diff --git a/config.lua b/config.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40ef23f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+return {
+    has_me = true,
+    main_system_ae_bridge_side = "right",
+    main_me_inventory_side = "up",
+    colony_interface_side = "left",
+    monitor_side = "top",
+    monitor_scale = 1.0,
+    step_sleep_time = 0.5,
+    round_sleep_time = 60.0,
+    initial_tab = 1,
+}
diff --git a/test.lua b/test.lua
index aa4eb72..13ebbb8 100644
--- a/test.lua
+++ b/test.lua
@@ -1,27 +1,16 @@
--- options --
-local has_me = true
-local main_system_ae_bridge_side = "right"
-local main_me_inventory_side = "up"
-local colony_interface_side = "left"
-local monitor_side = "top"
-local monitor_scale = 1.0
-local step_sleep_time = 0.5
-local round_sleep_time = 60.0
-local current_tab = 1
-
-
--- runtime variables --
+local config = require "config"
 local pretty = require "cc.pretty"
 local permset = require "permset"
 
 local main_me = {}
-if has_me then
-    main_me = peripheral.wrap(main_system_ae_bridge_side)
+if config.has_me then
+    main_me = peripheral.wrap(config.main_system_ae_bridge_side)
 end
-local colony = peripheral.wrap(colony_interface_side)
+local colony = peripheral.wrap(config.colony_interface_side)
 
 local requests = {}
 local orders = {}
+local current_tab = config.initial_tab
 
 -- to match click positions back to item names
 local display_list = {}
@@ -224,17 +213,17 @@ function wait_for(time_secs)
 end
 
 
-if peripheral.isPresent(monitor_side) then
-    monitor = peripheral.wrap(monitor_side)
-    monitor.setTextScale(monitor_scale)
+if peripheral.isPresent(config.monitor_side) then
+    monitor = peripheral.wrap(config.monitor_side)
+    monitor.setTextScale(config.monitor_scale)
     term.redirect(monitor)
 end
 
 function get_requests()
     requests = {}
     local reqs = colony.getRequests()
-    local me_items = has_me
-    if has_me then
+    local me_items = config.has_me
+    if config.has_me then
         me_items = main_me.listItems()
     end
     for i, req in pairs(reqs) do
@@ -249,7 +238,7 @@ function get_requests()
                         if left_amount > 0 and allowed_items[it.name] == true then
                             local export_amount = math.min(have_it.amount, left_amount)
                             left_amount = left_amount - export_amount
-                            main_me.exportItem({name=it.name, count=export_amount}, main_me_inventory_side)
+                            main_me.exportItem({name=it.name, count=export_amount}, config.main_me_inventory_side)
                         end
                     end
                 end
@@ -258,7 +247,7 @@ function get_requests()
         if found == false then
             table.insert(requests, {req=req, answer=nil})
         end
-        wait_for(step_sleep_time)
+        wait_for(config.step_sleep_time)
     end
 end
 
@@ -269,7 +258,7 @@ function get_orders()
         for i, order in pairs(orders) do
             local res = colony.getWorkOrderResources(order.id)
             table.insert(orders, {id=order.id, type=order.workOrderType, target=order.type, pos=order.builder, item=res.item, claimed=order.isClaimed, delivering=res.delivering})
-            wait_for(step_sleep_time)
+            wait_for(config.step_sleep_time)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -279,5 +268,5 @@ while true do
     get_requests()
     get_orders()
     currently_working = false
-    wait_for(round_sleep_time)
+    wait_for(config.round_sleep_time)
 end