diff --git a/deps.edn b/deps.edn
index 2efd7dc4f..5973eda1c 100644
--- a/deps.edn
+++ b/deps.edn
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@
                                                                  :exclusions [org.babashka/sci]}
                                io.github.nextjournal/clerk-slideshow {:git/sha "11a83fea564da04b9d17734f2031a4921d917893"}}}
 
+           :nextjournal/garden {:exec-fn nextjournal.clerk/serve!
+                                :exec-args {:index "book.clj"}
+                                :nextjournal.garden/aliases [:demo]}
+
            :build {:deps {io.github.nextjournal/clerk {:local/root "."}
                           io.github.nextjournal/cas-client {:git/sha "22ef8360689cd3938e43a3223023ab1b9711818f"}
                           io.github.clojure/tools.build {:git/tag "v0.6.1" :git/sha "515b334"}
diff --git a/garden.edn b/garden.edn
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ef60faf70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/garden.edn
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{:project "book-of-clerk"}
diff --git a/notebooks/intern.clj b/notebooks/intern.clj
index 79a3ff1cc..98a146b66 100644
--- a/notebooks/intern.clj
+++ b/notebooks/intern.clj
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@ c
   (ns-unmap *ns* 'variable)
   (ns-unmap (find-ns 'foreign) 'variable)
 
-  (reset! nextjournal.clerk.webserver/!doc nextjournal.clerk.webserver/help-doc)
-
   ;; inspect recorded interns
   (-> @nextjournal.clerk.webserver/!doc
       :blocks (->> (mapcat (comp :nextjournal/interned :result))))
diff --git a/src/nextjournal/clerk.clj b/src/nextjournal/clerk.clj
index 7f6c99096..a5a9c3e0f 100644
--- a/src/nextjournal/clerk.clj
+++ b/src/nextjournal/clerk.clj
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
             [nextjournal.clerk.config :as config]
             [nextjournal.clerk.eval :as eval]
             [nextjournal.clerk.parser :as parser]
+            [nextjournal.clerk.paths :as paths]
             [nextjournal.clerk.viewer :as v]
             [nextjournal.clerk.webserver :as webserver]))
 
@@ -51,7 +52,10 @@
 
                     :else
                     file-or-ns)
-             doc (try (merge opts
+             doc (try (merge (webserver/get-build-opts)
+                             opts
+                             (when-let [path (paths/path-in-cwd file-or-ns)]
+                               {:file-path path})
                              {:nav-path (webserver/->nav-path file-or-ns)}
                              (parser/parse-file {:doc? true} file))
                       (catch java.io.FileNotFoundException _e
@@ -63,7 +67,8 @@
                                         e))))
              _ (reset! !last-file file)
              {:keys [blob->result]} @webserver/!doc
-             {:keys [result time-ms]} (try (eval/time-ms (eval/+eval-results blob->result (assoc doc :set-status-fn webserver/set-status!)))
+             {:keys [result time-ms]} (try (eval/time-ms (binding [paths/*build-opts* (webserver/get-build-opts)]
+                                                           (eval/+eval-results blob->result (assoc doc :set-status-fn webserver/set-status!))))
                                            (catch Exception e
                                              (throw (ex-info (str "`nextjournal.clerk/show!` encountered an eval error with: `" (pr-str file-or-ns) "`") {::doc (assoc doc :blob->result blob->result)} e))))]
          (println (str "Clerk evaluated '" file "' in " time-ms "ms."))
diff --git a/src/nextjournal/clerk/builder.clj b/src/nextjournal/clerk/builder.clj
index 8523b5aa9..b203e3e35 100644
--- a/src/nextjournal/clerk/builder.clj
+++ b/src/nextjournal/clerk/builder.clj
@@ -2,19 +2,18 @@
   "Clerk's Static App Builder."
   (:require [babashka.fs :as fs]
             [babashka.process :refer [sh]]
-            [clojure.edn :as edn]
             [clojure.java.browse :as browse]
             [clojure.java.io :as io]
             [clojure.string :as str]
             [nextjournal.clerk.analyzer :as analyzer]
             [nextjournal.clerk.builder-ui :as builder-ui]
+            [nextjournal.clerk.config :as config]
             [nextjournal.clerk.eval :as eval]
             [nextjournal.clerk.parser :as parser]
+            [nextjournal.clerk.paths :as paths]
             [nextjournal.clerk.view :as view]
             [nextjournal.clerk.viewer :as viewer]
-            [nextjournal.clerk.webserver :as webserver]
-            [nextjournal.clerk.config :as config])
-  (:import (java.net URL)))
+            [nextjournal.clerk.webserver :as webserver]))
 
 (def clerk-docs
   (into ["CHANGELOG.md"
@@ -127,84 +126,6 @@
 (def default-out-path
   (str "public" fs/file-separator "build"))
 
