diff --git a/configuration.nix b/configuration.nix
index 435e145..7d6f417 100644
--- a/configuration.nix
+++ b/configuration.nix
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ inputs: let
       };
 
       vim.ui = {
+        borders.enable = true;
         noice.enable = true;
         colorizer.enable = true;
         modes-nvim.enable = false; # the theme looks terrible with catppuccin
diff --git a/docs/manual/custom-plugins.adoc b/docs/manual/custom-plugins.adoc
index 642b60e..6f6da92 100644
--- a/docs/manual/custom-plugins.adoc
+++ b/docs/manual/custom-plugins.adoc
@@ -3,11 +3,42 @@
 
 You can use custom plugins, before they are implemented in the flake.
 To add a plugin, you need to add it to your config's `config.vim.startPlugins` array.
-This is an example of adding the FrenzyExists/aquarium-vim plugin:
+
+
+=== New Method
+As of version 0.5, we have a more extensive API for configuring plugins, under `vim.extraPlugins`.
+
+Instead of using DAGs exposed by the library, you may use the extra plugin module as follows:
 
 [source,nix]
 ----
 {
+  config.vim.extraPlugins = with pkgs.vimPlugins; {
+    aerial = {
+      package = aerial-nvim;
+      setup = ''
+        require('aerial').setup {
+          -- some lua configuration here
+        }
+      '';
+    };
+    
+    harpoon = {
+      package = harpoon;
+      setup = "require('harpoon').setup {}";
+      after = ["aerial"];
+    };
+  };
+}
+----
+
+=== Old Method
+Users who have not yet updated to 0.5, or prefer a more hands-on approach may use the old method where the load orderof the plugins is determined by DAGs.
+
+[source,nix]
+----
+{
+  # fetch plugin source from GitHub and add it to startPlugins
   config.vim.startPlugins = [
     (pkgs.fetchFromGitHub {
       owner = "FrenzyExists";
diff --git a/docs/manual/home-manager.adoc b/docs/manual/home-manager.adoc
index a937738..df60652 100644
--- a/docs/manual/home-manager.adoc
+++ b/docs/manual/home-manager.adoc
@@ -43,38 +43,4 @@ Then we should be able to use the given module. E.g.
 }
 ----
 
-=== Custom vim/neovim plugins
 
-It is possible to add custom plugins to your configuration by using the `vim.startPlugins` option and the this flake's lua DAG library. 
-
-Start by adding it to startPlugins. This example uses nvim-surround, but the process will be similar for other plugins as well.
-
-[source,nix]
-----
-{
-  programs.neovim-flake = {
-    enable = true;
-    settings = {
-      vim.startPlugins = [ pkgs.vimPlugins.nvim-surround ];
-    };
-  };
-}
-----
-
-Followed by requiring the plugin, should it need one, in the lua DAG. Please note that you're able to name the DAG to however you want, the name will add a `--SECTION <name>` in the init.vim, under which it will be initialized. `lib.nvim.dag.entryAfter ["name"]` could also be used to initialize a plugin only after a previous plugin has beeni initialize
-Your final setup will likely look like this, where nvim-flake refers to your flake input or fetch.
-
-[source,nix]
-----
-{
-  programs.neovim-flake = {
-    enable = true;
-    settings = {
-      vim.startPlugins = [ pkgs.vimPlugins.nvim-surround ];
-      luaConfigRC.nvim-surround = nvim-flake.lib.nvim.dag.entryAnywhere '' # nvim-flake is a reference to the flake. Please change this accordingly to your config.
-        require("nvim-surround").setup()
-      '';
-    };
-  };
-}
-----
diff --git a/docs/release-notes/rl-0.5.adoc b/docs/release-notes/rl-0.5.adoc
index 865ee3f..cde1d4b 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes/rl-0.5.adoc
+++ b/docs/release-notes/rl-0.5.adoc
@@ -8,14 +8,18 @@
 
 https://github.com/horriblename[horriblename]:
 
-* Add transparency support for tokyonight theme.
+* Added transparency support for tokyonight theme.
 
