Best of JS • dotenvx

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!

with curl 🌐

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

with brew 🍺

brew install dotenvx/brew/dotenvx
dotenvx help

with docker 🐳

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

with github releases 🐙

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

or with windows 🪟

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

TypeScript 📘

// 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

Deno 🦕

$ 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.

Bun 🥟

$ 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

Python 🐍

$ 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

PHP 🐘

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

$ dotenvx run -- php index.php
Hello World

see extended php guide

Ruby 💎

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

$ dotenvx run -- ruby index.rb
Hello World

see extended ruby guide

Go 🐹

$ 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

Rust 🦀

$ 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

Java ☕️

$ 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

Clojure 🌿

$ echo "HELLO=World" > .env
$ echo '(println "Hello" (System/getenv "HELLO"))' > index.clj

$ dotenvx run -- clojure -M index.clj
Hello World

Kotlin 📐

$ 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

.NET 🔵

$ 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

Bash 🖥️

$ echo "HELLO=World" > .env

$ dotenvx run --quiet -- sh -c 'echo Hello $HELLO'
Hello World

Fish 🐠

$ echo "HELLO=World" > .env

$ dotenvx run --quiet -- sh -c 'echo Hello $HELLO'
Hello World

Cron ⏰

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

Frameworks ▲

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

see framework guides

Docker 🐳

$ 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

CI/CDs 🐙

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

Platforms

# 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

Process Managers

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

see process manager guides

npx

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

npm

$ 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

asdf

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

thank you @jgburet of Paris 🇫🇷

Git

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

Variable Expansion

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@0.14.1] injecting env (2) from .env
DATABASE_URL postgres://username@localhost/my_database

Command Substitution

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@0.14.1] 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

multiple `.env` files

$ 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

`--overload` flag

$ 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

`--verbose` flag

$ 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

`--debug` flag

$ 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

`--quiet` flag

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

$ echo "HELLO=production" > .env.production

$ dotenvx run -f .env.production --quiet -- node index.js
Hello production

`--log-level` flag

Set --log-level to whatever you wish. For example, to suppress 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

`--convention` flag

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

`.env`

$ 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

`.env.production`

$ 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.

`.env.ci`

$ 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?

combine multiple encrypted .env files

$ 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?

combine multiple encrypted .env files for monorepo

$ 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.

`--stdout`

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

other curves

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 security@dotenvx.com.

Advanced

Become a dotenvx power user.

`run` - Variable Expansion

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

`run` - Command Substitution

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

`run` - Shell Expansion

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
```

`run` - multiple `-f` flags

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

`run --env HELLO=String`

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

`run --overload`

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

`DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY=key run`

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

`DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION=key run`

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.

`DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_CI=key dotenvx run`

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.ci
$ 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?

`DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY=key DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION=key run` - Combine Multiple

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.

`run --verbose`

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

`run --debug`

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

`run --quiet`

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

`run --log-level`

Set --log-level to whatever you wish. For example, to suppress 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)

`run --strict`

Exit with code 1 if any errors are encountered - like a missing .env file or decryption failure.

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

$ dotenvx run -f .env.missing --strict -- node index.js
[MISSING_ENV_FILE] missing .env.missing file (/path/to/.env.missing)
[MISSING_ENV_FILE] ? add one with [echo "HELLO=World" > .env.missing]

This can be useful in ci scripts where you want to fail the ci if your .env file could not be decrypted at runtime.

`run --ignore`

Ignore errors like MISSING_ENV_FILE.

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

$ dotenvx run -f .env.missing --ignore=MISSING_ENV_FILE -- node index.js
...

`run --convention=nextjs`

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)

`run -fk`

Specify path to .env.keys. This is useful with monorepos.

$ mkdir -p apps/app1
$ touch apps/app1/.env
$ dotenvx set HELLO world -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env

$ dotenvx run -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env -- yourcommand

`get KEY`

Return a single environment variable's value.

$ echo "HELLO=World" > .env

$ dotenvx get HELLO
World

`get KEY -f`

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

`get KEY -fk`

Specify path to .env.keys. This is useful with monorepos.

$ mkdir -p apps/app1
$ touch apps/app1/.env
$ dotenvx set HELLO world -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env

$ dotenvx get HELLO -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env
world

`get KEY --env`

Return a single environment variable's value from a --env string.
```
$ dotenvx get HELLO --env HELLO=String -f .env.production
String
```

`get KEY --overload`

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

`get KEY --strict`

Exit with code 1 if any errors are encountered - like a missing key, missing .env file, or decryption failure.
```
$ dotenvx get DOES_NOT_EXIST --strict
[MISSING_KEY] missing DOES_NOT_EXIST key
```

`get KEY --convention=nextjs`

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

`get` (json)

Return a json response of all key/value pairs in a .env file.
```
$ echo "HELLO=World" > .env

