diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
index 86d1ed2bfe1..0e79a42bbed 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
@@ -63,108 +63,36 @@ body:
       value: |
         vim.cmd [[set runtimepath=$VIMRUNTIME]]
         vim.cmd [[set packpath=/tmp/nvt-min/site]]
-        local package_root = '/tmp/nvt-min/site/pack'
-        local install_path = package_root .. '/packer/start/packer.nvim'
+        local package_root = "/tmp/nvt-min/site/pack"
+        local install_path = package_root .. "/packer/start/packer.nvim"
         local function load_plugins()
-          require('packer').startup {
+          require("packer").startup {
             {
-              'wbthomason/packer.nvim',
-              'kyazdani42/nvim-tree.lua',
-              'kyazdani42/nvim-web-devicons',
+              "wbthomason/packer.nvim",
+              "kyazdani42/nvim-tree.lua",
+              "kyazdani42/nvim-web-devicons",
               -- ADD PLUGINS THAT ARE _NECESSARY_ FOR REPRODUCING THE ISSUE
             },
             config = {
               package_root = package_root,
-              compile_path = install_path .. '/plugin/packer_compiled.lua',
+              compile_path = install_path .. "/plugin/packer_compiled.lua",
               display = { non_interactive = true },
             },
           }
         end
         if vim.fn.isdirectory(install_path) == 0 then
-          print("Installing nvim-tree and dependencies.")
-          vim.fn.system { 'git', 'clone', '--depth=1', 'https://github.com/wbthomason/packer.nvim', install_path }
+          print "Installing nvim-tree and dependencies."
+          vim.fn.system { "git", "clone", "--depth=1", "https://github.com/wbthomason/packer.nvim", install_path }
         end
         load_plugins()
-        require('packer').sync()
+        require("packer").sync()
         vim.cmd [[autocmd User PackerComplete ++once echo "Ready!" | lua setup()]]
         vim.opt.termguicolors = true
         vim.opt.cursorline = true
-
+        
         -- MODIFY NVIM-TREE SETTINGS THAT ARE _NECESSARY_ FOR REPRODUCING THE ISSUE
         _G.setup = function()
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_indent_markers = 0
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_git_hl = 0
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_highlight_opened_files = 0
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_root_folder_modifier = ':~'
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_add_trailing = 0
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_group_empty = 0
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_icon_padding = ' '
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_symlink_arrow = ' ➛ '
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_respect_buf_cwd = 0
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_create_in_closed_folder = 0
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_special_files = { ["Cargo.toml"] = true, Makefile = true, ["README.md"] = true, ["readme.md"] = true, }
-        vim.g.nvim_tree_show_icons = { git = 1, folders = 1, files = 1, folder_arrows = 1 }
-        require'nvim-tree'.setup {
-          auto_close = false,
-          auto_reload_on_write = true,
-          disable_netrw = false,
-          hide_root_folder = false,
-          hijack_cursor = false,
-          hijack_netrw = true,
-          hijack_unnamed_buffer_when_opening = false,
-          ignore_buffer_on_setup = false,
-          open_on_setup = false,
-          open_on_tab = false,
-          sort_by = "name",
-          update_cwd = false,
-          hijack_directories = {
-            enable = true,
-            auto_open = true,
-          },
-          update_focused_file  = {
-            enable = false,
-            update_cwd = false,
-            ignore_list = {}
-          },
-          ignore_ft_on_setup = {},
-          system_open = {
-            cmd  = nil,
-            args = {}
-          },
-          diagnostics = {
-            enable = false,
-            show_on_dirs = false,
-            icons = {
-              hint = "",
-              info = "",
-              warning = "",
-              error = "",
-            }
-          },
-          filters = {
-            dotfiles = false,
-            custom = {},
-            exclude = {}
