@dotenv/dotenv

a better dotenv–from the creator of dotenv.

• run anywhere (cross-platform)
• multi-environment
• encrypted envs

 

Quickstart

brew install dotenv-org/brew/dotenv

• other ways to install

 

Run Anywhere

$ echo "HELLO=World" > .env && echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js

$ node index.js
Hello undefined

$ dotenv run -- node index.js
Hello World
> :-D

More examples

• Python 🐍

  
  

  $ echo 'import os;print("Hello " + os.getenv("HELLO", ""))' > index.py
  
  $ dotenv run -- python3 index.py
  Hello World
  

• PHP 🐘

  
  

  $ echo '<?php echo "Hello {$_SERVER["HELLO"]}\n";' > index.php
  
  $ dotenv run -- php index.php
  Hello World
  

• Ruby 💎

  
  

  $ echo 'puts "Hello #{ENV["HELLO"]}"' > index.rb
  
  $ dotenv run -- ruby index.rb
  Hello World
  

• Rust 🦀

  
  

  $ echo 'fn main() {let hello = std::env::var("HELLO").unwrap_or("".to_string());println!("Hello {hello}");}' > src/main.rs
  
  $ dotenv run -- cargo run
  Hello World
  

• Frameworks ▲

  
  

  $ dotenv run -- next dev
  $ dotenv run -- npm start
  $ dotenv run -- bin/rails s
  $ dotenv run -- php artisan serve
  

• Docker 🐳

  
  

  # run as a command-line tool
  docker run -it --rm -v $(pwd):/app dotenv/dotenv run -- node index.js
  

  # include in a Dockerfile
  # example coming soon
  

• CI/CDs 🐙

  
  

  examples coming soon
  

• Platforms

  
  

  examples coming soon
  

• npx

  
  

  # alternatively use npx
  $ npx @dotenv/dotenv run -- node index.js
  $ npx @dotenv/dotenv run -- next dev
  $ npx @dotenv/dotenv run -- npm start
  

• Git

  
  

  # use as a git submodule
  $ git dotenv run -- node index.js
  $ git dotenv run -- next dev
  $ git dotenv run -- npm start
  

 

Multiple Environments

Pass the --env-file flag (shorthand -f) to run any environment from a .env.environment file.

$ dotenv run --env-file=.env.production -- node index.js
[dotenv][INFO] Injecting 12 production environment variables into your application process

Combine multiple .env files if you like.

$ dotenv run --env-file=.env.local --env-file=.env -- node index.js
[dotenv][INFO] Injecting 12 local, 1 development environment variables into your application process

 

Encrypt Your Env Files

WIP

 

Usage

Guide

Begin by creating a simple 'hello world' program.

// index.js
console.log(`Hello ${process.env.HELLO}`)

Run it.

$ node index.js
Hello undefined

Run it with dotenv.

$ dotenv run -- node index.js
[dotenv@x.x.x][WARN] ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '/../../.env'
Hello undefined

It warns you when there is no .env file (pass the --quiet flag to suppress these warnings).

Create the .env file.

# env
JELLO="World"

Run it again.

$ dotenv run -- node index.js
[dotenv@x.x.x][INFO] Injecting 0 environment variables into your application process
Hello undefined

Hrm, still undefined. Pass the --debug flag to debug the issue. I'll give you a hint: 🍮

$ dotenv run --debug -- node index.js
[dotenv@x.x.x][VERBOSE] Loading env from /Users/scottmotte/Code/dotenv-org/temp/sandbox2/.env
[dotenv@x.x.x][DEBUG] Reading env from /Users/scottmotte/Code/dotenv-org/temp/sandbox2/.env
[dotenv@x.x.x][DEBUG] Parsing env from /Users/scottmotte/Code/dotenv-org/temp/sandbox2/.env
[dotenv@x.x.x][DEBUG] {"JELLO":"World"}

# Oops, HELLO not JELLO ^^

Fix your .env file.

# .env
HELLO="World"

One last time. Le tired.

$ dotenv run -- node index.js
[dotenv@x.x.x][INFO] Injecting 0 environment variables into your application process
Hello undefined

 

Install

Installing with brew is most straight forward:

brew install dotenv-org/brew/dotenv

Other Ways to Install

1. After brew, installing globally using npm is easiest:

npm install @dotenv/dotenv --global

1. Or use with npx:

npx @dotenv/dotenv help

1. dotenv is a standalone binary, so (if you want) you can just download it directly:

# download it to `./dotenv`
curl -Lo ./dotenv --compressed -f --proto '=https' https://github.com/dotenv-org/dotenv/releases/latest/download/dotenv-$(uname)-$(uname -m).tar.gz

# install it to `/usr/local/bin/dotenv`
sudo install -m 755 dotenv /usr/local/bin

# check it works
dotenv --help

Contributing

If you have questions or feedback:

• github.com/dotenv-org/dotenv - bugs and discussions
• x.com/dotenvorg (DMs are open)