diff --git a/cmd/bootstrap/main.go b/cmd/bootstrap/main.go
index d17a6e40d..aad1a8b21 100644
--- a/cmd/bootstrap/main.go
+++ b/cmd/bootstrap/main.go
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ var (
 
 	confDir     string
 	identityDir string
-	isDev       bool
 )
 
 const (
@@ -54,11 +53,11 @@ func init() {
 	defaultIdentityDir := fpath.ApplicationDir("storj", "identity", "bootstrap")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &confDir, "config-dir", defaultConfDir, "main directory for bootstrap configuration")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &identityDir, "identity-dir", defaultIdentityDir, "main directory for bootstrap identity credentials")
-	cfgstruct.DevFlag(rootCmd, &isDev, false, "use development and test configuration settings")
+	defaults := cfgstruct.DefaultsFlag(rootCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(runCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(setupCmd)
-	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &runCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &runCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
 }
 
 func cmdRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
diff --git a/cmd/certificates/main.go b/cmd/certificates/main.go
index 5d26082c8..c8dd35610 100644
--- a/cmd/certificates/main.go
+++ b/cmd/certificates/main.go
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ var (
 
 	confDir     string
 	identityDir string
-	isDev       bool
 )
 
 func cmdRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
@@ -69,7 +68,7 @@ func main() {
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &confDir, "config-dir", defaultConfDir, "main directory for certificates configuration")
 	//cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &identityDir, "identity-dir", fpath.ApplicationDir("storj", "identity", "bootstrap"), "main directory for bootstrap identity credentials")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&identityDir, "identity-dir", defaultIdentityDir, "main directory for storagenode identity credentials")
-	cfgstruct.DevFlag(rootCmd, &isDev, false, "use development and test configuration settings")
+	defaults := cfgstruct.DefaultsFlag(rootCmd)
 
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(authCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(runCmd)
@@ -83,15 +82,15 @@ func main() {
 	authCmd.AddCommand(authInfoCmd)
 	authCmd.AddCommand(authExportCmd)
 
-	cfgstruct.Bind(authCreateCmd.Flags(), &config, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(authInfoCmd.Flags(), &config, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(authExportCmd.Flags(), &config, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &config, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &config, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(signCmd.Flags(), &signCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(verifyCmd.Flags(), &verifyCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(claimsExportCmd.Flags(), &claimsExportCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(claimDeleteCmd.Flags(), &claimsDeleteCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(authCreateCmd.Flags(), &config, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(authInfoCmd.Flags(), &config, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(authExportCmd.Flags(), &config, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &config, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &config, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(signCmd.Flags(), &signCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(verifyCmd.Flags(), &verifyCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(claimsExportCmd.Flags(), &claimsExportCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(claimDeleteCmd.Flags(), &claimsDeleteCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
 
 	process.Exec(rootCmd)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/gateway/main.go b/cmd/gateway/main.go
index dea72e7d2..65206b1b8 100644
--- a/cmd/gateway/main.go
+++ b/cmd/gateway/main.go
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ var (
 
 	confDir     string
 	identityDir string
-	isDev       bool
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -71,12 +70,12 @@ func init() {
 	defaultIdentityDir := fpath.ApplicationDir("storj", "identity", "gateway")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &confDir, "config-dir", defaultConfDir, "main directory for gateway configuration")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &identityDir, "identity-dir", defaultIdentityDir, "main directory for gateway identity credentials")
-	cfgstruct.DevFlag(rootCmd, &isDev, false, "use development and test configuration settings")
+	defaults := cfgstruct.DefaultsFlag(rootCmd)
 
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(runCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(setupCmd)
-	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &runCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &runCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
 }
 
 func cmdSetup(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
diff --git a/cmd/identity/batch.go b/cmd/identity/batch.go
index 348ef84b1..fe92d9729 100644
--- a/cmd/identity/batch.go
+++ b/cmd/identity/batch.go
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ var (
 		Concurrency   int    `help:"worker concurrency" default:"4"`
 		OutputDir     string `help:"output directory to place keys" default:"."`
 	}
-	isDev bool
+	defaults cfgstruct.BindOpt
 )
 
 func init() {
-	cfgstruct.DevFlag(rootCmd, &isDev, false, "use development and test configuration settings")
+	defaults = cfgstruct.DefaultsFlag(rootCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(keyGenerateCmd)
-	cfgstruct.Bind(keyGenerateCmd.Flags(), &keyCfg, isDev)
+	cfgstruct.Bind(keyGenerateCmd.Flags(), &keyCfg, defaults)
 }
 
 func cmdKeyGenerate(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
diff --git a/cmd/identity/certificate_authority.go b/cmd/identity/certificate_authority.go
index 7d75f314e..ca3241e3f 100644
--- a/cmd/identity/certificate_authority.go
+++ b/cmd/identity/certificate_authority.go
@@ -106,11 +106,11 @@ func init() {
 	caCmd.AddCommand(revokeCACmd)
 	caCmd.AddCommand(revokePeerCACmd)
 
