Feature Friday: Using Environment Variables in Kion

In this Feature Friday, we're delving into environment variables in Kion. We'll explore what they are, how to use them effectively, and the significant role they play in optimizing your Kion experience. Kion offers a comprehensive list of supported environment variables, and we'll guide you through the process of configuring and managing them.

What Are Environment Variables?

Environment variables in Kion are dynamic settings that can be configured to modify the behavior and functionality of your application. These variables are set during the CloudFormation step when installing your Kion application. By leveraging environment variables, you can fine-tune your Kion setup to align with your specific needs and preferences.

Accessing the Supported Environment Variables

To access the list of supported environment variables in Kion, head over to our Success Center and search for "environment variables." The top result will be a page dedicated to configuring environment variables. Here, you'll find an extensive list of all the supported environment variables that you can explore and utilize to enhance your Kion experience.

Utilizing Environment Variables

To utilize environment variables, you need to include them in the CloudFormation process during the installation of your Kion application. Let's walk through an example to illustrate how this works.

1. Begin by logging into your AWS account and navigating to the CloudFormation service. Select "Create stack" and upload the template file of the most recent version of Kion that you've downloaded to your local machine.
2. Within the configuration details of the CloudFormation process, you'll find a section called "Additional Environment Variables." This is where you'll specify the environment variables using a comma-separated list format. Let's say you want to disable the End-User License Agreement (EULA). In this case, you would delete the existing examples and enter EULA_ENABLED=false. By including this environment variable, you inform the application to disable the EULA.
3. To update and modify an existing environment variable, access a stack that already exists in your CloudFormation. Use the same template and navigate to the parameters section. Locate the environment variables and make the desired changes. For example, if the variable "EULA_ENABLED" was set to "false" and you want to re-enable it, simply mark it as "true." By redeploying the stack, the modified environment variable will take effect.

Conclusion

Environment variables in Kion empower users to tailor their application settings to meet specific requirements. By configuring these variables during the CloudFormation step, you can fine-tune your Kion installation. Whether you need to enable or disable certain features, environment variables provide the flexibility and control you need.

If you'd like to see a demo of how Kion can help you, please request a demo.