diff --git a/bin/app/data/ApplicationSettings_template.xml b/bin/app/data/ApplicationSettings_template.xml
index 0a9838f4..8cbce6dd 100644
--- a/bin/app/data/ApplicationSettings_template.xml
+++ b/bin/app/data/ApplicationSettings_template.xml
@@ -38,4 +38,12 @@
 			<expand_range><!-- INTEGER: amount of lines that the snippet range (not snapped) will be extended --></expand_range>
 		</snippet>
 	</code>
+
+	<user>
+		<has_seen_settings><!-- BOOL: if the user was already asked to enter app settings --></has_seen_settings>
+
+		<recent_projects>
+			<recent_project><!-- STRING: recent project path --></recent_project>
+		</recent_projects>
+	</user>
 </config>
diff --git a/bin/app/data/gui/settingwindows/listbox.css b/bin/app/data/gui/setting_window/listbox.css
similarity index 100%
rename from bin/app/data/gui/settingwindows/listbox.css
rename to bin/app/data/gui/setting_window/listbox.css
diff --git a/bin/app/data/gui/settingwindows/projectsetup.css b/bin/app/data/gui/setting_window/window.css
similarity index 100%
rename from bin/app/data/gui/settingwindows/projectsetup.css
rename to bin/app/data/gui/setting_window/window.css
diff --git a/src/app/CMakeLists.txt b/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
index 6032b91e..bbd76ed2 100644
--- a/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,22 +19,13 @@ add_files(
 	qt/element/QtDirectoryListBox.h
 	qt/element/QtLineEdit.cpp
 	qt/element/QtLineEdit.h
-	qt/element/QtMainWindow.cpp
-	qt/element/QtMainWindow.h
-	qt/element/QtProjectSetupScreen.cpp
-	qt/element/QtProjectSetupScreen.h
 	qt/element/QtRefreshBar.cpp
 	qt/element/QtRefreshBar.h
 	qt/element/QtSearchBar.cpp
 	qt/element/QtSearchBar.h
-	qt/element/QtSettingsWindow.cpp
-	qt/element/QtSettingsWindow.h
 	qt/element/QtSmartSearchBox.cpp
 	qt/element/QtSmartSearchBox.h
-	qt/element/QtSplashScreen.cpp
-	qt/element/QtSplashScreen.h
-	qt/element/QtStartScreen.cpp
-	qt/element/QtStartScreen.h
+
 	qt/element/QtStatusBar.cpp
 	qt/element/QtStatusBar.h
 	qt/element/QtUndoRedo.cpp
@@ -98,5 +89,18 @@ add_files(
 	qt/view/QtViewWidgetWrapper.cpp
 	qt/view/QtViewWidgetWrapper.h
 
+	qt/window/QtApplicationSettingsScreen.cpp
+	qt/window/QtApplicationSettingsScreen.h
+	qt/window/QtMainWindow.cpp
+	qt/window/QtMainWindow.h
+	qt/window/QtProjectSetupScreen.cpp
+	qt/window/QtProjectSetupScreen.h
+	qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.cpp
+	qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.h
+	qt/window/QtSplashScreen.cpp
+	qt/window/QtSplashScreen.h
+	qt/window/QtStartScreen.cpp
+	qt/window/QtStartScreen.h
+
 	main.cpp
 )
diff --git a/src/app/main.cpp b/src/app/main.cpp
index ea0e4124..f1a2c473 100644
--- a/src/app/main.cpp
+++ b/src/app/main.cpp
@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@
 
 #include "Application.h"
 #include "includes.h" // defines 'void setup(int argc, char *argv[])'
-#include "qt/element/QtSplashScreen.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtSplashScreen.h"
 #include "qt/utility/utilityQt.h"
 #include "qt/view/QtViewFactory.h"
+#include "version.h"
 
 void init()
 {
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	QtSplashScreen* splash = new QtSplashScreen(whitePixmap, Qt::WindowStaysOnTopHint);
 	splash->setMessage("Loading UI");
-	splash->setVersion("0.1");
+	splash->setVersion(GIT_VERSION_NUMBER);
 	splash->exec(qtApp);
 
 	init();
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtDirectoryListBox.cpp b/src/app/qt/element/QtDirectoryListBox.cpp
index 7ea17d0e..636d0d81 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/element/QtDirectoryListBox.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qt/element/QtDirectoryListBox.cpp
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ QtDirectoryListBox::QtDirectoryListBox(QWidget *parent)
 	m_list->setObjectName("list");
 	m_list->setAttribute(Qt::WA_MacShowFocusRect, 0);
 
-	setStyleSheet(utility::getStyleSheet("data/gui/settingwindows/listbox.css").c_str());
+	setStyleSheet(utility::getStyleSheet("data/gui/setting_window/listbox.css").c_str());
 	layout->addWidget(m_list);
 
 	QWidget* buttonContainer = new QWidget(this);
diff --git a/src/app/qt/view/QtMainView.cpp b/src/app/qt/view/QtMainView.cpp
index 5e557aab..40180670 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/view/QtMainView.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qt/view/QtMainView.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "utility/logging/logging.h"
 
-#include "qt/element/QtMainWindow.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtMainWindow.h"
 
