diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 1817f88..17ae1c5 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ data/
 
 # pi agent local state
 .pi/
+.pi-sessions/
 
 # docker demo staging (frp binaries)
 frp-bin/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 16c405a..9ca2f70 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ cd web && npm run build && rm -rf internal/httpapi/dist && cp -r web/dist intern
 
 ```bash
 sudo dpkg -i webui4frpc-0.1.4-linux-amd64.deb   # 或 linux-arm64.deb
-sudo nano /etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env        # 改掉默认密码
+sudo nano /etc/webui4frpc/config.json           # 改掉默认密码（见「从配置文件启动」）
 sudo systemctl restart webui4frpc
 ```
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ sudo systemctl restart webui4frpc
 
 ```bash
 sudo rpm -i webui4frpc-0.1.4-linux-x86_64.rpm
-sudo vi /etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env
+sudo vi /etc/webui4frpc/config.json
 sudo systemctl enable --now webui4frpc
 ```
 
@@ -152,12 +152,19 @@ sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS --ignore-missing
 ./webui4frpc -addr 127.0.0.1:7500 -user admin -password admin123 -workdir ./data
 ```
 
+或者用配置文件（推荐，口令不必出现在命令行与进程列表里）：
+
+```bash
+./webui4frpc -config ./config.json
+```
+
 打开 <http://127.0.0.1:7500/> ，输入账号密码进入画布。首次使用可到「设置」页一键安装 frpc（或手动指定路径），然后回到画布创建 local / remote 并连线、保存。
 
 ### 参数
 
 | 参数 | 默认 | 说明 |
 | --- | --- | --- |
+| `-config` | `<workdir>/config.json`（或 `$W4F_CONFIG`） | 配置文件路径；文件不存在不算错误 |
 | `-addr` | `127.0.0.1:7500` | 监听地址 |
 | `-user` / `-password` | `admin` / `admin` | Basic 认证（自动同步为 system 管理员账号） |
 | `-workdir` | `./webui-frpc` | 数据目录（db / 配置 / 日志 / bin） |
@@ -168,6 +175,104 @@ sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS --ignore-missing
 
 环境变量 `W4F_HOST` 可覆盖节点对外可达的主机名（Docker DNS / 通配监听场景用）。
 
+## 从配置文件启动
+
+除了命令行 flag，也可以用 JSON 配置文件启动。**推荐用它承载口令**：命令行参数会出现在
+`ps` 输出、systemd 单元文件与 shell history 里，配置文件可以把口令放到只 root 可读的地方。
+
+### 优先级
+
+```
+命令行 flag  >  配置文件  >  内置默认值
+```
+
+- **只有显式传入的 flag 才会覆盖配置文件**。实现上用 `flag.Visit` 判断某个 flag 是否真的
+  被写在命令行上 —— Go 的 `flag` 包会先把默认值塞进变量，若直接读变量，默认值会无条件
+  压过配置文件。这是这套逻辑里唯一容易出错的地方，已有回归测试守着
+  （`internal/appconfig` 的 `TestResolveFileBeatsFlagDefaults`）。
+- 配置文件里**没写**或留空的字段，才回落到内置默认值。
+- `-peer` 特殊：显式传了 `-peer` 就用命令行的列表**整体替换**配置文件里的 `peers`，
+  而不是追加 —— 否则在命令行上删掉的对端会被配置文件复活。
+- `-join-key` 的内置默认是 `$W4F_JOIN_KEY`；未显式传 flag 时，配置文件里的 `join_key`
+  只在环境变量为空时才生效。
+- `-config` 未传时的查找顺序：`$W4F_CONFIG` → `<workdir>/config.json`。
+  注意 `workdir` 用的是 **flag 值**（显式或默认）：配置文件必须先能被找到，才谈得上
+  读取它里面的 `workdir`。
+- 文件**不存在不算错误**（回到旧的纯 flag 行为）；文件存在但 JSON 解析失败、出现未知键
+  （例如把 `password` 拼成 `passwd`）、或引用了未定义的环境变量，都会**立即报错退出**，
+  不会静默忽略 —— 静默回落到 `admin/admin` 才是真正的安全问题。
+
+### 字段
+
+字段与 flag 一一对应，全部可选：
+
+| 字段 | 对应 flag | 说明 |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `addr` | `-addr` | 监听地址 |
+| `user` | `-user` | Basic 认证用户名 |
+| `password` | `-password` | Basic 认证口令（推荐用 `${VAR}` 或 `file:`） |
+| `workdir` | `-workdir` | 数据目录 |
+| `bin` | `-bin` | 初始 frpc 二进制路径 |
+| `frpc` | `-frpc` | worker 默认 frpc 路径 |
+| `peers` | `-peer` | 集群对端 `host:port` 数组 |
+| `join_key` | `-join-key` | 集群准入密钥（也接受 `joinKey` 写法） |
+
+### 口令的两种写法
+
+所有字符串字段都支持这两种展开形式，不只是 `password`：
+
+```json
+{ "password": "${W4F_PASSWORD}" }
+```
+
+```json
+{ "password": "file:/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password" }
+```
+
+- `${VAR}` 取环境变量；变量**未定义或是空值**会报错退出（而不是展开成空口令）。
+  想写字面量 `$` 用 `$$`。
+- `file:/path` 只取文件的**第一行**（去掉行尾换行），适合 `chmod 600` 的 secrets 文件。
+  文件读不到会报错退出。
+- 展开后的值**不会**出现在任何日志里：启动横幅只打印「字段来源」与脱敏摘要
+  （`password=<redacted>`、`join-key=<redacted>`），`Values` 的 `String()` 也做了脱敏，
+  所以连手滑 `log.Printf("%v", ...)` 都不会漏。
+
+### 示例
+
+```json
+{
+  "addr": "0.0.0.0:7500",
+  "user": "jianf",
+  "password": "file:/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password",
+  "workdir": "/var/lib/webui4frpc",
+  "frpc": "/usr/local/bin/frpc",
+  "peers": ["10.0.0.2:7500", "10.0.0.3:7500"],
+  "join_key": "${W4F_JOIN_KEY}"
+}
+```
+
+对应的 systemd 单元不再需要把口令写进 `ExecStart`：
+
+```ini
+[Service]
+User=webui4frpc
+Group=webui4frpc
+EnvironmentFile=-/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/webui4frpc -config /etc/webui4frpc/config.json
+ReadWritePaths=/var/lib/webui4frpc
+```
+
+`packaging/common/` 里带了一份可直接抄的单元模板与 `config.json` 示例。
+
+### 关于「没配口令」
+
+配置文件里没写 `password`、命令行也没给时，**行为与旧版一致**（回落到内置默认值），
+但启动日志会打一行明确警告：
+
+```
+WARNING: no password configured (neither -password nor the config file); using the built-in default — change it before exposing this node
+```
+
 ### 负载均衡参数
 
 每节点独立生效；集群页的开关**优先于**这里的默认值（在页面上选过就以页面为准，重启不丢）。
diff --git a/cmd/webui4frpc/main.go b/cmd/webui4frpc/main.go
index c2050a9..616b7bc 100644
--- a/cmd/webui4frpc/main.go
+++ b/cmd/webui4frpc/main.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
+	"webui4frpc/internal/appconfig"
 	"webui4frpc/internal/cluster"
 	"webui4frpc/internal/httpapi"
 	"webui4frpc/internal/install"
@@ -30,18 +31,68 @@ import (
 )
 
 func main() {
-	addr := flag.String("addr", "127.0.0.1:7500", "listen address")
-	user := flag.String("user", "admin", "basic auth user")
-	pass := flag.String("password", "admin", "basic auth password")
-	workdir := flag.String("workdir", "./webui-frpc", "data directory (db, configs, logs, bin)")
-	bin := flag.String("bin", "", "initial frpc binary path (optional; defaults to manual/auto-install)")
-	frpc := flag.String("frpc", "", "default worker frpc binary path (fallback when settings has none)")
-	var peers multiFlag
-	flag.Var(&peers, "peer", "cluster peer host:port (repeatable; same creds)")
-	joinKey := flag.String("join-key", os.Getenv("W4F_JOIN_KEY"), "cluster join key = the sponsor node's nodeKey (required with -peer to join an existing cluster)")
+	addrF := flag.String("addr", "127.0.0.1:7500", "listen address")
+	userF := flag.String("user", "admin", "basic auth user")
+	passF := flag.String("password", "admin", "basic auth password")
+	workdirF := flag.String("workdir", "./webui-frpc", "data directory (db, configs, logs, bin)")
+	binF := flag.String("bin", "", "initial frpc binary path (optional; defaults to manual/auto-install)")
+	frpcF := flag.String("frpc", "", "default worker frpc binary path (fallback when settings has none)")
+	joinKeyF := flag.String("join-key", os.Getenv("W4F_JOIN_KEY"), "cluster join key = the sponsor node's nodeKey (required with -peer to join an existing cluster)")
+	var peersF multiFlag
+	flag.Var(&peersF, "peer", "cluster peer host:port (repeatable; same creds)")
+	configF := flag.String("config", "", "config file path (default <workdir>/config.json, or $W4F_CONFIG; a missing file is not an error)")
 	flag.Parse()
 
-	wd, err := filepath.Abs(*workdir)
+	// Merge config file with flags. Priority: explicit flag > config file >
+	// built-in default. The explicit set comes from flag.Visit because Go
+	// hands us each flag's default unconditionally — reading the pointer
+	// blindly would let a default silently clobber the file.
