diff --git a/rattail/app.py b/rattail/app.py
index 9fd74077842bc181abd1ea62905942af5b473d0d..f168797e08a92376413e11df9b975902cce9c8af 100644
--- a/rattail/app.py
+++ b/rattail/app.py
@@ -104,6 +104,35 @@ class AppHandler(object):
         """
         return self.config.app_title(default=default)
 
+    def get_class_prefix(self, default=None):
+        """
+        Returns the "class prefix" for the app, used when naming model
+        classes etc.
+        """
+        prefix = self.config.get('rattail', 'app_class_prefix',
+                                 default=default)
+        if prefix:
+            return prefix
+
+        title = self.get_title(default="Rattail")
+        prefix = title.replace(' ', '')
+        return prefix
+
+    def get_table_prefix(self, default=None):
+        """
+        Returns the "table prefix" for the app, used when naming
+        tables etc.
+        """
+        prefix = self.config.get('rattail', 'app_table_prefix',
+                                 default=default)
+        if prefix:
+            return prefix
+
+        title = self.get_title(default="Rattail")
+        prefix = title.lower()\
+                      .replace(' ', '_')
+        return prefix
+
     def get_timezone(self, key='default'):
         """
         Returns a configured time zone.
@@ -595,6 +624,20 @@ class AppHandler(object):
             self.datasync_handler = Handler(self.config, **kwargs)
         return self.datasync_handler
 
+    def get_db_handler(self, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Get the configured "database" handler.
+
+        :returns: The :class:`~rattail.db.handler.DatabaseHandler`
+           instance for the app.
+        """
+        if not hasattr(self, 'db_handler'):
+            spec = self.config.get('rattail.db', 'handler',
+                                   default='rattail.db.handler:DatabaseHandler')
+            Handler = self.load_object(spec)
+            self.db_handler = Handler(self.config)
+        return self.db_handler
+
     def get_employment_handler(self, **kwargs):
         """
         Get the configured "employment" handler.
diff --git a/rattail/commands/core.py b/rattail/commands/core.py
index d21ddc32d62d5630dedc505ea3eec8954c8cbcc3..a0c6dc1f72ee20f1f40fb8e532277a90d9b2b8ce 100644
--- a/rattail/commands/core.py
+++ b/rattail/commands/core.py
@@ -438,6 +438,87 @@ class Subcommand(object):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    def require_prompt_toolkit(self):
+        try:
+            import prompt_toolkit
+        except ImportError:
+            value = input("\nprompt_toolkit is not installed.  shall i install it? [Yn] ")
+            value = value.strip()
+            if value and not self.config.parse_bool(value):
+                self.stderr.write("prompt_toolkit is required; aborting\n")
+                sys.exit(1)
+
+            subprocess.check_call(['pip', 'install', 'prompt_toolkit'])
+
+    def require_rich(self):
+        try:
+            import rich
+        except ImportError:
+            value = input("\nrich is not installed.  shall i install it? [Yn] ")
+            value = value.strip()
+            if value and not self.config.parse_bool(value):
+                self.stderr.write("rich is required; aborting\n")
+                sys.exit(1)
+
+            subprocess.check_call(['pip', 'install', 'rich'])
+
+    def rprint(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.require_rich()
+
+        from rich import print as rprint
+
+        return rprint(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    def basic_prompt(self, info, default=None, is_password=False, is_bool=False,
+                     required=False):
+        self.require_prompt_toolkit()
+
+        from prompt_toolkit import prompt
+        from prompt_toolkit.styles import Style
+
+        # message formatting styles
+        style = Style.from_dict({
+            '': '',
+            'bold': 'bold',
+        })
+
+        # build prompt message
+        message = [
+            ('', '\n'),
+            ('class:bold', info),
+        ]
+        if default is not None:
+            if is_bool:
+                message.append(('', ' [{}]: '.format('Y' if default else 'N')))
+            else:
+                message.append(('', ' [{}]: '.format(default)))
+        else:
+            message.append(('', ': '))
+
+        # prompt user for input
+        try:
+            text = prompt(message, style=style, is_password=is_password)
+        except (KeyboardInterrupt, EOFError):
+            self.rprint("\n\t[bold yellow]operation canceled by user[/bold yellow]\n",
+                        file=self.stderr)
+            sys.exit(2)
+
+        if is_bool:
+            if text == '':
+                return default
+            elif text.upper() == 'Y':
+                return True
+            elif text.upper() == 'N':
+                return False
+            self.rprint("\n\t[bold yellow]ambiguous, please try again[/bold yellow]\n")
+            return self.basic_prompt(info, default, is_bool=True)
+
+        if required and not text and not default:
+            return self.basic_prompt(info, default, is_password=is_password,
+                                     required=True)
+
+        return text or default
+
 
