diff --git a/docs/api/rattail/db/index.rst b/docs/api/rattail/db/index.rst
index bf112a6d..a78dbdb9 100644
--- a/docs/api/rattail/db/index.rst
+++ b/docs/api/rattail/db/index.rst
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
    model.batch.product
    model.batch.purchase
    model.batch.vendorcatalog
+   model.core
    model.customers
    model.datasync
    model.labels
diff --git a/docs/api/rattail/db/model.core.rst b/docs/api/rattail/db/model.core.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3f8319f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/api/rattail/db/model.core.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+
+``rattail.db.model.core``
+=========================
+
+.. automodule:: rattail.db.model.core
+
+.. autoclass:: ModelBase
+
+   .. attribute:: model_title
+
+      Optionally set this to a "humanized" version of the model name, for
+      display in templates etc.  Default value will be guessed from the model
+      class name, e.g. 'Product' => "Products" and 'CustomerOrder' => "Customer
+      Order".
+
+   .. attribute:: model_title_plural
+
+      Optionally set this to a "humanized" version of the *plural* model name,
+      for display in templates etc.  Default value will be guessed from the
+      model class name, e.g. 'Product' => "Products" and 'CustomerOrder' =>
+      "Customer Orders".
+
+.. autoclass:: Setting
+  :members:
+
+.. autoclass:: Change
+  :members:
+
+.. automodule:: rattail.db.model.contact
+  :members:
+
+.. todo::
+   Geez a lot of work left here...
diff --git a/docs/api/rattail/db/model.rst b/docs/api/rattail/db/model.rst
index 96197b23..a8373780 100644
--- a/docs/api/rattail/db/model.rst
+++ b/docs/api/rattail/db/model.rst
@@ -2,32 +2,4 @@
 ``rattail.db.model``
 ====================
 
-.. automodule:: rattail.db.model.core
-
-.. autoclass:: ModelBase
-
-   .. attribute:: model_title
-
-      Optionally set this to a "humanized" version of the model name, for
-      display in templates etc.  Default value will be guessed from the model
-      class name, e.g. 'Product' => "Products" and 'CustomerOrder' => "Customer
-      Order".
-
-   .. attribute:: model_title_plural
-
-      Optionally set this to a "humanized" version of the *plural* model name,
-      for display in templates etc.  Default value will be guessed from the
-      model class name, e.g. 'Product' => "Products" and 'CustomerOrder' =>
-      "Customer Orders".
-
-.. autoclass:: Setting
-  :members:
-
-.. autoclass:: Change
-  :members:
-
-.. automodule:: rattail.db.model.contact
-  :members:
-
-.. todo::
-   Geez a lot of work left here...
+.. automodule:: rattail.db.model
diff --git a/rattail/_version.py b/rattail/_version.py
index 36c23508..446041e2 100644
--- a/rattail/_version.py
+++ b/rattail/_version.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 try:
     from importlib.metadata import version
-except ImportError:
+except ImportError: # pragma: no cover
     from importlib_metadata import version
 
 
diff --git a/rattail/config.py b/rattail/config.py
index 94c10862..27bba4e3 100644
--- a/rattail/config.py
+++ b/rattail/config.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ from wuttjamaican.conf import (WuttaConfig, WuttaConfigExtension,
                                generic_default_files)
 from wuttjamaican.util import (parse_bool as wutta_parse_bool,
                                parse_list as wutta_parse_list)
+from wuttjamaican.exc import ConfigurationError as WuttaConfigurationError
 
 from rattail.exceptions import WindowsExtensionsNotInstalled, ConfigurationError
 
@@ -44,13 +45,7 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def parse_bool(value): # pragma: no cover
-    """
-    Compatibility wrapper for
-    :func:`wuttjamaican:wuttjamaican.util.parse_bool()`.
-
-    This function is deprecated; new code should use the upstream
-    function instead.
-    """
+    """ """
     warnings.warn("rattail.config.parse_bool() is deprecated; "
                   "please use wuttjamaican.util.parse_bool() instead",
                   DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
@@ -58,13 +53,7 @@ def parse_bool(value): # pragma: no cover
 