-(defn ^:private ensure-not-empty [build-opts {:as opts :keys [error expanded-paths]}]
-  (if error
-    opts
-    (if (empty? expanded-paths)
-      (merge {:error "nothing to build" :expanded-paths expanded-paths} (select-keys build-opts [:paths :paths-fn :index]))
-      opts)))
-
-(defn ^:private maybe-add-index [{:as build-opts :keys [index]} {:as opts :keys [expanded-paths]}]
-  (if-not (contains? build-opts :index)
-    opts
-    (if (and (not (instance? URL index))
-             (not (symbol? index))
-             (or (not (string? index)) (not (fs/exists? index))))
-      {:error "`:index` must be either an instance of java.net.URL or a string and point to an existing file"
-       :index index}
-      (cond-> opts
-        (and index (not (contains? (set expanded-paths) index)))
-        (update :expanded-paths conj index)))))
-
-#_(maybe-add-index {:index "book.clj"} {:expanded-paths ["README.md"]})
-#_(maybe-add-index {:index 'book.clj} {:expanded-paths ["README.md"]})
-
-(defn resolve-paths [{:as build-opts :keys [paths paths-fn index]}]
-  (when (and paths paths-fn)
-    (binding [*out* *err*]
-      (println "[info] both `:paths` and `:paths-fn` are set, `:paths` will take precendence.")))
-  (if (not (or paths paths-fn index))
-    {:error "must set either `:paths`, `:paths-fn` or `:index`."
-     :build-opts build-opts}
-    (cond paths (if (sequential? paths)
-                  {:resolved-paths paths}
-                  {:error "`:paths` must be sequential" :paths paths})
-          paths-fn (let [ex-msg "`:path-fn` must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var."]
-                     (if-not (qualified-symbol? paths-fn)
-                       {:error ex-msg :paths-fn paths-fn}
-                       (if-some [resolved-var (try (requiring-resolve paths-fn)
-                                                   (catch Exception _e nil))]
-                         (let [{:as opts :keys [error paths]}
-                               (try {:paths (cond-> @resolved-var (fn? @resolved-var) (apply []))}
-                                    (catch Exception e
-                                      {:error (str "An error occured invoking `" (pr-str resolved-var) "`: " (ex-message e))
-                                       :paths-fn paths-fn}))]
-                           (if error
-                             opts
-                             (if-not (sequential? paths)
-                               {:error (str "`:paths-fn` must compute to a sequential value.")
-                                :paths-fn paths-fn :resolved-paths paths}
-                               {:resolved-paths paths})))
-                         {:error ex-msg :paths-fn paths-fn})))
-          index {:resolved-paths []})))
-
-#_(resolve-paths {:paths ["notebooks/di*.clj"]})
-#_(resolve-paths {:paths-fn 'clojure.core/inc})
-#_(resolve-paths {:paths-fn 'nextjournal.clerk.builder/clerk-docs})
-
-(defn expand-paths [build-opts]
-  (let [{:as opts :keys [error resolved-paths]} (resolve-paths build-opts)]
-    (if error
-      opts
-      (->> resolved-paths
-           (mapcat (fn [path] (if (fs/exists? path)
-                                [path]
-                                (fs/glob "." path))))
-           (filter (complement fs/directory?))
-           (mapv (comp str fs/file))
-           (hash-map :expanded-paths)
-           (maybe-add-index build-opts)
-           (ensure-not-empty build-opts)))))
-
-#_(expand-paths {:paths ["notebooks/di*.clj"] :index "src/nextjournal/clerk/index.clj"})
-#_(expand-paths {:paths ['notebooks/rule_30.clj]})
-#_(expand-paths {:index "book.clj"})
-#_(expand-paths {:paths-fn `clerk-docs})
-#_(expand-paths {:paths-fn `clerk-docs-2})
-#_(do (defn my-paths [] ["notebooks/h*.clj"])§
-      (expand-paths {:paths-fn `my-paths}))
-#_(expand-paths {:paths ["notebooks/viewers**"]})
-
 (def builtin-index
   (io/resource "nextjournal/clerk/index.clj"))
 
@@ -216,17 +137,15 @@
          (let [opts+index (cond-> opts
                             index (assoc :index (str index)))
                {:as opts' :keys [expanded-paths]} (cond-> opts+index
-                                                    expand-paths? (merge (expand-paths opts+index)))]
+                                                    expand-paths? (merge (paths/expand-paths opts+index)))]
            (-> opts'
                (update :resource->url #(merge {} %2 %1) @config/!resource->url)
                (cond-> #_opts'
                  expand-paths?
                  (dissoc :expand-paths?)
-                 (and (not index) (= 1 (count expanded-paths)))
-                 (assoc :index (first expanded-paths))
                  (and (not index) (< 1 (count expanded-paths)) (every? (complement viewer/index-path?) expanded-paths))
                  (as-> opts
-                   (-> opts (assoc :index builtin-index) (update :expanded-paths conj builtin-index))))))))
+                     (-> opts (assoc :index builtin-index) (update :expanded-paths conj builtin-index))))))))
 
 #_(process-build-opts {:index 'book.clj :expand-paths? true})
 #_(process-build-opts {:paths ["notebooks/rule_30.clj"] :expand-paths? true})
@@ -336,31 +255,6 @@
      (str (viewer/relative-root-prefix-from (viewer/map-index opts file)) path
           (when fragment (str "#" fragment))))))
 
