Improve error formatting

Changes:

* The divider lines are gone. These were in practice a bit confusing,
  in particular with --show-trace or --keep-going, since then there
  were multiple lines, suggesting a start/end which wasn't the case.

* Instead, multi-line error messages are now indented to align with
  the prefix (e.g. "error: ").

* The 'description' field is gone since we weren't really using it.

* 'hint' is renamed to 'msg' since it really wasn't a hint.

* The error is now printed *before* the location info.

* The 'name' field is no longer printed since most of the time it
  wasn't very useful since it was just the name of the exception (like
  EvalError). Ideally in the future this would be a unique, easily
  googleable error ID (like rustc).

* "trace:" is now just "…". This assumes error contexts start with
  something like "while doing X".

Example before:

  error: --- AssertionError ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- nix
  at: (7:7) in file: /home/eelco/Dev/nixpkgs/pkgs/applications/misc/hello/default.nix

       6|
       7|   x = assert false; 1;
        |       ^
       8|

  assertion 'false' failed
  ----------------------------------------------------- show-trace -----------------------------------------------------
  trace: while evaluating the attribute 'x' of the derivation 'hello-2.10'
  at: (192:11) in file: /home/eelco/Dev/nixpkgs/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix

     191|         // (lib.optionalAttrs (!(attrs ? name) && attrs ? pname && attrs ? version)) {
     192|           name = "${attrs.pname}-${attrs.version}";
        |           ^
     193|         } // (lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform && !dontAddHostSuffix && (attrs ? name || (attrs ? pname && attrs ? version)))) {

Example after:

  error: assertion 'false' failed

         at: (7:7) in file: /home/eelco/Dev/nixpkgs/pkgs/applications/misc/hello/default.nix

              6|
              7|   x = assert false; 1;
               |       ^
              8|

         … while evaluating the attribute 'x' of the derivation 'hello-2.10'

         at: (192:11) in file: /home/eelco/Dev/nixpkgs/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix

            191|         // (lib.optionalAttrs (!(attrs ? name) && attrs ? pname && attrs ? version)) {
            192|           name = "${attrs.pname}-${attrs.version}";
               |           ^
            193|         } // (lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform && !dontAddHostSuffix && (attrs ? name || (attrs ? pname && attrs ? version)))) {

31 files changed, 251 insertions, 424 deletions

diff --git a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
index 8348d8c91..a4cf91858 100644
--- a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
+++ b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
@@ -172,13 +172,14 @@ static int main_build_remote(int argc, char * * argv)
                     else
                     {
                         // build the hint template.
-                        string hintstring =  "derivation: %s\nrequired (system, features): (%s, %s)";
-                        hintstring += "\n%s available machines:";
-                        hintstring += "\n(systems, maxjobs, supportedFeatures, mandatoryFeatures)";
+                        string errorText =
+                            "Failed to find a machine for remote build!\n"
+                            "derivation: %s\nrequired (system, features): (%s, %s)";
+                        errorText += "\n%s available machines:";
+                        errorText += "\n(systems, maxjobs, supportedFeatures, mandatoryFeatures)";
 
-                        for (unsigned int i = 0; i < machines.size(); ++i) {
-                          hintstring += "\n(%s, %s, %s, %s)";
-                        }
+                        for (unsigned int i = 0; i < machines.size(); ++i)
+                            errorText += "\n(%s, %s, %s, %s)";
 
                         // add the template values.
                         string drvstr;
@@ -187,25 +188,21 @@ static int main_build_remote(int argc, char * * argv)
                         else
                             drvstr = "<unknown>";
 
-                        auto hint = hintformat(hintstring);
-                        hint
-                          % drvstr
-                          % neededSystem
-                          % concatStringsSep<StringSet>(", ", requiredFeatures)
-                          % machines.size();
-
-                        for (auto & m : machines) {
-                          hint % concatStringsSep<vector<string>>(", ", m.systemTypes)
-                            % m.maxJobs
-                            % concatStringsSep<StringSet>(", ", m.supportedFeatures)
-                            % concatStringsSep<StringSet>(", ", m.mandatoryFeatures);
-                        }
+                        auto error = hintformat(errorText);
+                        error
+                            % drvstr
+                            % neededSystem
+                            % concatStringsSep<StringSet>(", ", requiredFeatures)
+                            % machines.size();
+
+                        for (auto & m : machines)
+                            error
+                                % concatStringsSep<vector<string>>(", ", m.systemTypes)
+                                % m.maxJobs
+                                % concatStringsSep<StringSet>(", ", m.supportedFeatures)
+                                % concatStringsSep<StringSet>(", ", m.mandatoryFeatures);
 
-                        logErrorInfo(canBuildLocally ? lvlChatty : lvlWarn, {
-                              .name = "Remote build",
-                              .description = "Failed to find a machine for remote build!",
-                              .hint = hint
-                        });
+                        printMsg(canBuildLocally ? lvlChatty : lvlWarn, error);
 
                         std::cerr << "# decline\n";
                     }
@@ -230,12 +227,9 @@ static int main_build_remote(int argc, char * * argv)
 
                 } catch (std::exception & e) {
                     auto msg = chomp(drainFD(5, false));
-                    logError({
-                        .name = "Remote build",
-                        .hint = hintfmt("cannot build on '%s': %s%s",
-                            bestMachine->storeUri, e.what(),
-                            (msg.empty() ? "" : ": " + msg))
-                    });
+                    printError("cannot build on '%s': %s%s",
+                        bestMachine->storeUri, e.what(),
+                        msg.empty() ? "" : ": " + msg);
                     bestMachine->enabled = false;
                     continue;
                 }
diff --git a/src/libexpr/attr-set.hh b/src/libexpr/attr-set.hh
index 7eaa16c59..6d68e5df3 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/attr-set.hh
+++ b/src/libexpr/attr-set.hh
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public:
         auto a = get(name);
         if (!a)
             throw Error({
-                .hint = hintfmt("attribute '%s' missing", name),
+                .msg = hintfmt("attribute '%s' missing", name),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
 
