diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3fafdcf..24be6be 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ chopsticks gives you a production-ready Vim config in one command. Pure VimScrip
 
 ## What's in the box
 
-| | |
-|-|-|
+| Feature | Description |
+|---------|-------------|
 | **LSP** | completion, go-to-def, hover, rename, code actions — pure VimScript ([vim-lsp](https://github.com/prabirshrestha/vim-lsp)) |
 | **Lint + format** | [ALE](https://github.com/dense-analysis/ale) runs black, prettier, gofmt, rustfmt on save |
 | **Fuzzy find** | files, buffers, grep, tags, marks, commands — [FZF](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf.vim) |
diff --git a/modules/core.vim b/modules/core.vim
index 37191cd..55848c1 100644
--- a/modules/core.vim
+++ b/modules/core.vim
@@ -127,16 +127,16 @@ nnoremap <M-k> :m .-2<CR>==
 vnoremap <M-j> :m '>+1<CR>gv=gv
 vnoremap <M-k> :m '<-2<CR>gv=gv
 
-nnoremap <leader>ss :setlocal spell!<cr>
+nnoremap <silent> <leader>ss :setlocal spell!<CR>:echo 'Spell: ' . (&spell ? 'ON' : 'OFF')<CR>
 nnoremap <leader>sn ]s
 nnoremap <leader>sp [s
 nnoremap <leader>sa zg
 nnoremap <leader>s? z=
 
-set pastetoggle=<F2>
-nnoremap <F3> :set invnumber<CR>
-nnoremap <F4> :set invrelativenumber<CR>
-nnoremap <F6> :set list!<CR>
+nnoremap <silent> <F2> :set paste!<CR>:echo 'Paste: ' . (&paste ? 'ON' : 'OFF')<CR>
+nnoremap <silent> <F3> :set invnumber<CR>:echo 'Line numbers: ' . (&number ? 'ON' : 'OFF')<CR>
+nnoremap <silent> <F4> :set invrelativenumber<CR>:echo 'Relative numbers: ' . (&relativenumber ? 'ON' : 'OFF')<CR>
+nnoremap <silent> <F6> :set list!<CR>:echo 'List chars: ' . (&list ? 'ON' : 'OFF')<CR>
 
 nnoremap <space> za
 
diff --git a/modules/navigation.vim b/modules/navigation.vim
index 9fc8d7d..caa710f 100644
--- a/modules/navigation.vim
+++ b/modules/navigation.vim
@@ -4,13 +4,37 @@
 
 let g:netrw_liststyle    = 3
 let g:netrw_banner       = 0
-let g:netrw_browse_split = 0
+let g:netrw_browse_split = 4
 let g:netrw_winsize      = 25
+let g:netrw_altv         = 1
 let g:netrw_list_hide    = '\(^\|\s\s\)\zs\.\S\+'
 let g:netrw_list_hide   .= ',\.pyc$,node_modules,\.git,__pycache__,\.DS_Store'
 
-nnoremap <leader>e :Explore<CR>
-nnoremap <leader>E :Vexplore<CR>
+function! s:ToggleSidebar(...) abort
+    let l:dir = a:0 ? a:1 : getcwd()
+    if getbufvar(winbufnr(1), '&filetype') ==# 'netrw' && getwinvar(1, '&winfixwidth')
+        let l:cur = winnr()
+        1wincmd w
+        close
+        if l:cur > 1
+            execute (l:cur - 1) . 'wincmd w'
+        endif
+        return
+    endif
+    execute 'topleft vertical 30new'
+    execute 'Explore ' . fnameescape(l:dir)
+    setlocal winfixwidth
+    setlocal bufhidden=wipe
+    wincmd p
+endfunction
+
+nnoremap <silent> <leader>e :call <SID>ToggleSidebar()<CR>
+nnoremap <silent> <leader>E :call <SID>ToggleSidebar(expand('%:p:h'))<CR>
+
+augroup ChopstickNetrw
+    autocmd!
+    autocmd FileType netrw setlocal bufhidden=wipe
+augroup END
 
