diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2197067..7c6642d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -66,18 +66,20 @@ use {
 
 ## Project Configuration
 
-This plugin requires a `.gitlab.nvim` file in the root of the project. Provide this file with values required to connect to your gitlab instance of your repository (gitlab_url is optional, use ONLY for self-hosted instances):
+This plugin requires an <a href="https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/profile/personal_access_tokens.html#create-a-personal-access-token">auth token</a> to connect to Gitlab. The token can be set in the root directory of the project in a `.gitlab.nvim` environment file, or can be set via a shell environment variable called `GITLAB_TOKEN` instead. If both are present, the `.gitlab.nvim` file will take precedence. 
+
+Optionally provide a GITLAB_URL environment variable (or gitlab_url value in the `.gitlab.nvim` file) to connect to a self-hosted Gitlab instance. This is optional, use ONLY for self-hosted instances.
 
 ```
-project_id=112415
 auth_token=your_gitlab_token
 gitlab_url=https://my-personal-gitlab-instance.com/
 ```
 
-If you don't want to write your authentication token into a dotfile, you may provide it as a shell variable. For instance in your `.bashrc` or `.zshrc` file:
+If you don't want to write these into a dotfile, you may provide them via shell variables. These will be overridden by the dotfile if it is present:
 
 ```bash
 export GITLAB_TOKEN="your_gitlab_token"
+export GITLAB_URL="https://my-personal-gitlab-instance.com/"
 ```
 
 ## Configuring the Plugin
@@ -139,17 +141,17 @@ First, check out the branch that you want to review locally.
 git checkout feature-branch
 ```
 
-Then open Neovim. The `project_id` you specify in your configuration file must match the project_id of the Gitlab project your terminal is inside of.
+Then open Neovim. To begin, try running the `summary` command or the `review` command.
 
 ### Summary
 
-The `summary` action will pull down the MR description into a buffer so that you can read it. To edit the description, use the `settings.popup.perform_action` keybinding.
+The `summary` action will open the MR title and description. 
 
 ```lua
 require("gitlab").summary()
 ```
 
-The upper part of the popup contains the title, which can also be edited and sent via the perform action keybinding in the same manner.
+After editing the description or title, you may save your changes via the `settings.popup.perform_action` keybinding.
 
 ### Reviewing Diffs
 
@@ -162,7 +164,7 @@ require("gitlab").create_multiline_comment()
 require("gitlab").create_comment_suggestion()
 ```
 
-For suggesting changes you can use `create_comment_suggestion` in visual mode which works similar to `create_multiline_comment` but prefills the comment window with gitlab [suggest changes](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/merge_requests/reviews/suggestions.html) code block with prefilled code from visual selection.
+For suggesting changes you can use `create_comment_suggestion` in visual mode which works similar to `create_multiline_comment` but prefills the comment window with Gitlab's [suggest changes](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/merge_requests/reviews/suggestions.html) code block with prefilled code from the visual selection.
 
 ### Discussions and Notes
 
@@ -176,7 +178,9 @@ require("gitlab").toggle_discussions()
 
 You can jump to the comment's location in the reviewer window by using the `state.settings.discussion_tree.jump_to_reviewer` key, or the actual file with the 'state.settings.discussion_tree.jump_to_file' key.
 
-Within the discussion tree, you can delete/edit/reply to comments with the `state.settings.discussion_tree.delete_comment` `state.settings.discussion_tree.edit_comment` and `state.settings.discussion_tree.reply` keys, and toggle them as resolved with the `state.settings.discussion_tree.toggle_resolved` key.
+Within the discussion tree, you can delete/edit/reply to comments with the `state.settings.discussion_tree.SOME_ACTION` keybindings.
+
+#### Notes
 
 If you'd like to create a note in an MR (like a comment, but not linked to a specific line) use the `create_note` action. The same keybindings for delete/edit/reply are available on the note tree.
 
diff --git a/cmd/client.go b/cmd/client.go
index f68ec7e..9ef9cf4 100644
--- a/cmd/client.go
+++ b/cmd/client.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httputil"
 	"os"
@@ -18,7 +19,6 @@ type Client struct {
 	mergeId        int
 	gitlabInstance string
 	authToken      string
-	logPath        string
 	git            *gitlab.Client
 }
 
