diff --git a/crates/gpui2/src/app.rs b/crates/gpui2/src/app.rs
index 66c10f901df2e13a09101d06184ab96c7495d6d7..7c62661f337ffc2baf571388c32546ef949906fa 100644
--- a/crates/gpui2/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui2/src/app.rs
@@ -333,8 +333,7 @@ impl AppContext {
             .collect::<SmallVec<[_; 8]>>();
 
         for dirty_window_handle in dirty_window_ids {
-            self.update_window(dirty_window_handle, |_, cx| cx.draw())
-                .unwrap();
+            dirty_window_handle.update(self, |_, cx| cx.draw()).unwrap();
         }
     }
 
@@ -363,25 +362,26 @@ impl AppContext {
     /// a window blur handler to restore focus to some logical element.
     fn release_dropped_focus_handles(&mut self) {
         for window_handle in self.windows() {
-            self.update_window(window_handle, |_, cx| {
-                let mut blur_window = false;
-                let focus = cx.window.focus;
-                cx.window.focus_handles.write().retain(|handle_id, count| {
-                    if count.load(SeqCst) == 0 {
-                        if focus == Some(handle_id) {
-                            blur_window = true;
+            window_handle
+                .update(self, |_, cx| {
+                    let mut blur_window = false;
+                    let focus = cx.window.focus;
+                    cx.window.focus_handles.write().retain(|handle_id, count| {
+                        if count.load(SeqCst) == 0 {
+                            if focus == Some(handle_id) {
+                                blur_window = true;
+                            }
+                            false
+                        } else {
+                            true
                         }
-                        false
-                    } else {
-                        true
-                    }
-                });
+                    });
 
-                if blur_window {
-                    cx.blur();
-                }
-            })
-            .unwrap();
+                    if blur_window {
+                        cx.blur();
+                    }
+                })
+                .unwrap();
         }
     }
 
@@ -403,29 +403,30 @@ impl AppContext {
         window_handle: AnyWindowHandle,
         focused: Option<FocusId>,
     ) {
-        self.update_window(window_handle, |_, cx| {
-            if cx.window.focus == focused {
-                let mut listeners = mem::take(&mut cx.window.focus_listeners);
-                let focused =
-                    focused.map(|id| FocusHandle::for_id(id, &cx.window.focus_handles).unwrap());
-                let blurred = cx
-                    .window
-                    .last_blur
-                    .take()
-                    .unwrap()
-                    .and_then(|id| FocusHandle::for_id(id, &cx.window.focus_handles));
-                if focused.is_some() || blurred.is_some() {
-                    let event = FocusEvent { focused, blurred };
-                    for listener in &listeners {
-                        listener(&event, cx);
+        window_handle
+            .update(self, |_, cx| {
+                if cx.window.focus == focused {
+                    let mut listeners = mem::take(&mut cx.window.focus_listeners);
+                    let focused = focused
+                        .map(|id| FocusHandle::for_id(id, &cx.window.focus_handles).unwrap());
+                    let blurred = cx
+                        .window
+                        .last_blur
+                        .take()
+                        .unwrap()
+                        .and_then(|id| FocusHandle::for_id(id, &cx.window.focus_handles));
+                    if focused.is_some() || blurred.is_some() {
+                        let event = FocusEvent { focused, blurred };
+                        for listener in &listeners {
+                            listener(&event, cx);
+                        }
                     }
-                }
 
-                listeners.extend(cx.window.focus_listeners.drain(..));
-                cx.window.focus_listeners = listeners;
-            }
-        })
-        .ok();
+                    listeners.extend(cx.window.focus_listeners.drain(..));
+                    cx.window.focus_listeners = listeners;
+                }
+            })
+            .ok();
     }
 
     fn apply_refresh_effect(&mut self) {
diff --git a/crates/gpui2/src/gpui2.rs b/crates/gpui2/src/gpui2.rs
index 58e1a7fc54034ae9ba3741240b583a259858e881..d016e174fe56d016ce36b1acc66df2400db44a0e 100644
--- a/crates/gpui2/src/gpui2.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui2/src/gpui2.rs
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ use taffy::TaffyLayoutEngine;
 type AnyBox = Box<dyn Any + Send>;
 
 pub trait Context {
-    type WindowContext<'a>: VisualContext;
+    type WindowContext<'a>: UpdateView;
     type ModelContext<'a, T>;
     type Result<T>;
 
@@ -125,6 +125,16 @@ pub trait VisualContext: Context {
         V: 'static + Send + Render;
 }
 
