diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index db4cdeb..e869052 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@
         "listr": "0.14.3",
         "oclif": "3.3.1",
         "type-fns": "0.7.0",
-        "uuid": "9.0.0"
+        "uuid": "9.0.0",
+        "yaml": "2.2.1"
       },
       "bin": {
         "sql-schema-generator": "bin/run"
@@ -710,12 +711,15 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@babel/runtime": {
-      "version": "7.5.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@babel/runtime/-/runtime-7.5.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-g+hmPKs16iewFSmW57NkH9xpPkuYD1RV3UE2BCkXx9j+nhhRb9hsiSxPmEa67j35IecTQdn4iyMtHMbt5VoREg==",
+      "version": "7.20.13",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@babel/runtime/-/runtime-7.20.13.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-gt3PKXs0DBoL9xCvOIIZ2NEqAGZqHjAnmVbfQtB620V0uReIQutpel14KcneZuer7UioY8ALKZ7iocavvzTNFA==",
       "dev": true,
       "dependencies": {
-        "regenerator-runtime": "^0.13.2"
+        "regenerator-runtime": "^0.13.11"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=6.9.0"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@babel/template": {
@@ -7644,6 +7648,18 @@
         "uuid": "dist/bin/uuid"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/declapract/node_modules/yaml": {
+      "version": "1.6.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yaml/-/yaml-1.6.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-iZfse3lwrJRoSlfs/9KQ9iIXxs9++RvBFVzAqbbBiFT+giYtyanevreF9r61ZTbGMgWQBxAua3FzJiniiJXWWw==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@babel/runtime": "^7.4.5"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 6"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/dedent": {
       "version": "0.7.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dedent/-/dedent-0.7.0.tgz",
@@ -16422,9 +16438,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/regenerator-runtime": {
-      "version": "0.13.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/regenerator-runtime/-/regenerator-runtime-0.13.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-S/TQAZJO+D3m9xeN1WTI8dLKBBiRgXBlTJvbWjCThHWZj9EvHK70Ff50/tYj2J/fvBY6JtFVwRuazHN2E7M9BA==",
+      "version": "0.13.11",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/regenerator-runtime/-/regenerator-runtime-0.13.11.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-kY1AZVr2Ra+t+piVaJ4gxaFaReZVH40AKNo7UCX6W+dEwBo/2oZJzqfuN1qLq1oL45o56cPaTXELwrTh8Fpggg==",
       "dev": true
     },
     "node_modules/regexp.prototype.flags": {
@@ -18092,15 +18108,11 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-3wdGidZyq5PB084XLES5TpOSRA3wjXAlIWMhum2kRcv/41Sn2emQ0dycQW4uZXLejwKvg6EsvbdlVL+FYEct7A=="
     },
     "node_modules/yaml": {
-      "version": "1.6.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yaml/-/yaml-1.6.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-iZfse3lwrJRoSlfs/9KQ9iIXxs9++RvBFVzAqbbBiFT+giYtyanevreF9r61ZTbGMgWQBxAua3FzJiniiJXWWw==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "dependencies": {
-        "@babel/runtime": "^7.4.5"
-      },
+      "version": "2.2.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yaml/-/yaml-2.2.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-e0WHiYql7+9wr4cWMx3TVQrNwejKaEe7/rHNmQmqRjazfOP5W8PB6Jpebb5o6fIapbz9o9+2ipcaTM2ZwDI6lw==",
       "engines": {
-        "node": ">= 6"
+        "node": ">= 14"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/yargs": {
@@ -19430,12 +19442,12 @@
       }
     },
     "@babel/runtime": {
-      "version": "7.5.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@babel/runtime/-/runtime-7.5.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-g+hmPKs16iewFSmW57NkH9xpPkuYD1RV3UE2BCkXx9j+nhhRb9hsiSxPmEa67j35IecTQdn4iyMtHMbt5VoREg==",
+      "version": "7.20.13",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@babel/runtime/-/runtime-7.20.13.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-gt3PKXs0DBoL9xCvOIIZ2NEqAGZqHjAnmVbfQtB620V0uReIQutpel14KcneZuer7UioY8ALKZ7iocavvzTNFA==",
       "dev": true,
       "requires": {
-        "regenerator-runtime": "^0.13.2"
