diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 63da44ae..630a36f4 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ awesome
 awesome-client
 doc
 *.swp
+defconfig.h
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d0873e6d..c4050af8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -37,13 +37,20 @@ awesome-client: ${OBJCLIENT}
 	@echo -e "\t(CC) ${OBJCLIENT} -o $@"
 	@${CC} -o $@ ${OBJCLIENT} ${CLIENTLDFLAGS}
 
-awesome: ${OBJ}
+defconfig.h: awesomerc
+	@echo generating defconfig.h from awesomerc
+	@echo "#define AWESOME_DEFAULT_CONFIG \\" > defconfig.h
+	@echo -n "\"" >> defconfig.h
+	@sed 's/$$/ \\/;s/"/\\"/g' awesomerc >> defconfig.h
+	@echo "\"" >> defconfig.h
+
+awesome: defconfig.h ${OBJ}
 	@echo -e "\t(CC) ${OBJ} -o $@"
 	@${CC} -o $@ ${OBJ} ${LDFLAGS}
 
 clean:
 	@echo cleaning
-	@rm -f awesome awesome-client ${DOCS:.txt=} ${DOCS:.txt=.xml} ${OBJCLIENT} ${OBJ} awesome-${VERSION}.tar.gz
+	@rm -f awesome awesome-client defconfig.h ${DOCS:.txt=} ${DOCS:.txt=.xml} ${OBJCLIENT} ${OBJ} awesome-${VERSION}.tar.gz
 	@rm -rf doc
 
 dist: clean
diff --git a/awesomerc b/awesomerc
index a9fc3abe..6f21ffda 100644
--- a/awesomerc
+++ b/awesomerc
@@ -1,153 +1,36 @@
-# Configuration file for awesome
-
+# Minimal configuration file for awesome
 # First physical screen
 screen 0
 {
-    general
-    {
-        # Windows border size in pixel
-        border = 1
-        # Pixels number before collapsing window border and screen border
-        snap = 8
-        # Respect windows minimal geometry
-        resize_hints = true
-        # Opacity for unfocused windows (with xcompmgr)
-        opacity_unfocused = 100
-        # Should focus switching move pointer
-        focus_move_pointer = false
-        # Allow floating windows to be below others
-        allow_lower_floats = false
-        # Status bar font (Xft)
-        font = "fixed-12"
-    }
-    colors
-    {
-        # Normal border color
-        normal_border = "#111111"
-        # Normal background color (statusbar)
-        normal_bg = "#111111"
-        # Normal foreground color (statusbar)
-        normal_fg = "#eeeeee"
-        # Focused border color
-        focus_border = "#6666ff"
-        # Focused background color (statusbar)
-        focus_bg = "#6666ff"
-        # Focused foreground color (statusbar)
-        focus_fg = "#ffffff"
-    }
-    # Optional screen padding
-    #padding
-    #{
-    #    left = 10
-    #    right = 0
-    #    top = 0
-    #    bottom = 10
-    #}
-    statusbar
-    {
-        # Statusbar position
-        # top, bottom, left, right, off
-        position = "top"
-    }
     tags
     {
         # Tag name
-        tag one
-        {
-            # Tag default layout
-            # tile, tileleft, max, floating
-            layout = "tile"
-        }
-        tag two
-        {
-            # Number of master windows on this tag
-            nmaster = 2
-            layout = "tile"
-        }
-        tag three
-        {
-            ncol = 2
-            layout = "tile"
-        }
-        tag four
-        {
-            layout = "tile"
-        }
-        tag five
-        {
-            layout = "tile"
-        }
-        tag six
-        {
-            layout = "tile"
-        }
-        tag seven
-        {
-            layout = "tile"
-        }
-        tag eight
-        {
-            # Master width factor
-            # 0 < mwfact < 1
-            mwfact = 0.3
-            layout = "tile"
-        }
-        tag nine
-        {
-            layout = "floating"
-        }
+        tag one { }
+        tag two { }
+        tag three { }
+        tag four { }
+        tag five { }
+        tag six { }
+        tag seven { }
+        tag eight { }
+        tag nine { }
     }
     layouts
     {
-        # Available layout
-        layout tile
-        {
-            # Symbol drawn in statusbar for this layout
-            symbol = "[]="
-        }
-        layout tileleft
-        {
-            symbol = "=[]"
-        }
-        layout max
-        {
-            symbol = "[ ]"
-        }
-        layout floating
-        {
-            symbol = "><>"
-        }
+        layout tile { symbol = "[]=" }
+        layout tileleft { symbol = "=[]" }
+        layout max { symbol = "[ ]" }
+        layout floating { symbol = "><>" }
     }
 }
 
