diff --git a/src/authors/test/fs_repo.rs b/src/authors/test/fs_repo.rs
index 231842d..a6b1878 100644
--- a/src/authors/test/fs_repo.rs
+++ b/src/authors/test/fs_repo.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::conf;
 use crate::test_utils::file_cleanup::AfterAssert;
+use crate::test_utils::set_test_env;
 
 use std::fs;
 
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ use crate::authors::fs_provider::FSProvider;
 #[test]
 #[serial]
 fn should_connect_to_an_authors_file_in_cwd_if_available() {
+	set_test_env();
 	let cwd_authors_file_path = conf::authors_file_name();
 	fs::File::create(cwd_authors_file_path.clone()).unwrap();
 	let _after = AfterAssert::cleanup(&[&cwd_authors_file_path]);
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ fn should_connect_to_an_authors_file_in_cwd_if_available() {
 #[test]
 #[serial]
 fn should_connect_to_the_default_authors_file_if_no_file_is_available_in_cwd() {
+	set_test_env();
 	let default_authors_file_path = conf::authors_file_path();
 	fs::File::create(&default_authors_file_path).unwrap();
 	let _after = AfterAssert::cleanup(&[default_authors_file_path.as_str()]);
@@ -32,11 +35,13 @@ fn should_connect_to_the_default_authors_file_if_no_file_is_available_in_cwd() {
 #[test]
 #[serial]
 fn should_error_when_neither_cwd_or_default_authors_file_are_available() {
+	set_test_env();
 	assert!(FSProvider::from_cwd_with_home_fallback().is_err());
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn should_connect_to_a_given_existing_authors_file() {
+	set_test_env();
 	let an_authors_file_path = "/tmp/an_authors_file";
 	fs::File::create(an_authors_file_path).unwrap();
 	let _after = AfterAssert::cleanup(&[an_authors_file_path]);
@@ -46,11 +51,13 @@ fn should_connect_to_a_given_existing_authors_file() {
 
 #[test]
 fn should_not_connect_to_a_given_non_existing_file() {
+	set_test_env();
 	assert!(FSProvider::from("/tmp/no_file_here".to_string()).is_err());
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn should_fetch_all_available_authors() {
+	set_test_env();
 	let an_authors_file_path = conf::dummy_data();
 	let repo = FSProvider::from(an_authors_file_path.to_string()).unwrap();
 
@@ -69,6 +76,7 @@ fn should_fetch_all_available_authors() {
 
 #[test]
 fn should_fetch_authors_based_on_alias() {
+	set_test_env();
 	let an_authors_file_path = conf::dummy_data();
 	let repo = FSProvider::from(an_authors_file_path.to_string()).unwrap();
 
@@ -83,6 +91,7 @@ fn should_fetch_authors_based_on_alias() {
 
 #[test]
 fn should_fetch_all_authors_for_a_given_alias() {
+	set_test_env();
 	let an_authors_file_path = conf::dummy_data();
 	let repo = FSProvider::from(an_authors_file_path.to_string()).unwrap();
 
@@ -100,6 +109,7 @@ fn should_fetch_all_authors_for_a_given_alias() {
 
 #[test]
 fn should_return_an_empty_list_if_no_author_mathces_alias() {
+	set_test_env();
 	let an_authors_file_path = conf::dummy_data();
 	let repo = FSProvider::from(an_authors_file_path.to_string()).unwrap();
 
diff --git a/src/conf/config.rs b/src/conf/config.rs
index e83c6eb..3152a76 100644
--- a/src/conf/config.rs
+++ b/src/conf/config.rs
@@ -2,19 +2,18 @@ use std::env;
 
 use config::Config;
 
-const DEFAULT_CONFIG: &str = include_str!("configs/default.yaml");
-const TEST_CONFIG: &str = include_str!("configs/test.yaml");
-
 pub fn authors_file_path() -> String {
-	let path = get_config().get::<String>("authors_file_path").unwrap();
-	let file = authors_file_name();
-	let raw_config_string = format!("{}{}", path, file);
-	let base = "BASE_PATH";
+	let path_to_config_dir = get_config().get::<String>("authors_file_path").unwrap();
+	let file_name = authors_file_name();
+	let full_file_path = format!("{}{}", path_to_config_dir, file_name);
+	let home_placeholder = "PLACEHOLDER";
 	match env::var("XDG_CONFIG_HOME") {
-		Ok(env_var) => raw_config_string.replace(&format!("${}", base), &env_var),
+		Ok(env_home_var) => full_file_path.replace(&format!("${}", home_placeholder), &env_home_var),
 		Err(_) => match env::var("HOME") {
-			Ok(env_var) => raw_config_string.replace(&format!("${}", base), &format!("{}/.config", env_var)),
-			Err(_) => panic!("Your $HOME is not set, can't locate authors file!"),
+			Ok(env_home_var) => {
+				full_file_path.replace(&format!("${}", home_placeholder), &format!("{}/.config", env_home_var))
+			}
+			Err(_) => panic!("Your $HOME is not set, can't locate default authors file!"),
 		},
 	}
 }
@@ -35,19 +34,18 @@ pub fn editmsg() -> String {
 	get_config().get::<String>("editmsg").unwrap()
 }
 
