# Local environment variables for development and testing3. No Secrets, No Risk
- Because
.env.dist.localcontains no real credentials, it can safely be committed to Git.- Real secrets still go into
.env.local(gitignored) or platform secret management.Conclusion
The
.env.dist.localfile plays a crucial role in setting up and maintaining a consistent development environment across teams. By separating the distribution template from actual sensitive values, projects can ensure security, consistency, and clarity on required configurations.
gitignoreconfiguration to properly manage these different environment layers? .env.dist.localA git-ignored file containing sensitive credentials or machine-specific paths. This file is unique to your local machine and should never be committed to version control. .env.dist.local (The Local Blueprint): This is a specialized variation used to store local defaults # Local environment variables for development and testing 3
# Local overrides template – copy to .env.local DATABASE_URL=mysql://app:devpass@127.0.0.1:3306/app_local TRUSTED_PROXES=127.0.0.1 DEV_TOOLS_ENABLED=1