diff --git a/update.sh b/update.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..c0f37cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/update.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# 
+# minimal dotfile manager
+# tracks files / copies them into the repo, sorted by hostname
+#
+
+# array of files [relative to home] to include
+DOTS=(
+        '.vimrc'
+        '.config/nvim/init.vim'
+        '.config/nvim/coc-settings.json'
+        # '.config/sway'
+)
+
+# ensure the host running this script/updating dotfiles has a directory
+# ... then temporarily change into it for working, or exit. 
+# if it couldn't be made/entered [for whatever reason], we won't be able to copy.
+[ -d "$HOSTNAME" ] || mkdir -v "$HOSTNAME"
+pushd "$HOSTNAME" || exit
+
+# now that the host/working dir is managed, process the dotfiles
+# ensure their directory structure is retained, then recursively copy
+for DOT in "${DOTS[@]}"; do
+        DOT_DIR="$(dirname "$DOT")"
+        [ -d "$DOT_DIR" ] || mkdir -vp "$DOT_DIR"
+        # naively copy; rely on git to tell us about changes
+        cp -ravp "$HOME/$DOT" "$DOT"
+done
+
+# return where we were
+popd || exit