diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..567609b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+build/
diff --git a/cmake/config.h.in b/cmake/config.h.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2770b9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/config.h.in
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#cmakedefine CPPLOGGING_HAS_NLOHMANN_JSON
diff --git a/include/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer.h b/include/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer.h
index b0e454b..2a56506 100644
--- a/include/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer.h
+++ b/include/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer.h
@@ -21,11 +21,13 @@ namespace cpplogging
         std::string     _name;      //!< name of the consumer
         format_type     _format;    //!< parsed logging format
 
+    public:
         /**
          * @brief Get the default log format.
          */
         static inline const std::string& default_format();
 
+    protected:
         /**
          * @brief Parse the given format and generate a pre-compiled list of strings.
          *
@@ -49,13 +51,11 @@ namespace cpplogging
          * @brief Constructor.
          *
          * @param[in] name          Name of the consumer.
-         * @param[in] auto_register Automatically register the consumer.
          * @param[in] format        Format to use for logging.
          */
         consumer(
-            const std::string&  name,
-            bool                auto_register,
-            const std::string&  format = default_format());
+            const std::string& name,
+            const std::string& format = default_format());
 
         /**
          * @breif Destructor.
diff --git a/include/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer_stream.h b/include/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer_stream.h
index 8e42940..59ece99 100644
--- a/include/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer_stream.h
+++ b/include/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer_stream.h
@@ -25,20 +25,26 @@ namespace cpplogging
         /**
          * @brief Constructor.
          *
-         * @param[in] name          Name of the consumer.
-         * @param[in] stream        Stream to write data to.
-         * @param[in] auto_register Automatically register the consumer.
+         * @param[in] name      Name of the consumer.
+         * @param[in] stream    Stream to write data to.
+         * @param[in] format    Format to use for logging.
          */
-        consumer_stream(const std::string& name, std::ostream& stream, bool auto_register);
+        consumer_stream(
+            const std::string& name,
+            std::ostream& stream,
+            const std::string& format = default_format());
 
         /**
          * @brief Constructor.
          *
-         * @param[in] name          Name of the consumer.
-         * @param[in] stream        Stream to write data to.
-         * @param[in] auto_register Automatically register the consumer.
+         * @param[in] name      Name of the consumer.
+         * @param[in] stream    Stream to write data to.
+         * @param[in] format    Format to use for logging.
          */
-        consumer_stream(const std::string& name, stream_ptr_u&& stream, bool auto_register);
+        consumer_stream(
+            const std::string& name,
+            stream_ptr_u&& stream,
+            const std::string& format = default_format());
 
         /**
          * @brief Consume a log entry.
diff --git a/include/cpplogging/manager/manager.h b/include/cpplogging/manager/manager.h
index f6aa60f..fc2b632 100644
--- a/include/cpplogging/manager/manager.h
+++ b/include/cpplogging/manager/manager.h
@@ -3,11 +3,18 @@
 #include <set>
 #include <map>
 #include <list>
+#include <string>
+
+#include <cpplogging/config.h>
 
 #include "rule.h"
 #include "logger_impl.h"
 #include "consumer/consumer.h"
 
+#ifdef CPPLOGGING_HAS_NLOHMANN_JSON
+    #define CPPLOGGING_HAS_LOAD_CONFIG
+#endif
+
 namespace cpplogging
 {
 
@@ -148,6 +155,15 @@ namespace cpplogging
          */
         static void reset();
 
+    #ifdef CPPLOGGING_HAS_LOAD_CONFIG
+        /**
+         * @brief Load current configuration from file.
+         *
+         * @param[in] filename  Filename to load configuration from.
+         */
+        static void load(const std::string& filename);
+    #endif
+
     private:
         /**
          * @brief Initialize the given logger instance.
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 27ace49..76b4e6c 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,10 +20,18 @@ Option                      ( CPPLOGGING_NO_STRIP
                               "Do not strip debug symbols from binary."
                               OFF )
 
+Find_Package                ( nlohmann_json )
+If                          ( nlohmann_json_FOUND )
+    Set                         ( CPPLOGGING_HAS_NLOHMANN_JSON true )
+EndIf                       ( )
+
 # Object Library ##################################################################################
 
