diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 72b2a46da94f..7f5c2dc5ad30 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 ## master
 
+### Features
+
+- `[jest-cli]` Add `jest --init` option that generates a basic configuration file with a short description for each option ([#6442](https://github.com/facebook/jest/pull/6442))
+
 ### Fixes
 
 - `[jest-config]` Add missing options to the `defaults` object ([#6428](https://github.com/facebook/jest/pull/6428))
diff --git a/docs/CLI.md b/docs/CLI.md
index 631074ba59d7..a6dbd10c2bf1 100644
--- a/docs/CLI.md
+++ b/docs/CLI.md
@@ -169,6 +169,10 @@ Force Jest to exit after all tests have completed running. This is useful when r
 
 Show the help information, similar to this page.
 
+### `--init`
+
+Generate a basic configuration file. Based on your project, Jest will ask you a few questions that will help to generate a `jest.config.js` file with a short description for each option.
+
 ### `--json`
 
 Prints the test results in JSON. This mode will send all other test output and user messages to stderr.
diff --git a/docs/GettingStarted.md b/docs/GettingStarted.md
index c95e09a5ff04..fb8d2a6c5092 100644
--- a/docs/GettingStarted.md
+++ b/docs/GettingStarted.md
@@ -69,6 +69,14 @@ If you'd like to learn more about running `jest` through the command line, take
 
 ## Additional Configuration
 
+### Generate a basic configuration file
+
+Based on your project, Jest will ask you a few questions and will create a basic configuration file with a short description for each option:
+
+```bash
+jest --init
+```
+
 ### Using Babel
 
 To use [Babel](http://babeljs.io/), install the `babel-jest` and `regenerator-runtime` packages:
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 4002e87d51ff..781083ebf3f8 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@
       "/packages/.*/src/__tests__/expect_util.js",
       "/packages/jest-cli/src/__tests__/test_root",
       "/packages/jest-cli/src/__tests__/__fixtures__/",
+      "/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/",
       "/packages/jest-haste-map/src/__tests__/haste_impl.js",
       "/packages/jest-resolve-dependencies/src/__tests__/__fixtures__/",
       "/packages/jest-runtime/src/__tests__/defaultResolver.js",
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/package.json b/packages/jest-cli/package.json
index 1e9c92fef45f..a89b9e4a8b18 100644
--- a/packages/jest-cli/package.json
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/package.json
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
     "jest-worker": "^23.0.1",
     "micromatch": "^2.3.11",
     "node-notifier": "^5.2.1",
+    "prompts": "^0.1.9",
     "realpath-native": "^1.0.0",
     "rimraf": "^2.5.4",
     "slash": "^1.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/cli/args.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/cli/args.js
index edc17bda56a3..6ecb7597daa3 100644
--- a/packages/jest-cli/src/cli/args.js
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/cli/args.js
@@ -294,6 +294,10 @@ export const options = {
       'A JSON string with map of variables for the haste module system',
     type: 'string',
   },
+  init: {
+    description: 'Generate a basic configuration file',
+    type: 'boolean',
+  },
   json: {
     default: undefined,
     description:
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/cli/index.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/cli/index.js
index 37c59b3ea2a6..ad44745032cb 100644
--- a/packages/jest-cli/src/cli/index.js
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/cli/index.js
@@ -32,10 +32,17 @@ import pluralize from '../pluralize';
 import yargs from 'yargs';
 import rimraf from 'rimraf';
 import {sync as realpath} from 'realpath-native';
+import init from '../lib/init';
 
 export async function run(maybeArgv?: Argv, project?: Path) {
   try {
     const argv: Argv = buildArgv(maybeArgv, project);
+
+    if (argv.init) {
+      await init();
+      return;
+    }
+
     const projects = getProjectListFromCLIArgs(argv, project);
 
