diff --git a/docs/site/includes/CLI-std-options.md b/docs/site/includes/CLI-std-options.md
index 0ffcd82c8e85..c527878c7b40 100644
--- a/docs/site/includes/CLI-std-options.md
+++ b/docs/site/includes/CLI-std-options.md
@@ -10,4 +10,21 @@
 
 `--skip-install`
 : Do not automatically install dependencies. Default is false.
+
+`-c, --config`
+: JSON file name or value to configure options
+
+For example,
+```sh
+lb4 app --config config.json
+lb4 app --config {"name":"my-app"}
+cat config.json | lb4 app --config stdin
+lb4 app --config stdin < config.json
+lb4 app --config stdin << EOF
+> {"name":"my-app"}
+> EOF
+```
+
+`-y, --yes`
+: Skip all confirmation prompts with default or provided value
 <!-- prettier-ignore-end -->
diff --git a/packages/cli/generators/controller/index.js b/packages/cli/generators/controller/index.js
index ada170d048b0..d00926088baa 100644
--- a/packages/cli/generators/controller/index.js
+++ b/packages/cli/generators/controller/index.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ module.exports = class ControllerGenerator extends ArtifactGenerator {
   }
 
   _setupGenerator() {
+    super._setupGenerator();
     this.artifactInfo = {
       type: 'controller',
       rootDir: 'src',
@@ -54,8 +55,10 @@ module.exports = class ControllerGenerator extends ArtifactGenerator {
       required: false,
       description: 'Type for the ' + this.artifactInfo.type,
     });
+  }
 
-    return super._setupGenerator();
+  setOptions() {
+    return super.setOptions();
   }
 
   checkLoopBackProject() {
diff --git a/packages/cli/generators/datasource/index.js b/packages/cli/generators/datasource/index.js
index b5d81e8ee3a9..e37d40680e44 100644
--- a/packages/cli/generators/datasource/index.js
+++ b/packages/cli/generators/datasource/index.js
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ module.exports = class DataSourceGenerator extends ArtifactGenerator {
     return super._setupGenerator();
   }
 
+  setOptions() {
+    return super.setOptions();
+  }
+
   /**
    * Ensure CLI is being run in a LoopBack 4 project.
    */
diff --git a/packages/cli/lib/artifact-generator.js b/packages/cli/lib/artifact-generator.js
index e27f7578f51d..466ffeab7b1e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/lib/artifact-generator.js
+++ b/packages/cli/lib/artifact-generator.js
@@ -19,23 +19,27 @@ module.exports = class ArtifactGenerator extends BaseGenerator {
 
   _setupGenerator() {
     debug('Setting up generator');
+    super._setupGenerator();
     this.argument('name', {
       type: String,
       required: false,
       description: 'Name for the ' + this.artifactInfo.type,
     });
+  }
+
+  setOptions() {
     // argument validation
-    if (this.args.length) {
-      const validationMsg = utils.validateClassName(this.args[0]);
+    const name = this.options.name;
+    if (name) {
+      const validationMsg = utils.validateClassName(name);
       if (typeof validationMsg === 'string') throw new Error(validationMsg);
     }
-    this.artifactInfo.name = this.args[0];
-    this.artifactInfo.defaultName = 'new';
+    this.artifactInfo.name = name;
     this.artifactInfo.relPath = path.relative(
       this.destinationPath(),
       this.artifactInfo.outDir,
     );
-    super._setupGenerator();
+    return super.setOptions();
   }
 
   promptArtifactName() {
@@ -48,6 +52,7 @@ module.exports = class ArtifactGenerator extends BaseGenerator {
         // capitalization
         message: utils.toClassName(this.artifactInfo.type) + ' class name:',
         when: this.artifactInfo.name === undefined,
+        default: this.artifactInfo.name,
         validate: utils.validateClassName,
       },
     ];
diff --git a/packages/cli/lib/base-generator.js b/packages/cli/lib/base-generator.js
index 2caa6ce1414f..2a73bd81994c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/lib/base-generator.js
+++ b/packages/cli/lib/base-generator.js
@@ -7,9 +7,12 @@
 
