diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index a7e06b6ef..e97daba35 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1047,6 +1047,19 @@ dependencies = [
  "allocator-api2",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "helix-config"
+version = "23.10.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "ahash",
+ "anyhow",
+ "hashbrown 0.14.3",
+ "indexmap",
+ "parking_lot",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_json",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "helix-core"
 version = "23.10.0"
@@ -1059,6 +1072,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "encoding_rs",
  "etcetera",
  "hashbrown 0.14.3",
+ "helix-config",
  "helix-loader",
  "imara-diff",
  "indoc",
@@ -1132,6 +1146,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "futures-executor",
  "futures-util",
  "globset",
+ "helix-config",
  "helix-core",
  "helix-loader",
  "helix-parsec",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 6c006fbb4..77092ba78 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 resolver = "2"
 members = [
   "helix-core",
+  "helix-config",
   "helix-view",
   "helix-term",
   "helix-tui",
diff --git a/helix-config/Cargo.toml b/helix-config/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ba9bbb5d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helix-config/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+[package]
+name = "helix-config"
+description = "Helix editor core editing primitives"
+include = ["src/**/*", "README.md"]
+version.workspace = true
+authors.workspace = true
+edition.workspace = true
+license.workspace = true
+rust-version.workspace = true
+categories.workspace = true
+repository.workspace = true
+homepage.workspace = true
+
+[dependencies]
+ahash = "0.8.6"
+hashbrown = { version = "0.14.3", features = ["raw"] }
+parking_lot = "0.12"
+anyhow = "1.0.79"
+indexmap = { version = "2.1.0", features = ["serde"] }
+serde = { version = "1.0" }
+serde_json = "1.0"
+
+regex-syntax = "0.8.2"
+which = "5.0.0"
diff --git a/helix-config/src/any.rs b/helix-config/src/any.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..891d9e8c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helix-config/src/any.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+/// this is a reimplementation of dynamic dispatch that only stores the
+/// information we need and stores everythin inline. Values that are smaller or
+/// the same size as a slice (2 usize) are also stored inline. This avoids
+/// significant overallocation when setting lots of simple config
+/// options (integers, strings, lists, enums)
+use std::any::{Any, TypeId};
+use std::mem::{align_of, size_of, MaybeUninit};
+
+pub struct ConfigData {
+    data: MaybeUninit<[usize; 2]>,
+    ty: TypeId,
+    drop_fn: unsafe fn(MaybeUninit<[usize; 2]>),
+}
+
+const fn store_inline<T>() -> bool {
+    size_of::<T>() <= size_of::<[usize; 2]>() && align_of::<T>() <= align_of::<[usize; 2]>()
+}
+
+impl ConfigData {
+    unsafe fn drop_impl<T: Any>(mut data: MaybeUninit<[usize; 2]>) {
+        if store_inline::<T>() {
+            data.as_mut_ptr().cast::<T>().drop_in_place();
+        } else {
+            let ptr = data.as_mut_ptr().cast::<*mut T>().read();
+            drop(Box::from_raw(ptr));
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn get<T: Any>(&self) -> &T {
+        assert_eq!(TypeId::of::<T>(), self.ty);
+        unsafe {
+            if store_inline::<T>() {
+                return &*self.data.as_ptr().cast();
+            }
+            let data: *const T = self.data.as_ptr().cast::<*const T>().read();
+            &*data
+        }
+    }
+    pub fn new<T: Any>(val: T) -> Self {
+        let mut data = MaybeUninit::uninit();
+        if store_inline::<T>() {
+            let data: *mut T = data.as_mut_ptr() as _;
+            unsafe {
+                data.write(val);
+            }
+        } else {
+            assert!(store_inline::<*const T>());
+            let data: *mut *const T = data.as_mut_ptr() as _;
+            unsafe {
+                data.write(Box::into_raw(Box::new(val)));
+            }
+        };
+        Self {
+            data,
+            ty: TypeId::of::<T>(),
+            drop_fn: ConfigData::drop_impl::<T>,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for ConfigData {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        unsafe {
+            (self.drop_fn)(self.data);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for ConfigData {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("ConfigData").finish_non_exhaustive()
+    }
+}
+
+unsafe impl Send for ConfigData {}
+unsafe impl Sync for ConfigData {}
diff --git a/helix-config/src/convert.rs b/helix-config/src/convert.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1ee3b6f74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helix-config/src/convert.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+use crate::any::ConfigData;
+use crate::validator::Ty;
+use crate::Value;
+
+pub trait IntoTy: Clone {
+    type Ty: Ty;
+    fn into_ty(self) -> Self::Ty;
+}
+
+impl<T: Ty> IntoTy for T {
+    type Ty = Self;
+
+    fn into_ty(self) -> Self::Ty {
+        self
+    }
+}
+impl<T: IntoTy> IntoTy for &[T] {
+    type Ty = Box<[T::Ty]>;
+