-          },
-          git = {
-            enable = true,
-            ignore = true,
-            timeout = 400,
-          },
-          actions = {
-            change_dir = {
-              enable = true,
-              global = false,
-            },
-            open_file = {
-              quit_on_open = false,
-              resize_window = false,
-              window_picker = {
-                enable = true,
-              }
-            }
-          },
-        }
+          require("nvim-tree").setup {}
         end
     validations:
       required: true
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e82093cb601..9fb18158ab0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -108,68 +108,76 @@ highlight NvimTreeFolderIcon guibg=blue
 ```lua
 -- init.lua
 
--- following options are the default
+-- empty setup using defaults: add your own options
+require'nvim-tree'.setup {
+}
+
+-- OR
+
+-- setup with all defaults
 -- each of these are documented in `:help nvim-tree.OPTION_NAME`
 require'nvim-tree'.setup {
-  disable_netrw        = false,
-  hijack_netrw         = true,
-  open_on_setup        = false,
-  ignore_buffer_on_setup = false,
-  ignore_ft_on_setup   = {},
-  auto_close           = false,
+[//]: <> (BEGIN_DEFAULT_OPTS)
+  auto_close = false,
   auto_reload_on_write = true,
-  open_on_tab          = false,
-  hijack_cursor        = false,
-  update_cwd           = false,
+  disable_netrw = false,
+  hide_root_folder = false,
+  hijack_cursor = false,
+  hijack_netrw = true,
   hijack_unnamed_buffer_when_opening = false,
-  hijack_directories   = {
+  ignore_buffer_on_setup = false,
+  open_on_setup = false,
+  open_on_tab = false,
+  sort_by = "name",
+  update_cwd = false,
+  view = {
+    width = 30,
+    height = 30,
+    side = "left",
+    preserve_window_proportions = false,
+    number = false,
+    relativenumber = false,
+    signcolumn = "yes",
+    mappings = {
+      custom_only = false,
+      list = {
+        -- user mappings go here
+      },
+    },
+  },
+  hijack_directories = {
     enable = true,
     auto_open = true,
   },
+  update_focused_file = {
+    enable = false,
+    update_cwd = false,
+    ignore_list = {},
+  },
+  ignore_ft_on_setup = {},
+  system_open = {
+    cmd = nil,
+    args = {},
+  },
   diagnostics = {
     enable = false,
+    show_on_dirs = false,
     icons = {
       hint = "",
       info = "",
       warning = "",
       error = "",
-    }
-  },
-  update_focused_file = {
-    enable      = false,
-    update_cwd  = false,
-    ignore_list = {}
-  },
-  system_open = {
-    cmd  = nil,
-    args = {}
+    },
   },
   filters = {
     dotfiles = false,
-    custom = {}
+    custom = {},
+    exclude = {},
   },
   git = {
     enable = true,
     ignore = true,
-    timeout = 500,
-  },
-  view = {
-    width = 30,
-    height = 30,
-    hide_root_folder = false,
-    side = 'left',
-    preserve_window_proportions = false,
-    mappings = {
-      custom_only = false,
-      list = {}
-    },
-    number = false,
-    relativenumber = false,
-    signcolumn = "yes"
-  },
-  trash = {
-    cmd = "trash",
-    require_confirm = true
+    timeout = 400,
   },
   actions = {
     change_dir = {
@@ -183,11 +191,15 @@ require'nvim-tree'.setup {
         enable = true,
         chars = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890",
         exclude = {
-          filetype = { "notify", "packer", "qf", "diff", "fugitive", "fugitiveblame", },
-          buftype  = { "nofile", "terminal", "help", },
-        }
-      }
-    }
+          filetype = { "notify", "packer", "qf", "diff", "fugitive", "fugitiveblame" },
+          buftype = { "nofile", "terminal", "help" },
+        },
+      },
+    },
+  },
+  trash = {
+    cmd = "trash",
+    require_confirm = true,
   },
   log = {
     enable = false,
@@ -198,6 +210,7 @@ require'nvim-tree'.setup {
       git = false,
     },
   },
+[//]: <> (END_DEFAULT_OPTS)
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt b/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
index 76d46d04026..3fb05ad337b 100644
--- a/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
+++ b/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
@@ -83,24 +83,49 @@ To configure the tree (and make it runnable), you should call the setup
 function.
