new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.elisp/settings/50.preferences.el
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+;; All lines should end in a newline
+(setq require-final-newline t)
+
+;; disable tabs
+(setq tab-width 4)
+(setq-default indent-tabs-mode nil)
+
+;; Cleanup whitespace before saves.
+(add-hook 'before-save-hook '(lambda ()
+                               (if af-cleanup-whitespace (whitespace-cleanup))))
+
+;; Disable that startup screen
+(setq inhibit-startup-message t)
+
+;; Basically everything I do is in version control, stop saving backup files
+(setq make-backup-files nil)
+
+;; Set some pretty colors that are gentler on my eyes
+(setq default-frame-alist
+      '((width . 80)
+        (cursor-color . "white")
+        (cursor-type . box)
+        (foreground-color . "white")
+        (background-color . "black")
+        )
+      )
+; always highlight matching paren
+(show-paren-mode 1)
+
+;; Automatically revert unedited files that change on the underlying
+;; system.
+(global-auto-revert-mode)