diff --git a/spec/app/atom-package-spec.coffee b/spec/app/atom-package-spec.coffee
index e585f43c4..067f2e0e4 100644
--- a/spec/app/atom-package-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/app/atom-package-spec.coffee
@@ -4,14 +4,13 @@ fs = require 'fs'
 
 describe "AtomPackage", ->
   describe ".load()", ->
-    afterEach ->
-      rootView.deactivate()
+    beforeEach ->
+      window.rootView = new RootView
 
     describe "when the package metadata includes activation events", ->
       [packageMainModule, pack] = []
 
       beforeEach ->
-        new RootView(fixturesProject.getPath())
         pack = new AtomPackage(fs.resolve(config.packageDirPaths..., 'package-with-activation-events'))
         packageMainModule = require 'fixtures/packages/package-with-activation-events/main'
         spyOn(packageMainModule, 'activate').andCallThrough()
@@ -39,7 +38,6 @@ describe "AtomPackage", ->
     describe "when the package does not specify a main module", ->
       describe "when the package has an index.coffee", ->
         it "uses index.coffee as the main module", ->
-          new RootView(fixturesProject.getPath())
           pack = new AtomPackage(fs.resolve(config.packageDirPaths..., 'package-with-module'))
           packageMainModule = require 'fixtures/packages/package-with-module'
           spyOn(packageMainModule, 'activate').andCallThrough()
@@ -52,7 +50,6 @@ describe "AtomPackage", ->
         it "does not throw an exception or log an error", ->
           spyOn(console, "error")
           spyOn(console, "warn")
-          new RootView(fixturesProject.getPath())
           pack = new AtomPackage(fs.resolve(config.packageDirPaths..., 'package-with-keymaps-manifest'))
 
           expect(-> pack.load()).not.toThrow()
diff --git a/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee b/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee
index b597747be..2c34de5ee 100644
--- a/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/app/atom-spec.coffee
@@ -3,10 +3,7 @@ RootView = require 'root-view'
 
 describe "the `atom` global", ->
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView
-
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.deactivate()
+    window.rootView = new RootView
 
   describe "when a package is built and loaded", ->
     [extension, stylesheetPath] = []
diff --git a/spec/app/editor-spec.coffee b/spec/app/editor-spec.coffee
index c2545af36..71793e3ec 100644
--- a/spec/app/editor-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/app/editor-spec.coffee
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ describe "Editor", ->
     cachedLineHeight
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
     buffer = editor.getBuffer()
 
@@ -34,9 +35,6 @@ describe "Editor", ->
     editor.enableKeymap()
     editor.isFocused = true
 
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.remove()
-
   describe "construction", ->
     it "throws an error if no editor session is given unless deserializing", ->
       expect(-> new Editor).toThrow()
@@ -356,14 +354,11 @@ describe "Editor", ->
       tempFilePath = null
 
       beforeEach ->
-        rootView.deactivate()
-
+        project.setPath('/tmp')
         tempFilePath = '/tmp/atom-temp.txt'
         fs.write(tempFilePath, "")
-        new RootView(tempFilePath)
+        rootView.open(tempFilePath)
         editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
-        project = project
-
         expect(editor.getPath()).toBe tempFilePath
 
       afterEach ->
diff --git a/spec/app/grammar-view-spec.coffee b/spec/app/grammar-view-spec.coffee
index 11bf646b1..afa03839d 100644
--- a/spec/app/grammar-view-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/app/grammar-view-spec.coffee
@@ -6,10 +6,9 @@ describe "GrammarView", ->
   [editor, textGrammar, jsGrammar] =  []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    path = require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js')
-    rootView = new RootView()
-    project.removeGrammarOverrideForPath(path)
-    rootView.open(path)
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    project.removeGrammarOverrideForPath('sample.js')
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
     rootView.attachToDom()
     textGrammar = _.find syntax.grammars, (grammar) -> grammar.name is 'Plain Text'
@@ -18,9 +17,6 @@ describe "GrammarView", ->
     expect(jsGrammar).toBeTruthy()
     expect(editor.getGrammar()).toBe jsGrammar
 
