diff --git a/build.mill b/build.mill
index 12bc73a123..e563f89719 100644
--- a/build.mill
+++ b/build.mill
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@ trait CaskMainModule extends CaskModule {
   def mvnDeps = Task {
     Seq(
       mvn"io.undertow:undertow-core:2.3.18.Final",
-      mvn"com.lihaoyi::upickle:4.0.2"
+      mvn"com.lihaoyi::upickle:4.0.2",
+      mvn"com.typesafe:config:1.4.3"
     ) ++
       Option.when(isScala37Plus)(mvn"com.lihaoyi::scalasql-namedtuples:0.2.3") ++
-      Option.when(isScala37Plus)(mvn"com.typesafe:config:1.4.3") ++
       Option.when(!isScala3)(mvn"org.scala-lang:scala-reflect:$crossScalaVersion")
   }
 
diff --git a/cask/src/cask/Config.scala b/cask/src/cask/Config.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c548eee31b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cask/src/cask/Config.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+package cask
+
+import cask.internal.{Config => InternalConfig}
+
+/**
+ * Global configuration access point.
+ *
+ * Auto-loads configuration at startup from:
+ * - application.conf
+ * - application-{CASK_ENV}.conf
+ * - System properties
+ * - Environment variables
+ *
+ * Example:
+ * {{{
+ * // application.conf
+ * app {
+ *   name = "my-app"
+ *   port = 8080
+ *   database.url = ${?DATABASE_URL}
+ * }
+ *
+ * // Usage
+ * val name = cask.Config.getString("app.name")
+ * val port = cask.Config.getInt("app.port")
+ * }}}
+ */
+object Config {
+
+  type ConfigError = InternalConfig.ConfigError
+  val ConfigError = InternalConfig.ConfigError
+
+  type Environment = InternalConfig.Environment
+  val Environment = InternalConfig.Environment
+
+  /** Lazily loaded configuration */
+  private lazy val loader: InternalConfig.Loader =
+    InternalConfig.Loader.loadOrThrow()
+
+  /** Get string configuration value */
+  def getString(key: String): Either[ConfigError, String] =
+    loader.getString(key)
+
+  /** Get int configuration value */
+  def getInt(key: String): Either[ConfigError, Int] =
+    loader.getInt(key)
+
+  /** Get boolean configuration value */
+  def getBoolean(key: String): Either[ConfigError, Boolean] =
+    loader.getBoolean(key)
+
+  /** Get long configuration value */
+  def getLong(key: String): Either[ConfigError, Long] =
+    loader.getLong(key)
+
+  /** Get double configuration value */
+  def getDouble(key: String): Either[ConfigError, Double] =
+    loader.getDouble(key)
+
+  /** Get optional string */
+  def getStringOpt(key: String): Option[String] =
+    loader.getStringOpt(key)
+
+  /** Get optional int */
+  def getIntOpt(key: String): Option[Int] =
+    loader.getIntOpt(key)
+
+  /** Get optional boolean */
+  def getBooleanOpt(key: String): Option[Boolean] =
+    loader.getBooleanOpt(key)
+
+  /** Get string or throw exception */
+  def getStringOrThrow(key: String): String =
+    getString(key) match {
+      case Right(value) => value
+      case Left(error) => throw new RuntimeException(error.message)
+    }
+
+  /** Get int or throw exception */
+  def getIntOrThrow(key: String): Int =
+    getInt(key) match {
+      case Right(value) => value
+      case Left(error) => throw new RuntimeException(error.message)
+    }
+
+  /** Get boolean or throw exception */
+  def getBooleanOrThrow(key: String): Boolean =
+    getBoolean(key) match {
+      case Right(value) => value
+      case Left(error) => throw new RuntimeException(error.message)
+    }
+
+  /** Access underlying Typesafe Config for advanced usage */
+  def underlying: com.typesafe.config.Config =
+    loader.underlying
+
+  /** Reload configuration (useful for testing) */
+  private[cask] def reload(): Unit = {
+    // Force re-evaluation of lazy val
+    val _ = InternalConfig.Loader.loadOrThrow()
+  }
+}
diff --git a/cask/src/cask/internal/Config.scala b/cask/src/cask/internal/Config.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e33a3af0db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cask/src/cask/internal/Config.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+package cask.internal
+
+import com.typesafe.config.{Config => TypesafeConfig, ConfigFactory, ConfigException}
+import scala.util.{Try, Success, Failure}
+import scala.util.control.NonFatal
+
+/**
+ * Configuration loading and access with functional error handling.
