Configuration Reference

Ctrl Dot reads configuration from ~/.ctrldot/config.yaml (or the path in CTRLDOT_CONFIG). If the file doesn't exist, the daemon creates it with defaults on first run — so after starting ctrldotd once, you'll have ~/.ctrldot/config.yaml to edit (e.g. to change limits or rules; restart the daemon to apply). Missing or partial files are filled with defaults.

Config file location

Default: ~/.ctrldot/config.yaml
Override: set CTRLDOT_CONFIG to the full path

Main sections

Section	Description
`server`	`host`, `port` (default 7777)
`runtime_store`	`kind`: `sqlite` (default) or `postgres`; `sqlite_path`; `db_url` for Postgres
`ledger_sink`	`kind`: `none` (default), `bundle`, or `kernel_http`; `kernel_http.base_url`, `bundle.output_dir`, signing
`agents.default`	`daily_budget_gbp`, `warn_pct`, `throttle_pct`, `hard_stop_pct`, `max_iterations_per_action`
`display_currency`	`gbp` (default), `usd`, or `eur` — for UI display only; amounts are stored in GBP and converted for display
`rules`	`require_resolution` (action types), `filesystem.allow_roots`, `network.deny_all`, `network.allow_domains`
`panic`	TTL, max budget, thresholds, resolution/filesystem/network/loop overlays when panic is on
`autobundle`	`enabled`, `output_dir`, `debounce_seconds`, `triggers` (on_deny, on_stop, etc.), `include`

Environment overrides

Variable	Effect
`DB_URL`	Database URL (used for ledger and Postgres runtime store)
`PORT`	Server port (e.g. 7777)
`CTRLDOT_CONFIG`	Config file path
`CTRLDOT_RUNTIME_STORE`	`sqlite` or `postgres`
`CTRLDOT_SQLITE_PATH`	Path to SQLite DB file
`CTRLDOT_LEDGER_SINK`	`none`, `bundle`, or `kernel_http`
`CTRLDOT_KERNEL_URL`	Kernel base URL when sink is `kernel_http`
`CTRLDOT_BUNDLE_DIR`	Bundle output directory
`CTRLDOT_PANIC`	`1` / `true` / `on` to enable panic at startup
`CTRLDOT_PANIC_TTL`	Panic TTL in seconds
`CTRLDOT_PANIC_BUDGET_USD`	Max daily budget (USD) when panic is on
`CTRLDOT_AUTOBUNDLE`	`1` / `true` / `on` to enable auto-bundles
`CTRLDOT_AUTOBUNDLE_DIR`	Auto-bundle output directory

Example minimal config (YAML)

server:
  host: 127.0.0.1
  port: 7777

runtime_store:
  kind: sqlite
  sqlite_path: ~/.ctrldot/ctrldot.sqlite

ledger_sink:
  kind: none

agents:
  default:
    daily_budget_gbp: 10.0
    warn_pct: [0.70, 0.90]
    throttle_pct: 0.95
    hard_stop_pct: 1.00

rules:
  require_resolution:
    - git.push
    - filesystem.delete
  filesystem:
    allow_roots:
      - ~/dev
  network:
    deny_all: true
    allow_domains:
      - api.openai.com

See SETUP_GUIDE.md for run modes (SQLite, bundle sink, kernel_http, panic, autobundle).