     const {results, globalConfig} = await runCLI(argv, projects);
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/constants.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/constants.js
index bdf2e5efdf85..67418d211d72 100644
--- a/packages/jest-cli/src/constants.js
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/constants.js
@@ -16,3 +16,5 @@ export const ICONS = {
   pending: '\u25CB',
   success: isWindows ? '\u221A' : '\u2713',
 };
+export const PACKAGE_JSON = 'package.json';
+export const JEST_CONFIG = 'jest.config.js';
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/__snapshots__/init.test.js.snap b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/__snapshots__/init.test.js.snap
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9b76d05c3803
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/__snapshots__/init.test.js.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,252 @@
+// Jest Snapshot v1, https://goo.gl/fbAQLP
+
+exports[`init has jest config in package.json should ask the user whether to override config or not 1`] = `
+Object {
+  "initial": true,
+  "message": "It seems that you already have a jest configuration, do you want to override it?",
+  "name": "continue",
+  "type": "confirm",
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`init has-jest-config-file ask the user whether to override config or not user answered with "Yes" 1`] = `
+Object {
+  "initial": true,
+  "message": "It seems that you already have a jest configuration, do you want to override it?",
+  "name": "continue",
+  "type": "confirm",
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`init project with package.json and no jest config all questions answered with answer: "No" should return the default configuration (an empty config) 1`] = `
+"// For a detailed explanation regarding each configuration property, visit:
+// https://facebook.github.io/jest/docs/en/configuration.html
+
+module.exports = {
+  // All imported modules in your tests should be mocked automatically
+  // automock: false,
+
+  // Stop running tests after the first failure
+  // bail: false,
+
+  // Respect \\"browser\\" field in package.json when resolving modules
+  // browser: false,
+
+  // The directory where Jest should store its cached dependency information
+  // cacheDirectory: \\"/tmp/jest\\",
+
+  // Automatically clear mock calls and instances between every test
+  // clearMocks: false,
+
+  // Indicates whether the coverage information should be collected while executing the test
+  // collectCoverage: false,
+
+  // An array of glob patterns indicating a set of files for which coverage information should be collected
+  // collectCoverageFrom: null,
+
+  // The directory where Jest should output its coverage files
+  // coverageDirectory: null,
+
+  // An array of regexp pattern strings used to skip coverage collection
+  // coveragePathIgnorePatterns: [
+  //   \\"/node_modules/\\"
+  // ],
+
+  // A list of reporter names that Jest uses when writing coverage reports
+  // coverageReporters: [
+  //   \\"json\\",
+  //   \\"text\\",
+  //   \\"lcov\\",
+  //   \\"clover\\"
+  // ],
+
+  // An object that configures minimum threshold enforcement for coverage results
+  // coverageThreshold: null,
+
+  // Make calling deprecated APIs throw helpful error messages
+  // errorOnDeprecated: false,
+
+  // Force coverage collection from ignored files usin a array of glob patterns
+  // forceCoverageMatch: [],
+
+  // A path to a module which exports an async function that is triggered once before all test suites
+  // globalSetup: null,
+
+  // A path to a module which exports an async function that is triggered once after all test suites
+  // globalTeardown: null,
+
+  // A set of global variables that need to be available in all test environments
+  // globals: {},
+
+  // An array of directory names to be searched recursively up from the requiring module's location
+  // moduleDirectories: [
+  //   \\"node_modules\\"
+  // ],
+
+  // An array of file extensions your modules use
+  // moduleFileExtensions: [
+  //   \\"js\\",
+  //   \\"json\\",
+  //   \\"jsx\\",
+  //   \\"node\\"
+  // ],
+
+  // A map from regular expressions to module names that allow to stub out resources with a single module
+  // moduleNameMapper: {},
+
+  // An array of regexp pattern strings, matched against all module paths before considered 'visible' to the module loader
+  // modulePathIgnorePatterns: [],
+
+  // Activates notifications for test results
+  // notify: false,
+
+  // An enum that specifies notification mode. Requires { notify: true }
+  // notifyMode: \\"always\\",
+
+  // A preset that is used as a base for Jest's configuration
+  // preset: null,
+
+  // Run tests from one or more projects
+  // projects: null,
+
+  // Use this configuration option to add custom reporters to Jest
+  // reporters: undefined,
+
+  // Automatically reset mock state between every test
+  // resetMocks: false,
+
+  // Reset the module registry before running each individual test
+  // resetModules: false,
+
+  // A path to a custom resolver
+  // resolver: null,
+
+  // Automatically restore mock state between every test
+  // restoreMocks: false,
+
+  // The root directory that Jest should scan for tests and modules within
+  // rootDir: null,
+
+  // A list of paths to directories that Jest should use to search for files in
+  // roots: [
+  //   \\"<rootDir>\\"
+  // ],
+
+  // Allows you to use a custom runner instead of Jest's default test runner
+  // runner: \\"jest-runner\\",
+
+  // The paths to modules that run some code to configure or set up the testing environment before each test
+  // setupFiles: [],
+
+  // The path to a module that runs some code to configure or set up the testing framework before each test
+  // setupTestFrameworkScriptFile: null,
+
+  // A list of paths to snapshot serializer modules Jest should use for snapshot testing
+  // snapshotSerializers: [],
+
+  // The test environment that will be used for testing
+  // testEnvironment: \\"jest-environment-jsdom\\",
+
+  // Options that will be passed to the testEnvironment
+  // testEnvironmentOptions: {},
+
+  // Adds a location field to test results
+  // testLocationInResults: false,
+
+  // The glob patterns Jest uses to detect test files
+  // testMatch: [
+  //   \\"**/__tests__/**/*.js?(x)\\",
+  //   \\"**/?(*.)+(spec|test).js?(x)\\"
+  // ],
+
+  // An array of regexp pattern strings that are matched against all test paths, matched tests are skipped
+  // testPathIgnorePatterns: [