+ */
+object Config {
+
+  /** Configuration error ADT */
+  sealed trait ConfigError {
+    def message: String
+  }
+
+  object ConfigError {
+    final case class Missing(key: String) extends ConfigError {
+      def message = s"Configuration key '$key' is missing"
+    }
+
+    final case class InvalidType(key: String, expected: String, actual: String) extends ConfigError {
+      def message = s"Configuration key '$key': expected $expected but got $actual"
+    }
+
+    final case class LoadFailure(cause: String) extends ConfigError {
+      def message = s"Failed to load configuration: $cause"
+    }
+
+    final case class ParseFailure(key: String, value: String, cause: String) extends ConfigError {
+      def message = s"Failed to parse '$key' value '$value': $cause"
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** Environment for profile loading */
+  sealed trait Environment {
+    def name: String
+  }
+
+  object Environment {
+    case object Development extends Environment { val name = "dev" }
+    case object Test extends Environment { val name = "test" }
+    case object Production extends Environment { val name = "prod" }
+    final case class Custom(name: String) extends Environment
+
+    def fromString(s: String): Environment = s.toLowerCase match {
+      case "dev" | "development" => Development
+      case "test" => Test
+      case "prod" | "production" => Production
+      case other => Custom(other)
+    }
+
+    def current: Environment =
+      sys.env.get("CASK_ENV")
+        .map(fromString)
+        .getOrElse(Development)
+  }
+
+  /** Configuration loader with resource safety */
+  final class Loader private (config: TypesafeConfig) {
+
+    def getString(key: String): Either[ConfigError, String] =
+      safeGet(key)(config.getString)
+
+    def getInt(key: String): Either[ConfigError, Int] =
+      safeGet(key)(config.getInt)
+
+    def getBoolean(key: String): Either[ConfigError, Boolean] =
+      safeGet(key)(config.getBoolean)
+
+    def getLong(key: String): Either[ConfigError, Long] =
+      safeGet(key)(config.getLong)
+
+    def getDouble(key: String): Either[ConfigError, Double] =
+      safeGet(key)(config.getDouble)
+
+    def getStringOpt(key: String): Option[String] =
+      getString(key).toOption
+
+    def getIntOpt(key: String): Option[Int] =
+      getInt(key).toOption
+
+    def getBooleanOpt(key: String): Option[Boolean] =
+      getBoolean(key).toOption
+
+    private def safeGet[A](key: String)(f: String => A): Either[ConfigError, A] =
+      Try(f(key)) match {
+        case Success(value) => Right(value)
+        case Failure(e: ConfigException.Missing) =>
+          Left(ConfigError.Missing(key))
+        case Failure(e: ConfigException.WrongType) =>
+          Left(ConfigError.InvalidType(key, "unknown", e.getMessage))
+        case Failure(e) =>
+          Left(ConfigError.ParseFailure(key, "unknown", e.getMessage))
+      }
+
+    /** Underlying config for advanced usage */
+    def underlying: TypesafeConfig = config
+  }
+
+  object Loader {
+
+    /**
+     * Load configuration with environment profile.
