diff --git a/contrib/scalar/scalar.c b/contrib/scalar/scalar.c
index 7cff29e0fcd..7660327c27b 100644
--- a/contrib/scalar/scalar.c
+++ b/contrib/scalar/scalar.c
@@ -5,11 +5,267 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "gettext.h"
 #include "parse-options.h"
+#include "config.h"
+#include "run-command.h"
+
+/*
+ * Remove the deepest subdirectory in the provided path string. Path must not
+ * include a trailing path separator. Returns 1 if parent directory found,
+ * otherwise 0.
+ */
+static int strbuf_parent_directory(struct strbuf *buf)
+{
+	size_t len = buf->len;
+	size_t offset = offset_1st_component(buf->buf);
+	char *path_sep = find_last_dir_sep(buf->buf + offset);
+	strbuf_setlen(buf, path_sep ? path_sep - buf->buf : offset);
+
+	return buf->len < len;
+}
+
+static void setup_enlistment_directory(int argc, const char **argv,
+				       const char * const *usagestr,
+				       const struct option *options,
+				       struct strbuf *enlistment_root)
+{
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+	char *root;
+	int enlistment_found = 0;
+
+	if (startup_info->have_repository)
+		BUG("gitdir already set up?!?");
+
+	if (argc > 1)
+		usage_with_options(usagestr, options);
+
+	/* find the worktree, determine its corresponding root */
+	if (argc == 1)
+		strbuf_add_absolute_path(&path, argv[0]);
+	else if (strbuf_getcwd(&path) < 0)
+		die(_("need a working directory"));
+
+	strbuf_trim_trailing_dir_sep(&path);
+	do {
+		const size_t len = path.len;
+
+		/* check if currently in enlistment root with src/ workdir */
+		strbuf_addstr(&path, "/src/.git");
+		if (is_git_directory(path.buf)) {
+			strbuf_strip_suffix(&path, "/.git");
+
+			if (enlistment_root)
+				strbuf_add(enlistment_root, path.buf, len);
+
+			enlistment_found = 1;
+			break;
+		}
+
+		/* reset to original path */
+		strbuf_setlen(&path, len);
+
+		/* check if currently in workdir */
+		strbuf_addstr(&path, "/.git");
+		if (is_git_directory(path.buf)) {
+			strbuf_setlen(&path, len);
+
+			if (enlistment_root) {
+				/*
+				 * If the worktree's directory's name is `src`, the enlistment is the
+				 * parent directory, otherwise it is identical to the worktree.
+				 */
+				root = strip_path_suffix(path.buf, "src");
+				strbuf_addstr(enlistment_root, root ? root : path.buf);
+				free(root);
+			}
+
+			enlistment_found = 1;
+			break;
+		}
+
+		strbuf_setlen(&path, len);
+	} while (strbuf_parent_directory(&path));
+
+	if (!enlistment_found)
+		die(_("could not find enlistment root"));
+
+	if (chdir(path.buf) < 0)
+		die_errno(_("could not switch to '%s'"), path.buf);
+
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+	setup_git_directory();
+}
+
+static int run_git(const char *arg, ...)
+{
+	struct strvec argv = STRVEC_INIT;
+	va_list args;
+	const char *p;
+	int res;
+
+	va_start(args, arg);
+	strvec_push(&argv, arg);
+	while ((p = va_arg(args, const char *)))
+		strvec_push(&argv, p);
+	va_end(args);
+
+	res = run_command_v_opt(argv.v, RUN_GIT_CMD);
+
+	strvec_clear(&argv);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int set_recommended_config(void)
+{
+	struct {
+		const char *key;
+		const char *value;
+	} config[] = {
+		{ "am.keepCR", "true" },
+		{ "core.FSCache", "true" },
+		{ "core.multiPackIndex", "true" },
+		{ "core.preloadIndex", "true" },
+#ifndef WIN32
+		{ "core.untrackedCache", "true" },
+#else
+		/*
+		 * Unfortunately, Scalar's Functional Tests demonstrated
+		 * that the untracked cache feature is unreliable on Windows
+		 * (which is a bummer because that platform would benefit the
+		 * most from it). For some reason, freshly created files seem
+		 * not to update the directory's `lastModified` time
+		 * immediately, but the untracked cache would need to rely on
+		 * that.
+		 *
+		 * Therefore, with a sad heart, we disable this very useful
+		 * feature on Windows.
+		 */
+		{ "core.untrackedCache", "false" },
+#endif
+		{ "core.bare", "false" },
+		{ "core.logAllRefUpdates", "true" },
+		{ "credential.https://dev.azure.com.useHttpPath", "true" },
