diff --git a/jrnl/config/ArgsConfigReader.py b/jrnl/config/ArgsConfigReader.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..478ce882
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jrnl/config/ArgsConfigReader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# Copyright © 2012-2023 jrnl contributors
+# License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
+
+import logging
+from .BaseConfigReader import BaseConfigReader
+
+
+class ArgsConfigReader(BaseConfigReader):
+    def __init__(self, args):
+        logging.debug("start")
+        super()
+        self.args = args
+
+    def read(self):
+        self._parse_args()
+        # do some actual reading
+
+    def _parse_args(self):
+        # read self.args
+        # update self.cofig somehow
+        pass
diff --git a/jrnl/config/BaseConfigReader.py b/jrnl/config/BaseConfigReader.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8c1aa3ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jrnl/config/BaseConfigReader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Copyright © 2012-2023 jrnl contributors
+# License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
+
+import logging
+from abc import ABC
+from abc import abstractmethod
+
+
+class BaseConfigReader(ABC):
+    def __init__(self):
+        logging.debug("start")
+        self.config: dict = {}
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def read(self):
+        pass
+
+    def get_config(self):
+        return self.config
diff --git a/jrnl/config/Config.py b/jrnl/config/Config.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f3aabc01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jrnl/config/Config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Copyright © 2012-2023 jrnl contributors
+# License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
+
+from collections import abc
+
+class Config(abc.MutableMapping):
+    def __init__(self, configs):
+        pass
+
+
+    def add_config(config, priority):
+
+    def sub_configs():
+        return [
+            one,
+            two,
+            three,
+        ]
+        
+
diff --git a/jrnl/config/DefaultConfigReader.py b/jrnl/config/DefaultConfigReader.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b2baaa81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jrnl/config/DefaultConfigReader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Copyright © 2012-2023 jrnl contributors
+# License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
+
+import logging
+from .BaseConfigReader import BaseConfigReader
+from pathlib import PurePath
+
+
+class DefaultConfigReader(BaseConfigReader):
+    def __init__(self, filename: str):
+        logging.debug("start")
+        super()
+        self.filename: PurePath = PurePath(filename)
+
+    def read(self):
+        self._parse_args()
+        # do some actual reading
+
+    def _parse_args(self):
+        # read self.args
+        # update self.cofig somehow
+        pass
diff --git a/jrnl/config/FileConfigReader.py b/jrnl/config/FileConfigReader.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7fd05c26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jrnl/config/FileConfigReader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Copyright © 2012-2023 jrnl contributors
+# License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
+
+import logging
+from .BaseConfigReader import BaseConfigReader
+from pathlib import PurePath
+
+
+class FileConfigReader(BaseConfigReader):
+    def __init__(self, filename: str):
+        logging.debug("start")
+        super()
+        self.filename: PurePath = PurePath(filename)
+
+    def read(self):
+        self._parse_args()
+        # do some actual reading
+
+    def _parse_args(self):
+        # read self.args
+        # update self.cofig somehow
+        pass
diff --git a/jrnl/config/__init__.py b/jrnl/config/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..497304bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jrnl/config/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# Copyright © 2012-2023 jrnl contributors
+# License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
+
+from .Config import Config
+from .BaseConfigReader import BaseConfigReader
+from .DefaultConfigReader import DefaultConfigReader
+from .FileConfigReader import FileConfigReader
+from .ArgsConfigReader import ArgsConfigReader
+
+
+def get_config(args):
+    config = Config()
+
+    try:
+        # these are in ascending priority (last one has most priority)
+        config.add_config([
+            DefaultConfigReader(),
+        ])
+
+        config.add_config([
+            FileConfigReader(args.config_file),
+            FileConfigReader(config.get_config_path()),
+            FileConfigReader(jrnlV1Path),
+        ], required=True)
+
+        config.add_config([
+            ArgsConfigReader(args.config_override),
+        ])
+
+        # config.add_config(EnvConfigReader(env.whatever))
+        config.validate()
+
+    except e:
+        # TODO: catch warnings instead of fatal exceptions
+
+    return config
diff --git a/jrnl/controller.py b/jrnl/controller.py
index e0e222b5..bb7d2f7d 100644
--- a/jrnl/controller.py
+++ b/jrnl/controller.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 from jrnl import install
 from jrnl import plugins
 from jrnl import time
+from jrnl.config import get_config
 from jrnl.config import DEFAULT_JOURNAL_KEY
 from jrnl.config import get_config_path
 from jrnl.config import get_journal_name
@@ -47,15 +48,21 @@ def run(args: "Namespace"):
     if callable(args.preconfig_cmd):
         return args.preconfig_cmd(args)
 
-    # Load the config, and extract journal name
-    config = install.load_or_install_jrnl(args.config_file_path)
-    original_config = config.copy()
+    config = get_config(args)
+
+    if config.needs_upgrade():
+        upgrade.run_upgrade(config)
+
+
+    # old code
+    # config = install.load_or_install_jrnl(args.config_file_path)
+    # original_config = config.copy()
 
     # Apply config overrides
-    config = apply_overrides(args, config)
+    # config = apply_overrides(args, config)
 
     args = get_journal_name(args, config)
-    config = scope_config(config, args.journal_name)
+    # config = scope_config(config, args.journal_name)
 
     # Run post-config command now that config is ready
     if callable(args.postconfig_cmd):