diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index fb22a3f..f44f3a9 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -11,3 +11,4 @@ backend/test-results/
 frontend/cert.pem
 frontend/key.pem
 tmp/
+backend/.env*
diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index 73c5e11..27c513a 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -7,16 +7,7 @@
       "request": "launch",
       "module": "flask",
       "python": "${command:python.interpreterPath}",
-      "env": {
-        "FLASK_APP": "backend/main.py",
-        "FLASK_DEBUG": "1",
-        "SECRET_KEY": "dev-secret-key-change-in-production",
-        "REFRESH_TOKEN_EXPIRY_DAYS": "90",
-        "DIGEST_TOKEN_SECRET": "dev-digest-token",
-        "VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY": "BNKkHdq45uLigohSG7c1TwlAo7ETncoRVLQK02LxHgu2P1DgSJD9njRMfbbzUsaTQGllvLBz7An1WiWsNYQhvKE",
-        "VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY": "jNiZJT0UO4H861KmnCt874Fg6p5jDAyYKS4V2MZf8bQ",
-        "FRONTEND_URL": "https://macbook:5173"
-      },
+      "envFile": "${workspaceFolder}/backend/.env",
       "args": [
         "run",
         "--host=0.0.0.0",
diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 52d4f1e..a8e887e 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ import logging
 import sys
 import os
 
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from flask import Flask, request, jsonify
+from pymongo import MongoClient
 
 from api.admin_api import admin_api
 from api.auth_api import auth_api
@@ -34,6 +36,9 @@ from utils.chore_expiry_notification_scheduler import start_chore_expiry_notific
 from utils.digest_scheduler import start_digest_scheduler
 from utils.state_expiry_scheduler import start_state_expiry_scheduler
 
+
+# Load environment variables
+load_dotenv()
 # Configure logging once at application startup
 logging.basicConfig(
     level=logging.INFO,
@@ -143,7 +148,6 @@ def start_background_threads():
     broadcaster.daemon = True
     broadcaster.start()
 
-# TODO: implement users
 initializeImages()
 createDefaultTasks()
 createDefaultRewards()
diff --git a/backend/requirements.txt b/backend/requirements.txt
index 9029b89..1cf34ad 100644
Binary files a/backend/requirements.txt and b/backend/requirements.txt differ