-	cfgstruct.Bind(newCACmd.Flags(), &newCACfg, isDev, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(getIDCmd.Flags(), &getIDCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(caExtCmd.Flags(), &caExtCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(revokeCACmd.Flags(), &revokeCACfg, isDev, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(revokePeerCACmd.Flags(), &revokePeerCACfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfigDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(newCACmd.Flags(), &newCACfg, defaults, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(getIDCmd.Flags(), &getIDCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(caExtCmd.Flags(), &caExtCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(revokeCACmd.Flags(), &revokeCACfg, defaults, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(revokePeerCACmd.Flags(), &revokePeerCACfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfigDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
 }
 
 func cmdNewCA(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
diff --git a/cmd/identity/identity.go b/cmd/identity/identity.go
index 3a5e8c771..649d7f752 100644
--- a/cmd/identity/identity.go
+++ b/cmd/identity/identity.go
@@ -67,9 +67,9 @@ func init() {
 	idCmd.AddCommand(leafExtCmd)
 	idCmd.AddCommand(revokeLeafCmd)
 
-	cfgstruct.Bind(newIDCmd.Flags(), &newIDCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(leafExtCmd.Flags(), &leafExtCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(revokeLeafCmd.Flags(), &revokeLeafCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(newIDCmd.Flags(), &newIDCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(leafExtCmd.Flags(), &leafExtCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(revokeLeafCmd.Flags(), &revokeLeafCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
 }
 
 func cmdNewID(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
diff --git a/cmd/identity/main.go b/cmd/identity/main.go
index 24a926d92..6edccf113 100644
--- a/cmd/identity/main.go
+++ b/cmd/identity/main.go
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(newServiceCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(authorizeCmd)
 
-	cfgstruct.Bind(newServiceCmd.Flags(), &config, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfigDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(authorizeCmd.Flags(), &config, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfigDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(newServiceCmd.Flags(), &config, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfigDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(authorizeCmd.Flags(), &config, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfigDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
 }
 
 func main() {
diff --git a/cmd/identity/revocations.go b/cmd/identity/revocations.go
index b88d7ed3f..460239301 100644
--- a/cmd/identity/revocations.go
+++ b/cmd/identity/revocations.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ var (
 func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(revocationsCmd)
 
-	cfgstruct.Bind(revocationsCmd.Flags(), &revCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfigDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(revocationsCmd.Flags(), &revCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfigDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
 }
 
 func cmdRevocations(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
diff --git a/cmd/overlay/main.go b/cmd/overlay/main.go
index 6bbd8c601..0e5c451c2 100644
--- a/cmd/overlay/main.go
+++ b/cmd/overlay/main.go
@@ -39,15 +39,14 @@ var (
 	cacheCfg struct {
 		cacheConfig
 	}
-	isDev bool
 )
 
 func init() {
-	cfgstruct.DevFlag(rootCmd, &isDev, false, "use development and test configuration settings")
+	defaults := cfgstruct.DefaultsFlag(rootCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(addCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(listCmd)
-	cfgstruct.Bind(addCmd.Flags(), &cacheCfg, isDev)
-	cfgstruct.Bind(listCmd.Flags(), &cacheCfg, isDev)
+	cfgstruct.Bind(addCmd.Flags(), &cacheCfg, defaults)
+	cfgstruct.Bind(listCmd.Flags(), &cacheCfg, defaults)
 }
 
