diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/tests/completions.rs b/crates/nu-cli/tests/completions.rs
index d6608975f..1acc797af 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/tests/completions.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/tests/completions.rs
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ fn variables_completions() {
         "loginshell-path".into(),
         "os-info".into(),
         "pid".into(),
-        "scope".into(),
+        "plugin-path".into(),
         "startup-time".into(),
         "temp-path".into(),
     ];
@@ -568,88 +568,6 @@ fn variables_completions() {
     // Match results
     match_suggestions(expected, suggestions);
 
-    // Test completions for $nu.scope
-    let suggestions = completer.complete("$nu.scope.", 10);
-    assert_eq!(5, suggestions.len());
-    let expected: Vec<String> = vec![
-        "aliases".into(),
-        "commands".into(),
-        "engine_state".into(),
-        "modules".into(),
-        "vars".into(),
-    ];
-    // Match results
-    match_suggestions(expected, suggestions);
-
-    // Test completions for $nu.scope.commands
-    let suggestions = completer.complete("$nu.scope.commands.", 19);
-    assert_eq!(15, suggestions.len());
-    let expected: Vec<String> = vec![
-        "category".into(),
-        "creates_scope".into(),
-        "examples".into(),
-        "extra_usage".into(),
-        "is_builtin".into(),
-        "is_custom".into(),
-        "is_extern".into(),
-        "is_keyword".into(),
-        "is_plugin".into(),
-        "is_sub".into(),
-        "module_name".into(),
-        "name".into(),
-        "search_terms".into(),
-        "signatures".into(),
-        "usage".into(),
-    ];
-    // Match results
-    match_suggestions(expected, suggestions);
-
-    // Test completions for $nu.scope.commands.signatures
-    let suggestions = completer.complete("$nu.scope.commands.signatures.", 30);
-    assert_eq!(17, suggestions.len());
-    let expected: Vec<String> = vec![
-        "any".into(),
-        "binary".into(),
-        "bool".into(),
-        "datetime".into(),
-        "duration".into(),
-        "filesize".into(),
-        "int".into(),
-        "list<any>".into(),
-        "list<binary>".into(),
-        "list<number>".into(),
-        "list<string>".into(),
-        "nothing".into(),
-        "number".into(),
-        "range".into(),
-        "record".into(),
-        "string".into(),
-        "table".into(),
-    ];
-    // Match results
-    match_suggestions(expected, suggestions);
-
-    // Test completions for $nu.scope.engine_state
-    let suggestions = completer.complete("$nu.scope.engine_state.", 23);
-    assert_eq!(6, suggestions.len());
-    let expected: Vec<String> = vec![
-        "num_blocks".into(),
-        "num_decls".into(),
-        "num_env_vars".into(),
-        "num_modules".into(),
-        "num_vars".into(),
-        "source_bytes".into(),
-    ];
-    // Match results
-    match_suggestions(expected, suggestions);
-
-    // Test completions for $nu.scope.vars
-    let suggestions = completer.complete("$nu.scope.vars.", 15);
-    assert_eq!(3, suggestions.len());
-    let expected: Vec<String> = vec!["name".into(), "type".into(), "value".into()];
-    // Match results
-    match_suggestions(expected, suggestions);
-
     // Test completions for custom var
     let suggestions = completer.complete("$actor.", 7);
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/mod.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/mod.rs
index ee05d6d57..902c16f83 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/mod.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ mod module;
 mod mut_;
 pub(crate) mod overlay;
 mod return_;
+mod scope;
 mod try_;
 mod use_;
 mod version;
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ pub use module::Module;
 pub use mut_::Mut;
 pub use overlay::*;
 pub use return_::Return;
+pub use scope::*;
 pub use try_::Try;
 pub use use_::Use;
 pub use version::Version;
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/aliases.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/aliases.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9a874f228
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/aliases.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+use nu_engine::scope::ScopeData;
+use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
+use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
+use nu_protocol::{
+    Category, Example, IntoInterruptiblePipelineData, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Type,
+};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct ScopeAliases;
+
+impl Command for ScopeAliases {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "scope aliases"
+    }
+
+    fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
+        Signature::build("scope aliases")
+            .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Any)])
+            .allow_variants_without_examples(true)
+            .category(Category::Filters)
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &str {
+        "Output info on the aliases in the current scope."
+    }
+
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        engine_state: &EngineState,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
+        call: &Call,
+        _input: PipelineData,
+    ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
+        let span = call.head;
+        let ctrlc = engine_state.ctrlc.clone();
+
+        let mut scope_data = ScopeData::new(engine_state, stack);
+        scope_data.populate_all();
+
+        Ok(scope_data.collect_aliases(span).into_pipeline_data(ctrlc))
+    }
+
+    fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
+        vec![Example {
+            description: "Show the aliases in the current scope",
+            example: "scope aliases",
+            result: None,
+        }]
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_examples() {
+        use crate::test_examples;
+
+        test_examples(ScopeAliases {})
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/command.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/command.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9baa09aa4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/command.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+use nu_engine::get_full_help;
+use nu_protocol::{
+    ast::Call,