-* Fix bug where cmp's close and scrollDocs mappings wasn't working.
+* Fixed a bug where cmp's close and scrollDocs mappings wasn't working.
+
+* Streamlined and simplified extra plugin API with the addition of <<opt-vim.extraPlugins>>.
 
 https://github.com/amanse[amanse]:
 
-* Add daily notes options for obsidian plugin
+* Added daily notes options for obsidian plugin.
 
 https://github.com/notashelf[notashelf]:
 
-* Add GitHub Copilot to completion sources
+* Added GitHub Copilot to completion sources.
+
+* Added <<opt-vim.ui.borders>> for global and individual plugin border configuration.
diff --git a/flake.lock b/flake.lock
index b69a675..c3b6a38 100644
--- a/flake.lock
+++ b/flake.lock
@@ -855,17 +855,17 @@
     "nmd": {
       "flake": false,
       "locked": {
-        "lastModified": 1680213367,
-        "narHash": "sha256-NbSXxpFAK5IMcsQTK0vSGy099HExx3SEagqW4Lpc+X8=",
-        "owner": "rycee",
+        "lastModified": 1687627428,
+        "narHash": "sha256-7zGfXuNS5RHqhpEdz2fwrtqvF86JRo5U1hrxZSYgcm8=",
+        "owner": "~rycee",
         "repo": "nmd",
-        "rev": "abb15317ebd17e5a0a7dd105e2ce52f2700185a8",
-        "type": "gitlab"
+        "rev": "824a380546b5d0d0eb701ff8cd5dbafb360750ff",
+        "type": "sourcehut"
       },
       "original": {
-        "owner": "rycee",
+        "owner": "~rycee",
         "repo": "nmd",
-        "type": "gitlab"
+        "type": "sourcehut"
       }
     },
     "noice-nvim": {
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 3e1d977..4de2635 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 
     # For generating documentation website
     nmd = {
-      url = "gitlab:rycee/nmd";
+      url = "sourcehut:~rycee/nmd";
       flake = false;
     };
 
diff --git a/lib/types/default.nix b/lib/types/default.nix
index 6d5777d..bfaa38d 100644
--- a/lib/types/default.nix
+++ b/lib/types/default.nix
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@
   typesLanguage = import ./languages.nix {inherit lib;};
 in {
   inherit (typesDag) dagOf;
-  inherit (typesPlugin) pluginsOpt;
+  inherit (typesPlugin) pluginsOpt extraPluginType;
   inherit (typesLanguage) diagnostics mkGrammarOption;
 }
diff --git a/lib/types/plugins.nix b/lib/types/plugins.nix
index 1a65fa7..ccbde55 100644
--- a/lib/types/plugins.nix
+++ b/lib/types/plugins.nix
@@ -92,15 +92,37 @@ with lib; let
     "copilot-cmp"
   ];
   # You can either use the name of the plugin or a package.
-  pluginsType = with types;
-    listOf (
-      nullOr (
-        either
-        (enum availablePlugins)
-        package
-      )
+  pluginType = with types;
+    nullOr (
+      either
+      package
+      (enum availablePlugins)
     );
+
+  pluginsType = types.listOf pluginType;
+
+  extraPluginType = with types;
+    submodule {
+      options = {
+        package = mkOption {
+          type = pluginType;
+        };
+        after = mkOption {
+          type = listOf str;
+          default = [];
+          description = "Setup this plugin after the following ones.";
+        };
+        setup = mkOption {
+          type = lines;
+          default = "";
+          description = "Lua code to run during setup.";
+          example = "require('aerial').setup {}";
+        };
+      };
+    };
 in {
+  inherit extraPluginType;
+
   pluginsOpt = {
     description,
     default ? [],
diff --git a/modules/completion/nvim-cmp/config.nix b/modules/completion/nvim-cmp/config.nix
index 52e8972..e7ab3ac 100644
--- a/modules/completion/nvim-cmp/config.nix
+++ b/modules/completion/nvim-cmp/config.nix
@@ -193,12 +193,14 @@ in {
 
       local cmp = require'cmp'
       cmp.setup({
+        ${optionalString (config.vim.ui.borders.enable) ''
+        -- explicitly enabled by setting ui.borders.enable = true
+        -- TODO: try to get nvim-cmp to follow global border style
         window = {
-          -- TODO: at some point, those need to be optional
-          -- but first nvim cmp module needs to be detached from "cfg.autocomplete"
           completion = cmp.config.window.bordered(),
           documentation = cmp.config.window.bordered(),
         },
+      ''}
 
         snippet = {
           expand = function(args)
diff --git a/modules/core/default.nix b/modules/core/default.nix
index 9261caf..fd097ef 100644
--- a/modules/core/default.nix
+++ b/modules/core/default.nix
@@ -158,6 +158,27 @@ in {
       description = "List of plugins to optionally load";
     };
 