+    fn into_ty(self) -> Self::Ty {
+        self.iter().cloned().map(T::into_ty).collect()
+    }
+}
+impl<T: IntoTy, const N: usize> IntoTy for &[T; N] {
+    type Ty = Box<[T::Ty]>;
+
+    fn into_ty(self) -> Self::Ty {
+        self.iter().cloned().map(T::into_ty).collect()
+    }
+}
+
+impl IntoTy for &str {
+    type Ty = Box<str>;
+
+    fn into_ty(self) -> Self::Ty {
+        self.into()
+    }
+}
+
+pub(super) fn ty_into_value<T: Ty>(val: &ConfigData) -> Value {
+    T::to_value(val.get())
+}
diff --git a/helix-config/src/lib.rs b/helix-config/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8f27e41ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helix-config/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,242 @@
+use std::any::Any;
+use std::fmt::Debug;
+use std::marker::PhantomData;
+use std::ops::Deref;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use anyhow::bail;
+use hashbrown::hash_map::Entry;
+use hashbrown::HashMap;
+use indexmap::IndexMap;
+use parking_lot::{MappedRwLockReadGuard, RwLock, RwLockReadGuard};
+
+use any::ConfigData;
+use convert::ty_into_value;
+pub use convert::IntoTy;
+pub use definition::init_config;
+use validator::StaticValidator;
+pub use validator::{regex_str_validator, ty_validator, IntegerRangeValidator, Ty, Validator};
+pub use value::{from_value, to_value, Value};
+
+mod any;
+mod convert;
+mod macros;
+mod validator;
+mod value;
+
+pub type Guard<'a, T> = MappedRwLockReadGuard<'a, T>;
+pub type Map<T> = IndexMap<Box<str>, T, ahash::RandomState>;
+pub type String = Box<str>;
+pub type List<T> = Box<[T]>;
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests;
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct OptionInfo {
+    pub name: Arc<str>,
+    pub description: Box<str>,
+    pub validator: Box<dyn Validator>,
+    pub into_value: fn(&ConfigData) -> Value,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct OptionManager {
+    vals: RwLock<HashMap<Arc<str>, ConfigData>>,
+    parent: Option<Arc<OptionManager>>,
+}
+
+impl OptionManager {
+    pub fn get<T: Any>(&self, option: &str) -> Guard<'_, T> {
+        Guard::map(self.get_data(option), ConfigData::get)
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_data(&self, option: &str) -> Guard<'_, ConfigData> {
+        let mut current_scope = self;
+        loop {
+            let lock = current_scope.vals.read();
+            if let Ok(res) = RwLockReadGuard::try_map(lock, |options| options.get(option)) {
+                return res;
+            }
+            let Some(new_scope) = current_scope.parent.as_deref() else{
+                unreachable!("option must be atleast defined in the global scope")
+            };
+            current_scope = new_scope;
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_deref<T: Deref + Any>(&self, option: &str) -> Guard<'_, T::Target> {
+        Guard::map(self.get::<T>(option), T::deref)
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_folded<T: Any, R>(
+        &self,
+        option: &str,
+        init: R,
+        mut fold: impl FnMut(&T, R) -> R,
+    ) -> R {
+        let mut res = init;
+        let mut current_scope = self;
+        loop {
+            let options = current_scope.vals.read();
+            if let Some(option) = options.get(option).map(|val| val.get()) {
+                res = fold(option, res);
+            }
+            let Some(new_scope) = current_scope.parent.as_deref() else{
+                break
+            };
+            current_scope = new_scope;
+        }
+        res
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_value(
+        &self,
+        option: impl Into<Arc<str>>,
+        registry: &OptionRegistry,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<Value> {
+        let option: Arc<str> = option.into();
+        let Some(opt) = registry.get(&option) else { bail!("unknown option {option:?}") };
+        let data = self.get_data(&option);
+        let val = (opt.into_value)(&data);
+        Ok(val)
+    }
+
+    pub fn create_scope(self: &Arc<OptionManager>) -> OptionManager {
+        OptionManager {
+            vals: RwLock::default(),
+            parent: Some(self.clone()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_parent_scope(&mut self, parent: Arc<OptionManager>) {
+        self.parent = Some(parent)
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_unchecked(&self, option: Arc<str>, val: ConfigData) {
+        self.vals.write().insert(option, val);
+    }
+
+    pub fn append(
+        &self,
+        option: impl Into<Arc<str>>,
+        val: impl Into<Value>,
+        registry: &OptionRegistry,
+        max_depth: usize,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let val = val.into();
+        let option: Arc<str> = option.into();
+        let Some(opt) = registry.get(&option) else { bail!("unknown option {option:?}") };
+        let old_data = self.get_data(&option);
+        let mut old = (opt.into_value)(&old_data);
+        old.append(val, max_depth);
+        let val = opt.validator.validate(old)?;
+        self.set_unchecked(option, val);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Sets the value of a config option. Returns an error if this config
+    /// option doesn't exist or the provided value is not valid.