+    engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack},
+    Category, IntoPipelineData, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Type, Value,
+};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct Scope;
+
+impl Command for Scope {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "scope"
+    }
+
+    fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
+        Signature::build("scope")
+            .category(Category::Core)
+            .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::String)])
+            .allow_variants_without_examples(true)
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &str {
+        "Commands for getting info about what is in scope."
+    }
+
+    fn is_parser_keyword(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        engine_state: &EngineState,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
+        call: &Call,
+        _input: PipelineData,
+    ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
+        Ok(Value::String {
+            val: get_full_help(
+                &Scope.signature(),
+                &[],
+                engine_state,
+                stack,
+                self.is_parser_keyword(),
+            ),
+            span: call.head,
+        }
+        .into_pipeline_data())
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/commands.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/commands.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8247b93bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/commands.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+use nu_engine::scope::ScopeData;
+use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
+use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
+use nu_protocol::{
+    Category, Example, IntoInterruptiblePipelineData, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Type,
+};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct ScopeCommands;
+
+impl Command for ScopeCommands {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "scope commands"
+    }
+
+    fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
+        Signature::build("scope commands")
+            .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Any)])
+            .allow_variants_without_examples(true)
+            .category(Category::Filters)
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &str {
+        "Output info on the commands in the current scope."
+    }
+
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        engine_state: &EngineState,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
+        call: &Call,
+        _input: PipelineData,
+    ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
+        let span = call.head;
+        let ctrlc = engine_state.ctrlc.clone();
+
+        let mut scope_data = ScopeData::new(engine_state, stack);
+        scope_data.populate_all();
+
+        Ok(scope_data.collect_commands(span).into_pipeline_data(ctrlc))
+    }
+
+    fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
+        vec![Example {
+            description: "Show the commands in the current scope",
+            example: "scope commands",
+            result: None,
+        }]
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_examples() {
+        use crate::test_examples;
+
+        test_examples(ScopeCommands {})
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/engine_stats.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/engine_stats.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5cbbf0945
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/engine_stats.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+use nu_engine::scope::ScopeData;
+use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
+use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
+use nu_protocol::{Category, Example, IntoPipelineData, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Type};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct ScopeEngineStats;
+
+impl Command for ScopeEngineStats {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "scope engine-stats"
+    }
+
+    fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
+        Signature::build("scope engine-stats")
+            .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Any)])
+            .allow_variants_without_examples(true)
+            .category(Category::Filters)
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &str {
+        "Output stats on the engine in the current state."
+    }
+
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        engine_state: &EngineState,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
+        call: &Call,
+        _input: PipelineData,
+    ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
+        let span = call.head;
+
+        let mut scope_data = ScopeData::new(engine_state, stack);
+        scope_data.populate_all();
+
+        Ok(scope_data.collect_engine_state(span).into_pipeline_data())
+    }
+
+    fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
+        vec![Example {
+            description: "Show the stats on the current engine state",
+            example: "scope engine-stats",
+            result: None,
+        }]
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_examples() {
+        use crate::test_examples;
+
+        test_examples(ScopeEngineStats {})
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/mod.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ca82cb899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+mod aliases;
+mod command;
+mod commands;
+mod engine_stats;
+mod modules;
+mod variables;
+
+pub use aliases::*;
+pub use command::*;
+pub use commands::*;
+pub use engine_stats::*;
+pub use modules::*;
+pub use variables::*;
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/modules.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/modules.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cf96ebc2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/modules.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+use nu_engine::scope::ScopeData;
+use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
+use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
+use nu_protocol::{
+    Category, Example, IntoInterruptiblePipelineData, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Type,
+};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct ScopeModules;
+
