diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index bf3f585..8089823 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ edition = "2018"
 
 [dependencies]
 chrono = "0.4"
+inventory = "0.1"
+serde = { version = "1.0", features = ["derive"] }
 serde_json = "1.0"
 serde_yaml = "0.8"
-systemd = "0.4.0"
+systemd = "0.4"
diff --git a/src/actions/noop.rs b/src/actions/noop.rs
index c26fe3a..59d2522 100644
--- a/src/actions/noop.rs
+++ b/src/actions/noop.rs
@@ -1,18 +1,22 @@
-use crate::modules::{Module,ModuleArgs};
+use crate::modules::{Action,AvailableAction,ModuleArgs};
 use crate::common::Record;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Noop {}
 
+inventory::submit! {
+  AvailableAction::new("action_noop", move |a| Box::new(Noop::from_args(a)))
+}
+
 impl Noop {
   pub fn from_args(mut _args: ModuleArgs) -> Noop {
     Noop {}
   }
 }
 
-impl Module for Noop {
-  fn run(&self, _record: &mut Record) -> Result<bool, ()> {
-    Ok(true)
+impl Action for Noop {
+  fn act(&self, _record: &mut Record) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    Ok(())
   }
 }
 
@@ -21,9 +25,9 @@ mod tests {
   use std::collections::HashMap;
   use crate::common::Record;
   use crate::actions::Noop;
-  use crate::modules::{Module,ModuleArgs};
+  use crate::modules::{Action,ModuleArgs};
 
-  fn generate_empty_args_record() -> (ModuleArgs<'static>, Record<'static>) {
+  fn generate_empty_args_record() -> (ModuleArgs, Record<'static>) {
     let args = HashMap::with_capacity(0);
     let record = HashMap::with_capacity(0);
     (args, record)
@@ -33,6 +37,6 @@ mod tests {
   fn noop_does_nothing() {
     let (args, mut record) = generate_empty_args_record();
     let action = Noop::from_args(args);
-    assert!(action.run(&mut record).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!((), action.act(&mut record).unwrap());
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/common.rs b/src/common.rs
index 793b9b1..cde950a 100644
--- a/src/common.rs
+++ b/src/common.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ pub enum Value {
   Bool(bool),
   Str(String),
   Int(isize),
-  Date(DateTime<chrono::Utc>)
+  Date(DateTime<chrono::Utc>),
+  Map(HashMap<String, Value>),
+  List(Vec<Value>)
 }
 
 pub type Record<'a> = HashMap<&'a str, Value>;
diff --git a/src/config/file.rs b/src/config/file.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f790655
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/file.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+use std::env;
+use std::ffi::{OsString};
+use std::io::{BufReader,Error,Result};
+use std::path::Path;
+use std::fs::File;
+
+const ENV_VARIABLE: &'static str = "PYRUSE_CONF";
+
+enum ConfFile {
+  Json(OsString),
+  Yaml(OsString)
+}
+
+pub fn from_file() {
+  match find_file(find_candidates()) {
+    ConfFile::Json(path) => super::parse_json(BufReader::new(File::open(path).expect("Read error"))),
+    ConfFile::Yaml(path) => super::parse_yaml(BufReader::new(File::open(path).expect("Read error")))
+  };
+}
+
+fn find_candidates() -> Vec<ConfFile> {
+  match env::var_os(ENV_VARIABLE) {
+    Some(path) => {
+      let s = Path::new(&path)
+        .extension()
+        .and_then(|e| Some(e.to_string_lossy()))
+        .and_then(|s| Some(s.to_ascii_lowercase()))
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+      match s.as_ref() {
+        "json" => vec![ConfFile::Json(path)],
+        "yaml" | "yml" => vec![ConfFile::Yaml(path)],
+        _ => panic!("Cannot determine file format from file name: {}", path.to_string_lossy())
+      }
+    },
+    None => {
+      vec![
+        ConfFile::Json(OsString::from("pyruse.json")),
+        ConfFile::Yaml(OsString::from("pyruse.yaml")),
+        ConfFile::Yaml(OsString::from("pyruse.yml"))
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+fn find_file(conf_candidates: Vec<ConfFile>) -> ConfFile {
+  for name in conf_candidates {
+    match name {
+      ConfFile::Json(ref path) | ConfFile::Yaml(ref path) => {
+        if Path::new(&path).exists() {
+          return name;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  panic!("No configuration found. Consider setting ${}, or creating one of these in $PWD: pyruse.json, pyruse.yaml or pyruse.yml", ENV_VARIABLE)
+}
diff --git a/src/config/mod.rs b/src/config/mod.rs
index c98853b..3dc2449 100644
--- a/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -1,18 +1,205 @@
-use crate::common::Record;
-use crate::modules::{ModuleArgs,ModuleType};
+use serde::de::{self,Deserializer,MapAccess,SeqAccess,Visitor};
+use serde::Deserialize;
+use serde_json;
+use serde_yaml;
+use std::cell::RefCell;
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::fmt;
+use std::io::Read;
+use crate::common::Value;
+use crate::modules::ModuleArgs;
 