 class CheckDatabase(Subcommand):
     """
diff --git a/rattail/commands/projects.py b/rattail/commands/projects.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5aaac46b2dba366fba44f45a5aad308efbe6c3bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rattail/commands/projects.py
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
+################################################################################
+#
+#  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
+#  Copyright © 2010-2022 Lance Edgar
+#
+#  This file is part of Rattail.
+#
+#  Rattail is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+#  terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
+#  Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later
+#  version.
+#
+#  Rattail is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
+#  WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
+#  FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more
+#  details.
+#
+#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
+#  Rattail.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+################################################################################
+"""
+Project Commands
+"""
+
+from __future__ import unicode_literals, absolute_import
+
+import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+from rattail.commands.core import Subcommand
+from rattail.projects.handler import RattailProjectHandler
+
+
+class MakeProject(Subcommand):
+    """
+    Make a new app project
+    """
+    name = 'make-project'
+    description = __doc__.strip()
+
+    def add_parser_args(self, parser):
+        parser.add_argument('path',
+                            help="Path to project folder")
+
+    def run(self, args):
+
+        path = os.path.abspath(args.path)
+        if os.path.exists(path):
+            self.stderr.write("path already exists: {}\n".format(path))
+            sys.exit(1)
+
+        # nb. technically these would be required and auto-installed
+        # as needed (later), but seems better to do this explicitly
+        # up-front before any other command output
+        self.require_prompt_toolkit()
+        self.require_rich()
+
+        # welcome, continue?
+        self.rprint("\n\t[blue]Welcome to Rattail[/blue]")
+        self.rprint("\n\tThis tool will generate source code for a new project.")
+        if not self.basic_prompt("continue?", True, is_bool=True):
+            self.rprint()
+            sys.exit(0)
+
+        # name
+        name = os.path.basename(path)
+
+        # app_table_prefix
+        prefix = name
+        prefix = prefix.replace('-', '_')
+        prefix = prefix.replace(' ', '_')
+        app_table_prefix = self.basic_prompt('app_table_prefix',
+                                             default=prefix)
+        app_table_prefix = app_table_prefix.rstrip('_')
+
+        # app_class_prefix
+        prefix = name
+        prefix = prefix.replace('-', '_')
+        prefix = prefix.replace('_', ' ')
+        app_class_prefix = ''.join([w.capitalize() for w in prefix.split()])
+        app_class_prefix = self.basic_prompt('app_class_prefix',
+                                             default=app_class_prefix)
+
+        # org_name
+        org_name = self.basic_prompt('org_name', required=True)
+
+        # pypi_name
+        pypi_name = name
+        pypi_name = pypi_name.replace('_', ' ')
+        pypi_name = pypi_name.replace('-', ' ')
+        pypi_name = '-'.join([w.capitalize()
+                              for w in org_name.split() + pypi_name.split()])
+        pypi_name = self.basic_prompt('pypi_name', default=pypi_name)
+
+        # app_title
+        app_title = name
+        app_title = app_title.replace('-', ' ')
+        app_title = app_title.replace('_', ' ')
+        app_title = ' '.join([w.capitalize() for w in app_title.split()])
+
+        # generate project
+        project_handler = RattailProjectHandler(self.config)
+        options = {
+            'name': app_title,
+            'slug': name,
+            'organization': org_name,
+            'python_project_name': pypi_name,
+            'python_name': app_table_prefix,
+            'has_db': True,
+            'extends_db': True,
+            'has_web': True,
+
+            # TODO: these should not be needed..?
+            'has_web_api': False,
+            'has_datasync': False,
+            'integrates_catapult': False,
+            'integrates_corepos': False,
+            'integrates_locsms': False,
+            'uses_fabric': False,
+        }
+        project_handler.generate_project('rattail', name, options, path=path)
+        self.rprint("\n\tproject created at:  [bold green]{}[/bold green]".format(
+            path))
+
+        # install pkg
+        if self.basic_prompt("install project package?", is_bool=True, default=True):
+            subprocess.check_call(['pip', 'install', '-e', path])
+            self.rprint("\n\tpackage installed:  [bold green]{}[/bold green]".format(
+                pypi_name))
+
+            self.rprint("\n\tinstall and configure the app with:")
+            self.rprint("\n\t[blue]{} -n install[/blue]".format(name))
+
+        self.rprint()
diff --git a/rattail/data/config/web-complete.conf.mako b/rattail/data/config/web-complete.conf.mako
index dc671c35263767ec69fe848a48a390328599e007..88dafe00a770a5e1a522c261e21db06500bfd375 100644
--- a/rattail/data/config/web-complete.conf.mako
+++ b/rattail/data/config/web-complete.conf.mako
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ use = egg:${pyramid_egg}
 pyramid.reload_templates = true
 pyramid.debug_all = true
 pyramid.default_locale_name = en
-# pyramid.includes = pyramid_debugtoolbar
+# TODO: you may want exclog only in production, not dev.
+# also you may want debugtoolbar in dev
+pyramid.includes =
+        pyramid_exclog
+        # pyramid_debugtoolbar
 
 beaker.session.type = file
 beaker.session.data_dir = %(here)s/cache/sessions/data
@@ -49,7 +53,7 @@ port = ${pyramid_port}
 # NOTE: this is needed for local reverse proxy stuff to work with HTTPS
 # https://docs.pylonsproject.org/projects/waitress/en/latest/reverse-proxy.html
 # https://docs.pylonsproject.org/projects/waitress/en/latest/arguments.html
-# trusted_proxy = 127.0.0.1
+trusted_proxy = 127.0.0.1
 
