diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/config.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/config.rs
index 980f1ac..d9625c2 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/worker/config.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/config.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
  * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-use std::collections::HashSet;
+use std::{collections::HashSet, sync::Arc};
 
 use espanso_config::{
   config::{AppProperties, Config, ConfigStore},
@@ -45,19 +45,19 @@ impl<'a> ConfigManager<'a> {
     }
   }
 
-  pub fn active(&self) -> &'a dyn Config {
+  pub fn active(&self) -> Arc<dyn Config> {
     let current_app = self.app_info_provider.get_info();
     let info = to_app_properties(&current_app);
     self.config_store.active(&info)
   }
 
-  pub fn active_context(&self) -> (&'a dyn Config, MatchSet) {
+  pub fn active_context(&self) -> (Arc<dyn Config>, MatchSet) {
     let config = self.active();
     let match_paths = config.match_paths();
-    (config, self.match_store.query(&match_paths))
+    (config.clone(), self.match_store.query(&match_paths))
   }
 
-  pub fn default(&self) -> &'a dyn Config {
+  pub fn default(&self) -> Arc<dyn Config>{
     self.config_store.default()
   }
 }
@@ -86,16 +86,19 @@ impl<'a> crate::engine::process::MatchFilter for ConfigManager<'a> {
 }
 
 impl<'a> super::engine::process::middleware::render::ConfigProvider<'a> for ConfigManager<'a> {
-  fn configs(&self) -> Vec<(&'a dyn Config, MatchSet)> {
+  fn configs(&self) -> Vec<(Arc<dyn Config>, MatchSet)> {
     self
       .config_store
       .configs()
       .into_iter()
-      .map(|config| (config, self.match_store.query(config.match_paths())))
+      .map(|config| {
+        let match_set = self.match_store.query(config.match_paths());
+        (config, match_set)
+      })
       .collect()
   }
 
-  fn active(&self) -> (&'a dyn Config, MatchSet) {
+  fn active(&self) -> (Arc<dyn Config>, MatchSet) {
     self.active_context()
   }
 }
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs
index 51b14dc..c9a4305 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ pub fn initialize_and_spawn(
       let path_provider = PathProviderAdapter::new(&paths);
 
       let disable_options =
-        process::middleware::disable::extract_disable_options(config_manager.default());
+        process::middleware::disable::extract_disable_options(&*config_manager.default());
 
       let mut processor = crate::engine::process::default(
         &matchers,
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/process/middleware/render/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/process/middleware/render/mod.rs
index 70e1602..64c1510 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/process/middleware/render/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/process/middleware/render/mod.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
  * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-use std::{cell::RefCell, collections::HashMap};
+use std::{cell::RefCell, collections::HashMap, sync::Arc};
 
 pub mod extension;
 
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ pub trait MatchProvider<'a> {
 }
 
 pub trait ConfigProvider<'a> {
-  fn configs(&self) -> Vec<(&'a dyn Config, MatchSet)>;
-  fn active(&self) -> (&'a dyn Config, MatchSet);
+  fn configs(&self) -> Vec<(Arc<dyn Config>, MatchSet)>;
+  fn active(&self) -> (Arc<dyn Config>, MatchSet);
 }
 
