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Many apps need API keys to work with other services — like Stripe for payments or OpenAI for AI features. CatDoes keeps these keys in your project’s environment variables, so they’re stored safely and never pasted into your conversation. If your project uses CatDoes Cloud, the keys it needs are added for you automatically.

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Adding Keys

When your app needs a key, the agent opens the Environment Variables panel above the chat box and tells you what’s missing. You can also open it anytime by asking the agent — for example, “Open the env manager.” The panel shows:
  • Needed to continue — the keys your app needs right now. Each one is marked Required or Optional.
  • Other keys — any other keys in your project.
To fill in a key the agent asked for:
  1. Click the key in the list.
  2. Paste its value and click Save. If you see a Where to find this link, it takes you to the page where you can get the key.
To add a new key:
  1. Click Add key.
  2. Enter the key’s name and value.
  3. Click Add.
Have a whole .env file? Paste it into the Add key form to add several keys at once. Every value is encrypted before it’s stored.

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When the Agent Suggests a Change

The agent never changes or deletes your keys on its own. If it thinks a key should be removed or made optional, it asks you first:
  • Keep or Remove — removing a key deletes its value, and it can’t be recovered.
  • Keep required or Make optional — an optional key won’t stop your app from building when it’s empty.
Answer each suggestion before making other changes in the panel.

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Secure Input Fields

Some things aren’t environment variables — like your Expo token, Apple ID password, or a verification code. For those, the agent shows a secure input field in the chat. Everything you type there is encrypted end-to-end and never visible to the AI.

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Exporting Your Environment Variables

You can download all of your project’s environment variables:
  1. Open your project’s overview page.
  2. In the Export card, find Environment variables and click Export.
Exporting environment variables requires a Core plan or above.
Before building your app for the App Store or Google Play, CatDoes checks that your required keys have values. If one is missing, the agent asks you to add it first.