diff --git a/app/base.py b/app/base.py
index a7721141..abb1fa9d 100644
--- a/app/base.py
+++ b/app/base.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 import os
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
-from .deploy import get_stack_status
+from app.deploy import get_stack_status
 from decouple import config
 
 
diff --git a/app/build_containers.py b/app/build_containers.py
index 3523dbc3..b3b6295e 100644
--- a/app/build_containers.py
+++ b/app/build_containers.py
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ import subprocess
 import click
 import importlib.resources
 from pathlib import Path
-from .util import include_exclude_check, get_parsed_stack_config
-from .base import get_npm_registry_url
+from app.util import include_exclude_check, get_parsed_stack_config
+from app.base import get_npm_registry_url
 
 # TODO: find a place for this
 #    epilog="Config provided either in .env or settings.ini or env vars: CERC_REPO_BASE_DIR (defaults to ~/cerc)"
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def command(ctx, include, exclude, force_rebuild, extra_build_args):
         print('Dev root directory doesn\'t exist, creating')
 
     # See: https://stackoverflow.com/a/20885799/1701505
-    from . import data
+    from app import data
     with importlib.resources.open_text(data, "container-image-list.txt") as container_list_file:
         all_containers = container_list_file.read().splitlines()
 
diff --git a/app/build_npms.py b/app/build_npms.py
index d56b2774..6555ba91 100644
--- a/app/build_npms.py
+++ b/app/build_npms.py
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ from decouple import config
 import click
 import importlib.resources
 from python_on_whales import docker, DockerException
-from .base import get_stack
-from .util import include_exclude_check, get_parsed_stack_config
+from app.base import get_stack
+from app.util import include_exclude_check, get_parsed_stack_config
 
 builder_js_image_name = "cerc/builder-js:local"
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def command(ctx, include, exclude, force_rebuild, extra_build_args):
         os.makedirs(build_root_path)
 
     # See: https://stackoverflow.com/a/20885799/1701505
-    from . import data
+    from app import data
     with importlib.resources.open_text(data, "npm-package-list.txt") as package_list_file:
         all_packages = package_list_file.read().splitlines()
 
diff --git a/app/data/compose/docker-compose-mainnet-laconicd.yml b/app/data/compose/docker-compose-mainnet-laconicd.yml
index 4de68d7b..78d2cd2f 100644
--- a/app/data/compose/docker-compose-mainnet-laconicd.yml
+++ b/app/data/compose/docker-compose-mainnet-laconicd.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ services:
   laconicd:
     restart: no
     image: cerc/laconicd:local
-    command: ["sh", "/docker-entrypoint-scripts.d/create-fixturenet.sh"]
+    command: ["/bin/sh", "-c", "while :; do sleep 600; done"]
     volumes:
       # The cosmos-sdk node's database directory:
       - laconicd-data:/root/.laconicd/data
diff --git a/app/data/stacks/mainnet-laconic/deploy/commands.py b/app/data/stacks/mainnet-laconic/deploy/commands.py
index 0ac4845f..a8a62bd7 100644
--- a/app/data/stacks/mainnet-laconic/deploy/commands.py
+++ b/app/data/stacks/mainnet-laconic/deploy/commands.py
@@ -13,45 +13,50 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-import click
-import os
-from shutil import copyfile
-import sys
-from .util import get_stack_config_filename, get_parsed_deployment_spec
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from app.util import get_yaml
+from app.stack_state import State
 
-default_spec_file_content = """stack: mainnet-laconic
-data_dir: /my/path
-node_name: my-node-name
+default_spec_file_content = """config:
+    node_moniker: my-node-name
+    chain_id: my-chain-id
 """
 
+init_help_text = """Add helpful text here on setting config variables.
+"""
 
-def make_default_deployment_dir():
-    return "deployment-001"
-
-@click.command()
-@click.option("--output", required=True, help="Write yaml spec file here")
-@click.pass_context
-def init(ctx, output):
-    with open(output, "w") as output_file:
-        output_file.write(default_spec_file_content)
+@dataclass
+class VolumeMapping:
+    host_path: str
+    container_path: str
 
