How do environment variables differ across development, staging, and production?

How do environment variables differ across development, staging, and production?

Environment variables can vary significantly between these environments. In development, they often include local database connections and API keys for testing. In staging, they might mirror production settings but with different credentials to ensure safety. Production environment variables are typically more secure and optimized for performance.

Can you give me examples of specific variables used in each environment?

Sure! In development, you might have DB_HOST=localhost and API_KEY=dev-key. In staging, it could be DB_HOST=staging-db.example.com and API_KEY=staging-key. For production, you would use DB_HOST=prod-db.example.com and API_KEY=prod-key.

What happens if I accidentally use a production variable in development?

Using a production variable in development can lead to unintended consequences, such as data corruption or security breaches. It's crucial to keep these environments isolated to prevent such issues.

How can I manage these environment variables effectively?

You can use tools like dotenv for local development, and configuration management systems like AWS Parameter Store or HashiCorp Vault for production. This helps keep your variables organized and secure.