@@ -27,85 +27,32 @@ type DebugSettings struct {
 	GoResponse bool `json:"go_response"`
 }
 
-var requestLogger retryablehttp.RequestLogHook = func(l retryablehttp.Logger, r *http.Request, i int) {
-	logPath := os.Args[len(os.Args)-1]
+/* This will parse and validate the project settings and then initialize the Gitlab client */
+func (c *Client) initGitlabClient() error {
 
-	file, err := os.OpenFile(logPath, os.O_APPEND|os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0644)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	defer file.Close()
-
-	token := r.Header.Get("Private-Token")
-	r.Header.Set("Private-Token", "REDACTED")
-	res, err := httputil.DumpRequest(r, true)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	r.Header.Set("Private-Token", token)
-
-	_, err = file.Write([]byte("\n-- REQUEST --\n")) //nolint:all
-	_, err = file.Write(res)                         //nolint:all
-	_, err = file.Write([]byte("\n"))                //nolint:all
-}
-
-var responseLogger retryablehttp.ResponseLogHook = func(l retryablehttp.Logger, response *http.Response) {
-	logPath := os.Args[len(os.Args)-1]
-
-	file, err := os.OpenFile(logPath, os.O_APPEND|os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0644)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	defer file.Close()
-
-	res, err := httputil.DumpResponse(response, true)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
+	if len(os.Args) < 6 {
+		return errors.New("Must provide gitlab url, port, auth token, debug settings, and log path")
 	}
 
-	_, err = file.Write([]byte("\n-- RESPONSE --\n")) //nolint:all
-	_, err = file.Write(res)                          //nolint:all
-	_, err = file.Write([]byte("\n"))                 //nolint:all
-}
-
-/* This will initialize the client with the token and check for the basic project ID and command arguments */
-func (c *Client) init(branchName string) error {
-
-	if len(os.Args) < 5 {
-		return errors.New("Must provide project ID, gitlab instance, port, and auth token!")
+	gitlabInstance := os.Args[1]
+	if gitlabInstance == "" {
+		return errors.New("GitLab instance URL cannot be empty")
 	}
 
-	projectId := os.Args[1]
-	gitlabInstance := os.Args[2]
-	authToken := os.Args[4]
-	debugSettings := os.Args[5]
+	authToken := os.Args[3]
+	if authToken == "" {
+		return errors.New("Auth token cannot be empty")
+	}
 
+	/* Parse debug settings and initialize logger handlers */
+	debugSettings := os.Args[4]
 	var debugObject DebugSettings
 	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(debugSettings), &debugObject)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Could not parse debug settings: %w, %s", err, debugSettings)
 	}
 
-	logPath := os.Args[len(os.Args)-1]
-
-	if projectId == "" {
-		return errors.New("Project ID cannot be empty")
-	}
-
-	if gitlabInstance == "" {
-		return errors.New("GitLab instance URL cannot be empty")
-	}
-
-	if authToken == "" {
-		return errors.New("Auth token cannot be empty")
-	}
-
-	c.gitlabInstance = gitlabInstance
-	c.projectId = projectId
-	c.authToken = authToken
-	c.logPath = logPath
-
-	var apiCustUrl = fmt.Sprintf(c.gitlabInstance + "/api/v4")
+	var apiCustUrl = fmt.Sprintf(gitlabInstance + "/api/v4")
 
 	gitlabOptions := []gitlab.ClientOptionFunc{
 		gitlab.WithBaseURL(apiCustUrl),
@@ -125,13 +72,40 @@ func (c *Client) init(branchName string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Failed to create client: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	c.gitlabInstance = gitlabInstance
+	c.authToken = authToken
+	c.git = git
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+/* This will fetch the project ID and merge request ID using the client */
+func (c *Client) initProjectSettings(remoteUrl string, namespace string, projectName string, branchName string) error {
+
+	idStr := namespace + "/" + projectName
+	opt := gitlab.GetProjectOptions{}
+	project, _, err := c.git.Projects.GetProject(idStr, &opt)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("Error getting project at %s", remoteUrl), err)
+	}
+	if project == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("Could not find project at %s", remoteUrl), err)
+	}
+
+	if project == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("No projects you are a member of contained remote URL %s", remoteUrl)
+	}
+
+	c.projectId = fmt.Sprint(project.ID)
+
 	options := gitlab.ListProjectMergeRequestsOptions{
 		Scope:        gitlab.String("all"),
 		State:        gitlab.String("opened"),
 		SourceBranch: &branchName,
 	}
 