+    extraPlugins = mkOption {
+      type = types.attrsOf nvim.types.extraPluginType;
+      default = {};
+      description = ''
+        List of plugins and related config.
+        Note that these are setup after builtin plugins.
+      '';
+      example = literalExpression ''
+          with pkgs.vimPlugins; {
+          aerial = {
+            package = aerial-nvim;
+            setup = "require('aerial').setup {}";
+          };
+          harpoon = {
+            package = harpoon;
+            setup = "require('harpoon').setup {}";
+            after = ["aerial"];
+          };
+        }'';
+    };
+
     globals = mkOption {
       default = {};
       description = "Set containing global variable values";
@@ -297,6 +318,7 @@ in {
       result;
   in {
     vim = {
+      startPlugins = map (x: x.package) (attrValues cfg.extraPlugins);
       configRC = {
         globalsScript = nvim.dag.entryAnywhere (concatStringsSep "\n" globalsScript);
 
@@ -314,6 +336,27 @@ in {
         in
           nvim.dag.entryAfter ["globalsScript"] luaConfig;
 
+        extraPluginConfigs = let
+          mkSection = r: ''
+            -- SECTION: ${r.name}
+            ${r.data}
+          '';
+          mapResult = r: (wrapLuaConfig (concatStringsSep "\n" (map mkSection r)));
+          extraPluginsDag = mapAttrs (_: {
+            after,
+            setup,
+            ...
+          }:
+            nvim.dag.entryAfter after setup)
+          cfg.extraPlugins;
+          pluginConfig = resolveDag {
+            name = "extra plugins config";
+            dag = extraPluginsDag;
+            inherit mapResult;
+          };
+        in
+          nvim.dag.entryAfter ["luaScript"] pluginConfig;
+
         # This is probably not the right way to set the config. I'm not sure how it should look like.
         mappings = let
           maps = [
diff --git a/modules/lsp/lsp-signature/config.nix b/modules/lsp/lsp-signature/config.nix
index 738dcb5..1e73476 100644
--- a/modules/lsp/lsp-signature/config.nix
+++ b/modules/lsp/lsp-signature/config.nix
@@ -14,7 +14,14 @@ in {
 
     vim.luaConfigRC.lsp-signature = nvim.dag.entryAnywhere ''
       -- Enable lsp signature viewer
-      require("lsp_signature").setup()
+      require("lsp_signature").setup({
+        ${optionalString (config.vim.ui.borders.plugins.lsp-signature.enable) ''
+        bind = true, -- This is mandatory, otherwise border config won't get registered.
+        handler_opts = {
+          border = "${config.vim.ui.borders.plugins.lsp-signature.style}"
+        }
+      ''}
+      })
     '';
   };
 }
diff --git a/modules/lsp/lspconfig/config.nix b/modules/lsp/lspconfig/config.nix
index 70485be..e9d7b3c 100644
--- a/modules/lsp/lspconfig/config.nix
+++ b/modules/lsp/lspconfig/config.nix
@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@ in {
 
