diff --git a/configuration.cc b/configuration.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f34b0f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/configuration.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+
+#include "configuration.h"
+#include "video.h"
+#include "gui.h"
+
+#include <string>
+
+extern VideoDev videodev;
+extern GtkBuilder *_builder_;			// work around for threads
+
+
+Configuration::Configuration() {
+};
+
+
+Configuration::~Configuration() {
+};
+
+
+std::string Configuration::GetDefaultFileName() {
+	std::string fn = "";
+	char *hd = NULL;
+
+	if ((hd = getenv ("HOME")) == NULL) {
+		// no homedir defined?
+		return "";
+	}
+	fn = hd;
+	fn = fn + "/" + CONFIGURATION_DEFAULTFILE;
+
+	return fn;
+};
+
+
+void Configuration::SaveDefault() {
+	std::string fn = GetDefaultFileName();
+	if (fn.length() < 1) {
+		printf ("%s:%d %s could not read HOME environment variable\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __FUNCTION__);
+		return;
+	}
+	SaveConfig (fn);
+};
+
+
+void Configuration::LoadDefault() {
+	std::string fn = GetDefaultFileName();
+	if (fn.length() < 1) {
+		printf ("%s:%d %s could not read HOME environment variable\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __FUNCTION__);
+		return;
+	}
+	LoadConfig (fn);
+};
+
+
+/*
+ * collect all the settings, and push them into the JSONparse object
+ * save the json string.
+ */
+void Configuration::SaveConfig(std::string filename) {
+	JSONParse jp;
+	string vstr;
+	int i;
+	GtkWidget *cb;
+	GtkWidget *cbe;
+
+	//
+	// Add resolution, format and video device to config json element
+	cb = GTK_WIDGET(gtk_builder_get_object (GTK_BUILDER(_builder_), "cb-videores"));
+	cbe = gtk_bin_get_child(GTK_BIN(cb));
+	jp.AddObject("video_resolution", (string) gtk_entry_get_text(GTK_ENTRY(cbe)));
+	cb = GTK_WIDGET(gtk_builder_get_object (GTK_BUILDER(_builder_), "cb-videofmt"));
+	cbe = gtk_bin_get_child(GTK_BIN(cb));
+	jp.AddObject("video_format", (string) gtk_entry_get_text(GTK_ENTRY(cbe)));
+	jp.AddObject("device", videodev.GetDevice());
+
+	//
+	// save button config
+	for (i = 0; i < BTN_PRESET_MAX; i++) {
+		JSONElement je;
+		je.type = JSON_T_ARRAY;
+		je.name = "presetbtn"+ std::to_string(i);
+		list<VideoDevCtrl>::iterator vciter;
+		JSONParse jpbtn;
+		jpbtn.Clear();
+
+		// convert VideoDevCtrl to JSON
+		for (vciter = presetbtn[i].begin(); vciter != presetbtn[i].end(); vciter++) {
+			jpbtn.Clear();
+			jpbtn.AddObject("name", vciter->name);
+			jpbtn.AddObject("id", (signed int) vciter->id);
+			jpbtn.AddObject("max", vciter->max);
+			jpbtn.AddObject("min", vciter->min);
+			jpbtn.AddObject("value", vciter->value);
+
+			if (je.value.length()>0) je.value += ","  + jpbtn.ToString();
+			else je.value = jpbtn.ToString();
+		}
+		jp.AddObject(je);
+	}
+
+	//
+	// save config
+	if (jp.SaveToFile(filename)) {
+		printf ("%s:%d %s could not save to file [%s] Error: %s\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __FUNCTION__,
+				filename.c_str(), strerror(errno));
+	}
+};
+
+
+void Configuration::LoadConfig(std::string filename) {
+	JSONParse jp;
+	string vstr;
+	float vf;
+	int vi;
+	int i;
+	JSONElement je;
+
+	if (jp.LoadFromFile(filename)) {
+		printf ("%s:%d %s could not load from file [%s] Error: %s\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __FUNCTION__,
+				filename.c_str(), strerror(errno));
+	}
+	else {
+		printf ("%s:%d %s\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __FUNCTION__);
+		// config in jp loaded, setup all the GUI fields
+
+		//
+		// set resolution and video stream mode
+		//
+		if (jp.GetValue("video_resolution", &vstr)) {
+			GtkWidget *cbox = GTK_WIDGET(gtk_builder_get_object (GTK_BUILDER(_builder_), "cb-videores"));
+			GtkWidget *cbdevice = gtk_bin_get_child(GTK_BIN(cbox));
+			gtk_entry_set_text(GTK_ENTRY(cbdevice), vstr.c_str());
+		}
+		if (jp.GetValue("video_format", &vstr)) {
+			GtkWidget *cbox = GTK_WIDGET(gtk_builder_get_object (GTK_BUILDER(_builder_), "cb-videofmt"));
+			GtkWidget *cbdevice = gtk_bin_get_child(GTK_BIN(cbox));
+			gtk_entry_set_text(GTK_ENTRY(cbdevice), vstr.c_str());
+		}
+
+
+		//
+		// start streaming if a device was selected.
