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.              *
  ***************************************************************************/
 
+#include <boost/algorithm/string/split.hpp>
 #include "mutable_song.h"
-#include "utility/string.h"
 
 namespace MPD {//
 
@@ -168,7 +168,8 @@ void MutableSong::setDuration(unsigned int duration)
 
 void MutableSong::setTags(SetFunction set, const std::string &value, const std::string &delimiter)
 {
-	auto tags = split(value, delimiter);
+	std::vector<std::string> tags;
+	boost::iter_split(tags, value, boost::first_finder(delimiter));
 	size_t i = 0;
 	for (; i < tags.size(); ++i)
 		(this->*set)(tags[i], i);
diff --git a/src/ncmpcpp.cpp b/src/ncmpcpp.cpp
index a54c50cc..91cb06c5 100644
--- a/src/ncmpcpp.cpp
+++ b/src/ncmpcpp.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "charset.h"
 #include "cmdargs.h"
 #include "global.h"
+#include "error.h"
 #include "helpers.h"
 #include "lyrics.h"
 #include "playlist.h"
@@ -46,6 +47,15 @@
 #include "visualizer.h"
 #include "title.h"
 
+namespace boost {//
+
+void throw_exception(const std::exception &e)
+{
+	FatalError(std::string("Exception thrown: ") + e.what());
+}
+
+}
+
 namespace
 {
 	std::ofstream errorlog;
diff --git a/src/playlist_editor.cpp b/src/playlist_editor.cpp
index 8ee45a7c..523af9b0 100644
--- a/src/playlist_editor.cpp
+++ b/src/playlist_editor.cpp
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ void PlaylistEditor::update()
 			{
 				title = "Playlist content";
 				title += " (";
-				title += unsignedLongIntTo<std::string>::apply(Content.size());
+				title += boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(Content.size());
 				title += " item";
 				if (Content.size() == 1)
 					title += ")";
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index c97f4327..692d0198 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 # include <sys/stat.h>
 #endif // WIN32
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <boost/algorithm/string/trim.hpp>
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <cstring>
 #include <string>
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ namespace
 		if (equal == std::string::npos)
 			return "";
 		std::string result = s.substr(0, equal);
-		trim(result);
+		boost::trim(result);
 		return result;
 	}
 	
@@ -346,33 +347,33 @@ void Configuration::Read()
 			}
 			else if (name == "mpd_port")
 			{
-				if (stringToInt(v))
-					mpd_port = stringToInt(v);
+				if (boost::lexical_cast<int>(v))
+					mpd_port = boost::lexical_cast<int>(v);
 			}
 			else if (name == "mpd_connection_timeout")
 			{
-				if (stringToInt(v))
-					mpd_connection_timeout = stringToInt(v);
+				if (boost::lexical_cast<int>(v))
+					mpd_connection_timeout = boost::lexical_cast<int>(v);
 			}
 			else if (name == "mpd_crossfade_time")
 			{
-				if (stringToInt(v) > 0)
-					crossfade_time = stringToInt(v);
+				if (boost::lexical_cast<int>(v) > 0)
+					crossfade_time = boost::lexical_cast<int>(v);
 			}
 			else if (name == "seek_time")
 			{
-				if (stringToInt(v) > 0)
-					seek_time = stringToInt(v);
+				if (boost::lexical_cast<int>(v) > 0)
+					seek_time = boost::lexical_cast<int>(v);
 			}
 			else if (name == "playlist_disable_highlight_delay")
 			{
-				if (stringToInt(v) >= 0)
-					playlist_disable_highlight_delay = stringToInt(v);
+				if (boost::lexical_cast<int>(v) >= 0)
+					playlist_disable_highlight_delay = boost::lexical_cast<int>(v);
 			}
 			else if (name == "message_delay_time")
 			{
-				if (stringToInt(v) > 0)
-					message_delay_time = stringToInt(v);
+				if (boost::lexical_cast<int>(v) > 0)
+					message_delay_time = boost::lexical_cast<int>(v);
 			}
 			else if (name == "song_list_format")
 			{
@@ -775,20 +776,20 @@ void Configuration::Read()
 			else if (name == "lines_scrolled")
 			{
 				if (!v.empty())
-					lines_scrolled = stringToInt(v);
+					lines_scrolled = boost::lexical_cast<int>(v);
 			}
 			else if (name == "search_engine_default_search_mode")
 			{
 				if (!v.empty())
 				{
-					unsigned mode = stringToInt(v);
+					unsigned mode = boost::lexical_cast<unsigned>(v);
 					if (--mode < 3)
 						search_engine_default_search_mode = mode;
 				}
 			}
 			else if (name == "visualizer_sync_interval")
 			{
-				unsigned interval = stringToInt(v);
+				unsigned interval = boost::lexical_cast<unsigned>(v);
 				if (interval)
 					visualizer_sync_interval = interval;
 			}
@@ -803,7 +804,7 @@ void Configuration::Read()
 			}
 			else if (name == "locked_screen_width_part")
 			{
-				int part = stringToInt(v);
+				int part = boost::lexical_cast<int>(v);
 				if (part)
 					locked_screen_width_part = part/100.0;
 			}
@@ -937,7 +938,13 @@ void Configuration::GenerateColumns()
 		col.color = stringToColor(getEnclosedString(song_list_columns_format, '[', ']', &pos));
 		std::string tag_type = getEnclosedString(song_list_columns_format, '{', '}', &pos);
 		