-	mergeRequests, _, err := git.MergeRequests.ListProjectMergeRequests(c.projectId, &options)
+	mergeRequests, _, err := c.git.MergeRequests.ListProjectMergeRequests(c.projectId, &options)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Failed to list merge requests: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -147,7 +121,6 @@ func (c *Client) init(branchName string) error {
 	}
 
 	c.mergeId = mergeIdInt
-	c.git = git
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -165,3 +138,54 @@ func (c *Client) handleError(w http.ResponseWriter, err error, message string, s
 		c.handleError(w, err, "Could not encode response", http.StatusInternalServerError)
 	}
 }
+
+var requestLogger retryablehttp.RequestLogHook = func(l retryablehttp.Logger, r *http.Request, i int) {
+	file := openLogFile()
+	defer file.Close()
+
+	token := r.Header.Get("Private-Token")
+	r.Header.Set("Private-Token", "REDACTED")
+	res, err := httputil.DumpRequest(r, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("Error dumping request: %v", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	r.Header.Set("Private-Token", token)
+
+	_, err = file.Write([]byte("\n-- REQUEST --\n")) //nolint:all
+	_, err = file.Write(res)                         //nolint:all
+	_, err = file.Write([]byte("\n"))                //nolint:all
+}
+
+var responseLogger retryablehttp.ResponseLogHook = func(l retryablehttp.Logger, response *http.Response) {
+	file := openLogFile()
+	defer file.Close()
+
+	res, err := httputil.DumpResponse(response, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("Error dumping response: %v", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	_, err = file.Write([]byte("\n-- RESPONSE --\n")) //nolint:all
+	_, err = file.Write(res)                          //nolint:all
+	_, err = file.Write([]byte("\n"))                 //nolint:all
+}
+
+func openLogFile() *os.File {
+	logFile := os.Args[len(os.Args)-1]
+	file, err := os.OpenFile(logFile, os.O_APPEND|os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0644)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			log.Printf("Log file %s does not exist", logFile)
+		} else if os.IsPermission(err) {
+			log.Printf("Permission denied for log file %s", logFile)
+		} else {
+			log.Printf("Error opening log file %s: %v", logFile, err)
+		}
+
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	return file
+}
diff --git a/cmd/git.go b/cmd/git.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7ba70b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/git.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os/exec"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+/*
+Extracts information about the current repository and returns
+it to the client for initialization. The current directory must be a valid
+Gitlab project and the branch must be a feature branch
+*/
+func ExtractGitInfo() (string, string, string, string, error) {
+
+	url, err := getProjectUrl()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", "", "", fmt.Errorf("Could not get project Url: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	re := regexp.MustCompile(`(?:[:\/])([^\/]+)\/([^\/]+)\.git$`)
+	matches := re.FindStringSubmatch(url)
+	if len(matches) != 3 {
+		return "", "", "", "", fmt.Errorf("Invalid Git URL format: %s", url)
+	}
+
+	namespace := matches[1]
+	projectName := matches[2]
+
+	branch, err := getCurrentBranch()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", "", "", fmt.Errorf("Failed to get current branch: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return url, namespace, projectName, branch, nil
+}
+
+/* Gets the current branch */
+func getCurrentBranch() (res string, e error) {
+	gitCmd := exec.Command("git", "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "HEAD")
+
+	output, err := gitCmd.Output()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Error running git rev-parse: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	branchName := strings.TrimSpace(string(output))
+
+	if branchName == "main" || branchName == "master" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Cannot run on %s branch", branchName)
+	}
+
+	return branchName, nil
+}
+
+/* Gets the project SSH or HTTPS url */
+func getProjectUrl() (res string, e error) {
+	cmd := exec.Command("git", "remote", "get-url", "origin")
+	url, err := cmd.Output()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Could not get origin remote")
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(string(url)), nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/main.go b/cmd/main.go
index ecb01db..f4b7b40 100644
--- a/cmd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/main.go
@@ -7,29 +7,24 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
-	"os/exec"
-	"strings"
 	"time"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	branchName, err := getCurrentBranch()
-
+	url, namespace, projectName, branchName, err := ExtractGitInfo()
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("Failure: Failed to get current branch: %v", err)
+		log.Fatalf("Failed to get git namespace, project, branch, or url: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if branchName == "main" || branchName == "master" {
-		log.Fatalf("Cannot run on %s branch", branchName)
-	}
-
-	/* Initialize Gitlab client */
 	var c Client
-
-	if err := c.init(branchName); err != nil {
+	if err := c.initGitlabClient(); err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("Failed to initialize Gitlab client: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	if err := c.initProjectSettings(url, namespace, projectName, branchName); err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("Failed to initialize project settings: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	m := http.NewServeMux()
 	m.Handle("/ping", http.HandlerFunc(PingHandler))
 	m.Handle("/mr/summary", withGitlabContext(http.HandlerFunc(SummaryHandler), c))
@@ -47,7 +42,7 @@ func main() {
 	m.Handle("/pipeline", withGitlabContext(http.HandlerFunc(PipelineHandler), c))
 	m.Handle("/job", withGitlabContext(http.HandlerFunc(JobHandler), c))
 
