diff --git a/dotdrop/config.py b/dotdrop/config.py
index 85c1510..b6e62ac 100644
--- a/dotdrop/config.py
+++ b/dotdrop/config.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from dotdrop.templategen import Templategen
 from dotdrop.logger import Logger
 from dotdrop.action import Action, Transform
 from dotdrop.utils import *
+from dotdrop.linktypes import LinkTypes
 
 
 class Cfg:
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ class Cfg:
     default_backup = True
     default_create = True
     default_banner = True
-    default_link = False
+    default_link = LinkTypes.NOLINK
     default_longkey = False
     default_keepdot = False
     default_showdiff = False
@@ -212,10 +213,13 @@ class Cfg:
             # ensures the dotfiles entry is a dict
             self.content[self.key_dotfiles] = {}
         for k, v in self.content[self.key_dotfiles].items():
-            src = v[self.key_dotfiles_src]
-            dst = v[self.key_dotfiles_dst]
-            link = v[self.key_dotfiles_link] if self.key_dotfiles_link \
-                in v else self.default_link
+            src = os.path.normpath(v[self.key_dotfiles_src])
+            dst = os.path.normpath(v[self.key_dotfiles_dst])
+            link = LinkTypes.PARENTS \
+                if self.key_dotfiles_link in v and v[self.key_dotfiles_link] \
+                else LinkTypes.CHILDREN \
+                if 'link_children' in v and v['link_children'] \
+                else LinkTypes.NOLINK
             noempty = v[self.key_dotfiles_noempty] if \
                 self.key_dotfiles_noempty \
                 in v else self.lnk_settings[self.key_ignoreempty]
@@ -264,7 +268,7 @@ class Cfg:
                     return False
 
             # disable transformation when link is true
-            if link and (trans_r or trans_w):
+            if link != LinkTypes.NOLINK and (trans_r or trans_w):
                 msg = 'transformations disabled for \"{}\"'.format(dst)
                 msg += ' because link is True'
                 self.log.warn(msg)
@@ -520,7 +524,7 @@ class Cfg:
             return False, self._get_long_key(path)
         return False, self._get_short_key(path, self.dotfiles.keys())
 
-    def new(self, dotfile, profile, link=False, debug=False):
+    def new(self, dotfile, profile, link=LinkTypes.NOLINK, debug=False):
         """import new dotfile
         dotfile key will change and can be empty"""
         # keep it short
@@ -569,9 +573,9 @@ class Cfg:
             self.key_dotfiles_dst: dotfile.dst,
             self.key_dotfiles_src: dotfile.src,
         }
-        if link:
+        if link != LinkTypes.NOLINK:
             # set the link flag
-            dots[dotfile.key][self.key_dotfiles_link] = True
+            dots[dotfile.key][self.key_dotfiles_link] = link
 
         # link it to this profile in the yaml file
         pro = self.content[self.key_profiles][profile]
diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index ea37dd9..ff39eb2 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ entry point
 
 import os
 import sys
-import subprocess
 import socket
 from docopt import docopt
 
@@ -20,7 +19,8 @@ from dotdrop.updater import Updater
 from dotdrop.comparator import Comparator
 from dotdrop.dotfile import Dotfile
 from dotdrop.config import Cfg
-from dotdrop.utils import *
+import dotdrop.utils as dd
+from dotdrop.linktypes import LinkTypes
 