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.deactivate()
-
   describe "when editor:select-grammar is toggled", ->
     it "displays a list of all the available grammars", ->
       editor.trigger 'editor:select-grammar'
diff --git a/spec/app/keymap-spec.coffee b/spec/app/keymap-spec.coffee
index 20a4cfc38..b813ad50c 100644
--- a/spec/app/keymap-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/app/keymap-spec.coffee
@@ -151,10 +151,8 @@ describe "Keymap", ->
             expect(bazHandler).toHaveBeenCalled()
 
       describe "when the event's target is the document body", ->
-        afterEach -> rootView.deactivate()
-
         it "triggers the mapped event on the rootView", ->
-          rootView = new RootView
+          window.rootView = new RootView
           keymap.bindKeys 'body', 'x': 'foo'
           fooHandler = jasmine.createSpy("fooHandler")
           rootView.on 'foo', fooHandler
diff --git a/spec/app/root-view-spec.coffee b/spec/app/root-view-spec.coffee
index 15e929671..368d095cb 100644
--- a/spec/app/root-view-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/app/root-view-spec.coffee
@@ -7,99 +7,53 @@ Editor = require 'editor'
 {View, $$} = require 'space-pen'
 
 describe "RootView", ->
-  [rootView, pathToOpen] = []
+  pathToOpen = null
 
   beforeEach ->
     project.destroy()
-    window.project = new Project(require.resolve('fixtures/dir'))
+    project.setPath(project.resolve('dir'))
     pathToOpen = project.resolve('a')
-    rootView = new RootView(pathToOpen)
+    window.rootView = new RootView
     rootView.enableKeymap()
+    rootView.open(pathToOpen)
     rootView.focus()
 
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.deactivate()
-
-  describe ".initialize(pathToOpen)", ->
-    describe "when called with a pathToOpen", ->
-      describe "when pathToOpen references a file", ->
-        it "opens the file at the given path and sets the window title", ->
-          expect(rootView.getEditors().length).toBe 1
-          expect(rootView.getEditors()[0]).toHaveClass 'active'
-          expect(rootView.getActiveEditor().getPath()).toBe pathToOpen
-          expect(rootView.getActiveEditor().editSessions.length).toBe 1
-          expect(rootView.getTitle()).toBe "#{fs.base(pathToOpen)} – #{project.getPath()}"
-
-      describe "when pathToOpen references a directory", ->
-        it "does not open an editor", ->
-          pathToOpen = project.getPath()
-          rootView = new RootView(pathToOpen)
-          rootView.focus()
-
-          expect(project.getPath()).toBe pathToOpen
-          expect(rootView.getEditors().length).toBe 0
-          expect(rootView.getTitle()).toBe project.getPath()
-
-    describe "when called with no pathToOpen", ->
-      it "opens an empty buffer", ->
-        rootView = new RootView
-        expect(rootView.getEditors().length).toBe 1
-        expect(rootView.getEditors()[0].getText()).toEqual ""
-        expect(rootView.getTitle()).toBe "untitled – #{project.getPath()}"
-
-  describe ".deactivate()", ->
-    it "deactivates all packages", ->
-      pack = window.loadPackage("package-with-module")
-      atom.activateAtomPackage(pack)
-      spyOn(pack.packageMain, "deactivate").andCallThrough()
-      rootView.deactivate()
-      expect(pack.packageMain.deactivate).toHaveBeenCalled()
-
   describe "@deserialize()", ->
     viewState = null
 
     describe "when the serialized RootView has an unsaved buffer", ->
-      buffer = null
-
-      beforeEach ->
-        rootView = new RootView
+      it "constructs the view with the same panes", ->
         rootView.open()
         editor1 = rootView.getActiveEditor()
         buffer = editor1.getBuffer()
         editor1.splitRight()
         viewState = rootView.serialize()
+        rootView.deactivate()
 
-      it "constructs the view with the same panes", ->
-        rootView = RootView.deserialize(viewState)
+        window.rootView = RootView.deserialize(viewState)
         rootView.focus()
         expect(rootView.getEditors().length).toBe 2
         expect(rootView.getActiveEditor().getText()).toBe buffer.getText()
         expect(rootView.getTitle()).toBe "untitled – #{project.getPath()}"
 
     describe "when the serialized RootView has a project", ->
-      beforeEach ->
-        project.setPath(require.resolve('fixtures'))
-
       describe "when there are open editors", ->
-        beforeEach ->
-          rootView.open('dir/a')
+        it "constructs the view with the same panes", ->
           editor1 = rootView.getActiveEditor()
           editor2 = editor1.splitRight()
           editor3 = editor2.splitRight()
-
           editor4 = editor2.splitDown()
-          editor2.edit(project.buildEditSessionForPath('dir/b'))
-          editor3.edit(project.buildEditSessionForPath('sample.js'))
+          editor2.edit(project.buildEditSessionForPath('b'))
+          editor3.edit(project.buildEditSessionForPath('../sample.js'))
           editor3.setCursorScreenPosition([2, 4])
-          editor4.edit(project.buildEditSessionForPath('sample.txt'))
+          editor4.edit(project.buildEditSessionForPath('../sample.txt'))
           editor4.setCursorScreenPosition([0, 2])
           rootView.attachToDom()
           editor2.focus()
-          viewState = rootView.serialize()
-          rootView.remove()
 
