Add JSON config file support (XDG-respecting)

End users can now set defaults in a config file at:

  ${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/move/config.json

CLI flags continue to win when both are set:

  CLI flags  >  config file  >  built-in defaults

Schema mirrors the CLI flag names and units. Loader is strict: unknown
keys, wrong types, and non-positive numerics are rejected with a clear
message naming the file and key, and the process exits 2.

Changes:

- New src/configFile.ts: existence-aware loader + strict schema
  validation. Throws CliError; the entry point converts those to exit 2.
- src/config.ts: ConfigOverrides gains 'verbose'; resolveConfig takes
  both file and CLI override layers; new defaultConfigPath() honors
  XDG_CONFIG_HOME; new resolveVerbose() layers verbose with the
  presence-only-CLI semantics documented.
- src/cli.ts: -C/--config <path> flag. printHelp prints the default
  config path and the precedence rule.
- src/move.ts: loads the config file (default XDG path or --config),
  passes both override layers into resolveConfig, resolves verbose
  separately, exits 2 on any validation failure.
- README: new Configuration section with path, precedence, example,
  validation rules, and the verbose CLI-can't-turn-off limitation.
  Files table gains src/configFile.ts.

README.md

@@ -95,17 +95,78 @@ out-of-bounds events.
 Invalid input (unknown flag, missing value, non-positive number) prints an
 error to `stderr` and exits with code `2`.
 
+## Configuration
+
+`move` reads an optional JSON config file at:
+
+```
+${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/move/config.json
+```
+
+If the file is missing, defaults are used (no config file is required).
+Pass `-C` / `--config <path>` to point at a different file; in that mode
+the file must exist.
+
+### Precedence
+
+```
+CLI flags  >  config file  >  built-in defaults
+```
+
+CLI flags always win. The config file fills in any flag the user didn't
+pass on the command line. Built-in defaults fill in anything the file
+doesn't set.
+
+### Example
+
+```jsonc
+{
+  "moveInterval":  240,
+  "checkInterval": 10,
+  "stepDelay":     50,
+  "stepCount":     250,
+  "verbose":       false
+}
+```
+
+All keys are optional; supply only the ones you want to override. Keys
+and units mirror the CLI flags exactly: `moveInterval` and
+`checkInterval` are seconds, `stepDelay` is milliseconds, `stepCount` is
+pixels, `verbose` is a boolean.
+
+### Validation
+
+The loader is strict:
+
+- Root must be a JSON object.
+- Unknown keys are rejected (catches typos like `"movInterval"`).
+- Numeric values must be finite and strictly positive.
+- `verbose` must be a boolean.
+
+Any validation failure prints a message naming the file and the offending
+key to `stderr` and exits `2`.
+
+### Known limitation: `verbose` can be turned on but not off from the CLI
+
+`--verbose` is a presence-only flag (there is no `--no-verbose`). If the
+config file sets `"verbose": true`, the CLI cannot force quiet mode in
+that invocation. Workarounds: edit the file, or point at a different
+file with `--config`.
+
 ## How it works
 
-The source lives under `src/`, split into an entry point plus three logic
+The source lives under `src/`, split into an entry point plus four logic
 modules:
 
 - `src/move.ts` is a thin entry point: parses args, dispatches `--help` /
-  `--version`, resolves the runtime config, and calls
+  `--version`, loads the config file, resolves the layered runtime
-  `runKeeper(config, verbose)`.
+  config, and calls `runKeeper(config, verbose)`.
 - `src/cli.ts` owns argument parsing, validation, and help/version output.
-- `src/config.ts` exports the `Config` type, `DEFAULT_CONFIG`, and the
+- `src/configFile.ts` owns optional JSON config-file loading + strict
-  `resolveConfig` overlay function.
+  schema validation.
+- `src/config.ts` exports the `Config` type, `DEFAULT_CONFIG`,
+  `defaultConfigPath`, and the layered `resolveConfig` / `resolveVerbose`
+  overlay functions.
 - `src/keeper.ts` owns the synthetic-activity sweep and the idle-watch loop.
 
