diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c6a88e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+use std::{
+    fs, io,
+    path::{Path, PathBuf},
+};
+
+use serde::Deserialize;
+
+pub const CONFIG_FILENAME: &str = "vibebox.toml";
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default, Deserialize)]
+pub struct ProjectConfig {
+    pub auto_shutdown_ms: Option<u64>,
+}
+
+pub fn config_path(project_root: &Path) -> PathBuf {
+    project_root.join(CONFIG_FILENAME)
+}
+
+pub fn ensure_config_file(project_root: &Path) -> Result<PathBuf, io::Error> {
+    let path = config_path(project_root);
+    if !path.exists() {
+        fs::write(&path, "")?;
+        tracing::info!(path = %path.display(), "created vibebox config");
+    }
+    Ok(path)
+}
+
+pub fn load_config(
+    project_root: &Path,
+) -> Result<ProjectConfig, Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync>> {
+    let path = ensure_config_file(project_root)?;
+    let raw = fs::read_to_string(&path)?;
+    tracing::debug!(path = %path.display(), bytes = raw.len(), "loaded vibebox config");
+    if raw.trim().is_empty() {
+        return Ok(ProjectConfig::default());
+    }
+    Ok(toml::from_str::<ProjectConfig>(&raw)?)
+}