diff --git a/bin/vim/rebuild_plugins b/bin/vim/rebuild_plugins
index d27046f..2f7318b 100755
--- a/bin/vim/rebuild_plugins
+++ b/bin/vim/rebuild_plugins
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
+#!/bin/zsh
 function INSTALL() {
 	local CMD_NAME="$1"
 	local BUILD_DIR="$2"
 	local BUILD="$3"
 
-	echo "installing $CMD_NAME";
+	echo "installing $CMD_NAME"
 	[ ! -d $BUILD_DIR ] && { echo "unable to locate $CMD_NAME build files"; exit 1; }
 
 	$BUILD >/dev/null 2>&1 \
@@ -13,29 +12,15 @@ function INSTALL() {
 		|| echo "$CMD_NAME installation failed. Please attempt manual installation";
 }
 
-function INSTALL_COMMAND_T() {
-	local CMD_NAME='CommandT'
-	local BUILD_DIR="$HOME/.vim/bundle/command-t/ruby/command-t/ext/command-t";
-
-	function BUILD() {
-		cd $BUILD_DIR;
-		ruby extconf.rb;
-		make
-	}
-
-	INSTALL $CMD_NAME $BUILD_DIR BUILD;
-}
-
 function INSTALL_YCM() {
 	local CMD_NAME='YouCompleteMe';
 	local BUILD_DIR="$HOME/.vim/bundle/YouCompleteMe";
 
 	function BUILD() {
-		python3 $BUILD_DIR/install.py;
+		python3 $BUILD_DIR/install.py
 	}
 
-	INSTALL $CMD_NAME $BUILD_DIR BUILD;
+	INSTALL $CMD_NAME $BUILD_DIR BUILD
 }
 
-#INSTALL_COMMAND_T;
-INSTALL_YCM;
+INSTALL_YCM
diff --git a/setup/vim/compile-from-source.zsh b/setup/vim/compile-from-source.zsh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7867651
--- /dev/null
+++ b/setup/vim/compile-from-source.zsh
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+VIM__SOURCE_TARGET='https://github.com/vim/vim.git'
+VIM__LOCAL_PATH="$HOME/.packages/vim"
+
+function VIM__COMPILE_FROM_SOURCE() {
+	STATUS 'setting up vim'
+	[ -d $VIM__LOCAL_PATH ] && {
+		USER_PROMPT 'vim already compiled; update? [y/N]'
+		READ_K yn
+		[[ $yn =~ [^yY] ]] && return 0
+		cd $VIM__LOCAL_PATH
+
+		CHECK 'updating vim to latest'
+		git pull >>$LOG 2>&1 \
+			&& OK || { WARN 'unable to update vim'; return 1; }
+	} || {
+		CHECK 'getting vim source'
+		git clone $VIM__SOURCE_TARGET $VIM__LOCAL_PATH >>$LOG 2>&1 \
+			&& OK || { WARN 'unable to download vim'; return 1; }
+	}	
+	cd $VIM__LOCAL_PATH
+
+	CHECK 'configuring vim'
+	./configure \
+		--with-features=huge \
+		--enable-cscope \
+		--enable-gtk2-check \
+		--enable-gtk3-check \
+		--enable-gui=auto \
+		--enable-luainterp=yes \
+		--enable-perlinterp=yes \
+		--enable-python3interp=yes \
+		--enable-rubyinterp=yes \
+		--enable-terminal \
+		>>$LOG 2>&1 && OK || { WARN; return 1; }
+
+	CHECK 'building vim'
+	sudo make >>$LOG 2>&1 && OK || { WARN; return 1; }
+
+	CHECK 'installing vim'
+	sudo make install >>$LOG 2>&1 && OK || WARN
+}
diff --git a/setup/vim/setup.zsh b/setup/vim/setup.zsh
index 6459759..310764a 100644
--- a/setup/vim/setup.zsh
+++ b/setup/vim/setup.zsh
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
+source "$DOTWRYN_PATH/setup/vim/compile-from-source.zsh"
+
 #####################################################################
 
 function VIM__SETUP() {
+	STATUS 'starting vim setup'
+	VIM__COMPILE_FROM_SOURCE
 	VIM__SOURCE_RC
 	VIM__SET_LOCAL_CONFIG
 	VIM__UPDATE_COLORSCHEMES
 	VIM__INSTALL_VUNDLE_PLUGINS
+	VIM__CREATE_PANE_DEFAULT_APP
+	STATUS 'finished vim setup'
 }
 
 VIM__VUNDLE_TARGET='https://github.com/VundleVim/Vundle.vim.git'
@@ -71,10 +77,24 @@ function VIM__INSTALL_VUNDLE_PLUGINS() {
 		cd $PREV_DIR >>$LOG 2>&1
 	}
 
-	CHECK 'installing vundle plugins'
+	STATUS 'installing Vundle.vim plugins'
 	vim +PluginInstall +qall \
-		&& OK || WARN
+		&& SUCCESS 'successfully installed Vundle.vim plugins' \
+		|| WARN 'failed to install one or more Vundle.vim plugins' \
+		;
 
-	STATUS 'building plugins'
-	$DOTWRYN_PATH/bin/vim/rebuild_plugins
+	CHECK 'building plugins (this may take a minute)'
+	$DOTWRYN_PATH/bin/vim/rebuild_plugins >>$LOG 2>&1\
+		&& OK || WARN 'retry plugin build manually'
+}
+
+function VIM__CREATE_PANE_DEFAULT_APP() {
+	which vim | grep "$HOME/.local/bin/vim" && return 0
+
+	CHECK 'updating vim to open in panes by default'
+	{
+		echo '#!/bin/sh'
+		echo "exec $(which vim) -p "'$@'
+	} > "$HOME/.local/bin/vim" && OK || WARN
+	chmod +x "$HOME/.local/bin/vim"
 }