How To Securely Share Environment Variables With Your Team

Managing environment variables in a team setting is often overlooked until it becomes a problem. Let's explore common pitfalls and how modern solutions can help secure your sensitive data.

Common Mistakes in Environment Variable Management

1. Insecure Sharing Methods 🚫

- Sending .env files through messaging apps or email

- Storing variables in plain text documents

- Sharing through unsecured cloud storage

- Accidental commits to Git repositories

2. Poor Security Practices ⚠️

- Using the same variables across all environments

- Not encrypting sensitive data

- Weak or shared API keys

- No access control or audit trail

Best Practices for Environment Variables

Security First 🔐

- Use different values for development, staging, and production

- Implement strong encryption for sensitive data

- Regularly rotate API keys and secrets

- Keep production credentials strictly limited

Version Control 📝

- Never commit .env files to repositories (except for self-hosted instances and VPNs like GitLab)

- Maintain a comprehensive .env.example

- Document required variables

- Track variable changes systematically

Introducing Shelve: Open-Source Environment Management

Shelve is an open-source solution that makes environment variable management both secure and simple. Here's what makes it special:

Security By Design 🛡️

- End-to-end encryption for all sensitive data

- OAuth-based authentication

- Built-in password generator for secure values

- No plain-text storage of sensitive information

Developer-First Experience ⚡

- Powerful CLI for quick access and management

- Drag & drop .env file support

- Automatic key formatting

- Project templates for quick setup

Team Collaboration 👥

- Team-based access control

- Variable sharing within teams

- Audit logs for all changes

- Easy team member management

Open Source & Self-Hostable 🏠

- Full control over your data

- Easy self-hosting setup

- Transparent security practices

Getting Started with Shelve

1. Quick Setup

npm install -g @shelve/cli

2. Create a new project

shelve create my-project

Why Choose Shelve?

• Open Source: Full transparency and ability to self-host

• Secure: Built with security best practices from the ground up

• Simple: Intuitive CLI and web interface

• Team-Ready: Built for collaboration with proper access controls

• Automated: Streamlined workflows for common tasks

Self-Hosting Options

Shelve can be easily self-hosted using:

• Docker

• Docker Compose

• Manual installation

All installation methods are thoroughly documented in our GitHub repository.

Conclusion

Environment variable management doesn't have to be a hassle or a security risk. With Shelve, you get an open-source, secure, and developer-friendly solution that grows with your team.

Ready to secure your environment variables? Check out: