diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..30fa77d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+*.log
+example/app.log
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 31f49f5..dfa717a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ go get git.secnex.io/secnex/masterlog
 
 ## Quick Start
 
+### Basic Usage
+
 ```go
 package main
 
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func main() {
-    // Simple logging
+    // Simple logging using the global logger
     masterlog.Info("Hello, World!")
     
     // Logging with fields
@@ -47,6 +49,45 @@ func main() {
 2025-11-10T05:06:02+01:00 INF main.go:12 > User logged in user_id=12345 ip=192.168.1.1 go_version=go1.25.3 pid=12345
 ```
 
+### Configuring the Global Logger
+
+Configure the global logger once at application startup:
+
+```go
+package main
+
+import (
+    "git.secnex.io/secnex/masterlog"
+)
+
+func main() {
+    // Configure global logger at startup
+    masterlog.SetLevel(masterlog.LevelDebug)
+    
+    // Add file writer
+    fileWriter, _ := masterlog.NewFileWriter("app.log")
+    defer fileWriter.Close()
+    masterlog.AddWriter(fileWriter)
+    
+    // Add JSON encoder
+    masterlog.AddEncoder(&masterlog.JSONEncoder{})
+    
+    // Configure pseudonymization
+    pseudonymizer := masterlog.NewPseudonymizerFromEnv("LOG_SECRET")
+    masterlog.SetPseudonymizer(pseudonymizer)
+    masterlog.AddSensitiveFields("user_id", "email", "ip")
+    
+    // Now all package-level functions use the configured global logger
+    masterlog.Info("Application started")
+    masterlog.Debug("Debug message")
+}
+```
+
+**Benefits:**
+- Configure once, use everywhere
+- No need to pass logger instances around
+- Simple and convenient for most use cases
+
 ## Table of Contents
 
 - [Log Levels](#log-levels)
@@ -211,6 +252,22 @@ logger.Info("Console log")
 
 Writes log entries to a file.
 
+**Using with global logger (recommended):**
+
+```go
+// Add file writer to global logger
+fileWriter, err := masterlog.NewFileWriter("app.log")
+if err != nil {
+    log.Fatal(err)
+}
+defer fileWriter.Close()
+
+masterlog.AddWriter(fileWriter)
+masterlog.Info("File log")  // Uses global logger
+```
+
+**Using with custom logger:**
+
 ```go
 logger := masterlog.New()
 fileWriter, err := masterlog.NewFileWriter("app.log")
@@ -239,9 +296,42 @@ logger.AddWriter(fileWriter)
 logger.Info("Multi-destination log")
 ```
 
-## Custom Logger Instances
+## Global Logger vs Custom Instances
 
-Create custom logger instances with specific configurations:
+MasterLog provides two ways to use logging:
+
+### Global Logger (Recommended for Most Cases)
+
+The global logger is pre-configured and ready to use. Configure it once at startup:
+
+```go
+func main() {
+    // Configure global logger at startup
+    masterlog.SetLevel(masterlog.LevelDebug)
+    
+    // Add file writer
+    fileWriter, _ := masterlog.NewFileWriter("app.log")
+    defer fileWriter.Close()
+    masterlog.AddWriter(fileWriter)
+    
+    // Add JSON encoder
+    masterlog.AddEncoder(&masterlog.JSONEncoder{})
+    
+    // Use package-level functions anywhere in your code
+    masterlog.Info("This uses the global logger")
+    masterlog.Debug("No need to pass logger instances around")
+}
+```
+
+**Advantages:**
+- Simple and convenient
+- No need to pass logger instances
+- Configure once, use everywhere
+- Perfect for most applications
+
+### Custom Logger Instances
+
+Create custom logger instances when you need different configurations for different components:
 
 ```go
 // Create logger with custom level
@@ -258,6 +348,37 @@ logger.AddWriter(fileWriter)
 logger.Info("Custom logger example")
 ```
 
