diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 04531ef..2ac6c50 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -48,3 +48,6 @@ go.work.sum
 /build/
 /dist/
 **/.vscode
+
+# Test orchestration state
+.wibey-test/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f2a0e49..0dbb1f1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -83,6 +83,15 @@ extra_args = []            # extra args passed straight to nvim
 You don't need to create this file to get started — the defaults shown
 above are exactly what's used if it's absent.
 
+## Command-line arguments
+
+Use `--maximized` to start with a maximized window. Arguments after `--` are
+forwarded unchanged to Nvim, including commands and Nvim flags:
+
+```sh
+simplenvim --maximized -- -c term -c edit /Users/k0g0kfq/data1/.nnn/n.todo
+```
+
 ## Documentation
 
 - [`doc/developer.md`](doc/developer.md) — everything about building,
diff --git a/doc/developer.md b/doc/developer.md
index f8453b6..c88c88c 100644
--- a/doc/developer.md
+++ b/doc/developer.md
@@ -177,9 +177,18 @@ For shipping a `.dmg`, see [Releasing](#releasing-official-build);
 | Flag | Description |
 |---|---|
 | `-nvim /path/to/nvim` | Overrides the `nvim` executable to launch (default: whatever the config file says, or plain `nvim` resolved via `PATH`). |
+| `--maximized` | Starts the editor window maximized. |
 
-Any remaining positional arguments are treated as files to open, exactly
-like `nvim file1 file2`.
+Positional arguments open files as usual. To forward Nvim flags or commands,
+put them after `--`; they are passed to Nvim unchanged and in order:
+
+```sh
+/Applications/SimpleNvimEditor.app/Contents/MacOS/simplenvim \
+  --maximized -- -c term -c edit /Users/k0g0kfq/data1/.nnn/n.todo
+```
+
+All simplenvim flags must come before `--`. This boundary prevents Nvim flags
+such as `-c` from being mistaken for application flags.
 
 For the `config.toml` file format (font/Nvim-launch settings, default
 values, and file locations per OS), see the
diff --git a/src/cmd/simplenvim/main.go b/src/cmd/simplenvim/main.go
index 0831e30..31ae74f 100644
--- a/src/cmd/simplenvim/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/simplenvim/main.go
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
 	gioapp "gioui.org/app"
 
 	editorapp "github.com/kgfly/SimpleNvimEditor/internal/app"
+	"github.com/kgfly/SimpleNvimEditor/internal/cli"
 	"github.com/kgfly/SimpleNvimEditor/internal/config"
 )
 
@@ -18,15 +18,13 @@ import (
 var version = "dev"
 
 func main() {
-	showVersion := flag.Bool("version", false, "print version and exit")
-	nvimPath := flag.String("nvim", "", "path to the nvim executable (overrides config file)")
-	flag.Usage = func() {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Usage: %s [flags] [file...]\n\n", os.Args[0])
-		flag.PrintDefaults()
+	opts, err := cli.Parse(os.Args[1:])
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "simplenvim: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(2)
 	}
-	flag.Parse()
 
-	if *showVersion {
+	if opts.ShowVersion {
 		fmt.Println(version)
 		return
 	}
@@ -36,12 +34,11 @@ func main() {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "simplenvim: loading config: %v\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
-	if *nvimPath != "" {
-		cfg.Nvim.Command = *nvimPath
+	if opts.NvimPath != "" {
+		cfg.Nvim.Command = opts.NvimPath
 	}
 
-	files := flag.Args()
-	a := editorapp.New(cfg, files)
+	a := editorapp.New(cfg, opts.NvimArgs, editorapp.Options{Maximized: opts.Maximized})
 
 	go func() {
 		win := new(gioapp.Window)
diff --git a/src/internal/app/app.go b/src/internal/app/app.go
index 12c9559..5ea925c 100644
--- a/src/internal/app/app.go
+++ b/src/internal/app/app.go
@@ -40,8 +40,9 @@ const anyModifier = key.ModCtrl | key.ModCommand | key.ModShift | key.ModAlt | k
 
 // App owns everything needed to run one editor window.
 type App struct {
-	cfg   config.Config
-	files []string
+	cfg      config.Config
+	nvimArgs []string
+	options  Options
 
 	win   *gioapp.Window
 	fonts render.Fonts
@@ -59,13 +60,19 @@ type App struct {
 	ime imeShadow
 }
 
