diff --git a/plume-cli/src/main.rs b/plume-cli/src/main.rs
index 28ca7b72..5aba00b5 100644
--- a/plume-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/plume-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ extern crate rpassword;
 
 use clap::App;
 use diesel::Connection;
-use plume_models::{Connection as Conn, DATABASE_URL};
+use plume_models::{Connection as Conn, CONFIG};
 use std::io::{self, prelude::*};
 
 mod instance;
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ fn main() {
     let matches = app.clone().get_matches();
 
     dotenv::dotenv().ok();
-    let conn = Conn::establish(DATABASE_URL.as_str());
+    let conn = Conn::establish(CONFIG.database_url.as_str());
 
     match matches.subcommand() {
         ("instance", Some(args)) => {
diff --git a/plume-cli/src/search.rs b/plume-cli/src/search.rs
index b23692de..e8e301ef 100644
--- a/plume-cli/src/search.rs
+++ b/plume-cli/src/search.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use clap::{App, Arg, ArgMatches, SubCommand};
 use diesel::{ExpressionMethods, QueryDsl, RunQueryDsl};
 
-use plume_models::{posts::Post, schema::posts, search::Searcher, Connection};
+use plume_models::{posts::Post, schema::posts, search::Searcher, Connection, CONFIG};
 use std::fs::{read_dir, remove_file};
 use std::io::ErrorKind;
 use std::path::Path;
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ pub fn run<'a>(args: &ArgMatches<'a>, conn: &Connection) {
 }
 
 fn init<'a>(args: &ArgMatches<'a>, conn: &Connection) {
-    let path = args.value_of("path").unwrap_or(".");
+    let path = args.value_of("path").map(|p| Path::new(p).join("search_index"))
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| Path::new(&CONFIG.search_index).to_path_buf());
     let force = args.is_present("force");
-    let path = Path::new(path).join("search_index");
 
     let can_do = match read_dir(path.clone()) {
         // try to read the directory specified
diff --git a/plume-models/src/blogs.rs b/plume-models/src/blogs.rs
index ff49bd0c..0794c27a 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/blogs.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/blogs.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ use safe_string::SafeString;
 use schema::blogs;
 use search::Searcher;
 use users::User;
-use {Connection, Error, Result, BASE_URL, USE_HTTPS};
+use {Connection, Error, Result, CONFIG};
 
 pub type CustomGroup = CustomObject<ApSignature, Group>;
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ impl Blog {
     }
 
     fn fetch_from_webfinger(conn: &Connection, acct: &str) -> Result<Blog> {
-        resolve(acct.to_owned(), *USE_HTTPS)?
+        resolve(acct.to_owned(), true)?
             .links
             .into_iter()
             .find(|l| l.mime_type == Some(String::from("application/activity+json")))
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ impl Blog {
         Blog::find_by_ap_url(conn, url).or_else(|_| {
             // The requested blog was not in the DB
             // We try to fetch it if it is remote
-            if Url::parse(url)?.host_str()? != BASE_URL.as_str() {
+            if Url::parse(url)?.host_str()? != CONFIG.base_url.as_str() {
                 Blog::fetch_from_url(conn, url)
             } else {
                 Err(Error::NotFound)
diff --git a/plume-models/src/config.rs b/plume-models/src/config.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..97344b43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plume-models/src/config.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+use std::env::var;
+use rocket::Config as RocketConfig;
+use rocket::config::Limits;
+
+#[cfg(not(test))]
+const DB_NAME: &str =  "plume";
+#[cfg(test)]
+const DB_NAME: &str = "plume_tests";
+
+pub struct Config {
+    pub base_url: String,
+    pub db_name: &'static str,
+    pub database_url: String,
+    pub search_index: String,
+    pub rocket: Result<RocketConfig, RocketError>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug,Clone)]
+pub enum RocketError {
+    InvalidEnv,
+    InvalidAddress,
+    InvalidSecretKey,
+}
+
+fn get_rocket_config() -> Result<RocketConfig, RocketError> {
+    let mut c = RocketConfig::active().map_err(|_| RocketError::InvalidEnv)?;
+
+    let address = var("ROCKET_ADDRESS").unwrap_or_else(|_| "localhost".to_owned());
+    let port = var("ROCKET_PORT").ok().map(|s| s.parse::<u16>().unwrap()).unwrap_or(7878);
+    let secret_key = var("ROCKET_SECRET_KEY").map_err(|_| RocketError::InvalidSecretKey)?;
+    let form_size =  var("FORM_SIZE").unwrap_or_else(|_| "32".to_owned()).parse::<u64>().unwrap();
+    let activity_size = var("ACTIVITY_SIZE").unwrap_or_else(|_| "1024".to_owned()).parse::<u64>().unwrap();
+
+    c.set_address(address).map_err(|_| RocketError::InvalidAddress)?;
+    c.set_port(port);
+    c.set_secret_key(secret_key).map_err(|_| RocketError::InvalidSecretKey) ?;
+
+    c.set_limits(Limits::new()
+                      .limit("forms", form_size * 1024)
+                      .limit("json", activity_size * 1024));
+
+    Ok(c)
+}
+
+lazy_static! {
+    pub static ref CONFIG: Config = Config {
+        base_url: var("BASE_URL").unwrap_or_else(|_| format!(
+                          "127.0.0.1:{}",
+                          var("ROCKET_PORT").unwrap_or_else(|_| "8000".to_owned()
+                      ))),
+        db_name: DB_NAME,
+        #[cfg(feature = "postgres")]
+        database_url: var("DATABASE_URL").unwrap_or_else(|_| format!(
+                "postgres://plume:plume@localhost/{}",
+                DB_NAME
+                )),
+        #[cfg(feature = "sqlite")]
+        database_url: var("DATABASE_URL").unwrap_or_else(|_| format!(
+                "{}.sqlite",
+                DB_NAME
+                )),
+        search_index: var("SEARCH_INDEX").unwrap_or_else(|_| "search_index".to_owned()),
+        rocket: get_rocket_config()
+    };
+}
diff --git a/plume-models/src/follows.rs b/plume-models/src/follows.rs
index 55cc62aa..82a4848b 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/follows.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/follows.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use plume_common::activity_pub::{
 };
 use schema::follows;
 use users::User;
-use {ap_url, Connection, Error, Result, BASE_URL};
+use {ap_url, Connection, Error, Result, CONFIG};
 
 #[derive(Clone, Queryable, Identifiable, Associations, AsChangeset)]
 #[belongs_to(User, foreign_key = "following_id")]
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ pub struct NewFollow {
 impl Follow {
     insert!(follows, NewFollow, |inserted, conn| {
         if inserted.ap_url.is_empty() {
-            inserted.ap_url = ap_url(&format!("{}/follows/{}", *BASE_URL, inserted.id));
+            inserted.ap_url = ap_url(&format!("{}/follows/{}", CONFIG.base_url, inserted.id));
             inserted.save_changes(conn).map_err(Error::from)
         } else {
             Ok(inserted)
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ impl Follow {
         )?;
 
         let mut accept = Accept::default();
-        let accept_id = ap_url(&format!("{}/follow/{}/accept", BASE_URL.as_str(), &res.id));
+        let accept_id = ap_url(&format!("{}/follow/{}/accept", CONFIG.base_url.as_str(), &res.id));
         accept.object_props.set_id_string(accept_id)?;
         accept.object_props.set_to_link(from.clone().into_id())?;
         accept.object_props.set_cc_link_vec::<Id>(vec![])?;
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ mod tests {
             .expect("Couldn't insert new follow");
             assert_eq!(
                 follow.ap_url,
-                format!("https://{}/follows/{}", *BASE_URL, follow.id)
+                format!("https://{}/follows/{}", CONFIG.base_url, follow.id)
             );
 
             let follow = Follow::insert(
diff --git a/plume-models/src/lib.rs b/plume-models/src/lib.rs
index e606a148..18f3996c 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/lib.rs
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@ extern crate whatlang;
 #[macro_use]
 extern crate diesel_migrations;
 
-use std::env;
-
 #[cfg(not(any(feature = "sqlite", feature = "postgres")))]
 compile_error!("Either feature \"sqlite\" or \"postgres\" must be enabled for this crate.");
 #[cfg(all(feature = "sqlite", feature = "postgres"))]
@@ -277,34 +275,11 @@ macro_rules! last {
     };
 }
 
