Configuration

Configure Checkend for your environment.

Environment Variables

Checkend uses environment variables for configuration. In development, you can use a .env file.

Variable Description Default
DATABASE_URL PostgreSQL connection URL
SECRET_KEY_BASE Rails secret key for encryption
RAILS_ENV Rails environment development

Database Configuration

In production, Checkend uses separate PostgreSQL databases for different concerns:

  • Primary — Main application data (apps, problems, notices)
  • Cache — Solid Cache storage
  • Queue — Solid Queue background jobs
  • Cable — Action Cable WebSocket messages
In development, all data is stored in a single database for simplicity.

Generate Secret Key

Generate a new secret key for production:

Terminal
bin/rails secret

SMTP Configuration

SMTP settings for email notifications are configured through the Checkend dashboard, not via environment variables. This allows site administrators to configure email settings without requiring code changes or server access.

To configure SMTP:

  1. Navigate to SettingsEmail Settings in the dashboard
  2. Enter your SMTP server details (address, port, authentication, credentials)
  3. Use the Test Connection button to verify your settings
Only users with site admin privileges can configure SMTP settings. For detailed information about email notifications and other integrations, see the Notifications & Integrations guide.