+  //   \\"/node_modules/\\"
+  // ],
+
+  // The regexp pattern Jest uses to detect test files
+  // testRegex: \\"\\",
+
+  // This option allows the use of a custom results processor
+  // testResultsProcessor: null,
+
+  // This option allows use of a custom test runner
+  // testRunner: \\"jasmine2\\",
+
+  // This option sets the URL for the jsdom environment. It is reflected in properties such as location.href
+  // testURL: \\"about:blank\\",
+
+  // Setting this value to \\"fake\\" allows the use of fake timers for functions such as \\"setTimeout\\"
+  // timers: \\"real\\",
+
+  // A map from regular expressions to paths to transformers
+  // transform: null,
+
+  // An array of regexp pattern strings that are matched against all source file paths, matched files will skip transformation
+  // transformIgnorePatterns: [
+  //   \\"/node_modules/\\"
+  // ],
+
+  // An array of regexp pattern strings that are matched against all modules before the module loader will automatically return a mock for them
+  // unmockedModulePathPatterns: undefined,
+
+  // Indicates whether each individual test should be reported during the run
+  // verbose: null,
+
+  // An array of regexp patterns that are matched against all source file paths before re-running tests in watch mode
+  // watchPathIgnorePatterns: [],
+
+  // Whether to use watchman for file crawling
+  // watchman: true,
+};
+"
+`;
+
+exports[`init project with package.json and no jest config some questions answered with answer: "Yes" should create package.json with configured test command when {scripts: true} 1`] = `
+"{
+  \\"name\\": \\"only_package_json\\",
+  \\"scripts\\": {
+    \\"test\\": \\"jest\\"
+  }
+}
+"
+`;
+
+exports[`init typescript project should ask "typescript question" when has typescript in dependencies 1`] = `
+Object {
+  "initial": true,
+  "message": "Typescript detected, would you like to setup Jest for Typescript?",
+  "name": "typescript",
+  "type": "confirm",
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`init typescript project should ask "typescript question" when has typescript in devDependencies 1`] = `
+Object {
+  "initial": true,
+  "message": "Typescript detected, would you like to setup Jest for Typescript?",
+  "name": "typescript",
+  "type": "confirm",
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`init typescript project should create configuration for {typescript: true} 1`] = `
+Object {
+  "globals": Object {
+    "ts-jest": Object {
+      "tsConfigFile": "tsconfig.json",
+    },
+  },
+  "moduleFileExtensions": Array [
+    "ts",
+    "tsx",
+    "js",
+  ],
+  "testMatch": Array [
+    "**/__tests__/*.+(ts|tsx|js)",
+  ],
+  "transform": Object {
+    "^.+\\\\.(ts|tsx)$": "ts-jest",
+  },
+}
+`;
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/__snapshots__/modify_package_json.test.js.snap b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/__snapshots__/modify_package_json.test.js.snap
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..da4b30f7f0a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/__snapshots__/modify_package_json.test.js.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+// Jest Snapshot v1, https://goo.gl/fbAQLP
+
+exports[`should add test script when there are no scripts 1`] = `
+"{
+  \\"scripts\\": {
+    \\"test\\": \\"jest\\"
+  }
+}
+"
+`;
+
+exports[`should add test script when there are scripts 1`] = `
+"{
+  \\"scripts\\": {
+    \\"lint\\": \\"eslint .\\",
+    \\"test\\": \\"jest\\"
+  }
+}
+"
+`;
+
+exports[`should not add test script when { shouldModifyScripts: false } 1`] = `
+"{}
+"
+`;
+
+exports[`should remove jest config if exists 1`] = `
+"{
+  \\"scripts\\": {
+    \\"test\\": \\"jest\\"
+  }
+}
+"
+`;
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/has_jest_config_file/jest.config.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/has_jest_config_file/jest.config.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f053ebf7976e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/has_jest_config_file/jest.config.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+module.exports = {};
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/has_jest_config_file/package.json b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/has_jest_config_file/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0967ef424bce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/has_jest_config_file/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{}
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/has_jest_config_in_package_json/package.json b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/has_jest_config_in_package_json/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4889b662753e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/has_jest_config_in_package_json/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "name": "has_jest_config_in_package_json",
+  "jest": {
+    "coverage": true
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/no_package_json/index.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/no_package_json/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e69de29bb2d1
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/only_package_json/package.json b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/only_package_json/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a58853b347e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/only_package_json/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "name": "only_package_json",
+  "scripts": {
+    "test": "different-test-runner"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/test_script_configured/package.json b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/test_script_configured/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a89bb316e7df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/test_script_configured/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "name": "test_script_configured",
+  "scripts": {
+    "test": "jest"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/typescript_in_dependencies/package.json b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/typescript_in_dependencies/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..100738a1126c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/typescript_in_dependencies/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "name": "typescript_in_dev_dependencies",
