diff --git a/src/tui/Button.zig b/src/tui/Button.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c075f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tui/Button.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const nc = @import("notcurses");
+const tp = @import("thespian");
+const log = @import("log");
+
+const Widget = @import("Widget.zig");
+const command = @import("command.zig");
+const tui = @import("tui.zig");
+
+parent: nc.Plane,
+plane: nc.Plane,
+active: bool = false,
+hover: bool = false,
+opts: Options,
+
+const Self = @This();
+
+pub const Options = struct {
+    label: []const u8 = "button",
+    pos: Widget.Box = .{ .y = 0, .x = 0, .w = 8, .h = 1 },
+    ctx: ?*anyopaque = null,
+
+    on_click: *const fn (ctx: ?*anyopaque, button: *Self) void = do_nothing,
+    on_render: ?*const fn (ctx: ?*anyopaque, button: *Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme) bool = null,
+    on_layout: ?*const fn (ctx: ?*anyopaque, button: *Self) Widget.Layout = null,
+};
+
+pub fn create(a: std.mem.Allocator, parent: nc.Plane, opts: Options) !Widget {
+    const self: *Self = try a.create(Self);
+    var n = try nc.Plane.init(&opts.pos.opts(@typeName(Self)), parent);
+    errdefer n.deinit();
+    self.* = .{
+        .parent = parent,
+        .plane = n,
+        .opts = opts,
+    };
+    return Widget.to(self);
+}
+
+pub fn deinit(self: *Self, a: std.mem.Allocator) void {
+    self.plane.deinit();
+    a.destroy(self);
+}
+
+pub fn layout(self: *Self) Widget.Layout {
+    return if (self.opts.on_layout) |on_layout|
+        on_layout(self.opts.ctx, self)
+    else
+        .{ .static = self.opts.label.len + 2 };
+}
+
+pub fn render(self: *Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme) bool {
+    if (self.opts.on_render) |on_render|
+        return on_render(self.opts.ctx, self, theme);
+    tui.set_base_style(&self.plane, " ", if (self.active) theme.scrollbar_active else if (self.hover) theme.scrollbar_hover else theme.scrollbar);
+    self.plane.erase();
+    self.plane.home();
+    _ = self.plane.print(" {s} ", .{self.opts.label}) catch {};
+    return false;
+}
+
+pub fn receive(self: *Self, _: tp.pid_ref, m: tp.message) error{Exit}!bool {
+    if (try m.match(.{ "B", nc.event_type.PRESS, nc.key.BUTTON1, tp.any, tp.any, tp.any, tp.any, tp.any })) {
+        self.active = true;
+        return true;
+    } else if (try m.match(.{ "B", nc.event_type.RELEASE, nc.key.BUTTON1, tp.any, tp.any, tp.any, tp.any, tp.any })) {
+        self.opts.on_click(self.opts.ctx, self);
+        self.active = false;
+        return true;
+    } else if (try m.match(.{ "D", nc.event_type.RELEASE, nc.key.BUTTON1, tp.any, tp.any, tp.any, tp.any, tp.any })) {
+        self.opts.on_click(self.opts.ctx, self);
+        self.active = false;
+        return true;
+    } else if (try m.match(.{ "H", tp.extract(&self.hover) })) {
+        tui.current().request_mouse_cursor_pointer(self.hover);
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+pub fn do_nothing(_: ?*anyopaque, _: *Self) void {}
diff --git a/src/tui/Widget.zig b/src/tui/Widget.zig
index d1a965e..1af2d31 100644
--- a/src/tui/Widget.zig
+++ b/src/tui/Widget.zig
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pub const VTable = struct {
     subscribe: *const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, h: EventHandler) error{NotSupported}!void,
     unsubscribe: *const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, h: EventHandler) error{NotSupported}!void,
     get: *const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, name_: []const u8) ?*Self,
-    walk: *const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, walk_ctx: *anyopaque, f: WalkFn) bool,
+    walk: *const fn (ctx: *anyopaque, walk_ctx: *anyopaque, f: WalkFn, self_widget: *Self) bool,
     type_name: []const u8,
 };
 
