diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4066c02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# Copy this file to .env for local development. Do not commit your real .env.
+# Heroku: set these in Config Vars; dotenv is a no-op in production.
+
+# Discord bot
+TOKEN=
+MODE=Normal
+
+# Caching and sweepers
+CACHE_MESSAGES_LIMIT=50
+CACHE_MEMBERS_LIMIT=100
+SWEEP_MESSAGES_INTERVAL_SECONDS=300
+SWEEP_MESSAGES_LIFETIME_SECONDS=900
+
+# Logging and diagnostics
+LOG_LEVEL=info
+PRISMA_LOG_QUERIES=0
+MEMORY_LOG_INTERVAL_SECONDS=0
+ENABLE_MEMORY_OPTIMIZER=false
+
+# Redis connection
+REDIS_URL=
+REDIS_PASS=
+
+# Appwrite (for reminders)
+APPWRITE_ENDPOINT=
+APPWRITE_PROJECT_ID=
+APPWRITE_API_KEY=
+
+# Reminders
+REMINDERS_POLL_INTERVAL_SECONDS=30
+
+# Google AI / Gemini
+GOOGLE_AI_API_KEY=
+GEMINI_API_KEY=
+GENAI_IMAGE_MODEL=
+
+# Slash command registration context
+# Your Discord Application ID
+CLIENT=
+# Test guild ID (for per-guild command registration)
+guildTest=
+
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 802c44c..6967330 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
         "chrono-node": "2.9.0",
         "discord-api-types": "0.38.26",
         "discord.js": "15.0.0-dev.1759363313-f510b5ffa",
+        "dotenv": "16.6.1",
         "node-appwrite": "19.1.0",
         "pino": "9.13.0",
         "prisma": "6.16.2",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2c08830..438139c 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     "chrono-node": "2.9.0",
     "discord-api-types": "0.38.26",
     "discord.js": "15.0.0-dev.1759363313-f510b5ffa",
+    "dotenv": "16.6.1",
     "node-appwrite": "19.1.0",
     "pino": "9.13.0",
     "prisma": "6.16.2",
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 781a0bf..3cf6e63 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import "dotenv/config";
+
 import Amayo from "./core/client";
 import { loadCommands } from "./core/loaders/loader";
 import { loadEvents } from "./core/loaders/loaderEvents";