diff --git a/src/libexpr/eval-inline.hh b/src/libexpr/eval-inline.hh
index f6dead6b0..655408cd3 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/eval-inline.hh
+++ b/src/libexpr/eval-inline.hh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ namespace nix {
 LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwEvalError(const Pos & pos, const char * s))
 {
     throw EvalError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(s),
+        .msg = hintfmt(s),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwTypeError(const char * s, const Value & v))
 LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwTypeError(const Pos & pos, const char * s, const Value & v))
 {
     throw TypeError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(s, showType(v)),
+        .msg = hintfmt(s, showType(v)),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
diff --git a/src/libexpr/eval.cc b/src/libexpr/eval.cc
index f3471aac7..7271776eb 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/eval.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/eval.cc
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwEvalError(const char * s, const string & s2))
 LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwEvalError(const Pos & pos, const char * s, const string & s2))
 {
     throw EvalError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(s, s2),
+        .msg = hintfmt(s, s2),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwEvalError(const char * s, const string & s2, con
 LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwEvalError(const Pos & pos, const char * s, const string & s2, const string & s3))
 {
     throw EvalError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(s, s2, s3),
+        .msg = hintfmt(s, s2, s3),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwEvalError(const Pos & p1, const char * s, const
 {
     // p1 is where the error occurred; p2 is a position mentioned in the message.
     throw EvalError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(s, sym, p2),
+        .msg = hintfmt(s, sym, p2),
         .errPos = p1
     });
 }
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwEvalError(const Pos & p1, const char * s, const
 LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwTypeError(const Pos & pos, const char * s))
 {
     throw TypeError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(s),
+        .msg = hintfmt(s),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwTypeError(const Pos & pos, const char * s))
 LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwTypeError(const Pos & pos, const char * s, const ExprLambda & fun, const Symbol & s2))
 {
     throw TypeError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(s, fun.showNamePos(), s2),
+        .msg = hintfmt(s, fun.showNamePos(), s2),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
@@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwTypeError(const Pos & pos, const char * s, const
 LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwAssertionError(const Pos & pos, const char * s, const string & s1))
 {
     throw AssertionError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(s, s1),
+        .msg = hintfmt(s, s1),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
@@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwAssertionError(const Pos & pos, const char * s,
 LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwUndefinedVarError(const Pos & pos, const char * s, const string & s1))
 {
     throw UndefinedVarError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(s, s1),
+        .msg = hintfmt(s, s1),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwUndefinedVarError(const Pos & pos, const char *
 LocalNoInlineNoReturn(void throwMissingArgumentError(const Pos & pos, const char * s, const string & s1))
 {
     throw MissingArgumentError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(s, s1),
+        .msg = hintfmt(s, s1),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
@@ -2057,7 +2057,7 @@ void EvalState::printStats()
 string ExternalValueBase::coerceToString(const Pos & pos, PathSet & context, bool copyMore, bool copyToStore) const
 {
     throw TypeError({
-        .hint = hintfmt("cannot coerce %1% to a string", showType()),
+        .msg = hintfmt("cannot coerce %1% to a string", showType()),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
diff --git a/src/libexpr/nixexpr.cc b/src/libexpr/nixexpr.cc
index d5698011f..492b819e7 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/nixexpr.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/nixexpr.cc
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ void ExprVar::bindVars(const StaticEnv & env)
        "undefined variable" error now. */
     if (withLevel == -1)
         throw UndefinedVarError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("undefined variable '%1%'", name),
+            .msg = hintfmt("undefined variable '%1%'", name),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     fromWith = true;
diff --git a/src/libexpr/nixexpr.hh b/src/libexpr/nixexpr.hh
index 530202ff6..cbe9a45bf 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/nixexpr.hh
+++ b/src/libexpr/nixexpr.hh
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ struct ExprLambda : Expr
     {
         if (!arg.empty() && formals && formals->argNames.find(arg) != formals->argNames.end())
             throw ParseError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("duplicate formal function argument '%1%'", arg),
+                .msg = hintfmt("duplicate formal function argument '%1%'", arg),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
     };
diff --git a/src/libexpr/parser.y b/src/libexpr/parser.y
index 85eb05d61..49d995bb9 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/parser.y
+++ b/src/libexpr/parser.y
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ namespace nix {
         Path basePath;
         Symbol file;
         FileOrigin origin;
-        ErrorInfo error;
+        std::optional<ErrorInfo> error;
         Symbol sLetBody;
         ParseData(EvalState & state)
             : state(state)
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ namespace nix {
 static void dupAttr(const AttrPath & attrPath, const Pos & pos, const Pos & prevPos)
 {
     throw ParseError({
-         .hint = hintfmt("attribute '%1%' already defined at %2%",
-            showAttrPath(attrPath), prevPos),
+         .msg = hintfmt("attribute '%1%' already defined at %2%",
+             showAttrPath(attrPath), prevPos),
          .errPos = pos
     });
 }
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ static void dupAttr(const AttrPath & attrPath, const Pos & pos, const Pos & prev
 static void dupAttr(Symbol attr, const Pos & pos, const Pos & prevPos)
 {
     throw ParseError({
-        .hint = hintfmt("attribute '%1%' already defined at %2%", attr, prevPos),
+        .msg = hintfmt("attribute '%1%' already defined at %2%", attr, prevPos),
         .errPos = pos
     });
 }
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ static void addFormal(const Pos & pos, Formals * formals, const Formal & formal)
 {
     if (!formals->argNames.insert(formal.name).second)
         throw ParseError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("duplicate formal function argument '%1%'",
+            .msg = hintfmt("duplicate formal function argument '%1%'",
                 formal.name),
             .errPos = pos
         });
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ static inline Pos makeCurPos(const YYLTYPE & loc, ParseData * data)
 void yyerror(YYLTYPE * loc, yyscan_t scanner, ParseData * data, const char * error)
 {
     data->error = {
-        .hint = hintfmt(error),
+        .msg = hintfmt(error),
         .errPos = makeCurPos(*loc, data)
     };
 }
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ expr_function
   | LET binds IN expr_function
     { if (!$2->dynamicAttrs.empty())
         throw ParseError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("dynamic attributes not allowed in let"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("dynamic attributes not allowed in let"),
             .errPos = CUR_POS
         });
       $$ = new ExprLet($2, $4);
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ expr_simple
       static bool noURLLiterals = settings.isExperimentalFeatureEnabled("no-url-literals");
       if (noURLLiterals)
           throw ParseError({
-              .hint = hintfmt("URL literals are disabled"),
+              .msg = hintfmt("URL literals are disabled"),
               .errPos = CUR_POS
           });
       $$ = new ExprString(data->symbols.create($1));
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ attrs
           delete str;
       } else
           throw ParseError({
-              .hint = hintfmt("dynamic attributes not allowed in inherit"),
+              .msg = hintfmt("dynamic attributes not allowed in inherit"),
               .errPos = makeCurPos(@2, data)
           });
     }
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ Expr * EvalState::parse(const char * text, FileOrigin origin,
     ParseData data(*this);
     data.origin = origin;
     switch (origin) {
-        case foFile: 
+        case foFile:
             data.file = data.symbols.create(path);
             break;
         case foStdin:
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ Expr * EvalState::parse(const char * text, FileOrigin origin,
     int res = yyparse(scanner, &data);
     yylex_destroy(scanner);
 
-    if (res) throw ParseError(data.error);
+    if (res) throw ParseError(data.error.value());
 
     data.result->bindVars(staticEnv);
 
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ Path EvalState::findFile(SearchPath & searchPath, const string & path, const Pos
         return corepkgsPrefix + path.substr(4);
 
     throw ThrownError({
-        .hint = hintfmt(evalSettings.pureEval
+        .msg = hintfmt(evalSettings.pureEval
             ? "cannot look up '<%s>' in pure evaluation mode (use '--impure' to override)"
             : "file '%s' was not found in the Nix search path (add it using $NIX_PATH or -I)",
             path),
@@ -725,8 +725,7 @@ std::pair<bool, std::string> EvalState::resolveSearchPathElem(const SearchPathEl
                         store, resolveUri(elem.second), "source", false).first.storePath) };
         } catch (FileTransferError & e) {
             logWarning({
-                .name = "Entry download",
-                .hint = hintfmt("Nix search path entry '%1%' cannot be downloaded, ignoring", elem.second)
+                .msg = hintfmt("Nix search path entry '%1%' cannot be downloaded, ignoring", elem.second)
             });
             res = { false, "" };
         }
@@ -736,8 +735,7 @@ std::pair<bool, std::string> EvalState::resolveSearchPathElem(const SearchPathEl
             res = { true, path };
         else {
             logWarning({
-                .name = "Entry not found",
-                .hint = hintfmt("warning: Nix search path entry '%1%' does not exist, ignoring", elem.second)
+                .msg = hintfmt("warning: Nix search path entry '%1%' does not exist, ignoring", elem.second)
             });
             res = { false, "" };
         }
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops.cc b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
index c73a94f4e..a470ed6df 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static void import(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value & vPath, Value * vS
         state.realiseContext(context);
     } catch (InvalidPathError & e) {
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("cannot import '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid", path, e.path),
+            .msg = hintfmt("cannot import '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid", path, e.path),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     }
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ void prim_importNative(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value
         state.realiseContext(context);
     } catch (InvalidPathError & e) {
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt(
+            .msg = hintfmt(
                 "cannot import '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid",
                 path, e.path),
             .errPos = pos
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ void prim_exec(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
     auto count = args[0]->listSize();
     if (count == 0) {
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("at least one argument to 'exec' required"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("at least one argument to 'exec' required"),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     }
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ void prim_exec(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
         state.realiseContext(context);
     } catch (InvalidPathError & e) {
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("cannot execute '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid",
+            .msg = hintfmt("cannot execute '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid",
                 program, e.path),
             .errPos = pos
         });
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ static void prim_genericClosure(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * ar
         args[0]->attrs->find(state.symbols.create("startSet"));
     if (startSet == args[0]->attrs->end())
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("attribute 'startSet' required"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("attribute 'startSet' required"),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     state.forceList(*startSet->value, pos);
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ static void prim_genericClosure(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * ar
         args[0]->attrs->find(state.symbols.create("operator"));
     if (op == args[0]->attrs->end())
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("attribute 'operator' required"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("attribute 'operator' required"),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     state.forceValue(*op->value, pos);
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ static void prim_genericClosure(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * ar
             e->attrs->find(state.symbols.create("key"));
         if (key == e->attrs->end())
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("attribute 'key' required"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("attribute 'key' required"),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
         state.forceValue(*key->value, pos);
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ static void prim_derivationStrict(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * *
     Bindings::iterator attr = args[0]->attrs->find(state.sName);
     if (attr == args[0]->attrs->end())
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("required attribute 'name' missing"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("required attribute 'name' missing"),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     string drvName;
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ static void prim_derivationStrict(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * *
             else if (s == "flat") ingestionMethod = FileIngestionMethod::Flat;
             else
                 throw EvalError({
-                    .hint = hintfmt("invalid value '%s' for 'outputHashMode' attribute", s),
+                    .msg = hintfmt("invalid value '%s' for 'outputHashMode' attribute", s),
                     .errPos = posDrvName
                 });
         };
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ static void prim_derivationStrict(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * *
             for (auto & j : ss) {
                 if (outputs.find(j) != outputs.end())
                     throw EvalError({
-                        .hint = hintfmt("duplicate derivation output '%1%'", j),
+                        .msg = hintfmt("duplicate derivation output '%1%'", j),
                         .errPos = posDrvName
                     });
                 /* !!! Check whether j is a valid attribute
@@ -879,14 +879,14 @@ static void prim_derivationStrict(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * *
                    the resulting set. */
                 if (j == "drv")
                     throw EvalError({
-                        .hint = hintfmt("invalid derivation output name 'drv'" ),
+                        .msg = hintfmt("invalid derivation output name 'drv'" ),
                         .errPos = posDrvName
                     });
                 outputs.insert(j);
             }
             if (outputs.empty())
                 throw EvalError({
-                    .hint = hintfmt("derivation cannot have an empty set of outputs"),
+                    .msg = hintfmt("derivation cannot have an empty set of outputs"),
                     .errPos = posDrvName
                 });
         };
@@ -1007,20 +1007,20 @@ static void prim_derivationStrict(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * *
     /* Do we have all required attributes? */
     if (drv.builder == "")
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("required attribute 'builder' missing"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("required attribute 'builder' missing"),
             .errPos = posDrvName
         });
 