-	port := os.Args[3]
+	port := os.Args[2]
 	if port == "" {
 		// port was not specified
 		port = "0"
@@ -59,7 +54,7 @@ func main() {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error starting server: %s\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
-	listner_port := listener.Addr().(*net.TCPAddr).Port
+	listenerPort := listener.Addr().(*net.TCPAddr).Port
 
 	errCh := make(chan error)
 	go func() {
@@ -69,10 +64,10 @@ func main() {
 
 	go func() {
 		for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
-			resp, err := http.Get("http://localhost:" + fmt.Sprintf("%d", listner_port) + "/ping")
+			resp, err := http.Get("http://localhost:" + fmt.Sprintf("%d", listenerPort) + "/ping")
 			if resp.StatusCode == 200 && err == nil {
 				/* This print is detected by the Lua code and used to fetch project information */
-				fmt.Println("Server started on port: ", listner_port)
+				fmt.Println("Server started on port: ", listenerPort)
 				return
 			}
 			// Wait for healthcheck to pass - at most 1 sec.
@@ -85,7 +80,11 @@ func main() {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error starting server: %s\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
+}
 
+func PingHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "pong")
 }
 
 func withGitlabContext(next http.HandlerFunc, c Client) http.Handler {
@@ -94,19 +93,3 @@ func withGitlabContext(next http.HandlerFunc, c Client) http.Handler {
 		next.ServeHTTP(w, r.WithContext(ctx))
 	})
 }
-
-/* Gets the current branch */
-func getCurrentBranch() (res string, e error) {
-	gitCmd := exec.Command("git", "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "HEAD")
-
-	output, err := gitCmd.Output()
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("Error running git rev-parse: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	return strings.TrimSpace(string(output)), nil
-}
-func PingHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "pong")
-}
diff --git a/lua/gitlab/async.lua b/lua/gitlab/async.lua
index 71b16a0..8f9b26f 100644
--- a/lua/gitlab/async.lua
+++ b/lua/gitlab/async.lua
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 local server = require("gitlab.server")
 local job = require("gitlab.job")
 local state = require("gitlab.state")
-local u = require("gitlab.utils")
 
 local M = {}
 
@@ -48,9 +47,11 @@ M.sequence = function(dependencies, cb)
     local handler = async:new()
     handler:init(cb)
 
