diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 081118f8de..73df4622a3 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@ add_files(
     group_cmd.cpp
     group_gui.cpp
     group_gui.h
+    group_gui_list.h
     group_type.h
     gui.h
     guitimer_func.h
diff --git a/src/build_vehicle_gui.cpp b/src/build_vehicle_gui.cpp
index 86a990eed2..97306b6051 100644
--- a/src/build_vehicle_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/build_vehicle_gui.cpp
@@ -275,19 +275,18 @@ static EngineID _last_engine[2] = { INVALID_ENGINE, INVALID_ENGINE };
  */
 static bool EngineNameSorter(const GUIEngineListItem &a, const GUIEngineListItem &b)
 {
-	static char     last_name[2][64] = { "", "" };
+	static std::string last_name[2] = { {}, {} };
 
 	if (a.engine_id != _last_engine[0]) {
 		_last_engine[0] = a.engine_id;
 		SetDParam(0, PackEngineNameDParam(a.engine_id, EngineNameContext::PurchaseList));
-
-		GetString(last_name[0], STR_ENGINE_NAME, lastof(last_name[0]));
+		last_name[0] = GetString(STR_ENGINE_NAME);
 	}
 
 	if (b.engine_id != _last_engine[1]) {
 		_last_engine[1] = b.engine_id;
 		SetDParam(0, PackEngineNameDParam(b.engine_id, EngineNameContext::PurchaseList));
-		GetString(last_name[1], STR_ENGINE_NAME, lastof(last_name[1]));
+		last_name[1] = GetString(STR_ENGINE_NAME);
 	}
 
 	int r = StrNaturalCompare(last_name[0], last_name[1]); // Sort by name (natural sorting).
diff --git a/src/company_gui.cpp b/src/company_gui.cpp
index f31463b841..aee2105377 100644
--- a/src/company_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/company_gui.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "station_func.h"
 #include "zoom_func.h"
 #include "sortlist_type.h"
+#include "group_gui_list.h"
 #include "core/backup_type.hpp"
 
 #include "widgets/company_widget.h"
@@ -671,11 +672,6 @@ public:
 	}
 };
 
-typedef GUIList<const Group*> GUIGroupList;
-
-/* cached values for GroupNameSorter to spare many GetString() calls */
-static const Group *_last_group[2] = { nullptr, nullptr };
-
 /** Company livery colour scheme window. */
 struct SelectCompanyLiveryWindow : public Window {
 private:
@@ -738,27 +734,6 @@ private:
 		ShowDropDownList(this, std::move(list), sel, widget);
 	}
 
-	static bool GroupNameSorter(const Group * const &a, const Group * const &b)
-	{
-		static char         last_name[2][64] = { "", "" };
-
-		if (a != _last_group[0]) {
-			_last_group[0] = a;
-			SetDParam(0, a->index);
-			GetString(last_name[0], STR_GROUP_NAME, lastof(last_name[0]));
-		}
-
-		if (b != _last_group[1]) {
-			_last_group[1] = b;
-			SetDParam(0, b->index);
-			GetString(last_name[1], STR_GROUP_NAME, lastof(last_name[1]));
-		}
-
-		int r = StrNaturalCompare(last_name[0], last_name[1]); // Sort by name (natural sorting).
-		if (r == 0) return a->index < b->index;
-		return r < 0;
-	}
-
 	void AddChildren(GUIGroupList &source, GroupID parent, int indent)
 	{
 		for (const Group *g : source) {
@@ -787,11 +762,7 @@ private:
 			}
 
 			list.ForceResort();
-
-			/* invalidate cached values for name sorter - group names could change */
-			_last_group[0] = _last_group[1] = nullptr;
-
-			list.Sort(&GroupNameSorter);
+			SortGUIGroupList(list);
 
 			AddChildren(list, INVALID_GROUP, 0);
 		}
diff --git a/src/console_cmds.cpp b/src/console_cmds.cpp
index 92066440c8..9d644b9b54 100644
--- a/src/console_cmds.cpp
+++ b/src/console_cmds.cpp
@@ -598,8 +598,6 @@ DEF_CONSOLE_CMD(ConChangeDirectory)
 
