diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index ec126d7..685d694 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ Display a short help message.
 Listen on <port> rather than 8888. The default port can be changed
 from 8888 by setting the PORT environment variable.
 
+`-r`
+`--readonly`
+Disable read/write operations from the web interface
+
 ###Examples
 
 `nodewiki`  
diff --git a/lib/getDir.js b/lib/getDir.js
index 6181574..e86fd21 100644
--- a/lib/getDir.js
+++ b/lib/getDir.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 var fs = require("fs");
 var allowedExtensions = require("./allowedExtensions");
+var nodewiki = require("../nodewiki");
 
 // get contents of current directory
 function getDir(directory){
@@ -44,6 +45,19 @@ function parseLinks(dir, dirDepth){
 
     var mdLinks = "";
 
+    mdLinks += '<div id="tri_buttons">';
+    if (nodewiki.readonly == false)
+      mdLinks += '<a href="#" id="new_file">New File</a>';
+    if (dirDepth > 0){
+      mdLinks += '<a href="#" id="go_back">Go Back</a>';
+    } else {
+      mdLinks += '<a href="#" id="go_back_inactive">Go Back</a>';
+    }
+    if (nodewiki.readonly == false)
+      mdLinks += '<a href="#" id="new_folder">New Folder</a>';
+    mdLinks += '<br style="clear: both;" />';
+    mdLinks += '</div>';
+
     dir.forEach(function(fileName){
       if (fileName.markdown == true){
         mdLinks += '<a href="#" class="link"><code>' + fileName.name + '</code></a>\n';
@@ -54,16 +68,6 @@ function parseLinks(dir, dirDepth){
       }
     });
 
-    mdLinks += '<div id="tri_buttons">'
-    mdLinks += '<a href="#" id="new_file">New File</a>';
-    if (dirDepth > 0){
-      mdLinks += '<a href="#" id="go_back">Go Back</a>';
-    } else {
-      mdLinks += '<a href="#" id="go_back_inactive">Go Back</a>';
-    }
-    mdLinks += '<a href="#" id="new_folder">New Folder</a>';
-    mdLinks += '</div>';
-
     return mdLinks;
 
   } catch (err) {
diff --git a/lib/mdserver.js b/lib/mdserver.js
index 71ef32f..f2ad62b 100644
--- a/lib/mdserver.js
+++ b/lib/mdserver.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ function sendFile(file, directory, socket){
 }
 
 function saveFile(file, directory, socket){
-  if (allowedExtensions.checkExtension(file.name) == true && typeof file.content != 'undefined'){
+  if (allowedExtensions.checkExtension(file.name) == true && typeof file.content != 'undefined' && nodewiki.readonly == false){
     // only allow markdown files to be saved
     console.log('saving file');
     fs.writeFile(directory + file.name, file.content, function(err, data){
diff --git a/nodewiki.js b/nodewiki.js
index 814c88f..d9ab8ab 100755
--- a/nodewiki.js
+++ b/nodewiki.js
@@ -13,12 +13,13 @@ var getDir = require("./lib/getDir");
 var portNumberDefault = process.env.PORT || 8888;
 var listenAddr = process.env.NW_ADDR || "";    // "" ==> INADDR_ANY
 exports.gitMode = false;  // exported for lib/mdserver.js
+exports.readonly = false;
 
 var portNumber = portNumberDefault;
 
 // Process command line
 var parser, option;
-parser = new mod_getopt.BasicParser('a:(addr)g(git)h(help)l(local)p:(port)', process.argv);
+parser = new mod_getopt.BasicParser('a:(addr)g(git)h(help)l(local)p:(port)r(readonly)', process.argv);
 
 while ((option = parser.getopt()) !== undefined) {
 
@@ -64,6 +65,10 @@ while ((option = parser.getopt()) !== undefined) {
     }
     break;
 
+  case 'r':
+    exports.readonly = true;
+    break;
+
   default:
     /* error message already emitted by getopt() */
     console.assert('?' == option.option);
@@ -129,7 +134,9 @@ io = socketio.listen(server);
 io.set('log level', 2);
 
 io.sockets.on('connection', function (socket){
-  var currentPath = process.cwd() + '/';
+  socket.emit('config', exports);
+
+  var currentPath = './';
   var dir = getDir.getDir(currentPath);
   var links = getDir.parseLinks(dir);
   var directoryDepth = 0;
diff --git a/static/socketio.js b/static/socketio.js
index 7d256a9..306d11b 100644
--- a/static/socketio.js
+++ b/static/socketio.js
@@ -3,9 +3,22 @@ $(document).ready(function(){
 
   var rawMd, fileName;
   var editingAllowed = false; //dont allow editing until something is loaded
+  var config;
+  window.location.hash = window.location.hash || '/';
 
   var socket = io.connect();
   socket.on('connect', function(){
+    // open the hash given by the browser
+    var parts = window.location.hash.match(/[^\/]+\/?/g);
+    parts.shift();
+    parts.forEach(function(part) {
+      socket.emit('readFile', {name: part});
+    });
+
+    socket.on('config', function (data){
+      config = data;
+    });
+
     socket.on('navLinks', function (data){
       $('#navigation').html(data.links);
       changeContentHeight();
@@ -19,6 +32,10 @@ $(document).ready(function(){
       if (canSendReadFile == true){
         canSendReadFile = false;
         socket.emit('readFile', {name: $(a.currentTarget).text()});
+        if (!window.location.hash.match(/\/$/)) {
+          window.location.hash = dirname(window.location.hash) + '/';
+        }
+        window.location.hash += $(a.currentTarget).text();
         $('#navigation').children().attr('class', 'link');
         $('#content #markdown_content').html('<em>Loading...</em>');
         $('#content_header h1').html('Node Wiki');
@@ -29,6 +46,7 @@ $(document).ready(function(){
           cancelNewFile();
         }
       }
+      return false;
     });
 
     socket.on('readFileReply', function(data){
@@ -65,6 +83,7 @@ $(document).ready(function(){
 
     $(document).on('click', '#navigation a#go_back', function(){
       socket.emit('goBackFolder');
+      window.location.hash = dirname(window.location.hash) + '/';
       $('#content #markdown_content').html('');
       $('#content_header h1').html('Node Wiki');
       //editingAllowed = true;
@@ -250,7 +269,7 @@ $(document).ready(function(){
 
   function showButtons(show, newFile){
     var buttons = '<a id="edit" href="#">Edit</a>\n<a id="save" href="#">Save</a>';
-    if (show){
+    if (show && !config.readonly){
       if (newFile){
         $('#edit_save_buttons').html('<a id="cancel" href="#">Cancel</a>\n<a id="save" href="#">Save</a>');
       } else {
@@ -275,5 +294,8 @@ $(document).ready(function(){
     }
   }
 
+  function dirname(path) {
+    return path.replace(/\\/g,'/').replace(/\/[^\/]*$/, '');;
+  }
 
 });