$ dotenvx get
{"HELLO":"World"}
```

`get --format shell`

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

`get --format eval`

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.

`get --all`

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"}

`get --all --pretty-print`

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 KEY value`

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

$ touch .env

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

`set KEY value -f`

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 KEY value -fk`

Specify path to .env.keys. This is useful with monorepos.

$ mkdir -p apps/app1
$ touch apps/app1/.env

$ dotenvx set HELLO world -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env
set HELLO with encryption (.env)

Put it to use.

$ dotenvx get -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env

Use it with a relative path.

$ cd apps/app1
$ dotenvx get -fk ../../.env.keys -f .env

`set KEY "value with spaces"`

Set a value containing spaces.

$ touch .env.ci

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

`set KEY -- "- + * ÷"`

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 KEY value --plain`

Set a plaintext key/value.

$ touch .env

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

`encrypt`

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 -f`

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

`encrypt -fk`

Specify path to .env.keys. This is useful with monorepos.

$ mkdir -p apps/app1
$ echo "HELLO=World" > apps/app1/.env

$ dotenvx encrypt -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env
✔ encrypted (apps/app1/.env)

Put it to use.

$ dotenvx run -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env

Use with a relative path.

$ cd apps/app1
$ dotenvx run -fk ../../.env.keys -f .env

`encrypt -k`

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)

`encrypt -ek`

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 --stdout`

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`

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 -f`

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 -fk`

Specify path to .env.keys. This is useful with monorepos.

$ mkdir -p apps/app1
$ echo "HELLO=World" > apps/app1/.env

$ dotenvx encrypt -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env
✔ encrypted (apps/app1/.env)
$ dotenvx decrypt -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env
✔ decrypted (apps/app1/.env)

`decrypt -k`

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 -ek`

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 --stdout`

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

`keypair`

Print public/private keys for .env file.

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

$ dotenvx keypair
{"DOTENV_PUBLIC_KEY":"<publicKey>","DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY":"<privateKey>"}

`keypair -f`

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>"}

`keypair -fk`

Specify path to .env.keys. This is useful for printing public/private keys for monorepos.

$ mkdir -p apps/app1
$ echo "HELLO=World" > apps/app1/.env
$ dotenvx encrypt -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env

$ dotenvx keypair -fk .env.keys -f apps/app1/.env
{"DOTENV_PUBLIC_KEY":"<publicKey>","DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY":"<privateKey>"}

`keypair DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY`

Print specific keypair for .env file.

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

$ dotenvx keypair DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY
<privateKey>

`keypair --format shell`

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>

`ls`

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

`ls directory`

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

`ls -f`

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

`ls -ef`

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

`help`

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

`--version`

Check current version of dotenvx.
```
$ dotenvx --version
X.X.X
```

Extensions 🔌

`ext genexample`

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=""

`ext genexample -f`

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=""

`ext genexample directory`

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=""

`ext gitignore`

Gitignore your .env files.

$ dotenvx ext gitignore
✔ ignored .env* (.gitignore)

`ext gitignore --pattern`

Gitignore specific pattern(s) of .env files.

$ dotenvx ext gitignore --pattern .env.keys
✔ ignored .env.keys (.gitignore)

`ext precommit`

Prevent .env files from being committed to code.

$ dotenvx ext precommit
[dotenvx][precommit] .env files (1) protected (encrypted or gitignored)

`ext precommit --install`

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 ext precommit installed [.git/hooks/pre-commit]
```

`ext prebuild`

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

Add it to your Dockerfile.

# Dockerfile
RUN curl -fsS https://dotenvx.sh | sh

...

