diff --git a/src_code/go_src/cocommit.go b/src_code/go_src/cocommit.go
index 8534842..01242b5 100644
--- a/src_code/go_src/cocommit.go
+++ b/src_code/go_src/cocommit.go
@@ -36,10 +36,37 @@ var groups = make(map[string][]user)
 func main() {
 
 	// Reads a shell env variable :: author_file
-	authors := os.Getenv("author_file")
+	var authors string
+	envVar := os.Getenv("author_file")
+	if envVar == "" {
+		var err error
+		authors, err = os.UserConfigDir()
+		authors += "/cocommit/authors"
+		if err != nil {
+			println("Error: ", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	} else {
+		authors = envVar
+	}
+
 
 	file, err := os.Open(authors)
-	check_err(err)
+	if err != nil {
+		authors, _ = os.UserConfigDir()
+		authors += "/cocommit/authors"
+		println("Authors file cannot be found. Please check the path to the file. \nEither set the author_file env variable or place the file in the default location. \nDefault location: "+ authors)
+		println("If you want to create a blank template file at the default location type y|yes or cancel with n|no")
+		var input string
+		fmt.Scanln(&input)
+		if input == "y" || input == "yes" {
+			create_author_file("yes")
+			os.Exit(1)
+		} else {
+			println("Cancelled")
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	}
 	defer file.Close()
 
 	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(file)
@@ -206,6 +233,8 @@ func NoInput(args []string, users map[string]user) {
 			sort.Strings(user_sb)
 			println(strings.Join(user_sb, ""))
 			os.Exit(1)
+		} else if len(args) == 1 && args[0] == "config"{
+			create_author_file()
 		}
 		// if calling binary with nothing or only string
 		print("Usage: cocommit <commit message> <co-author1> [co-author2] [co-author3] || \ncocommit <commit message> <co-author1:email> [co-author2:email] [co-author3:email] || \ncocommit <commit message> all  || \ncocommit <commit message> ^<co-author1> ^[co-author2] || \ncocommit <commit message> <group> || \ncocommit users || \nMixes of both")
@@ -214,6 +243,50 @@ func NoInput(args []string, users map[string]user) {
 	}
 }
 
+
+func create_author_file(param ...string) {
+	var input string
+	authors, err := os.UserConfigDir()
+	
+	if err != nil {
+		println("Error: ", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	if len(param) > 0 {
+		input = "yes"
+		goto skip
+	}
+	println("This command will create a blank template auhtor file in the default location. \nDefault location: "+ authors + "\nConfirm by typing y|yes or cancel with n|no")
+	fmt.Scanln(&input)
+	if err != nil {
+		println("Error: ", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	skip:
+	if input == "y" || input == "yes" {
+		// create folder cocommit in .config
+		authors += "/cocommit"
+		err := os.MkdirAll(authors, 0755)
+		if err != nil {
+			println("Error in dir creation: ", err.Error())
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		authors += "/authors"
+		file, err := os.Create(authors)
+		if err != nil {
+			println("Error: ", err.Error())
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		defer file.Close()
+		file.WriteString("name_short|Name|Username|email (opt: |ex) (opt: ;;group1 or ;;group1|group2|group3...)\n")
+		println("File created successfully at: "+ authors)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	} else {
+		println("Cancelled")
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
+
 func check_err(e error) {
 	if e != nil {
 		fmt.Println(e.Error())