+    pub fn set(
+        &self,
+        option: impl Into<Arc<str>>,
+        val: impl Into<Value>,
+        registry: &OptionRegistry,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let option: Arc<str> = option.into();
+        let val = val.into();
+        let Some(opt) = registry.get(&option) else { bail!("unknown option {option:?}") };
+        let val = opt.validator.validate(val)?;
+        self.set_unchecked(option, val);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// unsets an options so that its value will be read from
+    /// the parent scope instead
+    pub fn unset(&self, option: &str) {
+        self.vals.write().remove(option);
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct OptionRegistry {
+    options: HashMap<Arc<str>, OptionInfo>,
+    defaults: Arc<OptionManager>,
+}
+
+impl OptionRegistry {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            options: HashMap::with_capacity(1024),
+            defaults: Arc::new(OptionManager {
+                vals: RwLock::new(HashMap::with_capacity(1024)),
+                parent: None,
+            }),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn register<T: IntoTy>(&mut self, name: &str, description: &str, default: T) {
+        self.register_with_validator(
+            name,
+            description,
+            default,
+            StaticValidator::<T::Ty> { ty: PhantomData },
+        );
+    }
+
+    pub fn register_with_validator<T: IntoTy>(
+        &mut self,
+        name: &str,
+        description: &str,
+        default: T,
+        validator: impl Validator,
+    ) {
+        let mut name: Arc<str> = name.into();
+        // convert from snake case to kebab case in place without an additional
+        // allocation this is save since we only replace ascii with ascii in
+        // place std really ougth to have a function for this :/
+        // TODO: move to stdx as extension trait
+        for byte in unsafe { Arc::get_mut(&mut name).unwrap().as_bytes_mut() } {
+            if *byte == b'-' {
+                *byte = b'_';
+            }
+        }
+        let default = default.into_ty();
+        match self.options.entry(name.clone()) {
+            Entry::Vacant(e) => {
+                // make sure the validator is correct
+                if cfg!(debug_assertions) {
+                    validator.validate(T::Ty::to_value(&default)).unwrap();
+                }
+                let opt = OptionInfo {
+                    name: name.clone(),
+                    description: description.into(),
+                    validator: Box::new(validator),
+                    into_value: ty_into_value::<T::Ty>,
+                };
+                e.insert(opt);
+            }
+            Entry::Occupied(ent) => {
+                ent.get()
+                    .validator
+                    .validate(T::Ty::to_value(&default))
+                    .unwrap();
+            }
+        }
+        self.defaults.set_unchecked(name, ConfigData::new(default));
+    }
+
+    pub fn global_scope(&self) -> Arc<OptionManager> {
+        self.defaults.clone()
+    }
+
+    pub fn get(&self, name: &str) -> Option<&OptionInfo> {
+        self.options.get(name)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for OptionRegistry {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/helix-config/src/macros.rs b/helix-config/src/macros.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..69e9c75cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helix-config/src/macros.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+/// This macro allows specifiying a trait of related config
+/// options with a struct like syntax. From that information
+/// two things are generated:
+///
+/// * A `init_config` function that registers the config options with the
+///   `OptionRegistry` registry.
+/// * A **trait** definition with an accessor for every config option that is
+///   implemented for `OptionManager`.
+///
+/// The accessors on the trait allow convenient statically typed access to
+/// config fields. The accessors return `Guard<T>` (which allows derferecning to
+/// &T). Any type that implements copy can be returned as a copy instead by
+/// specifying `#[read = copy]`. Collections like `List<T>` and `String` are not
+/// copy However, they usually implement deref (to &[T] and &str respectively).
+/// Working with the dereferneced &str/&[T] is more convenient then &String and &List<T>. The
+/// accessor will return these if `#[read = deref]` is specified.
+///
+/// The doc comments will be retained for the accessors and also stored in the
+/// option registrry for dispaly in the UI and documentation.
+///
+/// The name of a config option can be changed with #[name = "<name>"],
+/// otherwise the name of the field is used directly. The OptionRegistry
+/// automatically converts all names to kebab-case so a name attribute is only
+/// required if the name is supposed to be significantly altered.
+///
+/// In some cases more complex validation may be necssary. In that case the
+/// valiidtator can be provided with an exprission that implements the `Validator`
+/// trait: `#[validator = create_validator()]`.
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! options {
+    (
+        $(use $use: ident::*;)*
+        $($(#[$($meta: tt)*])* struct $ident: ident {
+            $(
+                $(#[doc = $option_desc: literal])*
+                $(#[name = $option_name: literal])?
+                $(#[validator = $option_validator: expr])?
+                $(#[read = $($extra: tt)*])?
+                $option: ident: $ty: ty = $default: expr
+            ),+$(,)?