 
 def parse_list(value): # pragma: no cover
-    """
-    Compatibility wrapper for
-    :func:`wuttjamaican:wuttjamaican.util.parse_list()`.
-
-    This function is deprecated; new code should use the upstream
-    function instead.
-    """
+    """ """
     warnings.warn("rattail.config.parse_list() is deprecated; "
                   "please use wuttjamaican.util.parse_list() instead",
                   DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
@@ -120,7 +109,8 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
         normally expects just ``(key, value)`` args, but we also (for
         now) support the older style of ``(section, option, value)`` -
         *eventually* that will go away but probably not in the near
-        future.
+        future.  However new code should pass ``(key, value)`` since
+        that is now the preferred signature.
         """
         # figure out what sort of args were passed
         if len(args) == 2:
@@ -143,7 +133,8 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
         normally expects just ``(key, ...)`` args, but we also (for
         now) support the older style of ``(section, option, ...)`` -
         *eventually* that will go away but probably not in the near
-        future.
+        future.  However new code should pass ``(key, ...)`` since
+        that is now the preferred signature.
         """
         # figure out what sort of args were passed
         if len(args) == 1:
@@ -171,6 +162,30 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
         #               DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
         return self.get_bool(*args, **kwargs)
 
+    def get_date(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Retrieve a date value from config.
+
+        Accepts same params as :meth:`get()` but if a value is found,
+        it will be coerced to date via
+        :meth:`rattail.app.AppHandler.parse_date()`.
+        """
+        value = self.get(*args, **kwargs)
+        app = self.get_app()
+        return app.parse_date(value)
+
+    def getdate(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Backward-compatible alias for :meth:`get_date()`.
+
+        New code should use ``get_date()`` instead of this method.
+        """
+        # TODO: eventually
+        # warnings.warn("config.getbool() method is deprecated; "
+        #               "please use config.get_bool() instead",
+        #               DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
+        return self.get_date(*args, **kwargs)
+
     def getint(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         Backward-compatible alias for
@@ -201,30 +216,14 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
         """
         Convenience method around the
         :func:`~wuttjamaican:wuttjamaican.util.parse_bool()` function.
-
-        Usage of this method is discouraged, at least until some more
-        dust settles.  This probably belongs on the app handler
-        instead so it can be overridden more easily.
         """
-        # TODO: eventually
-        # warnings.warn("config.parse_bool() method is deprecated; "
-        #               "please use app.parse_bool() instead",
-        #               DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
         return wutta_parse_bool(value)
 
     def parse_list(self, value):
         """
         Convenience method around the
         :func:`~wuttjamaican:wuttjamaican.util.parse_list()` function.
-
-        Usage of this method is discouraged, at least until some more
-        dust settles.  This probably belongs on the app handler
-        instead so it can be overridden more easily.
         """
-        # TODO: eventually
-        # warnings.warn("config.parse_list() method is deprecated; "
-        #               "please use app.parse_list() instead",
-        #               DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
         return wutta_parse_list(value)
 
     def make_list_string(self, values):
@@ -254,7 +253,7 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
 
     def beaker_invalidate_setting(self, name):
         """
-        Backward-compatible method for unused Beaker caching logic.
+        Deprecated method for unused Beaker caching logic.
 
         This method has no effect and should not be used.
         """
@@ -262,18 +261,6 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
         # warnings.warn("config.beaker_invalidate_setting() method is deprecated",
         #               DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
 
-    def node_type(self, default=None):
-        """
-        Returns the "type" of current node.  What this means will
-        generally depend on the app logic.
-        """
-        try:
-            return self.require('rattail', 'node_type', usedb=False)
-        except ConfigurationError:
-            if default:
-                return default
-            raise
-
     def production(self):
         """
         Returns boolean indicating whether the app is running in
@@ -281,10 +268,23 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
         """
         return self.getbool('rattail', 'production', default=False)
 