-(defn read-opts-from-deps-edn! []
-  (if (fs/exists? "deps.edn")
-    (let [deps-edn (edn/read-string (slurp "deps.edn"))]
-      (if-some [clerk-alias (get-in deps-edn [:aliases :nextjournal/clerk])]
-        (get clerk-alias :exec-args
-             {:error (str "No `:exec-args` found in `:nextjournal/clerk` alias.")})
-        {:error (str "No `:nextjournal/clerk` alias found in `deps.edn`.")}))
-    {:error (str "No `deps.edn` found in project.")}))
-
-(def ^:dynamic ^:private *build-opts* nil)
-(def build-help-link "\n\nLearn how to [set up your static build](https://book.clerk.vision/#static-building).")
-(defn index-paths
-  ([] (index-paths (or *build-opts* (read-opts-from-deps-edn!))))
-  ([{:as opts :keys [index error]}]
-   (if error
-     (update opts :error str build-help-link)
-     (let [{:as result :keys [expanded-paths error]} (expand-paths opts)]
-       (if error
-         (update result :error str build-help-link)
-         {:paths (remove #{index "index.clj"} expanded-paths)})))))
-
-#_(index-paths)
-#_(index-paths {:paths ["CHANGELOG.md"]})
-#_(index-paths {:paths-fn "boom"})
-
 (defn build-static-app! [{:as opts :keys [bundle?]}]
   (let [{:as opts :keys [download-cache-fn upload-cache-fn report-fn compile-css? expanded-paths error]}
         (process-build-opts (assoc opts :expand-paths? true))
@@ -391,11 +285,10 @@
                       (let [{result :result duration :time-ms} (eval/time-ms
                                                                 (try
                                                                   (binding [*ns* *ns*
-                                                                            *build-opts* opts
+                                                                            paths/*build-opts* opts
                                                                             viewer/doc-url (partial doc-url opts file)]
                                                                     (let [doc (eval/eval-analyzed-doc doc)]
                                                                       (assoc doc :viewer (view/doc->viewer (assoc opts
-                                                                                                                  :static-build? true
                                                                                                                   :nav-path (if (instance? java.net.URL file)
                                                                                                                               (str "'" (:ns doc))
                                                                                                                               (str file)))
diff --git a/src/nextjournal/clerk/git.clj b/src/nextjournal/clerk/git.clj
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..78984a6c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nextjournal/clerk/git.clj
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+(ns nextjournal.clerk.git
+  "Clerk's Git integration for backlinks to source code repos."
+  (:require [babashka.process :as p]
+            [clojure.string :as str]))
+
+(defn ^:private shell-out-str
+  "Shell helper, calls a cmd and returns it output string trimmed."
+  [cmd]
+  (str/trim (:out (p/shell {:out :string} cmd))))
+
+#_(shell-out-str "git rev-parse HEAD")
+#_(shell-out-str "zonk")
+
+(defn ->github-project [remote-url]
+  (second (re-find #"^git@github\.com:(.*)\.git$" remote-url)))
+
+(defn ->https-git-url
+  "Takes a git `remote-url` and tries to convert it into a https url for
+  backlinks. Currently only works for github, should be extended for
+  gitlab, etc."
+  [remote-url]
+  (cond
+    (str/starts-with? remote-url "https://")
+    (str/replace remote-url #"\.git$" "")
+
+    (->github-project remote-url)
+    (str "https://github.com/%s" (->github-project remote-url))))
+
+#_(->https-git-url "https://github.com/nextjournal/clerk.git")
+#_(->https-git-url "git@github.com:nextjournal/clerk.git")
+
+(defn read-git-attrs []
+  (try {:git/sha (shell-out-str "git rev-parse HEAD")
+        :git/url (some ->https-git-url
+                       (map #(shell-out-str (str "git remote get-url " %))
+                            (str/split-lines (shell-out-str "git remote"))))}
+       (catch Exception _
+         {})))
+
+#_(read-git-attrs)
diff --git a/src/nextjournal/clerk/home.clj b/src/nextjournal/clerk/home.clj
index 891a207eb..64e84c09d 100644
--- a/src/nextjournal/clerk/home.clj
+++ b/src/nextjournal/clerk/home.clj
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 (ns nextjournal.clerk.home
   {:nextjournal.clerk/visibility {:code :hide :result :hide}}
-  (:require [clojure.string :as str]
-            [babashka.fs :as fs]
+  (:require [babashka.fs :as fs]
+            [clojure.string :as str]
             [nextjournal.clerk :as clerk]
-            [nextjournal.clerk.builder :as builder]
+            [nextjournal.clerk.paths :as paths]
             [nextjournal.clerk.viewer :as v]))
 
 (defn glob-notebooks []
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
    (when-not (seq (:query @!filter))
      [:div {:class "w-1/2 pt-6 pl-6"}
       [:h4.text-lg "Static Build Index"]
-      (let [{:keys [paths error]} (builder/index-paths)]
+      (let [{:keys [paths error]} (paths/index-paths)]
         (cond
           error [:div {:class "-mx-8"} (clerk/md error)]
           paths (let [{:keys [query]} @!filter]
diff --git a/src/nextjournal/clerk/index.clj b/src/nextjournal/clerk/index.clj
index 79a728bae..ed89c99d7 100644
--- a/src/nextjournal/clerk/index.clj
+++ b/src/nextjournal/clerk/index.clj
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 (ns nextjournal.clerk.index
-  {:nextjournal.clerk/visibility {:code :hide :result :hide}}
+  {:nextjournal.clerk/visibility {:code :hide :result :hide}
+   :nextjournal.clerk/no-cache true}
   (:require [babashka.fs :as fs]
             [clojure.string :as str]
             [nextjournal.clerk :as clerk]
-            [nextjournal.clerk.viewer :as v]
-            [nextjournal.clerk.builder :as builder]))
+            [nextjournal.clerk.paths :as paths]
+            [nextjournal.clerk.viewer :as v]))
 
