Dotenv Patterns

Environment File Patterns (.env)

🚨 CRITICAL RULES

Rule #1: NEVER Commit .env Files

• .env files contain secrets
• ALWAYS in .gitignore
• Use .env.example as template
• Each developer has their own .env

# .gitignore MUST contain:
.env
.env.local
.env.*.local

Rule #2: ONLY test/integration/Common.ts Reads .env

• FORBIDDEN: process.env in src/ directory (production code)
• ONLY EXCEPTION: test/integration/Common.ts may read env vars
• MANDATORY: All credentials loaded via Common.ts
• Test files import from Common.ts, NEVER access process.env directly

// ✅ CORRECT: test/integration/Common.ts ONLY
import { config } from 'dotenv';

config(); // Load .env explicitly

export const SERVICE_API_KEY = process.env.SERVICE_API_KEY || '';
export const SERVICE_BASE_URL = process.env.SERVICE_BASE_URL || 'https://api.example.com';

// ✅ CORRECT: test/integration/ServiceProducerTest.ts
import { SERVICE_API_KEY } from './Common';

// ❌ FORBIDDEN: Any src/ file
const apiKey = process.env.API_KEY; // NEVER!

// ❌ FORBIDDEN: Direct access in test files
const apiKey = process.env.SERVICE_API_KEY; // Use Common.ts instead!

// ❌ FORBIDDEN: Unit test Common.ts - NO env vars at all
// test/unit/Common.ts should NEVER use process.env

Rule #3: ALL Test Values Must Be in .env

🚨 CRITICAL: NO hardcoded test values in integration tests

# ✅ CORRECT - Test values in .env
SERVICE_API_KEY=your-api-key
SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID=12345
SERVICE_TEST_ORGANIZATION_ID=1067
SERVICE_TEST_RESOURCE_NAME=test-resource

# ❌ WRONG - Hardcoding in test files
const userId = '12345';  // NO!
const orgId = '1067';    // NO!

RULE:

1. User gives you test values → Add to .env immediately
2. Export from test/integration/Common.ts
3. Import and use in integration tests
4. NEVER hardcode any test data values

.env File Structure

Location

Create .env in module root (same directory as package.json):

package/vendor/service/product/
├── .env                    ← HERE (module root)
├── package.json
├── api.yml
├── src/
└── test/

Naming Conventions

Pattern: {VENDOR}_{SERVICE}_{PRODUCT}_{VARIABLE_NAME}

# Examples
GITHUB_API_TOKEN=ghp_abc123...
GITHUB_BASE_URL=https://api.github.com

AVIGILON_ALTA_ACCESS_API_KEY=your-api-key
AVIGILON_ALTA_ACCESS_EMAIL=user@example.com
AVIGILON_ALTA_ACCESS_PASSWORD=your-password

READYPLAYERME_API_TOKEN=rpm_xyz789...
READYPLAYERME_APP_ID=your-app-id

Format:

• UPPERCASE with underscores
• Vendor/service name prefix prevents conflicts
• Descriptive variable names

Authentication Patterns

Simple Token Authentication

# Single API token/key
SERVICE_API_TOKEN=your_token_here
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com

Use case: API key, bearer token, personal access token

Example test/integration/Common.ts:

import { config } from 'dotenv';

config();

export const SERVICE_API_TOKEN = process.env.SERVICE_API_TOKEN || '';
export const SERVICE_BASE_URL = process.env.SERVICE_BASE_URL || 'https://api.example.com';

export function hasCredentials(): boolean {
  return !!SERVICE_API_TOKEN;
}

OAuth Client Credentials

# OAuth client credentials flow
SERVICE_CLIENT_ID=your_client_id
SERVICE_CLIENT_SECRET=your_client_secret
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com
SERVICE_TOKEN_URL=https://api.example.com/oauth/token

