diff --git a/lua/custom/plugins/gruvbox.lua b/lua/custom/plugins/gruvbox.lua
index 7b0f210a..2794d732 100644
--- a/lua/custom/plugins/gruvbox.lua
+++ b/lua/custom/plugins/gruvbox.lua
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ vim.pack.add({
 
 -- Default options:
 require("gruvbox").setup({
-  terminal_colors = true, -- add neovim terminal colors
+  terminal_colors = false, -- add neovim terminal colors
   undercurl = true,
   underline = true,
   bold = true,
@@ -20,11 +20,201 @@ require("gruvbox").setup({
   invert_signs = false,
   invert_tabline = false,
   inverse = true, -- invert background for search, diffs, statuslines and errors
-  contrast = "", -- can be "hard", "soft" or empty string
-  palette_overrides = {},
-  overrides = {},
+  contrast = "soft", -- can be "hard", "soft" or empty string
+  palette_overrides = {
+    -- 1. Darken all root background variants (from hardest to softest)
+    dark0_hard = "#0d0f10", -- The main background when contrast = "hard"
+    dark0      = "#121415", -- The standard medium background
+    dark0_soft = "#181a1b", -- The background when contrast = "soft"
+    
+    -- 2. Darken the secondary UI layer (used for active lines and selection areas)
+    dark1      = "#1d1f21", -- Used for things like CursorLine background
+    dark2      = "#282a2e", -- Used for subtle UI dividers
+    dark3      = "#373b41", -- Used for inactive tabs or panels
+    dark4      = "#4c566a", -- Used for fold markers and subtle lines
+
+    -- 3. Soften the text color (prevents blinding stark white text against the dark backdrop)
+    light0_hard = "#e5e9f0",
+    light0      = "#d8dee9", -- The main text color (foreground)
+    light0_soft = "#c8d0e0",
+  },
+
+
+overrides = {
+  -- Comments: dusty earth gray, slightly desaturated
+  ["@comment"] = { fg = "#6b6863", italic = true },
+  ["Comment"] = { fg = "#6b6863", italic = true },
+  
+  -- Strings: olive/pastel green instead of bright green
+  ["@string"] = { fg = "#879050" },
+  ["String"] = { fg = "#878057" },
+  
+  -- Keywords: pale brick red, muted
+  ["@keyword"] = { fg = "#a86a63" },
+  ["Keyword"] = { fg = "#a86a63" },
+  ["@keyword.conditional"] = { fg = "#a86a63" },
+  
+  -- Functions: warm dusty brown/orange
+  ["@function"] = { fg = "#c2a073" },
+  ["Function"] = { fg = "#c2a073" },
+  
+  -- Types: muted warm taupe/beige
+  ["@type"] = { fg = "#a89688" },
+  ["Type"] = { fg = "#a89688" },
+  
+  -- Numbers: soft desaturated orange
+  ["@number"] = { fg = "#b8956a" },
+  ["Number"] = { fg = "#b8956a" },
+  
+  -- Booleans: muted warm brown
+  ["@boolean"] = { fg = "#9a7b6f" },
+  ["Boolean"] = { fg = "#9a7b6f" },
+  
+  -- Operators: desaturated warm gray
+  ["@operator"] = { fg = "#8b8580" },
+  ["Operator"] = { fg = "#8b8580" },
+  
+  -- Special/Tags: muted dusty blue
+  ["@tag"] = { fg = "#7a8b9a" },
+  ["Tag"] = { fg = "#7a8b9a" },
+  
+  -- Defaults: muted slate gray
+  ["@variable"] = { fg = "#a39a91" },
+  ["Variable"] = { fg = "#a39a91" },
+  
+  -- Constants: soft desaturated teal
+  ["@constant"] = { fg = "#8a9a8b" },
+  ["Constant"] = { fg = "#8a9a8b" },
+  
+  -- Exceptions: muted warm red
+  ["@exception"] = { fg = "#a67b7b" },
+  ["Exception"] = { fg = "#a67b7b" },
+  
+  -- Parameters: dusty lavender gray
+  ["@parameter"] = { fg = "#a1958a" },
+  ["Parameter"] = { fg = "#a1958a" },
+  
+  -- Methods: warm muted copper
+  ["@method"] = { fg = "#c4a88b" },
+  ["Method"] = { fg = "#c4a88b" },
+  
+  -- Fields: soft desaturated brown
+  ["@field"] = { fg = "#9a8b7b" },
+  ["Field"] = { fg = "#9a8b7b" },
+  
+  -- Properties: muted sage green
+  ["@property"] = { fg = "#8a9a7b" },
+  ["Property"] = { fg = "#8a9a7b" },
+  