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ pub fn to(pimpl: anytype) Self {
                 }
             }.get,
             .walk = struct {
-                pub fn walk(ctx: *anyopaque, walk_ctx: *anyopaque, f: WalkFn) bool {
-                    return if (comptime @hasDecl(child, "walk")) child.walk(@as(*child, @ptrCast(@alignCast(ctx))), walk_ctx, f) else false;
+                pub fn walk(ctx: *anyopaque, walk_ctx: *anyopaque, f: WalkFn, self: *Self) bool {
+                    return if (comptime @hasDecl(child, "walk")) child.walk(@as(*child, @ptrCast(@alignCast(ctx))), walk_ctx, f, self) else false;
                 }
             }.walk,
         },
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ pub fn get(self: *Self, name_: []const u8) ?*Self {
 }
 
 pub fn walk(self: *Self, walk_ctx: *anyopaque, f: WalkFn) bool {
-    return if (self.vtable.walk(self.ptr, walk_ctx, f)) true else f(walk_ctx, self);
+    return if (self.vtable.walk(self.ptr, walk_ctx, f, self)) true else f(walk_ctx, self);
 }
 
 pub fn empty(a: Allocator, parent: nc.Plane, layout_: Layout) !Self {
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ pub fn empty(a: Allocator, parent: nc.Plane, layout_: Layout) !Self {
                 }
             }.get,
             .walk = struct {
-                pub fn walk(_: *anyopaque, _: *anyopaque, _: WalkFn) bool {
+                pub fn walk(_: *anyopaque, _: *anyopaque, _: WalkFn, _: *Self) bool {
                     return false;
                 }
             }.walk,
diff --git a/src/tui/WidgetList.zig b/src/tui/WidgetList.zig
index ec36957..311d3b3 100644
--- a/src/tui/WidgetList.zig
+++ b/src/tui/WidgetList.zig
@@ -28,18 +28,21 @@ box: ?Widget.Box = null,
 pub fn createH(a: Allocator, parent: Widget, name: [:0]const u8, layout_: Layout) !*Self {
     const self: *Self = try a.create(Self);
     self.* = try init(a, parent, name, .horizontal, layout_, Box{});
+    self.plane.move_bottom();
     return self;
 }
 
 pub fn createV(a: Allocator, parent: Widget, name: [:0]const u8, layout_: Layout) !*Self {
     const self: *Self = try a.create(Self);
     self.* = try init(a, parent, name, .vertical, layout_, Box{});
+    self.plane.move_bottom();
     return self;
 }
 
 pub fn createBox(a: Allocator, parent: Widget, name: [:0]const u8, dir: Direction, layout_: Layout, box: Box) !*Self {
     const self: *Self = try a.create(Self);
     self.* = try init(a, parent, name, dir, layout_, box);
+    self.plane.move_bottom();
     return self;
 }
 
@@ -222,8 +225,8 @@ pub fn get(self: *Self, name_: []const u8) ?*Widget {
     return null;
 }
 
-pub fn walk(self: *Self, walk_ctx: *anyopaque, f: Widget.WalkFn) bool {
+pub fn walk(self: *Self, ctx: *anyopaque, f: Widget.WalkFn, self_w: *Widget) bool {
     for (self.widgets.items) |*w|
-        if (w.widget.walk(walk_ctx, f)) return true;
-    return false;
+        if (w.widget.walk(ctx, f)) return true;
+    return f(ctx, self_w);
 }
diff --git a/src/tui/home.zig b/src/tui/home.zig
index 7b437b6..e06e7a8 100644
--- a/src/tui/home.zig
+++ b/src/tui/home.zig
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ const nc = @import("notcurses");
 const tp = @import("thespian");
 
 const Widget = @import("Widget.zig");
+const WidgetList = @import("WidgetList.zig");
+const Button = @import("Button.zig");
 const tui = @import("tui.zig");
 const command = @import("command.zig");
 const fonts = @import("fonts.zig");
@@ -12,6 +14,8 @@ plane: nc.Plane,
 parent: nc.Plane,
 fire: ?Fire = null,
 commands: Commands = undefined,
+menu: *WidgetList,
+menu_widget: Widget,
 
 const Self = @This();
 
