diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 6eb56b5..8b138cf 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -4861,6 +4861,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "cosmic-text 0.16.0",
  "q_test_harness",
  "regex",
+ "serde",
  "shlex",
  "smallvec",
  "smol_str",
diff --git a/crates/cmd_prompt/Cargo.toml b/crates/cmd_prompt/Cargo.toml
index 3623f30..1878509 100644
--- a/crates/cmd_prompt/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/cmd_prompt/Cargo.toml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ strum = { version = "0.27.2", features = ["derive"] }
 thiserror = "2.0.17"
 tiny_bail = "0.7.0"
 variadics_please = "1.1.0"
+serde = { version = "1.0.228", features = ["derive"] }
 
 [features]
 dylib= ["bevy/dynamic_linking", "dep:bevy_dylib"]
diff --git a/crates/cmd_prompt/examples/minimal.rs b/crates/cmd_prompt/examples/minimal.rs
index b744287..f352429 100644
--- a/crates/cmd_prompt/examples/minimal.rs
+++ b/crates/cmd_prompt/examples/minimal.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use bevy::prelude::*;
+use bevy_inspector_egui::{bevy_egui::EguiPlugin, quick::WorldInspectorPlugin};
 use q_cmd_prompt::prelude::*;
-// use bevy_inspector_egui::{bevy_egui::EguiPlugin, quick::WorldInspectorPlugin};
 
 pub fn main() {
     let mut app = App::new();
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ pub fn main() {
         }),
         ..Default::default()
     }));
-    // app.add_plugins(EguiPlugin::default());
-    // app.add_plugins(WorldInspectorPlugin::default());
+    app.add_plugins(EguiPlugin::default());
+    app.add_plugins(WorldInspectorPlugin::default());
     app.add_plugins(ConsolePlugin);
     app.add_systems(Startup, |mut commands: Commands| {
         commands.spawn(Camera2d);
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ pub fn main() {
                 height: Val::Vh(100.),
                 ..Default::default()
             },
-            children![Console],
+            children![Console::default()],
         ));
     });
     app.run();
diff --git a/crates/cmd_prompt/examples/styled.rs b/crates/cmd_prompt/examples/styled.rs
index c01e142..33cbc91 100644
--- a/crates/cmd_prompt/examples/styled.rs
+++ b/crates/cmd_prompt/examples/styled.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub fn main() {
                     ..Default::default()
                 },
                 children![
-                    Console,
+                    Console::default(),
                     ConsolePrompt("<=================>\n=>".into()),
                     ConsoleUiSettings {
                         font_color: tailwind::AMBER_700.into(),
diff --git a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/actions/actions/basic_input.rs b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/actions/actions/basic_input.rs
index a015a03..c5ac2af 100644
--- a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/actions/actions/basic_input.rs
+++ b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/actions/actions/basic_input.rs
@@ -73,11 +73,18 @@ pub fn submit(
     mut query: Query<(
         &mut ConsoleBuffer,
         &mut ConsoleInputText,
-        &mut ConsoleHistory,
+        &ConsoleHistoryHandle,
     )>,
+    mut assets: ResMut<Assets<ConsoleHistory>>,
     mut commands: Commands,
 ) {
-    if let Ok((mut buffer, mut input_text, mut history)) = query.get_mut(input.console_id) {
+    if let Ok((mut buffer, mut input_text, history_handle)) = query.get_mut(input.console_id) {
+        let history = assets.get_mut(history_handle.id());
+        if history.is_none() {
+            error!("Failed to get console history!");
+            return;
+        }
+        let history = history.unwrap();
         buffer.write("\n").unwrap();
         if let Some(event) = SubmitEvent::new(input.console_id, input_text.text.clone()) {
             commands.trigger(event);
diff --git a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/actions/actions/history.rs b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/actions/actions/history.rs
index 43fce56..644d200 100644
--- a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/actions/actions/history.rs
+++ b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/actions/actions/history.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub fn set_from_history(