+  -- Import: dusty cool gray
+  ["@include"] = { fg = "#8f8780" },
+  ["Include"] = { fg = "#8f8780" },
+  
+  -- Definitions: muted warm gray
+  ["@define"] = { fg = "#8f8a85" },
+  ["Define"] = { fg = "#8f8a85" },
+  
+  -- Macros: soft desaturated purple
+  ["@macro"] = { fg = "#8a7b9a" },
+  ["Macro"] = { fg = "#8a7b9a" },
+  
+  -- Title: warm muted orange
+  ["Title"] = { fg = "#c9a66b" },
+  
+  -- Directory: dusty blue-gray
+  ["Directory"] = { fg = "#7a8590" },
+  
+  -- Statement: pale brick
+  ["Statement"] = { fg = "#b55a5a" },
+  
+  -- Work: muted warm tone
+  ["Work"] = { fg = "#c9a66b" },
+  
+  -- Cursor: keep bright for visibility
+  ["Cursor"] = { fg = "#121415", bg = "#d8dee9" },
+  ["CursorLine"] = { bg = "#1d1f21" },
+  ["CursorColumn"] = { bg = "#1d1f21" },
+  
+  -- UI elements: subtle muted tones
+  ["LineNr"] = { fg = "#5a5d63" },
+  ["LineNrActive"] = { fg = "#9aa0a6" },
+  ["VertSplit"] = { fg = "#282a2e" },
+  ["FoldColumn"] = { fg = "#5a5d63" },
+  ["Folded"] = { fg = "#5a5d63", bg = "#181a1b" },
+  ["SignColumn"] = { fg = "#5a5d63" },
+  
+  -- Status lines: muted dark
+  ["StatusLine"] = { fg = "#9aa0a6", bg = "#181a1b" },
+  ["StatusLineNC"] = { fg = "#6b6863", bg = "#181a1b" },
+  ["TabLine"] = { fg = "#9aa0a6", bg = "#181a1b" },
+  ["TabLineSel"] = { fg = "#d8dee9", bg = "#282a2e" },
+  
+  -- Search/highlights: softened
+  ["Search"] = { fg = "#121415", bg = "#c9a66b" },
+  ["IncSearch"] = { fg = "#121415", bg = "#b55a5a" },
+  ["MatchParen"] = { bg = "#282a2e", bold = true },
+  
+  -- Diff: muted colors
+  ["DiffAdd"] = { fg = "#121415", bg = "#8a9a7b" },
+  ["DiffChange"] = { fg = "#121415", bg = "#8a8590" },
+  ["DiffDelete"] = { fg = "#121415", bg = "#a67b7b" },
+  ["DiffText"] = { fg = "#121415", bg = "#c9a66b" },
+  
+  -- Alerts: softened
+  ["InfoMsg"] = { fg = "#7a8b9a" },
+  ["Question"] = { fg = "#9aa0a6" },
+  
+  -- Visual: muted
+  ["Visual"] = { bg = "#3d2d31" },
+  ["VisualNOS"] = { bg = "#3d1a1e" },
+  
+  -- Quickfix: subtle
+  ["QuickfixLine"] = { bg = "#282a2e" },
+  
+  -- Pmenu: dusty
+  ["Pmenu"] = { fg = "#9aa0a6", bg = "#181a1b" },
+  ["PmenuSel"] = { fg = "#d8dee9", bg = "#282a2e" },
+  ["PmenuSbar"] = { bg = "#181a1b" },
+  ["PmenuThumb"] = { bg = "#373b41" },
+  
+  -- Whitespace: very subtle
+  ["Whitespace"] = { fg = "#373b41" },
+  ["@punctuation.bracket"] = { fg = "#987f87" },
+["@punctuation.delimiter"] = { fg = "#6b8580" },
+["@punctuation.special"] = { fg = "#987f87" },
+["@punctuation.braces"] = { fg = "#987f87"},["Delimiter"] = { fg = "#987f87" },
+["Special"] = { fg = "#987f87" },
+
+
+
+["ErrorMsg"] = { fg = "#a86a63" },      -- muted brick
+["WarningMsg"] = { fg = "#b59a78" },    -- aged brass
+
+["DiagnosticError"] = { fg = "#a86a63" },
+["DiagnosticWarn"] = { fg = "#b59a78" },
+["DiagnosticInfo"] = { fg = "#7f8c94" },
+["DiagnosticHint"] = { fg = "#8a9684" },
+
+
+    -- 1. Force the file tree backgrounds to perfectly match your root dark/muted palette
+    NeoTreeNormal   = { fg = "#d8dee9", bg = "#0d0f10" }, -- Uses your custom dark palette values
+    NeoTreeNormalNC = { fg = "#c8d0e0", bg = "#0d0f10" }, -- Keeps background locked when focusing code windows
+    
+    -- 2. Blend the vertical layout line seamlessly
+    NeoTreeWinSeparator = { fg = "#1d1f21", bg = "NONE" }, 
+
+    -- 3. Mute or adjust specific directory components
+    NeoTreeDirectoryName = { fg = "#286770" }, -- Classic Gruvbox blue made flat
+    NeoTreeDirectoryIcon = { fg = "#ce9b0f" }, -- Keep the iconic yellow but bounded
+    NeoTreeFileName      = { fg = "#d8dee9" }, -- Clean primary font color
+    
+    -- 4. Keep git modification trackers subtle
+    NeoTreeGitModified   = { fg = "#8a9a8b" }, -- Soft olive instead of glaring neon green
