diff --git a/crates/gpui2/src/app/async_context.rs b/crates/gpui2/src/app/async_context.rs
index c5c03c4e9a..3a9a68a033 100644
--- a/crates/gpui2/src/app/async_context.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui2/src/app/async_context.rs
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ impl Context for AsyncWindowContext {
 }
 
 impl VisualContext for AsyncWindowContext {
-    type ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> = ViewContext<'a, 'w, V>;
+    type ViewContext<'a, 'w, V: 'static> = ViewContext<'a, 'w, V>;
 
     fn build_view<V>(
         &mut self,
diff --git a/crates/gpui2/src/gpui2.rs b/crates/gpui2/src/gpui2.rs
index 8625866a44..74d87449b9 100644
--- a/crates/gpui2/src/gpui2.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui2/src/gpui2.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ pub trait Context {
 }
 
 pub trait VisualContext: Context {
-    type ViewContext<'a, 'w, V>;
+    type ViewContext<'a, 'w, V: 'static>;
 
     fn build_view<V>(
         &mut self,
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ impl<C: Context> Context for MainThread<C> {
 }
 
 impl<C: VisualContext> VisualContext for MainThread<C> {
-    type ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> = MainThread<C::ViewContext<'a, 'w, V>>;
+    type ViewContext<'a, 'w, V: 'static> = MainThread<C::ViewContext<'a, 'w, V>>;
 
     fn build_view<V>(
         &mut self,
diff --git a/crates/gpui2/src/window.rs b/crates/gpui2/src/window.rs
index 2cdd933ae5..bd62ff44f7 100644
--- a/crates/gpui2/src/window.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui2/src/window.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use crate::{
     MouseDownEvent, MouseMoveEvent, MouseUpEvent, Path, Pixels, PlatformAtlas, PlatformWindow,
     Point, PolychromeSprite, Quad, Reference, RenderGlyphParams, RenderImageParams,
     RenderSvgParams, ScaledPixels, SceneBuilder, Shadow, SharedString, Size, Style, Subscription,
-    TaffyLayoutEngine, Task, Underline, UnderlineStyle, View, VisualContext, WeakModel, WeakView,
+    TaffyLayoutEngine, Task, Underline, UnderlineStyle, View, VisualContext, WeakView,
     WindowOptions, SUBPIXEL_VARIANTS,
 };
 use anyhow::Result;
@@ -1305,7 +1305,7 @@ impl Context for WindowContext<'_, '_> {
 }
 
 impl VisualContext for WindowContext<'_, '_> {
-    type ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> = ViewContext<'a, 'w, V>;
+    type ViewContext<'a, 'w, V: 'static> = ViewContext<'a, 'w, V>;
 
     fn build_view<V>(
         &mut self,
@@ -1318,7 +1318,7 @@ impl VisualContext for WindowContext<'_, '_> {
         let view = View {
             model: slot.clone(),
         };
-        let mut cx = ViewContext::mutable(&mut *self.app, &mut *self.window, view.downgrade());
+        let mut cx = ViewContext::new(&mut *self.app, &mut *self.window, &view);
         let entity = build_view_state(&mut cx);
         self.entities.insert(slot, entity);
         view
@@ -1331,7 +1331,7 @@ impl VisualContext for WindowContext<'_, '_> {
         update: impl FnOnce(&mut T, &mut Self::ViewContext<'_, '_, T>) -> R,
     ) -> Self::Result<R> {
         let mut lease = self.app.entities.lease(&view.model);
-        let mut cx = ViewContext::mutable(&mut *self.app, &mut *self.window, view.downgrade());
+        let mut cx = ViewContext::new(&mut *self.app, &mut *self.window, &view);
         let result = update(&mut *lease, &mut cx);
         cx.app.entities.end_lease(lease);
         result
@@ -1542,7 +1542,7 @@ impl<T> BorrowWindow for T where T: BorrowMut<AppContext> + BorrowMut<Window> {}
 
 pub struct ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
     window_cx: WindowContext<'a, 'w>,
-    view: WeakView<V>,
+    view: &'w View<V>,
 }
 