 DEF_CONSOLE_CMD(ConPrintWorkingDirectory)
 {
-	const char *path;
-
 	if (argc == 0) {
 		IConsoleHelp("Print out the current working directory. Usage: 'pwd'");
 		return true;
@@ -609,8 +607,7 @@ DEF_CONSOLE_CMD(ConPrintWorkingDirectory)
 	_console_file_list.ValidateFileList(true);
 	_console_file_list.InvalidateFileList();
 
-	FiosGetDescText(&path, nullptr);
-	IConsolePrint(CC_DEFAULT, path);
+	IConsolePrint(CC_DEFAULT, FiosGetCurrentPath().c_str());
 	return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/fios.cpp b/src/fios.cpp
index 7692a30723..ea8a106755 100644
--- a/src/fios.cpp
+++ b/src/fios.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ extern bool FiosIsRoot(const char *path);
 extern bool FiosIsValidFile(const char *path, const struct dirent *ent, struct stat *sb);
 extern bool FiosIsHiddenFile(const struct dirent *ent);
 extern void FiosGetDrives(FileList &file_list);
-extern bool FiosGetDiskFreeSpace(const char *path, uint64 *tot);
 
 /* get the name of an oldstyle savegame */
 extern void GetOldSaveGameName(const std::string &file, char *title, const char *last);
@@ -131,16 +130,11 @@ const FiosItem *FileList::FindItem(const std::string_view file)
 }
 
 /**
- * Get descriptive texts. Returns the path and free space
- * left on the device
- * @param path string describing the path
- * @param total_free total free space in megabytes, optional (can be nullptr)
- * @return StringID describing the path (free space or failure)
+ * Get the current path/working directory.
  */
-StringID FiosGetDescText(const char **path, uint64 *total_free)
+std::string FiosGetCurrentPath()
 {
-	*path = _fios_path->c_str();
-	return FiosGetDiskFreeSpace(*path, total_free) ? STR_SAVELOAD_BYTES_FREE : STR_ERROR_UNABLE_TO_READ_DRIVE;
+	return *_fios_path;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/fios.h b/src/fios.h
index c387ef6d3d..b7d614b31b 100644
--- a/src/fios.h
+++ b/src/fios.h
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ void FiosGetHeightmapList(SaveLoadOperation fop, FileList &file_list);
 
 bool FiosBrowseTo(const FiosItem *item);
 
-StringID FiosGetDescText(const char **path, uint64 *total_free);
+std::string FiosGetCurrentPath();
+std::optional<uint64_t> FiosGetDiskFreeSpace(const std::string &path);
 bool FiosDelete(const char *name);
 std::string FiosMakeHeightmapName(const char *name);
 std::string FiosMakeSavegameName(const char *name);
diff --git a/src/fios_gui.cpp b/src/fios_gui.cpp
index 5504bba5c5..de2bcb5f21 100644
--- a/src/fios_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/fios_gui.cpp
@@ -427,19 +427,19 @@ public:
 				break;
 
 			case WID_SL_BACKGROUND: {
-				static const char *path = nullptr;
-				static StringID str = STR_ERROR_UNABLE_TO_READ_DRIVE;
-				static uint64 tot = 0;
+				static std::string path;
+				static std::optional<uint64_t> free_space = std::nullopt;
 
 				if (_fios_path_changed) {
-					str = FiosGetDescText(&path, &tot);
+					path = FiosGetCurrentPath();
+					free_space = FiosGetDiskFreeSpace(path);
 					_fios_path_changed = false;
 				}
 
 				Rect ir = r.Shrink(WidgetDimensions::scaled.framerect);
 