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "typescript": "*"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/typescript_in_dev_dependencies/package.json b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/typescript_in_dev_dependencies/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c6578ac6d5e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/fixtures/typescript_in_dev_dependencies/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "name": "only-package-json",
+  "dependencies": {
+    "typescript": "*"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/init.test.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/init.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..36fdf85610a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/init.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-present, Facebook, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @flow
+ */
+
+/* eslint-disable no-eval */
+import fs from 'fs';
+import path from 'path';
+import prompts from 'prompts';
+import init from '../init';
+import getCacheDirectory from '../../../../jest-config/build/get_cache_directory';
+
+jest.mock('prompts');
+jest.mock('../../../../jest-config/build/get_cache_directory');
+
+// mocked to get the same snapshot on every machine
+getCacheDirectory.mockReturnValue('/tmp/jest');
+
+const resolveFromFixture = relativePath =>
+  path.resolve(__dirname, 'fixtures', relativePath);
+
+const writeFileSync = fs.writeFileSync;
+const sep = path.sep;
+
+describe('init', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    fs.writeFileSync = jest.fn();
+    path.sep = '/';
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+    fs.writeFileSync = writeFileSync;
+    path.sep = sep;
+  });
+
+  describe('project with package.json and no jest config', () => {
+    describe('all questions answered with answer: "No"', () => {
+      it('should return the default configuration (an empty config)', async () => {
+        prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({});
+
+        await init(resolveFromFixture('only_package_json'));
+
+        const writtenJestConfig = fs.writeFileSync.mock.calls[0][1];
+
+        expect(writtenJestConfig).toMatchSnapshot();
+
+        const evaluatedConfig = eval(writtenJestConfig);
+
+        expect(evaluatedConfig).toEqual({});
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('some questions answered with answer: "Yes"', () => {
+      it('should create configuration for {clearMocks: true}', async () => {
+        prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({clearMocks: true});
+
+        await init(resolveFromFixture('only_package_json'));
+
+        const writtenJestConfig = fs.writeFileSync.mock.calls[0][1];
+        const evaluatedConfig = eval(writtenJestConfig);
+
+        expect(evaluatedConfig).toEqual({clearMocks: true});
+      });
+
+      it('should create configuration for {coverage: true}', async () => {
+        prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({coverage: true});
+
+        await init(resolveFromFixture('only_package_json'));
+
+        const writtenJestConfig = fs.writeFileSync.mock.calls[0][1];
+        const evaluatedConfig = eval(writtenJestConfig);
+
+        expect(evaluatedConfig).toEqual({coverageDirectory: 'coverage'});
+      });
+
+      it('should create configuration for {environment: "jsdom"}', async () => {
+        prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({environment: 'jsdom'});
+
+        await init(resolveFromFixture('only_package_json'));
+
+        const writtenJestConfig = fs.writeFileSync.mock.calls[0][1];
+        const evaluatedConfig = eval(writtenJestConfig);
+        // should modify when the default environment will be changed to "node"
+        expect(evaluatedConfig).toEqual({});
+      });
+
+      it('should create configuration for {environment: "node"}', async () => {
+        prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({environment: 'node'});
+
+        await init(resolveFromFixture('only_package_json'));
+
+        const writtenJestConfig = fs.writeFileSync.mock.calls[0][1];
+        const evaluatedConfig = eval(writtenJestConfig);
+        // should modify when the default environment will be changed to "node"
+        expect(evaluatedConfig).toEqual({testEnvironment: 'node'});
+      });
+
+      it('should create package.json with configured test command when {scripts: true}', async () => {
+        prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({scripts: true});
+
+        await init(resolveFromFixture('only_package_json'));
+
+        const writtenPackageJson = fs.writeFileSync.mock.calls[0][1];
+
+        expect(writtenPackageJson).toMatchSnapshot();
+        expect(JSON.parse(writtenPackageJson).scripts.test).toEqual('jest');
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('no package json', () => {
+    it('should throw an error if there is no package.json file', async () => {
+      expect.assertions(1);
+
+      try {
+        await init(resolveFromFixture('no_package_json'));
+      } catch (error) {
+        expect(error.message).toMatch(
+          'Could not find a "package.json" file in',
+        );
+      }
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('has-jest-config-file', () => {
+    describe('ask the user whether to override config or not', () => {
+      it('user answered with "Yes"', async () => {
+        prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({continue: true}).mockReturnValueOnce({});
+
+        await init(resolveFromFixture('has_jest_config_file'));
+
+        expect(prompts.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatchSnapshot();
+
+        const writtenJestConfig = fs.writeFileSync.mock.calls[0][1];
+
+        expect(writtenJestConfig).toBeDefined();
+      });
+
+      it('user answered with "No"', async () => {
+        prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({continue: false});
+
+        await init(resolveFromFixture('has_jest_config_file'));
+        // return after first prompt
+        expect(prompts).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('has jest config in package.json', () => {
+    it('should ask the user whether to override config or not', async () => {
+      prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({continue: true}).mockReturnValueOnce({});
+
+      await init(resolveFromFixture('has_jest_config_in_package_json'));
+
+      expect(prompts.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatchSnapshot();
+
+      const writtenJestConfig = fs.writeFileSync.mock.calls[0][1];
+
+      expect(writtenJestConfig).toBeDefined();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('already has "jest" in packageJson.scripts.test', () => {