+    def node_type(self, default=None):
+        """
+        Returns the "type" of current node as string.  What this means
+        will generally depend on the app logic.  There is no default
+        node type unless caller provides one.
+        """
+        try:
+            return self.require('rattail', 'node_type', usedb=False)
+        except WuttaConfigurationError:
+            if default:
+                return default
+            raise
+
     def get_model(self):
         """
-        Returns a reference to configured 'model' module; defaults to
-        :mod:`rattail.db.model`.
+        Returns a reference to the module containing data models;
+        defaults to :mod:`rattail.db.model`.
         """
         spec = self.get('rattail', 'model', usedb=False,
                         default='rattail.db.model')
@@ -303,7 +303,8 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
         """
         Returns a reference to the configured data 'model' module for
         Trainwreck.  Note that there is *not* a default value for
-        this; it must be configured.
+        this; it must be configured or else calling this method will
+        result in an error.
         """
         spec = self.require('rattail.trainwreck', 'model', usedb=False)
         return importlib.import_module(spec)
@@ -315,29 +316,15 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
         return self.getbool('rattail.db', 'versioning.enabled', usedb=False,
                             default=False)
 
-    def getdate(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        """
-        Retrieve a date value from config.
-        """
-        value = self.get(*args, **kwargs)
-        app = self.get_app()
-        return app.parse_date(value)
-
-    def product_key(self, **kwargs):
-        """
-        Deprecated; instead please see
-        :meth:`rattail.app.AppHandler.get_product_key_field()`.
-        """
+    def product_key(self, **kwargs): # pragma: no cover
+        """ """
         warnings.warn("config.product_key() is deprecated; please "
                       "use app.get_product_key_field() instead",
                       DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
         return self.get_app().get_product_key_field()
 
-    def product_key_title(self, key=None):
-        """
-        Deprecated; instead please see
-        :meth:`rattail.app.AppHandler.get_product_key_label()`.
-        """
+    def product_key_title(self, key=None): # pragma: no cover
+        """ """
         warnings.warn("config.product_key_title() is deprecated; please "
                       "use app.get_product_key_label() instead",
                       DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
@@ -352,14 +339,20 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
         return self.get('rattail', 'app_package', default=default)
 
     def app_title(self, **kwargs):
-        """ DEPRECATED """
+        """
+        DEPRECATED; use :meth:`rattail.app.AppHandler.get_title()`
+        instead.
+        """
         # TODO: should put a deprecation warning here, but it could
         # make things noisy for a while and i'm not ready for that
         app = self.get_app()
         return app.get_title(**kwargs)
 
     def node_title(self, **kwargs):
-        """ DEPRECATED """
+        """
+        DEPRECATED; use
+        :meth:`rattail.app.AppHandler.get_node_title()` instead.
+        """
         # TODO: should put a deprecation warning here, but it could
         # make things noisy for a while and i'm not ready for that
         app = self.get_app()
@@ -369,18 +362,28 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
         """
         Returns boolean indicating whether the app is running from
         source, as opposed to official release.
+
+        .. warning::
+
+           The utility of this method is questionable and it ideally
+           will go away in the future.
         """
         return self.getbool('rattail', 'running_from_source', default=False)
 
     def demo(self):
         """
         Returns boolean indicating whether the app is running in demo mode
+
+        .. warning::
+
+           The utility of this method is questionable and it ideally
+           will go away in the future.
         """
         return self.getbool('rattail', 'demo', default=False)
 
     def appdir(self, require=True, **kwargs):
         """
-        Returns path to the 'app' dir, if known.
+        Returns path to the local 'app' dir.
         """
         if require:
             path = os.path.join(sys.prefix, 'app')
@@ -405,7 +408,7 @@ class RattailConfig(WuttaConfig):
     def batch_filedir(self, key=None):
         """
         Returns path to root folder where batches (optionally of type
-        'key') are stored.
+        ``key``) are stored.
         """
         path = os.path.abspath(self.require('rattail', 'batch.files'))
         if key:
diff --git a/rattail/db/model/__init__.py b/rattail/db/model/__init__.py
index ff1e3da9..ee524dd3 100644
--- a/rattail/db/model/__init__.py
+++ b/rattail/db/model/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
-#  Copyright © 2010-2023 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2010-2024 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Rattail.
 #
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@
 ################################################################################
 """
 Rattail data models
+
+This namespace will be populated with all data model classes defined
+by Rattail.
 """
 
