diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 31cafb5..da725c5 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -20,3 +20,5 @@ tmp
 *.o
 *.a
 mkmf.log
+.DS_Store
+log
diff --git a/lib/pocketsphinx.rb b/lib/pocketsphinx.rb
index 0ef2823..c3f41a6 100644
--- a/lib/pocketsphinx.rb
+++ b/lib/pocketsphinx.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 require "pocketsphinx/api/sphinxad"
 require "pocketsphinx/api/pocketsphinx"
 
+require "pocketsphinx/configuration"
+
 module Pocketsphinx
   # Your code goes here...
 end
diff --git a/lib/pocketsphinx/configuration.rb b/lib/pocketsphinx/configuration.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93b1adf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pocketsphinx/configuration.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+require 'pocketsphinx/configuration/setting_definition'
+
+module Pocketsphinx
+  class Configuration
+    private_class_method :new
+
+    def initialize(ps_arg_defs)
+      @ps_arg_defs = ps_arg_defs
+      @setting_definitions = SettingDefinition.from_arg_defs(ps_arg_defs)
+
+      # Sets default settings based on definitions
+      @ps_config = API::Sphinxbase.cmd_ln_parse_r(nil, ps_arg_defs, 0, nil, 1)
+    end
+
+    def self.default
+      new(API::Pocketsphinx.ps_args)
+    end
+
+    def [](name)
+      unless definition = @setting_definitions[name]
+        raise "Configuration setting '#{name}' does not exist"
+      end
+
+      case definition.type
+      when :integer
+        API::Sphinxbase.cmd_ln_int_r(@ps_config, "-#{name}")
+      when :float
+        API::Sphinxbase.cmd_ln_float_r(@ps_config, "-#{name}")
+      when :string
+        API::Sphinxbase.cmd_ln_str_r(@ps_config, "-#{name}")
+      when :boolean
+        API::Sphinxbase.cmd_ln_int_r(@ps_config, "-#{name}") != 0
+      when :string_list
+        raise NotImplementedException
+      end
+    end
+
+    def []=(name, value)
+      unless definition = @setting_definitions[name]
+        raise "Configuration setting '#{name}' does not exist"
+      end
+
+      case definition.type
+      when :integer
+        raise "Configuration setting '#{name}' must be a Fixnum" unless value.respond_to?(:to_i)
+        API::Sphinxbase.cmd_ln_set_int_r(@ps_config, "-#{name}", value.to_i)
+      when :float
+        raise "Configuration setting '#{name}' must be a Float" unless value.respond_to?(:to_i)
+        API::Sphinxbase.cmd_ln_set_float_r(@ps_config, "-#{name}", value.to_f)
+      when :string
+        API::Sphinxbase.cmd_ln_set_str_r(@ps_config, "-#{name}", value.to_s)
+      when :boolean
+        API::Sphinxbase.cmd_ln_set_int_r(@ps_config, "-#{name}", value ? 1 : 0)
+      when :string_list
+        raise NotImplementedException
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pocketsphinx/configuration/setting_definition.rb b/lib/pocketsphinx/configuration/setting_definition.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..858c4bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pocketsphinx/configuration/setting_definition.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+module Pocketsphinx
+  class Configuration
+    class SettingDefinition
+      TYPES = [:integer, :float, :string, :boolean, :string_list]
+
+      def initialize(name, type_code, default, doc)
+        @name, @type_code, @default, @doc = name, type_code, default, doc
+      end
+
+      def type
+        # Remove the required bit if it exists and find type from log2 of code
+        TYPES[Math.log2(@type_code - @type_code%2) - 1]
+      end
+
+      def required?
+        @type_code % 2 == 1
+      end
+
+      # Build setting definitions from pocketsphinx argument definitions
+      #
+      # @param [FFI::Pointer] ps_arg_defs A pointer to the Pocketsphinx argument definitions
+      #
+      # @return [Hash] A hash of setting definitions (name -> definition)
+      def self.from_arg_defs(ps_arg_defs)
+        {}.tap do |setting_defs|
+          arg_array = FFI::Pointer.new(API::Sphinxbase::Argument, ps_arg_defs)
+
+          0.upto(Float::INFINITY) do |i|
+            arg = API::Sphinxbase::Argument.new(arg_array[i])
+            break if arg[:name].nil?