-lazy_static! {
-    pub static ref BASE_URL: String = env::var("BASE_URL").unwrap_or_else(|_| format!(
-        "127.0.0.1:{}",
-        env::var("ROCKET_PORT").unwrap_or_else(|_| String::from("8000"))
-    ));
-    pub static ref USE_HTTPS: bool = env::var("USE_HTTPS").map(|val| val == "1").unwrap_or(true);
-}
-
-#[cfg(not(test))]
-static DB_NAME: &str = "plume";
-#[cfg(test)]
-static DB_NAME: &str = "plume_tests";
-
-#[cfg(all(feature = "postgres", not(feature = "sqlite")))]
-lazy_static! {
-    pub static ref DATABASE_URL: String = env::var("DATABASE_URL")
-        .unwrap_or_else(|_| format!("postgres://plume:plume@localhost/{}", DB_NAME));
-}
-
-#[cfg(all(feature = "sqlite", not(feature = "postgres")))]
-lazy_static! {
-    pub static ref DATABASE_URL: String =
-        env::var("DATABASE_URL").unwrap_or_else(|_| format!("{}.sqlite", DB_NAME));
-}
+mod config;
+pub use config::CONFIG;
 
 pub fn ap_url(url: &str) -> String {
-    let scheme = if *USE_HTTPS { "https" } else { "http" };
-    format!("{}://{}", scheme, url)
+    format!("https://{}", url)
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -312,7 +287,7 @@ pub fn ap_url(url: &str) -> String {
 mod tests {
     use diesel::{dsl::sql_query, Connection, RunQueryDsl};
     use Connection as Conn;
-    use DATABASE_URL;
+    use CONFIG;
 
     #[cfg(feature = "sqlite")]
     embed_migrations!("../migrations/sqlite");
@@ -333,7 +308,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     pub fn db() -> Conn {
         let conn =
-            Conn::establish(&*DATABASE_URL.as_str()).expect("Couldn't connect to the database");
+            Conn::establish(CONFIG.database_url.as_str()).expect("Couldn't connect to the database");
         embedded_migrations::run(&conn).expect("Couldn't run migrations");
         #[cfg(feature = "sqlite")]
         sql_query("PRAGMA foreign_keys = on;")
diff --git a/plume-models/src/posts.rs b/plume-models/src/posts.rs
index 6bfee689..6bf42216 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/posts.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/posts.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ use schema::posts;
 use search::Searcher;
 use tags::*;
 use users::User;
-use {ap_url, ApiResult, Connection, Error, Result, BASE_URL};
+use {ap_url, ApiResult, Connection, Error, Result, CONFIG};
 
 pub type LicensedArticle = CustomObject<Licensed, Article>;
 
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ impl Post {
         if post.ap_url.is_empty() {
             post.ap_url = ap_url(&format!(
                 "{}/~/{}/{}/",
-                *BASE_URL,
+                CONFIG.base_url,
                 post.get_blog(conn)?.fqn,
                 post.slug
             ));
diff --git a/plume-models/src/users.rs b/plume-models/src/users.rs
index b0b5b677..52024e22 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/users.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/users.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ use posts::Post;
 use safe_string::SafeString;
 use schema::users;
 use search::Searcher;
-use {ap_url, Connection, Error, Result, BASE_URL, USE_HTTPS};
+use {ap_url, Connection, Error, Result, CONFIG};
 
 pub type CustomPerson = CustomObject<ApSignature, Person>;
 