-        it "constructs the view with the same project and panes", ->
-          rootView = RootView.deserialize(viewState)
+          viewState = rootView.serialize()
+          rootView.deactivate()
+          window.rootView = RootView.deserialize(viewState)
           rootView.attachToDom()
 
           expect(rootView.getEditors().length).toBe 4
@@ -108,11 +62,11 @@ describe "RootView", ->
           editor2 = rootView.panes.find('.row > .column > .pane .editor:eq(0)').view()
           editor4 = rootView.panes.find('.row > .column > .pane .editor:eq(1)').view()
 
-          expect(editor1.getPath()).toBe require.resolve('fixtures/dir/a')
-          expect(editor2.getPath()).toBe require.resolve('fixtures/dir/b')
-          expect(editor3.getPath()).toBe require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js')
+          expect(editor1.getPath()).toBe project.resolve('a')
+          expect(editor2.getPath()).toBe project.resolve('b')
+          expect(editor3.getPath()).toBe project.resolve('../sample.js')
           expect(editor3.getCursorScreenPosition()).toEqual [2, 4]
-          expect(editor4.getPath()).toBe require.resolve('fixtures/sample.txt')
+          expect(editor4.getPath()).toBe project.resolve('../sample.txt')
           expect(editor4.getCursorScreenPosition()).toEqual [0, 2]
 
           # ensure adjust pane dimensions is called
@@ -130,15 +84,15 @@ describe "RootView", ->
           expect(rootView.getTitle()).toBe "#{fs.base(editor2.getPath())} – #{project.getPath()}"
 
       describe "where there are no open editors", ->
-        beforeEach ->
-          rootView.deactivate()
-          rootView = new RootView(project.getPath())
-          expect(rootView.getEditors().length).toBe 0
-          viewState = rootView.serialize()
-          rootView.remove()
-
         it "constructs the view with no open editors", ->
-          rootView = RootView.deserialize(viewState)
+          rootView.getActiveEditor().remove()
+          expect(rootView.getEditors().length).toBe 0
+
+          viewState = rootView.serialize()
+          console.log viewState
+          rootView.deactivate()
+          window.rootView = RootView.deserialize(viewState)
+
           rootView.attachToDom()
           expect(rootView.getEditors().length).toBe 0
 
@@ -150,16 +104,14 @@ describe "RootView", ->
             wrappedView:
               deserializer: "BogusView"
 
-        rootView.remove()
-        rootView = RootView.deserialize(viewState)
+        rootView.deactivate()
+        window.rootView = RootView.deserialize(viewState)
         expect(rootView.find('.pane').length).toBe 1
         expect(rootView.find('.pane').children().length).toBe 0
 
   describe "focus", ->
     describe "when there is an active editor", ->
       it "hands off focus to the active editor", ->
-        rootView.remove()
-        rootView = new RootView(require.resolve 'fixtures')
         rootView.attachToDom()
 
         rootView.open() # create an editor
@@ -171,25 +123,23 @@ describe "RootView", ->
         expect(rootView.getActiveEditor().isFocused).toBeTruthy()
 
     describe "when there is no active editor", ->
+      beforeEach ->
+        rootView.getActiveEditor().remove()
+        rootView.attachToDom()
+
       describe "when are visible focusable elements (with a -1 tabindex)", ->
         it "passes focus to the first focusable element", ->
-          rootView.remove()
-          rootView = new RootView(require.resolve 'fixtures')
-
           rootView.horizontal.append $$ ->
             @div "One", id: 'one', tabindex: -1
             @div "Two", id: 'two', tabindex: -1
 
