diff --git a/.luacheckrc b/.luacheckrc
index b945835bba..9c8bddb88e 100644
--- a/.luacheckrc
+++ b/.luacheckrc
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 -- Ignore W211 (unused variable) with preload files.
 files["**/preload.lua"] = {ignore = { "211" }}
+-- Allow vim module to modify itself, but only here.
+files["src/nvim/lua/vim.lua"] = {ignore = { "122/vim" }}
 
 -- Don't report unused self arguments of methods.
 self = false
diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/shared.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/shared.lua
index ff89acc524..6aa5f3bd9b 100644
--- a/runtime/lua/vim/shared.lua
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/shared.lua
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 -- test-suite. If, in the future, Nvim itself is used to run the test-suite
 -- instead of "vanilla Lua", these functions could move to src/nvim/lua/vim.lua
 
-local vim = {}
+local vim = vim or {}
 
 --- Returns a deep copy of the given object. Non-table objects are copied as
 --- in a typical Lua assignment, whereas table objects are copied recursively.
diff --git a/src/nvim/CMakeLists.txt b/src/nvim/CMakeLists.txt
index b00ac866b7..988021ca7a 100644
--- a/src/nvim/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/nvim/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ set(UNICODE_TABLES_GENERATOR ${GENERATOR_DIR}/gen_unicode_tables.lua)
 set(UNICODE_DIR ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/unicode)
 set(GENERATED_UNICODE_TABLES ${GENERATED_DIR}/unicode_tables.generated.h)
 set(VIM_MODULE_FILE ${GENERATED_DIR}/lua/vim_module.generated.h)
-set(VIM_MODULE_SOURCE ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/nvim/lua/vim.lua)
+set(LUA_VIM_MODULE_SOURCE ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/nvim/lua/vim.lua)
+set(LUA_SHARED_MODULE_SOURCE ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/runtime/lua/vim/shared.lua)
 set(CHAR_BLOB_GENERATOR ${GENERATOR_DIR}/gen_char_blob.lua)
 set(LINT_SUPPRESS_FILE ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/errors.json)
 set(LINT_SUPPRESS_URL_BASE "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/neovim/doc/gh-pages/reports/clint")
@@ -317,11 +318,13 @@ add_custom_command(
 
 add_custom_command(
   OUTPUT ${VIM_MODULE_FILE}
-  COMMAND ${LUA_PRG} ${CHAR_BLOB_GENERATOR} ${VIM_MODULE_SOURCE}
-                     ${VIM_MODULE_FILE} vim_module
+  COMMAND ${LUA_PRG} ${CHAR_BLOB_GENERATOR} ${VIM_MODULE_FILE}
+      ${LUA_VIM_MODULE_SOURCE} vim_module
+      ${LUA_SHARED_MODULE_SOURCE} shared_module
   DEPENDS
     ${CHAR_BLOB_GENERATOR}
-    ${VIM_MODULE_SOURCE}
+    ${LUA_VIM_MODULE_SOURCE}
+    ${LUA_SHARED_MODULE_SOURCE}
 )
 
 list(APPEND NVIM_GENERATED_SOURCES
diff --git a/src/nvim/generators/gen_char_blob.lua b/src/nvim/generators/gen_char_blob.lua
index 1702add2e4..a7dad50d48 100644
--- a/src/nvim/generators/gen_char_blob.lua
+++ b/src/nvim/generators/gen_char_blob.lua
@@ -1,49 +1,59 @@
 if arg[1] == '--help' then
   print('Usage:')
-  print('  gencharblob.lua source target varname')
+  print('  '..arg[0]..' target source varname [source varname]...')
   print('')
   print('Generates C file with big uint8_t blob.')
   print('Blob will be stored in a static const array named varname.')
   os.exit()
 end
 
-assert(#arg == 3)
+assert(#arg >= 3 and (#arg - 1) % 2 == 0)
 
-local source_file = arg[1]
-local target_file = arg[2]
-local varname = arg[3]
-
-local source = io.open(source_file, 'r')
+local target_file = arg[1] or error('Need a target file')
 local target = io.open(target_file, 'w')
 
 target:write('#include <stdint.h>\n\n')
-target:write(('static const uint8_t %s[] = {\n'):format(varname))
 
