diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/init.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/init.lua
index d755a559ba5..e69775a2601 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/init.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/init.lua
@@ -248,8 +248,9 @@ local M = {
 
 local function set_map_for(bufnr)
   local opts = { noremap = true, silent = true, nowait = true, buffer = bufnr }
-  return function(mode, rhs)
+  return function(mode, rhs, desc)
     return function(lhs)
+      opts.desc = desc
       vim.keymap.set(mode or "n", lhs, rhs, opts)
     end
   end
@@ -266,7 +267,7 @@ function M.apply_mappings(bufnr)
   for _, b in pairs(M.mappings) do
     local rhs = b.cb or run_dispatch(b.action)
     if rhs then
-      local setter = setter_for(b.mode, rhs)
+      local setter = setter_for(b.mode, rhs, b.action)
 
       local keys = type(b.key) == "table" and b.key or { b.key }
       for _, key in pairs(keys) do
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/keymap.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/keymap.lua
index 2c26a3a4d7c..e863de32951 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/keymap.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/keymap.lua
@@ -2,244 +2,386 @@ local Api = require "nvim-tree.api"
 
 local M = {}
 
+-- BEGIN_DEFAULT_KEYMAPS
 local DEFAULT_KEYMAPS = {
   {
     key = { "<CR>", "o", "<2-LeftMouse>" },
     callback = Api.node.open.edit,
-    desc = "open a file or folder; root will cd to the above directory",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Open a file or directory; root will cd to the above directory.",
+      short = "Open",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "<C-e>",
     callback = Api.node.open.replace_tree_buffer,
-    desc = "edit the file in place, effectively replacing the tree explorer",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Open file in place, effectively replacing the tree explorer.",
+      short = "Open: In Place",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "O",
     callback = Api.node.open.no_window_picker,
-    desc = "same as (edit) with no window picker",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Open file with no window picker.",
+      short = "Open: No Window Picker",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = { "<C-]>", "<2-RightMouse>" },
     callback = Api.tree.change_root_to_node,
-    desc = "cd in the directory under the cursor",
+    desc = {
+      long = "cd in the directory under the cursor.",
+      short = "CD",
+    },
   },
   {
-    key = "<C-v>",
+    -- key = "<C-v>",
+    key = "<ctrL-v>",
     callback = Api.node.open.vertical,
-    desc = "open the file in a vertical split",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Open file in a vertical split.",
+      short = "Open: Vertical Split",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "<C-x>",
     callback = Api.node.open.horizontal,
-    desc = "open the file in a horizontal split",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Open file in a horizontal split.",
+      short = "Open: Horizontal Split",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "<C-t>",
     callback = Api.node.open.tab,
-    desc = "open the file in a new tab",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Open file in a new tab.",
+      short = "Open: New Tab",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "<",
     callback = Api.node.navigate.sibling.prev,
-    desc = "navigate to the previous sibling of current file/directory",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Navigate to the previous sibling.",
+      short = "Previous Sibling",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = ">",
     callback = Api.node.navigate.sibling.next,
-    desc = "navigate to the next sibling of current file/directory",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Navigate to the next sibling",
+      short = "Next Sibling",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "P",
     callback = Api.node.navigate.parent,
-    desc = "move cursor to the parent directory",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Move cursor to the parent directory.",
+      short = "Parent Directory",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "<BS>",
     callback = Api.node.navigate.parent_close,
-    desc = "close current opened directory or parent",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Close current opened directory or parent.",
+      short = "Close Directory",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "<Tab>",
     callback = Api.node.open.preview,
-    desc = "open the file as a preview (keeps the cursor in the tree)",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Open file as a preview (keeps the cursor in the tree).",
+      short = "Open Preview",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "K",
     callback = Api.node.navigate.sibling.first,
-    desc = "navigate to the first sibling of current file/directory",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Navigate to the first sibling.",
+      short = "First Sibling",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "J",
     callback = Api.node.navigate.sibling.last,
-    desc = "navigate to the last sibling of current file/directory",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Navigate to the last sibling.",
+      short = "Last Sibling",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "I",
     callback = Api.tree.toggle_gitignore_filter,
-    desc = "toggle visibility of files/folders hidden via |git.ignore| option",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Toggle visibility of files/directories hidden via |git.ignore| option.",
+      short = "Toggle Git Ignore",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "H",
     callback = Api.tree.toggle_hidden_filter,
-    desc = "toggle visibility of dotfiles via |filters.dotfiles| option",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Toggle visibility of dotfiles via |filters.dotfiles| option.",
+      short = "Toggle Dotfiles",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "U",
     callback = Api.tree.toggle_custom_filter,
-    desc = "toggle visibility of files/folders hidden via |filters.custom| option",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Toggle visibility of files/directories hidden via |filters.custom| option.",
+      short = "Toggle Hidden",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "R",
     callback = Api.tree.reload,
-    desc = "refresh the tree",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Refresh the tree.",
+      short = "Refresh",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "a",
     callback = Api.fs.create,
-    desc = "add a file; leaving a trailing `/` will add a directory",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Create a file; leaving a trailing `/` will add a directory.",
+      short = "Create",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "d",
     callback = Api.fs.remove,
-    desc = "delete a file (will prompt for confirmation)",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Delete a file, prompting for confirmation.",
+      short = "Delete",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "D",
     callback = Api.fs.trash,