-(def !paths (delay (builder/index-paths)))
+(def !paths (delay (paths/index-paths)))
 
 (def index-item-viewer
   {:pred string?
@@ -41,4 +42,4 @@
 (clerk/html
  [:div.text-xs.text-slate-400.font-sans.mb-8.not-prose
   [:span.block.font-medium "This index page was automatically generated by Clerk."]
-  "You can customize it by adding a index.clj file to your project’s root directory. See " [:a.text-blue-600.dark:text-blue-300.hover:underline {:href "https://book.clerk.vision/#static-building"} "Static Publishing"] " in the " [:a.text-blue-600.dark:text-blue-300.hover:underline {:href "http://book.clerk.vision"} "Book of Clerk"] "."])
+  "You can customize it by adding an index.clj file to your project’s root directory. See " [:a.text-blue-600.dark:text-blue-300.hover:underline {:href "https://book.clerk.vision/#static-building"} "Static Publishing"] " in the " [:a.text-blue-600.dark:text-blue-300.hover:underline {:href "http://book.clerk.vision"} "Book of Clerk"] "."])
diff --git a/src/nextjournal/clerk/paths.clj b/src/nextjournal/clerk/paths.clj
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d877b0a34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nextjournal/clerk/paths.clj
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+(ns nextjournal.clerk.paths
+  "Clerk's paths expansion and paths-fn handling."
+  (:require [babashka.fs :as fs]
+            [clojure.edn :as edn]
+            [clojure.string :as str]
+            [nextjournal.clerk.git :as git])
+  (:import [java.net URL]))
+
+(defn ^:private ensure-not-empty [build-opts {:as opts :keys [error expanded-paths]}]
+  (if error
+    opts
+    (if (empty? expanded-paths)
+      (merge {:error "nothing to build" :expanded-paths expanded-paths} (select-keys build-opts [:paths :paths-fn :index]))
+      opts)))
+
+(defn ^:private maybe-add-index [{:as build-opts :keys [index]} {:as opts :keys [expanded-paths]}]
+  (if-not (contains? build-opts :index)
+    opts
+    (if (and (not (instance? URL index))
+             (not (symbol? index))
+             (or (not (string? index)) (not (fs/exists? index))))
+      {:error "`:index` must be either an instance of java.net.URL or a string and point to an existing file"
+       :index index}
+      (cond-> opts
+        (and index (not (contains? (set expanded-paths) index)))
+        (update :expanded-paths conj index)))))
+
+#_(maybe-add-index {:index "book.clj"} {:expanded-paths ["README.md"]})
+#_(maybe-add-index {:index 'book.clj} {:expanded-paths ["README.md"]})
+
+(defn resolve-paths [{:as build-opts :keys [paths paths-fn index]}]
+  (when (and paths paths-fn)
+    (binding [*out* *err*]
+      (println "[info] both `:paths` and `:paths-fn` are set, `:paths` will take precendence.")))
+  (if (not (or paths paths-fn index))
+    {:error "must set either `:paths`, `:paths-fn` or `:index`."
+     :build-opts build-opts}
+    (cond paths (if (sequential? paths)
+                  {:resolved-paths paths}
+                  {:error "`:paths` must be sequential" :paths paths})
+          paths-fn (let [ex-msg "`:path-fn` must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var."]
+                     (if-not (qualified-symbol? paths-fn)
+                       {:error ex-msg :paths-fn paths-fn}
+                       (if-some [resolved-var (try (requiring-resolve paths-fn)
+                                                   (catch Exception _e nil))]
+                         (let [{:as opts :keys [error paths]}
+                               (try {:paths (cond-> @resolved-var (fn? @resolved-var) (apply []))}
+                                    (catch Exception e
+                                      {:error (str "An error occured invoking `" (pr-str resolved-var) "`: " (ex-message e))
+                                       :paths-fn paths-fn}))]
+                           (if error
+                             opts
+                             (if-not (sequential? paths)
+                               {:error (str "`:paths-fn` must compute to a sequential value.")
+                                :paths-fn paths-fn :resolved-paths paths}
+                               {:resolved-paths paths})))