-local num_bytes = 0
-local MAX_NUM_BYTES = 15  -- 78 / 5: maximum number of bytes on one line
-target:write(' ')
-
-local increase_num_bytes
-increase_num_bytes = function()
-  num_bytes = num_bytes + 1
-  if num_bytes == MAX_NUM_BYTES then
-    num_bytes = 0
-    target:write('\n ')
+local varnames = {}
+for argi = 2, #arg, 2 do
+  local source_file = arg[argi]
+  local varname = arg[argi + 1]
+  if varnames[varname] then
+    error(string.format("varname %q is already specified for file %q", varname, varnames[varname]))
   end
-end
+  varnames[varname] = source_file
 
-for line in source:lines() do
-  for i = 1,string.len(line) do
-    local byte = string.byte(line, i)
-    assert(byte ~= 0)
-    target:write(string.format(' %3u,', byte))
+  local source = io.open(source_file, 'r')
+      or error(string.format("source_file %q doesn't exist", source_file))
+
+  target:write(('static const uint8_t %s[] = {\n'):format(varname))
+
+  local num_bytes = 0
+  local MAX_NUM_BYTES = 15  -- 78 / 5: maximum number of bytes on one line
+  target:write(' ')
+
+  local increase_num_bytes
+  increase_num_bytes = function()
+    num_bytes = num_bytes + 1
+    if num_bytes == MAX_NUM_BYTES then
+      num_bytes = 0
+      target:write('\n ')
+    end
+  end
+
+  for line in source:lines() do
+    for i = 1, string.len(line) do
+      local byte = line:byte(i)
+      assert(byte ~= 0)
+      target:write(string.format(' %3u,', byte))
+      increase_num_bytes()
+    end
+    target:write(string.format(' %3u,', string.byte('\n', 1)))
     increase_num_bytes()
   end
-  target:write(string.format(' %3u,', string.byte('\n', 1)))
-  increase_num_bytes()
+
+  target:write('   0};\n')
+  source:close()
 end
 
-target:write('   0};\n')
-
-source:close()
 target:close()
diff --git a/src/nvim/lua/executor.c b/src/nvim/lua/executor.c
index 093c130c5f..5450f62f54 100644
--- a/src/nvim/lua/executor.c
+++ b/src/nvim/lua/executor.c
@@ -268,12 +268,7 @@ static int nlua_state_init(lua_State *const lstate) FUNC_ATTR_NONNULL_ALL
 #endif
 
   // vim
-  const char *code = (char *)&vim_module[0];
-  if (luaL_loadbuffer(lstate, code, strlen(code), "@vim.lua")
-      || lua_pcall(lstate, 0, LUA_MULTRET, 0)) {
-    nlua_error(lstate, _("E5106: Error while creating vim module: %.*s"));
-    return 1;
-  }
+  lua_newtable(lstate);
   // vim.api
   nlua_add_api_functions(lstate);
   // vim.types, vim.type_idx, vim.val_idx
@@ -334,6 +329,24 @@ static int nlua_state_init(lua_State *const lstate) FUNC_ATTR_NONNULL_ALL
 
   lua_setglobal(lstate, "vim");
 
+  {
+    const char *code = (char *)&shared_module[0];
+    if (luaL_loadbuffer(lstate, code, strlen(code), "@shared.lua")
+        || lua_pcall(lstate, 0, 0, 0)) {
+      nlua_error(lstate, _("E5106: Error while creating shared module: %.*s"));
+      return 1;
+    }
+  }
+
+  {
+    const char *code = (char *)&vim_module[0];
+    if (luaL_loadbuffer(lstate, code, strlen(code), "@vim.lua")
+        || lua_pcall(lstate, 0, 0, 0)) {
+      nlua_error(lstate, _("E5106: Error while creating vim module: %.*s"));
+      return 1;
+    }
+  }
+
   return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/nvim/lua/vim.lua b/src/nvim/lua/vim.lua
index 1665a55aff..8019511317 100644
--- a/src/nvim/lua/vim.lua
+++ b/src/nvim/lua/vim.lua
@@ -33,35 +33,35 @@
 --    - https://github.com/bakpakin/Fennel (pretty print, repl)
 --    - https://github.com/howl-editor/howl/tree/master/lib/howl/util
 
