Settings that differ.
WHAT THE ENVIRONMENT FILE IS
A file of key and value pairs, read at startup, holding settings and secrets.
WHAT GOES IN IT
Database credentials Mail settings Application key Environment name and debug setting Any service credentials
WHAT NEVER GOES IN VERSION CONTROL
That file.
WHAT DOES
The example version, with placeholder values.
WHAT CONFIGURATION FILES DO
Read from the environment, providing defaults and structure.
WHAT TO READ IN YOUR CODE
Configuration, not the environment directly.
WHY
Because configuration can be cached, and cached configuration does not read the environment.
THAT POINT
Reading the environment directly outside configuration files causes values to be empty in production, mysteriously.
WHAT TO SET DIFFERENTLY IN PRODUCTION
Debug off Environment named production Appropriate log level
WHAT TO VERIFY AFTER DEPLOYMENT
That the environment file exists and is complete That it is not publicly reachable
