return require('packer').startup({
  function()
    local pid = vim.fn.getpid()

    use 'wbthomason/packer.nvim' -- plugin manager
    use 'nvim-tree/nvim-web-devicons' -- file icons
    use { -- color scheme
      'catppuccin/nvim',
      as = 'cattppuccin'
    }
    use 'hoob3rt/lualine.nvim' -- status line
    use { -- file picker and grepper
      'nvim-telescope/telescope.nvim',
      --requires = { {'nvim-lua/plenary.nvim', commit = '08e301982b9a057110ede7a735dd1b5285eb341f'} }
      requires = { {'nvim-lua/plenary.nvim' } }
    }
    use 'nvim-telescope/telescope-ui-select.nvim' -- selector
    use 'gpanders/editorconfig.nvim'
    use 'neovim/nvim-lspconfig'
    use 'L3MON4D3/LuaSnip' -- snipets
    use 'ptdewey/yankbank-nvim' -- clipboard history
    use {
      'hrsh7th/nvim-cmp', -- autocomplete
      requires = {
        {'saadparwaiz1/cmp_luasnip'}, -- autocomplete snips
        {'hrsh7th/cmp-nvim-lsp'}, -- lsp autocomplete
        {'hrsh7th/cmp-buffer'}, -- buffer autocomplete
        {'hrsh7th/cmp-path'}, -- path autocompletes
      }
    }
    use { -- gitgutter replacement
      'lewis6991/gitsigns.nvim',
      --requires = { {'nvim-lua/plenary.nvim', commit = '08e301982b9a057110ede7a735dd1b5285eb341f'} }
      requires = { {'nvim-lua/plenary.nvim' } }
    }
    use 'Pocco81/TrueZen.nvim' -- distraction free writing
    use 'https://code.sitosis.com/rudism/telescope-dict.nvim.git' -- thesaurus and dictionary
    use 'nvim-telescope/telescope-file-browser.nvim' -- file picker
    use 'tpope/vim-dadbod' -- database query runner
    use 'tpope/vim-dotenv' -- .env configuration support
    use 'kristijanhusak/vim-dadbod-completion' -- sql completion
    use 'sirtaj/vim-openscad'
  end,
  config = {
    clone_timeout = false,
    max_jobs = 2 -- otherwise PackerUpdate dies on shitty hardware like the pi zero
  }
})