 QtMainView::QtMainView()
 {
diff --git a/src/app/qt/window/QtApplicationSettingsScreen.cpp b/src/app/qt/window/QtApplicationSettingsScreen.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d5deb5f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtApplicationSettingsScreen.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#include "qt/window/QtApplicationSettingsScreen.h"
+
+#include <QComboBox>
+#include <QFormLayout>
+#include <QLineEdit>
+#include <QSysInfo>
+
+#include "utility/messaging/type/MessageLoadProject.h"
+#include "utility/messaging/type/MessageRefresh.h"
+
+#include "settings/ApplicationSettings.h"
+
+QtApplicationSettingsScreen::QtApplicationSettingsScreen(QWidget *parent)
+	: QtSettingsWindow(parent)
+{
+	raise();
+}
+
+QSize QtApplicationSettingsScreen::sizeHint() const
+{
+	return QSize(600,600);
+}
+
+void QtApplicationSettingsScreen::setup()
+{
+	setupForm();
+
+	updateTitle("PREFERENCES");
+	updateDoneButton("Save");
+}
+
+void QtApplicationSettingsScreen::load()
+{
+	ApplicationSettings* appSettings = ApplicationSettings::getInstance().get();
+
+	m_includePaths->setList(appSettings->getHeaderSearchPaths());
+
+	if (m_frameworkPaths)
+	{
+		m_frameworkPaths->setList(appSettings->getFrameworkSearchPaths());
+	}
+}
+
+void QtApplicationSettingsScreen::populateForm(QFormLayout* layout)
+{
+	int minimumWidthForSecondCol = 360;
+
+	QLabel* includePathsLabel = new QLabel("Include Paths");
+	m_includePaths = new QtDirectoryListBox(this);
+	m_includePaths->setMinimumWidth(minimumWidthForSecondCol);
+	layout->addRow(includePathsLabel, m_includePaths);
+
+	if (QSysInfo::macVersion() != QSysInfo::MV_None)
+	{
+		QLabel* frameworkPathsLabel = new QLabel("Framework Paths");
+		m_frameworkPaths = new QtDirectoryListBox(this);
+		m_frameworkPaths->setMinimumWidth(minimumWidthForSecondCol);
+		layout->addRow(frameworkPathsLabel, m_frameworkPaths);
+	}
+}
+
+void QtApplicationSettingsScreen::handleCancelButtonPress()
+{
+	emit canceled();
+}
+
+void QtApplicationSettingsScreen::handleUpdateButtonPress()
+{
+	ApplicationSettings* appSettings = ApplicationSettings::getInstance().get();
+
+	appSettings->setHeaderSearchPaths(m_includePaths->getList());
+
+	if (m_frameworkPaths)
+	{
+		appSettings->setFrameworkSearchPaths(m_frameworkPaths->getList());
+	}
+
+	appSettings->save();
+
+	MessageRefresh().dispatch();
+	emit finished();
+}
diff --git a/src/app/qt/window/QtApplicationSettingsScreen.h b/src/app/qt/window/QtApplicationSettingsScreen.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e802f7d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtApplicationSettingsScreen.h
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#ifndef QT_APPLICATION_SETTINGS_SCREEN_H
+#define QT_APPLICATION_SETTINGS_SCREEN_H
+
+#include <QPushButton>
+#include <QWidget>
+
+#include "utility/file/FilePath.h"
+
+#include "qt/element/QtDirectoryListBox.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.h"
+
+class QtApplicationSettingsScreen
+	: public QtSettingsWindow
+{
+	Q_OBJECT
+
+public:
+	QtApplicationSettingsScreen(QWidget* parent = 0);
+	QSize sizeHint() const Q_DECL_OVERRIDE;
+
+	virtual void setup() override;
+
+	void load();
+
+protected:
+	virtual void populateForm(QFormLayout* layout);
+
+private slots:
+	void handleCancelButtonPress();
+	void handleUpdateButtonPress();
+
+private:
+	QPushButton* m_cancelButton;
+	QPushButton* m_updateButton;
+
+	QtDirectoryListBox* m_includePaths;
+	QtDirectoryListBox* m_frameworkPaths;
+};
+
+#endif //QT_APPLICATION_SETTINGS_SCREEN_H
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtMainWindow.cpp b/src/app/qt/window/QtMainWindow.cpp
similarity index 85%
rename from src/app/qt/element/QtMainWindow.cpp
rename to src/app/qt/window/QtMainWindow.cpp
index ba7faed6..a6f5fd80 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/element/QtMainWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtMainWindow.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "qt/element/QtMainWindow.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtMainWindow.h"
 
 #include <QApplication>
 #include <QFileDialog>
@@ -7,11 +7,10 @@
 #include <QMessageBox>
 #include <QSettings>
 
-#include "version.h"
-
 #include "component/view/View.h"
 #include "component/view/CompositeView.h"
 #include "qt/view/QtViewWidgetWrapper.h"
+#include "settings/ApplicationSettings.h"
 #include "utility/logging/logging.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageFind.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageInterruptTasks.h"
@@ -23,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageUndo.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageWindowFocus.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageZoom.h"
+#include "version.h"
 
 QtMainWindow::QtMainWindow()
 	:  m_startScreenWasVisible(false)
@@ -50,9 +50,21 @@ QtMainWindow::QtMainWindow()
 
 void QtMainWindow::init()
 {
-	showStartScreen();
-}
+	ApplicationSettings* appSettings = ApplicationSettings::getInstance().get();
 
+	if (appSettings->getUserHasSeenSettings())
+	{
+		showStartScreen();
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		openSettings();
+		m_startScreenWasVisible = true;
+
+		appSettings->setUserHasSeenSettings(true);
+		appSettings->save();
+	}
+}
 
 QtMainWindow::~QtMainWindow()
 {
@@ -156,6 +168,11 @@ void QtMainWindow::about()
 
 void QtMainWindow::hideScreens()
 {
+	if (m_applicationSettingsScreen)
+	{
+		m_applicationSettingsScreen->hide();
+	}
+
 	if (m_startScreen)
 	{
 		m_startScreen->hide();
@@ -167,49 +184,69 @@ void QtMainWindow::hideScreens()
 	}
 }
 
