diff --git a/.env.template b/.env.template
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd8abce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.template
@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+# ===========================================
+# NFOGuard Configuration Template
+# ===========================================
+# Copy this file to .env and customize for your setup
+# Sensitive data (API keys, passwords) go in .env.secrets
+
+# ===========================================
+# MEDIA PATHS (REQUIRED) - CONFIGURE THESE FIRST
+# ===========================================
+# Container paths (what NFOGuard sees inside the Docker container)
+MOVIE_PATHS=/media/Movies/movies,/media/Movies/movies6
+TV_PATHS=/media/TV/tv,/media/TV/tv6
+
+# Radarr paths (what Radarr sees on your host system)
+RADARR_ROOT_FOLDERS=/mnt/unionfs/Media/Movies/movies,/mnt/unionfs/Media/Movies/movies6
+
+# Sonarr paths (what Sonarr sees on your host system)
+SONARR_ROOT_FOLDERS=/mnt/unionfs/Media/TV/tv,/mnt/unionfs/Media/TV/tv6
+
+# Download detection paths (for identifying downloads vs existing files)
+DOWNLOAD_PATH_INDICATORS=/downloads/,/nzbget/,/completed/,/sabnzbd/,/torrents/
+
+# ===========================================
+# DATABASE CONFIGURATION
+# ===========================================
+# NFOGuard SQLite database location
+DB_PATH=/app/data/media_dates.db
+
+# Log file directory
+LOG_DIR=/app/data/logs
+
+# ===========================================
+# RADARR DATABASE CONNECTION (REQUIRED)
+# ===========================================
+# NFOGuard requires direct access to Radarr's database for movie processing
+# Radarr does not provide API access for the data NFOGuard needs
+
+# Database type - postgresql or sqlite
+RADARR_DB_TYPE=postgresql
+
+# PostgreSQL settings (most common for modern Radarr installations)
+RADARR_DB_HOST=192.168.1.100
+RADARR_DB_PORT=5432
+RADARR_DB_NAME=radarr-main
+RADARR_DB_USER=postgres
+# Password goes in .env.secrets as RADARR_DB_PASSWORD
+
+# SQLite settings (for older Radarr installations using SQLite)
+# Uncomment and set the path to your radarr.db file if using SQLite:
+# RADARR_DB_TYPE=sqlite
+# RADARR_DB_PATH=/path/to/radarr.db
+# For Docker: Mount Radarr's AppData directory and point to the .db file
+# Common paths:
+# - Docker: /config/radarr.db (if Radarr config is mounted)
+# - Windows: C:\ProgramData\Radarr\radarr.db
+# - Linux: ~/.config/Radarr/radarr.db
+
+# ===========================================
+# API CONNECTIONS (OPTIONAL)
+# ===========================================
+# API keys are stored in .env.secrets for security
+RADARR_URL=http://radarr:7878
+SONARR_URL=http://sonarr:8989
+JELLYSEERR_URL=http://jellyseerr:5055
+
+# ===========================================
+# RELEASE DATE PROCESSING
+# ===========================================
+# Priority order for release date fallbacks
+RELEASE_DATE_PRIORITY=digital,physical,theatrical
+# Alternative: RELEASE_DATE_PRIORITY=digital,theatrical,physical
+
+# Enable smart date validation
+ENABLE_SMART_DATE_VALIDATION=true
+
+# Maximum years between release dates (prevents invalid dates)
+MAX_RELEASE_DATE_GAP_YEARS=10
+
+# Prefer API release dates over file modification dates for manual imports
+PREFER_RELEASE_DATES_OVER_FILE_DATES=true
+
+# Disable file date fallback completely (recommended for clean imports)
+ALLOW_FILE_DATE_FALLBACK=false
+
+# TMDB country for regional release date preferences
+TMDB_COUNTRY=US
+
+# ===========================================
+# NFO FILE MANAGEMENT
+# ===========================================
+# Create/update .nfo files
+MANAGE_NFO=true
+
+# Update file modification times to match import dates
+FIX_DIR_MTIMES=true
+
+# Add lockdata tags to prevent metadata overwrites
+LOCK_METADATA=true
+
+# Brand name in NFO comments
+MANAGER_BRAND=NFOGuard
+
+# ===========================================
+# PROCESSING BEHAVIOR
+# ===========================================
+# Movie date update strategy (overwrite, preserve, smart)
+MOVIE_DATE_UPDATE_MODE=overwrite
+
+# Preserve existing dates when found
+MOVIE_PRESERVE_EXISTING=false
+
+# When to update existing dates (always, missing_only, never)
+UPDATE_MODE=always
+
+# File modification time behavior (update, leave_alone)
+MTIME_BEHAVIOR=update
+
+# ===========================================
+# PERFORMANCE & BATCHING
+# ===========================================
+# Delay before processing batched events (seconds)
+BATCH_DELAY=5.0
+
+# Maximum concurrent series processing
+MAX_CONCURRENT_SERIES=3
+
+# API timeout in seconds
+TIMEOUT_SECONDS=45
+
+# ===========================================
+# DEBUGGING & LOGGING
+# ===========================================
+# Enable verbose logging (true/false)
+DEBUG=false
+
+# Enable path mapping debug output (true/false)
+PATH_DEBUG=false
+
+# Suppress TVDB API warnings (true/false) - TVDB failures are common and non-critical
+SUPPRESS_TVDB_WARNINGS=true
+
+# ===========================================
+# SERVER CONFIGURATION
+# ===========================================
+# Port for webhook server
+PORT=8080
+
+# ===========================================
+# EXAMPLE CONFIGURATION NOTES
+# ===========================================
+# 1. Copy this file to .env
+# 2. Update MOVIE_PATHS and TV_PATHS to match your container mount points
+# 3. Update RADARR_ROOT_FOLDERS and SONARR_ROOT_FOLDERS to match your *arr apps' paths
+# 4. Copy .env.secrets.template to .env.secrets and add your API keys/passwords
+# 5. Adjust other settings as needed for your setup