+**Use Cases:**
+- Different log levels for different components
+- Separate log files for different modules
+- Different encoders for different outputs
+- Component-specific pseudonymization rules
+
+### Replacing the Global Logger
+
+You can also replace the global logger with a custom instance:
+
+```go
+// Create and configure a custom logger
+customLogger := masterlog.New(masterlog.LevelTrace)
+customLogger.AddEncoder(&masterlog.JSONEncoder{})
+
+// Replace the global logger
+masterlog.SetDefaultLogger(customLogger)
+
+// Now all package-level functions use your custom logger
+masterlog.Info("Uses the custom logger")
+```
+
+### Getting the Global Logger
+
+Access the global logger instance directly if needed:
+
+```go
+globalLogger := masterlog.GetDefaultLogger()
+globalLogger.AddWriter(fileWriter)
+```
+
 ## Data Pseudonymization
 
 MasterLog includes built-in support for deterministic pseudonymization of sensitive data using HMAC-SHA256. This allows you to:
@@ -415,6 +536,8 @@ func AddEncoder(encoder Encoder)
 func SetPseudonymizer(pseudonymizer *Pseudonymizer)
 func AddSensitiveField(fieldName string)
 func AddSensitiveFields(fieldNames ...string)
+func SetDefaultLogger(logger *MasterLogger)
+func GetDefaultLogger() *MasterLogger
 ```
 
 ### Logger Methods
diff --git a/example/app.log b/example/app.log
deleted file mode 100644
index bd79ad7..0000000
--- a/example/app.log
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-2025-11-10T05:00:34+01:00 INF proc.go:285 > This will be written to file go_version=go1.25.3 pid=71020
-2025-11-10T05:01:36+01:00 INF proc.go:285 > This will be written to file go_version=go1.25.3 pid=71657
-2025-11-10T05:01:59+01:00 INF proc.go:285 > This will be written to file go_version=go1.25.3 pid=72132
-2025-11-10T05:02:14+01:00 INF proc.go:285 > This will be written to file go_version=go1.25.3 pid=72401
-2025-11-10T05:05:14+01:00 INF main.go:41 > This will be written to file go_version=go1.25.3 pid=73856
-2025-11-10T05:06:02+01:00 INF main.go:41 > This will be written to file go_version=go1.25.3 pid=74313
-2025-11-10T05:07:19+01:00 INF main.go:41 > This will be written to file go_version=go1.25.3 pid=75031
-2025-11-10T05:09:48+01:00 INF main.go:41 > This will be written to file go_version=go1.25.3 pid=76511
-2025-11-10T05:15:16+01:00 INF main.go:41 > This will be written to file go_version=go1.25.3 pid=79210
-2025-11-10T05:15:26+01:00 INF main.go:41 > This will be written to file go_version=go1.25.3 pid=79455
diff --git a/example/main.go b/example/main.go
index 2f8b602..235734c 100644
--- a/example/main.go
+++ b/example/main.go
@@ -5,7 +5,22 @@ import (
 )
 
 func main() {
+	// Example 0: Configure global logger once at startup
+	// Add file writer to global logger
+	fileWriter, err := masterlog.NewFileWriter("app.log")
+	if err == nil {
+		masterlog.AddWriter(fileWriter)
+		defer fileWriter.Close()
+	}
+
+	// Add JSON encoder to global logger
+	masterlog.AddEncoder(&masterlog.JSONEncoder{})
+
+	// Set log level for global logger
+	masterlog.SetLevel(masterlog.LevelDebug)
+
 	// Example 1: Simple formatted logging to console (with colors if terminal)
+	// Now uses the configured global logger (writes to console, file, and JSON)
 	masterlog.Info("Hello, World!")
 
 	// Example 2: Logging with fields
@@ -25,21 +40,22 @@ func main() {
 	traceLogger := masterlog.New(masterlog.LevelTrace)
 	traceLogger.Info("Logger created with LevelTrace")
 
-	// Example 5: Create custom logger with JSON encoder
+	// Example 5: JSON encoder is already added to global logger in Example 0
+	// Here's how you'd use it with a custom logger if needed:
 	jsonLogger := masterlog.New()
 	jsonLogger.AddEncoder(&masterlog.JSONEncoder{})
-	jsonLogger.Info("JSON formatted log", map[string]interface{}{
+	jsonLogger.Info("JSON formatted log (custom logger)", map[string]interface{}{