+void QtMainWindow::closeScreens()
+{
+	hideScreens();
+	m_startScreenWasVisible = false;
+}
+
 void QtMainWindow::restoreScreens()
+{
+	if (m_startScreenWasVisible)
+	{
+		showStartScreen();
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		closeScreens();
+	}
+}
+
+void QtMainWindow::openSettings()
 {
 	hideScreens();
 
-	if (m_startScreen && m_startScreenWasVisible)
+	if (!m_applicationSettingsScreen)
 	{
-		m_startScreen->show();
+		m_applicationSettingsScreen = std::make_shared<QtApplicationSettingsScreen>(this);
+		m_applicationSettingsScreen->setup();
+		connect(m_applicationSettingsScreen.get(), SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(restoreScreens()));
+		connect(m_applicationSettingsScreen.get(), SIGNAL(canceled()), this, SLOT(restoreScreens()));
 	}
 
-	m_startScreenWasVisible = false;
+	m_applicationSettingsScreen->load();
+	m_applicationSettingsScreen->show();
 }
 
 void QtMainWindow::showStartScreen()
 {
+	hideScreens();
+
 	if (!m_startScreen)
 	{
 		m_startScreen = std::make_shared<QtStartScreen>(this);
 		m_startScreen->setup();
-		connect(m_startScreen.get(), SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(hideScreens()));
+		connect(m_startScreen.get(), SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(closeScreens()));
+		connect(m_startScreen.get(), SIGNAL(canceled()), this, SLOT(closeScreens()));
+
+		connect(m_startScreen.get(), SIGNAL(openOpenProjectDialog()), this, SLOT(openProject()));
+		connect(m_startScreen.get(), SIGNAL(openNewProjectDialog()), this, SLOT(newProject()));
 	}
 
 	m_startScreen->show();
 	m_startScreenWasVisible = true;
-
-	if (m_newProjectDialog)
-	{
-		m_newProjectDialog->hide();
-	}
 }
 
 void QtMainWindow::newProject()
 {
-	if (m_startScreen)
-	{
-		m_startScreen->hide();
-	}
+	hideScreens();
 
 	if (!m_newProjectDialog)
 	{
 		m_newProjectDialog = std::make_shared<QtProjectSetupScreen>(this);
 		m_newProjectDialog->setup();
 
-		connect(m_newProjectDialog.get(), SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(hideScreens()));
+		connect(m_newProjectDialog.get(), SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(closeScreens()));
 		connect(m_newProjectDialog.get(), SIGNAL(canceled()), this, SLOT(restoreScreens()));
 	}
 
@@ -229,6 +266,7 @@ void QtMainWindow::openProject(const QString &path)
 	if (!fileName.isEmpty())
 	{
 		MessageLoadProject(fileName.toStdString()).dispatch();
+		closeScreens();
 	}
 }
 
@@ -307,6 +345,7 @@ void QtMainWindow::switchColorScheme()
 
 void QtMainWindow::handleEscapeShortcut()
 {
+	closeScreens();
 	MessageInterruptTasks().dispatch();
 }
 
@@ -362,6 +401,7 @@ void QtMainWindow::setupHelpMenu()
 	menu->addAction(tr("&About"), this, SLOT(about()));
 	menu->addAction(tr("About &Qt"), QCoreApplication::instance(), SLOT(aboutQt()));
 	//menu->addAction(tr("Licences"), QCoreApplication::instance(), SLOT(showLicences()));
+	menu->addAction(tr("Preferences..."), this, SLOT(openSettings()));
 }
 
 void QtMainWindow::setupShortcuts()
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtMainWindow.h b/src/app/qt/window/QtMainWindow.h
similarity index 83%
rename from src/app/qt/element/QtMainWindow.h
rename to src/app/qt/window/QtMainWindow.h
index deace827..795a91cf 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/element/QtMainWindow.h
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtMainWindow.h
@@ -5,11 +5,12 @@
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include <QMainWindow>
 #include <QShortcut>
-#include <QtWidgets/QMainWindow>
 
-#include "QtStartScreen.h"
-#include "QtProjectSetupScreen.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtApplicationSettingsScreen.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtStartScreen.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtProjectSetupScreen.h"
 
 class QDockWidget;
 class View;
@@ -39,9 +40,11 @@ protected:
 public slots:
 	void about();
 	void hideScreens();
+	void closeScreens();
 	void restoreScreens();
-	void showStartScreen();
 
+	void openSettings();
+	void showStartScreen();
 	void newProject();
 	void openProject(const QString &path = QString());
 	void editProject();
@@ -73,6 +76,7 @@ private:
 
 	QDockWidget* getDockWidgetForView(View* view) const;
 
+	std::shared_ptr<QtApplicationSettingsScreen> m_applicationSettingsScreen;
 	std::shared_ptr<QtStartScreen> m_startScreen;
 	std::shared_ptr<QtProjectSetupScreen> m_newProjectDialog;
 
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtProjectSetupScreen.cpp b/src/app/qt/window/QtProjectSetupScreen.cpp
similarity index 64%
rename from src/app/qt/element/QtProjectSetupScreen.cpp
rename to src/app/qt/window/QtProjectSetupScreen.cpp
index 724f4680..2aeac136 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/element/QtProjectSetupScreen.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtProjectSetupScreen.cpp
@@ -1,19 +1,15 @@
-#include "qt/element/QtProjectSetupScreen.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtProjectSetupScreen.h"
 
 #include <QComboBox>
 #include <QFileDialog>
 #include <QFormLayout>
-#include <QLabel>
 #include <QLineEdit>
 #include <QMessageBox>
-#include <QScrollArea>
 #include <QSysInfo>
 
-#include "settings/ProjectSettings.h"
-#include "utility/logging/logging.h"
-#include "qt/utility/QtDeviceScaledPixmap.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageLoadProject.h"
-#include "qt/utility/utilityQt.h"
+
+#include "settings/ProjectSettings.h"
 