Use case: OAuth 2.0 client credentials grant

Example test/integration/Common.ts:

import { config } from 'dotenv';

config();

export const SERVICE_CLIENT_ID = process.env.SERVICE_CLIENT_ID || '';
export const SERVICE_CLIENT_SECRET = process.env.SERVICE_CLIENT_SECRET || '';
export const SERVICE_BASE_URL = process.env.SERVICE_BASE_URL || 'https://api.example.com';
export const SERVICE_TOKEN_URL = process.env.SERVICE_TOKEN_URL || 'https://api.example.com/oauth/token';

export function hasCredentials(): boolean {
  return !!SERVICE_CLIENT_ID && !!SERVICE_CLIENT_SECRET;
}

Basic Authentication (Email/Password)

# Email and password authentication
SERVICE_EMAIL=user@example.com
SERVICE_PASSWORD=your_password
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com

Use case: Email/password login, basic auth

Example test/integration/Common.ts:

import { config } from 'dotenv';

config();

export const SERVICE_EMAIL = process.env.SERVICE_EMAIL || '';
export const SERVICE_PASSWORD = process.env.SERVICE_PASSWORD || '';
export const SERVICE_BASE_URL = process.env.SERVICE_BASE_URL || 'https://api.example.com';

export function hasCredentials(): boolean {
  return !!SERVICE_EMAIL && !!SERVICE_PASSWORD;
}

API Key + Secret

# API key and secret pair
SERVICE_API_KEY=your_api_key
SERVICE_API_SECRET=your_api_secret
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com

Use case: Services requiring both key and secret (like AWS-style signing)

Multiple Auth Methods

# Service supporting multiple auth methods
SERVICE_API_TOKEN=your_token           # Preferred method
SERVICE_EMAIL=user@example.com         # Alternative method
SERVICE_PASSWORD=your_password
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com

Example test/integration/Common.ts:

import { config } from 'dotenv';

config();

// Primary auth method
export const SERVICE_API_TOKEN = process.env.SERVICE_API_TOKEN || '';

// Alternative auth method
export const SERVICE_EMAIL = process.env.SERVICE_EMAIL || '';
export const SERVICE_PASSWORD = process.env.SERVICE_PASSWORD || '';

export const SERVICE_BASE_URL = process.env.SERVICE_BASE_URL || 'https://api.example.com';

export function hasCredentials(): boolean {
  // Check if EITHER auth method is available
  return (
    !!SERVICE_API_TOKEN ||
    (!!SERVICE_EMAIL && !!SERVICE_PASSWORD)
  );
}

Test Data Values Pattern

🚨 CRITICAL: All integration test IDs/values MUST be in .env

# Credentials
SERVICE_API_KEY=your-api-key
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com

# Test Data Values (MANDATORY for integration tests)
SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID=12345
SERVICE_TEST_ORGANIZATION_ID=1067
SERVICE_TEST_RESOURCE_NAME=test-resource
SERVICE_TEST_WORKSPACE_ID=ws_abc123
SERVICE_TEST_PROJECT_ID=proj_xyz789

# Optional: Test data for specific scenarios
SERVICE_TEST_ADMIN_USER_ID=admin_123
SERVICE_TEST_READONLY_USER_ID=readonly_456

Example test/integration/Common.ts:

import { config } from 'dotenv';

config();

// Credentials
export const SERVICE_API_KEY = process.env.SERVICE_API_KEY || '';
export const SERVICE_BASE_URL = process.env.SERVICE_BASE_URL || 'https://api.example.com';

// Test Data Values
export const SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID = process.env.SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID || '';
export const SERVICE_TEST_ORGANIZATION_ID = process.env.SERVICE_TEST_ORGANIZATION_ID || '';
export const SERVICE_TEST_RESOURCE_NAME = process.env.SERVICE_TEST_RESOURCE_NAME || '';

export function hasCredentials(): boolean {
  return !!SERVICE_API_KEY;
}

Example usage in integration test:

import { SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID, SERVICE_TEST_ORGANIZATION_ID } from './Common';

it('should retrieve user', async () => {
  const userId = SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID;  // ✅ From .env
  // NOT: const userId = '12345';  // ❌ Hardcoded

  const user = await api.getUser(userId);
  expect(user.id).to.equal(userId);
});

test/integration/Common.ts Pattern

MANDATORY structure for integration test credentials:

