> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.modelence.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Environment & Setup

Modelence provides flexible configuration options for your application. You can configure your app through the `startApp()` function, environment variables, and Modelence Cloud settings.

## Configuration Methods

There are three ways to configure your Modelence application, listed in order of precedence:

1. **Environment Variables** - Highest priority, overrides everything
2. **Modelence Cloud** - Synced configuration from cloud.modelence.com
3. **startApp() Options** - Direct code configuration, lowest priority

<Tip>
  Environment variables always take precedence, allowing you to override any configuration when deploying to different environments.
</Tip>

## Basic Configuration with startApp()

The `startApp()` function is your application's entry point where you configure core settings:

```typescript title="src/server/app.ts" theme={null}
import { startApp } from 'modelence/server';
import todoModule from './todo';
import userModule from './users';

startApp({
  // Register your modules
  modules: [todoModule, userModule],

  // Email configuration
  email: {
    provider: resendProvider,
    from: 'noreply@yourapp.com'
  }
});
```

## Environment Variables

Environment variables provide a way to configure your application without hardcoding values. They override all other configuration methods.

### Core Environment Variables

````env title=".modelence.env" theme={null}
# MongoDB connection string
MONGODB_URI="mongodb+srv://user:pass@cluster.mongodb.net/myapp"

# Server configuration
PORT=3000
MODELENCE_SITE_URL=http://localhost

## Modelence Cloud Configuration

When connected to Modelence Cloud, you can manage configuration through the cloud dashboard at [cloud.modelence.com](https://cloud.modelence.com):

1. Navigate to your application
2. Select your environment
3. Open the **Application** tab
4. Configure settings like:
   - Email providers
   - Environment variables
   - Database connections
   - Custom configuration

Changes made in the cloud dashboard are automatically synced to your application when it starts.

### Connecting to Modelence Cloud

```bash
npx modelence@latest setup --token <your_token>
````

This command creates a `.modelence.env` file with your cloud connection token.

<Tip>
  See the [Setup documentation](/setup) for detailed instructions on connecting to Modelence Cloud.
</Tip>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Authentication" icon="shield" href="/authentication/index">
    Configure authentication and user management
  </Card>

  <Card title="Email Setup" icon="envelope" href="/email">
    Set up email providers for transactional emails
  </Card>

  <Card title="Roles & Permissions" icon="users-gear" href="/roles">
    Define user roles and permissions
  </Card>

  <Card title="WebSockets" icon="tower-broadcast" href="/websockets">
    Enable real-time communication
  </Card>
</CardGroup>