-          rootView.attachToDom()
+          rootView.focus()
           expect(rootView).not.toMatchSelector(':focus')
           expect(rootView.find('#one')).toMatchSelector(':focus')
           expect(rootView.find('#two')).not.toMatchSelector(':focus')
 
       describe "when there are no visible focusable elements", ->
         it "surrenders focus to the body", ->
-          rootView.remove()
-          rootView = new RootView(require.resolve 'fixtures')
-          rootView.attachToDom()
           expect(document.activeElement).toBe $('body')[0]
 
   describe "panes", ->
@@ -466,7 +416,7 @@ describe "RootView", ->
 
     it "sets the project path to the directory of the editor if it was previously unassigned", ->
       project.setPath(undefined)
-      rootView = new RootView
+      window.rootView = new RootView
       rootView.open()
       expect(project.getPath()?).toBeFalsy()
       rootView.getActiveEditor().getBuffer().saveAs('/tmp/ignore-me')
diff --git a/spec/spec-helper.coffee b/spec/spec-helper.coffee
index 77a39122e..9f9203e18 100644
--- a/spec/spec-helper.coffee
+++ b/spec/spec-helper.coffee
@@ -56,8 +56,9 @@ beforeEach ->
 afterEach ->
   keymap.bindingSets = bindingSetsToRestore
   keymap.bindingSetsByFirstKeystrokeToRestore = bindingSetsByFirstKeystrokeToRestore
-  rootView?.deactivate()
-  delete window.rootView if window.rootView
+  if rootView?
+    rootView.deactivate()
+    window.rootView = null
   project.destroy()
   $('#jasmine-content').empty()
   ensureNoPathSubscriptions()
diff --git a/src/app/root-view.coffee b/src/app/root-view.coffee
index 80f036d55..558143889 100644
--- a/src/app/root-view.coffee
+++ b/src/app/root-view.coffee
@@ -27,49 +27,13 @@ class RootView extends View
 
   @deserialize: ({ panesViewState, packageStates, projectPath }) ->
     atom.atomPackageStates = packageStates ? {}
-    rootView = new RootView(null, suppressOpen: true)
+    rootView = new RootView
     rootView.setRootPane(deserialize(panesViewState)) if panesViewState
     rootView
 
   title: null
-  pathToOpenIsFile: false
 
-  initialize: (projectOrPathToOpen, { suppressOpen } = {}) ->
-    window.rootView = this
-    @handleEvents()
-
-    if not projectOrPathToOpen or _.isString(projectOrPathToOpen)
-      pathToOpen = projectOrPathToOpen
-    else
-      pathToOpen = project.getPath()
-    @pathToOpenIsFile = pathToOpen and fs.isFile(pathToOpen)
-
-    config.load()
-
-    unless suppressOpen
-      if pathToOpen
-        @open(pathToOpen) if @pathToOpenIsFile
-      else
-        @open()
-
-  serialize: ->
-    panesViewState: @panes.children().view()?.serialize()
-    packageStates: atom.serializeAtomPackages()
-
-  handleFocus: (e) ->
-    if @getActiveEditor()
-      @getActiveEditor().focus()
-      false
-    else
-      @setTitle(null)
-      focusableChild = this.find("[tabindex=-1]:visible:first")
-      if focusableChild.length
-        focusableChild.focus()
-        false
-      else
-        true
-
-  handleEvents: ->
+  initialize: ->
     @command 'toggle-dev-tools', => atom.toggleDevTools()
     @on 'focus', (e) => @handleFocus(e)
     @subscribe $(window), 'focus', (e) =>
@@ -101,6 +65,24 @@ class RootView extends View
     @command 'window:toggle-auto-indent-on-paste', =>
       config.set("editor.autoIndentOnPaste", !config.get("editor.autoIndentOnPaste"))
 
+  serialize: ->
+    deserializer: 'RootView'
+    panesViewState: @panes.children().view()?.serialize()
+    packageStates: atom.serializeAtomPackages()
+
+  handleFocus: (e) ->
+    if @getActiveEditor()
+      @getActiveEditor().focus()
+      false
+    else
+      @setTitle(null)
+      focusableChild = this.find("[tabindex=-1]:visible:first")
+      if focusableChild.length
+        focusableChild.focus()
+        false
+      else
+        true
+
   afterAttach: (onDom) ->
     @focus() if onDom
 
diff --git a/src/app/window.coffee b/src/app/window.coffee
index bc62157ab..68964bcf1 100644
--- a/src/app/window.coffee
+++ b/src/app/window.coffee
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ windowAdditions =
     $(document).on 'keydown', keymap.handleKeyEvent
     keymap.bindDefaultKeys()
 
-    $(window).on 'core:close', => @close()
+    $(window).on 'core:close', => window.close()
 
   handleWindowEvents: ->
-    $(window).command 'window:close', => @close()
+    $(window).command 'window:close', => window.close()
     $(window).command 'window:toggle-full-screen', => atom.toggleFullScreen()
     $(window).on 'focus', -> $("body").removeClass('is-blurred')
     $(window).on 'blur',  -> $("body").addClass('is-blurred')
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ windowAdditions =
   # Note: RootView assigns itself on window on initialization so that
   # window.rootView is available when loading user configuration
   startApplication: ->
+    handleWindowEvents()
     config.load()
     buildProjectAndRootView()
     keymap.loadBundledKeymaps()
@@ -51,6 +52,9 @@ windowAdditions =
     $(window).on 'beforeunload', -> stopApplication(); false
     $(window).focus()
 