-		col.fixed = *width.rbegin() == 'f';
+		if (*width.rbegin() == 'f')
+		{
+			col.fixed = true;
+			width.resize(width.size()-1);
+		}
+		else
+			col.fixed = false;
 		
 		// alternative name
 		size_t tag_type_colon_pos = tag_type.find(':');
@@ -973,7 +980,7 @@ void Configuration::GenerateColumns()
 		else // empty column
 			col.display_empty_tag = 0;
 		
-		col.width = stringToInt(width);
+		col.width = boost::lexical_cast<int>(width);
 		columns.push_back(col);
 	}
 	
diff --git a/src/song.cpp b/src/song.cpp
index 7894224d..cbbbd765 100644
--- a/src/song.cpp
+++ b/src/song.cpp
@@ -20,11 +20,12 @@
 
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cstring>
+#include <boost/format.hpp>
+#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <memory>
 
 #include "song.h"
-#include "utility/numeric_conversions.h"
 #include "utility/type_conversions.h"
 #include "utility/wide_string.h"
 #include "window.h"
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ std::string Song::getPriority(unsigned idx) const
 	assert(m_song);
 	if (idx > 0)
 		return "";
-	return unsignedIntTo<std::string>::apply(getPrio());
+	return boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(getPrio());
 }
 
 std::string MPD::Song::getTags(GetFunction f, const std::string &tags_separator) const
@@ -281,9 +282,9 @@ std::string Song::ShowTime(unsigned length)
 	
 	std::string result;
 	if (hours > 0)
-		result = print<32, std::string>::apply("%d:%02d:%02d", hours, minutes, seconds);
+		result = (boost::format("%d:%02d:%02d") % hours % minutes % seconds).str();
 	else
-		result = print<32, std::string>::apply("%d:%02d", minutes, seconds);
+		result = (boost::format("%d:%02d") % minutes % seconds).str();
 	return result;
 }
 
@@ -309,7 +310,7 @@ bool MPD::Song::isFormatOk(const std::string &type, const std::string &fmt)
 			while (isdigit(fmt[++i])) { }
 		if (!charToGetFunction(fmt[i]))
 		{
-			std::cerr << type << ": invalid character at position " << unsignedLongIntTo<std::string>::apply(i+1) << ": '" << fmt[i] << "'\n";
+			std::cerr << type << ": invalid character at position " << boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(i+1) << ": '" << fmt[i] << "'\n";
 			return false;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/status.cpp b/src/status.cpp
index e11e50c4..144643e5 100644
--- a/src/status.cpp
+++ b/src/status.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "tag_editor.h"
 #include "visualizer.h"
 #include "title.h"
+#include "utility/string.h"
 
 using Global::myScreen;
 
@@ -325,7 +326,7 @@ void Status::Changes::elapsedTime()
 		if (Config.display_bitrate && Mpd.GetBitrate())
 		{
 			tracklength += " ";
-			tracklength += intTo<std::string>::apply(Mpd.GetBitrate());
+			tracklength += boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(Mpd.GetBitrate());
 			tracklength += " kbps";
 		}
 		
