diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index c57accd9a..b3ccd5c05 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ jobs:
       - run: make build
         env:
           GOPATH: ${{ runner.workspace }}
+      - name: Save binary
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v1
+        with:
+          name: gomplate
+          path: bin/gomplate
       - run: make test
         env:
           GOPATH: ${{ runner.workspace }}
@@ -41,6 +46,11 @@ jobs:
       - run: make build
         env:
           GOPATH: ${{ runner.workspace }}
+      - name: Save binary
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v1
+        with:
+          name: gomplate.exe
+          path: bin/gomplate.exe
       - run: make test
         env:
           GOPATH: ${{ runner.workspace }}
diff --git a/cmd/gomplate/config.go b/cmd/gomplate/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..022786181
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/gomplate/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,253 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/conv"
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/env"
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
+
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/afero"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+const (
+	defaultConfigFile = ".gomplate.yaml"
+)
+
+var fs = afero.NewOsFs()
+
+// loadConfig is intended to be called before command execution. It:
+// - creates a config.Config from the cobra flags
+// - creates a config.Config from the config file (if present)
+// - merges the two (flags take precedence)
+// - validates the final config
+// - converts the config to a *gomplate.Config for further use (TODO: eliminate this part)
+func loadConfig(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (*config.Config, error) {
+	ctx := cmd.Context()
+	flagConfig, err := cobraConfig(cmd, args)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	cfg, err := readConfigFile(cmd)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if cfg == nil {
+		cfg = flagConfig
+	} else {
+		cfg = cfg.MergeFrom(flagConfig)
+	}
+
+	cfg, err = applyEnvVars(ctx, cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// reset defaults before validation
+	cfg.ApplyDefaults()
+
+	err = cfg.Validate()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to validate merged config: %w\n%+v", err, cfg)
+	}
+	return cfg, nil
+}
+
+func pickConfigFile(cmd *cobra.Command) (cfgFile string, required bool) {
+	cfgFile = defaultConfigFile
+	if c := env.Getenv("GOMPLATE_CONFIG"); c != "" {
+		cfgFile = c
+		required = true
+	}
+	if cmd.Flags().Changed("config") && cmd.Flag("config").Value.String() != "" {
+		// Use config file from the flag if specified
+		cfgFile = cmd.Flag("config").Value.String()
+		required = true
+	}
+	return cfgFile, required
+}
+
+func readConfigFile(cmd *cobra.Command) (cfg *config.Config, err error) {
+	ctx := cmd.Context()
+	if ctx == nil {
+		ctx = context.Background()
+	}
+	log := zerolog.Ctx(ctx)
+
+	cfgFile, configRequired := pickConfigFile(cmd)
+
+	f, err := fs.Open(cfgFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		if configRequired {
+			return cfg, fmt.Errorf("config file requested, but couldn't be opened: %w", err)
+		}
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	cfg, err = config.Parse(f)
+	if err != nil && configRequired {
+		return cfg, fmt.Errorf("config file requested, but couldn't be parsed: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	log.Debug().Str("cfgFile", cfgFile).Msg("using config file")
+
+	return cfg, err
+}
+
+// cobraConfig - initialize a config from the commandline options
+func cobraConfig(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (cfg *config.Config, err error) {
+	cfg = &config.Config{}
+	cfg.InputFiles, err = getStringSlice(cmd, "file")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cfg.Input, err = getString(cmd, "in")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cfg.InputDir, err = getString(cmd, "input-dir")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	cfg.ExcludeGlob, err = getStringSlice(cmd, "exclude")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	includesFlag, err := getStringSlice(cmd, "include")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	// support --include
+	cfg.ExcludeGlob = processIncludes(includesFlag, cfg.ExcludeGlob)
+
+	cfg.OutputFiles, err = getStringSlice(cmd, "out")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cfg.Templates, err = getStringSlice(cmd, "template")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cfg.OutputDir, err = getString(cmd, "output-dir")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cfg.OutputMap, err = getString(cmd, "output-map")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cfg.OutMode, err = getString(cmd, "chmod")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if len(args) > 0 {
+		cfg.PostExec = args
+	}
+
+	cfg.ExecPipe, err = getBool(cmd, "exec-pipe")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	cfg.LDelim, err = getString(cmd, "left-delim")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cfg.RDelim, err = getString(cmd, "right-delim")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	ds, err := getStringSlice(cmd, "datasource")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cx, err := getStringSlice(cmd, "context")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	hdr, err := getStringSlice(cmd, "datasource-header")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	err = cfg.ParseDataSourceFlags(ds, cx, hdr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	pl, err := getStringSlice(cmd, "plugin")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	err = cfg.ParsePluginFlags(pl)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return cfg, nil
+}
+
+func getStringSlice(cmd *cobra.Command, flag string) (s []string, err error) {
+	if cmd.Flag(flag) != nil && cmd.Flag(flag).Changed {
+		s, err = cmd.Flags().GetStringSlice(flag)
+	}
+	return s, err
+}
+
+func getString(cmd *cobra.Command, flag string) (s string, err error) {
+	if cmd.Flag(flag) != nil && cmd.Flag(flag).Changed {
+		s, err = cmd.Flags().GetString(flag)
+	}
+	return s, err
+}
+
+func getBool(cmd *cobra.Command, flag string) (b bool, err error) {
+	if cmd.Flag(flag) != nil && cmd.Flag(flag).Changed {
+		b, err = cmd.Flags().GetBool(flag)
+	}
+	return b, err
+}
+
+// process --include flags - these are analogous to specifying --exclude '*',
+// then the inverse of the --include options.
+func processIncludes(includes, excludes []string) []string {
+	if len(includes) == 0 && len(excludes) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	out := []string{}
+	// if any --includes are set, we start by excluding everything
+	if len(includes) > 0 {
+		out = make([]string, 1+len(includes))
+		out[0] = "*"
+	}
+	for i, include := range includes {
+		// includes are just the opposite of an exclude
+		out[i+1] = "!" + include
+	}
+	out = append(out, excludes...)
+	return out
+}
+
+func applyEnvVars(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config) (*config.Config, error) {
+	if to := env.Getenv("GOMPLATE_PLUGIN_TIMEOUT"); cfg.PluginTimeout == 0 && to != "" {
+		t, err := time.ParseDuration(to)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("GOMPLATE_PLUGIN_TIMEOUT set to invalid value %q: %w", to, err)
+		}
+		cfg.PluginTimeout = t
+	}
+
+	if !cfg.SuppressEmpty && conv.ToBool(env.Getenv("GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY", "false")) {
+		cfg.SuppressEmpty = true
+	}
+
+	return cfg, nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/gomplate/config_test.go b/cmd/gomplate/config_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dc05dfbbb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/gomplate/config_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,258 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/afero"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestReadConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
+	fs = afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	defer func() { fs = afero.NewOsFs() }()
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{}
+
+	_, err := readConfigFile(cmd)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	cmd.Flags().String("config", defaultConfigFile, "foo")
+
+	_, err = readConfigFile(cmd)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	cmd.ParseFlags([]string{"--config", "config.file"})
+
+	_, err = readConfigFile(cmd)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+
+	cmd = &cobra.Command{}
+	cmd.Flags().String("config", defaultConfigFile, "foo")
+
+	f, err := fs.Create(defaultConfigFile)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	f.WriteString("")
+
+	cfg, err := readConfigFile(cmd)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, &config.Config{}, cfg)
+
+	cmd.ParseFlags([]string{"--config", "config.yaml"})
+
+	f, err = fs.Create("config.yaml")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	f.WriteString("in: hello world\n")
+
+	cfg, err = readConfigFile(cmd)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, &config.Config{Input: "hello world"}, cfg)
+
+	f.WriteString("in: ")
+
+	_, err = readConfigFile(cmd)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestLoadConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	fs = afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	defer func() { fs = afero.NewOsFs() }()
+
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{}
+	cmd.Args = optionalExecArgs
+	cmd.Flags().StringSlice("file", []string{"-"}, "...")
+	cmd.Flags().StringSlice("out", []string{"-"}, "...")
+	cmd.Flags().String("in", ".", "...")
+	cmd.Flags().String("output-dir", ".", "...")
+	cmd.Flags().String("left-delim", "{{", "...")
+	cmd.Flags().String("right-delim", "}}", "...")
+	cmd.Flags().Bool("exec-pipe", false, "...")
+	cmd.ParseFlags(nil)
+
+	out, err := loadConfig(cmd, cmd.Flags().Args())
+	expected := &config.Config{
+		InputFiles:    []string{"-"},
+		OutputFiles:   []string{"-"},
+		LDelim:        "{{",
+		RDelim:        "}}",
+		PostExecInput: os.Stdin,
+		OutWriter:     os.Stdout,
+		PluginTimeout: 5 * time.Second,
+	}
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, out)
+
+	cmd.ParseFlags([]string{"--in", "foo"})
+	out, err = loadConfig(cmd, cmd.Flags().Args())
+	expected = &config.Config{
+		Input:         "foo",
+		OutputFiles:   []string{"-"},
+		LDelim:        "{{",
+		RDelim:        "}}",
+		PostExecInput: os.Stdin,
+		OutWriter:     os.Stdout,
+		PluginTimeout: 5 * time.Second,
+	}
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, out)
+
+	cmd.ParseFlags([]string{"--in", "foo", "--exec-pipe", "--", "tr", "[a-z]", "[A-Z]"})
+	out, err = loadConfig(cmd, cmd.Flags().Args())
+	expected = &config.Config{
+		Input:         "foo",
+		LDelim:        "{{",
+		RDelim:        "}}",
+		ExecPipe:      true,
+		PostExec:      []string{"tr", "[a-z]", "[A-Z]"},
+		PostExecInput: out.PostExecInput,
+		OutWriter:     out.PostExecInput,
+		OutputFiles:   []string{"-"},
+		PluginTimeout: 5 * time.Second,
+	}
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, out)
+}
+
+func TestCobraConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{}
+	cmd.Flags().StringSlice("file", []string{"-"}, "...")
+	cmd.Flags().StringSlice("out", []string{"-"}, "...")
+	cmd.Flags().String("output-dir", ".", "...")
+	cmd.Flags().String("left-delim", "{{", "...")
+	cmd.Flags().String("right-delim", "}}", "...")
+	cmd.ParseFlags(nil)
+
+	cfg, err := cobraConfig(cmd, cmd.Flags().Args())
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, &config.Config{}, cfg)
+
+	cmd.ParseFlags([]string{"--file", "in", "--", "echo", "foo"})
+
+	cfg, err = cobraConfig(cmd, cmd.Flags().Args())
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, &config.Config{
+		InputFiles: []string{"in"},
+		PostExec:   []string{"echo", "foo"},
+	}, cfg)
+}
+
+func TestProcessIncludes(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	data := []struct {
+		inc, exc, expected []string
+	}{
+		{nil, nil, nil},
+		{[]string{}, []string{}, nil},
+		{nil, []string{"*.foo"}, []string{"*.foo"}},
+		{[]string{"*.bar"}, []string{"a*.bar"}, []string{"*", "!*.bar", "a*.bar"}},
+		{[]string{"*.bar"}, nil, []string{"*", "!*.bar"}},
+	}
+
+	for _, d := range data {
+		assert.EqualValues(t, d.expected, processIncludes(d.inc, d.exc))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPickConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{}
+	cmd.Flags().String("config", defaultConfigFile, "foo")
+
+	cf, req := pickConfigFile(cmd)
+	assert.False(t, req)
+	assert.Equal(t, defaultConfigFile, cf)
+
+	os.Setenv("GOMPLATE_CONFIG", "foo.yaml")
+	defer os.Unsetenv("GOMPLATE_CONFIG")
+	cf, req = pickConfigFile(cmd)
+	assert.True(t, req)
+	assert.Equal(t, "foo.yaml", cf)
+
+	cmd.ParseFlags([]string{"--config", "config.file"})
+	cf, req = pickConfigFile(cmd)
+	assert.True(t, req)
+	assert.Equal(t, "config.file", cf)
+
+	os.Setenv("GOMPLATE_CONFIG", "ignored.yaml")
+	cf, req = pickConfigFile(cmd)
+	assert.True(t, req)
+	assert.Equal(t, "config.file", cf)
+}
+
+func TestApplyEnvVars_PluginTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("GOMPLATE_PLUGIN_TIMEOUT", "bogus")
+
+	ctx := context.TODO()
+	cfg := &config.Config{}
+	_, err := applyEnvVars(ctx, cfg)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+
+	cfg = &config.Config{
+		PluginTimeout: 2 * time.Second,
+	}
+	expected := &config.Config{
+		PluginTimeout: 2 * time.Second,
+	}
+	actual, err := applyEnvVars(ctx, cfg)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, actual)
+
+	os.Setenv("GOMPLATE_PLUGIN_TIMEOUT", "2s")
+	defer os.Unsetenv("GOMPLATE_PLUGIN_TIMEOUT")
+
+	cfg = &config.Config{}
+	actual, err = applyEnvVars(ctx, cfg)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, actual)
+
+	cfg = &config.Config{
+		PluginTimeout: 100 * time.Millisecond,
+	}
+	expected = &config.Config{
+		PluginTimeout: 100 * time.Millisecond,
+	}
+	actual, err = applyEnvVars(ctx, cfg)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, actual)
+
+}
+
+func TestApplyEnvVars_SuppressEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY", "bogus")
+	defer os.Unsetenv("GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY")
+
+	ctx := context.TODO()
+	cfg := &config.Config{}
+	expected := &config.Config{
+		SuppressEmpty: false,
+	}
+	actual, err := applyEnvVars(ctx, cfg)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, actual)
+
+	os.Setenv("GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY", "true")
+
+	cfg = &config.Config{}
+	expected = &config.Config{
+		SuppressEmpty: true,
+	}
+	actual, err = applyEnvVars(ctx, cfg)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, actual)
+
+	os.Setenv("GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY", "false")
+
+	cfg = &config.Config{
+		SuppressEmpty: true,
+	}
+	expected = &config.Config{
+		SuppressEmpty: true,
+	}
+	actual, err = applyEnvVars(ctx, cfg)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, actual)
+}
diff --git a/cmd/gomplate/logger.go b/cmd/gomplate/logger.go
index d40281a5f..c58dc31dc 100644
--- a/cmd/gomplate/logger.go
+++ b/cmd/gomplate/logger.go
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 func initLogger(ctx context.Context) context.Context {
-	zerolog.SetGlobalLevel(zerolog.InfoLevel)
+	// default to warn level
+	zerolog.SetGlobalLevel(zerolog.WarnLevel)
 	zerolog.DurationFieldUnit = time.Second
 