-pub struct Config<'a> {
-  actions: Vec<Chain<'a>>,
-  options: Record<'a>
+mod file;
+
+thread_local!(static CONFIG: RefCell<Option<Config>> = RefCell::new(None));
+
+#[derive(Debug,Deserialize)]
+pub struct Config {
+  actions: HashMap<String, Chain>,
+
+  #[serde(flatten)]
+  options: HashMap<String, Value>
 }
 
-pub struct Chain<'a> {
-  name: String,
-  steps: Vec<Step<'a>>
+type Chain = Vec<Step>;
+
+#[derive(Debug,Deserialize)]
+pub enum StepType {
+  #[serde(rename(deserialize = "action"))]
+  Action(String),
+  #[serde(rename(deserialize = "filter"))]
+  Filter(String)
 }
 
-pub struct Step<'a> {
-  module_name: String,
-  module_type: ModuleType,
-  args: ModuleArgs<'a>
+#[derive(Debug,Deserialize)]
+pub struct Step {
+  #[serde(flatten)]
+  module: StepType,
+  args: ModuleArgs,
+  #[serde(rename(deserialize = "then"))]
+  then_dest: Option<String>,
+  #[serde(rename(deserialize = "else"))]
+  else_dest: Option<String>
+}
+
+/* *** serde for Value *** */
+
+struct ValueVisitor;
+
+impl<'de> Visitor<'de> for ValueVisitor {
+  type Value = Value;
+
+  fn expecting(&self, formatter: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
+    formatter.write_str("a boolean, string, or integer")
+  }
+
+  fn visit_bool<E>(self, v: bool) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Bool(v))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_i8<E>(self, v: i8) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_i16<E>(self, v: i16) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_i32<E>(self, v: i32) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_i64<E>(self, v: i64) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_i128<E>(self, v: i128) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_u8<E>(self, v: u8) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_u16<E>(self, v: u16) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_u32<E>(self, v: u32) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_u64<E>(self, v: u64) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_u128<E>(self, v: u128) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_f32<E>(self, v: f32) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_f64<E>(self, v: f64) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Int(v as isize))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_char<E>(self, v: char) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Str(v.to_string()))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_str<E>(self, v: &str) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Str(String::from(v)))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_borrowed_str<E>(self, v: &'de str) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Str(String::from(v)))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_string<E>(self, v: String) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Str(v))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_bytes<E>(self, v: &[u8]) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Str(std::str::from_utf8(v).expect("Strings in the configuration must be UTF-8").to_string()))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_borrowed_bytes<E>(self, v: &'de [u8]) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Str(std::str::from_utf8(v).expect("Strings in the configuration must be UTF-8").to_string()))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_byte_buf<E>(self, v: Vec<u8>) -> Result<Self::Value, E> where E: de::Error {
+    Ok(Value::Str(String::from_utf8(v).expect("Strings in the configuration must be UTF-8")))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_seq<A>(self, mut seq: A) -> Result<Self::Value, A::Error> where A: SeqAccess<'de> {
+    let mut result = Vec::with_capacity(seq.size_hint().unwrap_or(0));
+    while let Some(v) = seq.next_element()? {
+      result.push(v);
+    }
+    Ok(Value::List(result))
+  }
+
+  fn visit_map<A>(self, mut map: A) -> Result<Self::Value, A::Error> where A: MapAccess<'de> {
+    let mut result = HashMap::with_capacity(map.size_hint().unwrap_or(0));
+    while let Some((k, v)) = map.next_entry()? {
+      result.insert(k, v);
+    }
+    Ok(Value::Map(result))
+  }
+}
+
+impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Value {
+  fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Value, D::Error> where D: Deserializer<'de> {
+    deserializer.deserialize_any(ValueVisitor)
+  }
+}
+
+fn parse_json(data: impl Read) {
+  CONFIG.with(|config| {
+    config.replace(Some(serde_json::from_reader(data).expect("Failed to parse configuration")));
+  });
+}
+
+fn parse_yaml(data: impl Read) {
+  CONFIG.with(|config| {
+    config.replace(Some(serde_yaml::from_reader(data).expect("Failed to parse configuration")));
+  });
+}
+
+//fn handle_serde(data: se)
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+  use super::parse_json;
+
+  #[test]
+  fn parse_json_works() {
+    let json = r#"
+    {
+      "actions": {
+        "Detect request errors with Nextcloud": [
+          {
+            "filter": "filter_equals",
+            "args": { "field": "SYSLOG_IDENTIFIER", "value": "uwsgi" }
+          },
+          {
+            "filter": "filter_pcre",
+            "args": { "field": "MESSAGE", "re": "^\\[[^]]+\\] ([^ ]+) .*\\] ([A-Z]+ /[^?]*)(?:\\?.*)? => .*\\(HTTP/1.1 5..\\)", "save": [ "thatIP", "HTTPrequest" ] },
+            "else": "… Report insufficient buffer-size for Nextcloud QUERY_STRING"
+          },
+          {
+            "action": "action_dailyReport",
+            "args": { "level": "INFO", "message": "IP {thatIP} failed to {HTTPrequest} on Nextcloud", "details": "FIRSTLAST" }
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      "debug": false
+    }
+    "#.as_bytes();
+    parse_json(json);
+    super::CONFIG.with(|config| {
+      println!("{:#?}", config.borrow());
+    });
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/filters/equals.rs b/src/filters/equals.rs
index d974d63..748abe8 100644
--- a/src/filters/equals.rs
+++ b/src/filters/equals.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::modules::{Module,ModuleArgs};
+use crate::modules::{AvailableFilter,Filter,ModuleArgs};
 use crate::common::Record;
 use crate::common::Value;
 