+pub trait UpdateView {
+    type ViewContext<'a, V: 'static>;
+
+    fn update_view<V: 'static, R>(
+        &mut self,
+        view: &View<V>,
+        update: impl FnOnce(&mut V, &mut Self::ViewContext<'_, V>) -> R,
+    ) -> R;
+}
+
 pub trait Entity<T>: Sealed {
     type Weak: 'static + Send;
 
@@ -268,6 +278,26 @@ impl<C: VisualContext> VisualContext for MainThread<C> {
     }
 }
 
+impl<C: UpdateView> UpdateView for MainThread<C> {
+    type ViewContext<'a, V: 'static> = MainThread<C::ViewContext<'a, V>>;
+
+    fn update_view<V: 'static, R>(
+        &mut self,
+        view: &View<V>,
+        update: impl FnOnce(&mut V, &mut Self::ViewContext<'_, V>) -> R,
+    ) -> R {
+        self.0.update_view(view, |view_state, cx| {
+            let cx = unsafe {
+                mem::transmute::<
+                    &mut C::ViewContext<'_, V>,
+                    &mut MainThread<C::ViewContext<'_, V>>,
+                >(cx)
+            };
+            update(view_state, cx)
+        })
+    }
+}
+
 pub trait BorrowAppContext {
     fn with_text_style<F, R>(&mut self, style: TextStyleRefinement, f: F) -> R
     where
diff --git a/crates/gpui2/src/window.rs b/crates/gpui2/src/window.rs
index 36452bbf034e0517ccb72666b6cb164ab4f2966a..cf83e4e3af2691eb1dded0521540764e50c235b3 100644
--- a/crates/gpui2/src/window.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui2/src/window.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use crate::{
     MouseDownEvent, MouseMoveEvent, MouseUpEvent, Path, Pixels, PlatformAtlas, PlatformWindow,
     Point, PolychromeSprite, Quad, Render, RenderGlyphParams, RenderImageParams, RenderSvgParams,
     ScaledPixels, SceneBuilder, Shadow, SharedString, Size, Style, Subscription, TaffyLayoutEngine,
-    Task, Underline, UnderlineStyle, View, VisualContext, WeakView, WindowOptions,
+    Task, Underline, UnderlineStyle, UpdateView, View, VisualContext, WeakView, WindowOptions,
     SUBPIXEL_VARIANTS,
 };
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
@@ -206,26 +206,28 @@ impl Window {
         platform_window.on_resize(Box::new({
             let mut cx = cx.to_async();
             move |content_size, scale_factor| {
-                cx.update_window(handle, |_, cx| {
-                    cx.window.scale_factor = scale_factor;
-                    cx.window.scene_builder = SceneBuilder::new();
-                    cx.window.content_size = content_size;
-                    cx.window.display_id = cx
-                        .window
-                        .platform_window
-                        .borrow_on_main_thread()
-                        .display()
-                        .id();
-                    cx.window.dirty = true;
-                })
-                .log_err();
+                handle
+                    .update(&mut cx, |_, cx| {
+                        cx.window.scale_factor = scale_factor;
+                        cx.window.scene_builder = SceneBuilder::new();
+                        cx.window.content_size = content_size;
+                        cx.window.display_id = cx
+                            .window
+                            .platform_window
+                            .borrow_on_main_thread()
+                            .display()
+                            .id();
+                        cx.window.dirty = true;
+                    })
+                    .log_err();
             }
         }));
 
         platform_window.on_input({
             let mut cx = cx.to_async();
             Box::new(move |event| {
-                cx.update_window(handle, |_, cx| cx.dispatch_event(event))
+                handle
+                    .update(&mut cx, |_, cx| cx.dispatch_event(event))
                     .log_err()
                     .unwrap_or(true)
             })
@@ -370,9 +372,9 @@ impl<'a> WindowContext<'a> {
     /// Schedules the given function to be run at the end of the current effect cycle, allowing entities
     /// that are currently on the stack to be returned to the app.
     pub fn defer(&mut self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut WindowContext) + 'static + Send) {
-        let window = self.window.handle;
+        let handle = self.window.handle;
         self.app.defer(move |cx| {
-            cx.update_window(window, |_, cx| f(cx)).ok();
+            handle.update(cx, |_, cx| f(cx)).ok();
         });
     }
 
