diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 823c9d3..e708f7c 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ espanso/match/*.backup
 
 # --- Generated files ---
 dotfiles.conf.wizard
+dotfiles.conf
 git/.gitconfig
 
 # --- Package managers ---
diff --git a/dotfiles.conf.template b/dotfiles.conf.template
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3fdc31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dotfiles.conf.template
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+# ============================================================================
+# Dotfiles Configuration (Arch/CachyOS)
+# ============================================================================
+# This is the SINGLE SOURCE OF TRUTH for all dotfiles configuration.
+# All scripts and functions should ultimately pull values from here.
+#
+# Edit this file to customize your dotfiles installation.
+# ============================================================================
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Core Settings
+# ============================================================================
+
+DOTFILES_VERSION="1.2.4"
+DOTFILES_DIR="$HOME/.dotfiles"
+DOTFILES_BRANCH="main"
+DOTFILES_BACKUP_PREFIX="$HOME/.dotfiles_backup"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# GitHub Settings
+# ============================================================================
+
+DOTFILES_GITHUB_USER="adlee-was-taken"
+DOTFILES_REPO_NAME="dotfiles"
+
+# Derived URLs (computed from above)
+DOTFILES_REPO_URL="https://github.com/${DOTFILES_GITHUB_USER}/${DOTFILES_REPO_NAME}.git"
+DOTFILES_RAW_URL="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/${DOTFILES_GITHUB_USER}/${DOTFILES_REPO_NAME}/${DOTFILES_BRANCH}"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# User Identity
+# ============================================================================
+# Used by git config, espanso, and vault
+# Leave blank to be prompted during setup
+
+USER_FULLNAME="Aaron D. Lee"
+USER_EMAIL="aaron.daniel.lee@gmail.com"
+USER_GITHUB="adlee-was-taken"
+USER_PHONE=""
+USER_WEBSITE=""
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Git Configuration
+# ============================================================================
+# If blank, falls back to USER_FULLNAME/USER_EMAIL above
+
+GIT_USER_NAME="adlee-was-taken"
+GIT_USER_EMAIL="aaron.daniel.lee@gmail.com"
+GIT_DEFAULT_BRANCH="main"
+GIT_CREDENTIAL_HELPER="store"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Display Settings
+# ============================================================================
+
+# Width for header boxes and MOTD displays (in characters)
+DF_WIDTH="74"
+
+# MOTD (Message of the Day)
+ENABLE_MOTD="true"
+MOTD_STYLE="compact"                  # compact, mini, full, or none
+MOTD_SHOW_FAILED_SERVICES="true"
+MOTD_SHOW_UPDATES="true"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Theme Settings
+# ============================================================================
+
+ZSH_THEME_NAME="adlee"
+THEME_TIMER_THRESHOLD="10"
+THEME_PATH_TRUNCATE_LENGTH="32"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Feature Toggles
+# ============================================================================
+# Set to "true", "false", or "ask" to control what gets installed
+# Use "auto" to skip if already installed (default for deps)
+
+INSTALL_DEPS="auto"
+INSTALL_ZSH_PLUGINS="true"
+INSTALL_FZF="ask"
+INSTALL_BAT="ask"
+INSTALL_EZA="ask"
+INSTALL_NEOVIM="ask"
+SET_ZSH_DEFAULT="ask"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Advanced Features
+# ============================================================================
+
+ENABLE_SMART_SUGGESTIONS="true"       # Typo correction
+ENABLE_COMMAND_PALETTE="true"         # Ctrl+Space launcher
+ENABLE_SHELL_ANALYTICS="false"        # Command usage stats
+ENABLE_VAULT="true"                   # Encrypted secrets storage
+DOTFILES_AUTO_SYNC_CHECK="true"       # Check for updates on shell start
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Btrfs Settings
+# ============================================================================
+
+BTRFS_DEFAULT_MOUNT="/"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Snapper Settings (Arch/CachyOS with btrfs)
+# ============================================================================
+
+SNAPPER_CONFIG="root"
+LIMINE_CONF="/boot/limine.conf"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Tmux Workspace Settings
+# ============================================================================
+
+TW_SESSION_PREFIX="work"
+TW_DEFAULT_TEMPLATE="dev"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Tmuxinator Settings 
+# ============================================================================
+
+TMUXINATOR_ENABLED="auto"             # auto, true, false
+TMUXINATOR_CONFIG_DIR="$HOME/.config/tmuxinator"
+
+# When both a simple template and tmuxinator project exist with the same name,
+# tmuxinator takes precedence. Set to "false" to prefer simple templates.
+TW_PREFER_TMUXINATOR="true"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Python Template Settings
+# ============================================================================
+
+PY_TEMPLATE_BASE_DIR="$HOME/projects"
+PY_TEMPLATE_PYTHON="python3"
+PY_TEMPLATE_VENV_NAME="venv"
+PY_TEMPLATE_USE_POETRY="false"
+PY_TEMPLATE_GIT_INIT="true"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# SSH Manager Settings
+# ============================================================================
+
+SSH_AUTO_TMUX="true"
+SSH_TMUX_SESSION_PREFIX="ssh"
+SSH_SYNC_DOTFILES="ask"
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Password Manager Settings
+# ============================================================================
+
+PW_CLIP_TIME="45"                     # Seconds before clipboard clears
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Package Manager
+# ============================================================================
+
+# Preferred AUR helper: paru, yay, or auto (auto-detect)
+AUR_HELPER="auto"