# .env.development # Public (client-accessible) NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_NAME=MyApp Dev NEXT_PUBLIC_API_BASE=http://localhost:3000/api
# Other Settings WEBPACK_DEV_SERVER_PORT=8080 .env.development
The key takeaways are simple but impactful: use .env.development for team-shared development defaults, store secrets in .env.development.local and never commit them, always provide an .env.example template, properly configure your .gitignore to prevent leaks, and restart your server after making changes. always provide an .env.example template
REACT_APP_API_URL=https://api.myapp.com REACT_APP_DEBUG=false REACT_APP_APP_NAME=MyApp .env.development
your-nextjs-app/ ├── .env.local # Local overrides (gitignored) ├── .env.development # Development defaults (committed) ├── .env.test # Testing defaults (committed) ├── .env.production # Production defaults (committed) └── next.config.js
If a password or value contains symbols like # , $ , or spaces, wrap the entire value in double quotes. Failing to do so can break string parsing or cause systems like Docker to misinterpret your variables. 4. Implementing .env.development Across Frameworks Node.js (Express & Vanilla JavaScript)
In the world of coding, .env.development is the secret notebook where developers keep their local project settings—like private API keys or database links—safe and separate from the "real" live site.