 rules
 {
     rule
-    {
-        # Programe name (regexp)
-        name = "Gimp"
-        # Program tags (regexp)
-        tags = "nine"
-        # Should we set this program to floating mode?
-        float = true
-        # Physical screen to map this windows to
-        screen = 0
-    }
-    rule
-    {
-        name = "MPlayer"
-        float = true
-    }
-    rule
-    {
-        name = "Acroread"
-        float = true
-    }
-    rule
-    {
-        name = "pinentry"
-        float = true
-    }
+    { name = "Gimp" float = true }
+    rule { name = "MPlayer" float = true }
+    rule { name = "Acroread" float = true }
+    rule { name = "pinentry" float = true }
 }
 
 # Mouse buttons bindings
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index b2a8019b..3aaeeb0d 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "layouts/tile.h"
 #include "layouts/floating.h"
 #include "layouts/max.h"
+#include "defconfig.h"
 
 #define AWESOME_CONFIG_FILE ".awesomerc" 
 
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index 2cc2da35..fd73aa6b 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -235,563 +235,6 @@ struct awesome_config
     char *configpath;
 };
 
-#define AWESOME_DEFAULT_CONFIG \
-"screen 0 \
-{ \
-    tags \
-    { \
-        tag one { } \
-        tag two { } \
-        tag three { } \
-        tag four { } \
-        tag five { } \
-        tag six { } \
-        tag seven { } \
-        tag eight { } \
-        tag nine { } \
-    } \
-    layouts \
-    { \
-        layout tile { symbol = \"[]=\" } \
-        layout tileleft { symbol = \"=[]\" } \
-        layout max { symbol = \"[ ]\" } \
-        layout floating { symbol = \"><>\" } \
-    } \
-} \
- \
-mouse \
-{ \
-    tag \
-    { \
-        button = \"1\" \
-        command = \"tag_view\" \
-    } \
-    tag \
-    { \
-        button = \"1\" \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-    } \
-    tag \
-    { \
-        button = \"3\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-    } \
-    tag \
-    { \
-        button = \"3\" \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-    } \
-    tag \
-    { \
-        button = \"4\" \
-        command = \"tag_viewnext\" \
-    } \
-    tag \
-    { \
-        button = \"5\" \
-        command = \"tag_viewprev\" \
-    } \
-    layout \
-    { \
-        button = \"1\" \
-        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
-        arg = \"+1\" \
-    } \
-    layout \
-    { \
-        button = \"4\" \
-        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
-        arg = \"+1\" \
-    } \
-    layout \
-    { \
-        button = \"3\" \
-        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
-        arg = \"-1\" \
-    } \
-    layout \
-    { \
-        button = \"5\" \
-        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
-        arg = \"-1\" \
-    } \
-    root \
-    { \
-        button = \"3\" \
-        command = \"spawn\" \
-        arg = \"exec xterm\" \
-    } \
-    root \
-    { \
-        button = \"4\" \
-        command = \"tag_viewnext\" \
-    } \
-    root \
-    { \
-        button = \"5\" \
-        command = \"tag_viewprev\" \
-    } \
-    client \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        button = \"1\" \
-        command = \"client_movemouse\" \
-    } \
-    client \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        button = \"2\" \
-        command = \"client_zoom\" \
-    } \
-    client \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        button = \"3\" \
-        command = \"client_resizemouse\" \
-    } \
-} \
- \
-keys \
-{ \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"Return\" \
-        command = \"spawn\" \
-        arg = \"exec xterm\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"space\" \
-        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
-        arg = \"+1\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"space\" \
-        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
-        arg = \"-1\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"b\" \
-        command = \"togglebar\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"j\" \
-        command = \"client_focusnext\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"k\" \
-        command = \"client_focusprev\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"j\" \
-        command = \"client_swapnext\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"k\" \
-        command = \"client_swapprev\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"j\" \
-        command = \"screen_focusnext\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"k\" \
-        command = \"screen_focusprev\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"h\" \
-        command = \"tag_setmwfact\" \
-        arg = \"-0.05\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"l\" \
-        command = \"tag_setmwfact\" \
-        arg = \"+0.05\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"h\" \
-        command = \"tag_setnmaster\" \
-        arg = \"+1\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"l\" \
-        command = \"tag_setnmaster\" \
-        arg = \"-1\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"h\" \
-        command = \"tag_setncol\" \
-        arg = \"+1\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"l\" \
-        command = \"tag_setncol\" \
-        arg = \"-1\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"Escape\" \
-        command = \"tag_viewprev_selected\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"Left\" \
-        command = \"tag_viewprev\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"Right\" \