+
+            # Remove '-' from argument name
+            name = arg[:name][1..-1]
+            setting_defs[name] = new(name, arg[:type], arg[:deflt], arg[:doc])
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/pocketsphinx-ruby.gemspec b/pocketsphinx-ruby.gemspec
index 91af5f7..9794872 100644
--- a/pocketsphinx-ruby.gemspec
+++ b/pocketsphinx-ruby.gemspec
@@ -22,4 +22,5 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |spec|
 
   spec.add_development_dependency "bundler", "~> 1.6"
   spec.add_development_dependency "rake"
+  spec.add_development_dependency "rspec", "~> 3.1.0"
 end
diff --git a/spec/configuration_spec.rb b/spec/configuration_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e542a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/configuration_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe Pocketsphinx::Configuration do
+  subject { Pocketsphinx::Configuration.default }
+
+  it "provides a default pocketsphinx configuration" do
+    expect(subject).to be_a(Pocketsphinx::Configuration)
+  end
+
+  it "supports integer settings" do
+    expect(subject['frate']).to eq(100)
+    expect(subject['frate']).to be_a(Fixnum)
+
+    subject['frate'] = 50
+    expect(subject['frate']).to eq(50)
+  end
+
+  it "supports float settings" do
+    expect(subject['samprate']).to eq(16000)
+    expect(subject['samprate']).to be_a(Float)
+
+    subject['samprate'] = 8000
+    expect(subject['samprate']).to eq(8000)
+  end
+
+  it "supports getting strings" do
+    expect(subject['warp_type']).to eq('inverse_linear')
+
+    subject['warp_type'] = 'different_type'
+    expect(subject['warp_type']).to eq('different_type')
+  end
+
+  it "supports getting booleans" do
+    expect(subject['smoothspec']).to eq(false)
+
+    subject['smoothspec'] = true
+    expect(subject['smoothspec']).to eq(true)
+  end
+
+  it 'raises exceptions when setting with incorrectly typed values' do
+    expect { subject['frate'] = true }.to raise_exception "Configuration setting 'frate' must be a Fixnum"
+  end
+
+  it 'raises exceptions when a setting is unknown' do
+    expect { subject['unknown'] = true }.to raise_exception "Configuration setting 'unknown' does not exist"
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index 607474b..d87f7a1 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -1,19 +1,12 @@
-# This file was generated by the `rspec --init` command. Conventionally, all
-# specs live under a `spec` directory, which RSpec adds to the `$LOAD_PATH`.
-# The generated `.rspec` file contains `--require spec_helper` which will cause this
-# file to always be loaded, without a need to explicitly require it in any files.
-#
-# Given that it is always loaded, you are encouraged to keep this file as
-# light-weight as possible. Requiring heavyweight dependencies from this file
-# will add to the boot time of your test suite on EVERY test run, even for an
-# individual file that may not need all of that loaded. Instead, consider making
-# a separate helper file that requires the additional dependencies and performs
-# the additional setup, and require it from the spec files that actually need it.
-#
-# The `.rspec` file also contains a few flags that are not defaults but that
-# users commonly want.
-#
-# See http://rubydoc.info/gems/rspec-core/RSpec/Core/Configuration
+require 'pocketsphinx'
+
+POCKETSPHINX_LOG_FILE = "./log/pocketsphinx_test.log"
+
+# Set up pocketsphinx logging to a file rather than stdout
+FileUtils.makedirs File.dirname(POCKETSPHINX_LOG_FILE)
+FileUtils.touch POCKETSPHINX_LOG_FILE
+Pocketsphinx::API::Sphinxbase.err_set_logfile POCKETSPHINX_LOG_FILE
+
 RSpec.configure do |config|
   # rspec-expectations config goes here. You can use an alternate
   # assertion/expectation library such as wrong or the stdlib/minitest
@@ -37,53 +30,4 @@
     # `true` in RSpec 4.
     mocks.verify_partial_doubles = true
   end
-
-# The settings below are suggested to provide a good initial experience
-# with RSpec, but feel free to customize to your heart's content.
-=begin
-  # These two settings work together to allow you to limit a spec run
-  # to individual examples or groups you care about by tagging them with
-  # `:focus` metadata. When nothing is tagged with `:focus`, all examples
-  # get run.
-  config.filter_run :focus
-  config.run_all_when_everything_filtered = true
-
-  # Limits the available syntax to the non-monkey patched syntax that is recommended.
-  # For more details, see:
-  #   - http://myronmars.to/n/dev-blog/2012/06/rspecs-new-expectation-syntax
-  #   - http://teaisaweso.me/blog/2013/05/27/rspecs-new-message-expectation-syntax/
-  #   - http://myronmars.to/n/dev-blog/2014/05/notable-changes-in-rspec-3#new__config_option_to_disable_rspeccore_monkey_patching
-  config.disable_monkey_patching!
-
-  # This setting enables warnings. It's recommended, but in some cases may
-  # be too noisy due to issues in dependencies.
-  config.warnings = true
-
-  # Many RSpec users commonly either run the entire suite or an individual
-  # file, and it's useful to allow more verbose output when running an
-  # individual spec file.
-  if config.files_to_run.one?
-    # Use the documentation formatter for detailed output,
-    # unless a formatter has already been configured
-    # (e.g. via a command-line flag).
-    config.default_formatter = 'doc'
-  end
-
-  # Print the 10 slowest examples and example groups at the
-  # end of the spec run, to help surface which specs are running
-  # particularly slow.
-  config.profile_examples = 10
-
-  # Run specs in random order to surface order dependencies. If you find an
-  # order dependency and want to debug it, you can fix the order by providing
-  # the seed, which is printed after each run.
-  #     --seed 1234
-  config.order = :random
-
-  # Seed global randomization in this process using the `--seed` CLI option.
-  # Setting this allows you to use `--seed` to deterministically reproduce
-  # test failures related to randomization by passing the same `--seed` value
-  # as the one that triggered the failure.
-  Kernel.srand config.seed
-=end
 end