 
 >
-    require'nvim-tree'.setup {
-      disable_netrw        = false,
-      hijack_netrw         = true,
-      open_on_setup        = false,
+    require("nvim-tree").setup { -- BEGIN_DEFAULT_OPTS
+      auto_close = false,
+      auto_reload_on_write = true,
+      disable_netrw = false,
+      hide_root_folder = false,
+      hijack_cursor = false,
+      hijack_netrw = true,
+      hijack_unnamed_buffer_when_opening = false,
       ignore_buffer_on_setup = false,
-      ignore_ft_on_setup   = {},
-      hijack_directories   = {
+      open_on_setup = false,
+      open_on_tab = false,
+      sort_by = "name",
+      update_cwd = false,
+      view = {
+        width = 30,
+        height = 30,
+        side = "left",
+        preserve_window_proportions = false,
+        number = false,
+        relativenumber = false,
+        signcolumn = "yes",
+        mappings = {
+          custom_only = false,
+          list = {
+            -- user mappings go here
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      hijack_directories = {
         enable = true,
         auto_open = true,
       },
-      auto_close           = false,
-      auto_reload_on_write = true,
-      open_on_tab          = false,
-      sort_by              = "name",
-      hijack_cursor        = false,
-      update_cwd           = false,
-      hijack_unnamed_buffer_when_opening = false,
-      diagnostics          = {
+      update_focused_file = {
+        enable = false,
+        update_cwd = false,
+        ignore_list = {},
+      },
+      ignore_ft_on_setup = {},
+      system_open = {
+        cmd = nil,
+        args = {},
+      },
+      diagnostics = {
         enable = false,
         show_on_dirs = false,
         icons = {
@@ -108,41 +133,17 @@ function.
           info = "",
           warning = "",
           error = "",
-        }
-      },
-      update_focused_file = {
-        enable      = false,
-        update_cwd  = false,
-        ignore_list = {}
+        },
       },
-      system_open = {
-        cmd  = nil,
-        args = {}
+      filters = {
+        dotfiles = false,
+        custom = {},
+        exclude = {},
       },
       git = {
         enable = true,
         ignore = true,
-      },
-      view = {
-        width = 30,
-        height = 30,
-        side = 'left',
-        preserve_window_proportions = false,
-        number = false,
-        relativenumber = false,
-	signcolumn = "yes",
-        mappings = {
-          custom_only = false,
-          list = {}
-        }
-      },
-      filters = {
-        dotfiles = false,
-        custom = {}
-      },
-      trash = {
-        cmd = "trash",
-        require_confirm = true,
+        timeout = 400,
       },
       actions = {
         change_dir = {
@@ -150,28 +151,32 @@ function.
           global = false,
         },
         open_file = {
-	  quit_on_open = false,
-	  resize_window = false,
-	  window_picker = {
-	    enable = true,
-	    chars = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890",
-	    exclude = {
-	      filetype = { "notify", "packer", "qf", "diff", "fugitive", "fugitiveblame", },
-	      buftype  = { "nofile", "terminal", "help", },
-	    }
-	  }
+          quit_on_open = false,
+          resize_window = false,
+          window_picker = {
+            enable = true,
+            chars = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890",
+            exclude = {
+              filetype = { "notify", "packer", "qf", "diff", "fugitive", "fugitiveblame" },
+              buftype = { "nofile", "terminal", "help" },
+            },
+          },
         },
       },
+      trash = {
+        cmd = "trash",
+        require_confirm = true,
+      },
       log = {
-	enable = false,
-	truncate = false,
-	types = {
-	  all = false,
-	  config = false,
-	  git = false,
-	},
+        enable = false,
+        truncate = false,
+        types = {
+          all = false,
+          config = false,
+          git = false,
+        },
       },
-    }
+    } -- END_DEFAULT_OPTS
 <
 
 As options are currently being migrated, configuration of global options in
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree.lua b/lua/nvim-tree.lua
index 4800ab1af9d..deba66825bc 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree.lua
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ local function setup_autocommands(opts)
   vim.cmd "augroup end"