+		{ "credential.validate", "false" }, /* GCM4W-only */
+		{ "gc.auto", "0" },
+		{ "gui.GCWarning", "false" },
+		{ "index.threads", "true" },
+		{ "index.version", "4" },
+		{ "merge.stat", "false" },
+		{ "merge.renames", "false" },
+		{ "pack.useBitmaps", "false" },
+		{ "pack.useSparse", "true" },
+		{ "receive.autoGC", "false" },
+		{ "reset.quiet", "true" },
+		{ "feature.manyFiles", "false" },
+		{ "feature.experimental", "false" },
+		{ "fetch.unpackLimit", "1" },
+		{ "fetch.writeCommitGraph", "false" },
+#ifdef WIN32
+		{ "http.sslBackend", "schannel" },
+#endif
+		{ "status.aheadBehind", "false" },
+		{ "commitGraph.generationVersion", "1" },
+		{ "core.autoCRLF", "false" },
+		{ "core.safeCRLF", "false" },
+		{ NULL, NULL },
+	};
+	int i;
+	char *value;
+
+	for (i = 0; config[i].key; i++) {
+		if (git_config_get_string(config[i].key, &value)) {
+			trace2_data_string("scalar", the_repository, config[i].key, "created");
+			if (git_config_set_gently(config[i].key,
+						  config[i].value) < 0)
+				return error(_("could not configure %s=%s"),
+					     config[i].key, config[i].value);
+		} else {
+			trace2_data_string("scalar", the_repository, config[i].key, "exists");
+			free(value);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * The `log.excludeDecoration` setting is special because it allows
+	 * for multiple values.
+	 */
+	if (git_config_get_string("log.excludeDecoration", &value)) {
+		trace2_data_string("scalar", the_repository,
+				   "log.excludeDecoration", "created");
+		if (git_config_set_multivar_gently("log.excludeDecoration",
+						   "refs/prefetch/*",
+						   CONFIG_REGEX_NONE, 0))
+			return error(_("could not configure "
+				       "log.excludeDecoration"));
+	} else {
+		trace2_data_string("scalar", the_repository,
+				   "log.excludeDecoration", "exists");
+		free(value);
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int start_maintenance(void)
+{
+	return run_git("maintenance", "start", NULL);
+}
+
+static int add_enlistment(void)
+{
+	int res;
+
+	if (!the_repository->worktree)
+		die(_("Scalar enlistments require a worktree"));
+
+	res = run_git("config", "--global", "--get", "--fixed-value",
+		      "scalar.repo", the_repository->worktree, NULL);
+
+	/*
+	 * If the setting is already there, then do nothing.
+	 */
+	if (!res)
+		return 0;
+
+	return run_git("config", "--global", "--add",
+		       "scalar.repo", the_repository->worktree, NULL);
+}
+
+static int register_dir(void)
+{
+	int res = add_enlistment();
+
+	if (!res)
+		res = set_recommended_config();
+
+	if (!res)
+		res = start_maintenance();
+
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int cmd_register(int argc, const char **argv)
+{
+	struct option options[] = {
+		OPT_END(),
+	};
+	const char * const usage[] = {
+		N_("scalar register [<enlistment>]"),
+		NULL
+	};
+
+	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, NULL, options,
+			     usage, 0);
+
+	setup_enlistment_directory(argc, argv, usage, options, NULL);
+
+	return register_dir();
+}
 
 static struct {
 	const char *name;
 	int (*fn)(int, const char **);
 } builtins[] = {
+	{ "register", cmd_register },
 	{ NULL, NULL},
 };
 
diff --git a/contrib/scalar/scalar.txt b/contrib/scalar/scalar.txt
index 5f7131861a5..41429db7990 100644
--- a/contrib/scalar/scalar.txt
+++ b/contrib/scalar/scalar.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ scalar - an opinionated repository management tool
 SYNOPSIS
 --------
 [verse]
-scalar <command> [<options>]
+scalar register [<enlistment>]
 
 DESCRIPTION
 -----------
@@ -29,6 +29,18 @@ will be identical to the worktree.
 The `scalar` command implements various subcommands, and different options
 depending on the subcommand.
 
+COMMANDS
+--------
+
+Register
+~~~~~~~~
+
+register [<enlistment>]::
+    Adds the enlistment's repository to the list of registered repositories
+    and starts background maintenance. If `<enlistment>` is not provided,
+    then the enlistment associated with the current working directory is
+    registered.
+
 SEE ALSO
 --------
 linkgit:git-maintenance[1].