 LOG = Logger()
 ENV_PROFILE = 'DOTDROP_PROFILE'
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def cmd_install(opts, conf, temporary=False, keys=[]):
                     variables=opts['variables'], debug=opts['debug'])
     tmpdir = None
     if temporary:
-        tmpdir = get_tmpdir()
+        tmpdir = dd.get_tmpdir()
     inst = Installer(create=opts['create'], backup=opts['backup'],
                      dry=opts['dry'], safe=opts['safe'],
                      base=opts['dotpath'], workdir=opts['workdir'],
@@ -106,8 +106,10 @@ def cmd_install(opts, conf, temporary=False, keys=[]):
                 preactions.append(action)
         if opts['debug']:
             LOG.dbg('installing {}'.format(dotfile))
-        if hasattr(dotfile, 'link') and dotfile.link:
+        if hasattr(dotfile, 'link') and dotfile.link == LinkTypes.PARENTS:
             r = inst.link(t, dotfile.src, dotfile.dst, actions=preactions)
+        elif hasattr(dotfile, 'link') and dotfile.link == LinkTypes.CHILDREN:
+            r = inst.linkall(t, dotfile.src, dotfile.dst, actions=preactions)
         else:
             src = dotfile.src
             tmp = None
@@ -121,7 +123,7 @@ def cmd_install(opts, conf, temporary=False, keys=[]):
             if tmp:
                 tmp = os.path.join(opts['dotpath'], tmp)
                 if os.path.exists(tmp):
-                    remove(tmp)
+                    dd.remove(tmp)
         if len(r) > 0:
             if Cfg.key_actions_post in dotfile.actions:
                 actions = dotfile.actions[Cfg.key_actions_post]
@@ -189,7 +191,7 @@ def cmd_compare(opts, conf, tmp, focus=[], ignore=[]):
             # clean tmp transformed dotfile if any
             tmpsrc = os.path.join(opts['dotpath'], tmpsrc)
             if os.path.exists(tmpsrc):
-                remove(tmpsrc)
+                dd.remove(tmpsrc)
         if diff == '':
             if opts['debug']:
                 LOG.dbg('diffing \"{}\" VS \"{}\"'.format(dotfile.key,
@@ -243,7 +245,7 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
             continue
         dst = path.rstrip(os.sep)
         dst = os.path.abspath(dst)
-        src = strip_home(dst)
+        src = dd.strip_home(dst)
         strip = '.' + os.sep
         if opts['keepdot']:
             strip = os.sep
@@ -262,7 +264,7 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
             if opts['dry']:
                 LOG.dry('would run: {}'.format(' '.join(cmd)))
             else:
-                r, _ = run(cmd, raw=False, debug=opts['debug'], checkerr=True)
+                r, _ = dd.run(cmd, raw=False, debug=opts['debug'], checkerr=True)
                 if not r:
                     LOG.err('importing \"{}\" failed!'.format(path))
                     ret = False
@@ -273,13 +275,13 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
                 if linkit:
                     LOG.dry('would symlink {} to {}'.format(srcf, dst))
             else:
-                r, _ = run(cmd, raw=False, debug=opts['debug'], checkerr=True)
+                r, _ = dd.run(cmd, raw=False, debug=opts['debug'], checkerr=True)
                 if not r:
                     LOG.err('importing \"{}\" failed!'.format(path))
                     ret = False
                     continue
                 if linkit:
-                    remove(dst)
+                    dd.remove(dst)
                     os.symlink(srcf, dst)
         retconf, dotfile = conf.new(dotfile, opts['profile'],
                                     link=linkit, debug=opts['debug'])
@@ -400,7 +402,7 @@ def apply_trans(opts, dotfile):
         msg = 'transformation \"{}\" failed for {}'
         LOG.err(msg.format(trans.key, dotfile.key))
         if new_src and os.path.exists(new_src):
-            remove(new_src)
+            dd.remove(new_src)
         return None
     return new_src
 
@@ -469,12 +471,12 @@ def main():
             # compare local dotfiles with dotfiles stored in dotdrop
             if opts['debug']:
                 LOG.dbg('running cmd: compare')
-            tmp = get_tmpdir()
+            tmp = dd.get_tmpdir()
             opts['dopts'] = args['--dopts']
             ret = cmd_compare(opts, conf, tmp, focus=args['--file'],
                               ignore=args['--ignore'])
             # clean tmp directory
-            remove(tmp)
+            dd.remove(tmp)
 
         elif args['import']:
             # import dotfile(s)
diff --git a/dotdrop/dotfile.py b/dotdrop/dotfile.py
index 45e14ee..bcd3329 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotfile.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotfile.py
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ Copyright (c) 2017, deadc0de6
 represents a dotfile in dotdrop
 """
 