     if (drv.platform == "")
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("required attribute 'system' missing"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("required attribute 'system' missing"),
             .errPos = posDrvName
         });
 
     /* Check whether the derivation name is valid. */
     if (isDerivation(drvName))
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("derivation names are not allowed to end in '%s'", drvExtension),
+            .msg = hintfmt("derivation names are not allowed to end in '%s'", drvExtension),
             .errPos = posDrvName
         });
 
@@ -1031,7 +1031,7 @@ static void prim_derivationStrict(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * *
            already content addressed. */
         if (outputs.size() != 1 || *(outputs.begin()) != "out")
             throw Error({
-                .hint = hintfmt("multiple outputs are not supported in fixed-output derivations"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("multiple outputs are not supported in fixed-output derivations"),
                 .errPos = posDrvName
             });
 
@@ -1211,7 +1211,7 @@ static void prim_storePath(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, V
     if (!state.store->isStorePath(path)) path = canonPath(path, true);
     if (!state.store->isInStore(path))
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("path '%1%' is not in the Nix store", path),
+            .msg = hintfmt("path '%1%' is not in the Nix store", path),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     auto path2 = state.store->toStorePath(path).first;
@@ -1247,7 +1247,7 @@ static void prim_pathExists(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args,
         state.realiseContext(context);
     } catch (InvalidPathError & e) {
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt(
+            .msg = hintfmt(
                 "cannot check the existence of '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid",
                 path, e.path),
             .errPos = pos
@@ -1324,7 +1324,7 @@ static void prim_readFile(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Va
         state.realiseContext(context);
     } catch (InvalidPathError & e) {
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("cannot read '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid", path, e.path),
+            .msg = hintfmt("cannot read '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid", path, e.path),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     }
@@ -1363,7 +1363,7 @@ static void prim_findFile(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Va
         i = v2.attrs->find(state.symbols.create("path"));
         if (i == v2.attrs->end())
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("attribute 'path' missing"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("attribute 'path' missing"),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
 
@@ -1374,7 +1374,7 @@ static void prim_findFile(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Va
             state.realiseContext(context);
         } catch (InvalidPathError & e) {
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("cannot find '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid", path, e.path),
+                .msg = hintfmt("cannot find '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid", path, e.path),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
         }
@@ -1400,7 +1400,7 @@ static void prim_hashFile(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Va
     std::optional<HashType> ht = parseHashType(type);
     if (!ht)
       throw Error({
-          .hint = hintfmt("unknown hash type '%1%'", type),
+          .msg = hintfmt("unknown hash type '%1%'", type),
           .errPos = pos
       });
 
@@ -1430,7 +1430,7 @@ static void prim_readDir(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Val
         state.realiseContext(ctx);
     } catch (InvalidPathError & e) {
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("cannot read '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid", path, e.path),
+            .msg = hintfmt("cannot read '%1%', since path '%2%' is not valid", path, e.path),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     }
@@ -1650,7 +1650,7 @@ static void prim_toFile(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Valu
     for (auto path : context) {
         if (path.at(0) != '/')
             throw EvalError( {
-                .hint = hintfmt(
+                .msg = hintfmt(
                     "in 'toFile': the file named '%1%' must not contain a reference "
                     "to a derivation but contains (%2%)",
                     name, path),
@@ -1801,14 +1801,14 @@ static void prim_filterSource(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args
     Path path = state.coerceToPath(pos, *args[1], context);
     if (!context.empty())
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("string '%1%' cannot refer to other paths", path),
+            .msg = hintfmt("string '%1%' cannot refer to other paths", path),
             .errPos = pos
         });
 
     state.forceValue(*args[0], pos);
     if (args[0]->type() != nFunction)
         throw TypeError({
-            .hint = hintfmt(
+            .msg = hintfmt(
                 "first argument in call to 'filterSource' is not a function but %1%",
                 showType(*args[0])),
             .errPos = pos
@@ -1875,7 +1875,7 @@ static void prim_path(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value
             path = state.coerceToPath(*attr.pos, *attr.value, context);
             if (!context.empty())
                 throw EvalError({
-                    .hint = hintfmt("string '%1%' cannot refer to other paths", path),
+                    .msg = hintfmt("string '%1%' cannot refer to other paths", path),
                     .errPos = *attr.pos
                 });
         } else if (attr.name == state.sName)
@@ -1889,13 +1889,13 @@ static void prim_path(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value
             expectedHash = newHashAllowEmpty(state.forceStringNoCtx(*attr.value, *attr.pos), htSHA256);
         else
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("unsupported argument '%1%' to 'addPath'", attr.name),
+                .msg = hintfmt("unsupported argument '%1%' to 'addPath'", attr.name),
                 .errPos = *attr.pos
             });
     }
     if (path.empty())
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("'path' required"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("'path' required"),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     if (name.empty())
@@ -2010,7 +2010,7 @@ void prim_getAttr(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
     Bindings::iterator i = args[1]->attrs->find(state.symbols.create(attr));
     if (i == args[1]->attrs->end())
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("attribute '%1%' missing", attr),
+            .msg = hintfmt("attribute '%1%' missing", attr),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     // !!! add to stack trace?
@@ -2142,7 +2142,7 @@ static void prim_listToAttrs(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args,
         Bindings::iterator j = v2.attrs->find(state.sName);
         if (j == v2.attrs->end())
             throw TypeError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("'name' attribute missing in a call to 'listToAttrs'"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("'name' attribute missing in a call to 'listToAttrs'"),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
         string name = state.forceStringNoCtx(*j->value, pos);
@@ -2152,7 +2152,7 @@ static void prim_listToAttrs(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args,
             Bindings::iterator j2 = v2.attrs->find(state.symbols.create(state.sValue));
             if (j2 == v2.attrs->end())
                 throw TypeError({
-                    .hint = hintfmt("'value' attribute missing in a call to 'listToAttrs'"),
+                    .msg = hintfmt("'value' attribute missing in a call to 'listToAttrs'"),
                     .errPos = pos
                 });
             v.attrs->push_back(Attr(sym, j2->value, j2->pos));
@@ -2258,7 +2258,7 @@ static void prim_functionArgs(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args
     }
     if (!args[0]->isLambda())
         throw TypeError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("'functionArgs' requires a function"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("'functionArgs' requires a function"),
             .errPos = pos
         });
 