+        })+
+    ) => {
+        $(pub use $use::*;)*
+        $($(#[$($meta)*])* pub trait $ident {
+            $(
+                $(#[doc = $option_desc])*
+                fn $option(&self) -> $crate::options!(@ret_ty $($($extra)*)? $ty);
+            )+
+        })+
+        pub fn init_config(registry: &mut $crate::OptionRegistry) {
+            $($use::init_config(registry);)*
+            $($(
+                let name = $crate::options!(@name $option $($option_name)?);
+                let docs = concat!("" $(,$option_desc,)" "*);
+                $crate::options!(@register registry name docs $default, $ty $(,$option_validator)?);
+            )+)+
+        }
+        $(impl $ident for $crate::OptionManager {
+            $(
+                $(#[doc = $option_desc])*
+                fn $option(&self) -> $crate::options!(@ret_ty $($($extra)*)? $ty) {
+                    let name = $crate::options!(@name $option $($option_name)?);
+                    $crate::options!(@get $($($extra)*)? self, $ty, name)
+                }
+            )+
+        })+
+    };
+    (@register $registry: ident $name: ident $desc: ident $default: expr, $ty:ty) => {{
+        use $crate::IntoTy;
+        let val: $ty = $default.into_ty();
+        $registry.register($name, $desc, val);
+    }};
+    (@register $registry: ident $name: ident $desc: ident  $default: expr, $ty:ty, $validator: expr) => {{
+        use $crate::IntoTy;
+        let val: $ty = $default.into_ty();
+        $registry.register_with_validator($name, $desc, val, $validator);
+    }};
+    (@name $ident: ident) => {
+        ::std::stringify!($ident)
+    };
+    (@name $ident: ident $name: literal) => {
+        $name
+    };
+    (@ret_ty copy $ty: ty) => {
+        $ty
+    };
+    (@ret_ty map($fn: expr, $ret_ty: ty) $ty: ty) => {
+        $ret_ty
+    };
+    (@ret_ty fold($init: expr, $fn: expr, $ret_ty: ty) $ty: ty) => {
+        $ret_ty
+    };
+    (@ret_ty deref $ty: ty) => {
+        $crate::Guard<'_, <$ty as ::std::ops::Deref>::Target>
+    };
+    (@ret_ty $ty: ty) => {
+        $crate::Guard<'_, $ty>
+    };
+    (@get map($fn: expr, $ret_ty: ty) $config: ident, $ty: ty, $name: ident) => {
+        let val = $config.get::<$ty>($name);
+        $fn(val)
+    };
+    (@get fold($init: expr, $fn: expr, $ret_ty: ty) $config: ident, $ty: ty, $name: ident) => {
+        $config.get_folded::<$ty, $ret_ty>($name, $init, $fn)
+    };
+    (@get copy $config: ident, $ty: ty, $name: ident) => {
+        *$config.get::<$ty>($name)
+    };
+    (@get deref $config: ident, $ty: ty, $name: ident) => {
+        $config.get_deref::<$ty>($name)
+    };
+    (@get $config: ident, $ty: ty, $name: ident) => {
+        $config.get::<$ty>($name)
+    };
+}
+
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! config_serde_adapter {
+    ($ty: ident) => {
+        impl $crate::Ty for $ty {
+            fn to_value(&self) -> $crate::Value {
+                $crate::to_value(self).unwrap()
+            }
+            fn from_value(val: $crate::Value) -> ::anyhow::Result<Self> {
+                let val = $crate::from_value(val)?;
+                Ok(val)
+            }
+        }
+    };
+}
diff --git a/helix-config/src/tests.rs b/helix-config/src/tests.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6a724bd64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helix-config/src/tests.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+use std::ops::Deref;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+use crate::config_serde_adapter;
+use crate::OptionRegistry;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case")]
+pub enum LineNumber {
+    /// Show absolute line number
+    #[serde(alias = "abs")]
+    Absolute,
+    /// If focused and in normal/select mode, show relative line number to the primary cursor.
+    /// If unfocused or in insert mode, show absolute line number.
+    #[serde(alias = "rel")]
+    Relative,
+}
+
+config_serde_adapter!(LineNumber);
+
+fn setup_registry() -> OptionRegistry {
+    let mut registry = OptionRegistry::new();
+    registry.register(
+        "scrolloff",
+        "Number of lines of padding around the edge of the screen when scrolling",
+        5usize,
+    );
+    registry.register(
+        "shell",
+        "Shell to use when running external commands",
+        &["sh", "-c"],
+    );
+    registry.register("mouse", "Enable mouse mode", true);
+    registry.register(
+        "line-number",
+        "Line number display: `absolute` simply shows each line's number, while \
+        `relative` shows the distance from the current line. When unfocused or in \
+        insert mode, `relative` will still show absolute line numbers",
+        LineNumber::Absolute,
+    );
+    registry
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn default_values() {
+    let registry = setup_registry();
+    let global_scope = registry.global_scope();
+    let scrolloff: usize = *global_scope.get("scrolloff");
+    let shell_ = global_scope.get_deref::<Box<[_]>>("shell");
+    let shell: &[Box<str>] = &shell_;
+    let mouse: bool = *global_scope.get("mouse");
+    let line_number: LineNumber = *global_scope.get("line-number");
+    assert_eq!(scrolloff, 5);
+    assert!(shell.iter().map(Box::deref).eq(["sh", "-c"]));
+    assert!(mouse);
+    assert_eq!(line_number, LineNumber::Absolute);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn scope_overwrite() {
+    let registry = setup_registry();
+    let global_scope = registry.global_scope();
+    let scope_1 = Arc::new(global_scope.create_scope());
+    let scope_2 = Arc::new(global_scope.create_scope());
+    let mut scope_3 = scope_1.create_scope();
+    scope_1.set("line-number", "rel", &registry).unwrap();
+    let line_number: LineNumber = *scope_3.get("line-number");
+    assert_eq!(line_number, LineNumber::Relative);
+    scope_3.set_parent_scope(scope_2.clone());
+    let line_number: LineNumber = *scope_3.get("line-number");
+    assert_eq!(line_number, LineNumber::Absolute);
+    scope_2.set("line-number", "rel", &registry).unwrap();
