diff --git a/.env-template b/.env-template
index 3cf86cfe..62b4769f 100644
--- a/.env-template
+++ b/.env-template
@@ -1,23 +1,61 @@
+# ===========
+# This environment variable template is the canonical source for all environment variables used by PocketHost.
+# PocketHost relies upon environment variables rather than prop drilling where possible.
+# ===========
+
+
 # This is the porject root (where the .env file lives)
 ROOT="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
 
 # Do this so these actually export as environment variables, not just shell variables
 set -a
 
+# ==============
+# PUBLIC variables are available and visible to the frontends
+# The defaults shown here will invoke LOCAL development modes. If they are not specified,
+# the frontends will default to the production environment.
+#
+# To create prduction builds, simply omit these, or if you have a special need, supply
+# the custom values here.
+# ==============
+
+
+# The global debugging flag, used by frontend and backend. This will enable debug-level
+# logging on all fronts
+PUBLIC_DEBUG=true
+
 # https or http, as you wish
 PUBLIC_HTTP_PROTOCOL=https
 
+# The apex domain for the whole site.
+PUBLIC_APEX_DOMAIN=pockethost.lvh.me
+
+
+#--------------
+# You typically won't need to change these, unless you have a very specific setup
+# https://<PUBLIC_APEX_DOMAIN> - marketing/lander
+# https://app.<PUBLIC_APEX_DOMAIN> - dashboard
+# https://pockethost-central.<PUBLIC_APEX_DOMAIN> - mothership
+# https://*.edge.<PUBLIC_APEX_DOMAIN> - edge workers
+#--------------
+
 # The domain name the dashboard app
-PUBLIC_APP_DOMAIN=app.pockethost.lvh.me
+PUBLIC_APP_DOMAIN=app.$PUBLIC_APEX_DOMAIN
 
 # The domain name for the marketing/blog domain
-PUBLIC_BLOG_DOMAIN=pockethost.lvh.me
+PUBLIC_BLOG_DOMAIN=$PUBLIC_APEX_DOMAIN
 
 # The apex domain for the daemon
-PUBLIC_EDGE_APEX_DOMAIN=pockethost.io
+PUBLIC_EDGE_APEX_DOMAIN=edge.$PUBLIC_APEX_DOMAIN
+
+# The URL of the central PocketHost database. This is both a subdomain and a file name.
+PUBLIC_MOTHERSHIP_URL=$PUBLIC_HTTP_PROTOCOL://pockethost-central.$PUBLIC_APEX_DOMAIN
+
+
+# =========
+# Mothership variables (private)
+# =========
 
-# The name of the central PocketHost database. This is both a subdomain and a file name.
-PUBLIC_APP_DB=pockethost-central
 
 # The path to the root directory where all PocketHost data is stored for all users
 DAEMON_PB_DATA_DIR=$ROOT/.data