What Is the Default Port for the Kaneo API?

The Kaneo API defaults to port 1337 when no custom URL is configured.

The open-source project management platform Kaneo exposes its HTTP API on a predictable local port for rapid development. Unless you specify a custom endpoint via environment variables, the server initializes on http://localhost:1337. Understanding this default behavior is essential for local development, Docker networking, and reverse-proxy configuration.

How the Default Port Is Defined in the Source Code

The fallback to port 1337 is hardcoded in three critical locations across the usekaneo/kaneo repository.

Server Boot Logic in index.ts

The main entry point for the API server explicitly logs the running URL using a logical OR fallback. In apps/api/src/index.ts, the application outputs:

console.log(`⚡ API is running at ${process.env.KANEO_API_URL || "http://localhost:1337"}`);

This line demonstrates that if KANEO_API_URL is undefined, the server reports http://localhost:1337 as its access point.

MCP Integration Layer

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) implementation relies on the same default when constructing public API endpoints. In apps/api/src/mcp/index.ts, the codebase resolves the base URL using identical logic, ensuring consistent addressing across subsystems.

URL Resolution Helper

Reusable utility functions centralize this logic to avoid drift. The packages/libs/src/api-url.ts file exports helpers that resolve the API base URL, consistently falling back to http://localhost:1337 when no override is provided.

How to Override the Default Port

While 1337 is the default, production deployments typically require custom ports or domain names. The codebase respects the KANEO_API_URL environment variable, which takes precedence over the hardcoded fallback.

To start the server on a different port, set the variable before initialization:

export KANEO_API_URL="http://0.0.0.0:4000"
npm run start:api

Programmatically, you can verify the resolution logic using the library helper:

import { resolveApiBaseUrl } from "@kaneo/libs";

// Without env override
const defaultBase = resolveApiBaseUrl(undefined);
// Returns: "http://localhost:1337/api"

// With custom URL
process.env.KANEO_API_URL = "https://api.production.com";
const customBase = resolveApiBaseUrl(undefined);
// Returns: "https://api.production.com/api"

The .env.sample file in the repository root documents this optional configuration, showing teams where to declare their custom endpoints without modifying source code.

Summary

• Port 1337 is the default: The Kaneo API initializes on http://localhost:1337 unless configured otherwise.
• Environment-driven overrides: Setting KANEO_API_URL supersedes the default in apps/api/src/index.ts and related modules.
• Consistent fallback logic: The port is centralized in packages/libs/src/api-url.ts to ensure uniform behavior across the MCP integration and core API.
• Zero-config development: New contributors can start the server immediately without port configuration, as the default requires no additional setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run Kaneo on port 80 or 443 instead of 1337?

Yes. While the default port for the Kaneo API is 1337, you can bind to any privileged or non-privileged port by setting the KANEO_API_URL environment variable to your desired address, such as http://localhost:80 or https://localhost:443, before starting the process.

Does changing KANEO_API_URL affect the frontend connection?

Yes. The frontend and MCP services use the same environment variable to discover the API. Updating KANEO_API_URL ensures all components in the monorepo point to the correct host and port, preventing cross-origin or connection errors.

Is port 1337 configurable during Docker deployment?

Absolutely. When running the official Kaneo container, pass the environment variable in your docker run command or compose file: -e KANEO_API_URL=http://0.0.0.0:3000. This overrides the hardcoded default without rebuilding the image.

Where is the default port documented in the source code?

The default port 1337 appears in apps/api/src/index.ts where the server logs its startup URL, in apps/api/src/mcp/index.ts for public URL construction, and in packages/libs/src/api-url.ts which contains the centralized URL resolution logic used throughout the codebase.

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