 Set                         ( CMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON )
+Set                         ( CPPLOGGING_GENERATED_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/generated/include )
 Set                         ( CPPLOGGING_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../include )
+Configure_File              ( ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../cmake/config.h.in
+                              ${CPPLOGGING_GENERATED_INCLUDE_DIR}/cpplogging/config.h )
 File                        ( GLOB_RECURSE CPPLOGGING_HEADER_FILES ${CPPLOGGING_INCLUDE_DIR}/*.h )
 File                        ( GLOB_RECURSE CPPLOGGING_INLINE_FILES ${CPPLOGGING_INCLUDE_DIR}/*.inl )
 File                        ( GLOB_RECURSE CPPLOGGING_SOURCE_FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/*.cpp )
@@ -32,9 +40,15 @@ Add_Library                 ( cpplogging-objects
                                 ${CPPLOGGING_HEADER_FILES}
                                 ${CPPLOGGING_INLINE_FILES}
                                 ${CPPLOGGING_SOURCE_FILES} )
+If                          ( CPPLOGGING_HAS_NLOHMANN_JSON )
+    Target_Link_Libraries       ( cpplogging-objects
+                                  PRIVATE
+                                    nlohmann_json::nlohmann_json )
+EndIf                       ( )
 Target_Include_Directories  ( cpplogging-objects
                               PUBLIC
                                 $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${CPPLOGGING_INCLUDE_DIR}>
+                                $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${CPPLOGGING_GENERATED_INCLUDE_DIR}>
                                 $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:${CPPLOGGING_INSTALL_DIR_INCLUDE}> )
 
 # Static Library ##################################################################################
@@ -82,7 +96,7 @@ EndIf                       ( )
 
 # Header
 If                          ( CPPLOGGING_INSTALL_HEADER )
-    Install                     ( FILES ${CPPLOGGING_INCLUDE_DIR}/cpplogging.h
+    Install                     ( DIRECTORY ${CPPLOGGING_GENERATED_INCLUDE_DIR}/cpplogging
                                   DESTINATION ${CPPLOGGING_INSTALL_DIR_INCLUDE} )
     Install                     ( DIRECTORY ${CPPLOGGING_INCLUDE_DIR}/cpplogging
                                   DESTINATION ${CPPLOGGING_INSTALL_DIR_INCLUDE} )
diff --git a/src/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer.cpp b/src/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer.cpp
index 72073d1..f281b61 100644
--- a/src/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer.cpp
+++ b/src/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer.cpp
@@ -3,13 +3,10 @@
 
 using namespace ::cpplogging;
 
-consumer::consumer(const std::string& name, bool auto_register, const std::string& format)
+consumer::consumer(const std::string& name, const std::string& format)
     : _name     (name)
     , _format   (parse_format(format))
-{
-    if (auto_register)
-        manager::register_consumer(*this);
-}
+    { }
 
 consumer::~consumer()
 {
diff --git a/src/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer_stream.cpp b/src/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer_stream.cpp
index fea8c9f..6eced68 100644
--- a/src/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer_stream.cpp
+++ b/src/cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer_stream.cpp
@@ -6,14 +6,20 @@
 
 using namespace ::cpplogging;
 
-consumer_stream::consumer_stream(const std::string& name, std::ostream& stream, bool auto_register)
-    : consumer  (name, auto_register)
+consumer_stream::consumer_stream(
+    const std::string& name,
+    std::ostream& stream,
+    const std::string& format)
+    : consumer  (name, format)
     , _stream   (stream)
     , _storage  (nullptr)
     { }
 
-consumer_stream::consumer_stream(const std::string& name, stream_ptr_u&& stream, bool auto_register)
-    : consumer  (name, auto_register)
+consumer_stream::consumer_stream(
+    const std::string& name,
+    stream_ptr_u&& stream,
+    const std::string& format)
+    : consumer  (name, format)
     , _stream   (*stream)
     , _storage  (std::move(stream))
     { }
diff --git a/src/cpplogging/manager/manager.cpp b/src/cpplogging/manager/manager.cpp
index 2be836c..dea2d4b 100644
--- a/src/cpplogging/manager/manager.cpp
+++ b/src/cpplogging/manager/manager.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
+#include <fstream>
+
 #include <cpplogging/manager/manager.h>
 #include <cpplogging/manager/manager.inl>
+#include <cpplogging/manager/matcher/matcher_all.h>
+#include <cpplogging/manager/matcher/matcher_regex.h>
+#include <cpplogging/manager/matcher/matcher_default_logger.h>
+#include <cpplogging/manager/consumer/consumer_stream.h>
+
+#ifdef CPPLOGGING_HAS_NLOHMANN_JSON
+    #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#endif
 
 using namespace ::cpplogging;
 