-				if (str != STR_ERROR_UNABLE_TO_READ_DRIVE) SetDParam(0, tot);
-				DrawString(ir.left, ir.right, ir.top + FONT_HEIGHT_NORMAL, str);
+				if (free_space.has_value()) SetDParam(0, free_space.value());
+				DrawString(ir.left, ir.right, ir.top + FONT_HEIGHT_NORMAL, free_space.has_value() ? STR_SAVELOAD_BYTES_FREE : STR_ERROR_UNABLE_TO_READ_DRIVE);
 				DrawString(ir.left, ir.right, ir.top, path, TC_BLACK);
 				break;
 			}
diff --git a/src/group_gui.cpp b/src/group_gui.cpp
index 458f688118..17cf03d167 100644
--- a/src/group_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/group_gui.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "gfx_func.h"
 #include "tbtr_template_gui_main.h"
 #include "newgrf_debug.h"
+#include "group_gui_list.h"
 
 #include "widgets/group_widget.h"
 
@@ -36,8 +37,6 @@
 
 #include "safeguards.h"
 
-typedef GUIList<const Group*> GUIGroupList;
-
 static const NWidgetPart _nested_group_widgets[] = {
 	NWidget(NWID_HORIZONTAL), // Window header
 		NWidget(WWT_CLOSEBOX, COLOUR_GREY),
@@ -117,29 +116,28 @@ static const NWidgetPart _nested_group_widgets[] = {
 	EndContainer(),
 };
 
-/* cached values for GroupNameSorter to spare many GetString() calls */
-static const Group *_last_group[2] = { nullptr, nullptr };
-
-/** Sort the groups by their name */
-bool GroupNameSorter(const Group * const &a, const Group * const &b)
+void SortGUIGroupList(GUIGroupList &list)
 {
-	static char         last_name[2][64] = { "", "" };
-
-	if (a != _last_group[0]) {
-		_last_group[0] = a;
-		SetDParam(0, a->index);
-		GetString(last_name[0], STR_GROUP_NAME, lastof(last_name[0]));
-	}
+	/* Sort the groups by their name */
+	const Group *last_group[2] = { nullptr, nullptr };
+	std::string last_name[2] = { {}, {} };
+	list.Sort([&](const Group * const &a, const Group * const &b) {
+		if (a != last_group[0]) {
+			last_group[0] = a;
+			SetDParam(0, a->index);
+			last_name[0] = GetString(STR_GROUP_NAME);
+		}
 
-	if (b != _last_group[1]) {
-		_last_group[1] = b;
-		SetDParam(0, b->index);
-		GetString(last_name[1], STR_GROUP_NAME, lastof(last_name[1]));
-	}
+		if (b != last_group[1]) {
+			last_group[1] = b;
+			SetDParam(0, b->index);
+			last_name[1] = GetString(STR_GROUP_NAME);
+		}
 
-	int r = StrNaturalCompare(last_name[0], last_name[1]); // Sort by name (natural sorting).
-	if (r == 0) return a->index < b->index;
-	return r < 0;
+		int r = StrNaturalCompare(last_name[0], last_name[1]); // Sort by name (natural sorting).
+		if (r == 0) return a->index < b->index;
+		return r < 0;
+	});
 }
 
 class VehicleGroupWindow : public BaseVehicleListWindow {
@@ -222,11 +220,7 @@ private:
 		this->SetWidgetDisabledState(WID_GL_COLLAPSE_ALL_GROUPS, !enable_collapse_all);
 
 		list.ForceResort();
-
-		/* invalidate cached values for name sorter - group names could change */
-		_last_group[0] = _last_group[1] = nullptr;
-
-		list.Sort(&GroupNameSorter);
+		SortGUIGroupList(list);
 
 		AddChildren(list, INVALID_GROUP, 0);
 
diff --git a/src/group_gui_list.h b/src/group_gui_list.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b4bb881d2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/group_gui_list.h
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of OpenTTD.
+ * OpenTTD 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, version 2.
+ * OpenTTD 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 OpenTTD. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+/** @file group_gui_list.h Group GUI lists. */
+
+#ifndef GROUP_GUI_LIST_H
+#define GROUP_GUI_LIST_H
+
+#include "group.h"
+#include "sortlist_type.h"
+
+typedef GUIList<const Group*> GUIGroupList;
+void SortGUIGroupList(GUIGroupList &list);
+
+#endif /* GROUP_GUI_LIST_H */
diff --git a/src/network/network_content_gui.cpp b/src/network/network_content_gui.cpp
index 3d10f7acf6..3ad8255411 100644
--- a/src/network/network_content_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network_content_gui.cpp
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class NetworkContentListWindow : public Window, ContentCallback {
 	uint filesize_sum;           ///< The sum of all selected file sizes
 	Scrollbar *vscroll;          ///< Cache of the vertical scrollbar
 