+    pathToOpen = atom.getPathToOpen()
+    rootView.open(pathToOpen) if !pathToOpen or fs.isFile(pathToOpen)
+
   buildProjectAndRootView: ->
     RootView = require 'root-view'
     Project = require 'project'
@@ -60,7 +64,7 @@ windowAdditions =
       window.rootView = deserialize(windowState.rootView)
     else
       window.project = new Project(atom.getPathToOpen())
-      window.rootView = new RootView(atom.getPathToOpen())
+      window.rootView = new RootView
     $(rootViewParentSelector).append(rootView)
 
   stopApplication: ->
diff --git a/src/packages/autocomplete/spec/autocomplete-spec.coffee b/src/packages/autocomplete/spec/autocomplete-spec.coffee
index 9677deab2..8d019d69b 100644
--- a/src/packages/autocomplete/spec/autocomplete-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/autocomplete/spec/autocomplete-spec.coffee
@@ -7,12 +7,10 @@ RootView = require 'root-view'
 
 describe "Autocomplete", ->
   beforeEach ->
-    rootView = new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     rootView.simulateDomAttachment()
 
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.deactivate()
-
   describe "@activate()", ->
     it "activates autocomplete on all existing and future editors (but not on autocomplete's own mini editor)", ->
       spyOn(AutocompleteView.prototype, 'initialize').andCallThrough()
@@ -41,16 +39,12 @@ describe "AutocompleteView", ->
   miniEditor = null
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView
+    window.rootView = new RootView
     editor = new Editor(editSession: fixturesProject.buildEditSessionForPath('sample.js'))
     window.loadPackage('autocomplete')
     autocomplete = new AutocompleteView(editor)
     miniEditor = autocomplete.miniEditor
 
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.deactivate()
-    editor?.remove()
-
   describe 'autocomplete:attach event', ->
     it "shows autocomplete view and focuses its mini-editor", ->
       expect(editor.find('.autocomplete')).not.toExist()
diff --git a/src/packages/autoflow/spec/autoflow-spec.coffee b/src/packages/autoflow/spec/autoflow-spec.coffee
index c7d665075..d717bcf85 100644
--- a/src/packages/autoflow/spec/autoflow-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/autoflow/spec/autoflow-spec.coffee
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ describe "Autoflow package", ->
   editor = null
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open()
     window.loadPackage 'autoflow'
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
     config.set('editor.preferredLineLength', 30)
diff --git a/src/packages/bracket-matcher/spec/bracket-matcher-spec.coffee b/src/packages/bracket-matcher/spec/bracket-matcher-spec.coffee
index 25456b174..a715e2741 100644
--- a/src/packages/bracket-matcher/spec/bracket-matcher-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/bracket-matcher/spec/bracket-matcher-spec.coffee
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ describe "bracket matching", ->
   [editor, editSession, buffer] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    rootView = new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     window.loadPackage('bracket-matcher')
     rootView.attachToDom()
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
diff --git a/src/packages/command-logger/spec/command-logger-spec.coffee b/src/packages/command-logger/spec/command-logger-spec.coffee
index 19896e5d0..78a01a875 100644
--- a/src/packages/command-logger/spec/command-logger-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/command-logger/spec/command-logger-spec.coffee
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ describe "CommandLogger", ->
   [commandLogger, editor] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     commandLogger = window.loadPackage('command-logger').packageMain
     commandLogger.eventLog = {}
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
diff --git a/src/packages/command-palette/spec/command-palette-spec.coffee b/src/packages/command-palette/spec/command-palette-spec.coffee
index 8225f0496..2b115bc68 100644
--- a/src/packages/command-palette/spec/command-palette-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/command-palette/spec/command-palette-spec.coffee
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ describe "CommandPalette", ->
   [palette] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    rootView = new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     window.loadPackage("command-palette")
     rootView.attachToDom().focus()
     rootView.trigger 'command-palette:toggle'
diff --git a/src/packages/command-panel/spec/command-panel-spec.coffee b/src/packages/command-panel/spec/command-panel-spec.coffee
index a76fe9174..213d0d5c2 100644
--- a/src/packages/command-panel/spec/command-panel-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/command-panel/spec/command-panel-spec.coffee
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ describe "CommandPanel", ->
   [editor, buffer, commandPanel, CommandPanel] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView
-    rootView.open(require.resolve 'fixtures/sample.js')
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     rootView.enableKeymap()
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
     buffer = editor.activeEditSession.buffer
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ describe "CommandPanel", ->
 
