a better dotenv–from the creator of dotenv.

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

Quickstart

Install and use it in code just like dotenv.

npm install @dotenvx/dotenvx --save

// index.js
require('@dotenvx/dotenvx').config()

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

or install globally - unlocks dotenv for any language, framework, or platform!

curl -sfS https://dotenvx.sh | sh
dotenvx help

brew install dotenvx/brew/dotenvx
dotenvx help

docker run -it --rm -v $(pwd):/app dotenv/dotenvx help

curl -L -o dotenvx.tar.gz "https://github.com/dotenvx/dotenvx/releases/latest/download/dotenvx-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m).tar.gz"
tar -xzf dotenvx.tar.gz
./dotenvx help

winget install dotenvx
dotenvx help

Run Anywhere

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

$ node index.js
Hello undefined # without dotenvx

$ dotenvx run -- node index.js
Hello World # with dotenvx
> :-D

see extended quickstart guide

More examples

• // package.json
  {
    "type": "module",
    "dependencies": {
      "chalk": "^5.3.0"
    }
  }

  // index.ts
  import chalk from 'chalk'
  console.log(chalk.blue(`Hello ${process.env.HELLO}`))

  $ npm install
  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx run -- npx tsx index.ts
  Hello World

• $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + Deno.env.get('HELLO'))" > index.ts
  
  $ deno run --allow-env index.ts
  Hello undefined
  
  $ dotenvx run -- deno run --allow-env index.ts
  Hello World

  [!WARNING] Some of you are attempting to use the npm module directly with deno run. Don't, because deno currently has incomplete support for these encryption ciphers.

  $ deno run -A npm:@dotenvx/dotenvx encrypt
  Unknown cipher

  Instead, use dotenvx as designed, by installing the cli as a binary - via curl, brew, etc.

• $ echo "HELLO=Test" > .env.test
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ bun index.js
  Hello undefined
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.test -- bun index.js
  Hello Test

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

  see extended python guide

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

  see extended php guide

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

  see extended ruby guide

• $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo 'package main; import ("fmt"; "os"); func main() { fmt.Printf("Hello %s\n", os.Getenv("HELLO")) }' > main.go
  
  $ dotenvx run -- go run main.go
  Hello World

  see extended go guide

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

  see extended rust guide

• $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo 'public class Index { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println("Hello " + System.getenv("HELLO")); } }' > index.java
  
  $ dotenvx run -- java index.java
  Hello World

• $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo '(println "Hello" (System/getenv "HELLO"))' > index.clj
  
  $ dotenvx run -- clojure -M index.clj
  Hello World

• $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo 'fun main() { val hello = System.getenv("HELLO") ?: ""; println("Hello $hello") }' > index.kt
  $ kotlinc index.kt -include-runtime -d index.jar
  
  $ dotenvx run -- java -jar index.jar
  Hello World

• $ dotnet new console -n HelloWorld -o HelloWorld
  $ cd HelloWorld
  $ echo "HELLO=World" | Out-File -FilePath .env -Encoding utf8
  $ echo 'Console.WriteLine($"Hello {Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("HELLO")}");' > Program.cs
  
  $ dotenvx run -- dotnet run
  Hello World

• $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx run --quiet -- sh -c 'echo Hello $HELLO'
  Hello World

• $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx run --quiet -- sh -c 'echo Hello $HELLO'
  Hello World

• # run every day at 8am
  0 8 * * * dotenvx run -- /path/to/myscript.sh

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

  see framework guides

• $ docker run -it --rm -v $(pwd):/app dotenv/dotenvx run -- node index.js

  Or in any image:

  FROM node:latest
  RUN echo "HELLO=World" > .env && echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  RUN curl -fsS https://dotenvx.sh/install.sh | sh
  CMD ["dotenvx", "run", "--", "echo", "Hello $HELLO"]

  see docker guide

• name: build
  on: [push]
  jobs:
    build:
      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
      steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - uses: actions/setup-node@v3
        with:
          node-version: 16
      - run: curl -fsS https://dotenvx.sh/install.sh | sh
      - run: dotenvx run -- node build.js
        env:
          DOTENV_KEY: ${{ secrets.DOTENV_KEY }}

  see github actions guide

• # heroku
  heroku buildpacks:add https://github.com/dotenvx/heroku-buildpack-dotenvx
  
