diff --git a/configuration/environment.py b/configuration/environment.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c2b6722
--- /dev/null
+++ b/configuration/environment.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""
+Copyright 2020 The Magma Authors.
+
+This source code is licensed under the BSD-style license found in the
+LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+"""
+
+import os
+
+
+def is_dev_mode() -> bool:
+    """
+    Returns whether the environment is set for dev mode
+    """
+    return os.environ.get('MAGMA_DEV_MODE') == '1'
+
+
+def is_docker_network_mode() -> bool:
+    """
+    Returns whether the environment is set for dev mode
+    """
+    return os.environ.get('DOCKER_NETWORK_MODE') == '1'