 	stdlogger := log.With().Bool("stdlog", true).Logger()
diff --git a/cmd/gomplate/main.go b/cmd/gomplate/main.go
index 62c85fdbf..110a05035 100644
--- a/cmd/gomplate/main.go
+++ b/cmd/gomplate/main.go
@@ -5,33 +5,26 @@ The gomplate command
 package main
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"os/signal"
 
 	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3"
 	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/env"
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
 	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/version"
 
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
-	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
-)
 
-var (
-	verbose  bool
-	execPipe bool
-	opts     gomplate.Config
-	includes []string
-
-	postRunInput *bytes.Buffer
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
 // postRunExec - if templating succeeds, the command following a '--' will be executed
-func postRunExec(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+func postRunExec(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config) error {
+	args := cfg.PostExec
 	if len(args) > 0 {
-		ctx := cmd.Context()
 		log := zerolog.Ctx(ctx)
 		log.Debug().Strs("args", args).Msg("running post-exec command")
 
@@ -39,11 +32,7 @@ func postRunExec(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		args = args[1:]
 		// nolint: gosec
 		c := exec.CommandContext(ctx, name, args...)
-		if execPipe {
-			c.Stdin = postRunInput
-		} else {
-			c.Stdin = os.Stdin
-		}
+		c.Stdin = cfg.PostExecInput
 		c.Stderr = os.Stderr
 		c.Stdout = os.Stdout
 
@@ -73,28 +62,10 @@ func optionalExecArgs(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	return cobra.NoArgs(cmd, args)
 }
 
-// process --include flags - these are analogous to specifying --exclude '*',
-// then the inverse of the --include options.
-func processIncludes(includes, excludes []string) []string {
-	out := []string{}
-	// if any --includes are set, we start by excluding everything
-	if len(includes) > 0 {
-		out = make([]string, 1+len(includes))
-		out[0] = "*"
-	}
-	for i, include := range includes {
-		// includes are just the opposite of an exclude
-		out[i+1] = "!" + include
-	}
-	out = append(out, excludes...)
-	return out
-}
-
 func newGomplateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	rootCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "gomplate",
 		Short:   "Process text files with Go templates",
-		PreRunE: validateOpts,
 		Version: version.Version,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			if v, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("verbose"); v {
@@ -103,27 +74,33 @@ func newGomplateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			ctx := cmd.Context()
 			log := zerolog.Ctx(ctx)
 
-			log.Debug().Msgf("%s version %s, build %s\nconfig is:\n%s",
-				cmd.Name(), version.Version, version.GitCommit,
-				&opts)
+			cfg, err := loadConfig(cmd, args)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 
-			// support --include
-			opts.ExcludeGlob = processIncludes(includes, opts.ExcludeGlob)
+			log.Debug().Msgf("starting %s", cmd.Name())
+			log.Debug().
+				Str("version", version.Version).
+				Str("build", version.GitCommit).
+				Msgf("config is:\n%v", cfg)
 
-			if execPipe {
-				postRunInput = &bytes.Buffer{}
-				opts.Out = postRunInput
-			}
-			err := gomplate.RunTemplates(&opts)
+			err = gomplate.RunTemplatesWithContext(ctx, cfg)
 			cmd.SilenceErrors = true
 			cmd.SilenceUsage = true
 
-			log.Debug().Msgf("rendered %d template(s) with %d error(s) in %v",
-				gomplate.Metrics.TemplatesProcessed, gomplate.Metrics.Errors, gomplate.Metrics.TotalRenderDuration)
-			return err
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "\n")
+			log.Debug().Int("templatesRendered", gomplate.Metrics.TemplatesProcessed).
+				Int("errors", gomplate.Metrics.Errors).
+				Dur("duration", gomplate.Metrics.TotalRenderDuration).
+				Msg("completed rendering")
+
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return postRunExec(ctx, cfg)
 		},
-		PostRunE: postRunExec,
-		Args:     optionalExecArgs,
+		Args: optionalExecArgs,
 	}
 	return rootCmd
 }
@@ -131,34 +108,36 @@ func newGomplateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 func initFlags(command *cobra.Command) {
 	command.Flags().SortFlags = false
 
-	command.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&opts.DataSources, "datasource", "d", nil, "`datasource` in alias=URL form. Specify multiple times to add multiple sources.")
-	command.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&opts.DataSourceHeaders, "datasource-header", "H", nil, "HTTP `header` field in 'alias=Name: value' form to be provided on HTTP-based data sources. Multiples can be set.")
+	command.Flags().StringSliceP("datasource", "d", nil, "`datasource` in alias=URL form. Specify multiple times to add multiple sources.")
+	command.Flags().StringSliceP("datasource-header", "H", nil, "HTTP `header` field in 'alias=Name: value' form to be provided on HTTP-based data sources. Multiples can be set.")
 
-	command.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&opts.Contexts, "context", "c", nil, "pre-load a `datasource` into the context, in alias=URL form. Use the special alias `.` to set the root context.")
+	command.Flags().StringSliceP("context", "c", nil, "pre-load a `datasource` into the context, in alias=URL form. Use the special alias `.` to set the root context.")
 
-	command.Flags().StringArrayVar(&opts.Plugins, "plugin", nil, "plug in an external command as a function in name=path form. Can be specified multiple times")
+	command.Flags().StringSlice("plugin", nil, "plug in an external command as a function in name=path form. Can be specified multiple times")
 
-	command.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&opts.InputFiles, "file", "f", []string{"-"}, "Template `file` to process. Omit to use standard input, or use --in or --input-dir")
-	command.Flags().StringVarP(&opts.Input, "in", "i", "", "Template `string` to process (alternative to --file and --input-dir)")
-	command.Flags().StringVar(&opts.InputDir, "input-dir", "", "`directory` which is examined recursively for templates (alternative to --file and --in)")
+	command.Flags().StringSliceP("file", "f", []string{"-"}, "Template `file` to process. Omit to use standard input, or use --in or --input-dir")
+	command.Flags().StringP("in", "i", "", "Template `string` to process (alternative to --file and --input-dir)")
+	command.Flags().String("input-dir", "", "`directory` which is examined recursively for templates (alternative to --file and --in)")
 
-	command.Flags().StringArrayVar(&opts.ExcludeGlob, "exclude", []string{}, "glob of files to not parse")
-	command.Flags().StringArrayVar(&includes, "include", []string{}, "glob of files to parse")
+	command.Flags().StringSlice("exclude", []string{}, "glob of files to not parse")
+	command.Flags().StringSlice("include", []string{}, "glob of files to parse")
 
-	command.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&opts.OutputFiles, "out", "o", []string{"-"}, "output `file` name. Omit to use standard output.")
-	command.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&opts.Templates, "template", "t", []string{}, "Additional template file(s)")
-	command.Flags().StringVar(&opts.OutputDir, "output-dir", ".", "`directory` to store the processed templates. Only used for --input-dir")
-	command.Flags().StringVar(&opts.OutputMap, "output-map", "", "Template `string` to map the input file to an output path")
-	command.Flags().StringVar(&opts.OutMode, "chmod", "", "set the mode for output file(s). Omit to inherit from input file(s)")
+	command.Flags().StringSliceP("out", "o", []string{"-"}, "output `file` name. Omit to use standard output.")
+	command.Flags().StringSliceP("template", "t", []string{}, "Additional template file(s)")
+	command.Flags().String("output-dir", ".", "`directory` to store the processed templates. Only used for --input-dir")
+	command.Flags().String("output-map", "", "Template `string` to map the input file to an output path")
+	command.Flags().String("chmod", "", "set the mode for output file(s). Omit to inherit from input file(s)")
 
-	command.Flags().BoolVar(&execPipe, "exec-pipe", false, "pipe the output to the post-run exec command")
+	command.Flags().Bool("exec-pipe", false, "pipe the output to the post-run exec command")
 
 	ldDefault := env.Getenv("GOMPLATE_LEFT_DELIM", "{{")
 	rdDefault := env.Getenv("GOMPLATE_RIGHT_DELIM", "}}")
-	command.Flags().StringVar(&opts.LDelim, "left-delim", ldDefault, "override the default left-`delimiter` [$GOMPLATE_LEFT_DELIM]")
-	command.Flags().StringVar(&opts.RDelim, "right-delim", rdDefault, "override the default right-`delimiter` [$GOMPLATE_RIGHT_DELIM]")
+	command.Flags().String("left-delim", ldDefault, "override the default left-`delimiter` [$GOMPLATE_LEFT_DELIM]")
+	command.Flags().String("right-delim", rdDefault, "override the default right-`delimiter` [$GOMPLATE_RIGHT_DELIM]")
+
+	command.Flags().BoolP("verbose", "V", false, "output extra information about what gomplate is doing")
 
-	command.Flags().BoolVarP(&verbose, "verbose", "V", false, "output extra information about what gomplate is doing")
+	command.Flags().String("config", defaultConfigFile, "config file (overridden by commandline flags)")
 }
 