 const Generator = require('yeoman-generator');
 const chalk = require('chalk');
-const debug = require('./debug')('artifact-generator');
-const utils = require('./utils');
-const StatusConflicter = utils.StatusConflicter;
+const {StatusConflicter, readTextFromStdin} = require('./utils');
+const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const readline = require('readline');
+const debug = require('./debug')('base-generator');
+
 /**
  * Base Generator for LoopBack 4
  */
@@ -28,11 +31,206 @@ module.exports = class BaseGenerator extends Generator {
    * Subclasses can extend _setupGenerator() to set up the generator
    */
   _setupGenerator() {
+    this.option('config', {
+      type: String,
+      alias: 'c',
+      description: 'JSON file name or value to configure options',
+    });
+
+    this.option('yes', {
+      type: Boolean,
+      alias: 'y',
+      description:
+        'Skip all confirmation prompts with default or provided value',
+    });
+
     this.artifactInfo = this.artifactInfo || {
       rootDir: 'src',
     };
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Read a json document from stdin
+   */
+  async _readJSONFromStdin() {
+    if (process.stdin.isTTY) {
+      this.log(
+        chalk.green(
+          'Please type in a json object line by line ' +
+            '(Press <ctrl>-D or type EOF to end):',
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+
+    try {
+      const jsonStr = await readTextFromStdin();
+      return JSON.parse(jsonStr);
+    } catch (e) {
+      if (!process.stdin.isTTY) {
+        debug(e, jsonStr);
+      }
+      throw e;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async setOptions() {
+    let opts = {};
+    const jsonFileOrValue = this.options.config;
+    try {
+      if (jsonFileOrValue === 'stdin' || !process.stdin.isTTY) {
+        this.options['yes'] = true;
+        opts = await this._readJSONFromStdin();
+      } else if (typeof jsonFileOrValue === 'string') {
+        const jsonFile = path.resolve(process.cwd(), jsonFileOrValue);
+        if (fs.existsSync(jsonFile)) {
+          opts = this.fs.readJSON(jsonFile);
+        } else {
+          // Try parse the config as stringified json
+          opts = JSON.parse(jsonFileOrValue);
+        }
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      this.exit(e);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (typeof opts !== 'object') {
+      this.exit('Invalid config file or value: ' + jsonFileOrValue);
+      return;
+    }
+    for (const o in opts) {
+      if (this.options[o] == null) {
+        this.options[o] = opts[o];
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Check if a question can be skipped in `express` mode
+   * @param {object} question A yeoman prompt
+   */
+  _isQuestionOptional(question) {
+    return (
+      question.default != null || // Having a default value
+      this.options[question.name] != null || // Configured in options
+      question.type === 'list' || // A list
+      question.type === 'rawList' || // A raw list
+      question.type === 'checkbox' || // A checkbox
+      question.type === 'confirm'
+    ); // A confirmation
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get the default answer for a question
+   * @param {*} question
+   */
+  async _getDefaultAnswer(question, answers) {
+    let def = question.default;
+    if (typeof question.default === 'function') {
+      def = await question.default(answers);
+    }
+    let defaultVal = def;
+
+    if (def == null) {
+      // No `default` is set for the question, check existing answers
+      defaultVal = answers[question.name];
+      if (defaultVal != null) return defaultVal;
+    }
+
+    if (question.type === 'confirm') {
+      return defaultVal != null ? defaultVal : true;
+    }
+    if (question.type === 'list' || question.type === 'rawList') {
+      // Default to 1st item
+      if (def == null) def = 0;
+      if (typeof def === 'number') {
+        // The `default` is an index
+        const choice = question.choices[def];
+        if (choice) {
+          defaultVal = choice.value || choice.name;
+        }
+      } else {
+        // The default is a value
+        if (question.choices.map(c => c.value || c.name).includes(def)) {
+          defaultVal = def;
+        }
+      }
+    } else if (question.type === 'checkbox') {
+      if (def == null) {
+        defaultVal = question.choices
+          .filter(c => c.checked && !c.disabled)
+          .map(c => c.value || c.name);
+      } else {
+        defaultVal = def
+          .map(d => {
+            if (typeof d === 'number') {
+              const choice = question.choices[d];
+              if (choice && !choice.disabled) {
+                return choice.value || choice.name;
+              }
+            } else {
+              if (
+                question.choices.find(
+                  c => !c.disabled && d === (c.value || c.name),
+                )
+              ) {
+                return d;
+              }
+            }
+            return undefined;
+          })
+          .filter(v => v != null);
+      }
+    }
+    return defaultVal;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Override the base prompt to skip prompts with default answers
+   * @param questions One or more questions
+   */
+  async prompt(questions) {
+    // Normalize the questions to be an array
+    if (!Array.isArray(questions)) {
+      questions = [questions];
+    }
+    if (!this.options['yes']) {
+      if (!process.stdin.isTTY) {
+        const msg = 'The stdin is not a terminal. No prompt is allowed.';
+        this.log(chalk.red(msg));
+        this.exit(new Error(msg));
+        return;
+      }
+      // Non-express mode, continue to prompt
+      return await super.prompt(questions);
+    }
+
+    const answers = Object.assign({}, this.options);
+
+    for (const q of questions) {
+      let when = q.when;
+      if (typeof when === 'function') {
+        when = await q.when(answers);
+      }
+      if (when === false) continue;
+      if (this._isQuestionOptional(q)) {
+        const answer = await this._getDefaultAnswer(q, answers);
+        debug('%s: %j', q.name, answer);
+        answers[q.name] = answer;
+      } else {
+        if (!process.stdin.isTTY) {
+          const msg = 'The stdin is not a terminal. No prompt is allowed.';
+          this.log(chalk.red(msg));
+          this.exit(new Error(msg));
+          return;
+        }
+        // Only prompt for non-skipped questions
+        const props = await super.prompt([q]);
+        Object.assign(answers, props);
+      }
+    }
+    return answers;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Override the usage text by replacing `yo loopback4:` with `lb4 `.
    */
@@ -96,7 +294,10 @@ module.exports = class BaseGenerator extends Generator {
    */
   end() {
     if (this.shouldExit()) {
+      debug(this.exitGeneration);
       this.log(chalk.red('Generation is aborted:', this.exitGeneration));
+      // Fail the process
+      process.exitCode = 1;
       return false;
     }
     return true;
diff --git a/packages/cli/lib/project-generator.js b/packages/cli/lib/project-generator.js
index f095895a6035..57ca34f22ec0 100644
--- a/packages/cli/lib/project-generator.js
+++ b/packages/cli/lib/project-generator.js
@@ -82,7 +82,9 @@ module.exports = class ProjectGenerator extends BaseGenerator {
     this.registerTransformStream(utils.renameEJS());
   }
 
