Configuration
Vanta reads its agent-layer config from vanta-ts/.env (gitignored; .env.example documents every key). The kernel is configured by a few environment variables passed at launch.
Pick a model backend
vanta setup # interactive: openai | gemini | anthropic | openrouter | ollama
This writes VANTA_PROVIDER + VANTA_MODEL to vanta-ts/.env. The default is local Ollama (qwen2.5:14b) — no API key, runs offline. The full first-run flow (hidden key prompt, live validation, messaging, Google auth, doctor) is on the Setup wizard page.
Core environment variables
| Variable | Purpose |
|---|---|
VANTA_PROVIDER | openai · ollama · anthropic · gemini · openrouter |
VANTA_MODEL | Model id for the chosen provider |
VANTA_EFFORT_LEVEL | low · medium · high · xhigh · max (maps to reasoning effort / thinking budget) |
OPENAI_API_KEY / ANTHROPIC_API_KEY | Provider keys (only the one you use) |
VANTA_OLLAMA_URL | Local Ollama endpoint |
VANTA_KERNEL_URL | Kernel address (default 127.0.0.1:7788) |
VANTA_ROOT | Overrides the kernel's working-dir scope — set per project |
VANTA_MAX_ITER | Max tool-call iterations per turn |
VANTA_HOME | Global store dir (default ~/.vanta) — holds skills, memory, brain |
Provider keys, fail-fast
Config is validated at startup — a missing or malformed value fails fast with an actionable message rather than at first use. Secrets are never logged or echoed; if you paste a real key, rotate it.
Search backend (optional)
VANTA_SEARCH_PROVIDER=auto # default: configured providers, then Brave browser and Bing
VANTA_SEARCH_URL=... # for self-hosted Searxng
SERPAPI_KEY=... / BRAVE_KEY=...
ddg and jina_ddg remain explicit legacy options, but automatic routing never
uses them because DuckDuckGo frequently bot-blocks agent traffic. For stronger
coverage, self-host Searxng or configure Brave, SerpAPI, Exa, Tavily, Parallel,
Firecrawl, or xAI search.
Where state lives
| Path | What |
|---|---|
.vanta/ (per project) | events.jsonl, approvals.tsv, goals.tsv, loop + handoff state |
~/.vanta/ (global) | skills/, memories/, brain/ — git-versioned for free history |
See Providers for the full backend matrix and Skills & memory for the store layout.