diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 004a8d7..0db4888 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
 *.pyc
 .coverage
+.idea/
+.vscode/
+.atom/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a00f1c5..30b4bc6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -177,11 +177,12 @@ the following entries:
   * `dotpath`: path to the folder containing the dotfiles to be managed
     by dotdrop (absolute path or relative to the config file location)
 * **dotfiles** entry: a list of dotfiles in the form
-
+  * When `link` is true, dotdrop will create a link instead of copying. Template generation (as in [template](#template)) is not supported when `link` is true.
 ```
   <dotfile-key-name>:
     dst: <where-this-file-is-deployed>
     src: <filename-within-the-dotpath>
+    link: <true|false>  # Optional
 ```
 
 * **profiles** entry: a list of profiles with a sublist
diff --git a/dotdrop/config.py b/dotdrop/config.py
index 5cd02b2..213463c 100644
--- a/dotdrop/config.py
+++ b/dotdrop/config.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ class Cfg:
     key_dotpath = 'dotpath'
     key_dotfiles_src = 'src'
     key_dotfiles_dst = 'dst'
+    key_dotfiles_link = 'link'
 
     def __init__(self, cfgpath):
         if not os.path.exists(cfgpath):
@@ -61,7 +62,9 @@ class Cfg:
             for k, v in self.content[self.key_dotfiles].items():
                 src = v[self.key_dotfiles_src]
                 dst = v[self.key_dotfiles_dst]
-                self.dotfiles[k] = Dotfile(k, dst, src)
+                link = v[self.key_dotfiles_link] if self.key_dotfiles_link \
+                    in v else False
+                self.dotfiles[k] = Dotfile(k, dst, src, link)
         # contains a list of dotfiles defined for each profile
         for k, v in self.profiles.items():
             self.prodots[k] = []
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ class Cfg:
             return absconf
         return dotpath
 
-    def new(self, dotfile, profile):
+    def new(self, dotfile, profile, link=False):
         """ import new dotfile """
         dots = self.content[self.key_dotfiles]
         if dots is None:
@@ -100,6 +103,8 @@ class Cfg:
             self.key_dotfiles_dst: dotfile.dst,
             self.key_dotfiles_src: dotfile.src
         }
+        if link:
+            dots[dotfile.key][self.key_dotfiles_link] = True
         profiles = self.profiles
         if profile in profiles and profiles[profile] != [self.key_all]:
             if self.content[self.key_profiles][profile] is None:
@@ -115,8 +120,7 @@ class Cfg:
         """ returns a list of dotfiles for a specific profile """
         if profile not in self.prodots:
             return []
-        tmp = sorted(self.prodots[profile], key=lambda x: x.key, reverse=True)
-        return tmp
+        return sorted(self.prodots[profile], key=lambda x: x.key, reverse=True)
 
     def get_profiles(self):
         """ returns all defined profiles """
diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index dad1ca1..176a6f0 100755
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ Usage:
     [(-f | --force)] [--nodiff] [--dry]
   dotdrop.py compare [--profile=<profile>] [--cfg=<path>]
   dotdrop.py list [--cfg=<path>]
-  dotdrop.py import [--cfg=<path>] [--profile=<profile>] [--dry] <paths>...
+  dotdrop.py import [--profile=<profile>] [--cfg=<path>]
+    [(-l | --link)] [--dry] <paths>...
   dotdrop.py (-h | --help)
   dotdrop.py (-v | --version)
 
