diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 036550d..d99481c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -123,10 +123,7 @@ agents/salesagent/
 Copy `.env.example` to `.env` and set your API credentials:
 
 ```env
-COGSOL_ENV=local
-COGSOL_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/
-COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/content/
-COGSOL_
+COGSOL_ENV=development
 COGSOL_API_KEY=your-api-key
 # Optional: Azure AD B2C client credentials for JWT
 # If not provided, the Auth will be skipped
@@ -670,10 +667,8 @@ from cogsol.content import BaseRetrieval, ReorderingStrategy
 
 | Variable | Required | Description |
 |----------|----------|-------------|
-| `COGSOL_API_BASE` | Yes | Base URL for the CogSol Cognitive API |
-| `COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE` | No | Base URL for the CogSol Content API (defaults to `COGSOL_API_BASE`) |
 | `COGSOL_API_KEY` | Yes | API Key authentication |
-| `COGSOL_ENV` | No | Environment name (e.g., `local`, `production`) |
+| `COGSOL_ENV` | No | Environment name (e.g., `local`, `development`, `production`) |
 | `COGSOL_AUTH_CLIENT_ID` | No | Client Id provided for adminitrators |
 | `COGSOL_AUTH_SECRET` | No | Auth Secret provided for adminitrators |
 
diff --git a/cogsol/agents/__init__.py b/cogsol/agents/__init__.py
index 0245c2d..60af733 100644
--- a/cogsol/agents/__init__.py
+++ b/cogsol/agents/__init__.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 from typing import Any
 
 from cogsol.core.api import CogSolAPIError, CogSolClient
+from cogsol.core.constants import get_cognitive_api_base_url
 from cogsol.core.env import load_dotenv
 
 
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ def run(
             project_path = Path.cwd()
         load_dotenv(project_path / ".env")
 
-        base_url = api_base or self._api_base or os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_BASE")
+        base_url = api_base or self._api_base or get_cognitive_api_base_url()
         if not base_url:
             raise CogSolAPIError("COGSOL_API_BASE is required to run agents.")
         token = api_key or self._api_key or os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_KEY")
diff --git a/cogsol/content/__init__.py b/cogsol/content/__init__.py
index 63d3985..595cb6c 100644
--- a/cogsol/content/__init__.py
+++ b/cogsol/content/__init__.py
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@
 from typing import Any
 
 from cogsol.core.api import CogSolAPIError, CogSolClient
+from cogsol.core.constants import (
+    get_cognitive_api_base_url,
+    get_content_api_base_url,
+)
 from cogsol.core.env import load_dotenv
 
 
@@ -286,10 +290,8 @@ def run(
             project_path = Path.cwd()
         load_dotenv(project_path / ".env")
 
-        content_base = (
-            content_api_base or self._content_api_base or os.environ.get("COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE")
-        )
-        base_url = api_base or self._api_base or os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_BASE") or content_base
+        content_base = content_api_base or self._content_api_base or get_content_api_base_url()
+        base_url = api_base or self._api_base or get_cognitive_api_base_url() or content_base
         if not content_base:
             raise CogSolAPIError("COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE is required to run retrievals.")
         token = api_key or self._api_key or os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_KEY")
diff --git a/cogsol/core/api.py b/cogsol/core/api.py
index 0dc2971..f8347e8 100644
--- a/cogsol/core/api.py
+++ b/cogsol/core/api.py
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@
 import msal
 from jwt import decode
 
+from cogsol.core.constants import (
+    get_cognitive_api_base_url,
+    get_content_api_base_url,
+)
+
 
 class CogSolAPIError(RuntimeError):
     pass
@@ -73,9 +78,9 @@ def __init__(
         api_key: str | None = None,
         content_base_url: str | None = None,
     ) -> None:
-        self.base_url = base_url or os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_BASE") or ""
+        self.base_url = base_url or get_cognitive_api_base_url()
         self.api_key = api_key or os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_KEY")
-        self.content_base_url = content_base_url or os.environ.get("COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE")
+        self.content_base_url = content_base_url or get_content_api_base_url()
         self.bearer_token = None
         self.bearer_token_expires_at = None
 
diff --git a/cogsol/core/constants.py b/cogsol/core/constants.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f73ea0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cogsol/core/constants.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+"""Shared constants and helpers for CogSol API base URLs."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+from typing import Final
+
+COGSOL_ENV_VAR: Final = "COGSOL_ENV"
+COGSOL_API_BASE_VAR: Final = "COGSOL_API_BASE"
+COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE_VAR: Final = "COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE"
+
+IMPLANTATION_COGNITIVE_API_URL: Final = "https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/cognitive"
+IMPLANTATION_CONTENT_API_URL: Final = "https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/content"
+PRODUCTION_COGNITIVE_API_URL: Final = "https://apis.cogsol.ai/cognitive"
+PRODUCTION_CONTENT_API_URL: Final = "https://apis.cogsol.ai/content"
+
+
+def _get_env_var(name: str) -> str | None:
+    """Return an environment variable value (case-insensitive)."""