 # TODO: leave this empty if proxy serves as root site, e.g. http://rattail.example.com/
 # url_prefix =
diff --git a/rattail/db/handler.py b/rattail/db/handler.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3877b842488a33f5f67d01683abf33b21b736a1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rattail/db/handler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
+################################################################################
+#
+#  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
+#  Copyright © 2010-2022 Lance Edgar
+#
+#  This file is part of Rattail.
+#
+#  Rattail is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+#  terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
+#  Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later
+#  version.
+#
+#  Rattail is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
+#  WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
+#  FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more
+#  details.
+#
+#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
+#  Rattail.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+################################################################################
+"""
+Database Handler
+"""
+
+from __future__ import unicode_literals, absolute_import
+
+from alembic.config import Config as AlembicConfig
+from alembic.script import ScriptDirectory
+
+from rattail.app import GenericHandler
+
+
+class DatabaseHandler(GenericHandler):
+    """
+    Base class and default implementation for the DB handler.
+    """
+
+    def get_alembic_branch_names(self, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Returns a list of Alembic branch names present in the default
+        database schema.
+        """
+        alembic_config = AlembicConfig()
+        alembic_config.set_main_option(
+            'script_location',
+            self.config.get('alembic', 'script_location', usedb=False))
+        alembic_config.set_main_option(
+            'version_locations',
+            self.config.get('alembic', 'version_locations', usedb=False))
+
+        script = ScriptDirectory.from_config(alembic_config)
+
+        branches = set()
+        for rev in script.get_revisions(script.get_heads()):
+            branches.update(rev.branch_labels)
+
+        return sorted(branches)
diff --git a/rattail/projects/handler.py b/rattail/projects/handler.py
index 7312026584b3989a6efb3b90e38d6ff44e0da6d5..b09718a201d3083930904fb496b28f217ab06b0f 100644
--- a/rattail/projects/handler.py
+++ b/rattail/projects/handler.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals, absolute_import
 
 import os
 import random
+import re
 import shutil
 import string
 import subprocess
@@ -287,6 +288,9 @@ class RattailProjectHandler(ProjectHandler):
         """
         And here we do some experimentation...
         """
+        from alembic.config import Config as AlembicConfig
+        from alembic.command import revision as alembic_revision
+
         context = options
 
         ##############################
@@ -329,8 +333,6 @@ class RattailProjectHandler(ProjectHandler):
         self.generate('rattail/package/emails.py.mako', os.path.join(package, 'emails.py'),
                       **context)
 
-        self.generate('rattail/package/settings.py', os.path.join(package, 'settings.py'))
-
         ##############################
         # data dir
         ##############################
@@ -380,17 +382,56 @@ class RattailProjectHandler(ProjectHandler):
             alembic = os.path.join(db, 'alembic')
             os.makedirs(alembic)
 
-            self.generate('rattail/package/db/alembic/README', os.path.join(alembic, 'README'))
-
             self.generate('rattail/package/db/alembic/env.py.mako', os.path.join(alembic, 'env.py'),
                           **context)
 
-            self.generate('rattail/package/db/alembic/script.py.mako_', os.path.join(alembic, 'script.py.mako'))
-
             versions = os.path.join(alembic, 'versions')
             os.makedirs(versions)
 
-            self.generate('rattail/package/db/alembic/versions/.keepme', os.path.join(versions, '.keepme'))
+            # make alembic config, aware of new project versions folder
+            alembic_config = AlembicConfig()
+            alembic_config.set_main_option('script_location',
+                                        'rattail.db:alembic')
+            alembic_config.set_main_option('version_locations',
+                                        '{} rattail.db:alembic/versions'.format(
+                                            versions))
+
+            # generate first revision script for new project
+            script = alembic_revision(alembic_config,
+                                      version_path=versions,
+                                      head='rattail@head',
+                                      splice=True,
+                                      branch_label=context['python_name'],
+                                      message="add {} branch".format(context['python_name']))
+
+            # declare `down_revision = None` ..no way to tell alembic
+            # to do that apparently, so we must rewrite file
+            with open(script.path, 'rt') as f:
+                old_contents = f.read()
+            new_contents = []
+            for line in old_contents.split('\n'):
+                if line.startswith('down_revision ='):
+                    line = re.sub(r"'\w+'", 'None', line)
+                new_contents.append(line)
+            with open(script.path, 'wt') as f:
+                f.write('\n'.join(new_contents))
+
+        ##############################
+        # templates
+        ##############################
+
+        templates = os.path.join(package, 'templates')
+        os.makedirs(templates)
+
+        installer = os.path.join(templates, 'installer')
+        os.makedirs(installer)
+
+        self.generate('rattail/package/templates/installer/rattail.conf.mako_tmpl',
+                      os.path.join(installer, 'rattail.conf.mako'),
+                      **context)
+
+        self.generate('rattail/package/templates/installer/upgrade.sh.mako_',
+                      os.path.join(installer, 'upgrade.sh.mako'))
 