+impl Command for ScopeModules {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "scope modules"
+    }
+
+    fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
+        Signature::build("scope modules")
+            .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Any)])
+            .allow_variants_without_examples(true)
+            .category(Category::Filters)
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &str {
+        "Output info on the modules in the current scope."
+    }
+
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        engine_state: &EngineState,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
+        call: &Call,
+        _input: PipelineData,
+    ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
+        let span = call.head;
+        let ctrlc = engine_state.ctrlc.clone();
+
+        let mut scope_data = ScopeData::new(engine_state, stack);
+        scope_data.populate_modules();
+
+        Ok(scope_data.collect_modules(span).into_pipeline_data(ctrlc))
+    }
+
+    fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
+        vec![Example {
+            description: "Show the modules in the current scope",
+            example: "scope modules",
+            result: None,
+        }]
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_examples() {
+        use crate::test_examples;
+
+        test_examples(ScopeModules {})
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/variables.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/variables.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..017352ef4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/scope/variables.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+use nu_engine::scope::ScopeData;
+use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
+use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
+use nu_protocol::{
+    Category, Example, IntoInterruptiblePipelineData, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Type,
+};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct ScopeVariables;
+
+impl Command for ScopeVariables {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "scope variables"
+    }
+
+    fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
+        Signature::build("scope variables")
+            .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Any)])
+            .allow_variants_without_examples(true)
+            .category(Category::Filters)
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &str {
+        "Output info on the variables in the current scope."
+    }
+
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        engine_state: &EngineState,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
+        call: &Call,
+        _input: PipelineData,
+    ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
+        let span = call.head;
+        let ctrlc = engine_state.ctrlc.clone();
+
+        let mut scope_data = ScopeData::new(engine_state, stack);
+        scope_data.populate_all();
+
+        Ok(scope_data.collect_vars(span).into_pipeline_data(ctrlc))
+    }
+
+    fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
+        vec![Example {
+            description: "Show the variables in the current scope",
+            example: "scope variables",
+            result: None,
+        }]
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_examples() {
+        use crate::test_examples;
+
+        test_examples(ScopeVariables {})
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/default_context.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/default_context.rs
index 7f76cbe60..e8377fd5d 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/default_context.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/default_context.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@ pub fn create_default_context() -> EngineState {
             Module,
             Mut,
             Return,
+            Scope,
+            ScopeAliases,
+            ScopeCommands,
+            ScopeEngineStats,
+            ScopeModules,
+            ScopeVariables,
             Try,
             Use,
             Version,
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/alias.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/alias.rs
index 997a9ef94..97af0ccda 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/alias.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/alias.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ fn alias_hiding_1() {
         cwd: "tests/fixtures/formats", pipeline(
         r#"
             overlay use ./activate-foo.nu;
-            $nu.scope.aliases | find deactivate-foo | length
+            scope aliases | find deactivate-foo | length
         "#
     ));
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ fn alias_hiding_2() {
         r#"
             overlay use ./activate-foo.nu;
             deactivate-foo;
-            $nu.scope.aliases | find deactivate-foo | length
+            scope aliases | find deactivate-foo | length
         "#
     ));
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/headers.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/headers.rs
index c7c9725f8..88cc55786 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/headers.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/headers.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ fn headers_invalid_column_type_record() {
     let actual = nu!(
     cwd: "tests/fixtures/formats", pipeline(
         r#"
-            [[a b]; [1 ($nu.scope)] [2 2]]
+            [[a b]; [1 (scope aliases)] [2 2]]
             | headers"#
     ));
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-engine/src/eval.rs b/crates/nu-engine/src/eval.rs
index 8e0fadf8d..a2f22f8ff 100644
--- a/crates/nu-engine/src/eval.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-engine/src/eval.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{current_dir_str, get_full_help, nu_variable::NuVariable};
+use crate::{current_dir_str, get_full_help};
 use nu_path::expand_path_with;
 use nu_protocol::{
     ast::{
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ use nu_protocol::{
     DataSource, IntoInterruptiblePipelineData, IntoPipelineData, PipelineData, PipelineMetadata,
     Range, ShellError, Span, Spanned, Unit, Value, VarId, ENV_VARIABLE_ID,
 };
-use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::time::Instant;
+use std::{collections::HashMap, path::PathBuf};
+use sysinfo::SystemExt;
 