 end
 
-local DEFAULT_OPTS = {
+local DEFAULT_OPTS = { -- BEGIN_DEFAULT_OPTS
   auto_close = false,
   auto_reload_on_write = true,
   disable_netrw = false,
@@ -346,6 +346,21 @@ local DEFAULT_OPTS = {
   open_on_tab = false,
   sort_by = "name",
   update_cwd = false,
+  view = {
+    width = 30,
+    height = 30,
+    side = "left",
+    preserve_window_proportions = false,
+    number = false,
+    relativenumber = false,
+    signcolumn = "yes",
+    mappings = {
+      custom_only = false,
+      list = {
+        -- user mappings go here
+      },
+    },
+  },
   hijack_directories = {
     enable = true,
     auto_open = true,
@@ -390,9 +405,18 @@ local DEFAULT_OPTS = {
       resize_window = false,
       window_picker = {
         enable = true,
+        chars = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890",
+        exclude = {
+          filetype = { "notify", "packer", "qf", "diff", "fugitive", "fugitiveblame" },
+          buftype = { "nofile", "terminal", "help" },
+        },
       },
     },
   },
+  trash = {
+    cmd = "trash",
+    require_confirm = true,
+  },
   log = {
     enable = false,
     truncate = false,
@@ -402,7 +426,7 @@ local DEFAULT_OPTS = {
       git = false,
     },
   },
-}
+} -- END_DEFAULT_OPTS
 
 local function merge_options(conf)
   if conf and conf.update_to_buf_dir then
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/open-file.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/open-file.lua
index 02d9883b314..bb1478ca315 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/open-file.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/open-file.lua
@@ -4,18 +4,7 @@ local lib = require "nvim-tree.lib"
 local utils = require "nvim-tree.utils"
 local view = require "nvim-tree.view"
 
-local M = {
-  quit_on_open = false,
-  resize_window = false,
-  window_picker = {
-    enable = true,
-    chars = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890",
-    exclude = {
-      filetype = { "notify", "packer", "qf", "diff", "fugitive", "fugitiveblame" },
-      buftype = { "nofile", "terminal", "help" },
-    },
-  },
-}
+local M = {}
 
 local function get_split_cmd()
   local side = view.View.side
@@ -235,7 +224,7 @@ function M.setup(opts)
   if opts.actions.open_file.window_picker.chars then
     opts.actions.open_file.window_picker.chars = tostring(opts.actions.open_file.window_picker.chars):upper()
   end
-  M.window_picker = vim.tbl_extend("force", M.window_picker, opts.actions.open_file.window_picker)
+  M.window_picker = opts.actions.open_file.window_picker
 end
 
 return M
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/view.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/view.lua
index 95495439637..f689659da57 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/view.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/view.lua
@@ -348,18 +348,8 @@ function M.is_root_folder_visible()
   return core.get_cwd() ~= "/" and not M.View.hide_root_folder
 end
 
-local DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
-  width = 30,
-  height = 30,
-  side = "left",
-  preserve_window_proportions = false,
-  number = false,
-  relativenumber = false,
-  signcolumn = "yes",
-}
-
 function M.setup(opts)
-  local options = vim.tbl_deep_extend("force", DEFAULT_CONFIG, opts.view or {})
+  local options = opts.view or {}
   M.View.side = options.side
   M.View.width = options.width
   M.View.height = options.height
diff --git a/update-default-opts.sh b/update-default-opts.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..ec11437afcd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/update-default-opts.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# run after changing nvim-tree.lua DEFAULT_OPTS: scrapes and updates README.md, nvim-tree-lua.txt
+
+begin="BEGIN_DEFAULT_OPTS"
+end="END_DEFAULT_OPTS"
+
+# scrape, indented at 2
+sed -n -e "/${begin}/,/${end}/{ /${begin}/d; /${end}/d; p; }" lua/nvim-tree.lua > /tmp/DEFAULT_OPTS.2.lua
+
+# indent some more
+sed -e "s/^  /      /" /tmp/DEFAULT_OPTS.2.lua > /tmp/DEFAULT_OPTS.6.lua
+
+# README.md indented at 2
+sed -i -e "/${begin}/,/${end}/{ /${begin}/{p; r /tmp/DEFAULT_OPTS.2.lua
+           }; /${end}/p; d }" README.md
+
+# help, indented at 6
+sed -i -e "/${begin}/,/${end}/{ /${begin}/{p; r /tmp/DEFAULT_OPTS.6.lua
+           }; /${end}/p; d }" doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
+