-        command = \"tag_viewnext\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"m\" \
-        command = \"client_togglemax\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"Return\" \
-        command = \"client_zoom\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"space\" \
-        command = \"client_togglefloating\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"c\" \
-        command = \"client_kill\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"q\" \
-        command = \"quit\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"r\" \
-        command = \"reloadconfig\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-       modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-       key = \"0\" \
-       command = \"tag_view\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"1\" \
-        command = \"tag_view\" \
-        arg = \"1\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"2\" \
-        command = \"tag_view\" \
-        arg = \"2\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"3\" \
-        command = \"tag_view\" \
-        arg = \"3\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"4\" \
-        command = \"tag_view\" \
-        arg = \"4\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"5\" \
-        command = \"tag_view\" \
-        arg = \"5\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"6\" \
-        command = \"tag_view\" \
-        arg = \"6\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"7\" \
-        command = \"tag_view\" \
-        arg = \"7\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"8\" \
-        command = \"tag_view\" \
-        arg = \"8\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
-        key = \"9\" \
-        command = \"tag_view\" \
-        arg = \"9\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"0\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"1\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-        arg = \"1\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"2\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-        arg = \"2\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"3\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-        arg = \"3\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"4\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-        arg = \"4\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"5\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-        arg = \"5\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"6\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-        arg = \"6\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"7\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-        arg = \"7\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"8\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-        arg = \"8\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"9\" \
-        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
-        arg = \"9\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"0\" \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"1\" \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-        arg = \"1\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"2\" \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-        arg = \"2\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"3\" \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-        arg = \"3\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"4\" \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-        arg = \"4\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"5\" \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-        arg = \"5\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"6\" \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-        arg = \"6\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"7\" \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-        arg = \"7\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"8\" \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-        arg = \"8\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
-        key = \"9\" \
-        command = \"client_tag\" \
-        arg = \"9\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"0\" \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"1\" \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-        arg = \"1\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"2\" \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-        arg = \"2\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"3\" \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-        arg = \"3\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"4\" \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-        arg = \"4\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"5\" \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-        arg = \"5\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"6\" \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-        arg = \"6\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"7\" \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-        arg = \"7\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"8\" \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-        arg = \"8\" \
-    } \
-    key \
-    { \
-        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
-        key = \"9\" \
-        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
-        arg = \"9\" \
-    } \
-}"
-
 void parse_config(const char *, awesome_config *);
 
 void uicb_reloadconfig(awesome_config *, const char *);