diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af6d2d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# Changelog
+
+## 1.5.0
+
+- added changelog
+- config files: include other config files
+
+## 1.4.0
+
+option to end the program when the user interrupts a prompt
+
+## 1.3.0
+
+new source: config files
+
+## 1.2.0
+
+preset option:
+an array of strings to choose from when using one of the string types
+
+## 1.1.0
+
+- readme file
+- options to select which sources should be used
+- array type
+
+## 1.0.0
+
+initial version
diff --git a/Jenkinsfile b/Jenkinsfile
index 788a61b..92f12d7 100644
--- a/Jenkinsfile
+++ b/Jenkinsfile
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ pipeline {
       VERSION = VersionNumber([
           versionNumberString:
               '${BUILDS_ALL_TIME}',
-          versionPrefix: '1.4.',
+          versionPrefix: '1.5.',
           worstResultForIncrement: 'SUCCESS'
       ])
   }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7adbd6f..7ce7256 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # @sapphirecode/console-app
 
-version: 1.4.x
+version: 1.5.x
 
 read parameters from env, console args or interactively
 
@@ -56,6 +56,15 @@ the console reader automatically adds the options --help (-h) and --quiet (-q)
 the reader can also be constructed with additional options that specify which
 sources should be used. It reads from all, except config files by default
 
+config files can import other config files with #include. example:
+
+```json
+#include base.json
+{
+  "foo": "bar"
+}
+```
+
 the option exit_on_interrupt determines whether an error should be thrown or the process should exit when the user presses control + c in an interactive prompt.
 
 ```js
diff --git a/lib/Sources/ConfigSource.ts b/lib/Sources/ConfigSource.ts
index f639bd5..2319653 100644
--- a/lib/Sources/ConfigSource.ts
+++ b/lib/Sources/ConfigSource.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
  */
 
 /* eslint-disable no-await-in-loop */
+import { dirname, join } from 'path';
 import fs from 'fs-extra';
+import { run_regex } from '@sapphirecode/utilities';
 import { OptionProcess } from '../Option';
 import { OptionSource } from './OptionSource';
 
@@ -18,26 +20,48 @@ export class ConfigSource extends OptionSource {
     this._config_files = config_files;
   }
 
+  private async read_json_file (file: string):
+   Promise<Record<string, unknown>> {
+    if (!await fs.pathExists (file))
+      return {};
+    const dir = dirname (file);
+    const contents = await fs.readFile (file, 'utf-8');
+    const obj: Record<string, unknown> = {};
+    const regex = /^#include (?<f>.+)/gmui;
+    const includes: string[] = [];
+    run_regex (regex, contents, (res: {groups:{f:string}}) => {
+      includes.push (join (dir, res.groups.f));
+    });
+    for (const inc of includes) {
+      const data = await this.read_json_file (inc);
+      for (const key of Object.keys (data))
+        obj[key] = data[key];
+    }
+    const config = JSON.parse (contents.replace (regex, ''));
+    for (const key of Object.keys (config))
+      obj[key] = config[key];
+
+    return obj;
+  }
+
   public async parse (options: OptionProcess[]): Promise<void> {
     const data: Record<string, unknown> = {};
     for (const f of this._config_files) {
-      if (await fs.pathExists (f)) {
-        try {
-          const json = JSON.parse (await fs.readFile (f, 'utf-8'));
-          for (const key of Object.keys (json))
-            data[key] = json[key];
-        }
-        catch {
-          continue;
-        }
+      try {
+        const json = await this.read_json_file (f);
+        for (const key of Object.keys (json))
+          data[key] = json[key];
+      }
+      catch {
+        continue;
       }
     }
 
     const keys = Object.keys (data);
 
-    await Promise.all (options.map (async (opt) => {
+    for (const opt of options) {
       if (keys.includes (opt.name))
         await this.assign_arg (opt, data[opt.name]);
-    }));
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index aca87df..0a7dabf 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
   ],
   "dependencies": {
     "@sapphirecode/modelling": "^1.0.35",
+    "@sapphirecode/utilities": "^1.3.4",
     "enquirer": "^2.3.5",
     "fs-extra": "^9.0.0",
     "yargs": "^15.3.1"
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index a4e0fee..41a10da 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@
   dependencies:
     "@sapphirecode/utilities" "^1.3.2"
 
-"@sapphirecode/utilities@^1.3.2":
+"@sapphirecode/utilities@^1.3.2", "@sapphirecode/utilities@^1.3.4":
   version "1.3.4"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@sapphirecode/utilities/-/utilities-1.3.4.tgz#fc9476d183d789dd32e6a5e3ec8517d633bc513b"
   integrity sha512-WZAinOnMB9oW0+xdXTxjDbVf0RGlCRxbA8ImBzqYNiwnnX1qWIGXnOHZ6xWtrlSOZCSRWJCAxRYw5ymTuyFpjA==