         ##############################
         # web package dir
@@ -418,10 +459,11 @@ class RattailProjectHandler(ProjectHandler):
             self.generate('rattail/package/web/static/__init__.py.mako', os.path.join(static, '__init__.py'),
                           **context)
 
-            templates = os.path.join(web, 'templates')
-            os.makedirs(templates)
+            web_templates = os.path.join(web, 'templates')
+            os.makedirs(web_templates)
 
-            self.generate('rattail/package/web/templates/base_meta.mako_tmpl', os.path.join(templates, 'base_meta.mako'),
+            self.generate('rattail/package/web/templates/base_meta.mako_tmpl',
+                          os.path.join(web_templates, 'base_meta.mako'),
                           **context)
 
             views = os.path.join(web, 'views')
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/gitignore.mako b/rattail/projects/rattail/gitignore.mako
index 5b4e2a850d70fdd53f6c09b922b06d7d6cbbb2e3..8029460421f27a5d160b438d837e63aa43c7e8d8 100644
--- a/rattail/projects/rattail/gitignore.mako
+++ b/rattail/projects/rattail/gitignore.mako
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 ${egg_name}.egg-info/
+% if uses_fabric:
 machines/*/.vagrant/
 machines/*/fabenv.py
 machines/*/fabric.yaml
+% endif
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/commands.py.mako b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/commands.py.mako
index 9e5804b9e0315401e337b528c42e69033c859f12..99103f35941b4ab3bed58585709418e3432d2a69 100644
--- a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/commands.py.mako
+++ b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/commands.py.mako
@@ -3,9 +3,15 @@
 ${name} commands
 """
 
+import os
+import stat
+import subprocess
 import sys
 
+from alembic.util.messaging import obfuscate_url_pw
+
 from rattail import commands
+from rattail.files import resource_path
 
 from ${python_name} import __version__
 
@@ -38,3 +44,222 @@ class HelloWorld(commands.Subcommand):
 
