diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 25320bc..5dfd150 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 
+
 .zig-cache
-.zig-out
+zig-out/
diff --git a/examples/file_processor.zig b/examples/file_processor.zig
index 8811a5e..f40b5ca 100644
--- a/examples/file_processor.zig
+++ b/examples/file_processor.zig
@@ -41,16 +41,19 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     var gpa = std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{}){};
     defer _ = gpa.deinit();
     const allocator = gpa.allocator();
+    zargs.setAllocator(allocator);
     defer zargs.shutdown();
 
+    zargs.setAllocator(allocator);
+
     // Use populate to register metadata and parse arguments
-    const config = try zargs.parse(Config, allocator);
+    const config = try zargs.parse(Config);
 
     // Check if help was requested after parsing
-    if (zargs.isHelp(allocator)) {
+    if (zargs.isHelp()) {
         // Generate and display help using the registry
-        const help_text = try zargs.getUsageAlloc(allocator, "file_processor");
-        defer allocator.free(help_text);
+        const help_text = try zargs.getUsageAlloc("file_processor");
+        defer zargs.getAllocator().free(help_text);
 
         std.debug.print("{s}", .{help_text});
         return;
diff --git a/examples/multi_module.zig b/examples/multi_module.zig
index 5faa8bf..08cb0a4 100644
--- a/examples/multi_module.zig
+++ b/examples/multi_module.zig
@@ -40,18 +40,18 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     var gpa = std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{}){};
     defer _ = gpa.deinit();
     const allocator = gpa.allocator();
-
     defer zargs.shutdown();
+    zargs.setAllocator(allocator);
 
     // Lazy populate: metadata registration and parsing happen on-demand
-    const graphics = try zargs.parse(GraphicsConfig, allocator);
-    const audio = try zargs.parse(AudioConfig, allocator);
-    const engine = try zargs.parse(EngineConfig, allocator);
+    const graphics = try zargs.parse(GraphicsConfig);
+    const audio = try zargs.parse(AudioConfig);
+    const engine = try zargs.parse(EngineConfig);
 
     // Check for help after all modules are populated
-    if (zargs.isHelp(allocator)) {
+    if (zargs.isHelp()) {
         const program_name = "multi-module";
-        const help_text = try zargs.getUsageAlloc(allocator, program_name);
+        const help_text = try zargs.getUsageAlloc(program_name);
         defer allocator.free(help_text);
         try std.fs.File.stdout().writeAll(help_text);
         return;
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
index bc4074c..3f35f74 100644
--- a/src/main.zig
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -11,26 +11,37 @@ pub const generateHelpText = @import("help.zig").generateHelpText;
 
 pub var gRegistry: ?ArgumentRegistry = null;
 
-pub fn getUsageAlloc(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, programName: []const u8) ![]const u8 {
-    if (gRegistry == null) {
-        gRegistry = ArgumentRegistry.init(allocator);
-    }
+pub var gAllocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined;
 
-    return try generateHelpText(gRegistry.?, allocator, programName);
+// an allocator must be set before anything in zargs can be used
+pub fn setAllocator(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) void {
+    gAllocator = allocator;
 }
 
-pub fn parse(comptime T: type, allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !T {
+pub fn getAllocator() std.mem.Allocator {
+    return gAllocator;
+}
+
+pub fn getUsageAlloc(programName: []const u8) ![]const u8 {
     if (gRegistry == null) {
-        gRegistry = ArgumentRegistry.init(allocator);
+        gRegistry = ArgumentRegistry.init(gAllocator);
     }
 
-    const value = try gRegistry.?.populate(T, @typeName(T), allocator);
+    return try generateHelpText(gRegistry.?, gAllocator, programName);
+}
+
+pub fn parse(comptime T: type) !T {
+    if (gRegistry == null) {
+        gRegistry = ArgumentRegistry.init(gAllocator);
+    }
+
+    const value = try gRegistry.?.populate(T, @typeName(T), gAllocator);
     return value;
 }
 
-pub fn isHelp(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) bool {
+pub fn isHelp() bool {
     if (gRegistry == null) {
-        gRegistry = ArgumentRegistry.init(allocator);
+        gRegistry = ArgumentRegistry.init(gAllocator);
     }
     gRegistry.?.scanForHelp();
     return gRegistry.?.help_requested;