-    if not state.is_gitlab_project then
-      u.notify("The gitlab.nvim state was not set. Do you have a .gitlab.nvim file configured?", vim.log.levels.ERROR)
-      return
+    -- Sets configuration for plugin, if not already set
+    if not state.initialized then
+      if not state.setPluginConfiguration() then
+        return
+      end
     end
 
     if state.go_server_running then
diff --git a/lua/gitlab/init.lua b/lua/gitlab/init.lua
index be39239..10d4428 100644
--- a/lua/gitlab/init.lua
+++ b/lua/gitlab/init.lua
@@ -21,10 +21,7 @@ return {
       args = {}
     end
     server.build() -- Builds the Go binary if it doesn't exist
-    state.setPluginConfiguration() -- Sets configuration from `.gitlab.nvim` file
-    if not state.merge_settings(args) then -- Sets keymaps and other settings from setup function
-      return
-    end
+    state.merge_settings(args) -- Sets keymaps and other settings from setup function
     require("gitlab.colors") -- Sets colors
     reviewer.init()
   end,
diff --git a/lua/gitlab/server.lua b/lua/gitlab/server.lua
index a7f6eb5..6be0baa 100644
--- a/lua/gitlab/server.lua
+++ b/lua/gitlab/server.lua
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@ M.start = function(callback)
   local parsed_port = nil
   local callback_called = false
   local command = state.settings.bin
-    .. " "
-    .. state.settings.project_id
     .. " "
     .. state.settings.gitlab_url
     .. " "
@@ -47,8 +45,6 @@ M.start = function(callback)
       if parsed_port ~= nil and not callback_called then
         callback()
         callback_called = true
-      elseif not callback_called then
-        u.notify("Failed to parse server port", vim.log.levels.ERROR)
       end
     end,
     on_stderr = function(_, errors)
diff --git a/lua/gitlab/state.lua b/lua/gitlab/state.lua
index 6e778ec..96257b3 100644
--- a/lua/gitlab/state.lua
+++ b/lua/gitlab/state.lua
@@ -92,40 +92,39 @@ M.print_settings = function()
   u.P(M.settings)
 end
 
--- Merges `.gitlab.nvim` settings into the state module
+-- First reads environment variables into the settings module,
+-- then attemps to read a `.gitlab.nvim` configuration file.
+-- If after doing this, any variables are missing, alerts the user.
+-- The `.gitlab.nvim` configuration file takes precedence.
 M.setPluginConfiguration = function()
+  if M.initialized then
+    return true
+  end
   local config_file_path = vim.fn.getcwd() .. "/.gitlab.nvim"
   local config_file_content = u.read_file(config_file_path)
-  if config_file_content == nil then
-    return false
-  end
 
-  M.is_gitlab_project = true
-
-  local file = assert(io.open(config_file_path, "r"))
-  local properties = {}
-  for line in file:lines() do
-    for key, value in string.gmatch(line, "(.-)=(.-)$") do
-      properties[key] = value
+  local file_properties = {}
+  if config_file_content ~= nil then
+    local file = assert(io.open(config_file_path, "r"))
+    for line in file:lines() do
+      for key, value in string.gmatch(line, "(.-)=(.-)$") do
+        file_properties[key] = value
+      end
     end
   end
 
-  M.settings.project_id = properties.project_id
-  M.settings.auth_token = properties.auth_token or os.getenv("GITLAB_TOKEN")
-  M.settings.gitlab_url = properties.gitlab_url or "https://gitlab.com"
+  M.settings.auth_token = file_properties.auth_token or os.getenv("GITLAB_TOKEN")
+  M.settings.gitlab_url = file_properties.gitlab_url or os.getenv("GITLAB_URL") or "https://gitlab.com"
 
   if M.settings.auth_token == nil then
-    error("Missing authentication token for Gitlab")
-  end
-
-  if M.settings.project_id == nil then
-    error("Missing project ID in .gitlab.nvim file.")
-  end
-
-  if type(tonumber(M.settings.project_id)) ~= "number" then
-    error("The .gitlab.nvim project file's 'project_id' must be number")
+    vim.notify(
+      "Missing authentication token for Gitlab, please provide it as an environment variable or in the .gitlab.nvim file",
+      vim.log.levels.ERROR
+    )
+    return false
   end
 
+  M.initialized = true
   return true
 end