---
title: "Environment variables"
description: "The environment variables obop reads: database URL, agent token, marketplace URL, and the settings of the control plane and Sliplane provisioner."
canonical: "https://obop-platform.sliplane.app/docs/reference/environment/"
lang: "en"
---

# Environment variables

obop reads a small number of environment variables. Command line flags win over variables.

## Instance and CLI

| Variable                   | Meaning                                                                                                                                            | Default            |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ |
| `OBOP_DATABASE_URL`        | Where the data lives: `sqlite://obop.db`, `sqlite:///abs/path.db`, `postgres://user:pass@host/db` or `memory:`. Same as `--db`.                    | `sqlite://obop.db` |
| `OBOP_TOKEN`               | Bearer token for `obop mcp`, `obop call` and `obop commands`. Same as `--token`.                                                                   | none               |
| `OBOP_MARKETPLACE_URL`     | An extra marketplace: a host serving `index.json` and `packages/<id>.toml`. Shown after the bundled catalog.                                       | none               |
| `OBOP_PUBLIC_URL`          | External URL of an instance behind a proxy (`https://acme.example.com`), used in the MCP discovery documents and in the `401` challenge of `/mcp`. | from the request   |
| `OBOP_ALLOWED_ORIGINS`     | Comma-separated browser origins allowed to call `/mcp` (DNS-rebinding protection). Clients that are not browsers send no origin.                   | none               |
| `OBOP_MCP_RATE_PER_MINUTE` | Requests per token per minute on `/mcp`; `0` turns the limit off.                                                                                  | 600                |

## Control plane

Used by `obop platform serve`.

| Variable                                                         | Meaning                                                                                                                                  |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `OBOP_DATA_DIR`                                                  | Where the `local` provisioner keeps instance data. Default `obop-instances`.                                                             |
| `OBOP_IMAGE` or `OBOP_REPO` (with `OBOP_BRANCH`, default `main`) | Where instance services come from with the `sliplane` provisioner. A repository means Sliplane builds each instance; an image is faster. |
| `OBOP_MARKETPLACE_URL`                                           | Optional extra catalog for every instance.                                                                                               |

## Sliplane provisioner

`--provisioner sliplane` needs:

| Variable                                        | Meaning                                                                                                                                           |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `SLIPLANE_ACCOUNT`                              | Account name the bundled Sliplane CLI is registered under.                                                                                        |
| `SLIPLANE_API_KEY`                              | A Sliplane API key with write access. The container entrypoint registers it with the CLI and removes it from the environment. Set it as a secret. |
| `OBOP_SLIPLANE_PROJECT`, `OBOP_SLIPLANE_SERVER` | Where instance services go.                                                                                                                       |
| `OBOP_CELL_ADMIN_URL`                           | `postgres://` superuser URL of the shared PostgreSQL server, as the control plane reaches it.                                                     |
| `OBOP_CELL_INSTANCE_HOST`                       | `host:port` that instances use to reach that server, for example `obop-postgres.internal:5432`.                                                   |

## Build time (the website)

| Variable        | Meaning                                                                                                                                         |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `OBOP_SITE_URL` | Public origin used for canonical links, the sitemap and social cards when building this website. Default: `https://obop-platform.sliplane.app`. |

## Tests

`OBOP_TEST_POSTGRES_URL` adds PostgreSQL to `cargo test`. `OBOP_BIN` points the end-to-end suite at a built binary.