@@ -2352,7 +2352,7 @@ static void elemAt(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value & list, int n, Valu
     state.forceList(list, pos);
     if (n < 0 || (unsigned int) n >= list.listSize())
         throw Error({
-            .hint = hintfmt("list index %1% is out of bounds", n),
+            .msg = hintfmt("list index %1% is out of bounds", n),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     state.forceValue(*list.listElems()[n], pos);
@@ -2400,7 +2400,7 @@ static void prim_tail(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value
     state.forceList(*args[0], pos);
     if (args[0]->listSize() == 0)
         throw Error({
-            .hint = hintfmt("'tail' called on an empty list"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("'tail' called on an empty list"),
             .errPos = pos
         });
 
@@ -2639,7 +2639,7 @@ static void prim_genList(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Val
 
     if (len < 0)
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("cannot create list of size %1%", len),
+            .msg = hintfmt("cannot create list of size %1%", len),
             .errPos = pos
         });
 
@@ -2890,7 +2890,7 @@ static void prim_div(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value &
     NixFloat f2 = state.forceFloat(*args[1], pos);
     if (f2 == 0)
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("division by zero"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("division by zero"),
             .errPos = pos
         });
 
@@ -2902,7 +2902,7 @@ static void prim_div(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value &
         /* Avoid division overflow as it might raise SIGFPE. */
         if (i1 == std::numeric_limits<NixInt>::min() && i2 == -1)
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("overflow in integer division"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("overflow in integer division"),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
 
@@ -3033,7 +3033,7 @@ static void prim_substring(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, V
 
     if (start < 0)
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("negative start position in 'substring'"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("negative start position in 'substring'"),
             .errPos = pos
         });
 
@@ -3084,7 +3084,7 @@ static void prim_hashString(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args,
     std::optional<HashType> ht = parseHashType(type);
     if (!ht)
         throw Error({
-            .hint = hintfmt("unknown hash type '%1%'", type),
+            .msg = hintfmt("unknown hash type '%1%'", type),
             .errPos = pos
         });
 
@@ -3148,12 +3148,12 @@ void prim_match(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v)
         if (e.code() == std::regex_constants::error_space) {
             // limit is _GLIBCXX_REGEX_STATE_LIMIT for libstdc++
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("memory limit exceeded by regular expression '%s'", re),
+                .msg = hintfmt("memory limit exceeded by regular expression '%s'", re),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
         } else {
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("invalid regular expression '%s'", re),
+                .msg = hintfmt("invalid regular expression '%s'", re),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
         }
@@ -3256,12 +3256,12 @@ static void prim_split(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value
         if (e.code() == std::regex_constants::error_space) {
             // limit is _GLIBCXX_REGEX_STATE_LIMIT for libstdc++
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("memory limit exceeded by regular expression '%s'", re),
+                .msg = hintfmt("memory limit exceeded by regular expression '%s'", re),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
         } else {
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("invalid regular expression '%s'", re),
+                .msg = hintfmt("invalid regular expression '%s'", re),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
         }
@@ -3341,7 +3341,7 @@ static void prim_replaceStrings(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * ar
     state.forceList(*args[1], pos);
     if (args[0]->listSize() != args[1]->listSize())
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("'from' and 'to' arguments to 'replaceStrings' have different lengths"),
+            .msg = hintfmt("'from' and 'to' arguments to 'replaceStrings' have different lengths"),
             .errPos = pos
         });
 
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops/context.cc b/src/libexpr/primops/context.cc
index b570fca31..31cf812b4 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops/context.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops/context.cc
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ static void prim_appendContext(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * arg
     for (auto & i : *args[1]->attrs) {
         if (!state.store->isStorePath(i.name))
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("Context key '%s' is not a store path", i.name),
+                .msg = hintfmt("Context key '%s' is not a store path", i.name),
                 .errPos = *i.pos
             });
         if (!settings.readOnlyMode)
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ static void prim_appendContext(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * arg
             if (state.forceBool(*iter->value, *iter->pos)) {
                 if (!isDerivation(i.name)) {
                     throw EvalError({
-                        .hint = hintfmt("Tried to add all-outputs context of %s, which is not a derivation, to a string", i.name),
+                        .msg = hintfmt("Tried to add all-outputs context of %s, which is not a derivation, to a string", i.name),
                         .errPos = *i.pos
                     });
                 }
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ static void prim_appendContext(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * arg
             state.forceList(*iter->value, *iter->pos);
             if (iter->value->listSize() && !isDerivation(i.name)) {
                 throw EvalError({
-                    .hint = hintfmt("Tried to add derivation output context of %s, which is not a derivation, to a string", i.name),
+                    .msg = hintfmt("Tried to add derivation output context of %s, which is not a derivation, to a string", i.name),
                     .errPos = *i.pos
                 });
             }
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops/fetchMercurial.cc b/src/libexpr/primops/fetchMercurial.cc
index 845a1ed1b..4830ebec3 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops/fetchMercurial.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops/fetchMercurial.cc
@@ -38,14 +38,14 @@ static void prim_fetchMercurial(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * ar
                 name = state.forceStringNoCtx(*attr.value, *attr.pos);
             else
                 throw EvalError({
-                    .hint = hintfmt("unsupported argument '%s' to 'fetchMercurial'", attr.name),
+                    .msg = hintfmt("unsupported argument '%s' to 'fetchMercurial'", attr.name),
                     .errPos = *attr.pos
                 });
         }
 
         if (url.empty())
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("'url' argument required"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("'url' argument required"),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
 
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops/fetchTree.cc b/src/libexpr/primops/fetchTree.cc
index ab80be2d3..48598acaf 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops/fetchTree.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops/fetchTree.cc
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static void fetchTree(
 
         if (!attrs.count("type"))
             throw Error({
-                .hint = hintfmt("attribute 'type' is missing in call to 'fetchTree'"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("attribute 'type' is missing in call to 'fetchTree'"),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
 
@@ -177,14 +177,14 @@ static void fetch(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value & v,
                 name = state.forceStringNoCtx(*attr.value, *attr.pos);
             else
                 throw EvalError({
-                    .hint = hintfmt("unsupported argument '%s' to '%s'", attr.name, who),
+                    .msg = hintfmt("unsupported argument '%s' to '%s'", attr.name, who),
                     .errPos = *attr.pos
                 });
             }
 
         if (!url)
             throw EvalError({
-                .hint = hintfmt("'url' argument required"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("'url' argument required"),
                 .errPos = pos
             });
     } else
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops/fromTOML.cc b/src/libexpr/primops/fromTOML.cc
index 77bff44ae..4c6682dfd 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops/fromTOML.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops/fromTOML.cc
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ static void prim_fromTOML(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Va
         visit(v, parser(tomlStream).parse());
     } catch (std::runtime_error & e) {
         throw EvalError({
-            .hint = hintfmt("while parsing a TOML string: %s", e.what()),
+            .msg = hintfmt("while parsing a TOML string: %s", e.what()),
             .errPos = pos
         });
     }
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc
index 2e74cfd6c..c733ccf08 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ void handleDiffHook(
                 printError(chomp(diffRes.second));
         } catch (Error & error) {
             ErrorInfo ei = error.info();
-            ei.hint = hintfmt("diff hook execution failed: %s",
-                (error.info().hint.has_value() ? error.info().hint->str() : ""));
+            // FIXME: wrap errors.
+            ei.msg = hintfmt("diff hook execution failed: %s", ei.msg.str());
             logError(ei);
         }
     }
@@ -439,12 +439,9 @@ void DerivationGoal::repairClosure()
     /* Check each path (slow!). */
     for (auto & i : outputClosure) {
         if (worker.pathContentsGood(i)) continue;
-        logError({
-            .name = "Corrupt path in closure",
-            .hint = hintfmt(
-                "found corrupted or missing path '%s' in the output closure of '%s'",
-                worker.store.printStorePath(i), worker.store.printStorePath(drvPath))
-        });
+        printError(
+            "found corrupted or missing path '%s' in the output closure of '%s'",
+            worker.store.printStorePath(i), worker.store.printStorePath(drvPath));
         auto drvPath2 = outputsToDrv.find(i);
         if (drvPath2 == outputsToDrv.end())
             addWaitee(upcast_goal(worker.makeSubstitutionGoal(i, Repair)));
@@ -877,9 +874,12 @@ void DerivationGoal::buildDone()
                 statusToString(status));
 
             if (!logger->isVerbose() && !logTail.empty()) {
-                msg += (format("; last %d log lines:") % logTail.size()).str();
-                for (auto & line : logTail)
-                    msg += "\n  " + line;
+                msg += fmt(";\nlast %d log lines:\n", logTail.size());
+                for (auto & line : logTail) {
+                    msg += "> ";
+                    msg += line;
+                    msg += "\n";
+                }
             }
 
             if (diskFull)
@@ -1055,12 +1055,9 @@ HookReply DerivationGoal::tryBuildHook()
 