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ impl User {
     }
 
     fn fetch_from_webfinger(conn: &Connection, acct: &str) -> Result<User> {
-        let link = resolve(acct.to_owned(), *USE_HTTPS)?
+        let link = resolve(acct.to_owned(), true)?
             .links
             .into_iter()
             .find(|l| l.mime_type == Some(String::from("application/activity+json")))
@@ -683,7 +683,7 @@ impl User {
             .set_followers_string(self.followers_endpoint.clone())?;
 
         let mut endpoints = Endpoint::default();
-        endpoints.set_shared_inbox_string(ap_url(&format!("{}/inbox/", BASE_URL.as_str())))?;
+        endpoints.set_shared_inbox_string(ap_url(&format!("{}/inbox/", CONFIG.base_url.as_str())))?;
         actor.ap_actor_props.set_endpoints_endpoint(endpoints)?;
 
         let mut public_key = PublicKey::default();
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@ impl User {
         User::find_by_ap_url(conn, url).or_else(|_| {
             // The requested user was not in the DB
             // We try to fetch it if it is remote
-            if Url::parse(&url)?.host_str()? != BASE_URL.as_str() {
+            if Url::parse(&url)?.host_str()? != CONFIG.base_url.as_str() {
                 User::fetch_from_url(conn, url)
             } else {
                 Err(Error::NotFound)
diff --git a/plume-models/tests/lib.rs b/plume-models/tests/lib.rs
index 96137e0d..cc4d7172 100644
--- a/plume-models/tests/lib.rs
+++ b/plume-models/tests/lib.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ extern crate diesel_migrations;
 extern crate plume_models;
 
 use diesel::Connection;
-use plume_models::{Connection as Conn, DATABASE_URL};
+use plume_models::{Connection as Conn, CONFIG};
 
 #[cfg(feature = "sqlite")]
 embed_migrations!("../migrations/sqlite");
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ embed_migrations!("../migrations/sqlite");
 embed_migrations!("../migrations/postgres");
 
 fn db() -> Conn {
-    let conn = Conn::establish(&*DATABASE_URL.as_str()).expect("Couldn't connect to the database");
+    let conn = Conn::establish(CONFIG.database_url.as_str()).expect("Couldn't connect to the database");
     embedded_migrations::run(&conn).expect("Couldn't run migrations");
     conn
 }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 2d077cd5..d7279900 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -42,12 +42,11 @@ use diesel::r2d2::ConnectionManager;
 use plume_models::{
     db_conn::{DbPool, PragmaForeignKey},
     search::{Searcher as UnmanagedSearcher, SearcherError},
-    Connection, Error, DATABASE_URL,
+    Connection, Error, CONFIG,
 };
-use rocket::{config::Limits, Config, State};
+use rocket::State;
 use rocket_csrf::CsrfFairingBuilder;
 use scheduled_thread_pool::ScheduledThreadPool;
-use std::env;
 use std::process::exit;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::time::Duration;
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ type Searcher<'a> = State<'a, Arc<UnmanagedSearcher>>;
 fn init_pool() -> Option<DbPool> {
     dotenv::dotenv().ok();
 
-    let manager = ConnectionManager::<Connection>::new(DATABASE_URL.as_str());
+    let manager = ConnectionManager::<Connection>::new(CONFIG.database_url.as_str());
     DbPool::builder()
         .connection_customizer(Box::new(PragmaForeignKey))
         .build(manager)
@@ -84,15 +83,28 @@ fn main() {
     let workpool = ScheduledThreadPool::with_name("worker {}", num_cpus::get());
     // we want a fast exit here, so
     #[allow(clippy::match_wild_err_arm)]
-    let searcher = match UnmanagedSearcher::open(&"search_index") {
+    let searcher = match UnmanagedSearcher::open(&CONFIG.search_index) {
         Err(Error::Search(e)) => match e {
             SearcherError::WriteLockAcquisitionError => panic!(
-                r#"Your search index is locked. Plume can't start. To fix this issue
+                r#"
+Your search index is locked. Plume can't start. To fix this issue
 make sure no other Plume instance is started, and run:
 
     plm search unlock
 
 Then try to restart Plume.
+"#
+            ),
+            SearcherError::IndexOpeningError => panic!(
+                r#"
+Plume was unable to open the search index. If you created the index
+before, make sure to run Plume in the directory it was created, or 
+to set SEARCH_INDEX accordingly. If you did not create the search 
+index, run this command:
+
+    plm search init
+
+Then try to restart Plume
 "#
             ),
             e => Err(e).unwrap(),
@@ -115,38 +127,14 @@ Then try to restart Plume.
     })
     .expect("Error setting Ctrl-c handler");
 