+from dotdrop.linktypes import LinkTypes
+
 
 class Dotfile:
 
     def __init__(self, key, dst, src,
                  actions={}, trans_r=None, trans_w=None,
-                 link=False, cmpignore=[], noempty=False):
+                 link=LinkTypes.NOLINK, cmpignore=[], noempty=False):
         # key of dotfile in the config
         self.key = key
         # path where to install this dotfile
@@ -32,10 +34,11 @@ class Dotfile:
 
     def __str__(self):
         msg = 'key:\"{}\", src:\"{}\", dst:\"{}\", link:\"{}\"'
-        return msg.format(self.key, self.src, self.dst, self.link)
+        return msg.format(self.key, self.src, self.dst, self.link.name)
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
         return self.__dict__ == other.__dict__
 
     def __hash__(self):
         return hash(self.dst) ^ hash(self.src) ^ hash(self.key)
+
diff --git a/dotdrop/installer.py b/dotdrop/installer.py
index 71bb2d2..4a0a42e 100644
--- a/dotdrop/installer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/installer.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class Installer:
         if not os.path.exists(src):
             self.log.err('source dotfile does not exist: {}'.format(src))
             return []
-        dst = os.path.expanduser(dst)
+        dst = os.path.normpath(os.path.expanduser(dst))
         if self.totemp:
             # ignore actions
             return self.install(templater, src, dst, actions=[])
@@ -80,6 +80,42 @@ class Installer:
             src = tmp
         return self._link(src, dst, actions=actions)
 
+    def linkall(self, templater, src, dst, actions=[]):
+        """link all dotfiles in a given directory"""
+        self.action_executed = False
+        parent = os.path.join(self.base, os.path.expanduser(src))
+        if not os.path.exists(parent):
+            self.log.err('source dotfile does not exist: {}'.format(parent))
+            return []
+
+        dst = os.path.normpath(os.path.expanduser(dst))
+        if not os.path.lexists(dst):
+            self.log.sub('creating directory "{}"'.format(dst))
+            os.makedirs(dst)
+
+        if os.path.isfile(dst):
+            msg = 'Remove regular file "{}" and replace with empty directory?' \
+                .format(dst)
+            if self.safe and not self.log.ask(msg):
+                msg = 'ignoring "{}", nothing installed'
+                self.log.warn(msg.format(dst))
+                return []
+            os.unlink(dst)
+            os.mkdir(dst)
+
+        children = os.listdir(parent)
+        srcs = [os.path.join(parent, child) for child in children]
+        dsts = [os.path.join(dst, child) for child in children]
+
+        results = []
+        for i in range(len(children)):
+            result = self._link(srcs[i], dsts[i], actions)
+            if len(result):
+                actions = []
+            results.append(result)
+
+        return utils.flatten(results)
+
     def _link(self, src, dst, actions=[]):
         """set src as a link target of dst"""
         if os.path.lexists(dst):
@@ -308,3 +344,4 @@ class Installer:
         self.comparing = False
         self.create = createsaved
         return ret, tmpdst
+
diff --git a/dotdrop/linktypes.py b/dotdrop/linktypes.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd943a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dotdrop/linktypes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+from enum import IntEnum
+
+
+class LinkTypes(IntEnum):
+    NOLINK = 0
+    PARENTS = 1
+    CHILDREN = 2
+
diff --git a/dotdrop/utils.py b/dotdrop/utils.py
index b88780b..77588f4 100644
--- a/dotdrop/utils.py
+++ b/dotdrop/utils.py
@@ -10,11 +10,12 @@ import tempfile
 import os
 import uuid
 import shlex
+import functools
+import operator
 from shutil import rmtree
 
 # local import
 from dotdrop.logger import Logger
-from dotdrop.version import __version__ as VERSION
 
 LOG = Logger()
 
@@ -109,3 +110,9 @@ def strip_home(path):
     if path.startswith(home):
         path = path[len(home):]
     return path
+
+
+def flatten(a):
+    """flatten list"""
+    return functools.reduce(operator.iconcat, a, [])
+