+	explicit := appconfig.ExplicitSet(flag.CommandLine)
+	cfgPath := *configF
+	if cfgPath == "" {
+		// W4F_CONFIG (packaged systemd units use it) outranks the default
+		// location, but never an explicit -config.
+		cfgPath = strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("W4F_CONFIG"))
+	}
+	if cfgPath == "" {
+		cfgPath = appconfig.DefaultPath(*workdirF)
+	}
+	cfgFile, err := appconfig.Load(cfgPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		// Present but unparsable/undeclared-key config fails loudly: silently
+		// falling back to built-in defaults would quietly boot admin/admin.
+		log.Fatalf("%v", err)
+	}
+	v, srcs := appconfig.Resolve(
+		appconfig.Defaults{Addr: "127.0.0.1:7500", User: "admin", Password: "admin", WorkDir: "./webui-frpc"},
+		appconfig.Values{
+			Addr: *addrF, User: *userF, Password: *passF, WorkDir: *workdirF,
+			Bin: *binF, FRPC: *frpcF, Peers: []string(peersF), JoinKey: *joinKeyF,
+		},
+		explicit, cfgFile,
+	)
+	// Redacted summary + per-field sources. Never the values themselves: the
+	// basic-auth password must not reach stdout, the journal, or a log file.
+	if cfgFile == nil {
+		log.Printf("config: no file at %s (flags only); %s", cfgPath, v.Summary())
+	} else {
+		log.Printf("config: loaded %s; %s", cfgPath, v.Summary())
+	}
+	log.Printf("config: precedence flag>file>default — addr<-%s user<-%s workdir<-%s", srcs.Addr, srcs.User, srcs.WorkDir)
+	switch srcs.Password {
+	case appconfig.SourceFile:
+		log.Printf("config: password <- file (value not logged)")
+	case appconfig.SourceDefault:
+		// Neither -password nor the config file provided one. Behaviour is
+		// unchanged (the legacy default still applies) but say so out loud:
+		// a node serving the UI with a well-known password deserves a warning.
+		log.Printf("WARNING: no password configured (neither -password nor the config file); using the built-in default — change it before exposing this node")
+	}
+	if v.Password == "" {
+		log.Printf("WARNING: password is empty — basic auth admin login will not work")
+	}
+
+	wd, err := filepath.Abs(v.WorkDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("resolve workdir: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -62,14 +113,14 @@ func main() {
 	// account setup. The auth middleware's Basic branch still falls back to the
 	// raw flag creds, so inter-node cluster traffic (which uses SetBasicAuth
 	// with these flags) never breaks even before this row exists.
-	if err := st.SyncSystemUser(*user, *pass); err != nil {
+	if err := st.SyncSystemUser(v.User, v.Password); err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("sync system user: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	// Seed settings with the initial binary path if provided.
-	if *bin != "" {
+	if v.Bin != "" {
 		cfg, _ := st.Settings()
-		cfg.BinaryPath = *bin
+		cfg.BinaryPath = v.Bin
 		_ = st.UpdateSettings(cfg)
 	}
 
@@ -78,10 +129,10 @@ func main() {
 	// own webui binary as frpc. So fallback is empty unless -bin is set; the UI
 	// then asks the user to install or provide frpc.
 	fallbackBin := ""
-	if *frpc != "" {
-		fallbackBin = *frpc
-	} else if *bin != "" {
-		fallbackBin = *bin
+	if v.FRPC != "" {
+		fallbackBin = v.FRPC
+	} else if v.Bin != "" {
+		fallbackBin = v.Bin
 	}
 
 	pm := process.NewManager(process.Options{
@@ -113,15 +164,15 @@ func main() {
 
 	reg := cluster.NewRegistry(filepath.Join(wd, "bin"))
 	// M6: register cluster peers from -peer flags (same creds as this node).
-	for _, p := range peers {
-		reg.RegisterPeer(p, p, *user, *pass)
+	for _, p := range v.Peers {
+		reg.RegisterPeer(p, p, v.User, v.Password)
 	}
 
 	// M6 token ring: this node is the initial leader of the cluster ring
 	// (creation node). Engine drives two-phase cycles; transport POSTs the
 	// token to the successor over HTTP.
-	selfID := reachableAddr(*addr)
-	ringTransport := &cluster.TokenTransport{User: *user, Pass: *pass}
+	selfID := reachableAddr(v.Addr)
+	ringTransport := &cluster.TokenTransport{User: v.User, Pass: v.Password}
 	// nodeKey is this node's cluster admission key. It is NOT generated at
 	// startup — a fresh node has no key until it creates or joins a cluster.
 	// A creation node (no -peer) generates its key on CreateCluster; a joiner
@@ -134,7 +185,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 	var ring *cluster.Engine
 	ring = cluster.NewEngine(
-		selfID, selfID, *user, *pass, version.Version, nil,
+		selfID, selfID, v.User, v.Password, version.Version, nil,
 		&cluster.AppHandler{
 			LoadFn: func() (float64, float64) {
 				// NetPct: real NIC saturation from /proc/net/dev deltas vs
@@ -354,7 +405,7 @@ func main() {
 			}
 			return nodeID
 		}),
-		selfID, len(peers) == 0, nodeKey, // creation node (no -peer) is the initial leader
+		selfID, len(v.Peers) == 0, nodeKey, // creation node (no -peer) is the initial leader
 	)
 	// Install the persistence callbacks so ensureNodeKey (called from
 	// CreateCluster / AdoptState) and detachAsStandalone can persist/clear
@@ -423,9 +474,9 @@ func main() {
 		// SelfAddr must be reachable by peers. 0.0.0.0/empty on a real host
 		// would break peer reconnect, so fall back to the hostname (container
 		// name inside docker is a routable addr on the compose network).
-		SelfAddr: reachableAddr(*addr),
-		User:     *user,
-		Password: *pass,
+		SelfAddr: reachableAddr(v.Addr),
+		User:     v.User,
+		Password: v.Password,
 		BinaryPath: func() string {
 			s, _ := st.Settings()
 			if s.BinaryPath != "" {
@@ -530,10 +581,10 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("build handler: %v", err)
 	}
-	srv := &http.Server{Addr: *addr, Handler: handler}
+	srv := &http.Server{Addr: v.Addr, Handler: handler}
 
 	go func() {
-		log.Printf("webui-frpc listening on %s (workdir %s)", *addr, wd)
+		log.Printf("webui-frpc listening on %s (workdir %s)", v.Addr, wd)
 		if err := srv.ListenAndServe(); err != nil && err != http.ErrServerClosed {
 			log.Fatalf("server error: %v", err)
 		}
@@ -566,8 +617,8 @@ func main() {
 	}
 	if persistedPeers != "" {
 		go retryRejoinCached(clusterCtx, ring, persistedPeers)
-	} else if len(peers) > 0 {
-		go retryJoinCluster(clusterCtx, ring, peers[0], *joinKey)
+	} else if len(v.Peers) > 0 {
+		go retryJoinCluster(clusterCtx, ring, v.Peers[0], v.JoinKey)
 	} else {
 		if err := ring.CreateCluster(); err != nil {
 			log.Printf("ring[%s] create cluster at startup: %v", selfID, err)
diff --git a/internal/appconfig/appconfig.go b/internal/appconfig/appconfig.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d88d7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/appconfig/appconfig.go
@@ -0,0 +1,197 @@
+// Package appconfig implements webui4frpc's startup config file support.
+//
+// Resolution order (documented in README):
+//
+//	command-line flag > config file > built-in default
+//
+// A flag only overrides the file when it was explicitly passed on the command
+// line (flag.Visit). Go's flag package would otherwise hand us a default value
+// and silently clobber whatever the file said — that is the single easiest way
+// to get this wrong, so Resolve never compares values against defaults.
+//
+// Two value expansion forms are supported in every string field:
+//
+//	${VAR}      -> environment variable (undefined => loud error)
+//	file:/path  -> first line of /path (trailing CR/LF trimmed)
+//
+// Expanded values are never logged; callers print field *sources* only
+// (see Summary).