+		//
+		if (jp.GetValue("device", &vstr)) {
+			GtkWidget *cbox = GTK_WIDGET(gtk_builder_get_object (GTK_BUILDER(_builder_), "cb-videodev"));
+			GtkWidget *cbdevice = gtk_bin_get_child(GTK_BIN(cbox));
+			gtk_entry_set_text(GTK_ENTRY(cbdevice), vstr.c_str());
+			cb_video_btnrec (NULL, NULL);
+		}
+
+		//
+		// load the button config
+		//
+		for (i = 0; i < BTN_PRESET_MAX; i++) {
+			VideoDevCtrl ctrl;
+			JSONParse jpbtn, jpctrl;
+			list<JSONElement> je;
+			list<JSONElement>::iterator iter;
+			int ctrli;
+			long int id;
+
+			//
+			// load all controls from JSONParse object
+			presetbtn[i].clear();
+			ctrli = 0;
+			while (jp.GetObjectIdx("presetbtn"+ std::to_string(i), ctrli, &jpctrl)) {
+				jpctrl.GetValue("name", &ctrl.name);
+				jpctrl.GetValueInt64("id", &id);
+				ctrl.id = id;
+				jpctrl.GetValueInt("min", &ctrl.min);
+				jpctrl.GetValueInt("max", &ctrl.max);
+				jpctrl.GetValueInt("value", &ctrl.value);
+				presetbtn[i].push_back(ctrl);
+				ctrli++;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+};
+
+
+/*
+ *  presetbtn[btn]
+ */
+void Configuration::SetPresetButton (int btn, list<VideoDevCtrl> *parameters) {
+	if (btn < 0 || btn >= BTN_PRESET_MAX) return;
+	presetbtn[btn] = *parameters;
+};
+
+
+list<VideoDevCtrl> Configuration::GetPresetButton (int btn) {
+	list<VideoDevCtrl> emptylist;
+	if (btn >= 0 && btn < BTN_PRESET_MAX) return presetbtn[btn];
+	return emptylist;
+};
+
+
diff --git a/configuration.h b/configuration.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebfda6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/configuration.h
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+
+#ifndef _CONFIGURATION_H_
+#define _CONFIGURATION_H_
+
+/*
+ * all read and saved data will have to be in a
+ */
+
+#include <string>
+#include <list>
+#include "video.h"
+#include "json.h"
+
+#define CONFIGURATION_DEFAULTFILE ".simpleskycam.config"
+#define BTN_PRESET_MAX	4		// number of preset buttons
+
+class Configuration {
+private:
+	JSONParse config;
+	std::string GetDefaultFileName();
+	list<VideoDevCtrl> presetbtn[BTN_PRESET_MAX];
+public:
+	Configuration();
+	~Configuration();
+
+	void LoadDefault();
+	void SaveDefault();
+
+	void LoadConfig(std::string filename);
+	void SaveConfig(std::string filename);
+
+	void SetPresetButton (int btn, list<VideoDevCtrl> *parameters);
+	list<VideoDevCtrl> GetPresetButton (int btn);
+};
+
+#endif
diff --git a/json.cc b/json.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..25c37cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/json.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,528 @@
+
+#include <list>
+#include <string>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <fstream>
+
+#include "json.h"
+
+/***********************************************************************
+ ***********************************************************************
+ *
+ * JSONParse
+ *
+ ***********************************************************************
+ ***********************************************************************
+ */
+
+enum {
+	STEP_NONE = 0,
+	STEP_STARTNAME,
+	STEP_NAME,
+	STEP_STARTVALUE,
+	STEP_VALUE,
+	STEP_END
+};
+
+
+/*
+ * clear out all data
+ */
+void JSONParse::Clear() {
+	jsondata = "";
+	names.clear();
+}
+
+/*
+ * read every element and keep only this in memory.
