return {
  "nvim-neo-tree/neo-tree.nvim",
  branch = "v3.x",
  dependencies = {
    "nvim-lua/plenary.nvim",
    "nvim-tree/nvim-web-devicons", -- not strictly required, but recommended
    "MunifTanjim/nui.nvim",
    "3rd/image.nvim",            -- Optional image support in preview window: See `# Preview Mode` for more information
  },
  config = function()
    require("neo-tree").setup({
      close_if_last_window = false, -- Close Neo-tree if it is the last window left in the tab
      popup_border_style = "rounded",
      enable_git_status = true,
      enable_diagnostics = true,
      open_files_do_not_replace_types = { "terminal", "trouble", "qf" }, -- when opening files, do not use windows containing these filetypes or buftypes
      sort_case_insensitive = false,                                  -- used when sorting files and directories in the tree
      sort_function = nil,                                            -- use a custom function for sorting files and directories in the tree
      -- sort_function = function (a,b)
      --       if a.type == b.type then
      --           return a.path > b.path
      --       else
      --           return a.type > b.type
      --       end
      --   end , -- this sorts files and directories descendantly
      default_component_configs = {
        container = {
          enable_character_fade = true,
        },
        diagnostics = {
          symbols = {
            hint = "󰠠",
            info = "",
            warn = "",
            error = "",
          },
          highlight = {
            hint = "DiagnosticSignHint",
            info = "DiagnosticSignInfo",
            warn = "DiagnosticSignWarn",
            error = "DiagnosticSignError",
          },
        },
        indent = {
          indent_size = 2,
          padding = 0, -- extra padding on left hand side
          -- indent guides
          with_markers = true,
          indent_marker = "│",
          last_indent_marker = "└",
          highlight = "NeoTreeIndentMarker",
          -- expander config, needed for nesting files
          with_expanders = nil, -- if nil and file nesting is enabled, will enable expanders
          expander_collapsed = "",
          expander_expanded = "",
          expander_highlight = "NeoTreeExpander",
        },
        icon = {
          folder_closed = "",
          folder_open = "",
          folder_empty = "󰜌",
          provider = function(icon, node, state) -- default icon provider utilizes nvim-web-devicons if available
            if node.type == "file" or node.type == "terminal" then
              local success, web_devicons = pcall(require, "nvim-web-devicons")
              local name = node.type == "terminal" and "terminal" or node.name
              if success then
                local devicon, hl = web_devicons.get_icon(name)
                icon.text = devicon or icon.text
                icon.highlight = hl or icon.highlight
              end
            end
          end,
          -- The next two settings are only a fallback, if you use nvim-web-devicons and configure default icons there
          -- then these will never be used.
          default = "*",
          highlight = "NeoTreeFileIcon",
        },
        modified = {
          symbol = "[+]",
          highlight = "NeoTreeModified",
        },
        name = {
          trailing_slash = false,
          use_git_status_colors = true,
          highlight = "NeoTreeFileName",
        },
        git_status = {
          symbols = {
            -- Change type
            added = "✚", -- or "✚", but this is redundant info if you use git_status_colors on the name
            modified = "", -- or "", but this is redundant info if you use git_status_colors on the name
            deleted = "✖", -- this can only be used in the git_status source
            renamed = "󰁕", -- this can only be used in the git_status source
            -- Status type
            untracked = "",
            ignored = "",
            unstaged = "󰄱",
            staged = "",
            conflict = "",
          },
        },
        -- If you don't want to use these columns, you can set `enabled = false` for each of them individually
        file_size = {
          enabled = true,
          width = 12,     -- width of the column
          required_width = 64, -- min width of window required to show this column
        },
        type = {
          enabled = true,
          width = 10,      -- width of the column
          required_width = 122, -- min width of window required to show this column
        },
        last_modified = {
          enabled = true,
          width = 20,     -- width of the column
          required_width = 88, -- min width of window required to show this column
        },
        created = {
          enabled = true,
          width = 20,      -- width of the column
          required_width = 110, -- min width of window required to show this column
        },
        symlink_target = {
          enabled = false,
        },
      },
      -- A list of functions, each representing a global custom command
      -- that will be available in all sources (if not overridden in `opts[source_name].commands`)
      -- see `:h neo-tree-custom-commands-global`
      window = {
        position = "left",
        width = 35,
        mapping_options = {
          noremap = true,
          nowait = true,
        },
        mappings = {
          ["P"] = { "toggle_preview", config = { use_float = true, use_image_nvim = true } },
        },
      },
      filesystem = {
        filtered_items = {
          visible = false, -- when true, they will just be displayed differently than normal items
          hide_dotfiles = true,
          hide_gitignored = false,
          hide_hidden = true, -- only works on Windows for hidden files/directories
          hide_by_name = {
            --"node_modules"
          },
          hide_by_pattern = { -- uses glob style patterns
            --"*.meta",
            --"*/src/*/tsconfig.json",
          },
          always_show = { -- remains visible even if other settings would normally hide it
            ".gitignored",
          },
          always_show_by_pattern = { -- uses glob style patterns
            ".env*",
          },
          never_show = { -- remains hidden even if visible is toggled to true, this overrides always_show
            --".DS_Store",
            --"thumbs.db"
          },
          never_show_by_pattern = { -- uses glob style patterns
            --".null-ls_*",
          },
        },
        follow_current_file = {
          enabled = true,                   -- This will find and focus the file in the active buffer every time
          --               -- the current file is changed while the tree is open.
          leave_dirs_open = false,          -- `false` closes auto expanded dirs, such as with `:Neotree reveal`
        },
        group_empty_dirs = false,           -- when true, empty folders will be grouped together
        hijack_netrw_behavior = "open_default", -- netrw disabled, opening a directory opens neo-tree
        -- in whatever position is specified in window.position
        -- "open_current",  -- netrw disabled, opening a directory opens within the
        -- window like netrw would, regardless of window.position
        -- "disabled",    -- netrw left alone, neo-tree does not handle opening dirs
        use_libuv_file_watcher = false, -- This will use the OS level file watchers to detect changes
        -- instead of relying on nvim autocmd events.
      },
    })

    vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>er", "<cmd>Neotree filesystem reveal left<CR>", { desc = "Reveal file-tree" })
    vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>ee", "<cmd>Neotree toggle<CR>", { desc = "Toggle file-tree" })
    vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>ef", "<cmd>Neotree float<CR>", { desc = "Float file-tree" })

    vim.opt.fillchars:append({ eob = " " })
  end,
}