diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 76d0842..aa7de24 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.4.0 - 2025-11-11
+
+* support --noempty, --cache and --symlinks cli option
+* added preferences screen
+
 ## 0.3.2 - 2025-11-11
 
 * print app version on startup
diff --git a/lib/domain/fdupes_bloc.dart b/lib/domain/fdupes_bloc.dart
index 2002b14..0c8e7a8 100644
--- a/lib/domain/fdupes_bloc.dart
+++ b/lib/domain/fdupes_bloc.dart
@@ -14,8 +14,12 @@ part 'fdupes_state.dart';
 class FdupesBloc extends Bloc<FdupesEvent, FdupesState> {
   final List<Directory>? initialDirs;
   String? fdupesLocation;
+  final SharedPreferences sharedPreferences;
 
-  FdupesBloc({this.initialDirs}) : super(FdupesStateInitial(initialDirs)) {
+  FdupesBloc({
+    this.initialDirs,
+    required this.sharedPreferences,
+  }) : super(FdupesStateInitial(initialDirs)) {
     on<FdupesEventCheckFdupesAvailability>(_onCheckFdupesAvailability);
     on<FdupesEventSelectFdupesLocation>(_onSelectFdupesLocation);
     on<FdupesEventDirsSelected>(_onDirsSelected);
@@ -62,8 +66,8 @@ class FdupesBloc extends Bloc<FdupesEvent, FdupesState> {
         return;
       }
       add(FdupesEventCheckFdupesAvailability());
-    }
-    else emit(FdupesStateFdupesNotFound(statusMsg: 'Not a valid fdupes binary.'));
+    } else
+      emit(FdupesStateFdupesNotFound(statusMsg: 'Not a valid fdupes binary.'));
   }
 
   Future<bool> validFdupesLocation(String path) async {
@@ -84,7 +88,16 @@ class FdupesBloc extends Bloc<FdupesEvent, FdupesState> {
     if (s is FdupesStateResult) {
       emit(s.copyWith(loading: true));
     }
-    final dupes = await findDupes(event.dirs, emit: emit);
+    final skipEmpty = sharedPreferences.getBool('noempty') ?? false;
+    final useCache = sharedPreferences.getBool('usecache') ?? false;
+    final followSymlinks = sharedPreferences.getBool('followsymlinks') ?? false;
+    final dupes = await findDupes(
+      event.dirs,
+      emit: emit,
+      skipEmpty: skipEmpty,
+      useCache: useCache,
+      followSymlinks: followSymlinks,
+    );
 
     emit(FdupesStateResult(dirs: event.dirs, dupeGroups: dupes));
   }
@@ -156,10 +169,24 @@ class FdupesBloc extends Bloc<FdupesEvent, FdupesState> {
     }
   }
 
-  Future<List<List<String>>> findDupes(List<Directory> dirs, {required Emitter<FdupesState> emit}) async {
+  Future<List<List<String>>> findDupes(
+    List<Directory> dirs, {
+    required Emitter<FdupesState> emit,
+    required bool skipEmpty,
+    required bool useCache,
+    required bool followSymlinks,
+  }) async {
     print("finding dupes in dirs $dirs");
+    final args = [
+      '-r',
+      if (skipEmpty) '--noempty',
+      if (useCache) '--usecache',
+      if (followSymlinks) '--symlinks',
+      ...dirs.map((d) => d.path),
+    ];
+    print('cmd line: $fdupesLocation $args');
+    Process process = await Process.start(fdupesLocation!, args);
     List<List<String>> dupes = [];
-    Process process = await Process.start(fdupesLocation!, ['-r', ...dirs.map((d) => d.path)]);
     // stdout.addStream(process.stdout);
     final regex = RegExp(r'\[(\d+)/(\d+)\]');
     final stderrBC = process.stderr.asBroadcastStream();
diff --git a/lib/main.dart b/lib/main.dart
index d3953e3..570c1d0 100644
--- a/lib/main.dart
+++ b/lib/main.dart
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import 'package:fdupes_gui/theme.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_bloc/flutter_bloc.dart';
 import 'package:package_info_plus/package_info_plus.dart';
+import 'package:shared_preferences/shared_preferences.dart';
 
 class MyBlocObserver extends BlocObserver {
   @override
@@ -49,18 +50,31 @@ Future<void> main(List<String> args) async {
 