+        "regenerator-runtime": "^0.13.11"
       }
     },
     "@babel/template": {
@@ -24654,6 +24666,15 @@
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/uuid/-/uuid-9.0.0.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha512-MXcSTerfPa4uqyzStbRoTgt5XIe3x5+42+q1sDuy3R5MDk66URdLMOZe5aPX/SQd+kuYAh0FdP/pO28IkQyTeg==",
           "dev": true
+        },
+        "yaml": {
+          "version": "1.6.0",
+          "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yaml/-/yaml-1.6.0.tgz",
+          "integrity": "sha512-iZfse3lwrJRoSlfs/9KQ9iIXxs9++RvBFVzAqbbBiFT+giYtyanevreF9r61ZTbGMgWQBxAua3FzJiniiJXWWw==",
+          "dev": true,
+          "requires": {
+            "@babel/runtime": "^7.4.5"
+          }
         }
       }
     },
@@ -31194,9 +31215,9 @@
       }
     },
     "regenerator-runtime": {
-      "version": "0.13.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/regenerator-runtime/-/regenerator-runtime-0.13.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-S/TQAZJO+D3m9xeN1WTI8dLKBBiRgXBlTJvbWjCThHWZj9EvHK70Ff50/tYj2J/fvBY6JtFVwRuazHN2E7M9BA==",
+      "version": "0.13.11",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/regenerator-runtime/-/regenerator-runtime-0.13.11.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-kY1AZVr2Ra+t+piVaJ4gxaFaReZVH40AKNo7UCX6W+dEwBo/2oZJzqfuN1qLq1oL45o56cPaTXELwrTh8Fpggg==",
       "dev": true
     },
     "regexp.prototype.flags": {
@@ -32466,13 +32487,9 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-3wdGidZyq5PB084XLES5TpOSRA3wjXAlIWMhum2kRcv/41Sn2emQ0dycQW4uZXLejwKvg6EsvbdlVL+FYEct7A=="
     },
     "yaml": {
-      "version": "1.6.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yaml/-/yaml-1.6.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-iZfse3lwrJRoSlfs/9KQ9iIXxs9++RvBFVzAqbbBiFT+giYtyanevreF9r61ZTbGMgWQBxAua3FzJiniiJXWWw==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "requires": {
-        "@babel/runtime": "^7.4.5"
-      }
+      "version": "2.2.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yaml/-/yaml-2.2.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-e0WHiYql7+9wr4cWMx3TVQrNwejKaEe7/rHNmQmqRjazfOP5W8PB6Jpebb5o6fIapbz9o9+2ipcaTM2ZwDI6lw=="
     },
     "yargs": {
       "version": "17.6.2",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b149ac4..2a31995 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@
     "listr": "0.14.3",
     "oclif": "3.3.1",
     "type-fns": "0.7.0",
-    "uuid": "9.0.0"
+    "uuid": "9.0.0",
+    "yaml": "2.2.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@commitlint/cli": "13.1.0",
diff --git a/src/contract/__test_assets__/codegen.sql.schema.yml b/src/contract/__test_assets__/codegen.sql.schema.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35cf9d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/contract/__test_assets__/codegen.sql.schema.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+language: postgres
+dialect: 10.7
+declarations: domain.ts
+generates:
+  sql:
+    to: generated
diff --git a/src/contract/commands/generate.integration.test.ts b/src/contract/commands/generate.integration.test.ts
index 480f5a1..fc218ec 100644
--- a/src/contract/commands/generate.integration.test.ts
+++ b/src/contract/commands/generate.integration.test.ts
@@ -3,10 +3,8 @@ import Generate from './generate';
 describe('command', () => {
   it('should be able to generate schema for valid entities declaration', async () => {
     await Generate.run([
-      '-d',
-      `${__dirname}/../__test_assets__/domain.ts`,
-      '-t',
-      `${__dirname}/../__test_assets__/generated`,
+      '-c',
+      `${__dirname}/../__test_assets__/codegen.sql.schema.yml`,
     ]);
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/contract/commands/generate.ts b/src/contract/commands/generate.ts
index fb6807a..7161f99 100644
--- a/src/contract/commands/generate.ts
+++ b/src/contract/commands/generate.ts
@@ -9,29 +9,21 @@ export default class Generate extends Command {
 
   public static flags = {
     help: Flags.help({ char: 'h' }),
-    declarations: Flags.string({
-      char: 'd',
-      description: 'path to config file, containing entity definitions',
-      required: true,