 func cmdList(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
diff --git a/cmd/satellite/main.go b/cmd/satellite/main.go
index 3d4602d77..58ad0d7e3 100644
--- a/cmd/satellite/main.go
+++ b/cmd/satellite/main.go
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ var (
 	}
 	confDir     string
 	identityDir string
-	isDev       bool
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -92,18 +91,18 @@ func init() {
 	defaultIdentityDir := fpath.ApplicationDir("storj", "identity", "satellite")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &confDir, "config-dir", defaultConfDir, "main directory for satellite configuration")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &identityDir, "identity-dir", defaultIdentityDir, "main directory for satellite identity credentials")
-	cfgstruct.DevFlag(rootCmd, &isDev, true, "use development and test configuration settings")
+	defaults := cfgstruct.DefaultsFlag(rootCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(runCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(setupCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(diagCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(qdiagCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(reportsCmd)
 	reportsCmd.AddCommand(nodeUsageCmd)
-	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &runCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(diagCmd.Flags(), &diagCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(qdiagCmd.Flags(), &qdiagCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(nodeUsageCmd.Flags(), &nodeUsageCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &runCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(diagCmd.Flags(), &diagCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(qdiagCmd.Flags(), &qdiagCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(nodeUsageCmd.Flags(), &nodeUsageCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
 }
 
 func cmdRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
diff --git a/cmd/statreceiver/main.go b/cmd/statreceiver/main.go
index 6119895e9..d21465542 100644
--- a/cmd/statreceiver/main.go
+++ b/cmd/statreceiver/main.go
@@ -32,9 +32,8 @@ func main() {
 		Short: "stat receiving",
 		RunE:  Main,
 	}
-	isDev := false
-	cfgstruct.DevFlag(cmd, &isDev, false, "use development and test configuration settings")
-	cfgstruct.Bind(cmd.Flags(), &Config, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfDir))
+	defaults := cfgstruct.DefaultsFlag(cmd)
+	cfgstruct.Bind(cmd.Flags(), &Config, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfDir))
 	cmd.Flags().String("config", filepath.Join(defaultConfDir, "config.yaml"), "path to configuration")
 	process.Exec(cmd)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/storagenode/main.go b/cmd/storagenode/main.go
index 7ab7589ca..2d1939663 100644
--- a/cmd/storagenode/main.go
+++ b/cmd/storagenode/main.go
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@ var (
 	confDir        string
 	identityDir    string
 	useColor       bool
-	isDev          bool
 )
 
 const (
@@ -91,18 +90,18 @@ func init() {
 	defaultDiagDir = filepath.Join(defaultConfDir, "storage")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &confDir, "config-dir", defaultConfDir, "main directory for storagenode configuration")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &identityDir, "identity-dir", defaultIdentityDir, "main directory for storagenode identity credentials")
-	cfgstruct.DevFlag(rootCmd, &isDev, false, "use development and test configuration settings")
+	defaults := cfgstruct.DefaultsFlag(rootCmd)
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&useColor, "color", false, "use color in user interface")
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(runCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(setupCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(configCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(diagCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(dashboardCmd)
-	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &runCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.BindSetup(configCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(diagCmd.Flags(), &diagCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
-	cfgstruct.Bind(dashboardCmd.Flags(), &dashboardCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultDiagDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &runCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.BindSetup(configCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(diagCmd.Flags(), &diagCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(dashboardCmd.Flags(), &dashboardCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultDiagDir))
 }
 
 func databaseConfig(config storagenode.Config) storagenodedb.Config {
diff --git a/cmd/uplink/cmd/root.go b/cmd/uplink/cmd/root.go
index 990080f98..5858ea26a 100644
--- a/cmd/uplink/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/uplink/cmd/root.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func addCmd(cmd *cobra.Command, root *cobra.Command) *cobra.Command {
 		defaultIdentityDir = identityDirParam
 	}
 
-	cfgstruct.Bind(cmd.Flags(), &cfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(cmd.Flags(), &cfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(defaultConfDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(defaultIdentityDir))
 	return cmd
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/uplink/cmd/setup.go b/cmd/uplink/cmd/setup.go
index 96371a831..2f25609ed 100644
--- a/cmd/uplink/cmd/setup.go
+++ b/cmd/uplink/cmd/setup.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ var (
 	setupCfg    UplinkFlags
 	confDir     string
 	identityDir string
-	isDev       bool
+	defaults    cfgstruct.BindOpt
 