+local vim = vim
+assert(vim)
 
 -- Internal-only until comments in #8107 are addressed.
 -- Returns:
 --    {errcode}, {output}
-local function _system(cmd)
-  local out = vim.api.nvim_call_function('system', { cmd })
-  local err = vim.api.nvim_get_vvar('shell_error')
+function vim._system(cmd)
+  local out = vim.fn.system(cmd)
+  local err = vim.v.shell_error
   return err, out
 end
 
 -- Gets process info from the `ps` command.
 -- Used by nvim_get_proc() as a fallback.
-local function _os_proc_info(pid)
+function vim._os_proc_info(pid)
   if pid == nil or pid <= 0 or type(pid) ~= 'number' then
     error('invalid pid')
   end
   local cmd = { 'ps', '-p', pid, '-o', 'comm=', }
-  local err, name = _system(cmd)
-  if 1 == err and string.gsub(name, '%s*', '') == '' then
+  local err, name = vim._system(cmd)
+  if 1 == err and vim.trim(name) == '' then
     return {}  -- Process not found.
   elseif 0 ~= err then
-    local args_str = vim.api.nvim_call_function('string', { cmd })
-    error('command failed: '..args_str)
+    error('command failed: '..vim.fn.string(cmd))
   end
-  local _, ppid = _system({ 'ps', '-p', pid, '-o', 'ppid=', })
+  local _, ppid = vim._system({ 'ps', '-p', pid, '-o', 'ppid=', })
   -- Remove trailing whitespace.
-  name = string.gsub(string.gsub(name, '%s+$', ''), '^.*/', '')
-  ppid = string.gsub(ppid, '%s+$', '')
-  ppid = tonumber(ppid) == nil and -1 or tonumber(ppid)
+  name = vim.trim(name):gsub('^.*/', '')
+  ppid = tonumber(ppid) or -1
   return {
     name = name,
     pid = pid,
@@ -71,20 +71,19 @@ end
 
 -- Gets process children from the `pgrep` command.
 -- Used by nvim_get_proc_children() as a fallback.
-local function _os_proc_children(ppid)
+function vim._os_proc_children(ppid)
   if ppid == nil or ppid <= 0 or type(ppid) ~= 'number' then
     error('invalid ppid')
   end
   local cmd = { 'pgrep', '-P', ppid, }
-  local err, rv = _system(cmd)
-  if 1 == err and string.gsub(rv, '%s*', '') == '' then
+  local err, rv = vim._system(cmd)
+  if 1 == err and vim.trim(rv) == '' then
     return {}  -- Process not found.
   elseif 0 ~= err then
-    local args_str = vim.api.nvim_call_function('string', { cmd })
-    error('command failed: '..args_str)
+    error('command failed: '..vim.fn.string(cmd))
   end
   local children = {}
-  for s in string.gmatch(rv, '%S+') do
+  for s in rv:gmatch('%S+') do
     local i = tonumber(s)
     if i ~= nil then
       table.insert(children, i)
@@ -98,7 +97,7 @@ end
 -- Last inserted paths. Used to clear out items from package.[c]path when they
 -- are no longer in &runtimepath.
 local last_nvim_paths = {}
-local function _update_package_paths()
+function vim._update_package_paths()
   local cur_nvim_paths = {}
   local rtps = vim.api.nvim_list_runtime_paths()
   local sep = package.config:sub(1, 1)
@@ -162,35 +161,35 @@ local function inspect(object, options)  -- luacheck: no unused
   error(object, options)  -- Stub for gen_vimdoc.py
 end
 
