This file is particularly useful when a team needs to share a local configuration that differs from the production default but doesn't contain sensitive secrets. Commit to Git? .env Global defaults for the project. .env.dist.local
The distribution files ( .dist ) do not get read by your application logic at runtime. Instead, they serve as the operational blueprints for developers: Developers copy .env.dist →right arrow to create .env (if not already present). Developers copy .env.dist.local →right arrow to create .env.local . Step-by-Step Implementation Guide
Add the following content (example for a web app): .env.dist.local
Automate with a post-install-cmd script in composer.json or a prebuild hook in npm.
Testing introduces special considerations. In Symfony, for instance, .env.local is intentionally ignored in the test environment to ensure tests produce consistent results for all developers. Instead, you would use .env.test for test-specific defaults and .env.test.local for local test overrides. This file is particularly useful when a team
Add these lines to your .gitignore :
Even with the .env.dist.local pattern properly implemented, issues can arise. .env.dist.local
can store the common Docker network IPs or hostnames while allowing individuals to still use .env.local for their personal API keys. Environment Merging Hierarchy:
: The baseline configuration for the application (Shared; committed to Git). The Template Relationship (The "Copy" Workflow)