 impl<V> Borrow<AppContext> for ViewContext<'_, '_, V> {
@@ -1570,22 +1570,18 @@ impl<V> BorrowMut<Window> for ViewContext<'_, '_, V> {
 }
 
 impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
-    pub(crate) fn mutable(
-        app: &'a mut AppContext,
-        window: &'w mut Window,
-        view: WeakView<V>,
-    ) -> Self {
+    pub(crate) fn new(app: &'a mut AppContext, window: &'w mut Window, view: &'w View<V>) -> Self {
         Self {
             window_cx: WindowContext::mutable(app, window),
             view,
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn view(&self) -> WeakView<V> {
+    pub fn view(&self) -> View<V> {
         self.view.clone()
     }
 
-    pub fn model(&self) -> WeakModel<V> {
+    pub fn model(&self) -> Model<V> {
         self.view.model.clone()
     }
 
@@ -1600,14 +1596,14 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
     where
         V: Any + Send,
     {
-        let view = self.view().upgrade().unwrap();
+        let view = self.view();
         self.window_cx.on_next_frame(move |cx| view.update(cx, f));
     }
 
     /// Schedules the given function to be run at the end of the current effect cycle, allowing entities
     /// that are currently on the stack to be returned to the app.
     pub fn defer(&mut self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut V, &mut ViewContext<V>) + 'static + Send) {
-        let view = self.view();
+        let view = self.view().downgrade();
         self.window_cx.defer(move |cx| {
             view.update(cx, f).ok();
         });
@@ -1623,7 +1619,7 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
         V: 'static + Send,
         E: Entity<V2>,
     {
-        let view = self.view();
+        let view = self.view().downgrade();
         let entity_id = entity.entity_id();
         let entity = entity.downgrade();
         let window_handle = self.window.handle;
@@ -1652,7 +1648,7 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
         V2: EventEmitter,
         E: Entity<V2>,
     {
-        let view = self.view();
+        let view = self.view().downgrade();
         let entity_id = entity.entity_id();
         let handle = entity.downgrade();
         let window_handle = self.window.handle;
@@ -1698,7 +1694,7 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
         V2: 'static,
         E: Entity<V2>,
     {
-        let view = self.view();
+        let view = self.view().downgrade();
         let entity_id = entity.entity_id();
         let window_handle = self.window.handle;
         self.app.release_listeners.insert(
@@ -1723,7 +1719,7 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
         &mut self,
         listener: impl Fn(&mut V, &FocusEvent, &mut ViewContext<V>) + Send + 'static,
     ) {
-        let handle = self.view();
+        let handle = self.view().downgrade();
         self.window.focus_listeners.push(Box::new(move |event, cx| {
             handle
                 .update(cx, |view, cx| listener(view, event, cx))
@@ -1739,7 +1735,7 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
         let old_stack_len = self.window.key_dispatch_stack.len();
         if !self.window.freeze_key_dispatch_stack {
             for (event_type, listener) in key_listeners {
-                let handle = self.view();
+                let handle = self.view().downgrade();
                 let listener = Box::new(
                     move |event: &dyn Any,
                           context_stack: &[&DispatchContext],
@@ -1829,7 +1825,7 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
             let cx = unsafe { mem::transmute::<&mut Self, &mut MainThread<Self>>(self) };
             Task::ready(Ok(f(view, cx)))
         } else {
-            let view = self.view().upgrade().unwrap();
+            let view = self.view();
             self.window_cx.run_on_main(move |cx| view.update(cx, f))
         }
     }
@@ -1842,7 +1838,7 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
         R: Send + 'static,
         Fut: Future<Output = R> + Send + 'static,
     {
-        let view = self.view();
+        let view = self.view().downgrade();
         self.window_cx.spawn(move |_, cx| {
             let result = f(view, cx);
             async move { result.await }
@@ -1864,12 +1860,12 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
         f: impl Fn(&mut V, &mut ViewContext<'_, '_, V>) + Send + 'static,
     ) -> Subscription {
         let window_handle = self.window.handle;
-        let handle = self.view();
+        let view = self.view().downgrade();
         self.global_observers.insert(
             TypeId::of::<G>(),
             Box::new(move |cx| {
                 cx.update_window(window_handle, |cx| {
-                    handle.update(cx, |view, cx| f(view, cx)).is_ok()
+                    view.update(cx, |view, cx| f(view, cx)).is_ok()
                 })
                 .unwrap_or(false)
             }),
@@ -1880,7 +1876,7 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
         &mut self,
         handler: impl Fn(&mut V, &Event, DispatchPhase, &mut ViewContext<V>) + Send + 'static,
     ) {
-        let handle = self.view().upgrade().unwrap();
+        let handle = self.view();
         self.window_cx.on_mouse_event(move |event, phase, cx| {
             handle.update(cx, |view, cx| {
                 handler(view, event, phase, cx);
@@ -1937,7 +1933,7 @@ impl<'a, 'w, V> Context for ViewContext<'a, 'w, V> {
 }
 