 Defaults live in `src/config.ts` as `DEFAULT_CONFIG`:
@@ -190,7 +251,8 @@ move --help
 | `scripts/dev-setup.sh` | Contributor bootstrap (verify Bun + `bun install`).                        |
 | `src/move.ts`       | CLI entry point: parses args, dispatches help/version, starts the loop.       |
 | `src/cli.ts`        | Argument parsing, validation, and help/version output.                        |
-| `src/config.ts`     | `Config` type, `DEFAULT_CONFIG`, and `resolveConfig` overlay.                 |
+| `src/config.ts`     | `Config` type, `DEFAULT_CONFIG`, `defaultConfigPath`, and the layered `resolveConfig` / `resolveVerbose` overlay. |
+| `src/configFile.ts` | Optional JSON config-file loader with strict schema validation.               |
 | `src/keeper.ts`     | Synthetic-activity sweep and idle-watch loop.                                 |
 | `package.json`      | Bun project manifest. Single runtime dep: `@nut-tree-fork/nut-js`.            |
 | `tsconfig.json`     | Strict TypeScript config tuned for Bun (ESNext, bundler resolution).          |

src/cli.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
  *
  *   -h, --help              Prints `printHelp()` to stdout; entry exits 0.
  *   -v, --version           Prints `move <VERSION>` to stdout; entry exits 0.
+ *   -C, --config <path>     Override the default config-file path.
  *   -m, --move-interval     Idle time (seconds) before a sweep fires.
  *   -c, --check-interval    Cursor poll cadence (seconds).
  *   -d, --step-delay        Pause between synthetic steps (ms).
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@
  *   -V, --verbose           Enable per-sweep / interrupt / bounds logging.
  *                           (`-V` capital because `-v` is `--version`.)
  *
- * Numeric overrides are layered onto `DEFAULT_CONFIG` by
+ * Numeric overrides are layered (CLI > file > DEFAULT_CONFIG) by
  * `resolveConfig` in `config.ts`; this module only parses and validates.
  */
 
@@ -25,23 +26,25 @@ import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
 import { parseArgs } from "node:util";
 
-import { DEFAULT_CONFIG } from "./config.ts";
+import { DEFAULT_CONFIG, defaultConfigPath } from "./config.ts";
 
 /**
- * Thrown when CLI input is invalid (unknown option, missing value, bad number).
+ * Thrown when CLI input is invalid (unknown option, missing value, bad
- * Distinct from runtime errors so the top-level entry can exit with code 2
+ * number, malformed config file). Distinct from runtime errors so the
- * (user error) instead of code 1 (runtime failure).
+ * entry point can exit with code 2 (user error) instead of code 1
+ * (runtime failure).
  */
 export class CliError extends Error {}
 
 /**
- * Result of `parseCliArgs`. Numeric fields are `undefined` when the user did
+ * Result of `parseCliArgs`. Numeric fields are `undefined` when the user
- * not supply the flag; this lets `resolveConfig` cleanly distinguish "use the
+ * did not supply the flag; this lets `resolveConfig` cleanly distinguish
- * default" from "explicit override".
+ * "use the layer below" from "explicit override".
  */
 export interface ParsedCliArgs {
     help: boolean;
     version: boolean;
+    config: string | undefined;
     moveInterval: number | undefined;   // seconds
     checkInterval: number | undefined;  // seconds
     stepDelay: number | undefined;      // milliseconds
@@ -50,10 +53,9 @@ export interface ParsedCliArgs {
 }
 
 /**
- * Validate a CLI-supplied numeric value. Returns `undefined` if the user did
+ * Validate a CLI-supplied numeric value. Returns `undefined` if the user
- * not supply the flag at all; throws `CliError` on anything that isn't a
+ * did not supply the flag at all; throws `CliError` on anything that isn't
- * positive finite number. Zero is rejected: every numeric tunable here is a
+ * a positive finite number.
- * duration or count where zero is meaningless or actively broken.
  */
 function parsePositiveNumber(name: string, raw: string | undefined): number | undefined {
     if (raw === undefined) return undefined;
@@ -66,11 +68,8 @@ function parsePositiveNumber(name: string, raw: string | undefined): number | un
 