 QtTextLine::QtTextLine(QWidget *parent)
 	: QWidget(parent)
@@ -59,43 +55,50 @@ void QtTextLine::handleButtonPress()
 	}
 }
 
+
 QtProjectSetupScreen::QtProjectSetupScreen(QWidget *parent)
 	: QtSettingsWindow(parent)
 {
 	raise();
 }
 
+QSize QtProjectSetupScreen::sizeHint() const
+{
+	return QSize(600,600);
+}
+
 void QtProjectSetupScreen::setup()
 {
-	QtDeviceScaledPixmap coati_logo("data/gui/startscreen/logo.png");
-	coati_logo.scaleToWidth(400);
-	QLabel* coatiLogoLabel = new QLabel(m_window);
-	coatiLogoLabel->setPixmap(coati_logo.pixmap());
-	coatiLogoLabel->resize(coati_logo.width(), coati_logo.height());
-	coatiLogoLabel->move(100, 100);
+	setupForm();
+}
 
-	setStyleSheet(utility::getStyleSheet("data/gui/settingwindows/projectsetup.css").c_str());
-	QVBoxLayout* windowLayout = new QVBoxLayout();
-	windowLayout->setContentsMargins(25, 30, 25, 20);
+void QtProjectSetupScreen::loadEmpty()
+{
+	updateTitle("NEW PROJECT");
+	updateDoneButton("Create");
+}
 
-	m_title = new QLabel();
-	m_title->setObjectName("titleLabel");
-	windowLayout->addWidget(m_title);
-	windowLayout->addSpacing(30);
+void QtProjectSetupScreen::loadProjectSettings()
+{
+	updateTitle("EDIT PROJECT");
+	updateDoneButton("Save");
 
-	QScrollArea* scrollArea = new QScrollArea();
-	scrollArea->setObjectName("formArea");
-	scrollArea->setFrameShadow(QFrame::Plain);
-	scrollArea->setWidgetResizable(true);
+	ProjectSettings* projSettings = ProjectSettings::getInstance().get();
 
-	QWidget* form = new QWidget();
-	form->setObjectName("form");
-	scrollArea->setWidget(form);
+	m_projectName->setText(QString::fromStdString(projSettings->getFilePath().withoutExtension().fileName()));
+	m_projectFileLocation->setText(QString::fromStdString(projSettings->getFilePath().parentDirectory().str()));
 
-	QFormLayout *layout = new QFormLayout();
-	layout->setContentsMargins(10, 10, 10, 10);
-	layout->setHorizontalSpacing(20);
+	m_sourcePaths->setList(projSettings->getSourcePaths());
+	m_includePaths->setList(projSettings->getHeaderSearchPaths());
 
+	if (m_frameworkPaths)
+	{
+		m_frameworkPaths->setList(projSettings->getFrameworkSearchPaths());
+	}
+}
+
+void QtProjectSetupScreen::populateForm(QFormLayout* layout)
+{
 	int minimumWidthForSecondCol = 360;
 
 	QLabel* nameLabel = new QLabel("Name");
@@ -132,62 +135,14 @@ void QtProjectSetupScreen::setup()
 		m_frameworkPaths->setMinimumWidth(minimumWidthForSecondCol);
 		layout->addRow(frameworkPathsLabel, m_frameworkPaths);
 	}
-
-	form->setLayout(layout);
-
-	m_createButton = new QPushButton("Create");
-	m_createButton->setObjectName("windowButton");
-	m_cancelButton = new QPushButton("Cancel");
-	m_cancelButton->setObjectName("windowButton");
-	m_updateButton = new QPushButton("Update");
-	m_updateButton->setObjectName("windowButton");
-
-	connect(m_createButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(handleCreateButtonPress()));
-	connect(m_cancelButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(handleCancelButtonPress()));
-	connect(m_updateButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(handleUpdateButtonPress()));
-
-	QHBoxLayout* buttons = new QHBoxLayout();
-	buttons->addWidget(m_cancelButton);
-	buttons->addStretch();
-	buttons->addWidget(m_createButton);
-	buttons->addWidget(m_updateButton);
-
-	windowLayout->addWidget(scrollArea);
-	windowLayout->addSpacing(20);
-	windowLayout->addLayout(buttons);
-
-	m_window->setLayout(windowLayout);
-	resize(QSize(600, 620));
-
-	scrollArea->raise();
 }
 
-void QtProjectSetupScreen::loadEmpty()
+void QtProjectSetupScreen::handleCancelButtonPress()
 {
-	m_updateButton->hide();
-	m_createButton->show();
-
-	m_title->setText("NEW PROJECT");
+	emit canceled();
 }
 
-void QtProjectSetupScreen::loadProjectSettings()
-{
-	m_updateButton->show();
-	m_createButton->hide();
-
-	m_title->setText("EDIT PROJECT");
-
-	ProjectSettings* projSettings = ProjectSettings::getInstance().get();
-
-	m_projectName->setText(QString::fromStdString(projSettings->getFilePath().withoutExtension().fileName()));
-	m_projectFileLocation->setText(QString::fromStdString(projSettings->getFilePath().parentDirectory().str()));
-
-	m_sourcePaths->setList(projSettings->getSourcePaths());
-	m_includePaths->setList(projSettings->getHeaderSearchPaths());
-	m_frameworkPaths->setList(projSettings->getFrameworkSearchPaths());
-}
-
-void QtProjectSetupScreen::handleCreateButtonPress()
+void QtProjectSetupScreen::handleDoneButtonPress()
 {
 	if (m_projectName->text().isEmpty())
 	{
@@ -232,18 +187,3 @@ void QtProjectSetupScreen::handleCreateButtonPress()
 	MessageLoadProject(projectFile).dispatch();
 	emit finished();
 }
-
-void QtProjectSetupScreen::handleCancelButtonPress()
-{
-	emit canceled();
-}
-
-void QtProjectSetupScreen::handleUpdateButtonPress()
-{
-	handleCreateButtonPress();
-}
-
-QSize QtProjectSetupScreen::sizeHint() const
-{
-	return QSize(600,600);
-}
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtProjectSetupScreen.h b/src/app/qt/window/QtProjectSetupScreen.h
similarity index 85%
rename from src/app/qt/element/QtProjectSetupScreen.h
rename to src/app/qt/window/QtProjectSetupScreen.h
index a13006ee..28128e8e 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/element/QtProjectSetupScreen.h
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtProjectSetupScreen.h
@@ -1,16 +1,14 @@
 #ifndef QT_PROJECT_SETUP_SCREEN_H
 #define QT_PROJECT_SETUP_SCREEN_H
 