 func main() {
diff --git a/cmd/gomplate/main_test.go b/cmd/gomplate/main_test.go
index e0d74e9d3..06ab7d0f9 100644
--- a/cmd/gomplate/main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/gomplate/main_test.go
@@ -1,23 +1 @@
 package main
-
-import (
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-)
-
-func TestProcessIncludes(t *testing.T) {
-	data := []struct {
-		inc, exc, expected []string
-	}{
-		{nil, nil, []string{}},
-		{[]string{}, []string{}, []string{}},
-		{nil, []string{"*.foo"}, []string{"*.foo"}},
-		{[]string{"*.bar"}, []string{"a*.bar"}, []string{"*", "!*.bar", "a*.bar"}},
-		{[]string{"*.bar"}, nil, []string{"*", "!*.bar"}},
-	}
-
-	for _, d := range data {
-		assert.EqualValues(t, d.expected, processIncludes(d.inc, d.exc))
-	}
-}
diff --git a/cmd/gomplate/validate.go b/cmd/gomplate/validate.go
deleted file mode 100644
index f4c73133f..000000000
--- a/cmd/gomplate/validate.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,63 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"strings"
-
-	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
-)
-
-func notTogether(cmd *cobra.Command, flags ...string) error {
-	found := ""
-	for _, flag := range flags {
-		f := cmd.Flag(flag)
-		if f != nil && f.Changed {
-			if found != "" {
-				a := make([]string, len(flags))
-				for i := range a {
-					a[i] = "--" + flags[i]
-				}
-				return fmt.Errorf("only one of these flags is supported at a time: %s", strings.Join(a, ", "))
-			}
-			found = flag
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func mustTogether(cmd *cobra.Command, left, right string) error {
-	l := cmd.Flag(left)
-	if l != nil && l.Changed {
-		r := cmd.Flag(right)
-		if r != nil && !r.Changed {
-			return fmt.Errorf("--%s must be set when --%s is set", right, left)
-		}
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-func validateOpts(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
-	err = notTogether(cmd, "in", "file", "input-dir")
-	if err == nil {
-		err = notTogether(cmd, "out", "output-dir", "output-map", "exec-pipe")
-	}
-
-	if err == nil && len(opts.InputFiles) != len(opts.OutputFiles) {
-		err = fmt.Errorf("must provide same number of --out (%d) as --file (%d) options", len(opts.OutputFiles), len(opts.InputFiles))
-	}
-
-	if err == nil && cmd.Flag("exec-pipe").Changed && len(args) == 0 {
-		err = fmt.Errorf("--exec-pipe may only be used with a post-exec command after --")
-	}
-
-	if err == nil {
-		err = mustTogether(cmd, "output-dir", "input-dir")
-	}
-
-	if err == nil {
-		err = mustTogether(cmd, "output-map", "input-dir")
-	}
-
-	return err
-}
diff --git a/cmd/gomplate/validate_test.go b/cmd/gomplate/validate_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 54f4ba017..000000000
--- a/cmd/gomplate/validate_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,95 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-)
-
-func TestValidateOpts(t *testing.T) {
-	err := validateOpts(parseFlags())
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags("-i=foo", "-f", "bar"))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags("-i=foo", "-o=bar", "-o=baz"))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags("-i=foo", "--input-dir=baz"))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags("--input-dir=foo", "-f=bar"))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags("--output-dir=foo", "-o=bar"))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags("--output-dir=foo"))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags("--output-map", "bar"))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags("-o", "foo", "--output-map", "bar"))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags(
-		"--input-dir", "in",
-		"--output-dir", "foo",
-		"--output-map", "bar",
-	))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags("--exec-pipe"))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags("--exec-pipe", "--"))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags(
-		"--exec-pipe",
-		"--", "echo", "foo",
-	))
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags(
-		"--exec-pipe",
-		"--out", "foo",
-		"--", "echo",
-	))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags(
-		"--input-dir", "in",
-		"--exec-pipe",
-		"--output-dir", "foo",
-		"--", "echo",
-	))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags(
-		"--input-dir", "in",
-		"--exec-pipe",
-		"--output-map", "foo",
-		"--", "echo",
-	))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-
-	err = validateOpts(parseFlags(
-		"--input-dir", "in",
-		"--output-map", "bar",
-	))
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-}
-
-func parseFlags(flags ...string) (cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	cmd = &cobra.Command{}
-	initFlags(cmd)
-	err := cmd.ParseFlags(flags)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	return cmd, cmd.Flags().Args()
-}
diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
index 18bd5546a..913370a50 100644
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ package gomplate
 
 import (
 	"io"
-	"os"
-	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
 )
 
 // Config - values necessary for rendering templates with gomplate.
@@ -52,20 +52,6 @@ func (o *Config) defaults() *Config {
 	return o
 }
 
-// parse an os.FileMode out of the string, and let us know if it's an override or not...
-func (o *Config) getMode() (os.FileMode, bool, error) {
-	modeOverride := o.OutMode != ""
-	m, err := strconv.ParseUint("0"+o.OutMode, 8, 32)
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, false, err
-	}
-	mode := os.FileMode(m)
-	if mode == 0 && o.Input != "" {
-		mode = 0644
-	}
-	return mode, modeOverride, nil
-}
-
 // nolint: gocyclo
 func (o *Config) String() string {
 	o.defaults()
@@ -124,3 +110,29 @@ func (o *Config) String() string {
 	}
 	return c
 }
+
+func (o *Config) toNewConfig() (*config.Config, error) {
+	cfg := &config.Config{
+		Input:       o.Input,
+		InputFiles:  o.InputFiles,
+		InputDir:    o.InputDir,
+		ExcludeGlob: o.ExcludeGlob,
+		OutputFiles: o.OutputFiles,
+		OutputDir:   o.OutputDir,
+		OutputMap:   o.OutputMap,
+		OutMode:     o.OutMode,
+		LDelim:      o.LDelim,
+		RDelim:      o.RDelim,
+		Templates:   o.Templates,
+		OutWriter:   o.Out,
+	}
+	err := cfg.ParsePluginFlags(o.Plugins)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	err = cfg.ParseDataSourceFlags(o.DataSources, o.Contexts, o.DataSourceHeaders)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return cfg, nil
+}
diff --git a/config_test.go b/config_test.go
index 91c2b1a9f..0ddefc3e8 100644
--- a/config_test.go
+++ b/config_test.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package gomplate
 
 import (
-	"os"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -47,27 +46,3 @@ output: {{ .in }}`
 
 	assert.Equal(t, expected, c.String())
 }
-
-func TestGetMode(t *testing.T) {
-	c := &Config{}
-	m, o, err := c.getMode()
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, os.FileMode(0), m)
-	assert.False(t, o)
-
-	c = &Config{OutMode: "755"}
-	m, o, err = c.getMode()
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, os.FileMode(0755), m)
-	assert.True(t, o)
-
-	c = &Config{OutMode: "0755"}
-	m, o, err = c.getMode()
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, os.FileMode(0755), m)
-	assert.True(t, o)
-
-	c = &Config{OutMode: "foo"}
-	_, _, err = c.getMode()
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-}
diff --git a/context.go b/context.go
index ab12d404b..a2b8b0026 100644
--- a/context.go
+++ b/context.go
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 package gomplate
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/data"
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
 )
 
 // context for templates
@@ -20,11 +22,10 @@ func (c *tmplctx) Env() map[string]string {
 	return env
 }
 
-func createTmplContext(contexts []string, d *data.Data) (interface{}, error) {
+func createTmplContext(ctx context.Context, contexts config.DSources, d *data.Data) (interface{}, error) {
 	var err error
 	tctx := &tmplctx{}
-	for _, c := range contexts {
-		a := parseAlias(c)
+	for a := range contexts {
 		if a == "." {
 			return d.Datasource(a)
 		}
@@ -35,13 +36,3 @@ func createTmplContext(contexts []string, d *data.Data) (interface{}, error) {
 	}
 	return tctx, nil
 }
-
-func parseAlias(arg string) string {
-	parts := strings.SplitN(arg, "=", 2)
-	switch len(parts) {
-	case 1:
-		return strings.SplitN(parts[0], ".", 2)[0]
-	default:
-		return parts[0]
-	}
-}
diff --git a/context_test.go b/context_test.go
index ab2737497..94f2b51b4 100644
--- a/context_test.go
+++ b/context_test.go
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 package gomplate
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/data"
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
@@ -24,7 +26,8 @@ func TestEnvGetsUpdatedEnvironment(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCreateContext(t *testing.T) {
-	c, err := createTmplContext(nil, nil)
+	ctx := context.TODO()
+	c, err := createTmplContext(ctx, nil, nil)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Empty(t, c)
 
@@ -40,31 +43,18 @@ func TestCreateContext(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	os.Setenv("foo", "foo: bar")
 	defer os.Unsetenv("foo")
-	c, err = createTmplContext([]string{"foo=" + fooURL}, d)
+	c, err = createTmplContext(ctx, map[string]config.DSConfig{"foo": {URL: uf}}, d)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.IsType(t, &tmplctx{}, c)
-	ctx := c.(*tmplctx)
-	ds := ((*ctx)["foo"]).(map[string]interface{})
+	tctx := c.(*tmplctx)
+	ds := ((*tctx)["foo"]).(map[string]interface{})
 	assert.Equal(t, "bar", ds["foo"])
 
 	os.Setenv("bar", "bar: baz")
 	defer os.Unsetenv("bar")
-	c, err = createTmplContext([]string{".=" + barURL}, d)
+	c, err = createTmplContext(ctx, map[string]config.DSConfig{".": {URL: ub}}, d)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.IsType(t, map[string]interface{}{}, c)
 	ds = c.(map[string]interface{})
 	assert.Equal(t, "baz", ds["bar"])
 }
-
-func TestParseAlias(t *testing.T) {
-	testdata := map[string]string{
-		"":        "",
-		"foo":     "foo",
-		"foo.bar": "foo",
-		"a=b":     "a",
-		".=foo":   ".",
-	}
-	for k, v := range testdata {
-		assert.Equal(t, v, parseAlias(k))
-	}
-}
diff --git a/data/datasource.go b/data/datasource.go
index 1fcccf98f..456b5a12f 100644
--- a/data/datasource.go
+++ b/data/datasource.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
 	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/libkv"
 	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/vault"
 )
@@ -125,6 +126,29 @@ func NewData(datasourceArgs, headerArgs []string) (*Data, error) {
 	return data, nil
 }
 
