description: Configure OpenChamber and OpenCode integration with environment variables.
---
# Environment Variables
OpenChamber reads these environment variables at startup. For startup services, `openchamber startup enable` snapshots the current environment by default, so rerun it after changing variables you want the service to use.
## OpenChamber server
### `OPENCHAMBER_HOST`
Bind address for the OpenChamber web server. Use `0.0.0.0` to allow access from other machines.
### `OPENCHAMBER_UI_PASSWORD`
Password for the browser UI. Use this when binding outside localhost, using tunnels, or running behind a reverse proxy.
Starts OpenChamber in headless mode when set to `true` or `1`. API routes stay available for desktop and mobile clients, but the browser UI is not served.
Overrides the OpenChamber data directory. The default is `~/.config/openchamber`.
### `OPENCHAMBER_COMPRESS_API`
Controls API response compression. Use `true` or `1` to force it on, `false` or `0` to force it off.
### `OPENCHAMBER_SKIP_API_COMPRESSION`
Disables API response compression when set to `true` or `1`. This takes precedence over `OPENCHAMBER_COMPRESS_API`.
### `OPENCHAMBER_VERBOSE_REQUEST_LOGS`
Enables verbose HTTP request logs when set to `true` or `1`.
### `OPENCHAMBER_UPDATE_API_URL`
Overrides the update-check API endpoint. Most users should leave this unset.
### `OPENCHAMBER_PACKAGE_MANAGER`
Forces the package manager used by update operations when auto-detection is wrong.
## OpenCode server
### `OPENCODE_HOST`
Connects OpenChamber to an existing OpenCode server. The value must be an `http` or `https` origin with an explicit port and no path, query, or hash. `OPENCODE_HOST` takes precedence over `OPENCODE_PORT`.
### `OPENCODE_PORT`
Sets the OpenCode server port. With managed OpenCode this requests the managed port; with `OPENCODE_SKIP_START=true` it connects to an external server on that port.
### `OPENCODE_SKIP_START`
Prevents OpenChamber from starting its own OpenCode server when set to `true`.
### `OPENCHAMBER_OPENCODE_HOSTNAME`
Bind hostname for the OpenCode server managed by OpenChamber. The default is `127.0.0.1`.
### `OPENCODE_BINARY`
Path to the `opencode` executable OpenChamber should run.
### `OPENCODE_CONFIG`
Path to a specific OpenCode config file.
### `OPENCODE_CONFIG_DIR`
Path to a specific OpenCode config directory for agents, skills, snippets, and config discovery.
### `OPENCODE_DATA_DIR`
Custom data directory for the managed OpenCode server.
### `OPENCODE_WSL_DISTRO`
Selects the WSL distro used for OpenCode integration on Windows.
### `OPENCHAMBER_OPENCODE_WSL_DISTRO`
OpenChamber-specific alias for selecting the WSL distro. `OPENCODE_WSL_DISTRO` takes precedence when both are set.
### `OPENCODE_JWT_SECRET`
Secret used to sign UI authentication tokens. Use a long random value for persistent service deployments.
## Terminal and Git
### `OPENCHAMBER_TERMINAL_SHELL`
Shell executable used for OpenChamber terminal sessions.
### `OPENCHAMBER_GIT_BINARY`
Git executable used by OpenChamber Git features.
### `GIT_BINARY`
Alternative Git executable override. Prefer `OPENCHAMBER_GIT_BINARY` for OpenChamber-specific configuration.
### `OPENCHAMBER_GIT_READ_CACHE_TTL_MS`
Time-to-live, in milliseconds, for cached Git-backed file reads. Set `0` to disable this cache while debugging.
## Voice and tunnels
### `OPENAI_API_KEY`
API key used by OpenChamber voice features that call OpenAI-compatible services.
### `OPENCHAMBER_ALLOW_REMOTE_OPENAI_COMPAT_URLS`
Allows remote OpenAI-compatible base URLs for voice features when set to `true` or `1`.
### `NGROK_AUTHTOKEN`
ngrok auth token used by OpenChamber tunnel commands. You can also configure ngrok with `ngrok config add-authtoken <token>`.
## Runtime helpers
### `BUN_BINARY`
Bun executable OpenChamber should use when spawning daemon processes.
### `BUN_INSTALL`
Bun installation root. OpenChamber uses it to find `bin/bun` for daemon startup and updates.
### `VITE_OPENCODE_URL`
Build-time API base URL for the Vite-built web app. Most users should not set it for normal CLI or desktop usage.