 		"key": "value",
 	})
 
-	// Example 6: Create logger with file writer
-	fileLogger := masterlog.New()
-	fileWriter, err := masterlog.NewFileWriter("app.log")
-	if err == nil {
-		fileLogger.AddWriter(fileWriter)
-		defer fileWriter.Close()
-		fileLogger.Info("This will be written to file")
-	}
+	// Example 6: Add file writer to global logger (already configured above)
+	// Note: The fileWriter was already added in Example 0, but here's how you'd do it separately
+	// fileWriter, err := masterlog.NewFileWriter("app.log")
+	// if err == nil {
+	//     masterlog.AddWriter(fileWriter)
+	//     defer fileWriter.Close()
+	// }
+	masterlog.Info("This will be written to console, file, and JSON (all configured globally)")
 
 	// Example 7: Logger with multiple encoders (formatted + JSON)
 	multiLogger := masterlog.New()
@@ -58,17 +74,16 @@ func main() {
 	debugLogger.Debug("Debug logger with colors")
 	debugLogger.Trace("This won't be logged")
 
-	// Example 10: Pseudonymization of sensitive data
-	pseudoLogger := masterlog.New()
+	// Example 10: Pseudonymization of sensitive data using global logger
 	// Create a pseudonymizer with a secret (in production, use a secure secret from config/env)
 	pseudonymizer := masterlog.NewPseudonymizerFromString("my-secret-key-change-in-production")
-	pseudoLogger.SetPseudonymizer(pseudonymizer)
+	masterlog.SetPseudonymizer(pseudonymizer)
 
-	// Mark fields as sensitive
-	pseudoLogger.AddSensitiveFields("user_id", "email", "ip")
+	// Mark fields as sensitive (on global logger)
+	masterlog.AddSensitiveFields("user_id", "email", "ip")
 
-	// Log with sensitive data - it will be pseudonymized
-	pseudoLogger.Info("User logged in", map[string]interface{}{
+	// Log with sensitive data - it will be pseudonymized (using global logger)
+	masterlog.Info("User logged in", map[string]interface{}{
 		"user_id": 12345,
 		"email":   "user@example.com",
 		"ip":      "192.168.1.1",
@@ -76,7 +91,7 @@ func main() {
 	})
 
 	// Same user_id will produce the same pseudonymized value (deterministic)
-	pseudoLogger.Info("User performed action", map[string]interface{}{
+	masterlog.Info("User performed action", map[string]interface{}{
 		"user_id": 12345, // Same value, same pseudonymized output
 		"action":  "purchase",
 	})
diff --git a/logger.go b/logger.go
index 9ebc261..67cc6a1 100644
--- a/logger.go
+++ b/logger.go
@@ -135,6 +135,24 @@ func (l *MasterLogger) log(level Level, message string, file string, line int, f
 				}
 			}
 
+			// Skip FormattedEncoder for file writers if JSONEncoder is present
+			// This ensures files only get JSON format when JSONEncoder is added
+			if _, isFormatted := encoder.(*FormattedEncoder); isFormatted {
+				if _, isFile := writer.(*FileWriter); isFile {
+					// Check if JSONEncoder exists in encoders
+					hasJSONEncoder := false
+					for _, e := range l.encoders {
+						if _, ok := e.(*JSONEncoder); ok {
+							hasJSONEncoder = true
+							break
+						}
+					}
+					if hasJSONEncoder {
+						continue // Don't write formatted to file if JSON encoder exists
+					}
+				}
+			}
+
 			var data []byte
 			var err error
 
@@ -185,6 +203,18 @@ func (l *MasterLogger) Error(message string, fields ...map[string]interface{}) {
 // Default logger instance
 var defaultLogger = New(LevelInfo)
 
+// SetDefaultLogger replaces the default logger instance
+// This allows you to configure a custom logger and use it globally
+func SetDefaultLogger(logger *MasterLogger) {
+	defaultLogger = logger
+}
+
+// GetDefaultLogger returns the current default logger instance
+// Useful if you want to configure it directly
+func GetDefaultLogger() *MasterLogger {
+	return defaultLogger
+}
+
 // Package-level convenience functions
 // These collect caller info before calling the instance method
 func Trace(message string, fields ...map[string]interface{}) {