+    let line_number: LineNumber = *scope_3.get("line-number");
+    assert_eq!(line_number, LineNumber::Relative);
+    scope_2.set("line-number", "abs", &registry).unwrap();
+    let line_number: LineNumber = *scope_3.get("line-number");
+    assert_eq!(line_number, LineNumber::Absolute);
+}
diff --git a/helix-config/src/validator.rs b/helix-config/src/validator.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7c56c3587
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helix-config/src/validator.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,296 @@
+use std::any::{type_name, Any};
+use std::error::Error;
+use std::fmt::Debug;
+use std::marker::PhantomData;
+
+use anyhow::{bail, ensure, Result};
+
+use crate::any::ConfigData;
+use crate::Value;
+
+pub trait Validator: 'static + Debug {
+    fn validate(&self, val: Value) -> Result<ConfigData>;
+}
+
+pub trait Ty: Sized + Clone + 'static {
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self>;
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value;
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct IntegerRangeValidator<T> {
+    pub min: isize,
+    pub max: isize,
+    ty: PhantomData<T>,
+}
+impl<E, T> IntegerRangeValidator<T>
+where
+    E: Debug,
+    T: TryInto<isize, Error = E>,
+{
+    pub fn new(min: T, max: T) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            min: min.try_into().unwrap(),
+            max: max.try_into().unwrap(),
+            ty: PhantomData,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> Debug for IntegerRangeValidator<T> {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("IntegerRangeValidator")
+            .field("min", &self.min)
+            .field("max", &self.max)
+            .field("ty", &type_name::<T>())
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<E, T> IntegerRangeValidator<T>
+where
+    E: Error + Sync + Send + 'static,
+    T: Any + TryFrom<isize, Error = E>,
+{
+    pub fn validate(&self, val: Value) -> Result<T> {
+        let IntegerRangeValidator { min, max, .. } = *self;
+        let Value::Int(val) = val else {
+            bail!("expected an integer")
+        };
+        ensure!(
+            min <= val && val <= max,
+            "expected an integer between {min} and {max} (got {val})",
+        );
+        Ok(T::try_from(val)?)
+    }
+}
+impl<E, T> Validator for IntegerRangeValidator<T>
+where
+    E: Error + Sync + Send + 'static,
+    T: Any + TryFrom<isize, Error = E>,
+{
+    fn validate(&self, val: Value) -> Result<ConfigData> {
+        Ok(ConfigData::new(self.validate(val)))
+    }
+}
+
+macro_rules! integer_tys {
+    ($($ty: ident),*) => {
+        $(
+            impl Ty for $ty {
+                fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+                    Value::Int((*self).try_into().unwrap())
+                }
+
+                fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+                    IntegerRangeValidator::new($ty::MIN, $ty::MAX).validate(val)
+                }
+            }
+        )*
+
+    };
+}
+
+integer_tys! {
+    i8, i16, i32, isize,
+    u8, u16, u32
+}
+
+impl Ty for usize {
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        Value::Int((*self).try_into().unwrap())
+    }
+
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        IntegerRangeValidator::new(0usize, isize::MAX as usize).validate(val)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Ty for u64 {
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        Value::Int((*self).try_into().unwrap())
+    }
+
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        IntegerRangeValidator::new(0u64, isize::MAX as u64).validate(val)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Ty for bool {
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        Value::Bool(*self)
+    }
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        let Value::Bool(val) = val else {
+            bail!("expected a boolean")
+        };
+        Ok(val)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Ty for Box<str> {
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        Value::String(self.clone().into_string())
+    }
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        let Value::String(val) = val else {
+            bail!("expected a string")
+        };
+        Ok(val.into_boxed_str())
+    }
+}
+
+impl Ty for char {
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        Value::String(self.to_string())
+    }
+
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        let Value::String(val) = val else {
+            bail!("expected a string")
+        };
+        ensure!(
+            val.chars().count() == 1,
+            "expecet a single character (got {val:?})"
+        );
+        Ok(val.chars().next().unwrap())
+    }
+}
+
+impl Ty for std::string::String {
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        Value::String(self.clone())
+    }
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        let Value::String(val) = val else {
+            bail!("expected a string")
+        };
+        Ok(val)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Ty> Ty for Option<T> {
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        match self {
+            Some(_) => todo!(),
+            None => todo!(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        if val == Value::Null {
+            return Ok(None);
+        }
+        Ok(Some(T::from_value(val)?))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Ty> Ty for Box<T> {
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        Ok(Box::new(T::from_value(val)?))
+    }
+
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        T::to_value(self)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Ty> Ty for indexmap::IndexMap<Box<str>, T, ahash::RandomState> {
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        let Value::Map(map) = val else {
+            bail!("expected a map");
+        };
+        map.into_iter()
+            .map(|(k, v)| Ok((k, T::from_value(v)?)))
