diff --git a/.env.template b/.env.template
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b42c907
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.template
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# OpenAI API Key - Replace with your actual API key
+# Get your API key from: https://platform.openai.com/api-keys
+OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here
+
+# Optional: Set the port (defaults to 3000)
+# PORT=3000
+
+# Instructions for developers:
+# 1. Copy this file to .env
+# 2. Replace 'your_openai_api_key_here' with your actual OpenAI API key
+# 3. Uncomment and modify any optional settings as needed
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 0a2dbeb..a4afbd0 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
         "@langchain/langgraph": "^0.3.5",
         "@langchain/mcp-adapters": "^0.5.2",
         "@langchain/openai": "^0.3.1",
+        "dotenv": "^17.0.1",
         "express": "^4.18.2",
         "langchain": "^0.3.29",
         "uuid": "^9.0.1",
@@ -1552,6 +1553,17 @@
         "node": ">=0.3.1"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/dotenv": {
+      "version": "17.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-17.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-GLjkduuAL7IMJg/ZnOPm9AnWKJ82mSE2tzXLaJ/6hD6DhwGfZaXG77oB8qbReyiczNxnbxQKyh0OE5mXq0bAHA==",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://dotenvx.com"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/dunder-proto": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dunder-proto/-/dunder-proto-1.0.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f05d422..10b5f16 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
     "@langchain/langgraph": "^0.3.5",
     "@langchain/mcp-adapters": "^0.5.2",
     "@langchain/openai": "^0.3.1",
+    "dotenv": "^17.0.1",
     "express": "^4.18.2",
     "langchain": "^0.3.29",
     "uuid": "^9.0.1",
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 5568dfb..ddcc451 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import 'dotenv/config';
 import { 
   DefaultRequestHandler,
   InMemoryTaskStore,