 	// Error is the default uplink setup errs class
 	Error = errs.Class("uplink setup error")
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ func init() {
 	defaultIdentityDir := fpath.ApplicationDir("storj", "identity", "uplink")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), RootCmd, &confDir, "config-dir", defaultConfDir, "main directory for uplink configuration")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), RootCmd, &identityDir, "identity-dir", defaultIdentityDir, "main directory for uplink identity credentials")
-	cfgstruct.DevFlag(RootCmd, &isDev, false, "use development and test configuration settings")
+	defaults = cfgstruct.DefaultsFlag(RootCmd)
 	RootCmd.AddCommand(setupCmd)
-	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
+	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir), cfgstruct.IdentityDir(identityDir))
 }
 
 func cmdSetup(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
diff --git a/cmd/versioncontrol/main.go b/cmd/versioncontrol/main.go
index f7dcfbd01..18a655e4e 100644
--- a/cmd/versioncontrol/main.go
+++ b/cmd/versioncontrol/main.go
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ var (
 	setupCfg versioncontrol.Config
 
 	confDir string
-	isDev   bool
 )
 
 const (
@@ -48,11 +47,11 @@ const (
 func init() {
 	defaultConfDir := fpath.ApplicationDir("storj", "versioncontrol")
 	cfgstruct.SetupFlag(zap.L(), rootCmd, &confDir, "config-dir", defaultConfDir, "main directory for versioncontrol configuration")
-	cfgstruct.DevFlag(rootCmd, &isDev, false, "use development and test configuration settings")
+	defaults := cfgstruct.DefaultsFlag(rootCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(runCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(setupCmd)
-	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &runCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
-	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, isDev, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(runCmd.Flags(), &runCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
+	cfgstruct.BindSetup(setupCmd.Flags(), &setupCfg, defaults, cfgstruct.ConfDir(confDir))
 }
 
 func cmdRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
diff --git a/examples/grpc-debug/main.go b/examples/grpc-debug/main.go
index 22451a613..8a5e51b4a 100644
--- a/examples/grpc-debug/main.go
+++ b/examples/grpc-debug/main.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	cfgstruct.Bind(pflag.CommandLine, &identityConfig, true, cfgstruct.ConfDir("$HOME/.storj/gw"))
+	cfgstruct.Bind(pflag.CommandLine, &identityConfig, cfgstruct.UseDevDefaults(), cfgstruct.ConfDir("$HOME/.storj/gw"))
 }
 
 func main() {
diff --git a/internal/testplanet/uplink.go b/internal/testplanet/uplink.go
index a9716736c..30988e6b9 100644
--- a/internal/testplanet/uplink.go
+++ b/internal/testplanet/uplink.go
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ func (uplink *Uplink) GetConfig(satellite *satellite.Peer) uplink.Config {
 
 func getDefaultConfig() uplink.Config {
 	config := uplink.Config{}
-	cfgstruct.Bind(&pflag.FlagSet{}, &config, true)
+	cfgstruct.Bind(&pflag.FlagSet{}, &config, cfgstruct.UseDevDefaults())
 	return config
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/accounting/rollup/rollup.go b/pkg/accounting/rollup/rollup.go
index a137542f0..14ccadfee 100644
--- a/pkg/accounting/rollup/rollup.go
+++ b/pkg/accounting/rollup/rollup.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 
 // Config contains configurable values for rollup
 type Config struct {
-	Interval      time.Duration `help:"how frequently rollup should run" devDefault:"120s" default:"6h"`
+	Interval      time.Duration `help:"how frequently rollup should run" devDefault:"120s" releaseDefault:"6h"`
 	MaxAlphaUsage memory.Size   `help:"the bandwidth and storage usage limit for the alpha release" default:"25GB"`
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/accounting/tally/tally.go b/pkg/accounting/tally/tally.go
index 2982bae4b..62f3d86b5 100644
--- a/pkg/accounting/tally/tally.go
+++ b/pkg/accounting/tally/tally.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import (
 
 // Config contains configurable values for the tally service
 type Config struct {
-	Interval time.Duration `help:"how frequently the tally service should run" default:"1h" devDefault:"30s"`
+	Interval time.Duration `help:"how frequently the tally service should run" releaseDefault:"1h" devDefault:"30s"`
 }
 
 // Service is the tally service for data stored on each storage node
diff --git a/pkg/cfgstruct/bind.go b/pkg/cfgstruct/bind.go
index c0941b710..3d05e19ac 100644
--- a/pkg/cfgstruct/bind.go
+++ b/pkg/cfgstruct/bind.go
@@ -17,26 +17,22 @@ import (
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 
 	"storj.io/storj/internal/memory"
+	"storj.io/storj/internal/version"
 )
 
