diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 1a9d508..2734c8b 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,7 +1,20 @@
 # Cyclone — environment configuration
 # Copy this file to `.env.local` and fill in values for your environment.
 
-# Base URL for the Python (FastAPI) backend that powers the Upload page and
-# the real /api/parse-837 + /api/parse-835 endpoints. Leave empty to keep
-# the in-memory sample data store and disable real EDI parsing.
-VITE_API_BASE_URL=http://localhost:8000
+# Required on first boot. Cyclone refuses to start without these unless
+# at least one user already exists (e.g. seeded via `python -m cyclone users create`).
+# Min 12 chars for password.
+CYCLONE_ADMIN_USERNAME=admin
+CYCLONE_ADMIN_PASSWORD=change-me-to-a-strong-password-min-12-chars
+
+# Base URL for the Python (FastAPI) backend. Leave empty for the
+# Docker deployment (nginx proxies /api/* to backend on compose network).
+VITE_API_BASE_URL=
+
+# Optional. Set to 1 if you're behind an HTTPS reverse proxy and want
+# the session cookie to include the Secure flag.
+# CYCLONE_BEHIND_HTTPS=1
+
+# Optional. Set to 1 to disable auth entirely (DEV ONLY). When set,
+# the backend auto-grants admin access without checking credentials.
+# CYCLONE_AUTH_DISABLED=0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index a4c2fdc..2601fba 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,12 @@ services:
       CYCLONE_RELOAD: "0"
       # Absolute path inside the container; the named volume mounts at /data.
       CYCLONE_DB_URL: "sqlite:////data/cyclone.db"
+      # Bootstrap admin (required on first boot unless at least one user
+      # already exists). The ${VAR:?msg} syntax makes docker-compose refuse
+      # to start with a clear error if the env var isn't set in the host
+      # environment.
+      CYCLONE_ADMIN_USERNAME: ${CYCLONE_ADMIN_USERNAME:?CYCLONE_ADMIN_USERNAME is required on first boot}
+      CYCLONE_ADMIN_PASSWORD: ${CYCLONE_ADMIN_PASSWORD:?CYCLONE_ADMIN_PASSWORD is required on first boot (min 12 chars)}
     volumes:
       - cyclone-data:/data
     # The healthcheck in the Dockerfile hits /api/health. The frontend