.env.development: __top__
This fails fast with a clear error message, preventing cryptic failures later on.
Commit a .env.example file to your repository that contains only variable names with placeholder values or blanks. This serves as documentation for required variables while keeping real values secure.
For larger projects, consider these more sophisticated approaches:
# Application Settings NODE_ENV=development PORT=3000
PAYMENT_GATEWAY=http://localhost:9090/mock-stripe .env.development
to define variables that differ from your production or testing environments. Common examples include: : Points to a local or staging server (e.g., API_BASE_URL=http://localhost:5000 Feature Flags : Enables experimental features only for developers (e.g., ENABLE_NEW_DASHBOARD=true Debug Modes : Controls the verbosity of logs. Stack Overflow 2. Configure the File Create a file named .env.development in your project's root directory. For frameworks like Create React App
In modern software development, applications often need different settings depending on where they are running (e.g., your laptop vs. a live server). The .env.development file allows you to define variables like local database URLs, API keys for testing, or debug flags that should only be active while you are coding. Why use it?
Unlike hot-reloading code changes, changes to .env files are not automatically detected. Always restart your development server after modifying any environment file to see the effects.
# Database Settings DB_HOST=localhost DB_PORT=5432 DB_USERNAME=myuser DB_PASSWORD=mypassword DB_NAME=mydb This fails fast with a clear error message,
# External APIs (Using Test/Sandbox Keys) SENDGRID_API_KEY=SG.test.fakekey STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_test_12345
The .env.development file is deceptively simple. It is just a list of key-value pairs. But its impact on developer productivity, application security, and team collaboration is immense.
Use .local files for machine-specific overrides (e.g., local API keys).
To create the content for a .env.development file, you need to define key-value pairs for settings specific to your local development environment, such as local database URLs or development API keys. Standard Template .env.development Configure the File Create a file named
An application behaves differently depending on where it runs. For example:
: Use .env.development for team-shared defaults, .env.development.local for personal overrides, and .env.local for cross-environment personal preferences.
The following is a sample .env.development file for a typical web development project:
