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Discussion on: Stop Using .env Files Now!

 
wuya666 profile image
wuya666

Well, remote APIs are inherently less secure than local access, and using config server just means you move your sensitive data from local files to a remote database. Of course it can be less prone to human errors and much easier to use, but in the end I doubt either approach (remote database vs. local file) can be said decisively safer, it really depends on the specific situation and implementation.

I do agree if you are managing many complex production systems you should not manage configs with individual files, unless you have some good file-based config management solution in place.

But then in the end the configs and passwords for this remote database/config server thing still needs to be stored in some environment variables and/or .env files (or rc files, or whatever local config files you want to name them) anyway.

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gregorygaines profile image
Gregory Gaines • Edited

When using a VPC you are essentially using local access. Yes you are moving sentive data behind permissions and access retrictions. I do however believe that .env should be used for local / development oriented enviornments like I mentioned in the article.

I guess we can agree to meet in the middle.