require('dotenv').config() in node.js

Question

In my node.js application, I have a require('dotenv').config(); line that I need when developing locally in order to use environment variables. When I deploy to AWS however, I need to comment out this line, otherwise the application crashes. Currently I have 4 of these lines and it's a bit annoying to have to keep commenting/uncommenting them when I push/pull the application - is there any workaround for this that removes the need to have to keep removing the line when I deploy to AWS/including the line when I pull and work locally?

Answer 1

Maybe you can check the value of NODE_ENV (I assume you deploy in production).

Something like:

if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development') {
  require('dotenv').config();
}

Or just if NODE_ENV is not production (useful if you have things like NODE_ENV === 'test'):

if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
  require('dotenv').config();
}