-      default: 'declarations.ts',
-    }),
-    target: Flags.string({
-      char: 't',
-      description: 'target directory to record generated schema into',
-      required: true,
-      default: 'generated',
+    config: Flags.string({
+      char: 'c',
+      description: 'path to config file',
+      required: false,
+      default: 'codegen.sql.schema.yml',
     }),
   };
 
   public async run() {
     const { flags } = await this.parse(Generate);
-    const config = flags.declarations!;
-    const target = flags.target!;
+    const config = flags.config;
+
     // get and display the plans
     const configPath =
       config.slice(0, 1) === '/' ? config : `${process.cwd()}/${config}`; // if starts with /, consider it as an absolute path
-    const targetDir =
-      target.slice(0, 1) === '/' ? target : `${process.cwd()}/${target}`; // if starts with /, consider it as an absolute path
-    await generateSchema({ configPath, targetDirPath: targetDir });
+    await generateSchema({ configPath });
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/domain/objects/GeneratorConfig.ts b/src/domain/objects/GeneratorConfig.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2977a28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/domain/objects/GeneratorConfig.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import { DomainObject } from 'domain-objects';
+import Joi from 'joi';
+
+export enum DatabaseLanguage {
+  MYSQL = 'mysql',
+  POSTGRES = 'postgres',
+}
+
+const schema = Joi.object().keys({
+  rootDir: Joi.string().required(), // dir of config file, to which all config paths are relative
+  language: Joi.string().valid(...Object.values(DatabaseLanguage)),
+  dialect: Joi.string().required(),
+  declarationsPath: Joi.string().required(),
+  targetDirPath: Joi.string().required(),
+});
+
+export interface GeneratorConfig {
+  rootDir: string;
+  language: DatabaseLanguage;
+  dialect: string;
+  declarationsPath: string;
+  targetDirPath: string;
+}
+export class GeneratorConfig
+  extends DomainObject<GeneratorConfig>
+  implements GeneratorConfig
+{
+  public static schema = schema;
+}
diff --git a/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/generateSchema.test.ts b/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/generateSchema.test.ts
index d626445..8496a94 100644
--- a/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/generateSchema.test.ts
+++ b/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/generateSchema.test.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
 import { generateAndRecordEntitySchema } from './generateAndRecordEntitySchema';
 import { generateSchema } from './generateSchema';
 import { normalizeDeclarationContents } from './normalizeDeclarationContents';
+import { readConfig } from './readConfig';
 import { readDeclarationFile } from './readDeclarationFile';
 
-// we ignore this line since we can't define a type declaration for a relative module
+jest.mock('./readConfig');
+const readConfigMock = readConfig as jest.Mock;
+readConfigMock.mockReturnValue({
+  declarationsPath: '__DECLARATIONS_PATH__',
+  targetDirPath: '__TARGET_DIR_PATH__',
+});
 
 jest.mock('./readDeclarationFile');
 const readDeclarationFileMock = readDeclarationFile as jest.Mock;
-readDeclarationFileMock.mockResolvedValue('__CONFIG_CONTENTS__');
+readDeclarationFileMock.mockResolvedValue('__DECLARATION_CONTENTS__');
 
 jest.mock('./normalizeDeclarationContents');
 const normalizeDeclarationContentsMock =
@@ -22,39 +28,36 @@ const generateAndRecordEntitySchemaMock =
 
 describe('generateSchema', () => {
   beforeEach(() => jest.clearAllMocks());
-  it('should read the config file', async () => {
+  it('should read the declaration file', async () => {
     await generateSchema({
       configPath: '__CONFIG_PATH__',
-      targetDirPath: '__TARGET_DIR_PATH__',
     });
     expect(readDeclarationFileMock.mock.calls.length).toEqual(1);
     expect(readDeclarationFileMock.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatchObject({
-      configPath: '__CONFIG_PATH__',
+      declarationsPath: '__DECLARATIONS_PATH__',
     });
   });
-  it('should extract entities from the contents of the config file', async () => {