 // BindOpt is an option for the Bind method
-type BindOpt func(vars map[string]confVar)
+type BindOpt struct {
+	isDev *bool
+	varfn func(vars map[string]confVar)
+}
 
 // ConfDir sets variables for default options called $CONFDIR and $CONFNAME.
 func ConfDir(path string) BindOpt {
 	val := filepath.Clean(os.ExpandEnv(path))
-	return BindOpt(func(vars map[string]confVar) {
+	return BindOpt{varfn: func(vars map[string]confVar) {
 		vars["CONFDIR"] = confVar{val: val, nested: false}
 		vars["CONFNAME"] = confVar{val: val, nested: false}
-	})
-}
-
-// IdentityDir sets a variable for the default option called $IDENTITYDIR.
-func IdentityDir(path string) BindOpt {
-	val := filepath.Clean(os.ExpandEnv(path))
-	return BindOpt(func(vars map[string]confVar) {
-		vars["IDENTITYDIR"] = confVar{val: val, nested: false}
-	})
+	}}
 }
 
 // ConfDirNested sets variables for default options called $CONFDIR and $CONFNAME.
@@ -44,10 +40,36 @@ func IdentityDir(path string) BindOpt {
 // descending into substructs.
 func ConfDirNested(confdir string) BindOpt {
 	val := filepath.Clean(os.ExpandEnv(confdir))
-	return BindOpt(func(vars map[string]confVar) {
+	return BindOpt{varfn: func(vars map[string]confVar) {
 		vars["CONFDIR"] = confVar{val: val, nested: true}
 		vars["CONFNAME"] = confVar{val: val, nested: true}
-	})
+	}}
+}
+
+// IdentityDir sets a variable for the default option called $IDENTITYDIR.
+func IdentityDir(path string) BindOpt {
+	val := filepath.Clean(os.ExpandEnv(path))
+	return BindOpt{varfn: func(vars map[string]confVar) {
+		vars["IDENTITYDIR"] = confVar{val: val, nested: false}
+	}}
+}
+
+// UseDevDefaults forces the bind call to use development defaults unless
+// UseReleaseDefaults is provided as a subsequent option.
+// Without either, Bind will default to determining which defaults to use
+// based on version.Build.Release
+func UseDevDefaults() BindOpt {
+	dev := true
+	return BindOpt{isDev: &dev}
+}
+
+// UseReleaseDefaults forces the bind call to use release defaults unless
+// UseDevDefaults is provided as a subsequent option.
+// Without either, Bind will default to determining which defaults to use
+// based on version.Build.Release
+func UseReleaseDefaults() BindOpt {
+	dev := false
+	return BindOpt{isDev: &dev}
 }
 
 type confVar struct {
@@ -58,25 +80,31 @@ type confVar struct {
 // Bind sets flags on a FlagSet that match the configuration struct
 // 'config'. This works by traversing the config struct using the 'reflect'
 // package. Will ignore fields with `setup:"true"` tag.
-func Bind(flags FlagSet, config interface{}, isDev bool, opts ...BindOpt) {
-	bind(flags, config, false, isDev, opts...)
+func Bind(flags FlagSet, config interface{}, opts ...BindOpt) {
+	bind(flags, config, false, opts...)
 }
 
 // BindSetup sets flags on a FlagSet that match the configuration struct
 // 'config'. This works by traversing the config struct using the 'reflect'
 // package.
-func BindSetup(flags FlagSet, config interface{}, isDev bool, opts ...BindOpt) {
-	bind(flags, config, true, isDev, opts...)
+func BindSetup(flags FlagSet, config interface{}, opts ...BindOpt) {
+	bind(flags, config, true, opts...)
 }
 
-func bind(flags FlagSet, config interface{}, setupCommand bool, isDev bool, opts ...BindOpt) {
+func bind(flags FlagSet, config interface{}, setupCommand bool, opts ...BindOpt) {
 	ptrtype := reflect.TypeOf(config)
 	if ptrtype.Kind() != reflect.Ptr {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid config type: %#v. Expecting pointer to struct.", config))
 	}
+	isDev := !version.Build.Release
 	vars := map[string]confVar{}
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt(vars)
+		if opt.varfn != nil {
+			opt.varfn(vars)
+		}
+		if opt.isDev != nil {
+			isDev = *opt.isDev
+		}
 	}
 
