diff --git a/justfile b/justfile
index fb5e7fb..823d6e7 100644
--- a/justfile
+++ b/justfile
@@ -40,3 +40,8 @@ install-lsps-paru:
 
 install-mzte-nv:
     cd mzte-nv && zig build -Drelease-fast -p ~/.local
+
+setup-nvim-config: install-mzte-nv
+    rm -rf ~/.config/nvim
+    cp -r mzte-nv/conf ~/.config/nvim
+    mzte-nv-compile ~/.config/nvim
diff --git a/mzte-nv/build.zig b/mzte-nv/build.zig
index daa11bf..302208e 100644
--- a/mzte-nv/build.zig
+++ b/mzte-nv/build.zig
@@ -17,6 +17,16 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.build.Builder) !void {
     lib.unwind_tables = true;
 
     b.getInstallStep().dependOn(&(try InstallStep.init(b, lib)).step);
+
+    // this is the install step for the lua config compiler binary
+    const compiler = b.addExecutable("mzte-nv-compile", "src/compiler.zig");
+    compiler.setBuildMode(mode);
+
+    compiler.linkLibC();
+
+    compiler.strip = mode != .Debug;
+
+    compiler.install();
 }
 
 const InstallStep = struct {
diff --git a/.config/nvim/.gitignore b/mzte-nv/conf/.gitignore
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/.gitignore
rename to mzte-nv/conf/.gitignore
diff --git a/.config/nvim/ftplugin/java.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/ftplugin/java.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/ftplugin/java.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/ftplugin/java.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/ginit.vim b/mzte-nv/conf/ginit.vim
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/ginit.vim
rename to mzte-nv/conf/ginit.vim
diff --git a/.config/nvim/init.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/init.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/init.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/init.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/maps.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/maps.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/maps.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/maps.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/mzte_nv_preloader.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/mzte_nv_preloader.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/mzte_nv_preloader.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/mzte_nv_preloader.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/neovide.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/neovide.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/neovide.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/neovide.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pipe.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pipe.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pipe.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pipe.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/autopairs.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/autopairs.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/autopairs.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/autopairs.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/line.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/line.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/line.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/line.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/lspconf.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/lspconf.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/lspconf.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/lspconf.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nullls.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nullls.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nullls.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nullls.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_aerial.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_aerial.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_aerial.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_aerial.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_cmp.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_cmp.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_cmp.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_cmp.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_dap.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_dap.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_dap.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_dap.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_luasnip.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_luasnip.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_luasnip.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_luasnip.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_neogit.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_neogit.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_neogit.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_neogit.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_ufo.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_ufo.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvim_ufo.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvim_ufo.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvimtree.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvimtree.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/nvimtree.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/nvimtree.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/rust_tools.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/rust_tools.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/rust_tools.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/rust_tools.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/telescope.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/telescope.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/telescope.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/telescope.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/treesitter.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/treesitter.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/treesitter.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/treesitter.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/ts-context.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/ts-context.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/ts-context.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/ts-context.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/tterm.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/tterm.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/tterm.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/tterm.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/zigtools.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/zigtools.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/pluginconf/zigtools.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/pluginconf/zigtools.lua
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/plugins.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/plugins.lua
similarity index 94%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/plugins.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/plugins.lua
index 941cf69..210f7bb 100644
--- a/.config/nvim/lua/plugins.lua
+++ b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/plugins.lua
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ local function cmp_plugins(use)
     }
 end
 
-return require("packer").startup(function(use)
+require("packer").startup(function(use)
     use "wbthomason/packer.nvim"
 
     use {
@@ -180,3 +180,7 @@ return require("packer").startup(function(use)
 
     cmp_plugins(use)
 end)
+
+vim.api.nvim_create_user_command("CompilePlugins", function()
+    require("mzte_nv").compile.compilePath(require("packer").config.package_root)
+end, { nargs = 0 })
diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/settings.lua b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/settings.lua
similarity index 80%
rename from .config/nvim/lua/settings.lua
rename to mzte-nv/conf/lua/settings.lua
index 24c7e52..2c0a288 100644
--- a/.config/nvim/lua/settings.lua
+++ b/mzte-nv/conf/lua/settings.lua
@@ -36,3 +36,7 @@ cmd "colorscheme dracula"
 cmd "autocmd StdinReadPre * let s:std_in=1"
 