+  it('should extract entities from the contents of the declaration file', async () => {
     await generateSchema({
       configPath: '__CONFIG_PATH__',
-      targetDirPath: '__TARGET_DIR_PATH__',
     });
     expect(normalizeDeclarationContentsMock.mock.calls.length).toEqual(1);
     expect(normalizeDeclarationContentsMock.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatchObject({
-      contents: '__CONFIG_CONTENTS__',
+      contents: '__DECLARATION_CONTENTS__',
     });
   });
   it('should generateAndRecordEntitySchema for each entity defined in the config', async () => {
     await generateSchema({
       configPath: '__CONFIG_PATH__',
-      targetDirPath: '__TARGET_DIR_PATH__',
     });
     expect(generateAndRecordEntitySchemaMock.mock.calls.length).toEqual(2);
     expect(generateAndRecordEntitySchemaMock.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatchObject({
-      targetDirPath: '__TARGET_DIR_PATH__',
       entity: { name: '__ENTITY_ONE__' },
+      targetDirPath: '__TARGET_DIR_PATH__',
     });
     expect(generateAndRecordEntitySchemaMock.mock.calls[1][0]).toMatchObject({
-      targetDirPath: '__TARGET_DIR_PATH__',
       entity: { name: '__ENTITY_TWO__' },
+      targetDirPath: '__TARGET_DIR_PATH__',
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/generateSchema.ts b/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/generateSchema.ts
index f69be91..f144cf4 100644
--- a/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/generateSchema.ts
+++ b/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/generateSchema.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import Listr from 'listr';
 
 import { generateAndRecordEntitySchema } from './generateAndRecordEntitySchema';
 import { normalizeDeclarationContents } from './normalizeDeclarationContents';
+import { readConfig } from './readConfig';
 import { readDeclarationFile } from './readDeclarationFile';
 
 /*
@@ -12,13 +13,14 @@ import { readDeclarationFile } from './readDeclarationFile';
 */
 export const generateSchema = async ({
   configPath,
-  targetDirPath,
 }: {
   configPath: string;
-  targetDirPath: string;
 }) => {
+  // 0. read the config file
+  const { declarationsPath, targetDirPath } = await readConfig({ configPath });
+
   // 1. read the entities from source file
-  const contents = await readDeclarationFile({ configPath });
+  const contents = await readDeclarationFile({ declarationsPath });
   const { entities } = await normalizeDeclarationContents({ contents });
 
   // 2. for each entity: generate and record resources
diff --git a/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/readConfig.ts b/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/readConfig.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47b4bdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/readConfig.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import {
+  DatabaseLanguage,
+  GeneratorConfig,
+} from '../../../domain/objects/GeneratorConfig';
+import { UserInputError } from '../../../utils/errors/UserInputError';
+import { readYmlFile } from '../../../utils/fileio/readYmlFile';
+import { getDirOfPath } from '../../../utils/filepaths/getDirOfPath';
+
+/*
+  1. read the config
+  2. validate the config
+*/
+export const readConfig = async ({
+  configPath,
+}: {
+  configPath: string;
+}): Promise<GeneratorConfig> => {
+  const configDir = getDirOfPath(configPath);
+  const getAbsolutePathFromRelativeToConfigPath = (relpath: string) =>
+    `${configDir}/${relpath}`;
+
+  // get the yml
+  const contents = await readYmlFile({ filePath: configPath });
+
+  // get the language and dialect
+  if (!contents.language)
+    throw new UserInputError({ reason: 'config.language must be defined' });
+  const language = contents.language;
+  if (contents.language && contents.language !== DatabaseLanguage.POSTGRES)
+    throw new UserInputError({
+      reason:
+        'dao generator only supports postgres. please update the `language` option in your config to `postgres` to continue',
+    });
+  if (!contents.dialect)
+    throw new UserInputError({ reason: 'config.dialect must be defined' });