-    desc = "trash a file via |trash| option",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Trash a file via |trash| option.",
+      short = "Trash",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "r",
     callback = Api.fs.rename,
-    desc = "rename a file",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Rename a file or directory.",
+      short = "Rename",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "<C-r>",
     callback = Api.fs.rename_sub,
-    desc = "rename a file and omit the filename on input",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Rename a file or directory and omit the filename on input.",
+      short = "Rename: Omit Filename",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "x",
     callback = Api.fs.cut,
-    desc = "add/remove file/directory to cut clipboard",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Cut file or directory to cut clipboard.",
+      short = "Cut",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "c",
     callback = Api.fs.copy.node,
-    desc = "add/remove file/directory to copy clipboard",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Copy file or directory to copy clipboard.",
+      short = "Copy",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "p",
     callback = Api.fs.paste,
-    desc = "paste from clipboard; cut clipboard has precedence over copy; will prompt for confirmation",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Paste from clipboard; cut clipboard has precedence over copy; will prompt for confirmation.",
+      short = "Paste",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "y",
     callback = Api.fs.copy.filename,
-    desc = "copy name to system clipboard",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Copy name to system clipboard.",
+      short = "Copy Name",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "Y",
     callback = Api.fs.copy.relative_path,
-    desc = "copy relative path to system clipboard",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Copy relative path to system clipboard.",
+      short = "Copy Relative Path",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "gy",
     callback = Api.fs.copy.absolute_path,
-    desc = "copy absolute path to system clipboard",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Copy absolute path to system clipboard.",
+      short = "Copy Absolute Path",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "]e",
     callback = Api.node.navigate.diagnostics.next,
-    desc = "go to next diagnostic item",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Go to next diagnostic item.",
+      short = "Next Diagnostic",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "]c",
     callback = Api.node.navigate.git.next,
-    desc = "go to next git item",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Go to next git item.",
+      short = "Next Git",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "[e",
     callback = Api.node.navigate.diagnostics.prev,
-    desc = "go to prev diagnostic item",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Go to prev diagnostic item.",
+      short = "Prev Diagnostic",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "[c",
     callback = Api.node.navigate.git.prev,
-    desc = "go to prev git item",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Go to prev git item.",
+      short = "Prev Git",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "-",
     callback = Api.tree.change_root_to_parent,
-    desc = "navigate up to the parent directory of the current file/directory",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Navigate up to the parent directory of the current file/directory.",
+      short = "Up",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "s",
     callback = Api.node.run.system,
-    desc = "open a file with default system application or a folder with default file manager, using |system_open| option",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Open a file with default system application or a directory with default file manager, using |system_open| option.",
+      short = "Run System",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "f",
     callback = Api.live_filter.start,
-    desc = "live filter nodes dynamically based on regex matching.",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Live filter nodes dynamically based on regex matching.",
+      short = "Filter",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "F",
     callback = Api.live_filter.clear,
-    desc = "clear live filter",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Clear live filter.",
+      short = "Clean Filter",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "q",
     callback = Api.tree.close,
-    desc = "close tree window",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Close tree window.",
+      short = "Close",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "W",
     callback = Api.tree.collapse_all,
-    desc = "collapse the whole tree",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Collapse the whole tree.",
+      short = "Collapse",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "E",
     callback = Api.tree.expand_all,
-    desc = "expand the whole tree, stopping after expanding |callbacks.expand_all.max_folder_discovery| folders; this might hang neovim for a while if running on a big folder",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Expand the whole tree, stopping after expanding |callbacks.expand_all.max_folder_discovery| directories; this might hang neovim for a while if running on a big directory.",
+      short = "Expand All",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "S",
     callback = Api.tree.search_node,
-    desc = "prompt the user to enter a path and then expands the tree to match the path",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Prompt the user to enter a path and then expands the tree to match the path.",
+      short = "Search",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = ".",
     callback = Api.node.run.cmd,
-    desc = "enter vim command mode with the file the cursor is on",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Enter vim command mode with the file the cursor is on.",
+      short = "Run Command",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "<C-k>",
     callback = Api.node.show_info_popup,
-    desc = "toggle a popup with file infos about the file under the cursor",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Toggle a popup with file info about the file under the cursor.",
+      short = "Info",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "g?",
     callback = Api.tree.toggle_help,
-    desc = "toggle help",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Toggle help.",
+      short = "Help",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "m",
     callback = Api.marks.toggle,
-    desc = "Toggle node in bookmarks",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Toggle node in bookmarks.",
+      short = "Toggle Bookmark",
+    },
   },
   {
     key = "bmv",
     callback = Api.marks.bulk.move,
-    desc = "Move all bookmarked nodes into specified location",
+    desc = {
+      long = "Move all bookmarked nodes into specified location.",
+      short = "Move Bookmarked",
+    },
   },
 }
+-- END_DEFAULT_KEYMAPS
 