-#include <QListWidget>
 #include <QPushButton>
 #include <QWidget>
 
-#include "QtSettingsWindow.h"
-
 #include "utility/file/FilePath.h"
 
 #include "qt/element/QtDirectoryListBox.h"
 #include "qt/element/QtLineEdit.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.h"
 
 class QtTextLine
 	: public QWidget
@@ -45,21 +43,17 @@ public:
 	void loadEmpty();
 	void loadProjectSettings();
 
-signals:
-	void finished();
-	void canceled();
+protected:
+	virtual void populateForm(QFormLayout* layout);
 
 private slots:
-	void handleCreateButtonPress();
 	void handleCancelButtonPress();
-	void handleUpdateButtonPress();
+	void handleDoneButtonPress();
 
 private:
 	QLineEdit* m_projectName;
 	QtTextLine* m_projectFileLocation;
 
-	QLabel* m_title;
-
 	QPushButton* m_createButton;
 	QPushButton* m_cancelButton;
 	QPushButton* m_updateButton;
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtSettingsWindow.cpp b/src/app/qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.cpp
similarity index 50%
rename from src/app/qt/element/QtSettingsWindow.cpp
rename to src/app/qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.cpp
index 4dbc8111..18382dc2 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/element/QtSettingsWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.cpp
@@ -1,12 +1,21 @@
-#include "qt/element/QtSettingsWindow.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.h"
 
+#include <QFormLayout>
 #include <QGraphicsDropShadowEffect>
+#include <QLabel>
+#include <QPushButton>
+#include <QScrollArea>
 #include <QSysInfo>
 
+#include "qt/utility/QtDeviceScaledPixmap.h"
+#include "qt/utility/utilityQt.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageInterruptTasks.h"
 
 QtSettingsWindow::QtSettingsWindow(QWidget *parent, int displacement)
 	: QWidget(parent, Qt::Dialog | Qt::FramelessWindowHint)
+	, m_title(nullptr)
+	, m_cancelButton(nullptr)
+	, m_doneButton(nullptr)
 	, m_mousePressedInWindow(false)
 {
 	QSize windowSize = sizeHint();
@@ -46,19 +55,19 @@ QtSettingsWindow::QtSettingsWindow(QWidget *parent, int displacement)
 	this->raise();
 }
 
+QSize QtSettingsWindow::sizeHint() const
+{
+	return QSize(500, 500);
+}
+
 void QtSettingsWindow::keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent *event)
 {
 	if (event->key() == Qt::Key_Escape)
 	{
-		this->hide();
+		emit canceled();
 	}
 }
 
-QSize QtSettingsWindow::sizeHint() const
-{
-	return QSize(500, 500);
-}
-
 void QtSettingsWindow::resizeEvent(QResizeEvent *event)
 {
 	QSize windowSize = event->size()-QSize(10, 10 + m_displacment);
@@ -94,3 +103,81 @@ void QtSettingsWindow::mouseReleaseEvent(QMouseEvent *event)
 		m_mousePressedInWindow = false;
 	}
 }
+
+void QtSettingsWindow::setupForm()
+{
+	QtDeviceScaledPixmap coati_logo("data/gui/startscreen/logo.png");
+	coati_logo.scaleToWidth(400);
+	QLabel* coatiLogoLabel = new QLabel(m_window);
+	coatiLogoLabel->setPixmap(coati_logo.pixmap());
+	coatiLogoLabel->resize(coati_logo.width(), coati_logo.height());
+	coatiLogoLabel->move(100, 100);
+
+	setStyleSheet(utility::getStyleSheet("data/gui/setting_window/window.css").c_str());
+	QVBoxLayout* windowLayout = new QVBoxLayout();
+	windowLayout->setContentsMargins(25, 30, 25, 20);
+
+	m_title = new QLabel();
+	m_title->setObjectName("titleLabel");
+	windowLayout->addWidget(m_title);
+	windowLayout->addSpacing(30);
+
+	QScrollArea* scrollArea = new QScrollArea();
+	scrollArea->setObjectName("formArea");
+	scrollArea->setFrameShadow(QFrame::Plain);
+	scrollArea->setWidgetResizable(true);
+
+	QWidget* form = new QWidget();
+	form->setObjectName("form");
+	scrollArea->setWidget(form);
+
+	QFormLayout* layout = new QFormLayout();
+	layout->setContentsMargins(10, 10, 10, 10);
+	layout->setHorizontalSpacing(20);
+
+	populateForm(layout);
+
+	form->setLayout(layout);
+
+	m_cancelButton = new QPushButton("Cancel");
+	m_cancelButton->setObjectName("windowButton");
+	m_doneButton = new QPushButton("Done");
+	m_doneButton->setObjectName("windowButton");
+
+	connect(m_cancelButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(handleCancelButtonPress()));
+	connect(m_doneButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(handleDoneButtonPress()));
+
+	QHBoxLayout* buttons = new QHBoxLayout();
+	buttons->addWidget(m_cancelButton);
+	buttons->addStretch();
+	buttons->addWidget(m_doneButton);
+
+	windowLayout->addWidget(scrollArea);
+	windowLayout->addSpacing(20);
+	windowLayout->addLayout(buttons);
+
+	m_window->setLayout(windowLayout);
+	resize(QSize(600, 620));
+
+	scrollArea->raise();
+}
+
+void QtSettingsWindow::populateForm(QFormLayout* layout)
+{
+}
+
+void QtSettingsWindow::updateTitle(QString title)
+{
+	if (m_title)
+	{
+		m_title->setText(title);
+	}
+}
+
+void QtSettingsWindow::updateDoneButton(QString text)
+{
+	if (m_doneButton)
+	{
+		m_doneButton->setText(text);
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtSettingsWindow.h b/src/app/qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.h
similarity index 69%
rename from src/app/qt/element/QtSettingsWindow.h
rename to src/app/qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.h
index 91e38ee8..c3b517ad 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/element/QtSettingsWindow.h
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.h
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
 #include <QResizeEvent>
 #include <QWidget>
 