+ */
+int JSONParse::Set(string json) {
+	int i;
+	int step;
+	int level;
+	bool ignorenext;
+
+	JSONElement jelement;
+
+	Clear();
+
+	// find start and read until end
+	for (step = STEP_NONE, i = 0, ignorenext = false; i < json.length(); i++) {
+		// need to copy next character
+//		debug (0, "JSONParse: step:%d i:%d name:'%s' value:'%s'", step, i, jelement.name.c_str(), jelement.value.c_str());
+		if (ignorenext) {
+			ignorenext = false;
+			if (step == STEP_NAME)  jelement.name += json[i];
+			if (step == STEP_VALUE) jelement.value += json[i];
+		}
+
+		// searching for startname
+		else if (step == STEP_NONE) {
+			if (json[i] == '{') {
+				step = STEP_STARTNAME;
+				continue;
+			}
+		}
+
+		// searching for startname
+		else if (step == STEP_STARTNAME) {
+			if (json[i] == '"') {
+				step = STEP_NAME;
+				continue;
+			}
+		}
+
+		// copy name
+		else if (step == STEP_NAME) {
+			if (json[i] == '"') {
+				step = STEP_STARTVALUE;
+				continue;
+			}
+			else {
+				jelement.name += json[i];
+				continue;
+			}
+		}
+
+		// searching for startvalue
+		else if (step == STEP_STARTVALUE) {
+			if (json[i] == '"') {
+				step = STEP_VALUE;
+				jelement.type = JSON_T_STRING;
+				continue;
+			}
+			if (json[i] == '{') {
+				step = STEP_VALUE;
+				level = 0;
+				jelement.type = JSON_T_OBJECT;
+				jelement.value = "{";
+				continue;
+			}
+			if (json[i] == '[') {
+				step = STEP_VALUE;
+				level = 0;
+				jelement.type = JSON_T_ARRAY;
+				jelement.value = "[";
+				continue;
+			}
+			if ((json[i] >= '0' && json[i] <= '9') ||
+				(json[i] == '+' || json[i] == '-')) {
+				step = STEP_VALUE;
+				level = 0;
+				jelement.type = JSON_T_NUMBER;
+				jelement.value = json[i];
+				continue;
+			}
+		}
+
+		// copy value
+		else if (step == STEP_VALUE) {
+			if (jelement.type == JSON_T_STRING) {
+				if (json[i] == '"') step = STEP_END;
+				else jelement.value += json[i];
+				continue;
+			}
+			else if (jelement.type == JSON_T_OBJECT) {
+				if (json[i] == '}' && level == 0) {
+					jelement.value += json[i];
+					step = STEP_END;
+				}
+				else {
+					if (json[i] == '{') level++;	// increase level
+					if (json[i] == '}') level--;	// decrease level
+					jelement.value += json[i];
+				}
+				continue;
+			}
+			else if (jelement.type == JSON_T_ARRAY) {
+				if (json[i] == ']' && level == 0) {
+					jelement.value += json[i];
+					step = STEP_END;
+				}
+				else {
+					if (json[i] == '[') level++;	// increase level
+					if (json[i] == ']') level--;	// decrease level
+					jelement.value += json[i];
+				}
+				continue;
+			}
+			else if (jelement.type == JSON_T_NUMBER) {
+				if ((json[i] < '0' || json[i] > '9') && json[i] != '.' &&
+					json[i] != '+' && json[i] != 'e' && json[i] != 'E') step = STEP_END;
+				else {
+					jelement.value += json[i];
+					continue;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		// another element?
