diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 3893e56..d17e08d 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ require (
 	github.com/charmbracelet/x/exp/golden v0.0.0-20240815200342-61de596daa2b // indirect
 	github.com/dlclark/regexp2 v1.11.0 // indirect
 	github.com/erikgeiser/coninput v0.0.0-20211004153227-1c3628e74d0f // indirect
+	github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.8.0 // indirect
+	github.com/go-viper/mapstructure/v2 v2.2.1 // indirect
 	github.com/gorilla/css v1.0.1 // indirect
 	github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.1.0 // indirect
 	github.com/lucasb-eyer/go-colorful v1.2.0 // indirect
@@ -34,15 +36,25 @@ require (
 	github.com/muesli/cancelreader v0.2.2 // indirect
 	github.com/muesli/reflow v0.3.0 // indirect
 	github.com/muesli/termenv v0.15.3-0.20240618155329-98d742f6907a // indirect
+	github.com/pelletier/go-toml/v2 v2.2.3 // indirect
 	github.com/rivo/uniseg v0.4.7 // indirect
+	github.com/sagikazarmark/locafero v0.7.0 // indirect
 	github.com/sahilm/fuzzy v0.1.1 // indirect
-	github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.5 // indirect
+	github.com/sourcegraph/conc v0.3.0 // indirect
+	github.com/spf13/afero v1.12.0 // indirect
+	github.com/spf13/cast v1.7.1 // indirect
+	github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.6 // indirect
+	github.com/spf13/viper v1.20.1 // indirect
+	github.com/subosito/gotenv v1.6.0 // indirect
 	github.com/yuin/goldmark v1.7.4 // indirect
 	github.com/yuin/goldmark-emoji v1.0.3 // indirect
+	go.uber.org/atomic v1.9.0 // indirect
+	go.uber.org/multierr v1.9.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/crypto v0.36.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/net v0.38.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/sync v0.12.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/sys v0.31.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/term v0.30.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/text v0.23.0 // indirect
+	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 // indirect
 )
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index c028ca4..0ef9b6f 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -31,10 +31,16 @@ github.com/charmbracelet/x/exp/teatest v0.0.0-20241024145942-ad25fd0d5a9e/go.mod
 github.com/charmbracelet/x/term v0.2.0 h1:cNB9Ot9q8I711MyZ7myUR5HFWL/lc3OpU8jZ4hwm0x0=
 github.com/charmbracelet/x/term v0.2.0/go.mod h1:GVxgxAbjUrmpvIINHIQnJJKpMlHiZ4cktEQCN6GWyF0=
 github.com/cpuguy83/go-md2man/v2 v2.0.4/go.mod h1:tgQtvFlXSQOSOSIRvRPT7W67SCa46tRHOmNcaadrF8o=
+github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.0/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
+github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
 github.com/dlclark/regexp2 v1.11.0 h1:G/nrcoOa7ZXlpoa/91N3X7mM3r8eIlMBBJZvsz/mxKI=
 github.com/dlclark/regexp2 v1.11.0/go.mod h1:DHkYz0B9wPfa6wondMfaivmHpzrQ3v9q8cnmRbL6yW8=
 github.com/erikgeiser/coninput v0.0.0-20211004153227-1c3628e74d0f h1:Y/CXytFA4m6baUTXGLOoWe4PQhGxaX0KpnayAqC48p4=
 github.com/erikgeiser/coninput v0.0.0-20211004153227-1c3628e74d0f/go.mod h1:vw97MGsxSvLiUE2X8qFplwetxpGLQrlU1Q9AUEIzCaM=
+github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.8.0 h1:dAwr6QBTBZIkG8roQaJjGof0pp0EeF+tNV7YBP3F/8M=