+                         {:error ex-msg :paths-fn paths-fn})))
+          index {:resolved-paths []})))
+
+#_(resolve-paths {:paths ["notebooks/di*.clj"]})
+#_(resolve-paths {:paths-fn 'clojure.core/inc})
+#_(resolve-paths {:paths-fn 'nextjournal.clerk.builder/clerk-docs})
+
+(defn set-index-when-single-path [{:as opts :keys [expanded-paths]}]
+  (cond-> opts
+    (and (not (contains? opts :index))
+         (= 1 (count expanded-paths)))
+    (assoc :index (first expanded-paths))))
+
+#_(set-index-when-single-path {:expanded-paths ["notebooks/rule_30.clj"]})
+#_(set-index-when-single-path {:expanded-paths ["notebooks/rule_30.clj" "book.clj"]})
+
+(defn expand-paths [build-opts]
+  (let [{:as opts :keys [error resolved-paths]} (resolve-paths build-opts)]
+    (if error
+      opts
+      (->> resolved-paths
+           (mapcat (fn [path] (if (fs/exists? path)
+                                [path]
+                                (fs/glob "." path))))
+           (filter (complement fs/directory?))
+           (mapv (comp str fs/file))
+           (hash-map :expanded-paths)
+           (maybe-add-index build-opts)
+           (set-index-when-single-path)
+           (ensure-not-empty build-opts)))))
+
+#_(expand-paths {:paths ["notebooks/di*.clj"] :index "src/nextjournal/clerk/index.clj"})
+#_(expand-paths {:paths ['notebooks/rule_30.clj]})
+#_(expand-paths {:index "book.clj"})
+#_(expand-paths {:paths-fn `nextjournal.clerk.builder/clerk-docs})
+#_(expand-paths {:paths-fn `clerk-docs-2})
+#_(do (defn my-paths [] ["notebooks/h*.clj"])§
+      (expand-paths {:paths-fn `my-paths}))
+#_(expand-paths {:paths ["notebooks/viewers**"]})
+
+
+(defn read-opts-from-deps-edn! []
+  (if (fs/exists? "deps.edn")
+    (let [deps-edn (edn/read-string (slurp "deps.edn"))]
+      (if-some [clerk-alias (get-in deps-edn [:aliases :nextjournal/clerk])]
+        (get clerk-alias :exec-args
+             {:error (str "No `:exec-args` found in `:nextjournal/clerk` alias.")})
+        {:error (str "No `:nextjournal/clerk` alias found in `deps.edn`.")}))
+    {:error (str "No `deps.edn` found in project.")}))
+
+(def ^:dynamic *build-opts* nil)
+
+(def build-help-link "\n\nLearn how to [set up your static build](https://book.clerk.vision/#static-building).")
+
+(defn index-paths
+  ([] (index-paths (or *build-opts* (read-opts-from-deps-edn!))))
+  ([{:as opts :keys [index error]}]
+   (if error
+     (update opts :error str build-help-link)
+     (let [{:as result :keys [expanded-paths error]} (if (contains? opts :expanded-paths) opts (expand-paths opts))]
+       (if error
+         (update result :error str build-help-link)
+         {:paths (remove #{index "index.clj"} expanded-paths)})))))
+
+#_(index-paths)
+#_(index-paths {:paths ["CHANGELOG.md"]})
+#_(index-paths {:paths-fn "boom"})
+
+(defn process-paths [{:as opts :keys [paths paths-fn index]}]
+  (merge (if (or paths paths-fn index)
+           (expand-paths opts)
+           opts)
+         (git/read-git-attrs)))
+
+#_(process-paths {:paths ["notebooks/rule_30.clj"]})
+#_(process-paths {:paths ["notebooks/no_rule_30.clj"]})
+#_(v/route-index? (process-paths @!server))
+#_(route-index (process-paths @!server) "")
+
+
+(defn path-in-cwd
+  "Turns `file` into a unixified (forward slashed) path if the is in the cwd,
+  returns `nil` otherwise."
+  [file]
+  (when (and (string? file)
+             (fs/exists? file))
+    (let [rel (fs/relativize (fs/cwd) (fs/canonicalize file #{:nofollow-links}))]
+      (when-not (str/starts-with? (str rel) "..")
+        (fs/unixify rel)))))
+
+#_(path-in-cwd "notebooks/rule_30.clj")
+#_(path-in-cwd "/tmp/foo.clj")
+#_(path-in-cwd "../scratch/rule_30.clj")
+
+(defn drop-extension [file]
+  (cond-> file
+    (fs/extension file)
+    (str/replace (re-pattern (format ".%s$" (fs/extension file))) "")))
+
+#_(drop-extension "notebooks/rule_30.clj")
diff --git a/src/nextjournal/clerk/viewer.cljc b/src/nextjournal/clerk/viewer.cljc
index f8d388ad7..d673922d3 100644
--- a/src/nextjournal/clerk/viewer.cljc
+++ b/src/nextjournal/clerk/viewer.cljc
@@ -1134,22 +1134,28 @@
 (defn home? [{:keys [nav-path]}]
   (contains? #{"src/nextjournal/home.clj" "'nextjournal.clerk.home"} nav-path))
 