-// New creates an App that will open the given files (may be empty).
-func New(cfg config.Config, files []string) *App {
+// Options controls how the editor window starts.
+type Options struct {
+	Maximized bool
+}
+
+// New creates an App that starts Nvim with the given arguments (may be empty).
+func New(cfg config.Config, nvimArgs []string, options Options) *App {
 	return &App{
-		cfg:   cfg,
-		files: files,
-		state: uistate.New(),
-		ime:   newIMEShadow(),
+		cfg:      cfg,
+		nvimArgs: append([]string(nil), nvimArgs...),
+		options:  options,
+		state:    uistate.New(),
+		ime:      newIMEShadow(),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -73,9 +80,11 @@ func New(cfg config.Config, files []string) *App {
 // calling goroutine, matching Gio's own convention (see gioui.org/app doc).
 func (a *App) Run(win *gioapp.Window) error {
 	a.win = win
-	win.Option(
-		gioapp.Size(unit.Dp(1000), unit.Dp(650)),
-	)
+	windowOptions := []gioapp.Option{gioapp.Size(unit.Dp(1000), unit.Dp(650))}
+	if a.options.Maximized {
+		windowOptions = append(windowOptions, gioapp.Maximized.Option())
+	}
+	win.Option(windowOptions...)
 
 	a.fonts = render.Fonts{
 		Shaper: render.NewShaper(a.cfg.Editor),
@@ -322,7 +331,7 @@ func (a *App) syncSize(size image.Point) {
 // big the initial grid should be, and starts the goroutine that pumps its
 // redraw events into our state model.
 func (a *App) startNvim() {
-	proc, err := nvimproc.Spawn(a.cfg.Nvim.Command, a.cfg.Nvim.ExtraArgs, a.files, a.cols, a.rows)
+	proc, err := nvimproc.Spawn(a.cfg.Nvim.Command, a.cfg.Nvim.ExtraArgs, a.nvimArgs, a.cols, a.rows)
 	if err != nil {
 		// Nothing meaningful to render without Nvim; surfacing to stderr
 		// is enough for the MVP (see IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md for a real
diff --git a/src/internal/app/icon_test.go b/src/internal/app/icon_test.go
index fd509ef..154a7ea 100644
--- a/src/internal/app/icon_test.go
+++ b/src/internal/app/icon_test.go
@@ -23,41 +23,44 @@ func TestAppIcon(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestNewApp(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg := config.Default()
-	a := New(cfg, []string{"file1.go", "file2.go"})
+	a := New(cfg, []string{"file1.go", "file2.go"}, Options{Maximized: true})
 	if a == nil {
 		t.Fatal("New returned nil")
 	}
 	if a.state == nil {
 		t.Fatal("New should initialize state")
 	}
-	if len(a.files) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("files = %v, want 2 entries", a.files)
+	if !a.options.Maximized {
+		t.Fatal("New should retain window options")
+	}
+	if len(a.nvimArgs) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("nvimArgs = %v, want 2 entries", a.nvimArgs)
 	}
 }
 
 func TestQuitWithNilProc(t *testing.T) {
-	a := New(config.Default(), nil)
+	a := New(config.Default(), nil, Options{})
 	// Should not panic.
 	a.quit()
 }
 
 func TestOnKeyWithNilProc(t *testing.T) {
-	a := New(config.Default(), nil)
+	a := New(config.Default(), nil, Options{})
 	a.onKey(key.Event{Name: "A", State: key.Press})
 }
 
 func TestOnEditWithNilProc(t *testing.T) {
-	a := New(config.Default(), nil)
+	a := New(config.Default(), nil, Options{})
 	a.onEdit(key.EditEvent{Text: "hello"})
 }
 
 func TestOnPointerWithNilProc(t *testing.T) {
-	a := New(config.Default(), nil)
+	a := New(config.Default(), nil, Options{})
 	a.onPointer(pointer.Event{Kind: pointer.Press, Buttons: pointer.ButtonPrimary})
 }
 
 func TestCaretWithZeroMetrics(t *testing.T) {
-	a := New(config.Default(), nil)
+	a := New(config.Default(), nil, Options{})
 	c := a.caret()
 	if c.Ascent != 0 || c.Descent != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("caret with zero metrics should be zero, got %+v", c)
@@ -65,7 +68,7 @@ func TestCaretWithZeroMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSyncSizeWithZeroCellDims(t *testing.T) {
-	a := New(config.Default(), nil)
+	a := New(config.Default(), nil, Options{})
 	// CellWidth and CellHeight are 0, should return early.
 	a.syncSize(image.Pt(800, 600))
 	if a.proc != nil {
diff --git a/src/internal/cli/cli.go b/src/internal/cli/cli.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d73786
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/internal/cli/cli.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+// Package cli parses arguments owned by simplenvim and preserves arguments
+// intended for the Neovim child process.
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+)
+
+// Options holds simplenvim flags and the opaque arguments forwarded to Nvim.
+type Options struct {
+	ShowVersion bool
+	NvimPath    string
+	Maximized   bool
+	NvimArgs    []string
+}
+
+// Parse parses simplenvim arguments. Application flags must precede --;
+// arguments after that boundary are passed to Nvim unchanged.
+func Parse(args []string) (Options, error) {
+	var opts Options
+	var usage bytes.Buffer
+
+	flags := flag.NewFlagSet("simplenvim", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	flags.SetOutput(&usage)
+	flags.BoolVar(&opts.ShowVersion, "version", false, "print version and exit")
+	flags.StringVar(&opts.NvimPath, "nvim", "", "path to the nvim executable (overrides config file)")
+	flags.BoolVar(&opts.Maximized, "maximized", false, "start the editor window maximized")
+	flags.Usage = func() {
+		fmt.Fprint(&usage, "Usage: simplenvim [flags] [file...]\n\n")
+		flags.PrintDefaults()
+	}
+
+	if err := flags.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		return Options{}, fmt.Errorf("parse arguments: %w\n%s", err, usage.String())
+	}
+	opts.NvimArgs = append([]string(nil), flags.Args()...)
+	return opts, nil
+}
diff --git a/src/internal/nvimproc/process.go b/src/internal/nvimproc/process.go
index a931e21..3801944 100644
--- a/src/internal/nvimproc/process.go
+++ b/src/internal/nvimproc/process.go
@@ -53,17 +53,17 @@ type Process struct {
 	cmds chan func()
 }
 