 pub fn eval_operator(op: &Expression) -> Result<Operator, ShellError> {
     match op {
@@ -1202,6 +1203,217 @@ pub fn eval_subexpression(
     Ok(input)
 }
 
+pub fn eval_nu_variable(engine_state: &EngineState, span: Span) -> Result<Value, ShellError> {
+    fn canonicalize_path(engine_state: &EngineState, path: &PathBuf) -> PathBuf {
+        let cwd = engine_state.current_work_dir();
+
+        if path.exists() {
+            match nu_path::canonicalize_with(path, cwd) {
+                Ok(canon_path) => canon_path,
+                Err(_) => path.clone(),
+            }
+        } else {
+            path.clone()
+        }
+    }
+
+    let mut cols = vec![];
+    let mut vals = vec![];
+
+    cols.push("default-config-dir".to_string());
+    if let Some(mut path) = nu_path::config_dir() {
+        path.push("nushell");
+        vals.push(Value::String {
+            val: path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
+            span,
+        })
+    } else {
+        vals.push(Value::Error {
+            error: Box::new(ShellError::IOError("Could not get config directory".into())),
+        })
+    }
+
+    cols.push("config-path".to_string());
+    if let Some(path) = engine_state.get_config_path("config-path") {
+        let canon_config_path = canonicalize_path(engine_state, path);
+        vals.push(Value::String {
+            val: canon_config_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
+            span,
+        })
+    } else if let Some(mut path) = nu_path::config_dir() {
+        path.push("nushell");
+        path.push("config.nu");
+        vals.push(Value::String {
+            val: path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
+            span,
+        })
+    } else {
+        vals.push(Value::Error {
+            error: Box::new(ShellError::IOError("Could not get config directory".into())),
+        })
+    }
+
+    cols.push("env-path".to_string());
+    if let Some(path) = engine_state.get_config_path("env-path") {
+        let canon_env_path = canonicalize_path(engine_state, path);
+        vals.push(Value::String {
+            val: canon_env_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
+            span,
+        })
+    } else if let Some(mut path) = nu_path::config_dir() {
+        path.push("nushell");
+        path.push("env.nu");
+        vals.push(Value::String {
+            val: path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
+            span,
+        })
+    } else {
+        vals.push(Value::Error {
+            error: Box::new(ShellError::IOError(
+                "Could not find environment path".into(),
+            )),
+        })
+    }
+
+    cols.push("history-path".to_string());
+    if let Some(mut path) = nu_path::config_dir() {
+        path.push("nushell");
+        match engine_state.config.history_file_format {
+            nu_protocol::HistoryFileFormat::Sqlite => {
+                path.push("history.sqlite3");
+            }
+            nu_protocol::HistoryFileFormat::PlainText => {
+                path.push("history.txt");
+            }
+        }
+        let canon_hist_path = canonicalize_path(engine_state, &path);
+        vals.push(Value::String {
+            val: canon_hist_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
+            span,
+        })
+    } else {
+        vals.push(Value::Error {
+            error: Box::new(ShellError::IOError("Could not find history path".into())),
+        })
+    }
+
+    cols.push("loginshell-path".to_string());
+    if let Some(mut path) = nu_path::config_dir() {
+        path.push("nushell");
+        path.push("login.nu");
+        let canon_login_path = canonicalize_path(engine_state, &path);
+        vals.push(Value::String {
+            val: canon_login_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
+            span,
+        })
+    } else {
+        vals.push(Value::Error {
+            error: Box::new(ShellError::IOError(
+                "Could not find login shell path".into(),
+            )),
+        })
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "plugin")]
+    {
+        cols.push("plugin-path".to_string());
+
+        if let Some(path) = &engine_state.plugin_signatures {
+            let canon_plugin_path = canonicalize_path(engine_state, path);
+            vals.push(Value::String {
+                val: canon_plugin_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
+                span,
+            })
+        } else {
+            vals.push(Value::Error {
+                error: Box::new(ShellError::IOError(
+                    "Could not get plugin signature location".into(),
+                )),
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    cols.push("home-path".to_string());
+    if let Some(path) = nu_path::home_dir() {
+        let canon_home_path = canonicalize_path(engine_state, &path);
+        vals.push(Value::String {
+            val: canon_home_path.to_string_lossy().into(),
+            span,
+        })
+    } else {
+        vals.push(Value::Error {
+            error: Box::new(ShellError::IOError("Could not get home path".into())),
+        })
+    }
+
+    cols.push("temp-path".to_string());
+    let canon_temp_path = canonicalize_path(engine_state, &std::env::temp_dir());
+    vals.push(Value::String {
+        val: canon_temp_path.to_string_lossy().into(),
+        span,
+    });
+
+    cols.push("pid".to_string());
+    vals.push(Value::int(std::process::id().into(), span));
+
+    cols.push("os-info".to_string());
+    let sys = sysinfo::System::new();
+    let ver = match sys.kernel_version() {
+        Some(v) => v,
+        None => "unknown".into(),
+    };
+    let os_record = Value::Record {
+        cols: vec![
+            "name".into(),
+            "arch".into(),
+            "family".into(),
+            "kernel_version".into(),
+        ],
+        vals: vec![
+            Value::string(std::env::consts::OS, span),
+            Value::string(std::env::consts::ARCH, span),
+            Value::string(std::env::consts::FAMILY, span),
+            Value::string(ver, span),
+        ],
+        span,
+    };
+    vals.push(os_record);
+
+    cols.push("startup-time".to_string());
+    vals.push(Value::Duration {
+        val: engine_state.get_startup_time(),
+        span,
+    });
+
+    cols.push("is-interactive".to_string());
+    vals.push(Value::Bool {
+        val: engine_state.is_interactive,
+        span,
+    });
+
+    cols.push("is-login".to_string());
+    vals.push(Value::Bool {
+        val: engine_state.is_login,
+        span,
+    });
+
+    cols.push("current-exe".to_string());
+    if let Ok(current_exe) = std::env::current_exe() {
+        vals.push(Value::String {
+            val: current_exe.to_string_lossy().into(),
+            span,
+        });
+    } else {
+        vals.push(Value::Error {
+            error: Box::new(ShellError::IOError(
+                "Could not get current executable path".to_string(),
+            )),
+        })
+    }
+
+    Ok(Value::Record { cols, vals, span })
+}
+
 pub fn eval_variable(
     engine_state: &EngineState,
     stack: &Stack,
@@ -1210,14 +1422,7 @@ pub fn eval_variable(
 ) -> Result<Value, ShellError> {
     match var_id {
         // $nu
-        nu_protocol::NU_VARIABLE_ID => Ok(Value::LazyRecord {
-            val: Box::new(NuVariable {
-                engine_state: engine_state.clone(),
-                stack: stack.clone(),
-                span,
-            }),
-            span,
-        }),
+        nu_protocol::NU_VARIABLE_ID => eval_nu_variable(engine_state, span),
         ENV_VARIABLE_ID => {
             let env_vars = stack.get_env_vars(engine_state);
             let env_columns = env_vars.keys();
diff --git a/crates/nu-engine/src/lib.rs b/crates/nu-engine/src/lib.rs
index 657dc7763..2853f9b89 100644
--- a/crates/nu-engine/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-engine/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ pub mod documentation;
 pub mod env;
 mod eval;
 mod glob_from;
-mod nu_variable;
 pub mod scope;
 