+    return os.environ.get(name) or os.environ.get(name.lower())
+
+
+def get_cogsol_env() -> str:
+    """Return the current CogSol environment name."""
+    value = _get_env_var(COGSOL_ENV_VAR)
+    return value.strip().lower() if value else ""
+
+
+def get_default_cognitive_api_base_url() -> str:
+    """Return the default base URL for the cognitive API."""
+    if get_cogsol_env() == "production":
+        return PRODUCTION_COGNITIVE_API_URL
+    return IMPLANTATION_COGNITIVE_API_URL
+
+
+def get_default_content_api_base_url() -> str:
+    """Return the default base URL for the content API."""
+    if get_cogsol_env() == "production":
+        return PRODUCTION_CONTENT_API_URL
+    return IMPLANTATION_CONTENT_API_URL
+
+
+def get_cognitive_api_base_url() -> str:
+    """Resolve the cognitive API base URL using env overrides when present."""
+    return _get_env_var(COGSOL_API_BASE_VAR) or get_default_cognitive_api_base_url()
+
+
+def get_content_api_base_url() -> str:
+    """Resolve the content API base URL using env overrides when present."""
+    return _get_env_var(COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE_VAR) or get_default_content_api_base_url()
+
+
+__all__ = [
+    "COGSOL_ENV_VAR",
+    "COGSOL_API_BASE_VAR",
+    "COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE_VAR",
+    "IMPLANTATION_COGNITIVE_API_URL",
+    "IMPLANTATION_CONTENT_API_URL",
+    "PRODUCTION_COGNITIVE_API_URL",
+    "PRODUCTION_CONTENT_API_URL",
+    "get_cogsol_env",
+    "get_default_cognitive_api_base_url",
+    "get_default_content_api_base_url",
+    "get_cognitive_api_base_url",
+    "get_content_api_base_url",
+]
diff --git a/cogsol/management/commands/chat.py b/cogsol/management/commands/chat.py
index 9a368cb..6c3266c 100644
--- a/cogsol/management/commands/chat.py
+++ b/cogsol/management/commands/chat.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from typing import Any, cast
 
 from cogsol.core.api import CogSolAPIError, CogSolClient
+from cogsol.core.constants import get_cognitive_api_base_url
 from cogsol.core.env import load_dotenv
 from cogsol.management.base import BaseCommand
 
@@ -316,7 +317,7 @@ def handle(self, project_path: Path | None, **options: Any) -> int:
         app = str(options.get("app") or "agents")
         load_dotenv(project_path / ".env")
 
-        api_base = os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_BASE")
+        api_base = get_cognitive_api_base_url()
         api_key = os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_KEY")
         if not api_base:
             print_error("COGSOL_API_BASE is required in .env to chat with CogSol.")
diff --git a/cogsol/management/commands/importagent.py b/cogsol/management/commands/importagent.py
index 414c01d..17c7736 100644
--- a/cogsol/management/commands/importagent.py
+++ b/cogsol/management/commands/importagent.py
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 from typing import Any, cast
 
 from cogsol.core.api import CogSolAPIError, CogSolClient
+from cogsol.core.constants import (
+    get_cognitive_api_base_url,
+    get_content_api_base_url,
+)
 from cogsol.core.env import load_dotenv
 from cogsol.core.loader import (
     _extract_tool_params,
@@ -289,9 +293,9 @@ def handle(self, project_path: Path | None, **options: Any) -> int:
 
         import os
 
-        api_base = os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_BASE")
+        api_base = get_cognitive_api_base_url()
         api_key = os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_KEY")
-        content_base = os.environ.get("COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE") or api_base
+        content_base = get_content_api_base_url() or api_base
         if not api_base:
             print("COGSOL_API_BASE is required in .env to import.")
