diff --git a/data/core/commands/core.lua b/data/core/commands/core.lua
index d818c391..0acf1f86 100644
--- a/data/core/commands/core.lua
+++ b/data/core/commands/core.lua
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ command.add(nil, {
 
   ["core:open-file"] = function()
     local view = core.active_view
-    if view.doc and view.doc.abs_filename then
-      core.command_view:set_text(common.home_encode(view.doc.abs_filename))
+    if view.doc and view.doc.filename then
+      core.command_view:set_text(common.home_encode(view.doc.filename))
     end
     core.command_view:enter("Open File", function(text, item)
       local filename = common.home_expand(item and item.text or text)
diff --git a/data/core/commands/doc.lua b/data/core/commands/doc.lua
index 9b6ba9af..b1f3ebcb 100644
--- a/data/core/commands/doc.lua
+++ b/data/core/commands/doc.lua
@@ -68,12 +68,10 @@ end
 
 
 local function save(filename)
-  local abs_filename
   if filename then
-    filename = core.normalize_to_project_dir(filename)
-    abs_filename = core.project_absolute_path(filename)
+    filename = core.normalize_to_working_dir(filename)
   end
-  doc():save(filename, abs_filename)
+  doc():save(filename)
   local saved_filename = doc().filename
   core.on_doc_save(saved_filename)
   core.log("Saved \"%s\"", saved_filename)
diff --git a/data/core/doc/init.lua b/data/core/doc/init.lua
index ca41cdad..ed561d23 100644
--- a/data/core/doc/init.lua
+++ b/data/core/doc/init.lua
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ local function splice(t, at, remove, insert)
 end
 
 
-function Doc:new(filename, abs_filename, new_file)
+function Doc:new(filename, new_file)
   self.new_file = new_file
   self:reset()
   if filename then
-    self:set_filename(filename, abs_filename)
+    self.filename = filename
     if not new_file then
       self:load(filename)
     end
@@ -69,12 +69,6 @@ function Doc:reset_syntax()
 end
 
 
-function Doc:set_filename(filename, abs_filename)
-  self.filename = filename
-  self.abs_filename = abs_filename
-end
-
-
 function Doc:load(filename)
   local fp = assert( io.open(filename, "rb") )
   self:reset()
@@ -94,11 +88,10 @@ function Doc:load(filename)
 end
 
 
-function Doc:save(filename, abs_filename)
+function Doc:save(filename)
   if not filename then
     assert(self.filename, "no filename set to default to")
     filename = self.filename
-    abs_filename = self.abs_filename
   end
   local fp = assert( io.open(filename, "wb") )
   for _, line in ipairs(self.lines) do
@@ -106,7 +99,7 @@ function Doc:save(filename, abs_filename)
     fp:write(line)
   end
   fp:close()
-  self:set_filename(filename, abs_filename)
+  self.filename = filename
   self.new_file = false
   self:reset_syntax()
   self:clean()
diff --git a/data/core/docview.lua b/data/core/docview.lua
index 070ee0c4..6070a386 100644
--- a/data/core/docview.lua
+++ b/data/core/docview.lua
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ end
 
 
 function DocView:get_filename()
-  if self.doc.abs_filename then
+  if self.doc.filename then
     local post = self.doc:is_dirty() and "*" or ""
-    return common.home_encode(self.doc.abs_filename) .. post
+    return common.home_encode(self.doc.filename) .. post
   end
   return self:get_name()
 end
diff --git a/data/core/init.lua b/data/core/init.lua
index 8f0e8f53..ab067a85 100644
--- a/data/core/init.lua
+++ b/data/core/init.lua
@@ -59,13 +59,11 @@ end
 
 
 function core.open_folder_project(dir_path_abs)
-  -- if core.set_project_dir(dir_path_abs, core.on_quit_project) then
   core.root_view:close_all_docviews()
   core.project_entries = {}
   -- FIXME: check stat info to verify is a directory
   core.add_project_directory(dir_path_abs)
   update_recents_project("add", dir_path_abs)
-  -- core.on_enter_project(dir_path_abs)
 end
 
 
@@ -304,7 +302,7 @@ end
 
 
 function core.add_project_file(path)
-  path = normalize_path(path)
+  path = common.normalize_path(path)
   table.insert(core.project_entries, {
     -- type = 'file',
     name = path,
@@ -404,6 +402,7 @@ function core.init()
   core.threads = setmetatable({}, { __mode = "k" })
   core.blink_start = system.get_time()
   core.blink_timer = core.blink_start
+  core.working_dir = system.absolute_path(".")
 
