diff --git a/lua/install-plugins.lua b/lua/install-plugins.lua
index d740c12..d5f0bab 100644
--- a/lua/install-plugins.lua
+++ b/lua/install-plugins.lua
@@ -390,6 +390,13 @@ return require('packer').startup(function(use)
       require('plugins.rest-nvim')
     end,
   }
+  use {
+    'theblob42/drex.nvim',
+    requires = 'kyazdani42/nvim-web-devicons',
+    config = function()
+      require('plugins.drex-nvim')
+    end,
+  }
   use {
     'folke/which-key.nvim',
     config = function()
diff --git a/lua/plugins/drex-nvim.lua b/lua/plugins/drex-nvim.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1bf3f9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/plugins/drex-nvim.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+local drex = require('drex')
+local elements = require('drex.elements')
+
+-- open the home directory
+vim.keymap.set('n', '~', '<CMD>Drex ~<CR>', {})
+-- open parent DREX buffer and focus current file
+vim.keymap.set('n', '-', function()
+	local path = vim.fn.expand('%:p')
+	if path == '' then
+		drex.open_directory_buffer() -- open at cwd
+	else
+		drex.open_directory_buffer(vim.fn.fnamemodify(path, ':h'))
+		elements.focus_element(0, path)
+	end
+end, {})
+
+require('drex.config').configure({
+	hijack_netrw = true,
+	keybindings = {
+		['n'] = {
+			['~'] = '<CMD>Drex ~<CR>',
+			['-'] = '<CMD>lua require("drex.elements").open_parent_directory()<CR>',
+			['.'] = function()
+				local element = require('drex.utils').get_element(vim.api.nvim_get_current_line())
+				local left = vim.api.nvim_replace_termcodes('<left>', true, false, true)
+				vim.api.nvim_feedkeys(': ' .. element .. string.rep(left, #element + 1), 'n', true)
+			end,
+			['<CR>'] = function()
+				local line = vim.api.nvim_get_current_line()
+
+				if require('drex.utils').is_open_directory(line) then
+					elements.collapse_directory()
+				else
+					elements.expand_element()
+				end
+			end,
+		}
+	},
+	on_enter = function()
+		vim.opt_local.number = false
+		vim.opt_local.relativenumber = false
+		vim.opt_local.signcolumn = 'no'
+	end,
+})
diff --git a/lua/plugins/lualine-nvim.lua b/lua/plugins/lualine-nvim.lua
index 012e269..3b56aba 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/lualine-nvim.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/lualine-nvim.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 require('lualine').setup({
+	extensions = { 'drex' },
 	sections = {
 		lualine_c = {
 			require('auto-session-library').current_session_name,
diff --git a/lua/plugins/nvim-tree.lua b/lua/plugins/nvim-tree.lua
index d193eec..71eb744 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/nvim-tree.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/nvim-tree.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 require('nvim-tree').setup({
-  hijack_netrw = true,
-  hijack_directories = {
-    enable = true,
-    auto_open = true,
-  },
+  -- hijack_netrw = true,
+  -- hijack_directories = {
+  --   enable = true,
+  --   auto_open = true,
+  -- },
   view = {
     mappings = {
       list = {
@@ -17,14 +17,15 @@ require('nvim-tree').setup({
   },
 })
 
-local function toggle_replace()
-  local view = require('nvim-tree.view')
-  if view.is_visible() then
-      view.close()
-  else
-    require('nvim-tree').open_replacing_current_buffer()
-  end
-end
+-- local function toggle_replace()
+--   local view = require('nvim-tree.view')
+--   if view.is_visible() then
+--       view.close()
+--   else
+--     require('nvim-tree').open_replacing_current_buffer()
+--   end
+-- end
 
-vim.keymap.set('n', '-', function() toggle_replace() end, { noremap = true, silent = true })
+-- swapping this out with drex.nvim instead
+-- vim.keymap.set('n', '-', function() toggle_replace() end, { noremap = true, silent = true })
 vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>n', [[<Cmd>NvimTreeToggle<CR>]], { noremap = true, silent = true })