+extern const char *appconfig_set(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, const char *value);
+extern const char *appconfig_set_default(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, const char *value);
+extern long long appconfig_set_number(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, long long value);
+extern int appconfig_set_boolean(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, int value);
+
+extern int appconfig_exists(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name);
+extern int appconfig_rename(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *old, const char *new);
+
+extern void appconfig_generate(struct config *root, BUFFER *wb, int only_changed);
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// shortcuts for the default netdata configuration
+
+#define config_load(filename, overwrite_used) appconfig_load(&netdata_config, filename, overwrite_used)
+#define config_get(section, name, default_value) appconfig_get(&netdata_config, section, name, default_value)
+#define config_get_number(section, name, value) appconfig_get_number(&netdata_config, section, name, value)
+#define config_get_boolean(section, name, value) appconfig_get_boolean(&netdata_config, section, name, value)
+#define config_get_boolean_ondemand(section, name, value) appconfig_get_boolean_ondemand(&netdata_config, section, name, value)
+
+#define config_set(section, name, default_value) appconfig_get(&netdata_config, section, name, default_value)
+#define config_set_default(section, name, value) appconfig_set_default(&netdata_config, section, name, value)
+#define config_set_number(section, name, value) appconfig_set_number(&netdata_config, section, name, value)
+#define config_set_boolean(section, name, value) appconfig_set_boolean(&netdata_config, section, name, value)
+
+#define config_exists(section, name) appconfig_exists(&netdata_config, section, name)
+#define config_rename(section, old, new) appconfig_rename(&netdata_config, section, old, new)
+
+#define config_generate(buffer, only_changed) appconfig_generate(&netdata_config, buffer, only_changed)