   local project_dir_abs = system.absolute_path(project_dir)
   if project_dir_abs then
@@ -411,7 +410,7 @@ function core.init()
     update_recents_project("add", project_dir_abs)
   end
   -- FIXME: below, check if project_dir_abs is ok as a project directory
-  local set_project_ok = project_dir_abs --and core.open_folder_project(project_dir_abs) --core.set_project_dir(project_dir_abs)
+  local set_project_ok = project_dir_abs
   if set_project_ok then
     if project_dir_explicit then
       update_recents_project("add", project_dir_abs)
@@ -722,16 +721,7 @@ function core.pop_clip_rect()
   renderer.set_clip_rect(x, y, w, h)
 end
 
-
-function core.normalize_to_project_dir(filename)
-  filename = common.normalize_path(filename)
-  if common.path_belongs_to(filename, core.project_dir) then
-    filename = common.relative_path(core.project_dir, filename)
-  end
-  return filename
-end
-
-
+-- FIXME: update comment
 -- The function below works like system.absolute_path except it
 -- doesn't fail if the file does not exist. We consider that the
 -- current dir is core.project_dir so relative filename are considered
@@ -739,31 +729,34 @@ end
 -- Please note that .. or . in the filename are not taken into account.
 -- This function should get only filenames normalized using
 -- common.normalize_path function.
-function core.project_absolute_path(filename)
+function core.working_dir_absolute_path(filename)
   if filename:match('^%a:\\') or filename:find('/', 1, true) then
     return filename
   else
-    return core.project_dir .. PATHSEP .. filename
+    return core.working_dir .. PATHSEP .. filename
   end
 end
 
+function core.normalize_to_working_dir(filename)
+  filename = common.normalize_path(filename)
+  return core.working_dir_absolute_path(filename)
+end
+
 
 function core.open_doc(filename)
   local new_file = not filename or not system.get_file_info(filename)
-  local abs_filename
   if filename then
     -- normalize filename and set absolute filename then
     -- try to find existing doc for filename
-    filename = core.normalize_to_project_dir(filename)
-    abs_filename = core.project_absolute_path(filename)
+    filename = core.normalize_to_working_dir(filename)
     for _, doc in ipairs(core.docs) do
-      if doc.abs_filename and abs_filename == doc.abs_filename then
+      if doc.filename and filename == doc.filename then
         return doc
       end
     end
   end
   -- no existing doc for filename; create new
-  local doc = Doc(filename, abs_filename, new_file)
+  local doc = Doc(filename, new_file)
   table.insert(core.docs, doc)
   core.log_quiet(filename and "Opened doc \"%s\"" or "Opened new doc", filename)
   return doc
@@ -1023,7 +1016,7 @@ end
 
