diff --git a/examples/output-layout.c b/examples/output-layout.c
index c16af634..dd43d2f4 100644
--- a/examples/output-layout.c
+++ b/examples/output-layout.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #include "cat.h"
 
 struct sample_state {
-	struct wl_list config;
+	struct example_config *config;
 	struct wlr_renderer *renderer;
 	struct wlr_texture *cat_texture;
 	struct wlr_output_layout *layout;
@@ -35,13 +35,6 @@ struct sample_state {
 	struct wl_list outputs;
 };
 
-struct output_config {
-	char *name;
-	enum wl_output_transform transform;
-	int x, y;
-	struct wl_list link;
-};
-
 static void handle_output_frame(struct output_state *output, struct timespec *ts) {
 	struct compositor_state *state = output->compositor;
 	struct sample_state *sample = state->data;
@@ -126,71 +119,29 @@ static void handle_output_frame(struct output_state *output, struct timespec *ts
 	}
 }
 
-static inline int max(int a, int b) {
-	return a < b ? b : a;
-}
-
-static void configure_layout(struct sample_state *sample) {
-	wlr_output_layout_destroy(sample->layout);
-	sample->layout = wlr_output_layout_init();
-	sample->main_output = NULL;
-	int max_x = wl_list_empty(&sample->config) ? 0 : INT_MIN;
-
-	// first add all the configure outputs
-	struct output_state *output;
-	wl_list_for_each(output, &sample->outputs, link) {
-		struct output_config *conf;
-		wl_list_for_each(conf, &sample->config, link) {
-			if (strcmp(conf->name, output->output->name) == 0) {
-				wlr_output_layout_add(sample->layout, output->output,
-						conf->x, conf->y);
-				wlr_output_transform(output->output, conf->transform);
-				int width, height;
-				wlr_output_effective_resolution(output->output, &width, &height);
-				max_x = max(max_x, conf->x + width);
-
-				if (!sample->main_output) {
-					sample->main_output = output->output;
-					sample->x_offs = conf->x + 20;
-					sample->y_offs = conf->y + 20;
-				}
-				break;
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	// now add all the other configured outputs in a sensible position
-	wl_list_for_each(output, &sample->outputs, link) {
-		if (wlr_output_layout_get(sample->layout, output->output)) {
-			continue;
-		}
-		wlr_output_layout_add(sample->layout, output->output, max_x, 0);
-		int width, height;
-		wlr_output_effective_resolution(output->output, &width, &height);
-		wlr_output_effective_resolution(output->output, &width, &height);
-		if (!sample->main_output) {
-			sample->main_output = output->output;
-			sample->x_offs = max_x + 200;
-			sample->y_offs = 200;
-		}
-		max_x += width;
-	}
+static void set_main_output(struct sample_state *sample,
+		struct wlr_output *output) {
+	sample->main_output = output;
+	struct wlr_output_layout_output *l_output;
+	l_output = wlr_output_layout_get(sample->layout, output);
+	sample->x_offs = l_output->x + 200;
+	sample->y_offs = l_output->y + 200;
 }
 
 static void handle_output_resolution(struct compositor_state *state, struct output_state *output) {
 	struct sample_state *sample = state->data;
-	configure_layout(sample);
+	wlr_output_layout_destroy(sample->layout);
+	sample->layout = configure_layout(sample->config, &sample->outputs);
+	set_main_output(sample, output->output);
 
-	// reset the image
-	struct wlr_output_layout_output *l_output = wlr_output_layout_get(sample->layout, sample->main_output);
-	sample->x_offs = l_output->x + 20;
-	sample->y_offs = l_output->y + 20;
 }
 
 static void handle_output_add(struct output_state *output) {
 	struct sample_state *sample = output->compositor->data;
 	wl_list_insert(&sample->outputs, &output->link);
-	configure_layout(sample);
+	wlr_output_layout_destroy(sample->layout);
+	sample->layout = configure_layout(sample->config, &sample->outputs);
+	set_main_output(sample, output->output);
 }
 
 static void update_velocities(struct compositor_state *state,
@@ -224,88 +175,6 @@ static void handle_keyboard_key(struct keyboard_state *kbstate, uint32_t keycode
 	}
 }
 