-(defn index? [{:as opts :keys [nav-path index]}]
-  (when nav-path
-    (or (= "'nextjournal.clerk.index" nav-path)
-        (= (str index) nav-path)
-        (re-matches #"(^|.*/)(index\.(clj|cljc|md))$" nav-path))))
+(defn route-index?
+  "Should the index router be enabled?"
+  [{:keys [expanded-paths]}]
+  (boolean (seq expanded-paths)))
 
-(defn index-path [{:keys [static-build? index]}]
+
+(defn index? [{:as opts :keys [file index ns]}]
+  (or (= (some-> ns ns-name) 'nextjournal.clerk.index)
+      (some->> file str (re-matches #"(^|.*/)(index\.(clj|cljc|md))$"))
+      (and index (= file index))))
+
+(defn index-path [{:as opts :keys [index]}]
   #?(:cljs ""
-     :clj (if static-build?
+     :clj (if (route-index? opts)
             ""
             (if (fs/exists? "index.clj") "index.clj" "'nextjournal.clerk.index"))))
 
-(defn header [{:as opts :keys [nav-path static-build?] :git/keys [url sha]}]
+(defn header [{:as opts :keys [file file-path nav-path static-build? ns] :git/keys [url sha]}]
   (html [:div.viewer.w-full.max-w-prose.px-8.not-prose.mt-3
          [:div.mb-8.text-xs.sans-serif.text-slate-400
-          (when (and (not static-build?) (not (home? opts)))
+          (when (and (not (route-index? opts))
+                     (not (home? opts)))
             [:<>
              [:a.font-medium.border-b.border-dotted.border-slate-300.hover:text-indigo-500.hover:border-indigo-500.dark:border-slate-500.dark:hover:text-white.dark:hover:border-white.transition
               {:href (doc-url "'nextjournal.clerk.home")} "Home"]
@@ -1163,12 +1169,14 @@
            (if static-build? "Generated with " "Served from ")
            [:a.font-medium.border-b.border-dotted.border-slate-300.hover:text-indigo-500.hover:border-indigo-500.dark:border-slate-500.dark:hover:text-white.dark:hover:border-white.transition
             {:href "https://clerk.vision"} "Clerk"]
-           " from "
-           (let [default-index? (str/ends-with? (str nav-path) "src/nextjournal/clerk/index.clj")]
-             [:a.font-medium.border-b.border-dotted.border-slate-300.hover:text-indigo-500.hover:border-indigo-500.dark:border-slate-500.dark:hover:text-white.dark:hover:border-white.transition
-              {:href (when (and url sha) (if default-index? (str url "/tree/" sha) (str url "/blob/" sha "/" nav-path)))}
-              (if (and url default-index?) #?(:clj (subs (.getPath (URL. url)) 1) :cljs url) nav-path)
-              (when sha [:<> "@" [:span.tabular-nums (subs sha 0 7)]])])]]]))
+           (let [default-index? (= 'nextjournal.clerk.index (some-> ns ns-name))]
+             (when (or file-path default-index?)
+               [:<>
+                " from "
+                [:a.font-medium.border-b.border-dotted.border-slate-300.hover:text-indigo-500.hover:border-indigo-500.dark:border-slate-500.dark:hover:text-white.dark:hover:border-white.transition
+                 {:href (when (and url sha) (if default-index? (str url "/tree/" sha) (str url "/blob/" sha "/" file-path)))}
+                 (if (and url default-index?) #?(:clj (subs (.getPath (URL. url)) 1) :cljs url) (or file-path nav-path))
+                 (when sha [:<> "@" [:span.tabular-nums (subs sha 0 7)]])]]))]]]))
 
 (def header-viewer
   {:name `header-viewer
diff --git a/src/nextjournal/clerk/webserver.clj b/src/nextjournal/clerk/webserver.clj
index 8c6000b6d..8359291b8 100644
--- a/src/nextjournal/clerk/webserver.clj
+++ b/src/nextjournal/clerk/webserver.clj
@@ -1,33 +1,24 @@
 (ns nextjournal.clerk.webserver
   (:require [babashka.fs :as fs]
             [clojure.edn :as edn]
+            [clojure.java.io :as io]
             [clojure.pprint :as pprint]
             [clojure.set :as set]
             [clojure.string :as str]
-            [clojure.java.io :as io]
             [editscript.core :as editscript]
             [nextjournal.clerk.config :as config]
+            [nextjournal.clerk.paths :as paths]
             [nextjournal.clerk.view :as view]
             [nextjournal.clerk.viewer :as v]
             [org.httpkit.server :as httpkit])
   (:import (java.nio.file Files)))
 
-(defn help-hiccup []
-  [:p "Call " [:span.code "nextjournal.clerk/show!"] " from your REPL"
-   (when-let [watch-paths (seq (:paths @@(resolve 'nextjournal.clerk/!watcher)))]
-     (into [:<> " or save a file in "]
-           (interpose " or " (map #(vector :span.code %) watch-paths))))
-   " to make your notebook appear…"])
-
-(defn help-doc []
-  {:blocks [{:type :code
-             :visibility {:code :hide, :result :show}
-             :result {:nextjournal/value (v/html (help-hiccup))}}]})
-
 (defonce !clients (atom #{}))
 (defonce !doc (atom nil))
 (defonce !last-sender-ch (atom nil))
 
+(defonce !server (atom nil))
+
 #_(view/doc->viewer @!doc)
 #_(reset! !doc nil)
 
@@ -182,19 +173,22 @@
 
 (declare present+reset!)
 
+(defn get-build-opts []
+  (paths/process-paths @!server))
+
 (defn ->nav-path [file-or-ns]
-  (cond (or (symbol? file-or-ns) (instance? clojure.lang.Namespace file-or-ns))
+  (cond (or (= 'nextjournal.clerk.index file-or-ns)
+            (= (:index (get-build-opts)) file-or-ns))
+        ""
+
+        (or (symbol? file-or-ns) (instance? clojure.lang.Namespace file-or-ns))
         (str "'" file-or-ns)
 
         (string? file-or-ns)
-        (when (fs/exists? file-or-ns)
-          (fs/unixify (cond->> (fs/strip-ext file-or-ns)
-                        (and (fs/absolute? file-or-ns)
-                             (not (str/starts-with? (fs/relativize (fs/cwd) file-or-ns) "..")))
-                        (fs/relativize (fs/cwd)))))
-
-        :else (str file-or-ns)))
+        (paths/drop-extension (or (paths/path-in-cwd file-or-ns) file-or-ns))))
 
+#_(->nav-path (str (fs/file (fs/cwd) "notebooks/rule_30.clj")))
+#_(->nav-path 'nextjournal.clerk.index)
 #_(->nav-path "notebooks/rule_30.clj")
 #_(->nav-path 'nextjournal.clerk.home)
 