   Bloc.observer = MyBlocObserver();
 
-  runApp(MyApp(initialDirs));
+  WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
+  final sharedPreferences = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
+
+  runApp(MyApp(
+    initialDirs,
+    sharedPreferences: sharedPreferences,
+  ));
 }
 
 class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
   final List<Directory>? initialDirs;
+  final SharedPreferences sharedPreferences;
 
-  MyApp(this.initialDirs);
+  MyApp(
+    this.initialDirs, {
+    required this.sharedPreferences,
+  });
 
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     return BlocProvider<FdupesBloc>(
-      create: (context) => FdupesBloc(initialDirs: initialDirs),
+      create: (context) => FdupesBloc(
+        initialDirs: initialDirs,
+        sharedPreferences: sharedPreferences,
+      ),
       child: AdaptiveTheme(
         // debugShowFloatingThemeButton: true,
         light: FdupesTheme.light(),
@@ -70,7 +84,11 @@ class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
           title: 'Fdupes gui',
           theme: theme,
           darkTheme: darkTheme,
-          home: Material(child: DupeScreen()),
+          home: Material(
+            child: DupeScreen(
+              sharedPreferences: sharedPreferences,
+            ),
+          ),
         ),
       ),
     );
diff --git a/lib/presentation/about_dialog.dart b/lib/presentation/about_dialog.dart
index c9fb914..7c9fb4e 100644
--- a/lib/presentation/about_dialog.dart
+++ b/lib/presentation/about_dialog.dart
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:package_info_plus/package_info_plus.dart';
 import 'package:url_launcher/link.dart';
 
-Future<void> showAboutDialoog(
+Future<void> showAppAboutDialog(
   BuildContext context,
 ) async {
   final appInfo = await PackageInfo.fromPlatform();
diff --git a/lib/presentation/dupe_screen.dart b/lib/presentation/dupe_screen.dart
index 72dd069..7f79343 100644
--- a/lib/presentation/dupe_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/presentation/dupe_screen.dart
@@ -2,22 +2,43 @@ import 'package:fdupes_gui/core/util.dart' as util;
 import 'package:fdupes_gui/domain/fdupes_bloc.dart';
 import 'package:fdupes_gui/presentation/dupes_body.dart';
 import 'package:fdupes_gui/presentation/dupes_top_bar.dart';
+import 'package:fdupes_gui/presentation/prefs_dialog.dart';
 import 'package:fdupes_gui/presentation/select_folder_dialog.dart';
 import 'package:file_selector_platform_interface/file_selector_platform_interface.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_bloc/flutter_bloc.dart';
+import 'package:shared_preferences/shared_preferences.dart';
 
 class DupeScreen extends StatelessWidget {
+  final SharedPreferences sharedPreferences;
+
+  DupeScreen({super.key, required this.sharedPreferences});
+
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     return BlocBuilder<FdupesBloc, FdupesState>(
       builder: (context, state) {
         if (state is FdupesStateInitial) {
-          return Center(
-            child: ElevatedButton(
-              child: Text('Select folder'),
-              onPressed: () => showSelectFolderDialog(context, initialDir: null, currentDirs: []),
-            ),
+          return Stack(
+            alignment: Alignment.center,
+            children: [
+              ElevatedButton(
+                child: Text('Select folder'),
+                onPressed: () => showSelectFolderDialog(context, initialDir: null, currentDirs: []),
+              ),
+              Positioned(
+                right: 16,
+                top: 16,
+                child: Tooltip(
+                  message: 'Preferences',
+                  child: ElevatedButton(
+                    child: Icon(Icons.settings),
+                    style: ElevatedButton.styleFrom(shape: CircleBorder()),
+                    onPressed: () => showPreferencesDialog(context, sharedPreferences),
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ),
+            ],
           );
         }
         if (state is FdupesStateFdupesNotFound) {
@@ -72,7 +93,10 @@ class DupeScreen extends StatelessWidget {
             padding: EdgeInsets.all(8),
             child: Column(
               children: <Widget>[
-                DupesTopBar(baseDirs: state.dirs),
+                DupesTopBar(
+                  baseDirs: state.dirs,
+                  sharedPreferences: sharedPreferences,
+                ),
                 SizedBox(height: 8),
                 if (state.dupeGroups.isEmpty)
                   Text('no dupes found')
diff --git a/lib/presentation/dupes_top_bar.dart b/lib/presentation/dupes_top_bar.dart
index efa589d..a284190 100644
--- a/lib/presentation/dupes_top_bar.dart
+++ b/lib/presentation/dupes_top_bar.dart
@@ -3,16 +3,20 @@ import 'dart:io';
 import 'package:fdupes_gui/domain/fdupes_bloc.dart';
 import 'package:fdupes_gui/presentation/about_dialog.dart';
 import 'package:fdupes_gui/presentation/base_dirs.dart';
+import 'package:fdupes_gui/presentation/prefs_dialog.dart';
 import 'package:fdupes_gui/presentation/select_folder_dialog.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_bloc/flutter_bloc.dart';
+import 'package:shared_preferences/shared_preferences.dart';
 