-  setOptions() {
+  async setOptions() {
+    await super.setOptions();
+    if (this.shouldExit()) return false;
     if (this.options.name) {
       const msg = utils.validate(this.options.name);
       if (typeof msg === 'string') {
@@ -148,6 +150,7 @@ module.exports = class ProjectGenerator extends BaseGenerator {
 
     return this.prompt(prompts).then(props => {
       Object.assign(this.projectInfo, props);
+      this.destinationRoot(this.projectInfo.outdir);
     });
   }
 
@@ -187,7 +190,6 @@ module.exports = class ProjectGenerator extends BaseGenerator {
 
   scaffold() {
     if (this.shouldExit()) return false;
-    this.destinationRoot(this.projectInfo.outdir);
 
     // First copy common files from ../../project/templates
     this.fs.copyTpl(
diff --git a/packages/cli/lib/utils.js b/packages/cli/lib/utils.js
index c27aa2bb8a44..6937f3e8ca38 100644
--- a/packages/cli/lib/utils.js
+++ b/packages/cli/lib/utils.js
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 const util = require('util');
 const stream = require('stream');
+const readline = require('readline');
+const chalk = require('chalk');
 var semver = require('semver');
 const regenerate = require('regenerate');
 const _ = require('lodash');
@@ -293,3 +295,36 @@ exports.validateStringObject = function(type) {
     return true;
   };
 };
+
+/**
+ * Use readline to read text from stdin
+ */
+exports.readTextFromStdin = function() {
+  const rl = readline.createInterface({
+    input: process.stdin,
+  });
+
+  const lines = [];
+  let err;
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    rl.on('SIGINT', () => {
+      err = new Error('Canceled by user');
+      rl.close();
+    })
+      .on('line', line => {
+        if (line === 'EOF') {
+          rl.close();
+        } else {
+          lines.push(line);
+        }
+      })
+      .on('close', () => {
+        if (err) reject(err);
+        else resolve(lines.join('\n'));
+      })
+      .on('error', e => {
+        err = e;
+        rl.close();
+      });
+  });
+};
diff --git a/packages/cli/package.json b/packages/cli/package.json
index 7af77538efdc..7a73f32bbd63 100644
--- a/packages/cli/package.json
+++ b/packages/cli/package.json
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
     "glob": "^7.1.2",
     "mem-fs": "^1.1.3",
     "mem-fs-editor": "^4.0.0",
+    "mock-stdin": "^0.3.1",
     "nsp": "^3.2.1",
     "request": "^2.87.0",
     "request-promise-native": "^1.0.5",
diff --git a/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/artifact-generator.js b/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/artifact-generator.js
index b37ad3411e12..519a9333d260 100644
--- a/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/artifact-generator.js
+++ b/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/artifact-generator.js
@@ -16,19 +16,26 @@ module.exports = function(artiGenerator) {
       describe('args validation', () => {
         it('errors out if validation fails', () => {
           assert.throws(() => {
-            testUtils.testSetUpGen(artiGenerator, {args: '2foobar'});
+            const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(artiGenerator, {
+              args: '2foobar',
+            });
+            gen.setOptions();
           }, Error);
         });
 
