---
title: Configuration Guide
description: Understanding niki.toml format, precedence, and IDE schema integration.
sidebar:
  order: 1
  label: Configuration Guide
---

## `niki.toml` Configuration Guide

NIKI reads configuration from `niki.toml` located in the root of your repository.

---

## Precedence Order

NIKI resolves configuration values using strict precedence:

1. **CLI Flags** (e.g. `--planner-model claude-sonnet-4-20250514`, `--backend worktree`)
2. **Environment Variables** (e.g. `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`, `OPENAI_MODEL`)
3. **OS Keyring** (`niki auth login`)
4. **Project `niki.toml`** in current working directory
5. **Built-in Defaults**

---

## IDE Schema Integration

To enable schema validation, hover docs, and autocompletion in VS Code, add the schema comment at the top of your `niki.toml`:

```toml
#:schema https://raw.githubusercontent.com/RavaniRoshan/niki/master/schemas/niki.schema.json

[general]
max_revision_rounds = 3
output_dir          = ".niki"
spend_cap_usd       = 5.0
```