  # docker
  RUN curl -fsS https://dotenvx.sh/install.sh | sh
  
  # vercel
  npm install @dotenvx/dotenvx --save

  see platform guides

• // pm2
  "scripts": {
    "start": "dotenvx run -- pm2-runtime start ecosystem.config.js --env production"
  },

  see process manager guides

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

• $ npm install @dotenvx/dotenvx --save

  {
    "scripts": {
      "start": "./node_modules/.bin/dotenvx run -- node index.js"
    },
    "dependencies": {
      "@dotenvx/dotenvx": "^0.5.0"
    }
  }

  $ npm run start
  
  > start
  > ./node_modules/.bin/dotenvx run -- node index.js
  
  [dotenvx][info] loading env (1) from .env
  Hello World

• # use dotenvx with asdf
  $ asdf plugin add dotenvx
  $ asdf install dotenvx latest

  thank you @jgburet of Paris 🇫🇷

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

• Reference and expand variables already on your machine for use in your .env file.

  # .env
  USERNAME="username"
  DATABASE_URL="postgres://${USERNAME}@localhost/my_database"

  // index.js
  console.log('DATABASE_URL', process.env.DATABASE_URL)

  $ dotenvx run --debug -- node index.js
  [[email protected]] injecting env (2) from .env
  DATABASE_URL postgres://username@localhost/my_database

• Add the output of a command to one of your variables in your .env file.

  # .env
  DATABASE_URL="postgres://$(whoami)@localhost/my_database"

  // index.js
  console.log('DATABASE_URL', process.env.DATABASE_URL)

  $ dotenvx run --debug -- node index.js
  [[email protected]] injecting env (1) from .env
  DATABASE_URL postgres://yourusername@localhost/my_database

Multiple Environments

Create a .env.production file and use -f to load it. It's straightforward, yet flexible.

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

$ dotenvx run -f .env.production -- node index.js
[dotenvx][info] loading env (1) from .env.production
Hello production
> ^^

More examples

• $ echo "HELLO=local" > .env.local
  
  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.local -f .env -- node index.js
  [dotenvx][info] loading env (1) from .env.local,.env
  Hello local

• $ echo "HELLO=local" > .env.local
  
  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.local -f .env --overload -- node index.js
  [dotenvx][info] loading env (1) from .env.local,.env
  Hello World

• $ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.production --verbose -- node index.js
  [dotenvx][verbose] injecting env from /path/to/.env.production
  [dotenvx][verbose] HELLO set
  [dotenvx][info] loading env (1) from .env.production
  Hello production

• $ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.production --debug -- node index.js
  [dotenvx][debug] configuring options
  [dotenvx][debug] {"envFile":[".env.production"]}
  [dotenvx][verbose] injecting env from /path/to/.env.production
  [dotenvx][debug] reading env from /path/to/.env.production
  [dotenvx][debug] parsing env from /path/to/.env.production
  [dotenvx][debug] {"HELLO":"production"}
  [dotenvx][debug] writing env from /path/to/.env.production
  [dotenvx][verbose] HELLO set
  [dotenvx][debug] HELLO set to production
  [dotenvx][info] loading env (1) from .env.production
  Hello production

• Use --quiet to suppress all output (except errors).

  $ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.production --quiet -- node index.js
  Hello production

• Set --log-level to whatever you wish. For example, to supress warnings (risky), set log level to error:

  $ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.production --log-level=error -- node index.js
  Hello production

  Available log levels are error, warn, info, verbose, debug, silly

• Load envs using Next.js' convention. Set --convention to nextjs:

  $ echo "HELLO=development local" > .env.development.local
  $ echo "HELLO=local" > .env.local
  $ echo "HELLO=development" > .env.development
  $ echo "HELLO=env" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx run --convention=nextjs -- node index.js
  Hello development local

  (more conventions available upon request)

Encryption

Add encryption to your .env files with a single command. Use dotenvx encrypt.

$ dotenvx encrypt
✔ encrypted (.env)

A DOTENV_PUBLIC_KEY (encryption key) and a DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY (decryption key) are generated using the same public-key cryptography as Bitcoin.

More examples

• $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ dotenvx run -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (2) from .env
  Hello World

• $ echo "HELLO=Production" > .env.production
  $ dotenvx encrypt -f .env.production
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION="<.env.production private key>" dotenvx run -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (2) from .env.production
  Hello Production

  Note the DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION ends with _PRODUCTION. This instructs dotenvx run to load the .env.production file.

