Add an option which allows override environment variables

[ApacheEx]

It's a feature request.

I think it would be cool if there will be option override or similar which can allow/disallow overriding of environment variables.
Like this:

require('dotenv').config({
  override: true
});

some discussions can be found here facebook/create-react-app#2230 (comment).
What do you think?

[maxbeatty]

This has been discussed before (sorry I'm too lazy to find old links). It's not a good idea because you could accidentally mess with variables that node or your system depend on. You can always override env vars via the command line.

[juanpaco]

This is unfortunate in my case. :( create-react-app is binding to the wrong host because HOST is set in my system environment. I've always treated the .env files as me stating this MUST be my environment. It is what it is though, and dotenv is still a useful library.

[dschaller]

Hey @ApacheEx and @juanpaco I had the same need and built this functionality out in https://github.com/dschaller/dotenv/tree/overwrite-option#overwrite. Give it a try :D

[miguelmota]

@maxbeatty the override flag is a must have. There's no harm in including this feature since the default behavior will be as it currently is. dotenv becomes essentially pointless if you have to pass environment variables in the command line. dotenv should override process.env variables and not export them system wide so I don't see how it could affect node or the system it's running on

[alexewerlof]

I've made a PR and done my best to update tests and documentations. #370 🎉

[tylerlong]

• https://www.npmjs.com/package/dotenv-override
• https://www.npmjs.com/package/dotenv-override-true

[furryablack]

A primitive review case with dotenv-expand && dotenv

const dotEnv = require("dotenv")
const dotEnvExpand = require("dotenv-expand")

const getDotEnvFiles = (dotEnvPath = `${ROOT_PATH}/.env`) => ([
  `${dotEnvPath}.${NODE_ENV}`,
  `${dotEnvPath}`,
])

const setupDotEnv = (dotEnvFile) => {
  dotEnvExpand(
    dotEnv.config({
      path: dotEnvFile,
    }),
  )
}

getDotEnvFiles().forEach((dotEnvFile) => {
  if (fs.existsSync(`${dotEnvFile}.local`)) {
    setupDotEnv(`${dotEnvFile}.local`)
  }
  if (fs.existsSync(dotEnvFile)) {
    setupDotEnv(dotEnvFile)
  }
})

env files for example:

• .env.production
  APP_NEEDS_MINIMIZE=true
• .env.production.local
  APP_NEEDS_MINIMIZE=false

UPD: all keys of both env files will be computed (nothing will be lost)

[GitStorageOne]

@maxbeatty
This feature should be implemented as stated below:

• Load specified env file, and apply all settings that does't present in process.env.
  Optional option to override system variables overrideSystemVariables is appreciated since developers better know which variables they want use or override, default behavior should not override, but if developer need do such thing, good customizable project should give necessary power.
• If dotenv.config called again with another path to env file library should load variables:
  • if overrideSystemVariables=false then override parameters that was loaded from any env file before but should not touch any system variables.
  • if overrideSystemVariables=true then override any parameters.

[MaffooBristol]

@tylerlong's solution works very nicely. I'd love to see it brought into core, it's optional after all. It could even have a warning in the documentation...!

[berkus]

Definitely a must-have. If it's a configuration option that defaults to false no default installations of dotenv would be harmed.

[bendavis78]

@maxbeatty with respect, I completely disagree. The whole point of .env files is to override system environment variables. What if I want to override a node environment variable in my .env file? As the developer I should have the freedom to do this. This is the default behavior with most implementations of dotenv in other languages (see: python).

[motdotla]

Re-opening this issue. We are going to do this. It is more intuitive.

[motdotla]

This is now available in v14.1.0 and above 🎉: https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md#1410-2022-01-17

Docs: https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv#override

[MaffooBristol]

Thank you @motdotla!

[TerryGoh]

I can't seems to override the variables in the .env file
my codes :

require('dotenv').config({ path: './.env',override: false });
let test = process.env.test
process.env.test = "r34343"

but test variable in the .env was not update

[TerryGoh]

I can't seems to override the variables in the .env file
my codes :

require('dotenv').config({ path: './.env',override: true});
let test = process.env.test
process.env.test = "r34343"

But the test variable in the .env was not update. Any idea how to update variables in the .env file via in js.

[berkus]

But the test variable in the .env was not update. Any idea how to update variables in the .env file via in js.

It works the other way around, variables defined in .env override whatever was in the environment previously. dotenv doesn't write to any files.

[atljoseph]

TBH, this improvement should have been considered long ago.
Actually found why mine wasn't working, will open up another issue, with dotenv-expand this time.
For some reason it breaks when you redefine a variable with same name, which is pretty crazy.