diff --git a/src/main/settings/monospaceSettings.js b/src/main/settings/monospaceSettings.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8362f19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/settings/monospaceSettings.js
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const FAMILY_BY_KEY = {
+  'jetbrains-mono': 'JetBrains Mono',
+  'fira-code': 'Fira Code',
+};
+
+function getDefaults() {
+  return Object.freeze({ monospaceFont: 'jetbrains-mono', monospaceLigatures: false });
+}
+
+function getActiveMonoFont(settings) {
+  const key = settings && settings.monospaceFont;
+  return FAMILY_BY_KEY[key] || 'JetBrains Mono';
+}
+
+function isLigaturesEnabled(settings) {
+  return Boolean(settings && settings.monospaceLigatures === true);
+}
+
+module.exports = { getDefaults, getActiveMonoFont, isLigaturesEnabled, FAMILY_BY_KEY };
diff --git a/tests/monospace-settings.test.js b/tests/monospace-settings.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..489694b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/monospace-settings.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+const { getDefaults, getActiveMonoFont, isLigaturesEnabled } = require('../src/main/settings/monospaceSettings');
+
+describe('monospaceSettings', () => {
+  test('getDefaults returns sane defaults', () => {
+    const d = getDefaults();
+    expect(d.monospaceFont).toBe('jetbrains-mono');
+    expect(d.monospaceLigatures).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test('getActiveMonoFont returns the active family', () => {
+    expect(getActiveMonoFont({ monospaceFont: 'fira-code' })).toBe('Fira Code');
+    expect(getActiveMonoFont({})).toBe('JetBrains Mono');
+    expect(getActiveMonoFont({ monospaceFont: 'bogus' })).toBe('JetBrains Mono');
+  });
+
+  test('isLigaturesEnabled reads boolean strictly', () => {
+    expect(isLigaturesEnabled({ monospaceLigatures: true })).toBe(true);
+    expect(isLigaturesEnabled({ monospaceLigatures: false })).toBe(false);
+    expect(isLigaturesEnabled({})).toBe(false);
+    expect(isLigaturesEnabled({ monospaceLigatures: 'yes' })).toBe(false);
+  });
+});