       rootViewState = rootView.serialize()
       rootView.deactivate()
-      RootView.deserialize(rootViewState).attachToDom()
+      window.rootView = RootView.deserialize(rootViewState)
+      rootView.attachToDom()
       window.loadPackage('command-panel')
 
       expect(rootView.find('.command-panel')).not.toExist()
diff --git a/src/packages/editor-stats/spec/editor-stats-spec.coffee b/src/packages/editor-stats/spec/editor-stats-spec.coffee
index 93e529abc..02bf80c78 100644
--- a/src/packages/editor-stats/spec/editor-stats-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/editor-stats/spec/editor-stats-spec.coffee
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ describe "EditorStats", ->
     rootView.trigger(e)
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
 
     date = new Date()
     mins = date.getMinutes()
diff --git a/src/packages/fuzzy-finder/spec/fuzzy-finder-spec.coffee b/src/packages/fuzzy-finder/spec/fuzzy-finder-spec.coffee
index 393bfa3df..15acc1080 100644
--- a/src/packages/fuzzy-finder/spec/fuzzy-finder-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/fuzzy-finder/spec/fuzzy-finder-spec.coffee
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ describe 'FuzzyFinder', ->
   [finderView] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     rootView.enableKeymap()
     finderView = window.loadPackage("fuzzy-finder").packageMain.createView()
 
diff --git a/src/packages/gists/spec/gists-spec.coffee b/src/packages/gists/spec/gists-spec.coffee
index 55e107f88..a467dbd41 100644
--- a/src/packages/gists/spec/gists-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/gists/spec/gists-spec.coffee
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ describe "Gists package", ->
   [editor] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    rootView = new RootView(fixturesProject.resolve('sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     window.loadPackage('gists')
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
     spyOn($, 'ajax')
diff --git a/src/packages/go-to-line/spec/go-to-line-spec.coffee b/src/packages/go-to-line/spec/go-to-line-spec.coffee
index 8c9d13d90..fe0c8b7df 100644
--- a/src/packages/go-to-line/spec/go-to-line-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/go-to-line/spec/go-to-line-spec.coffee
@@ -5,15 +5,13 @@ describe 'GoToLine', ->
   [goToLine, editor] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     rootView.enableKeymap()
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
     goToLine = GoToLineView.activate()
     editor.setCursorBufferPosition([1,0])
 
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.remove()
-
   describe "when editor:go-to-line is triggered", ->
     it "attaches to the root view", ->
       expect(goToLine.hasParent()).toBeFalsy()
diff --git a/src/packages/markdown-preview/spec/markdown-preview-spec.coffee b/src/packages/markdown-preview/spec/markdown-preview-spec.coffee
index c34a311d9..c31583f30 100644
--- a/src/packages/markdown-preview/spec/markdown-preview-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/markdown-preview/spec/markdown-preview-spec.coffee
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ _ = require 'underscore'
 describe "MarkdownPreview", ->
   beforeEach ->
     project.setPath(project.resolve('markdown'))
-    rootView = new RootView(project.getPath())
+    window.rootView = new RootView
     window.loadPackage("markdown-preview")
     spyOn(MarkdownPreview.prototype, 'loadHtml')
 
diff --git a/src/packages/package-generator/spec/package-generator-spec.coffee b/src/packages/package-generator/spec/package-generator-spec.coffee
index f512eed22..d734738a3 100644
--- a/src/packages/package-generator/spec/package-generator-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/package-generator/spec/package-generator-spec.coffee
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ describe 'Package Generator', ->
   [packageGenerator] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     window.loadPackage("package-generator")
 
   afterEach ->
diff --git a/src/packages/package-generator/template/spec/##package-name##-view-spec.coffee b/src/packages/package-generator/template/spec/##package-name##-view-spec.coffee
index e504e3da6..e1e4cbf40 100644
--- a/src/packages/package-generator/template/spec/##package-name##-view-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/package-generator/template/spec/##package-name##-view-spec.coffee
@@ -9,12 +9,9 @@ fdescribe "##PackageName##View", ->
   ##packageName## = null
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView()
+    window.rootView = new RootView
     ##packageName## = window.loadPackage('##packageName##', activateImmediately: true)
 