RUN dotenvx ext prebuild
CMD ["dotenvx", "run", "--", "node", "index.js"]

`ext scan`

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

$ dotenvx ext scan

    ○
    │╲
    │ ○
    ○ ░
    ░    gitleaks

100 commits scanned.
no leaks found

config() 📦

`config()`

Use directly in node.js code.

# .env
HELLO="World"

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

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

$ node index.js
[dotenvx@1.24.5] injecting env (1) from .env
Hello World

It defaults to looking for a .env file.

`config(path: ['.env.local', '.env'])` - multiple files

Specify path(s) to multiple .env files.

# .env.local
HELLO="Me"

# .env
HELLO="World"

// index.js
require('@dotenvx/dotenvx').config({path: ['.env.local', '.env']})

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

$ node index.js
[dotenvx@1.24.5] injecting env (1) from .env.local, .env
Hello Me

`config(overload: true)` - overload

Use overload to overwrite the prior set value.

# .env.local
HELLO="Me"

# .env
HELLO="World"

// index.js
require('@dotenvx/dotenvx').config({path: ['.env.local', '.env'], overload: true})

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

$ node index.js
[dotenvx@1.24.5] injecting env (1) from .env.local, .env
Hello World

`config(strict: true)` - strict

Use strict to throw if an error is encountered - like a missing .env file.

# .env
HELLO="World"

// index.js
require('@dotenvx/dotenvx').config({path: ['.env.missing', '.env'], strict: true})

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

$ node index.js
Error: [MISSING_ENV_FILE] missing .env.missing file (/path/to/.env.missing)

`config(ignore:)` - ignore

Use ignore to suppress specific errors like MISSING_ENV_FILE.

# .env
HELLO="World"

// index.js
require('@dotenvx/dotenvx').config({path: ['.env.missing', '.env'], ignore: ['MISSING_ENV_FILE']})

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

$ node index.js
[dotenvx@1.24.5] injecting env (1) from .env.local, .env
Hello World

`config(envKeysFile:)` - envKeysFile

Use envKeysFile to customize the path to your .env.keys file. This is useful with monorepos.
```
# .env
HELLO="World"
```
```
// index.js
require('@dotenvx/dotenvx').config({envKeysFile: '../../.env.keys'})
```

`parse(src)`

Parse a .env string directly in node.js code.

// index.js
const dotenvx = require('@dotenvx/dotenvx')
const src = 'HELLO=World'
const parsed = dotenvx.parse(src)
console.log(`Hello ${parsed.HELLO}`)

$ node index.js
Hello World

`parse(src, {processEnv:})`

Sometimes, you want to run parse without it accessing process.env. (You can pass a fake processEnv this way as well - sometimes useful.)

// index.js
const dotenvx = require('@dotenvx/dotenvx')
const src = 'USER=Me'
const parsed = dotenvx.parse(src, { processEnv: {} })
console.log(`Hello ${parsed.USER}`)

$ node index.js
Hello Me

`parse(src, {privateKey:})`

Decrypt an encrypted .env string with privateKey.

// index.js
const dotenvx = require('@dotenvx/dotenvx')
const src = 'HELLO="encrypted:BE9Y7LKANx77X1pv1HnEoil93fPa5c9rpL/1ps48uaRT9zM8VR6mHx9yM+HktKdsPGIZELuZ7rr2mn1gScsmWitppAgE/1lVprNYBCqiYeaTcKXjDUXU5LfsEsflnAsDhT/kWG1l"'
const parsed = dotenvx.parse(src, { privateKey: 'a4547dcd9d3429615a3649bb79e87edb62ee6a74b007075e9141ae44f5fb412c' })
console.log(`Hello ${parsed.HELLO}`)

$ node index.js
Hello World

`set(KEY, value)`

Programatically set an environment variable.

// index.js
const dotenvx = require('@dotenvx/dotenvx')
dotenvx.set('HELLO', 'World', { path: '.env' })

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)

dotenvx

Quickstart

Run Anywhere

Multiple Environments

Encryption

Advanced

Extensions 🔌

config() 📦

Guides

FAQ

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

What happened to the .env.vault file?

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

Contributing

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

What happened to the `.env.vault` file?

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