 impl<V: 'static> VisualContext for ViewContext<'_, '_, V> {
-    type ViewContext<'a, 'w, V2> = ViewContext<'a, 'w, V2>;
+    type ViewContext<'a, 'w, V2: 'static> = ViewContext<'a, 'w, V2>;
 
     fn build_view<W: 'static + Send>(
         &mut self,
diff --git a/crates/workspace2/src/pane.rs b/crates/workspace2/src/pane.rs
index fc74139238..22c3833719 100644
--- a/crates/workspace2/src/pane.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace2/src/pane.rs
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ impl Pane {
         //     menu.set_position_mode(OverlayPositionMode::Local)
         // });
 
-        let handle = cx.view();
+        let handle = cx.view().downgrade();
         Self {
             items: Vec::new(),
             activation_history: Vec::new(),
diff --git a/crates/workspace2/src/workspace2.rs b/crates/workspace2/src/workspace2.rs
index e7745dc763..3b009f4233 100644
--- a/crates/workspace2/src/workspace2.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace2/src/workspace2.rs
@@ -416,8 +416,12 @@ pub struct AppState {
     pub fs: Arc<dyn fs2::Fs>,
     pub build_window_options:
         fn(Option<WindowBounds>, Option<Uuid>, MainThread<AppContext>) -> WindowOptions,
-    pub initialize_workspace:
-        fn(WeakModel<Workspace>, bool, Arc<AppState>, AsyncAppContext) -> Task<anyhow::Result<()>>,
+    pub initialize_workspace: fn(
+        WeakView<Workspace>,
+        bool,
+        Arc<AppState>,
+        AsyncWindowContext,
+    ) -> Task<anyhow::Result<()>>,
     pub node_runtime: Arc<dyn NodeRuntime>,
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/zed2/src/main.rs b/crates/zed2/src/main.rs
index 8b1d087687..c982a735c5 100644
--- a/crates/zed2/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/zed2/src/main.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ use util::{
 };
 use uuid::Uuid;
 use workspace2::{AppState, WorkspaceStore};
-use zed2::{build_window_options, languages};
+use zed2::{build_window_options, initialize_workspace, languages};
 use zed2::{ensure_only_instance, Assets, IsOnlyInstance};
 
 mod open_listener;
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ fn main() {
             fs,
             build_window_options,
             initialize_workspace,
-            background_actions,
+            // background_actions: todo!("ask Mikayla"),
             workspace_store,
             node_runtime,
         });
diff --git a/crates/zed2/src/zed2.rs b/crates/zed2/src/zed2.rs
index 478e3a20d2..194dbb9b25 100644
--- a/crates/zed2/src/zed2.rs
+++ b/crates/zed2/src/zed2.rs
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ mod open_listener;
 pub use assets::*;
 use collections::HashMap;
 use gpui2::{
-    point, px, AppContext, AsyncAppContext, MainThread, Point, TitlebarOptions, WindowBounds,
-    WindowKind, WindowOptions,
+    point, px, AppContext, AsyncAppContext, AsyncWindowContext, MainThread, Point, Task,
+    TitlebarOptions, WeakView, WindowBounds, WindowKind, WindowOptions,
 };
 pub use only_instance::*;
 pub use open_listener::*;
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ use futures::{
 use std::{path::Path, sync::Arc, thread, time::Duration};
 use util::{paths::PathLikeWithPosition, ResultExt};
 use uuid::Uuid;
-use workspace2::AppState;
+use workspace2::{AppState, Workspace};
 