@@ -359,7 +360,7 @@ void Status::Changes::elapsedTime()
 		if (Config.display_bitrate && Mpd.GetBitrate())
 		{
 			tracklength += " [";
-			tracklength += intTo<std::string>::apply(Mpd.GetBitrate());
+			tracklength += boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(Mpd.GetBitrate());
 			tracklength += " kbps]";
 		}
 		tracklength += " [";
@@ -498,7 +499,7 @@ void Status::Changes::mixer()
 		VolumeState += "n/a";
 	else
 	{
-		VolumeState += intTo<std::string>::apply(volume);
+		VolumeState += boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(volume);
 		VolumeState += "%";
 	}
 	*wHeader << Config.volume_color;
diff --git a/src/strbuffer.h b/src/strbuffer.h
index daaf90a9..09c846d6 100644
--- a/src/strbuffer.h
+++ b/src/strbuffer.h
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@
 #ifndef NCMPCPP_STRBUFFER_H
 #define NCMPCPP_STRBUFFER_H
 
+#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <set>
-#include "utility/numeric_conversions.h"
 #include "window.h"
 
 namespace NC {//
@@ -130,25 +130,25 @@ public:
 	
 	BasicBuffer<CharT> &operator<<(int n)
 	{
-		m_string += intTo<StringType>::apply(n);
+		m_string += boost::lexical_cast<StringType>(n);
 		return *this;
 	}
 	
 	BasicBuffer<CharT> &operator<<(long int n)
 	{
-		m_string += longIntTo<StringType>::apply(n);
+		m_string += boost::lexical_cast<StringType>(n);
 		return *this;
 	}
 	
 	BasicBuffer<CharT> &operator<<(unsigned int n)
 	{
-		m_string += unsignedIntTo<StringType>::apply(n);
+		m_string += boost::lexical_cast<StringType>(n);
 		return *this;
 	}
 	
 	BasicBuffer<CharT> &operator<<(unsigned long int n)
 	{
-		m_string += unsignedLongIntTo<StringType>::apply(n);
+		m_string += boost::lexical_cast<StringType>(n);
 		return *this;
 	}
 	
diff --git a/src/tag_editor.cpp b/src/tag_editor.cpp
index 9a7d6ade..546f30a9 100644
--- a/src/tag_editor.cpp
+++ b/src/tag_editor.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 #ifdef HAVE_TAGLIB_H
 
+#include <boost/locale/conversion.hpp>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <sstream>
@@ -475,9 +476,9 @@ void TagEditor::enterPressed()
 			for (unsigned i = 1; i <= EditedSongs.size(); ++i, ++it)
 			{
 				if (Config.tag_editor_extended_numeration)
-					(*it)->setTrack(unsignedIntTo<std::string>::apply(i) + "/" + unsignedIntTo<std::string>::apply(EditedSongs.size()));
+					(*it)->setTrack(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(i) + "/" + boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(EditedSongs.size()));
 				else
-					(*it)->setTrack(unsignedIntTo<std::string>::apply(i));
+					(*it)->setTrack(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(i));
 			}
 			Statusbar::msg("Tracks numbered");
 		}
@@ -1034,7 +1035,7 @@ void LowerAllLetters(MPD::MutableSong &s)
 	{
 		unsigned i = 0;
 		for (std::string tag; !(tag = (s.*m->Get)(i)).empty(); ++i)
-			(s.*m->Set)(ToString(lowercase(ToWString(tag))), i);
+			(s.*m->Set)(boost::locale::to_lower(tag), i);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1046,7 +1047,7 @@ void GetPatternList()
 		if (input.is_open())
 		{
 			std::string line;
-			while (getline(input, line))
+			while (std::getline(input, line))
 				if (!line.empty())
 					Patterns.push_back(line);
 				input.close();
diff --git a/src/tags.cpp b/src/tags.cpp
index 38d86c1d..8cc91ff1 100644
--- a/src/tags.cpp
+++ b/src/tags.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 
 #include "global.h"
 #include "settings.h"
-#include "utility/numeric_conversions.h"
 #include "utility/wide_string.h"
 