@@ -391,16 +393,17 @@ impl<'a> WindowContext<'a> {
         self.app.event_listeners.insert(
             entity_id,
             Box::new(move |event, cx| {
-                cx.update_window(window_handle, |_, cx| {
-                    if let Some(handle) = E::upgrade_from(&entity) {
-                        let event = event.downcast_ref().expect("invalid event type");
-                        on_event(handle, event, cx);
-                        true
-                    } else {
-                        false
-                    }
-                })
-                .unwrap_or(false)
+                window_handle
+                    .update(cx, |_, cx| {
+                        if let Some(handle) = E::upgrade_from(&entity) {
+                            let event = event.downcast_ref().expect("invalid event type");
+                            on_event(handle, event, cx);
+                            true
+                        } else {
+                            false
+                        }
+                    })
+                    .unwrap_or(false)
             }),
         )
     }
@@ -422,7 +425,7 @@ impl<'a> WindowContext<'a> {
         } else {
             let handle = self.window.handle;
             self.app
-                .run_on_main(move |cx| cx.update_window(handle, |_, cx| f(cx)))
+                .run_on_main(move |cx| handle.update(cx, |_, cx| f(cx)))
         }
     }
 
@@ -1182,7 +1185,7 @@ impl<'a> WindowContext<'a> {
         let window_handle = self.window.handle;
         self.global_observers.insert(
             TypeId::of::<G>(),
-            Box::new(move |cx| cx.update_window(window_handle, |_, cx| f(cx)).is_ok()),
+            Box::new(move |cx| window_handle.update(cx, |_, cx| f(cx)).is_ok()),
         )
     }
 
@@ -1304,7 +1307,7 @@ impl Context for WindowContext<'_> {
             let root_view = self.window.root_view.clone().unwrap();
             Ok(update(root_view, self))
         } else {
-            self.app.update_window(window, update)
+            window.update(self.app, update)
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1361,6 +1364,18 @@ impl VisualContext for WindowContext<'_> {
     }
 }
 
+impl UpdateView for WindowContext<'_> {
+    type ViewContext<'a, V: 'static> = ViewContext<'a, V>;
+
+    fn update_view<V: 'static, R>(
+        &mut self,
+        view: &View<V>,
+        update: impl FnOnce(&mut V, &mut Self::ViewContext<'_, V>) -> R,
+    ) -> R {
+        VisualContext::update_view(self, view, update)
+    }
+}
+
 impl<'a> std::ops::Deref for WindowContext<'a> {
     type Target = AppContext;
 
@@ -1649,15 +1664,16 @@ impl<'a, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, V> {
         self.app.observers.insert(
             entity_id,
             Box::new(move |cx| {
-                cx.update_window(window_handle, |_, cx| {
-                    if let Some(handle) = E::upgrade_from(&entity) {
-                        view.update(cx, |this, cx| on_notify(this, handle, cx))
-                            .is_ok()
-                    } else {
-                        false
-                    }
-                })
-                .unwrap_or(false)
+                window_handle
+                    .update(cx, |_, cx| {
+                        if let Some(handle) = E::upgrade_from(&entity) {
+                            view.update(cx, |this, cx| on_notify(this, handle, cx))
+                                .is_ok()
+                        } else {
+                            false
+                        }
+                    })
+                    .unwrap_or(false)
             }),
         )
     }
@@ -1678,16 +1694,17 @@ impl<'a, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, V> {
         self.app.event_listeners.insert(
             entity_id,
             Box::new(move |event, cx| {
-                cx.update_window(window_handle, |_, cx| {
-                    if let Some(handle) = E::upgrade_from(&handle) {
-                        let event = event.downcast_ref().expect("invalid event type");
-                        view.update(cx, |this, cx| on_event(this, handle, event, cx))
-                            .is_ok()
-                    } else {
-                        false
-                    }
-                })
-                .unwrap_or(false)
+                window_handle
+                    .update(cx, |_, cx| {
+                        if let Some(handle) = E::upgrade_from(&handle) {
+                            let event = event.downcast_ref().expect("invalid event type");
+                            view.update(cx, |this, cx| on_event(this, handle, event, cx))
+                                .is_ok()
+                        } else {
+                            false
+                        }
+                    })
+                    .unwrap_or(false)
             }),
         )
     }
@@ -1702,7 +1719,7 @@ impl<'a, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, V> {
             Box::new(move |this, cx| {
                 let this = this.downcast_mut().expect("invalid entity type");
                 // todo!("are we okay with silently swallowing the error?")
-                let _ = cx.update_window(window_handle, |_, cx| on_release(this, cx));
+                let _ = window_handle.update(cx, |_, cx| on_release(this, cx));
             }),
         )
     }
@@ -1724,7 +1741,7 @@ impl<'a, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, V> {
             entity_id,
             Box::new(move |entity, cx| {
                 let entity = entity.downcast_mut().expect("invalid entity type");
-                let _ = cx.update_window(window_handle, |_, cx| {
+                let _ = window_handle.update(cx, |_, cx| {
                     view.update(cx, |this, cx| on_release(this, entity, cx))
                 });
             }),
@@ -1887,10 +1904,9 @@ impl<'a, V: 'static> ViewContext<'a, V> {
         self.global_observers.insert(
             TypeId::of::<G>(),
             Box::new(move |cx| {
-                cx.update_window(window_handle, |_, cx| {
-                    view.update(cx, |view, cx| f(view, cx)).is_ok()
-                })
-                .unwrap_or(false)
+                window_handle
+                    .update(cx, |_, cx| view.update(cx, |view, cx| f(view, cx)).is_ok())
+                    .unwrap_or(false)
             }),
         )
     }
@@ -1978,7 +1994,7 @@ impl<V: 'static> VisualContext for ViewContext<'_, V> {
         view: &View<V2>,
         update: impl FnOnce(&mut V2, &mut Self::ViewContext<'_, V2>) -> R,
     ) -> Self::Result<R> {
-        self.window_cx.update_view(view, update)
+        VisualContext::update_view(&mut self.window_cx, view, update)
     }
 
