> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nightjar.ca/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configuration

> Every field in the node's config.json, and the environment variables that control it.

The node's configuration lives in `config.json` inside the config directory (`/config` in the container, `./data/config` on the host with the default compose file). The file is created on first boot with defaults; edits are picked up and applied live — recorders and detectors reconcile against the new config without a restart. Writes are atomic.

## config.json

```json theme={null}
{
  "version": 1,
  "nodeName": "nightjar-node",
  "cameras": [],
  "retention": { "maxDays": 14, "diskHighWatermark": 0.9 },
  "cloud": { "enabled": true },
  "go2rtc": { "apiUrl": "http://127.0.0.1:1984" },
  "paths": { "recordings": "/recordings", "db": "/db" }
}
```

### Top level

| Field      | Type          | Default           | Notes                                      |
| ---------- | ------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| `version`  | `1`           | `1`               | Config schema version                      |
| `nodeName` | string (1–80) | `"nightjar-node"` | Shown in the local UI and the cloud app    |
| `cameras`  | array         | `[]`              | See below — usually managed via the UI/API |

### `retention`

| Field               | Type            | Default | Notes                                                       |
| ------------------- | --------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| `maxDays`           | integer 1–365   | `14`    | Delete recording segments older than this                   |
| `diskHighWatermark` | number 0.5–0.99 | `0.9`   | Prune oldest segments when disk usage crosses this fraction |

### `cloud`

| Field             | Type    | Default | Notes                                           |
| ----------------- | ------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| `enabled`         | boolean | `true`  | Set `false` for strictly local operation        |
| `supabaseUrl`     | URL     | —       | Cloud endpoint; usually set via env var instead |
| `supabaseAnonKey` | string  | —       | Cloud anon key; usually set via env var instead |

If no URL/key is available from config or environment, the cloud link simply stays disabled — the node runs local-only.

### `go2rtc`

| Field    | Type | Default                   | Notes                                 |
| -------- | ---- | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| `apiUrl` | URL  | `"http://127.0.0.1:1984"` | Where the node reaches the go2rtc API |

### `paths`

| Field        | Type   | Default         | Notes                                                 |
| ------------ | ------ | --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| `recordings` | string | `"/recordings"` | Recording segments and event clips                    |
| `db`         | string | `"/db"`         | SQLite database (segment index, events, upload queue) |

### Camera entries

Cameras are normally added through the UI or [API](/reference/node-api), but they live in this file:

| Field           | Type          | Default | Notes                                                                     |
| --------------- | ------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `id`            | UUID          | —       | Generated on add                                                          |
| `name`          | string (1–80) | —       | Display name                                                              |
| `make`, `model` | string        | —       | Optional labels                                                           |
| `rtspUrl`       | URL           | —       | Main stream. May embed credentials — never leaves the node                |
| `rtspSubUrl`    | URL           | —       | Optional substream, used for motion detection and low-bandwidth live view |
| `enabled`       | boolean       | `true`  | Master switch                                                             |
| `record`        | boolean       | `true`  | 24/7 recording                                                            |
| `detect`        | boolean       | `true`  | Motion detection and AI events                                            |
| `capabilities`  | object        | probed  | Codec, resolution, fps from ffprobe                                       |

<Note>
  Motion and detection thresholds (frame diff limits, YOLOX confidence, clip pre/post-roll) are currently constants in the code, not configuration. See [Recording and events](/guides/recording-and-events) for their values.
</Note>

## Environment variables

| Variable                     | Default   | Purpose                                                                                     |
| ---------------------------- | --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `NIGHTJAR_SUPABASE_URL`      | —         | Cloud endpoint. Overrides `cloud.supabaseUrl`. Leave unset (with the key) to run local-only |
| `NIGHTJAR_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY` | —         | Cloud anon key. Overrides `cloud.supabaseAnonKey`                                           |
| `CONFIG_DIR`                 | `/config` | Where `config.json` and `identity.json` live                                                |
| `DB_DIR`                     | `/db`     | SQLite database directory                                                                   |
| `GO2RTC_CONFIG_DIR`          | —         | Where the node renders `go2rtc.yaml` for the go2rtc process                                 |
| `PORT`                       | `8080`    | Local UI/API port                                                                           |
| `LOG_LEVEL`                  | `info`    | Set `debug` for verbose logs                                                                |

The Docker compose file wires the directories to `./data/*` on the host and passes the two `NIGHTJAR_SUPABASE_*` variables through (defaults point at the official cloud).

## identity.json

Alongside `config.json`, the node keeps `identity.json`: the node's machine secret (generated on first boot), its cloud node id after registration, and the current claim code while unclaimed. Treat it like a credential — anyone with the secret can act as your node. Deleting it resets the node's cloud identity.