-	static char content_type_strs[CONTENT_TYPE_END][64]; ///< Cached strings for all content types.
+	static std::string content_type_strs[CONTENT_TYPE_END]; ///< Cached strings for all content types.
 
 	/** Search external websites for content */
 	void OpenExternalSearch()
@@ -1021,7 +1021,7 @@ NetworkContentListWindow::GUIContentList::FilterFunction * const NetworkContentL
 	&TypeOrSelectedFilter,
 };
 
-char NetworkContentListWindow::content_type_strs[CONTENT_TYPE_END][64];
+std::string NetworkContentListWindow::content_type_strs[CONTENT_TYPE_END];
 
 /**
  * Build array of all strings corresponding to the content types.
@@ -1029,7 +1029,7 @@ char NetworkContentListWindow::content_type_strs[CONTENT_TYPE_END][64];
 void BuildContentTypeStringList()
 {
 	for (int i = CONTENT_TYPE_BEGIN; i < CONTENT_TYPE_END; i++) {
-		GetString(NetworkContentListWindow::content_type_strs[i], STR_CONTENT_TYPE_BASE_GRAPHICS + i - CONTENT_TYPE_BASE_GRAPHICS, lastof(NetworkContentListWindow::content_type_strs[i]));
+		NetworkContentListWindow::content_type_strs[i] = GetString(STR_CONTENT_TYPE_BASE_GRAPHICS + i - CONTENT_TYPE_BASE_GRAPHICS);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/newgrf.cpp b/src/newgrf.cpp
index 7b347dcf9b..7a83d93cee 100644
--- a/src/newgrf.cpp
+++ b/src/newgrf.cpp
@@ -6306,15 +6306,6 @@ static void NewSpriteGroup(ByteReader *buf)
 
 static CargoID TranslateCargo(uint8 feature, uint8 ctype)
 {
-	if (feature == GSF_OBJECTS) {
-		switch (ctype) {
-			case 0:    return 0;
-			case 0xFF: return CT_PURCHASE_OBJECT;
-			default:
-				grfmsg(1, "TranslateCargo: Invalid cargo bitnum %d for objects, skipping.", ctype);
-				return CT_INVALID;
-		}
-	}
 	/* Special cargo types for purchase list and stations */
 	if ((feature == GSF_STATIONS || feature == GSF_ROADSTOPS) && ctype == 0xFE) return CT_DEFAULT_NA;
 	if (ctype == 0xFF) return CT_PURCHASE;
@@ -6710,8 +6701,11 @@ static void ObjectMapSpriteGroup(ByteReader *buf, uint8 idcount)
 		uint16 groupid = buf->ReadWord();
 		if (!IsValidGroupID(groupid, "ObjectMapSpriteGroup")) continue;
 
-		ctype = TranslateCargo(GSF_OBJECTS, ctype);
-		if (ctype == CT_INVALID) continue;
+		/* The only valid option here is purchase list sprite groups. */
+		if (ctype != 0xFF) {
+			grfmsg(1, "ObjectMapSpriteGroup: Invalid cargo bitnum %d for objects, skipping.", ctype);
+			continue;
+		}
 