---- Paste handler, invoked by |nvim_paste()| when a conforming UI
---- (such as the |TUI|) pastes text into the editor.
----
---- Example: To remove ANSI color codes when pasting:
---- <pre>
---- vim.paste = (function(overridden)
----   return function(lines, phase)
----     for i,line in ipairs(lines) do
----       -- Scrub ANSI color codes from paste input.
----       lines[i] = line:gsub('\27%[[0-9;mK]+', '')
----     end
----     overridden(lines, phase)
----   end
---- end)(vim.paste)
---- </pre>
----
---@see |paste|
----
---@param lines  |readfile()|-style list of lines to paste. |channel-lines|
---@param phase  -1: "non-streaming" paste: the call contains all lines.
----              If paste is "streamed", `phase` indicates the stream state:
----                - 1: starts the paste (exactly once)
----                - 2: continues the paste (zero or more times)
----                - 3: ends the paste (exactly once)
---@returns false if client should cancel the paste.
-local function paste(lines, phase) end  -- luacheck: no unused
-paste = (function()
+do
   local tdots, tick, got_line1 = 0, 0, false
-  return function(lines, phase)
+
+  --- Paste handler, invoked by |nvim_paste()| when a conforming UI
+  --- (such as the |TUI|) pastes text into the editor.
+  ---
+  --- Example: To remove ANSI color codes when pasting:
+  --- <pre>
+  --- vim.paste = (function(overridden)
+  ---   return function(lines, phase)
+  ---     for i,line in ipairs(lines) do
+  ---       -- Scrub ANSI color codes from paste input.
+  ---       lines[i] = line:gsub('\27%[[0-9;mK]+', '')
+  ---     end
+  ---     overridden(lines, phase)
+  ---   end
+  --- end)(vim.paste)
+  --- </pre>
+  ---
+  --@see |paste|
+  ---
+  --@param lines  |readfile()|-style list of lines to paste. |channel-lines|
+  --@param phase  -1: "non-streaming" paste: the call contains all lines.
+  ---              If paste is "streamed", `phase` indicates the stream state:
+  ---                - 1: starts the paste (exactly once)
+  ---                - 2: continues the paste (zero or more times)
+  ---                - 3: ends the paste (exactly once)
+  --@returns false if client should cancel the paste.
+  function vim.paste(lines, phase)
     local call = vim.api.nvim_call_function
     local now = vim.loop.now()
     local mode = call('mode', {}):sub(1,1)
@@ -230,20 +229,33 @@ paste = (function()
     end
     return true  -- Paste will not continue if not returning `true`.
   end
-end)()
+end
 
 --- Defers callback `cb` until the Nvim API is safe to call.
 ---
 ---@see |lua-loop-callbacks|
 ---@see |vim.schedule()|
 ---@see |vim.in_fast_event()|
-local function schedule_wrap(cb)
+function vim.schedule_wrap(cb)
   return (function (...)
     local args = {...}
     vim.schedule(function() cb(unpack(args)) end)
   end)
 end
 
+-- vim.fn.{func}(...)
+vim.fn = setmetatable({}, {
+  __index = function(t, key)
+    local function _fn(...)
+      return vim.call(key, ...)
+    end
+    t[key] = _fn
+    return _fn
+  end
+})
+
+-- These are for loading runtime modules lazily since they aren't available in
+-- the nvim binary as specified in executor.c
 local function __index(t, key)
   if key == 'inspect' then
     t.inspect = require('vim.inspect')
@@ -251,10 +263,6 @@ local function __index(t, key)
   elseif key == 'treesitter' then
     t.treesitter = require('vim.treesitter')
     return t.treesitter
-  elseif require('vim.shared')[key] ~= nil then
-    -- Expose all `vim.shared` functions on the `vim` module.
-    t[key] = require('vim.shared')[key]
-    return t[key]
   elseif require('vim.uri')[key] ~= nil then
     -- Expose all `vim.uri` functions on the `vim` module.
     t[key] = require('vim.uri')[key]
@@ -265,29 +273,100 @@ local function __index(t, key)
   end
 end
 