+class QFormLayout;
+class QLabel;
+class QPushButton;
+
 class QtSettingsWindow
 	: public QWidget
 {
@@ -16,6 +20,10 @@ public:
 
 	virtual void setup() = 0;
 
+signals:
+	void finished();
+	void canceled();
+
 protected:
 	void keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent* event) Q_DECL_OVERRIDE;
 	void resizeEvent(QResizeEvent* event) Q_DECL_OVERRIDE;
@@ -23,8 +31,19 @@ protected:
 	void mousePressEvent(QMouseEvent *event) Q_DECL_OVERRIDE;
 	void mouseReleaseEvent(QMouseEvent *event) Q_DECL_OVERRIDE;
 
+	void setupForm();
+	virtual void populateForm(QFormLayout* layout);
+
+	void updateTitle(QString title);
+	void updateDoneButton(QString text);
+
 	QWidget* m_window;
 
+	QLabel* m_title;
+
+	QPushButton* m_cancelButton;
+	QPushButton* m_doneButton;
+
 private:
 	int m_displacment;
 	QPoint m_dragPosition;
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtSplashScreen.cpp b/src/app/qt/window/QtSplashScreen.cpp
similarity index 96%
rename from src/app/qt/element/QtSplashScreen.cpp
rename to src/app/qt/window/QtSplashScreen.cpp
index 430546b6..4c4b4f1f 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/element/QtSplashScreen.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtSplashScreen.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "qt/element/QtSplashScreen.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtSplashScreen.h"
 
 #include <QApplication>
 #include <QThread>
@@ -88,7 +88,6 @@ void QtSplashScreen::drawContents(QPainter *painter)
 	QRect r = rect();
 	r.setRect(r.x() + 5, r.height() - 20, r.width() - 10, 20);
 
-	// TODO: automated Version number
 	painter->drawText(r, Qt::AlignRight, QString("Coati v").append(m_version));
 
 	// Draw message at given position, limited to 43 chars
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtSplashScreen.h b/src/app/qt/window/QtSplashScreen.h
similarity index 100%
rename from src/app/qt/element/QtSplashScreen.h
rename to src/app/qt/window/QtSplashScreen.h
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtStartScreen.cpp b/src/app/qt/window/QtStartScreen.cpp
similarity index 88%
rename from src/app/qt/element/QtStartScreen.cpp
rename to src/app/qt/window/QtStartScreen.cpp
index 826ac6c4..d867dce2 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/element/QtStartScreen.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtStartScreen.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "qt/element/QtStartScreen.h"
+#include "qt/window/QtStartScreen.h"
 
 #include <QLabel>
 #include <QHBoxLayout>
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ QtStartScreen::QtStartScreen(QWidget *parent)
 void QtStartScreen::setup()
 {
 	setStyleSheet(utility::getStyleSheet("data/gui/startscreen/startscreen.css").c_str());
-	std::vector<std::string> recentProjects = ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->getRecentProjects();
 
 	QtDeviceScaledPixmap coati_logo("data/gui/startscreen/logo_schriftzug.png");
 	coati_logo.scaleToWidth(200);
@@ -54,20 +53,19 @@ void QtStartScreen::setup()
 	m_openProjectButton->setObjectName("projectButton");
 	connect(m_openProjectButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(handleOpenProjectButton()));
 
-	connect(this, SIGNAL(openOpenProjectDialog()), parent(), SLOT(openProject()));
-	connect(this, SIGNAL(openNewProjectDialog()), parent(), SLOT(newProject()));
-
 	QLabel* recentProjectsLabel = new QLabel("Recent Projects: ", this);
 	recentProjectsLabel->setGeometry(300, 234, 300, 50);
 	recentProjectsLabel->setObjectName("recentLabel");
 
 	int position = 290;
 	QIcon cpp_icon("data/gui/startscreen/Icon_CPP.png");
-	for (std::string project : recentProjects)
+	std::vector<FilePath> recentProjects = ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->getRecentProjects();
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < recentProjects.size() && i < 7; i++)
 	{
-		if (FileSystem::exists(project.c_str()))
+		FilePath project = recentProjects[i];
+		if (project.exists())
 		{
-			QtRecentProjectButton* button = new QtRecentProjectButton(project.c_str(), this);
+			QtRecentProjectButton* button = new QtRecentProjectButton(project.str().c_str(), this);
 			button->setAttribute(Qt::WA_LayoutUsesWidgetRect); // fixes layouting on Mac
 			button->setIcon(cpp_icon);
 			button->setIconSize(QSize(25, 25));
diff --git a/src/app/qt/element/QtStartScreen.h b/src/app/qt/window/QtStartScreen.h
similarity index 81%
rename from src/app/qt/element/QtStartScreen.h
rename to src/app/qt/window/QtStartScreen.h
index 82445dbc..273fc783 100644
--- a/src/app/qt/element/QtStartScreen.h
+++ b/src/app/qt/window/QtStartScreen.h
@@ -1,21 +1,26 @@
-#ifndef STARTSCREEN_H
-#define STARTSCREEN_H
+#ifndef QT_START_SCREEN_H
+#define QT_START_SCREEN_H
 