 from .core import Base, ModelBase, uuid_column, getset_factory, GPCType, Setting, Change, Note
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index e28c9a0e..69e37796 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -3,120 +3,17 @@
 import configparser
 import datetime
 import os
+import sys
 from unittest import TestCase
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 from wuttjamaican.testing import FileConfigTestCase
+from wuttjamaican.exc import ConfigurationError
 
 from rattail import config
 from rattail.app import AppHandler
 
 
-class TestRattailConfig(FileConfigTestCase):
-
-    def setup_files(self):
-        self.site_path = self.write_file('site.conf', """
-[rattail]
-        """)
-
-        self.host_path = self.write_file('host.conf', """
-[rattail.config]
-include = "{}"
-        """.format(self.site_path))
-
-        self.app_path = self.write_file('app.conf', """
-[rattail.config]
-include = "{}"
-        """.format(self.host_path))
-
-        self.custom_path = self.write_file('custom.conf', """
-[rattail.config]
-include = "%(here)s/app.conf"
-        """)
-
-    def test_init_defaults(self):
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig()
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_requested, [])
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_read, [])
-
-    def test_init_params(self):
-        self.setup_files()
-
-        # files
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig()
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_requested, [])
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_read, [])
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig(files=[self.site_path])
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_requested, [self.site_path])
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_read, [self.site_path])
-
-        # usedb
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig()
-        self.assertFalse(cfg.usedb)
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig(usedb=True)
-        self.assertTrue(cfg.usedb)
-
-        # preferdb
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig()
-        self.assertFalse(cfg.preferdb)
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig(preferdb=True)
-        self.assertTrue(cfg.preferdb)
-
-    def test_read_file_with_recurse(self):
-        self.setup_files()
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig()
-        cfg.read_file(self.custom_path, recurse=True)
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_requested, [self.custom_path, self.app_path, self.host_path, self.site_path])
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_read, [self.site_path, self.host_path, self.app_path, self.custom_path])
-
-    def test_read_file_once_only(self):
-        self.setup_files()
-
-        another_path = self.write_file('another.conf', """
-[rattail.config]
-include = "{custom}" "{site}" "{app}" "{site}" "{custom}"
-        """.format(custom=self.custom_path, app=self.app_path, site=self.site_path))
-
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig()
-        cfg.read_file(another_path, recurse=True)
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_requested, [another_path, self.custom_path, self.app_path, self.host_path, self.site_path])
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_read, [self.site_path, self.host_path, self.app_path, self.custom_path, another_path])
-
-    def test_read_file_skip_missing(self):
-        self.setup_files()
-        bogus_path = '/tmp/does-not/exist'
-        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(bogus_path))
-
-        another_path = self.write_file('another.conf', """
-[rattail.config]
-include = "{bogus}" "{app}" "{bogus}" "{site}"
-        """.format(bogus=bogus_path, app=self.app_path, site=self.site_path))
-
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig()
-        cfg.read_file(another_path, recurse=True)
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_requested, [another_path, bogus_path, self.app_path, self.host_path, self.site_path])
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.files_read, [self.site_path, self.host_path, self.app_path, another_path])
-
-    @patch('rattail.config.logging.config.fileConfig')
-    def test_configure_logging(self, fileConfig):
-        cfg = config.RattailConfig()
-
-        # logging not configured by default
-        cfg.configure_logging()
-        self.assertFalse(fileConfig.called)
-
-        # but config option can enable it
-        cfg.set('rattail.config', 'configure_logging', 'true')
-        cfg.configure_logging()
-        self.assertEqual(fileConfig.call_count, 1)
-        fileConfig.reset_mock()
-
-        # invalid logging config is ignored
-        fileConfig.side_effect = configparser.NoSectionError('loggers')
-        cfg.configure_logging()
-        self.assertEqual(fileConfig.call_count, 1)
-
-
 class TestRattailConfig(FileConfigTestCase):
 
