start logging -- also clarified env checks

main.go

@@ -1,22 +1,43 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"log"
+	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 
 	"git.dubyatp.xyz/chat-api-server/api"
 	"github.com/joho/godotenv"
 )
 
+func checkEnvVars(keys []string) (bool, []string) {
+	var missing []string
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		if _, ok := os.LookupEnv(key); !ok {
+			missing = append(missing, key)
+		}
+	}
+	return len(missing) == 0, missing
+}
+
 func main() {
+	// Start logger
+	logger := slog.New(slog.NewJSONHandler(os.Stdout, nil))
+	slog.SetDefault(logger)
+
+	requiredEnvVars := []string{"SCYLLA_CLUSTER", "SCYLLA_KEYSPACE"}
+
 	// Initialize dotenv file
 	err := godotenv.Load()
 	if err != nil {
-		// Check if environment variables are defined by OS before erroring out
-		_, exists := os.LookupEnv("SCYLLA_CLUSTER")
-		if !exists {
-			log.Fatal("Required environment variables are not added, and no .env file was found")
-		}
+		logger.Info("No .env file loaded, will try OS environment variables")
 	}
+
+	// Check if environment variables were defined by the OS before erroring out
+	exists, missingVars := checkEnvVars(requiredEnvVars)
+	if !exists {
+		slog.Error("Missing environment variables", "missing", missingVars)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	slog.Info("Starting the API Server...")
 	api.Start()
 }