Environment Variables
This is a reference page for developers and advanced users. Most users don't need to edit .env at all — the install wizard creates it during setup, and all plugin configuration (API keys, settings, etc.) is done through the web UI's Integrations page.
This reference is useful for:
- Development — setting up a local dev environment
- Advanced configuration — tuning settings the web UI doesn't expose
- Troubleshooting — understanding what each variable controls
Plugin API keys should be entered through the web UI, not .env. The Integrations page provides setup instructions and validates your keys. Environment variables listed below for plugins are supported for backward compatibility but the web UI is the recommended way to configure them.
Required Variables
These must be set for FiestaBoard to connect to your board:
| Variable | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
BOARD_API_MODE | API connection mode | local or cloud |
BOARD_LOCAL_API_KEY | Board Local API key (when BOARD_API_MODE=local) | your_api_key |
BOARD_HOST | Board IP or hostname (when BOARD_API_MODE=local) | 192.168.0.11 |
BOARD_READ_WRITE_KEY | Board Read/Write API key (when BOARD_API_MODE=cloud) | your_api_key |
TIMEZONE | Your local timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
Board Configuration
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
BOARD_API_MODE | API mode (local or cloud) | local |
BOARD_LOCAL_API_KEY | Local API key | — |
BOARD_HOST | Board IP or hostname (local mode) | — |
BOARD_READ_WRITE_KEY | Cloud Read/Write API key | — |
BOARD_TRANSITION_STRATEGY | Transition animation style (local mode only) | — |
BOARD_TRANSITION_INTERVAL_MS | Delay between animation steps | 0 |
BOARD_TRANSITION_STEP_SIZE | Columns/rows per animation step | 0 |
Use BOARD_LOCAL_API_KEY + BOARD_HOST for local mode (default). Use BOARD_READ_WRITE_KEY for cloud mode. See the Cloud API Setup guide for details.
Weather
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
WEATHER_API_KEY | API key | — |
WEATHER_PROVIDER | Provider (weatherapi / openweathermap) | weatherapi |
WEATHER_LOCATION | Location string | — |
Location & Timezone
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
TIMEZONE | TZ database timezone name | America/Los_Angeles |
LATITUDE | Latitude for location-based plugins | — |
LONGITUDE | Longitude for location-based plugins | — |
Plugin API Keys
| Variable | Plugin | Description |
|---|---|---|
GOOGLE_ROUTES_API_KEY | Traffic | Google Routes API key |
HOME_ASSISTANT_URL | Home Assistant | HA instance URL |
HOME_ASSISTANT_TOKEN | Home Assistant | Long-lived access token |
LASTFM_API_KEY | Last.fm | Last.fm API key |
LASTFM_USERNAME | Last.fm | Last.fm username |
MUNI_API_KEY | Muni Transit | 511.org API key |
WSDOT_API_KEY | WSDOT Ferries | WSDOT API key |
PURPLEAIR_API_KEY | Air Quality | PurpleAir API key |
OWM_API_KEY | Air Quality | OpenWeatherMap API key |
FINNHUB_API_KEY | Stocks | Finnhub API key (optional) |
SPORTS_API_KEY | Sports Scores | TheSportsDB API key (optional) |
Guest WiFi
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
GUEST_WIFI_SSID | WiFi network name | — |
GUEST_WIFI_PASSWORD | WiFi password | — |
Silence Schedule
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
SILENCE_START_TIME | Quiet hours start (HH:MM) | — |
SILENCE_END_TIME | Quiet hours end (HH:MM) | — |
System Configuration
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
REFRESH_INTERVAL_SECONDS | Display update interval | 60 |
LOG_LEVEL | Logging level | INFO |
Example .env File
# Board Configuration (required)
BOARD_API_MODE=local
BOARD_LOCAL_API_KEY=your_local_api_key_here
BOARD_HOST=192.168.0.11
# Timezone
TIMEZONE=America/Los_Angeles
# Optional: Weather
WEATHER_API_KEY=your_weather_key_here
WEATHER_PROVIDER=weatherapi
WEATHER_LOCATION=San Francisco, CA
# Optional: Traffic
GOOGLE_ROUTES_API_KEY=your_google_key
# Optional: Home Assistant
HOME_ASSISTANT_URL=http://192.168.1.100:8123
HOME_ASSISTANT_TOKEN=your_ha_token
# Optional: Silence Schedule
SILENCE_START_TIME=22:00
SILENCE_END_TIME=07:00
Next Steps
- Quick Start — Getting started with FiestaBoard
- Docker Setup — Docker configuration
- API Keys — Getting API keys for plugins