diff --git a/home/.config/nvim/main.vim b/home/.config/nvim/main.vim
index c924fce..4021015 100644
--- a/home/.config/nvim/main.vim
+++ b/home/.config/nvim/main.vim
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ set completeopt=menuone,noinsert,noselect
 " Set completeopt to have a better completion experience"
 set completeopt=menuone,noinsert,noselect
 
-" load nvim-tree stuff
+
+" load plugins from extra files
 runtime nvim-tree.vim
 
 call plug#begin()
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ Plug 'EdenEast/nightfox.nvim'      " Vim-Plug
 Plug 'numToStr/FTerm.nvim'         " floating terminal, toggle with <F11>
 Plug 'kdheepak/lazygit.nvim'
 Plug 'nvim-lualine/lualine.nvim'   " nicer status line
+Plug 'goolord/alpha-nvim'
+Plug 'dhruvasagar/vim-table-mode'
 Plug 'junegunn/fzf', { 'do': { -> fzf#install() } }
 Plug 'junegunn/fzf.vim'
 Plug 'iamcco/markdown-preview.nvim', { 'do': 'cd app && yarn install' }
@@ -44,6 +47,8 @@ runtime markdownpreview.vim
 
 call plug#end()
 
+" load plugins from extra files
+runtime nvim-table-mode.vim
 
 " no default mappings for vim smoothie (fancy scrolling)
 let g:smoothie_no_default_mappings = 1
@@ -131,7 +136,6 @@ inoremap <expr> <S-Tab> coc#pum#visible() ? coc#pum#prev(1) : "\<S-Tab>"
 " slime (sends stuff to other programs, like ipython)
 let g:slime_target = "neovim"
 
-
 "------------------------------------------------------
 lua << EOF
 
diff --git a/home/.config/nvim/nvim-table-mode.vim b/home/.config/nvim/nvim-table-mode.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ccbe8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/home/.config/nvim/nvim-table-mode.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+
+" Tip: You can use the following to quickly enable / disable table mode in insert mode by using || or __:
+function! s:isAtStartOfLine(mapping)
+  let text_before_cursor = getline('.')[0 : col('.')-1]
+  let mapping_pattern = '\V' . escape(a:mapping, '\')
+  let comment_pattern = '\V' . escape(substitute(&l:commentstring, '%s.*$', '', ''), '\')
+  return (text_before_cursor =~? '^' . ('\v(' . comment_pattern . '\v)?') . '\s*\v' . mapping_pattern . '\v$')
+endfunction
+
+inoreabbrev <expr> <bar><bar>
+          \ <SID>isAtStartOfLine('\|\|') ?
+          \ '<c-o>:TableModeEnable<cr><bar><space><bar><left><left>' : '<bar><bar>'
+inoreabbrev <expr> __
+          \ <SID>isAtStartOfLine('__') ?
+          \ '<c-o>:silent! TableModeDisable<cr>' : '__'