             return 1
diff --git a/cogsol/management/commands/ingest.py b/cogsol/management/commands/ingest.py
index f77c6c4..2776020 100644
--- a/cogsol/management/commands/ingest.py
+++ b/cogsol/management/commands/ingest.py
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
 
 from cogsol.content import BaseIngestionConfig, DocType
 from cogsol.core.api import CogSolClient
+from cogsol.core.constants import (
+    get_cognitive_api_base_url,
+    get_content_api_base_url,
+)
 from cogsol.core.env import load_dotenv
 from cogsol.management.base import BaseCommand
 
@@ -36,26 +40,11 @@
 
 def get_client(project_path: Path) -> CogSolClient:
     """Get an API client configured for the project."""
-    import sys
-
     load_dotenv(project_path / ".env")
-
-    sys.path.insert(0, str(project_path))
-    try:
-        import settings
-
-        api_base = getattr(settings, "COGSOL_API_BASE", None)
-        content_base = getattr(settings, "COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE", None)
-    except ImportError:
-        api_base = None
-        content_base = None
-    finally:
-        sys.path.pop(0)
-
     import os
 
-    api_base = api_base or os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_BASE", "http://localhost:8000")
-    content_base = content_base or os.environ.get("COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE", api_base)
+    api_base = get_cognitive_api_base_url()
+    content_base = get_content_api_base_url()
     token = os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_KEY")
 
     return CogSolClient(base_url=api_base, api_key=token, content_base_url=content_base)
diff --git a/cogsol/management/commands/migrate.py b/cogsol/management/commands/migrate.py
index a876ce0..35763c0 100644
--- a/cogsol/management/commands/migrate.py
+++ b/cogsol/management/commands/migrate.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import copy
 import inspect
 import json
+import os
 import re
 import textwrap
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -13,6 +14,10 @@
 from cogsol.content import BaseRetrieval
 from cogsol.core import migrations as migutils
 from cogsol.core.api import CogSolAPIError, CogSolClient
+from cogsol.core.constants import (
+    get_cognitive_api_base_url,
+    get_content_api_base_url,
+)
 from cogsol.core.env import load_dotenv
 from cogsol.core.loader import _extract_tool_params, collect_classes, collect_content_classes
 from cogsol.db import migrations
@@ -59,9 +64,9 @@ def handle(self, project_path: Path | None, **options: Any) -> int:
         apps = [str(app)] if app else ["agents", "data"]
 
         load_dotenv(project_path / ".env")
-        api_base = self._env("COGSOL_API_BASE")
+        api_base = get_cognitive_api_base_url()
         api_key = self._env("COGSOL_API_KEY", required=False)
-        content_base = self._env("COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE", required=False) or api_base
+        content_base = get_content_api_base_url()
         if not api_base:
             print("COGSOL_API_BASE is required in .env to run migrations against CogSol APIs.")