 function M.set_keymaps(bufnr)
   local opts = { noremap = true, silent = true, nowait = true, buffer = bufnr }
   for _, km in ipairs(M.keymaps) do
     local keys = type(km.key) == "table" and km.key or { km.key }
     for _, key in ipairs(keys) do
+      opts.desc = km.desc.short
       vim.keymap.set("n", key, km.callback, opts)
     end
   end
@@ -287,4 +429,6 @@ function M.setup(opts)
   M.keymaps = get_keymaps(opts.remove_keymaps)
 end
 
+M.DEFAULT_KEYMAPS = DEFAULT_KEYMAPS
+
 return M
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/renderer/help.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/renderer/help.lua
index 61f00eb5827..3dddd468b12 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/renderer/help.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/renderer/help.lua
@@ -1,48 +1,85 @@
 local M = {}
 
+local function tidy_lhs(lhs)
+  -- nvim_buf_get_keymap replaces leading "<" with "<lt>" e.g. "<lt>CTRL-v>"
+  lhs = lhs:gsub("^<lt>", "<")
+
+  -- shorten ctrls
+  if lhs:lower():match "^<ctrl%-" then
+    lhs = lhs:lower():gsub("^<ctrl%-", "<C%-")
+  end
+
+  -- uppercase ctrls
+  if lhs:lower():match "^<c%-" then
+    lhs = lhs:upper()
+  end
+
+  -- space is not escaped
+  lhs = lhs:gsub(" ", "<Space>")
+
+  return lhs
+end
+
+-- sort lhs roughly as per :help index
+local PAT_MOUSE = "^<.*Mouse"
+local PAT_CTRL = "^<C\\-"
+local PAT_SPECIAL = "^<.+"
+local function sort_lhs(a, b)
+  -- mouse last
+  if a:match(PAT_MOUSE) and not b:match(PAT_MOUSE) then
+    return false
+  elseif not a:match(PAT_MOUSE) and b:match(PAT_MOUSE) then
+    return true
+  end
+
+  -- ctrl first
+  if a:match(PAT_CTRL) and not b:match(PAT_CTRL) then
+    return true
+  elseif not a:match(PAT_CTRL) and b:match(PAT_CTRL) then
+    return false
+  end
+
+  -- special next
+  if a:match(PAT_SPECIAL) and not b:match(PAT_SPECIAL) then
+    return true
+  elseif not a:match(PAT_SPECIAL) and b:match(PAT_SPECIAL) then
+    return false
+  end
+
+  -- non-alpha next
+  if a:match "^%a" and not b:match "^%a" then
+    return false
+  elseif not a:match "^%a" and b:match "^%a" then
+    return true
+  end
+
+  return a < b
+end
+
 function M.compute_lines()
   local help_lines = { "HELP" }
   local help_hl = { { "NvimTreeRootFolder", 0, 0, #help_lines[1] } }
-  local mappings = vim.tbl_filter(function(v)
-    return (v.cb ~= nil and v.cb ~= "") or (v.action ~= nil and v.action ~= "")
-  end, require("nvim-tree.actions").mappings)
-  local processed = {}
-  for _, b in pairs(mappings) do
-    local cb = b.cb
-    local key = b.key
-    local name
-    if cb and cb:sub(1, 35) == require("nvim-tree.config").nvim_tree_callback("test"):sub(1, 35) then
-      name = cb:match "'[^']+'[^']*$"
-      name = name:match "'[^']+'"
-    elseif b.action then
-      name = b.action
-    else
-      name = (b.name ~= nil) and b.name or cb
-      name = '"' .. name .. '"'
-    end
-    table.insert(processed, { key, name, true })
-  end
-  table.sort(processed, function(a, b)
-    return (a[3] == b[3] and (a[2] < b[2] or (a[2] == b[2] and #a[1] < #b[1]))) or (a[3] and not b[3])
+
+  local buf_keymaps = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_keymap(vim.api.nvim_get_current_buf(), "")
+
+  local lines = vim.tbl_map(function(bkm)
+    return { lhs = tidy_lhs(bkm.lhs), desc = bkm.desc }
+  end, buf_keymaps)
+
+  table.sort(lines, function(a, b)
+    return sort_lhs(a.lhs, b.lhs)
   end)
 