+package appconfig
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// File is the on-disk schema of config.json. Every field is optional; the
+// pointers are not used here because callers treat "" / nil slice as "unset"
+// (a config file cannot express a meaningful empty addr or empty user).
+type File struct {
+	Addr     string   `json:"addr"`
+	User     string   `json:"user"`
+	Password string   `json:"password"`
+	WorkDir  string   `json:"workdir"`
+	Bin      string   `json:"bin"`
+	FRPC     string   `json:"frpc"`
+	Peers    []string `json:"peers"`
+	// join_key is the documented spelling; joinKey is accepted as an alias
+	// because the rest of the project uses camelCase in JSON payloads.
+	JoinKey      string `json:"join_key"`
+	JoinKeyCamel string `json:"joinKey"`
+}
+
+// UnmarshalJSON decodes the config object, ignoring keys that start with "_".
+//
+// Sample files ship with "_comment"/"_optional" documentation inside the JSON,
+// and comment keys must not be able to mask a real typo: everything else is
+// still decoded with DisallowUnknownFields (see decodeStrict).
+func (f *File) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
+	var raw map[string]json.RawMessage
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &raw); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	for k := range raw {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(k, "_") {
+			delete(raw, k)
+		}
+	}
+	clean, err := json.Marshal(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	type alias File // avoid recursing into this method
+	if err := decodeStrict(clean, (*alias)(f)); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// decodeStrict expects an object; re-validate that at least an object was
+	// given (a bare number/array would already have failed above).
+	return nil
+}
+
+// decodeStrict decodes exactly one JSON value, rejecting unknown fields and
+// trailing data.
+func decodeStrict(data []byte, v any) error {
+	dec := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
+	// Reject unknown keys: a typo such as "passwd" would otherwise silently
+	// leave the password at its built-in default, which is a security bug
+	// disguised as a config typo.
+	dec.DisallowUnknownFields()
+	if err := dec.Decode(v); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// Reject trailing junk so a half-edited file (two objects, leftover
+	// fragment) cannot look like it loaded successfully.
+	if _, err := dec.Token(); !errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+		return errors.New("unexpected trailing data after the JSON object")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Load reads path and returns the merged+expanded config.
+//
+// A missing file is NOT an error: (nil, nil) tells the caller to fall back to
+// pure flag behaviour. Anything else — unreadable, malformed JSON, unknown
+// key, trailing junk, undefined ${VAR}, unreadable file: reference — is
+// returned as an error, which main() turns into a fatal exit.
+func Load(path string) (*File, error) {
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("config file %s: read: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	var f File
+	if err := decodeStrict(raw, &f); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("config file %s: invalid JSON: %w (known keys: addr, user, password, workdir, bin, frpc, peers, join_key; keys starting with \"_\" are ignored)", path, err)
+	}
+	if f.JoinKey == "" {
+		f.JoinKey = f.JoinKeyCamel
+	}
+	if err := expandAll(&f); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("config file %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return &f, nil
+}
+
+// expand resolves ${VAR} / $VAR and a leading file: reference. $${...} and $$
+// produce a literal '$'.
+//
+// An undefined or empty environment variable is an error rather than an empty
+// expansion: booting with an empty password looks like "wrong password" later
+// and leaves the node unauthenticated in the meantime.
+func expand(s string) (string, error) {
+	var missing []string
+	out := os.Expand(s, func(name string) string {
+		if name == "$" { // "$$" escapes a literal dollar sign
+			return "$"
+		}
+		v, ok := os.LookupEnv(name)
+		if !ok || v == "" {
+			missing = append(missing, name)
+			return ""
+		}
+		return v
+	})
+	if len(missing) > 0 {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("undefined environment variable(s): %s (use $$ for a literal $)", strings.Join(missing, ", "))
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(out, "file:") {
+		p := strings.TrimPrefix(out, "file:")
+		if p == "" {
+			return "", errors.New("file: reference with an empty path")
+		}
+		raw, err := os.ReadFile(p)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("file reference %q: %w", out, err)
+		}
+		// Secrets files are conventionally "one value, one newline"; take the
+		// first line so a trailing comment/newline cannot corrupt the value.
+		line, _, _ := strings.Cut(string(raw), "\n")
+		return strings.TrimRight(line, "\r"), nil
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func expandAll(f *File) error {
+	fields := []struct {
+		name string
+		ptr  *string
+	}{
+		{"addr", &f.Addr},
+		{"user", &f.User},
+		{"password", &f.Password},
+		{"workdir", &f.WorkDir},
+		{"bin", &f.Bin},
+		{"frpc", &f.FRPC},
+		{"join_key", &f.JoinKey},
+	}
+	for _, fd := range fields {
+		raw := *fd.ptr
+		v, err := expand(raw)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("field %s: %w", fd.name, err)
+		}
+		*fd.ptr = v
+	}
+	for i, p := range f.Peers {
+		v, err := expand(p)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("peers[%d]: %w", i, err)
+		}
+		f.Peers[i] = v
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// DefaultPath is the config file used when -config is not given:
+// <workdir>/config.json. workdir here is the *flag* value (explicit or
+// built-in default) because the file must be locatable before it can be
+// parsed — a workdir that only appears inside the file cannot move it.
+func DefaultPath(workdir string) string { return filepath.Join(workdir, "config.json") }
diff --git a/internal/appconfig/appconfig_test.go b/internal/appconfig/appconfig_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..326d059
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/appconfig/appconfig_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,317 @@
+package appconfig
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"flag"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func write(t *testing.T, dir, name, body string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	p := filepath.Join(dir, name)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(p, []byte(body), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return p
+}
+
+func TestLoadMissingFileIsNotAnError(t *testing.T) {
+	f, err := Load(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "nope.json"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("missing file must not error, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if f != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("missing file must yield nil config, got %+v", f)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadRejectsBadJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	for name, body := range map[string]string{
+		"truncated.json": `{"addr": "0.0.0.0:7500"`,
+		"trailing.json":  `{"addr":"a"}{"addr":"b"}`,
+		"garbage.json":   `not json at all`,
+	} {
+		p := write(t, dir, name, body)
+		if _, err := Load(p); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("%s: expected a loud parse error, got nil", name)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadRejectsUnknownKey(t *testing.T) {
+	// A typo like "passwd" must not silently leave the password at its default.
+	p := write(t, t.TempDir(), "c.json", `{"passwd": "x"}`)
+	if _, err := Load(p); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("unknown key must be rejected")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadExpandsEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("W4F_TEST_PASSWORD", "s3cret")
+	p := write(t, t.TempDir(), "c.json", `{"password": "${W4F_TEST_PASSWORD}", "user": "u"}`)
+	f, err := Load(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if f.Password != "s3cret" {
+		t.Fatalf("password not expanded: %q", f.Password)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadUndefinedEnvIsAnError(t *testing.T) {
+	// Secrets are normally behind ${VAR}; an unset var must fail instead of
+	// booting with an empty password.
+	p := write(t, t.TempDir(), "c.json", `{"password": "${W4F_DEFINITELY_UNSET}"}`)
+	os.Unsetenv("W4F_DEFINITELY_UNSET")
+	_, err := Load(p)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("undefined env var must error")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "W4F_DEFINITELY_UNSET") {
+		t.Fatalf("error should name the variable: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadFileReference(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	secret := write(t, dir, "pw", "from-file\nignored-second-line\n")
+	p := write(t, dir, "c.json", `{"password": "file:`+secret+`"}`)
+	f, err := Load(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if f.Password != "from-file" {
+		t.Fatalf("file: reference = %q, want first line only", f.Password)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadMissingFileReferenceIsAnError(t *testing.T) {
+	p := write(t, t.TempDir(), "c.json", `{"password": "file:/nonexistent/secret"}`)
+	if _, err := Load(p); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("unreadable file: reference must error")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadJoinKeyAlias(t *testing.T) {
+	p := write(t, t.TempDir(), "c.json", `{"joinKey": "k1"}`)
+	f, err := Load(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if f.JoinKey != "k1" {
+		t.Fatalf("joinKey alias not honoured: %q", f.JoinKey)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadPeersExpanded(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("W4F_TEST_HOST", "10.0.0.2")
+	p := write(t, t.TempDir(), "c.json", `{"peers": ["${W4F_TEST_HOST}:7500", "10.0.0.3:7500"]}`)
+	f, err := Load(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(f.Peers) != 2 || f.Peers[0] != "10.0.0.2:7500" || f.Peers[1] != "10.0.0.3:7500" {
+		t.Fatalf("peers = %v", f.Peers)
+	}
+}
+
+// parseFlags parses args on a fresh FlagSet with the same defaults as main,
+// so ExplicitSet sees exactly what the operator typed.