         it('succeeds if no arg is provided', () => {
           assert.doesNotThrow(() => {
-            testUtils.testSetUpGen(artiGenerator);
+            const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(artiGenerator);
+            gen.setOptions();
           }, Error);
         });
 
         it('succeeds if arg is valid', () => {
           assert.doesNotThrow(() => {
-            testUtils.testSetUpGen(artiGenerator, {args: ['foobar']});
+            const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(artiGenerator, {
+              args: ['foobar'],
+            });
+            gen.setOptions();
           }, Error);
         });
       });
@@ -42,10 +49,11 @@ module.exports = function(artiGenerator) {
         assert(helpText.match(/Required: false/));
       });
 
-      it('sets up artifactInfo', () => {
+      it('sets up artifactInfo', async () => {
         let gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(artiGenerator, {args: ['test']});
+        await gen.setOptions();
         assert(gen.artifactInfo);
-        assert(gen.artifactInfo.name == 'test');
+        assert.equal(gen.artifactInfo.name, 'test');
       });
     });
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/base-config.json b/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/base-config.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..05fea4af5504
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/base-config.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+  "name": "xyz",
+  "description": "Test"
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/base-generator.js b/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/base-generator.js
index 5ff3d5379234..3ca8b87cd8e5 100644
--- a/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/base-generator.js
+++ b/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/base-generator.js
@@ -7,33 +7,142 @@
 
 const assert = require('yeoman-assert');
 const testUtils = require('../../test-utils');
+const path = require('path');
+const mockStdin = require('mock-stdin');
 