 pub use call_ext::CallExt;
diff --git a/crates/nu-engine/src/nu_variable.rs b/crates/nu-engine/src/nu_variable.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 72c1f92a4..000000000
--- a/crates/nu-engine/src/nu_variable.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,267 +0,0 @@
-use crate::scope::create_scope;
-use core::fmt;
-use nu_protocol::{
-    engine::{EngineState, Stack},
-    LazyRecord, ShellError, Span, Value,
-};
-use std::path::PathBuf;
-use sysinfo::SystemExt;
-
-// NuVariable: a LazyRecord for the special $nu variable
-// $nu used to be a plain old Record, but LazyRecord lets us load different fields/columns lazily. This is important for performance;
-// collecting all the information in $nu is expensive and unnecessary if you just want a subset of the data
-
-// Note: NuVariable is not meaningfully serializable, this #[derive] is a lie to satisfy the type checker.
-// Make sure to collect() the record before serializing it
-#[derive(Clone)]
-pub struct NuVariable {
-    pub engine_state: EngineState,
-    pub stack: Stack,
-    pub span: Span,
-}
-
-impl<'a> LazyRecord<'a> for NuVariable {
-    fn column_names(&self) -> Vec<&'static str> {
-        let mut cols = vec![
-            "default-config-dir",
-            "config-path",
-            "env-path",
-            "history-path",
-            "loginshell-path",
-        ];
-
-        #[cfg(feature = "plugin")]
-        if self.engine_state.plugin_signatures.is_some() {
-            cols.push("plugin-path");
-        }
-
-        cols.push("scope");
-        cols.push("home-path");
-        cols.push("temp-path");
-        cols.push("pid");
-        cols.push("os-info");
-        cols.push("startup-time");
-
-        cols.push("is-interactive");
-        cols.push("is-login");
-
-        cols.push("current-exe");
-
-        cols
-    }
-
-    fn get_column_value(&self, column: &str) -> Result<Value, ShellError> {
-        let err = |message: &str| -> Result<Value, ShellError> {
-            Err(ShellError::LazyRecordAccessFailed {
-                message: message.into(),
-                column_name: column.to_string(),
-                span: self.span,
-            })
-        };
-
-        fn canonicalize_path(engine_state: &EngineState, path: &PathBuf) -> PathBuf {
-            let cwd = engine_state.current_work_dir();
-
-            if path.exists() {
-                match nu_path::canonicalize_with(path, cwd) {
-                    Ok(canon_path) => canon_path,
-                    Err(_) => path.clone(),
-                }
-            } else {
-                path.clone()
-            }
-        }
-
-        match column {
-            "default-config-dir" => {
-                if let Some(mut path) = nu_path::config_dir() {
-                    path.push("nushell");
-                    Ok(Value::String {
-                        val: path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
-                        span: self.span,
-                    })
-                } else {
-                    err("Could not get config directory")
-                }
-            }
-            "config-path" => {
-                if let Some(path) = self.engine_state.get_config_path("config-path") {
-                    let canon_config_path = canonicalize_path(&self.engine_state, path);
-                    Ok(Value::String {
-                        val: canon_config_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
-                        span: self.span,
-                    })
-                } else if let Some(mut path) = nu_path::config_dir() {
-                    path.push("nushell");
-                    path.push("config.nu");
-                    Ok(Value::String {
-                        val: path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
-                        span: self.span,
-                    })
-                } else {
-                    err("Could not get config directory")
-                }
-            }
-            "env-path" => {
-                if let Some(path) = self.engine_state.get_config_path("env-path") {
-                    let canon_env_path = canonicalize_path(&self.engine_state, path);
-                    Ok(Value::String {
-                        val: canon_env_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
-                        span: self.span,
-                    })
-                } else if let Some(mut path) = nu_path::config_dir() {
-                    path.push("nushell");
-                    path.push("env.nu");
-                    Ok(Value::String {
-                        val: path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
-                        span: self.span,
-                    })
-                } else {
-                    err("Could not get config directory")
-                }
-            }
-            "history-path" => {
-                if let Some(mut path) = nu_path::config_dir() {
-                    path.push("nushell");
-                    match self.engine_state.config.history_file_format {
-                        nu_protocol::HistoryFileFormat::Sqlite => {
-                            path.push("history.sqlite3");
-                        }
-                        nu_protocol::HistoryFileFormat::PlainText => {
-                            path.push("history.txt");
-                        }
-                    }
-                    let canon_hist_path = canonicalize_path(&self.engine_state, &path);
-                    Ok(Value::String {