+// FromConfig - internal use only!
+func FromConfig(cfg *config.Config) *Data {
+	sources := map[string]*Source{}
+	for alias, d := range cfg.DataSources {
+		sources[alias] = &Source{
+			Alias:  alias,
+			URL:    d.URL,
+			header: d.Header,
+		}
+	}
+	for alias, d := range cfg.Context {
+		sources[alias] = &Source{
+			Alias:  alias,
+			URL:    d.URL,
+			header: d.Header,
+		}
+	}
+	return &Data{
+		Sources:      sources,
+		extraHeaders: cfg.ExtraHeaders,
+	}
+}
+
 // Source - a data source
 type Source struct {
 	Alias             string
diff --git a/data/datasource_test.go b/data/datasource_test.go
index cdef39451..6752d9e5e 100644
--- a/data/datasource_test.go
+++ b/data/datasource_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package data
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -455,3 +457,70 @@ func TestAbsFileURL(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, u)
 }
+
+func TestFromConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := &config.Config{}
+	expected := &Data{
+		Sources: map[string]*Source{},
+	}
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, FromConfig(cfg))
+
+	cfg = &config.Config{
+		DataSources: map[string]config.DSConfig{
+			"foo": {
+				URL: mustParseURL("http://example.com"),
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	expected = &Data{
+		Sources: map[string]*Source{
+			"foo": {
+				Alias: "foo",
+				URL:   mustParseURL("http://example.com"),
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, FromConfig(cfg))
+
+	cfg = &config.Config{
+		DataSources: map[string]config.DSConfig{
+			"foo": {
+				URL: mustParseURL("http://foo.com"),
+			},
+		},
+		Context: map[string]config.DSConfig{
+			"bar": {
+				URL: mustParseURL("http://bar.com"),
+				Header: http.Header{
+					"Foo": []string{"bar"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		ExtraHeaders: map[string]http.Header{
+			"baz": {
+				"Foo": []string{"bar"},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	expected = &Data{
+		Sources: map[string]*Source{
+			"foo": {
+				Alias: "foo",
+				URL:   mustParseURL("http://foo.com"),
+			},
+			"bar": {
+				Alias: "bar",
+				URL:   mustParseURL("http://bar.com"),
+				header: http.Header{
+					"Foo": []string{"bar"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		extraHeaders: map[string]http.Header{
+			"baz": {
+				"Foo": []string{"bar"},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, FromConfig(cfg))
+}
diff --git a/docs/content/config.md b/docs/content/config.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7857e4524
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/content/config.md
@@ -0,0 +1,352 @@
+---
+title: Configuration
+weight: 12
+menu: main
+---
+
+In addition to [command-line arguments][], gomplate supports the use of
+configuration files to control its behaviour.
+
+Using a file for configuration can be useful especially when rendering templates
+that use multiple datasources, plugins, nested templates, etc... In situations
+where teams share templates, it can be helpful to commit config files into the
+team's source control system.
+
+By default, gomplate will look for a file `.gomplate.yaml` in the current working
+diretory, but this path can be altered with the [`--config`](../usage/#--config)
+command-line argument, or the `GOMPLATE_CONFIG` environment variable.
+
+### Configuration precedence
+
+[Command-line arguments][] will always take precedence over settings in a config
+file. In the cases where configuration can be altered with an environment
+variable, the config file will take precedence over environment variables.
+
+So, if the `leftDelim` setting is configured in 3 ways:
+
+```console
+$ export GOMPLATE_LEFT_DELIM=::
+$ echo "leftDelim: ((" > .gomplate.yaml
+$ gomplate --left-delim "<<"
+```
+
+The delimiter will be `<<`.
+
+## File format
+
+Currently, gomplate supports config files written in [YAML][] syntax, though other
+structured formats may be supported in future (please [file an issue][] if this
+is important to you!)
+
+Roughly all of the [command-line arguments][] are able to be set in a config
+file, with the exception of `--help`, `--verbose`, and `--version`. Some 
+environment variable based settings not configurable on the command-line are
+also supported in config files.
+
+Most of the configuration names are similar, though instead of using `kebab-case`,
+multi-word names are rendered as `camelCase`.
+
+Here is an example of a simple config file:
+
+```yaml
+inputDir: in/
+outputDir: out/
+
+datasources:
+  local:
+    url: file:///tmp/data.json
+  remote:
+    url: https://example.com/api/v1/data
+    header:
+      Authorization: ["Basic aGF4MHI6c3dvcmRmaXNoCg=="]
+
+plugins:
+  dostuff: /usr/local/bin/stuff.sh
+```
+
+## `chmod`
+
+See [`--chmod`](../usage/#--chmod).
+
+Sets the output file mode.
+
+## `context`
+
+See [`--context`](../usage/#--context-c).
+
+Add data sources to the default context. This is a nested structure that
+includes the URL for the data source and the optional HTTP header to send.
+
+For example:
+
+```yaml
+context:
+  data:
+    url: https://example.com/api/v1/data
+    header:
+      Authorization: ["Basic aGF4MHI6c3dvcmRmaXNoCg=="]
+  stuff:
+    url: stuff.yaml
+```
+
+This adds two datasources to the context: `data` and `stuff`, and when the `data`
+source is retrieved, an `Authorization` header will be sent with the given value.
+
+Note that the `.` name can also be used to set the entire context:
+
+```yaml
+context:
+  .:
+    url: data.toml
+```
+
+## `datasources`
+
+See [`--datasource`](../usage/#--datasource-d).
+
+Define data sources. This is a nested structure that includes the URL for the data
+source and the optional HTTP header to send.
+
+For example:
+
+```yaml
+datasources:
+  data:
+    url: https://example.com/api/v1/data
+    header:
+      Authorization: ["Basic aGF4MHI6c3dvcmRmaXNoCg=="]
+  stuff:
+    url: stuff.yaml
+```
+
+This defines two datasources: `data` and `stuff`, and when the `data`
+source is used, an `Authorization` header will be sent with the given value.
+
+## `excludes`
+
+See [`--exclude` and `--include`](../usage/#--exclude-and---include).
+
+This is an array of exclude patterns, used in conjunction with [`inputDir`](#inputdir).
+Note that there is no `includes`, instead you can specify negative
+exclusions by prefixing the patterns with `!`.
+
+```yaml
+excludes:
+  - '*.txt'
+  - '!include-this.txt'
+```
+
+This will skip all files with the extension `.txt`, except for files named
+`include-this.txt`, which will be processed.
+
+## `execPipe`
+
+See [`--exec-pipe`](../usage/#--exec-pipe).
+
+Use the rendered output as the [`postExec`](#postexec) command's standard input.
+
+Must be used in conjuction with [`postExec`](#postexec), and will override
+any [`outputFiles`](#outputfiles) settings.
+
+## `in`
+
+See [`--in`/`-i`](../usage/#--file-f---in-i-and---out-o).
+
+Provide the input template inline. Note that unlike the `--in`/`-i` commandline
+argument, there are no shell-imposed length limits.
+
+A simple example:
+```yaml
+in: hello to {{ .Env.USER }}
+```
+
+A multi-line example (see https://yaml-multiline.info/ for more about multi-line
+string syntax in YAML):
+
+```yaml
+in: |
+  A longer multi-line
+  document:
+  {{- range .foo }}
+  {{ .bar }}
+  {{ end }}
+```
+
+May not be used with `inputDir` or `inputFiles`.
+
+## `inputDir`
+
+See [`--input-dir`](../usage/#--input-dir-and---output-dir).
+
+The directory containing input template files. Must be used with 
+[`outputDir`](#outputdir) or [`outputMap`](#outputmap). Can also be used with [`excludes`](#excludes).
+
+```yaml
+inputDir: templates/
+outputDir: out/
+```
+
+May not be used with `in` or `inputFiles`.
+
+## `inputFiles`
+
+See [`--file`/`-f`](../usage/#--file-f---in-i-and---out-o).
+
+An array of input template paths. The special value `-` means `Stdin`. Multiple
+values can be set, but there must be a corresponding number of `outputFiles`
+entries present.
+
+```yaml
+inputFiles:
+  - first.tmpl
+  - second.tmpl
+outputFiles:
+  - first.out
+  - second.out
+```
+
+Flow style can be more compact:
+
+```yaml
+inputFiles: ['-']
+outputFiles: ['-']
+```
+
+May not be used with `in` or `inputDir`.
+
+## `leftDelim`
+
+See [`--left-delim`](../usage/#overriding-the-template-delimiters).
+
+Overrides the left template delimiter.
+
+```yaml
+leftDelim: '%{'
+```
+
+## `outputDir`
+
+See [`--output-dir`](../usage/#--input-dir-and---output-dir).
+
+The directory to write rendered output files. Must be used with 
+[`inputDir`](#inputdir).
+
+```yaml
+inputDir: templates/
+outputDir: out/
+```
+
+May not be used with `outputFiles`.
+
+## `outputFiles`
+
+See [`--out`/`-o`](../usage/#--file-f---in-i-and---out-o).
+
+An array of output file paths. The special value `-` means `Stdout`. Multiple
+values can be set, but there must be a corresponding number of `inputFiles`
+entries present.
+
+```yaml
+inputFiles:
+  - first.tmpl
+  - second.tmpl
+outputFiles:
+  - first.out
+  - second.out
+```
+
+Can also be used with [`in`](#in):
+
+```yaml
+in: >-
+  hello,
+  world!
+outputFiles: [ hello.txt ]
+```
+
+May not be used with `inputDir`.
+
+## `outputMap`
+
+See [`--output-map`](../usage/#--output-map).
+
+Must be used with [`inputDir`](#inputdir).
+
+```yaml
+inputDir: in/
+outputMap: |
+  out/{{ .in | strings.ReplaceAll ".yaml.tmpl" ".yaml" }}
+```
+
+## `plugins`
+
+See [`--plugin`](../usage/#--plugin).
+
+An mapping of key/value pairs to plug in custom functions for use in the templates.
+
+```yaml
+in: '{{ "hello world" | figlet | lolcat }}'
+plugins:
+  figlet: /usr/local/bin/figlet
+  lolcat: /home/hairyhenderson/go/bin/lolcat
+```
+
+## `pluginTimeout`
+
+See [`--plugin`](../usage/#--plugin).
+
+Sets the timeout for running plugins. By default, plugins will time out after 5
+seconds. This value can be set to override this default. The value must be
+a valid [duration](../functions/time/#time-parseduration) such as `10s` or `3m`.
+
+```yaml
+plugins:
+  figlet: /usr/local/bin/figlet
+pluginTimeout: 500ms
+```
+
+## `postExec`
+
+See [post-template command execution](../usage/#post-template-command-execution).
+
+Configures a command to run after the template is rendered.
+
+See also [`execPipe`](#execpipe) for piping output directly into the `postExec` command.
+
+## `rightDelim`
+
+See [`--right-delim`](../usage/#overriding-the-template-delimiters).
+
+Overrides the right template delimiter.
+
+```yaml
+rightDelim: '))'
+```
+
+## `suppressEmpty`
+
+See _[Suppressing empty output](../usage/#suppressing-empty-output)_
+
+Suppresses empty output (i.e. output consisting of only whitespace). Can also be set with the `GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY` environment variable.
+
+```yaml
+suppressEmpty: true
+```
+
+## `templates`
+
+See [`--template`/`-t`](../usage/#--template-t).
+
+An array of template references. Can be just a path or an alias and a path:
+
+```yaml
+templates:
+  - t=foo/bar/helloworld.tmpl
+  - templatedir/
+  - dir=foo/bar/
+  - mytemplate.t
+```
+
+[command-line arguments]: ../usage
+[file an issue]: https://github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/issues/new
+[YAML]: http://yaml.org
diff --git a/docs/content/datasources.md b/docs/content/datasources.md
index 6f9872d56..6bf721723 100644
--- a/docs/content/datasources.md
+++ b/docs/content/datasources.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 title: Datasources
-weight: 13
+weight: 14
 menu: main
 ---
 
diff --git a/docs/content/syntax.md b/docs/content/syntax.md
index c7995217f..14304eb32 100644
--- a/docs/content/syntax.md
+++ b/docs/content/syntax.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 title: Syntax
-weight: 12
+weight: 13
 menu: main
 ---
 
diff --git a/docs/content/usage.md b/docs/content/usage.md
index e5dc7d92e..375011222 100644
--- a/docs/content/usage.md
+++ b/docs/content/usage.md
@@ -19,6 +19,23 @@ Hello, hairyhenderson
 
 ## Commandline Arguments
 
+### `--config`
+
+Specify the path to a [gomplate config file](../config). The default is `.gomplate.yaml`. Can also be set with the `GOMPLATE_CONFIG` environment variable.
+
+For example:
+
+```console
+$ cat myconfig.yaml
+in: hello {{ .data.thing }}
+
+datasources:
+  data:
+    url: https://example.com/data.json
+$ gomplate --config myconfig.yaml
+hello world
+```
+
 ### `--file`/`-f`, `--in`/`-i`, and `--out`/`-o`
 
 By default, `gomplate` will read from `Stdin` and write to `Stdout`. This behaviour can be changed.
@@ -135,7 +152,7 @@ A few different forms are valid:
 - `mydata.json`
   - This form infers the name from the file name (without extension). Only valid for files in the current directory.
 
-### `--context`/`c`
+### `--context`/`-c`
 
 Add a data source in `name=URL` form, and make it available in the [default context][] as `.<name>`. The special name `.` (period) can be used to override the entire default context.
 
@@ -262,7 +279,7 @@ post-exec command.
 
