> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.webarchery.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Load and Override JSON Application Configuration Files

> Load JSON configuration files into AppConfig, read nested values with dotted keys, set runtime overrides, inspect copies, and reload from disk safely.

Archery configuration turns a directory of JSON files into a dotted-key repository; you will load, bind, read, override, and reload application settings.

## Load configuration

`AppConfig.create()` reads `lib/src/config` by default. Pass `path` to load another directory, then bind the result so framework services can resolve it.

```dart example/main.dart theme={null}
final config = await AppConfig.create();
app.container.singleton<AppConfig>(
  factory: (_, [_]) => config,
  eager: true,
);
```

The repository includes `app.json`, `server.json`, and `db.json`. The example reads server settings with dotted keys.

```dart bin/server.dart theme={null}
final port = config.get('server.port') ?? 5502;
server.autoCompress = config.get('server.compress', true);
```

## Read and override values

`get()` accepts an optional default. `set()` applies a runtime override, while `all()` returns a deep copy rather than the repository's mutable internal map.

```dart lib/src/bootstrap.dart theme={null}
final environment = config.get('app.env', 'production');
config.set('server.compress', true);
final snapshot = config.all();
```

## Reload files

Call `reload()` to rebuild configuration from disk. Set `keepOverrides: true` to reapply runtime values after loading.

```dart lib/src/bootstrap.dart theme={null}
await config.reload(keepOverrides: true);
```

<Warning>
  Configuration keys must use valid dotted segments. Do not store secrets in committed JSON files; inject them through your deployment process and set them before dependent services boot.
</Warning>