-                        val: canon_hist_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
-                        span: self.span,
-                    })
-                } else {
-                    err("Could not get config directory")
-                }
-            }
-            "loginshell-path" => {
-                if let Some(mut path) = nu_path::config_dir() {
-                    path.push("nushell");
-                    path.push("login.nu");
-                    let canon_login_path = canonicalize_path(&self.engine_state, &path);
-                    Ok(Value::String {
-                        val: canon_login_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
-                        span: self.span,
-                    })
-                } else {
-                    err("Could not get config directory")
-                }
-            }
-            "plugin-path" => {
-                #[cfg(feature = "plugin")]
-                {
-                    if let Some(path) = &self.engine_state.plugin_signatures {
-                        let canon_plugin_path = canonicalize_path(&self.engine_state, path);
-                        Ok(Value::String {
-                            val: canon_plugin_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
-                            span: self.span,
-                        })
-                    } else {
-                        err("Could not get plugin signature location")
-                    }
-                }
-
-                #[cfg(not(feature = "plugin"))]
-                {
-                    err("Plugin feature not enabled")
-                }
-            }
-            "scope" => Ok(create_scope(&self.engine_state, &self.stack, self.span())?),
-            "home-path" => {
-                if let Some(path) = nu_path::home_dir() {
-                    let canon_home_path = canonicalize_path(&self.engine_state, &path);
-                    Ok(Value::String {
-                        val: canon_home_path.to_string_lossy().into(),
-                        span: self.span(),
-                    })
-                } else {
-                    err("Could not get home path")
-                }
-            }
-            "temp-path" => {
-                let canon_temp_path = canonicalize_path(&self.engine_state, &std::env::temp_dir());
-                Ok(Value::String {
-                    val: canon_temp_path.to_string_lossy().into(),
-                    span: self.span(),
-                })
-            }
-            "pid" => Ok(Value::int(std::process::id().into(), self.span())),
-            "os-info" => {
-                let sys = sysinfo::System::new();
-                let ver = match sys.kernel_version() {
-                    Some(v) => v,
-                    None => "unknown".into(),
-                };
-
-                let os_record = Value::Record {
-                    cols: vec![
-                        "name".into(),
-                        "arch".into(),
-                        "family".into(),
-                        "kernel_version".into(),
-                    ],
-                    vals: vec![
-                        Value::string(std::env::consts::OS, self.span()),
-                        Value::string(std::env::consts::ARCH, self.span()),
-                        Value::string(std::env::consts::FAMILY, self.span()),
-                        Value::string(ver, self.span()),
-                    ],
-                    span: self.span(),
-                };
-
-                Ok(os_record)
-            }
-            "is-interactive" => Ok(Value::Bool {
-                val: self.engine_state.is_interactive,
-                span: self.span,
-            }),
-            "is-login" => Ok(Value::Bool {
-                val: self.engine_state.is_login,
-                span: self.span,
-            }),
-            "startup-time" => Ok(Value::Duration {
-                val: self.engine_state.get_startup_time(),
-                span: self.span(),
-            }),
-            "current-exe" => {
-                let exe = std::env::current_exe().map_err(|_| {
-                    err("Could not get current executable path")
-                        .expect_err("did not get err from err function")
-                })?;
-
-                let canon_exe = canonicalize_path(&self.engine_state, &exe);
-
-                Ok(Value::String {
-                    val: canon_exe.to_string_lossy().into(),
-                    span: self.span(),
-                })
-            }
-            _ => err(&format!("Could not find column '{column}'")),
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn span(&self) -> Span {
-        self.span
-    }
-
-    fn clone_value(&self, span: Span) -> Value {
-        Value::LazyRecord {
-            val: Box::new((*self).clone()),
-            span,
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-// manually implemented so we can skip engine_state which doesn't implement Debug
-// FIXME: find a better way
-impl fmt::Debug for NuVariable {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
-        f.debug_struct("NuVariable").finish()
-    }
-}
diff --git a/crates/nu-engine/src/scope.rs b/crates/nu-engine/src/scope.rs
index 78e98ca86..af887a7a6 100644
--- a/crates/nu-engine/src/scope.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-engine/src/scope.rs
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ impl<'e, 's> ScopeData<'e, 's> {
             .collect::<Vec<(String, Value)>>();
 