 ## Suppressing empty output
 
-Sometimes it can be desirable to suppress empty output (i.e. output consisting of only whitespace). To do so, set `GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY=true` in your environment:
+Sometimes it can be desirable to suppress empty output (i.e. output consisting of only whitespace). To do so, set `suppressEmpty: true` in your [config][] file, or `GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY=true` in your environment:
 
 ```console
 $ export GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY=true
@@ -273,5 +290,6 @@ cat: out: No such file or directory
 
 [default context]: ../syntax/#the-context
 [context]: ../syntax/#the-context
+[config]: ../config/#suppressempty
 [external templates]: ../syntax/#external-templates
 [`.gitignore`]: https://git-scm.com/docs/gitignore
diff --git a/docs/static/images/gomplate-gh.png b/docs/static/images/gomplate-gh.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..84d49c775
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/static/images/gomplate-gh.png differ
diff --git a/docs/static/images/gomplate-large.png b/docs/static/images/gomplate-large.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3e8dd782b
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/static/images/gomplate-large.png differ
diff --git a/gomplate.go b/gomplate.go
index d796c4dd2..fe59c2ac9 100644
--- a/gomplate.go
+++ b/gomplate.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ package gomplate
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path"
@@ -14,7 +15,9 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/data"
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 )
 
@@ -109,42 +112,45 @@ func parseTemplateArg(templateArg string, ta templateAliases) error {
 
 // RunTemplates - run all gomplate templates specified by the given configuration
 func RunTemplates(o *Config) error {
-	return RunTemplatesWithContext(context.Background(), o)
+	cfg, err := o.toNewConfig()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return RunTemplatesWithContext(context.Background(), cfg)
 }
 
 // RunTemplatesWithContext - run all gomplate templates specified by the given configuration
-func RunTemplatesWithContext(ctx context.Context, o *Config) error {
+func RunTemplatesWithContext(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config) error {
+	log := zerolog.Ctx(ctx)
+
 	Metrics = newMetrics()
 	defer runCleanupHooks()
-	// make sure config is sane
-	o.defaults()
-	ds := append(o.DataSources, o.Contexts...)
-	d, err := data.NewData(ds, o.DataSourceHeaders)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+
+	d := data.FromConfig(cfg)
+	log.Debug().Str("data", fmt.Sprintf("%+v", d)).Msg("created data from config")
+
 	addCleanupHook(d.Cleanup)
-	nested, err := parseTemplateArgs(o.Templates)
+	nested, err := parseTemplateArgs(cfg.Templates)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	c, err := createTmplContext(o.Contexts, d)
+	c, err := createTmplContext(ctx, cfg.Context, d)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	funcMap := Funcs(d)
-	err = bindPlugins(ctx, o.Plugins, funcMap)
+	err = bindPlugins(ctx, cfg, funcMap)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	g := newGomplate(funcMap, o.LDelim, o.RDelim, nested, c)
+	g := newGomplate(funcMap, cfg.LDelim, cfg.RDelim, nested, c)
 
-	return g.runTemplates(ctx, o)
+	return g.runTemplates(ctx, cfg)
 }
 
-func (g *gomplate) runTemplates(ctx context.Context, o *Config) error {
+func (g *gomplate) runTemplates(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config) error {
 	start := time.Now()
-	tmpl, err := gatherTemplates(o, chooseNamer(o, g))
+	tmpl, err := gatherTemplates(cfg, chooseNamer(cfg, g))
 	Metrics.GatherDuration = time.Since(start)
 	if err != nil {
 		Metrics.Errors++
@@ -166,11 +172,11 @@ func (g *gomplate) runTemplates(ctx context.Context, o *Config) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func chooseNamer(o *Config, g *gomplate) func(string) (string, error) {
-	if o.OutputMap == "" {
-		return simpleNamer(o.OutputDir)
+func chooseNamer(cfg *config.Config, g *gomplate) func(string) (string, error) {
+	if cfg.OutputMap == "" {
+		return simpleNamer(cfg.OutputDir)
 	}
-	return mappingNamer(o.OutputMap, g)
+	return mappingNamer(cfg.OutputMap, g)
 }
 
 func simpleNamer(outDir string) func(inPath string) (string, error) {
diff --git a/internal/config/configfile.go b/internal/config/configfile.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eb9b713eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/config/configfile.go
@@ -0,0 +1,538 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+)
+
+var (
+	// PluginTimeoutKey - context key for PluginTimeout - temporary!
+	PluginTimeoutKey = struct{}{}
+)
+
+// Parse a config file
+func Parse(in io.Reader) (*Config, error) {
+	out := &Config{}
+	dec := yaml.NewDecoder(in)
+	err := dec.Decode(out)
+	if err != nil && err != io.EOF {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// Config -
+type Config struct {
+	Input       string   `yaml:"in,omitempty"`
+	InputFiles  []string `yaml:"inputFiles,omitempty,flow"`
+	InputDir    string   `yaml:"inputDir,omitempty"`
+	ExcludeGlob []string `yaml:"excludes,omitempty"`
+	OutputFiles []string `yaml:"outputFiles,omitempty,flow"`
+	OutputDir   string   `yaml:"outputDir,omitempty"`
+	OutputMap   string   `yaml:"outputMap,omitempty"`
+
+	SuppressEmpty bool     `yaml:"suppressEmpty,omitempty"`
+	ExecPipe      bool     `yaml:"execPipe,omitempty"`
+	PostExec      []string `yaml:"postExec,omitempty,flow"`
+
+	OutMode       string            `yaml:"chmod,omitempty"`
+	LDelim        string            `yaml:"leftDelim,omitempty"`
+	RDelim        string            `yaml:"rightDelim,omitempty"`
+	DataSources   DSources          `yaml:"datasources,omitempty"`
+	Context       DSources          `yaml:"context,omitempty"`
+	Plugins       map[string]string `yaml:"plugins,omitempty"`
+	PluginTimeout time.Duration     `yaml:"pluginTimeout,omitempty"`
+	Templates     []string          `yaml:"templates,omitempty"`
+
+	// Extra HTTP headers not attached to pre-defined datsources. Potentially
+	// used by datasources defined in the template.
+	ExtraHeaders map[string]http.Header `yaml:"-"`
+
+	// internal use only, can't be injected in YAML
+	PostExecInput io.ReadWriter `yaml:"-"`
+	OutWriter     io.Writer     `yaml:"-"`
+}
+
+// DSources - map of datasource configs
+type DSources map[string]DSConfig
+
+func (d DSources) mergeFrom(o DSources) DSources {
+	for k, v := range o {
+		c, ok := d[k]
+		if ok {
+			d[k] = c.mergeFrom(v)
+		} else {
+			d[k] = v
+		}
+	}
+	return d
+}
+
+// DSConfig - datasource config
+type DSConfig struct {
+	URL    *url.URL    `yaml:"-"`
+	Header http.Header `yaml:"header,omitempty,flow"`
+}
+
+// UnmarshalYAML - satisfy the yaml.Umarshaler interface - URLs aren't
+// well supported, and anyway we need to do some extra parsing
+func (d *DSConfig) UnmarshalYAML(value *yaml.Node) error {
+	type raw struct {
+		URL    string
+		Header http.Header
+	}
+	r := raw{}
+	err := value.Decode(&r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	u, err := parseSourceURL(r.URL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not parse datasource URL %q: %w", r.URL, err)
+	}
+	*d = DSConfig{
+		URL:    u,
+		Header: r.Header,
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// MarshalYAML - satisfy the yaml.Marshaler interface - URLs aren't
+// well supported, and anyway we need to do some extra parsing
+func (d DSConfig) MarshalYAML() (interface{}, error) {
+	type raw struct {
+		URL    string
+		Header http.Header
+	}
+	r := raw{
+		URL:    d.URL.String(),
+		Header: d.Header,
+	}
+	return r, nil
+}
+
+func (d DSConfig) mergeFrom(o DSConfig) DSConfig {
+	if o.URL != nil {
+		d.URL = o.URL
+	}
+	if d.Header == nil {
+		d.Header = o.Header
+	} else {
+		for k, v := range o.Header {
+			d.Header[k] = v
+		}
+	}
+	return d
+}
+
+// MergeFrom - use this Config as the defaults, and override it with any
+// non-zero values from the other Config
+//
+// Note that Input/InputDir/InputFiles will override each other, as well as
+// OutputDir/OutputFiles.
+func (c *Config) MergeFrom(o *Config) *Config {
+	switch {
+	case !isZero(o.Input):
+		c.Input = o.Input
+		c.InputDir = ""
+		c.InputFiles = nil
+		c.OutputDir = ""
+	case !isZero(o.InputDir):
+		c.Input = ""
+		c.InputDir = o.InputDir
+		c.InputFiles = nil
+	case !isZero(o.InputFiles):
+		if !(len(o.InputFiles) == 1 && o.InputFiles[0] == "-") {
+			c.Input = ""
+			c.InputFiles = o.InputFiles
+			c.InputDir = ""
+			c.OutputDir = ""
+		}
+	}
+
+	if !isZero(o.OutputMap) {
+		c.OutputDir = ""
+		c.OutputFiles = nil
+		c.OutputMap = o.OutputMap
+	}
+	if !isZero(o.OutputDir) {
+		c.OutputDir = o.OutputDir
+		c.OutputFiles = nil
+		c.OutputMap = ""
+	}
+	if !isZero(o.OutputFiles) {
+		c.OutputDir = ""
+		c.OutputFiles = o.OutputFiles
+		c.OutputMap = ""
+	}
+	if !isZero(o.ExecPipe) {
+		c.ExecPipe = o.ExecPipe
+		c.PostExec = o.PostExec
+		c.OutputFiles = o.OutputFiles
+	}
+	if !isZero(o.ExcludeGlob) {
+		c.ExcludeGlob = o.ExcludeGlob
+	}
+	if !isZero(o.OutMode) {
+		c.OutMode = o.OutMode
+	}
+	if !isZero(o.LDelim) {
+		c.LDelim = o.LDelim
+	}
+	if !isZero(o.RDelim) {
+		c.RDelim = o.RDelim
+	}
+	if !isZero(o.Templates) {
+		c.Templates = o.Templates
+	}
+	c.DataSources.mergeFrom(o.DataSources)
+	c.Context.mergeFrom(o.Context)
+	if len(o.Plugins) > 0 {
+		for k, v := range o.Plugins {
+			c.Plugins[k] = v
+		}
+	}
+
+	return c
+}
+
+// ParseDataSourceFlags - sets the DataSources and Context fields from the
+// key=value format flags as provided at the command-line
+func (c *Config) ParseDataSourceFlags(datasources, contexts, headers []string) error {
+	for _, d := range datasources {
+		k, ds, err := parseDatasourceArg(d)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if c.DataSources == nil {
+			c.DataSources = DSources{}
+		}
+		c.DataSources[k] = ds
+	}
+	for _, d := range contexts {
+		k, ds, err := parseDatasourceArg(d)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if c.Context == nil {
+			c.Context = DSources{}
+		}
+		c.Context[k] = ds
+	}
+
+	hdrs, err := parseHeaderArgs(headers)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	for k, v := range hdrs {
+		if d, ok := c.Context[k]; ok {
+			d.Header = v
+			c.Context[k] = d
+			delete(hdrs, k)
+		}
+		if d, ok := c.DataSources[k]; ok {
+			d.Header = v
+			c.DataSources[k] = d
+			delete(hdrs, k)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(hdrs) > 0 {
+		c.ExtraHeaders = hdrs
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ParsePluginFlags - sets the Plugins field from the
+// key=value format flags as provided at the command-line
+func (c *Config) ParsePluginFlags(plugins []string) error {
+	for _, plugin := range plugins {
+		parts := strings.SplitN(plugin, "=", 2)
+		if len(parts) < 2 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("plugin requires both name and path")
+		}
+		if c.Plugins == nil {
+			c.Plugins = map[string]string{}
+		}
+		c.Plugins[parts[0]] = parts[1]
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func parseDatasourceArg(value string) (key string, ds DSConfig, err error) {
+	parts := strings.SplitN(value, "=", 2)
+	if len(parts) == 1 {
+		f := parts[0]
+		key = strings.SplitN(value, ".", 2)[0]
+		if path.Base(f) != f {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("invalid datasource (%s): must provide an alias with files not in working directory", value)
+			return key, ds, err
+		}
+		ds.URL, err = absFileURL(f)
+	} else if len(parts) == 2 {
+		key = parts[0]
+		ds.URL, err = parseSourceURL(parts[1])
+	}
+	return key, ds, err
+}
+
+func parseHeaderArgs(headerArgs []string) (map[string]http.Header, error) {
+	headers := make(map[string]http.Header)
+	for _, v := range headerArgs {
+		ds, name, value, err := splitHeaderArg(v)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if _, ok := headers[ds]; !ok {
+			headers[ds] = make(http.Header)
+		}
+		headers[ds][name] = append(headers[ds][name], strings.TrimSpace(value))
+	}
+	return headers, nil
+}
+
+func splitHeaderArg(arg string) (datasourceAlias, name, value string, err error) {
+	parts := strings.SplitN(arg, "=", 2)
+	if len(parts) != 2 {
+		err = fmt.Errorf("invalid datasource-header option '%s'", arg)
+		return "", "", "", err
+	}
+	datasourceAlias = parts[0]
+	name, value, err = splitHeader(parts[1])
+	return datasourceAlias, name, value, err
+}
+
+func splitHeader(header string) (name, value string, err error) {
+	parts := strings.SplitN(header, ":", 2)
+	if len(parts) != 2 {
+		err = fmt.Errorf("invalid HTTP Header format '%s'", header)
+		return "", "", err
+	}
+	name = http.CanonicalHeaderKey(parts[0])
+	value = parts[1]
+	return name, value, nil
+}
+
+// Validate the Config
+func (c Config) Validate() (err error) {
+	err = notTogether(
+		[]string{"in", "inputFiles", "inputDir"},
+		c.Input, c.InputFiles, c.InputDir)
+	if err == nil {
+		err = notTogether(
+			[]string{"outputFiles", "outputDir", "outputMap"},
+			c.OutputFiles, c.OutputDir, c.OutputMap)
+	}
+	if err == nil {
+		err = notTogether(
+			[]string{"outputDir", "outputMap", "execPipe"},
+			c.OutputDir, c.OutputMap, c.ExecPipe)
+	}
+
+	if err == nil {
+		err = mustTogether("outputDir", "inputDir",
+			c.OutputDir, c.InputDir)
+	}
+
+	if err == nil {
+		err = mustTogether("outputMap", "inputDir",
+			c.OutputMap, c.InputDir)
+	}
+
+	if err == nil {
+		f := len(c.InputFiles)
+		if f == 0 && c.Input != "" {