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        let map = self
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(k, v)| (k.clone(), v.to_value()))
+            .collect();
+        Value::Map(Box::new(map))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Ty> Ty for Box<[T]> {
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        Value::List(self.iter().map(T::to_value).collect())
+    }
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        let Value::List(val) = val else {
+            bail!("expected a list")
+        };
+        val.iter().cloned().map(T::from_value).collect()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Ty for serde_json::Value {
+    fn from_value(val: Value) -> Result<Self> {
+        Ok(val.into())
+    }
+
+    fn to_value(&self) -> Value {
+        self.into()
+    }
+}
+
+pub(super) struct StaticValidator<T: Ty> {
+    pub(super) ty: PhantomData<fn(&T)>,
+}
+
+impl<T: Ty> Debug for StaticValidator<T> {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("StaticValidator")
+            .field("ty", &type_name::<T>())
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Ty> Validator for StaticValidator<T> {
+    fn validate(&self, val: Value) -> Result<ConfigData> {
+        let val = <T as Ty>::from_value(val)?;
+        Ok(ConfigData::new(val))
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct TyValidator<F, T: Ty> {
+    pub(super) ty: PhantomData<fn(&T)>,
+    f: F,
+}
+
+impl<T: Ty, F> Debug for TyValidator<F, T> {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("TyValidator")
+            .field("ty", &type_name::<T>())
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T, F> Validator for TyValidator<F, T>
+where
+    T: Ty,
+    F: Fn(&T) -> anyhow::Result<()> + 'static,
+{
+    fn validate(&self, val: Value) -> Result<ConfigData> {
+        let val = <T as Ty>::from_value(val)?;
+        (self.f)(&val)?;
+        Ok(ConfigData::new(val))
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn ty_validator<T, F>(f: F) -> impl Validator
+where
+    T: Ty,
+    F: Fn(&T) -> anyhow::Result<()> + 'static,
+{
+    TyValidator { ty: PhantomData, f }
+}
+
+pub fn regex_str_validator() -> impl Validator {
+    ty_validator(|val: &crate::String| {
+        regex_syntax::parse(val)?;
+        Ok(())
+    })
+}
diff --git a/helix-config/src/value.rs b/helix-config/src/value.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..be4ce095c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helix-config/src/value.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,448 @@
+use std::fmt::Display;
+
+use indexmap::IndexMap;
+use serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
+use serde::ser::{Error as _, Impossible};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use serde_json::{Error, Result};
+
+use crate::Ty;
+
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(untagged)]
+pub enum Value {
+    List(Vec<Value>),
+    Map(Box<IndexMap<Box<str>, Value, ahash::RandomState>>),
+    Int(isize),
+    Float(f64),
+    Bool(bool),
+    String(String),
+    Null,
+}
+
+impl Value {
+    pub fn typed<T: Ty>(self) -> anyhow::Result<T> {
+        T::from_value(self)
+    }
+
+    pub fn append(&mut self, val: Value, depth: usize) {
+        match (self, val) {
+            (Value::List(dst), Value::List(ref mut val)) => dst.append(val),
+            (Value::Map(dst), Value::Map(val)) if depth == 0 || dst.is_empty() => {
+                dst.extend(val.into_iter())
+            }
+            (Value::Map(dst), Value::Map(val)) => {
+                dst.reserve(val.len());
+                for (k, v) in val.into_iter() {
+                    // we don't use the entry api because we want
+                    // to maintain thhe ordering
+                    let merged = match dst.shift_remove(&k) {
+                        Some(mut old) => {
+                            old.append(v, depth - 1);
+                            old
+                        }
+                        None => v,
+                    };
+                    dst.insert(k, merged);
+                }
+            }
+            (dst, val) => *dst = val,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<&str> for Value {
+    fn from(value: &str) -> Self {
+        Value::String(value.to_owned())
+    }
+}
+
+macro_rules! from_int {
+    ($($ty: ident),*) => {
+        $(
+            impl From<$ty> for Value {
+                fn from(value: $ty) -> Self {
+                    Value::Int(value.try_into().unwrap())
+                }
+            }
+        )*
+    };
+}
+
+impl From<serde_json::Value> for Value {
+    fn from(value: serde_json::Value) -> Self {
+        to_value(value).unwrap()
+    }
+}
+impl From<&serde_json::Value> for Value {
+    fn from(value: &serde_json::Value) -> Self {
+        to_value(value).unwrap()
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<Value> for serde_json::Value {
+    fn from(value: Value) -> Self {
+        serde_json::to_value(value).unwrap()
+    }
+}
+
+from_int!(isize, usize, u32, i32, i16, u16, i8, u8);
+
+pub fn to_value<T>(value: T) -> Result<Value>
+where
+    T: Serialize,
+{
+    value.serialize(Serializer)
+}
+
+pub fn from_value<T>(value: Value) -> Result<T>
+where
+    T: DeserializeOwned,
+{
+    // roundtripping trough json is very inefficient *and incorrect* (captures
+    // json semantics that don't apply to us)
+    // TODO: implement a custom deserializer just like serde_json does
+    serde_json::from_value(value.into())
+}
+
+// We only use our own error type; no need for From conversions provided by the
+// standard library's try! macro. This reduces lines of LLVM IR by 4%.
