diff --git a/src/routes/channels/group_create.rs b/src/routes/channels/group_create.rs
index 6fccf6a2..1410600a 100644
--- a/src/routes/channels/group_create.rs
+++ b/src/routes/channels/group_create.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use ulid::Ulid;
 use validator::Validate;
 
+use crate::util::variables::MAX_GROUP_SIZE;
+
 #[derive(Validate, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Data {
     #[validate(length(min = 1, max = 32))]
@@ -32,9 +34,8 @@ pub async fn req(db: &Db, user: User, info: Json<Data>) -> Result<Json<Channel>>
     let mut set: HashSet<String> = HashSet::from_iter(info.users.into_iter());
     set.insert(user.id.clone());
 
-    // ! FIXME: un hard code this
-    if set.len() > 50 {
-        return Err(Error::GroupTooLarge { max: 50 });
+    if set.len() > *MAX_GROUP_SIZE {
+        return Err(Error::GroupTooLarge { max: *MAX_GROUP_SIZE });
     }
 
     for target in &set {
diff --git a/src/routes/root.rs b/src/routes/root.rs
index 1b8ea7dd..2f7daeea 100644
--- a/src/routes/root.rs
+++ b/src/routes/root.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
-/*use crate::util::{ratelimit::Ratelimiter, variables::{
+use crate::util::{/*ratelimit::Ratelimiter,*/ variables::{
     APP_URL, AUTUMN_URL, EXTERNAL_WS_URL, HCAPTCHA_SITEKEY, INVITE_ONLY, JANUARY_URL, USE_AUTUMN,
     USE_EMAIL, USE_HCAPTCHA, USE_JANUARY, USE_VOSO, VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY, VOSO_URL, VOSO_WS_HOST,
-}};*/
+}};
 
 use mongodb::bson::doc;
 use rocket::{http::Status, serde::json::Value};
 
 #[get("/")]
 pub async fn root() -> Value {
-    todo!();
-    /*json!({
+    json!({
         "revolt": crate::version::VERSION,
         "features": {
             "captcha": {
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ pub async fn root() -> Value {
         "ws": *EXTERNAL_WS_URL,
         "app": *APP_URL,
         "vapid": *VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY
-    })*/
+    })
 }
 