         // Until we allow custom commands to have input and output types, let's just
-        // make them Type::Any Type::Any so they can show up in our $nu.scope.commands
+        // make them Type::Any Type::Any so they can show up in our `scope commands`
         // a little bit better. If sigs is empty, we're pretty sure that we're dealing
         // with a custom command.
         if sigs.is_empty() {
diff --git a/crates/nu-std/std/help.nu b/crates/nu-std/std/help.nu
index af3e9f236..a379901ac 100644
--- a/crates/nu-std/std/help.nu
+++ b/crates/nu-std/std/help.nu
@@ -74,11 +74,11 @@ def get-all-operators [] { return [
 ]}
 
 def "nu-complete list-aliases" [] {
-    $nu.scope.aliases | select name usage | rename value description
+    scope aliases | select name usage | rename value description
 }
 
 def "nu-complete list-modules" [] {
-    $nu.scope.modules | select name usage | rename value description
+    scope modules | select name usage | rename value description
 }
 
 def "nu-complete list-operators" [] {
@@ -91,11 +91,11 @@ def "nu-complete list-operators" [] {
 }
 
 def "nu-complete list-commands" [] {
-    $nu.scope.commands | select name usage | rename value description
+    scope commands | select name usage | rename value description
 }
 
 def "nu-complete list-externs" [] {
-    $nu.scope.commands | where is_extern | select name usage | rename value description
+    scope commands | where is_extern | select name usage | rename value description
 }
 
 def build-help-header [
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ export def modules [
     ...module: string@"nu-complete list-modules"  # the name of module to get help on
     --find (-f): string  # string to find in module names
 ] {
-    let modules = $nu.scope.modules
+    let modules = (scope modules)
 
     if not ($find | is-empty) {
         $modules | find $find --columns [name usage]
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ export def aliases [
     ...alias: string@"nu-complete list-aliases"  # the name of alias to get help on
     --find (-f): string  # string to find in alias names
 ] {
-    let aliases = ($nu.scope.aliases | sort-by name)
+    let aliases = (scope aliases | sort-by name)
 
     if not ($find | is-empty) {
         $aliases | find $find --columns [name usage]
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ export def externs [
     --find (-f): string  # string to find in extern names
 ] {
     let externs = (
-        $nu.scope.commands
+        scope commands
         | where is_extern
         | select name module_name usage
         | sort-by name
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ def build-command-page [command: record] {
         ]
     } else { [] })
 