     def run(self, args):
         self.stdout.write("hello world!\n")
+
+
+class Install(commands.Subcommand):
+    """
+    Install the ${name} app
+    """
+    name = 'install'
+    description = __doc__.strip()
+
+    def run(self, args):
+
+        # nb. technically these would be required and auto-installed
+        # as needed (later), but seems better to do this explicitly
+        # up-front before any other command output
+        self.require_prompt_toolkit()
+        self.require_rich()
+
+        self.rprint("\n\t[blue]Welcome to ${name}![/blue]")
+        self.rprint("\n\tThis tool will install and configure a new app.")
+        self.rprint("\n\t[italic]NB. You should already have created a new database in PostgreSQL or MySQL.[/italic]")
+
+        # continue?
+        if not self.basic_prompt("continue?", True, is_bool=True):
+            self.rprint()
+            sys.exit(0)
+
+        # appdir must not yet exist
+        appdir = os.path.join(sys.prefix, 'app')
+        if os.path.exists(appdir):
+            self.rprint("\n\t[bold red]appdir already exists:[/bold red]  {}\n".format(appdir))
+            sys.exit(1)
+
+        # get db info
+        dbtype = self.basic_prompt('db type', 'postgresql')
+        dbhost = self.basic_prompt('db host', 'localhost')
+        dbport = self.basic_prompt('db port', '3306' if dbtype == 'mysql' else '5432')
+        dbname = self.basic_prompt('db name', '${python_name}')
+        dbuser = self.basic_prompt('db user', 'rattail')
+
+        # get db password
+        dbpass = None
+        while not dbpass:
+            dbpass = self.basic_prompt('db pass', is_password=True)
+
+        # test db connection
+        self.rprint("\n\ttesting db connection... ", end='')
+        dburl = self.make_db_url(dbtype, dbhost, dbport, dbname, dbuser, dbpass)
+        error = self.test_db_connection(dburl)
+        if error:
+            self.rprint("[bold red]cannot connect![/bold red] ..error was:")
+            self.rprint("\n{}".format(error))
+            self.rprint("\n\t[bold yellow]aborting mission[/bold yellow]\n")
+            sys.exit(1)
+        self.rprint("[bold green]good[/bold green]")
+
+        # make the appdir
+        self.app.make_appdir(appdir)
+
+        # shared context for generated app files
+        context = {
+            'envdir': sys.prefix,
+            'app_package': '${python_name}',
+            'app_title': "${name}",
+            'pypi_name': '${python_project_name}',
+            'appdir': appdir,
+            'db_url': dburl,
+            'pyramid_egg': '${egg_name}',
+            'beaker_key': '${python_name}',
+        }
+
+        # make config files
+        rattail_conf = self.app.make_config_file(
+            'rattail', os.path.join(appdir, 'rattail.conf'),
+            template_path=resource_path('${python_name}:templates/installer/rattail.conf.mako'),
+            **context)
+        quiet_conf = self.app.make_config_file('quiet', appdir)
+        web_conf = self.app.make_config_file(
+            'web-complete', os.path.join(appdir, 'web.conf'),
+            **context)
+
+        # make upgrade script
+        path = os.path.join(appdir, 'upgrade.sh')
+        self.app.render_mako_template(
+            resource_path('${python_name}:templates/installer/upgrade.sh.mako'),
+            context, output_path=path)
+        os.chmod(path, stat.S_IRWXU
+                 | stat.S_IRGRP
+                 | stat.S_IXGRP
+                 | stat.S_IROTH
+                 | stat.S_IXOTH)
+
+        self.rprint("\n\tappdir created at:  [bold green]{}[/bold green]".format(appdir))
+
+        bindir = os.path.join(sys.prefix, 'bin')
+
+        schema_installed = False
+        if self.basic_prompt("install db schema?", True, is_bool=True):
+            self.rprint()
+
+            # install db schema
+            alembic = os.path.join(bindir, 'alembic')
+            cmd = [alembic, '-c', rattail_conf, 'upgrade', 'heads']
+            subprocess.check_call(cmd)
+            schema_installed = True
+
+            rattail = os.path.join(bindir, 'rattail')
+
+            # set falafel theme
+            cmd = [rattail, '-c', quiet_conf, '--no-versioning',
+                   'setting-put', 'tailbone.theme', 'falafel']
+            subprocess.check_call(cmd)
+
+            # hide theme picker
+            cmd = [rattail, '-c', quiet_conf, '--no-versioning',
+                   'setting-put', 'tailbone.themes.expose_picker', 'false']
+            subprocess.check_call(cmd)
+
+            # set main image
+            cmd = [rattail, '-c', quiet_conf, '--no-versioning',