+func parseFlags(t *testing.T, args ...string) (Values, map[string]bool) {
+	t.Helper()
+	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("test", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	addr := fs.String("addr", "127.0.0.1:7500", "")
+	user := fs.String("user", "admin", "")
+	pass := fs.String("password", "admin", "")
+	workdir := fs.String("workdir", "./webui-frpc", "")
+	bin := fs.String("bin", "", "")
+	frpc := fs.String("frpc", "", "")
+	joinKey := fs.String("join-key", "", "")
+	var peers multi
+	fs.Var(&peers, "peer", "")
+	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return Values{
+		Addr: *addr, User: *user, Password: *pass, WorkDir: *workdir,
+		Bin: *bin, FRPC: *frpc, Peers: peers, JoinKey: *joinKey,
+	}, ExplicitSet(fs)
+}
+
+type multi []string
+
+func (m *multi) String() string     { return strings.Join(*m, ",") }
+func (m *multi) Set(v string) error { *m = append(*m, v); return nil }
+
+var defs = Defaults{Addr: "127.0.0.1:7500", User: "admin", Password: "admin", WorkDir: "./webui-frpc"}
+
+// This is THE regression test for the task's main pitfall: with no flags
+// passed, Go's flag defaults must not win over the config file.
+func TestResolveFileBeatsFlagDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	flags, explicit := parseFlags(t) // no args at all
+	f := &File{Addr: "0.0.0.0:7500", User: "jianf", Password: "pw", WorkDir: "/var/lib/webui4frpc",
+		Bin: "/opt/frpc", FRPC: "/opt/frpc2", Peers: []string{"1.2.3.4:7500"}, JoinKey: "k"}
+	v, src := Resolve(defs, flags, explicit, f)
+
+	if v.Addr != "0.0.0.0:7500" || v.User != "jianf" || v.Password != "pw" || v.WorkDir != "/var/lib/webui4frpc" {
+		t.Fatalf("file values lost to flag defaults: %+v", v)
+	}
+	if v.Bin != "/opt/frpc" || v.FRPC != "/opt/frpc2" || v.JoinKey != "k" || len(v.Peers) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("file optional values lost: %+v", v)
+	}
+	for name, got := range map[string]string{"addr": src.Addr, "user": src.User, "password": src.Password, "workdir": src.WorkDir} {
+		if got != SourceFile {
+			t.Errorf("%s source = %q, want file", name, got)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveExplicitFlagBeatsFile(t *testing.T) {
+	flags, explicit := parseFlags(t, "-addr", "127.0.0.1:9000", "-password", "cli-pw")
+	f := &File{Addr: "0.0.0.0:7500", Password: "file-pw"}
+	v, src := Resolve(defs, flags, explicit, f)
+	if v.Addr != "127.0.0.1:9000" {
+		t.Fatalf("explicit -addr ignored: %q", v.Addr)
+	}
+	if v.Password != "cli-pw" {
+		t.Fatalf("explicit -password ignored: %q", v.Password)
+	}
+	if src.Addr != SourceFlag || src.Password != SourceFlag {
+		t.Fatalf("sources = %+v", src)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveDefaultsWhenNoFile(t *testing.T) {
+	flags, explicit := parseFlags(t)
+	v, src := Resolve(defs, flags, explicit, nil)
+	if v.Addr != "127.0.0.1:7500" || v.User != "admin" || v.Password != "admin" || v.WorkDir != "./webui-frpc" {
+		t.Fatalf("defaults not applied: %+v", v)
+	}
+	if src.Password != SourceDefault {
+		t.Fatalf("password source = %q, want default", src.Password)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveEmptyFileFieldFallsBackToDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	flags, explicit := parseFlags(t)
+	f := &File{Addr: "0.0.0.0:7500"} // no user/password/workdir
+	v, src := Resolve(defs, flags, explicit, f)
+	if v.User != "admin" || v.Password != "admin" || v.WorkDir != "./webui-frpc" {
+		t.Fatalf("absent file fields must fall back to defaults: %+v", v)
+	}
+	if src.User != SourceDefault {
+		t.Fatalf("user source = %q", src.User)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolvePeerFlagReplacesFileList(t *testing.T) {
+	flags, explicit := parseFlags(t, "-peer", "9.9.9.9:7500")
+	f := &File{Peers: []string{"1.1.1.1:7500", "2.2.2.2:7500"}}
+	v, _ := Resolve(defs, flags, explicit, f)
+	if len(v.Peers) != 1 || v.Peers[0] != "9.9.9.9:7500" {
+		t.Fatalf("explicit -peer must replace the file list, got %v", v.Peers)
+	}
+}
+
+// The password and join key must never appear in anything we log.
+func TestSummaryRedactsSecrets(t *testing.T) {
+	v := Values{
+		Addr: "0.0.0.0:7500", User: "jianf", Password: "sup3rs3cret",
+		WorkDir: "/var/lib/webui4frpc", JoinKey: "joinkey-value",
+	}
+	for _, s := range []string{v.Summary(), v.String()} {
+		if strings.Contains(s, "sup3rs3cret") {
+			t.Fatalf("password leaked into summary: %s", s)
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(s, "joinkey-value") {
+			t.Fatalf("join key leaked into summary: %s", s)
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(s, "0.0.0.0:7500") || !strings.Contains(s, "jianf") {
+			t.Fatalf("summary dropped non-secret fields: %s", s)
+		}
+	}
+	// %v must go through String() as well.
+	if strings.Contains(strings.Join([]string{v.Summary()}, ""), "sup3rs3cret") {
+		t.Fatal("leak")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDefaultPath(t *testing.T) {
+	if got := DefaultPath("/var/lib/webui4frpc"); got != "/var/lib/webui4frpc/config.json" {
+		t.Fatalf("DefaultPath = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// Sample files carry "_comment"/"_optional" documentation keys; they must load
+// without weakening the unknown-key check for real fields.
+func TestLoadIgnoresCommentKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	p := write(t, t.TempDir(), "c.json", `{"_comment": ["doc"], "_optional": ["more doc"], "addr": "0.0.0.0:7500"}`)
+	f, err := Load(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("underscore comment keys must be ignored, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if f.Addr != "0.0.0.0:7500" {
+		t.Fatalf("addr = %q", f.Addr)
+	}
+}
+
+// The shipped example must actually be loadable, otherwise the documented
+// "copy this file" path fails at first start. It references a secrets file that
+// does not exist in a test environment, so only the schema is checked here by
+// rewriting the password to a literal.
+func TestShippedSampleConfigParses(t *testing.T) {
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile("../../packaging/common/config.json")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Skipf("sample not found: %v", err)
+	}
+	var probe map[string]any
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &probe); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("sample config is not valid JSON: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Remove the file: reference (no /etc secrets in tests) and reload through
+	// the real loader so schema drift is caught.
+	probe["password"] = "literal"
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	p := filepath.Join(dir, "config.json")
+	out, _ := json.Marshal(probe)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(p, out, 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := Load(p); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("shipped sample config rejected: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// -join-key's flag default comes from $W4F_JOIN_KEY; when the operator does not
+// type the flag, that environment value must still win over the config file
+// (it is the more specific, per-process setting).
+func TestResolveJoinKeyEnvBeatsFile(t *testing.T) {
+	flags, explicit := parseFlags(t) // not passed on the command line
+	flags.JoinKey = "env-key"
+	v, src := Resolve(defs, flags, explicit, &File{JoinKey: "file-key"})
+	if v.JoinKey != "env-key" {
+		t.Fatalf("env join key lost: %q", v.JoinKey)
+	}
+	if src.JoinKey != SourceEnv {
+		t.Fatalf("source = %q, want env", src.JoinKey)
+	}
+
+	// Explicit flag still wins over both.
+	flags, explicit = parseFlags(t, "-join-key", "cli-key")
+	flags.JoinKey = "cli-key"
+	v, _ = Resolve(defs, flags, explicit, &File{JoinKey: "file-key"})
+	if v.JoinKey != "cli-key" {
+		t.Fatalf("explicit -join-key ignored: %q", v.JoinKey)
+	}
+
+	// No env, no flag -> the file value is used.
+	flags, explicit = parseFlags(t)
+	v, src = Resolve(defs, flags, explicit, &File{JoinKey: "file-key"})
+	if v.JoinKey != "file-key" || src.JoinKey != SourceFile {
+		t.Fatalf("file join key not used: %q (%s)", v.JoinKey, src.JoinKey)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/appconfig/resolve.go b/internal/appconfig/resolve.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5675a35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/appconfig/resolve.go
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package appconfig
+
+import (
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// Field sources, for logging only — never for values.
