diff --git a/src/bm3dornl/__init__.py b/src/bm3dornl/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ab36bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bm3dornl/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+"""
+Contains the entry point for the application
+"""
+
+try:
+    from ._version import __version__  # noqa: F401
+except ImportError:
+    __version__ = "0.0.1"
+
+
+def PackageName():  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+    """This is needed for backward compatibility because mantid workbench does "from shiver import Shiver" """
+    from .packagenamepy import PackageName as packagename  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+
+    return packagename()
diff --git a/src/bm3dornl/bm3dornl.py b/src/bm3dornl/bm3dornl.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d30dde6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bm3dornl/bm3dornl.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+"""
+Main Qt application
+"""
+
+import sys
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication, QMainWindow
+
+from mantid.kernel import Logger
+from mantidqt.gui_helper import set_matplotlib_backend
+
+# make sure matplotlib is correctly set before we import shiver
+set_matplotlib_backend()
+
+# make sure the algorithms have been loaded so they are available to the AlgorithmManager
+import mantid.simpleapi  # noqa: F401, E402 pylint: disable=unused-import, wrong-import-position
+
+from packagenamepy.configuration import Configuration  # noqa: E402 pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
+from packagenamepy.version import __version__  # noqa: E402 pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
+from packagenamepy.mainwindow import MainWindow  # noqa: E402 pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
+
+logger = Logger("PACKAGENAME")
+
+
+class PackageName(QMainWindow):
+    """Main Package window"""
+
+    __instance = None
+
+    def __new__(cls):
+        if PackageName.__instance is None:
+            PackageName.__instance = QMainWindow.__new__(cls)  # pylint: disable=no-value-for-parameter
+        return PackageName.__instance
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        logger.information(f"PackageName version: {__version__}")
+        config = Configuration()
+
+        if not config.is_valid():
+            msg = (
+                "Error with configuration settings!",
+                f"Check and update your file: {config.config_file_path}",
+                "with the latest settings found here:",
+                f"{config.template_file_path} and start the application again.",
+            )
+
+            print(" ".join(msg))
+            sys.exit(-1)
+        self.setWindowTitle(f"PACKAGENAME - {__version__}")
+        self.main_window = MainWindow(self)
+        self.setCentralWidget(self.main_window)
+
+
+def gui():
+    """
+    Main entry point for Qt application
+    """
+    input_flags = sys.argv[1::]
+    if "--v" in input_flags or "--version" in input_flags:
+        print(__version__)
+        sys.exit()
+    else:
+        app = QApplication(sys.argv)
+        window = PackageName()
+        window.show()
+        sys.exit(app.exec_())
diff --git a/src/bm3dornl/configuration.py b/src/bm3dornl/configuration.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..86c68ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bm3dornl/configuration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+"""Module to load the the settings from SHOME/.packagename/configuration.ini file
+
+Will fall back to a default"""
+
+import os
+import shutil
+
+from configparser import ConfigParser
+from pathlib import Path
+from mantid.kernel import Logger
+
+logger = Logger("PACKAGENAME")
+
+# configuration settings file path
+CONFIG_PATH_FILE = os.path.join(Path.home(), ".packagename", "configuration.ini")
+
+
+class Configuration:
+    """Load and validate Configuration Data"""
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        """initialization of configuration mechanism"""
+        # capture the current state
+        self.valid = False
+
+        # locate the template configuration file
+        project_directory = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
+        self.template_file_path = os.path.join(
+            project_directory, "configuration_template.ini"
+        )
+
+        # retrieve the file path of the file
+        self.config_file_path = CONFIG_PATH_FILE
+        logger.information(f"{self.config_file_path} will be used")
+
+        # if template conf file path exists
+        if os.path.exists(self.template_file_path):
+            # file does not exist create it from template
+            if not os.path.exists(self.config_file_path):
+                # if directory structure does not exist create it
+                if not os.path.exists(os.path.dirname(self.config_file_path)):
+                    os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(self.config_file_path))
+                shutil.copy2(self.template_file_path, self.config_file_path)
+
+            self.config = ConfigParser(allow_no_value=True, comment_prefixes="/")
+            # parse the file
+            try:
+                self.config.read(self.config_file_path)
+                # validate the file has the all the latest variables
+                self.validate()
+            except ValueError as err:
+                logger.error(str(err))
+                logger.error(f"Problem with the file: {self.config_file_path}")
+        else:
+            logger.error(
+                f"Template configuration file: {self.template_file_path} is missing!"
+            )
+
+    def validate(self):
+        """validates that the fields exist at the config_file_path and writes any missing fields/data
+        using the template configuration file: configuration_template.ini as a guide"""
+        template_config = ConfigParser(allow_no_value=True, comment_prefixes="/")
+        template_config.read(self.template_file_path)
+        for section in template_config.sections():
+            # if section is missing
+            if section not in self.config.sections():
+                # copy the whole section
+                self.config.add_section(section)
+
+            for item in template_config.items(section):
+                field, _ = item
+                if field not in self.config[section]:
+                    # copy the field
+                    self.config[section][field] = template_config[section][field]
+        with open(self.config_file_path, "w", encoding="utf8") as config_file:
+            self.config.write(config_file)
+        self.valid = True
+
+    def is_valid(self):
+        """returns the configuration state"""
+        return self.valid
+
+
+def get_data(section, name=None):
+    """retrieves the configuration data for a variable with name"""
+    # default file path location
+    config_file_path = CONFIG_PATH_FILE
+    if os.path.exists(config_file_path):
+        config = ConfigParser()
+        # parse the file
+        config.read(config_file_path)
+        try:
+            if name:
+                value = config[section][name]
+                # in case of boolean string value cast it to bool
+                if value in ("True", "False"):
+                    return value == "True"
+                # in case of None
+                if value == "None":
+                    return None
+                return value
+            return config[section]
+        except KeyError as err:
+            # requested section/field do not exist
+            logger.error(str(err))
+            return None
+    return None
diff --git a/src/bm3dornl/configuration_template.ini b/src/bm3dornl/configuration_template.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8ea100
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bm3dornl/configuration_template.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[global.other]
+help_url = https://github.com/neutrons/python_project_template/blob/main/README.md
diff --git a/src/bm3dornl/version.py b/src/bm3dornl/version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f674ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bm3dornl/version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+"""Module to load the version created by versioningit
+
+Will fall back to a default packagename  is not installed"""
+
+try:
+    from ._version import __version__
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    __version__ = "0.0.1"