@@ -129,6 +139,181 @@ void manager::reset()
     _consumer.clear();
 }
 
+#ifdef CPPLOGGING_HAS_LOAD_CONFIG
+matcher_ptr_u load_matcher(const ::nlohmann::json& jMatchers, const ::nlohmann::json& jName)
+{
+    if (!jName.is_string())
+        throw std::invalid_argument("expected matcher value to be an string");
+
+    auto& jMatcher = jMatchers[jName.get<std::string>()];
+    if (!jMatcher.is_object())
+        throw std::invalid_argument("expected matcher to be an object");
+
+    auto& jType = jMatcher["type"];
+    if (!jType.is_string())
+        throw std::invalid_argument("expected 'matcher.type' to be an string");
+
+    /* match all cosumers/loggers */
+    auto type = jType.get<std::string>();
+    if (type == "all")
+    {
+        return std::make_unique<matcher_all>();
+    }
+
+    /* match the default logger */
+    else if (type == "default_logger")
+    {
+        return std::make_unique<matcher_default_logger>();
+    }
+
+    /* regex */
+    else if (type == "regex")
+    {
+        /* read regex value */
+        auto& jValue = jMatcher["value"];
+        if (!jValue.is_string())
+            throw std::invalid_argument("expected 'matcher.value' to be an string");
+        auto regex = jValue.get<std::string>();
+
+        /* read regex invert */
+        bool invert = false;
+        auto& jInvert = jMatcher["invert"];
+        if (!jValue.empty() && !jValue.is_boolean())
+            throw std::invalid_argument("expected 'matcher.invert' to be an bool");
+        invert = jInvert.get<bool>();
+
+        return std::make_unique<matcher_regex>(regex, invert);
+    }
+
+    /* invalid type */
+    else
+    {
+        using namespace ::std;
+        throw std::invalid_argument("unknown matcher type: "s + type);
+    }
+}
+
+log_level load_log_level(const ::nlohmann::json& jLogLevel, log_level default_level)
+{
+    if (jLogLevel.empty())
+        return default_level;
+    if (!jLogLevel.is_string())
+        throw std::invalid_argument("expected rule log level to be an string");
+
+    auto tmp = jLogLevel.get<std::string>();
+    if (tmp == "debug")
+        return log_level::debug;
+    else if (tmp == "info")
+        return log_level::info;
+    else if (tmp == "warn")
+        return log_level::warn;
+    else if (tmp == "error")
+        return log_level::error;
+    else
+    {
+        using namespace ::std;
+        throw std::invalid_argument("invalid log level: "s + tmp);
+    }
+}
+
+void manager::load(const std::string& filename)
+{
+    using namespace ::nlohmann;
+
+    /* load the json object */
+    std::ifstream ifs(filename);
+    json root;
+    ifs >> root;
+
+    /* get root nodes */
+    auto rules = root["rules"];
+    auto matchers = root["matchers"];
+    auto consumers = root["consumers"];
+
+    /* check root nodes */
+    if (rules.empty() || !rules.is_array())
+        throw std::invalid_argument("expected 'rules' to be an json array");
+    if (matchers.empty() || !matchers.is_object())
+        throw std::invalid_argument("expected 'matchers' to be an json object");
+    if (consumers.empty() || !consumers.is_object())
+        throw std::invalid_argument("expected 'consumers' to be an json object");
+
+    /* read consumers */
+    for (auto& c : consumers.items())
+    {
+        auto name = c.key();
+        auto obj  = c.value();
+        if (!obj.is_object())
+            throw std::invalid_argument("expected 'consumer' to be an json object");
+
+        /* type */
+        auto& jType = obj["type"];
+        if (!jType.is_string())
+            throw std::invalid_argument("expected 'consumer.type' to be an string");
+
+        /* format */
+        auto& jFormat = obj["format"];
+        auto format = consumer::default_format();
+        if (jFormat.empty())
+        {
+            if (!jFormat.is_string())
+                throw std::invalid_argument("expected 'consumer.format' to be an string");
+            format = jFormat.get<std::string>();
+        }
+
+        /* log to file */
+        auto type = jType.get<std::string>();
+        if (type == "file")
+        {
+            auto& jFilename = obj["filename"];
+            if (!jFilename.is_string())
+                throw std::invalid_argument("expected 'consumer.filename' to be an string");
+
+            auto fn = jFilename.get<std::string>();
+            register_consumer(std::make_unique<consumer_stream>(
+                name,
+                std::make_unique<std::ofstream>(fn),
+                format));
+        }
+
+        /* log to stdout */
+        else if (type == "stdout")
+        {
+            register_consumer(std::make_unique<consumer_stream>(
+                name,
+                std::cout,
+                format));
+        }
+
+        /* log to stderr */
+        else if (type == "stderr")
+        {
+            register_consumer(std::make_unique<consumer_stream>(
+                name,
+                std::cerr,
+                format));
+        }
+
+        /* invalid consumer type */
+        else
+        {
+            using namespace ::std;
+            throw std::invalid_argument("unknown consumer type: "s + type);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /* read rules */
+    for (auto& r : rules)
+    {
+        define_rule(
+            load_matcher(matchers, r["logger"]),
+            load_matcher(matchers, r["consumer"]),
+            load_log_level(r["min"], log_level::debug),
+            load_log_level(r["max"], log_level::error));
+    }
+}
+#endif
+
 logger_impl& manager::init_logger(logger_impl& logger)
 {
     for (auto& rule : _rules)
diff --git a/test/cpplogging/cpplogging_tests.cpp b/test/cpplogging/cpplogging_tests.cpp
index b35c37a..56a027a 100644
--- a/test/cpplogging/cpplogging_tests.cpp
+++ b/test/cpplogging/cpplogging_tests.cpp
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@ struct consumer_mock
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD1(write_entry, void (const log_entry_ptr_s& entry));
 