+macro_rules! tri {
+    ($e:expr $(,)?) => {
+        match $e {
+            core::result::Result::Ok(val) => val,
+            core::result::Result::Err(err) => return core::result::Result::Err(err),
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+/// Serializer whose output is a `Value`.
+///
+/// This is the serializer that backs [`serde_json::to_value`][crate::to_value].
+/// Unlike the main serde_json serializer which goes from some serializable
+/// value of type `T` to JSON text, this one goes from `T` to
+/// `serde_json::Value`.
+///
+/// The `to_value` function is implementable as:
+///
+/// ```
+/// use serde::Serialize;
+/// use serde_json::{Error, Value};
+///
+/// pub fn to_value<T>(input: T) -> Result<Value, Error>
+/// where
+///     T: Serialize,
+/// {
+///     input.serialize(serde_json::value::Serializer)
+/// }
+/// ```
+pub struct Serializer;
+
+impl serde::Serializer for Serializer {
+    type Ok = Value;
+    type Error = Error;
+
+    type SerializeSeq = SerializeVec;
+    type SerializeTuple = SerializeVec;
+    type SerializeTupleStruct = SerializeVec;
+    type SerializeTupleVariant = Impossible<Value, Error>;
+    type SerializeMap = SerializeMap;
+    type SerializeStruct = SerializeMap;
+    type SerializeStructVariant = Impossible<Value, Error>;
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_bool(self, value: bool) -> Result<Value> {
+        Ok(Value::Bool(value))
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_i8(self, value: i8) -> Result<Value> {
+        self.serialize_i64(value as i64)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_i16(self, value: i16) -> Result<Value> {
+        self.serialize_i64(value as i64)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_i32(self, value: i32) -> Result<Value> {
+        self.serialize_i64(value as i64)
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_i64(self, value: i64) -> Result<Value> {
+        Ok(Value::Int(value.try_into().unwrap()))
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_i128(self, _value: i128) -> Result<Value> {
+        unreachable!()
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_u8(self, value: u8) -> Result<Value> {
+        self.serialize_u64(value as u64)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_u16(self, value: u16) -> Result<Value> {
+        self.serialize_u64(value as u64)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_u32(self, value: u32) -> Result<Value> {
+        self.serialize_u64(value as u64)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_u64(self, value: u64) -> Result<Value> {
+        Ok(Value::Int(value.try_into().unwrap()))
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_u128(self, _value: u128) -> Result<Value> {
+        unreachable!()
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_f32(self, float: f32) -> Result<Value> {
+        Ok(Value::Float(float as f64))
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_f64(self, float: f64) -> Result<Value> {
+        Ok(Value::Float(float))
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_char(self, value: char) -> Result<Value> {
+        let mut s = String::new();
+        s.push(value);
+        Ok(Value::String(s))
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_str(self, value: &str) -> Result<Value> {
+        Ok(Value::String(value.into()))
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_bytes(self, value: &[u8]) -> Result<Value> {
+        let vec = value.iter().map(|&b| Value::Int(b.into())).collect();
+        Ok(Value::List(vec))
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_unit(self) -> Result<Value> {
+        Ok(Value::Null)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_unit_struct(self, _name: &'static str) -> Result<Value> {
+        unimplemented!()
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_unit_variant(
+        self,
+        _name: &'static str,
+        _variant_index: u32,
+        variant: &'static str,
+    ) -> Result<Value> {
+        self.serialize_str(variant)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_newtype_struct<T>(self, _name: &'static str, _value: &T) -> Result<Value>
+    where
+        T: ?Sized + Serialize,
+    {
+        unimplemented!()
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_newtype_variant<T>(
+        self,
+        _name: &'static str,
+        _variant_index: u32,
+        _variant: &'static str,
+        _value: &T,
+    ) -> Result<Value>
+    where
+        T: ?Sized + Serialize,
+    {
+        unimplemented!()
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_none(self) -> Result<Value> {
+        self.serialize_unit()
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn serialize_some<T>(self, value: &T) -> Result<Value>
+    where
+        T: ?Sized + Serialize,
+    {
+        value.serialize(self)
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_seq(self, len: Option<usize>) -> Result<Self::SerializeSeq> {
+        Ok(SerializeVec {
+            vec: Vec::with_capacity(len.unwrap_or(0)),
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_tuple(self, len: usize) -> Result<Self::SerializeTuple> {
+        self.serialize_seq(Some(len))
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_tuple_struct(
+        self,
+        _name: &'static str,
+        len: usize,
+    ) -> Result<Self::SerializeTupleStruct> {
+        self.serialize_seq(Some(len))
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_tuple_variant(
+        self,
+        _name: &'static str,
+        _variant_index: u32,
+        _variant: &'static str,