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.deactivate()
-
   describe "when the ##package-name##:toggle event is triggered", ->
     it "attaches and then detaches the view", ->
       expect(rootView.find('.##package-name##')).not.toExist()
diff --git a/src/packages/snippets/spec/snippets-spec.coffee b/src/packages/snippets/spec/snippets-spec.coffee
index 6cbcbfae3..95b1c3752 100644
--- a/src/packages/snippets/spec/snippets-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/snippets/spec/snippets-spec.coffee
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ Package = require 'package'
 describe "Snippets extension", ->
   [buffer, editor, editSession] = []
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView(project.resolve('sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     spyOn(LoadSnippetsTask.prototype, 'start')
 
     packageWithSnippets = window.loadPackage("package-with-snippets")
diff --git a/src/packages/status-bar/spec/status-bar-spec.coffee b/src/packages/status-bar/spec/status-bar-spec.coffee
index 3b7b23833..177a2b6a2 100644
--- a/src/packages/status-bar/spec/status-bar-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/status-bar/spec/status-bar-spec.coffee
@@ -5,19 +5,17 @@ StatusBar = require 'status-bar/lib/status-bar-view'
 fs = require 'fs'
 
 describe "StatusBar", ->
-  [rootView, editor, statusBar, buffer] = []
+  [editor, statusBar, buffer] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    rootView = new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     rootView.simulateDomAttachment()
     StatusBar.activate()
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
     statusBar = rootView.find('.status-bar').view()
     buffer = editor.getBuffer()
 
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.remove()
-
   describe "@initialize", ->
     it "appends a status bar to all existing and new editors", ->
       expect(rootView.panes.find('.pane').length).toBe 1
@@ -34,8 +32,8 @@ describe "StatusBar", ->
 
     describe "when associated with an unsaved buffer", ->
       it "displays 'untitled' instead of the buffer's path, but still displays the buffer position", ->
-        rootView.remove()
-        rootView = new RootView
+        rootView.deactivate()
+        window.rootView = new RootView
         rootView.open()
         rootView.simulateDomAttachment()
         StatusBar.activate()
diff --git a/src/packages/strip-trailing-whitespace/spec/strip-trailing-whitespace-spec.coffee b/src/packages/strip-trailing-whitespace/spec/strip-trailing-whitespace-spec.coffee
index 7ddc319c5..f76f5b38d 100644
--- a/src/packages/strip-trailing-whitespace/spec/strip-trailing-whitespace-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/strip-trailing-whitespace/spec/strip-trailing-whitespace-spec.coffee
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@ RootView = require 'root-view'
 fs = require 'fs'
 
 describe "StripTrailingWhitespace", ->
-  [rootView, editor, path] = []
+  [editor, path] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
     path = "/tmp/atom-whitespace.txt"
     fs.write(path, "")
-    rootView = new RootView(path)
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open(path)
 
     window.loadPackage('strip-trailing-whitespace')
     rootView.focus()
diff --git a/src/packages/symbols-view/spec/symbols-view-spec.coffee b/src/packages/symbols-view/spec/symbols-view-spec.coffee
index 00cb09844..d8adf0c04 100644
--- a/src/packages/symbols-view/spec/symbols-view-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/symbols-view/spec/symbols-view-spec.coffee
@@ -7,14 +7,13 @@ describe "SymbolsView", ->
   [symbolsView, setArraySpy] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    rootView = new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
     window.loadPackage("symbols-view")
 
     rootView.attachToDom()
     setArraySpy = spyOn(SymbolsView.prototype, 'setArray').andCallThrough()
 
   afterEach ->
-    rootView.deactivate()
     setArraySpy.reset()
 
   describe "when tags can be generated for a file", ->
diff --git a/src/packages/tabs/spec/tabs-spec.coffee b/src/packages/tabs/spec/tabs-spec.coffee
index 28e44d089..00efe0324 100644
--- a/src/packages/tabs/spec/tabs-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/tabs/spec/tabs-spec.coffee
@@ -7,16 +7,14 @@ describe "TabView", ->
   [editor, buffer, tabs] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     rootView.open('sample.txt')
     rootView.simulateDomAttachment()
     window.loadPackage("tabs")
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
     tabs = rootView.find('.tabs').view()
 
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.remove()
-
   describe "@activate", ->
     it "appends a status bear to all existing and new editors", ->
       expect(rootView.panes.find('.pane').length).toBe 1
@@ -25,7 +23,7 @@ describe "TabView", ->
       expect(rootView.find('.pane').length).toBe 2
       expect(rootView.panes.find('.pane > .tabs').length).toBe 2
 
