diff --git a/nvim/after/plugin/tree.lua b/nvim/after/plugin/tree.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ae7265
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nvim/after/plugin/tree.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+require("nvim-tree").setup({
+  git = { enable = false },
+  renderer = {
+    icons = { 
+      show = {
+        folder_arrow = false
+      },
+      glyphs = {
+        default = "⚬",
+        folder = {
+          default = "▸",
+          open = "▾",
+          empty = "▹",
+          empty_open = "▿",
+        }
+      },
+    }
+  }
+})
diff --git a/nvim/init.lua b/nvim/init.lua
index 71897d6..bf01b16 100644
--- a/nvim/init.lua
+++ b/nvim/init.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ vim.g.maplocalleader = ' '
 -- Set to true if you have a Nerd Font installed and selected in the terminal
 vim.g.have_nerd_font = false
 
+-- for some reason vim-tree needs this to happen very early on and no I do not
+-- know why
+vim.g.loaded_netrw = 1
+vim.g.loaded_netrwPlugin = 1
+
 require("plugins")
 require("prefs")
 require("keys")
diff --git a/nvim/lua/plugins.lua b/nvim/lua/plugins.lua
index af09dca..def9985 100644
--- a/nvim/lua/plugins.lua
+++ b/nvim/lua/plugins.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ print("Loading plugins")
 vim.cmd [[packadd packer.nvim]]
 
 return require('packer').startup(function(use)
+  -- the plugin that manages the plugins
   use 'wbthomason/packer.nvim'
 
   -- this thing finds files or something
@@ -14,24 +15,40 @@ return require('packer').startup(function(use)
     }
   }
 
+  -- parses code
   use {
     'nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter',
     run = ':TSUpdate'
   }
 
+  -- lets you look at parse trees
   use { 'nvim-treesitter/playground' }
 
+  -- it's a colorscheme
   use { "rose-pine/neovim", as = "rose-pine" }
 
   -- hmmmm try this?
   -- https://github.com/ThePrimeagen/harpoon/tree/harpoon2
 
+  -- visualizes vim's undo tree
   use { "mbbill/undotree" }
 
+  -- a git client
   use { "tpope/vim-fugitive" }
 
+  -- show git status per-line in a gutter column
   use {
     "lewis6991/gitsigns.nvim"
   }
+
+  -- a file browser
+  vim.g.loaded_netrw = 1
+  vim.g.loaded_netrwPlugin = 1
+  use { "nvim-tree/nvim-tree.lua" }
+
+  -- helps you configure lsp servers
+  use {
+      "neovim/nvim-lspconfig"
+  }
 end)
 
diff --git a/nvim/lua/prefs.lua b/nvim/lua/prefs.lua
index f321030..41ef3b9 100644
--- a/nvim/lua/prefs.lua
+++ b/nvim/lua/prefs.lua
@@ -81,4 +81,6 @@ vim.keymap.set('t', '<Esc><Esc>', '<C-\\><C-n>', {
     desc = 'Exit terminal mode'
 })
 
-
+-- set the cwd of the buffer to the directory of the buffer's file
+-- when entering a buffer.
+vim.opt.autochdir = true