+  const dialect = `${contents.dialect}`; // ensure that we read it as a string, as it could be a number
+
+  // validate the output config
+  if (!contents.declarations)
+    throw new UserInputError({
+      reason:
+        'config.declarations must specify path to the file containing declarations',
+    });
+  if (!contents.generates.sql?.to)
+    throw new UserInputError({
+      reason:
+        'config.generates.sql.to must specify where to output the generated sql',
+    });
+
+  // return the results
+  return new GeneratorConfig({
+    language,
+    dialect,
+    rootDir: configDir,
+    declarationsPath: getAbsolutePathFromRelativeToConfigPath(
+      contents.declarations,
+    ),
+    targetDirPath: getAbsolutePathFromRelativeToConfigPath(
+      contents.generates.sql.to,
+    ),
+  });
+};
diff --git a/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/readDeclarationFile.ts b/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/readDeclarationFile.ts
index d575c98..63e1f97 100644
--- a/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/readDeclarationFile.ts
+++ b/src/logic/compose/generateSchema/readDeclarationFile.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 // split out to make tit easier to test, and for historical reasons; can be merged if desired
 export const readDeclarationFile = async ({
-  configPath,
+  declarationsPath,
 }: {
-  configPath: string;
+  declarationsPath: string;
 }) => {
-  return require(configPath);
+  return require(declarationsPath);
 };
diff --git a/src/utils/errors/UserInputError.ts b/src/utils/errors/UserInputError.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ed7c13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/errors/UserInputError.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+export class UserInputError extends Error {
+  constructor({
+    reason,
+    domainObjectName,
+    domainObjectPropertyName,
+    potentialSolution,
+  }: {
+    reason: string;
+    domainObjectName?: string;
+    domainObjectPropertyName?: string;
+    potentialSolution?: string;
+  }) {
+    super(
+      `
+User input error. ${reason.replace(/\.$/, '')}. '${domainObjectName}${
+        domainObjectPropertyName ? `.${domainObjectPropertyName}` : ''
+      }' does not meet this criteria. Please correct this and try again.${
+        potentialSolution ? `\n\n${potentialSolution}` : ''
+      }
+    `.trim(),
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/utils/fileio/makeDirAsync.ts b/src/utils/fileio/makeDirAsync.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee471c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/fileio/makeDirAsync.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import fs from 'fs';
+import util from 'util';
+
+// export these from a separate file to make testing easier (i.e., easier to define the mocks)
+const mkdir = util.promisify(fs.mkdir);
+
+export const makeDirectoryAsync = async ({
+  directoryPath,
+}: {
+  directoryPath: string;
+}) => mkdir(directoryPath, { recursive: true });
diff --git a/src/utils/fileio/readFileAsync.ts b/src/utils/fileio/readFileAsync.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7d8fb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/fileio/readFileAsync.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import fs from 'fs';
+import util from 'util';
+
+export const readFile = util.promisify(fs.readFile);
+
+export const readFileAsync = ({
+  filePath,
+}: {
+  filePath: string;
+}): Promise<string> => readFile(filePath, 'utf8');
diff --git a/src/utils/fileio/readYmlFile.test.ts b/src/utils/fileio/readYmlFile.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..469725e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/fileio/readYmlFile.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+import YAML from 'yaml';
+
+import { readFileAsync } from './readFileAsync';
+import { readYmlFile } from './readYmlFile';
+
+jest.mock('./readFileAsync');
+const readFileAsyncMock = readFileAsync as jest.Mock;
+readFileAsyncMock.mockResolvedValue(`
+- type: change
+  path: 'init/service_user.sql'
+  id: 'init_20190619_1'
+  reapplyOnUpdate: false # we'll do it manually for now
+
+- type: change
