diff --git a/lua/hawtkeys/ts.lua b/lua/hawtkeys/ts.lua
index 6ed552b..0075311 100644
--- a/lua/hawtkeys/ts.lua
+++ b/lua/hawtkeys/ts.lua
@@ -395,18 +395,31 @@ function M.get_all_keymaps()
         return returnKeymaps
     end ]]
     local keymaps = {}
-    local paths = get_runtime_path()
-    for _, path in ipairs(paths) do
-        if string.match(path, "%.config") then
-            local files = find_files(path)
-            for _, file in ipairs(files) do
-                local file_keymaps = find_maps_in_file(file)
-                for _, keymap in ipairs(file_keymaps) do
-                    table.insert(keymaps, keymap)
+
+    if M._testing then
+        local files =
+            find_files(vim.loop.cwd() .. "/tests/hawtkeys/example_configs")
+        for _, file in ipairs(files) do
+            local file_keymaps = find_maps_in_file(file)
+            for _, keymap in ipairs(file_keymaps) do
+                table.insert(keymaps, keymap)
+            end
+        end
+    else
+        local paths = get_runtime_path()
+        for _, path in ipairs(paths) do
+            if string.match(path, "%.config") then
+                local files = find_files(path)
+                for _, file in ipairs(files) do
+                    local file_keymaps = find_maps_in_file(file)
+                    for _, keymap in ipairs(file_keymaps) do
+                        table.insert(keymaps, keymap)
+                    end
                 end
             end
         end
     end
+
     local vimKeymaps = get_keymaps_from_vim()
     returnKeymaps = utils.merge_tables(keymaps, vimKeymaps)
     scannedFiles = {}
diff --git a/lua/hawtkeys/ui.lua b/lua/hawtkeys/ui.lua
index 7a8e44d..ae413de 100644
--- a/lua/hawtkeys/ui.lua
+++ b/lua/hawtkeys/ui.lua
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 local M = {}
+
 local Hawtkeys = require("hawtkeys.score")
 local ShowAll = require("hawtkeys.show_all")
 local showDuplicates = require("hawtkeys.duplicates")
 
-local ns = vim.api.nvim_create_namespace("hawtkeys")
+local Namespace = vim.api.nvim_create_namespace("hawtkeys")
 
 local ResultWin
 local ResultBuf
 local SearchWin
+local SearchBuf
 
 local prompt_extmark
 
@@ -17,21 +19,25 @@ local function create_win(enter, opts)
     opts.win_options = nil
 
     local buf = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
+    vim.bo[buf].bufhidden = "wipe"
 
-    local win = vim.api.nvim_open_win(
-        buf,
-        enter,
-        vim.tbl_deep_extend("keep", opts, {
-            relative = "editor",
-            anchor = "NW",
-            border = "single",
-            noautocmd = true,
-            col = (vim.o.columns / 2) - (opts.width / 2),
-            row = (vim.o.lines / 2) - (opts.height / 2),
-            footer_pos = opts.footer and "center",
-            title_pos = opts.title and "center",
-        })
-    )
+    local config = vim.tbl_deep_extend("keep", opts, {
+        relative = "editor",
+        anchor = "NW",
+        border = "single",
+        noautocmd = true,
+        col = (vim.o.columns / 2) - (opts.width / 2),
+        row = (vim.o.lines / 2) - (opts.height / 2),
+        footer_pos = opts.footer and "center",
+        title_pos = opts.title and "center",
+    })
+
+    if vim.fn.has("nvim-0.10") == 0 then
+        config.footer = nil
+        config.footer_pos = nil
+    end
+
+    local win = vim.api.nvim_open_win(buf, enter, config)
 
     vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("BufLeave", {
         buffer = buf,
@@ -188,8 +194,7 @@ M.show = function()
             winhl = "Normal:NormalFloatNC",
         },
     })
-    local searchBuf
-    SearchWin, searchBuf = create_win(true, {
+    SearchWin, SearchBuf = create_win(true, {
         width = width,
         height = 1,
         row = (vim.o.lines / 2) - (height / 2) - 2,
@@ -203,31 +208,33 @@ M.show = function()
         },
     })
 
-    local map_opts = { noremap = true, silent = true, buffer = searchBuf }
+    local map_opts = { noremap = true, silent = true, buffer = SearchBuf }
     vim.keymap.set({ "n", "i" }, "<esc>", M.hide, map_opts)
     --disallow new lines in searchBuf
     vim.keymap.set("i", "<cr>", "<nop>", map_opts)
 
     local function update_search_hint(text)
         if text == "" then
-            prompt_extmark = vim.api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(searchBuf, ns, 0, 0, {
-                id = prompt_extmark,
-                virt_text = { { "Type to search", "Comment" } },
-                virt_text_pos = "inline",
-            })
+            prompt_extmark =
+                vim.api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(SearchBuf, Namespace, 0, 0, {
+                    id = prompt_extmark,
+                    virt_text = { { "Type to search", "Comment" } },
+                    virt_text_pos = "overlay",
+                })
         else
-            prompt_extmark = vim.api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(searchBuf, ns, 0, 0, {
-                id = prompt_extmark,
-                virt_text = { { "", "Comment" } },
-                virt_text_pos = "inline",
-            })
+            prompt_extmark =
+                vim.api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(SearchBuf, Namespace, 0, 0, {
+                    id = prompt_extmark,
+                    virt_text = { { "", "Comment" } },
+                    virt_text_pos = "overlay",
+                })
         end
     end
 