     input: In<ConsoleActionSystemInput>,
-    mut q_console: Query<(&mut ConsoleInputText, &ConsoleHistory)>,
+    mut q_console: Query<(&mut ConsoleInputText, &ConsoleHistoryHandle)>,
+    mut assets: ResMut<Assets<ConsoleHistory>>,
     mut history_idx: Local<usize>,
     mut filtered_history: Local<Option<Vec<usize>>>,
     mut original_value: Local<Option<String>>,
@@ -26,7 +27,10 @@ pub fn set_from_history(
         _ => {}
     }
     if matches!(key, Key::ArrowUp | Key::ArrowDown) {
-        let (mut input_text, history) = q_console.get_mut(input.console_id).unwrap();
+        let (mut input_text, handle) = q_console.get_mut(input.console_id).unwrap();
+        let history = assets
+            .get_mut(handle.id())
+            .expect("History asset should exist");
         if filtered_history.is_none() {
             *original_value = Some(std::mem::take(&mut input_text.text));
             let f = history
@@ -127,11 +131,24 @@ mod test {
             );
         }
         app.add_step(3, |world: &mut World| {
-            let console_history = world.query::<&ConsoleHistory>().single_mut(world).unwrap();
-            assert_eq!(
-                **console_history,
-                vec!["0".to_string(), "1".to_string(), "2".to_string()]
-            );
+            let handle = world
+                .query::<&ConsoleHistoryHandle>()
+                .single_mut(world)
+                .cloned()
+                .unwrap();
+            world.resource_scope::<Assets<ConsoleHistory>, _>(|world, assets| {
+                if let Some(history) = assets.get(handle.id()) {
+                    let expected = vec!["0".to_string(), "1".to_string(), "2".to_string()];
+                    if **history != expected {
+                        error!("History did not match.");
+                        error!(?history);
+                        world.write_message(AppExit::error());
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    error!("Failed to get history");
+                    world.write_message(AppExit::error());
+                }
+            });
             world.write_message(key_input(
                 KeyCode::ArrowUp,
                 Key::ArrowUp,
diff --git a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/assets.rs b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/assets.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31394e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/assets.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+use bevy::{
+    asset::{AssetLoader, AsyncReadExt},
+    platform::collections::HashMap,
+};
+
+use crate::prelude::*;
+
+/// Environment variables for this console. Saved as '.env' files on disk.
+#[derive(Asset, Default, Component, Debug, Deref, DerefMut, Reflect)]
+pub struct ConsoleEnvVars(HashMap<String, String>);
+
+/// Wrapper for the [Handle] of the [ConsoleEnvVarsAsset] for this [Console]
+#[derive(Component, Debug, Deref, DerefMut, Reflect)]
+pub struct ConsoleEnvVarsHandle(pub Handle<ConsoleEnvVars>);
+
+/// Loader for the [ConsoleEnvVarsAsset]
+#[derive(Reflect, Default, Debug)]
+pub struct ConsoleEnvVarsLoader;
+impl AssetLoader for ConsoleEnvVarsLoader {
+    type Asset = ConsoleEnvVars;
+    type Settings = ();
+    type Error = BevyError;
+
+    async fn load(
+        &self,
+        reader: &mut dyn bevy::asset::io::Reader,
+        _settings: &(),
+        load_context: &mut bevy::asset::LoadContext<'_>,
+    ) -> Result<Self::Asset, Self::Error> {
+        let mut buf = String::new();
+        reader.read_to_string(&mut buf).await?;
+        let map = buf
+            .split('\n')
+            .filter_map(|s| {
+                let mut split = s.split('=').map(|s| s.to_string()).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+                if split.len() == 2 {
+                    Some((std::mem::take(&mut split[0]), std::mem::take(&mut split[1])))
+                } else {
+                    warn!(
+                        "Got invalid line while reading {}:\n'{}'",
+                        load_context.path(),
+                        s
+                    );
+                    None
+                }
+            })
+            .collect::<HashMap<_, _>>();
+        Ok(ConsoleEnvVars(map))
+    }
+
+    fn extensions(&self) -> &[&str] {
+        &["env"]
+    }
+}
+
+/// Command history of this [Console].