-    let mut config = Config::active().unwrap();
-    config
-        .set_address(env::var("ROCKET_ADDRESS").unwrap_or_else(|_| "localhost".to_owned()))
-        .unwrap();
-    config.set_port(
-        env::var("ROCKET_PORT")
-            .ok()
-            .map(|s| s.parse::<u16>().unwrap())
-            .unwrap_or(7878),
-    );
-    let _ = env::var("ROCKET_SECRET_KEY").map(|k| config.set_secret_key(k).unwrap());
-    let form_size = &env::var("FORM_SIZE")
-        .unwrap_or_else(|_| "32".to_owned())
-        .parse::<u64>()
-        .unwrap();
-    let activity_size = &env::var("ACTIVITY_SIZE")
-        .unwrap_or_else(|_| "1024".to_owned())
-        .parse::<u64>()
-        .unwrap();
-    config.set_limits(
-        Limits::new()
-            .limit("forms", form_size * 1024)
-            .limit("json", activity_size * 1024),
-    );
 
     let mail = mail::init();
-    if mail.is_none() && config.environment.is_prod() {
+    if mail.is_none() && CONFIG.rocket.as_ref().unwrap().environment.is_prod() {
         println!("Warning: the email server is not configured (or not completely).");
         println!("Please refer to the documentation to see how to configure it.");
     }
 
-    rocket::custom(config)
+    rocket::custom(CONFIG.rocket.clone().unwrap())
         .mount(
             "/",
             routes![
diff --git a/src/routes/session.rs b/src/routes/session.rs
index c0dc5644..00e870b8 100644
--- a/src/routes/session.rs
+++ b/src/routes/session.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ use mail::{build_mail, Mailer};
 use plume_models::{
     db_conn::DbConn,
     users::{User, AUTH_COOKIE},
-    Error, BASE_URL,
+    Error, CONFIG,
 };
 use routes::errors::ErrorPage;
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ pub fn password_reset_request(
             creation_date: Instant::now(),
         });
 
-        let link = format!("https://{}/password-reset/{}", *BASE_URL, id);
+        let link = format!("https://{}/password-reset/{}", CONFIG.base_url, id);
         if let Some(message) = build_mail(
             form.email.clone(),
             i18n!(intl.catalog, "Password reset"),
diff --git a/src/routes/well_known.rs b/src/routes/well_known.rs
index eed1ee47..8689d387 100644
--- a/src/routes/well_known.rs
+++ b/src/routes/well_known.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use rocket::response::Content;
 use serde_json;
 use webfinger::*;
 
-use plume_models::{ap_url, blogs::Blog, db_conn::DbConn, users::User, BASE_URL};
+use plume_models::{ap_url, blogs::Blog, db_conn::DbConn, users::User, CONFIG};
 
 #[get("/.well-known/nodeinfo")]
 pub fn nodeinfo() -> Content<String> {
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ pub fn nodeinfo() -> Content<String> {
             "links": [
                 {
                     "rel": "http://nodeinfo.diaspora.software/ns/schema/2.0",
-                    "href": ap_url(&format!("{domain}/nodeinfo/2.0", domain = BASE_URL.as_str()))
+                    "href": ap_url(&format!("{domain}/nodeinfo/2.0", domain = CONFIG.base_url.as_str()))
                 },
                 {
                     "rel": "http://nodeinfo.diaspora.software/ns/schema/2.1",
-                    "href": ap_url(&format!("{domain}/nodeinfo/2.1", domain = BASE_URL.as_str()))
+                    "href": ap_url(&format!("{domain}/nodeinfo/2.1", domain = CONFIG.base_url.as_str()))
                 }
             ]
         })
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ pub fn host_meta() -> String {
     "#,
         url = ap_url(&format!(
             "{domain}/.well-known/webfinger?resource={{uri}}",
-            domain = BASE_URL.as_str()
+            domain = CONFIG.base_url.as_str()
         ))
     )
 }
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ struct WebfingerResolver;
 
 impl Resolver<DbConn> for WebfingerResolver {
     fn instance_domain<'a>() -> &'a str {
-        BASE_URL.as_str()
+        CONFIG.base_url.as_str()
     }
 
     fn find(acct: String, conn: DbConn) -> Result<Webfinger, ResolverError> {