: Developers use it as a starting point by running a command like cp .env.dist.local .env.local to create their private config file. How it differs from other .env files Git Tracked? .env Default values for all environments. .env.dist A "distribution" template for the entire project. .env.dist.local Yes A template specifically for local machine overrides. .env.local The actual local secrets/settings for your machine.
If a developer runs cp .env.dist.local .env.local , they instantly have a working local configuration that respects the project's required variables. .env.dist.local
Here are the primary use cases for this file: : Developers use it as a starting point
To manage this, we use templates like .env.example or .env.dist . But as projects grow more complex, a specific file pattern has emerged to bridge the gap between shared configuration and local overrides: .env.dist.local . If a developer runs cp
| Attribute | Value | |-----------|-------| | | ✅ Yes (committed to Git) | | Contains secrets? | ❌ No (only dummy values) | | Purpose | Provide a baseline config for local development | | Overrides | Often overridden by .env.local or actual .env |
DB_HOST=db DB_PORT=5432 DB_USER=myuser DB_PASSWORD=mypassword
The .env.dist.local file is a configuration template used to manage environment variables that should be shared across a team but contain placeholders for local values. The Feature: Shared Local Templates