 #[get("/ping")]
diff --git a/src/util/mod.rs b/src/util/mod.rs
index cf3e7364..c4850377 100644
--- a/src/util/mod.rs
+++ b/src/util/mod.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // pub mod result;
-// pub mod variables;
+pub mod variables;
 // pub mod ratelimit;
 pub mod regex;
 // pub mod idempotency;
diff --git a/src/util/variables.rs b/src/util/variables.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ad5d8121
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/util/variables.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+use std::env;
+
+#[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+use log::warn;
+
+lazy_static! {
+    // Application Settings
+    pub static ref MONGO_URI: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_MONGO_URI").expect("Missing REVOLT_MONGO_URI environment variable.");
+    pub static ref REDIS_URI: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_REDIS_URI").expect("Missing REVOLT_REDIS_URI environment variable.");
+    pub static ref WS_HOST: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_WS_HOST").unwrap_or_else(|_| "0.0.0.0:9000".to_string());
+    pub static ref PUBLIC_URL: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_PUBLIC_URL").expect("Missing REVOLT_PUBLIC_URL environment variable.");
+    pub static ref APP_URL: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_APP_URL").expect("Missing REVOLT_APP_URL environment variable.");
+    pub static ref EXTERNAL_WS_URL: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_EXTERNAL_WS_URL").expect("Missing REVOLT_EXTERNAL_WS_URL environment variable.");
+
+    pub static ref AUTUMN_URL: String =
+        env::var("AUTUMN_PUBLIC_URL").unwrap_or_else(|_| "https://example.com".to_string());
+    pub static ref JANUARY_URL: String =
+        env::var("JANUARY_PUBLIC_URL").unwrap_or_else(|_| "https://example.com".to_string());
+    pub static ref VOSO_URL: String =
+        env::var("VOSO_PUBLIC_URL").unwrap_or_else(|_| "https://example.com".to_string());
+    pub static ref VOSO_WS_HOST: String =
+        env::var("VOSO_WS_HOST").unwrap_or_else(|_| "wss://example.com".to_string());
+    pub static ref VOSO_MANAGE_TOKEN: String =
+        env::var("VOSO_MANAGE_TOKEN").unwrap_or_else(|_| "0".to_string());
+
+    pub static ref HCAPTCHA_KEY: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_HCAPTCHA_KEY").unwrap_or_else(|_| "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000".to_string());
+    pub static ref HCAPTCHA_SITEKEY: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_HCAPTCHA_SITEKEY").unwrap_or_else(|_| "10000000-ffff-ffff-ffff-000000000001".to_string());
+    pub static ref VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY").expect("Missing REVOLT_VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY environment variable.");
+    pub static ref VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY").expect("Missing REVOLT_VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY environment variable.");
+
+    // Application Flags
+    pub static ref INVITE_ONLY: bool = env::var("REVOLT_INVITE_ONLY").map_or(false, |v| v == "1");
+    pub static ref USE_EMAIL: bool = env::var("REVOLT_USE_EMAIL_VERIFICATION").map_or(
+        env::var("REVOLT_SMTP_HOST").is_ok()
+            && env::var("REVOLT_SMTP_USERNAME").is_ok()
+            && env::var("REVOLT_SMTP_PASSWORD").is_ok()
+            && env::var("REVOLT_SMTP_FROM").is_ok(),
+        |v| v == *"1"
+    );
+    pub static ref USE_HCAPTCHA: bool = env::var("REVOLT_HCAPTCHA_KEY").is_ok();
+    pub static ref USE_AUTUMN: bool = env::var("AUTUMN_PUBLIC_URL").is_ok();
+    pub static ref USE_JANUARY: bool = env::var("JANUARY_PUBLIC_URL").is_ok();
+    pub static ref USE_VOSO: bool = env::var("VOSO_PUBLIC_URL").is_ok() && env::var("VOSO_MANAGE_TOKEN").is_ok();
+
+    // SMTP Settings
+    pub static ref SMTP_HOST: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_SMTP_HOST").unwrap_or_else(|_| "".to_string());
+    pub static ref SMTP_USERNAME: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_SMTP_USERNAME").unwrap_or_else(|_| "".to_string());
+    pub static ref SMTP_PASSWORD: String =
+        env::var("REVOLT_SMTP_PASSWORD").unwrap_or_else(|_| "".to_string());
+    pub static ref SMTP_FROM: String = env::var("REVOLT_SMTP_FROM").unwrap_or_else(|_| "".to_string());
+
+    // Application Logic Settings
+    pub static ref MAX_GROUP_SIZE: usize =
+        env::var("REVOLT_MAX_GROUP_SIZE").unwrap_or_else(|_| "50".to_string()).parse().unwrap();
+    pub static ref MAX_BOT_COUNT: usize =
+        env::var("REVOLT_MAX_BOT_COUNT").unwrap_or_else(|_| "5".to_string()).parse().unwrap();
+    pub static ref MAX_EMBED_COUNT: usize =
+        env::var("REVOLT_MAX_EMBED_COUNT").unwrap_or_else(|_| "5".to_string()).parse().unwrap();
+    pub static ref MAX_SERVER_COUNT: usize =
+        env::var("REVOLT_MAX_SERVER_COUNT").unwrap_or_else(|_| "100".to_string()).parse().unwrap();
+    pub static ref EARLY_ADOPTER_BADGE: i64 =
+        env::var("REVOLT_EARLY_ADOPTER_BADGE").unwrap_or_else(|_| "0".to_string()).parse().unwrap();
+}
+
+pub fn preflight_checks() {
+    format!("url = {}", *APP_URL);
+    format!("mongo = {}", *MONGO_URI);
+    format!("public = {}", *PUBLIC_URL);
+    format!("external = {}", *EXTERNAL_WS_URL);
+
+    format!("privkey = {}", *VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY);
+    format!("pubkey = {}", *VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY);
+
+    if !(*USE_EMAIL) {
+        #[cfg(not(debug_assertions))]
+        if !env::var("REVOLT_UNSAFE_NO_EMAIL").map_or(false, |v| v == *"1") {
+            panic!("Running in production without email is not recommended, set REVOLT_UNSAFE_NO_EMAIL=1 to override.");
+        }
+
+        #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+        warn!("No SMTP settings specified! Remember to configure email.");
+    }
+
+    if !(*USE_HCAPTCHA) {
+        #[cfg(not(debug_assertions))]
+        if !env::var("REVOLT_UNSAFE_NO_CAPTCHA").map_or(false, |v| v == *"1") {
+            panic!("Running in production without CAPTCHA is not recommended, set REVOLT_UNSAFE_NO_CAPTCHA=1 to override.");
+        }
+
+        #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+        warn!("No Captcha key specified! Remember to add hCaptcha key.");
+    }
+}