     -- subscribe to changed text in searchBuf
-    vim.api.nvim_buf_attach(searchBuf, false, {
+    vim.api.nvim_buf_attach(SearchBuf, false, {
         on_lines = vim.schedule_wrap(function()
-            local text = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(searchBuf, 0, 1, false)[1]
+            local text = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(SearchBuf, 0, 1, false)[1]
 
             update_search_hint(text)
 
@@ -241,7 +248,7 @@ M.show = function()
     })
 
     update_search_hint("")
-    vim.api.nvim_command("startinsert")
+    vim.api.nvim_feedkeys("i", "n", false)
 end
 
 M.show_all = function()
@@ -283,7 +290,7 @@ M.show_all = function()
             -1
         )
         -- mapping rhs as extmark so the cursor skips over it
-        vim.api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(ResultBuf, ns, i - 1, 0, {
+        vim.api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(ResultBuf, Namespace, i - 1, 0, {
             virt_lines = { { { l2, "Function" } } },
         })
     end
@@ -320,4 +327,36 @@ M.hide = function()
     vim.api.nvim_command("stopinsert")
 end
 
+-- This is for testing purposes, since we need to
+-- access these variables from outside the module
+-- but we don't want to expose them to the user
+local state = {
+    ResultWin = function()
+        return ResultWin
+    end,
+    ResultBuf = function()
+        return ResultBuf
+    end,
+    SearchWin = function()
+        return SearchWin
+    end,
+    SearchBuf = function()
+        return SearchBuf
+    end,
+    Namespace = function()
+        return Namespace
+    end,
+    prompt_extmark = function()
+        return prompt_extmark
+    end,
+}
+
+setmetatable(M, {
+    __index = function(_, k)
+        if state[k] then
+            return state[k]()
+        end
+    end,
+})
+
 return M
diff --git a/tests/hawtkeys/init_spec.lua b/tests/hawtkeys/init_spec.lua
index c6cd05b..33d3924 100644
--- a/tests/hawtkeys/init_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/hawtkeys/init_spec.lua
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ describe("set up function", function()
     it("User commands should be available after setup", function()
         local commandspresetup = vim.api.nvim_get_commands({})
         hawtkeys.setup({})
+
         local commandsPostSetup = vim.api.nvim_get_commands({})
         -- Check that the commands are not present before setup
         for command, _ in ipairs(userCommands) do
diff --git a/tests/hawtkeys/ui_spec.lua b/tests/hawtkeys/ui_spec.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43a27c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hawtkeys/ui_spec.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+local eq = assert.are.same
+
+local MiniTest = require("mini.test")
+
+---TODO: add search functionality tests (willothy)
+
+describe("ui", function()
+    local child = MiniTest.new_child_neovim()
+    local SearchBuf, SearchWin, ResultBuf, ResultWin, Namespace, prompt_extmark
+
+    before_each(function()
+        child.restart({ "-u", "tests/minimal_init.lua" })
+        child.lua([[require("hawtkeys").setup({})]])
+    end)
+
+    describe("search", function()
+        before_each(function()
+            child.lua([[require("hawtkeys.ui").show()]])
+            SearchBuf, SearchWin, ResultBuf, ResultWin, Namespace, prompt_extmark =
+                unpack(child.lua([[
+                local ui = require("hawtkeys.ui")
+                return {
+                    ui.SearchBuf,
+                    ui.SearchWin,
+                    ui.ResultBuf,
+                    ui.ResultWin,
+                    ui.Namespace,
+                    ui.prompt_extmark
+                }
+            ]]))
+        end)
+
+        it("should show the search UI", function()
+            assert(child.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(SearchBuf))
+            assert(child.api.nvim_win_is_valid(SearchWin))
+
+            assert(child.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(ResultBuf))
+            assert(child.api.nvim_win_is_valid(ResultWin))
+
+            eq(SearchBuf, child.api.nvim_get_current_buf())
+            eq(SearchWin, child.api.nvim_get_current_win())
+
+            local win_config = child.api.nvim_win_get_config(SearchWin)
+            eq("editor", win_config.relative)
+        end)
+
+        it("starts in insert mode", function()
+            assert(child.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(SearchBuf))
+            assert(child.api.nvim_win_is_valid(SearchWin))
+
+            eq(child.api.nvim_get_current_win(), SearchWin)
+            eq("i", child.api.nvim_get_mode().mode)
+        end)