 /**
  * Parse `process.argv` into a typed `ParsedCliArgs`. Uses Node's built-in
- * `parseArgs` in strict mode so unknown flags and missing values surface as
+ * `parseArgs` in strict mode so unknown flags and missing values surface
- * `CliError`s that the entry point can turn into exit code 2.
+ * as `CliError`s that the entry point can turn into exit code 2.
- *
- * Numeric flags are stored as `string` by `parseArgs` and then validated by
- * `parsePositiveNumber`.
  */
 export function parseCliArgs(): ParsedCliArgs {
     let values: Record<string, string | boolean | undefined>;
@@ -80,6 +79,7 @@ export function parseCliArgs(): ParsedCliArgs {
             options: {
                 help:             { type: "boolean", short: "h" },
                 version:          { type: "boolean", short: "v" },
+                config:           { type: "string",  short: "C" },
                 "move-interval":  { type: "string",  short: "m" },
                 "check-interval": { type: "string",  short: "c" },
                 "step-delay":     { type: "string",  short: "d" },
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ export function parseCliArgs(): ParsedCliArgs {
     return {
         help:          Boolean(values.help),
         version:       Boolean(values.version),
+        config:        values.config as string | undefined,
         moveInterval:  parsePositiveNumber("move-interval",  values["move-interval"]  as string | undefined),
         checkInterval: parsePositiveNumber("check-interval", values["check-interval"] as string | undefined),
         stepDelay:     parsePositiveNumber("step-delay",     values["step-delay"]     as string | undefined),
@@ -111,8 +112,8 @@ export function parseCliArgs(): ParsedCliArgs {
 /**
  * Read the package version from `package.json` at runtime so help/version
  * output stays in sync with the manifest without a build step. Resolved
- * relative to this module's own location so the lookup works regardless of
+ * relative to this module's own location so the lookup works regardless
- * the caller's CWD.
+ * of the caller's CWD.
  */
 export const VERSION: string = (() => {
     // This module lives in `src/`, so `package.json` is one directory up.
@@ -123,12 +124,14 @@ export const VERSION: string = (() => {
 
 /**
  * Write the usage block to stdout. Default values are pulled from
- * `DEFAULT_CONFIG` (converted to the units the CLI exposes) so the help
+ * `DEFAULT_CONFIG` (converted to the units the CLI exposes); the default
- * text never drifts from the actual defaults.
+ * config-file path is computed by `defaultConfigPath`. Both make the help
+ * text self-updating when their sources change.
  */
 export function printHelp(): void {
     const moveDefaultSec: number = DEFAULT_CONFIG.moveInterval / 1000;
     const checkDefaultSec: number = DEFAULT_CONFIG.checkInterval / 1000;
+    const cfgPath: string = defaultConfigPath();
 
     process.stdout.write(`Usage: move [options]
 
@@ -138,6 +141,8 @@ nudging the mouse cursor after a configurable idle period.
 Options:
   -h, --help                      Show this help and exit.
   -v, --version                   Print version and exit.
+  -C, --config <path>             Load defaults from a JSON config file.
+                                  Default path: ${cfgPath}
   -m, --move-interval <seconds>   Idle time before a sweep fires. Default: ${moveDefaultSec}.
   -c, --check-interval <seconds>  Cursor poll cadence. Default: ${checkDefaultSec}.
   -d, --step-delay <ms>           Pause between synthetic steps. Default: ${DEFAULT_CONFIG.stepDelay}.
@@ -145,9 +150,12 @@ Options:
   -V, --verbose                   Log every sweep, interrupt, and bounds event
                                   (default prints only the startup banner).
 
