[BUG]: COPILOT_API_KEY not being passed

[JohnPBee]

Describe the bug

When self-hosting Sim Studio via the provided docker-compose.prod.yml, the Copilot API key is not applied to the backend even if it is added to .env. As a result, the Copilot panel always returns “Unauthorized request” until the COPILOT_API_KEY is explicitly injected into the simstudio service environment.

Additionally, the default compose file includes some hard-coded localhost values for BETTER_AUTH_URL and NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL, which cause the backend to reject requests when using a custom domain.

To Reproduce

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Clone the repo and deploy using docker compose -f docker-compose.prod.yml up -d.
2. Generate a Copilot API key at https://sim.ai/ → Settings → Copilot.
3. Add the key to .env as COPILOT_API_KEY=sk-sim-copilot-xxxx.
4. Restart the stack and open the Copilot panel in the self-hosted UI.
5. Try sending a message — observe the “Unauthorized” error.

Expected behavior

The backend should automatically read COPILOT_API_KEY from .env and authenticate Copilot requests without manual override edits. The default compose file should also honor custom domains via TRUSTED_ORIGINS/NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL.

Screenshots

(Include screenshot of the Copilot panel showing “Unauthorized request” and relevant logs:
[ERROR] [UsageManagement] Failed to get usage limit info … Unauthorized.)

Additional context

• Environment: Debian 12 VM on Proxmox, Docker CE 28.x, Compose v2.39.

• The issue is resolved by:

  • Adding COPILOT_API_KEY=${COPILOT_API_KEY} to the simstudio.environment section, e.g. via docker-compose.override.yml.
  • Ensuring .env contains NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL=https://your.domain.

• After these changes, Copilot works as expected.

[JohnPBee]

Proposed Fix / Workaround

Workaround for self-hosters
Add an override file docker-compose.override.yml in the project root:

services:
  simstudio:
    environment:
      - COPILOT_API_KEY=${COPILOT_API_KEY}
      - NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL=${NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL}

Then redeploy:

docker compose -f docker-compose.prod.yml -f docker-compose.override.yml up -d

Proposed fix in repo
Update docker-compose.prod.yml so simstudio.environment includes:

      - COPILOT_API_KEY=${COPILOT_API_KEY}
      - NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL=${NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL}

This was tested and working by allowing .env to work without overrides

[waleedlatif1]

resolved