+
+        it("should show the hint extmark", function()
+            assert(SearchBuf)
+            assert(prompt_extmark)
+            assert(Namespace)
+            local extmark_info = child.api.nvim_buf_get_extmark_by_id(
+                SearchBuf,
+                Namespace,
+                prompt_extmark,
+                { details = true, hl_name = true }
+            )
+            eq(extmark_info[3].virt_text_pos, "overlay")
+            eq(extmark_info[3].virt_text, { { "Type to search", "Comment" } })
+        end)
+    end)
+
+    describe("all", function()
+        before_each(function()
+            child.lua([[require("hawtkeys.ui").show_all()]])
+            ResultBuf, ResultWin, Namespace = unpack(child.lua([[
+                local ui = require("hawtkeys.ui")
+                return {
+                    ui.ResultBuf,
+                    ui.ResultWin,
+                    ui.Namespace,
+                }
+            ]]))
+        end)
+
+        it("should show the all UI", function()
+            assert(child.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(ResultBuf))
+            assert(child.api.nvim_win_is_valid(ResultWin))
+
+            eq(child.api.nvim_get_current_buf(), ResultBuf)
+            eq(child.api.nvim_get_current_win(), ResultWin)
+
+            local win_config = child.api.nvim_win_get_config(ResultWin)
+            eq(win_config.relative, "editor")
+        end)
+    end)
+
+    describe("dupes", function()
+        before_each(function()
+            child.lua([[require("hawtkeys.ui").show_dupes()]])
+            ResultBuf, ResultWin, Namespace = unpack(child.lua([[
+                local ui = require("hawtkeys.ui")
+                return {
+                    ui.ResultBuf,
+                    ui.ResultWin,
+                    ui.Namespace,
+                }
+            ]]))
+        end)
+
+        it("should show the duplicates UI", function()
+            assert(child.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(ResultBuf))
+            assert(child.api.nvim_win_is_valid(ResultWin))
+
+            eq(child.api.nvim_get_current_buf(), ResultBuf)
+            eq(child.api.nvim_get_current_win(), ResultWin)
+
+            local win_config = child.api.nvim_win_get_config(ResultWin)
+            eq(win_config.relative, "editor")
+        end)
+    end)
+end)
diff --git a/tests/minimal_init.lua b/tests/minimal_init.lua
index 075d7fd..5f7fab2 100644
--- a/tests/minimal_init.lua
+++ b/tests/minimal_init.lua
@@ -1,28 +1,54 @@
 local plenary_dir = os.getenv("PLENARY_DIR") or "/tmp/plenary.nvim"
 local treesitter_dir = os.getenv("TREESITTER_DIR") or "/tmp/nvim-treesitter"
 local whichkey_dir = os.getenv("WHICHKEY_DIR") or "/tmp/which-key.nvim"
-if  vim.fn.isdirectory(plenary_dir) == 0  then
-  vim.fn.system({"git", "clone", "https://github.com/nvim-lua/plenary.nvim", plenary_dir})
+local mini_dir = os.getenv("MINI_DIR") or "/tmp/mini-test"
+if vim.fn.isdirectory(plenary_dir) == 0 then
+    vim.fn.system({
+        "git",
+        "clone",
+        "https://github.com/nvim-lua/plenary.nvim",
+        plenary_dir,
+    })
 end
-if  vim.fn.isdirectory(treesitter_dir) == 0  then
-  vim.fn.system({"git", "clone", "https://github.com/nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter", treesitter_dir})
+if vim.fn.isdirectory(treesitter_dir) == 0 then
+    vim.fn.system({
+        "git",
+        "clone",
+        "https://github.com/nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter",
+        treesitter_dir,
+    })
 end
-if  vim.fn.isdirectory(whichkey_dir) == 0  then
-  vim.fn.system({"git", "clone", "https://github.com/folke/which-key.nvim", whichkey_dir})
+if vim.fn.isdirectory(whichkey_dir) == 0 then
+    vim.fn.system({
+        "git",
+        "clone",
+        "https://github.com/folke/which-key.nvim",
+        whichkey_dir,
+    })
+end
+if vim.fn.isdirectory(mini_dir) == 0 then
+    vim.fn.system({
+        "git",
+        "clone",
+        "https://github.com/echasnovski/mini.test",
+        mini_dir,
+    })
 end
 vim.opt.rtp:append(".")
 vim.opt.rtp:append(plenary_dir)
 vim.opt.rtp:append(treesitter_dir)
 vim.opt.rtp:append(whichkey_dir)
+vim.opt.rtp:append(mini_dir)
 
 vim.cmd("runtime plugin/plenary.vim")
 vim.cmd("runtime plugin/treesitter.vim")
-require("nvim-treesitter.configs").setup {
-  ensure_installed = "lua",
-  highlight = {
-    enable = true,
-  },
-}
+require("nvim-treesitter.configs").setup({
+    ensure_installed = "lua",
+    highlight = {
+        enable = true,
+    },
+})
 vim.cmd("runtime plugin/which-key.vim")
-require("which-key").setup {}
+require("which-key").setup({})
 require("plenary.busted")
+require("mini.test").setup()