-static void usage(const char *name, int ret) {
-	fprintf(stderr,
-		"usage: %s [-d <name> [-r <rotation> | -f]]*\n"
-		"\n"
-		" -o <output>    The name of the DRM display. e.g. DVI-I-1.\n"
-		" -r <rotation>  The rotation counter clockwise. Valid values are 90, 180, 270.\n"
-		" -x <position>  The X-axis coordinate position of this output in the layout.\n"
-		" -y <position>  The Y-axis coordinate position of this output in the layout.\n"
-		" -f             Flip the output along the vertical axis.\n", name);
-
-	exit(ret);
-}
-
-static void parse_args(int argc, char *argv[], struct wl_list *config) {
-	struct output_config *oc = NULL;
-
-	int c;
-	while ((c = getopt(argc, argv, "o:r:x:y:fh")) != -1) {
-		switch (c) {
-		case 'o':
-			oc = calloc(1, sizeof(*oc));
-			oc->name = optarg;
-			oc->transform = WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_NORMAL;
-			wl_list_insert(config, &oc->link);
-			break;
-		case 'r':
-			if (!oc) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify an output first\n");
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-
-			if (oc->transform != WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_NORMAL
-					&& oc->transform != WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_FLIPPED) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "Rotation for %s already specified\n", oc->name);
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-
-			if (strcmp(optarg, "90") == 0) {
-				oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_90;
-			} else if (strcmp(optarg, "180") == 0) {
-				oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_180;
-			} else if (strcmp(optarg, "270") == 0) {
-				oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_270;
-			} else {
-				fprintf(stderr, "Invalid rotation '%s'\n", optarg);
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-			break;
-		case 'x':
-			if (!oc) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify an output first\n");
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-			oc->x = strtol(optarg, NULL, 0);
-			break;
-		case 'y':
-			if (!oc) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify an output first\n");
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-			oc->y = strtol(optarg, NULL, 0);
-			break;
-		case 'f':
-			if (!oc) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify an output first\n");
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-
-			if (oc->transform >= WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_FLIPPED) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "Flip for %s already specified\n", oc->name);
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-
-			oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_FLIPPED;
-			break;
-		case 'h':
-		case '?':
-			usage(argv[0], c != 'h');
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	struct sample_state state = {0};
 
@@ -313,9 +182,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	state.y_vel = 500;
 	state.layout = wlr_output_layout_init();
 
-	wl_list_init(&state.config);
 	wl_list_init(&state.outputs);
-	parse_args(argc, argv, &state.config);
+	state.config = parse_args(argc, argv);
 
 	struct compositor_state compositor = { 0 };
 	compositor.data = &state;
@@ -337,8 +205,5 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
 	wlr_output_layout_destroy(state.layout);
 
-	struct output_config *ptr, *tmp;
-	wl_list_for_each_safe(ptr, tmp, &state.config, link) {
-		free(ptr);
-	}
+	example_config_destroy(state.config);
 }
diff --git a/examples/rotation.c b/examples/rotation.c
index 7024b249..b663f428 100644
--- a/examples/rotation.c
+++ b/examples/rotation.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 #include "cat.h"
 
 struct sample_state {
-	struct wl_list config;
+	struct example_config *config;
 	struct wlr_renderer *renderer;
 	struct wlr_texture *cat_texture;
 };
@@ -32,12 +32,6 @@ struct output_data {
 	float x_vel, y_vel;
 };
 
-struct output_config {
-	char *name;
-	enum wl_output_transform transform;
-	struct wl_list link;
-};
-
 static void handle_output_frame(struct output_state *output, struct timespec *ts) {
 	struct compositor_state *state = output->compositor;
 	struct sample_state *sample = state->data;
@@ -81,7 +75,7 @@ static void handle_output_add(struct output_state *output) {
 	struct sample_state *state = output->compositor->data;
 
 	struct output_config *conf;
-	wl_list_for_each(conf, &state->config, link) {
+	wl_list_for_each(conf, &state->config->outputs, link) {
 		if (strcmp(conf->name, output->output->name) == 0) {
 			wlr_output_transform(output->output, conf->transform);
 			break;
@@ -126,76 +120,9 @@ static void handle_keyboard_key(struct keyboard_state *kbstate,
 	}
 }
 