       vim.luaConfigRC.lspconfig = nvim.dag.entryAfter ["lsp-setup"] ''
         local lspconfig = require('lspconfig')
+
+        ${
+          # TODO: make border style configurable
+          optionalString (config.vim.ui.borders.enable) ''
+            require('lspconfig.ui.windows').default_options.border = '${config.vim.ui.borders.globalStyle}'
+          ''
+        }
       '';
     }
     {
diff --git a/modules/lsp/lspsaga/config.nix b/modules/lsp/lspsaga/config.nix
index 3b7ea26..74b91fc 100644
--- a/modules/lsp/lspsaga/config.nix
+++ b/modules/lsp/lspsaga/config.nix
@@ -39,7 +39,11 @@ in {
     vim.luaConfigRC.lspsage = nvim.dag.entryAnywhere ''
       -- Enable lspsaga
       local saga = require 'lspsaga'
-      saga.init_lsp_saga()
+      saga.init_lsp_saga({
+        ${optionalString (config.vim.ui.borders.plugins.lspsaga.enable) ''
+        border_style = '${config.vim.ui.borders.plugins.lspsaga.style}',
+      ''}
+      })
     '';
   };
 }
diff --git a/modules/minimap/codewindow/config.nix b/modules/minimap/codewindow/config.nix
index 1025e63..ac82829 100644
--- a/modules/minimap/codewindow/config.nix
+++ b/modules/minimap/codewindow/config.nix
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ in {
     vim.luaConfigRC.codewindow = nvim.dag.entryAnywhere ''
       local codewindow = require('codewindow')
       codewindow.setup({
-        exclude_filetypes = { 'NvimTree', 'orgagenda'},
+        exclude_filetypes = { 'NvimTree', 'orgagenda', 'Alpha'},
       })
     '';
   };
diff --git a/modules/ui/borders/borders.nix b/modules/ui/borders/borders.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..179de44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/ui/borders/borders.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{
+  config,
+  lib,
+  ...
+}: let
+  inherit (lib) mkOption mkEnableOption types;
+
+  cfg = config.vim.ui.borders;
+
+  defaultStyles = ["none" "single" "double" "rounded"];
+in {
+  options.vim.ui.borders = {
+    enable = mkEnableOption "visible borders for most windows";
+
+    globalStyle = mkOption {
+      type = types.enum defaultStyles;
+      default = "rounded";
+      description = ''
+        global border style to use
+      '';
+    };
+
+    # TODO: make per-plugin borders configurable
+    plugins = let
+      mkPluginStyleOption = name: {
+        enable = mkEnableOption "whether to enable borders for the ${name} plugin" // {default = cfg.enable;};
+
+        style = mkOption {
+          type = types.enum (defaultStyles ++ lib.optionals (name != "which-key") ["shadow"]);
+          default = cfg.globalStyle;
+          description = "border style to use for the ${name} plugin";
+        };
+      };
+    in {
+      # despite not having it listed in example configuration, which-key does support the rounded type
+      # additionall, it supports a "shadow" type that is similar to none but is of higher contrast
+      which-key = mkPluginStyleOption "which-key";
+      lspsaga = mkPluginStyleOption "lspsaga";
+      nvim-cmp = mkPluginStyleOption "nvim-cmp";
+      lsp-signature = mkPluginStyleOption "lsp-signature";
+    };
+  };
+}
diff --git a/modules/ui/borders/default.nix b/modules/ui/borders/default.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..526ac4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/ui/borders/default.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+_: {
+  imports = [
+    ./borders.nix
+  ];
+}
diff --git a/modules/ui/breadcrumbs/config.nix b/modules/ui/breadcrumbs/config.nix
index 01d5d2c..7bf7dc1 100644
--- a/modules/ui/breadcrumbs/config.nix
+++ b/modules/ui/breadcrumbs/config.nix
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ in {
 
           lsp = {
               auto_attach = ${boolToString nb.lsp.autoAttach},
-              preference = nil, -- TODO: convert list to lua table if not null
+              -- preference = nil, -- TODO: convert list to lua table if not null
           },
 
           source_buffer = {
diff --git a/modules/ui/default.nix b/modules/ui/default.nix
index 1c63c40..bbcb9d2 100644
--- a/modules/ui/default.nix
+++ b/modules/ui/default.nix
@@ -7,5 +7,6 @@ _: {
     ./colorizer
     ./illuminate
     ./breadcrumbs
+    ./borders
   ];
 }
diff --git a/modules/ui/noice/config.nix b/modules/ui/noice/config.nix
index 705256b..d12ebf0 100644
--- a/modules/ui/noice/config.nix
+++ b/modules/ui/noice/config.nix
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ in {
           command_palette = true, -- position the cmdline and popupmenu together
           long_message_to_split = true, -- long messages will be sent to a split
           inc_rename = false, -- enables an input dialog for inc-rename.nvim
-          lsp_doc_border = false, -- add a border to hover docs and signature help
+          lsp_doc_border = ${boolToString (config.vim.ui.borders.enable)}, -- add a border to hover docs and signature help
         },
 
         format = {
diff --git a/modules/utility/binds/which-key/config.nix b/modules/utility/binds/which-key/config.nix
index a5c1569..8b0fa6c 100644
--- a/modules/utility/binds/which-key/config.nix
+++ b/modules/utility/binds/which-key/config.nix
@@ -18,7 +18,13 @@ in {
           ["<leader>"] = "SPACE",
           ["<cr>"] = "RETURN",
           ["<tab>"] = "TAB",
-        }
+        },
+
+        ${lib.optionalString (config.vim.ui.borders.plugins.which-key.enable) ''
+        window = {
+          border = "${config.vim.ui.borders.plugins.which-key.style}",
+        },
+      ''}
       })
 
       wk.register({