 		for (uint i = 0; i < idcount; i++) {
 			ObjectSpec *spec = (objects[i] >= _cur.grffile->objectspec.size()) ? nullptr : _cur.grffile->objectspec[objects[i]].get();
@@ -6721,7 +6715,7 @@ static void ObjectMapSpriteGroup(ByteReader *buf, uint8 idcount)
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			spec->grf_prop.spritegroup[ctype] = GetGroupByID(groupid);
+			spec->grf_prop.spritegroup[OBJECT_SPRITE_GROUP_PURCHASE] = GetGroupByID(groupid);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -6741,9 +6735,9 @@ static void ObjectMapSpriteGroup(ByteReader *buf, uint8 idcount)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		spec->grf_prop.spritegroup[0] = GetGroupByID(groupid);
-		spec->grf_prop.grffile        = _cur.grffile;
-		spec->grf_prop.local_id       = objects[i];
+		spec->grf_prop.spritegroup[OBJECT_SPRITE_GROUP_DEFAULT] = GetGroupByID(groupid);
+		spec->grf_prop.grffile = _cur.grffile;
+		spec->grf_prop.local_id = objects[i];
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/newgrf_gui.cpp b/src/newgrf_gui.cpp
index a48f4c1788..e3e053dfcd 100644
--- a/src/newgrf_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/newgrf_gui.cpp
@@ -72,14 +72,13 @@ static void ShowNewGRFInfo(const GRFConfig *c, const Rect &r, bool show_params)
 {
 	Rect tr = r.Shrink(WidgetDimensions::scaled.frametext);
 	if (c->error != nullptr) {
-		char message[512];
 		SetDParamStr(0, c->error->custom_message); // is skipped by built-in messages
 		SetDParamStr(1, c->filename);
 		SetDParamStr(2, c->error->data);
 		for (uint i = 0; i < c->error->param_value.size(); i++) {
 			SetDParam(3 + i, c->error->param_value[i]);
 		}
-		GetString(message, c->error->message != STR_NULL ? c->error->message : STR_JUST_RAW_STRING, lastof(message));
+		std::string message = GetString(c->error->message != STR_NULL ? c->error->message : STR_JUST_RAW_STRING);
 
 		SetDParamStr(0, message);
 		tr.top = DrawStringMultiLine(tr, c->error->severity);
diff --git a/src/newgrf_object.cpp b/src/newgrf_object.cpp
index 84133a7807..e157e8a782 100644
--- a/src/newgrf_object.cpp
+++ b/src/newgrf_object.cpp
@@ -403,8 +403,8 @@ ObjectResolverObject::ObjectResolverObject(const ObjectSpec *spec, Object *obj,
 	: ResolverObject(spec->grf_prop.grffile, callback, param1, param2), object_scope(*this, obj, spec, tile, view)
 {
 	this->town_scope = nullptr;
-	this->root_spritegroup = (obj == nullptr && spec->grf_prop.spritegroup[CT_PURCHASE_OBJECT] != nullptr) ?
-			spec->grf_prop.spritegroup[CT_PURCHASE_OBJECT] : spec->grf_prop.spritegroup[0];
+	this->root_spritegroup = (obj == nullptr && spec->grf_prop.spritegroup[OBJECT_SPRITE_GROUP_PURCHASE] != nullptr) ?
+			spec->grf_prop.spritegroup[OBJECT_SPRITE_GROUP_PURCHASE] : spec->grf_prop.spritegroup[OBJECT_SPRITE_GROUP_DEFAULT];
 }
 
 ObjectResolverObject::~ObjectResolverObject()
diff --git a/src/newgrf_object.h b/src/newgrf_object.h
index 30b14c4614..03282fe89d 100644
--- a/src/newgrf_object.h
+++ b/src/newgrf_object.h
@@ -202,8 +202,8 @@ private:
 /** Struct containing information relating to object classes. */
 typedef NewGRFClass<ObjectSpec, ObjectClassID, OBJECT_CLASS_MAX> ObjectClass;
 