@@ -223,13 +217,28 @@
 (defn show! [opts file-or-ns]
   ((resolve 'nextjournal.clerk/show!) opts file-or-ns))
 
+(defn route-index
+  "A routing function"
+  [{:as opts :keys [index expanded-paths]} nav-path]
+  (if (str/blank? nav-path)
+    (or index
+        (get (set expanded-paths) (maybe-add-extension "index"))
+        "'nextjournal.clerk.index")
+    nav-path))
+
+(defn maybe-route-index [opts path]
+  (cond->> path
+    (v/route-index? opts) (route-index opts)))
+
 (defn navigate! [{:as opts :keys [nav-path]}]
-  (show! opts (->file-or-ns (maybe-add-extension nav-path))))
+  (let [route-opts (get-build-opts)]
+    (show! (merge route-opts opts) (->file-or-ns (maybe-add-extension (maybe-route-index route-opts nav-path))))))
 
 (defn prefetch-request? [req] (= "prefetch" (-> req :headers (get "purpose"))))
 
 (defn serve-notebook [{:as req :keys [uri]}]
-  (let [nav-path (subs uri 1)]
+  (let [opts (paths/process-paths @!server)
+        nav-path (maybe-route-index opts (subs uri 1))]
     (cond
       (prefetch-request? req)
       {:status 404}
@@ -240,7 +249,9 @@
                                 (->nav-path 'nextjournal.clerk.home))}}
       :else
       (if-let [file-or-ns (->file-or-ns (maybe-add-extension nav-path))]
-        (do (try (show! {:skip-history? true} file-or-ns)
+        (do (try (show! (merge {:skip-history? true}
+                               (select-keys opts [:expanded-paths :index :git/sha :git/url]))
+                        file-or-ns)
                  (catch Exception _))
             {:status 200
              :headers {"Content-Type" "text/html" "Cache-Control" "no-store"}
@@ -285,7 +296,7 @@
     (broadcast-status! status)))
 
 (defn set-status! [status]
-  (swap! !doc (fn [doc] (-> (or doc (help-doc))
+  (swap! !doc (fn [doc] (-> (or doc {})
                             (vary-meta assoc :status status)
                             (vary-meta update ::!send-status-future broadcast-status-debounced! status)))))
 
@@ -295,8 +306,6 @@
 ;; * load notebook without results
 ;; * allow page reload
 
-(defonce !server (atom nil))
-
 (defn halt! []
   (when-let [{:keys [port instance]} @!server]
     @(httpkit/server-stop! instance)
@@ -305,10 +314,10 @@
 
 #_(halt!)
 
-(defn serve! [{:keys [host port] :or {host "localhost" port 7777}}]
+(defn serve! [{:as opts :keys [host port] :or {host "localhost" port 7777}}]
   (halt!)
   (try
-    (reset! !server {:host host :port port :instance (httpkit/run-server #'app {:ip host :port port :legacy-return-value? false})})
+    (reset! !server (assoc opts :instance (httpkit/run-server #'app {:ip host :port port :legacy-return-value? false})))
     (println (format "Clerk webserver started on http://%s:%s ..." host port ))
     (catch java.net.BindException e
       (let [msg (format "Clerk webserver could not be started because port %d is not available. Stop what's running on port %d or specify a different port." port port)]
@@ -317,4 +326,7 @@
         (throw (ex-info msg {:port port} e))))))
 
 #_(serve! {:port 7777})
+#_(serve! {:port 7777 :paths ["notebooks/rule_30.clj"]})
+#_(serve! {:port 7777 :paths ["notebooks/rule_30.clj" "book.clj"]})
+#_(serve! {:port 7777 :paths ["notebooks/rule_30.clj" "notebooks/links.md" "notebooks/markdown.md" "index.clj"]})
 #_(serve! {:port 7777 :host "0.0.0.0"})
diff --git a/test/nextjournal/clerk/builder_test.clj b/test/nextjournal/clerk/builder_test.clj
index a86633bae..baa6d9c65 100644
--- a/test/nextjournal/clerk/builder_test.clj
+++ b/test/nextjournal/clerk/builder_test.clj
@@ -30,60 +30,6 @@
       (testing "*ns* isn't changed (#506)"
         (is (= original-*ns* *ns*))))))
 
