diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 787a9d4..f75f389 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -98,8 +98,9 @@ Dotdrop is available on:
 # Getting started
 
 [Create a new repository](https://dotdrop.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting-started/#repository-setup)
-to store your dotfiles with dotdrop. *Init* or *clone* that new repository and
-[install dotdrop](https://dotdrop.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation/).
+to store your dotfiles with dotdrop. *Init* or *clone* that new repository,
+[install dotdrop](https://dotdrop.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation/) and
+generate a default config file [generate config file](https://dotdrop.readthedocs.io/en/latest/usage/#generate-a-default-config)
 
 Then import any dotfiles (files or directories) you want to manage with dotdrop.
 You can either use the default profile (which resolves to the *hostname* of the host
diff --git a/bootstrap.sh b/bootstrap.sh
index 49acd16..e71a3ac 100755
--- a/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/bootstrap.sh
@@ -2,22 +2,14 @@
 # author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
 # Copyright (c) 2017, deadc0de6
 
-fold="dotfiles"
 conf="config.yaml"
 
 # copy dotdrop entry point
 cp dotdrop/dotdrop.sh dotdrop.sh
 chmod +x dotdrop.sh
-mkdir -p $fold
+mkdir -p dotfiles
 
-if [ ! -e ${conf} ]; then
+if [ ! -e "${conf}" ]; then
   # init config file
-  cat << EOF > ${conf}
-config:
-  backup: true
-  create: true
-  dotpath: $fold
-dotfiles:
-profiles:
-EOF
+  ./dotdrop.sh gencfg > "${conf}"
 fi
diff --git a/docs/config/config-config.md b/docs/config/config-config.md
index 761f174..350ec74 100644
--- a/docs/config/config-config.md
+++ b/docs/config/config-config.md
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ Entry    | Description | Default
 `workdir` | Path to the directory where templates are installed before being symlinked when using `link:absolute|relative|link_children` (absolute path or relative to the config file location) | `~/.config/dotdrop`
 <s>link_by_default</s> | When importing a dotfile, set `link` to this value by default | false
 
-
 ## import_variables entry
 
 It is possible to load variables/dynvariables from external files by providing their
diff --git a/docs/config/config-file.md b/docs/config/config-file.md
index 27f36f7..c3415bd 100644
--- a/docs/config/config-file.md
+++ b/docs/config/config-file.md
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 ## Location
 
-The default config file used by dotdrop is
-[config.yaml](https://github.com/deadc0de6/dotdrop/blob/master/config.yaml).
+The default config file used by dotdrop is `config.yaml`.
+A clean base config can be generated using `dotdrop gencfg`.
 
 Unless specified otherwise, dotdrop will look in the following places for its config file
 and use the first one found:
diff --git a/docs/getting-started.md b/docs/getting-started.md
index 091b488..3467e3e 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started.md
@@ -15,12 +15,11 @@ $ cd my-dotfiles
 $ mkdir dotfiles
 ```
 
-Then add a config file. You can get a
-[minimal config file](https://github.com/deadc0de6/dotdrop/blob/master/config.yaml)
-from dotdrop's repository with:
+Then generate a base config file:
 ```bash
-$ wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/deadc0de6/dotdrop/master/config.yaml
+$ dotdrop gencfg > config.yaml
 ```
+
 It is recommended to store your config file directly within your repository
 (*my-dotfiles* in the example above), but you could save it in different places if you wish;
 see [config location](config/config-file.md#location) for more.
diff --git a/docs/usage.md b/docs/usage.md
index d28be09..a3b4e50 100644
--- a/docs/usage.md
+++ b/docs/usage.md
@@ -250,6 +250,13 @@ the file will be restored.
 
 For more options, see the usage with `dotdrop --help`.
 
+## Generate a default config
+
+The `gencfg` command will generate a default config in yaml
+```bash
+$ dotdrop gencfg > config.yaml
+```
+
 ## Concurrency
 
 The command line switch `-w`/`--workers`, if set to a value greater than one, enables the use
diff --git a/dotdrop/config.py b/dotdrop/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b6c60a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dotdrop/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+"""
+author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+Copyright (c) 2024, deadc0de6
+
+default config
+"""
+
+default_config = """config:
+  backup: true
+  banner: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+  keepdot: false
+  link_dotfile_default: nolink
+  link_on_import: nolink
+  longkey: false
+dotfiles:
+profiles:"""
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dotdrop/options.py b/dotdrop/options.py
index 3ead971..8143572 100644
--- a/dotdrop/options.py
+++ b/dotdrop/options.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from dotdrop.cfg_aggregator import CfgAggregator
 from dotdrop.action import Action
 from dotdrop.utils import uniq_list, debug_list, debug_dict
 from dotdrop.exceptions import YamlException, OptionsException
+from dotdrop.config import default_config
 
 ENV_PROFILE = 'DOTDROP_PROFILE'
 ENV_CONFIG = 'DOTDROP_CONFIG'
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ Usage:
   dotdrop files     [-VbTG]       [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
   dotdrop detail    [-Vb]         [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [<key>...]
   dotdrop profiles  [-VbG]        [-c <path>]
+  dotdrop gencfg
   dotdrop --help
   dotdrop --version
 
@@ -148,6 +150,12 @@ class Options(AttrMonitor):
         self.args = {}
         if not args:
             self.args = docopt(USAGE, version=VERSION)
+
+        if self.args['gencfg']:
+            # print config and exit
+            print(default_config)
+            sys.exit(0)
+
         if args:
             self.args = args.copy()
         self.debug = self.args['--verbose'] or ENV_DEBUG in os.environ