+			f = 1
+		}
+		o := len(c.OutputFiles)
+		if f != o && !c.ExecPipe {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("must provide same number of 'outputFiles' (%d) as 'in' or 'inputFiles' (%d) options", o, f)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err == nil {
+		if c.ExecPipe && len(c.PostExec) == 0 {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("execPipe may only be used with a postExec command")
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err == nil {
+		if c.ExecPipe && (len(c.OutputFiles) > 0 && c.OutputFiles[0] != "-") {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("must not set 'outputFiles' when using 'execPipe'")
+		}
+	}
+
+	return err
+}
+
+func notTogether(names []string, values ...interface{}) error {
+	found := ""
+	for i, value := range values {
+		if isZero(value) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if found != "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("only one of these options is supported at a time: '%s', '%s'",
+				found, names[i])
+		}
+		found = names[i]
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func mustTogether(left, right string, lValue, rValue interface{}) error {
+	if !isZero(lValue) && isZero(rValue) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("these options must be set together: '%s', '%s'",
+			left, right)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func isZero(value interface{}) bool {
+	switch v := value.(type) {
+	case string:
+		return v == ""
+	case []string:
+		return len(v) == 0
+	case bool:
+		return !v
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
+// ApplyDefaults -
+func (c *Config) ApplyDefaults() {
+	if c.InputDir != "" && c.OutputDir == "" && c.OutputMap == "" {
+		c.OutputDir = "."
+	}
+	if c.Input == "" && c.InputDir == "" && len(c.InputFiles) == 0 {
+		c.InputFiles = []string{"-"}
+	}
+	if c.OutputDir == "" && c.OutputMap == "" && len(c.OutputFiles) == 0 && !c.ExecPipe {
+		c.OutputFiles = []string{"-"}
+	}
+	if c.LDelim == "" {
+		c.LDelim = "{{"
+	}
+	if c.RDelim == "" {
+		c.RDelim = "}}"
+	}
+
+	if c.ExecPipe {
+		c.PostExecInput = &bytes.Buffer{}
+		c.OutWriter = c.PostExecInput
+		c.OutputFiles = []string{"-"}
+	} else {
+		c.PostExecInput = os.Stdin
+		c.OutWriter = os.Stdout
+	}
+
+	if c.PluginTimeout == 0 {
+		c.PluginTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+	}
+}
+
+// String -
+func (c *Config) String() string {
+	out := &strings.Builder{}
+	out.WriteString("---\n")
+	enc := yaml.NewEncoder(out)
+	enc.SetIndent(2)
+
+	// dereferenced copy so we can truncate input for display
+	c2 := *c
+	if len(c2.Input) >= 11 {
+		c2.Input = c2.Input[0:8] + "..."
+	}
+
+	err := enc.Encode(c2)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err.Error()
+	}
+	return out.String()
+}
+
+func parseSourceURL(value string) (*url.URL, error) {
+	if value == "-" {
+		value = "stdin://"
+	}
+	value = filepath.ToSlash(value)
+	// handle absolute Windows paths
+	volName := ""
+	if volName = filepath.VolumeName(value); volName != "" {
+		// handle UNCs
+		if len(volName) > 2 {
+			value = "file:" + value
+		} else {
+			value = "file:///" + value
+		}
+	}
+	srcURL, err := url.Parse(value)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if volName != "" && len(srcURL.Path) >= 3 {
+		if srcURL.Path[0] == '/' && srcURL.Path[2] == ':' {
+			srcURL.Path = srcURL.Path[1:]
+		}
+	}
+
+	if !srcURL.IsAbs() {
+		srcURL, err = absFileURL(value)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+	return srcURL, nil
+}
+
+func absFileURL(value string) (*url.URL, error) {
+	wd, err := os.Getwd()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "can't get working directory")
+	}
+	wd = filepath.ToSlash(wd)
+	baseURL := &url.URL{
+		Scheme: "file",
+		Path:   wd + "/",
+	}
+	relURL, err := url.Parse(value)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("can't parse value %s as URL: %w", value, err)
+	}
+	resolved := baseURL.ResolveReference(relURL)
+	// deal with Windows drive letters
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(wd, "/") && resolved.Path[2] == ':' {
+		resolved.Path = resolved.Path[1:]
+	}
+	return resolved, nil
+}
+
+// GetMode - parse an os.FileMode out of the string, and let us know if it's an override or not...
+func (c *Config) GetMode() (os.FileMode, bool, error) {
+	modeOverride := c.OutMode != ""
+	m, err := strconv.ParseUint("0"+c.OutMode, 8, 32)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, false, err
+	}
+	mode := os.FileMode(m)
+	if mode == 0 && c.Input != "" {
+		mode = 0644
+	}
+	return mode, modeOverride, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/configfile_test.go b/internal/config/configfile_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b5f3104a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/config/configfile_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,558 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestParseConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	in := "in: hello world\n"
+	expected := &Config{
+		Input: "hello world",
+	}
+	cf, err := Parse(strings.NewReader(in))
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, expected, cf)
+
+	in = `in: hello world
+outputFiles: [out.txt]
+chmod: 644
+
+datasources:
+  data:
+    url: file:///data.json
+  moredata:
+    url: https://example.com/more.json
+    header:
+      Authorization: ["Bearer abcd1234"]
+
+context:
+  .:
+    url: file:///data.json
+
+pluginTimeout: 2s
+`
+	expected = &Config{
+		Input:       "hello world",
+		OutputFiles: []string{"out.txt"},
+		DataSources: map[string]DSConfig{
+			"data": {
+				URL: mustURL("file:///data.json"),
+			},
+			"moredata": {
+				URL: mustURL("https://example.com/more.json"),
+				Header: map[string][]string{
+					"Authorization": {"Bearer abcd1234"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		Context: map[string]DSConfig{
+			".": {
+				URL: mustURL("file:///data.json"),
+			},
+		},
+		OutMode:       "644",
+		PluginTimeout: 2 * time.Second,
+	}
+
+	cf, err = Parse(strings.NewReader(in))
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, cf)
+}
+
+func mustURL(s string) *url.URL {
+	u, err := url.Parse(s)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	// handle the case where it's a relative URL - just like in parseSourceURL.
+	if !u.IsAbs() {
+		u, err = absFileURL(s)
+		if err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+	}
+	return u
+}
+
+func TestValidate(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	assert.NoError(t, validateConfig(""))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`in: foo
+inputFiles: [bar]
+`))
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`inputDir: foo
+inputFiles: [bar]
+`))
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`inputDir: foo
+in: bar
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`outputDir: foo
+outputFiles: [bar]
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`in: foo
+outputFiles: [bar, baz]
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`inputFiles: [foo]
+outputFiles: [bar, baz]
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`outputDir: foo
+outputFiles: [bar]
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`outputDir: foo
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`outputMap: foo
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`outputMap: foo
+outputFiles: [bar]
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`inputDir: foo
+outputDir: bar
+outputMap: bar
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`execPipe: true
+`))
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`execPipe: true
+postExec: ""
+`))
+
+	assert.NoError(t, validateConfig(`execPipe: true
+postExec: [echo, foo]
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`execPipe: true
+outputFiles: [foo]
+postExec: [echo]
+`))
+
+	assert.NoError(t, validateConfig(`execPipe: true
+inputFiles: ['-']
+postExec: [echo]
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`inputDir: foo
+execPipe: true
+outputDir: foo
+postExec: [echo]
+`))
+
+	assert.Error(t, validateConfig(`inputDir: foo
+execPipe: true
+outputMap: foo
+postExec: [echo]
+`))
+}
+
+func validateConfig(c string) error {
+	in := strings.NewReader(c)
+	cfg, err := Parse(in)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	err = cfg.Validate()
+	return err
+}
+
+func TestMergeFrom(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	cfg := &Config{
+		Input: "hello world",
+		DataSources: map[string]DSConfig{
+			"data": {
+				URL: mustURL("file:///data.json"),
+			},
+			"moredata": {
+				URL: mustURL("https://example.com/more.json"),
+				Header: http.Header{
+					"Authorization": {"Bearer abcd1234"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		Context: map[string]DSConfig{
+			"foo": {
+				URL: mustURL("https://example.com/foo.yaml"),
+				Header: http.Header{
+					"Accept": {"application/yaml"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		OutMode: "644",
+	}
+	other := &Config{
+		OutputFiles: []string{"out.txt"},
+		DataSources: map[string]DSConfig{
+			"data": {
+				Header: http.Header{
+					"Accept": {"foo/bar"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		Context: map[string]DSConfig{
+			"foo": {
+				Header: http.Header{
+					"Accept": {"application/json"},
+				},
+			},
+			"bar": {URL: mustURL("stdin:///")},
+		},
+	}
+	expected := &Config{
+		Input:       "hello world",
+		OutputFiles: []string{"out.txt"},
+		DataSources: map[string]DSConfig{
+			"data": {
+				URL: mustURL("file:///data.json"),
+				Header: http.Header{
+					"Accept": {"foo/bar"},
+				},
+			},
+			"moredata": {
+				URL: mustURL("https://example.com/more.json"),
+				Header: http.Header{
+					"Authorization": {"Bearer abcd1234"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		Context: map[string]DSConfig{
+			"foo": {
+				URL: mustURL("https://example.com/foo.yaml"),
+				Header: http.Header{
+					"Accept": {"application/json"},
+				},
+			},
+			"bar": {URL: mustURL("stdin:///")},
+		},
+		OutMode: "644",
+	}
+
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, cfg.MergeFrom(other))
+
+	cfg = &Config{
+		Input: "hello world",
+	}
+	other = &Config{
+		InputFiles:  []string{"in.tmpl", "in2.tmpl"},
+		OutputFiles: []string{"out", "out2"},
+	}
+	expected = &Config{
+		InputFiles:  []string{"in.tmpl", "in2.tmpl"},
+		OutputFiles: []string{"out", "out2"},
+	}
+
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, cfg.MergeFrom(other))
+
+	cfg = &Config{
+		Input:       "hello world",
+		OutputFiles: []string{"out", "out2"},
+	}
+	other = &Config{
+		InputDir:  "in/",
+		OutputDir: "out/",
+	}
+	expected = &Config{
+		InputDir:  "in/",
+		OutputDir: "out/",
+	}
+
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, cfg.MergeFrom(other))
+
+	cfg = &Config{
+		Input:       "hello world",
+		OutputFiles: []string{"out"},
+	}
+	other = &Config{
+		Input:    "hi",
+		ExecPipe: true,
+		PostExec: []string{"cat"},
+	}
+	expected = &Config{
+		Input:    "hi",
+		ExecPipe: true,
+		PostExec: []string{"cat"},
+	}
+
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, cfg.MergeFrom(other))
+
+	cfg = &Config{
+		Input:       "hello world",
+		OutputFiles: []string{"-"},
+		Plugins: map[string]string{
+			"sleep": "echo",
+		},
+		PluginTimeout: 500 * time.Microsecond,
+	}
+	other = &Config{
+		InputFiles:  []string{"-"},
+		OutputFiles: []string{"-"},
+		Plugins: map[string]string{
+			"sleep": "sleep.sh",
+		},
+	}
+	expected = &Config{
+		Input:       "hello world",
+		OutputFiles: []string{"-"},
+		Plugins: map[string]string{
+			"sleep": "sleep.sh",
+		},
+		PluginTimeout: 500 * time.Microsecond,
+	}
+
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, cfg.MergeFrom(other))
+}
+
+func TestParseDataSourceFlags(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	cfg := &Config{}
+	err := cfg.ParseDataSourceFlags(nil, nil, nil)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, &Config{}, cfg)
+
+	cfg = &Config{}
+	err = cfg.ParseDataSourceFlags([]string{"foo/bar/baz.json"}, nil, nil)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+
+	cfg = &Config{}
+	err = cfg.ParseDataSourceFlags([]string{"baz=foo/bar/baz.json"}, nil, nil)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	expected := &Config{
+		DataSources: DSources{
+			"baz": {URL: mustURL("foo/bar/baz.json")},
+		},
+	}
+	assert.EqualValues(t, expected, cfg, "expected: %+v\nactual: %+v\n", expected, cfg)
+
+	cfg = &Config{}
+	err = cfg.ParseDataSourceFlags(
+		[]string{"baz=foo/bar/baz.json"},
+		nil,
+		[]string{"baz=Accept: application/json"})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, &Config{
+		DataSources: DSources{
+			"baz": {
+				URL: mustURL("foo/bar/baz.json"),
+				Header: http.Header{
+					"Accept": {"application/json"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}, cfg)
+
+	cfg = &Config{}
+	err = cfg.ParseDataSourceFlags(
+		[]string{"baz=foo/bar/baz.json"},
+		[]string{"foo=http://example.com"},
+		[]string{"foo=Accept: application/json",
+			"bar=Authorization: Basic xxxxx"})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, &Config{
+		DataSources: DSources{
+			"baz": {URL: mustURL("foo/bar/baz.json")},
+		},
+		Context: DSources{
+			"foo": {
+				URL: mustURL("http://example.com"),
+				Header: http.Header{
+					"Accept": {"application/json"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		ExtraHeaders: map[string]http.Header{
+			"bar": {"Authorization": {"Basic xxxxx"}},
+		},
+	}, cfg)
+}
+