@@ -24,20 +28,86 @@ pub fn create(a: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Widget) !Widget {
         .a = a,
         .parent = parent.plane.*,
         .plane = n,
+        .menu = undefined,
+        .menu_widget = undefined,
     };
     try self.commands.init(self);
+    const w = Widget.to(self);
+    const menu = try WidgetList.createV(a, w, @typeName(Self), .{ .static = 32 });
+    self.menu = menu;
+    self.menu_widget = menu.widget();
+    try menu.add(try Button.create(a, parent.plane.*, .{ .on_layout = menu_layout, .label = "Help ······················· :h", .on_click = on_click_help, .on_render = render_menu_item }));
+    try menu.add(try Button.create(a, parent.plane.*, .{ .on_layout = menu_layout, .label = "Open file ·················· :o", .on_click = on_click_open_file, .on_render = render_menu_item }));
+    try menu.add(try Button.create(a, parent.plane.*, .{ .on_layout = menu_layout, .label = "Open recent file ····(wip)·· :e", .on_click = on_click_open_recent_file, .on_render = render_menu_item }));
+    try menu.add(try Button.create(a, parent.plane.*, .{ .on_layout = menu_layout, .label = "Open recent project ·(wip)·· :r", .on_click = on_click_open_recent_project, .on_render = render_menu_item }));
+    try menu.add(try Button.create(a, parent.plane.*, .{ .on_layout = menu_layout, .label = "Show/Run commands ···(wip)·· :p", .on_click = on_click_show_commands, .on_render = render_menu_item }));
+    try menu.add(try Button.create(a, parent.plane.*, .{ .on_layout = menu_layout, .label = "Open config file ··········· :c", .on_click = on_click_open_config, .on_render = render_menu_item }));
+    try menu.add(try Button.create(a, parent.plane.*, .{ .on_layout = menu_layout, .label = "Quit/Close ················· :q", .on_click = on_click_quit, .on_render = render_menu_item }));
+    menu.resize(.{ .y = 15, .x = 9, .w = 32, .h = menu.widgets.items.len });
     command.executeName("enter_mode", command.Context.fmt(.{"home"})) catch {};
-    return Widget.to(self);
+    return w;
 }
 
 pub fn deinit(self: *Self, a: std.mem.Allocator) void {
+    self.menu.deinit(a);
     self.commands.deinit();
     self.plane.deinit();
     if (self.fire) |*fire| fire.deinit();
     a.destroy(self);
 }
 
+pub fn update(self: *Self) void {
+    self.menu.update();
+}
+
+pub fn walk(self: *Self, walk_ctx: *anyopaque, f: Widget.WalkFn, w: *Widget) bool {
+    return self.menu.walk(walk_ctx, f, &self.menu_widget) or f(walk_ctx, w);
+}
+
+pub fn receive(_: *Self, _: tp.pid_ref, m: tp.message) error{Exit}!bool {
+    var hover: bool = false;
+    if (try m.match(.{ "H", tp.extract(&hover) })) {
+        tui.current().request_mouse_cursor_default(hover);
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+fn menu_layout(_: ?*anyopaque, _: *Button) Widget.Layout {
+    return .{ .static = 1 };
+}
+
+pub fn on_click_help(_: ?*anyopaque, _: *Button) void {
+    command.executeName("open_help", .{}) catch {};
+}
+
+pub fn on_click_open_file(_: ?*anyopaque, _: *Button) void {
+    command.executeName("enter_open_file_mode", .{}) catch {};
+}
+
+pub fn on_click_open_recent_file(_: ?*anyopaque, _: *Button) void {
+    tp.self_pid().send(.{ "log", "home", "open recent file not implemented" }) catch {};
+}
+
+pub fn on_click_open_recent_project(_: ?*anyopaque, _: *Button) void {
+    tp.self_pid().send(.{ "log", "home", "open recent project not implemented" }) catch {};
+}
+
+pub fn on_click_show_commands(_: ?*anyopaque, _: *Button) void {
+    tp.self_pid().send(.{ "log", "home", "open command palette not implemented" }) catch {};
+}
+
+pub fn on_click_open_config(_: ?*anyopaque, _: *Button) void {
+    command.executeName("open_config", .{}) catch {};
+}
+
+pub fn on_click_quit(_: ?*anyopaque, _: *Button) void {
+    command.executeName("quit", .{}) catch {};
+}
+
 pub fn render(self: *Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme) bool {
+    const more = self.menu.render(theme);
+
     tui.set_base_style(&self.plane, " ", theme.editor);
     self.plane.erase();
     self.plane.home();
@@ -45,78 +115,58 @@ pub fn render(self: *Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme) bool {
 
     const style_title = if (tui.find_scope_style(theme, "function")) |sty| sty.style else theme.editor;
     const style_subtext = if (tui.find_scope_style(theme, "comment")) |sty| sty.style else theme.editor;
-    const style_text = if (tui.find_scope_style(theme, "keyword")) |sty| sty.style else theme.editor;
-    const style_keybind = if (tui.find_scope_style(theme, "entity.name")) |sty| sty.style else theme.editor;
 
     const title = "Flow Control";
     const subtext = "a programmer's text editor";
 
     if (self.plane.dim_x() > 120 and self.plane.dim_y() > 22) {
-        self.set_style(style_title);
-        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(2, 4) catch return false;
-        fonts.print_string_large(self.plane, title) catch return false;
+        tui.set_style(&self.plane, style_title);
+        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(2, 4) catch return more;
+        fonts.print_string_large(self.plane, title) catch return more;
 