 	bindConfig(flags, "", reflect.ValueOf(config).Elem(), vars, setupCommand, false, isDev)
@@ -133,11 +161,11 @@ func bindConfig(flags FlagSet, prefix string, val reflect.Value, vars map[string
 			}
 		default:
 			help := field.Tag.Get("help")
-			def := field.Tag.Get("default")
+			var def string
 			if isDev {
-				if devDefault, ok := field.Tag.Lookup("devDefault"); ok {
-					def = devDefault
-				}
+				def = getDefault(field.Tag, "devDefault", "releaseDefault", "default", flagname)
+			} else {
+				def = getDefault(field.Tag, "releaseDefault", "devDefault", "default", flagname)
 			}
 			fieldaddr := fieldval.Addr().Interface()
 			check := func(err error) {
@@ -193,6 +221,22 @@ func bindConfig(flags FlagSet, prefix string, val reflect.Value, vars map[string
 	}
 }
 
+func getDefault(tag reflect.StructTag, preferred, opposite, fallback, flagname string) string {
+	if val, ok := tag.Lookup(preferred); ok {
+		if _, oppositeExists := tag.Lookup(opposite); !oppositeExists {
+			panic(fmt.Sprintf("%q defined but %q missing for %v", preferred, opposite, flagname))
+		}
+		if _, fallbackExists := tag.Lookup(fallback); fallbackExists {
+			panic(fmt.Sprintf("%q defined along with %q fallback for %v", preferred, fallback, flagname))
+		}
+		return val
+	}
+	if _, oppositeExists := tag.Lookup(opposite); oppositeExists {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("%q missing but %q defined for %v", preferred, opposite, flagname))
+	}
+	return tag.Get(fallback)
+}
+
 func setBoolAnnotation(flagset interface{}, name, key string) {
 	flags, ok := flagset.(*pflag.FlagSet)
 	if !ok {
@@ -219,6 +263,11 @@ func FindIdentityDirParam() string {
 	return FindFlagEarly("identity-dir")
 }
 
+// FindDefaultsParam returns '--defaults' param from os.Args (if it exists)
+func FindDefaultsParam() string {
+	return FindFlagEarly("defaults")
+}
+
 // FindFlagEarly retrieves the value of a flag before `flag.Parse` has been called
 func FindFlagEarly(flagName string) string {
 	// workaround to have early access to 'dir' param
@@ -232,7 +281,7 @@ func FindFlagEarly(flagName string) string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-//SetupFlag sets up flags that are needed before `flag.Parse` has been called
+// SetupFlag sets up flags that are needed before `flag.Parse` has been called
 func SetupFlag(log *zap.Logger, cmd *cobra.Command, dest *string, name, value, usage string) {
 	if foundValue := FindFlagEarly(name); foundValue != "" {
 		value = foundValue
@@ -243,18 +292,30 @@ func SetupFlag(log *zap.Logger, cmd *cobra.Command, dest *string, name, value, u
 	}
 }
 