+    it('should not ask "test script question"', async () => {
+      prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({});
+
+      await init(resolveFromFixture('test_script_configured'));
+
+      const questionsNames = prompts.mock.calls[0][0].map(
+        question => question.name,
+      );
+
+      expect(questionsNames).not.toContain('scripts');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('typescript project', () => {
+    it('should ask "typescript question" when has typescript in dependencies', async () => {
+      prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({});
+
+      await init(resolveFromFixture('typescript_in_dependencies'));
+
+      const typescriptQuestion = prompts.mock.calls[0][0][0];
+
+      expect(typescriptQuestion).toMatchSnapshot();
+    });
+
+    it('should ask "typescript question" when has typescript in devDependencies', async () => {
+      prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({});
+
+      await init(resolveFromFixture('typescript_in_dev_dependencies'));
+
+      const typescriptQuestion = prompts.mock.calls[0][0][0];
+
+      expect(typescriptQuestion).toMatchSnapshot();
+    });
+
+    it('should create configuration for {typescript: true}', async () => {
+      prompts.mockReturnValueOnce({typescript: true});
+
+      await init(resolveFromFixture('typescript_in_dev_dependencies'));
+
+      const writtenJestConfig = fs.writeFileSync.mock.calls[0][1];
+      const evaluatedConfig = eval(writtenJestConfig);
+
+      expect(evaluatedConfig).toMatchSnapshot();
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/modify_package_json.test.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/modify_package_json.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d10df4463fc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/__tests__/modify_package_json.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-present, Facebook, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ */
+
+import modifyPackageJson from '../init/modify_package_json';
+
+test('should remove jest config if exists', () => {
+  expect(
+    modifyPackageJson({
+      projectPackageJson: {
+        jest: {
+          coverage: true,
+        },
+      },
+      shouldModifyScripts: true,
+    }),
+  ).toMatchSnapshot();
+});
+
+test('should add test script when there are no scripts', () => {
+  expect(
+    modifyPackageJson({
+      projectPackageJson: {},
+      shouldModifyScripts: true,
+    }),
+  ).toMatchSnapshot();
+});
+
+test('should add test script when there are scripts', () => {
+  expect(
+    modifyPackageJson({
+      projectPackageJson: {
+        scripts: {
+          lint: 'eslint .',
+          test: 'jasmine',
+        },
+      },
+      shouldModifyScripts: true,
+    }),
+  ).toMatchSnapshot();
+});
+
+test('should not add test script when { shouldModifyScripts: false }', () => {
+  expect(
+    modifyPackageJson({
+      projectPackageJson: {},
+      shouldModifyScripts: false,
+    }),
+  ).toMatchSnapshot();
+});
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/errors.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/errors.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..163cb7290f7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/errors.js
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-present, Facebook, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @flow
+ */
+
+export class NotFoundPackageJsonError extends Error {
+  name: string;
+  message: string;
+
+  constructor(rootDir: string) {
+    super();
+    this.name = '';
+    this.message = `Could not find a "package.json" file in ${rootDir}`;
+    Error.captureStackTrace(this, () => {});
+  }
+}
+
+export class MalformedPackageJsonError extends Error {
+  name: string;
+  message: string;
+
+  constructor(packageJsonPath: string) {
+    super();
+    this.name = '';
+    this.message =
+      `There is malformed json in ${packageJsonPath}\n` +
+      'Fix it, and then run "jest --init"';
+    Error.captureStackTrace(this, () => {});
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/generate_config_file.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/generate_config_file.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f232095fff23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/generate_config_file.js
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-present, Facebook, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @flow
+ */
+
+import {defaults, descriptions} from 'jest-config';
+
+const stringifyOption = (
+  option: string,
+  map: Object,
+  linePrefix: string = '',
+): string => {
+  const optionDescription = `  // ${descriptions[option]}`;
+  const stringifiedObject = `${option}: ${JSON.stringify(
+    map[option],
+    null,
+    2,
+  )}`;
+
+  return (
+    optionDescription +
+    '\n' +
+    stringifiedObject
+      .split('\n')
+      .map(line => '  ' + linePrefix + line)
+      .join('\n') +
+    ',\n'
+  );
+};
+
+const generateConfigFile = (results: {[string]: boolean}): string => {
+  const {typescript, coverage, clearMocks, environment} = results;
+
+  const overrides: Object = {};
+
+  if (typescript) {
+    Object.assign(overrides, {
+      globals: {
+        'ts-jest': {
+          tsConfigFile: 'tsconfig.json',
+        },
+      },
+      moduleFileExtensions: ['ts', 'tsx', 'js'],
+      testMatch: ['**/__tests__/*.+(ts|tsx|js)'],
+      transform: {
+        '^.+\\.(ts|tsx)$': 'ts-jest',
+      },
+    });
+  }
+
+  if (coverage) {
+    Object.assign(overrides, {
+      coverageDirectory: 'coverage',
+    });
+  }
+
+  if (environment === 'node') {
+    Object.assign(overrides, {
+      testEnvironment: 'node',
+    });
+  }
+
+  if (clearMocks) {
+    Object.assign(overrides, {
+      clearMocks: true,
+    });
+  }
+
+  const overrideKeys: Array<string> = Object.keys(overrides);
+
+  const properties: Array<string> = [];
+
+  for (const option in descriptions) {
+    if (overrideKeys.includes(option)) {
+      properties.push(stringifyOption(option, overrides));
+    } else {
+      properties.push(stringifyOption(option, defaults, '// '));
+    }
+  }
+
+  return (
+    '// For a detailed explanation regarding each configuration property, visit:\n' +
+    '// https://facebook.github.io/jest/docs/en/configuration.html\n\n' +
+    'module.exports = {\n' +
+    properties.join('\n') +
+    '};\n'
+  );
+};
+
+export default generateConfigFile;