 namespace {//
@@ -54,8 +53,8 @@ void readCommonTags(MPD::MutableSong &s, TagLib::Tag *tag)
 	s.setTitle(tag->title().to8Bit(true));
 	s.setArtist(tag->artist().to8Bit(true));
 	s.setAlbum(tag->album().to8Bit(true));
-	s.setDate(intTo<std::string>::apply(tag->year()));
-	s.setTrack(intTo<std::string>::apply(tag->track()));
+	s.setDate(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(tag->year()));
+	s.setTrack(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(tag->track()));
 	s.setGenre(tag->genre().to8Bit(true));
 	s.setComment(tag->comment().to8Bit(true));
 }
@@ -132,8 +131,8 @@ void writeCommonTags(const MPD::MutableSong &s, TagLib::Tag *tag)
 	tag->setTitle(ToWString(s.getTitle()));
 	tag->setArtist(ToWString(s.getArtist()));
 	tag->setAlbum(ToWString(s.getAlbum()));
-	tag->setYear(stringToInt(s.getDate()));
-	tag->setTrack(stringToInt(s.getTrack()));
+	tag->setYear(boost::lexical_cast<TagLib::uint>(s.getDate()));
+	tag->setTrack(boost::lexical_cast<TagLib::uint>(s.getTrack()));
 	tag->setGenre(ToWString(s.getGenre()));
 	tag->setComment(ToWString(s.getComment()));
 }
diff --git a/src/tiny_tag_editor.cpp b/src/tiny_tag_editor.cpp
index d06f314c..e99415fd 100644
--- a/src/tiny_tag_editor.cpp
+++ b/src/tiny_tag_editor.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 
 #ifdef HAVE_TAGLIB_H
 
+#include <boost/locale/conversion.hpp>
+
 // taglib includes
 #include <fileref.h>
 #include <tag.h>
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "title.h"
 #include "tags.h"
 #include "screen_switcher.h"
+#include "utility/string.h"
 
 using Global::MainHeight;
 using Global::MainStartY;
@@ -181,7 +184,7 @@ bool TinyTagEditor::getTags()
 		return false;
 	
 	std::string ext = itsEdited.getURI();
-	ext = lowercase(ext.substr(ext.rfind(".")+1));
+	ext = boost::locale::to_lower(ext.substr(ext.rfind(".")+1));
 	
 	w.clear();
 	w.reset();
diff --git a/src/utility/comparators.cpp b/src/utility/comparators.cpp
index e6c8fd32..46289653 100644
--- a/src/utility/comparators.cpp
+++ b/src/utility/comparators.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 #include <locale>
 #include "comparators.h"
+#include "utility/string.h"
 
 namespace {//
 
diff --git a/src/utility/html.cpp b/src/utility/html.cpp
index 73cefdb5..0872e13b 100644
--- a/src/utility/html.cpp
+++ b/src/utility/html.cpp
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@
  *   51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.              *
  ***************************************************************************/
 
+#include <boost/algorithm/string/replace.hpp>
 #include "utility/html.h"
-#include "utility/string.h"
+//#include "utility/string.h"
 