+const (
+	SourceFlag    = "flag"
+	SourceEnv     = "env"
+	SourceFile    = "file"
+	SourceDefault = "default"
+)
+
+// Defaults are the built-in defaults, i.e. exactly what the flags declare.
+type Defaults struct {
+	Addr     string
+	User     string
+	Password string
+	WorkDir  string
+}
+
+// Values is the effective runtime configuration after merging.
+type Values struct {
+	Addr     string
+	User     string
+	Password string
+	WorkDir  string
+	Bin      string
+	FRPC     string
+	Peers    []string
+	JoinKey  string
+}
+
+// Sources records where each resolved field came from ("" = not configured).
+type Sources struct {
+	Addr     string
+	User     string
+	Password string
+	WorkDir  string
+	Bin      string
+	FRPC     string
+	Peers    string
+	JoinKey  string
+}
+
+// ExplicitSet returns the flag names the operator actually typed.
+//
+// flag.Visit walks only flags that were set on the command line, which is
+// precisely the test required here: an unset flag must NOT override a config
+// file value with its default.
+func ExplicitSet(fs *flag.FlagSet) map[string]bool {
+	set := map[string]bool{}
+	fs.Visit(func(f *flag.Flag) { set[f.Name] = true })
+	return set
+}
+
+// Resolve merges per field: explicit flag > config file (non-empty) >
+// built-in default.
+func Resolve(def Defaults, flags Values, explicit map[string]bool, f *File) (Values, Sources) {
+	var out Values
+	var src Sources
+	var file File
+	if f != nil {
+		file = *f
+	}
+
+	// pick covers the four fields that have a built-in default.
+	pick := func(flagName, flagVal, defVal, fileVal string) (string, string) {
+		if explicit[flagName] {
+			return flagVal, SourceFlag
+		}
+		if fileVal != "" {
+			return fileVal, SourceFile
+		}
+		return defVal, SourceDefault
+	}
+
+	out.Addr, src.Addr = pick("addr", flags.Addr, def.Addr, file.Addr)
+	out.User, src.User = pick("user", flags.User, def.User, file.User)
+	out.Password, src.Password = pick("password", flags.Password, def.Password, file.Password)
+	out.WorkDir, src.WorkDir = pick("workdir", flags.WorkDir, def.WorkDir, file.WorkDir)
+
+	// No built-in default for these: empty means "not configured".
+	pickOpt := func(flagName, flagVal, fileVal string) (string, string) {
+		if explicit[flagName] {
+			return flagVal, SourceFlag
+		}
+		if fileVal != "" {
+			return fileVal, SourceFile
+		}
+		return "", ""
+	}
+	out.Bin, src.Bin = pickOpt("bin", flags.Bin, file.Bin)
+	out.FRPC, src.FRPC = pickOpt("frpc", flags.FRPC, file.FRPC)
+
+	// join-key is special: its flag default comes from $W4F_JOIN_KEY, i.e. a
+	// per-process override that is more specific than a value baked into the
+	// config file. Dropping it here would silently disable env-based cluster
+	// joining whenever a file happened to be present.
+	switch {
+	case explicit["join-key"]:
+		out.JoinKey, src.JoinKey = flags.JoinKey, SourceFlag
+	case flags.JoinKey != "":
+		out.JoinKey, src.JoinKey = flags.JoinKey, SourceEnv
+	case file.JoinKey != "":
+		out.JoinKey, src.JoinKey = file.JoinKey, SourceFile
+	}
+
+	// peers is repeatable (-peer a -peer b). An explicit flag REPLACES the
+	// file's list instead of appending: appending would resurrect peers the
+	// operator deliberately dropped on the command line.
+	if explicit["peer"] {
+		out.Peers, src.Peers = flags.Peers, SourceFlag
+	} else if len(file.Peers) > 0 {
+		out.Peers, src.Peers = file.Peers, SourceFile
+	}
+	return out, src
+}
+
+// Summary renders the resolved configuration for the startup log with every
+// secret redacted. Using this instead of ad-hoc formatting means an accidental
+// log.Printf("%v", values) still cannot leak the basic-auth password or the
+// cluster join key.
+func (v Values) Summary() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("addr=%s user=%s password=<redacted> workdir=%s bin=%s frpc=%s peers=%s join-key=<redacted>",
+		v.Addr, v.User, v.WorkDir, orDash(v.Bin), orDash(v.FRPC), orDash(strings.Join(v.Peers, ",")))
+}
+
+func orDash(s string) string {
+	if s == "" {
+		return "-"
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
+// String implements fmt.Stringer so %v/%s on Values is always redacted.
+func (v Values) String() string { return v.Summary() }
diff --git a/packaging/common/config.json b/packaging/common/config.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27fe991
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packaging/common/config.json
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+{
+  "_comment": [
+    "webui4frpc startup config. Every field is optional; the effective",
+    "precedence is: command-line flag > this file > built-in default.",
+    "",
+    "Password handling (pick ONE, do not put a literal password here):",
+    "  \"password\": \"file:/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password\"   first line of a 0640 root:webui4frpc file",
+    "  \"password\": \"${W4F_PASSWORD}\"                        from the environment (unset => refuses to start)",
+    "",
+    "Unknown keys are a hard error, so a typo cannot silently fall back to the",
+    "built-in default credentials. The file may be absent (pure-flag mode)."
+  ],
+  "addr": "0.0.0.0:7500",
+  "user": "admin",
+  "password": "file:/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password",
+  "workdir": "/var/lib/webui4frpc",
+
+  "_optional": [
+    "bin     - initial frpc binary path, seeded into settings on first start",
+    "frpc    - fallback worker frpc path when settings has none",
+    "peers   - cluster peer host:port list (same as repeating -peer)",
+    "join_key- cluster admission key = sponsor node's nodeKey (or ${W4F_JOIN_KEY})"
+  ],
+  "frpc": "",
+  "peers": [],
+  "join_key": ""
+}
diff --git a/packaging/common/webui4frpc.env b/packaging/common/webui4frpc.env
index 2a74d9c..94e822c 100644
--- a/packaging/common/webui4frpc.env
+++ b/packaging/common/webui4frpc.env
@@ -1,8 +1,28 @@
-# webui4frpc runtime configuration
-# 默认监听全部接口的 7500 端口；请修改密码后再投入生产。
-W4F_ADDR=0.0.0.0:7500
-W4F_USER=admin
-W4F_PASSWORD=admin
+# webui4frpc optional environment file.
+#
+# Listening address, admin credentials, workdir and peers now belong in
+# /etc/webui4frpc/config.json — that file is what systemd passes via
+# `webui4frpc -config ...`, and it keeps the password out of the unit file and
+# out of `ps` output.
+#
+# Everything here is OPTIONAL; the unit uses `EnvironmentFile=-`, so this file
+# may be empty or missing entirely.
+#
+# Referenced by config.json as ${VAR} (the variable must be set and non-empty,
+# otherwise startup fails loudly rather than booting with an empty password):
+# W4F_PASSWORD=change-me
+#
+# Cluster admission key, used by config.json as "join_key": "${W4F_JOIN_KEY}".
+# W4F_JOIN_KEY=
+#
+# Overrides the advertised hostname for peers (container DNS / wildcard listen).
+# W4F_HOST=
+#
+# Load balancing defaults (the per-node switch in the UI wins over these).
+# W4F_BALANCE_MODE=dry-run
+# W4F_BALANCE_COOLDOWN=600
+# W4F_BALANCE_INTERVAL=10
 
-# 可选：首次提供的 frpc 二进制路径（留空则从 Web UI 手动/自动安装）
-# W4F_FRPC=/usr/local/bin/frpc
+# Optional: point at a config file outside /etc/webui4frpc. An explicit
+# -config flag still wins over this.
+# W4F_CONFIG=/etc/webui4frpc/config.json
diff --git a/packaging/common/webui4frpc.service b/packaging/common/webui4frpc.service
index a1654e8..d612e9d 100644
--- a/packaging/common/webui4frpc.service
+++ b/packaging/common/webui4frpc.service
@@ -8,8 +8,15 @@ Wants=network-online.target
 Type=simple
 User=webui4frpc
 Group=webui4frpc
-EnvironmentFile=/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env
-ExecStart=/usr/bin/webui4frpc -addr ${W4F_ADDR} -user ${W4F_USER} -password ${W4F_PASSWORD} -workdir /var/lib/webui4frpc
+# The listening address, admin credentials and cluster peers live in
+# config.json, NOT on the command line: anything in ExecStart is visible to
+# every user via `ps` and in the unit file itself. Keep the password out of
+# this unit — put it in config.json as "file:/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password"
+# (or "${W4F_PASSWORD}" with an EnvironmentFile), never as -password.