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ pub struct Equals {
   value: Value
 }
 
+inventory::submit! {
+  AvailableFilter::new("filter_equals", move |a| Box::new(Equals::from_args(a)))
+}
+
 impl Equals {
   pub fn from_args(mut args: ModuleArgs) -> Equals {
     Equals {
@@ -20,11 +24,11 @@ impl Equals {
   }
 }
 
-impl Module for Equals {
-  fn run(&self, record: &mut Record) -> Result<bool, ()> {
+impl Filter for Equals {
+  fn filter(&self, record: &mut Record) -> bool {
     match (record.get(&self.field.as_ref()), &self.value) {
-      (Some(ref v1), ref v2) => Ok(v1 == v2),
-      (None, _) => Ok(false)
+      (Some(ref v1), ref v2) => v1 == v2,
+      (None, _) => false
     }
   }
 }
@@ -35,21 +39,21 @@ mod tests {
   use std::collections::HashMap;
   use crate::common::{Record,Value};
   use crate::filters::Equals;
-  use crate::modules::{Module,ModuleArgs};
+  use crate::modules::{Filter,ModuleArgs};
 
-  fn generate_args_record_equal<'a>(name: &'a str, value: Value) -> (ModuleArgs<'static>, Record<'a>) {
+  fn generate_args_record_equal<'a>(name: &'a str, value: Value) -> (ModuleArgs, Record<'a>) {
     let mut args = HashMap::with_capacity(2);
-    args.insert("field", Value::Str(String::from(name)));
-    args.insert("value", value.clone());
+    args.insert(String::from("field"), Value::Str(String::from(name)));
+    args.insert(String::from("value"), value.clone());
     let mut record = HashMap::with_capacity(1);
     record.insert(name, value);
     (args, record)
   }
 
-  fn generate_args_record_custom<'a>(ref_name: &str, ref_value: Value, test_name: &'a str, test_value: Value) -> (ModuleArgs<'static>, Record<'a>) {
+  fn generate_args_record_custom<'a>(ref_name: &str, ref_value: Value, test_name: &'a str, test_value: Value) -> (ModuleArgs, Record<'a>) {
     let mut args = HashMap::with_capacity(2);
-    args.insert("field", Value::Str(String::from(ref_name)));
-    args.insert("value", ref_value);
+    args.insert(String::from("field"), Value::Str(String::from(ref_name)));
+    args.insert(String::from("value"), ref_value);
     let mut record = HashMap::with_capacity(1);
     record.insert(test_name, test_value);
     (args, record)
@@ -59,41 +63,41 @@ mod tests {
   fn filter_equals_should_return_true() {
     let (args, mut record) = generate_args_record_equal("a_boolean", Value::Bool(false));
     let filter = Equals::from_args(args);
-    assert!(filter.run(&mut record).unwrap());
+    assert!(filter.filter(&mut record));
 
     let (args, mut record) = generate_args_record_equal("a_string", Value::Str(String::from("Hello!")));
     let filter = Equals::from_args(args);
-    assert!(filter.run(&mut record).unwrap());
+    assert!(filter.filter(&mut record));
 
     let (args, mut record) = generate_args_record_equal("an_integer", Value::Int(2));
     let filter = Equals::from_args(args);
-    assert!(filter.run(&mut record).unwrap());
+    assert!(filter.filter(&mut record));
 
     let (args, mut record) = generate_args_record_equal("a_date", Value::Date(Utc::now()));
     let filter = Equals::from_args(args);
-    assert!(filter.run(&mut record).unwrap());
+    assert!(filter.filter(&mut record));
   }
 