-//DevFlag sets up the dev flag, which is needed before `flag.Parse` has been called
-func DevFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, dest *bool, value bool, usage string) {
-	for _, arg := range os.Args {
-		if strings.HasPrefix(arg, "--dev=") {
-			if val, err := strconv.ParseBool(strings.TrimPrefix(arg, "--dev=")); err == nil {
-				value = val
-				break
-			}
-		} else if arg == "--dev" {
-			value = true
-			break
-		}
+// DefaultsFlag sets up the defaults=dev/release flag options, which is needed
+// before `flag.Parse` has been called
+func DefaultsFlag(cmd *cobra.Command) BindOpt {
+	// define a flag so that the flag parsing system will be happy.
+	defaults := "dev"
+	if version.Build.Release {
+		defaults = "release"
+	}
+	// we're actually going to ignore this flag entirely and parse the commandline
+	// arguments early instead
+	_ = cmd.PersistentFlags().String("defaults", defaults,
+		"determines which set of configuration defaults to use. can either be 'dev' or 'release'")
+
+	foundDefaults := strings.ToLower(FindDefaultsParam())
+	if foundDefaults == "" {
+		foundDefaults = defaults
+	}
+
+	switch foundDefaults {
+	case "dev":
+		return UseDevDefaults()
+	case "release":
+		return UseReleaseDefaults()
+	default:
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("unsupported defaults value %q", FindDefaultsParam()))
 	}
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(dest, "dev", value, usage)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cfgstruct/bind_test.go b/pkg/cfgstruct/bind_test.go
index f58eb4ee8..792637ff7 100644
--- a/pkg/cfgstruct/bind_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cfgstruct/bind_test.go
@@ -22,22 +22,22 @@ func assertEqual(actual, expected interface{}) {
 func TestBind(t *testing.T) {
 	f := pflag.NewFlagSet("test", pflag.PanicOnError)
 	var c struct {
-		String   string        `default:"" devDefault:"dev"`
-		Bool     bool          `default:"false" devDefault:"true"`
-		Int64    int64         `default:"0" devDefault:"1"`
-		Int      int           `default:"0" devDefault:"2"`
-		Uint64   uint64        `default:"0" devDefault:"3"`
-		Uint     uint          `default:"0" devDefault:"4"`
-		Float64  float64       `default:"0" devDefault:"5.5"`
-		Duration time.Duration `default:"0" devDefault:"1h"`
+		String   string        `default:""`
+		Bool     bool          `releaseDefault:"false" devDefault:"true"`
+		Int64    int64         `releaseDefault:"0" devDefault:"1"`
+		Int      int           `default:"0"`
+		Uint64   uint64        `default:"0"`
+		Uint     uint          `default:"0"`
+		Float64  float64       `default:"0"`
+		Duration time.Duration `default:"0"`
 		Struct   struct {
-			AnotherString string `default:"" devDefault:"dev2"`
+			AnotherString string `default:""`
 		}
 		Fields [10]struct {
-			AnotherInt int `default:"0" devDefault:"6"`
+			AnotherInt int `default:"0"`
 		}
 	}
-	Bind(f, &c, false)
+	Bind(f, &c, UseReleaseDefaults())
 
 	assertEqual(c.String, string(""))
 	assertEqual(c.Bool, bool(false))
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func TestConfDir(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	Bind(f, &c, false, ConfDir("confpath"))
+	Bind(f, &c, UseReleaseDefaults(), ConfDir("confpath"))
 	assertEqual(f.Lookup("string").DefValue, "-confpath+")
 	assertEqual(f.Lookup("my-struct1.string").DefValue, "1confpath2")
 	assertEqual(f.Lookup("my-struct1.my-struct2.string").DefValue, "2confpath3")
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestNesting(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	Bind(f, &c, false, ConfDirNested("confpath"))
+	Bind(f, &c, UseReleaseDefaults(), ConfDirNested("confpath"))
 	assertEqual(f.Lookup("string").DefValue, "-confpath+")
 	assertEqual(f.Lookup("my-struct1.string").DefValue, filepath.FromSlash("1confpath/my-struct12"))
 	assertEqual(f.Lookup("my-struct1.my-struct2.string").DefValue, filepath.FromSlash("2confpath/my-struct1/my-struct23"))
@@ -114,22 +114,22 @@ func TestNesting(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBindDevDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	f := pflag.NewFlagSet("test", pflag.PanicOnError)
 	var c struct {
-		String   string        `default:"" devDefault:"dev"`
-		Bool     bool          `default:"false" devDefault:"true"`
-		Int64    int64         `default:"0" devDefault:"1"`
-		Int      int           `default:"0" devDefault:"2"`
-		Uint64   uint64        `default:"0" devDefault:"3"`
-		Uint     uint          `default:"0" devDefault:"4"`
-		Float64  float64       `default:"0" devDefault:"5.5"`
-		Duration time.Duration `default:"0" devDefault:"1h"`
+		String   string        `default:"dev"`
+		Bool     bool          `releaseDefault:"false" devDefault:"true"`
+		Int64    int64         `releaseDefault:"0" devDefault:"1"`
+		Int      int           `default:"2"`
+		Uint64   uint64        `default:"3"`
+		Uint     uint          `releaseDefault:"0" devDefault:"4"`
+		Float64  float64       `default:"5.5"`
+		Duration time.Duration `default:"1h"`
 		Struct   struct {
-			AnotherString string `default:"" devDefault:"dev2"`
+			AnotherString string `default:"dev2"`
 		}
 		Fields [10]struct {
-			AnotherInt int `default:"0" devDefault:"6"`
+			AnotherInt int `default:"6"`
 		}
 	}
-	Bind(f, &c, true)
+	Bind(f, &c, UseDevDefaults())
 