+func TestParsePluginFlags(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	cfg := &Config{}
+	err := cfg.ParsePluginFlags(nil)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	cfg = &Config{}
+	err = cfg.ParsePluginFlags([]string{"foo=bar"})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, &Config{Plugins: map[string]string{"foo": "bar"}}, cfg)
+}
+
+func TestConfigString(t *testing.T) {
+	c := &Config{}
+	c.ApplyDefaults()
+
+	expected := `---
+inputFiles: ['-']
+outputFiles: ['-']
+leftDelim: '{{'
+rightDelim: '}}'
+pluginTimeout: 5s
+`
+	assert.Equal(t, expected, c.String())
+
+	c = &Config{
+		LDelim:      "L",
+		RDelim:      "R",
+		Input:       "foo",
+		OutputFiles: []string{"-"},
+		Templates:   []string{"foo=foo.t", "bar=bar.t"},
+	}
+	expected = `---
+in: foo
+outputFiles: ['-']
+leftDelim: L
+rightDelim: R
+templates:
+- foo=foo.t
+- bar=bar.t
+`
+	assert.Equal(t, expected, c.String())
+
+	c = &Config{
+		LDelim:      "L",
+		RDelim:      "R",
+		Input:       "long input that should be truncated",
+		OutputFiles: []string{"-"},
+		Templates:   []string{"foo=foo.t", "bar=bar.t"},
+	}
+	expected = `---
+in: long inp...
+outputFiles: ['-']
+leftDelim: L
+rightDelim: R
+templates:
+- foo=foo.t
+- bar=bar.t
+`
+	assert.Equal(t, expected, c.String())
+
+	c = &Config{
+		InputDir:  "in/",
+		OutputDir: "out/",
+	}
+	expected = `---
+inputDir: in/
+outputDir: out/
+`
+
+	assert.Equal(t, expected, c.String())
+
+	c = &Config{
+		InputDir:  "in/",
+		OutputMap: "{{ .in }}",
+	}
+	expected = `---
+inputDir: in/
+outputMap: '{{ .in }}'
+`
+
+	assert.Equal(t, expected, c.String())
+
+	c = &Config{
+		PluginTimeout: 500 * time.Millisecond,
+	}
+	expected = `---
+pluginTimeout: 500ms
+`
+
+	assert.Equal(t, expected, c.String())
+}
+
+func TestApplyDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	cfg := &Config{}
+
+	cfg.ApplyDefaults()
+	assert.EqualValues(t, []string{"-"}, cfg.InputFiles)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, []string{"-"}, cfg.OutputFiles)
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.OutputDir)
+	assert.Equal(t, "{{", cfg.LDelim)
+	assert.Equal(t, "}}", cfg.RDelim)
+
+	cfg = &Config{
+		InputDir: "in",
+	}
+
+	cfg.ApplyDefaults()
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.InputFiles)
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.OutputFiles)
+	assert.Equal(t, ".", cfg.OutputDir)
+	assert.Equal(t, "{{", cfg.LDelim)
+	assert.Equal(t, "}}", cfg.RDelim)
+
+	cfg = &Config{
+		Input:  "foo",
+		LDelim: "<",
+		RDelim: ">",
+	}
+
+	cfg.ApplyDefaults()
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.InputFiles)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, []string{"-"}, cfg.OutputFiles)
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.OutputDir)
+	assert.Equal(t, "<", cfg.LDelim)
+	assert.Equal(t, ">", cfg.RDelim)
+
+	cfg = &Config{
+		Input:    "foo",
+		ExecPipe: true,
+	}
+
+	cfg.ApplyDefaults()
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.InputFiles)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, []string{"-"}, cfg.OutputFiles)
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.OutputDir)
+	assert.True(t, cfg.ExecPipe)
+
+	cfg = &Config{
+		InputDir:  "foo",
+		OutputMap: "bar",
+	}
+
+	cfg.ApplyDefaults()
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.InputFiles)
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.Input)
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.OutputFiles)
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.OutputDir)
+	assert.False(t, cfg.ExecPipe)
+	assert.Equal(t, "bar", cfg.OutputMap)
+}
+
+func TestGetMode(t *testing.T) {
+	c := &Config{}
+	m, o, err := c.GetMode()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, os.FileMode(0), m)
+	assert.False(t, o)
+
+	c = &Config{OutMode: "755"}
+	m, o, err = c.GetMode()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, os.FileMode(0755), m)
+	assert.True(t, o)
+
+	c = &Config{OutMode: "0755"}
+	m, o, err = c.GetMode()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, os.FileMode(0755), m)
+	assert.True(t, o)
+
+	c = &Config{OutMode: "foo"}
+	_, _, err = c.GetMode()
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+}
diff --git a/plugins.go b/plugins.go
index 0699fb616..b4d561884 100644
--- a/plugins.go
+++ b/plugins.go
@@ -3,26 +3,26 @@ package gomplate
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"os/signal"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
-	"strings"
 	"text/template"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/conv"
-	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/env"
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
 )
 
-func bindPlugins(ctx context.Context, plugins []string, funcMap template.FuncMap) error {
-	for _, p := range plugins {
-		plugin, err := newPlugin(ctx, p)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
+func bindPlugins(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, funcMap template.FuncMap) error {
+	for k, v := range cfg.Plugins {
+		plugin := &plugin{
+			ctx:     ctx,
+			name:    k,
+			path:    v,
+			timeout: cfg.PluginTimeout,
 		}
 		if _, ok := funcMap[plugin.name]; ok {
 			return fmt.Errorf("function %q is already bound, and can not be overridden", plugin.name)
@@ -35,23 +35,10 @@ func bindPlugins(ctx context.Context, plugins []string, funcMap template.FuncMap
 // plugin represents a custom function that binds to an external process to be executed
 type plugin struct {
 	name, path string
+	timeout    time.Duration
 	ctx        context.Context
 }
 
-func newPlugin(ctx context.Context, value string) (*plugin, error) {
-	parts := strings.SplitN(value, "=", 2)
-	if len(parts) < 2 {
-		return nil, errors.New("plugin requires both name and path")
-	}
-
-	p := &plugin{
-		ctx:  ctx,
-		name: parts[0],
-		path: parts[1],
-	}
-	return p, nil
-}
-
 // builds a command that's appropriate for running scripts
 // nolint: gosec
 func (p *plugin) buildCommand(a []string) (name string, args []string) {
@@ -87,12 +74,7 @@ func (p *plugin) run(args ...interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 
 	name, a := p.buildCommand(a)
 
-	t, err := time.ParseDuration(env.Getenv("GOMPLATE_PLUGIN_TIMEOUT", "5s"))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(p.ctx, t)
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(p.ctx, p.timeout)
 	defer cancel()
 	c := exec.CommandContext(ctx, name, a...)
 	c.Stdin = nil
@@ -112,7 +94,7 @@ func (p *plugin) run(args ...interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 		}
 	}()
 	start := time.Now()
-	err = c.Run()
+	err := c.Run()
 	elapsed := time.Since(start)
 
 	if ctx.Err() != nil {
diff --git a/plugins_test.go b/plugins_test.go
index 07e232598..d1292eaa5 100644
--- a/plugins_test.go
+++ b/plugins_test.go
@@ -7,54 +7,48 @@ import (
 
 	"gotest.tools/v3/assert"
 	"gotest.tools/v3/assert/cmp"
-)
-
-func TestNewPlugin(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.TODO()
-	in := "foo"
-	_, err := newPlugin(ctx, in)
-	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "")
 
-	in = "foo=/bin/bar"
-	out, err := newPlugin(ctx, in)
-	assert.NilError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, "foo", out.name)
-	assert.Equal(t, "/bin/bar", out.path)
-}
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
+)
 
 func TestBindPlugins(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.TODO()
 	fm := template.FuncMap{}
-	in := []string{}
-	err := bindPlugins(ctx, in, fm)
+	cfg := &config.Config{
+		Plugins: map[string]string{},
+	}
+	err := bindPlugins(ctx, cfg, fm)
 	assert.NilError(t, err)
 	assert.DeepEqual(t, template.FuncMap{}, fm)
 
-	in = []string{"foo=bar"}
-	err = bindPlugins(ctx, in, fm)
+	cfg.Plugins = map[string]string{"foo": "bar"}
+	err = bindPlugins(ctx, cfg, fm)
 	assert.NilError(t, err)
 	assert.Check(t, cmp.Contains(fm, "foo"))
 
-	err = bindPlugins(ctx, in, fm)
+	err = bindPlugins(ctx, cfg, fm)
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "already bound")
 }
 
 func TestBuildCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.TODO()
 	data := []struct {
-		plugin   string
-		args     []string
-		expected []string
+		name, path string
+		args       []string
+		expected   []string
 	}{
-		{"foo=foo", nil, []string{"foo"}},
-		{"foo=foo", []string{"bar"}, []string{"foo", "bar"}},
-		{"foo=foo.bat", nil, []string{"cmd.exe", "/c", "foo.bat"}},
-		{"foo=foo.cmd", []string{"bar"}, []string{"cmd.exe", "/c", "foo.cmd", "bar"}},
-		{"foo=foo.ps1", []string{"bar", "baz"}, []string{"pwsh", "-File", "foo.ps1", "bar", "baz"}},
+		{"foo", "foo", nil, []string{"foo"}},
+		{"foo", "foo", []string{"bar"}, []string{"foo", "bar"}},
+		{"foo", "foo.bat", nil, []string{"cmd.exe", "/c", "foo.bat"}},
+		{"foo", "foo.cmd", []string{"bar"}, []string{"cmd.exe", "/c", "foo.cmd", "bar"}},
+		{"foo", "foo.ps1", []string{"bar", "baz"}, []string{"pwsh", "-File", "foo.ps1", "bar", "baz"}},
 	}
 	for _, d := range data {
-		p, err := newPlugin(ctx, d.plugin)
-		assert.NilError(t, err)
+		p := &plugin{
+			ctx:  ctx,
+			name: d.name,
+			path: d.path,
+		}
 		name, args := p.buildCommand(d.args)
 		actual := append([]string{name}, args...)
 		assert.DeepEqual(t, d.expected, actual)
diff --git a/template.go b/template.go
index 775b75cd4..138625fdb 100644
--- a/template.go
+++ b/template.go
@@ -9,10 +9,9 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"text/template"
 
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
 	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/tmpl"
 
-	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/conv"
-	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/env"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
@@ -84,66 +83,65 @@ func (t *tplate) loadContents() (err error) {
 	return err
 }
 
-func (t *tplate) addTarget() (err error) {
+func (t *tplate) addTarget(cfg *config.Config) (err error) {
 	if t.name == "<arg>" && t.targetPath == "" {
 		t.targetPath = "-"
 	}
 	if t.target == nil {
-		t.target, err = openOutFile(t.targetPath, t.mode, t.modeOverride)
+		t.target, err = openOutFile(cfg, t.targetPath, t.mode, t.modeOverride)
 	}
 	return err
 }
 
 // gatherTemplates - gather and prepare input template(s) and output file(s) for rendering
 // nolint: gocyclo
-func gatherTemplates(o *Config, outFileNamer func(string) (string, error)) (templates []*tplate, err error) {
-	o.defaults()
-	mode, modeOverride, err := o.getMode()
+func gatherTemplates(cfg *config.Config, outFileNamer func(string) (string, error)) (templates []*tplate, err error) {
+	mode, modeOverride, err := cfg.GetMode()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	// --exec-pipe redirects standard out to the out pipe
-	if o.Out != nil {
-		Stdout = &nopWCloser{o.Out}
+	if cfg.OutWriter != nil {
+		Stdout = &nopWCloser{cfg.OutWriter}
 	}
 
 	switch {
 	// the arg-provided input string gets a special name
-	case o.Input != "":
+	case cfg.Input != "":
 		templates = []*tplate{{
 			name:         "<arg>",
-			contents:     o.Input,
+			contents:     cfg.Input,
 			mode:         mode,
 			modeOverride: modeOverride,
-			targetPath:   o.OutputFiles[0],
+			targetPath:   cfg.OutputFiles[0],
 		}}
-	case o.InputDir != "":
+	case cfg.InputDir != "":
 		// input dirs presume output dirs are set too
-		templates, err = walkDir(o.InputDir, outFileNamer, o.ExcludeGlob, mode, modeOverride)
+		templates, err = walkDir(cfg.InputDir, outFileNamer, cfg.ExcludeGlob, mode, modeOverride)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-	case o.Input == "":
-		templates = make([]*tplate, len(o.InputFiles))
-		for i := range o.InputFiles {
-			templates[i], err = fileToTemplates(o.InputFiles[i], o.OutputFiles[i], mode, modeOverride)
+	case cfg.Input == "":
+		templates = make([]*tplate, len(cfg.InputFiles))
+		for i := range cfg.InputFiles {
+			templates[i], err = fileToTemplates(cfg.InputFiles[i], cfg.OutputFiles[i], mode, modeOverride)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	return processTemplates(templates)
+	return processTemplates(cfg, templates)
 }
 
-func processTemplates(templates []*tplate) ([]*tplate, error) {
+func processTemplates(cfg *config.Config, templates []*tplate) ([]*tplate, error) {
 	for _, t := range templates {
 		if err := t.loadContents(); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		if err := t.addTarget(); err != nil {
+		if err := t.addTarget(cfg); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
@@ -229,8 +227,8 @@ func fileToTemplates(inFile, outFile string, mode os.FileMode, modeOverride bool
 	return tmpl, nil
 }
 
-func openOutFile(filename string, mode os.FileMode, modeOverride bool) (out io.WriteCloser, err error) {
-	if conv.ToBool(env.Getenv("GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY", "false")) {
+func openOutFile(cfg *config.Config, filename string, mode os.FileMode, modeOverride bool) (out io.WriteCloser, err error) {
+	if cfg.SuppressEmpty {
 		out = newEmptySkipper(func() (io.WriteCloser, error) {
 			if filename == "-" {
 				return Stdout, nil
diff --git a/template_test.go b/template_test.go
index 490917761..5f10530dc 100644
--- a/template_test.go
+++ b/template_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/hairyhenderson/gomplate/v3/internal/config"
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -44,7 +45,8 @@ func TestOpenOutFile(t *testing.T) {
 	fs = afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	_ = fs.Mkdir("/tmp", 0777)
 
-	_, err := openOutFile("/tmp/foo", 0644, false)
+	cfg := &config.Config{}