-static void usage(const char *name, int ret) {
-	fprintf(stderr,
-		"usage: %s [-d <name> [-r <rotation> | -f]]*\n"
-		"\n"
-		" -o <output>    The name of the DRM display. e.g. DVI-I-1.\n"
-		" -r <rotation>  The rotation counter clockwise. Valid values are 90, 180, 270.\n"
-		" -f             Flip the output along the vertical axis.\n", name);
-
-	exit(ret);
-}
-
-static void parse_args(int argc, char *argv[], struct wl_list *config) {
-	struct output_config *oc = NULL;
-
-	int c;
-	while ((c = getopt(argc, argv, "o:r:fh")) != -1) {
-		switch (c) {
-		case 'o':
-			oc = calloc(1, sizeof(*oc));
-			oc->name = optarg;
-			oc->transform = WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_NORMAL;
-			wl_list_insert(config, &oc->link);
-			break;
-		case 'r':
-			if (!oc) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify an output first\n");
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-
-			if (oc->transform != WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_NORMAL
-					&& oc->transform != WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_FLIPPED) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "Rotation for %s already specified\n", oc->name);
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-
-			if (strcmp(optarg, "90") == 0) {
-				oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_90;
-			} else if (strcmp(optarg, "180") == 0) {
-				oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_180;
-			} else if (strcmp(optarg, "270") == 0) {
-				oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_270;
-			} else {
-				fprintf(stderr, "Invalid rotation '%s'\n", optarg);
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-			break;
-		case 'f':
-			if (!oc) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify an output first\n");
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-
-			if (oc->transform >= WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_FLIPPED) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "Flip for %s already specified\n", oc->name);
-				usage(argv[0], 1);
-			}
-
-			oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_FLIPPED;
-			break;
-		case 'h':
-		case '?':
-			usage(argv[0], c != 'h');
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	struct sample_state state = {0};
-	wl_list_init(&state.config);
-	parse_args(argc, argv, &state.config);
+	state.config = parse_args(argc, argv);
 
 	struct compositor_state compositor = { 0 };
 	compositor.data = &state;
@@ -223,8 +150,5 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	wlr_texture_destroy(state.cat_texture);
 	wlr_renderer_destroy(state.renderer);
 
-	struct output_config *ptr, *tmp;
-	wl_list_for_each_safe(ptr, tmp, &state.config, link) {
-		free(ptr);
-	}
+	example_config_destroy(state.config);
 }
diff --git a/examples/shared.c b/examples/shared.c
index 5ebb7aa6..255652c7 100644
--- a/examples/shared.c
+++ b/examples/shared.c
@@ -5,16 +5,159 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 #include <xkbcommon/xkbcommon.h>
 #include <wayland-server-protocol.h>
 #include <wlr/backend.h>
 #include <wlr/backend/session.h>
 #include <wlr/backend/multi.h>
 #include <wlr/types/wlr_output.h>
+#include <wlr/types/wlr_output_layout.h>
 #include <wlr/types/wlr_input_device.h>
 #include <wlr/util/log.h>
 #include "shared.h"
 
