diff --git a/.env b/.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ea3db5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env
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+# HarborForge Environment Variables
+
+# Database
+MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=harborforge_root
+MYSQL_DATABASE=harborforge
+MYSQL_USER=harborforge
+MYSQL_PASSWORD=harborforge_pass
+
+# Application
+SECRET_KEY=change-me-use-openssl-rand-hex-32
+LOG_LEVEL=INFO
diff --git a/HarborForge.Backend b/HarborForge.Backend
new file mode 160000
index 0000000..fd980c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/HarborForge.Backend
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Subproject commit fd980c03445cba547dbcf82075a376900d8182e0