 
-@click.command()
-@click.option("--spec-file", required=True, help="Spec file to use to create this deployment")
-@click.option("--deployment-dir", help="Create deployment files in this directory")
-@click.pass_context
-def create(ctx, spec_file, deployment_dir):
-    # This function fails with a useful error message if the file doens't exist
-    parsed_spec = get_parsed_deployment_spec(spec_file)
-    if ctx.debug:
-        print(f"parsed spec: {parsed_spec}")
-    if deployment_dir is None:
-        deployment_dir = make_default_deployment_dir()
-    if os.path.exists(deployment_dir):
-        print(f"Error: {deployment_dir} already exists")
-        sys.exit(1)
-    os.mkdir(deployment_dir)
-    # Copy spec file and the stack file into the deployment dir
-    copyfile(spec_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, os.path.basename(spec_file)))
-    stack_file = get_stack_config_filename(parsed_spec.stack)
-    copyfile(stack_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, os.path.basename(stack_file)))
+# In order to make this, we need the ability to run the stack
+# In theory we can make this same way as we would run deploy up
+def run_container_command(ctx, ontainer, command, mounts):
+    deploy_context = ctx.obj
+    pass
+
+
+def setup(ctx):
+    node_moniker = "dbdb-node"
+    chain_id = "laconic_81337-1"
+    mounts = [
+        VolumeMapping("./path", "~/.laconicd")
+    ]
+    output, status = run_container_command(ctx, "laconicd", f"laconicd init {node_moniker} --chain-id {chain_id}", mounts)
+
+
+def init(command_context):
+    print(init_help_text)
+    yaml = get_yaml()
+    return yaml.load(default_spec_file_content)
+
+
+def get_state(command_context):
+    print("Here we get state")
+    return State.CONFIGURED
+
+
+def change_state(command_context):
+    pass
diff --git a/app/data/stacks/mainnet-laconic/stack.yml b/app/data/stacks/mainnet-laconic/stack.yml
index b5e1f16c..51b0b8a2 100644
--- a/app/data/stacks/mainnet-laconic/stack.yml
+++ b/app/data/stacks/mainnet-laconic/stack.yml
@@ -25,7 +25,4 @@ containers:
 pods:
   - mainnet-laconicd
   - fixturenet-laconic-console
-config:
-  cli:
-    key: laconicd.mykey
-    address: laconicd.myaddress
+
diff --git a/app/deploy.py b/app/deploy.py
index 3f769f3e..41af70f6 100644
--- a/app/deploy.py
+++ b/app/deploy.py
@@ -26,9 +26,10 @@ import subprocess
 from python_on_whales import DockerClient, DockerException
 import click
 from pathlib import Path
-from .util import include_exclude_check, get_parsed_stack_config, global_options2
-from .deployment_create import create as deployment_create
-from .deployment_create import init as deployment_init
+from app.util import include_exclude_check, get_parsed_stack_config, global_options2
+from app.deployment_create import create as deployment_create
+from app.deployment_create import init as deployment_init
+from app.deployment_create import setup as deployment_setup
 
 
 class DeployCommandContext(object):
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ def _make_cluster_context(ctx, stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file):
             print(f"Using cluster name: {cluster}")
 
     # See: https://stackoverflow.com/a/20885799/1701505
-    from . import data
+    from app import data
     with resources.open_text(data, "pod-list.txt") as pod_list_file:
         all_pods = pod_list_file.read().splitlines()
 
@@ -420,3 +421,4 @@ def _orchestrate_cluster_config(ctx, cluster_config, docker, container_exec_env)
 
