diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ad08c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+*.pyc
+irc.json
+
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 255c84b..61c5ecb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,4 +5,19 @@ A Cards Against Humanity IRC bot
 
 This is currently a very poorly written bot, however most of the functionality is complete.
 
-Future versions will focus on making it easier for users to run their own version, simply by editing a json file containing any options that are required.
+Future versions will focus on making it easier for users to run their own
+version, simply by editing a json file containing any options that are required.
+
+Configuration file
+------------------
+
+Simply copy the content of the ``irc-sample.json`` file provided and save it as ``irc.json``. Adapt it to your needs. You can provide the following keys:
+
+* host
+* port
+* channel
+* identity
+* realname
+* hostname
+* botname
+* password
diff --git a/irc-sample.json b/irc-sample.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..800ab19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/irc-sample.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[{
+    "host": "irc.freenode.org",
+    "port": 6667,
+    "channel": "#brunobordtest"
+}]
diff --git a/sprbt.py b/sprbt.py
index bf9a3c6..b88dc28 100755
--- a/sprbt.py
+++ b/sprbt.py
@@ -7,16 +7,19 @@
 from datetime import timedelta
 import select
 import functions
+import json
+
 
 class IRCConnector( threading.Thread):
-    def __init__ (self, host, port):
-        self.host = host
-        self.port = port
-        self.channel = "#cah"
-        self.identity = "superbot"
-        self.realname = "superbot"
-        self.hostname = "supermatt.net"
-        self.botname = "humanitybot"
+    def __init__ (self, config):
+        self.host = config.get('host')
+        self.port = config.get('port')
+        self.channel = config.get('channel', "#cah")
+        self.identity = config.get("identity", "superbot")
+        self.realname = config.get("realname", "superbot")
+        self.hostname = config.get("hostname", "supermatt.net")
+        self.botname = config.get('botname', "humanitybot")
+        self.password = config.get('password', 'hum4n1ty')
         self.allmessages = []
         self.lastmessage = datetime.now()
         self.pulsetime = 500
@@ -74,7 +77,7 @@ def run (self):
                 if re.search(":End of /MOTD command.", line):
                         joinchannel = "JOIN %s\n" %self.channel
                         self.output(joinchannel)
-                        self.s.send("PRIVMSG nickserv :identify hum4n1ty\n")
+                        self.s.send("PRIVMSG nickserv :identify %s\n" % self.password)
                         self.s.send(joinchannel)
                         self.inchannel = True
 
@@ -140,12 +143,9 @@ def run (self):
             #print self.allmessages
 
 
-irc_connections = [{
-                        "host": "irc.darkmyst.org",
-                        "port": 6667,
-                        "channels": ["#cah"]
-                    }]
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    irc_connections = json.load(open('irc.json'))
 
-for irc in irc_connections:
-    IRCThread = IRCConnector(irc['host'], irc['port'])
-    IRCThread.start()
+    for config in irc_connections:
+        IRCThread = IRCConnector(config)
+        IRCThread.start()