+Precedence (highest wins): CLI flags > config file > built-in defaults.
+
 Examples:
   move
   move --move-interval 180 --check-interval 5
   move -m 300 -V
+  move --config ~/myprofile.json
 `);
 }

src/config.ts

@@ -1,20 +1,26 @@
 /**
  * config.ts
  * ---------
- * Runtime configuration types, defaults, and the CLI->config resolver.
+ * Runtime configuration types, defaults, the layered resolver, and the
+ * default config-file path.
  *
  * The keeper is driven by a single `Config` object that carries the four
- * tunables it cares about. Defaults live in `DEFAULT_CONFIG`; CLI overrides
+ * tunables it cares about. Defaults live in `DEFAULT_CONFIG`; CLI and
- * are layered on top by `resolveConfig` rather than mutating the defaults,
+ * config-file overrides are layered on top by `resolveConfig` rather than
- * so the defaults stay genuinely constant and the resolved config stays
+ * mutating the defaults, so the defaults stay genuinely constant and the
- * structurally typed.
+ * resolved config stays structurally typed.
  *
- * All fields are in their internal units (ms, pixels). The CLI exposes the
+ * All `Config` fields are in their internal units (ms, pixels). The CLI and
- * time-valued fields in seconds for ergonomics; `resolveConfig` performs
+ * config file expose the time-valued fields in seconds for ergonomics;
- * the seconds->ms conversion at the boundary so downstream code never has
+ * `resolveConfig` performs the seconds->ms conversion at the boundary so
- * to think about it.
+ * downstream code never has to think about it.
+ *
+ * Layering precedence (highest wins):
+ *   CLI overrides  >  file overrides  >  DEFAULT_CONFIG
  */
 
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
 /**
  * The shape of a resolved runtime configuration. `readonly` to make
  * accidental mutation a type error.
@@ -36,8 +42,8 @@ export interface Config {
 }
 
 /**
- * Built-in defaults used when the user did not supply an explicit CLI
+ * Built-in defaults used when neither the CLI nor the config file supplies
- * override for the corresponding flag.
+ * a value for a given field.
  */
 export const DEFAULT_CONFIG: Config = {
     moveInterval: 4 * 60 * 1000, // 4 minutes in milliseconds
@@ -47,30 +53,97 @@ export const DEFAULT_CONFIG: Config = {
 };
 
 /**
- * Subset of `ParsedCliArgs` that `resolveConfig` actually consumes. Declared
+ * Common shape for override layers (CLI args and config-file content).
- * locally instead of importing from `cli.ts` to keep the dependency arrow
+ *
- * pointing one way (cli -> config), which lets `config.ts` stay a leaf
+ * `undefined` means "this layer doesn't supply a value"; the next layer
- * module with no internal imports.
+ * down (file overrides, then DEFAULT_CONFIG) is consulted in that case.
+ *
+ * Numeric fields are in CLI / config-file units:
+ *   moveInterval, checkInterval — seconds
+ *   stepDelay                   — milliseconds
+ *   stepCount                   — pixels
+ *
+ * `verbose` is included so both layers can share a single shape, even
+ * though `verbose` isn't part of `Config` itself (it's plumbed through to
+ * `runKeeper` as a separate parameter).
  */
 export interface ConfigOverrides {
-    readonly moveInterval: number | undefined;   // seconds (CLI units)
+    readonly moveInterval: number | undefined;
-    readonly checkInterval: number | undefined;  // seconds (CLI units)
+    readonly checkInterval: number | undefined;
-    readonly stepDelay: number | undefined;      // milliseconds
+    readonly stepDelay: number | undefined;
-    readonly stepCount: number | undefined;      // pixels
+    readonly stepCount: number | undefined;
+    readonly verbose: boolean | undefined;
 }
 