     consumer_mock(const std::string& n) :
-        consumer(n, true)
-        { }
+        consumer(n)
+    {
+        manager::register_consumer(*this);
+    }
 };
 
 MATCHER_P5(MatchLogData, level, sender, thread, name, message, "")
@@ -37,8 +39,8 @@ MATCHER_P5(MatchLogData, level, sender, thread, name, message, "")
 TEST(LoggingTests, matcher_all)
 {
     LoggingReset loggingReset;
-    consumer_stream c0("TestConsumer1", std::cout, false);
-    consumer_stream c1("TestConsumer2", std::cout, false);
+    consumer_stream c0("TestConsumer1", std::cout);
+    consumer_stream c1("TestConsumer2", std::cout);
 
     auto& l0 = logger::get();
     auto& l1 = logger::get("TestLogger");
@@ -54,8 +56,8 @@ TEST(LoggingTests, matcher_all)
 TEST(LoggingTests, matcher_default)
 {
     LoggingReset loggingReset;
-    consumer_stream c0("TestConsumer1", std::cout, false);
-    consumer_stream c1("TestConsumer2", std::cout, false);
+    consumer_stream c0("TestConsumer1", std::cout);
+    consumer_stream c1("TestConsumer2", std::cout);
 
     auto& l0 = logger::get();
     auto& l1 = logger::get("TestLogger");
@@ -71,8 +73,8 @@ TEST(LoggingTests, matcher_default)
 TEST(LoggingTests, matcher_regex)
 {
     LoggingReset loggingReset;
-    consumer_stream c0("TestConsumer1", std::cout, false);
-    consumer_stream c1("TestConsumer2", std::cout, false);
+    consumer_stream c0("TestConsumer1", std::cout);
+    consumer_stream c1("TestConsumer2", std::cout);
 
     auto& l0 = logger::get();
     auto& l1 = logger::get("TestLogger");
@@ -125,3 +127,10 @@ TEST(LoggingTests, log_base)
     cpplogging_log(l1, warn ).sender((void*)0x23).message("test2") << " warn";
     cpplogging_log(l1, error).sender((void*)0x24).message("test2") << " error";
 }
+
+#ifdef CPPLOGGING_HAS_LOAD_CONFIG
+TEST(LoggingTests, load)
+{
+    manager::load("./cpplogging/test_config.json");
+}
+#endif
diff --git a/test/cpplogging/test_config.json b/test/cpplogging/test_config.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d63d999
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cpplogging/test_config.json
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{
+    "consumers": {
+        "c_stdout": {
+            "type": "stdout",
+            "format": "[${runtime:-016.6f}] ${message}"
+        },
+        "c_stderr": {
+            "type": "stderr",
+            "format": "[${runtime:-016.6f}] ${message}"
+        },
+        "c_file": {
+            "type": "file",
+            "filename": "test_file.log",
+            "format": "[${runtime:-016.6f}] ${message}"
+        }
+    },
+    "matchers": {
+        "m_all": {
+            "type": "all"
+        },
+        "m_default_logger": {
+            "type": "default_logger"
+        },
+        "m_regex": {
+            "type": "regex",
+            "value": "abc.*?xyz",
+            "invert": true
+        }
+    },
+    "rules": [{
+        "consumer": "m_all",
+        "logger": "m_default_logger",
+        "min": "info",
+        "max": "error"
+    }]
+}
diff --git a/test/test_file.log b/test/test_file.log
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29