 command.add_command(deployment_init)
 command.add_command(deployment_create)
+command.add_command(deployment_setup)
diff --git a/app/deployment.py b/app/deployment.py
index 921f69d7..e876b77e 100644
--- a/app/deployment.py
+++ b/app/deployment.py
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ import click
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
 import sys
-from .deploy import up_operation, down_operation, ps_operation, port_operation, exec_operation, logs_operation, create_deploy_context
-from .util import global_options
+from app.deploy import up_operation, down_operation, ps_operation, port_operation, exec_operation, logs_operation, create_deploy_context
+from app.util import global_options
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -128,15 +128,3 @@ def logs(ctx, extra_args):
 @click.pass_context
 def status(ctx):
     print(f"Context: {ctx.parent.obj}")
-
-
-
-#from importlib import resources, util
-# TODO: figure out how to do this dynamically
-#stack = "mainnet-laconic"
-#module_name = "commands"
-#spec = util.spec_from_file_location(module_name, "./app/data/stacks/" + stack + "/deploy/commands.py")
-#imported_stack = util.module_from_spec(spec)
-#spec.loader.exec_module(imported_stack)
-#command.add_command(imported_stack.init)
-#command.add_command(imported_stack.create)
diff --git a/app/deployment_create.py b/app/deployment_create.py
index 98aad990..ff06664a 100644
--- a/app/deployment_create.py
+++ b/app/deployment_create.py
@@ -14,20 +14,12 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import click
+from importlib import util
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 from shutil import copyfile, copytree
 import sys
-import ruamel.yaml
-from .util import get_stack_file_path, get_parsed_deployment_spec, get_parsed_stack_config, global_options
-
-
-def _get_yaml():
-    # See: https://stackoverflow.com/a/45701840/1701505
-    yaml = ruamel.yaml.YAML()
-    yaml.preserve_quotes = True
-    yaml.indent(sequence=3, offset=1)
-    return yaml
+from app.util import get_stack_file_path, get_parsed_deployment_spec, get_parsed_stack_config, global_options, get_yaml
 
 
 def _make_default_deployment_dir():
@@ -47,7 +39,7 @@ def _get_named_volumes(stack):
     named_volumes = []
     parsed_stack = get_parsed_stack_config(stack)
     pods = parsed_stack["pods"]
-    yaml = _get_yaml()
+    yaml = get_yaml()
     for pod in pods:
         pod_file_path = os.path.join(_get_compose_file_dir(), f"docker-compose-{pod}.yml")
         parsed_pod_file = yaml.load(open(pod_file_path, "r"))
@@ -96,6 +88,29 @@ def _fixup_pod_file(pod, spec, compose_dir):
                     pod["volumes"][volume] = new_volume_spec
 
 
+def call_stack_deploy_init(stack):
+    # Link with the python file in the stack
+    # Call a function in it
+    # If no function found, return None
+    python_file_path = get_stack_file_path(stack).parent.joinpath("deploy", "commands.py")
+    spec = util.spec_from_file_location("commands", python_file_path)
+    imported_stack = util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    spec.loader.exec_module(imported_stack)
+    return imported_stack.init(None)
+
+
+# TODO: fold this with function above
+def call_stack_deploy_setup(stack):
+    # Link with the python file in the stack
+    # Call a function in it
+    # If no function found, return None
+    python_file_path = get_stack_file_path(stack).parent.joinpath("deploy", "commands.py")
+    spec = util.spec_from_file_location("commands", python_file_path)
+    imported_stack = util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    spec.loader.exec_module(imported_stack)
+    return imported_stack.setup(None)
+
+
 # Inspect the pod yaml to find config files referenced in subdirectories
 # other than the one associated with the pod
 def _find_extra_config_dirs(parsed_pod_file, pod):
@@ -118,17 +133,19 @@ def _find_extra_config_dirs(parsed_pod_file, pod):
 @click.option("--output", required=True, help="Write yaml spec file here")
 @click.pass_context
 def init(ctx, output):
-    yaml = _get_yaml()
+    yaml = get_yaml()
     stack = global_options(ctx).stack
     verbose = global_options(ctx).verbose
+    default_spec_file_content = call_stack_deploy_init(stack)
     spec_file_content = {"stack": stack}
+    spec_file_content.update(default_spec_file_content)
     if verbose:
         print(f"Creating spec file for stack: {stack}")
     named_volumes = _get_named_volumes(stack)
     if named_volumes:
         volume_descriptors = {}
         for named_volume in named_volumes:
-            volume_descriptors[named_volume] = f"../data/{named_volume}"
+            volume_descriptors[named_volume] = f"./data/{named_volume}"
         spec_file_content["volumes"] = volume_descriptors
     with open(output, "w") as output_file:
         yaml.dump(spec_file_content, output_file)
@@ -160,7 +177,7 @@ def create(ctx, spec_file, deployment_dir):
     destination_compose_dir = os.path.join(deployment_dir, "compose")
     os.mkdir(destination_compose_dir)
     data_dir = Path(__file__).absolute().parent.joinpath("data")
-    yaml = _get_yaml()
+    yaml = get_yaml()
     for pod in pods:
         pod_file_path = os.path.join(_get_compose_file_dir(), f"docker-compose-{pod}.yml")
         parsed_pod_file = yaml.load(open(pod_file_path, "r"))
@@ -180,3 +197,16 @@ def create(ctx, spec_file, deployment_dir):
                 # If the same config dir appears in multiple pods, it may already have been copied
                 if not os.path.exists(destination_config_dir):
                     copytree(source_config_dir, destination_config_dir)
+
+
+@click.command()
+@click.option("--node-moniker", help="Help goes here")
+@click.option("--key-name", help="Help goes here")
+@click.option("--initialize-network", is_flag=True, default=False, help="Help goes here")
+@click.option("--join-network", is_flag=True, default=False, help="Help goes here")
+@click.option("--create-network", is_flag=True, default=False, help="Help goes here")
+@click.pass_context
+def setup(ctx, node_moniker, key_name, initialize_network, join_network, create_network):
+    stack = global_options(ctx).stack
+    call_stack_deploy_setup(stack)
+
diff --git a/app/setup_repositories.py b/app/setup_repositories.py
index db0bd779..d275a986 100644
--- a/app/setup_repositories.py
+++ b/app/setup_repositories.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import click
 import importlib.resources
 from pathlib import Path
 import yaml
-from .util import include_exclude_check
+from app.util import include_exclude_check
 
