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Environment Variables

Declare the environment variables your automations need under the top-level app.env[] array. Each entry documents a variable, whether it's required, and an optional default. At runtime, reference a value anywhere a template or connection prop is accepted with $env.VAR_NAME.

app.yaml
env:
  - { key: SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL, description: Slack incoming webhook URL }
  - { key: STRIPE_SECRET, description: Stripe API secret, required: true }
  - { key: REGION, description: Default region, required: false, default: eu-west }

Env Var Properties

Property Description
key Variable name in uppercase snake*case (^[A-Z]A-Z0-9*]\*$, e.g. API_KEY). Required.
description What the variable is used for.
required Whether the variable must be set (default true). When required and unset, validation fails at boot.
default Fallback value used when the variable is not set. When both required and default are present, default acts as the fallback.

Keys must be unique across the app.

Referencing Secrets

Use $env.VAR_NAME in action props, connection props, and webhook auth:

app.yaml
connections:
  - name: openai-key
    type: bearer
    props: { token: $env.OPENAI_API_KEY }

automations:
  - name: notify
    trigger: { type: record, table: orders, events: [create] }
    actions:
      - name: ping
        type: http
        operator: post
        props:
          url: $env.SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL
          body: { text: 'New order {{trigger.data.id}}' }

Frugal-by-Default Operator Env

Beyond app.env (which the schema author declares), Sovrium's runtime footprint is governed by operator-controlled ECO_* environment variables (e.g. ECO_IMAGE_FORMAT, ECO_AI_PROVIDER_PRECEDENCE). These are not part of the app schema — operators opt out, never in. AI actions and image transforms invoked from automations honor these defaults automatically. See AI Overview and Image Transforms.

Last updated August 11, 2026

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This documentation was written with AI, so errors or outdated content are possible. Sovrium is in beta. Contributions and corrections are welcome.

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