diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index f6291b7..5edfb11 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -12,9 +12,32 @@ Mostly self-documenting code. Mod namespace is `modlib` or `_ml`, containing all
 
 ## Configuration
 
+### Legacy
+
 1. Configuration is loaded from `<worldpath>/config/<modname>.<extension>`, the following extensions are supported and loaded (in the given order), with loaded configurations overriding properties of previous ones:
    1. [`json`](https://json.org)
    2. [`lua`](https://lua.org)
    3. [`luon`](https://github.com/appgurueu/luon), Lua but without the `return`
    4. [`conf`](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/master/doc/lua_api.txt)
-2. Settings are loaded from `minetest.conf` and override configuration values
\ No newline at end of file
+2. Settings are loaded from `minetest.conf` and override configuration values
+
+### Locations
+
+0. Default configuration: `<modfolder>/conf.lua`
+1. World configuration: `config/<modname>.<format>`
+2. Mod configuration: `<modfolder>/conf.<format>`
+3. Minetest configuration: `minetest.conf`
+
+### Formats
+
+1. [`lua`](https://lua.org)
+  * Lua, with the environment being the configuration object
+  * `field = value` works
+  * Return new configuration object to replace
+2. [`luon`](https://github.com/appgurueu/luon)
+  * Single Lua literal
+  * Booleans, numbers, strings and tables
+3. [`conf`](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/master/doc/lua_api.txt)
+  * Minetest-like configuration files
+4. [`json`](https://json.org)
+  * Not recommended
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/conf.lua b/conf.lua
index f0c2307..f2c3ca0 100644
--- a/conf.lua
+++ b/conf.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,22 @@
+-- not deprecated
+function build_tree(dict)
+    local tree = {}
+    for key, value in pairs(dict) do
+        local path = modlib.text.split_unlimited(key, ".")
+        local subtree = tree
+        for i = 1, #path - 1 do
+            local index = tonumber(path[i]) or path[i]
+            subtree[index] = subtree[index] or {}
+            subtree = subtree[index]
+        end
+        subtree[path[#path]] = value
+    end
+    return tree
+end
+function build_setting_tree()
+    modlib.conf.settings = build_tree(minetest.settings:to_table())
+end
+-- deprecated, use modlib.mod.configuration instead
 minetest.mkdir(minetest.get_worldpath().."/config")
 function get_path(confname)
     return minetest.get_worldpath().."/config/"..confname
@@ -51,23 +70,6 @@ function read_conf(text)
     end
     return dict
 end
-function build_tree(dict)
-    local tree = {}
-    for key, value in pairs(dict) do
-        local path = modlib.text.split_unlimited(key, ".")
-        local subtree = tree
-        for i = 1, #path - 1 do
-            local index = tonumber(path[i]) or path[i]
-            subtree[index] = subtree[index] or {}
-            subtree = subtree[index]
-        end
-        subtree[path[#path]] = value
-    end
-    return tree
-end
-function build_setting_tree()
-    modlib.conf.settings = build_tree(minetest.settings:to_table())
-end
 function check_config_constraints(config, constraints, handler)
     local no_error, error_or_retval = pcall(function() check_constraints(config, constraints) end)
     if not no_error then
@@ -153,7 +155,7 @@ function generate_settingtypes(default_conf, constraints)
         local range = constraints.range
         if range then
             -- TODO consider better max
-            type_args = (constraints.int and "%d %d" or "%f %f"):format(range[1], range[2] or 2 ^ 30)
+            type_args = (constraints.int and "%d %d" or "%f %f"):format(range[1], range[2] or (2 ^ 30))
         end
         -- HACK
         if not default_conf then default_conf = range[1] end
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 2b30b66..203ddb7 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ local components = {
     mod = {},
     class = {},
     conf = {},
+    schema = {},
     data = {},
     file = {},
     func = {},
diff --git a/mod.lua b/mod.lua
index 8434115..fb54027 100644
--- a/mod.lua
+++ b/mod.lua
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ function include(modname, file)
         file = modname
         modname = minetest.get_current_modname()
     end
-    dofile(get_resource(modname, file))
+    return dofile(get_resource(modname, file))
 end
 
 function include_env(file_or_string, env, is_string)
@@ -52,4 +52,64 @@ function extend_string(modname, string)
         modname = minetest.get_current_modname()
     end
     include_env(string, _G[modname], true)
+end
+
+function configuration(modname)
+    modname = modname or minetest.get_current_modname()
+    local schema = modlib.schema.new(assert(include(modname, "schema.lua")))
+    schema.name = schema.name or modname
+    assert(schema.type == "table")
+    local overrides = {}
+    local conf
+    local function add(path)
+        for _, format in ipairs{
+            {extension = "lua", read = function(text)
+                assert(overrides._C == nil)
+                local additions =  setfenv(assert(loadstring(text)), setmetatable(overrides, {__index = {_C = overrides}}))()
+                setmetatable(overrides, nil)
+                if additions == nil then
+                    return overrides
+                end
+                return additions
+            end},
+            {extension = "luon", read = function(text)
+                local value = {setfenv(assert(loadstring("return " .. text)), setmetatable(overrides, {}))()}
+                assert(#value == 1)
+                value = value[1]
+                local function check_type(value)
+                    local type = type(value)
+                    if type == "table" then
+                        assert(getmetatable(value) == nil)
+                        for key, value in pairs(value) do
+                            check_type(key)
