diff --git a/abra.sh b/abra.sh
index 44b93ed..ddcc400 100644
--- a/abra.sh
+++ b/abra.sh
@@ -3,3 +3,45 @@ export MAILMAN_EXTRA_CFG_VERSION=v1
 export NGINX_CONF_VERSION=v1
 export SETTINGS_LOCAL_VERSION=v2
 export WEB_ENTRYPOINT_CONF_VERSION=v1
+
+
+file_env() {
+  local var="$1"
+  local fileVar="${var}_FILE"
+  local def="${2:-}"
+
+  if [ "${!var:-}" ] && [ "${!fileVar:-}" ]; then
+    echo >&2 "error: both $var and $fileVar are set (but are exclusive)"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  local val="$def"
+  if [ "${!var:-}" ]; then
+    val="${!var}"
+  elif [ "${!fileVar:-}" ]; then
+    val="$(< "${!fileVar}")"
+  fi
+
+  declare -x -g "$var"="$val"
+  unset "$fileVar"
+}
+
+environment() {
+    file_env "DATABASE_PASSWORD"
+    file_env "HYPERKITTY_API_KEY"
+    file_env "MAILMAN_REST_PASSWORD"
+    file_env "SECRET_KEY"
+
+    declare -x DATABASE_URL="postgres://${DATABASE_USER}:${DATABASE_PASSWORD}@${DATABASE_HOST}/${DATABASE_NAME}"
+}
+
+shell() {
+    ## Run a shell with proper environment
+    environment
+    bash $@
+}
+
+manage() {
+    environment
+    python3 manage.py $@
+}