     } catch (SysError & e) {
         if (e.errNo == EPIPE) {
-            logError({
-                .name = "Build hook died",
-                .hint = hintfmt(
-                    "build hook died unexpectedly: %s",
-                    chomp(drainFD(worker.hook->fromHook.readSide.get())))
-            });
+            printError(
+                "build hook died unexpectedly: %s",
+                chomp(drainFD(worker.hook->fromHook.readSide.get())));
             worker.hook = 0;
             return rpDecline;
         } else
@@ -3068,10 +3065,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
         auto rewriteOutput = [&]() {
             /* Apply hash rewriting if necessary. */
             if (!outputRewrites.empty()) {
-                logWarning({
-                    .name = "Rewriting hashes",
-                    .hint = hintfmt("rewriting hashes in '%1%'; cross fingers", actualPath),
-                });
+                warn("rewriting hashes in '%1%'; cross fingers", actualPath);
 
                 /* FIXME: this is in-memory. */
                 StringSink sink;
@@ -3359,10 +3353,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
                 if (settings.enforceDeterminism)
                     throw NotDeterministic(hint);
 
-                logError({
-                    .name = "Output determinism error",
-                    .hint = hint
-                });
+                printError(hint);
 
                 curRound = nrRounds; // we know enough, bail out early
             }
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
index d16584f65..760fd8ab8 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
@@ -146,11 +146,8 @@ void SubstitutionGoal::tryNext()
         && !sub->isTrusted
         && !info->checkSignatures(worker.store, worker.store.getPublicKeys()))
     {
-        logWarning({
-            .name = "Invalid path signature",
-            .hint = hintfmt("substituter '%s' does not have a valid signature for path '%s'",
-                sub->getUri(), worker.store.printStorePath(storePath))
-        });
+        warn("substituter '%s' does not have a valid signature for path '%s'",
+            sub->getUri(), worker.store.printStorePath(storePath));
         tryNext();
         return;
     }
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/worker.cc b/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
index 6c96a93bd..880a93b15 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
@@ -454,10 +454,7 @@ bool Worker::pathContentsGood(const StorePath & path)
     }
     pathContentsGoodCache.insert_or_assign(path, res);
     if (!res)
-        logError({
-            .name = "Corrupted path",
-            .hint = hintfmt("path '%s' is corrupted or missing!", store.printStorePath(path))
-        });
+        printError("path '%s' is corrupted or missing!", store.printStorePath(path));
     return res;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/builtins/buildenv.cc b/src/libstore/builtins/buildenv.cc
index 802fb87bc..e88fc687a 100644
--- a/src/libstore/builtins/buildenv.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/builtins/buildenv.cc
@@ -22,10 +22,7 @@ static void createLinks(State & state, const Path & srcDir, const Path & dstDir,
         srcFiles = readDirectory(srcDir);
     } catch (SysError & e) {
         if (e.errNo == ENOTDIR) {
-            logWarning({
-                .name = "Create links - directory",
-                .hint = hintfmt("not including '%s' in the user environment because it's not a directory", srcDir)
-            });
+            warn("not including '%s' in the user environment because it's not a directory", srcDir);
             return;
         }
         throw;
@@ -44,10 +41,7 @@ static void createLinks(State & state, const Path & srcDir, const Path & dstDir,
                 throw SysError("getting status of '%1%'", srcFile);
         } catch (SysError & e) {
             if (e.errNo == ENOENT || e.errNo == ENOTDIR) {
-                logWarning({
-                    .name = "Create links - skipping symlink",
-                    .hint = hintfmt("skipping dangling symlink '%s'", dstFile)
-                });
+                warn("skipping dangling symlink '%s'", dstFile);
                 continue;
             }
             throw;
diff --git a/src/libstore/filetransfer.cc b/src/libstore/filetransfer.cc
index 31b4215a9..677ad44cc 100644
--- a/src/libstore/filetransfer.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/filetransfer.cc
@@ -632,11 +632,7 @@ struct curlFileTransfer : public FileTransfer
             workerThreadMain();
         } catch (nix::Interrupted & e) {
         } catch (std::exception & e) {
-            logError({
-                .name = "File transfer",
-                .hint = hintfmt("unexpected error in download thread: %s",
-                                e.what())
-            });
+            printError("unexpected error in download thread: %s", e.what());
         }
 
         {
@@ -852,11 +848,10 @@ FileTransferError::FileTransferError(FileTransfer::Error error, std::shared_ptr<
     // FIXME: Due to https://github.com/NixOS/nix/issues/3841 we don't know how
     // to print different messages for different verbosity levels. For now
     // we add some heuristics for detecting when we want to show the response.
-    if (response && (response->size() < 1024 || response->find("<html>") != string::npos)) {
-            err.hint = hintfmt("%1%\n\nresponse body:\n\n%2%", normaltxt(hf.str()), *response);
-    } else {
-        err.hint = hf;
-    }
+    if (response && (response->size() < 1024 || response->find("<html>") != string::npos))
+        err.msg = hintfmt("%1%\n\nresponse body:\n\n%2%", normaltxt(hf.str()), *response);
+    else
+        err.msg = hf;
 }
 
 bool isUri(const string & s)
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
index ab78f1435..f306d8505 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
@@ -150,12 +150,7 @@ LocalStore::LocalStore(const Params & params)
 
         struct group * gr = getgrnam(settings.buildUsersGroup.get().c_str());
         if (!gr)
-            logError({
-                .name = "'build-users-group' not found",
-                .hint = hintfmt(
-                    "warning: the group '%1%' specified in 'build-users-group' does not exist",
-                    settings.buildUsersGroup)
-            });
+            printError("warning: the group '%1%' specified in 'build-users-group' does not exist", settings.buildUsersGroup);
         else {
             struct stat st;
             if (stat(realStoreDir.c_str(), &st))
@@ -1403,12 +1398,8 @@ bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, RepairFlag repair)
             Path linkPath = linksDir + "/" + link.name;
             string hash = hashPath(htSHA256, linkPath).first.to_string(Base32, false);
             if (hash != link.name) {
-                logError({
-                    .name = "Invalid hash",
-                    .hint = hintfmt(
-                        "link '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
-                        linkPath, link.name, hash)
-                });
+                printError("link '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
+                    linkPath, link.name, hash);
                 if (repair) {
                     if (unlink(linkPath.c_str()) == 0)
                         printInfo("removed link '%s'", linkPath);
@@ -1441,11 +1432,8 @@ bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, RepairFlag repair)
                 auto current = hashSink->finish();
 
                 if (info->narHash != nullHash && info->narHash != current.first) {
-                    logError({
-                        .name = "Invalid hash - path modified",
-                        .hint = hintfmt("path '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
-                        printStorePath(i), info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true), current.first.to_string(Base32, true))
-                    });
+                    printError("path '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
+                        printStorePath(i), info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true), current.first.to_string(Base32, true));
                     if (repair) repairPath(i); else errors = true;
                 } else {
 