+# The leading "-" makes the EnvironmentFile optional, so a node that keeps all
+# settings in config.json still starts.
+EnvironmentFile=-/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/webui4frpc -config /etc/webui4frpc/config.json
 Restart=always
 RestartSec=5
 LimitNOFILE=65535
@@ -20,6 +27,10 @@ PrivateTmp=true
 ProtectSystem=full
 ProtectHome=true
 ReadWritePaths=/var/lib/webui4frpc
+# config.json may point at a root-only secrets file for the admin password.
+# That path needs to be readable by this service account; keep such files in
+# /etc/webui4frpc/secret/ with mode 0640 root:webui4frpc.
+ReadOnlyPaths=-/etc/webui4frpc/secret
 
 [Install]
 WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/packaging/deb/postinst b/packaging/deb/postinst
index 7998640..0da2b56 100755
--- a/packaging/deb/postinst
+++ b/packaging/deb/postinst
@@ -18,6 +18,16 @@ chmod 750 /var/lib/webui4frpc
 chown root:webui4frpc /etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env 2>/dev/null || true
 chmod 640 /etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env 2>/dev/null || true
 
+# Startup config + the directory that holds the admin password file.
+# The service reads /etc/webui4frpc/config.json (see the unit's ExecStart), so
+# the password never has to appear on the command line. secret/ is root-writable
+# and group-readable by the service account; files inside are created by the
+# admin, we only fix ownership/permissions of the directory itself.
+mkdir -p /etc/webui4frpc/secret
+chown root:webui4frpc /etc/webui4frpc/secret 2>/dev/null || true
+chmod 750 /etc/webui4frpc/secret 2>/dev/null || true
+chmod 644 /etc/webui4frpc/config.json 2>/dev/null || true
+
 if command -v systemctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     systemctl daemon-reload || true
     systemctl enable webui4frpc.service || true
@@ -30,7 +40,8 @@ cat <<'EOF'
 
 webui4frpc 已安装。
 
-  配置:  /etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env   (请立即修改 W4F_USER / W4F_PASSWORD)
+  配置:  /etc/webui4frpc/config.json      (请设置 password，推荐 file:/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password)
+  密钥:  echo '你的口令' > /etc/webui4frpc/secret/password && chmod 0640 /etc/webui4frpc/secret/password
   数据:  /var/lib/webui4frpc
   服务:  systemctl status webui4frpc
   界面:  http://<本机地址>:7500
diff --git a/packaging/macos/build_pkg.sh b/packaging/macos/build_pkg.sh
index ef1fa1a..f7302a8 100755
--- a/packaging/macos/build_pkg.sh
+++ b/packaging/macos/build_pkg.sh
@@ -38,15 +38,25 @@ mkdir -p "$ROOT/usr/local/bin" "$ROOT/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc" "$SCRIPTS" "$PKG
 # ---- payload 根文件系统 ----
 install -m 0755 "$BINARY" "$ROOT/usr/local/bin/webui4frpc"
 
-cat > "$ROOT/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env" <<'ENVEOF'
-# webui4frpc runtime configuration (macOS)
-# 请修改密码后再投入使用；改完执行:
-#   sudo launchctl kickstart -k system/com.jianfeeeee.webui4frpc
-W4F_ADDR=0.0.0.0:7500
-W4F_USER=admin
-W4F_PASSWORD=admin
-ENVEOF
-chmod 0644 "$ROOT/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env"
+# Startup config. The service reads this file via `-config`, so the admin
+# password never appears on the command line (visible in `ps` to every user).
+# Set the password in /usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password instead of
+# writing it here; the "file:" reference below reads its first line.
+mkdir -p "$ROOT/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/secret"
+cat > "$ROOT/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/config.json" <<'CFGEOF'
+{
+  "_comment": "precedence: command-line flag > this file > built-in default",
+  "addr": "0.0.0.0:7500",
+  "user": "admin",
+  "password": "file:/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password",
+  "workdir": "/usr/local/var/lib/webui4frpc"
+}
+CFGEOF
+chmod 0644 "$ROOT/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/config.json"
+# Placeholder so the service starts out of the box (admin/admin). The
+# postinstall script removes it if the file was already customised.
+printf 'admin\n' > "$ROOT/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password"
+chmod 0640 "$ROOT/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password"
 
 # ---- launchd plist ----
 mkdir -p "$ROOT/Library/LaunchDaemons"
@@ -80,18 +90,15 @@ chmod 0644 "$ROOT/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.jianfeeeee.webui4frpc.plist"
 # launchd 不读 EnvironmentFile，用小包装脚本 source 配置再 exec
 cat > "$ROOT/usr/local/bin/webui4frpc-launch" <<'LAUNCHEOF'
 #!/bin/sh
-# 读取 /usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env 后启动 webui4frpc
+# Start webui4frpc from /usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/config.json.
+# launchd does not read an EnvironmentFile, so the optional env file is sourced
+# here first (config.json may reference ${W4F_*}), then the config file drives
+# everything. No credential is ever passed on this command line.
 set -e
 ENV_FILE=/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env
-W4F_ADDR=0.0.0.0:7500
-W4F_USER=admin
-W4F_PASSWORD=admin
+CONFIG_FILE=/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/config.json
 [ -f "$ENV_FILE" ] && . "$ENV_FILE"
-exec /usr/local/bin/webui4frpc \
-    -addr "$W4F_ADDR" \
-    -user "$W4F_USER" \
-    -password "$W4F_PASSWORD" \
-    -workdir /usr/local/var/lib/webui4frpc
+exec /usr/local/bin/webui4frpc -config "$CONFIG_FILE"
 LAUNCHEOF
 chmod 0755 "$ROOT/usr/local/bin/webui4frpc-launch"
 
@@ -159,12 +166,16 @@ cat > "$FLAT/Distribution" <<DISTEOF
     <welcome language="zh_CN" mime-type="text/plain">webui4frpc — 可视化 frpc 控制器
 
 安装内容：
-  /usr/local/bin/webui4frpc                 主程序（内嵌 Web 界面）
-  /usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env  配置文件
-  /Library/LaunchDaemons/…webui4frpc.plist  开机自启服务
+  /usr/local/bin/webui4frpc                       主程序（内嵌 Web 界面）
+  /usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/config.json           启动配置（监听地址/账号/对端）
+  /usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password       口令文件（file: 引用，不进命令行）
+  /usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env        可选环境变量（config.json 里可写 \${VAR}）
+  /Library/LaunchDaemons/…webui4frpc.plist        开机自启服务
 
 安装完成后服务自动启动，访问 http://127.0.0.1:7500
-默认凭据 admin/admin —— 请立即修改 webui4frpc.env 中的密码。</welcome>
+默认凭据 admin/admin —— 请立即修改
+/usr/local/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password 后再重启
+（sudo launchctl kickstart -k system/com.jianfeeeee.webui4frpc）。</welcome>
     <choices-outline>
         <line choice="default">
             <line choice="com.jianfeeeee.webui4frpc"/>
diff --git a/packaging/rpm/webui4frpc.spec b/packaging/rpm/webui4frpc.spec
index 30e77e0..bf20280 100644
--- a/packaging/rpm/webui4frpc.spec
+++ b/packaging/rpm/webui4frpc.spec
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ and audit-log CSV export.
 install -D -m 0755 %{_w4f_bin}          %{buildroot}%{_bindir}/webui4frpc
 install -D -m 0644 %{_w4f_service}      %{buildroot}%{_unitdir}/webui4frpc.service
 install -D -m 0640 %{_w4f_env}          %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env
+install -D -m 0644 %{_w4f_config}       %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/webui4frpc/config.json
+install -d -m 0750                      %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/webui4frpc/secret
 install -D -m 0644 %{_w4f_readme}       %{buildroot}%{_docdir}/webui4frpc/README.md
 install -d -m 0750                      %{buildroot}%{_sharedstatedir}/webui4frpc
 
@@ -36,11 +38,14 @@ exit 0
 %systemd_post webui4frpc.service
 chown -R webui4frpc:webui4frpc %{_sharedstatedir}/webui4frpc || :
 chown root:webui4frpc %{_sysconfdir}/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env || :
+chown root:webui4frpc %{_sysconfdir}/webui4frpc/secret || :
+chmod 0750 %{_sysconfdir}/webui4frpc/secret || :
 cat <<'EOF'
 
 webui4frpc 已安装。
 
-  配置:  /etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env   (请立即修改 W4F_USER / W4F_PASSWORD)
+  配置:  /etc/webui4frpc/config.json      (请设置 password，推荐 file:/etc/webui4frpc/secret/password)
+  密钥:  echo '你的口令' > /etc/webui4frpc/secret/password && chmod 0640 /etc/webui4frpc/secret/password
   数据:  /var/lib/webui4frpc
   服务:  systemctl enable --now webui4frpc
   界面:  http://<本机地址>:7500
@@ -63,6 +68,8 @@ fi
 %{_unitdir}/webui4frpc.service
 %dir %{_sysconfdir}/webui4frpc
 %config(noreplace) %attr(0640,root,webui4frpc) %{_sysconfdir}/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env
+%config(noreplace) %attr(0644,root,root) %{_sysconfdir}/webui4frpc/config.json
+%dir %attr(0750,root,webui4frpc) %{_sysconfdir}/webui4frpc/secret
 %dir %attr(0750,webui4frpc,webui4frpc) %{_sharedstatedir}/webui4frpc
 %doc %{_docdir}/webui4frpc/README.md
 
diff --git a/packaging/windows/webui4frpc.nsi b/packaging/windows/webui4frpc.nsi
index 59df78c..ce05c0f 100644
--- a/packaging/windows/webui4frpc.nsi
+++ b/packaging/windows/webui4frpc.nsi
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
 
 !include "MUI2.nsh"
 !include "LogicLib.nsh"
+!include "StrFunc.nsh"
+
+; Used to JSON-escape the free-text fields written into config.json below.
