# gt-node: General Translation Node.js SDK: Configuring gt-node
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-GB/docs/node/guides/configuring.mdx
---

title: Configuring gt-node
description: "How to initialise General Translation gt-node: this guide covers locales, credentials, and translation delivery."
related:
  links:
    - /docs/node/guides/translating-strings
    - /docs/node/guides/detecting-locale
    - /docs/node/guides/storing-translations

---

`gt-node` is configured entirely through the [`initializeGT`](/docs/node/reference/functions/initialize-gt) call you make once at startup. This guide covers what to pass and how translations are delivered.

*Note: Unlike `gt-next`, `gt-node` does not read `gt.config.json` or environment variables automatically. Pass every value explicitly.*

## Initialise at startup [#initialize]

Call `initializeGT` once, before handling any requests, with your locales and credentials.

```ts title="server.js"
import { initializeGT } from 'gt-node';

initializeGT({
  defaultLocale: 'en',
  locales: ['en', 'es', 'fr'],
  projectId: process.env.GT_PROJECT_ID,
});
```

To keep values in sync with the CLI, import your `gt.config.json` and spread its fields into the call.

## Add credentials [#credentials]

Set your Project ID and API key as environment variables and pass them in. Use the development key while developing and the production key in production.

```ts title="server.js"
initializeGT({
  defaultLocale: 'en',
  locales: ['en', 'es', 'fr'],
  projectId: process.env.GT_PROJECT_ID,
  devApiKey: process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production' ? process.env.GT_API_KEY : undefined,
  apiKey: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' ? process.env.GT_API_KEY : undefined,
});
```

In development, a `projectId` and development API key enable on-demand translation and hot reload, so new strings get translated as you work. In production, translations come from your pre-generated files or the CDN. See the [Configuration reference](/docs/node/reference/config) for every option.

## Choose how translations are delivered [#delivery]

`gt-node` resolves translations in one of these modes:

* **General Translation CDN:** provide a `projectId` (without a custom loader) to fetch translations from GT's CDN.
* **Local files:** provide a [`loadTranslations`](/docs/react/reference/functions/load-translations) callback that returns translations for a locale. See [Storing translations locally](/docs/node/guides/storing-translations).
* **Custom endpoint:** set a custom `cacheUrl` to load from your own host, or `null` to disable remote loading.

## Handle missing translations [#missing]

When a translation is missing, `gt-node` returns the source string interpolated with your variables rather than throwing, so a request always renders. Dictionary lookups via [`getTranslations`](/docs/node/reference/functions/get-translations) are the exception: an unknown dictionary id throws. Keep `initializeGT` values aligned with what the CLI generates so production has translations ready.
## Next steps

- /docs/node/guides/translating-strings
- /docs/node/guides/detecting-locale
- /docs/node/guides/storing-translations