diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index bf20302..a55734f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 *.csv
 .idea/
+config.json
 
 # Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
 __pycache__/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 95ae0de..f8c14eb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,8 @@
 # fediverse-space-backend
 The Django backend for fediverse.space. Scrapes the fediverse and exposes an API to get data about it.
+
+## Running it
+* `cp config.json.template config.json` and enter your configuration details.
+* Set the environment variable `FEDIVERSE_CONFIG` to point to the path of this file.
+* For development, run `python manage.py runserver --settings=backend.settings.dev`
+* In production, set the environment variable `DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=backend.settings.production`
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/settings.py b/backend/settings/base.py
similarity index 79%
rename from backend/settings.py
rename to backend/settings/base.py
index da4f9b2..8773932 100644
--- a/backend/settings.py
+++ b/backend/settings/base.py
@@ -11,6 +11,27 @@ https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/2.1/ref/settings/
 """
 
 import os
+import json
+from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
+
+with open(os.environ.get('FEDIVERSE_CONFIG')) as f:
+    configs = json.loads(f.read())
+
+
+def get_config(setting):
+    try:
+        val = configs[setting]
+        if val == 'True':
+            val = True
+        elif val == 'False':
+            val = False
+        return val
+    except KeyError:
+        error_msg = "ImproperlyConfigured: Set {0} environment variable".format(setting)
+        raise ImproperlyConfigured(error_msg)
+
+
+SECRET_KEY = get_config("SECRET_KEY")
 
 # Build paths inside the project like this: os.path.join(BASE_DIR, ...)
 BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
@@ -19,12 +40,6 @@ BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 # Quick-start development settings - unsuitable for production
 # See https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/2.1/howto/deployment/checklist/
 
-# SECURITY WARNING: keep the secret key used in production secret!
-SECRET_KEY = 'df4p)6h(#ktn*#ckh2m^^(-)w6_9mn$b%^!+$02vnb&e3sz&!r'
-
-# SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
-DEBUG = True
-
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = []
 
 
@@ -78,10 +93,10 @@ WSGI_APPLICATION = 'backend.wsgi.application'
 
 DATABASES = {
     'default': {
-        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.postgresql',
-        'NAME': 'fediverse',
-        'USER': 'tao',
-        'PASSWORD': 'tao',
+        'ENGINE': get_config("DATABASE_ENGINE"),
+        'NAME': get_config("DATABASE_NAME"),
+        'USER': get_config("DATABASE_USER"),
+        'PASSWORD': get_config("DATABASE_PASSWORD"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -124,11 +139,3 @@ USE_TZ = True
 
 STATIC_URL = '/static/'
 
-if DEBUG:
-    MIDDLEWARE += (
-        'silk.middleware.SilkyMiddleware',
-    )
-
-    INSTALLED_APPS += (
-        'silk',
-    )
diff --git a/backend/settings/dev.py b/backend/settings/dev.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55d09be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/settings/dev.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+from .base import *
+
+DEBUG = True
+
+ALLOWED_HOSTS += ['localhost']
+
+MIDDLEWARE += (
+    'silk.middleware.SilkyMiddleware',
+)
+
+INSTALLED_APPS += (
+    'silk',
+)
diff --git a/backend/settings/production.py b/backend/settings/production.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20db018
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/settings/production.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+from .base import *
+
+ALLOWED_HOSTS += ['fediverse.space']
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/urls.py b/backend/urls.py
index 78f9c3f..bd10e69 100644
--- a/backend/urls.py
+++ b/backend/urls.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Including another URLconf
 from django.urls import path, include
 from rest_framework import routers
 from apiv1 import views
-from backend import settings
+from django.conf import settings
 
 router = routers.DefaultRouter()
 router.register(r'instances', views.InstanceViewSet)
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@ urlpatterns = [
 ]
 
 if settings.DEBUG:
-    urlpatterns += [path(r'silk/', include('silk.urls', namespace='silk'))]
\ No newline at end of file
+    urlpatterns += [path(r'silk/', include('silk.urls', namespace='silk'))]
diff --git a/config.json.template b/config.json.template
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ca461e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.json.template
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+    "SECRET_KEY": "df4p)6h(#ktn*#ckh2m^^(-)w6_9mn$b%^!+$02vnb&e3sz&!r",
+    "DATABASE_ENGINE": "django.db.backends.sqlite",
+    "DATABASE_NAME": "os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'db.sqlite3')",
+    "DATABASE_USER": "",
+    "DATABASE_PASSWORD": ""
+}
\ No newline at end of file