# Environment Variables

> Source: `src/content/docs/general/environment-variables.mdx`
> Canonical URL: https://rivet.dev/docs/general/environment-variables
> Description: This page documents all environment variables that configure RivetKit behavior.

---
## Connection

| Environment Variable | Description |
|---------------------|-------------|
| `RIVET_ENDPOINT` | Endpoint URL to connect to Rivet Engine. Supports [URL auth syntax](/docs/general/endpoints#url-auth-syntax). |
| `RIVET_TOKEN` | Authentication token for Rivet Engine |
| `RIVET_NAMESPACE` | Namespace to use (default: "default") |

## Public Endpoint

These variables configure how clients connect to your actors.

| Environment Variable | Description |
|---------------------|-------------|
| `RIVET_PUBLIC_ENDPOINT` | Public endpoint for client connections. Supports [URL auth syntax](/docs/general/endpoints#url-auth-syntax). |
| `RIVET_PUBLIC_TOKEN` | Public token for client authentication |

## Runner Configuration

| Environment Variable | Description |
|---------------------|-------------|
| `RIVET_RUNNER` | Runner name (default: "default") |
| `RIVET_RUNNER_VERSION` | Version number for the runner. See [Versions & Upgrades](/docs/actors/versions). |
| `RIVET_RUNNER_KIND` | Type of runner |
| `RIVET_TOTAL_SLOTS` | Total actor slots available (default: 100000) |

## Engine

| Environment Variable | Description |
|---------------------|-------------|
| `RIVET_RUN_ENGINE` | Set to `1` to spawn the engine process |
| `RIVET_RUN_ENGINE_HOST` | Host to bind the spawned local engine process to. Defaults to `127.0.0.1`. |
| `RIVET_RUN_ENGINE_PORT` | Port to bind the spawned local engine process to. Defaults to `6420`. |
| `RIVET_RUN_ENGINE_VERSION` | Version of engine to download |

## Inspector

| Environment Variable | Description |
|---------------------|-------------|
| `RIVET_INSPECTOR_DISABLE` | Set to `1` to disable the inspector |

## Metrics

| Environment Variable | Description |
|---------------------|-------------|
| `_RIVET_METRICS_TOKEN` | Bearer token that gates the per-actor Prometheus `/metrics` endpoint. When unset, `/metrics` is disabled. |

## Experimental

| Environment Variable | Description |
|---------------------|-------------|
| `RIVET_EXPERIMENTAL_OTEL` | Set to `1` to enable experimental OTel tracing in Rivet Actors |

## Storage

| Environment Variable | Description |
|---------------------|-------------|
| `RIVETKIT_RUNTIME` | Runtime binding to use for RivetKit core: `auto`, `native`, or `wasm`. Defaults to `auto`. |
| `RIVETKIT_STORAGE_PATH` | Overrides the default file-system storage path used by RivetKit when using the default driver. |

## Lifecycle

| Environment Variable | Description |
|---------------------|-------------|
| `RIVETKIT_RUNTIME_MODE` | Controls how `registry.start()` runs. Accepted values are `envoy` and `serverless`; any other explicit value errors. Defaults to `envoy`: opens a long-lived WebSocket to the engine (Mode A). Set to `serverless` to bind an HTTP listener via `registry.listen()` (Mode B). |
| `RIVETKIT_PUBLIC_DIR` | Directory of static assets to serve alongside the framework routes when calling `registry.listen()`. Used as a fallback when `opts.publicDir` is not passed. On auto-listen via `registry.start()`, defaults to `/public` when this env var is unset. |
| `RIVET_PORT` | Port the listener binds when calling `registry.listen()` without an explicit `opts.port`. Must be an integer between 1 and 65535. Defaults to `3000`. |

## Logging

| Environment Variable | Description |
|---------------------|-------------|
| `RIVET_LOG_LEVEL` | Log level: `trace`, `debug`, `info`, `warn`, `error`, `fatal`, `silent` |
| `RIVET_LOG_TARGET` | Set to `1` to include log target |
| `RIVET_LOG_TIMESTAMP` | Set to `1` to include timestamps |
| `RIVET_LOG_MESSAGE` | Set to `1` to include message formatting |
| `RIVET_LOG_ERROR_STACK` | Set to `1` to include error stack traces |
| `RIVET_LOG_HEADERS` | Set to `1` to log request headers |

_Source doc path: /docs/general/environment-variables_