• $ echo "HELLO=Ci" > .env.ci
  $ dotenvx encrypt -f .env.ci
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_CI="<.env.ci private key>" dotenvx run -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (2) from .env.ci
  Hello Ci

  Note the DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_CI ends with _CI. This instructs dotenvx run to load the .env.ci file. See the pattern?

• $ dotenvx set HELLO World -f .env
  $ dotenvx set HELLO Production -f .env.production
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY="<.env private key>" DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION="<.env.production private key>" dotenvx run -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (3) from .env, .env.production
  Hello World

  Note the DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY instructs dotenvx run to load the .env file and the DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION instructs it to load the .env.production file. See the pattern?

• $ mkdir app1
  $ mkdir app2
  $ dotenvx set HELLO app1 -f app1/.env.ci
  $ dotenvx set HELLO app2 -f app2/.env.ci
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_CI="<app1/privat ci key>,<app2/private ci key>" dotenvx run -f app1/.env.ci -f app2/.env.ci -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (2) from app1/.env.ci,app2/.env.ci
  Hello app1
  
  $ DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_CI="<app1/privat ci key>,<app2/private ci key>" dotenvx run -f app1/.env.ci -f app2/.env.ci --overload -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (2) from app1/.env.ci,app2/.env.ci
  Hello app2

  Note the DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_CI (and any DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY*) can take multiple private keys by simply comma separating them.

• $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt --stdout
  $ dotenvx encrypt --stdout > .env.encrypted

• secp256k1 is a well-known and battle tested curve, in use with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but we are open to adding support for more curves.

  If your organization's compliance department requires NIST approved curves or other curves like curve25519, please reach out at [email protected].

Advanced

Become a dotenvx power user.

• Reference and expand variables already on your machine for use in your .env file.

  # .env
  USERNAME="username"
  DATABASE_URL="postgres://${USERNAME}@localhost/my_database"

  // index.js
  console.log('DATABASE_URL', process.env.DATABASE_URL)

  $ dotenvx run --debug -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (2) from .env
  DATABASE_URL postgres://username@localhost/my_database

• Add the output of a command to one of your variables in your .env file.

  # .env
  DATABASE_URL="postgres://$(whoami)@localhost/my_database"

  // index.js
  console.log('DATABASE_URL', process.env.DATABASE_URL)

  $ dotenvx run --debug -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (1) from .env
  DATABASE_URL postgres://yourusername@localhost/my_database

• Prevent your shell from expanding inline $VARIABLES before dotenvx has a chance to inject it. Use a subshell.

  $ dotenvx run --env="HELLO=World" -- sh -c 'echo Hello $HELLO'
  Hello World

• Compose multiple .env files for environment variables loading, as you need.

  $ echo "HELLO=local" > .env.local
  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.local -f .env -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (1) from .env.local, .env
  Hello local

• Set environment variables as a simple KEY=value string pair.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ dotenvx run --env HELLO=String -f .env -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (1) from .env, and --env flag
  Hello String

• Override existing env variables. These can be variables already on your machine or variables loaded as files consecutively. The last variable seen will 'win'.

  $ echo "HELLO=local" > .env.local
  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.local -f .env --overload -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (1) from .env.local, .env
  Hello World

• Decrypt your encrypted .env by setting DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY before dotenvx run.

  $ touch .env
  $ dotenvx set HELLO encrypted
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  # check your .env.keys files for your privateKey
  $ DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY="122...0b8" dotenvx run -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (2) from .env
  Hello encrypted

• Decrypt your encrypted .env.production by setting DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION before dotenvx run. Alternatively, this can be already set on your server or cloud provider.

  $ touch .env.production
  $ dotenvx set HELLO "production encrypted" -f .env.production
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  # check .env.keys for your privateKey
  $ DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION="122...0b8" dotenvx run -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (2) from .env.production
  Hello production encrypted

  Note the DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION ends with _PRODUCTION. This instructs dotenvx run to load the .env.production file.

• Decrypt your encrypted .env.ci by setting DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_CI before dotenvx run. Alternatively, this can be already set on your server or cloud provider.

  $ touch .env.ci
  $ dotenvx set HELLO "ci encrypted" -f .env.production
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  # check .env.keys for your privateKey
  $ DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_CI="122...0b8" dotenvx run -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (2) from .env.ci
  Hello ci encrypted

  Note the DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_CI ends with _CI. This instructs dotenvx run to load the .env.ci file. See the pattern?