     def test_prioritized_files(self):
@@ -135,7 +32,6 @@ require = %(here)s/first.conf
         self.assertEqual(len(files), 2)
         self.assertEqual(files[0], second)
         self.assertEqual(files[1], first)
-        self.assertIs(files, myconfig.get_prioritized_files())
 
     def test_setdefault(self):
         myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
@@ -164,12 +60,42 @@ require = %(here)s/first.conf
         # try that for get() too
         self.assertRaises(ValueError, myconfig.get, 'foo', 'bar', 'blarg', 'blast')
 
+    def test_get(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+        myconfig.setdefault('foo.bar', 'baz')
+
+        # can pass section + option
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.get('foo', 'bar'), 'baz')
+
+        # or can pass just a key
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.get('foo.bar'), 'baz')
+
+        # so 1 or 2 args required, otherwise error
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, myconfig.get, 'foo', 'bar', 'baz')
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, myconfig.get)
+
     def test_getbool(self):
         myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
         self.assertFalse(myconfig.getbool('foo.bar'))
         myconfig.setdefault('foo.bar', 'true')
         self.assertTrue(myconfig.getbool('foo.bar'))
 
+    def test_get_date(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+        self.assertIsNone(myconfig.get_date('foo.date'))
+        myconfig.setdefault('foo.date', '2023-11-20')
+        value = myconfig.get_date('foo.date')
+        self.assertIsInstance(value, datetime.date)
+        self.assertEqual(value, datetime.date(2023, 11, 20))
+
+    def test_getdate(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+        self.assertIsNone(myconfig.getdate('foo.date'))
+        myconfig.setdefault('foo.date', '2023-11-20')
+        value = myconfig.getdate('foo.date')
+        self.assertIsInstance(value, datetime.date)
+        self.assertEqual(value, datetime.date(2023, 11, 20))
+
     def test_getint(self):
         myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
         self.assertIsNone(myconfig.getint('foo.bar'))
@@ -182,20 +108,6 @@ require = %(here)s/first.conf
         myconfig.setdefault('foo.bar', 'hello world')
         self.assertEqual(myconfig.getlist('foo.bar'), ['hello', 'world'])
 
-    def test_getdate(self):
-        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
-        self.assertIsNone(myconfig.getdate('foo.date'))
-        myconfig.setdefault('foo.date', '2023-11-20')
-        value = myconfig.getdate('foo.date')
-        self.assertIsInstance(value, datetime.date)
-        self.assertEqual(value, datetime.date(2023, 11, 20))
-
-    def test_get_app(self):
-        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
-        app = myconfig.get_app()
-        self.assertIsInstance(app, AppHandler)
-        self.assertIs(type(app), AppHandler)
-
     def test_parse_bool(self):
         myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
         self.assertTrue(myconfig.parse_bool('true'))
@@ -218,11 +130,195 @@ require = %(here)s/first.conf
         value = myconfig.make_list_string(["you don't", 'say'])
         self.assertEqual(value, "\"you don't\", say")
 
+    def test_get_app(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+        app = myconfig.get_app()
+        self.assertIsInstance(app, AppHandler)
+        self.assertIs(type(app), AppHandler)
+
     def test_beaker_invalidate_setting(self):
         # TODO: this doesn't really test anything, just gives coverage
         myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
         myconfig.beaker_invalidate_setting('foo')
 