 class DupesTopBar extends StatelessWidget {
   final List<Directory> baseDirs;
+  final SharedPreferences sharedPreferences;
 
   DupesTopBar({
     super.key,
     required this.baseDirs,
+    required this.sharedPreferences,
   });
 
   @override
@@ -44,12 +48,24 @@ class DupesTopBar extends StatelessWidget {
         Expanded(
           child: BaseDirs(baseDirs: baseDirs),
         ),
-        Tooltip(
-          message: 'Find duplicates',
-          child: ElevatedButton(
-            child: Icon(Icons.info_outline),
-            onPressed: () => showAboutDialoog(context),
-          ),
+        Column(
+          children: [
+            Tooltip(
+              message: 'About this app',
+              child: ElevatedButton(
+                child: Icon(Icons.info_outline),
+                onPressed: () => showAppAboutDialog(context),
+              ),
+            ),
+            SizedBox(height: 8),
+            Tooltip(
+              message: 'Preferences',
+              child: ElevatedButton(
+                child: Icon(Icons.settings),
+                onPressed: () => showPreferencesDialog(context, sharedPreferences),
+              ),
+            ),
+          ],
         ),
       ],
     );
diff --git a/lib/presentation/prefs_dialog.dart b/lib/presentation/prefs_dialog.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a847d37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/presentation/prefs_dialog.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:shared_preferences/shared_preferences.dart';
+
+Future<void> showPreferencesDialog(
+  BuildContext context,
+  SharedPreferences sharedPreferences,
+) async {
+  showDialog(
+    context: context,
+    barrierDismissible: true,
+    builder: (context) => PreferencesDialog(sharedPreferences),
+  );
+}
+
+class PreferencesDialog extends StatefulWidget {
+  final SharedPreferences sharedPreferences;
+
+  PreferencesDialog(this.sharedPreferences);
+
+  @override
+  State<PreferencesDialog> createState() => _PreferencesDialogState();
+}
+
+class _PreferencesDialogState extends State<PreferencesDialog> {
+  /// use local state instead of directly accessing shared preferences since we write the settings asynchronously without waiting
+  late bool skipEmpty;
+  late bool useCache;
+  late bool followSymlinks;
+
+  @override
+  void initState() {
+    super.initState();
+    skipEmpty = widget.sharedPreferences.getBool('noempty') ?? false;
+    useCache = widget.sharedPreferences.getBool('usecache') ?? false;
+    followSymlinks = widget.sharedPreferences.getBool('followsymlinks') ?? false;
+  }
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    return AlertDialog(
+      title: Text('Preferences'),
+      content: Column(
+        mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+        children: [
+          SwitchListTile(
+            title: const Text('Skip empty files', softWrap: false),
+            value: skipEmpty,
+            onChanged: (value) {
+              setState(() {
+                skipEmpty = value;
+                widget.sharedPreferences.setBool('noempty', value);
+              });
+            },
+          ),
+          SwitchListTile(
+              title: const Text('Use cache'),
+              subtitle: const Text('fdupes 2.3.0+', softWrap: false),
+              value: useCache,
+              onChanged: (value) {
+                setState(() {
+                  useCache = value;
+                  widget.sharedPreferences.setBool('usecache', value);
+                });
+              }),
+          SwitchListTile(
+              title: const Text('Follow symlinks'),
+              value: followSymlinks,
+              onChanged: (value) {
+                setState(() {
+                  followSymlinks = value;
+                  widget.sharedPreferences.setBool('followsymlinks', value);
+                });
+              }),
+        ],
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/pubspec.lock b/pubspec.lock
index 97f31e2..3b3e672 100644
--- a/pubspec.lock
+++ b/pubspec.lock
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ packages:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
       name: archive
-      sha256: "7dcbd0f87fe5f61cb28da39a1a8b70dbc106e2fe0516f7836eb7bb2948481a12"
+      sha256: "2fde1607386ab523f7a36bb3e7edb43bd58e6edaf2ffb29d8a6d578b297fdbbd"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "4.0.5"
+    version: "4.0.7"
   args:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
@@ -41,30 +41,30 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "8.1.4"
-  characters:
+  boolean_selector:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
-      name: characters
-      sha256: "04a925763edad70e8443c99234dc3328f442e811f1d8fd1a72f1c8ad0f69a605"
+      name: boolean_selector
+      sha256: "6cfb5af12253eaf2b368f07bacc5a80d1301a071c73360d746b7f2e32d762c66"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "1.3.0"
-  checked_yaml:
+    version: "2.1.1"
+  characters:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
-      name: checked_yaml
-      sha256: feb6bed21949061731a7a75fc5d2aa727cf160b91af9a3e464c5e3a32e28b5ff
+      name: characters