• Decrypt your encrypted .env and .env.production files by setting DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY and DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION before dotenvx run.

  $ touch .env
  $ touch .env.production
  $ dotenvx set HELLO encrypted
  $ dotenvx set HELLO "production encrypted" -f .env.production
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  # check .env.keys for your privateKeys
  $ DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY="122...0b8" DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION="122...0b8" dotenvx run -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (3) from .env, .env.production
  Hello encrypted
  
  $ DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION="122...0b8" DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY="122...0b8" dotenvx run -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (3) from .env.production, .env
  Hello production encrypted

  Compose any encrypted files you want this way. As long as a DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_${environment} is set, the values from .env.${environment} will be decrypted at runtime.

• Set log level to verbose. (log levels)

  $ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.production --verbose -- node index.js
  loading env from .env.production (/path/to/.env.production)
  HELLO set
  [dotenvx] injecting env (1) from .env.production
  Hello production

• Set log level to debug. (log levels)

  $ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.production --debug -- node index.js
  process command [node index.js]
  options: {"env":[],"envFile":[".env.production"]}
  loading env from .env.production (/path/to/.env.production)
  {"HELLO":"production"}
  HELLO set
  HELLO set to production
  [dotenvx] injecting env (1) from .env.production
  executing process command [node index.js]
  expanding process command to [/opt/homebrew/bin/node index.js]
  Hello production

• Use --quiet to suppress all output (except errors). (log levels)

  $ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.production --quiet -- node index.js
  Hello production

• Set --log-level to whatever you wish. For example, to supress warnings (risky), set log level to error:

  $ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ dotenvx run -f .env.production --log-level=error -- node index.js
  Hello production

  Available log levels are error, warn, info, verbose, debug, silly (source)

• Load envs using Next.js' convention. Set --convention to nextjs:

  $ echo "HELLO=development local" > .env.development.local
  $ echo "HELLO=local" > .env.local
  $ echo "HELLO=development" > .env.development
  $ echo "HELLO=env" > .env
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ dotenvx run --convention=nextjs -- node index.js
  [dotenvx] injecting env (1) from .env.development.local, .env.local, .env.development, .env
  Hello development local

  (more conventions available upon request)

• Return a single environment variable's value.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx get HELLO
  World

• Return a single environment variable's value from a specific .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx get HELLO -f .env.production
  production

• Return a single environment variable's value from a --env string.

  $ dotenvx get HELLO --env HELLO=String -f .env.production
  String

• Return a single environment variable's value where each found value is overloaded.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx get HELLO -f .env.production --env HELLO=String -f .env --overload
  World

• Return a single environment variable's value using Next.js' convention. Set --convention to nextjs:

  $ echo "HELLO=development local" > .env.development.local
  $ echo "HELLO=local" > .env.local
  $ echo "HELLO=development" > .env.development
  $ echo "HELLO=env" > .env
  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
  $ dotenvx get HELLO --convention=nextjs
  development local

• Return a json response of all key/value pairs in a .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx get
  {"HELLO":"World"}

• Return a shell formatted response of all key/value pairs in a .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "KEY=value" >> .env
  
  $ dotenvx get --format shell
  HELLO=World KEY=value

  This can be useful when combined with env on the command line.

  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.KEY + ' ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  $ env $(dotenvx get --format=shell) node index.js
  Hello value World

  or with export.

  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.KEY + ' ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  $ export $(dotenvx get --format=shell)
  $ node index.js
  Hello value World

• Return an eval-ready shell formatted response of all key/value pairs in a .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "KEY=value" >> .env
  
  $ dotenvx get --format eval
  HELLO="World"
  KEY="value"

  Note that this exports newlines and quoted strings.

  This can be useful for more complex .env values (spaces, escaped characters, quotes, etc) combined with eval on the command line.

  $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.KEY + ' ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  $ eval $(dotenvx get --format=eval) node index.js
  Hello value World

  Be careful with eval as it allows for arbitrary execution of commands. Prefer dotenvx run -- but in some cases eval is a sharp knife that is useful to have.

