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Environment Variables

Configure your MCP servers using environment variables.

Overview​

Environment variables are the recommended way to configure your MCP servers. They allow you to change configuration without modifying code.

Setting Environment Variables​

During Deployment​

  1. In the deployment configuration form
  2. Click "Add Environment Variable"
  3. Enter the variable name (e.g., NOTION_API_KEY)
  4. Enter the value
  5. Mark as secret if it's sensitive
  6. Add more variables as needed

After Deployment​

  1. Go to your server dashboard
  2. Click "Settings" → "Environment Variables"
  3. Click "Add Variable"
  4. Enter name and value
  5. Save changes
  6. Redeploy if needed

Common Environment Variables​

API Keys​

NOTION_API_KEY=secret_xxx
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-xxx
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://...

Configuration​

LOG_LEVEL=info
DEBUG=false
PORT=8080

Service URLs​

EXTERNAL_API_URL=https://api.example.com
WEBHOOK_URL=https://your-app.com/webhook

Secret Variables​

Mark sensitive variables as secrets:

  • They're encrypted at rest
  • Hidden in the UI (shown as ****)
  • Never logged or exposed
  • Secure storage

Best Practices​

  1. Use descriptive names: Clear variable names help understanding
  2. Document required variables: List them in README
  3. Never commit secrets: Use .env.example for documentation
  4. Rotate regularly: Update secrets periodically
  5. Use defaults: Provide sensible defaults where possible

Accessing in Code​

Python​

import os

api_key = os.getenv('NOTION_API_KEY')
database_url = os.getenv('DATABASE_URL', 'default_value')

Node.js​

const apiKey = process.env.NOTION_API_KEY;
const databaseUrl = process.env.DATABASE_URL || 'default_value';

Environment-Specific Configuration​

You can use different variables for different environments:

  • Development: Local .env file
  • Production: Set in agnexus dashboard

Next Steps​