+                   'setting-put', 'tailbone.main_image_url', '/tailbone/img/home_logo.png']
+            subprocess.check_call(cmd)
+
+            # set header image
+            cmd = [rattail, '-c', quiet_conf, '--no-versioning',
+                   'setting-put', 'tailbone.header_image_url', '/tailbone/img/rattail.ico']
+            subprocess.check_call(cmd)
+
+            # set favicon image
+            cmd = [rattail, '-c', quiet_conf, '--no-versioning',
+                   'setting-put', 'tailbone.favicon_url', '/tailbone/img/rattail.ico']
+            subprocess.check_call(cmd)
+
+            # set vue version
+            cmd = [rattail, '-c', quiet_conf, '--no-versioning',
+                   'setting-put', 'tailbone.vue_version', '2.6.14']
+            subprocess.check_call(cmd)
+
+            # set buefy version
+            cmd = [rattail, '-c', quiet_conf, '--no-versioning',
+                   'setting-put', 'tailbone.buefy_version', 'latest']
+            subprocess.check_call(cmd)
+
+            # set default grid page size
+            cmd = [rattail, '-c', quiet_conf, '--no-versioning',
+                   'setting-put', 'tailbone.grid.default_pagesize', '20']
+            subprocess.check_call(cmd)
+
+            self.rprint("\n\tdb schema installed to:  [bold green]{}[/bold green]".format(
+                obfuscate_url_pw(dburl)))
+
+            if self.basic_prompt("create admin user?", True, is_bool=True):
+
+                # get admin credentials
+                username = self.basic_prompt('admin username', 'admin')
+                password = None
+                while not password:
+                    password = self.basic_prompt('admin password', is_password=True)
+                    if password:
+                        confirm = self.basic_prompt('confirm password', is_password=True)
+                        if not confirm or confirm != password:
+                            self.rprint("[bold yellow]passwords did not match[/bold yellow]")
+                            password = None
+                fullname = self.basic_prompt('full name')
+
+                self.rprint()
+
+                # make admin user
+                rattail = os.path.join(bindir, 'rattail')
+                cmd = [rattail, '-c', quiet_conf, 'make-user', '-A', username,
+                       '--password', password]
+                if fullname:
+                    cmd.extend(['--full-name', fullname])
+                subprocess.check_call(cmd)
+
+                self.rprint("\n\tadmin user created:  [bold green]{}[/bold green]".format(
+                    username))
+
+        self.rprint("\n\t[bold green]initial setup is complete![/bold green]")
+
+        if schema_installed:
+            self.rprint("\n\tyou can run the web app with:")
+            self.rprint("\n\t[blue]cd {}[/blue]".format(sys.prefix))
+            self.rprint("\t[blue]bin/pserve file+ini:app/web.conf[/blue]")
+
+        self.rprint()
+
+    def make_db_url(self, dbtype, dbhost, dbport, dbname, dbuser, dbpass):
+        try:
+            # newer style
+            from sqlalchemy.engine import URL
+            factory = URL.create
+        except ImportError:
+            # older style
+            from sqlalchemy.engine.url import URL
+            factory = URL
+
+        if dbtype == 'mysql':
+            drivername = 'mysql+mysqlconnector'
+        else:
+            drivername = 'postgresql+psycopg2'
+
+        return factory(drivername=drivername,
+                       username=dbuser,
+                       password=dbpass,
+                       host=dbhost,
+                       port=dbport,
+                       database=dbname)
+
+    def test_db_connection(self, url):
+        from sqlalchemy import create_engine
+
+        engine = create_engine(url)
+
+        # check for random table; does not matter if it exists, we
+        # just need to test interaction and this is a neutral way
+        try:
+            engine.has_table('whatever')
+        except Exception as error:
+            return str(error)
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/config.py.mako b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/config.py.mako
index 6ab12ab4ccf399742ccbea3790fe65fb1615446f..6d8c3ea4796a85f90ebde5a7e968b80dd9a9f6ff 100644
--- a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/config.py.mako
+++ b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/config.py.mako
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ class ${studly_name}Config(ConfigExtension):
 
