.env.example

# Core Configuration
NODE_ENV=development                                 # development, production, or staging
PORT=3000                                           # Default port for the application

# Database Configuration
DATABASE_URI=mongodb+srv://username:password@cluster.mongodb.net/database    # MongoDB connection string
# Or use PostgreSQL
# DATABASE_URI=postgresql://user:password@host:5432/database                 # PostgreSQL connection string

# Payload CMS Configuration
PAYLOAD_SECRET=your-very-long-secret-key-min-32-chars      # Used to encrypt JWTs, sessions, etc
PAYLOAD_CONFIG_PATH=src/payload.config.ts                  # Path to Payload config
NEXT_PUBLIC_SERVER_URL=http://localhost:3000              # No trailing slash

# Error Tracking
NEXT_PUBLIC_SENTRY_DSN=https://your-sentry-dsn            # Sentry error tracking DSN

# LiveKit Configuration (Video/Audio)
LIVEKIT_API_KEY=your_livekit_api_key                      # LiveKit API key
LIVEKIT_API_SECRET=your_livekit_secret                    # LiveKit API secret
NEXT_PUBLIC_LIVEKIT_URL=wss://your-instance.livekit.cloud # LiveKit WebSocket URL

# AI/ML API Keys
DEEPGRAM_API_KEY=your_deepgram_key                        # Speech-to-text API
GROQ_API_KEY=your_groq_key                               # Groq AI API key
GROQ_BASE_URL=https://api.groq.com/openai/v1             # Groq API base URL
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key                           # OpenAI API key
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_anthropic_key                     # Anthropic Claude API key
ELEVENLABS_API_KEY=your_elevenlabs_key                   # Text-to-speech API
GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_key                          # Google Gemini AI API key

# Authentication & Security
GOOGLE_RECAPTCHA_SECRET=your_recaptcha_secret            # Google reCAPTCHA secret
GITHUB_ID=your_github_oauth_id                           # GitHub OAuth app ID
GITHUB_SECRET=your_github_oauth_secret                   # GitHub OAuth secret

# System User Configuration
SYSTEM_USER_ID=user_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                 # System user identifier
SYSTEM_USER_NAME="System User"                          # Display name for system actions
SYSTEM_USER_IMAGE=/path/to/system/avatar.png            # System user avatar path
SYSTEM_USER_EMAIL=system@yourdomain.com                 # System notifications email

# Storage Configuration
BLOB_READ_WRITE_TOKEN=your_vercel_blob_token            # Vercel Blob storage token

# Debug Configuration
DEBUG=payload,payload:*                                 # Debug namespaces for logging

# Notes:
# 1. Never commit actual API keys or secrets to version control
# 2. Use strong, unique values for all secrets in production
# 3. Keep NODE_ENV set to 'development' for local development
# 4. Ensure all URLs use proper protocols (http/https/wss)
# 5. MongoDB URI should include all necessary connection options