 pub fn connect_to_cli(
     server_name: &str,
@@ -239,3 +239,162 @@ pub fn build_window_options(
         display_id: display.map(|display| display.id()),
     }
 }
+
+pub fn initialize_workspace(
+    workspace_handle: WeakView<Workspace>,
+    was_deserialized: bool,
+    app_state: Arc<AppState>,
+    cx: AsyncWindowContext,
+) -> Task<Result<()>> {
+    cx.spawn(|mut cx| async move {
+        workspace_handle.update(&mut cx, |workspace, cx| {
+            let workspace_handle = cx.view();
+            cx.subscribe(&workspace_handle, {
+                move |workspace, _, event, cx| {
+                    if let workspace2::Event::PaneAdded(pane) = event {
+                        pane.update(cx, |pane, cx| {
+                            // todo!()
+                            // pane.toolbar().update(cx, |toolbar, cx| {
+                            //     let breadcrumbs = cx.add_view(|_| Breadcrumbs::new(workspace));
+                            //     toolbar.add_item(breadcrumbs, cx);
+                            //     let buffer_search_bar = cx.add_view(BufferSearchBar::new);
+                            //     toolbar.add_item(buffer_search_bar.clone(), cx);
+                            //     let quick_action_bar = cx.add_view(|_| {
+                            //         QuickActionBar::new(buffer_search_bar, workspace)
+                            //     });
+                            //     toolbar.add_item(quick_action_bar, cx);
+                            //     let diagnostic_editor_controls =
+                            //         cx.add_view(|_| diagnostics2::ToolbarControls::new());
+                            //     toolbar.add_item(diagnostic_editor_controls, cx);
+                            //     let project_search_bar = cx.add_view(|_| ProjectSearchBar::new());
+                            //     toolbar.add_item(project_search_bar, cx);
+                            //     let submit_feedback_button =
+                            //         cx.add_view(|_| SubmitFeedbackButton::new());
+                            //     toolbar.add_item(submit_feedback_button, cx);
+                            //     let feedback_info_text = cx.add_view(|_| FeedbackInfoText::new());
+                            //     toolbar.add_item(feedback_info_text, cx);
+                            //     let lsp_log_item =
+                            //         cx.add_view(|_| language_tools::LspLogToolbarItemView::new());
+                            //     toolbar.add_item(lsp_log_item, cx);
+                            //     let syntax_tree_item = cx
+                            //         .add_view(|_| language_tools::SyntaxTreeToolbarItemView::new());
+                            //     toolbar.add_item(syntax_tree_item, cx);
+                            // })
+                        });
+                    }
+                }
+            })
+            .detach();
+
+            //     cx.emit(workspace2::Event::PaneAdded(
+            //         workspace.active_pane().clone(),
+            //     ));
+
+            //     let collab_titlebar_item =
+            //         cx.add_view(|cx| CollabTitlebarItem::new(workspace, &workspace_handle, cx));
+            //     workspace.set_titlebar_item(collab_titlebar_item.into_any(), cx);
+
+            //     let copilot =
+            //         cx.add_view(|cx| copilot_button::CopilotButton::new(app_state.fs.clone(), cx));
+            //     let diagnostic_summary =
+            //         cx.add_view(|cx| diagnostics::items::DiagnosticIndicator::new(workspace, cx));
+            //     let activity_indicator = activity_indicator::ActivityIndicator::new(
+            //         workspace,
+            //         app_state.languages.clone(),
+            //         cx,
+            //     );
+            //     let active_buffer_language =
+            //         cx.add_view(|_| language_selector::ActiveBufferLanguage::new(workspace));
+            //     let vim_mode_indicator = cx.add_view(|cx| vim::ModeIndicator::new(cx));
+            //     let feedback_button = cx.add_view(|_| {
+            //         feedback::deploy_feedback_button::DeployFeedbackButton::new(workspace)
