diff --git a/project/utils/config.py b/project/utils/config.py
index 88cc8f2..d4936eb 100644
--- a/project/utils/config.py
+++ b/project/utils/config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 from yaml import load, dump
+from .constants import DEFAULT_CONFIG_DIR, USER_CONFIG_DIR, REQUIRED_KEYS
 
 try:
     from yaml import CLoader as Loader, CDumper as Dumper
@@ -7,11 +8,6 @@ except ImportError:
     from yaml import Loader, Dumper
 
 
-BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
-USER_CONFIG_DIR = os.path.expanduser("~/.dfa.yml")
-DEFAULT_CONFIG_DIR = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'defaults.yml')
-
-
 def get_config_data(filename):
     try:
         with open(filename) as config_file:
@@ -31,9 +27,8 @@ def write_user_config(refresh_after=False):
     except Exception as e:
         return e
 
+
 DEFAULT_CONFIG = get_config_data(DEFAULT_CONFIG_DIR)
-
-
 USER_CONFIG = get_config_data(os.path.expanduser(USER_CONFIG_DIR))
 
 
@@ -50,3 +45,10 @@ def set(key, value, refresh_after=False):
         return "NO_KEY"
     USER_CONFIG[key] = value
     return write_user_config(refresh_after)
+
+
+def has_basics():
+    for key in REQUIRED_KEYS:
+        if not get(key):
+            return False
+    return True
diff --git a/project/utils/constants.py b/project/utils/constants.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f3e2eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project/utils/constants.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import os
+
+
+BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+
+
+USER_CONFIG_DIR = os.path.expanduser("~/.dfa.yml")
+DEFAULT_CONFIG_DIR = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'defaults.yml')
+
+
+REQUIRED_KEYS = ['public_data']
diff --git a/project/utils/repos.py b/project/utils/repos.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..04263b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project/utils/repos.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import os
+from . import config
+
+
+def has_repo_cloned():
+    return os.path.isdir('./data')
+
+
+def has_required_config_set():
+    REQUIRED_KEYS = ['public_repo']
+    for key in REQUIRED_KEYS:
+        if not config.get(key):
+            return False
+    return True
+
+
+def clone_public_data():
+    exit_code = 0
+    exit_code = os.system("git clone -b master --single-branch {} data"
+        .format(config.get('public_repo')))
+    return exit_code
+
+
+def clone_private_data():
+    exit_code = 0
+    exit_code = os.system("git clone -b master --single-branch {} private_data"
+        .format(config.get('private_repo')))
+    return exit_code