+     *
+     * Loading order (later overrides earlier):
+     * 1. reference.conf (library defaults)
+     * 2. application.conf (user config)
+     * 3. application-{env}.conf (environment profile)
+     * 4. System properties
+     * 5. Environment variables
+     */
+    def load(env: Environment = Environment.current): Either[ConfigError, Loader] =
+      Try {
+        val base = ConfigFactory.load("application")
+        val profile = Try(ConfigFactory.load(s"application-${env.name}"))
+          .getOrElse(ConfigFactory.empty())
+
+        profile
+          .withFallback(base)
+          .resolve()
+      } match {
+        case Success(config) => Right(new Loader(config))
+        case Failure(e) => Left(ConfigError.LoadFailure(e.getMessage))
+      }
+
+    /** Load with default environment */
+    def loadOrThrow(): Loader =
+      load() match {
+        case Right(loader) => loader
+        case Left(error) => throw new RuntimeException(error.message)
+      }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/cask/test/src/cask/ConfigTests.scala b/cask/test/src/cask/ConfigTests.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7e8b44fd0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cask/test/src/cask/ConfigTests.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+package test.cask
+
+import utest._
+
+object ConfigTests extends TestSuite {
+
+  val tests = Tests {
+    test("ADT error types") {
+      val missing = cask.Config.ConfigError.Missing("test.key")
+      assert(missing.message.contains("missing"))
+
+      val invalidType = cask.Config.ConfigError.InvalidType("test.key", "String", "Int")
+      assert(invalidType.message.contains("expected"))
+    }
+
+    test("Environment from string") {
+      import cask.Config.Environment._
+
+      assert(fromString("dev") == Development)
+      assert(fromString("development") == Development)
+      assert(fromString("test") == Test)
+      assert(fromString("prod") == Production)
+      assert(fromString("production") == Production)
+      assert(fromString("staging").isInstanceOf[Custom])
+    }
+
+    test("Config loader Either pattern") {
+      val result = cask.Config.getString("nonexistent.key")
+      assert(result.isLeft)
+
+      result match {
+        case Left(error) => assert(error.message.contains("missing"))
+        case Right(_) => assert(false)
+      }
+    }
+
+    test("Optional config accessors") {
+      val opt = cask.Config.getStringOpt("nonexistent.key")
+      assert(opt.isEmpty)
+    }
+
+    test("Type-safe accessors with different types") {
+      // These will work if application.conf exists with proper values
+      // Test that methods exist and return correct types
+      locally {
+        val _: Either[cask.Config.ConfigError, String] = cask.Config.getString("any.key")
+      }
+      locally {
+        val _: Either[cask.Config.ConfigError, Int] = cask.Config.getInt("any.key")
+      }
+      locally {
+        val _: Either[cask.Config.ConfigError, Boolean] = cask.Config.getBoolean("any.key")
+      }
+      locally {
+        val _: Either[cask.Config.ConfigError, Long] = cask.Config.getLong("any.key")
+      }
+      locally {
+        val _: Either[cask.Config.ConfigError, Double] = cask.Config.getDouble("any.key")
+      }
+    }
+
+    test("Environment detection from CASK_ENV") {
+      val env = cask.Config.Environment.current
+      // Should default to Development if CASK_ENV not set
+      assert(env.isInstanceOf[cask.Config.Environment])
+    }
+
+    test("Config error pattern matching") {
+      import cask.Config.ConfigError._
+
+      val errors: Seq[cask.Config.ConfigError] = Seq(
+        Missing("key1"),
+        InvalidType("key2", "String", "Int"),
+        LoadFailure("cause"),
+        ParseFailure("key3", "value", "cause")
+      )
+
+      errors.foreach { error =>
+        error match {
+          case Missing(key) => assert(key.nonEmpty)
+          case InvalidType(key, expected, actual) =>
+            assert(key.nonEmpty && expected.nonEmpty && actual.nonEmpty)
+          case LoadFailure(cause) => assert(cause.nonEmpty)
+          case ParseFailure(key, value, cause) =>
+            assert(key.nonEmpty && cause.nonEmpty)
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/example/config/app/resources/application-prod.conf b/example/config/app/resources/application-prod.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c71bff175b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/config/app/resources/application-prod.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+app {
+  features {
+    debug = false
+    cache-enabled = true
+  }
+}
diff --git a/example/config/app/resources/application.conf b/example/config/app/resources/application.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e1263a7076
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/config/app/resources/application.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+app {
+  name = "config-example"
+
+  server {
+    port = 8080
+    port = ${?PORT}
+    host = "0.0.0.0"
+  }
+
+  features {
+    debug = true
+    cache-enabled = false