• Return preset machine envs as well.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx get --all
  {"PWD":"/some/file/path","USER":"username","LIBRARY_PATH":"/usr/local/lib", ..., "HELLO":"World"}

• Make the output more readable - pretty print it.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx get --all --pretty-print
  {
    "PWD": "/some/filepath",
    "USER": "username",
    "LIBRARY_PATH": "/usr/local/lib",
    ...,
    "HELLO": "World"
  }

• Set an encrypted key/value (on by default).

  $ touch .env
  
  $ dotenvx set HELLO World
  set HELLO with encryption (.env)

• Set an (encrypted) key/value for another .env file.

  $ touch .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx set HELLO production -f .env.production
  set HELLO with encryption (.env.production)

• Set a value containing spaces.

  $ touch .env.ci
  
  $ dotenvx set HELLO "my ci" -f .env.ci
  set HELLO with encryption (.env.ci)

• If your value starts with a dash (-), then place two dashes instructing the cli that there are no more flag arguments.

  $ touch .env.ci
  
  $ dotenvx set HELLO -f .env.ci -- "- + * ÷"
  set HELLO with encryption (.env.ci)

• Set a plaintext key/value.

  $ touch .env
  
  $ dotenvx set HELLO World --plain
  set HELLO (.env)

• Encrypt the contents of a .env file to an encrypted .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx encrypt
  ✔ encrypted (.env)
  ✔ key added to .env.keys (DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY)
  ⮕  next run [dotenvx ext gitignore --pattern .env.keys] to gitignore .env.keys
  ⮕  next run [DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY='122...0b8' dotenvx run -- yourcommand] to test decryption locally

• Encrypt the contents of a specified .env file to an encrypted .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "HELLO=Production" > .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx encrypt -f .env.production
  ✔ encrypted (.env.production)
  ✔ key added to .env.keys (DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION)
  ⮕  next run [dotenvx ext gitignore --pattern .env.keys] to gitignore .env.keys
  ⮕  next run [DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY='bff...bc4' dotenvx run -- yourcommand] to test decryption locally

• Specify the key(s) to encrypt by passing --key.

  $ echo "HELLO=World\nHELLO2=Universe" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx encrypt -k HELLO2
  ✔ encrypted (.env)

  Even specify a glob pattern.

  $ echo "HELLO=World\nHOLA=Mundo" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx encrypt -k "HE*"
  ✔ encrypted (.env)

• Specify the key(s) to NOT encrypt by passing --exclude-key.

  $ echo "HELLO=World\nHELLO2=Universe" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx encrypt -ek HELLO
  ✔ encrypted (.env)

  Even specify a glob pattern.

  $ echo "HELLO=World\nHOLA=Mundo" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx encrypt -ek "HO*"
  ✔ encrypted (.env)

• Encrypt the contents of a .env file and send to stdout.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt --stdout
  #/-------------------[DOTENV_PUBLIC_KEY]--------------------/
  #/            public-key encryption for .env files          /
  #/       [how it works](https://dotenvx.com/encryption)     /
  #/----------------------------------------------------------/
  DOTENV_PUBLIC_KEY="034af93e93708b994c10f236c96ef88e47291066946cce2e8d98c9e02c741ced45"
  # .env
  HELLO="encrypted:BDqDBibm4wsYqMpCjTQ6BsDHmMadg9K3dAt+Z9HPMfLEIRVz50hmLXPXRuDBXaJi/LwWYEVUNiq0HISrslzQPaoyS8Lotg3gFWJTsNCdOWnqpjF2xNUX2RQiP05kAbEXM6MWVjDr"

  or send to a file:

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt --stdout > somefile.txt

• Decrypt the contents of an encrypted .env file to an unencrypted .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt
  ✔ encrypted (.env)
  $ dotenvx decrypt
  ✔ decrypted (.env)

• Decrypt the contents of a specified encrypted .env file to an unencrypted .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "HELLO=Production" > .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx encrypt -f .env.production
  ✔ encrypted (.env.production)
  $ dotenvx decrypt -f .env.production
  ✔ decrypted (.env.production)

• Decrypt the contents of a specified key inside an encrypted .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World\nHOLA=Mundo" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt
  ✔ encrypted (.env)
  $ dotenvx decrypt -k HELLO
  ✔ decrypted (.env)

  Even specify a glob pattern.

  $ echo "HELLO=World\nHOLA=Mundo" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt
  ✔ encrypted (.env)
  $ dotenvx decrypt -k "HE*"
  ✔ encrypted (.env)

• Decrypt the contents inside an encrypted .env file except for an exluded key.