 " ── FZF ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -78,9 +102,11 @@ function! s:ToggleMaximize() abort
     if exists('t:maximize_session')
         execute t:maximize_session
         unlet t:maximize_session
+        echo 'Window: restored'
     else
         let t:maximize_session = winrestcmd()
         resize | vertical resize
+        echo 'Window: MAXIMIZED'
     endif
 endfunction
 nnoremap <silent> <leader>z :call <SID>ToggleMaximize()<CR>
diff --git a/modules/tools.vim b/modules/tools.vim
index 07c56a5..235744b 100644
--- a/modules/tools.vim
+++ b/modules/tools.vim
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ function! s:CheatSheet() abort
         \ '',
         \ 'FILES & SEARCH',
         \ '  Ctrl+p        Fuzzy find file (git-aware)',
-        \ '  ,e / ,E       File browser / vertical split',
+        \ '  ,e / ,E       Toggle tree sidebar (cwd / file dir)',
         \ '  ,b            Search open buffers',
         \ '  ,rg           Search project contents (ripgrep)',
         \ '  ,rG           Ripgrep word under cursor',
diff --git a/modules/ui.vim b/modules/ui.vim
index 2540323..a313d1f 100644
--- a/modules/ui.vim
+++ b/modules/ui.vim
@@ -79,15 +79,29 @@ if exists('g:plugs["vim-startify"]')
     let g:startify_files_number        = 8
     let g:startify_padding_left        = 4
 
+    function! s:SetupDirView() abort
+        if argc() != 1 || !isdirectory(argv()[0]) || exists('s:std_in')
+            return
+        endif
+        let l:dir = fnameescape(argv()[0])
+        execute 'cd ' . l:dir
+        vertical rightbelow vnew
+        if exists(':Startify') == 2
+            Startify
+        else
+            enew
+        endif
+        wincmd h
+        vertical resize 30
+        setlocal winfixwidth
+        wincmd l
+    endfunction
+
     if !g:is_tty
         augroup ChopstickStartup
             autocmd!
             autocmd StdinReadPre * let s:std_in = 1
-            autocmd VimEnter *
-                \ if argc() == 1 && isdirectory(argv()[0]) && !exists('s:std_in') |
-                \     exe 'cd ' . fnameescape(argv()[0]) |
-                \     if exists(':Startify') == 2 | Startify | else | enew | endif |
-                \ endif
+            autocmd VimEnter * nested call <SID>SetupDirView()
         augroup END
     endif
 
@@ -144,14 +158,51 @@ function! SLAle() abort
     return printf(' E:%d W:%d ', l:e, l:w)
 endfunction
 
+function! SLBufCount() abort
+    let l:n = len(filter(range(1, bufnr('$')), 'buflisted(v:val)'))
+    return l:n > 1 ? ' ' . l:n . ' bufs ' : ''
+endfunction
+
+function! SLFlags() abort
+    let l:f = ''
+    if &paste | let l:f .= ' PASTE' | endif
+    if &spell | let l:f .= ' SPELL' | endif
+    if exists('t:maximize_session') | let l:f .= ' MAX' | endif
+    return empty(l:f) ? '' : l:f . ' '
+endfunction
+
+function! SLLsp() abort
+    if !exists('*lsp#get_server_names') | return '' | endif
+    let l:servers = lsp#get_server_names()
+    if empty(l:servers) | return '' | endif
+    let l:status = lsp#get_server_status(l:servers[0])
+    if l:status ==# 'running'
+        return ' ' . l:servers[0] . ' '
+    elseif l:status ==# 'starting' || l:status ==# 'not running'
+        return ' ' . l:servers[0] . '… '
+    endif
+    return ''
+endfunction
+
+function! SLEncoding() abort
+    let l:enc = &fileencoding !=# '' ? &fileencoding : &encoding
+    let l:fmt = &fileformat
+    if l:enc ==? 'utf-8' && l:fmt ==# 'unix' | return '' | endif
+    return ' ' . l:enc . '[' . l:fmt . '] '
+endfunction
+
 function! SLBuild() abort
     let [l:label, l:hl] = SLMode()
     let l:s  = '%#' . l:hl . '#' . l:label
     let l:s .= '%#SLBody# %f '
     let l:s .= '%#SLFlag#%m%r'
+    let l:s .= '%#SLFlag#' . SLFlags()
     let l:s .= '%#SLBody#%='
+    let l:s .= '%#SLBody#' . SLBufCount()
     let l:s .= '%#SLFlag#' . SLAle()
+    let l:s .= '%#SLRight#' . SLLsp()
     let l:s .= '%#SLGit#'  . SLGit()
+    let l:s .= '%#SLRight#' . SLEncoding()
     let l:s .= '%#SLFtype# %y '
     let l:s .= '%#SLRight# %l:%c  %P '
     return l:s