diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index c42f2c8..d56f9a8 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"go.pitz.tech/okit/observer"
 	"go.pitz.tech/okit/pb"
 )
 
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ var (
 // NewClient produces a new default client implementation for emitting metrics.
 func NewClient() Client {
 	return Client{
+		observer:   observer.Local(),
 		level:      LevelInfo,
 		now:        time.Now,
 		uuid:       defaultUUID,
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ func NewClient() Client {
 
 // Client provides a default implementation.
 type Client struct {
+	observer   observer.Observer
 	level      Level
 	now        func() time.Time
 	uuid       func() string
@@ -65,6 +68,12 @@ type Client struct {
 	callerSkip int
 }
 
+// WithObservers configures the new client with the provided observers.
+func (c Client) WithObservers(observers ...observer.Observer) Client {
+	c.observer = observer.Composite(observers)
+	return c
+}
+
 // WithLevel allows the current logging level to be tuned. This does not prevent traces from being emit, or metrics
 // from being reported. It only modifies the behavior of logs.
 func (c Client) WithLevel(level Level) Client {
@@ -264,11 +273,9 @@ func (c Client) emit(entries ...*pb.Entry) {
 	for _, entry := range entries {
 		entry.Timestamp = now
 		entry.Tags = tags
-
-		_ = DefaultFormat.Marshal(sink, entry)
 	}
 
-	_ = sink.Flush()
+	c.observer.Observe(entries)
 }
 
 // caller attempts to get method caller information. This information is used for tracing information across an
diff --git a/examples/json/main.go b/examples/json/main.go
index 420279e..06f225f 100644
--- a/examples/json/main.go
+++ b/examples/json/main.go
@@ -25,11 +25,20 @@ import (
 
 	"go.pitz.tech/okit"
 	okithttp "go.pitz.tech/okit/http"
+	"go.pitz.tech/okit/observer"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	// Enable JSON output
-	okit.DefaultFormat = okit.JSONFormat{}
+	client := okit.NewClient().
+		WithObservers(
+			observer.Local(
+				observer.Format("json"),
+			),
+
+			// TODO: add remote observers
+		)
+
+	okit.Replace(client)
 
 	// Instrument HTTP Clients
 	okithttp.InstrumentClient(http.DefaultClient)
diff --git a/examples/overview/main.go b/examples/overview/main.go
index 93bb4f2..fd0825d 100644
--- a/examples/overview/main.go
+++ b/examples/overview/main.go
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 func main() {
-	okit.DefaultClient = okit.DefaultClient.WithLevel(okit.LevelTrace)
+	client := okit.NewClient().WithLevel(okit.LevelTrace)
+	okit.Replace(client)
 
 	var tags []okit.Tag
 
diff --git a/format.go b/format/format.go
similarity index 64%
rename from format.go
rename to format/format.go
index 3553e98..542208f 100644
--- a/format.go
+++ b/format/format.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 // OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE
 // OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
-package okit
+package format
 
 import (
 	"bufio"
@@ -29,33 +29,33 @@ import (
 	"go.pitz.tech/okit/pb"
 )
 
-// Format defines an abstraction for writing entries to stdout/stderr. This is predominantly used in report log, trace,
+// Marshaler defines an abstraction for writing entries to stdout/stderr. This is predominantly used in report log, trace,
 // and event information from the process.
-type Format interface {
+type Marshaler interface {
 	Marshal(writer *bufio.Writer, entry *pb.Entry) error
 }
 
-// JSONFormat writes entries using JSON encoded protocol buffers.
-type JSONFormat struct {
-	// Marshaler
+// JSON writes entries using JSON encoded protocol buffers.
+type JSON struct {
 	Marshaler jsonpb.Marshaler
 }
 
-func (f JSONFormat) Marshal(writer *bufio.Writer, entry *pb.Entry) error {
+func (f JSON) Marshal(writer *bufio.Writer, entry *pb.Entry) error {
 	f.Marshaler.Marshal(writer, entry)
 	return writer.WriteByte('\n')
 }
 
-// TextFormat writes entries using a custom text format.
-type TextFormat struct{}
+// Text writes entries using a custom text format. Entries are written using a TSV format and tags are url-encoded
+// key-value pairs.
+type Text struct{}
 
-func (f TextFormat) Marshal(writer *bufio.Writer, entry *pb.Entry) error {
-	sink.WriteString(entry.Timestamp.AsTime().Format(time.RFC3339))
-	sink.WriteByte('\t')
-	sink.WriteString(strings.ToUpper(entry.Kind.String()))
-	sink.WriteByte('\t')
-	sink.WriteString(entry.Scope)
-	sink.WriteByte('\t')
+func (f Text) Marshal(writer *bufio.Writer, entry *pb.Entry) error {
+	writer.WriteString(entry.Timestamp.AsTime().Format(time.RFC3339))
+	writer.WriteByte('\t')
+	writer.WriteString(strings.ToUpper(entry.Kind.String()))
+	writer.WriteByte('\t')
+	writer.WriteString(entry.Scope)
+	writer.WriteByte('\t')
 
 	for _, tag := range entry.Tags {
 		qs := tag.AsQueryString()
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ func (f TextFormat) Marshal(writer *bufio.Writer, entry *pb.Entry) error {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		sink.WriteString(qs)
-		sink.WriteByte('&')
+		writer.WriteString(qs)
+		writer.WriteByte('&')
 	}
 
-	return sink.WriteByte('\n')
+	return writer.WriteByte('\n')
 }
diff --git a/observer/local.go b/observer/local.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..25aeb55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/observer/local.go
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2022 The OKit Authors
+//
+// Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+// of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+// in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+// to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+// copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+// furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+//
+// The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+// copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+//
+// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+// EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
+// MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
+// IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM,
+// DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR
+// OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE
+// OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+
+package observer
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+
+	"go.pitz.tech/okit/format"
+	"go.pitz.tech/okit/pb"
+)
+
+// LocalOption defines a mechanism that allows properties of the observer to be overridden or configured.
+type LocalOption func(l *local)
+
+// Output configures the output of the local observer to point to the provided writer.
+func Output(writer io.Writer) LocalOption {
+	return func(l *local) {
+		l.output = bufio.NewWriter(writer)
+	}
+}
+
+// Format configures how the information is written to the target writer.
+func Format(fmt string) LocalOption {
+	return func(l *local) {
+		switch fmt {
+		case "json":
+			l.format = format.JSON{}
+		default:
+			l.format = format.Text{}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Local creates an Observer that writes logs to an output stream using a configured format.
+func Local(opts ...LocalOption) Observer {
+	l := &local{
+		output: bufio.NewWriter(os.Stdout),
+		format: format.Text{},
+	}
+
+	for _, o := range opts {
+		o(l)
+	}
+
+	return l
+}
+
+type local struct {
+	output *bufio.Writer
+	format format.Marshaler
+}
+
+func (l *local) Observe(entries []*pb.Entry) {
+	// TODO: how to handle internal errors
+
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		_ = l.format.Marshal(l.output, entry)
+	}
+
+	_ = l.output.Flush()
+}
diff --git a/observer/observer.go b/observer/observer.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4a53fde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/observer/observer.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2022 The OKit Authors
+//
+// Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+// of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+// in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+// to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+// copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+// furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+//
+// The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+// copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+//
+// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+// EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
+// MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
+// IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM,
+// DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR
+// OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE
+// OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+
+package observer
+
+import (
+	"go.pitz.tech/okit/pb"
+)
+
+// Observer provides a mechanism to subscribe to entries within the okit system.
+type Observer interface {
+	Observe(entries []*pb.Entry)
+}
+
+// Composite provides a way for multiple observers to be plugged into the system.
+type Composite []Observer
+
+func (c Composite) Observe(entries []*pb.Entry) {
+	for _, observer := range c {
+		observer.Observe(entries)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/okit.go b/okit.go
index 8f66e69..76ede4e 100644
--- a/okit.go
+++ b/okit.go
@@ -21,19 +21,31 @@
 package okit
 
 import (
-	"bufio"
 	"context"
-	"os"
 )
 
-// DefaultClient provides a default client implementation.
-var DefaultClient = NewClient()
+var (
+	global chan Client
+)
 
-// DefaultFormat is used to format how data is written to stdout.
-var DefaultFormat Format = TextFormat{}
+func init() {
+	global = make(chan Client, 1)
+	global <- NewClient()
+}
 
-// TODO: make this configurable
-var sink = bufio.NewWriter(os.Stdout)
+// Replace updates the default Client to be the provided one.
+func Replace(c Client) {
+	<-global
+	global <- c
+}
+
+// C returns a copy of the current default Client.
+func C() Client {
+	c := <-global
+	global <- c
+
+	return c
+}
 
 // ContextKey is a holder structure that allows data to be attached to contexts.
 type ContextKey string
@@ -43,40 +55,40 @@ var SpanKey = ContextKey("okit.span")
 
 // With returns a client containing additional tags.
 func With(tags ...Tag) Client {
-	return DefaultClient.WithCallerSkip(3).With(tags...)
+	return C().With(tags...)
 }
 
 // Emit emits an event with the provided tags.
 func Emit(event string, tags ...Tag) {
-	DefaultClient.WithCallerSkip(3).Emit(event, tags...)
+	C().WithCallerSkip(3).Emit(event, tags...)
 }
 
 // Observe reports a metric value with the provided tags.
 func Observe(metric string, value float64, tags ...Tag) {
-	DefaultClient.WithCallerSkip(3).Observe(metric, value, tags...)
+	C().WithCallerSkip(3).Observe(metric, value, tags...)
 }
 
 // Trace traces a function call. It implements distributed tracing and bookend events.
 func Trace(ctxp *context.Context, tags ...Tag) ActiveTrace {
-	return DefaultClient.WithCallerSkip(3).Trace(ctxp, tags...)
+	return C().WithCallerSkip(3).Trace(ctxp, tags...)
 }
 
 // Debug writes a message at a debug level.
 func Debug(msg string, tags ...Tag) {
-	DefaultClient.WithCallerSkip(3).Debug(msg, tags...)
+	C().WithCallerSkip(3).Debug(msg, tags...)
 }
 
 // Info writes a message at a informational level.
 func Info(msg string, tags ...Tag) {
-	DefaultClient.WithCallerSkip(3).Info(msg, tags...)
+	C().WithCallerSkip(3).Info(msg, tags...)
 }
 
 // Warn writes a message at a warning level.
 func Warn(msg string, tags ...Tag) {
-	DefaultClient.WithCallerSkip(3).Warn(msg, tags...)
+	C().WithCallerSkip(3).Warn(msg, tags...)
 }
 
 // Error writes a message at a error level.
 func Error(msg string, tags ...Tag) {
-	DefaultClient.WithCallerSkip(3).Error(msg, tags...)
+	C().WithCallerSkip(3).Error(msg, tags...)
 }