diff --git a/.config/nvim/init.vim b/.config/nvim/init.vim
index ff425cb..5750d73 100644
--- a/.config/nvim/init.vim
+++ b/.config/nvim/init.vim
@@ -42,9 +42,12 @@ Plug 'simrat39/rust-tools.nvim'
 Plug 'tpope/vim-fugitive'
 
 " src tree view
-Plug 'preservim/nerdtree'
+Plug 'nvim-tree/nvim-tree.lua'
+Plug 'nvim-tree/nvim-web-devicons' " optional, for file icons
 
 call plug#end()
+" lua require("setup"
+luafile ~/.config/nvim/lua/setup.lua
 
 
 " ==============================================================================
@@ -53,6 +56,7 @@ call plug#end()
 " dealing with files
 syntax on
 filetype plugin indent on
+set paste
 set colorcolumn=80
 set autoindent expandtab tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4
 set encoding=utf-8
@@ -232,12 +236,10 @@ nnoremap <C-K> <C-W><C-K>
 nnoremap <C-L> <C-W><C-L>
 nnoremap <C-H> <C-W><C-H>
 
-"enable nerdtree with ^\
-map <C-Bslash> :NERDTreeToggle<CR>
-
-" enable clipboard access for Neovide
-nnoremap <D-V> "+p
-nnoremap <C-S-V> "+p
+" neovide (GUI) clipboard
+nnoremap <C-S-V> "+P
+" handle Ctrl+Shift+V in GUI somehow
+" inoremap <C-S-V> "+P
 
 
 " RUST
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/plugins.lua b/.config/nvim/lua/plugins.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57a75d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.config/nvim/lua/plugins.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- initial setup
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+-- disable netrw at the very start of init.lua (strongly advised by _nvim-tree.lua_)
+vim.g.loaded_netrw = 1
+vim.g.loaded_netrwPlugin = 1
+
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Plugin setup
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+-- ensure that packer is installed
+if vim.fn.empty(vim.fn.glob(vim.fn.stdpath("data").."/site/pack/packer/start/packer.nvim")) > 0 then
+  PACKER_BOOTSTRAP = vim.fn.system({
+  "git",
+  "clone",
+  "--depth",
+  "1",
+  "https://github.com/wbthomason/packer.nvim",
+  "~/.local/share/nvim/site/pack/packer/start/packer.nvim",
+  })
+  print("Packer installed. Please close and re-open Neovim.");
+end
+
+-- Autocommand that reloads Neovim whenever the "plugins.lua" file is saved
+
+
+-- 'nvim-tree.lua' setup
+require("nvim-tree").setup({
+  auto_reload_on_write = true,
+  disable_netrw = false,
+  hijack_netrw = true,
+  sort_by = "case_sensitive",
+  view = {
+    width = 30,
+    number = true,
+    relativenumber = true,
+    mappings = {
+      list = {
+        { key = "u", action = "dir_up" },
+      },
+    },
+  },
+  renderer = {
+    group_empty = false,
+    highlight_git = true,
+      icons = {
+        symlink_arrow = " ➛ ",
+      glyphs = {
+        modified = "●",
+        git = {
+          unstaged = "✗",
+          staged = "✓",
+          unmerged = "",
+          renamed = "➜",
+          untracked = "[ ]",
+          deleted = "",
+          ignored = "◌",
+        },
+      },
+    },
+    special_files = { "Cargo.toml", "README.md", "Readme.md", "readme.md" },
+    symlink_destination = true,
+  },
+  filters = {
+    dotfiles = true,
+  },
+})
+
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- open _things_...
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+local function open_nvim_tree()
+  require("nvim-tree.api").tree.open()
+end
+
+-- UNDO THIS   open_nvim_tree()
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/setup.lua b/.config/nvim/lua/setup.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..48cee6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.config/nvim/lua/setup.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- initial setup
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+-- disable netrw at the very start of init.lua (strongly advised by _nvim-tree.lua_)
+vim.g.loaded_netrw = 1
+vim.g.loaded_netrwPlugin = 1
+
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Plugin setup
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+-- 'nvim-tree.lua' setup
+require("nvim-tree").setup({
+  auto_reload_on_write = true,
+  disable_netrw = false,
+  hijack_netrw = true,
+  sort_by = "case_sensitive",
+  view = {
+    width = 30,
+    number = true,
+    relativenumber = true,
+    mappings = {
+      list = {
+        { key = "u", action = "dir_up" },
+      },
+    },
+  },
+  renderer = {
+    group_empty = false,
+    highlight_git = true,
+      icons = {
+        symlink_arrow = " ➛ ",
+      glyphs = {
+        modified = "●",
+        git = {
+          unstaged = "✗",
+          staged = "✓",
+          unmerged = "",
+          renamed = "➜",
+          untracked = "[ ]",
+          deleted = "",
+          ignored = "◌",
+        },
+      },
+    },
+    special_files = { "Cargo.toml", "README.md", "Readme.md", "readme.md" },
+    symlink_destination = true,
+  },
+  filters = {
+    dotfiles = true,
+  },
+})
+
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- open _things_...
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+local function open_nvim_tree()
+  require("nvim-tree.api").tree.open()
+end
+
+-- UNDO THIS   open_nvim_tree()