-#include <QtWidgets/qpushbutton.h>
-#include "QtSettingsWindow.h"
+#include <QPushButton>
+
+#include "qt/window/QtSettingsWindow.h"
 
 class QtRecentProjectButton
 	: public QPushButton
 {
-Q_OBJECT
+	Q_OBJECT
+
 public:
 	QtRecentProjectButton(const QString& text, QWidget* parent);
+
 public slots:
 	void handleButtonClick();
+
 private:
 	std::string m_projectFile;
 };
 
+
 class QtStartScreen
 	: public QtSettingsWindow
 {
@@ -29,7 +34,6 @@ public:
 signals:
 	void openOpenProjectDialog();
 	void openNewProjectDialog();
-	void finished();
 
 private slots:
 	void handleNewProjectButton();
@@ -42,4 +46,4 @@ private:
 	std::vector<QPushButton*> m_recentProjects;
 };
 
-#endif //STARTSCREEN_H
+#endif // QT_START_SCREEN_H
diff --git a/src/lib/Application.cpp b/src/lib/Application.cpp
index 1ae8176a..6546c2ee 100644
--- a/src/lib/Application.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/Application.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ std::shared_ptr<Application> Application::create(ViewFactory* viewFactory)
 	ptr->m_componentManager->setup(ptr->m_mainView.get());
 	ptr->m_mainView->loadLayout();
 
+	ptr->m_project = Project::create(ptr->m_storageCache.get());
+
 	return ptr;
 }
 
@@ -53,9 +55,9 @@ Application::~Application()
 	m_mainView->saveLayout();
 }
 
-void Application::loadProject(const std::string& projectSettingsFilePath)
+void Application::loadProject(const FilePath& projectSettingsFilePath)
 {
-	MessageStatus("Loading Project: " + projectSettingsFilePath).dispatch();
+	MessageStatus("Loading Project: " + projectSettingsFilePath.str()).dispatch();
 
 	m_storageCache->clear();
 	m_componentManager->refreshViews();
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ void Application::reloadProject()
 	m_project->parseCode();
 }
 
-void Application::saveProject(const std::string& projectSettingsFilePath)
+void Application::saveProject(const FilePath& projectSettingsFilePath)
 {
 	if (!m_project->saveProjectSettings(projectSettingsFilePath))
 	{
@@ -140,13 +142,13 @@ void Application::handleMessage(MessageSaveProject* message)
 	saveProject(message->projectSettingsFilePath);
 }
 
-void Application::updateRecentProjects(const std::string& projectSettingsFilePath)
+void Application::updateRecentProjects(const FilePath& projectSettingsFilePath)
 {
 	ApplicationSettings* appSettings = ApplicationSettings::getInstance().get();
-	std::vector<std::string> recentProjects = appSettings->getRecentProjects();
+	std::vector<FilePath> recentProjects = appSettings->getRecentProjects();
 	if (recentProjects.size())
 	{
-		std::vector<std::string>::iterator it = std::find(recentProjects.begin(), recentProjects.end(), projectSettingsFilePath);
+		std::vector<FilePath>::iterator it = std::find(recentProjects.begin(), recentProjects.end(), projectSettingsFilePath);
 		if (it != recentProjects.end())
 		{
 			recentProjects.erase(it);
diff --git a/src/lib/Application.h b/src/lib/Application.h
index 47b78b52..568a3e40 100644
--- a/src/lib/Application.h
+++ b/src/lib/Application.h
@@ -27,10 +27,9 @@ public:
 
 	~Application();
 
-	void loadProject(const std::string& projectSettingsFilePath);
-	void loadSource(const std::string& sourceDirectoryPath);
-	void saveProject(const std::string& projectSettingsFilePath);
+	void loadProject(const FilePath& projectSettingsFilePath);
 	void reloadProject();
+	void saveProject(const FilePath& projectSettingsFilePath);
 
 private:
 	Application();
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ private:
 	virtual void handleMessage(MessageRefresh* message);
 	virtual void handleMessage(MessageSaveProject* message);
 
-	void updateRecentProjects(const std::string& projectSettingsFilePath);
+	void updateRecentProjects(const FilePath& projectSettingsFilePath);
 
 	std::shared_ptr<Project> m_project;
 	std::shared_ptr<StorageCache> m_storageCache;
diff --git a/src/lib/Project.cpp b/src/lib/Project.cpp
index 1747226d..9423b305 100644
--- a/src/lib/Project.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/Project.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Project::~Project()
 {
 }
 
-bool Project::loadProjectSettings(const std::string& projectSettingsFile)
+bool Project::loadProjectSettings(const FilePath& projectSettingsFile)
 {
 	bool success = ProjectSettings::getInstance()->load(projectSettingsFile);
 	if (success)
@@ -34,28 +34,28 @@ bool Project::loadProjectSettings(const std::string& projectSettingsFile)
 	return success;
 }
 
-bool Project::saveProjectSettings(const std::string& projectSettingsFile)
+bool Project::saveProjectSettings(const FilePath& projectSettingsFile)
 {
-	if (projectSettingsFile.size())
+	if (!projectSettingsFile.empty())
 	{
 		m_projectSettingsFilepath = projectSettingsFile;
 	}
 
-	if (!m_projectSettingsFilepath.size())
+	if (m_projectSettingsFilepath.empty())
 	{
 		return false;
 	}
 
