diff --git a/docs/maintainers/handbook.md b/docs/maintainers/handbook.md
index 3286c04..c599a0f 100644
--- a/docs/maintainers/handbook.md
+++ b/docs/maintainers/handbook.md
@@ -111,6 +111,16 @@ You can also access it in your configs using the following syntax:
 {{ env "FOO" }}
 ```
 
+### Global environment variables
+
+- `TYPE`: specifies the recipe name
+- `DOMAIN`: specifies the app domain
+- `LETS_ENCRYPT_ENV`: TODO
+- `TIMEOUT`: specifies the time in seconds to wait until all services have started and passed the health checks
+- `ENABLE_AUTO_UPDATE`: if set to `true`, the auto-updater `kadabra` can update this app (see [this auto updater entry](/operators/tutorial.md#automatic-upgrades) for more)
+- `POST_DEPLOY_CMDS="<container> <command> <arguments>|<container> <command> <arguments>|... "` specifies commands that should be executed after each `abra app deploy`
+- `POST_UPGRADE_CMDS="<container> <command> <arguments>|<container> <command> <arguments>|... "` specifies commands that should be executed after each `abra app upgrade`
+
 ## Manage secret data
 
 Adding a secret to your recipe is done: