---
title: "Environment variables"
manual: "Ai3 Core"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/wegewerk/ai3_core:configuration-env-vars@main"
source: "Configuration/EnvironmentVariables.rst"
rendered: "2026-10-23T16:30:49+00:00"
---

# Environment variables {#configuration-env-vars}

The Zak_ai HTTP client is configured exclusively through environment
variables.

-   **ZAKAI_API_KEY**

    -   *Type:* string
    -   *Default:* *(empty)*

    The API key issued by Zak_ai after a successful registration. When
    empty, all authenticated API calls throw a `\RuntimeException`.

    Obtain the key by completing the registration wizard in the
    [backend module](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/wegewerk/ai3_core:usage-zakaimgmt@main).

-   **ZAKAI_SECRET**

    -   *Type:* string
    -   *Default:* *(empty)*

    The secret associated with your Zak_ai account. Together with
    `ZAKAI_API_KEY` it forms the HTTP Basic Auth header sent with every
    authenticated request.

## API base URL {#configuration-env-vars-api-base-url}

The Zak_ai API base URL is defined in [`Configuration/Services.yaml`](https://docs.typo3.org/m/typo3/reference-coreapi/main/en-us/ExtensionArchitecture/FileStructure/Configuration/ServicesYaml.html#file-extension-configuration-services-yaml).
To override it in a specific environment, rebind the service argument in your project's
`Services.yaml`:

**config/services.yaml (project level)**

```yaml
Wegewerk\Ai3Core\Api\ZakAiClient:
    arguments:
        $baseUrl: 'https://staging.zak-ai.com/api/v1/'
```

Or define to use another env-var:

**config/services.yaml (project level)**

```yaml
Wegewerk\Ai3Core\Api\ZakAiClient:
    arguments:
        $baseUrl: '%env(ZAK_AI_BASE_URL)%'
```

## Default model {#configuration-env-vars-model}

The default inference model is `mistral-small3.2:latest`, defined as the
`DEFAULT_MODEL` constant in
`\Wegewerk\Ai3Core\Api\ZakAiClient`. It is appended automatically to
every `POST` payload.

It is not detemined yet if this should be user configurable in the future.