diff --git a/workspaces/backend/cmd/cmd_test.go b/workspaces/backend/cmd/cmd_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a8182acde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workspaces/backend/cmd/cmd_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+)
+
+func TestEnvUtils(t *testing.T) {
+	RegisterFailHandler(Fail) // Tells Gomega how to signal test failures to Ginkgo
+	RunSpecs(t, "Environment Variable Helper Functions Suite")
+}
+
+var _ = Describe("Environment Variable Helper Functions", func() {
+
+	Describe("getEnvAsInt", func() {
+		tests := []struct {
+			name       string
+			envVarName string
+			envVarVal  string
+			defaultVal int
+			expected   int
+		}{
+			{
+				name:       "when env var exists and is a valid integer",
+				envVarName: "TEST_INT_VAR_1",
+				envVarVal:  "123",
+				defaultVal: 0,
+				expected:   123,
+			},
+			{
+				name:       "when env var exists but is an invalid integer",
+				envVarName: "TEST_INT_VAR_2",
+				envVarVal:  "abc",
+				defaultVal: 10,
+				expected:   10, // Should return default
+			},
+			{
+				name:       "when env var does not exist",
+				envVarName: "TEST_INT_VAR_3",
+				envVarVal:  "", // Signifies not set
+				defaultVal: 20,
+				expected:   20, // Should return default
+			},
+			{
+				name:       "when env var is zero",
+				envVarName: "TEST_INT_VAR_4",
+				envVarVal:  "0",
+				defaultVal: 5,
+				expected:   0,
+			},
+		}
+
+		for _, tt := range tests {
+			tt := tt
+			Context(tt.name, func() {
+				BeforeEach(func() {
+					if tt.envVarVal != "" {
+						os.Setenv(tt.envVarName, tt.envVarVal)
+					} else {
+						os.Unsetenv(tt.envVarName)
+					}
+				})
+				AfterEach(func() {
+					os.Unsetenv(tt.envVarName)
+				})
+
+				It("should return the expected integer value", func() {
+					result := getEnvAsInt(tt.envVarName, tt.defaultVal)
+					Expect(result).To(Equal(tt.expected))
+				})
+			})
+		}
+	})
+
+	Describe("getEnvAsFloat64", func() {
+		tests := []struct {
+			name       string
+			envVarName string
+			envVarVal  string
+			defaultVal float64
+			expected   float64
+		}{
+			{"when env var is a valid float", "TEST_FLOAT_VAR_1", "123.45", 0.0, 123.45},
+			{"when env var is an invalid float", "TEST_FLOAT_VAR_2", "xyz", 10.5, 10.5},
+			{"when env var does not exist", "TEST_FLOAT_VAR_3", "", 20.0, 20.0},
+		}
+
+		for _, tt := range tests {
+			tt := tt
+			Context(tt.name, func() {
+				BeforeEach(func() {
+					if tt.envVarVal != "" {
+						os.Setenv(tt.envVarName, tt.envVarVal)
+					} else {
+						os.Unsetenv(tt.envVarName)
+					}
+				})
+
+				AfterEach(func() {
+					os.Unsetenv(tt.envVarName)
+				})
+
+				It("should return the expected float64 value", func() {
+					result := getEnvAsFloat64(tt.envVarName, tt.defaultVal)
+					Expect(result).To(Equal(tt.expected))
+				})
+			})
+		}
+	})
+
+	Describe("getEnvAsStr", func() {
+		tests := []struct {
+			name       string
+			envVarName string
+			envVarVal  string // Use "" to signify env var is NOT set
+			defaultVal string
+			expected   string
+		}{
+			{"when env var is a valid string", "TEST_STR_VAR_1", "hello", "default", "hello"},
+			{"when env var is an empty string", "TEST_STR_VAR_2", "", "default", ""},           // Note: os.Getenv returns "" for empty or not set
+			{"when env var does not exist", "TEST_STR_VAR_3", "NOT_SET", "default", "default"}, // Use a marker like "NOT_SET"
+		}
+
+		for _, tt := range tests {
+			tt := tt
+			Context(tt.name, func() {
+				BeforeEach(func() {
+					if tt.envVarVal == "NOT_SET" {
+						os.Unsetenv(tt.envVarName)
+					} else {
+						os.Setenv(tt.envVarName, tt.envVarVal)
+					}
+				})
+
+				AfterEach(func() {
+					os.Unsetenv(tt.envVarName)
+				})
+
+				It("should return the expected string value", func() {
+					result := getEnvAsStr(tt.envVarName, tt.defaultVal)
+					Expect(result).To(Equal(tt.expected))
+				})
+			})
+		}
+	})
+
+	Describe("getEnvAsBool", func() {
+		tests := []struct {
+			name       string
+			envVarName string
+			envVarVal  string
+			defaultVal bool
+			expected   bool
+		}{
+			{"when env var is 'true'", "TEST_BOOL_VAR_1", "true", false, true},
+			{"when env var is 'false'", "TEST_BOOL_VAR_2", "false", true, false},
+			{"when env var is an invalid boolean string", "TEST_BOOL_VAR_3", "notbool", false, false},
+			{"when env var does not exist", "TEST_BOOL_VAR_4", "NOT_SET", true, true},
+		}
+
+		for _, tt := range tests {
+			tt := tt
+			Context(tt.name, func() {
+				BeforeEach(func() {
+					if tt.envVarVal == "NOT_SET" {
+						os.Unsetenv(tt.envVarName)
+					} else {
+						os.Setenv(tt.envVarName, tt.envVarVal)
+					}
+				})
+
+				AfterEach(func() {
+					os.Unsetenv(tt.envVarName)
+				})
+
+				It("should return the expected boolean value", func() {
+					result := getEnvAsBool(tt.envVarName, tt.defaultVal)
+					Expect(result).To(Equal(tt.expected))
+				})
+			})
+		}
+	})
+})