-  describe "#initialize()", ->
+  describe ".initialize()", ->
     it "creates a tab for each edit session on the editor to which the tab-strip belongs", ->
       expect(editor.editSessions.length).toBe 2
       expect(tabs.find('.tab').length).toBe 2
diff --git a/src/packages/tree-view/lib/tree.coffee b/src/packages/tree-view/lib/tree.coffee
index ae2a472d3..3150d3076 100644
--- a/src/packages/tree-view/lib/tree.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/tree-view/lib/tree.coffee
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
+fs = require 'fs'
+
 module.exports =
   treeView: null
 
   activate: (@state) ->
-    if @state.attached == undefined and not rootView.pathToOpenIsFile
-      @state.attached = true
+    @state.attached ?= true unless rootView.getActiveEditSession()
 
     @createView() if @state.attached
     rootView.command 'tree-view:toggle', => @createView().toggle()
diff --git a/src/packages/tree-view/spec/tree-view-spec.coffee b/src/packages/tree-view/spec/tree-view-spec.coffee
index bfb002ce9..09b657725 100644
--- a/src/packages/tree-view/spec/tree-view-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/tree-view/spec/tree-view-spec.coffee
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ describe "TreeView", ->
 
   beforeEach ->
     project.setPath(project.resolve('tree-view'))
-    new RootView(project.getPath())
+    window.rootView = new RootView
 
     window.loadPackage("tree-view")
     rootView.trigger 'tree-view:toggle'
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ describe "TreeView", ->
       beforeEach ->
         project.setPath(undefined)
         rootView.deactivate()
-        new RootView()
+        window.rootView = new RootView()
+        rootView.open()
         treeView = window.loadPackage("tree-view").packageMain.createView()
 
       it "does not attach to the root view or create a root node when initialized", ->
@@ -75,15 +76,14 @@ describe "TreeView", ->
     describe "when the root view is opened to a file path", ->
       it "does not attach to the root view but does create a root node when initialized", ->
         rootView.deactivate()
-        new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/tree-view/tree-view.js'))
+        window.rootView = new RootView
+        rootView.open('tree-view.js')
         treeView = window.loadPackage("tree-view").packageMain.createView()
         expect(treeView.hasParent()).toBeFalsy()
         expect(treeView.root).toExist()
 
     describe "when the root view is opened to a directory", ->
       it "attaches to the root view", ->
-        rootView.deactivate()
-        new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/tree-view'))
         treeView = window.loadPackage("tree-view").packageMain.createView()
         expect(treeView.hasParent()).toBeTruthy()
         expect(treeView.root).toExist()
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ describe "TreeView", ->
 
       rootViewState = rootView.serialize()
       rootView.deactivate()
-      RootView.deserialize(rootViewState)
+      window.rootView = RootView.deserialize(rootViewState)
       window.loadPackage("tree-view")
       treeView = rootView.find(".tree-view").view()
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ describe "TreeView", ->
 
       rootViewState = rootView.serialize()
       rootView.deactivate()
-      RootView.deserialize(rootViewState)
+      window.rootView = RootView.deserialize(rootViewState)
 
       rootView.attachToDom()
       window.loadPackage("tree-view")
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ describe "TreeView", ->
       fs.write(filePath, "doesn't matter")
 
       project.setPath(rootDirPath)
-      new RootView(rootDirPath)
+      window.rootView = new RootView(rootDirPath)
       window.loadPackage('tree-view')
       rootView.trigger 'tree-view:toggle'
       treeView = rootView.find(".tree-view").view()
diff --git a/src/packages/wrap-guide/spec/wrap-guide-spec.coffee b/src/packages/wrap-guide/spec/wrap-guide-spec.coffee
index e4df6f356..706032321 100644
--- a/src/packages/wrap-guide/spec/wrap-guide-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/wrap-guide/spec/wrap-guide-spec.coffee
@@ -4,16 +4,14 @@ describe "WrapGuide", ->
   [editor, wrapGuide] = []
 
   beforeEach ->
-    new RootView(require.resolve('fixtures/sample.js'))
+    window.rootView = new RootView
+    rootView.open('sample.js')
     window.loadPackage('wrap-guide')
     rootView.attachToDom()
     editor = rootView.getActiveEditor()
     wrapGuide = rootView.find('.wrap-guide').view()
     editor.width(editor.charWidth * wrapGuide.getDefaultColumn() * 2)
 
-  afterEach ->
-    rootView.deactivate()
-
   describe "@initialize", ->
     it "appends a wrap guide to all existing and new editors", ->
       expect(rootView.panes.find('.pane').length).toBe 1