diff --git a/.example.env b/.example.env
index 792cbd2..2183a0b 100644
--- a/.example.env
+++ b/.example.env
@@ -5,3 +5,8 @@ HOST=0.0.0.0
 #REDIS_HOST=127.0.0.1
 #REDIS_PORT=6379
 REDIS_PASSWORD=pasw0rd
+
+#REQUIRED if you want to use the e621 API
+E621_USER_AGENT=YourBotName/1.0 (by username on e621)
+E621_USERNAME=username
+E621_API_KEY=apikey
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index afefd98..be0baea 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@
 bun.lockb
 /config/secrets.ts
 .env
+/logs
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d053111..44976d1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,27 +2,49 @@
 
 ## Setup Instructions
 
-1. Rename the example environment file to `.env`:
+### Production Environment
+
+1. Clone the repository:
+   ```bash
+   git clone <repository-url>
+   cd booru-api
+   ```
+
+2. Rename the example environment file to `.env`:
    ```bash
    mv .example.env .env
    ```
 
-2. Start the application in detached mode:
+3. Start the application in detached mode:
    ```bash
    docker compose up -d
    ```
 
 ---
 
-## Default `config/secrets.ts` File
+### Development Environment
 
-```typescript
-const e621Auth: Record<string, string> = {
-  "User-Agent": "your-domain/1.0 (by your-username on e621)",
-  Authorization: "Basic " + btoa("your-username:your-password"),
-};
+1. Clone the repository:
+   ```bash
+   git clone <repository-url>
+   cd booru-api
+   ```
 
-export { e621Auth };
-```
+2. Rename the example environment file to `.env`:
+   ```bash
+   mv .example.env .env
+   ```
+
+3. Install dependencies using Bun:
+   ```bash
+   bun install
+   ```
+
+4. Start the development server:
+   ```bash
+   bun dev
+   ```
+
+---
 
 > **Note** Replace `your-username` and `your-password` with your e621 account credentials. Update the `User-Agent` string to include your domain and comply with e621's API guidelines.
diff --git a/config/booru.ts b/config/booru.ts
index 1b22eb5..a71f64c 100644
--- a/config/booru.ts
+++ b/config/booru.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // cSpell:disable
 
-import { e621Auth } from "./secrets";
+import { getE621Auth } from "./environment";
 
 const booruDefaults: IBooruDefaults = {
 	search: "index.php?page=dapi&s=post&q=index&json=1",
@@ -68,8 +68,6 @@ export const booruConfig: IBooruConfigMap = {
 			random: "defaultRandom",
 			id: ["posts/", ".json"],
 		},
-		auth: {
-			...e621Auth,
-		},
+		auth: getE621Auth(),
 	},
 };
diff --git a/config/environment.ts b/config/environment.ts
index d469948..4c4b59a 100644
--- a/config/environment.ts
+++ b/config/environment.ts
@@ -19,3 +19,30 @@ export const redisConfig: RedisConfig = {
 	port: parseInt(process.env.REDIS_PORT || "6379", 10),
 	password: process.env.REDIS_PASSWORD || undefined,
 };
+
+if (
+	!process.env.E621_USER_AGENT ||
+	!process.env.E621_USERNAME ||
+	!process.env.E621_API_KEY
+) {
+	logger.error("Missing e621 credentials in .env file");
+} else {
+	if (
+		process.env.E621_USERNAME === "username" ||
+		process.env.E621_API_KEY === "apikey"
+	) {
+		logger.error("Please update your e621 credentials in the .env file");
+	}
+}
+
+export function getE621Auth(): Record<string, string> {
+	const e621UserAgent: string | undefined = process.env.E621_USER_AGENT;
+	const e621Username: string | undefined = process.env.E621_USERNAME;
+	const e621ApiKey: string | undefined = process.env.E621_API_KEY;
+
+	return {
+		"User-Agent": e621UserAgent || "",
+		Authorization:
+			"Basic " + btoa(`${e621Username || ""}:${e621ApiKey || ""}`),
+	};
+}