-pub fn get_config() -> Config {
-	let config_file = if let Ok(test_env) = env::var("COA_ENV") {
-		if test_env == "test" {
-			TEST_CONFIG
-		} else {
-			DEFAULT_CONFIG
-		}
-	} else {
-		DEFAULT_CONFIG
-	};
+fn get_config() -> Config {
+	let default = "default";
+	let run_mode = env::var("RUN_MODE").unwrap_or_else(|_| default.to_string());
 
 	Config::builder()
-		.add_source(config::File::from_str(config_file, config::FileFormat::Yaml))
-		.build()
-		.unwrap()
-}
+		// always add default config
+		.add_source(config::File::with_name(&format!("src/conf/configs/{}", default)).required(true))
+		.add_source(
+			config::File::with_name(&format!("src/conf/configs/{}", run_mode))
+				.required(false), // optional config, overrides default
+		)
+		// allow settings from the environment (with a prefix of APP)
+		.add_source(config::Environment::with_prefix("app"))
+		.build().unwrap()
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/conf/configs/default.yaml b/src/conf/configs/default.yaml
index 03042a5..1a447e0 100644
--- a/src/conf/configs/default.yaml
+++ b/src/conf/configs/default.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
-authors_file: "$BASE_PATH/co-author/authors"
+authors_file_path: "$PLACEHOLDER/co-author/"
+authors_file_name: "authors.csv"
 hooks_path: ".git/hooks"
 editmsg: ".git/COMMIT_EDITMSG"
diff --git a/src/conf/mod.rs b/src/conf/mod.rs
index 1984f52..fa25552 100644
--- a/src/conf/mod.rs
+++ b/src/conf/mod.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ pub use config::authors_file_name;
 pub use config::authors_file_path;
 pub use config::dummy_data;
 pub use config::editmsg;
-pub use config::get_config;
 pub use config::hooks_path;
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/src/git/test/libgit_wrapper.rs b/src/git/test/libgit_wrapper.rs
index 010f36b..0d46657 100644
--- a/src/git/test/libgit_wrapper.rs
+++ b/src/git/test/libgit_wrapper.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use co_author::test_utils::set_test_env;
 use git2::{Repository, RepositoryInitOptions, Signature};
 use serial_test::serial;
 use std::{
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ fn should_determine_if_is_valid_git_repo() {
 #[test]
 #[serial]
 fn should_create_a_commit_on_an_already_existing_git_repo_with_staged_changes() {
+	set_test_env();
 	let git_repo = init_repo(REPO_PATH);
 	create_and_add_file_to_git_tree(&git_repo, "foo");
 
@@ -42,9 +44,7 @@ fn should_create_a_commit_on_an_already_existing_git_repo_with_staged_changes()
 	let editmsg_path = format!("{}/.git/COMMIT_EDITMSG", REPO_PATH);
 	std::fs::write(editmsg_path, commit_body.formatted_body()).unwrap();
 
-	let result = repo
-		.unwrap()
-		.commit();
+	let result = repo.unwrap().commit();
 
 	assert!(result.is_ok());
 }
@@ -63,9 +63,7 @@ fn should_error_out_if_commit_body_is_empty() {
 	let editmsg_path = format!("{}/.git/COMMIT_EDITMSG", REPO_PATH);
 	std::fs::write(editmsg_path, commit_body.formatted_body()).unwrap();
 
-	let result = repo
-		.unwrap()
-		.commit();
+	let result = repo.unwrap().commit();
 
 	assert!(result
 		.unwrap_err()
@@ -76,27 +74,19 @@ fn should_error_out_if_commit_body_is_empty() {
 #[test]
 #[serial]
 fn test_prepares_editmsg_file() {
+	set_test_env();
 	let git_repo = init_repo(REPO_PATH);
 	create_and_add_file_to_git_tree(&git_repo, "foo");
 
-	let mut index = git_repo
-		.index()
-		.unwrap();
-	let id = index
-		.write_tree()
-		.unwrap();
-	let tree = git_repo
-		.find_tree(id)
-		.unwrap();
+	let mut index = git_repo.index().unwrap();
+	let id = index.write_tree().unwrap();
+	let tree = git_repo.find_tree(id).unwrap();
 	add_commit(&git_repo, tree.clone(), "IRRELEVANT");
 
