What are the best practices for using the dotenv gem in Ruby?

What are the best practices for using the dotenv gem in Ruby?

The dotenv gem is great for managing environment variables in Ruby applications. Best practices include keeping your .env file out of version control, using descriptive variable names, and loading the .env file early in your application.

Why should I keep my .env file out of version control?

.env files often contain sensitive information like API keys and database credentials. Keeping them out of version control helps prevent accidental exposure.

Can I use dotenv in production environments?

Yes, you can use dotenv in production, but it's recommended to set environment variables directly on the server for security reasons.

What should I do if I have multiple environments like development and production?

You can create separate .env files for each environment, like .env.development and .env.production, and load the appropriate one based on the environment.