   local num = 0
-  for _, val in pairs(processed) do
-    local keys = type(val[1]) == "string" and { val[1] } or val[1]
-    local map_name = val[2]
-    local builtin = val[3]
-    for _, key in pairs(keys) do
-      num = num + 1
-      local bind_string = string.format("%6s : %s", key, map_name)
-      table.insert(help_lines, bind_string)
-
-      local hl_len = math.max(6, string.len(key)) + 2
-      table.insert(help_hl, { "NvimTreeFolderName", num, 0, hl_len })
-
-      if not builtin then
-        table.insert(help_hl, { "NvimTreeFileRenamed", num, hl_len, -1 })
-      end
-    end
+  for _, p in pairs(lines) do
+    num = num + 1
+    local bind_string = string.format("%-5s %s", p.lhs, p.desc)
+    local hl_len = math.max(5, string.len(p.lhs))
+    table.insert(help_lines, bind_string)
+
+    table.insert(help_hl, { "NvimTreeFolderName", num, 0, hl_len })
+
+    table.insert(help_hl, { "NvimTreeFileRenamed", num, hl_len, -1 })
   end
   return help_lines, help_hl
 end
diff --git a/scripts/generate_default_keymaps.lua b/scripts/generate_default_keymaps.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..23ed0398374
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/generate_default_keymaps.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+-- luacheck:ignore 113
+---@diagnostic disable: undefined-global
+
+-- write DEFAULT_KEYMAPS in various formats
+
+local max_key = 0
+local max_short = 0
+local max_callback = 0
+local outs_help = {}
+
+for _, m in pairs(DEFAULT_KEYMAPS) do
+  local first = true
+  local keys = type(m.key) == "table" and m.key or { m.key }
+  for _, key in ipairs(keys) do
+    local out = {}
+    out.key = string.format("`%s`", key)
+    max_key = math.max(#out.key, max_key)
+    if first then
+      out.short = m.desc.short
+      max_short = math.max(#out.short, max_short)
+      out.long = m.desc.long
+      first = false
+    end
+    table.insert(outs_help, out)
+  end
+  max_callback = math.max(#m.callback, max_callback)
+end
+
+-- help
+local file = io.open("/tmp/DEFAULT_KEYMAPS.help", "w")
+io.output(file)
+io.write "\n"
+local fmt = string.format("%%-%d.%ds  %%-%d.%ds  %%s\n", max_key, max_key, max_short, max_short)
+for _, m in pairs(outs_help) do
+  if not m.short then
+    io.write(string.format("%s\n", m.key))
+  else
+    io.write(string.format(fmt, m.key, m.short, m.long))
+  end
+end
+io.write "\n"
+io.close(file)
+
+-- lua on_attach
+file = io.open("/tmp/DEFAULT_KEYMAPS.on_attach.lua", "w")
+io.output(file)
+io.write "local Api = require('nvim-tree.api')\n\n"
+io.write "local function on_attach(bufnr)\n"
+fmt = string.format(
+  "  vim.keymap.set('n', %%-%d.%ds %%-%d.%ds { buffer = bufnr, noremap = true, silent = true, nowait = true, desc = '%%s', })\n",
+  max_key + 3,
+  max_key + 3,
+  max_callback + 1,
+  max_callback + 1
+)
+for _, m in pairs(DEFAULT_KEYMAPS) do
+  local keys = type(m.key) == "table" and m.key or { m.key }
+  for _, key in ipairs(keys) do
+    io.write(string.format(fmt, "'" .. key .. "',", m.callback .. ",", m.desc.short))
+  end
+end
+io.write "end\n"
+io.close(file)
diff --git a/scripts/update-help.sh b/scripts/update-help.sh
index 46ac7c68937..8b284049192 100755
--- a/scripts/update-help.sh
+++ b/scripts/update-help.sh
@@ -31,3 +31,10 @@ sed -i -e "/${begin}/,/${end}/{ /${begin}/{p; r /tmp/DEFAULT_MAPPINGS.lua
            }; /${end}/p; d }" doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
 sed -i -e "/^DEFAULT MAPPINGS/,/^>$/{ /^DEFAULT MAPPINGS/{p; r /tmp/DEFAULT_MAPPINGS.help
            }; /^>$/p; d }" doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
+
+# generate various DEFAULT_KEYMAPS
+begin="BEGIN_DEFAULT_KEYMAPS"
+end="END_DEFAULT_KEYMAPS"
+sed -n -e "/${begin}/,/${end}/{ /${begin}/d; /${end}/d; s/callback = \(.*\),/callback = '\1',/g; p; }" lua/nvim-tree/keymap.lua > /tmp/DEFAULT_KEYMAPS.M.lua
+cat /tmp/DEFAULT_KEYMAPS.M.lua scripts/generate_default_keymaps.lua | lua
+