-
--- vim.fn.{func}(...)
-local function _fn_index(t, key)
-  local function _fn(...)
-    return vim.call(key, ...)
-  end
-  t[key] = _fn
-  return _fn
-end
-local fn = setmetatable({}, {__index=_fn_index})
-
-local module = {
-  _update_package_paths = _update_package_paths,
-  _os_proc_children = _os_proc_children,
-  _os_proc_info = _os_proc_info,
-  _system = _system,
-  paste = paste,
-  schedule_wrap = schedule_wrap,
-  fn=fn,
-}
-
-setmetatable(module, {
+setmetatable(vim, {
   __index = __index
 })
 
+do
+  local a = vim.api
+  local validate = vim.validate
+  local function make_meta_accessor(get, set, del)
+    validate {
+      get = {get, 'f'};
+      set = {set, 'f'};
+      del = {del, 'f', true};
+    }
+    local mt = {}
+    if del then
+      function mt:__newindex(k, v)
+        if v == nil then
+          return del(k)
+        end
+        return set(k, v)
+      end
+    else
+      function mt:__newindex(k, v)
+        return set(k, v)
+      end
+    end
+    function mt:__index(k)
+      return get(k)
+    end
+    return setmetatable({}, mt)
+  end
+  local function pcall_ret(status, ...)
+    if status then return ... end
+  end
+  local function nil_wrap(fn)
+    return function(...)
+      return pcall_ret(pcall(fn, ...))
+    end
+  end
+  vim.g = make_meta_accessor(nil_wrap(a.nvim_get_var), a.nvim_set_var, a.nvim_del_var)
+  vim.v = make_meta_accessor(nil_wrap(a.nvim_get_vvar), a.nvim_set_vvar)
+  vim.o = make_meta_accessor(nil_wrap(a.nvim_get_option), a.nvim_set_option)
+  vim.env = make_meta_accessor(vim.fn.getenv, vim.fn.setenv)
+  -- TODO(ashkan) if/when these are available from an API, generate them
+  -- instead of hardcoding.
+  local window_options = {
+              arab = true;       arabic = true;   breakindent = true; breakindentopt = true;
+               bri = true;       briopt = true;            cc = true;           cocu = true;
+              cole = true;  colorcolumn = true; concealcursor = true;   conceallevel = true;
+               crb = true;          cuc = true;           cul = true;     cursorbind = true;
+      cursorcolumn = true;   cursorline = true;          diff = true;            fcs = true;
+               fdc = true;          fde = true;           fdi = true;            fdl = true;
+               fdm = true;          fdn = true;           fdt = true;            fen = true;
+         fillchars = true;          fml = true;           fmr = true;     foldcolumn = true;
+        foldenable = true;     foldexpr = true;    foldignore = true;      foldlevel = true;
+        foldmarker = true;   foldmethod = true;  foldminlines = true;    foldnestmax = true;
+          foldtext = true;          lbr = true;           lcs = true;      linebreak = true;
+              list = true;    listchars = true;            nu = true;         number = true;
+       numberwidth = true;          nuw = true; previewwindow = true;            pvw = true;
+    relativenumber = true;    rightleft = true;  rightleftcmd = true;             rl = true;
+               rlc = true;          rnu = true;           scb = true;            scl = true;
+               scr = true;       scroll = true;    scrollbind = true;     signcolumn = true;
+             spell = true;   statusline = true;           stl = true;            wfh = true;
+               wfw = true;        winbl = true;      winblend = true;   winfixheight = true;
+       winfixwidth = true; winhighlight = true;         winhl = true;           wrap = true;
+  }
+  local function new_buf_opt_accessor(bufnr)
+    local function get(k)
+      if window_options[k] then
+        return a.nvim_err_writeln(k.." is a window option, not a buffer option")
+      end