 cmd "filetype plugin on"
+
+vim.api.nvim_create_user_command("CompileConfig", function()
+    require("mzte_nv").compile.compilePath(vim.fn.getenv("HOME") .. "/.config/nvim")
+end, { nargs = 0 })
diff --git a/.config/nvim/queries/java/highlights.scm b/mzte-nv/conf/queries/java/highlights.scm
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/queries/java/highlights.scm
rename to mzte-nv/conf/queries/java/highlights.scm
diff --git a/.config/nvim/queries/lua/highlights.scm b/mzte-nv/conf/queries/lua/highlights.scm
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/queries/lua/highlights.scm
rename to mzte-nv/conf/queries/lua/highlights.scm
diff --git a/.config/nvim/queries/rust/highlights.scm b/mzte-nv/conf/queries/rust/highlights.scm
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/queries/rust/highlights.scm
rename to mzte-nv/conf/queries/rust/highlights.scm
diff --git a/.config/nvim/queries/zig/highlights.scm b/mzte-nv/conf/queries/zig/highlights.scm
similarity index 100%
rename from .config/nvim/queries/zig/highlights.scm
rename to mzte-nv/conf/queries/zig/highlights.scm
diff --git a/mzte-nv/src/compiler.zig b/mzte-nv/src/compiler.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4a1566
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mzte-nv/src/compiler.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+
+const log = std.log.scoped(.compiler);
+
+pub const log_level = .debug;
+
+pub fn main() !void {
+    if (std.os.argv.len != 2) {
+        log.err(
+            \\Usage: {s} [dir]
+            \\
+            \\`input` is a path to a normal lua neovim configuration
+            \\(or any other path containing lua files.)
+        ,
+            .{std.os.argv[0]},
+        );
+
+        return error.InvalidArgs;
+    }
+
+    const input_arg = std.mem.span(std.os.argv[1]);
+
+    try doCompile(input_arg);
+}
+
+pub fn doCompile(path: []const u8) !void {
+    var gpa = std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{}){};
+    defer _ = gpa.deinit();
+
+    const alloc = gpa.allocator();
+
+    var dir = try std.fs.cwd().openIterableDir(path, .{});
+    defer dir.close();
+
+    var walker = try dir.walk(alloc);
+    defer walker.deinit();
+
+    // a list of lua files to compile
+    var files = std.ArrayList([]const u8).init(alloc);
+    defer files.deinit();
+
+    // an arena allocator to hold data to be used during the build
+    var build_arena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(alloc);
+    defer build_arena.deinit();
+    const build_alloc = build_arena.allocator();
+
+    while (try walker.next()) |entry| {
+        const entry_path = try std.fs.path.join(build_alloc, &.{ path, entry.path });
+
+        switch (entry.kind) {
+            .File => {
+                if (std.mem.endsWith(u8, entry.path, ".lua")) {
+                    try files.append(entry_path);
+                }
+            },
+            else => {},
+        }
+    }
+
+    // a buffer containing the content of the currently compiling lua file
+    var content_buf = std.ArrayList(u8).init(alloc);
+    defer content_buf.deinit();
+
+    for (files.items) |luafile| {
+        content_buf.clearRetainingCapacity();
+
+        var lfile = try std.fs.cwd().openFile(luafile, .{});
+        defer lfile.close();
+        var lfifo = std.fifo.LinearFifo(u8, .{ .Static = 1024 * 64 }).init();
+        try lfifo.pump(lfile.reader(), content_buf.writer());
+
+        const argv = try build_alloc.allocSentinel(
+            ?[*:0]const u8,
+            5,
+            null,
+        );
+
+        // TODO: maybe try doing this through to luajit C api instead of a process?
+        // not sure if that's possible
+        argv[0] = "luajit";
+        argv[1] = "-O9";
+        argv[2] = "-b";
+        argv[3] = "-";
+        argv[4] = try std.cstr.addNullByte(build_alloc, luafile);
+
+        // Doing it the C way because zig's ChildProcess ain't got this
+        const pipe = try std.os.pipe2(0);
+        const pid = try std.os.fork();
+        if (pid == 0) {
+            std.os.close(pipe[1]);
+            try std.os.dup2(pipe[0], 0);
+            return std.os.execvpeZ(argv[0].?, argv, std.c.environ);
+        }
+
+        std.os.close(pipe[0]);
+
+        try (std.fs.File{ .handle = pipe[1] }).writeAll(content_buf.items);
+
+        std.os.close(pipe[1]);
+        if (std.os.waitpid(pid, 0).status != 0) {
+            log.warn("luajit crashed compiling {s}, skipping", .{luafile});
+        }
+    }
+    log.info("compiled {} lua objects @ {s}", .{ files.items.len, path });
+}
diff --git a/mzte-nv/src/main.zig b/mzte-nv/src/main.zig
index c25b3f5..e18f91e 100644
--- a/mzte-nv/src/main.zig
+++ b/mzte-nv/src/main.zig
@@ -3,19 +3,71 @@ const ffi = @import("ffi.zig");
 const ser = @import("ser.zig");
 const c = ffi.c;
 