@@ -1496,10 +1484,7 @@ void LocalStore::verifyPath(const Path & pathS, const StringSet & store,
     if (!done.insert(pathS).second) return;
 
     if (!isStorePath(pathS)) {
-        logError({
-            .name = "Nix path not found",
-            .hint = hintfmt("path '%s' is not in the Nix store", pathS)
-        });
+        printError("path '%s' is not in the Nix store", pathS);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -1522,10 +1507,7 @@ void LocalStore::verifyPath(const Path & pathS, const StringSet & store,
             auto state(_state.lock());
             invalidatePath(*state, path);
         } else {
-            logError({
-                .name = "Missing path with referrers",
-                .hint = hintfmt("path '%s' disappeared, but it still has valid referrers!", pathS)
-            });
+            printError("path '%s' disappeared, but it still has valid referrers!", pathS);
             if (repair)
                 try {
                     repairPath(path);
diff --git a/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc b/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
index a0d482ddf..78d587139 100644
--- a/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
@@ -126,16 +126,13 @@ void LocalStore::optimisePath_(Activity * act, OptimiseStats & stats,
        NixOS (example: $fontconfig/var/cache being modified).  Skip
        those files.  FIXME: check the modification time. */
     if (S_ISREG(st.st_mode) && (st.st_mode & S_IWUSR)) {
-        logWarning({
-            .name = "Suspicious file",
-            .hint = hintfmt("skipping suspicious writable file '%1%'", path)
-        });
+        warn("skipping suspicious writable file '%1%'", path);
         return;
     }
 
     /* This can still happen on top-level files. */
     if (st.st_nlink > 1 && inodeHash.count(st.st_ino)) {
-        debug(format("'%1%' is already linked, with %2% other file(s)") % path % (st.st_nlink - 2));
+        debug("'%s' is already linked, with %d other file(s)", path, st.st_nlink - 2);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -191,10 +188,7 @@ void LocalStore::optimisePath_(Activity * act, OptimiseStats & stats,
     }
 
     if (st.st_size != stLink.st_size) {
-        logWarning({
-            .name = "Corrupted link",
-            .hint = hintfmt("removing corrupted link '%1%'", linkPath)
-        });
+        warn("removing corrupted link '%s'", linkPath);
         unlink(linkPath.c_str());
         goto retry;
     }
@@ -229,10 +223,7 @@ void LocalStore::optimisePath_(Activity * act, OptimiseStats & stats,
     /* Atomically replace the old file with the new hard link. */
     if (rename(tempLink.c_str(), path.c_str()) == -1) {
         if (unlink(tempLink.c_str()) == -1)
-            logError({
-                .name = "Unlink error",
-                .hint = hintfmt("unable to unlink '%1%'", tempLink)
-            });
+            printError("unable to unlink '%1%'", tempLink);
         if (errno == EMLINK) {
             /* Some filesystems generate too many links on the rename,
                rather than on the original link.  (Probably it
diff --git a/src/libstore/sqlite.cc b/src/libstore/sqlite.cc
index f5935ee5c..447b4179b 100644
--- a/src/libstore/sqlite.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/sqlite.cc
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ void handleSQLiteBusy(const SQLiteBusy & e)
         lastWarned = now;
         logWarning({
             .name = "Sqlite busy",
-            .hint = hintfmt(e.what())
+            .msg = hintfmt(e.what())
         });
     }
 
diff --git a/src/libutil/error.cc b/src/libutil/error.cc
index e7dc3f1d3..bc5f9e440 100644
--- a/src/libutil/error.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/error.cc
@@ -204,168 +204,109 @@ void printAtPos(const string & prefix, const ErrPos & pos, std::ostream & out)
     }
 }
 
-std::ostream & showErrorInfo(std::ostream & out, const ErrorInfo & einfo, bool showTrace)
+static std::string indent(std::string_view indentFirst, std::string_view indentRest, std::string_view s)
 {
-    auto errwidth = std::max<size_t>(getWindowSize().second, 20);
-    string prefix = "";
+    std::string res;
+    bool first = true;
+
+    while (!s.empty()) {
+        auto end = s.find('\n');
+        if (!first) res += "\n";
+        res += first ? indentFirst : indentRest;
+        res += s.substr(0, end);
+        first = false;
+        if (end == s.npos) break;
+        s = s.substr(end + 1);
+    }
+
+    return res;
+}
 
-    string levelString;
+std::ostream & showErrorInfo(std::ostream & out, const ErrorInfo & einfo, bool showTrace)
+{
+    std::string prefix;
     switch (einfo.level) {
         case Verbosity::lvlError: {
-            levelString = ANSI_RED;
-            levelString += "error:";
-            levelString += ANSI_NORMAL;
+            prefix = ANSI_RED "error";
+            break;
+        }
+        case Verbosity::lvlNotice: {
+            prefix = ANSI_RED "note";
             break;
         }
         case Verbosity::lvlWarn: {
-            levelString = ANSI_YELLOW;
-            levelString += "warning:";
-            levelString += ANSI_NORMAL;
+            prefix = ANSI_YELLOW "warning";
             break;
         }
         case Verbosity::lvlInfo: {
-            levelString = ANSI_GREEN;
-            levelString += "info:";
-            levelString += ANSI_NORMAL;
+            prefix = ANSI_GREEN "info";
             break;
         }
         case Verbosity::lvlTalkative: {
-            levelString = ANSI_GREEN;
-            levelString += "talk:";
-            levelString += ANSI_NORMAL;
+            prefix = ANSI_GREEN "talk";
             break;
         }
         case Verbosity::lvlChatty: {
-            levelString = ANSI_GREEN;
-            levelString += "chat:";
-            levelString += ANSI_NORMAL;
+            prefix = ANSI_GREEN "chat";
             break;
         }
         case Verbosity::lvlVomit: {
-            levelString = ANSI_GREEN;
-            levelString += "vomit:";
-            levelString += ANSI_NORMAL;
+            prefix = ANSI_GREEN "vomit";
             break;
         }
         case Verbosity::lvlDebug: {
-            levelString = ANSI_YELLOW;
-            levelString += "debug:";
-            levelString += ANSI_NORMAL;
-            break;
-        }
-        default: {
-            levelString = fmt("invalid error level: %1%", einfo.level);
+            prefix = ANSI_YELLOW "debug";
             break;
         }
+        default:
+            assert(false);
     }
 
-    auto ndl = prefix.length()
-        + filterANSIEscapes(levelString, true).length()
-        + 7
-        + einfo.name.length()
-        + einfo.programName.value_or("").length();
-    auto dashwidth = std::max<int>(errwidth - ndl, 3);
-
-    std::string dashes(dashwidth, '-');
-
-    // divider.
-    if (einfo.name != "")
-        out << fmt("%1%%2%" ANSI_BLUE " --- %3% %4% %5%" ANSI_NORMAL,
-            prefix,
-            levelString,
-            einfo.name,
-            dashes,
-            einfo.programName.value_or(""));
+    // FIXME: show the program name as part of the trace?
+    if (einfo.programName && einfo.programName != ErrorInfo::programName)
+        prefix += fmt(" [%s]:" ANSI_NORMAL " ", einfo.programName.value_or(""));
     else
-        out << fmt("%1%%2%" ANSI_BLUE " -----%3% %4%" ANSI_NORMAL,
-            prefix,
-            levelString,
-            dashes,
-            einfo.programName.value_or(""));
-
-    bool nl = false;  // intersperse newline between sections.
-    if (einfo.errPos.has_value() && (*einfo.errPos)) {
-        out << prefix << std::endl;
-        printAtPos(prefix, *einfo.errPos, out);
-        nl = true;
-    }
+        prefix += ":" ANSI_NORMAL " ";
 
-    // description
-    if (einfo.description != "") {
-        if (nl)
-            out << std::endl << prefix;
-        out << std::endl << prefix << einfo.description;
-        nl = true;
-    }
+    std::ostringstream oss;
+    oss << einfo.msg << "\n";
+
+    if (einfo.errPos.has_value() && *einfo.errPos) {
+        oss << "\n";
+        printAtPos("", *einfo.errPos, oss);
 
-    if (einfo.errPos.has_value() && (*einfo.errPos)) {
         auto loc = getCodeLines(*einfo.errPos);
 
         // lines of code.
         if (loc.has_value()) {
-            if (nl)
-                out << std::endl << prefix;
-            printCodeLines(out, prefix, *einfo.errPos, *loc);
-            nl = true;
+            oss << "\n";
+            printCodeLines(oss, "", *einfo.errPos, *loc);
+            oss << "\n";
         }
     }
 