-/** Mapping of purchase for objects. */
-static const CargoID CT_PURCHASE_OBJECT = 1;
+static const size_t OBJECT_SPRITE_GROUP_DEFAULT = 0;
+static const size_t OBJECT_SPRITE_GROUP_PURCHASE = 1;
 
 uint16 GetObjectCallback(CallbackID callback, uint32 param1, uint32 param2, const ObjectSpec *spec, Object *o, TileIndex tile, uint8 view = 0);
 
diff --git a/src/os/os2/os2.cpp b/src/os/os2/os2.cpp
index 2558bd4dc0..546a06ad5d 100644
--- a/src/os/os2/os2.cpp
+++ b/src/os/os2/os2.cpp
@@ -95,32 +95,21 @@ void FiosGetDrives(FileList &file_list)
 #endif
 }
 
-bool FiosGetDiskFreeSpace(const char *path, uint64 *tot)
+std::optional<uint64_t> FiosGetDiskFreeSpace(const std::string &path)
 {
 #ifndef __INNOTEK_LIBC__
 	struct diskfree_t free;
 	char drive = path[0] - 'A' + 1;
 
-	if (tot != nullptr && _getdiskfree(drive, &free) == 0) {
-		*tot = free.avail_clusters * free.sectors_per_cluster * free.bytes_per_sector;
-		return true;
+	if (_getdiskfree(drive, &free) == 0) {
+		return free.avail_clusters * free.sectors_per_cluster * free.bytes_per_sector;
 	}
+#elif defined(HAS_STATVFS)
+	struct statvfs s;
 
-	return false;
-#else
-	uint64 free = 0;
-
-#ifdef HAS_STATVFS
-	{
-		struct statvfs s;
-
-		if (statvfs(path, &s) != 0) return false;
-		free = (uint64)s.f_frsize * s.f_bavail;
-	}
-#endif
-	if (tot != nullptr) *tot = free;
-	return true;
+	if (statvfs(path.c_str(), &s) == 0) return static_cast<uint64_t>(s.f_frsize) * s.f_bavail;
 #endif
+	return std::nullopt;
 }
 
 bool FiosIsValidFile(const char *path, const struct dirent *ent, struct stat *sb)
diff --git a/src/os/unix/unix.cpp b/src/os/unix/unix.cpp
index a960726f60..0d6ff73d74 100644
--- a/src/os/unix/unix.cpp
+++ b/src/os/unix/unix.cpp
@@ -75,23 +75,18 @@ void FiosGetDrives(FileList &file_list)
 	return;
 }
 
-bool FiosGetDiskFreeSpace(const char *path, uint64 *tot)
+std::optional<uint64_t> FiosGetDiskFreeSpace(const std::string &path)
 {
-	uint64 free = 0;
-
 #ifdef __APPLE__
 	struct statfs s;
 
-	if (statfs(path, &s) != 0) return false;
-	free = (uint64)s.f_bsize * s.f_bavail;
+	if (statfs(path.c_str(), &s) == 0) return static_cast<uint64_t>(s.f_bsize) * s.f_bavail;
 #elif defined(HAS_STATVFS)
 	struct statvfs s;
 
-	if (statvfs(path, &s) != 0) return false;
-	free = (uint64)s.f_frsize * s.f_bavail;
+	if (statvfs(path.c_str(), &s) == 0) return static_cast<uint64_t>(s.f_frsize) * s.f_bavail;
 #endif
-	if (tot != nullptr) *tot = free;
-	return true;
+	return std::nullopt;
 }
 
 bool FiosIsValidFile(const char *path, const struct dirent *ent, struct stat *sb)
diff --git a/src/os/windows/win32.cpp b/src/os/windows/win32.cpp
index fe46fa36bf..7aa917bd0e 100644
--- a/src/os/windows/win32.cpp
+++ b/src/os/windows/win32.cpp
@@ -256,16 +256,17 @@ bool FiosIsHiddenFile(const struct dirent *ent)
 	return (ent->dir->fd.dwFileAttributes & (FILE_ATTRIBUTE_HIDDEN | FILE_ATTRIBUTE_SYSTEM)) != 0;
 }
 
-bool FiosGetDiskFreeSpace(const char *path, uint64 *tot)
+std::optional<uint64_t> FiosGetDiskFreeSpace(const std::string &path)
 {
 	UINT sem = SetErrorMode(SEM_FAILCRITICALERRORS);  // disable 'no-disk' message box
 