+github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.8.0/go.mod h1:8jBTzvmWwFyi3Pb8djgCCO5IBqzKJ/Jwo8TRcHyHii0=
+github.com/go-viper/mapstructure/v2 v2.2.1 h1:ZAaOCxANMuZx5RCeg0mBdEZk7DZasvvZIxtHqx8aGss=
+github.com/go-viper/mapstructure/v2 v2.2.1/go.mod h1:oJDH3BJKyqBA2TXFhDsKDGDTlndYOZ6rGS0BRZIxGhM=
 github.com/gorilla/css v1.0.1 h1:ntNaBIghp6JmvWnxbZKANoLyuXTPZ4cAMlo6RyhlbO8=
 github.com/gorilla/css v1.0.1/go.mod h1:BvnYkspnSzMmwRK+b8/xgNPLiIuNZr6vbZBTPQ2A3b0=
 github.com/hexops/gotextdiff v1.0.3 h1:gitA9+qJrrTCsiCl7+kh75nPqQt1cx4ZkudSTLoUqJM=
@@ -64,22 +70,44 @@ github.com/muesli/reflow v0.3.0 h1:IFsN6K9NfGtjeggFP+68I4chLZV2yIKsXJFNZ+eWh6s=
 github.com/muesli/reflow v0.3.0/go.mod h1:pbwTDkVPibjO2kyvBQRBxTWEEGDGq0FlB1BIKtnHY/8=
 github.com/muesli/termenv v0.15.3-0.20240618155329-98d742f6907a h1:2MaM6YC3mGu54x+RKAA6JiFFHlHDY1UbkxqppT7wYOg=
 github.com/muesli/termenv v0.15.3-0.20240618155329-98d742f6907a/go.mod h1:hxSnBBYLK21Vtq/PHd0S2FYCxBXzBua8ov5s1RobyRQ=
+github.com/pelletier/go-toml/v2 v2.2.3 h1:YmeHyLY8mFWbdkNWwpr+qIL2bEqT0o95WSdkNHvL12M=
+github.com/pelletier/go-toml/v2 v2.2.3/go.mod h1:MfCQTFTvCcUyyvvwm1+G6H/jORL20Xlb6rzQu9GuUkc=
+github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0/go.mod h1:iKH77koFhYxTK1pcRnkKkqfTogsbg7gZNVY4sRDYZ/4=
 github.com/rivo/uniseg v0.1.0/go.mod h1:J6wj4VEh+S6ZtnVlnTBMWIodfgj8LQOQFoIToxlJtxc=
 github.com/rivo/uniseg v0.2.0/go.mod h1:J6wj4VEh+S6ZtnVlnTBMWIodfgj8LQOQFoIToxlJtxc=
 github.com/rivo/uniseg v0.4.7 h1:WUdvkW8uEhrYfLC4ZzdpI2ztxP1I582+49Oc5Mq64VQ=
 github.com/rivo/uniseg v0.4.7/go.mod h1:FN3SvrM+Zdj16jyLfmOkMNblXMcoc8DfTHruCPUcx88=
 github.com/russross/blackfriday/v2 v2.1.0/go.mod h1:+Rmxgy9KzJVeS9/2gXHxylqXiyQDYRxCVz55jmeOWTM=
+github.com/sagikazarmark/locafero v0.7.0 h1:5MqpDsTGNDhY8sGp0Aowyf0qKsPrhewaLSsFaodPcyo=
+github.com/sagikazarmark/locafero v0.7.0/go.mod h1:2za3Cg5rMaTMoG/2Ulr9AwtFaIppKXTRYnozin4aB5k=
 github.com/sahilm/fuzzy v0.1.1 h1:ceu5RHF8DGgoi+/dR5PsECjCDH1BE3Fnmpo7aVXOdRA=
 github.com/sahilm/fuzzy v0.1.1/go.mod h1:VFvziUEIMCrT6A6tw2RFIXPXXmzXbOsSHF0DOI8ZK9Y=
+github.com/sourcegraph/conc v0.3.0 h1:OQTbbt6P72L20UqAkXXuLOj79LfEanQ+YQFNpLA9ySo=
+github.com/sourcegraph/conc v0.3.0/go.mod h1:Sdozi7LEKbFPqYX2/J+iBAM6HpqSLTASQIKqDmF7Mt0=
+github.com/spf13/afero v1.12.0 h1:UcOPyRBYczmFn6yvphxkn9ZEOY65cpwGKb5mL36mrqs=
+github.com/spf13/afero v1.12.0/go.mod h1:ZTlWwG4/ahT8W7T0WQ5uYmjI9duaLQGy3Q2OAl4sk/4=
+github.com/spf13/cast v1.7.1 h1:cuNEagBQEHWN1FnbGEjCXL2szYEXqfJPbP2HNUaca9Y=
+github.com/spf13/cast v1.7.1/go.mod h1:ancEpBxwJDODSW/UG4rDrAqiKolqNNh2DX3mk86cAdo=
 github.com/spf13/cobra v1.8.1 h1:e5/vxKd/rZsfSJMUX1agtjeTDf+qv1/JdBF8gg5k9ZM=
 github.com/spf13/cobra v1.8.1/go.mod h1:wHxEcudfqmLYa8iTfL+OuZPbBZkmvliBWKIezN3kD9Y=
-github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.5 h1:iy+VFUOCP1a+8yFto/drg2CJ5u0yRoB7fZw3DKv/JXA=
 github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.5/go.mod h1:McXfInJRrz4CZXVZOBLb0bTZqETkiAhM9Iw0y3An2Bg=
+github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.6 h1:jFzHGLGAlb3ruxLB8MhbI6A8+AQX/2eW4qeyNZXNp2o=
+github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.6/go.mod h1:McXfInJRrz4CZXVZOBLb0bTZqETkiAhM9Iw0y3An2Bg=
+github.com/spf13/viper v1.20.1 h1:ZMi+z/lvLyPSCoNtFCpqjy0S4kPbirhpTMwl8BkW9X4=
+github.com/spf13/viper v1.20.1/go.mod h1:P9Mdzt1zoHIG8m2eZQinpiBjo6kCmZSKBClNNqjJvu4=
