diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..19c8da3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# Port for the server
+PORT=8888
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cmd/backend/main.go b/cmd/backend/main.go
index 1d4c0a5..d1f1127 100644
--- a/cmd/backend/main.go
+++ b/cmd/backend/main.go
@@ -4,10 +4,18 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 
+	"github.com/joho/godotenv"
 	"github.com/lmittmann/tint"
 )
 
 func main() {
 	logger := slog.New(tint.NewHandler(os.Stderr, nil))
 	slog.SetDefault(logger)
+
+	err := godotenv.Load()
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("Error loading .env file", slog.Any("error", err))
+	}
+
+	slog.Info("Starting server", slog.Any("port", os.Getenv("PORT")))
 }