diff --git a/.env.dist b/.env.dist
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..243b66a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.dist
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+TODO_DIR=example
+TODO_FILE=example/todo.txt
+DONE_FILE=example/done.txt
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index cd6768f..a983a99 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+/.env
+/example/*.bak
 /Cargo.lock
 /target/
 **/*.rs.bk
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 03f9db6..22498c9 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ edition = "2018"
 [dependencies]
 cairo-rs = "^0.8"
 chrono = "^0.4"
+dotenv = "0.15"
 dirs-sys = "^0.3"
 gdk = "^0.12"
 gdk-sys = "^0.9"
diff --git a/example/done.txt b/example/done.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43eeb42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/done.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+x 2016-02-21 (B) Seal ship's cracks with biomatter +Galactica\Repairs
diff --git a/example/todo.txt b/example/todo.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3dd12a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/todo.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+(A) Make peace between Cylons and humans +PeaceProject
+(B) Report to <i>Admiral Adama</i> about FTL @CIC +Galactica\Repairs due:2013-05-24
+2016-12-08 Feed Schrodinger's Cat due:2014-02-23
+(C) Upgrade jump drives with Cylon technology +Galactica\Repairs
+2016-12-12 +Galactica\Repairs Check hull integrity due:2016-12-12
+Check for <b>DRADIS</b> contact @CIC
+Check if http://google.com is available
+Download code from <br/> https://github.com/QTodoTxt/QTodoTxt/archive/master.zip <br/>and give it a try!
+Think about <u>future</u> t:2099-12-31
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 2e974f3..350107f 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ mod widgets;
 fn main() {
     human_panic::setup_panic!();
 
+    #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+    dotenv::dotenv()
+        .ok();
+
     if std::env::args().nth(1) == Some("usage".to_string()) {
         usage(&std::env::args().nth(0).unwrap());