-    let subcommands = ($nu.scope.commands | where name =~ $"^($command.name) " | select name usage)
+    let subcommands = (scope commands | where name =~ $"^($command.name) " | select name usage)
     let subcommands = (if not ($subcommands | is-empty) {[
         (build-help-header "Subcommands")
         ($subcommands | each {|subcommand |
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ export def commands [
     ...command: string@"nu-complete list-commands"  # the name of command to get help on
     --find (-f): string  # string to find in command names and usage
 ] {
-    let commands = ($nu.scope.commands | where not is_extern | reject is_extern | sort-by name)
+    let commands = (scope commands | where not is_extern | reject is_extern | sort-by name)
 
     if not ($find | is-empty) {
         # TODO: impl find for external commands
diff --git a/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu b/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu
index 523ae3321..613178844 100644
--- a/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu
+++ b/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ let-env config = {
             description_text: yellow
         }
         source: { |buffer, position|
-            $nu.scope.commands
+            scope commands
             | where name =~ $buffer
             | each { |it| {value: $it.name description: $it.usage} }
         }
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ let-env config = {
             description_text: yellow
         }
         source: { |buffer, position|
-            $nu.scope.vars
+            scope variables
             | where name =~ $buffer
             | sort-by name
             | each { |it| {value: $it.name description: $it.type} }
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ let-env config = {
             description_text: yellow
         }
         source: { |buffer, position|
-            $nu.scope.commands
+            scope commands
             | where name =~ $buffer
             | each { |it| {value: $it.name description: $it.usage} }
         }
diff --git a/src/tests/test_engine.rs b/src/tests/test_engine.rs
index b510e6526..7c88e57ef 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_engine.rs
+++ b/src/tests/test_engine.rs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ fn help_works_with_missing_requirements() -> TestResult {
 #[test]
 fn scope_variable() -> TestResult {
     run_test(
-        r#"let x = 3; $nu.scope.vars | where name == "$x" | get type.0"#,
+        r#"let x = 3; scope variables | where name == "$x" | get type.0"#,
         "int",
     )
 }
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ fn scope_command_defaults(#[case] var: &str, #[case] exp_result: &str) -> TestRe
     run_test(
         &format!(
             r#"def t1 [a:int b?:float=1.23 --flag1:string --flag2:float=4.56] {{ true }}; 
-            let rslt = ($nu.scope.commands | where name == 't1' | get signatures.0.any | where parameter_name == '{var}' | get parameter_default.0);
+            let rslt = (scope commands | where name == 't1' | get signatures.0.any | where parameter_name == '{var}' | get parameter_default.0);
             $"<($rslt)> ($rslt | describe)""#
         ),
         exp_result,
diff --git a/src/tests/test_stdlib.rs b/src/tests/test_stdlib.rs
index 3a7a4b226..3be252ef7 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_stdlib.rs
+++ b/src/tests/test_stdlib.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use crate::tests::{fail_test, run_test_std, TestResult};
 
 #[test]
 fn library_loaded() -> TestResult {
-    run_test_std("$nu.scope.modules | where name == 'std' | length", "1")
+    run_test_std("scope modules | where name == 'std' | length", "1")
 }
 
 #[test]
diff --git a/tests/scope/mod.rs b/tests/scope/mod.rs
index c21787ed0..f04429204 100644
--- a/tests/scope/mod.rs
+++ b/tests/scope/mod.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ fn scope_shows_alias() {
     let actual = nu!(
         cwd: ".",
         r#"alias xaz = echo alias1
-        $nu.scope.aliases | find xaz | length
+        scope aliases | find xaz | length
         "#
     );
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ fn scope_shows_command() {
     let actual = nu!(
         cwd: ".",
         r#"def xaz [] { echo xaz }
-        $nu.scope.commands | find xaz | length
+        scope commands | find xaz | length
         "#
     );
 
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ fn scope_doesnt_show_scoped_hidden_alias() {
         r#"alias xaz = echo alias1
         do {
             hide xaz
-            $nu.scope.aliases | find xaz | length
+            scope aliases | find xaz | length
         }
         "#
     );
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ fn scope_doesnt_show_hidden_alias() {
         cwd: ".",
         r#"alias xaz = echo alias1
         hide xaz
-        $nu.scope.aliases | find xaz | length
+        scope aliases | find xaz | length
         "#
     );
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ fn scope_doesnt_show_scoped_hidden_command() {
         r#"def xaz [] { echo xaz }
         do {
             hide xaz
-            $nu.scope.commands | find xaz | length
+            scope commands | find xaz | length
         }
         "#
     );
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ fn scope_doesnt_show_hidden_command() {
         cwd: ".",
         r#"def xaz [] { echo xaz }
         hide xaz
-        $nu.scope.commands | find xaz | length
+        scope commands | find xaz | length
         "#
     );
 
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ fn correctly_report_of_shadowed_alias() {
         r#"alias xaz = echo alias1
         def helper [] {
             alias xaz = echo alias2
-            $nu.scope.aliases
+            scope aliases
         }
         helper | where alias == xaz | get expansion.0"#
     );