 pub struct RendererAdapter<'a> {
diff --git a/espanso/src/main.rs b/espanso/src/main.rs
index 9d9a951..32f2cd2 100644
--- a/espanso/src/main.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/main.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ mod ipc;
 mod lock;
 #[macro_use]
 mod logging;
+mod patch;
 mod path;
 mod preferences;
 mod util;
diff --git a/espanso/src/patch/config_store.rs b/espanso/src/patch/config_store.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a8b4fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso/src/patch/config_store.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso 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.
+ *
+ * espanso 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 espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use espanso_config::config::{ConfigStore, Config};
+use log::debug;
+
+use super::PatchDefinition;
+
+pub struct PatchedConfigStore {
+  config_store: Box<dyn ConfigStore>,
+  patches: Vec<PatchDefinition>,
+}
+
+impl PatchedConfigStore {
+  pub fn from_store(config_store: Box<dyn ConfigStore>) -> Self {
+    Self::from_store_with_patches(config_store, super::get_builtin_patches())
+  }
+
+  pub fn from_store_with_patches(config_store: Box<dyn ConfigStore>, patches: Vec<PatchDefinition>) -> Self {
+    // Only keep the patches that should be active in the current system
+    let active_patches = patches.into_iter().filter(|patch| {
+      let should_be_activated = (patch.should_be_activated)();
+
+      if should_be_activated {
+        debug!("activating '{}' patch", patch.name);
+      } else {
+        debug!("skipping '{}' patch", patch.name);
+      }
+
+      should_be_activated
+    }).collect();
+    
+    Self {
+      config_store,
+      patches: active_patches,
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+impl ConfigStore for PatchedConfigStore {
+  fn default(&self) -> Arc<dyn Config> {
+    self.config_store.default()
+  }
+
+  fn active<'f>(
+    &'f self,
+    app: &espanso_config::config::AppProperties,
+  ) -> Arc<dyn Config>{
+    todo!()
+  }
+
+  fn configs(&self) -> Vec<Arc<dyn Config>> {
+    todo!()
+  }
+
+  fn get_all_match_paths(&self) -> std::collections::HashSet<String> {
+    self.config_store.get_all_match_paths()
+  }
+}
+
+// TODO: test
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso/src/patch/mod.rs b/espanso/src/patch/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..303e3a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso/src/patch/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso 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.
+ *
+ * espanso 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 espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use espanso_config::config::{AppProperties, Backend, Config, ToggleKey};
+
+mod config_store;
+mod patches;
+
+pub fn get_builtin_patches() -> Vec<PatchDefinition> {
+  // TODO
+  vec![
+    patches::win::onenote_for_windows_10::patch(),
+  ]
+}
+
+// TODO: fix visibility levels (pub/pub(crate))
+
+// TODO: patches should be "merged" at runtime with the active config, unless a config option (like "apply_patch")
+// is set. This is needed because we still want to allow the user to define user-specific configs without
+// losing the patch-specific changes
+
+pub struct PatchDefinition {
+  pub name: &'static str,
+  pub should_be_activated: fn() -> bool,
+  pub patch_config: fn(config: Arc<dyn Config>) -> Arc<dyn PatchedConfig>,
+}
+
+pub struct DefaultPatchedConfig {
+  base: Arc<dyn Config>,
+}
+
+pub trait PatchedConfig: Config {
+  // TODO: can we pass a simple reference here?
+  fn get_base(&self) -> Arc<dyn Config>;
+
+  fn id(&self) -> i32 {
+    self.get_base().id()
+  }
+
+  fn label(&self) -> &str {
+    self.get_base().label()
+  }
+
+  fn match_paths(&self) -> &[String] {
+    self.get_base().match_paths()
+  }
+
+  fn backend(&self) -> Backend {
+    self.get_base().backend()
+  }
+
+  fn clipboard_threshold(&self) -> usize {
+    self.get_base().clipboard_threshold()
+  }
+
+  fn pre_paste_delay(&self) -> usize {
+    self.get_base().pre_paste_delay()
+  }
+
+  fn paste_shortcut_event_delay(&self) -> usize {
+    self.get_base().paste_shortcut_event_delay()
+  }
+
+  fn paste_shortcut(&self) -> Option<String> {
+    self.get_base().paste_shortcut()
+  }
+
+  fn disable_x11_fast_inject(&self) -> bool {
+    self.get_base().disable_x11_fast_inject()
+  }
+
+  fn toggle_key(&self) -> Option<ToggleKey> {
+    self.get_base().toggle_key()
+  }
+
+  fn auto_restart(&self) -> bool {
+    self.get_base().auto_restart()
+  }
+
+  fn preserve_clipboard(&self) -> bool {
+    self.get_base().preserve_clipboard()
+  }
+
+  fn restore_clipboard_delay(&self) -> usize {
+    self.get_base().restore_clipboard_delay()
+  }
+
+  fn inject_delay(&self) -> Option<usize> {
+    self.get_base().inject_delay()
+  }
+
+  fn key_delay(&self) -> Option<usize> {
+    self.get_base().key_delay()
+  }
+
+  fn word_separators(&self) -> Vec<String> {
+    self.get_base().word_separators()
+  }
+
+  fn backspace_limit(&self) -> usize {
+    self.get_base().backspace_limit()
+  }
+
+  fn is_match<'a>(&self, app: &AppProperties<'a>) -> bool {
+    self.get_base().is_match(app)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/espanso/src/patch/patches/mod.rs b/espanso/src/patch/patches/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6303b8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso/src/patch/patches/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso 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.
+ *
+ * espanso 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 espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+pub mod win;
+
+
+
+// #[macro_export]
+// macro_rules! create_patch {
+//   // TODO: add function body
+//   ( $should_be_activated:expr, $( $config_field:ident ->$config_type:ty ),* ) => {
+//     {
+//       $(
+//         if $child.$x.is_none() {
+//           $child.$x = $parent.$x.clone();
+//         }
+//       )*
+
+//       // Build a temporary object to verify that all fields
+//       // are being used at compile time
+//       $t {
+//         $(
+//           $x: None,
+//         )*
+//       };
+//     }
+//     {
+//       use crate::patch::{ConfigProxy, Patch};
+
+//       pub struct PatchImpl<'a> {
+//         patched_config: PatchedConfig<'a>,
+//       }
+
+//       impl<'a> PatchImpl<'a> {
+//         pub fn new(default: &'a dyn Config) -> Self {
+//           Self {
+//             patched_config: PatchedConfig::new(default),
+//           }
+//         }
+//       }
+
+//       impl<'a> Patch<'a> for PatchImpl<'a> {
+//         fn should_be_activated(&self) -> bool {
+//           $should_be_activated
+//         }
+
+//         fn patch_name(&self) -> &'static str {
+//           todo!()
+//         }
+
+//         fn config(&self) -> &'a dyn Config {
+//           &self.patched_config
+//         }
+//       }
+
+//       pub struct PatchedConfig<'a> {
+//         default: &'a dyn Config,
+//       }
+
+//       impl<'a> PatchedConfig<'a> {
+//         pub fn new(default: &'a dyn Config) -> Self {
+//           Self { default }
+//         }
+//       }
+
+//       impl<'a> ConfigProxy<'a> for PatchedConfig<'a> {
+//         fn get_default(&self) -> &'a dyn espanso_config::config::Config {
+//           self.default
+//         }
+
+//         $(
+//           fn $config_field(&self) -> $config_type {
+//             todo!()
+//           }
+//         )*
+//       }
+
+//     }
+//   };
+// }
diff --git a/espanso/src/patch/patches/win/mod.rs b/espanso/src/patch/patches/win/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3cc1a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso/src/patch/patches/win/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso 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.
+ *
+ * espanso 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 espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+pub mod onenote_for_windows_10;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso/src/patch/patches/win/onenote_for_windows_10.rs b/espanso/src/patch/patches/win/onenote_for_windows_10.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea8a788
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso/src/patch/patches/win/onenote_for_windows_10.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso 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.
+ *
+ * espanso 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 espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+use crate::patch::PatchDefinition;
+
+pub fn patch() -> PatchDefinition {
+  PatchDefinition {
+    name: file!(),
+    should_be_activated: || cfg!(target_os = "windows"),
+    patch_config: |base| {
+      todo!()
+    },
+  }
+}