+		if (step == STEP_END) {
+			if (json[i] == ',') {
+//				debug (0, "* JSON.Set Add name:%s", jelement.name.c_str());
+				if (jelement.type != JSON_T_NONE) {
+//					debug (0, "%s:%d json add element type:%d", __FILE__, __LINE__, jelement.type);
+					names.push_back (jelement);
+				}
+				jelement.Clear();
+				step = STEP_STARTNAME;
+			}
+			continue;
+		}
+	}
+//	debug (0, "* JSON.Set Add name:%s", jelement.name.c_str());
+	if (jelement.type != JSON_T_NONE) {
+//		debug (0, "%s:%d json add element type:%d", __FILE__, __LINE__, jelement.type);
+		names.push_back (jelement);
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+};
+
+
+int JSONParse::GetValue(string varname, string *dest) {
+	list<JSONElement>::iterator iter;
+
+	if (dest == NULL) return 0;
+	*dest = "";
+
+	for (iter = names.begin(); iter != names.end(); iter++) {
+		if (varname.compare(iter->name) == 0) {
+			*dest = iter->value;
+			return 1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+};
+
+
+int JSONParse::GetValueInt(string varname, int *dest) {
+	string s;
+	int res = GetValue(varname, &s);
+	if (res) {
+		*dest = atoi (s.c_str());
+		return 1;
+	}
+	return 0;
+};
+
+
+int JSONParse::GetValueInt64(string varname, int64_t *dest) {
+	string s;
+	int res = GetValue(varname, &s);
+	if (res) {
+		*dest = atol (s.c_str());
+		return 1;
+	}
+	return 0;
+};
+
+
+int JSONParse::GetObject(string varname, JSONParse *dest) {
+	list<JSONElement>::iterator iter;
+
+	if (dest == NULL) return 0;
+
+	for (iter = names.begin(); iter != names.end(); iter++) {
+		if (varname.compare(iter->name) == 0) {
+			dest->Set(iter->value);
+			return 1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+};
+
+
+#define MAXRECURSIVE 255
+int JSONParse::GetIdx(string src, int idx, string *dest) {
+	char recursive[MAXRECURSIVE];
+	int i = 0, rcnt = 0, cnt = 0;
+
+	(*dest) = "";
+//	printf("\n***************************************idx:%d\n", idx);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < MAXRECURSIVE; i++) recursive[i] = 0;
+	for (i = 0; i < src.length() && rcnt < MAXRECURSIVE && cnt <= idx; i++) {
+//		printf ("i:%d  rcnt:%d['%c']  cnt:%d  char:'%c' ous:'%s'\n",
+//				i, rcnt, recursive[rcnt], cnt, src[i], dest->c_str());
+		if (src[i] == '[') {
+			recursive[rcnt++] = src[i];
+			continue;
+		}
+		else if (src[i] == '{' && recursive[rcnt] != '"') recursive[++rcnt] = src[i];
+		else if (src[i] == '}' && recursive[rcnt] == '{') rcnt--;
+		else if (src[i] == '"' && recursive[rcnt] == '"') rcnt--;
+		else if (src[i] == '"') recursive[++rcnt] = src[i];
+		else if (src[i] == ',' && rcnt == 1) {
+			cnt++;
+			continue;
+		}
+		else if (src[i] == ']' && rcnt == 1) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (rcnt > 0 && cnt == idx) {
+			(*dest) += src[i];
+			if (src[i] == '\\') (*dest) += src[i];
+		}
+		else {
+			if (src[i] == '\\')i++;
+		}
+	}
+
+//	printf("\n***************************************idx:%d cnt:%d\n", idx, cnt);
+//	printf("in:'%s'\n***\nout:'%s'\n\n*****\n", src.c_str(), dest->c_str());
+
+	//
+	// final checks
+	if (cnt == 0 && idx == 0 && 			// empty source/array?
