Clarification on "Environment-Agnostic" Requirement: Handling File Paths, URLs, and API Keys for Certification

Hi Team,

I am preparing my Agentic Solution certification submission and would like some clarification on the following rubric requirement:

"Ensure the solution is environment-agnostic (no hard-coded paths or machine-specific settings)"

In my implementation, I have stored folder paths (e.g., local download folders), website URLs, and API keys as default values inside standard, read-only String variables.

Could anyone clarify if this approach passes evaluation, or what the expected standard is:

1. Local File & Download Paths:

   Is keeping local paths as read-only String default values acceptable, or will evaluators penalize this unless we dynamically fetch paths using System -> Get environment variable (USERPROFILE / TEMP)?

2. Web URLs & API Endpoints:

   Is storing URLs inside standard read-only String variable default values considered environment-agnostic?

3. API Keys:

   Is holding API keys as read-only String default values in regular variables allowed, or is using the Credential Vault (Locker) strictly mandatory for this certification?

I want to make sure my project aligns with the grading criteria before final submission.

Thank you for any guidance!