-// Spawn starts `command --embed [extraArgs...] [files...]` as a child
+// Spawn starts `command --embed [extraArgs...] [nvimArgs...]` as a child
 // process and attaches a UI to it with the given initial grid size.
 //
 // command is resolved the same way on every OS: exec.Command performs a
 // PATH lookup, so "nvim" works on Linux, macOS, and Windows alike as long
 // as the binary is installed and on PATH (or an absolute path is given).
-func Spawn(command string, extraArgs, files []string, cols, rows int) (*Process, error) {
-	args := make([]string, 0, len(extraArgs)+len(files)+2)
+func Spawn(command string, extraArgs, nvimArgs []string, cols, rows int) (*Process, error) {
+	args := make([]string, 0, len(extraArgs)+len(nvimArgs)+2)
 	args = append(args, "--embed")
 	args = append(args, extraArgs...)
-	args = append(args, files...)
+	args = append(args, nvimArgs...)
 
 	v, err := nvim.NewChildProcess(
 		nvim.ChildProcessCommand(command),
diff --git a/src/test/integration/cliargs_test.go b/src/test/integration/cliargs_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52d0a93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/integration/cliargs_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package integration_test
+
+import (
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/kgfly/SimpleNvimEditor/internal/cli"
+	"github.com/kgfly/SimpleNvimEditor/internal/nvimproc"
+)
+
+func TestCLIForwardsCommandsToNvimInOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	file := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "n.todo")
+	args := []string{"--maximized", "--", "-u", "NONE", "-n", "-c", "let g:cli_term = 1", "-c", "edit " + file}
+
+	opts, err := cli.Parse(args)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("cli.Parse(%q): %v", args, err)
+	}
+	if !opts.Maximized {
+		t.Fatal("Maximized = false, want true")
+	}
+
+	proc, err := nvimproc.Spawn(requireNvim(t), nil, opts.NvimArgs, 40, 10)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("nvimproc.Spawn: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		proc.RequestQuit()
+		<-proc.Exited
+	})
+
+	value, err := proc.Nvim.CommandOutput("echo get(g:, 'cli_term', 0)")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("query command result: %v", err)
+	}
+	if value != "1" {
+		t.Fatalf("first -c command value = %q, want 1", value)
+	}
+	name, err := proc.Nvim.CommandOutput("echo expand('%:p')")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("query edited file: %v", err)
+	}
+	if name != file {
+		t.Fatalf("edited file = %q, want %q", name, file)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/test/unit/cli_test.go b/src/test/unit/cli_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22d1ff0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/unit/cli_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package unit_test
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/kgfly/SimpleNvimEditor/internal/cli"
+)
+
+func TestParseForwardsNvimCommandsAfterBoundary(t *testing.T) {
+	args := []string{
+		"--maximized", "--", "-c", "term", "-c", "edit",
+		"/Users/k0g0kfq/data1/.nnn/n.todo",
+	}
+
+	opts, err := cli.Parse(args)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Parse(%q): %v", args, err)
+	}
+	if !opts.Maximized {
+		t.Fatal("Maximized = false, want true")
+	}
+	want := []string{"-c", "term", "-c", "edit", "/Users/k0g0kfq/data1/.nnn/n.todo"}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(opts.NvimArgs, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("NvimArgs = %q, want %q", opts.NvimArgs, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseAcceptsApplicationFlagsAndFiles(t *testing.T) {
+	opts, err := cli.Parse([]string{"--nvim", "/custom/nvim", "notes.md"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Parse: %v", err)
+	}
+	if opts.NvimPath != "/custom/nvim" {
+		t.Fatalf("NvimPath = %q, want /custom/nvim", opts.NvimPath)
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(opts.NvimArgs, []string{"notes.md"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("NvimArgs = %q, want [notes.md]", opts.NvimArgs)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseRejectsNvimFlagsBeforeBoundary(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := cli.Parse([]string{"-c", "term"}); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Parse accepted Nvim flag before --")
+	}
+}