 /**
- * Overlay user-supplied CLI values on top of `DEFAULT_CONFIG` and return a
+ * Resolve the default config-file path per the XDG Base Directory Spec.
- * resolved `Config`. Time-valued CLI inputs (move/check interval) are in
+ * Honors `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` if set; otherwise falls back to
- * seconds; this is where they're converted to milliseconds for internal use.
+ * `$HOME/.config`. The file itself is always `move/config.json` under
+ * that base.
  *
- * Any field left `undefined` in the overrides falls back to the default.
+ * Computed at call time (not at module load) so tests can override
+ * `XDG_CONFIG_HOME` after import.
  */
-export function resolveConfig(overrides: ConfigOverrides): Config {
+export function defaultConfigPath(): string {
+    const xdg = process.env.XDG_CONFIG_HOME;
+    if (xdg && xdg.length > 0) {
+        return join(xdg, "move", "config.json");
+    }
+    const home = process.env.HOME ?? "";
+    return join(home, ".config", "move", "config.json");
+}
+
+/**
+ * Overlay file overrides (lowest priority) and CLI overrides (highest)
+ * on top of `DEFAULT_CONFIG` and return a resolved `Config`. Time-valued
+ * inputs are in seconds; this is where they're converted to milliseconds
+ * for internal use.
+ *
+ * For each field, the first layer that supplies a defined value wins:
+ *   CLI -> file -> DEFAULT_CONFIG
+ */
+export function resolveConfig(file: ConfigOverrides | null, cli: ConfigOverrides): Config {
+    const pickSeconds = (
+        cliVal: number | undefined,
+        fileVal: number | undefined,
+        fallbackMs: number,
+    ): number => {
+        if (cliVal !== undefined) return cliVal * 1000;
+        if (fileVal !== undefined) return fileVal * 1000;
+        return fallbackMs;
+    };
+
+    const pickRaw = (
+        cliVal: number | undefined,
+        fileVal: number | undefined,
+        fallback: number,
+    ): number => {
+        if (cliVal !== undefined) return cliVal;
+        if (fileVal !== undefined) return fileVal;
+        return fallback;
+    };
+
     return {
-        moveInterval: overrides.moveInterval !== undefined ? overrides.moveInterval * 1000 : DEFAULT_CONFIG.moveInterval,
+        moveInterval:  pickSeconds(cli.moveInterval,  file?.moveInterval,  DEFAULT_CONFIG.moveInterval),
-        checkInterval: overrides.checkInterval !== undefined ? overrides.checkInterval * 1000 : DEFAULT_CONFIG.checkInterval,
+        checkInterval: pickSeconds(cli.checkInterval, file?.checkInterval, DEFAULT_CONFIG.checkInterval),
-        stepDelay: overrides.stepDelay ?? DEFAULT_CONFIG.stepDelay,
+        stepDelay:     pickRaw(cli.stepDelay,         file?.stepDelay,     DEFAULT_CONFIG.stepDelay),
-        stepCount: overrides.stepCount ?? DEFAULT_CONFIG.stepCount,
+        stepCount:     pickRaw(cli.stepCount,         file?.stepCount,     DEFAULT_CONFIG.stepCount),
     };
 }
+
+/**
+ * Resolve the effective `verbose` flag from the same layered overrides.
+ *
+ * `--verbose` on the CLI is a presence-only switch (no `--no-verbose`),
+ * so this is strictly an "or-up" merge: CLI true wins outright, otherwise
+ * the file's value (or false if absent) is used.
+ *
+ * Known limitation: a user with `"verbose": true` in their config file
+ * cannot force quiet mode from the CLI. They must edit the file (or use
+ * `--config` to point at a different one).
+ */
+export function resolveVerbose(file: ConfigOverrides | null, cli: ConfigOverrides): boolean {
+    if (cli.verbose === true) return true;
+    if (file?.verbose === true) return true;
+    return false;
+}