+                            check_type(value)
+                        end
+                    elseif not (type == "boolean" or type == "number" or type == "string") then
+                        error("disallowed type " .. type)
+                    end
+                end
+                check_type(value)
+                return value
+            end},
+            {extension = "conf", read = function(text) return Settings(text):to_table() end, convert_strings = true},
+            {extension = "json", read = minetest.parse_json}
+        } do
+            local content = modlib.file.read(path .. "." .. format.extension)
+            if content then
+                overrides = modlib.table.deep_add_all(overrides, format.read(content))
+                conf = schema:load(overrides, {convert_strings = format.convert_strings, error_message = true})
+            end
+        end
+    end
+    add(minetest.get_worldpath() .. "/conf/" .. modname)
+    add(get_resource(modname, "conf"))
+    local minetest_conf = modlib.conf.settings[schema.name]
+    if minetest_conf then
+        overrides = modlib.table.deep_add_all(overrides, minetest_conf)
+        conf = schema:load(overrides, {convert_strings = true, error_message = true})
+    end
+    if conf == nil then
+        return schema:load({}, {error_message = true})
+    end
+    return conf
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/schema.lua b/schema.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a93cad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/schema.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,291 @@
+local schema = getfenv(1)
+
+function new(def)
+    -- TODO type inference, sanity checking etc.
+    return setmetatable(def, {__index = schema})
+end
+
+local function field_name_to_title(name)
+    local title = modlib.text.split(name, "_")
+    title[1] = modlib.text.upper_first(title[1])
+    return table.concat(title, " ")
+end
+
+function generate_settingtypes(self)
+    local type = self.type
+    local settingtype, type_args
+    self.title = self.title or field_name_to_title(self.name)
+    self._level = self._level or 0
+    local default = self.default
+    if type == "boolean" then
+        settingtype = "bool"
+        default = default and "true" or "false"
+    elseif type == "string" then
+        settingtype = "string"
+    elseif type == "number" then
+        settingtype = self.int and "int" or "float"
+        if self.min or self.max then
+            -- TODO handle exclusive min/max
+            type_args = (self.int and "%d %d" or "%f %f"):format(self.min or (2 ^ -30), self.max or (2 ^ 30))
+        end
+    elseif type == "table" then
+        local handled = {}
+        local settings = {"[" .. table.concat(modlib.table.repetition("*", self._level)) .. self.name .. "]"}
+        local function setting(key, value_scheme)
+            if handled[key] then
+                return
+            end
+            handled[key] = true
+            assert(not key:find("[=%.%s]"))
+            value_scheme.name = self.name .. "." .. key
+            value_scheme.title = value_scheme.title or self.title .. " " .. field_name_to_title(key)
+            value_scheme._level = self._level + 1
+            table.insert(settings, generate_settingtypes(value_scheme))
+        end
+        local keys = {}
+        for key in pairs(self.entries or {}) do
+            table.insert(keys, key)
+        end
+        table.sort(keys)
+        for _, key in ipairs(keys) do
+            setting(key, self.entries[key])
+        end
+        return table.concat(settings, "\n")
+    end
+    if not type then
+        return ""
+    end
+    local description = self.description
+    -- TODO extend description by range etc.?
+    -- TODO enum etc. support
+    if description then
+        if type(description) ~= "table" then
+            description = {description}
+        end
+        description = "# " .. table.concat(description, "\n# ") .. "\n"
+    else
+        description = ""
+    end
+    return description .. self.name .. " (" .. self.title  .. ") " .. settingtype .. " " .. (default or "") .. (type_args and (" " .. type_args) or "")
+end
+
+function generate_markdown(self)
+    -- TODO address redundancies
+    local typ = self.type
+    self.title = self.title or field_name_to_title(self._md_name)
+    self._level = self._level or 1
+    if typ == "table" then
+        local handled = {}
+        local settings = {}
+        local function setting(key, value_scheme)
+            if handled[key] then
+                return
+            end
+            handled[key] = true
+            value_scheme._md_name = key
+            value_scheme.title = value_scheme.title or self.title .. " " .. field_name_to_title(key)
+            value_scheme._level = self._level + 1
+            table.insert(settings, table.concat(modlib.table.repetition("#", self._level)) .. " `" .. key .. "`")
+            table.insert(settings, generate_markdown(value_scheme))
+            table.insert(settings, "")
+        end
+        local keys = {}
+        for key in pairs(self.entries or {}) do
+            table.insert(keys, key)
+        end
+        table.sort(keys)
+        for _, key in ipairs(keys) do
+            setting(key, self.entries[key])
+        end
+        return table.concat(settings, "\n")
+    end
+    if not typ then
+        return ""
+    end
+    local lines = {}
+    local function line(text)
+        table.insert(lines, "* " .. text)
+    end
+    local description = self.description
+    if description then
+        modlib.table.append(lines, type(description) == "table" and description or {description})
+    end
+    table.insert(lines, "")
+    line("Type: " .. self.type)
+    if self.default ~= nil then
+        line("Default: `" .. tostring(self.default) .. "`")
+    end
+    if self.int then
+        line"Integer"
+    elseif self.list then
+        line"List"