+			dest->size() == 0) return 0;	//
+	if (cnt >= idx) return 1;				// found the right element
+	return 0;								// element not found
+}
+#undef MAXRECURSIVE
+
+int JSONParse::GetValueIdx(string varname, int idx, string *dest) {
+	list<JSONElement>::iterator iter;
+
+	if (dest == NULL) return 0;
+
+	for (iter = names.begin(); iter != names.end(); iter++) {
+		if (varname.compare(iter->name) == 0) {
+			return GetIdx(iter->value, idx, dest);
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+};
+
+int JSONParse::GetObjectIdx(string varname, int idx, JSONParse *dest) {
+	list<JSONElement>::iterator iter;
+	string deststr;
+	int ret = 0;
+
+	if (dest == NULL) return 0;
+
+	for (iter = names.begin(); iter != names.end(); iter++) {
+		if (varname.compare(iter->name) == 0) {
+			ret = GetIdx(iter->value, idx, &deststr);
+			if (ret == 1) dest->Set(deststr);
+			return ret;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+};
+
+list<JSONElement> JSONParse::GetElements() {
+	list<JSONElement> l;
+	list<JSONElement>::iterator iter;
+
+	l.clear();
+	for (iter = names.begin(); iter != names.end(); iter++) {
+		l.push_back(*iter);
+	}
+
+	return l;
+};
+
+
+void JSONParse::AddObject (JSONElement element) {
+	names.push_back (element);
+};
+
+
+void JSONParse::AddObject (string name, JSONParse jp) {
+	JSONElement je;
+	je.SetObject(name, jp.ToString());
+	names.push_back(je);
+};
+
+
+void JSONParse::AddObject (string name, int val) {
+	JSONElement je;
+	je.Set(name, val);
+	names.push_back(je);
+};
+
+
+void JSONParse::AddObject (string name, int64_t val) {
+	JSONElement je;
+	je.Set(name, val);
+	names.push_back(je);
+};
+
+
+void JSONParse::AddObject (string name, string val) {
+	JSONElement je;
+	je.Set(name, val);
+	names.push_back(je);
+};
+
+
+void JSONParse::AddObject (string name, double val) {
+	JSONElement je;
+	je.Set(name, val);
+	names.push_back(je);
+};
+
+
+string JSONParse::ToString() {
+	list<JSONElement>::iterator iter;
+	string output;
+	int level, i;
+
+	output = "{";
+
+	for (level = 1, iter = names.begin(); iter != names.end(); iter++) {
+		if (iter != names.begin()) output += ",";
+		output += "\n";
+		for (i = 0; i < 4*level; i++) output += " ";
+		output += iter->GetString();
+	}
+
+	output += "\n}\n";
+
+	return output;
+};
+
+
+
+/*
+ * Load/Save elements to a file.
+ * Return Value: -1 .. on Error, errno will be set
+ *                0 .. on Success
+ */
+int JSONParse::LoadFromFile(string filename) {
+	ifstream in(filename);
+	string tmp, input;
+
+	if (!in) return -1;
+
+	input = "";
+	while (!in.eof()) {
+		if (input.length() > 0) input += ("\n" + tmp);
+		else input = tmp;
+		in >> tmp;
+	}
+	Set(input);
+
+	in.close();
+
+	return 0;
+};
+
+int JSONParse::SaveToFile(string filename) {
+	ofstream out(filename);
+
+	if (!out) return -1;
+
+	out << ToString();
+	out.close();
+
+	return 0;
+};
+
+
+
+
+/***********************************************************************
+ ***********************************************************************
+ *
+ * JSONElement
+ *
+ ***********************************************************************
+ ***********************************************************************
+ */
+
+
+void JSONElement::Set (string n, double v) {
+	name = n;
+	value = to_string(v);
+	type = JSON_T_NUMBER;
+};
+
+
+void JSONElement::Set (string n, int v) {
+	name = n;
+	value = to_string(v);
+	type = JSON_T_NUMBER;
+};
+
+
+void JSONElement::Set (string n, int64_t v) {
