diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index b474abe..c2518d5 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #############
 # SHARED ENV VARIABLES
 #############
-ENV=production
+
+# required if running locally with MARBLE_APP_HOST=localhost:XXXX (some features will be broken if running with localhost and ENV=production)
+ENV=development
 
 # Firebase options
 # The distinction between client and server is necessary when running in docker-compose because