How to Configure ReClip Port and Host: Environment Variable Guide

ReClip determines its listening port and host through environment variables PORT and HOST, falling back to 8899 and 127.0.0.1 respectively when these variables are unset.

Learning how to configure ReClip port and host settings is essential when deploying the averygan/reclip repository across different environments. The application uses standard environment variable patterns in app.py to control network binding, allowing flexible deployment on localhost, private networks, or Docker containers without modifying source code.

Where ReClip Reads Port and Host Settings

The Flask server initialization retrieves network configuration directly from environment variables using Python’s os.environ.get() method. According to the source code in app.py at lines 108-110, the application explicitly defines fallback values:

port = int(os.environ.get("PORT", 8899))
host = os.environ.get("HOST", "127.0.0.1")
app.run(host=host, port=port, debug=True)

This implementation means ReClip automatically uses port 8899 and binds to localhost (127.0.0.1) unless you override these values through environment variables.

Three Methods to Configure ReClip Port and Host

Method 1: Export Environment Variables (Local Execution)

For direct execution using reclip.sh or running app.py manually, export the variables in your shell session before launching:

export PORT=8080
export HOST=0.0.0.0
./reclip.sh

The startup script reclip.sh (lines 50-52) checks for existing PORT values using ${PORT:-8899} syntax, preserving your export if set, but does not provide a default HOST value. This means you must explicitly export HOST when requiring non-localhost binding.

Method 2: Docker Compose with .env Files

When using Docker Compose, create a .env file in the project root directory:

PORT=8080
HOST=0.0.0.0

The docker-compose.yml references these variables using ${PORT} syntax for port mapping configuration. Start the container with:

docker-compose up --build

Docker Compose automatically reads the .env file and substitutes values into the compose configuration, updating both the internal application port and the external mapping.

Method 3: Docker Run Commands

For standalone Docker containers without Compose, pass environment variables using the -e flag:

docker run -d \
  -e PORT=8000 \
  -e HOST=0.0.0.0 \
  -p 8000:8000 \
  --name reclip averygan/reclip:latest

This approach explicitly sets the runtime configuration without requiring local environment exports or .env files.

Configuration Defaults and Precedence

The configuration follows a clear precedence chain:

• Explicit environment variables override all other settings
• reclip.sh defaults: The script sets PORT=8899 only if the variable is undefined (lines 50-52)
• app.py hardcoded defaults: PORT=8899 and HOST="127.0.0.1" serve as final fallbacks at lines 108-110

Note that reclip.sh does not provide a default HOST value, so you must explicitly set this variable when requiring external network access.

Summary

• ReClip reads PORT and HOST from environment variables in app.py (lines 108-110)
• Default values are 8899 for port and 127.0.0.1 for host binding
• The reclip.sh script sets a default PORT if unset, but leaves HOST configuration to the user
• Docker deployments can utilize .env files or inline -e flags to configure these values
• Setting HOST=0.0.0.0 enables access from external machines

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default port for ReClip?

ReClip defaults to port 8899 when the PORT environment variable is not set. This default appears in both app.py (line 109) and reclip.sh (line 50), ensuring consistency across different launch methods.

How do I make ReClip accessible from other machines on my network?

Set HOST=0.0.0.0 before starting the application. The default 127.0.0.1 binds only to localhost, while 0.0.0.0 listens on all available network interfaces, allowing external connections.

Can I use a .env file with ReClip?

Yes. Docker Compose automatically detects .env files in the project root. Define PORT and HOST values there, and the docker-compose.yml will reference them using variable substitution syntax ${PORT}.

Where does ReClip read the port configuration?

ReClip reads port and host configuration in app.py at lines 108-110 using os.environ.get("PORT", 8899) and os.environ.get("HOST", "127.0.0.1"), which check for environment variables before falling back to hardcoded defaults.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}