+    NeoTreeGitUntracked  = { fg = "#cc7917" }, 
+},
+
   dim_inactive = false,
   transparent_mode = false,
 })
-vim.cmd("colorscheme gruvbox")
 
+vim.cmd("colorscheme gruvbox")
diff --git a/lua/custom/plugins/init.lua b/lua/custom/plugins/init.lua
index afc88495..0b878a06 100644
--- a/lua/custom/plugins/init.lua
+++ b/lua/custom/plugins/init.lua
@@ -16,3 +16,53 @@ end
 --1) this one is for moving lines like in vscode, up and down with alt j or down with alt-k
 vim.keymap.set("n", "<A-j>", ":m .+1<CR>==")
 vim.keymap.set("n", "<A-k>", ":m .-2<CR>==")
+vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>tv', '<Cmd>vsplit | terminal<CR>i', { desc = 'Open terminal vertical split and enter insert' })
+
+-- Enable the autocomplete pop-up menu to appear automatically as you type
+vim.opt.autocomplete = true
+
+-- Set a minimal delay (in milliseconds) before the menu pops up
+-- 100ms-150ms is usually the sweet spot to prevent it from flickering on every keystroke
+vim.opt.autocompletedelay = 200
+
+-- Scan only the current buffer for auto-completion matches
+-- '.' tells Vim to only scan the current buffer
+vim.opt.complete = "."
+
+-- Configure the completion menu to use fuzzy matching and adjust behavior
+-- 'menuone' shows the popup even if there's only one match
+-- 'noselect' prevents automatically selecting/inserting the first match until you choose it
+-- 'fuzzy' enables the matching logic you requested
+vim.opt.completeopt = { "menuone", "noselect", "fuzzy" }
+
+-- Helper function to check if the popup menu (pum) is visible
+local pumvisible = function()
+  return vim.fn.pumvisible() == 1
+end
+
+-- Use Tab to cycle down the menu (if open), otherwise insert a literal Tab
+vim.keymap.set("i", "<Tab>", function()
+  if pumvisible() then
+    return "<C-n>"
+  else
+    return "<Tab>"
+  end
+end, { expr = true })
+
+-- Use Shift+Tab to cycle up the menu (if open)
+vim.keymap.set("i", "<S-Tab>", function()
+  if pumvisible() then
+    return "<C-p>"
+  else
+    return "<S-Tab>"
+  end
+end, { expr = true })
+
+-- Force a global statusline across all windows (or 2 for split-specific)
+vim.opt.laststatus = 3 
+
+-- Customize the native statusline to ONLY show the file path and the line:col
+-- %f = relative path, %= = separation point to push items right, %l:%c = line:col
+vim.opt.statusline = "%f  %{mode()} %l:%c"
+-- set esc keybind to jj
+vim.keymap.set('i', 'jj', '<Esc>', { desc = 'Exit Insert mode' })
diff --git a/lua/kickstart/plugins/autopairs.lua b/lua/kickstart/plugins/autopairs.lua
index 1d2cdab0..bb7c972e 100644
--- a/lua/kickstart/plugins/autopairs.lua
+++ b/lua/kickstart/plugins/autopairs.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,26 @@
--- autopairs
--- https://github.com/windwp/nvim-autopairs
-
+-- 1. Load the plugin
 vim.pack.add { 'https://github.com/windwp/nvim-autopairs' }
-require('nvim-autopairs').setup {}
+
+-- 2. Initialize nvim-autopairs with Treesitter and FastWrap enabled
+local npairs = require('nvim-autopairs')
+
+npairs.setup({
+    check_ts = true, -- Enable Treesitter integration
+    fast_wrap = {
+        -- Enabling this automatically maps <M-e> by default
+        -- You do not need a separate vim.keymap line for it.
+    },
+})
+
+-- 3. Setup completion integration (Safe-pcalled in case cmp hasn't loaded yet)
+local status_cmp, cmp = pcall(require, 'cmp')
+local status_handlers, cmp_autopairs = pcall(require, 'nvim-autopairs.completion.cmp')
+
+if status_cmp and status_handlers then
+    cmp.event:on(
+        'confirm_done',
+        cmp_autopairs.on_confirm_done() -- Automatically adds brackets after selecting a function/method[cite: 1]
+    )
+end
+
+