+#[derive(Default, Asset, Debug, Deref, DerefMut, Reflect)]
+pub struct ConsoleHistory(Vec<String>);
+
+/// Wrapper around the [Handle] for the [ConsoleHistoryAsset] for this [Console]
+#[derive(Component, Debug, Deref, DerefMut, Reflect, Clone)]
+pub struct ConsoleHistoryHandle(pub Handle<ConsoleHistory>);
+
+/// Loader for the [ConsoleHistoryAsset]
+#[derive(Reflect, Default, Debug)]
+pub struct ConsoleHistoryLoader;
+impl AssetLoader for ConsoleHistoryLoader {
+    type Asset = ConsoleHistory;
+    type Settings = ();
+    type Error = BevyError;
+
+    async fn load(
+        &self,
+        reader: &mut dyn bevy::asset::io::Reader,
+        _settings: &(),
+        _load_context: &mut bevy::asset::LoadContext<'_>,
+    ) -> Result<Self::Asset, Self::Error> {
+        let mut buf = String::new();
+        reader.read_to_string(&mut buf).await?;
+        // todo: not memory efficient
+        let vec = buf.split('\n').map(|s| s.to_owned()).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        Ok(ConsoleHistory(vec))
+    }
+
+    fn extensions(&self) -> &[&str] {
+        &["hist"]
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn plugin(app: &mut App) {
+    app.register_asset_loader(ConsoleHistoryLoader);
+    app.init_asset::<ConsoleHistory>();
+    app.register_asset_loader(ConsoleEnvVarsLoader);
+    app.init_asset::<ConsoleEnvVars>();
+}
diff --git a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/lib.rs b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/lib.rs
index 0964251..6c12d5b 100644
--- a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 mod actions;
+mod assets;
 mod commands;
 mod systems;
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -8,6 +9,7 @@ mod ui;
 pub mod prelude {
     pub use super::ConsolePlugin;
     pub use super::actions::prelude::*;
+    pub use super::assets::*;
     pub use super::commands::prelude::*;
     pub use super::systems::*;
     pub use super::ui::prelude::*;
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ impl Plugin for ConsolePlugin {
             crate::ui::plugin,
             crate::commands::plugin,
             crate::actions::plugin,
+            crate::assets::plugin,
         ));
         app.add_systems(
             PostUpdate,
diff --git a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/test_harness.rs b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/test_harness.rs
index 20e0b64..d0dc9eb 100644
--- a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/test_harness.rs
+++ b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/test_harness.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,6 @@ pub fn plugin(app: &mut App) {
 }
 
 fn setup(mut commands: Commands, mut focus: ResMut<InputFocus>) {
-    let id = commands.spawn(Console).id();
+    let id = commands.spawn(Console::new(None, None)).id();
     focus.0 = Some(id);
 }
diff --git a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/ui/console.rs b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/ui/console.rs
index 5f32c6b..d72b676 100644
--- a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/ui/console.rs
+++ b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/ui/console.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
 use bevy::{
+    asset::io::embedded::GetAssetServer,
     ecs::{lifecycle::HookContext, world::DeferredWorld},
     input_focus::InputFocus,
 };
@@ -12,16 +13,47 @@ use bevy::{
     ConsoleBuffer,
     ConsoleBufferFlags,
     ConsolePrompt,
-    ConsoleHistory,
     ConsoleInputText,
     TextFont
 )]
 #[component(on_add=Self::on_add)]
-pub struct Console;
+pub struct Console {
+    /// Path to the history file. If unset, will not serialize.
+    history_path: Option<String>,
+    /// Asset ID of the console history.
+    history: Handle<ConsoleHistory>,
+    /// Path to the environment variables file. If unset, will not serialize.
+    vars_path: Option<String>,
+    /// Asset ID of the environment variables asset.
+    vars: Handle<ConsoleEnvVars>,
+}
 impl Console {
+    pub fn new(history_path: Option<String>, vars_path: Option<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            history_path,
+            vars_path,
+            history: Handle::default(),
+            vars: Handle::default(),
+        }
+    }
     pub(crate) fn on_add<'w>(mut world: DeferredWorld<'w>, ctx: HookContext) {
+        // load assets
+        let this = world.get::<Console>(ctx.entity).unwrap();
+        let server = world.get_asset_server();
+        let history = if let Some(path) = this.history_path.as_ref() {
+            server.load::<ConsoleHistory>(path)
+        } else {
+            server.add(ConsoleHistory::default())
+        };
+        let vars = if let Some(path) = this.vars_path.as_ref() {
+            server.load::<ConsoleEnvVars>(path)
+        } else {
+            server.add(ConsoleEnvVars::default())
+        };
         let bundle = (
             Name::new("Console"),
+            ConsoleHistoryHandle(history),
+            ConsoleEnvVarsHandle(vars),
             Node {
                 display: Display::Flex,
                 flex_direction: FlexDirection::ColumnReverse,
diff --git a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/ui/data.rs b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/ui/data.rs
index a20c3fc..be3336b 100644
--- a/crates/cmd_prompt/src/ui/data.rs
+++ b/crates/cmd_prompt/src/ui/data.rs
@@ -63,10 +63,6 @@ impl Default for ConsolePrompt {
     }
 }
 
-// TODO: Console history should be a file.
-#[derive(Component, Debug, Reflect, Clone, Default, Deref, DerefMut)]
-pub struct ConsoleHistory(Vec<String>);
-
 #[derive(Component, Debug, Reflect, Clone)]
 #[component(immutable, on_insert=Self::on_insert)]
 #[require(Node)]