# An AI-based AR Game System Backend Module Inquiry
**URL:** https://forum.8thwall.com/t/an-ai-based-ar-game-system-backend-module-inquiry/5731
**Category:** Technical Support
**Tags:** FAQ
**Created:** [March 25, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.8thwall.com/t/an-ai-based-ar-game-system-backend-module-inquiry/5731 "2025-03-25T16:35:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@chow\_kenny](https://forum.8thwall.com/u/chow_kenny)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 2:14am UTC](https://forum.8thwall.com/t/an-ai-based-ar-game-system-backend-module-inquiry/5731/23 "2025-04-05T02:14:39Z")
Really thanks for your reply~
---
### Author:  [@chow\_kenny](https://forum.8thwall.com/u/chow_kenny)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 3:50am UTC](https://forum.8thwall.com/t/an-ai-based-ar-game-system-backend-module-inquiry/5731/24 "2025-04-05T03:50:22Z")
How can I define an environment variable in 8th Wall? When I use the syntax “process.env.OPENAI\_API\_KEY,” it throws an error. Also, does 8th Wall support .env files and Node.js? Thank you!
---
### Author:  [@chow\_kenny](https://forum.8thwall.com/u/chow_kenny)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2025, 11:44am UTC](https://forum.8thwall.com/t/an-ai-based-ar-game-system-backend-module-inquiry/5731/25 "2025-04-07T11:44:21Z")
By the way, this is my system flowchart, do I need a extra web hosting server between 8th wall and AI platform?
---
### Author:  [@GeorgeButler](https://forum.8thwall.com/u/GeorgeButler)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.8thwall.com/t/an-ai-based-ar-game-system-backend-module-inquiry/5731/26 "2025-04-07T16:17:19Z")
That looks correct to me, you shouldn’t need any extra web hosting beyond whatever is hosting the Database.
---
### Author:  [@chow\_kenny](https://forum.8thwall.com/u/chow_kenny)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://forum.8thwall.com/t/an-ai-based-ar-game-system-backend-module-inquiry/5731/27 "2025-04-08T02:11:52Z")
Thank you very much for your previous reply. I’d like to further clarify a few issues I’m experiencing during backend development.
#### 1. `process.env` not recognized – is Node.js supported?
I have disabled **Edit Mode** in my Modules, and correctly set my **API Key** as an Environment Variable. According to your documentation under:
> **Environment Variables → Access Environment Variable in Code → Example:**
```js
const API_KEY = process.env.api_key;
```
However, when I run this in a backend module (e.g., `index.ts`), I receive the following error:
```ts
Cannot find name 'process'. Do you need to install type definitions for node?
Try `npm i --save-dev @types/node`.
```
This message appears to be related to Node.js, which makes me wonder:
➡ **Does the 8th Wall backend support Node.js-based syntax (`process.env`) at all?**
Or is it only partially supported through some internal mechanism?
* * *
#### 2. Repeated `403 Server Error` from OpenAI API
Even after setting up the fetch request properly, and successfully encoding image data using base64, I keep encountering:
```bash
Server error: 403 (Forbidden)
```
I suspect this may mean the **OpenAI server received my request** but refused to authorize it.
➡ Does this imply that my `Authorization` header is being stripped or not properly sent by 8th Wall’s backend?
Or could it be due to **wrong API format or model support (e.g., using GPT-4o-mini for image analysis)?**
* * *
Thanks again for your patience and your help. I’d appreciate any clarification or suggestions you could offer on these two issues.
---
### Author:  [@Nadia\_Marzuki](https://forum.8thwall.com/u/Nadia_Marzuki)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://forum.8thwall.com/t/an-ai-based-ar-game-system-backend-module-inquiry/5731/28 "2025-07-21T03:52:03Z")
Hello. Where to turn off development mode? this is where we put the api key name but i am at a loss where to put the actual key
---
### Author:  [@chow\_kenny](https://forum.8thwall.com/u/chow_kenny)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2025, 6:01am UTC](https://forum.8thwall.com/t/an-ai-based-ar-game-system-backend-module-inquiry/5731/29 "2025-07-22T06:01:42Z")
> [@Nadia\_Marzuki](#):
>
> Hello. Where to turn off development mode? this is where we put the api key name but i am at a loss where to put the actual key
Hi Nadia,
I think you may go back to the home page of the module and toggle off the “Development Mode” checkbox as the picture shows.
[Previous page](https://forum.8thwall.com/t/an-ai-based-ar-game-system-backend-module-inquiry/5731.md?page=1)