 	ProjectSettings::getInstance()->save(m_projectSettingsFilepath);
 
-	LOG_INFO_STREAM(<< "ProjectSettings saved to file: " << m_projectSettingsFilepath);
+	LOG_INFO_STREAM(<< "ProjectSettings saved to file: " << m_projectSettingsFilepath.str());
 
 	return true;
 }
 
 void Project::clearProjectSettings()
 {
-	m_projectSettingsFilepath.clear();
+	m_projectSettingsFilepath = FilePath();
 	ProjectSettings::getInstance()->clear();
 
 	m_fileManager.reset();
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ void Project::clearProjectSettings()
 
 void Project::reloadProjectSettings()
 {
-	if (m_projectSettingsFilepath.size())
+	if (!m_projectSettingsFilepath.empty())
 	{
 		ProjectSettings::getInstance()->load(m_projectSettingsFilepath);
 		updateFileManager();
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ void Project::clearStorage()
 
 void Project::parseCode()
 {
+	if (m_projectSettingsFilepath.empty())
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
 	std::shared_ptr<ProjectSettings> projSettings = ProjectSettings::getInstance();
 
 	m_fileManager.fetchFilePaths();
diff --git a/src/lib/Project.h b/src/lib/Project.h
index ae05fb48..725190cb 100644
--- a/src/lib/Project.h
+++ b/src/lib/Project.h
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ public:
 
 	~Project();
 
-	bool loadProjectSettings(const std::string& projectSettingsFile);
-	bool saveProjectSettings(const std::string& projectSettingsFile);
+	bool loadProjectSettings(const FilePath& projectSettingsFile);
+	bool saveProjectSettings(const FilePath& projectSettingsFile);
 	void clearProjectSettings();
 	void reloadProjectSettings();
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ private:
 
 	StorageAccessProxy* const m_storageAccessProxy;
 
-	std::string m_projectSettingsFilepath;
+	FilePath m_projectSettingsFilepath;
 	FileManager m_fileManager;
 
 	std::shared_ptr<Storage> m_storage;
diff --git a/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp b/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp
index bf878b53..10ec9ac7 100644
--- a/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp
@@ -26,11 +26,21 @@ std::vector<FilePath> ApplicationSettings::getHeaderSearchPaths() const
 	return getPathValues("source/HeaderSearchPaths/HeaderSearchPath");
 }
 
+bool ApplicationSettings::setHeaderSearchPaths(const std::vector<FilePath>& headerSearchPaths)
+{
+	return setPathValues("source/HeaderSearchPaths/HeaderSearchPath", headerSearchPaths);
+}
+
 std::vector<FilePath> ApplicationSettings::getFrameworkSearchPaths() const
 {
 	return getPathValues("source/FrameworkSearchPaths/FrameworkSearchPath");
 }
 
+bool ApplicationSettings::setFrameworkSearchPaths(const std::vector<FilePath>& frameworkSearchPaths)
+{
+	return setPathValues("source/FrameworkSearchPaths/FrameworkSearchPath", frameworkSearchPaths);
+}
+
 std::vector<std::string> ApplicationSettings::getCompilerFlags() const
 {
 	std::vector<std::string> defaultValues;
@@ -101,11 +111,22 @@ ApplicationSettings::ApplicationSettings()
 {
 }
 
-std::vector<std::string> ApplicationSettings::getRecentProjects() const {
-	std::vector<std::string> recentProjects;
-	return getValues("recentProjects/projectFilePath", recentProjects);
+std::vector<FilePath> ApplicationSettings::getRecentProjects() const
+{
+	return getPathValues("user/recent_projects/recent_project");
 }
 
-bool ApplicationSettings::setRecentProjects(const std::vector<std::string> &recentProjects) {
-	return setValues("recentProjects/projectFilePath", recentProjects);
+bool ApplicationSettings::setRecentProjects(const std::vector<FilePath> &recentProjects)
+{
+	return setPathValues("user/recent_projects/recent_project", recentProjects);
+}
+
+bool ApplicationSettings::getUserHasSeenSettings() const
+{
+	return getValue<bool>("user/has_seen_settings", false);
+}
+
+void ApplicationSettings::setUserHasSeenSettings(bool hasSeenSettings)
+{
+	setValue<bool>("user/has_seen_settings", hasSeenSettings);
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.h b/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.h
index 9075e256..ed796187 100644
--- a/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.h
+++ b/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.h
@@ -16,7 +16,11 @@ public:
 
 	// source
 	std::vector<FilePath> getHeaderSearchPaths() const;
+	bool setHeaderSearchPaths(const std::vector<FilePath>& headerSearchPaths);
+
 	std::vector<FilePath> getFrameworkSearchPaths() const;
+	bool setFrameworkSearchPaths(const std::vector<FilePath>& frameworkSearchPaths);
+
 	std::vector<std::string> getCompilerFlags() const;
 
 	// application
@@ -29,10 +33,6 @@ public:
 	std::string getColorSchemePath() const;
 	void setColorSchemePath(const std::string& colorSchemePath);
 
-	//recent projects
-	std::vector<std::string> getRecentProjects() const;
-	bool setRecentProjects(const std::vector<std::string>& recentProjects);
-
 	// code
 	int getCodeTabWidth() const;
 	void setCodeTabWidth(int codeTabWidth);
@@ -43,6 +43,13 @@ public:
 	int getCodeSnippetExpandRange() const;
 	void setCodeSnippetExpandRange(int range);
 
+	// user
+	bool getUserHasSeenSettings() const;
+	void setUserHasSeenSettings(bool hasSeenSettings);
+
+	std::vector<FilePath> getRecentProjects() const;
+	bool setRecentProjects(const std::vector<FilePath>& recentProjects);
+
 private:
 	ApplicationSettings();
 	ApplicationSettings(const ApplicationSettings&);