         # set some default config values
         config.setdefault('rattail.mail', 'emails', '${python_name}.emails')
-        config.setdefault('rattail', 'settings', '${python_name}.settings')
         config.setdefault('tailbone', 'menus', '${python_name}.web.menus')
         config.setdefault('rattail.config', 'templates', '${python_name}:data/config rattail:data/config')
 
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/db/alembic/README b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/db/alembic/README
deleted file mode 100644
index 98e4f9c44effe479ed38c66ba922e7bcc672916f..0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
--- a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/db/alembic/README
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Generic single-database configuration.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/db/alembic/script.py.mako_ b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/db/alembic/script.py.mako_
deleted file mode 100644
index 70d02548df89ff3d52d96cb17fd4e289515954a2..0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
--- a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/db/alembic/script.py.mako_
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8; mode: python; -*-
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-"""${message}
-
-Revision ID: ${up_revision}
-Revises: ${down_revision | comma,n}
-Create Date: ${create_date}
-
-"""
-
-from __future__ import unicode_literals, absolute_import
-
-# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
-revision = ${repr(up_revision)}
-down_revision = ${repr(down_revision)}
-branch_labels = ${repr(branch_labels)}
-depends_on = ${repr(depends_on)}
-
-from alembic import op
-import sqlalchemy as sa
-import rattail.db.types
-${imports if imports else ""}
-
-
-def upgrade():
-    ${upgrades if upgrades else "pass"}
-
-
-def downgrade():
-    ${downgrades if downgrades else "pass"}
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/db/alembic/versions/.keepme b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/db/alembic/versions/.keepme
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1d6434b8b29ae775ad8c2e48c5391..0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/settings.py b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/settings.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 5cdeb943817c78a577ac8018d860ad0096999025..0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
--- a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/settings.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
-"""
-App Settings
-"""
-
-from rattail.settings import Setting
-
-
-# bring in some common settings from rattail
-from rattail.settings import (
-
-    # (General)
-    rattail_app_title,
-    tailbone_background_color,
-
-    # Email
-    rattail_mail_record_attempts,
-
-    # Product
-    rattail_product_key,
-    rattail_product_key_title,
-    tailbone_products_show_pod_image,
-
-    # Purchasing / Receiving
-    rattail_batch_purchase_allow_cases,
-    rattail_batch_purchase_allow_expired_credits,
-)
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/templates/installer/rattail.conf.mako_tmpl b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/templates/installer/rattail.conf.mako_tmpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..09ac259c44174be76577beee0961bb9b30ee7d5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/templates/installer/rattail.conf.mako_tmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+## -*- mode: conf; -*-
+
+<%%text>############################################################</%%text>
+#
+# ${app_title} core config
+#
+<%%text>############################################################</%%text>
+
+
+<%%text>##############################</%%text>
+# rattail
+<%%text>##############################</%%text>
+
+[rattail]
+app_title = ${app_title}
+app_package = ${app_package}
+timezone.default = ${timezone}
+appdir = ${appdir}
+datadir = ${os.path.join(appdir, 'data')}
+batch.files = ${os.path.join(appdir, 'data', 'batch')}
+workdir = ${os.path.join(appdir, 'work')}
+export.files = ${os.path.join(appdir, 'data', 'exports')}
+
+[rattail.config]
+# require = /etc/rattail/rattail.conf
+configure_logging = true
+usedb = true
+preferdb = true
+
+[rattail.db]
+default.url = ${db_url}
+versioning.enabled = true
+
+[rattail.mail]
+
+# this is the global email shutoff switch
+#send_emails = false
+
+# recommended setup is to always talk to postfix on localhost and then
+# it can handle any need complexities, e.g. sending to relay
+smtp.server = localhost
+
+# by default only email templates from rattail proper are used
+templates = rattail:templates/mail
+
+# this is the "default" email profile, from which all others initially
+# inherit, but most/all profiles will override these values
+default.prefix = [${app_title}]
+default.from = rattail@localhost
+default.to = root@localhost
+# nb. in test environment it can be useful to disable by default, and
+# then selectively enable certain (e.g. feedback, upgrade) emails
+#default.enabled = false
+
+[rattail.upgrades]
+command = ${os.path.join(appdir, 'upgrade.sh')} --verbose
+files = ${os.path.join(appdir, 'data', 'upgrades')}
+
+
+<%%text>##############################</%%text>
+# alembic
+<%%text>##############################</%%text>
+
+[alembic]
+script_location = rattail.db:alembic
+version_locations = %(alembic_version_locations)s
+
+
+<%%text>##############################</%%text>
+# logging
+<%%text>##############################</%%text>
+
+[loggers]
+keys = root, exc_logger, beaker, txn, sqlalchemy, django_db, flufl_bounce, requests
+
+[handlers]
+keys = file, console, email
+
+[formatters]
+keys = generic, console
+
+[logger_root]
+handlers = file, console
+level = DEBUG
+
+[logger_exc_logger]
+qualname = exc_logger
+handlers = email
+level = ERROR
+
+[logger_beaker]
+qualname = beaker
+handlers =
+level = INFO
+
+[logger_txn]
+qualname = txn
+handlers =
+level = INFO
+
+[logger_sqlalchemy]
+qualname = sqlalchemy.engine
+handlers =
+# handlers = file
+# level = INFO
+
+[logger_django_db]
+qualname = django.db.backends
+handlers =
+level = INFO
+# level = DEBUG
+
+[logger_flufl_bounce]
+qualname = flufl.bounce
+handlers =
+level = WARNING
+
+[logger_requests]
+qualname = requests
+handlers =
+# level = WARNING
+
+[handler_file]
+class = handlers.RotatingFileHandler
+args = (${repr(os.path.join(appdir, 'log', 'rattail.log'))}, 'a', 1000000, 100, 'utf_8')
+formatter = generic
+
+[handler_console]
+class = StreamHandler
+args = (sys.stderr,)
+formatter = console
+# formatter = generic
+# level = INFO
+# level = WARNING
+
+[handler_email]
+class = handlers.SMTPHandler
+args = ('localhost', 'rattail@localhost', ['root@localhost'], "[Rattail] Logging")
+formatter = generic
+level = ERROR
+
+[formatter_generic]
+format = %%(asctime)s %%(levelname)-5.5s [%%(name)s][%%(threadName)s] %%(funcName)s: %%(message)s
+datefmt = %%Y-%%m-%%d %%H:%%M:%%S
+
+[formatter_console]
+format = %%(levelname)-5.5s [%%(name)s][%%(threadName)s] %%(funcName)s: %%(message)s
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/templates/installer/upgrade.sh.mako_ b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/templates/installer/upgrade.sh.mako_
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..81c1d0a8050440b8b8f03e675aabb5945e10615e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/templates/installer/upgrade.sh.mako_
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#!/bin/sh -e
+<%text>##################################################</%text>
+#
+# upgrade script for ${app_title} app
+#
+<%text>##################################################</%text>
+
+if [ "$1" = "--verbose" ]; then
+    VERBOSE='--verbose'
+    QUIET=
+else
+    VERBOSE=
+    QUIET='--quiet'
+fi
+
+cd ${envdir}
+
+PIP='bin/pip'
+ALEMBIC='bin/alembic'
+
+# upgrade pip and friends
+$PIP install $QUIET --disable-pip-version-check --upgrade pip
+$PIP install $QUIET --upgrade setuptools wheel
+
+# upgrade app proper
+$PIP install $QUIET --upgrade --upgrade-strategy eager ${pypi_name}
+
+# migrate schema
+$ALEMBIC -c app/rattail.conf upgrade heads
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/web/views/__init__.py.mako b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/web/views/__init__.py.mako
index 05f07be49daebf6e6c5f378be0b2947ace2ebeea..ecc896d9c31a26864a38407d22993e87d661cd1f 100644
--- a/rattail/projects/rattail/package/web/views/__init__.py.mako
+++ b/rattail/projects/rattail/package/web/views/__init__.py.mako
@@ -70,5 +70,5 @@ def includeme(config):
     config.include('tailbone.views.purchasing')
 