 	ULARGE_INTEGER bytes_free;
 	bool retval = GetDiskFreeSpaceEx(OTTD2FS(path).c_str(), &bytes_free, nullptr, nullptr);
-	if (retval && tot != nullptr) *tot = bytes_free.QuadPart;
 
 	SetErrorMode(sem); // reset previous setting
-	return retval;
+
+	if (retval) return bytes_free.QuadPart;
+	return std::nullopt;
 }
 
 static int ParseCommandLine(char *line, char **argv, int max_argc)
diff --git a/src/osk_gui.cpp b/src/osk_gui.cpp
index 8632c5f1bf..370df28feb 100644
--- a/src/osk_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/osk_gui.cpp
@@ -347,27 +347,18 @@ static WindowDesc _osk_desc(
  */
 void GetKeyboardLayout()
 {
-	char keyboard[2][OSK_KEYBOARD_ENTRIES * 4 + 1];
-	char errormark[2][OSK_KEYBOARD_ENTRIES + 1]; // used for marking invalid chars
+	std::string keyboard[2];
+	std::string errormark[2]; // used for marking invalid chars
 	bool has_error = false; // true when an invalid char is detected
 
-	if (_keyboard_opt[0].empty()) {
-		GetString(keyboard[0], STR_OSK_KEYBOARD_LAYOUT, lastof(keyboard[0]));
-	} else {
-		strecpy(keyboard[0], _keyboard_opt[0].c_str(), lastof(keyboard[0]));
-	}
-
-	if (_keyboard_opt[1].empty()) {
-		GetString(keyboard[1], STR_OSK_KEYBOARD_LAYOUT_CAPS, lastof(keyboard[1]));
-	} else {
-		strecpy(keyboard[1], _keyboard_opt[1].c_str(), lastof(keyboard[1]));
-	}
+	keyboard[0] = _keyboard_opt[0].empty() ? GetString(STR_OSK_KEYBOARD_LAYOUT) : _keyboard_opt[0];
+	keyboard[1] = _keyboard_opt[1].empty() ? GetString(STR_OSK_KEYBOARD_LAYOUT_CAPS) : _keyboard_opt[1];
 
 	for (uint j = 0; j < 2; j++) {
-		const char *kbd = keyboard[j];
+		auto kbd = keyboard[j].begin();
 		bool ended = false;
 		for (uint i = 0; i < OSK_KEYBOARD_ENTRIES; i++) {
-			_keyboard[j][i] = Utf8Consume(&kbd);
+			_keyboard[j][i] = Utf8Consume(kbd);
 
 			/* Be lenient when the last characters are missing (is quite normal) */
 			if (_keyboard[j][i] == '\0' || ended) {
@@ -377,10 +368,10 @@ void GetKeyboardLayout()
 			}
 
 			if (IsPrintable(_keyboard[j][i])) {
-				errormark[j][i] = ' ';
+				errormark[j] += ' ';
 			} else {
 				has_error = true;
-				errormark[j][i] = '^';
+				errormark[j] += '^';
 				_keyboard[j][i] = ' ';
 			}
 		}
@@ -388,10 +379,10 @@ void GetKeyboardLayout()
 
 	if (has_error) {
 		ShowInfoF("The keyboard layout you selected contains invalid chars. Please check those chars marked with ^.");
-		ShowInfoF("Normal keyboard:  %s", keyboard[0]);
-		ShowInfoF("                  %s", errormark[0]);
-		ShowInfoF("Caps Lock:        %s", keyboard[1]);
-		ShowInfoF("                  %s", errormark[1]);
+		ShowInfoF("Normal keyboard:  %s", keyboard[0].c_str());
+		ShowInfoF("                  %s", errormark[0].c_str());
+		ShowInfoF("Caps Lock:        %s", keyboard[1].c_str());
+		ShowInfoF("                  %s", errormark[1].c_str());
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/tbtr_template_gui_main.cpp b/src/tbtr_template_gui_main.cpp
index 231cde02ef..10396a6c3b 100644
--- a/src/tbtr_template_gui_main.cpp
+++ b/src/tbtr_template_gui_main.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #include "window_func.h"
 #include "window_gui.h"
 #include "zoom_func.h"
+#include "group_gui_list.h"
 