src/configFile.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+/**
+ * configFile.ts
+ * -------------
+ * JSON config file loading + strict validation.
+ *
+ * Default path: ${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/move/config.json
+ *
+ * Schema (all keys optional; matching CLI flag names and units):
+ *
+ *   moveInterval   number   seconds, positive
+ *   checkInterval  number   seconds, positive
+ *   stepDelay      number   milliseconds, positive
+ *   stepCount      number   pixels, positive
+ *   verbose        boolean
+ *
+ * Unknown keys, wrong types, and non-positive numerics are rejected with a
+ * `CliError` so the entry point can exit 2 (user error) with a clear
+ * message pointing at the offending file.
+ *
+ * Return semantics:
+ *   - `null` when no `explicitPath` was passed and the default path does
+ *     not exist.  This is the "user has no config" happy path.
+ *   - A `ConfigOverrides` when a file was found and validated.
+ *   - Throws `CliError` if a problem is detected (missing explicit path,
+ *     bad JSON, wrong shape, unknown keys, invalid values).
+ */
+
+import { existsSync, readFileSync, statSync } from "node:fs";
+
+import { CliError } from "./cli.ts";
+import { defaultConfigPath, type ConfigOverrides } from "./config.ts";
+
+const ALLOWED_KEYS: ReadonlySet<string> = new Set<string>([
+    "moveInterval",
+    "checkInterval",
+    "stepDelay",
+    "stepCount",
+    "verbose",
+]);
+
+function isPlainObject(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
+    return typeof value === "object" && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+}
+
+function requirePositiveNumber(name: string, raw: unknown, path: string): number {
+    if (typeof raw !== "number" || !Number.isFinite(raw) || raw <= 0) {
+        throw new CliError(
+            `invalid value for '${name}' in ${path}: ${JSON.stringify(raw)} (expected a positive number)`,
+        );
+    }
+    return raw;
+}
+
+function requireBoolean(name: string, raw: unknown, path: string): boolean {
+    if (typeof raw !== "boolean") {
+        throw new CliError(
+            `invalid value for '${name}' in ${path}: ${JSON.stringify(raw)} (expected a boolean)`,
+        );
+    }
+    return raw;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Load and validate the config file. See module docstring for return
+ * semantics.
+ *
+ * @param explicitPath - If provided (e.g., from `--config`), the file
+ *                       must exist and validate. If `undefined`, fall
+ *                       back to `defaultConfigPath()`; a missing default
+ *                       file is silent (returns `null`).
+ */
+export function loadConfigFile(explicitPath: string | undefined): ConfigOverrides | null {
+    const required: boolean = explicitPath !== undefined;
+    const path: string = explicitPath ?? defaultConfigPath();
+
+    if (!existsSync(path)) {
+        if (required) {
+            throw new CliError(`config file not found: ${path}`);
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    if (!statSync(path).isFile()) {
+        throw new CliError(`config path is not a regular file: ${path}`);
+    }
+
+    let raw: string;
+    try {
+        raw = readFileSync(path, "utf-8");
+    } catch (err: unknown) {
+        const msg: string = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+        throw new CliError(`could not read config file ${path}: ${msg}`);
+    }
+
+    let parsed: unknown;
+    try {
+        parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
+    } catch (err: unknown) {
+        const msg: string = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+        throw new CliError(`config file ${path} is not valid JSON: ${msg}`);
+    }
+
+    if (!isPlainObject(parsed)) {
+        throw new CliError(`config file ${path} must contain a JSON object at the root`);
+    }
+
+    // Strict mode: reject any key we don't know about. Catches typos like
+    // 'movInterval' that would otherwise sail through silently.
+    for (const key of Object.keys(parsed)) {
+        if (!ALLOWED_KEYS.has(key)) {
+            const allowed: string = [...ALLOWED_KEYS].join(", ");
+            throw new CliError(`unknown key '${key}' in ${path} (allowed: ${allowed})`);
+        }
+    }
+
+    return {
+        moveInterval:
+            "moveInterval" in parsed
+                ? requirePositiveNumber("moveInterval", parsed.moveInterval, path)
+                : undefined,
+        checkInterval:
+            "checkInterval" in parsed
+                ? requirePositiveNumber("checkInterval", parsed.checkInterval, path)
+                : undefined,
+        stepDelay:
+            "stepDelay" in parsed
+                ? requirePositiveNumber("stepDelay", parsed.stepDelay, path)
+                : undefined,
+        stepCount:
+            "stepCount" in parsed
+                ? requirePositiveNumber("stepCount", parsed.stepCount, path)
+                : undefined,
+        verbose:
+            "verbose" in parsed
+                ? requireBoolean("verbose", parsed.verbose, path)
+                : undefined,
+    };
+}