+        _len: usize,
+    ) -> Result<Self::SerializeTupleVariant> {
+        unimplemented!()
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_map(self, _len: Option<usize>) -> Result<Self::SerializeMap> {
+        Ok(SerializeMap {
+            map: IndexMap::default(),
+            next_key: None,
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_struct(self, _name: &'static str, _len: usize) -> Result<Self::SerializeStruct> {
+        unreachable!()
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_struct_variant(
+        self,
+        _name: &'static str,
+        _variant_index: u32,
+        _variant: &'static str,
+        _len: usize,
+    ) -> Result<Self::SerializeStructVariant> {
+        unreachable!()
+    }
+
+    fn collect_str<T>(self, value: &T) -> Result<Value>
+    where
+        T: ?Sized + Display,
+    {
+        Ok(Value::String(value.to_string()))
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct SerializeVec {
+    vec: Vec<Value>,
+}
+
+impl serde::ser::SerializeSeq for SerializeVec {
+    type Ok = Value;
+    type Error = Error;
+
+    fn serialize_element<T>(&mut self, value: &T) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        T: ?Sized + Serialize,
+    {
+        self.vec.push(tri!(to_value(value)));
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn end(self) -> Result<Value> {
+        Ok(Value::List(self.vec))
+    }
+}
+
+impl serde::ser::SerializeTuple for SerializeVec {
+    type Ok = Value;
+    type Error = Error;
+
+    fn serialize_element<T>(&mut self, value: &T) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        T: ?Sized + Serialize,
+    {
+        serde::ser::SerializeSeq::serialize_element(self, value)
+    }
+
+    fn end(self) -> Result<Value> {
+        serde::ser::SerializeSeq::end(self)
+    }
+}
+
+impl serde::ser::SerializeTupleStruct for SerializeVec {
+    type Ok = Value;
+    type Error = Error;
+
+    fn serialize_field<T>(&mut self, value: &T) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        T: ?Sized + Serialize,
+    {
+        serde::ser::SerializeSeq::serialize_element(self, value)
+    }
+
+    fn end(self) -> Result<Value> {
+        serde::ser::SerializeSeq::end(self)
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct SerializeMap {
+    map: IndexMap<Box<str>, Value, ahash::RandomState>,
+    next_key: Option<Box<str>>,
+}
+
+impl serde::ser::SerializeMap for SerializeMap {
+    type Ok = Value;
+    type Error = Error;
+
+    fn serialize_key<T>(&mut self, key: &T) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        T: ?Sized + Serialize,
+    {
+        let key = to_value(key)?;
+        let Value::String(val) = key else {
+            return Err(Error::custom("only string keys are supported"));
+        };
+        self.next_key = Some(val.into_boxed_str());
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn serialize_value<T>(&mut self, value: &T) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        T: ?Sized + Serialize,
+    {
+        let key = self.next_key.take();
+        // Panic because this indicates a bug in the program rather than an
+        // expected failure.
+        let key = key.expect("serialize_value called before serialize_key");
+        self.map.insert(key, tri!(to_value(value)));
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn end(self) -> Result<Value> {
+        Ok(Value::Map(Box::new(self.map)))
+    }
+}
+
+impl serde::ser::SerializeStruct for SerializeMap {
+    type Ok = Value;
+    type Error = Error;
+
+    fn serialize_field<T>(&mut self, key: &'static str, value: &T) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        T: ?Sized + Serialize,
+    {
+        serde::ser::SerializeMap::serialize_entry(self, key, value)
+    }
+
+    fn end(self) -> Result<Value> {
+        serde::ser::SerializeMap::end(self)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/helix-core/Cargo.toml b/helix-core/Cargo.toml
index d7fff6c6f..918359c13 100644
--- a/helix-core/Cargo.toml
+++ b/helix-core/Cargo.toml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ integration = []
 
 [dependencies]
 helix-loader = { path = "../helix-loader" }
+helix-config = { path = "../helix-config" }
 
 ropey = { version = "1.6.1", default-features = false, features = ["simd"] }
 smallvec = "1.11"
@@ -51,6 +52,8 @@ textwrap = "0.16.0"
 
 nucleo.workspace = true
 parking_lot = "0.12"
+anyhow = "1.0.79"
+indexmap = { version = "2.1.0", features = ["serde"] }
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 quickcheck = { version = "1", default-features = false }
diff --git a/helix-core/src/config.rs b/helix-core/src/config.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 2076fc224..000000000
--- a/helix-core/src/config.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-/// Syntax configuration loader based on built-in languages.toml.
-pub fn default_syntax_loader() -> crate::syntax::Configuration {
-    helix_loader::config::default_lang_config()
-        .try_into()
-        .expect("Could not serialize built-in languages.toml")
-}
-/// Syntax configuration loader based on user configured languages.toml.
-pub fn user_syntax_loader() -> Result<crate::syntax::Configuration, toml::de::Error> {
-    helix_loader::config::user_lang_config()?.try_into()
-}
diff --git a/helix-core/src/lib.rs b/helix-core/src/lib.rs
index 0acdb2380..b93ee8008 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ pub use encoding_rs as encoding;
 pub mod auto_pairs;
 pub mod chars;
 pub mod comment;
-pub mod config;
 pub mod diagnostic;
 pub mod diff;
 pub mod doc_formatter;