  $ echo "HELLO=World\nHOLA=Mundo" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt
  ✔ encrypted (.env)
  $ dotenvx decrypt -ek HOLA
  ✔ decrypted (.env)

  Even specify a glob pattern.

  $ echo "HELLO=World\nHOLA=Mundo" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt
  ✔ encrypted (.env)
  $ dotenvx decrypt -ek "HO*"
  ✔ encrypted (.env)

• Decrypt the contents of an encrypted .env file and send to stdout.

  $ dotenvx decrypt --stdout
  #/-------------------[DOTENV_PUBLIC_KEY]--------------------/
  #/            public-key encryption for .env files          /
  #/       [how it works](https://dotenvx.com/encryption)     /
  #/----------------------------------------------------------/
  DOTENV_PUBLIC_KEY="034af93e93708b994c10f236c96ef88e47291066946cce2e8d98c9e02c741ced45"
  # .env
  HELLO="World"

  or send to a file:

  $ dotenvx decrypt --stdout > somefile.txt

• Print public/private keys for .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt
  
  $ dotenvx keypair
  {"DOTENV_PUBLIC_KEY":"<publicKey>","DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY":"<privateKey>"}

• Print public/private keys for .env.production file.

  $ echo "HELLO=Production" > .env.production
  $ dotenvx encrypt -f .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx keypair -f .env.production
  {"DOTENV_PUBLIC_KEY_PRODUCTION":"<publicKey>","DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION":"<privateKey>"}

• Print specific keypair for .env file.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ dotenvx encrypt
  
  $ dotenvx keypair DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY
  <privateKey>

• Print a shell formatted reponse of public/private keys.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ dotenx encrypt
  
  $ dotenvx keypair --format shell
  DOTENV_PUBLIC_KEY=<publicKey> DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY=<privateKey>

• Print all .env files in a tree structure.

  $ touch .env
  $ touch .env.production
  $ mkdir -p apps/backend
  $ touch apps/backend/.env
  
  $ dotenvx ls
  ├─ .env.production
  ├─ .env
  └─ apps
     └─ backend
        └─ .env

• Print all .env files inside a specified path to a directory.

  $ touch .env
  $ touch .env.production
  $ mkdir -p apps/backend
  $ touch apps/backend/.env
  
  $ dotenvx ls apps/backend
  └─ .env

• Glob .env filenames matching a wildcard.

  $ touch .env
  $ touch .env.production
  $ mkdir -p apps/backend
  $ touch apps/backend/.env
  $ touch apps/backend/.env.prod
  
  $ dotenvx ls -f **/.env.prod*
  ├─ .env.production
  └─ apps
     └─ backend
        └─ .env.prod

• Glob .env filenames excluding a wildcard.

  $ touch .env
  $ touch .env.production
  $ mkdir -p apps/backend
  $ touch apps/backend/.env
  $ touch apps/backend/.env.prod
    
  $ dotenvx ls -ef '**/.env.prod*'
  ├─ .env
  └─ apps
     └─ backend
        └─ .env

• Output help for dotenvx.

  $ dotenvx help
  Usage: dotenvx run -- yourcommand
  
  a better dotenv–from the creator of `dotenv`
  
  Options:
    -l, --log-level <level>      set log level (default: "info")
    -q, --quiet                  sets log level to error
    -v, --verbose                sets log level to verbose
    -d, --debug                  sets log level to debug
    -V, --version                output the version number
    -h, --help                   display help for command
  
  Commands:
    run                inject env at runtime [dotenvx run -- yourcommand]
    get [KEY]          return a single environment variable
    set <KEY> <value>  set a single environment variable
    encrypt            convert .env file(s) to encrypted .env file(s)
    decrypt            convert encrypted .env file(s) to plain .env file(s)
    keypair [KEY]      print public/private keys for .env file(s)
    ls [directory]     print all .env files in a tree structure
     
  Advanced: 
    pro                          🏆 pro
    ext                          🔌 extensions

  You can get more detailed help per command with dotenvx help COMMAND.

