diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3042a41..f4449db 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -263,4 +263,5 @@ __pycache__/
 keys/
 dist/
 appsettings.json
-keystore/
\ No newline at end of file
+keystore/
+.env.local
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index 33eeeb0..e56c73e 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
       "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}/Notesnook.API",
       "stopAtEntry": false,
       "env": {
-        "ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT": "Development"
+        "ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT": "Development",
+        "MONGODB_CONNECTION_STRING": "mongodb://localhost:27017/notesnook",
+        "MONGODB_DATABASE_NAME": "notesnook"
       }
     },
     {
@@ -29,7 +31,9 @@
       "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}/Streetwriters.Identity",
       "stopAtEntry": false,
       "env": {
-        "ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT": "Development"
+        "ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT": "Development",
+        "MONGODB_CONNECTION_STRING": "mongodb://localhost:27017/identity",
+        "MONGODB_DATABASE_NAME": "identity"
       }
     },
     {
@@ -60,7 +64,7 @@
       "configurations": [
         "Launch Identity Server",
         "Launch Messenger Server",
-        "Launch Notesnook.API Server",
+        "Launch Notesnook.API Server"
       ],
       "preLaunchTask": ""
     }
diff --git a/Notesnook.API/Program.cs b/Notesnook.API/Program.cs
index 1ec6fc7..6a38a71 100644
--- a/Notesnook.API/Program.cs
+++ b/Notesnook.API/Program.cs
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ namespace Notesnook.API
     {
         public static async Task Main(string[] args)
         {
+#if DEBUG
+            DotNetEnv.Env.TraversePath().Load(".env.local");
+#endif
             IHost host = CreateHostBuilder(args).Build();
             await host.RunAsync();
         }
diff --git a/Streetwriters.Identity/Program.cs b/Streetwriters.Identity/Program.cs
index 8464dba..d1b6a6f 100644
--- a/Streetwriters.Identity/Program.cs
+++ b/Streetwriters.Identity/Program.cs
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ namespace Streetwriters.Identity
     {
         public static async Task Main(string[] args)
         {
+#if DEBUG
+            DotNetEnv.Env.TraversePath().Load(".env.local");
+#endif
             IHost host = CreateHostBuilder(args).Build();
             await host.RunAsync();
         }
diff --git a/Streetwriters.Messenger/Program.cs b/Streetwriters.Messenger/Program.cs
index 5eeee8f..56e299c 100644
--- a/Streetwriters.Messenger/Program.cs
+++ b/Streetwriters.Messenger/Program.cs
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ namespace Streetwriters.Messenger
     {
         public static void Main(string[] args)
         {
+#if DEBUG
+            DotNetEnv.Env.TraversePath().Load(".env.local");
+#endif
             CreateHostBuilder(args).Build().Run();
         }
 
diff --git a/Streetwriters.Messenger/Streetwriters.Messenger.csproj b/Streetwriters.Messenger/Streetwriters.Messenger.csproj
index 9cc1a65..1799ef0 100644
--- a/Streetwriters.Messenger/Streetwriters.Messenger.csproj
+++ b/Streetwriters.Messenger/Streetwriters.Messenger.csproj
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="DotNetEnv" Version="2.3.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="Lib.AspNetCore.ServerSentEvents" Version="6.0.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authentication.JwtBearer" Version="5.0.0" NoWarn="NU1605" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authentication.OpenIdConnect" Version="5.0.0" NoWarn="NU1605" />