diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3c8a5fc..5031041 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -20,4 +20,5 @@ staticfiles/
 .idea/
 .DS_Store
 Thumbs.db
-.env
\ No newline at end of file
+.env
+.patch
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/back_end/__pycache__/settings.cpython-310.pyc b/back_end/__pycache__/settings.cpython-310.pyc
index 63e83be..d40a5bf 100644
Binary files a/back_end/__pycache__/settings.cpython-310.pyc and b/back_end/__pycache__/settings.cpython-310.pyc differ
diff --git a/back_end/settings.py b/back_end/settings.py
index e0ff5af..60065df 100644
--- a/back_end/settings.py
+++ b/back_end/settings.py
@@ -11,16 +11,23 @@
 """
 
 from pathlib import Path
+import os
+from datetime import timedelta
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
 # Build paths inside the project like this: BASE_DIR / 'subdir'.
 BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+load_dotenv(BASE_DIR / ".env")
 
 
 # Quick-start development settings - unsuitable for production
 # See https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.2/howto/deployment/checklist/
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: keep the secret key used in production secret!
-SECRET_KEY = 'django-insecure-7!jjwbdim67bist@b4_y$1mhva8x=v(1h$yaqv2!@391)#ji^e'
+# SECRET_KEY = 'django-insecure-7!jjwbdim67bist@b4_y$1mhva8x=v(1h$yaqv2!@391)#ji^e'
+DEBUG = os.getenv("DJANGO_DEBUG", "True").lower() == "true"
+SECRET_KEY = os.getenv("DJANGO_SECRET_KEY", "dev-insecure-change-me")
+ALLOWED_HOSTS = [h.strip() for h in os.getenv("ALLOWED_HOSTS", "127.0.0.1,localhost").split(",") if h.strip()]
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
 DEBUG = True
@@ -37,6 +44,14 @@
     'django.contrib.sessions',
     'django.contrib.messages',
     'django.contrib.staticfiles',
+    "rest_framework",
+    "corsheaders",
+    "user",
+    "courses",
+    "auths",
+    "problems",
+    "assignments",
+    "submissions",
 ]
 
 MIDDLEWARE = [