-    // hint
-    if (einfo.hint.has_value()) {
-        if (nl)
-            out << std::endl << prefix;
-        out << std::endl << prefix << *einfo.hint;
-        nl = true;
-    }
-
     // traces
-    if (showTrace && !einfo.traces.empty())
-    {
-        const string tracetitle(" show-trace ");
-
-        int fill = errwidth - tracetitle.length();
-        int lw = 0;
-        int rw = 0;
-        const int min_dashes = 3;
-        if (fill > min_dashes * 2) {
-            if (fill % 2 != 0) {
-                lw = fill / 2;
-                rw = lw + 1;
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                lw = rw = fill / 2;
-            }
-        }
-        else
-            lw = rw = min_dashes;
-
-        if (nl)
-            out << std::endl << prefix;
-
-        out << ANSI_BLUE << std::string(lw, '-') << tracetitle << std::string(rw, '-') << ANSI_NORMAL;
-
-        for (auto iter = einfo.traces.rbegin(); iter != einfo.traces.rend(); ++iter)
-        {
-            out << std::endl << prefix;
-            out << ANSI_BLUE << "trace: " << ANSI_NORMAL << iter->hint.str();
+    if (showTrace && !einfo.traces.empty()) {
+        for (auto iter = einfo.traces.rbegin(); iter != einfo.traces.rend(); ++iter) {
+            oss << "\n" << "… " << iter->hint.str() << "\n";
 
             if (iter->pos.has_value() && (*iter->pos)) {
                 auto pos = iter->pos.value();
-                out << std::endl << prefix;
-                printAtPos(prefix, pos, out);
+                oss << "\n";
+                printAtPos("", pos, oss);
 
                 auto loc = getCodeLines(pos);
-                if (loc.has_value())
-                {
-                    out << std::endl << prefix;
-                    printCodeLines(out, prefix, pos, *loc);
-                    out << std::endl << prefix;
+                if (loc.has_value()) {
+                    oss << "\n";
+                    printCodeLines(oss, "", pos, *loc);
+                    oss << "\n";
                 }
             }
         }
     }
 
+    out << indent(prefix, std::string(filterANSIEscapes(prefix, true).size(), ' '), chomp(oss.str()));
+
     return out;
 }
 }
diff --git a/src/libutil/error.hh b/src/libutil/error.hh
index 1e0bde7ea..ff58d3e00 100644
--- a/src/libutil/error.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/error.hh
@@ -107,9 +107,8 @@ struct Trace {
 
 struct ErrorInfo {
     Verbosity level;
-    string name;
-    string description; // FIXME: remove? it seems to be barely used
-    std::optional<hintformat> hint;
+    string name; // FIXME: rename
+    hintformat msg;
     std::optional<ErrPos> errPos;
     std::list<Trace> traces;
 
@@ -133,23 +132,17 @@ public:
 
     template<typename... Args>
     BaseError(unsigned int status, const Args & ... args)
-        : err {.level = lvlError,
-            .hint = hintfmt(args...)
-            }
+        : err { .level = lvlError, .msg = hintfmt(args...) }
         , status(status)
     { }
 
     template<typename... Args>
     BaseError(const std::string & fs, const Args & ... args)
-        : err {.level = lvlError,
-            .hint = hintfmt(fs, args...)
-            }
+        : err { .level = lvlError, .msg = hintfmt(fs, args...) }
     { }
 
     BaseError(hintformat hint)
-        : err {.level = lvlError,
-            .hint = hint
-            }
+        : err { .level = lvlError, .msg = hint }
     { }
 
     BaseError(ErrorInfo && e)
@@ -206,7 +199,7 @@ public:
     {
         errNo = errno;
         auto hf = hintfmt(args...);
-        err.hint = hintfmt("%1%: %2%", normaltxt(hf.str()), strerror(errNo));
+        err.msg = hintfmt("%1%: %2%", normaltxt(hf.str()), strerror(errNo));
     }
 
     virtual const char* sname() const override { return "SysError"; }
diff --git a/src/libutil/logging.cc b/src/libutil/logging.cc
index 6fd0dacef..d2e801175 100644
--- a/src/libutil/logging.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/logging.cc
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ struct JSONLogger : Logger {
         json["action"] = "msg";
         json["level"] = ei.level;
         json["msg"] = oss.str();
-        json["raw_msg"] = ei.hint->str();
+        json["raw_msg"] = ei.msg.str();
 
         if (ei.errPos.has_value() && (*ei.errPos)) {
             json["line"] = ei.errPos->line;
@@ -305,10 +305,7 @@ bool handleJSONLogMessage(const std::string & msg,
         }
 
     } catch (std::exception & e) {
-        logError({
-            .name = "JSON log message",
-            .hint = hintfmt("bad log message from builder: %s", e.what())
-        });
+        printError("bad JSON log message from builder: %s", e.what());
     }
 
     return true;
diff --git a/src/libutil/serialise.cc b/src/libutil/serialise.cc
index 87c1099a1..d1a16b6ba 100644
--- a/src/libutil/serialise.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/serialise.cc
@@ -52,10 +52,7 @@ size_t threshold = 256 * 1024 * 1024;
 
 static void warnLargeDump()
 {
-    logWarning({
-        .name = "Large path",
-        .description = "dumping very large path (> 256 MiB); this may run out of memory"
-    });
+    warn("dumping very large path (> 256 MiB); this may run out of memory");
 }
 
 
@@ -306,8 +303,7 @@ Sink & operator << (Sink & sink, const Error & ex)
         << "Error"
         << info.level
         << info.name
-        << info.description
-        << (info.hint ? info.hint->str() : "")
+        << info.msg.str()
         << 0 // FIXME: info.errPos
         << info.traces.size();
     for (auto & trace : info.traces) {
@@ -374,12 +370,14 @@ Error readError(Source & source)
 {
     auto type = readString(source);
     assert(type == "Error");
-    ErrorInfo info;
-    info.level = (Verbosity) readInt(source);
-    info.name = readString(source);
-    info.description = readString(source);
-    auto hint = readString(source);
-    if (hint != "") info.hint = hintformat(std::move(format("%s") % hint));
+    auto level = (Verbosity) readInt(source);
+    auto name = readString(source);
+    auto msg = readString(source);
+    ErrorInfo info {
+        .level = level,
+        .name = name,
+        .msg = hintformat(std::move(format("%s") % msg)),
+    };
     auto havePos = readNum<size_t>(source);
     assert(havePos == 0);
     auto nrTraces = readNum<size_t>(source);
diff --git a/src/libutil/tests/logging.cc b/src/libutil/tests/logging.cc
index 5b32c84a4..d990e5499 100644
--- a/src/libutil/tests/logging.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/tests/logging.cc
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#if 0
+
 #include "logging.hh"
 #include "nixexpr.hh"
 #include "util.hh"
@@ -41,8 +43,7 @@ namespace nix {
 
         makeJSONLogger(*logger)->logEI({
                 .name = "error name",
-                .description = "error without any code lines.",
-                .hint = hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!",
+                .msg = hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!",
                     "yellow",
                     "values"),
                 .errPos = Pos(foFile, problem_file, 02, 13)
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ namespace nix {
             throw TestError(e.info());
         } catch (Error &e) {
             ErrorInfo ei = e.info();
-            ei.hint = hintfmt("%s; subsequent error message.", normaltxt(e.info().hint ? e.info().hint->str() : ""));
+            ei.msg = hintfmt("%s; subsequent error message.", normaltxt(e.info().msg.str()));
 
             testing::internal::CaptureStderr();
             logger->logEI(ei);
@@ -95,7 +96,6 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logger->logEI({ .level = lvlInfo,
                         .name = "Info name",
-                        .description = "Info description",
             });
 
         auto str = testing::internal::GetCapturedStderr();
@@ -109,7 +109,6 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logger->logEI({ .level = lvlTalkative,
                         .name = "Talkative name",
-                        .description = "Talkative description",
             });
 
         auto str = testing::internal::GetCapturedStderr();
@@ -123,7 +122,6 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logger->logEI({ .level = lvlChatty,
                         .name = "Chatty name",
-                        .description = "Talkative description",
             });
 
         auto str = testing::internal::GetCapturedStderr();
@@ -137,7 +135,6 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logger->logEI({ .level = lvlDebug,
                         .name = "Debug name",
-                        .description = "Debug description",
             });
 
