diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b7c4c7b..0919105 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@ logs/
 __pycache__/
 *.pyc
 .pytest_cache/
-backups/
\ No newline at end of file
+backups/
+.env
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0ab1c6e..e3f975d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -87,16 +87,30 @@ This template utilizes PostgreSQL as the database backend.
 2. **Create and activate the conda environment**:
 
     ```sh
+    # Windows
     conda env create -f environment.yml
+    # Mac
+    conda env create -f environment_mac.yml
     conda activate justin_rl_api
     ```
 
 3. **Configure the database**:
-    Setup a PostgreSQL database and create a new database for the application.
-    Update the database connection string in ```config.py```. For PostgreSQL, the string looks like:
+    Setup a PostgreSQL database ([download](https://www.postgresql.org/download/ )) and create a new database for the application.
 
+    Create a database
     ```sh
-    SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI = "postgresql://<username>:<password>@<host>:<port>/<database>"
+    # in shell
+    psql -U postgres
+
+    # in psql
+    CREATE DATABASE your_db_name;
+
+    ```
+
+    Create a file ".env" at the root folder of your project and add the database connection string. For PostgreSQL, the string looks like:
+
+    ```sh
+    SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI="postgresql://<username>:<password>@<host>:<port>/<database>"
     ```
 
 4. **Initialize the database**:
diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index d4ecd94..ab1a2e6 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import os
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
+load_dotenv()
 
 class Config:
     # General Configuration
@@ -25,7 +27,7 @@ class Config:
         # "DATABASE_URL", "postgresql://myuser:mypassword@localhost:5432/mydatabase"
     # )
     SQLALCHEMY_TRACK_MODIFICATIONS = False
-    SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI = "postgresql://zipingxu@localhost:5432/justin_rl_db"
+    SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI = os.getenv('SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI') or "postgresql://zipingxu@localhost:5432/justin_rl_db"
     SQLALCHEMY_ENGINE_OPTIONS = {
         "pool_recycle": 3600,  # Recycle connections after 3600 seconds (1 hour)
     }
diff --git a/environment.yml b/environment.yml
index 916a8a8..6d7fcec 100644
--- a/environment.yml
+++ b/environment.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ dependencies:
   - pip=24.2
   - psycopg2=2.9.9
   - python=3.11.11
+  - python-dotenv=1.1.0
   - setuptools=75.1.0
   - sqlalchemy=2.0.34
   - sqlite=3.45.3
diff --git a/environment_mac.yml b/environment_mac.yml
index 7363c2a..aeb85ed 100644
--- a/environment_mac.yml
+++ b/environment_mac.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ dependencies:
   - pip=24.2
   - psycopg2=2.9.9
   - python=3.11.11
+  - python-dotenv=1.1.0
   - setuptools=75.1.0
   - sqlalchemy=2.0.34
   - sqlite=3.45.3