+static void usage(const char *name, int ret) {
+	fprintf(stderr,
+		"usage: %s [-d <name> [-r <rotation> | -f]]*\n"
+		"\n"
+		" -o <output>    The name of the DRM display. e.g. DVI-I-1.\n"
+		" -r <rotation>  The rotation counter clockwise. Valid values are 90, 180, 270.\n"
+		" -x <position>  The X-axis coordinate position of this output in the layout.\n"
+		" -y <position>  The Y-axis coordinate position of this output in the layout.\n"
+		" -f             Flip the output along the vertical axis.\n", name);
+
+	exit(ret);
+}
+
+struct example_config *parse_args(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+	struct example_config *config = calloc(1, sizeof(struct example_config));
+	wl_list_init(&config->outputs);
+	struct output_config *oc = NULL;
+
+	int c;
+	while ((c = getopt(argc, argv, "o:r:x:y:fh")) != -1) {
+		switch (c) {
+		case 'o':
+			oc = calloc(1, sizeof(*oc));
+			oc->name = optarg;
+			oc->transform = WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_NORMAL;
+			wl_list_insert(&config->outputs, &oc->link);
+			break;
+		case 'r':
+			if (!oc) {
+				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify an output first\n");
+				usage(argv[0], 1);
+			}
+
+			if (oc->transform != WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_NORMAL
+					&& oc->transform != WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_FLIPPED) {
+				fprintf(stderr, "Rotation for %s already specified\n", oc->name);
+				usage(argv[0], 1);
+			}
+
+			if (strcmp(optarg, "90") == 0) {
+				oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_90;
+			} else if (strcmp(optarg, "180") == 0) {
+				oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_180;
+			} else if (strcmp(optarg, "270") == 0) {
+				oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_270;
+			} else {
+				fprintf(stderr, "Invalid rotation '%s'\n", optarg);
+				usage(argv[0], 1);
+			}
+			break;
+		case 'x':
+			if (!oc) {
+				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify an output first\n");
+				usage(argv[0], 1);
+			}
+			oc->x = strtol(optarg, NULL, 0);
+			break;
+		case 'y':
+			if (!oc) {
+				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify an output first\n");
+				usage(argv[0], 1);
+			}
+			oc->y = strtol(optarg, NULL, 0);
+			break;
+		case 'f':
+			if (!oc) {
+				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify an output first\n");
+				usage(argv[0], 1);
+			}
+
+			if (oc->transform >= WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_FLIPPED) {
+				fprintf(stderr, "Flip for %s already specified\n", oc->name);
+				usage(argv[0], 1);
+			}
+
+			oc->transform += WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_FLIPPED;
+			break;
+		case 'h':
+		case '?':
+			usage(argv[0], c != 'h');
+		}
+	}
+
+	return config;
+}
+
+void example_config_destroy(struct example_config *config) {
+	struct output_config *oc, *tmp = NULL;
+	wl_list_for_each_safe(oc, tmp, &config->outputs, link) {
+		free(oc);
+	}
+	free(config);
+}
+
+struct wlr_output_layout *configure_layout(struct example_config *config, struct wl_list *outputs) {
+	struct wlr_output_layout *layout = wlr_output_layout_init();
+	int max_x = INT_MIN;
+	int max_x_y = INT_MIN; // y value for the max_x output
+
+	// first add all the configured outputs
+	struct output_state *output;
+	wl_list_for_each(output, outputs, link) {
+		struct output_config *conf;
+		wl_list_for_each(conf, &config->outputs, link) {
+			if (strcmp(conf->name, output->output->name) == 0) {
+				wlr_output_layout_add(layout, output->output,
+						conf->x, conf->y);
+				wlr_output_transform(output->output, conf->transform);
+				int width, height;
+				wlr_output_effective_resolution(output->output, &width, &height);
+				if (conf->x + width > max_x) {
+					max_x = conf->x + width;
+					max_x_y = conf->y;
+				}
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (max_x == INT_MIN) {
+		// couldn't find a configured output
+		max_x = 0;
+		max_x_y = 0;
+	}
+
+	// now add all the other configured outputs in a sensible position
+	wl_list_for_each(output, outputs, link) {
+		if (wlr_output_layout_get(layout, output->output)) {
+			continue;
+		}
+		wlr_output_layout_add(layout, output->output, max_x, max_x_y);
+		int width, height;
+		wlr_output_effective_resolution(output->output, &width, &height);
+		max_x += width;
+	}
+
+	return layout;
+}
+
+
 static void keyboard_led_update(struct keyboard_state *kbstate) {
 	uint32_t leds = 0;
 	for (uint32_t i = 0; i < WLR_LED_LAST; ++i) {
diff --git a/examples/shared.h b/examples/shared.h
index e2ebadef..23b2d83d 100644
--- a/examples/shared.h
+++ b/examples/shared.h
@@ -12,6 +12,24 @@
 #include <wlr/types/wlr_output.h>
 #include <wlr/types/wlr_input_device.h>
 
+struct output_config {
+	char *name;
+	enum wl_output_transform transform;
+	int x, y;
+	struct wl_list link;
+};
+
+struct example_config {
+	struct wl_list outputs;
+};
+
+struct example_config *parse_args(int argc, char *argv[]);
+
+void example_config_destroy(struct example_config *config);
+
+struct wlr_output_layout *configure_layout(struct example_config *config,
+		struct wl_list *outputs);
+
 struct output_state {
 	struct compositor_state *compositor;
 	struct wlr_output *output;