Table of Contents
What is an env file
The env file is a file used by programmers to set environment variable preferences. These settings are usually only used in development mode and not in production mode. The env files can be either created manually or generated using a software program like Eclipse IDE. The Eclipse IDE generates the env file at build time. The env file is a plain text file that contains variable preferences.
The env file can contain variable preferences in the following format (NOTE: this format is not valid. All variables are delimited by an equal to sign):
Chef = “chef”, ruby = “rubygems”
The name of the environment can be changed using the “name” command line argument. This will generate a new file with another name, usually env-name or development-env or similar. This new file can be used to change any variable preference in the original file, which remains unchanged.
Chef = “chef” cookbook_path = “/opt/chef/cookbooks”, ruby = “rubygems”
You can use the “env” command to list all variables defined in an environment. This command is located in the “extras” directory of the Chef Software distribution.
The chef-client is a client to manage cookbooks, ensure that they are applied at the moment, and provide database operations. It is a command line based tool that can be used to manage cookbooks and recipes. The command has the following syntax:
How to create an env file
There are multiple ways to create an env file with your preferences. You can create an env file manually by adding values for each environment variable you want. For an example, see the following code: echo “YOUR_ENVIRONMENT=development” >> ~/.bashrc Without further description, this will be enough. A few disadvantages of using this method:
* You must remember what each environment variable is. * You have to copy the file everywhere you want to use it. * The scripts must be locally executable and linked to /usr/local/bin in order to have an effect.
The second solution is a little easier, but can still be troublesome and confusing. Just follow the steps below: 1. Create a directory called “profile”. 2. Copy your personal settings into it, as if you were manually adding all these settings in ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile. 3. Create a file called “env_local” in the same profile directory and put this in it:
How to use an env file
With your env file in place, you will be able to specify the environment in which you want to run all commands done through the terminal. If you are using windows then your env file will be called “env.bat”. On a Unix-based system, it will be called “.bashrc”. In order to use this env file, type the following command: . ~/.bashrc This command tells your system to run the commands from your .bashrc file. With an env file, you will be able to specify the correct environment for your development commands. For example, if you have several virtual machines for different programming languages, then you could have an env file for each one. If you used the .bashrc file, then all of your commands would be run from the same environment.
If this is the case, then these two lines can be added to your .bashrc to create an include file:
quoteinclude ~/.env.inc
with the proper path to the env file.
Note: In order to run shell scripts as root, be sure that the first line of your .bashrc file (after you source it) contains a command to match your OS type. For example, if you use bash for linux, then you would use:
Tips for creating and using an env file
If you are a developer who sets up environment variables frequently, then you should create an env file. This practice will ensure that all of your preferences are in one place and done right. You can create an env file manually by adding values for each environment variable you want. For example, in the command: echo “MY_ENVIRONMENT=development” >> ~/.bashrc This will do the same thing as using the .bashrc file. The former is more flexible, but it is also a good idea to use your own settings as much as possible. You can create an env file with a settings.py file in your project. This will allow you to keep your code and the settings the same.
Make sure that you do not store important data in an env file or your .bashrc file, as this data is global!
If you use more than one shell (e.g. bash and zsh), you should have separate environment files for each shell so that each terminal session utilizes its own settings. This will give your environment a more customized feel.
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Title:Tips for creating and using an env file [to use as knowledge, not to be copied verbatim]:”what is env file” : “Tips for creating and using an env file”