+${Using:StrFunc} StrRep
 
 !ifndef VERSION
   !define VERSION "0.0.0"
@@ -48,6 +52,9 @@ Var TxtPass
 Var CfgAddr
 Var CfgUser
 Var CfgPass
+Var EscAddr
+Var EscUser
+Var EscDir
 
 Function .onInit
   StrCpy $CfgAddr "0.0.0.0:7500"
@@ -95,12 +102,37 @@ Section "webui4frpc" SecMain
 
   CreateDirectory "$INSTDIR\data"
 
-  ; 启动脚本，承载安装时选择的配置
+  ; ---- 启动配置 ----
+  ; 口令写进独立文件、由 config.json 用 "file:" 引用：既不出现在启动脚本的
+  ; 命令行上（任务管理器 / wmic 可见），也不需要做 JSON 转义。
+  ${StrRep} $EscDir $INSTDIR "\" "\\"
+  ${StrRep} $EscAddr $CfgAddr "\" "\\"
+  ${StrRep} $EscAddr $EscAddr '$\"' '\"'
+  ${StrRep} $EscUser $CfgUser "\" "\\"
+  ${StrRep} $EscUser $EscUser '$\"' '\"'
+
+  FileOpen $1 "$INSTDIR\secret-password.txt" w
+  FileWrite $1 "$CfgPass$\r$\n"
+  FileClose $1
+  ; 口令文件仅 SYSTEM / Administrators 可读（Program Files 默认 Users 可读）
+  nsExec::ExecToLog 'icacls "$INSTDIR\secret-password.txt" /inheritance:r /grant:r *S-1-5-18:F *S-1-5-32-544:F'
+
+  FileOpen $2 "$INSTDIR\data\config.json" w
+  FileWrite $2 "{$\r$\n"
+  FileWrite $2 '  "addr": "$EscAddr",$\r$\n'
+  FileWrite $2 '  "user": "$EscUser",$\r$\n'
+  FileWrite $2 '  "password": "file:$EscDir\\secret-password.txt",$\r$\n'
+  FileWrite $2 '  "workdir": "data"$\r$\n'
+  FileWrite $2 "}$\r$\n"
+  FileClose $2
+
+  ; 启动脚本：只传 -config，不传任何凭据
   FileOpen $0 "$INSTDIR\start-webui4frpc.cmd" w
   FileWrite $0 "@echo off$\r$\n"
   FileWrite $0 "rem webui4frpc 启动脚本（由安装程序生成）$\r$\n"
+  FileWrite $0 "rem 凭据在 data\config.json（口令来自 secret-password.txt），不经过命令行。$\r$\n"
   FileWrite $0 "cd /d %~dp0$\r$\n"
-  FileWrite $0 'webui4frpc.exe -addr $CfgAddr -user $CfgUser -password $CfgPass -workdir "%~dp0data"$\r$\n'
+  FileWrite $0 'webui4frpc.exe -config "%~dp0data\config.json"$\r$\n'
   FileClose $0
 
   WriteRegStr HKLM "Software\webui4frpc" "InstallDir" "$INSTDIR"
@@ -142,6 +174,8 @@ Section "Uninstall"
 
   Delete "$INSTDIR\webui4frpc.exe"
   Delete "$INSTDIR\start-webui4frpc.cmd"
+  Delete "$INSTDIR\secret-password.txt"
+  Delete "$INSTDIR\data\config.json"
   Delete "$INSTDIR\README.md"
   Delete "$INSTDIR\LICENSE.txt"
   Delete "$INSTDIR\uninstall.exe"
diff --git a/scripts/build_installers.sh b/scripts/build_installers.sh
index 8e298fd..c30a6d8 100755
--- a/scripts/build_installers.sh
+++ b/scripts/build_installers.sh
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ EOF
   install -m 0755 "$bindir/webui4frpc"            "$deb/usr/bin/webui4frpc"
   install -m 0644 "$PKG/common/webui4frpc.service" "$deb/lib/systemd/system/webui4frpc.service"
   install -m 0640 "$PKG/common/webui4frpc.env"     "$deb/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env"
+  install -m 0644 "$PKG/common/config.json"        "$deb/etc/webui4frpc/config.json"
+  install -d -m 0750                               "$deb/etc/webui4frpc/secret"
   install -m 0644 "$ROOT/README.md"                "$deb/usr/share/doc/webui4frpc/README.md"
   cat > "$deb/usr/share/doc/webui4frpc/copyright" <<'EOF'
 webui4frpc - visual frpc controller
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ EOF
   install -m 0755 "$PKG/deb/postinst" "$deb/DEBIAN/postinst"
   install -m 0755 "$PKG/deb/prerm"    "$deb/DEBIAN/prerm"
   install -m 0755 "$PKG/deb/postrm"   "$deb/DEBIAN/postrm"
-  echo "/etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env" > "$deb/DEBIAN/conffiles"
+  printf '%s\n' /etc/webui4frpc/webui4frpc.env /etc/webui4frpc/config.json > "$deb/DEBIAN/conffiles"
   ( cd "$deb" && find usr etc lib -type f -exec md5sum {} \; > DEBIAN/md5sums )
   dpkg-deb -b --root-owner-group "$deb" "$OUT/webui4frpc-${VERSION}-linux-${arch}.deb" >/dev/null
   echo "  ✔ .deb linux/$arch"
@@ -74,6 +76,7 @@ build_rpm() {
     --define "_w4f_bin $bindir/webui4frpc" \
     --define "_w4f_service $PKG/common/webui4frpc.service" \
     --define "_w4f_env $PKG/common/webui4frpc.env" \
+    --define "_w4f_config $PKG/common/config.json" \
     --define "_w4f_readme $ROOT/README.md" \
     --define "_unitdir /usr/lib/systemd/system" \
     --define "_sharedstatedir /var/lib" >/tmp/w4f-rpm.log 2>&1 || true
diff --git a/scripts/criteria/config-startup.sh b/scripts/criteria/config-startup.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..a9ea422
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/criteria/config-startup.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# 判据：webui4frpc 支持从配置文件启动，且口令不泄漏。
+#
+# 覆盖三件事：
+#   1. go build ./... 与 go test ./... 全绿（含配置文件优先级的回归测试）；
+#   2. 优先级 显式 flag > 配置文件 > 内置默认值 —— 未显式传的 flag 不得用
+#      默认值压过配置文件；
+#   3. 用配置文件（file: 引用口令）启动后，明文口令既不出现在进程命令行，
+#      也不出现在启动日志；坏 JSON 必须非零退出，文件缺失必须能正常启动。
+#
+# 退出码 0 = 通过。
+set -u
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
+cd "$ROOT" || { echo "FAIL: 无法进入仓库根 $ROOT"; exit 1; }
+WORK="$(mktemp -d)"
+PIDS=()
+cleanup() { for p in "${PIDS[@]:-}"; do kill "$p" 2>/dev/null; done; wait 2>/dev/null; rm -rf "$WORK"; }
+trap cleanup EXIT
+fail() { echo "FAIL: $*"; exit 1; }
+
+# 取一个空闲端口。判据里必须用随机空闲端口：默认 127.0.0.1:7500 上通常已有
+# 生产实例在跑，端口冲突造成的非零退出会被误判成"配置错误已正确报错"。
+free_port() {
+  python3 -c 'import socket
+s = socket.socket(); s.bind(("127.0.0.1", 0)); print(s.getsockname()[1]); s.close()'
+}
+
+# 断言：进程在配置文件非法时"没进入监听"就必须死。
+# 只检查退出码不够——错误串里本来就含 "invalid JSON"，实现把 Fatal 改成
+# 打日志后继续跑，退出码可能因为端口冲突等原因仍非零。真正的判据是它不能再
+# 继续提供服务，所以出现 listening 日志即判失败。
+assert_died_before_listen() {
+  local log="$1" why="$2"
+  if grep -q 'listening on' "$log"; then
+    cat "$log"
+    fail "$why：配置错误被静默忽略后仍进入监听（应启动前就退出）"
+  fi
+}
+
+# ---- 0. 前端嵌入产物 ----
+# internal/httpapi 用 //go:embed all:dist 嵌入前端，而 dist 是构建期产物、
+# 被 .gitignore 排除。干净 clone 上不先构建前端，go build 会直接报
+# "pattern all:dist: no matching files found"——那是基线既有状态，与本判据
+# 无关，所以这里先补齐，让判据在任何 checkout 上都能复现。
+if [ ! -f internal/httpapi/dist/index.html ]; then
+  command -v npm >/dev/null 2>&1 \
+    || fail "缺少前端构建产物 internal/httpapi/dist 且没有 npm；请在有 node 的环境跑，或先手工 cd web && npm ci && npm run build && cp -r dist ../internal/httpapi/dist"
+  ( cd web \
+    && { [ -d node_modules ] || npm ci --no-audit --no-fund >/dev/null 2>&1; } \
+    && npm run build >/dev/null 2>&1 ) || fail "前端构建失败（cd web && npm run build）"
+  rm -rf internal/httpapi/dist && mkdir -p internal/httpapi/dist
+  cp -r web/dist/. internal/httpapi/dist/ || fail "拷贝前端产物失败"
+fi
+
+# ---- 1. 构建与全量测试 ----
+go build ./... || fail "go build ./..."