 	// add bar
 	create_and_add_file_to_git_tree(&git_repo, "bar");
 	// modify but don't add foo
-	let root = git_repo
-		.path()
-		.parent()
-		.unwrap();
+	let root = git_repo.path().parent().unwrap();
 	std::fs::write(root.join("foo"), "text").unwrap();
 	// add baz but keep untracked
 	std::fs::write(root.join("baz"), "text").unwrap();
@@ -105,9 +95,7 @@ fn test_prepares_editmsg_file() {
 
 	let repo = LibGitWrapper::from(PathBuf::from(REPO_PATH));
 	assert!(repo.is_ok());
-	repo.unwrap()
-		.add_status_to_editmsg()
-		.unwrap();
+	repo.unwrap().add_status_to_editmsg().unwrap();
 
 	let commit_editmsg_path = "/var/tmp/coa/.git/COMMIT_EDITMSG";
 	let contents = std::fs::read_to_string(Path::new(commit_editmsg_path));
@@ -139,15 +127,9 @@ fn should_only_return_the_first_line_from_the_last_commit() {
 	let git_repo = init_repo(REPO_PATH);
 	create_and_add_file_to_git_tree(&git_repo, "foo");
 
-	let mut index = git_repo
-		.index()
-		.unwrap();
-	let id = index
-		.write_tree()
-		.unwrap();
-	let tree = git_repo
-		.find_tree(id)
-		.unwrap();
+	let mut index = git_repo.index().unwrap();
+	let id = index.write_tree().unwrap();
+	let tree = git_repo.find_tree(id).unwrap();
 	let repo = LibGitWrapper::from(PathBuf::from(REPO_PATH));
 	assert!(repo.is_ok());
 
@@ -155,9 +137,7 @@ fn should_only_return_the_first_line_from_the_last_commit() {
 	let msg = format!("{}\nSECOND_LINE", first_line);
 	add_commit(&git_repo, tree, msg.as_str());
 
-	let result = repo
-		.unwrap()
-		.prev_commit_msg();
+	let result = repo.unwrap().prev_commit_msg();
 
 	assert_eq!(result.unwrap(), first_line);
 }
@@ -168,23 +148,13 @@ fn init_repo(path: &str) -> Repository {
 	let repo = Repository::init_opts(&dir, &RepositoryInitOptions::new()).unwrap();
 	set_user_and_email(&repo);
 
-	let mut index = repo
-		.index()
-		.unwrap();
-	let id = index
-		.write_tree()
-		.unwrap();
-	let tree = repo
-		.find_tree(id)
-		.unwrap();
+	let mut index = repo.index().unwrap();
+	let id = index.write_tree().unwrap();
+	let tree = repo.find_tree(id).unwrap();
 	repo.commit(
 		Some("HEAD"),
-		&repo
-			.signature()
-			.unwrap(),
-		&repo
-			.signature()
-			.unwrap(),
+		&repo.signature().unwrap(),
+		&repo.signature().unwrap(),
 		"initial commit",
 		&tree,
 		&[],
@@ -198,36 +168,20 @@ fn set_user_and_email(repo: &Repository) {
 	let sig = Signature::now("a_name", "an_email").unwrap();
 	repo.config()
 		.unwrap()
-		.set_str(
-			"user.name",
-			sig.name()
-				.unwrap(),
-		)
+		.set_str("user.name", sig.name().unwrap())
 		.unwrap();
 	repo.config()
 		.unwrap()
-		.set_str(
-			"user.email",
-			sig.email()
-				.unwrap(),
-		)
+		.set_str("user.email", sig.email().unwrap())
 		.unwrap();
 }
 
 fn add_commit(repo: &Repository, tree: git2::Tree<'_>, msg: &str) {
-	let head_commit = repo
-		.head()
-		.unwrap()
-		.peel_to_commit()
-		.unwrap();
+	let head_commit = repo.head().unwrap().peel_to_commit().unwrap();
 	repo.commit(
 		Some("HEAD"),
-		&repo
-			.signature()
-			.unwrap(),
-		&repo
-			.signature()
-			.unwrap(),
+		&repo.signature().unwrap(),
+		&repo.signature().unwrap(),
 		msg,
 		&tree,
 		&[&head_commit],
@@ -236,19 +190,10 @@ fn add_commit(repo: &Repository, tree: git2::Tree<'_>, msg: &str) {
 }
 
 fn create_and_add_file_to_git_tree(repo: &Repository, file_name: &str) {
-	let root = repo
-		.path()
-		.parent()
-		.unwrap();
+	let root = repo.path().parent().unwrap();
 	File::create(root.join(file_name)).unwrap();
 
-	let mut index = repo
-		.index()
-		.unwrap();
-	index
-		.add_path(Path::new(file_name))
-		.unwrap();
-	index
-		.write()
-		.unwrap();
+	let mut index = repo.index().unwrap();
+	index.add_path(Path::new(file_name)).unwrap();
+	index.write().unwrap();
 }
diff --git a/src/test_utils/mod.rs b/src/test_utils/mod.rs
index ab9efe5..394788c 100644
--- a/src/test_utils/mod.rs
+++ b/src/test_utils/mod.rs
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
 pub mod file_cleanup;
+pub fn set_test_env() {
+	std::env::set_var("RUN_MODE", "test");
+}
diff --git a/test/integration.rs b/test/integration.rs
index 5166f11..b6cc6e3 100644
--- a/test/integration.rs
+++ b/test/integration.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use std::error::Error;
+// TODO: these tests are being ignored
 
 use co_author::{args::Args, authors::author::Author, cli::Cli, handle_authors, handle_commit_msg};