   #[test]
   fn filter_equals_should_return_false() {
     let (args, mut record) = generate_args_record_custom("a_boolean", Value::Bool(true), "a_boolean", Value::Bool(false));
     let filter = Equals::from_args(args);
-    assert!(! filter.run(&mut record).unwrap());
+    assert!(! filter.filter(&mut record));
 
     let (args, mut record) = generate_args_record_custom("a_string", Value::Str(String::from("Hello!")), "a_string", Value::Str(String::from("World!")));
     let filter = Equals::from_args(args);
-    assert!(! filter.run(&mut record).unwrap());
+    assert!(! filter.filter(&mut record));
 
     let (args, mut record) = generate_args_record_custom("an_integer", Value::Int(2), "an_integer", Value::Int(3));
     let filter = Equals::from_args(args);
-    assert!(! filter.run(&mut record).unwrap());
+    assert!(! filter.filter(&mut record));
 
     let (args, mut record) = generate_args_record_custom("a_date", Value::Date(Utc::now()), "a_date", Value::Date(Utc::now()));
     let filter = Equals::from_args(args);
-    assert!(! filter.run(&mut record).unwrap());
+    assert!(! filter.filter(&mut record));
 
     let (args, mut record) = generate_args_record_custom("first_one", Value::Int(1), "second_one", Value::Int(1));
     let filter = Equals::from_args(args);
-    assert!(! filter.run(&mut record).unwrap());
+    assert!(! filter.filter(&mut record));
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/modules.rs b/src/modules.rs
index 7729708..2f80e64 100644
--- a/src/modules.rs
+++ b/src/modules.rs
@@ -1,23 +1,69 @@
-use crate::common::Record;
-use crate::{actions,filters};
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use crate::common::{Record,Value};
 
-struct Available {
+pub struct AvailableAction {
   name: &'static str,
-  cons: fn(ModuleArgs) -> Box<dyn Module>
+  cons: fn(ModuleArgs) -> Box<dyn Action>
 }
 
-const AVAILABLE: &[Available] = &[
-  Available { name: "action_noop", cons: move |a| Box::new(actions::Noop::from_args(a)) },
-  Available { name: "filter_equals", cons: move |a| Box::new(filters::Equals::from_args(a)) }
-];
-
-pub trait Module {
-  fn run(&self, record: &mut Record) -> Result<bool, ()>;
+impl AvailableAction {
+  pub fn new(name: &'static str, cons: fn(ModuleArgs) -> Box<dyn Action>) -> Self {
+    AvailableAction { name, cons }
+  }
 }
 
-pub type ModuleArgs<'a> = Record<'a>;
+inventory::collect!(AvailableAction);
 
-pub enum ModuleType {
-  Filter,
-  Action
+pub struct AvailableFilter {
+  name: &'static str,
+  cons: fn(ModuleArgs) -> Box<dyn Filter>
 }
+
+impl AvailableFilter {
+  pub fn new(name: &'static str, cons: fn(ModuleArgs) -> Box<dyn Filter>) -> Self {
+    AvailableFilter { name, cons }
+  }
+}
+
+inventory::collect!(AvailableFilter);
+
+pub enum Module {
+  Action(Box<dyn Action>),
+  Filter(Box<dyn Filter>)
+}
+
+impl Module {
+  pub fn get_module(name: &str, args: ModuleArgs) -> Result<Module, ()> {
+    for action in inventory::iter::<AvailableAction> {
+      if action.name == name {
+        return Ok(Module::Action((action.cons)(args)))
+      }
+    }
+    for filter in inventory::iter::<AvailableFilter> {
+      if filter.name == name {
+        return Ok(Module::Filter((filter.cons)(args)))
+      }
+    }
+    Err(())
+  }
+
+  pub fn run(&self, record: &mut Record) -> Result<bool, ()> {
+    match self {
+      Module::Action(a) => match a.act(record) {
+        Ok(()) => Ok(true),
+        Err(()) => Err(())
+      },
+      Module::Filter(f) => Ok(f.filter(record))
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+pub trait Action {
+  fn act(&self, record: &mut Record) -> Result<(), ()>;
+}
+
+pub trait Filter {
+  fn filter(&self, record: &mut Record) -> bool;
+}
+
+pub type ModuleArgs = HashMap<String, Value>;