+go test ./... > "$WORK/test.log" 2>&1 || { cat "$WORK/test.log"; fail "go test ./..."; }
+
+# ---- 2. 优先级回归测试必须存在且通过 ----
+# 这是整个改动最容易做错的一点：Go 的 flag 默认值会无条件覆盖配置文件。
+go test ./internal/appconfig/ -count=1 \
+  -run 'TestResolveFileBeatsFlagDefaults|TestResolveExplicitFlagBeatsFile|TestLoadRejectsUnknownKey|TestSummaryRedactsSecrets' \
+  > "$WORK/appconfig.log" 2>&1 || { cat "$WORK/appconfig.log"; fail "appconfig 优先级/脱敏回归测试未通过"; }
+
+# ---- 3. 端到端：配置文件启动，口令不落到命令行与日志 ----
+BIN="$WORK/w4f"
+go build -o "$BIN" ./cmd/webui4frpc || fail "构建二进制失败"
+
+SECRET="CRIT_SECRET_${RANDOM}_9f3a"
+printf '%s\n' "$SECRET" > "$WORK/pw"
+chmod 600 "$WORK/pw"
+PORT="$(free_port)"
+python3 -c '
+import json, sys
+t, addr = sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2]
+json.dump({"addr": addr, "user": "crituser",
+           "password": "file:" + t + "/pw", "workdir": t + "/data"},
+          open(t + "/cfg.json", "w"))
+' "$WORK" "127.0.0.1:$PORT"
+
+# 注意：-config 只是路径，口令来自 file: 引用，命令行本身不含秘密。
+"$BIN" -config "$WORK/cfg.json" > "$WORK/run.log" 2>&1 &
+P=$!
+PIDS+=("$P")
+sleep 3
+kill -0 "$P" 2>/dev/null || { cat "$WORK/run.log"; fail "进程未能从配置文件启动"; }
+
+if tr '\0' ' ' < "/proc/$P/cmdline" | grep -q -- "$SECRET"; then
+  fail "明文口令出现在进程命令行（ps 可见）"
+fi
+if grep -q -- "$SECRET" "$WORK/run.log"; then
+  cat "$WORK/run.log"
+  fail "明文口令出现在启动日志"
+fi
+grep -q "listening on 127.0.0.1:$PORT" "$WORK/run.log" \
+  || { cat "$WORK/run.log"; fail "配置文件里的 addr 未生效（未在 $PORT 上监听）"; }
+kill "$P" 2>/dev/null; wait "$P" 2>/dev/null
+
+# ---- 4. 文件存在但 JSON 非法 -> 响亮报错退出 ----
+# 用 timeout 兜底：若实现退化成"只记日志继续启动"，进程会一直跑而不是报错，
+# 这里必须把它判成失败，不能把自己挂死。
+printf '{"addr":' > "$WORK/bad.json"
+timeout 10 "$BIN" -config "$WORK/bad.json" \
+  -addr "127.0.0.1:$(free_port)" -workdir "$WORK/d_bad" > "$WORK/bad.log" 2>&1
+rc=$?
+[ "$rc" -eq 124 ] && { cat "$WORK/bad.log"; fail "配置文件 JSON 非法时进程没有退出（静默忽略），判据要求响亮报错"; }
+[ "$rc" -eq 0 ] && { cat "$WORK/bad.log"; fail "配置文件 JSON 非法时应非零退出，实际正常退出"; }
+assert_died_before_listen "$WORK/bad.log" "JSON 非法"
+grep -qi 'invalid JSON' "$WORK/bad.log" || { cat "$WORK/bad.log"; fail "非法 JSON 的报错信息不明确"; }
+
+# ---- 5. 未知键（拼写错误）-> 报错退出，不得静默回落到默认口令 ----
+printf '{"passwd":"x"}' > "$WORK/typo.json"
+timeout 10 "$BIN" -config "$WORK/typo.json" \
+  -addr "127.0.0.1:$(free_port)" -workdir "$WORK/d_typo" > "$WORK/typo.log" 2>&1
+rc=$?
+[ "$rc" -eq 124 ] && { cat "$WORK/typo.log"; fail "未知键被静默忽略（进程继续运行），拼错的 password 会回落到默认值"; }
+[ "$rc" -eq 0 ] && { cat "$WORK/typo.log"; fail "未知键应被拒绝（否则拼错的 password 会静默使用默认值）"; }
+assert_died_before_listen "$WORK/typo.log" "未知键"
+
+# ---- 6. 配置文件缺失 -> 不算错误，回落到纯 flag 行为 ----
+"$BIN" -config "$WORK/none.json" -addr "127.0.0.1:$(free_port)" -workdir "$WORK/d2" > "$WORK/miss.log" 2>&1 &
+P2=$!
+PIDS+=("$P2")
+sleep 3
+kill -0 "$P2" 2>/dev/null || { cat "$WORK/miss.log"; fail "配置文件缺失时应回落到纯 flag 行为并正常启动"; }
+kill "$P2" 2>/dev/null; wait "$P2" 2>/dev/null
+
+# ---- 7. 交付的单元/示例配置不得携带明文口令 ----
+if grep -rn -- '-password' packaging/common/webui4frpc.service \
+     packaging/common/config.json scripts/release.sh 2>/dev/null \
+     | grep -v 'never as -password'; then
+  fail "打包产物（单元/示例配置/分发模板）仍含命令行口令"
+fi
+
+echo "OK: 配置文件启动与口令不泄漏的判据全部通过"
diff --git a/scripts/release.sh b/scripts/release.sh
index 400bfef..4863a21 100755
--- a/scripts/release.sh
+++ b/scripts/release.sh
@@ -92,7 +92,10 @@ Wants=network-online.target
 
 [Service]
 Type=simple
-ExecStart=/opt/webui4frpc/webui4frpc -addr 0.0.0.0:7500 -user admin -password admin -workdir /opt/webui4frpc/data
+# Listen address, admin credentials and peers live in config.json, not here:
+# whatever is in ExecStart is visible to every user via `ps`. Set the password
+# in /opt/webui4frpc/config.json as "file:/opt/webui4frpc/secret/password".
+ExecStart=/opt/webui4frpc/webui4frpc -config /opt/webui4frpc/config.json
 Restart=always
 RestartSec=5
 LimitNOFILE=65535
@@ -121,7 +124,8 @@ for target in "${TARGETS[@]}"; do
     ( cd "$stage" && zip -q "$OUT/$base.zip" "$bin" README.md )
   else
     cp "$OUT/webui4frpc.service.tpl" "$stage/"
-    ( cd "$stage" && tar czf "$OUT/$base.tar.gz" "$bin" README.md webui4frpc.service.tpl )
+    cp "$ROOT/packaging/common/config.json" "$stage/config.json.example"
+    ( cd "$stage" && tar czf "$OUT/$base.tar.gz" "$bin" README.md webui4frpc.service.tpl config.json.example )
   fi
 done
 rm -rf "$OUT/.stage"