+      return a.nvim_buf_get_option(bufnr, k)
+    end
+    local function set(k, v)
+      if window_options[k] then
+        return a.nvim_err_writeln(k.." is a window option, not a buffer option")
+      end
+      return a.nvim_buf_set_option(bufnr, k, v)
+    end
+    return make_meta_accessor(nil_wrap(get), set)
+  end
+  vim.bo = new_buf_opt_accessor(0)
+  getmetatable(vim.bo).__call = function(_, bufnr)
+    return new_buf_opt_accessor(bufnr)
+  end
+  local function new_win_opt_accessor(winnr)
+    local function get(k)    return a.nvim_win_get_option(winnr, k) end
+    local function set(k, v) return a.nvim_win_set_option(winnr, k, v) end
+    return make_meta_accessor(nil_wrap(get), set)
+  end
+  vim.wo = new_win_opt_accessor(0)
+  getmetatable(vim.wo).__call = function(_, winnr)
+    return new_win_opt_accessor(winnr)
+  end
+end
+
 return module
diff --git a/test/functional/lua/vim_spec.lua b/test/functional/lua/vim_spec.lua
index 028f2dcd52..446bbafc3c 100644
--- a/test/functional/lua/vim_spec.lua
+++ b/test/functional/lua/vim_spec.lua
@@ -549,4 +549,61 @@ describe('lua stdlib', function()
     eq(false, exec_lua("return vim.is_callable('foo')"))
     eq(false, exec_lua("return vim.is_callable({})"))
   end)
+
+  it('vim.g', function()
+    exec_lua [[
+    vim.api.nvim_set_var("testing", "hi")
+    vim.api.nvim_set_var("other", 123)
+    ]]
+    eq('hi', funcs.luaeval "vim.g.testing")
+    eq(123, funcs.luaeval "vim.g.other")
+    eq(NIL, funcs.luaeval "vim.g.nonexistant")
+  end)
+
+  it('vim.env', function()
+    exec_lua [[
+    vim.fn.setenv("A", 123)
+    ]]
+    eq('123', funcs.luaeval "vim.env.A")
+    eq(NIL, funcs.luaeval "vim.env.B")
+  end)
+
+  it('vim.v', function()
+    eq(funcs.luaeval "vim.api.nvim_get_vvar('progpath')", funcs.luaeval "vim.v.progpath")
+    eq(false, funcs.luaeval "vim.v['false']")
+    eq(NIL, funcs.luaeval "vim.v.null")
+  end)
+
+  it('vim.bo', function()
+    eq('', funcs.luaeval "vim.bo.filetype")
+    exec_lua [[
+    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_option(0, "filetype", "markdown")
+    BUF = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
+    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_option(BUF, "modifiable", false)
+    ]]
+    eq(false, funcs.luaeval "vim.bo.modified")
+    eq('markdown', funcs.luaeval "vim.bo.filetype")
+    eq(false, funcs.luaeval "vim.bo(BUF).modifiable")
+    exec_lua [[
+    vim.bo.filetype = ''
+    vim.bo(BUF).modifiable = true
+    ]]
+    eq('', funcs.luaeval "vim.bo.filetype")
+    eq(true, funcs.luaeval "vim.bo(BUF).modifiable")
+  end)
+
+  it('vim.wo', function()
+    eq('', funcs.luaeval "vim.bo.filetype")
+    exec_lua [[
+    vim.api.nvim_win_set_option(0, "cole", 2)
+    BUF = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
+    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_option(BUF, "modifiable", false)
+    ]]
+    eq(2, funcs.luaeval "vim.wo.cole")
+    exec_lua [[
+    vim.wo.conceallevel = 0
+    vim.bo(BUF).modifiable = true
+    ]]
+    eq(0, funcs.luaeval "vim.wo.cole")
+  end)
 end)
diff --git a/test/helpers.lua b/test/helpers.lua
index 3f29a28c0d..98f003f208 100644
--- a/test/helpers.lua
+++ b/test/helpers.lua
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ function module.pcall_err(fn, ...)
   -- to this:
   --    Error executing lua: .../foo.lua:186: Expected string, got number
   errmsg = errmsg:gsub([[lua: [a-zA-Z]?:?[^:]-[/\]([^:/\]+):%d+: ]], 'lua: .../%1: ')
+  -- Compiled modules will not have a path and will just be a name like
+  -- shared.lua:186, so strip the number.
+  errmsg = errmsg:gsub([[lua: ([^:/\ ]+):%d+: ]], 'lua: .../%1: ')
   --                          ^ Windows drive-letter (C:)
   return errmsg
 end