diff --git a/setup.sh b/setup.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..fbe769b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/setup.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+INSTALL_DIR=~/.dotfiles
+TARGET_DIR=$HOME
+
+for ITEM in `ls $INSTALL_DIR` ; do
+
+	if [ "$ITEM" = "setup.sh" ] 
+	then
+		continue; 
+	fi
+
+	TARGET_NAME="$TARGET_DIR/.$ITEM";
+	
+	# backup needed
+	if [ -f $TARGET_NAME ] || [ -h $TARGET_NAME ] || [ -d $TARGET_NAME ]
+	then
+		echo "Found $TARGET_NAME. Backing up to ${TARGET_NAME}.pre_dotfiles";
+		mv $TARGET_NAME ${TARGET_NAME}.pre_dotfiles || exit 1
+	fi
+
+	ln -s $INSTALL_DIR/$ITEM $TARGET_NAME;
+	echo "Genereated symbolic link from $TARGET_NAME to $INSTALL_DIR/$ITEM";
+	echo ""
+
+
+done
+
+echo 'dotfiles are installed'
+