diff --git a/swh/core/conf/reader.py b/swh/core/conf/reader.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..f332883
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swh/core/conf/reader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+# Copyright (C) 2015  The Software Heritage developers
+# See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+import configparser
+import os
+
+
+_map_convert_fn = {'int': int,
+                   'bool': lambda x: x == 'true'}  # conversion per type
+
+
+def read(conf_file, default_conf=None):
+    """Read the user's configuration file.
+    Fill in the gap using `default_conf`.
+`default_conf` is similar to this:
+DEFAULT_CONF = {
+    'a': ('string', '/tmp/swh-loader-git/log'),
+    'b': ('string', 'dbname=swhloadergit')
+    'c': ('bool', true)
+    'e': ('bool', None)
+    'd': ('int', 10)
+}
+
+    """
+    config = configparser.ConfigParser(defaults=default_conf)
+    config.read(os.path.expanduser(conf_file))
+    conf = config._sections['main']
+
+    # remaining missing default configuration key are set
+    # also type conversion is enforced for underneath layer
+    for key in default_conf:
+        nature_type, default_value = default_conf[key]
+        val = conf.get(key, None)
+        if not val:  # fallback to default value
+            conf[key] = default_value
+        else:  # value present but in string format, force type conversion
+            conf[key] = _map_convert_fn.get(nature_type, lambda x: x)(val)
+
+    return conf
+
+
+def prepare_folders(conf, *keys):
+    """Prepare the folder mentioned in config under keys.
+    """
+    def makedir(folder):
+        if not os.path.exists(folder):
+            os.makedirs(folder)
+
+    for key in keys:
+        makedir(conf[key])
diff --git a/swh/core/tests/test_reader.py b/swh/core/tests/test_reader.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..248429a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swh/core/tests/test_reader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2015  The Software Heritage developers
+# See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+import os
+import shutil
+
+from nose.tools import istest
+
+from swh.core.conf import reader
+
+
+def prepare_dummy_conf_file(tmp_dir):
+    tmp_conf_file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode='w',
+                                                suffix="swh-core-test-read-conf",
+                                                dir=tmp_dir,
+                                                delete=False)
+    with open(tmp_conf_file.name, 'w') as f:
+        f.write("""[main]
+a = 1
+b = this is a string
+c = true
+""")
+    return tmp_conf_file.name
+
+
+class ConfReaderTest(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUp(self):
+        # create a temporary folder
+        self.tmp_work_folder = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='test-swh-core.',
+                                               dir='/tmp')
+
+        self.tmp_conf_file = prepare_dummy_conf_file(self.tmp_work_folder)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def teardown(self):
+        shutil.rmtree(self.tmp_work_folder)
+
+    @istest
+    def test_read(self):
+        # given
+        default_conf = {'a': ('int', 2),
+                        'b': ('string', 'default-string'),
+                        'c': ('bool', True),
+                        'd': ('int', 10)}
+
+        # when
+        res = reader.read(self.tmp_conf_file, default_conf)
+
+        # then
+        self.assertEquals(res, {'a': 1,
+                                'b': 'this is a string',
+                                'c': True,
+                                'd': 10})
+
+    @istest
+    def test_prepare_folder(self):
+        # given
+        conf = {'path1': self.tmp_work_folder + 'path1',
+                'path2': self.tmp_work_folder + 'path2/depth1'}
+
+        # the folders does not exists
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(conf['path1']), "path1 should not exist.")
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(conf['path2']), "path2 should not exist.")
+
+        # when
+        reader.prepare_folders(conf, 'path1')
+
+        # path1 exists but not path2
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(conf['path1']), "path1 should now exist!")
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(conf['path2']), "path2 should not exist.")
+
+        # path1 already exists, skips it but creates path2
+        reader.prepare_folders(conf, 'path1', 'path2')
+
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(conf['path1']), "path1 should still exist!")
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(conf['path2']), "path2 should now exist.")