+    def test_production(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # false if not defined
+        self.assertFalse(myconfig.production())
+
+        # but config may specify
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.production', 'true')
+        self.assertTrue(myconfig.production())
+
+    def test_node_type(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # error if node type not defined
+        self.assertRaises(ConfigurationError, myconfig.node_type)
+
+        # unless default is provided
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.node_type(default='foo'), 'foo')
+
+        # or config contains the definition
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.node_type', 'bar')
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.node_type(), 'bar')
+
+    def test_get_model(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # default is rattail.db.model
+        model = myconfig.get_model()
+        self.assertIs(model, sys.modules['rattail.db.model'])
+
+        # or config may specify
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.model', 'rattail.trainwreck.db.model')
+        model = myconfig.get_model()
+        self.assertIs(model, sys.modules['rattail.trainwreck.db.model'])
+
+    def test_get_enum(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # default is rattail.enum
+        enum = myconfig.get_enum()
+        self.assertIs(enum, sys.modules['rattail.enum'])
+
+        # or config may specify
+        # (nb. using bogus example module here)
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.enum', 'rattail.auth')
+        enum = myconfig.get_enum()
+        self.assertIs(enum, sys.modules['rattail.auth'])
+
+    def test_get_trainwreck_model(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # error if not defined
+        self.assertRaises(ConfigurationError, myconfig.get_trainwreck_model)
+
+        # but config may specify
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.trainwreck.model', 'rattail.trainwreck.db.model')
+        model = myconfig.get_trainwreck_model()
+        self.assertIs(model, sys.modules['rattail.trainwreck.db.model'])
+
+    def test_versioning_enabled(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # false by default
+        self.assertFalse(myconfig.versioning_enabled())
+
+        # but config may enable
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.db.versioning.enabled', 'true')
+        self.assertTrue(myconfig.versioning_enabled())
+
+    def test_app_package(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # error if not defined
+        self.assertRaises(ConfigurationError, myconfig.app_package)
+
+        # unless default is provided
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.app_package(default='foo'), 'foo')
+
+        # but config may specify
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.app_package', 'bar')
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.app_package(), 'bar')
+
+    def test_app_title(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # default title
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.app_title(), 'Rattail')
+
+        # but config may specify
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.app_title', 'Foo')
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.app_title(), 'Foo')
+
+    def test_node_title(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # default title
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.app_title(), 'Rattail')
+
+        # but config may specify
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.node_title', 'Foo (node)')
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.node_title(), 'Foo (node)')
+
+    def test_running_from_source(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # false by default
+        self.assertFalse(myconfig.running_from_source())
+
+        # but config may enable
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.running_from_source', 'true')
+        self.assertTrue(myconfig.running_from_source())
+
+    def test_demo(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # false by default
+        self.assertFalse(myconfig.demo())
+
+        # but config may enable
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.demo', 'true')
+        self.assertTrue(myconfig.demo())
+
+    def test_appdir(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # can be none if required is false
+        self.assertIsNone(myconfig.appdir(require=False))
+
+        # otherwise sane fallback is used
+        with patch('rattail.config.sys') as sys:
+            sys.prefix = 'foo'
+            path = os.path.join('foo', 'app')
+            self.assertEqual(myconfig.appdir(), path)
+
+        # or config may specify
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.appdir', '/foo/bar/baz')
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.appdir(), '/foo/bar/baz')
+
+    def test_datadir(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # error if not defined
+        self.assertRaises(ConfigurationError, myconfig.datadir)
+
+        # but can avoid error if not required
+        self.assertIsNone(myconfig.datadir(require=False))
+
+        # or config may specify
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.datadir', '/foo/bar/baz')
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.datadir(), '/foo/bar/baz')
+
+    def test_workdir(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # error if not defined
+        self.assertRaises(ConfigurationError, myconfig.workdir)
+
+        # but can avoid error if not required
+        self.assertIsNone(myconfig.workdir(require=False))
+
+        # or config may specify
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.workdir', '/foo/bar/baz')
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.workdir(), '/foo/bar/baz')
+
+    def test_batch_filedir(self):
+        myconfig = config.RattailConfig()
+
+        # error if not defined
+        self.assertRaises(ConfigurationError, myconfig.batch_filedir)
+
+        # config may specify
+        path = os.path.join(os.sep, 'foo', 'files')
+        myconfig.setdefault('rattail.batch.files', path)
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.batch_filedir(), path)
+
+        # caller may specify a key
+        self.assertEqual(myconfig.batch_filedir(key='bar'), os.path.join(path, 'bar'))
+
 
 class TestRattailDefaultFiles(FileConfigTestCase):