     fn replace_root_view<W>(
@@ -2034,23 +2050,20 @@ impl<V: 'static + Render> WindowHandle<V> {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn update_root<C, R, W>(
+    pub fn update<C, R>(
         &self,
         cx: &mut C,
-        update: impl FnOnce(
-            &mut V,
-            &mut <C::WindowContext<'_> as VisualContext>::ViewContext<'_, V>,
-        ) -> R,
+        update: impl FnOnce(&mut V, &mut <C::WindowContext<'_> as UpdateView>::ViewContext<'_, V>) -> R,
     ) -> Result<R>
     where
-        C: for<'a> Context<WindowContext<'a> = W>,
-        W: VisualContext<Result<R> = R>,
+        C: Context,
     {
         cx.update_window(self.any_handle, |root_view, cx| {
             let view = root_view
                 .downcast::<V>()
                 .map_err(|_| anyhow!("the type of the window's root view has changed"))?;
-            Ok(view.update(cx, update))
+
+            Ok(cx.update_view(&view, update))
         })?
     }
 }
@@ -2107,6 +2120,17 @@ impl AnyWindowHandle {
             None
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn update<C, R>(
+        &self,
+        cx: &mut C,
+        update: impl FnOnce(AnyView, &mut C::WindowContext<'_>) -> R,
+    ) -> Result<R>
+    where
+        C: Context,
+    {
+        cx.update_window(*self, update)
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(any(test, feature = "test-support"))]
diff --git a/crates/workspace2/src/workspace2.rs b/crates/workspace2/src/workspace2.rs
index 2db525a26de86448939ce0af6c21437abe81afac..68e5b058e9b1a97bb3d5efadc96be77665190ce9 100644
--- a/crates/workspace2/src/workspace2.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace2/src/workspace2.rs
@@ -428,10 +428,10 @@ pub struct AppState {
     pub build_window_options:
         fn(Option<WindowBounds>, Option<Uuid>, &mut MainThread<AppContext>) -> WindowOptions,
     pub initialize_workspace: fn(
-        WeakView<Workspace>,
+        WindowHandle<Workspace>,
         bool,
         Arc<AppState>,
-        AsyncWindowContext,
+        AsyncAppContext,
     ) -> Task<anyhow::Result<()>>,
     pub node_runtime: Arc<dyn NodeRuntime>,
 }
@@ -874,12 +874,14 @@ impl Workspace {
                 let options =
                     cx.update(|cx| (app_state.build_window_options)(bounds, display, cx))?;
                 cx.open_window(options, |cx| {
-                    Workspace::new(workspace_id, project_handle.clone(), app_state.clone(), cx)
+                    cx.build_view(|cx| {
+                        Workspace::new(workspace_id, project_handle.clone(), app_state.clone(), cx)
+                    })
                 })?
             };
 
             (app_state.initialize_workspace)(
-                workspace.downgrade(),
+                window,
                 serialized_workspace.is_some(),
                 app_state.clone(),
                 cx.clone(),
@@ -887,10 +889,7 @@ impl Workspace {
             .await
             .log_err();
 
-            window.update_root(&mut cx, |_, cx| {
-                // todo!()
-                // cx.activate_window()
-            });
+            window.update(&mut cx, |_, cx| cx.activate_window());
 
             let workspace = workspace.downgrade();
             notify_if_database_failed(&workspace, &mut cx);
@@ -3976,7 +3975,7 @@ impl WorkspaceStore {
             let mut response = proto::FollowResponse::default();
             for workspace in &this.workspaces {
                 workspace
-                    .update_root(cx, |workspace, cx| {
+                    .update(cx, |workspace, cx| {
                         let handler_response = workspace.handle_follow(follower.project_id, cx);
                         if response.views.is_empty() {
                             response.views = handler_response.views;