 	assertEqual(c.String, string("dev"))
 	assertEqual(c.Bool, bool(true))
diff --git a/pkg/miniogw/integration_test.go b/pkg/miniogw/integration_test.go
index 702cf1747..2388db3d4 100644
--- a/pkg/miniogw/integration_test.go
+++ b/pkg/miniogw/integration_test.go
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ func TestUploadDownload(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// bind default values to config
 	var gwCfg config
-	cfgstruct.Bind(&pflag.FlagSet{}, &gwCfg, true)
+	cfgstruct.Bind(&pflag.FlagSet{}, &gwCfg, cfgstruct.UseDevDefaults())
 	var uplinkCfg uplink.Config
-	cfgstruct.Bind(&pflag.FlagSet{}, &uplinkCfg, true)
+	cfgstruct.Bind(&pflag.FlagSet{}, &uplinkCfg, cfgstruct.UseDevDefaults())
 
 	// minio config directory
 	gwCfg.Minio.Dir = ctx.Dir("minio")
diff --git a/pkg/piecestore/psserver/config.go b/pkg/piecestore/psserver/config.go
index 3908dc248..f761f80e0 100644
--- a/pkg/piecestore/psserver/config.go
+++ b/pkg/piecestore/psserver/config.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	Path string `help:"path to store data in" default:"$CONFDIR/storage"`
 
 	WhitelistedSatelliteIDs string        `help:"a comma-separated list of approved satellite node ids" default:""`
-	SatelliteIDRestriction  bool          `help:"if true, only allow data from approved satellites" devDefault:"false" default:"true"`
+	SatelliteIDRestriction  bool          `help:"if true, only allow data from approved satellites" devDefault:"false" releaseDefault:"true"`
 	AllocatedDiskSpace      memory.Size   `user:"true" help:"total allocated disk space in bytes" default:"1TB"`
 	AllocatedBandwidth      memory.Size   `user:"true" help:"total allocated bandwidth in bytes" default:"500GiB"`
 	KBucketRefreshInterval  time.Duration `help:"how frequently Kademlia bucket should be refreshed with node stats" default:"1h0m0s"`
diff --git a/uplink/config.go b/uplink/config.go
index ef091b8f5..25e29332d 100644
--- a/uplink/config.go
+++ b/uplink/config.go
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@ import (
 type RSConfig struct {
 	MaxBufferMem     memory.Size `help:"maximum buffer memory (in bytes) to be allocated for read buffers" default:"4MiB"`
 	ErasureShareSize memory.Size `help:"the size of each new erasure sure in bytes" default:"1KiB"`
-	MinThreshold     int         `help:"the minimum pieces required to recover a segment. k." default:"29" devDefault:"4"`
-	RepairThreshold  int         `help:"the minimum safe pieces before a repair is triggered. m." default:"35" devDefault:"6"`
-	SuccessThreshold int         `help:"the desired total pieces for a segment. o." default:"80" devDefault:"8"`
-	MaxThreshold     int         `help:"the largest amount of pieces to encode to. n." default:"95" devDefault:"10"`
+	MinThreshold     int         `help:"the minimum pieces required to recover a segment. k." releaseDefault:"29" devDefault:"4"`
+	RepairThreshold  int         `help:"the minimum safe pieces before a repair is triggered. m." releaseDefault:"35" devDefault:"6"`
+	SuccessThreshold int         `help:"the desired total pieces for a segment. o." releaseDefault:"80" devDefault:"8"`
+	MaxThreshold     int         `help:"the largest amount of pieces to encode to. n." releaseDefault:"95" devDefault:"10"`
 }
 
 // EncryptionConfig is a configuration struct that keeps details about
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ type EncryptionConfig struct {
 // to talk to the rest of the network.
 type ClientConfig struct {
 	APIKey        string      `default:"" help:"the api key to use for the satellite" noprefix:"true"`
-	SatelliteAddr string      `default:"127.0.0.1:7777" devDefault:"127.0.0.1:10000" help:"the address to use for the satellite" noprefix:"true"`
+	SatelliteAddr string      `releaseDefault:"127.0.0.1:7777" devDefault:"127.0.0.1:10000" help:"the address to use for the satellite" noprefix:"true"`
 	MaxInlineSize memory.Size `help:"max inline segment size in bytes" default:"4KiB"`
 	SegmentSize   memory.Size `help:"the size of a segment in bytes" default:"64MiB"`
 }