+      sha256: "04a925763edad70e8443c99234dc3328f442e811f1d8fd1a72f1c8ad0f69a605"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "2.0.3"
-  cli_util:
+    version: "1.3.0"
+  clock:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
-      name: cli_util
-      sha256: c05b7406fdabc7a49a3929d4af76bcaccbbffcbcdcf185b082e1ae07da323d19
+      name: clock
+      sha256: cb6d7f03e1de671e34607e909a7213e31d7752be4fb66a86d29fe1eb14bfb5cf
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "0.4.1"
+    version: "1.1.1"
   collection:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
@@ -97,6 +97,14 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "2.0.7"
+  fake_async:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: fake_async
+      sha256: "511392330127add0b769b75a987850d136345d9227c6b94c96a04cf4a391bf78"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "1.3.1"
   ffi:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
@@ -190,15 +198,11 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "8.1.6"
-  flutter_launcher_icons:
+  flutter_test:
     dependency: "direct dev"
-    description:
-      path: "."
-      ref: multi_res_ico
-      resolved-ref: "3a8a02159cb6d0d8d97bf25628408fa30dbbf356"
-      url: "https://github.com/mx1up/flutter_launcher_icons.git"
-    source: git
-    version: "0.14.3"
+    description: flutter
+    source: sdk
+    version: "0.0.0"
   flutter_web_plugins:
     dependency: transitive
     description: flutter
@@ -237,14 +241,14 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "0.6.8"
-  json_annotation:
+  matcher:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
-      name: json_annotation
-      sha256: "1ce844379ca14835a50d2f019a3099f419082cfdd231cd86a142af94dd5c6bb1"
+      name: matcher
+      sha256: "1803e76e6653768d64ed8ff2e1e67bea3ad4b923eb5c56a295c3e634bad5960e"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "4.9.0"
+    version: "0.12.16"
   material_color_utilities:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
@@ -297,10 +301,10 @@ packages:
     dependency: "direct main"
     description:
       name: path
-      sha256: "087ce49c3f0dc39180befefc60fdb4acd8f8620e5682fe2476afd0b3688bb4af"
+      sha256: "8829d8a55c13fc0e37127c29fedf290c102f4e40ae94ada574091fe0ff96c917"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "1.9.0"
+    version: "1.8.3"
   path_provider_linux:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
@@ -353,10 +357,10 @@ packages:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
       name: posix
-      sha256: a0117dc2167805aa9125b82eee515cc891819bac2f538c83646d355b16f58b9a
+      sha256: "6323a5b0fa688b6a010df4905a56b00181479e6d10534cecfecede2aa55add61"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "6.0.1"
+    version: "6.0.3"
   process_run:
     dependency: "direct main"
     description:
@@ -369,10 +373,10 @@ packages:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
       name: provider
-      sha256: "489024f942069c2920c844ee18bb3d467c69e48955a4f32d1677f71be103e310"
+      sha256: "4e82183fa20e5ca25703ead7e05de9e4cceed1fbd1eadc1ac3cb6f565a09f272"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "6.1.4"
+    version: "6.1.5+1"
   pub_semver:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
@@ -446,18 +450,34 @@ packages:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
       name: source_span
-      sha256: "254ee5351d6cb365c859e20ee823c3bb479bf4a293c22d17a9f1bf144ce86f7c"
+      sha256: "53e943d4206a5e30df338fd4c6e7a077e02254531b138a15aec3bd143c1a8b3c"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "1.10.0"
+  stack_trace:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: stack_trace
+      sha256: c3c7d8edb15bee7f0f74debd4b9c5f3c2ea86766fe4178eb2a18eb30a0bdaed5
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "1.10.1"
+    version: "1.11.0"
+  stream_channel:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: stream_channel
+      sha256: "83615bee9045c1d322bbbd1ba209b7a749c2cbcdcb3fdd1df8eb488b3279c1c8"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "2.1.1"
   string_scanner:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
       name: string_scanner
-      sha256: "921cd31725b72fe181906c6a94d987c78e3b98c2e205b397ea399d4054872b43"
+      sha256: "556692adab6cfa87322a115640c11f13cb77b3f076ddcc5d6ae3c20242bedcde"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "1.4.1"
+    version: "1.2.0"
   synchronized:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
@@ -470,10 +490,18 @@ packages:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
       name: term_glyph
-      sha256: "7f554798625ea768a7518313e58f83891c7f5024f88e46e7182a4558850a4b8e"
+      sha256: a29248a84fbb7c79282b40b8c72a1209db169a2e0542bce341da992fe1bc7e84
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "1.2.1"
+  test_api:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: test_api
+      sha256: "75760ffd7786fffdfb9597c35c5b27eaeec82be8edfb6d71d32651128ed7aab8"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "1.2.2"
+    version: "0.6.0"
   typed_data:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index 5ef163f..a0352f4 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: fdupes_gui
 description: fdupes front-end
 publish_to: 'none'
-version: 0.3.2+8
+version: 0.4.0+9
 