         auto str = testing::internal::GetCapturedStderr();
@@ -151,7 +148,6 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logger->logEI({ .level = lvlVomit,
                         .name = "Vomit name",
-                        .description = "Vomit description",
             });
 
         auto str = testing::internal::GetCapturedStderr();
@@ -167,7 +163,6 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logError({
                 .name = "name",
-                .description = "error description",
             });
 
         auto str = testing::internal::GetCapturedStderr();
@@ -182,8 +177,7 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logError({
                 .name = "error name",
-                .description = "error with code lines",
-                .hint = hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!",
+                .msg = hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!",
                     "yellow",
                     "values"),
                 .errPos = Pos(foString, problem_file, 02, 13),
@@ -200,8 +194,7 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logError({
                 .name = "error name",
-                .description = "error without any code lines.",
-                .hint = hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!",
+                .msg = hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!",
                     "yellow",
                     "values"),
                 .errPos = Pos(foFile, problem_file, 02, 13)
@@ -216,7 +209,7 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logError({
                 .name = "error name",
-                .hint = hintfmt("hint %1%", "only"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("hint %1%", "only"),
             });
 
         auto str = testing::internal::GetCapturedStderr();
@@ -233,8 +226,7 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logWarning({
                 .name = "name",
-                .description = "warning description",
-                .hint = hintfmt("there was a %1%", "warning"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("there was a %1%", "warning"),
             });
 
         auto str = testing::internal::GetCapturedStderr();
@@ -250,8 +242,7 @@ namespace nix {
 
         logWarning({
                 .name = "warning name",
-                .description = "warning description",
-                .hint = hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!",
+                .msg = hintfmt("this hint has %1% templated %2%!!",
                     "yellow",
                     "values"),
                 .errPos = Pos(foStdin, problem_file, 2, 13),
@@ -274,8 +265,7 @@ namespace nix {
 
         auto e = AssertionError(ErrorInfo {
                 .name = "wat",
-                .description = "show-traces",
-                .hint = hintfmt("it has been %1% days since our last error", "zero"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("it has been %1% days since our last error", "zero"),
                 .errPos = Pos(foString, problem_file, 2, 13),
             });
 
@@ -301,8 +291,7 @@ namespace nix {
 
         auto e = AssertionError(ErrorInfo {
                 .name = "wat",
-                .description = "hide traces",
-                .hint = hintfmt("it has been %1% days since our last error", "zero"),
+                .msg = hintfmt("it has been %1% days since our last error", "zero"),
                 .errPos = Pos(foString, problem_file, 2, 13),
             });
 
@@ -377,3 +366,5 @@ namespace nix {
     }
 
 }
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc b/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
index 38048da52..d1c14596c 100755
--- a/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
+++ b/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
@@ -369,11 +369,8 @@ static void main_nix_build(int argc, char * * argv)
                 shell = drv->queryOutPath() + "/bin/bash";
 
             } catch (Error & e) {
-                logWarning({
-                    .name = "bashInteractive",
-                    .hint = hintfmt("%s; will use bash from your environment",
-                        (e.info().hint ? e.info().hint->str() : ""))
-                });
+                logError(e.info());
+                notice("will use bash from your environment");
                 shell = "bash";
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc b/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
index 9963f05d9..d6a16999f 100644
--- a/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
+++ b/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
@@ -124,10 +124,7 @@ static void getAllExprs(EvalState & state,
             if (hasSuffix(attrName, ".nix"))
                 attrName = string(attrName, 0, attrName.size() - 4);
             if (!attrs.insert(attrName).second) {
-                logError({
-                    .name = "Name collision",
-                    .hint = hintfmt("warning: name collision in input Nix expressions, skipping '%1%'", path2)
-                });
+                printError("warning: name collision in input Nix expressions, skipping '%1%'", path2);
                 continue;
             }
             /* Load the expression on demand. */
@@ -876,11 +873,7 @@ static void queryJSON(Globals & globals, vector<DrvInfo> & elems)
             auto placeholder = metaObj.placeholder(j);
             Value * v = i.queryMeta(j);
             if (!v) {
-                logError({
-                    .name = "Invalid meta attribute",
-                    .hint = hintfmt("derivation '%s' has invalid meta attribute '%s'",
-                        i.queryName(), j)
-                });
+                printError("derivation '%s' has invalid meta attribute '%s'", i.queryName(), j);
                 placeholder.write(nullptr);
             } else {
                 PathSet context;
@@ -1131,12 +1124,9 @@ static void opQuery(Globals & globals, Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
                             attrs2["name"] = j;
                             Value * v = i.queryMeta(j);
                             if (!v)
-                                logError({
-                                    .name = "Invalid meta attribute",
-                                    .hint = hintfmt(
-                                        "derivation '%s' has invalid meta attribute '%s'",
-                                        i.queryName(), j)
-                                });
+                                printError(
+                                    "derivation '%s' has invalid meta attribute '%s'",
+                                    i.queryName(), j);
                             else {
                                 if (v->type() == nString) {
                                     attrs2["type"] = "string";
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index b97f684a4..b7eda5ba6 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -708,10 +708,7 @@ static void opVerify(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         else throw UsageError("unknown flag '%1%'", i);
 
     if (store->verifyStore(checkContents, repair)) {
-        logWarning({
-            .name = "Store consistency",
-            .description = "not all errors were fixed"
-            });
+        warn("not all store errors were fixed");
         throw Exit(1);
     }
 }
@@ -733,14 +730,10 @@ static void opVerifyPath(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         store->narFromPath(path, sink);
         auto current = sink.finish();
         if (current.first != info->narHash) {
-            logError({
-                .name = "Hash mismatch",
-                .hint = hintfmt(
-                    "path '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
-                    store->printStorePath(path),
-                    info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true),
-                    current.first.to_string(Base32, true))
-            });
+            printError("path '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
+                store->printStorePath(path),
+                info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true),
+                current.first.to_string(Base32, true));
             status = 1;
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/nix/daemon.cc b/src/nix/daemon.cc
index 204d4ce6b..a358cb0d9 100644
--- a/src/nix/daemon.cc
+++ b/src/nix/daemon.cc
@@ -258,8 +258,8 @@ static void daemonLoop()
             return;
         } catch (Error & error) {
             ErrorInfo ei = error.info();
-            ei.hint = std::optional(hintfmt("error processing connection: %1%",
-                (error.info().hint.has_value() ? error.info().hint->str() : "")));
+            // FIXME: add to trace?
+            ei.msg = hintfmt("error processing connection: %1%", ei.msg.str());
             logError(ei);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/nix/upgrade-nix.cc b/src/nix/upgrade-nix.cc
index 299ea40aa..9cd567896 100644
--- a/src/nix/upgrade-nix.cc
+++ b/src/nix/upgrade-nix.cc
@@ -61,10 +61,7 @@ struct CmdUpgradeNix : MixDryRun, StoreCommand
 
         if (dryRun) {
             stopProgressBar();
-            logWarning({
-                .name = "Version update",
-                .hint = hintfmt("would upgrade to version %s", version)
-            });
+            warn("would upgrade to version %s", version);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/nix/verify.cc b/src/nix/verify.cc
index b2963cf74..9b04e032a 100644
--- a/src/nix/verify.cc
+++ b/src/nix/verify.cc
@@ -101,14 +101,10 @@ struct CmdVerify : StorePathsCommand
                     if (hash.first != info->narHash) {
                         corrupted++;
                         act2.result(resCorruptedPath, store->printStorePath(info->path));
-                        logError({
-                            .name = "Hash error - path modified",
-                            .hint = hintfmt(
-                                "path '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
-                                store->printStorePath(info->path),
-                                info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true),
-                                hash.first.to_string(Base32, true))
-                        });
+                        printError("path '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
+                            store->printStorePath(info->path),
+                            info->narHash.to_string(Base32, true),
+                            hash.first.to_string(Base32, true));
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -156,12 +152,7 @@ struct CmdVerify : StorePathsCommand
                     if (!good) {
                         untrusted++;
                         act2.result(resUntrustedPath, store->printStorePath(info->path));
-                        logError({
-                            .name = "Untrusted path",
-                            .hint = hintfmt("path '%s' is untrusted",
-                                store->printStorePath(info->path))
-                        });
-
+                        printError("path '%s' is untrusted", store->printStorePath(info->path));
                     }
 
                 }