             return 1
@@ -158,8 +163,6 @@ def handle(self, project_path: Path | None, **options: Any) -> int:
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------ helpers
     def _env(self, key: str, required: bool = True) -> str | None:
-        import os
-
         value = os.environ.get(key)
         if required and not value:
             return None
diff --git a/cogsol/management/commands/startproject.py b/cogsol/management/commands/startproject.py
index 865315f..1a32adf 100644
--- a/cogsol/management/commands/startproject.py
+++ b/cogsol/management/commands/startproject.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def handle(self, project_path: Path | None, **options: Any) -> int:
             "data/retrievals.py": DATA_RETRIEVALS_PY,
             "data/migrations/__init__.py": "",
             "README.md": README.format(project_name=name),
-            ".env.example": "COGSOL_ENV=local\nCOGSOL_API_BASE=http://localhost:8000\nCOGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE=http://localhost:8001\n# Optional: COGSOL_API_KEY=your-api-key\n# Optional: Azure AD B2C client credentials for JWT\n# If not provided, the Auth will be skipped\n# COGSOL_AUTH_CLIENT_ID=you-client-id\n# COGSOL_AUTH_SECRET=your-secret\n",
+            ".env.example": "COGSOL_ENV=development\n#COGSOL_API_KEY=your-api-key\n# Optional: Azure AD B2C client credentials for JWT\n# If not provided, the Auth will be skipped\n# COGSOL_AUTH_CLIENT_ID=you-client-id\n# COGSOL_AUTH_SECRET=your-secret\n",
         }
 
         for relative_path, content in files.items():
diff --git a/cogsol/management/commands/topics.py b/cogsol/management/commands/topics.py
index 87e3810..83f1a6e 100644
--- a/cogsol/management/commands/topics.py
+++ b/cogsol/management/commands/topics.py
@@ -6,32 +6,21 @@
 from typing import Any
 
 from cogsol.core.api import CogSolClient
+from cogsol.core.constants import (
+    get_cognitive_api_base_url,
+    get_content_api_base_url,
+)
 from cogsol.core.env import load_dotenv
 from cogsol.management.base import BaseCommand
 
 
 def get_client(project_path: Path) -> CogSolClient:
     """Get an API client configured for the project."""
-    import sys
-
     load_dotenv(project_path / ".env")
-
-    sys.path.insert(0, str(project_path))
-    try:
-        import settings
-
-        api_base = getattr(settings, "COGSOL_API_BASE", None)
-        content_base = getattr(settings, "COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE", None)
-    except ImportError:
-        api_base = None
-        content_base = None
-    finally:
-        sys.path.pop(0)
-
     import os
 
-    api_base = api_base or os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_BASE", "http://localhost:8000")
-    content_base = content_base or os.environ.get("COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE", api_base)
+    api_base = get_cognitive_api_base_url()
+    content_base = get_content_api_base_url()
     api_key = os.environ.get("COGSOL_API_KEY")
 
     return CogSolClient(base_url=api_base, api_key=api_key, content_base_url=content_base)
diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index c1aaa3d..40e8584 100644
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class CogSolClient:
 
 | Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
 |-----------|------|----------|-------------|
-| `base_url` | `str` | Yes | Base URL for the Cognitive API (e.g., `https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/`) |
+| `base_url` | `str` | Yes | Base URL for the Cognitive API (e.g., `https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/cognitive`) |
 | `token` | `str` | No | API authentication token |
 | `content_base_url` | `str` | No | Base URL for Content API (defaults to `base_url` if not set) |
 
@@ -61,13 +61,13 @@ class CogSolClient:
 from cogsol.core.api import CogSolClient
 
 # Without authentication
-client = CogSolClient(base_url="https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/")
+client = CogSolClient(base_url="https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/cognitive")
 
 # With authentication and separate Content API
 client = CogSolClient(
-    base_url="https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/",
+    base_url="https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/cognitive",
     token="sk-your-api-key",
-    content_base_url="https://api.cogsol.ai/content/"
+    content_base_url="https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/content"
 )
 ```
 
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ class CogSolAPIError(RuntimeError):
 ```python
 from cogsol.core.api import CogSolClient, CogSolAPIError
 
-client = CogSolClient(base_url="https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/", token="...")
+client = CogSolClient(base_url="https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/cognitive", token="...")
 
 try:
     assistant = client.get_assistant(9999)
@@ -939,7 +939,7 @@ from cogsol.core.api import CogSolClient
 
 # Initialize client
 client = CogSolClient(
-    base_url="https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/",
+    base_url="https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/cognitive",
     token="sk-your-token"
 )
 
diff --git a/docs/commands.md b/docs/commands.md
index 10da148..486554c 100644
--- a/docs/commands.md
+++ b/docs/commands.md
@@ -146,15 +146,7 @@ Contains commented examples of retrieval configurations.
 
 ##### `.env.example`
 
-```env
-COGSOL_ENV=local
-COGSOL_API_BASE=http://localhost:8000
-COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE=http://localhost:8001
-# Optional: COGSOL_API_KEY=your-api-key
-# Optional: Azure AD B2C client credentials for JWT
-# COGSOL_AUTH_CLIENT_ID=your-client-id
-# COGSOL_AUTH_SECRET=your-client-secret
-```
+Stores configuration variables for CogSol credentials.