+  id: 'data_20190619_1'
+  path: 'data/data_sources.sql'
+  reapplyOnUpdate: false # only run each insert once
+
+- type: change
+  id: 'procedures_20190619_1'
+  path: 'procedures/awesome_sproc.sql'
+  reapplyOnUpdate: true
+`);
+
+describe('readDefinitionsFileRecursive', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => jest.clearAllMocks());
+  it('should throw an error if the filepath defined does not point to a yml file', async () => {
+    try {
+      await readYmlFile({ filePath: 'some.json' });
+      throw new Error('should not reach here');
+    } catch (error) {
+      expect(error.message).toMatch('file path point to a .yml file.');
+    }
+  });
+  it('should attempt to read the file', async () => {
+    await readYmlFile({ filePath: 'some.yml' });
+    expect(readFileAsyncMock.mock.calls.length).toEqual(1);
+    expect(readFileAsyncMock.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual({
+      filePath: 'some.yml',
+    });
+  });
+  it('should parse the contents into yml with the YAML library', async () => {
+    const spy = jest.spyOn(YAML, 'parse');
+    expect(spy.mock.calls.length).toEqual(0);
+    await readYmlFile({ filePath: 'some.yml' });
+    expect(spy.mock.calls.length).toEqual(1);
+  });
+  it('should return the parsed yml content', async () => {
+    readFileAsyncMock.mockResolvedValueOnce(`
+    - type: change
+      path: 'init/service_user.sql'
+      id: 'init_20190619_1'
+      reapplyOnUpdate: false # we'll do it manually for now
+
+    - type: change
+      id: 'data_20190619_1'
+      path: 'data/data_sources.sql'
+      reapplyOnUpdate: false # only run each insert once
+
+    - type: change
+      id: 'procedures_20190619_1'
+      path: 'procedures/awesome_sproc.sql'
+      reapplyOnUpdate: true
+    `);
+    const result = await readYmlFile({ filePath: 'some.yml' });
+    expect(result).toMatchObject([
+      {
+        type: 'change',
+        path: 'init/service_user.sql',
+        id: 'init_20190619_1',
+        reapplyOnUpdate: false,
+      },
+      {
+        type: 'change',
+        id: 'data_20190619_1',
+        path: 'data/data_sources.sql',
+        reapplyOnUpdate: false,
+      },
+      {
+        type: 'change',
+        id: 'procedures_20190619_1',
+        path: 'procedures/awesome_sproc.sql',
+        reapplyOnUpdate: true,
+      },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/utils/fileio/readYmlFile.ts b/src/utils/fileio/readYmlFile.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cbaf61b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/fileio/readYmlFile.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import YAML from 'yaml';
+
+import { readFileAsync } from './readFileAsync';
+
+export const readYmlFile = async ({ filePath }: { filePath: string }) => {
+  // check path is for yml file
+  if (filePath.slice(-4) !== '.yml')
+    throw new Error(`file path point to a .yml file. error: ${filePath}`);
+
+  // get file contents
+  const stringContent = await readFileAsync({ filePath });
+
+  // parse the string content into yml
+  const content = YAML.parse(stringContent);
+
+  // return the content
+  return content;
+};
diff --git a/src/utils/fileio/writeFileAsync.ts b/src/utils/fileio/writeFileAsync.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d898ae6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/fileio/writeFileAsync.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import fs from 'fs';
+import util from 'util';
+
+// export these from a seperate file to make testing easier (i.e., easier to define the mocks)
+export const mkdir = util.promisify(fs.mkdir);
+const writeFile = util.promisify(fs.writeFile);
+
+export const writeFileAsync = async ({
+  path,
+  content,
+}: {
+  path: string;
+  content: string;
+}) => writeFile(path, content);
diff --git a/src/utils/filepaths/getDirOfPath.ts b/src/utils/filepaths/getDirOfPath.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e207026
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/filepaths/getDirOfPath.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+export const getDirOfPath = (path: string) =>
+  path.split('/').slice(0, -1).join('/'); // drops the file name