diff --git a/.vimrc b/.vimrc
index c9107f1..5bffd40 100644
--- a/.vimrc
+++ b/.vimrc
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ set hidden              " switch buffers without saving
 set ignorecase smartcase " smart case search
 set scrolloff=8         " keep 8 lines visible above/below cursor
 set undofile            " persistent undo across sessions
+set undodir=~/.vim/undo//
+set directory=~/.vim/swap//
+set backupdir=~/.vim/backup//
+set nobackup
 set mouse=a             " mouse support
 
 
diff --git a/.zshrc b/.zshrc
index 32b072d..51b7eb5 100644
--- a/.zshrc
+++ b/.zshrc
@@ -120,6 +120,14 @@ if (( $+commands[fzf] )); then
   export FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS='--height 40% --reverse'
 fi
 
+# ls defaults
+if (( $+commands[dircolors] )); then
+  [[ -z "$LS_COLORS" ]] && eval "$(dircolors --sh)"
+  alias ls='ls --group-directories-first --color=auto'
+else
+  alias ls='ls -F'
+fi
+
 # aliases: git
 alias g="git"
 alias a="git add --all :/"
@@ -151,6 +159,19 @@ function y() {
   rm -f -- "$tmp"
 }
 
+# functions
+function mkcd {
+  : "${1:?where?}"
+  [[ -e $1 ]] && { echo "file exists"; return 1 }
+  mkdir -p $1 && cd $1
+}
+
+function cdtmp {
+  local dir="${HOME}/tmp/auto_$(date +%Y_%m_%d_%H_%M_%S)"
+  [[ -n "$1" ]] && dir="${dir}_$1"
+  mkcd "$dir"
+}
+
 # aliases: misc
 alias zshreload="exec zsh"
 alias -g LATEST='*(om[1])'            # glob: most recently modified