Environment override no longer supported

[gitbf]

Logic to inject/patch bundle.js from docker environment at startup is missing. Accordingly, documentation references to use -e OSRM_BACKEND and its cousins are futile - this will not work.

From README.md:
You can change the backend by using -e OSRM_BACKEND='http://localhost:5001' in the docker run command.

[DennisOSRM]

Thanks for the report. This is indeed an area under change right now. Since we are introducing support for multiple profiles in the UI the way to provide the local docker overrides will change. The work on this is happening in #423.

[DennisOSRM]

The code has been changed, please note that the functionality was enhanced and supports multiple backends now. The README gives further instructions on how to use multiple endpoints. Please note that the way to configure the endpoint as you mentioned is deprecated, but should still work. Please migrate to the new environment variable.

[gitbf]

Thanks for the update! I verified -e OSRM_BACKEND (and its cousins) is now working as advertised. Also got it working with OSRM_MODES however with a couple observations. It appears you need more than one element in the JSON array – why not allow a single mode? I may be going at it wrong but find it tricky to choose mode via the UI. You need to click-hold-drag then release and finally click the desired mode. When doing so you also drop/move a marker. When selecting tile servers (bottom left), behavior is different – perhaps they could share a similar UI experience? The OSRM routing backend support query option “Exclude=motorway,ferry,toll”. Although disabled by public servers (afaik), this would be a much-appreciated feature to have in the frontend UI (and preferably backed by a URL option) for those of us using an inhouse routing server. Also, I note that scale defaults to “Metric” AND “Imperial”. I trust users may have a strong preference for either, but not both. A URL option to control scale preference would be much appreciated. Best regards BF From: Dennis Luxen ***@***.***> Sent: søndag 26. april 2026 12:13 To: Project-OSRM/osrm-frontend ***@***.***> Cc: gitbf ***@***.***>; Author ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [Project-OSRM/osrm-frontend] Environment override no longer supported (Issue #421) <https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/1067895?s=20&v=4> DennisOSRM left a comment (Project-OSRM/osrm-frontend#421) <#421 (comment)> The code has been changed, please note that the functionality was enhanced and supports multiple backends now. The README gives further instructions on how to use multiple endpoints. Please note that the way to configure the endpoint as you mentioned is deprecated, but should still work. Please migrate to the new environment variable. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#421 (comment)> , or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AC4NYTZ64FZLR7UWR4NKR5T4XXOJ3AVCNFSM6AAAAACYGLMBSOVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DGMRRG44TIMBUGI> . Triage notifications, keep track of coding agent tasks and review pull requests on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://github.com/notifications/mobile/ios/AC4NYT3V2Q7RS656H4WERLL4XXOJ3A5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTIMZSGE3TSNBQGQZKM4TFMFZW63VGMF2XI2DPOKSWK5TFNZ2KUZTPN52GK4S7NFXXG> and Android <https://github.com/notifications/mobile/android/AC4NYT7ZSA5YQB7H4OLDX4D4XXOJ3A5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTIMZSGE3TSNBQGQZKM4TFMFZW63VGMF2XI2DPOKSWK5TFNZ2K4ZTPN52GK4S7MFXGI4TPNFSA> . Download it today! You are receiving this because you authored the thread. <https://github.com/notifications/beacon/AC4NYT3RT5MSK5X474QG6RT4XXOJ3BFCNFSM6AAAAACYGLMBSOWGG33NNVSW45C7OR4XAZNMJFZXG5LFINXW23LFNZ2KUY3PNVWWK3TUL5UWJTYAAAAACAMZK75KM4TFMFZW63VGMF2XI2DPOI.gif> Message ID: ***@***.*** ***@***.***> >

[DennisOSRM]

Thanks so much for the detailed feedback. The points you raise are all valid.

I'll take the time in the coming few days to translate them into issues and to get going on the implementation.

[DennisOSRM]

created four issues:

1. Allow single-mode JSON array value for OSRM_MODES
   Allow single-mode JSON array value for OSRM_MODES #427
2. Improve mode-selection UI; prevent marker movement and align with tile-server selector
   Improve mode-selection UI; prevent marker movement and align with tile-server selector #428
3. Support OSRM 'exclude' routing option in UI and via URL
   Support OSRM 'exclude' routing option in UI and via URL #429
4. Make scale preference selectable and controllable by URL (Metric or Imperial)
   Make scale preference selectable and controllable by URL (Metric or Imperial) #430