 
 class GitProgress(git.RemoteProgress):
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ def command(ctx, include, exclude, git_ssh, check_only, pull, branches, branches
         os.makedirs(dev_root_path)
 
     # See: https://stackoverflow.com/a/20885799/1701505
-    from . import data
+    from app import data
     with importlib.resources.open_text(data, "repository-list.txt") as repository_list_file:
         all_repos = repository_list_file.read().splitlines()
 
diff --git a/app/stack_state.py b/app/stack_state.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..830a47f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/stack_state.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Copyright © 2023 Cerc
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program 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 Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from enum import Enum
+
+class State(Enum):
+    CREATED = 1
+    CONFIGURED = 2
+    STARTED = 3
+    STOPPED = 4
diff --git a/app/util.py b/app/util.py
index 69eda4af..2b12cfbc 100644
--- a/app/util.py
+++ b/app/util.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 import os.path
 import sys
-import yaml
+import ruamel.yaml
 from pathlib import Path
 
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def get_parsed_stack_config(stack):
     stack_file_path = stack if isinstance(stack, os.PathLike) else get_stack_file_path(stack)
     try:
         with stack_file_path:
-            stack_config = yaml.safe_load(open(stack_file_path, "r"))
+            stack_config = get_yaml().load(open(stack_file_path, "r"))
             return stack_config
     except FileNotFoundError as error:
         # We try here to generate a useful diagnostic error
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def get_parsed_deployment_spec(spec_file):
     spec_file_path = Path(spec_file)
     try:
         with spec_file_path:
-            deploy_spec = yaml.safe_load(open(spec_file_path, "r"))
+            deploy_spec = get_yaml().load(open(spec_file_path, "r"))
             return deploy_spec
     except FileNotFoundError as error:
         # We try here to generate a useful diagnostic error
@@ -69,6 +69,14 @@ def get_parsed_deployment_spec(spec_file):
         sys.exit(1)
 
 
+def get_yaml():
+    # See: https://stackoverflow.com/a/45701840/1701505
+    yaml = ruamel.yaml.YAML()
+    yaml.preserve_quotes = True
+    yaml.indent(sequence=3, offset=1)
+    return yaml
+
+
 # TODO: this is fragile wrt to the subcommand depth
 # See also: https://github.com/pallets/click/issues/108
 def global_options(ctx):
diff --git a/app/version.py b/app/version.py
index 4194f24a..7af18dc1 100644
--- a/app/version.py
+++ b/app/version.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def command(ctx):
     '''print tool version'''
 
     # See: https://stackoverflow.com/a/20885799/1701505
-    from . import data
+    from app import data
     with importlib.resources.open_text(data, "build_tag.txt") as version_file:
         # TODO: code better version that skips comment lines
         version_string = version_file.read().splitlines()[1]