.env.dist.local Here

To ensure you don't accidentally leak infrastructure settings or individual configurations to your public repository, ensure your .gitignore file explicitly blocks local environment variants:

# Block actual local configuration files containing secrets .env.local .env.*.local # Allow the distribution templates to be committed !.env.dist !.env.dist.local Use code with caution. Step 3: Automate the Setup (Optional) .env.dist.local

Explicitly load the file in your bootstrap code (e.g., (new Dotenv())->loadEnv(__DIR__.'/.env.local'); ). It is typically used to provide that differ

The .env.dist.local file acts as a bridge between the shared project defaults and a specific developer's machine. It is typically used to provide that differ from the standard production or CI/CD defaults found in the main .env.dist . Confusion with

. If it’s in Git, it’s public to everyone with repo access. Confusion with .env.dist : Remember that is for general application needs, while .env.dist.local is specifically for local machine environment needs. To give you the most relevant advice, could you tell me: programming language (e.g., Symfony, Node.js, React) are you using? Are you trying to set up a new project troubleshoot an existing one? Are you working in a solo project

Understanding .env.dist.local: The Secret Weapon for Bulletproof Environment Variables