 std::string unescapeHtmlUtf8(const std::string &data)
 {
@@ -58,10 +59,10 @@ void stripHtmlTags(std::string &s)
 		size_t j = s.find(">", i)+1;
 		s.replace(i, j-i, "");
 	}
-	replace(s, "&#039;", "'");
-	replace(s, "&amp;", "&");
-	replace(s, "&quot;", "\"");
-	replace(s, "&nbsp;", " ");
+	boost::replace_all(s, "&#039;", "'");
+	boost::replace_all(s, "&amp;", "&");
+	boost::replace_all(s, "&quot;", "\"");
+	boost::replace_all(s, "&nbsp;", " ");
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < s.length(); ++i)
 	{
 		if (erase)
diff --git a/src/utility/numeric_conversions.h b/src/utility/numeric_conversions.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 66f2856a..00000000
--- a/src/utility/numeric_conversions.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,75 +0,0 @@
-/***************************************************************************
- *   Copyright (C) 2008-2012 by Andrzej Rybczak                            *
- *   electricityispower@gmail.com                                          *
- *                                                                         *
- *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *
- *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  *
- *   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or     *
- *   (at your option) any later version.                                   *
- *                                                                         *
- *   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,       *
- *   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of        *
- *   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the         *
- *   GNU General Public License for more details.                          *
- *                                                                         *
- *   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License     *
- *   along with this program; if not, write to the                         *
- *   Free Software Foundation, Inc.,                                       *
- *   51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.              *
- ***************************************************************************/
-
-#include <string>
-#include "string.h"
-
-#ifndef NCMPCPP_UTILITY_NUMERIC_CONVERSIONS_H
-#define NCMPCPP_UTILITY_NUMERIC_CONVERSIONS_H
-
-template <typename R> struct intTo { };
-template <> struct intTo<std::string> {
-	static std::string apply(int n) {
-		return print<32, std::string>::apply("%d", n);
-	}
-};
-template <> struct intTo<std::wstring> {
-	static std::wstring apply(int n) {
-		return print<32, std::wstring>::apply(L"%d", n);
-	}
-};
-
-template <typename R> struct longIntTo { };
-template <> struct longIntTo<std::string> {
-	static std::string apply(long int n) {
-		return print<32, std::string>::apply("%ld", n);
-	}
-};
-template <> struct longIntTo<std::wstring> {
-	static std::wstring apply(long int n) {
-		return print<32, std::wstring>::apply(L"%ld", n);
-	}
-};
-
-template <typename R> struct unsignedIntTo { };
-template <> struct unsignedIntTo<std::string> {
-	static std::string apply(unsigned int n) {
-		return print<32, std::string>::apply("%u", n);
-	}
-};
-template <> struct unsignedIntTo<std::wstring> {
-	static std::wstring apply(unsigned int n) {
-		return print<32, std::wstring>::apply(L"%u", n);
-	}
-};
-
-template <typename R> struct unsignedLongIntTo { };
-template <> struct unsignedLongIntTo<std::string> {
-	static std::string apply(unsigned long int n) {
-		return print<32, std::string>::apply("%lu", n);
-	}
-};
-template <> struct unsignedLongIntTo<std::wstring> {
-	static std::wstring apply(unsigned long int n) {
-		return print<32, std::wstring>::apply(L"%lu", n);
-	}
-};
-
-#endif // NCMPCPP_UTILITY_NUMERIC_CONVERSIONS_H
diff --git a/src/utility/string.h b/src/utility/string.h
index d784370c..e885229a 100644
--- a/src/utility/string.h
+++ b/src/utility/string.h
@@ -31,47 +31,8 @@ template <size_t N> size_t const_strlen(const char (&)[N]) {
 	return N-1;
 }
 
-template <size_t N, typename T> struct print { };
-template <size_t N> struct print<N, std::string> {
-	static std::string apply(const char *format, ...) GNUC_PRINTF(1, 2) {
-		char buf[N];
-		va_list args;
-		va_start(args, format);
-		vsnprintf(buf, sizeof(buf)/sizeof(char), format, args);
-		va_end(args);
-		return buf;
-	}
-};
-template <size_t N> struct print<N, std::wstring> {
-	static std::wstring apply(const wchar_t *format, ...) {
-		wchar_t buf[N];
-		va_list args;
-		va_start(args, format);
-		vswprintf(buf, sizeof(buf)/sizeof(wchar_t), format, args);
-		va_end(args);
-		return buf;
-	}
-};
-
-template <typename CharT>
-std::basic_string<CharT> lowercase(std::basic_string<CharT> s)
-{
-	std::locale loc;
-	const std::ctype<CharT> &ct = std::use_facet< std::ctype<CharT> >(loc);
-	for (auto it = s.begin(); it != s.end(); ++it)
-		*it = ct.tolower(*it);
-	return s;
-}
-
-int stringToInt(const std::string &s);
-long stringToLongInt(const std::string &s);
 bool isInteger(const char *s, bool accept_signed);
 
-std::vector<std::string> split(const std::string &s, const std::string &delimiter);
-void replace(std::string &s, const std::string &from, const std::string &to);
-
-void trim(std::string &s);
-
 std::string getBasename(const std::string &path);
 std::string getParentDirectory(const std::string &path);
 std::string getSharedDirectory(const std::string &dir1, const std::string &dir2);