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/index.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..69dce1f32421
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-present, Facebook, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @flow
+ */
+
+import chalk from 'chalk';
+import fs from 'fs';
+import path from 'path';
+import prompts from 'prompts';
+import defaultQuestions, {
+  typescriptQuestion,
+  testScriptQuestion,
+} from './questions';
+import {NotFoundPackageJsonError, MalformedPackageJsonError} from './errors';
+import {PACKAGE_JSON, JEST_CONFIG} from '../../constants';
+import generateConfigFile from './generate_config_file';
+import modifyPackageJson from './modify_package_json';
+
+type PromptsResults = {
+  clearMocks: boolean,
+  coverage: boolean,
+  environment: boolean,
+  scripts: boolean,
+  typescript: boolean,
+};
+
+export default async (rootDir: string = process.cwd()) => {
+  // prerequisite checks
+  const projectPackageJsonPath: string = path.join(rootDir, PACKAGE_JSON);
+  const jestConfigPath: string = path.join(rootDir, JEST_CONFIG);
+
+  if (!fs.existsSync(projectPackageJsonPath)) {
+    throw new NotFoundPackageJsonError(rootDir);
+  }
+
+  const questions = defaultQuestions.slice(0);
+  let hasJestProperty: boolean = false;
+  let hasJestConfig: boolean = false;
+  let projectPackageJson: ?Object;
+
+  try {
+    projectPackageJson = JSON.parse(
+      fs.readFileSync(projectPackageJsonPath, 'utf-8'),
+    );
+  } catch (error) {
+    throw new MalformedPackageJsonError(projectPackageJsonPath);
+  }
+
+  if (projectPackageJson.jest) {
+    hasJestProperty = true;
+  }
+
+  if (fs.existsSync(jestConfigPath)) {
+    hasJestConfig = true;
+  }
+
+  if (hasJestProperty || hasJestConfig) {
+    const result: {continue: boolean} = await prompts({
+      initial: true,
+      message:
+        'It seems that you already have a jest configuration, do you want to override it?',
+      name: 'continue',
+      type: 'confirm',
+    });
+
+    if (!result.continue) {
+      console.log();
+      console.log('Aborting...');
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Add test script installation only if needed
+  if (
+    !projectPackageJson.scripts ||
+    projectPackageJson.scripts.test !== 'jest'
+  ) {
+    questions.unshift(testScriptQuestion);
+  }
+
+  // Try to detect typescript and add a question if needed
+  const deps: Object = {};
+
+  Object.assign(
+    deps,
+    projectPackageJson.dependencies,
+    projectPackageJson.devDependencies,
+  );
+
+  if (Object.keys(deps).includes('typescript')) {
+    questions.unshift(typescriptQuestion);
+  }
+
+  // Start the init process
+  console.log();
+  console.log(
+    chalk.underline(
+      `The following questions will help Jest to create a suitable configuration for your project\n`,
+    ),
+  );
+
+  let promptAborted: boolean = false;
+
+  const results: PromptsResults = await prompts(questions, {
+    onCancel: () => {
+      promptAborted = true;
+    },
+  });
+
+  if (promptAborted) {
+    console.log();
+    console.log('Aborting...');
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const shouldModifyScripts = results.scripts;
+
+  if (shouldModifyScripts || hasJestProperty) {
+    const modifiedPackageJson = modifyPackageJson({
+      projectPackageJson,
+      shouldModifyScripts,
+    });
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(projectPackageJsonPath, modifiedPackageJson);
+
+    console.log('');
+    console.log(`✏️  Modified ${chalk.cyan(projectPackageJsonPath)}`);
+  }
+
+  const generatedConfig = generateConfigFile(results);
+
+  fs.writeFileSync(jestConfigPath, generatedConfig);
+
+  console.log('');
+  console.log(
+    `📝  Configuration file created at ${chalk.cyan(jestConfigPath)}`,
+  );
+};
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/modify_package_json.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/modify_package_json.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..fdc2b503aea3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/modify_package_json.js
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-present, Facebook, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @flow
+ */
+
+const modifyPackageJson = ({
+  projectPackageJson,
+  shouldModifyScripts,
+  hasJestProperty,
+}: {
+  projectPackageJson: Object,
+  shouldModifyScripts: boolean,
+}): string => {
+  if (shouldModifyScripts) {
+    projectPackageJson.scripts
+      ? (projectPackageJson.scripts.test = 'jest')
+      : (projectPackageJson.scripts = {test: 'jest'});
+  }
+
+  delete projectPackageJson.jest;
+
+  return JSON.stringify(projectPackageJson, null, 2) + '\n';
+};
+
+export default modifyPackageJson;
diff --git a/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/questions.js b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/questions.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..74183a8dd1fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-cli/src/lib/init/questions.js
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-present, Facebook, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @flow
+ */
+
+type Question = {
+  intial?: boolean | number,
+  message: string,
+  name: string,
+  type: string,
+  choices?: Array<{title: string, value: string}>,
+};
+
+const defaultQuestions: Array<Question> = [
+  {
+    choices: [
+      {title: 'node', value: 'node'},
+      {title: 'jsdom (browser-like)', value: 'jsdom'},
+    ],
+    initial: 0,
+    message: 'Choose the test environment that will be used for testing',
+    name: 'environment',
+    type: 'select',
+  },
+  {
+    initial: false,
+    message: 'Do you want Jest to add coverage reports?',
+    name: 'coverage',
+    type: 'confirm',
+  },
+  {
+    initial: false,
+    message: 'Automatically clear mock calls and instances between every test?',
+    name: 'clearMocks',
+    type: 'confirm',
+  },
+];
+
+export default defaultQuestions;
+
+export const testScriptQuestion: Question = {
+  initial: true,
+  message:
+    'Would you like to use Jest when running "test" script in "package.json"?',
+  name: 'scripts',
+  type: 'confirm',
+};
+
+export const typescriptQuestion: Question = {
+  initial: true,
+  message: 'Typescript detected, would you like to setup Jest for Typescript?',
+  name: 'typescript',
+  type: 'confirm',
+};
diff --git a/packages/jest-config/src/defaults.js b/packages/jest-config/src/defaults.js
index 8710f5de56bd..8fc32221d1ff 100644
--- a/packages/jest-config/src/defaults.js
+++ b/packages/jest-config/src/defaults.js
@@ -9,30 +9,18 @@
 