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ Options:
   --cfg=<path>            Path to the config [default: %s/config.yaml].
   --dry                   Dry run.
   --nodiff                Do not diff when installing [default: False].
+  -l --link               Import and link [default: False].
   -f --force              Do not warn if exists [default: False].
   -v --version            Show version.
   -h --help               Show this screen.
@@ -66,7 +68,10 @@ def install(opts, conf):
                      diff=opts['installdiff'])
     installed = []
     for dotfile in dotfiles:
-        r = inst.install(t, opts['profile'], dotfile.src, dotfile.dst)
+        if hasattr(dotfile, "link") and dotfile.link:
+            r = inst.link(dotfile.src, dotfile.dst)
+        else:
+            r = inst.install(t, opts['profile'], dotfile.src, dotfile.dst)
         installed.extend(r)
     LOG.log('\n%u dotfile(s) installed.' % (len(installed)))
     return True
@@ -98,8 +103,7 @@ def importer(opts, conf, paths):
         key = dst.split(os.sep)[-1]
         if key == 'config':
             key = '_'.join(dst.split(os.sep)[-2:])
-        key = key.lstrip('.')
-        key = key.lower()
+        key = key.lstrip('.').lower()
         if os.path.isdir(dst):
             key = 'd_%s' % (key)
         else:
@@ -113,17 +117,22 @@ def importer(opts, conf, paths):
         if os.path.exists(srcf):
             LOG.err('\"%s\" already exists, ignored !' % (srcf))
             continue
-        conf.new(dotfile, opts['profile'])
+        conf.new(dotfile, opts['profile'], opts['link'])
         cmd = ['mkdir', '-p', '%s' % (os.path.dirname(srcf))]
         if opts['dry']:
             LOG.dry('would run: %s' % (' '.join(cmd)))
         else:
             utils.run(cmd, raw=False, log=False)
-        cmd = ['cp', '-r', '%s' % (dst), '%s' % (srcf)]
+        if opts['link']:
+            cmd = ['mv', '%s' % (dst), '%s' % (srcf)]
+        else:
+            cmd = ['cp', '-r', '%s' % (dst), '%s' % (srcf)]
         if opts['dry']:
             LOG.dry('would run: %s' % (' '.join(cmd)))
         else:
             utils.run(cmd, raw=False, log=False)
+            if opts['link']:
+                os.symlink(srcf, dst)
         LOG.sub('\"%s\" imported' % (path))
         cnt += 1
     if opts['dry']:
@@ -156,6 +165,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     opts['profile'] = args['--profile']
     opts['safe'] = not args['--force']
     opts['installdiff'] = not args['--nodiff']
+    opts['link'] = args['--link']
 
     header()
 
diff --git a/dotdrop/dotfile.py b/dotdrop/dotfile.py
index c696631..a7e53b0 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotfile.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotfile.py
@@ -7,15 +7,16 @@ represents a dotfile in dotdrop
 
 class Dotfile:
 
-    def __init__(self, key, dst, src):
+    def __init__(self, key, dst, src, link=False):
         # key of dotfile in the config
         self.key = key
         # where to install this dotfile
         self.dst = dst
         # stored dotfile in dotdrop
         self.src = src
+        # should be a link
+        self.link = link
 
     def __str__(self):
-        string = 'key:%s, src: %s, dst: %s' % (self.key,
-                                               self.src, self.dst)
-        return string
+        return 'key:%s, src: %s, dst: %s, link: %s' % (self.key, self.src,
+                                                       self.dst, self.link)
diff --git a/dotdrop/installer.py b/dotdrop/installer.py
index 658cb53..7581c3a 100644
--- a/dotdrop/installer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/installer.py
@@ -32,6 +32,35 @@ class Installer:
             return self._handle_dir(templater, profile, src, dst)
         return self._handle_file(templater, profile, src, dst)
 
