vs launch.json how to set env file

Jordan Payton

2 min read

·

05-09-2024

58

0

Share

When you're developing applications, especially with frameworks like Node.js, Python, or even web applications, configuring environment variables can be crucial for managing different settings like API keys, database connections, and other secrets. One way to handle this in Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is through the launch.json file.

Understanding launch.json

The launch.json file in VS Code is where you define the configuration for debugging your application. It allows you to specify various settings such as the type of application you're running, runtime arguments, and crucially, environment variables.

Why Use an .env File?

An .env file is used to store environment variables in a key-value pair format, making it easy to manage configurations for different environments (development, testing, production) without hardcoding sensitive information into your codebase.

How to Set Environment Variables in launch.json

To utilize an .env file with your launch.json, follow these steps:

Step 1: Create an .env File

1. In your project's root directory, create a new file and name it .env.
2. Inside the .env file, define your environment variables like so:

   API_KEY=your_api_key
   DB_URI=your_database_uri
   

Step 2: Install dotenv Package (if using Node.js)

If you're using Node.js, you'll need to load the .env variables into your application. You can do this by installing the dotenv package.

Run the following command in your terminal:

npm install dotenv

Then, add this line at the very top of your main file (e.g., index.js):

require('dotenv').config();

Step 3: Configure launch.json

1. Open your .vscode folder and then open launch.json.

2. Add the envFile attribute to your configuration. Below is a sample configuration for a Node.js application:

   {
       "version": "0.2.0",
       "configurations": [
           {
               "type": "node",
               "request": "launch",
               "name": "Launch Program",
               "program": "${workspaceFolder}/app.js",
               "envFile": "${workspaceFolder}/.env",
               "env": {
                   "NODE_ENV": "development"
               }
           }
       ]
   }
   

Step 4: Accessing Environment Variables in Your Code

Now that you have configured everything, you can access the environment variables in your code using process.env. Here's an example:

console.log('Your API Key:', process.env.API_KEY);
console.log('Database URI:', process.env.DB_URI);

Step 5: Debugging Your Application

Now you're ready to run and debug your application with the specified environment variables from your .env file. Simply hit the debug icon in VS Code, select your configuration, and start the debugging session.

Summary

By following these steps, you can effectively manage your application's environment settings using launch.json and an .env file. This method keeps your sensitive information secure and makes it easy to switch between different configurations.

Key Takeaways

• Create an .env file to store your environment variables.
• Use the dotenv package (for Node.js) to load those variables.
• Update your launch.json to point to your .env file.
• Access environment variables in your application via process.env.

With this setup, you have taken a significant step towards a more organized and secure way of managing your application’s environment configurations.

If you want to explore more about managing environments in your applications, check out this article on handling configurations or this tutorial on best practices for using .env files.