What are the best practices for using environment variables in Ruby?

What are the best practices for using environment variables in Ruby?

The best practices include using a gem like 'dotenv' for local development, keeping sensitive data out of your codebase, and using environment variables for configuration.

How do I set up the 'dotenv' gem in my Ruby project?

You can set it up by adding 'gem dotenv' to your Gemfile, running 'bundle install', and then creating a .env file to store your variables.

Is it safe to store API keys in environment variables?

Yes, it's safer than hardcoding them in your source code, but ensure your .env file is not included in version control.

What should I do if I accidentally commit my .env file?

You should remove it from your repository history, change any exposed keys, and add it to your .gitignore file.