+    def link(self, src, dst):
+        '''Sets src as the link target of dst'''
+        src = os.path.join(self.base, os.path.expanduser(src))
+        dst = os.path.join(self.base, os.path.expanduser(dst))
+        if os.path.exists(dst):
+            if os.path.realpath(dst) == os.path.realpath(src):
+                self.log.sub('ignoring "%s", link exists' % dst)
+                return []
+            if self.dry:
+                self.log.dry('would remove %s and link it to %s'
+                             % (dst, src))
+                return []
+            if self.safe and \
+                    not self.log.ask('Remove "%s" for link creation?' % dst):
+                self.log.warn('ignoring "%s", link was not created' % dst)
+                return []
+            try:
+                utils.remove(dst)
+            except OSError:
+                self.log.err('something went wrong with %s' % src)
+                return []
+        if self.dry:
+            self.log.dry('would link %s to %s' % (dst, src))
+            return []
+        os.symlink(src, dst)
+        self.log.sub('linked %s to %s' % (dst, src))
+        # Follows original developer's behavior
+        return [(src, dst)]
+
     def _handle_file(self, templater, profile, src, dst):
         '''Install a file using templater for "profile"'''
         content = templater.generate(src, profile)
@@ -47,7 +76,7 @@ class Installer:
             self.log.sub('ignoring \"%s\", same content' % (dst))
             return []
         if ret == 0:
-            if not self.quiet:
+            if not self.quiet and not self.dry:
                 self.log.sub('copied %s to %s' % (src, dst))
             return [(src, dst)]
         return []
diff --git a/dotdrop/utils.py b/dotdrop/utils.py
index e48e7bc..8c2f450 100644
--- a/dotdrop/utils.py
+++ b/dotdrop/utils.py
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ utilities
 
 import subprocess
 import tempfile
+import os
 from logger import Logger
+from shutil import rmtree
+
 
 LOG = Logger()
 
@@ -29,3 +32,15 @@ def diff(src, dst, log=False, raw=True):
 
 def get_tmpdir():
     return tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='dotdrop-')
+
+
+def remove(path):
+    ''' Remove a file / directory / symlink '''
+    if not os.path.exists(path):
+        raise OSError("File not found: %s" % path)
+    if os.path.islink(path) or os.path.isfile(path):
+        os.unlink(path)
+    elif os.path.isdir(path):
+        rmtree(path)
+    else:
+        raise OSError("Unsupported file type for deletion: %s" % path)
diff --git a/tests/helpers.py b/tests/helpers.py
index 35c7c1b..c6cc804 100644
--- a/tests/helpers.py
+++ b/tests/helpers.py
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ def load_config(confpath, profile):
     opts['profile'] = profile
     opts['safe'] = True
     opts['installdiff'] = True
+    opts['link'] = False
     return conf, opts
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_install.py b/tests/test_install.py
index 5c17be0..f0a0bee 100644
--- a/tests/test_install.py
+++ b/tests/test_install.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ exec bspwm
                 f.write('  %s:\n' % (d.key))
                 f.write('    dst: %s\n' % (d.dst))
                 f.write('    src: %s\n' % (d.src))
+                f.write('    link: %s\n' % str(d.link).lower())
             f.write('profiles:\n')
             f.write('  %s:\n' % (profile))
             for d in dotfiles:
@@ -78,10 +79,15 @@ exec bspwm
         with open(dst4, 'w') as f:
             f.write(get_string(16))
 
+        # to test link
+        f5, c5 = create_random_file(tmp)
+        dst5 = os.path.join(dst, get_string(6))
+        d5 = Dotfile(get_string(6), dst5, os.path.basename(f5), link=True)
+
         # generate the config and stuff
         profile = get_string(5)
         confpath = os.path.join(tmp, self.CONFIG_NAME)
-        self.fake_config(confpath, [d1, d2, d3, d4], profile, tmp)
+        self.fake_config(confpath, [d1, d2, d3, d4, d5], profile, tmp)
         conf = Cfg(confpath)
         self.assertTrue(conf is not None)
 
@@ -94,6 +100,11 @@ exec bspwm
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(dst1))
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(dst2))
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(dst3))
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(dst5))
+
+        # check if 'dst5' is a link whose target is 'f5'
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.islink(dst5))
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.realpath(dst5) == os.path.realpath(f5))
 
         # make sure backup is there
         b = dst4 + Installer.BACKUP_SUFFIX