-        self.set_style(style_subtext);
-        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(10, 8) catch return false;
-        fonts.print_string_medium(self.plane, subtext) catch return false;
+        tui.set_style(&self.plane, style_subtext);
+        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(10, 8) catch return more;
+        fonts.print_string_medium(self.plane, subtext) catch return more;
 
-        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(15, 10) catch return false;
+        self.menu.resize(.{ .y = 15, .x = 10, .w = 32, .h = self.menu.widgets.items.len });
     } else if (self.plane.dim_x() > 55 and self.plane.dim_y() > 16) {
-        self.set_style(style_title);
-        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(2, 4) catch return false;
-        fonts.print_string_medium(self.plane, title) catch return false;
+        tui.set_style(&self.plane, style_title);
+        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(2, 4) catch return more;
+        fonts.print_string_medium(self.plane, title) catch return more;
 
-        self.set_style(style_subtext);
-        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(7, 6) catch return false;
+        tui.set_style(&self.plane, style_subtext);
+        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(7, 6) catch return more;
         _ = self.plane.print(subtext, .{}) catch {};
 
-        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(9, 8) catch return false;
+        self.menu.resize(.{ .y = 9, .x = 8, .w = 32, .h = self.menu.widgets.items.len });
     } else {
-        self.set_style(style_title);
-        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(1, 4) catch return false;
-        _ = self.plane.print(title, .{}) catch return false;
+        tui.set_style(&self.plane, style_title);
+        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(1, 4) catch return more;
+        _ = self.plane.print(title, .{}) catch return more;
 
-        self.set_style(style_subtext);
-        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(3, 6) catch return false;
+        tui.set_style(&self.plane, style_subtext);
+        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(3, 6) catch return more;
         _ = self.plane.print(subtext, .{}) catch {};
 
-        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(5, 8) catch return false;
+        self.menu.resize(.{ .y = 5, .x = 8, .w = 32, .h = self.menu.widgets.items.len });
     }
-    if (self.plane.dim_x() > 48 and self.plane.dim_y() > 12)
-        self.render_hints(style_subtext, style_text, style_keybind);
     return true;
 }
 
-fn render_hints(self: *Self, style_base: Widget.Theme.Style, style_text: Widget.Theme.Style, style_keybind: Widget.Theme.Style) void {
-    const hint_text: [:0]const u8 =
-        \\Help ······················· :h
-        \\Open file ·················· :o
-        \\Open recent file ··(wip)···· :e
-        \\Open recent project ··(wip)· :r
-        \\Show/Run commands ·(wip)···· :p
-        \\Open config file ··········· :c
-        \\Quit/Close ················· :q
-        \\
-    ;
-
-    const left: c_int = @intCast(self.plane.cursor_x());
-    var pos: usize = 0;
-    while (std.mem.indexOfScalarPos(u8, hint_text, pos, '\n')) |next| {
-        const line = hint_text[pos..next];
-        const sep = std.mem.indexOfScalar(u8, line, ':') orelse line.len;
-        self.set_style(style_base);
-        self.set_style(style_text);
-        _ = self.plane.print("{s}", .{line[0..sep]}) catch {};
-        self.set_style(style_keybind);
-        _ = self.plane.print("{s}", .{line[sep + 1 ..]}) catch {};
-        self.plane.cursor_move_rel(1, 0) catch {};
-        self.plane.cursor_move_yx(-1, left) catch {};
-        pos = next + 1;
-    }
-}
-
-fn set_style(self: *Self, style: Widget.Theme.Style) void {
-    tui.set_style(&self.plane, style);
+fn render_menu_item(_: ?*anyopaque, button: *Button, theme: *const Widget.Theme) bool {
+    tui.set_base_style(&button.plane, " ", if (button.active) theme.editor_cursor else if (button.hover) theme.editor_selection else theme.editor);
+    button.plane.erase();
+    button.plane.home();
+    const style_subtext = if (tui.find_scope_style(theme, "comment")) |sty| sty.style else theme.editor;
+    const style_text = if (tui.find_scope_style(theme, "keyword")) |sty| sty.style else theme.editor;
+    const style_keybind = if (tui.find_scope_style(theme, "entity.name")) |sty| sty.style else theme.editor;
+    const sep = std.mem.indexOfScalar(u8, button.opts.label, ':') orelse button.opts.label.len;
+    tui.set_style(&button.plane, style_subtext);
+    tui.set_style(&button.plane, style_text);
+    _ = button.plane.print(" {s}", .{button.opts.label[0..sep]}) catch {};
+    tui.set_style(&button.plane, style_keybind);
+    _ = button.plane.print("{s}", .{button.opts.label[sep + 1 ..]}) catch {};
+    return false;
 }
 
