diff --git a/archivist/core/settings.py b/archivist/core/settings.py
index 8d44435..bc6a6ec 100644
--- a/archivist/core/settings.py
+++ b/archivist/core/settings.py
@@ -10,22 +10,36 @@ For the full list of settings and their values, see
 https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.0/ref/settings/
 """
 
-from pathlib import Path
+import os, environ
+
+env = environ.Env(
+    # set casting, default value
+    DEBUG=(bool, True)
+)
 
 # Build paths inside the project like this: BASE_DIR / 'subdir'.
-BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+CORE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 
+# Take environment variables from .env file
+environ.Env.read_env(os.path.join(BASE_DIR, '.env'))
 
 # Quick-start development settings - unsuitable for production
 # See https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.0/howto/deployment/checklist/
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: keep the secret key used in production secret!
-SECRET_KEY = 'django-insecure-wj*03n+sv=av8#xc5wke*o8lf4*eu&(&xn^uyce=%tdt=4r5n_'
+SECRET_KEY = env('SECRET_KEY', default='S#perS3crEt_007')
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
-DEBUG = True
+DEBUG = env('DEBUG')
+
+# Assets Management
+ASSETS_ROOT = os.getenv('ASSETS_ROOT', '/static/assets') 
+
+# load production server from .env
+ALLOWED_HOSTS        = ['localhost', 'localhost:85', '127.0.0.1',               env('SERVER', default='127.0.0.1') ]
+CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS = ['http://localhost:85', 'http://127.0.0.1', 'https://' + env('SERVER', default='127.0.0.1') ]
 
-ALLOWED_HOSTS = []
 
 
 # Application definition
@@ -73,12 +87,24 @@ WSGI_APPLICATION = 'core.wsgi.application'
 # Database
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.0/ref/settings/#databases
 
-DATABASES = {
-    'default': {
-        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.sqlite3',
-        'NAME': BASE_DIR / 'db.sqlite3',
+if os.environ.get('DB_ENGINE') and os.environ.get('DB_ENGINE') == "mysql":
+    DATABASES = { 
+      'default': {
+        'ENGINE'  : 'django.db.backends.mysql', 
+        'NAME'    : os.getenv('DB_NAME'     , 'gallery_archivist_db'),
+        'USER'    : os.getenv('DB_USERNAME' , 'gallery_archivist_db_usr'),
+        'PASSWORD': os.getenv('DB_PASS'     , 'pass'),
+        'HOST'    : os.getenv('DB_HOST'     , 'localhost'),
+        'PORT'    : os.getenv('DB_PORT'     , 3306),
+        }, 
+    }
+else:
+    DATABASES = {
+        'default': {
+            'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.sqlite3',
+            'NAME': 'db.sqlite3',
+        }
     }
-}
 
 
 # Password validation