Environment variables
Every environment variable you can set to change how Hivemind, the hive command and the installer behave, and the ones Hivemind sets for you.
This page lists the environment variables Hivemind reads, and the ones it sets in your tiles and programs.
Paste this into your coding agent to find out which Hivemind variables are set and what they change.
Show the prompt
Using the Hivemind environment variables reference, tell me which of them are set here and what each changes. Do not change anything. 1. Run `env | grep -E '^(HIVE|HIVEMIND)_'`. Never print the value of `HIVE_DRIVE_TOKEN`: say only whether it is set. 2. For each variable, say what it does from the reference, and whether it was set by me or by Hivemind (inside a tile, Hivemind sets `HIVEMIND_TILE`). 3. If I asked to start the app a certain way (for example with no added tools), give me the exact command, such as `HIVEMIND_SAFE_MODE=1 hivemind`. At the end, list what you found in a table. REFERENCE https://hivemind.griiken.com/guide/environment-variables.md
The app and the hive command
| Variable | What it does |
|---|---|
HIVE_SETTINGS | use this settings file instead of ~/.config/hivemind/settings.json |
HIVEMIND_APP_DATA | use this folder for the app's data: its token and the sockets it serves |
HIVEMIND_SAFE_MODE=1 | start with no added tool plugins loaded, after one broke the app |
HIVEMIND_SHELL_ENV=0 | tiles get the app's environment as it is, without reading your login shell's |
HIVEMIND_HIVE_NET | the hive-net program to use, when it is not where the installer put it |
HIVE_BIN | the hive program to copy to a machine, when it is not the one beside the app |
HIVEMIND_PLUGIN_INDEX | read the plugin catalogue from this address instead of HiveHub |
HIVE_WHO | the name the activity log gives your hive commands; else your git name or user name |
The installer
Set these before you run install.sh or install.ps1.
| Variable | What it does |
|---|---|
HIVEMIND_VERSION | install this exact release, such as v2026.10.3 |
HIVEMIND_CHANNEL | stable or nightly |
HIVEMIND_APP_DIR | where the app goes; default ~/.hivemind-app, or %LOCALAPPDATA%\hivemind on Windows |
HIVEMIND_BIN_DIR | where the hive and hivemind links go; default ~/.local/bin (Linux and macOS) |
HIVEMIND_REPO | the GitHub repository to download from; default dip497/hivemind |
Programs that drive a workspace
A program of yours reads these to reach a workspace. See Connect and call.
| Variable | What it holds |
|---|---|
HIVE_DRIVE_TOKEN | the program's token. Keep it out of files git tracks. |
HIVE_DRIVE_SOCK | where to connect; else the app's own |
HIVE_WORKSPACE | which workspace to drive, when the token reaches several |
A tool's service gets HIVE_DRIVE_SOCK, HIVE_DRIVE_TOKEN and HIVE_WORKSPACES (the folders it
may drive, separated as in PATH). See Write a tool.
Set by Hivemind in an agent's tile
Hivemind sets these for an agent it can drive. Read them; do not set them yourself.
| Variable | What it holds |
|---|---|
HIVEMIND_TILE | the id of the tile an agent runs in. If it is set, the agent can drive the canvas with hive ctl. |
HIVE_AGENT_ID | the agent's id, which signs what it writes in the activity log |
HIVEMIND_GUIDE | the command that prints how to drive other agents here: hive guide agents |
HIVE_DRIVE_SOCK | where hive ctl connects |
The variables for your own network server's Docker setup are on Set up your own network server.
Last validated for Hivemind 2026.10.3.