 core.add_save_hook(function(filename)
   local doc = core.active_view.doc
-  if doc and doc:is(Doc) and doc.abs_filename == USERDIR .. PATHSEP .. "init.lua" then
+  if doc and doc:is(Doc) and doc.filename == USERDIR .. PATHSEP .. "init.lua" then
     core.reload_module("core.style")
     core.load_user_directory()
   end
diff --git a/data/plugins/treeview.lua b/data/plugins/treeview.lua
index bc88fdaf..87858b54 100644
--- a/data/plugins/treeview.lua
+++ b/data/plugins/treeview.lua
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ function TreeView:on_mouse_pressed(button, x, y, clicks)
     end
   else
     core.try(function()
-      local doc_filename = common.relative_path(core.project_dir, self.hovered_item.abs_filename)
+      local doc_filename = self.hovered_item.abs_filename
       core.root_view:open_doc(core.open_doc(doc_filename))
     end)
   end
diff --git a/data/plugins/workspace.lua b/data/plugins/workspace.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index 25c7f672..00000000
--- a/data/plugins/workspace.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,222 +0,0 @@
--- mod-version:1 -- lite-xl 1.16
-local core = require "core"
-local common = require "core.common"
-local DocView = require "core.docview"
-
-
-local function workspace_files_for(project_dir)
-  local basename = common.basename(project_dir)
-  local workspace_dir = USERDIR .. PATHSEP .. "ws"
-  local info_wsdir = system.get_file_info(workspace_dir)
-  if not info_wsdir then
-    local ok, err = system.mkdir(workspace_dir)
-    if not ok then
-      error("cannot create workspace directory: %s", err)
-    end
-  end
-  return coroutine.wrap(function()
-    local files = system.list_dir(workspace_dir) or {}
-    local n = #basename
-    for _, file in ipairs(files) do
-      if file:sub(1, n) == basename then
-        local id = tonumber(file:sub(n + 1):match("^-(%d+)$"))
-        if id then
-          coroutine.yield(workspace_dir .. PATHSEP .. file, id)
-        end
-      end
-    end
-  end)
-end
-
-
-local function load_workspace_file(project_dir)
-  for filename, id in workspace_files_for(project_dir) do
-    local load_f = loadfile(filename)
-    local workspace = load_f and load_f()
-    if workspace and workspace.path == project_dir then
-      os.remove(filename)
-      return workspace
-    end
-  end
-end
-
-
-local function get_workspace_filename(project_dir)
-  local id_list = {}
-  for filename, id in workspace_files_for(project_dir) do
-    id_list[id] = true
-  end
-  local id = 1
-  while id_list[id] do
-    id = id + 1
-  end
-  local basename = common.basename(project_dir)
-  return USERDIR .. PATHSEP .. "ws" .. PATHSEP .. basename .. "-" .. tostring(id)
-end
-
-
-local function has_no_locked_children(node)
-  if node.locked then return false end
-  if node.type == "leaf" then return true end
-  return has_no_locked_children(node.a) and has_no_locked_children(node.b)
-end
-
-
-local function get_unlocked_root(node)
-  if node.type == "leaf" then
-    return not node.locked and node
-  end
-  if has_no_locked_children(node) then
-    return node
-  end
-  return get_unlocked_root(node.a) or get_unlocked_root(node.b)
-end
-
-
-local function save_view(view)
-  local mt = getmetatable(view)
-  if mt == DocView then
-    return {
-      type = "doc",
-      active = (core.active_view == view),
-      filename = view.doc.filename,
-      selection = { view.doc:get_selection() },
-      scroll = { x = view.scroll.to.x, y = view.scroll.to.y },
-      text = not view.doc.filename and view.doc:get_text(1, 1, math.huge, math.huge)
-    }
-  end
-  for name, mod in pairs(package.loaded) do
-    if mod == mt then
-      return {
-        type = "view",
-        active = (core.active_view == view),
-        module = name
-      }
-    end
-  end
-end
-
-
-local function load_view(t)
-  if t.type == "doc" then
-    local ok, doc = pcall(core.open_doc, t.filename)
-    if not ok then
-      return DocView(core.open_doc())
-    end
-    local dv = DocView(doc)
-    if t.text then doc:insert(1, 1, t.text) end
-    doc:set_selection(table.unpack(t.selection))
-    dv.last_line, dv.last_col = doc:get_selection()
-    dv.scroll.x, dv.scroll.to.x = t.scroll.x, t.scroll.x
-    dv.scroll.y, dv.scroll.to.y = t.scroll.y, t.scroll.y
-    return dv
-  end
-  return require(t.module)()
-end
-
-
-local function save_node(node)
-  local res = {}
-  res.type = node.type
-  if node.type == "leaf" then
-    res.views = {}
-    for _, view in ipairs(node.views) do
-      local t = save_view(view)
-      if t then
-        table.insert(res.views, t)
-        if node.active_view == view then
-          res.active_view = #res.views
-        end
-      end
-    end
-  else
-    res.divider = node.divider
-    res.a = save_node(node.a)
-    res.b = save_node(node.b)
-  end
-  return res
-end
-
-
-local function load_node(node, t)
-  if t.type == "leaf" then
-    local res
-    for _, v in ipairs(t.views) do
-      local view = load_view(v)
-      if v.active then res = view end
-      node:add_view(view)
-    end
-    if t.active_view then
-      node:set_active_view(node.views[t.active_view])
-    end
-    return res
-  else
-    node:split(t.type == "hsplit" and "right" or "down")
-    node.divider = t.divider
-    local res1 = load_node(node.a, t.a)
-    local res2 = load_node(node.b, t.b)
-    return res1 or res2
-  end
-end
-
-
-local function save_directories()
-  local project_dir = core.project_dir
-  local dir_list = {}
-  for i = 2, #core.project_directories do
-    dir_list[#dir_list + 1] = common.relative_path(project_dir, core.project_directories[i].name)
-  end
-  return dir_list
-end
-
-
-local function save_workspace()
-  local root = get_unlocked_root(core.root_view.root_node)
-  local workspace_filename = get_workspace_filename(core.project_dir)
-  local fp = io.open(workspace_filename, "w")
-  if fp then
-    local node_text = common.serialize(save_node(root))
-    local dir_text = common.serialize(save_directories())
-    fp:write(string.format("return { path = %q, documents = %s, directories = %s }\n", core.project_dir, node_text, dir_text))
-    fp:close()
-  end
-end
-
-
-local function load_workspace()
-  local workspace = load_workspace_file(core.project_dir)
-  if workspace then
-    local root = get_unlocked_root(core.root_view.root_node)
-    local active_view = load_node(root, workspace.documents)
-    if active_view then
-      core.set_active_view(active_view)
-    end
-    for i, dir_name in ipairs(workspace.directories) do
-      core.add_project_directory(system.absolute_path(dir_name))
-    end
-  end
-end
-
-
-local run = core.run
-
-function core.run(...)
-  if #core.docs == 0 then
-    core.try(load_workspace)
-
-    local on_quit_project = core.on_quit_project
-    function core.on_quit_project()
-      core.try(save_workspace)
-      on_quit_project()
-    end
-
-    local on_enter_project = core.on_enter_project
-    function core.on_enter_project(new_dir)
-      on_enter_project(new_dir)
-      core.try(load_workspace)
-    end
-  end
-
-  core.run = run
-  return core.run(...)
-end