+	name = n;
+	value = to_string(v);
+	type = JSON_T_NUMBER;
+};
+
+
+void JSONElement::Set (string n, string v) {
+	name = n;
+	value = v;
+	type = JSON_T_STRING;
+};
+
+
+void JSONElement::SetArray (string n, list<JSONElement> *l) {
+	list<JSONElement>::iterator iter;
+
+	name = n;
+	value = "[";
+	type = JSON_T_STRING;
+
+	for (iter = l->begin(); iter != l->end(); iter++) {
+		if (iter != l->begin()) value += ",";
+		value += iter->GetString();
+	}
+	value += "]";
+};
+
+
+void JSONElement::SetObject (string n, string s) {
+	name = n;
+	value = s;
+	type = JSON_T_OBJECT;
+};
+
+
+string JSONElement::GetString () {
+	string output = "";
+	string filename = __FILE__;
+
+	switch (type) {
+	case(JSON_T_NUMBER):
+				output += "\"" + name + "\" : " + value;
+				break;
+	case(JSON_T_STRING):
+				if (value.length()==0) {
+					output += "\"" + name + "\" : \"\"";
+				}
+				else if (value[0] != '"') {
+					output += "\"" + name + "\" : \"" + value + "\"";
+				}
+				else output += "\"" + name + "\" : " + value;
+				break;
+	case(JSON_T_OBJECT):
+				output += "\"" + name + "\" : " + value;
+				break;
+	case(JSON_T_ARRAY):
+				if (value.length()==0) {
+					output += "\"" + name + "\" : []";
+				}
+				else if (value[0] != '[') {
+					output += "\"" + name + "\" : [" + value + "]";
+				}
+				else output += "\"" + name + "\" : " + value;
+				break;
+	default:
+		output += "\"error\" : \""+ filename + ":" + to_string(__LINE__) + " JSONElement unknown type error\"("+to_string(type)+")";
+		break;
+	}
+
+	return output;
+};
+
diff --git a/json.h b/json.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a235a32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/json.h
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+
+//
+//
+//
+
+#ifndef _JSON_H_
+#define _JSON_H_
+
+#include <list>
+#include <string>
+#include <string.h>
+
+using namespace std;
+
+enum {
+	JSON_T_NONE,
+	JSON_T_STRING,
+	JSON_T_NUMBER,
+	JSON_T_OBJECT,
+	JSON_T_ARRAY
+};
+
+class JSONElement {
+public:
+	int type;
+	string name;
+	string value;
+
+	JSONElement() { Clear(); };
+	~JSONElement() {};
+
+	void Clear() { type = JSON_T_NONE; name = ""; value = ""; };
+	void Set (string n, double v);
+	void Set (string n, int v);
+	void Set (string n, int64_t v);
+	void Set (string n, string v);
+	void SetArray (string n, list<JSONElement> *l);
+	void SetObject (string n, string s);
+	string GetString();
+};
+
+class JSONParse {
+private:
+	string jsondata;
+	list<JSONElement> names;
+
+public:
+	JSONParse() { Set("{}"); };
+	JSONParse(string json) { Set(json); };
+	~JSONParse() {};
+
+	void Clear();
+	int Set(string json);
+
+	int GetValue(string varname, string *dest);
+	int GetValueInt(string varname, int *dest);
+	int GetValueInt64(string varname, int64_t *dest);
+	int GetObject(string varname, JSONParse *dest);
+
+	int GetIdx(string src, int idx, string *dest);
+	int GetValueIdx(string varname, int idx, string *dest);
+	int GetObjectIdx(string varname, int idx, JSONParse *dest);
+	
+	list<JSONElement> GetElements();
+
+	void AddObject (JSONElement element);
+	void AddObject (string name, int val);
+	void AddObject (string name, int64_t val);
+	void AddObject (string name, string val);
+	void AddObject (string name, double val);
+	void AddObject (string name, JSONParse jp);
+
+	int LoadFromFile(string filename);
+	int SaveToFile(string filename);
+
+	string ToString();
+};
+
+#endif 								// _JSON_H_