 module.exports = function(generator) {
   return function() {
     describe('usage', () => {
       it('prints lb4', () => {
-        let gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator);
-        let helpText = gen.help();
+        const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator);
+        const helpText = gen.help();
         assert(helpText.match(/lb4 /));
         assert(!helpText.match(/loopback4:/));
       });
     });
+
     describe('exit', () => {
       it('does nothing if false is passed', () => {
-        let gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator);
+        const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator);
         gen.exit(false);
         assert(gen.exitGeneration === undefined);
       });
       it('sets "exitGeneration" to true if called with no argument', () => {
-        let gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator);
+        const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator);
         gen.exit();
         assert(gen.exitGeneration === true);
       });
       it('sets "exitGeneration" to the error passed to itself', () => {
-        let gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator);
+        const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator);
         gen.exit(new Error('oh no'));
         assert(gen.exitGeneration instanceof Error);
-        assert(gen.exitGeneration.message === 'oh no');
+        assert.equal(gen.exitGeneration.message, 'oh no');
+      });
+
+      after(() => {
+        // Reset the exit code so that mocha will not complain
+        process.exitCode = 0;
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('config from json file', () => {
+      it('accepts --config', async () => {
+        const jsonFile = path.join(__dirname, 'base-config.json');
+        const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator, {
+          args: ['--config', jsonFile],
+        });
+        await gen.setOptions();
+        assert.equal(gen.options['config'], jsonFile);
+        assert.equal(gen.options.name, 'xyz');
+      });
+
+      it('options from json file do not override', async () => {
+        const jsonFile = path.join(__dirname, 'base-config.json');
+        const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator, {
+          args: ['--name', 'abc', '--config', jsonFile],
+        });
+        await gen.setOptions();
+        assert.equal(gen.options['config'], jsonFile);
+        assert.equal(gen.options.name, 'abc');
+        assert.equal(gen.options.description, 'Test');
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('config from json value', () => {
+      const jsonValue = `{
+        "name": "xyz",
+        "description": "Test"
+      }`;
+      it('accepts --config', async () => {
+        const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator, {
+          args: ['--config', jsonValue],
+        });
+        await gen.setOptions();
+        assert.equal(gen.options['config'], jsonValue);
+        assert.equal(gen.options.name, 'xyz');
+      });
+
+      it('options from json file do not override', async () => {
+        const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator, {
+          args: ['--name', 'abc', '--config', jsonValue],
+        });
+        await gen.setOptions();
+        assert.equal(gen.options['config'], jsonValue);
+        assert.equal(gen.options.name, 'abc');
+        assert.equal(gen.options.description, 'Test');
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('config from stdin', () => {
+      let mock;
+
+      before(() => {
+        mock = mockStdin.stdin();
+      });
+
+      after(() => {
+        mock.restore();
+      });
+
+      afterEach(() => {
+        mock.reset(true);
+      });
+
+      it('accepts --config stdin', () => {
+        const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator, {
+          args: ['--config', 'stdin'],
+        });
+        const promise = gen.setOptions();
+        assert.equal(gen.options['config'], 'stdin');
+        // Reading config from stdin will skip optional prompts
+        assert.equal(gen.options['yes'], true);
+        mock.send('{');
+        mock.send('"name": "xyz"');
+        mock.send('}');
+        mock.end();
+        return promise.then(() => {
+          assert.equal(gen.options.name, 'xyz');
+        });
+      });
+
+      it('reports invalid json from stdin', () => {
+        const gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(generator, {
+          args: ['--config', 'stdin'],
+        });
+        const promise = gen.setOptions();
+        assert.equal(gen.options['config'], 'stdin');
+        // Reading config from stdin will skip optional prompts
+        assert.equal(gen.options['yes'], true);
+        mock.send('{');
+        mock.send('"name": xyz"');
+        mock.send('}');
+        mock.end();
+        return promise.catch(err => {
+          assert.equal(
+            err,
+            'SyntaxError: Unexpected token x in JSON at position 9',
+          );
+        });
       });
     });
   };
diff --git a/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/project-generator.js b/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/project-generator.js
index 08688da30d7e..a24667a8b877 100644
--- a/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/project-generator.js
+++ b/packages/cli/test/integration/lib/project-generator.js
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ module.exports = function(projGenerator, props, projectType) {
     });
 
     describe('setOptions', () => {
-      it('has projectInfo set up', () => {
+      it('has projectInfo set up', async () => {
         let gen = testUtils.testSetUpGen(projGenerator);
         gen.options = {
           name: 'foobar',
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ module.exports = function(projGenerator, props, projectType) {
           loopbackBuild: null,
           vscode: null,
         };
-        gen.setOptions();
+        await gen.setOptions();
         assert(gen.projectInfo.name === 'foobar');
         assert(
           gen.projectInfo.dependencies['@loopback/context'] ===
@@ -452,11 +452,27 @@ module.exports = function(projGenerator, props, projectType) {
       });
     });
 
-    function testPrompt(gen, props, fnName) {
-      gen.setOptions();
+    describe('with --skip-optional-prompts', () => {
+      before(() => {
+        return helpers.run(projGenerator).withOptions({
+          name: props.name,
+          'skip-optional-prompts': true,
+        });
+      });
+
+      it('creates files', () => {
+        assert.jsonFileContent('package.json', {
+          name: props.name,
+          description: props.name,
+        });
+      });
+    });
+
+    async function testPrompt(gen, props, fnName) {
+      await gen.setOptions();
       gen.prompt = sinon.stub(gen, 'prompt');
       gen.prompt.resolves(props);
-      return gen[fnName]();
+      return await gen[fnName]();
     }
   };
 };
diff --git a/packages/repository/package.json b/packages/repository/package.json
index 937cf35d5e90..bb47f2542a12 100644
--- a/packages/repository/package.json
+++ b/packages/repository/package.json
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
     "@loopback/core": "^0.10.1",
     "@loopback/dist-util": "^0.3.3",
     "lodash": "^4.17.10",
-    "loopback-datasource-juggler": "^3.20.2"
+    "loopback-datasource-juggler": "^3.22.1"
   },
   "files": [
     "README.md",