-pub const version = "0.3.0";
+pub const version = "1.0.0";
 
 const modules = struct {
     const cmp = @import("modules/cmp.zig");
+    const compile = @import("modules/compile.zig");
     const jdtls = @import("modules/jdtls.zig");
     const utils = @import("modules/utils.zig");
 };
 
+var lua_state: ?*c.lua_State = null;
+
+pub fn log(
+    comptime level: std.log.Level,
+    comptime scope: @TypeOf(.EnumLiteral),
+    comptime format: []const u8,
+    args: anytype,
+) void {
+    // if there's no lua state, we can't invoke nvim notifications.
+    const l = lua_state orelse return;
+
+    const stacktop = c.lua_gettop(l);
+    defer c.lua_settop(l, stacktop);
+
+    var fmtbuf: [2048]u8 = undefined;
+
+    c.lua_getglobal(l, "vim");
+    c.lua_getfield(l, -1, "log");
+    c.lua_getfield(l, -1, "levels");
+    switch (level) {
+        .err => c.lua_getfield(l, -1, "ERROR"),
+        .warn => c.lua_getfield(l, -1, "WARN"),
+        .info => c.lua_getfield(l, -1, "INFO"),
+        .debug => c.lua_getfield(l, -1, "DEBUG"),
+    }
+
+    const vim_lvl = c.lua_tointeger(l, -1);
+    c.lua_pop(l, 3);
+
+    c.lua_getfield(l, -1, "notify");
+
+    const msg = std.fmt.bufPrintZ(&fmtbuf, format, args) catch return;
+    c.lua_pushstring(l, msg.ptr);
+
+    c.lua_pushinteger(l, vim_lvl);
+
+    const title = std.fmt.bufPrintZ(
+        &fmtbuf,
+        "MZTE-NV ({s})",
+        .{@tagName(scope)},
+    ) catch return;
+    ser.luaPushAny(l, .{
+        .title = title,
+    });
+    c.lua_call(l, 3, 0);
+}
+
+pub const log_level = .debug;
+
 export fn luaopen_mzte_nv(l_: ?*c.lua_State) c_int {
+    lua_state = l_;
     const l = l_.?;
     ser.luaPushAny(l, .{
         .onInit = ffi.luaFunc(lOnInit),
         .cmp = modules.cmp,
+        .compile = modules.compile,
         .jdtls = modules.jdtls,
         .utils = modules.utils,
     });
@@ -41,16 +93,9 @@ fn lOnInit(l: *c.lua_State) !c_int {
 
     c.lua_settop(l, 1);
 
-    var buf: [128]u8 = undefined;
-    const s = try std.fmt.bufPrintZ(
-        &buf,
+    std.log.info(
         "MZTE-NV v{s} Initialized on NVIM v{}.{}.{}{s}",
         .{ version, major, minor, patch, prerelease },
     );
-
-    c.lua_getfield(l, 1, "notify");
-    c.lua_pushstring(l, s.ptr);
-    c.lua_call(l, 1, 0);
-
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/mzte-nv/src/modules/compile.zig b/mzte-nv/src/modules/compile.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c32cca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mzte-nv/src/modules/compile.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/// Module for compiling lua files using luajit
+/// and mzte-nv-compiler.
+const std = @import("std");
+const ser = @import("../ser.zig");
+const ffi = @import("../ffi.zig");
+const c = ffi.c;
+const compiler = @import("../compiler.zig");
+
+pub fn luaPush(l: *c.lua_State) void {
+    ser.luaPushAny(l, .{
+        .compilePath = ffi.luaFunc(lCompilePath),
+    });
+}
+
+fn lCompilePath(l: *c.lua_State) !c_int {
+    const path = c.luaL_checklstring(l, 1, null);
+    try compiler.doCompile(std.mem.span(path));
+    return 0;
+}