Using dotenv .env config file correctly

[lovegrovegeorge]

Description

How the .env file and imports should be setup for the project correctly as currently the build is breaking.

Expected behavior

• add .env file with config in root
• npm install --save dotenv
• import dotenv using require('dotenv').config(); or ES6 syntax in index.js file
• consume using process.env.CONFIG_NAME across application

Actual behavior

Using the expected behaviour approach I get the above error. I've also tried both installing dotenv and not installing it (as ejecting the repository shows dotenv is already a dependency).

Environment

react-scripts@0.6.1
node - v6.6.0
npm - 3.10.8

Using a Chrome (53.0.2785.143) on a Mac.

[zackify]

I'm trying to get this working too, I don't think you are supposed to actually install dotenv. For some reason env variables are not being imported from my .env file though.... so I am having a similar problem.

[amilajack]

@zackify Are you on windows?

[shrynx]

@georgelovegrove @zackify
Please have a look at this, for adding env variables.
https://github.com/facebookincubator/create-react-app/blob/master/packages/react-scripts/template/README.md#adding-custom-environment-variables

[zackify]

No. mac os sierra.
On Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 22:28 Amila Welihinda notifications@github.com
wrote:

@zackify https://github.com/zackify Are you on windows?

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[zackify]

Thanks but I have already. I have added the file. I'm using dotenv on other
projects and it works fine. In this case, I'm on the latest version of
create react app. Made a .env file at the root. Process.env is an empty
object in the app. Really weird for sure....
On Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 22:29 Shriyans notifications@github.com wrote:

@georgelovegrove https://github.com/georgelovegrove @zackify
https://github.com/zackify
Please have a look at this,for adding env variables.

https://github.com/facebookincubator/create-react-app/blob/master/packages/react-scripts/template/README.md#adding-custom-environment-variables

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[shrynx]

@georgelovegrove @zackify Is your os sierra too ? i am unable to reproduce it.
Also to add one more thing , in your .env file , what are the names of env variables. You have to append REACT_APP_ to them , to make it work.
eg:
This works.

REACT_APP_SECRET=mySecret  👍

and this doesn't

SECRET=anotherSecret 👎 

[lovegrovegeorge]

I'm on OS Sierra but @shrynx made me look closer at the information I read before. I missed the appending 'REACT_APP_' to the start of the key. That's a bit of a verbose pain to add that to every key, could that not be shortened or removed entirely in the scripts?

Closing now, thanks for help.

[gaearon]

It is intentionally verbose. Otherwise there is a risk of accidentally exposing a private key on the machine that happens to have the same name.

[lovegrovegeorge]

@gaearon fair point, may be worth a one liner in the docs. p.s thanks for redux! aha

[gaearon]

@georgelovegrove PRs are welcome to the docs 😉

[lovegrovegeorge]

@gaearon Won't have the finesse to explain why that you will #juniordevforlife

[gaearon]

But you know the right place to put it. We can polish the message later, PR is a start.

[zackify]

Haha! Knew there had to be something simple. Agree, it's a little confusing
especially if you are used to setting up env files yourself.
On Fri, Oct 7, 2016 at 06:53 Dan Abramov notifications@github.com wrote:

But you know the right place to put it. We can polish the message later,
PR is a start.

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