-(def test-paths ["boo*.clj"])
-(def test-paths-fn (fn [] ["boo*.clj"]))
-
-(deftest expand-paths
-  (testing "expands glob patterns"
-    (let [{paths :expanded-paths} (builder/expand-paths {:paths ["notebooks/*clj"]})]
-      (is (> (count paths) 25))
-      (is (every? #(str/ends-with? % ".clj") paths))))
-
-  (testing "supports index"
-    (is (= {:expanded-paths ["book.clj"]}
-           (builder/expand-paths {:index "book.clj"}))))
-
-  (testing "supports paths"
-    (is (= {:expanded-paths ["book.clj"]}
-           (builder/expand-paths {:paths ["book.clj"]}))))
-
-  (testing "supports paths-fn"
-    (is (= {:expanded-paths ["book.clj"]}
-           (builder/expand-paths {:paths-fn `test-paths})))
-    (is (= {:expanded-paths ["book.clj"]}
-           (builder/expand-paths {:paths-fn `test-paths-fn}))))
-
-  (testing "deduplicates index + paths"
-    (is (= {:expanded-paths [(str (fs/file "notebooks" "rule_30.clj"))]}
-           (builder/expand-paths {:paths ["notebooks/rule_**.clj"]
-                                  :index (str (fs/file "notebooks" "rule_30.clj"))}))))
-
-  (testing "supports absolute paths (#504)"
-    (is (= {:expanded-paths [(str (fs/file (fs/cwd) "book.clj"))]}
-           (builder/expand-paths {:paths [(str (fs/file (fs/cwd) "book.clj"))]}))))
-
-  (testing "invalid args"
-    (is (match? {:error #"must set either"}
-                (builder/expand-paths {})))
-    (is (match? {:error #"must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var"}
-                (builder/expand-paths {:paths-fn :foo})))
-    (is (match? {:error #"must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var"}
-                (builder/expand-paths {:paths-fn 'foo})))
-    (is (match? {:error #"must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var"}
-                (builder/expand-paths {:paths-fn 'clerk.test.non-existant-name-space/bar})))
-    (is (match? {:error #"must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var"}
-                (builder/expand-paths {:paths-fn 'clojure.core/non-existant-var})))
-    (is (match? {:error #"must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var"}
-                (builder/expand-paths {:paths-fn "hi"})))
-    (is (match? {:error #"nothing to build"}
-                (builder/expand-paths {:paths []})))
-    (is (match? {:error #"An error occured invoking"}
-                (builder/expand-paths {:paths-fn 'clojure.core/inc})))
-    (is (match? {:error #"must compute to a sequential value."}
-                (builder/expand-paths {:paths-fn 'clojure.core/+})))
-    (is (match? {:error "`:index` must be either an instance of java.net.URL or a string and point to an existing file"}
-                (builder/expand-paths {:index ["book.clj"]})))))
-
 (deftest build-static-app!
   (testing "error when paths are empty (issue #339)"
     (is (thrown-with-msg? ExceptionInfo #"nothing to build" (builder/build-static-app! {:paths []}))))
diff --git a/test/nextjournal/clerk/paths_test.clj b/test/nextjournal/clerk/paths_test.clj
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..466fa27de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/nextjournal/clerk/paths_test.clj
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+(ns nextjournal.clerk.paths-test
+  (:require [babashka.fs :as fs]
+            [clojure.string :as str]
+            [clojure.test :refer [deftest is testing]]
+            [matcher-combinators.test]
+            [nextjournal.clerk.paths :as paths]))
+
+(def test-paths ["boo*.clj"])
+(def test-paths-fn (fn [] ["boo*.clj"]))
+
+(deftest expand-paths
+  (testing "expands glob patterns"
+    (let [{paths :expanded-paths} (paths/expand-paths {:paths ["notebooks/*clj"]})]
+      (is (> (count paths) 25))
+      (is (every? #(str/ends-with? % ".clj") paths))))
+
+  (testing "supports index"
+    (is (= ["book.clj"]
+           (:expanded-paths (paths/expand-paths {:index "book.clj"})))))
+
+  (testing "supports paths"
+    (is (= ["book.clj"]
+           (:expanded-paths (paths/expand-paths {:paths ["book.clj"]})))))
+
+  (testing "supports paths-fn"
+    (is (= ["book.clj"]
+           (:expanded-paths (paths/expand-paths {:paths-fn `test-paths}))))
+    (is (= ["book.clj"]
+           (:expanded-paths (paths/expand-paths {:paths-fn `test-paths-fn})))))
+
+  (testing "deduplicates index + paths"
+    (is (= [(str (fs/file "notebooks" "rule_30.clj"))]
+           (:expanded-paths (paths/expand-paths {:paths ["notebooks/rule_**.clj"]
+                                                 :index (str (fs/file "notebooks" "rule_30.clj"))})))))
+
+  (testing "supports absolute paths (#504)"
+    (is (= [(str (fs/file (fs/cwd) "book.clj"))]
+           (:expanded-paths (paths/expand-paths {:paths [(str (fs/file (fs/cwd) "book.clj"))]})))))
+
+  (testing "invalid args"
+    (is (match? {:error #"must set either"}
+                (paths/expand-paths {})))
+    (is (match? {:error #"must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var"}
+                (paths/expand-paths {:paths-fn :foo})))
+    (is (match? {:error #"must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var"}
+                (paths/expand-paths {:paths-fn 'foo})))
+    (is (match? {:error #"must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var"}
+                (paths/expand-paths {:paths-fn 'clerk.test.non-existant-name-space/bar})))
+    (is (match? {:error #"must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var"}
+                (paths/expand-paths {:paths-fn 'clojure.core/non-existant-var})))
+    (is (match? {:error #"must be a qualified symbol pointing at an existing var"}
+                (paths/expand-paths {:paths-fn "hi"})))
+    (is (match? {:error #"nothing to build"}
+                (paths/expand-paths {:paths []})))
+    (is (match? {:error #"An error occured invoking"}
+                (paths/expand-paths {:paths-fn 'clojure.core/inc})))
+    (is (match? {:error #"must compute to a sequential value."}
+                (paths/expand-paths {:paths-fn 'clojure.core/+})))
+    (is (match? {:error "`:index` must be either an instance of java.net.URL or a string and point to an existing file"}
+                (paths/expand-paths {:index ["book.clj"]})))))