 dependency_overrides:
   # https://github.com/brendan-duncan/image/pull/732
@@ -30,12 +30,13 @@ dependencies:
   shared_preferences: ^2.2.2
 
 dev_dependencies:
-#  flutter_test:
-#    sdk: flutter
-  flutter_launcher_icons:
-    git:
-      url: https://github.com/mx1up/flutter_launcher_icons.git
-      ref: multi_res_ico
+  flutter_test:
+    sdk: flutter
+  #  disable for now due to conflicting `path` dep with flutter_test
+#  flutter_launcher_icons:
+#    git:
+#      url: https://github.com/mx1up/flutter_launcher_icons.git
+#      ref: multi_res_ico
 
 flutter:
   uses-material-design: true
diff --git a/test/widget_test.dart b/test/widget_test.dart
index e936983..784aa11 100644
--- a/test/widget_test.dart
+++ b/test/widget_test.dart
@@ -11,11 +11,16 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import 'package:fdupes_gui/main.dart';
+import 'package:shared_preferences/shared_preferences.dart';
 
 void main() {
   testWidgets('Counter increments smoke test', (WidgetTester tester) async {
+    final sharedPrefs = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
     // Build our app and trigger a frame.
-    await tester.pumpWidget(MyApp([Directory('')]));
+    await tester.pumpWidget(MyApp(
+      [Directory('')],
+      sharedPreferences: sharedPrefs,
+    ));
 
     // Verify that our counter starts at 0.
     expect(find.text('0'), findsOneWidget);