     # batch views
-    config.include('tailbone.views.handheld')
+    config.include('tailbone.views.batch.handheld')
     config.include('tailbone.views.batch.inventory')
diff --git a/rattail/projects/rattail/setup.py.mako b/rattail/projects/rattail/setup.py.mako
index 31e5402ad004332a1c7a670bf995b63f6e0fb35d..bb47e325fd4880d0a4d7bdc5b2386cecffd9d17e 100644
--- a/rattail/projects/rattail/setup.py.mako
+++ b/rattail/projects/rattail/setup.py.mako
@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@ requires = [
 
     'invoke',                           # 1.4.1
     'rattail[auth,db,bouncer]',         # 0.9.141
+    % if uses_fabric:
     'rattail-fabric2',                  # 0.2.1
+    % endif
 
     % if has_db:
     'psycopg2',                         # 2.8.4
@@ -119,6 +121,7 @@ setup(
 
         '${python_name}.commands': [
             'hello = ${python_name}.commands:HelloWorld',
+            'install = ${python_name}.commands:Install',
         ],
         % if has_web:
 
diff --git a/rattail/settings.py b/rattail/settings.py
index 0030a4a12592e6e51fdac83dfdbb796c18072ba8..4fd4dc0257878f46862c6e6b641e853e3368c407 100644
--- a/rattail/settings.py
+++ b/rattail/settings.py
@@ -30,10 +30,16 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals, absolute_import
 class Setting(object):
     """
     Base class for all setting definitions.
+
+    .. attribute:: core
+
+       Boolean indicating if this is a "core setting" - i.e. one which
+       should be exposed in the App Settings in most/all apps.
     """
     group = "(General)"
     namespace = None
     name = None
+    core = False
     data_type = str
     choices = None
     required = False
@@ -49,6 +55,29 @@ class rattail_app_title(Setting):
     """
     namespace = 'rattail'
     name = 'app_title'
+    core = True
+
+
+class rattail_app_class_prefix(Setting):
+    """
+    App-specific "capwords-style" prefix, used for naming model
+    classes and other things.  E.g. with prefix of 'Poser', model
+    might be named 'PoserWidget'.
+    """
+    namespace = 'rattail'
+    name = 'app_class_prefix'
+    core = True
+
+
+class rattail_app_table_prefix(Setting):
+    """
+    App-specific "variable-style" prefix, used for naming tables and
+    other things.  E.g. with prefix of 'poser', table might be named
+    'poser_widget'.
+    """
+    namespace = 'rattail'
+    name = 'app_table_prefix'
+    core = True
 
 
 class rattail_node_title(Setting):
@@ -68,6 +97,7 @@ class rattail_production(Setting):
     namespace = 'rattail'
     name = 'production'
     data_type = bool
+    core = True
 
 
 class tailbone_background_color(Setting):
@@ -87,6 +117,16 @@ class tailbone_buefy_version(Setting):
     """
     namespace = 'tailbone'
     name = 'buefy_version'
+    core = True
+
+
+class tailbone_favicon_url(Setting):
+    """
+    URL of favicon image.
+    """
+    namespace = 'tailbone'
+    name = 'favicon_url'
+    core = True
 
 
 class tailbone_feedback_allows_reply(Setting):
@@ -106,6 +146,25 @@ class tailbone_grid_default_pagesize(Setting):
     namespace = 'tailbone'
     name = 'grid.default_pagesize'
     data_type = int
+    core = True
+
+
+class tailbone_header_image_url(Setting):
+    """
+    URL of smaller logo image, shown in menu header.
+    """
+    namespace = 'tailbone'
+    name = 'header_image_url'
+    core = True
+
+
+class tailbone_main_image_url(Setting):
+    """
+    URL of main app logo image, e.g. on home/login page.
+    """
+    namespace = 'tailbone'
+    name = 'main_image_url'
+    core = True
 
 
 class tailbone_sticky_headers(Setting):
@@ -128,6 +187,7 @@ class tailbone_vue_version(Setting):
     """
     namespace = 'tailbone'
     name = 'vue_version'
+    core = True
 
 
 class rattail_single_store(Setting):
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 908f55c662258f6d2e0cdbcaa66ef444e65f962d..3570c12232764ed8b68f8755bd84d49b5d1d53cd 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ setup(
             'make-appdir = rattail.commands.core:MakeAppDir',
             'make-batch = rattail.commands.batch:MakeBatch',
             'make-config = rattail.commands.core:MakeConfig',
+            'make-project = rattail.commands.projects:MakeProject',
             'make-user = rattail.commands.core:MakeUser',
             'make-uuid = rattail.commands.core:MakeUUID',
             'mysql-chars = rattail.commands.mysql:MysqlChars',