+github.com/stretchr/objx v0.1.0/go.mod h1:HFkY916IF+rwdDfMAkV7OtwuqBVzrE8GR6GFx+wExME=
+github.com/stretchr/testify v1.3.0/go.mod h1:M5WIy9Dh21IEIfnGCwXGc5bZfKNJtfHm1UVUgZn+9EI=
+github.com/subosito/gotenv v1.6.0 h1:9NlTDc1FTs4qu0DDq7AEtTPNw6SVm7uBMsUCUjABIf8=
+github.com/subosito/gotenv v1.6.0/go.mod h1:Dk4QP5c2W3ibzajGcXpNraDfq2IrhjMIvMSWPKKo0FU=
 github.com/yuin/goldmark v1.7.1/go.mod h1:uzxRWxtg69N339t3louHJ7+O03ezfj6PlliRlaOzY1E=
 github.com/yuin/goldmark v1.7.4 h1:BDXOHExt+A7gwPCJgPIIq7ENvceR7we7rOS9TNoLZeg=
 github.com/yuin/goldmark v1.7.4/go.mod h1:uzxRWxtg69N339t3louHJ7+O03ezfj6PlliRlaOzY1E=
 github.com/yuin/goldmark-emoji v1.0.3 h1:aLRkLHOuBR2czCY4R8olwMjID+tENfhyFDMCRhbIQY4=
 github.com/yuin/goldmark-emoji v1.0.3/go.mod h1:tTkZEbwu5wkPmgTcitqddVxY9osFZiavD+r4AzQrh1U=
+go.uber.org/atomic v1.9.0 h1:ECmE8Bn/WFTYwEW/bpKD3M8VtR/zQVbavAoalC1PYyE=
+go.uber.org/atomic v1.9.0/go.mod h1:fEN4uk6kAWBTFdckzkM89CLk9XfWZrxpCo0nPH17wJc=
+go.uber.org/multierr v1.9.0 h1:7fIwc/ZtS0q++VgcfqFDxSBZVv/Xo49/SYnDFupUwlI=
+go.uber.org/multierr v1.9.0/go.mod h1:X2jQV1h+kxSjClGpnseKVIxpmcjrj7MNnI0bnlfKTVQ=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.36.0 h1:AnAEvhDddvBdpY+uR+MyHmuZzzNqXSe/GvuDeob5L34=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.36.0/go.mod h1:Y4J0ReaxCR1IMaabaSMugxJES1EpwhBHhv2bDHklZvc=
 golang.org/x/net v0.38.0 h1:vRMAPTMaeGqVhG5QyLJHqNDwecKTomGeqbnfZyKlBI8=
@@ -95,4 +123,5 @@ golang.org/x/term v0.30.0/go.mod h1:NYYFdzHoI5wRh/h5tDMdMqCqPJZEuNqVR5xJLd/n67g=
 golang.org/x/text v0.23.0 h1:D71I7dUrlY+VX0gQShAThNGHFxZ13dGLBHQLVl1mJlY=
 golang.org/x/text v0.23.0/go.mod h1:/BLNzu4aZCJ1+kcD0DNRotWKage4q2rGVAg4o22unh4=
 gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405/go.mod h1:Co6ibVJAznAaIkqp8huTwlJQCZ016jof/cbN4VW5Yz0=
+gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 h1:fxVm/GzAzEWqLHuvctI91KS9hhNmmWOoWu0XTYJS7CA=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=
diff --git a/src/cmd/root.go b/src/cmd/root.go
index 12b09f4..e3758ba 100644
--- a/src/cmd/root.go
+++ b/src/cmd/root.go
@@ -138,6 +138,11 @@ func Execute() {
 	// check for update
 	check_update()
 
+	err := utils.FetchConfig()
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Error fetching config: %v", err))
+	}
+
 	// author file check
 	author_file, err := utils.CheckAuthorFile(os.Stdin, os.Stdout)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/src/cmd/utils/author_file_utils.go b/src/cmd/utils/author_file_utils.go
index 0fdd93b..9154ec9 100644
--- a/src/cmd/utils/author_file_utils.go
+++ b/src/cmd/utils/author_file_utils.go
@@ -14,11 +14,7 @@ import (
 // An example of the author file can be found in the examples folder of the repo
 func Find_authorfile() string {
 	if os.Getenv("author_file") == "" {
-		dirs, err := os.UserConfigDir()
-		if err != nil {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Error getting user config directory: %v", err))
-		}
-		return (dirs + "/cocommit/authors.json")
+		return ConfigVar.GetAuthorFile()
 	} else {
 		return os.Getenv("author_file")
 	}
diff --git a/src/cmd/utils/test_git_wrapper b/src/cmd/utils/test_git_wrapper
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f3f005
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/utils/test_git_wrapper
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Test content
\ No newline at end of file