def METHOD_NAME(alt_config_path: str) -> dict:
    """
    If jrnl is already installed, loads and returns a default config object.
    If alternate config is specified via --config-file flag, it will be used.
    Else, perform various prompts to install jrnl.
    """
    config_path = (
        find_alt_config(alt_config_path) if alt_config_path else find_default_config()
    )
    if os.path.exists(config_path):
        logging.debug("Reading configuration from file %s", config_path)
        config = load_config(config_path)
        if config is None:
            raise JrnlException(
                Message(
                    MsgText.CantParseConfigFile,
                    MsgStyle.ERROR,
                    {
                        "config_path": config_path,
                    },
                )
            )
        if is_old_version(config_path):
            from jrnl import upgrade
            upgrade.upgrade_jrnl(config_path)
        upgrade_config(config, alt_config_path)
        verify_config_colors(config)
    else:
        logging.debug("Configuration file not found, installing jrnl...")
        config = install()
    logging.debug('Using configuration:\n"%s"', pretty_repr(config))
    return config