docs/deploy/environment-variables.md

metadata

title: Environment Variables
summary: Full environment variable reference

All environment variables that Paperclip uses for server configuration.

Server Configuration

Variable	Default	Description
PORT	3100	Server port
HOST	127.0.0.1	Server host binding
DATABASE_URL	(embedded)	PostgreSQL connection string
PAPERCLIP_HOME	~/.paperclip	Base directory for all Paperclip data
PAPERCLIP_INSTANCE_ID	default	Instance identifier (for multiple local instances)
PAPERCLIP_DEPLOYMENT_MODE	local_trusted	Runtime mode override

Secrets

Variable	Default	Description
PAPERCLIP_SECRETS_MASTER_KEY	(from file)	32-byte encryption key (base64/hex/raw)
PAPERCLIP_SECRETS_MASTER_KEY_FILE	~/.paperclip/.../secrets/master.key	Path to key file
PAPERCLIP_SECRETS_STRICT_MODE	false	Require secret refs for sensitive env vars

Agent Runtime (Injected into agent processes)

These are set automatically by the server when invoking agents:

Variable	Description
PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID	Agent's unique ID
PAPERCLIP_COMPANY_ID	Company ID
PAPERCLIP_API_URL	Paperclip API base URL
PAPERCLIP_API_KEY	Short-lived JWT for API auth
PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID	Current heartbeat run ID
PAPERCLIP_TASK_ID	Issue that triggered this wake
PAPERCLIP_WAKE_REASON	Wake trigger reason
PAPERCLIP_WAKE_COMMENT_ID	Comment that triggered this wake
PAPERCLIP_APPROVAL_ID	Resolved approval ID
PAPERCLIP_APPROVAL_STATUS	Approval decision
PAPERCLIP_LINKED_ISSUE_IDS	Comma-separated linked issue IDs

LLM Provider Keys (for adapters)

Variable	Description
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY	Anthropic API key (for Claude Local adapter)
OPENAI_API_KEY	OpenAI API key (for Codex Local adapter)