diff --git a/OS/01/.env.example b/OS/01/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa11853
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OS/01/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+### SETTINGS
+# Copy this file and rename it to ".env" to use it.
+
+# If ALL_LOCAL is False, we'll use OpenAI's services
+# If setting ALL_LOCAL to true, set the path to the WHISPER local model
+ALL_LOCAL=False
+# WHISPER_MODEL_PATH=...
+# OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...
+
+# If SERVER_START, this is where we'll serve the server.
+# If DEVICE_START, this is where the device expects the server to be.
+SERVER_URL=ws://localhost:8000/
+SERVER_START=True
+DEVICE_START=True
+
+# Control where various operations happen— can be `device` or `server`.
+CODE_RUNNER=server
+TTS_RUNNER=server # If device, audio will be sent over websocket.
+STT_RUNNER=device # If server, audio will be sent over websocket.
+
+# Will expose the server publically and display that URL.
+SERVER_EXPOSE_PUBLICALLY=False
+
+# Debug level
+# DEBUG_LEVEL=DEBUG
+DEBUG_LEVEL="INFO"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/OS/01/start.sh b/OS/01/start.sh
index db5689a..5e2c4fd 100755
--- a/OS/01/start.sh
+++ b/OS/01/start.sh
@@ -1,28 +1,9 @@
-### SETTINGS
-
-# If ALL_LOCAL is False, we'll use OpenAI's services
-# If setting ALL_LOCAL to true, set the path to the WHISPER local model
-export ALL_LOCAL=False
-# export WHISPER_MODEL_PATH=...
-# export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...
-
-# If SERVER_START, this is where we'll serve the server.
-# If DEVICE_START, this is where the device expects the server to be.
-export SERVER_URL=ws://localhost:8000/
-export SERVER_START=True
-export DEVICE_START=True
-
-# Control where various operations happen— can be `device` or `server`.
-export CODE_RUNNER=server
-export TTS_RUNNER=server # If device, audio will be sent over websocket.
-export STT_RUNNER=device # If server, audio will be sent over websocket.
-
-# Will expose the server publically and display that URL.
-export SERVER_EXPOSE_PUBLICALLY=False
-
-# Debug level
-# export DEBUG_LEVEL=DEBUG
-export DEBUG_LEVEL="INFO"
+### Import config from .env
+if [ ! -f ".env" ]; then
+    echo "Error: .env file does not exist. To create one, see .env.example for an example."
+    exit 1
+fi
+set -a; source .env; set +a
 
 ### SETUP
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 24057cf..743f4b8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ Official repository for [The 01 Project](https://twitter.com/hellokillian/status
 
 <br>
 
-## Setup
+## Configuration:
+
+Copy the OS/01/.env.example file to OS/01/.env and then configure the environment variables within the file.
+
+## Install Required Libraries:
 
 ```bash
 # MacOS