# Environment variables

Every user-tunable PlayMolecule setting is a `PM_*` environment variable. They are read once at import time and never re-read after; change them, then re-import (or restart your Python process).

## Registry and executor

`PM_REGISTRIES`
:   *Default:* `docker://europe-southwest1-docker.pkg.dev/repositories-368911`

    Comma-separated registries, in priority order. Each entry must start with `docker://`, `http://`, or `local:`. `local:` is for developers iterating on their own app manifests on disk; most users want `docker://` (the default). Set to `none` to disable defaults entirely.

`PM_EXECUTOR`
:   *Default:* `local`

    Where jobs run. Either `local` or an `http://` URL pointing at a PlayMolecule HTTP backend.

`PM_NO_DEFAULT_REGISTRIES`
:   *Default:* `0`

    When `1`, skip the default Acellera registry. Use this if you only want the registries you set in `PM_REGISTRIES` and nothing else.

## Container runtime

`PM_RUNTIME`
:   *Default:* `docker`

    `docker` or `apptainer` — which container engine to invoke for local execution.

`PM_SIF_CACHE_DIR`
:   *Default:* `~/.cache/playmolecule/apptainer/`

    Where Apptainer SIF files are cached. Move to shared storage for multi-user / multi-node installs (see [Install apps for a cluster](../howto/install-apps-for-a-cluster.md)).

## Job submission

`PM_QUEUE_CONFIG`
:   *Default:* unset

    JSON dict. When set, `ed.run()` with no arguments uses it. Expected keys: `queue`, `cpu_partition`, `gpu_partition`, plus any extra forwarded to {py:meth}`~playmolecule.ExecutableDirectory.run` as SLURM kwargs.

`PM_SYMLINK`
:   *Default:* unset

    When set (any value), input files are **symlinked** into the run directory instead of copied. Faster for large inputs; the run directory becomes non-self-contained (see [Pass input files to an app](../howto/pass-input-files-to-an-app.md)).

`PM_BLOCKING`
:   *Default:* `0`

    When `1`, app calls block until the job reaches `COMPLETED` or `ERROR` (HTTP-backend path).

`PM_JOB_DIR_PREFIX`
:   *Default:* `""`

    Prefix applied to job paths submitted through the HTTP backend.

`PM_WORKING_DIR`
:   *Default:* unset

    If set, used as the base for resolving relative paths.

## HTTP backend

`PM_BACKEND_HEADERS`
:   *Default:* `{}`

    JSON dict of extra HTTP headers attached to every backend request.

`PM_COOKIE_CACHE_DIR`
:   *Default:* `~/.cache/playmolecule/cookies/`

    Where login session cookies are persisted. Override in containerised CI runners where `$HOME` is ephemeral.

`PLAYMOLECULE_EMAIL` / `PM_EMAIL`
:   *Default:* unset

    Default email for `playmolecule login`.

`PLAYMOLECULE_PASSWORD` / `PM_PASSWORD`
:   *Default:* unset

    Default password for `playmolecule login`. Prefer prompting interactively in normal use.

## Logging

`PM_LOG_LEVEL`
:   *Default:* unset

    Sets the `playmolecule` logger to any standard level (`DEBUG`, `INFO`, `WARNING`, `ERROR`).

`PM_QUIET`
:   *Default:* `0`

    When `1`, convenience alias for `PM_LOG_LEVEL=WARNING`.

## See also

- [Installation](../installation.md)
- [Architecture](../explanation/architecture.md)
- [CLI](cli.md)