+  }
+}
diff --git a/example/config/app/src/ConfigExample.scala b/example/config/app/src/ConfigExample.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..788742e2ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/config/app/src/ConfigExample.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package app
+
+object ConfigExample extends cask.MainRoutes {
+
+  // Configuration loaded automatically at startup
+  val appName = cask.Config.getStringOrThrow("app.name")
+  val debugMode = cask.Config.getBooleanOrThrow("app.features.debug")
+
+  override def port = cask.Config.getIntOrThrow("app.server.port")
+  override def host = cask.Config.getStringOrThrow("app.server.host")
+
+  @cask.get("/")
+  def index() = {
+    val env = cask.Config.Environment.current.name
+    s"""
+       |App: $appName
+       |Environment: $env
+       |Debug: $debugMode
+       |Port: $port
+       |""".stripMargin
+  }
+
+  @cask.get("/config/:key")
+  def getConfig(key: String) = {
+    cask.Config.getString(key) match {
+      case Right(value) => s"$key = $value"
+      case Left(error) => cask.Response(error.message, statusCode = 404)
+    }
+  }
+
+  initialize()
+}
diff --git a/example/config/package.mill b/example/config/package.mill
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d1784e334d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/config/package.mill
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+package build.example.config
+import mill._, scalalib._
+
+object `package` extends Module {
+  object app extends Cross[AppModule](build.scala3Latest)
+  trait AppModule extends build.LocalModule
+}
diff --git a/example/todoDb/app/resources/application-prod.conf b/example/todoDb/app/resources/application-prod.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2214ee1246
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/todoDb/app/resources/application-prod.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+database {
+  # Production database uses persistent storage
+  path = "/var/lib/cask-todo/data"
+
+  pool {
+    max-connections = 25
+    min-idle = 5
+  }
+}
+
+# Disable initial data insertion in production
+initial-data {
+  enabled = false
+}
diff --git a/example/todoDb/app/resources/application.conf b/example/todoDb/app/resources/application.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f2c2b64cd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/todoDb/app/resources/application.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+database {
+  # SQLite database configuration
+  driver = "org.sqlite.SQLiteDataSource"
+
+  # Database path - uses temp directory by default
+  # Override with DATABASE_PATH environment variable
+  path = "temp"
+  path = ${?DATABASE_PATH}
+
+  # Connection pool settings
+  pool {
+    max-connections = 10
+    min-idle = 2
+  }
+}
+
+# Initial data to insert
+initial-data {
+  enabled = true
+  todos = [
+    { checked: true, text: "Get started with Cask" }
+    { checked: false, text: "Profit!" }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/example/todoDb/app/src/TodoMvcDb.scala b/example/todoDb/app/src/TodoMvcDb.scala
index f40d73fb39..281504911e 100644
--- a/example/todoDb/app/src/TodoMvcDb.scala
+++ b/example/todoDb/app/src/TodoMvcDb.scala
@@ -3,9 +3,18 @@ import scalasql.simple.{*, given}
 import SqliteDialect._
 
 object TodoMvcDb extends cask.MainRoutes {
-  val tmpDb = java.nio.file.Files.createTempDirectory("todo-cask-sqlite")
+  // Database path from config, fallback to temp directory
+  val dbPath = cask.Config.getStringOpt("database.path") match {
+    case Some("temp") | None =>
+      java.nio.file.Files.createTempDirectory("todo-cask-sqlite").toString
+    case Some(path) =>
+      val dir = java.nio.file.Paths.get(path)
+      java.nio.file.Files.createDirectories(dir)
+      path
+  }
+
   val sqliteDataSource = new org.sqlite.SQLiteDataSource()
-  sqliteDataSource.setUrl(s"jdbc:sqlite:$tmpDb/file.db")
+  sqliteDataSource.setUrl(s"jdbc:sqlite:$dbPath/file.db")
 
   given dbClient: scalasql.core.DbClient = new DbClient.DataSource(
     sqliteDataSource,
@@ -18,19 +27,24 @@ object TodoMvcDb extends cask.MainRoutes {
     given todoRW: upickle.default.ReadWriter[Todo] = upickle.default.macroRW[Todo]
   }
 
+  // Initialize database schema
   dbClient.getAutoCommitClientConnection.updateRaw(
     """CREATE TABLE todo (
       |  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
       |  checked BOOLEAN,
       |  text TEXT
-      |);
-      |
-      |INSERT INTO todo (checked, text) VALUES
-      |(1, 'Get started with Cask'),
-      |(0, 'Profit!');
-      |""".stripMargin
+      |);""".stripMargin
   )
 
+  // Insert initial data if enabled in config
+  if (cask.Config.getBooleanOpt("initial-data.enabled").getOrElse(true)) {
+    dbClient.getAutoCommitClientConnection.updateRaw(
+      """INSERT INTO todo (checked, text) VALUES
+        |(1, 'Get started with Cask'),
+        |(0, 'Profit!');""".stripMargin
+    )
+  }
+
   @cask.database.transactional[scalasql.core.DbClient]
   @cask.get("/list/:state")
   def list(state: String)(using ctx: scalasql.core.DbApi.Txn) = {