 pub fn handle_resize(self: *Self, pos: Widget.Box) void {
diff --git a/src/tui/mainview.zig b/src/tui/mainview.zig
index b212e8b..1a86ca6 100644
--- a/src/tui/mainview.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mainview.zig
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const Commands = command.Collection(cmds);
 a: std.mem.Allocator,
 plane: nc.Plane,
 widgets: *WidgetList,
+widgets_widget: Widget,
 floating_views: WidgetStack,
 commands: Commands = undefined,
 statusbar: *Widget,
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ pub fn create(a: std.mem.Allocator, n: nc.Plane) !Widget {
         .a = a,
         .plane = n,
         .widgets = undefined,
+        .widgets_widget = undefined,
         .floating_views = WidgetStack.init(a),
         .statusbar = undefined,
         .location_history = try location_history.create(),
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ pub fn create(a: std.mem.Allocator, n: nc.Plane) !Widget {
     const w = Widget.to(self);
     const widgets = try WidgetList.createV(a, w, @typeName(Self), .dynamic);
     self.widgets = widgets;
+    self.widgets_widget = widgets.widget();
     try widgets.add(try Widget.empty(a, n, .dynamic));
     self.statusbar = try widgets.addP(try @import("status/statusbar.zig").create(a, w));
     self.resize();
@@ -320,8 +323,8 @@ pub fn get_editor(self: *Self) ?*ed.Editor {
     return self.editor;
 }
 
-pub fn walk(self: *Self, walk_ctx: *anyopaque, f: Widget.WalkFn) bool {
-    return if (self.floating_views.walk(walk_ctx, f)) true else self.widgets.walk(walk_ctx, f);
+pub fn walk(self: *Self, ctx: *anyopaque, f: Widget.WalkFn, w: *Widget) bool {
+    return self.floating_views.walk(ctx, f) or self.widgets.walk(ctx, f, &self.widgets_widget) or f(ctx, w);
 }
 
 fn create_editor(self: *Self) tp.result {
diff --git a/src/tui/tui.zig b/src/tui/tui.zig
index f47b578..236584f 100644
--- a/src/tui/tui.zig
+++ b/src/tui/tui.zig
@@ -690,7 +690,7 @@ const cmds = struct {
         var mode: []const u8 = undefined;
         if (!try ctx.args.match(.{tp.extract(&mode)}))
             return tp.exit_error(error.InvalidArgument);
-        if (self.mini_mode) |_| std.debug.panic("attempted to switch mode to {s} while in mini mode {s}", .{ mode, self.input_mode.?.name });
+        if (self.mini_mode) |_| try cmds.exit_mini_mode(self, .{});
         if (self.input_mode) |*m| m.deinit();
         self.input_mode = if (std.mem.eql(u8, mode, "vim/normal"))
             @import("mode/input/vim/normal.zig").create(self.a) catch |e| return tp.exit_error(e)
@@ -831,6 +831,10 @@ pub fn request_mouse_cursor_pointer(self: *const Self, push_or_pop: bool) void {
     if (push_or_pop) self.mouse_cursor_push("pointer") else self.mouse_cursor_pop();
 }
 
+pub fn request_mouse_cursor_default(self: *const Self, push_or_pop: bool) void {
+    if (push_or_pop) self.mouse_cursor_push("default") else self.mouse_cursor_pop();
+}
+
 fn mouse_cursor_push(self: *const Self, comptime name: []const u8) void {
     self.write_stdout(OSC22_cursor ++ name ++ ST);
 }