 
 #### Example Usage
 
@@ -484,9 +476,7 @@ python manage.py migrate [app]
 #### Required Environment Variables
 
 ```env
-COGSOL_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/  # Required
-COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/content/  # Required for data app
-COGSOL_API_KEY=your-api-key              # Optional, but recommended
+COGSOL_API_KEY=your-api-key         
 COGSOL_AUTH_CLIENT_ID=your-client-id
 COGSOL_AUTH_SECRET=your-client-secret
 ```
@@ -734,10 +724,10 @@ python manage.py importagent <assistant_id> [app]
 #### Required Environment Variables
 
 ```env
-COGSOL_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/  # Required
+COGSOL_API_BASE=https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/cognitive  # Required
 COGSOL_API_KEY=your-api-key              # Optional
 
-COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/content/  # Required if importing retrievals
+COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE=https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/content  # Required if importing retrievals
 ```
 
 #### What Gets Imported
@@ -817,7 +807,7 @@ python manage.py chat --agent <identifier> [app]
 #### Required Environment Variables
 
 ```env
-COGSOL_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/  # Required
+COGSOL_API_BASE=https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/cognitive  # Required
 COGSOL_API_KEY=your-api-key              # Optional
 ```
 
@@ -885,48 +875,6 @@ python manage.py chat --agent Support assistants
 
 ---
 
-## Environment Configuration
-
-### `.env` File
-
-Create a `.env` file in your project root:
-
-```env
-# Required for migrate and chat commands
-COGSOL_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/
-COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/content/
-
-# Optional: API authentication token
-COGSOL_API_KEY=sk-your-api-key
-
-# Optional: Environment identifier
-COGSOL_ENV=production
-```
-
-### Environment Loading
-
-The framework loads `.env` automatically using a minimal built-in loader (no external dependencies):
-
-```python
-# cogsol/core/env.py
-def load_dotenv(dotenv_path: Path) -> None:
-    """
-    Minimal .env loader.
-    Supports KEY=VALUE lines, ignores blanks and comments.
-    """
-```
-
-### Variable Reference
-
-| Variable | Required For | Description |
-|----------|--------------|-------------|
-| `COGSOL_API_BASE` | `migrate`, `chat`, `importagent` | Base URL for CogSol API |
-| `COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE` | `migrate`, `ingest`, `topics`, `importagent` | Base URL for the Content API (defaults to `COGSOL_API_BASE`) |
-| `COGSOL_API_KEY` | - | API authentication (via `x-api-key` header) |
-| `COGSOL_ENV` | - | Environment name (informational) |
-
----
-
 ## Exit Codes
 
 All commands return standard exit codes:
@@ -966,7 +914,7 @@ python manage.py makemigrations
 Create or update your `.env` file:
 
 ```bash
-echo "COGSOL_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/" >> .env
+echo "COGSOL_API_BASE=https://apis-imp.cogsol.ai/cognitive" >> .env
 ```
 
 #### "Could not resolve agent"
diff --git a/docs/getting-started.md b/docs/getting-started.md
index 98ef069..06bf45b 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started.md
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ Update `.env` with your CogSol API credentials:
 
 ```env
 COGSOL_ENV=development
-COGSOL_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/
-COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/content/
 COGSOL_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
+# Optional: Azure AD B2C client credentials for JWT
+# If not provided, the Auth will be skipped
 COGSOL_AUTH_CLIENT_ID=your-client-id
 COGSOL_AUTH_SECRET=your-client-secret
 ```
@@ -669,8 +669,6 @@ class Migration(migrations.Migration):
 Verify your `.env` file has valid credentials:
 
 ```env
-COGSOL_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/cognitive/
-COGSOL_CONTENT_API_BASE=https://api.cogsol.ai/content/
 COGSOL_API_KEY=sk-your-valid-api-key
 COGSOL_AUTH_CLIENT_ID=your-client-id
 COGSOL_AUTH_SECRET=your-client-secret
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 456ad9f..d7e5778 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ requires-python = ">=3.9"
 dependencies = [
     "msal>=1.27",
     "PyJWT>=2.8",
+    "typing-extensions>=4.0",
 ]
 keywords = ["ai", "agents", "llm", "framework", "assistant", "chatbot"]
 classifiers = [