 import type {DefaultOptions} from 'types/Config';
 
-import os from 'os';
-import path from 'path';
 import {replacePathSepForRegex} from 'jest-regex-util';
 import {NODE_MODULES} from './constants';
+import getCacheDirectory from './get_cache_directory';
 
 const NODE_MODULES_REGEXP = replacePathSepForRegex(NODE_MODULES);
 
-const cacheDirectory = (() => {
-  const {getuid} = process;
-  if (getuid == null) {
-    return path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'jest');
-  }
-  // On some platforms tmpdir() is `/tmp`, causing conflicts between different
-  // users and permission issues. Adding an additional subdivision by UID can
-  // help.
-  return path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'jest_' + getuid.call(process).toString(36));
-})();
-
 export default ({
   automock: false,
   bail: false,
   browser: false,
   cache: true,
-  cacheDirectory,
+  cacheDirectory: getCacheDirectory(),
   changedFilesWithAncestor: false,
   clearMocks: false,
   collectCoverage: false,
diff --git a/packages/jest-config/src/descriptions.js b/packages/jest-config/src/descriptions.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..fc8cafb8e785
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-config/src/descriptions.js
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-present, Facebook, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @flow
+ */
+
+export default ({
+  automock: 'All imported modules in your tests should be mocked automatically',
+  bail: 'Stop running tests after the first failure',
+  browser: 'Respect "browser" field in package.json when resolving modules',
+  cacheDirectory:
+    'The directory where Jest should store its cached dependency information',
+  clearMocks: 'Automatically clear mock calls and instances between every test',
+  collectCoverage:
+    'Indicates whether the coverage information should be collected while executing the test',
+  collectCoverageFrom:
+    'An array of glob patterns indicating a set of files for which coverage information should be collected',
+  coverageDirectory:
+    'The directory where Jest should output its coverage files',
+  coveragePathIgnorePatterns:
+    'An array of regexp pattern strings used to skip coverage collection',
+  coverageReporters:
+    'A list of reporter names that Jest uses when writing coverage reports',
+  coverageThreshold:
+    'An object that configures minimum threshold enforcement for coverage results',
+  errorOnDeprecated:
+    'Make calling deprecated APIs throw helpful error messages',
+  forceCoverageMatch:
+    'Force coverage collection from ignored files usin a array of glob patterns',
+  globalSetup:
+    'A path to a module which exports an async function that is triggered once before all test suites',
+  globalTeardown:
+    'A path to a module which exports an async function that is triggered once after all test suites',
+  globals:
+    'A set of global variables that need to be available in all test environments',
+  moduleDirectories:
+    "An array of directory names to be searched recursively up from the requiring module's location",
+  moduleFileExtensions: 'An array of file extensions your modules use',
+  moduleNameMapper:
+    'A map from regular expressions to module names that allow to stub out resources with a single module',
+  modulePathIgnorePatterns:
+    "An array of regexp pattern strings, matched against all module paths before considered 'visible' to the module loader",
+  notify: 'Activates notifications for test results',
+  notifyMode:
+    'An enum that specifies notification mode. Requires { notify: true }',
+  preset: "A preset that is used as a base for Jest's configuration",
+  projects: 'Run tests from one or more projects',
+  reporters: 'Use this configuration option to add custom reporters to Jest',
+  resetMocks: 'Automatically reset mock state between every test',
+  resetModules: 'Reset the module registry before running each individual test',
+  resolver: 'A path to a custom resolver',
+  restoreMocks: 'Automatically restore mock state between every test',
+  rootDir:
+    'The root directory that Jest should scan for tests and modules within',
+  roots:
+    'A list of paths to directories that Jest should use to search for files in',
+  runner:
+    "Allows you to use a custom runner instead of Jest's default test runner",
+  setupFiles:
+    'The paths to modules that run some code to configure or set up the testing environment before each test',
+  setupTestFrameworkScriptFile:
+    'The path to a module that runs some code to configure or set up the testing framework before each test',
+  snapshotSerializers:
+    'A list of paths to snapshot serializer modules Jest should use for snapshot testing',
+  testEnvironment: 'The test environment that will be used for testing',
+  testEnvironmentOptions: 'Options that will be passed to the testEnvironment',
+  testLocationInResults: 'Adds a location field to test results',
+  testMatch: 'The glob patterns Jest uses to detect test files',
+  testPathIgnorePatterns:
+    'An array of regexp pattern strings that are matched against all test paths, matched tests are skipped',
+  testRegex: 'The regexp pattern Jest uses to detect test files',
+  testResultsProcessor:
+    'This option allows the use of a custom results processor',
+  testRunner: 'This option allows use of a custom test runner',
+  testURL:
+    'This option sets the URL for the jsdom environment. It is reflected in properties such as location.href',
+  timers:
+    'Setting this value to "fake" allows the use of fake timers for functions such as "setTimeout"',
+  transform: 'A map from regular expressions to paths to transformers',
+  transformIgnorePatterns:
+    'An array of regexp pattern strings that are matched against all source file paths, matched files will skip transformation',
+  unmockedModulePathPatterns:
+    'An array of regexp pattern strings that are matched against all modules before the module loader will automatically return a mock for them',
+  verbose:
+    'Indicates whether each individual test should be reported during the run',
+  watchPathIgnorePatterns:
+    'An array of regexp patterns that are matched against all source file paths before re-running tests in watch mode',
+  watchman: 'Whether to use watchman for file crawling',
+}: {[string]: string});
diff --git a/packages/jest-config/src/get_cache_directory.js b/packages/jest-config/src/get_cache_directory.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6f3a11d21489
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest-config/src/get_cache_directory.js
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-present, Facebook, Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @flow
+ */
+
+const path = require('path');
+const os = require('os');
+
+const getCacheDirectory = () => {
+  const {getuid} = process;
+  if (getuid == null) {
+    return path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'jest');
+  }
+  // On some platforms tmpdir() is `/tmp`, causing conflicts between different
+  // users and permission issues. Adding an additional subdivision by UID can
+  // help.
+  return path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'jest_' + getuid.call(process).toString(36));
+};
+
+export default getCacheDirectory;
diff --git a/packages/jest-config/src/index.js b/packages/jest-config/src/index.js
index b5392bb2b97e..00c31d7a908e 100644
--- a/packages/jest-config/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/jest-config/src/index.js
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ export {default as normalize} from './normalize';
 export {default as deprecationEntries} from './deprecated';
 export {replaceRootDirInPath} from './utils';
 export {default as defaults} from './defaults';
+export {default as descriptions} from './descriptions';
 
