.env.default.local [verified] -
.env.default # Base defaults (committed) .env # Environment-agnostic overrides .env.local # Local overrides (ignored) .env.development # Development environment .env.development.local # Development local overrides (ignored) .env.staging # Staging environment .env.production # Production environment .env.production.local # Production local overrides (ignored)
To understand where this file fits in, we need to break down the hierarchy of environment configuration. The Anatomy of the Filename
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# Server Configuration PORT=3000 HOST=localhost .env.default.local
By adding .env.default.local to your environment strategy, you can build flexible configuration pipelines that keep secret keys secure and local development environments stable.
Imagine a
While powerful, using .env.default.local requires adherence to a few strict rules to ensure it remains helpful rather than chaotic. : Many libraries, such as @gerkirill/config , use
: Many libraries, such as @gerkirill/config , use .env.default as the schema for validation and type checking.
Consider a BLACKLISTED_IPS variable.
Suppose you're working on a project that requires an API key to interact with a third-party service. You can store the API key in a .env.local file, which is not version-controlled. Your .env.default.local file might contain a placeholder value, like this: You can store the API key in a
If your project requires local services (like a Dockerized database or a local S3 mock), you can use .env.default.local to store the connection strings for those local services. This allows a new developer to spin up the project and have it "just work" with the local infrastructure without them having to manually copy-paste from an example file. 2. Avoiding "Gitignore" Conflicts
.env.default !.env.example