diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 345964a..af5ab0b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,18 +53,35 @@ there is changes, in yellow if there is pending commits to push;
 * a smart mark: ± for VCS directories, $ for simple user, a red # for root.
 
 
-## USAGE
+## INSTALL
 
 Include the file in your bash configuration, for example in your `.bashrc`:
 
 `source liquidprompt.bash`
 
+Copy the `liquidpromptrc-dist` file in your home directory as
+`~/.liquidpromptrc` and edit it according to your preferences. If you skip this
+step, the default behaviour will be used.
+
 
 ## PUT THE PROMPT IN A DIFFERENT ORDER
 
+You can configure some variables in the `~/.liquidpromptrc` file:
+
+* `LP_BATTERY_THRESHOLD`, the maximal value under which the battery level is
+displayed
+* `LP_LOAD_THRESHOLD`, the minimal value after which the load average is
+displayed
+* `LP_PATH_LENGTH`, the maximum percentage of the screen width used to display
+the path
+* `LP_PATH_KEEP`, how many directories to keep at the beginning of a shortened
+path
+* `LP_REVERSE`, choose between reverse colors (black on white) instead of normal
+theme (white on black)
+
 Most of the display is prepared in the `__set_bash_prompt` function, apart from
 features that needs several colors (such as the load colormap). You can sort
-what you want to see by editing the PS1 variable.
+what you want to see by editing the PS1 variable here.
 
 
 ## KNOWN LIMITATIONS AND BUGS
diff --git a/liquidprompt.bash b/liquidprompt.bash
index b963fe3..326e1d0 100755
--- a/liquidprompt.bash
+++ b/liquidprompt.bash
@@ -49,25 +49,13 @@ unset bash bmajor bminor
 # CONFIGURATION #
 #################
 
-# Maximal value under which the battery level is displayed
-# Recommended value is 75
-BATTERY_THRESHOLD=75
+LP_BATTERY_THRESHOLD=75
+LP_LOAD_THRESHOLD=60
+LP_PATH_LENGTH=35
+LP_PATH_KEEP=2
+LP_REVERSE=0
 
-# Minimal value after which the load average is displayed
-# Recommended value is 60
-LOAD_THRESHOLD=60
-
-# The maximum percentage of the screen width used to display the path
-# Recommended value is 35
-PATH_LENGTH=35
-
-# How many directories to keep at the beginning of a shortened path
-# Recommended value is 2
-PATH_KEEP=2
-
-# Do we use reverse colors (black on white) instead of normal theme (white on black)
-# Defaults to unset (white on black)
-# Otherwise use REVERSE="1" source liquidprompt.bash
+source ~/.liquidpromptrc 2> /dev/null
 
 
 ###############
@@ -149,7 +137,7 @@ fi
 # can be set to white or black
 FG=$WHITE
 BOLD_FG=$BOLD_WHITE
-if [[ $REVERSE ]] ; then
+if [[ $LP_REVERSE == 1 ]] ; then
     FG=$BLACK
     BOLD_FG=$BOLD_GRAY
 fi
@@ -168,7 +156,7 @@ __cpunum_FreeBSD()
 
 __cpunum_Darwin()
 {
-	__cpunum_FreeBSD
+       __cpunum_FreeBSD
 }
 
 __cpunum_SunOS()
@@ -195,7 +183,7 @@ __load_FreeBSD()
 
 __load_Darwin()
 {
-	__load_FreeBSD
+       __load_FreeBSD
 }
 
 __load_SunOS()
@@ -299,13 +287,20 @@ __shorten_path()
     # the character that will replace the part of the path that is masked
     local mask=" … "
     # index of the directory to keep from the root (starts at 0)
-    local keep=$((PATH_KEEP-1))
+    local keep=$((LP_PATH_KEEP-1))
 
     local len_percent=$2
 
     local p=$(echo "$1" | sed -e "s|$HOME|~|")
     local len="${#p}"
-    local max_len=$(($COLUMNS*$len_percent/100))
+
+    if [ -z "$COLUMNS" ]
+    then
+        local columns=80
+    else
+        local columns=$COLUMNS
+    fi
+    local max_len=$(($columns*$len_percent/100))
     local mask_len="${#mask}"
 
     if [[ "$len" -gt "$max_len" ]]
@@ -556,7 +551,7 @@ __battery()
     if [[ "${bat}" == "" ]] ; then
         return 1
        fi
-    if [[ ${bat} -le $BATTERY_THRESHOLD ]] ; then
+    if [[ ${bat} -le $LP_BATTERY_THRESHOLD ]] ; then
         echo -n "${bat}"
         return 0
     else
@@ -571,7 +566,7 @@ __battery_color()
     if [[ "$?" = "1" ]] ; then return; fi;    # no battery support
 
     if [[ "$bat" != "" ]] ; then
-        if [[ ${bat} -gt $BATTERY_THRESHOLD ]] ; then
+        if [[ ${bat} -gt $LP_BATTERY_THRESHOLD ]] ; then
             return;    # nothing displayed above 75%
         fi
 
@@ -614,7 +609,7 @@ __load_color()
     fi
     let "load=$load/$__CPUNUM"
 
-    if [[ $load -ge $LOAD_THRESHOLD ]]
+    if [[ $load -ge $LP_LOAD_THRESHOLD ]]
     then
         ret="l${NO_COL}"
         if [[ $load -lt 70 ]] ; then
@@ -702,7 +697,7 @@ __set_bash_prompt()
     __USER=$(__user)
     __HOST=$(__host_color)
     __PERM=$(__permissions_color)
-     __PWD=$(__shorten_path "$PWD" $PATH_LENGTH)
+     __PWD=$(__shorten_path $PWD $LP_PATH_LENGTH)
 
     # right of main prompt: space at left
      __GIT=$(__sl "$(__git_branch_color)")
diff --git a/liquidpromptrc-dist b/liquidpromptrc-dist
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08d4f14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/liquidpromptrc-dist
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+
+####################################
+# LIQUID PROMPT CONFIGURATION FILE #
+####################################
+
+# Maximal value under which the battery level is displayed
+# Recommended value is 75
+LP_BATTERY_THRESHOLD=75
+
+# Minimal value after which the load average is displayed
+# Recommended value is 60
+LP_LOAD_THRESHOLD=60
+
+# The maximum percentage of the screen width used to display the path
+# Recommended value is 35
+LP_PATH_LENGTH=35
+
+# How many directories to keep at the beginning of a shortened path
+# Recommended value is 2
+LP_PATH_KEEP=2
+
+# Do we use reverse colors (black on white) instead of normal theme (white on black)
+# Defaults to 0 (normal colors)
+# set to 1 if you use black on white
+LP_REVERSE=0
+