  $ dotenvx help run
  Usage: @dotenvx/dotenvx run [options]
  
  inject env at runtime [dotenvx run -- yourcommand]
  
  Options:
    -e, --env <strings...>            environment variable(s) set as string (example: "HELLO=World") (default: [])
    -f, --env-file <paths...>         path(s) to your env file(s) (default: [])
    -fv, --env-vault-file <paths...>  path(s) to your .env.vault file(s) (default: [])
    -o, --overload                    override existing env variables
    --convention <name>               load a .env convention (available conventions: ['nextjs'])
    -h, --help                        display help for command
  
  Examples:
  
    $ dotenvx run -- npm run dev
    $ dotenvx run -- flask --app index run
    $ dotenvx run -- php artisan serve
    $ dotenvx run -- bin/rails s
  
  Try it:
  
    $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
    $ echo "console.log('Hello ' + process.env.HELLO)" > index.js
  
    $ dotenvx run -- node index.js
    [dotenvx] injecting env (1) from .env
    Hello World

• Check current version of dotenvx.

  $ dotenvx --version
  X.X.X

Extensions 🔌

• In one command, generate a .env.example file from your current .env file contents.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  
  $ dotenvx ext genexample
  ✔ updated .env.example (1)

  # .env.example
  HELLO=""

• Pass multiple .env files to generate your .env.example file from the combination of their contents.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ echo "DB_HOST=example.com" > .env.production
  
  $ dotenvx ext genexample -f .env -f .env.production
  ✔ updated .env.example (2)

  # .env.example
  HELLO=""
  DB_HOST=""

• Generate a .env.example file inside the specified directory. Useful for monorepos.

  $ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
  $ mkdir -p apps/backend
  $ echo "HELLO=Backend" > apps/backend/.env
  
  $ dotenvx ext genexample apps/backend
  ✔ updated .env.example (1)

  # apps/backend/.env.example
  HELLO=""

• Gitignore your .env files.

  $ dotenvx ext gitignore
  creating .gitignore
  appending .env* to .gitignore
  done

• Prevent .env files from being committed to code.

  $ dotenvx ext precommit
  [dotenvx][precommit] success

• Install a shell script to .git/hooks/pre-commit to prevent accidentally committing any .env files to source control.

  $ dotenvx ext precommit --install
  [dotenvx][precommit] dotenvx precommit installed [.git/hooks/pre-commit]

• Prevent .env files from being built into your docker containers.

  Add it to your Dockerfile.

  RUN curl -fsS https://dotenvx.sh | sh
  
  ...
  
  RUN dotenvx ext prebuild
  CMD ["dotenvx", "run", "--", "node", "index.js"]

• Use gitleaks under the hood to scan for possible secrets in your code.

  $ dotenvx ext scan
  
      ○
      │╲
      │ ○
      ○ ░
      ░    gitleaks
  
  100 commits scanned.
  no leaks found

Guides

Go deeper into using dotenvx with detailed framework and platform guides.

• Digital Ocean
• Docker
• Fly.io
• GitHub Actions
• Heroku
• Netlify
• NPM
• Nx
• Render
• Railway
• Turborepo
• Vercel
• more
  • Node.js
  • Python
  • PHP
  • Ruby
  • Rust

FAQ

Why am I getting the error node: .env: not found?

You are using Node 20 or greater and it adds a differing implementation of --env-file flag support. Rather than warn on a missing .env file (like dotenv has historically done), it raises an error: node: .env: not found.

This fix is easy. Replace --env-file with -f.

# from this:
./node_modules/.bin/dotenvx run --env-file .env -- yourcommand
# to this:
./node_modules/.bin/dotenvx run -f .env -- yourcommand

more context

What happened to the .env.vault file?

I've decided we should sunset it as a technological solution to this.

The .env.vault file got us far, but it had limitations such as:

• Pull Requests - it was difficult to tell which key had been changed
• Security - there was no mechanism to give a teammate the ability to encrypt without also giving them the ability to decrypt. Sometimes you just want to let a contractor encrypt a new value, but you don't want them to know the rest of the secrets.
• Conceptual - it takes more mental energy to understand the .env.vault format. Encrypted values inside a .env file is easier to quickly grasp.
• Combining Multiple Files - there was simply no mechanism to do this well with the .env.vault file format.

That said, the .env.vault tooling will still stick around for at least 1 year under dotenvx vault parent command. I'm still using it in projects as are many thousands of other people.

How do I migrate my .env.vault file(s) to encrypted .env files?

Run $ dotenvx ext vault migrate and follow the instructions.

Contributing

You can fork this repo and create pull requests or if you have questions or feedback:

• github.com/dotenvx/dotenvx - bugs and discussions
• @dotenvx 𝕏 (DMs are open)