src/move.ts

@@ -4,18 +4,19 @@
  * -------
  * Entry point for the `move` CLI.
  *
- * Thin shim that ties the three logic modules together:
+ * Thin shim that ties the four logic modules together:
  *   - `cli.ts`         parses and validates `process.argv`.
- *   - `config.ts`  holds the default tunables and the `resolveConfig` overlay.
+ *   - `configFile.ts`  loads and validates the JSON config file.
+ *   - `config.ts`      holds defaults and the layered `resolveConfig` overlay.
  *   - `keeper.ts`      owns the synthetic-activity sweep and idle-watch loop.
  *
  * Order of operations:
- *   1. Parse CLI args. Bad input -> stderr message + short usage hint, exit 2.
+ *   1. Parse CLI args. Bad input -> stderr + usage hint, exit 2.
- *   2. `--help` / `--version` short-circuit before any mouse work happens.
+ *   2. `--help` / `--version` short-circuit before any I/O or mouse work.
- *   3. Resolve CLI overrides on top of `DEFAULT_CONFIG` and hand the result
+ *   3. Load + validate the config file (default XDG path, or `--config
- *      (plus the verbose flag) to `runKeeper`.
+ *      <path>` if supplied). Validation failures share the exit-2 path.
- *   4. Any unhandled rejection from `runKeeper` is logged and exits with
+ *   4. Resolve config (CLI > file > DEFAULT_CONFIG) and the verbose flag.
- *      code 1 so it's catchable by shells / supervisors.
+ *   5. Run keeper. Any unhandled rejection exits 1.
  *
  * Runtime: Bun (uses `@nut-tree-fork/nut-js` via `keeper.ts`). The shebang
  * above lets this file run as a real CLI once linked via `bun link`.
@@ -23,16 +24,26 @@
 
 import { parseCliArgs, printHelp, VERSION } from "./cli.ts";
 import type { ParsedCliArgs } from "./cli.ts";
-import { resolveConfig } from "./config.ts";
+import { resolveConfig, resolveVerbose } from "./config.ts";
+import type { ConfigOverrides } from "./config.ts";
+import { loadConfigFile } from "./configFile.ts";
 import { runKeeper } from "./keeper.ts";
 
+/**
+ * Print a CLI-style error and exit 2. Returns `never` so callers can use
+ * it without TypeScript flagging "variable might be undefined" downstream.
+ */
+function failUser(err: unknown): never {
+    const msg: string = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    process.stderr.write(`move: ${msg}\nTry 'move --help' for more information.\n`);
+    process.exit(2);
+}
+
 let cliArgs: ParsedCliArgs;
 try {
     cliArgs = parseCliArgs();
 } catch (err: unknown) {
-    const msg: string = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    failUser(err);
-    process.stderr.write(`move: ${msg}\nTry 'move --help' for more information.\n`);
-    process.exit(2);
 }
 
 if (cliArgs.help) {
@@ -44,14 +55,25 @@ if (cliArgs.version) {
     process.exit(0);
 }
 
-const config = resolveConfig({
+let fileOverrides: ConfigOverrides | null;
+try {
+    fileOverrides = loadConfigFile(cliArgs.config);
+} catch (err: unknown) {
+    failUser(err);
+}
+
+const cliOverrides: ConfigOverrides = {
     moveInterval:  cliArgs.moveInterval,
     checkInterval: cliArgs.checkInterval,
     stepDelay:     cliArgs.stepDelay,
     stepCount:     cliArgs.stepCount,
-});
+    verbose:       cliArgs.verbose,
+};
 
-runKeeper(config, cliArgs.verbose).catch((err: unknown): void => {
+const config = resolveConfig(fileOverrides, cliOverrides);
+const verbose: boolean = resolveVerbose(fileOverrides, cliOverrides);
+
+runKeeper(config, verbose).catch((err: unknown): void => {
     console.error("Error:", err);
     process.exit(1);
 });