 export function readConfig(
   argv: Argv,
diff --git a/types/Argv.js b/types/Argv.js
index 81926b868cc7..ef157f155dfd 100644
--- a/types/Argv.js
+++ b/types/Argv.js
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ export type Argv = {|
   h: boolean,
   haste: string,
   help: boolean,
+  init: boolean,
   json: boolean,
   lastCommit: boolean,
   logHeapUsage: boolean,
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 6e68f073a1b1..b73edfdb0188 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -1963,6 +1963,10 @@ clone@~0.1.9:
   version "0.1.19"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/clone/-/clone-0.1.19.tgz#613fb68639b26a494ac53253e15b1a6bd88ada85"
 
+clorox@^1.0.1:
+  version "1.0.3"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/clorox/-/clorox-1.0.3.tgz#6fa63653f280c33d69f548fb14d239ddcfa1590d"
+
 cmd-shim@^2.0.2:
   version "2.0.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/cmd-shim/-/cmd-shim-2.0.2.tgz#6fcbda99483a8fd15d7d30a196ca69d688a2efdb"
@@ -7546,6 +7550,13 @@ promise@^7.1.1:
   dependencies:
     asap "~2.0.3"
 
+prompts@^0.1.9:
+  version "0.1.9"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/prompts/-/prompts-0.1.9.tgz#be109f62f794f138c6bbd35c25370c5c526d9d78"
+  dependencies:
+    clorox "^1.0.1"
+    sisteransi "^0.1.0"
+
 prop-types@^15.5.10, prop-types@^15.5.8, prop-types@^15.6.0:
   version "15.6.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/prop-types/-/prop-types-15.6.1.tgz#36644453564255ddda391191fb3a125cbdf654ca"
@@ -8740,6 +8751,10 @@ simple-swizzle@^0.2.2:
   dependencies:
     is-arrayish "^0.3.1"
 
+sisteransi@^0.1.0:
+  version "0.1.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/sisteransi/-/sisteransi-0.1.0.tgz#2e6706ac427019b84e60f751d588d87920484f25"
+
 sitemap@^1.13.0:
   version "1.13.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/sitemap/-/sitemap-1.13.0.tgz#569cbe2180202926a62a266cd3de09c9ceb43f83"