# Final Release Note # Description # Draft Release Note YottaDB processes can optionally read [libconfig](https://hyperrealm.github.io/libconfig/) format configuration files at startup. Reading the configuration files sets environment variables for the process, as well as for sub-processes. The process looks for, reads, and processes files in the following order. When reading and processing a file, it will not overwrite an environment variable that is already defined; thus, existing environment variables have the highest priority, followed by environment variables in the following files, if they exist, in descending order of priority. - If the command line of the process has a `--config` or `-c` option that points to a file. - \$ydb\_conf - \$ydb\_dir/ydb.conf` - $HOME/.yottadb/ydb.conf - /usr/local/etc/ydb.conf - /etc/ydb.conf - $ydb_dist/ydb_conf This feature can be useful when creating YottaDB powered services (e.g., under systemd) or shebang-style scripts. [#1104]