+            //     });
+            //     let cursor_position = cx.add_view(|_| editor::items::CursorPosition::new());
+            //     workspace.status_bar().update(cx, |status_bar, cx| {
+            //         status_bar.add_left_item(diagnostic_summary, cx);
+            //         status_bar.add_left_item(activity_indicator, cx);
+
+            //         status_bar.add_right_item(feedback_button, cx);
+            //         status_bar.add_right_item(copilot, cx);
+            //         status_bar.add_right_item(active_buffer_language, cx);
+            //         status_bar.add_right_item(vim_mode_indicator, cx);
+            //         status_bar.add_right_item(cursor_position, cx);
+            //     });
+
+            //     auto_update::notify_of_any_new_update(cx.weak_handle(), cx);
+
+            //     vim::observe_keystrokes(cx);
+
+            //     cx.on_window_should_close(|workspace, cx| {
+            //         if let Some(task) = workspace.close(&Default::default(), cx) {
+            //             task.detach_and_log_err(cx);
+            //         }
+            //         false
+            //     });
+            // })?;
+
+            // let project_panel = ProjectPanel::load(workspace_handle.clone(), cx.clone());
+            // let terminal_panel = TerminalPanel::load(workspace_handle.clone(), cx.clone());
+            // let assistant_panel = AssistantPanel::load(workspace_handle.clone(), cx.clone());
+            // let channels_panel =
+            //     collab_ui::collab_panel::CollabPanel::load(workspace_handle.clone(), cx.clone());
+            // let chat_panel =
+            //     collab_ui::chat_panel::ChatPanel::load(workspace_handle.clone(), cx.clone());
+            // let notification_panel = collab_ui::notification_panel::NotificationPanel::load(
+            //     workspace_handle.clone(),
+            //     cx.clone(),
+            // );
+            // let (
+            //     project_panel,
+            //     terminal_panel,
+            //     assistant_panel,
+            //     channels_panel,
+            //     chat_panel,
+            //     notification_panel,
+            // ) = futures::try_join!(
+            //     project_panel,
+            //     terminal_panel,
+            //     assistant_panel,
+            //     channels_panel,
+            //     chat_panel,
+            //     notification_panel,
+            // )?;
+            // workspace_handle.update(&mut cx, |workspace, cx| {
+            //     let project_panel_position = project_panel.position(cx);
+            //     workspace.add_panel_with_extra_event_handler(
+            //         project_panel,
+            //         cx,
+            //         |workspace, _, event, cx| match event {
+            //             project_panel::Event::NewSearchInDirectory { dir_entry } => {
+            //                 search::ProjectSearchView::new_search_in_directory(workspace, dir_entry, cx)
+            //             }
+            //             project_panel::Event::ActivatePanel => {
+            //                 workspace.focus_panel::<ProjectPanel>(cx);
+            //             }
+            //             _ => {}
+            //         },
+            //     );
+            //     workspace.add_panel(terminal_panel, cx);
+            //     workspace.add_panel(assistant_panel, cx);
+            //     workspace.add_panel(channels_panel, cx);
+            //     workspace.add_panel(chat_panel, cx);
+            //     workspace.add_panel(notification_panel, cx);
+
+            //     if !was_deserialized
+            //         && workspace
+            //             .project()
+            //             .read(cx)
+            //             .visible_worktrees(cx)
+            //             .any(|tree| {
+            //                 tree.read(cx)
+            //                     .root_entry()
+            //                     .map_or(false, |entry| entry.is_dir())
+            //             })
+            //     {
+            //         workspace.toggle_dock(project_panel_position, cx);
+            //     }
+            //     cx.focus_self();
+        })?;
+        Ok(())
+    })
+}