+    end
+    if self.infinity then
+        line"Infinities allowed"
+    end
+    if self.nan then
+        line"Not-a-Number (NaN) allowed"
+    end
+    if self.range then
+        if self.range.min then
+            line("> " .. self.range.min)
+        elseif self.range.min_exclusive then
+            line(">= " .. self.range.min_exclusive)
+        end
+        if self.range.max then
+            line("< " .. self.range.max)
+        elseif self.range.max_exclusive then
+            line("<= " .. self.range.max_exclusive)
+        end
+    end
+    if self.values then
+        line("Possible values:")
+        for value in pairs(self.values) do
+            table.insert(lines, "  * " .. value)
+        end
+    end
+    return table.concat(lines, "\n")
+end
+
+function settingtypes(self)
+    self.settingtypes = self.settingtypes or generate_settingtypes(self)
+    return self.settingtypes
+end
+
+function load(self, override, params)
+    local converted
+    if params.convert_strings and type(override) == "string" then
+        converted = true
+        if self.type == "boolean" then
+            if override == "true" then
+                override = true
+            elseif override == "false" then
+                override = false
+            end
+        elseif self.type == "number" then
+            override = tonumber(override)
+        else
+            converted = false
+        end
+    end
+    if override == nil and not converted then
+        if self.default ~= nil then
+            return self.default
+        elseif self.type == "table" then
+            override = {}
+        end
+    end
+    local _error = error
+    local function format_error(type, ...)
+        if type == "type" then
+            return "mismatched type: expected " .. self.type ..", got " .. type(override) .. (converted and " (converted)" or "")
+        end
+        if type == "range" then
+            local conditions = {}
+            local function push(condition, bound)
+                if self.range[bound] then
+                    table.insert(conditions, " " .. condition .. " " .. minetest.write_json(self.range[bound]))
+                end
+            end
+            push(">", "min_exclusive")
+            push(">=", "min")
+            push("<", "max_exclusive")
+            push("<=", "max")
+            return "out of range: expected value " .. table.concat(conditions, "and")
+        end
+        if type == "int" then
+            return "expected integer"
+        end
+        if type == "infinity" then
+            return "expected no infinity"
+        end
+        if type == "nan" then
+            return "expected no nan"
+        end
+        if type == "required" then
+            local key = ...
+            return "required field " .. minetest.write_json(key) .. " missing"
+        end
+        if type == "additional" then
+            local key = ...
+            return "superfluous field " .. minetest.write_json(key)
+        end
+        if type == "list" then
+            return "not a list"
+        end
+        if type == "values" then
+            return "expected one of " .. minetest.write_json(modlib.table.keys(self.values)) .. ", got " .. minetest.write_json(override)
+        end
+        _error("unknown error type")
+    end
+    local function error(type, ...)
+        if params.error_message then
+            local formatted = format_error(type, ...)
+            settingtypes(self)
+            _error("Invalid value: " .. self.name .. ": " .. formatted)
+        end
+        _error{
+            type = type,
+            self = self,
+            override = override,
+            converted = converted
+        }
+    end
+    local function assert(value, ...)
+        if not value then
+            error(...)
+        end
+        return value
+    end
+    assert(self.type == type(override), "type")
+    if self.type == "number" or self.type == "string" then
+        if self.range then
+            if self.range.min then
+                assert(self.range.min <= override, "range")
+            elseif self.range.min_exclusive then
+                assert(self.range.min_exclusive < override, "range")
+            end
+            if self.range.max then
+                assert(self.range.max >= override, "range")
+            elseif self.range.max_exclusive then
+                assert(self.range.max_exclusive > override, "range")
+            end
+        end
+        if self.type == "number" then
+            assert((not self.int) or (override % 1 == 0), "int")
+            assert(self.infinity or math.abs(override) ~= math.huge, "infinity")
+            assert(self.nan or override == override, "nan")
+        end
+    elseif self.type == "table" then
+        if self.entries then
+            for key, schema in pairs(self.entries) do
+                if schema.required and override[key] == nil then
+                    error("required", key)
+                end
+                override[key] = load(schema, override[key], params)
+            end
+            if self.additional == false then
+                for key in pairs(override) do
+                    if self.entries[key] == nil then
+                        error("additional", key)
+                    end
+                end
+            end
+        end
+        if self.keys then
+            for key, value in pairs(override) do
+                override[load(self.keys, key, params)], override[key] = value, nil
+            end
+        end
+        if self.values then
+            for key, value in pairs(override) do
+                override[key] = load(self.values, value, params)
+            end
+        end
+        assert((not self.list) or modlib.table.count(override) == #override, "list")
+    else
+        assert((not self.values) or self.values[override], "values")
+    end
+    if self.func then self.func(override) end
+    return override
+end
\ No newline at end of file