+	_, err := openOutFile(cfg, "/tmp/foo", 0644, false)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	i, err := fs.Stat("/tmp/foo")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
@@ -53,7 +55,7 @@ func TestOpenOutFile(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { Stdout = os.Stdout }()
 	Stdout = &nopWCloser{&bytes.Buffer{}}
 
-	f, err := openOutFile("-", 0644, false)
+	f, err := openOutFile(cfg, "-", 0644, false)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, Stdout, f)
 }
@@ -76,8 +78,9 @@ func TestAddTarget(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { fs = origfs }()
 	fs = afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
+	cfg := &config.Config{}
 	tmpl := &tplate{name: "foo", targetPath: "/out/outfile"}
-	err := tmpl.addTarget()
+	err := tmpl.addTarget(cfg)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.NotNil(t, tmpl.target)
 }
@@ -92,19 +95,23 @@ func TestGatherTemplates(t *testing.T) {
 	afero.WriteFile(fs, "in/2", []byte("bar"), 0644)
 	afero.WriteFile(fs, "in/3", []byte("baz"), 0644)
 
-	templates, err := gatherTemplates(&Config{}, nil)
+	cfg := &config.Config{}
+	cfg.ApplyDefaults()
+	templates, err := gatherTemplates(cfg, nil)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, templates, 1)
 
-	templates, err = gatherTemplates(&Config{
+	cfg = &config.Config{
 		Input: "foo",
-	}, nil)
+	}
+	cfg.ApplyDefaults()
+	templates, err = gatherTemplates(cfg, nil)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, templates, 1)
 	assert.Equal(t, "foo", templates[0].contents)
 	assert.Equal(t, Stdout, templates[0].target)
 
-	templates, err = gatherTemplates(&Config{
+	templates, err = gatherTemplates(&config.Config{
 		Input:       "foo",
 		OutputFiles: []string{"out"},
 	}, nil)
@@ -117,7 +124,7 @@ func TestGatherTemplates(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, os.FileMode(0644), info.Mode())
 	fs.Remove("out")
 
-	templates, err = gatherTemplates(&Config{
+	templates, err = gatherTemplates(&config.Config{
 		InputFiles:  []string{"foo"},
 		OutputFiles: []string{"out"},
 	}, nil)
@@ -131,7 +138,7 @@ func TestGatherTemplates(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, os.FileMode(0600), info.Mode())
 	fs.Remove("out")
 
-	templates, err = gatherTemplates(&Config{
+	templates, err = gatherTemplates(&config.Config{
 		InputFiles:  []string{"foo"},
 		OutputFiles: []string{"out"},
 		OutMode:     "755",
@@ -146,7 +153,7 @@ func TestGatherTemplates(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, os.FileMode(0755), info.Mode())
 	fs.Remove("out")
 
-	templates, err = gatherTemplates(&Config{
+	templates, err = gatherTemplates(&config.Config{
 		InputDir:  "in",
 		OutputDir: "out",
 	}, simpleNamer("out"))
@@ -168,6 +175,7 @@ func TestProcessTemplates(t *testing.T) {
 
 	afero.WriteFile(fs, "existing", []byte(""), 0644)
 
+	cfg := &config.Config{}
 	testdata := []struct {
 		templates []*tplate
 		contents  []string
@@ -221,7 +229,7 @@ func TestProcessTemplates(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 	for _, in := range testdata {
-		actual, err := processTemplates(in.templates)
+		actual, err := processTemplates(cfg, in.templates)
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Len(t, actual, len(in.templates))
 		for i, a := range actual {
diff --git a/tests/integration/basic_test.go b/tests/integration/basic_test.go
index 39ce824d8..2c4005e16 100644
--- a/tests/integration/basic_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/basic_test.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func (s *BasicSuite) TestErrorsWithInputOutputImbalance(c *C) {
 	})
 	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{
 		ExitCode: 1,
-		Err:      "must provide same number of --out (1) as --file (2) options",
+		Err:      "must provide same number of 'outputFiles' (1) as 'in' or 'inputFiles' (2) options",
 	})
 }
 
@@ -114,37 +114,37 @@ func (s *BasicSuite) TestFlagRules(c *C) {
 	result := icmd.RunCommand(GomplateBin, "-f", "-", "-i", "HELLO WORLD")
 	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{
 		ExitCode: 1,
-		Err:      "only one of these flags is supported at a time: --in, --file, --input-dir",
+		Err:      "only one of these options is supported at a time: 'in', 'inputFiles'",
 	})
 
 	result = icmd.RunCommand(GomplateBin, "--output-dir", ".")
 	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{
 		ExitCode: 1,
-		Err:      "--input-dir must be set when --output-dir is set",
+		Err:      "these options must be set together: 'outputDir', 'inputDir'",
 	})
 
 	result = icmd.RunCommand(GomplateBin, "--input-dir", ".", "--in", "param")
 	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{
 		ExitCode: 1,
-		Err:      "only one of these flags is supported at a time: --in, --file, --input-dir",
+		Err:      "only one of these options is supported at a time: 'in', 'inputDir'",
 	})
 
 	result = icmd.RunCommand(GomplateBin, "--input-dir", ".", "--file", "input.txt")
 	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{
 		ExitCode: 1,
-		Err:      "only one of these flags is supported at a time: --in, --file, --input-dir",
+		Err:      "only one of these options is supported at a time: 'inputFiles', 'inputDir'",
 	})
 
 	result = icmd.RunCommand(GomplateBin, "--output-dir", ".", "--out", "param")
 	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{
 		ExitCode: 1,
-		Err:      "only one of these flags is supported at a time: --out, --output-dir, --output-map",
+		Err:      "only one of these options is supported at a time: 'outputFiles', 'outputDir'",
 	})
 
 	result = icmd.RunCommand(GomplateBin, "--output-map", ".", "--out", "param")
 	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{
 		ExitCode: 1,
-		Err:      "only one of these flags is supported at a time: --out, --output-dir, --output-map",
+		Err:      "only one of these options is supported at a time: 'outputFiles', 'outputMap'",
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/config_test.go b/tests/integration/config_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e454dff6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/config_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+//+build integration
+
+package integration
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"runtime"
+
+	"gopkg.in/check.v1"
+
+	"gotest.tools/v3/assert"
+	"gotest.tools/v3/fs"
+	"gotest.tools/v3/icmd"
+)
+
+type ConfigSuite struct {
+	tmpDir *fs.Dir
+}
+
+var _ = check.Suite(&ConfigSuite{})
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) SetUpTest(c *check.C) {
+	s.tmpDir = fs.NewDir(c, "gomplate-inttests",
+		fs.WithDir("indir"),
+		fs.WithDir("outdir"),
+		fs.WithFile(".gomplate.yaml", "in: hello world\n"),
+		fs.WithFile("sleep.sh", "#!/bin/sh\n\nexec sleep $1\n", fs.WithMode(0755)),
+	)
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) writeFile(f, content string) {
+	f = s.tmpDir.Join(f)
+	err := ioutil.WriteFile(f, []byte(content), 0600)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) writeConfig(content string) {
+	s.writeFile(".gomplate.yaml", content)
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TearDownTest(c *check.C) {
+	s.tmpDir.Remove()
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestReadsFromSimpleConfigFile(c *check.C) {
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Out: "hello world"})
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestReadsStdin(c *check.C) {
+	s.writeConfig("inputFiles: [-]")
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+		cmd.Stdin = bytes.NewBufferString("foo bar")
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Out: "foo bar"})
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestFlagOverridesConfig(c *check.C) {
+	s.writeConfig("inputFiles: [in]")
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin, "-i", "hello from the cli"), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Out: "hello from the cli"})
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestReadsFromInputFile(c *check.C) {
+	s.writeConfig("inputFiles: [in]")
+	s.writeFile("in", "blah blah")
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Out: "blah blah"})
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestDatasource(c *check.C) {
+	s.writeConfig(`inputFiles: [in]
+datasources:
+  data:
+    url: in.yaml
+`)
+	s.writeFile("in", `{{ (ds "data").value }}`)
+	s.writeFile("in.yaml", `value: hello world`)
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Out: "hello world"})
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestOutputDir(c *check.C) {
+	s.writeConfig(`inputDir: indir/
+outputDir: outdir/
+datasources:
+  data:
+    url: in.yaml
+`)
+	s.writeFile("indir/file", `{{ (ds "data").value }}`)
+	s.writeFile("in.yaml", `value: hello world`)
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0})
+	b, err := ioutil.ReadFile(s.tmpDir.Join("outdir", "file"))
+	assert.NilError(c, err)
+	assert.Equal(c, "hello world", string(b))
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestExecPipeOverridesConfigFile(c *check.C) {
+	// make sure exec-pipe works, and outFiles is replaced
+	s.writeConfig(`in: hello world
+outputFiles: ['-']
+`)
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin, "-i", "hi", "--exec-pipe", "--", "tr", "[a-z]", "[A-Z]"), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Out: "HI"})
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestOutFile(c *check.C) {
+	s.writeConfig(`in: hello world
+outputFiles: [out]
+`)
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0})
+	b, err := ioutil.ReadFile(s.tmpDir.Join("out"))
+	assert.NilError(c, err)
+	assert.Equal(c, "hello world", string(b))
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestAlternateConfigFile(c *check.C) {
+	s.writeFile("config.yaml", `in: this is from an alternate config
+`)
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin, "--config=config.yaml"), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Out: "this is from an alternate config"})
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestEnvConfigFile(c *check.C) {
+	s.writeFile("envconfig.yaml", `in: yet another alternate config
+`)
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+		cmd.Env = []string{"GOMPLATE_CONFIG=./envconfig.yaml"}
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Out: "yet another alternate config"})
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestConfigOverridesEnvDelim(c *check.C) {
+	if runtime.GOOS != "windows" {
+		s.writeConfig(`inputFiles: [in]
+leftDelim: (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
+datasources:
+  data:
+    url: in.yaml
+`)
+		s.writeFile("in", `(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ (ds "data").value }}`)
+		s.writeFile("in.yaml", `value: hello world`)
+		result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+			cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+			cmd.Env = []string{"GOMPLATE_LEFT_DELIM", "<<"}
+		})
+		result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Out: "hello world"})
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestFlagOverridesAllDelim(c *check.C) {
+	if runtime.GOOS != "windows" {
+		s.writeConfig(`inputFiles: [in]
+leftDelim: (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
+datasources:
+  data:
+    url: in.yaml
+`)
+		s.writeFile("in", `{{ (ds "data").value }}`)
+		s.writeFile("in.yaml", `value: hello world`)
+		result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin, "--left-delim={{"), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+			cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+			cmd.Env = []string{"GOMPLATE_LEFT_DELIM", "<<"}
+		})
+		result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Out: "hello world"})
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestConfigOverridesEnvPluginTimeout(c *check.C) {
+	if runtime.GOOS != "windows" {
+		s.writeConfig(`in: hi there {{ sleep 2 }}
+plugins:
+  sleep: echo
+
+pluginTimeout: 500ms
+`)
+		result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin,
+			"--plugin", "sleep="+s.tmpDir.Join("sleep.sh"),
+		), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+			cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+			cmd.Env = []string{"GOMPLATE_PLUGIN_TIMEOUT=5s"}
+		})
+		result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 1, Err: "plugin timed out"})
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *ConfigSuite) TestConfigOverridesEnvSuppressEmpty(c *check.C) {
+	s.writeConfig(`in: |
+  {{- print "\t  \n\n\r\n\t\t     \v\n" -}}
+
+  {{ print "   " -}}
+out: ./missing
+suppressEmpty: true
+`)
+	result := icmd.RunCmd(icmd.Command(GomplateBin), func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
+		cmd.Dir = s.tmpDir.Path()
+		// should have no effect, as config overrides
+		cmd.Env = []string{"GOMPLATE_SUPPRESS_EMPTY=false"}
+	})
+	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0})
+	_, err := os.Stat(s.tmpDir.Join("missing"))
+	assert.Equal(c, true, os.IsNotExist(err))
+}
diff --git a/tests/integration/tmpl_test.go b/tests/integration/tmpl_test.go
index 4669df298..93e271486 100644
--- a/tests/integration/tmpl_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/tmpl_test.go
@@ -96,7 +96,6 @@ func (s *TmplSuite) TestExec(c *C) {
 	})
 	result.Assert(c, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0})
 	assert.Equal(c, "", result.Stdout())
-	assert.Equal(c, "", result.Stderr())
 
 	out, err := ioutil.ReadFile(s.tmpDir.Join("out", "users", "config.json"))
 	assert.NilError(c, err)