 #include "tbtr_template_gui_main.h"
 #include "tbtr_template_gui_create.h"
@@ -49,9 +50,6 @@
 
 #include "safeguards.h"
 
-
-typedef GUIList<const Group*> GUIGroupList;
-
 enum TemplateReplaceWindowWidgets {
 	TRW_CAPTION,
 
@@ -582,8 +580,7 @@ public:
 		}
 
 		list.ForceResort();
-		extern bool GroupNameSorter(const Group * const &a, const Group * const &b);
-		list.Sort(&GroupNameSorter);
+		SortGUIGroupList(list);
 
 		AddParents(&list, INVALID_GROUP, 0);
 
diff --git a/src/tbtr_template_gui_main.h b/src/tbtr_template_gui_main.h
index 5e5ac36d4c..c938344aab 100644
--- a/src/tbtr_template_gui_main.h
+++ b/src/tbtr_template_gui_main.h
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@
 #include "tbtr_template_vehicle.h"
 #include "tbtr_template_vehicle_func.h"
 
-typedef GUIList<const Group*> GUIGroupList;
-
 void ShowTemplateReplaceWindow();
 
 bool TemplateVehicleClicked(const TemplateVehicle *v);
diff --git a/src/tracerestrict_gui.cpp b/src/tracerestrict_gui.cpp
index dddb8fa49e..84fae6c4e2 100644
--- a/src/tracerestrict_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/tracerestrict_gui.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include "core/geometry_func.hpp"
 #include "infrastructure_func.h"
 #include "zoom_func.h"
+#include "group_gui_list.h"
 #include "core/span_type.hpp"
 #include "3rdparty/cpp-btree/btree_map.h"
 
@@ -641,9 +642,6 @@ static const TraceRestrictDropDownListSet *GetSortedCargoTypeDropDownListSet()
  */
 static DropDownList GetGroupDropDownList(Owner owner, GroupID group_id, int &selected)
 {
-	typedef GUIList<const Group*> GUIGroupList;
-	extern bool GroupNameSorter(const Group * const &a, const Group * const &b);
-
 	GUIGroupList list;
 
 	for (const Group *g : Group::Iterate()) {
@@ -653,7 +651,7 @@ static DropDownList GetGroupDropDownList(Owner owner, GroupID group_id, int &sel
 	}
 
 	list.ForceResort();
-	list.Sort(&GroupNameSorter);
+	SortGUIGroupList(list);
 
 	DropDownList dlist;
 	selected = -1;
diff --git a/src/vehicle_gui.cpp b/src/vehicle_gui.cpp
index 87ade00e58..bd02a3b335 100644
--- a/src/vehicle_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/vehicle_gui.cpp
@@ -1546,18 +1546,18 @@ static bool VehicleNumberSorter(const Vehicle * const &a, const Vehicle * const
 /** Sort vehicles by their name */
 static bool VehicleNameSorter(const Vehicle * const &a, const Vehicle * const &b)
 {
-	static char last_name[2][64];
+	static std::string last_name[2] = { {}, {} };
 
 	if (a != _last_vehicle[0]) {
 		_last_vehicle[0] = a;
 		SetDParam(0, a->index);
-		GetString(last_name[0], STR_VEHICLE_NAME, lastof(last_name[0]));
+		last_name[0] = GetString(STR_VEHICLE_NAME);
 	}
 
 	if (b != _last_vehicle[1]) {
 		_last_vehicle[1] = b;
 		SetDParam(0, b->index);
-		GetString(last_name[1], STR_VEHICLE_NAME, lastof(last_name[1]));
+		last_name[1] = GetString(STR_VEHICLE_NAME);
 	}
 
 	int r = StrNaturalCompare(last_name[0], last_name[1]); // Sort by name (natural sorting).