// test/integration/Common.ts - ONLY file allowed to access process.env
import { config } from 'dotenv';
import { Email } from '@zerobias-org/types-core-js';
import { LoggerEngine } from '@zerobias-org/logger';
import { newService } from '../../src';
import type { ServiceConnector } from '../../src';

// Load .env file explicitly to ensure credentials are available
config();

// Credentials
export const SERVICE_API_KEY = process.env.SERVICE_API_KEY || '';
export const SERVICE_EMAIL = process.env.SERVICE_EMAIL || '';
export const SERVICE_PASSWORD = process.env.SERVICE_PASSWORD || '';
export const SERVICE_BASE_URL = process.env.SERVICE_BASE_URL || 'https://api.example.com';

// Test Data Values - export any test IDs, names, or other values from .env
export const SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID = process.env.SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID || '';
export const SERVICE_TEST_ORGANIZATION_ID = process.env.SERVICE_TEST_ORGANIZATION_ID || '';

/**
 * Get a logger with configurable level from LOG_LEVEL env var.
 * Usage: LOG_LEVEL=debug npm run test:integration
 */
export function getLogger(name: string) {
  return LoggerEngine.root().get(name);
}

if (process.env.LOG_LEVEL) {
  switch (process.env.LOG_LEVEL) {
    case 'trace': {
      getLogger().setLevel(LogLevel.TRACE);
      break;
    }
    case 'debug': {
      getLogger().setLevel(LogLevel.DEBUG);
      break;
    }
    case 'verbose': {
      getLogger().setLevel(LogLevel.VERBOSE);
      break;
    }
    case 'info': {
      getLogger().setLevel(LogLevel.INFO);
      break;
    }
    case 'warn': {
      getLogger().setLevel(LogLevel.WARN);
      break;
    }
    case 'error': {
      getLogger().setLevel(LogLevel.ERROR);
      break;
    }
    case 'crit': {
      getLogger().setLevel(LogLevel.CRIT);
      break;
    }
    default: {
      getLogger().setLevel(LogLevel.INFO);
      break;
    }
  }
}

export function hasCredentials(): boolean {
  return !!SERVICE_API_KEY; // Or check EMAIL && PASSWORD
}

// Cached connector instance - connect once, reuse many times
let cachedConnector: ServiceConnector | null = null;

/**
 * Get a connected instance for integration testing.
 * Connects once on first call, then returns cached instance on subsequent calls.
 * Uses real credentials from .env file.
 */
export async function getConnectedInstance(): Promise<ServiceConnector> {
  if (cachedConnector) {
    return cachedConnector;
  }

  const connector = newService();

  await connector.connect({
    apiKey: SERVICE_API_KEY,
    baseUrl: SERVICE_BASE_URL,
  });

  cachedConnector = connector;
  return connector;
}

Why explicit config()?

• .mocharc.json "require": ["dotenv/config"] loads dotenv, BUT
• Environment variables in Common.ts are evaluated at module load time
• Explicit config() ensures .env is loaded BEFORE env vars are accessed
• This guarantees integration tests can detect credentials properly

Local vs CI Environment Variables

Local Development (.env file)

# .env - Local developer credentials
SERVICE_API_KEY=your-local-api-key
SERVICE_EMAIL=developer@example.com
SERVICE_PASSWORD=local-dev-password

CI/CD Environment (GitHub Actions, etc.)

# .github/workflows/test.yml
env:
  SERVICE_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.SERVICE_API_KEY }}
  SERVICE_EMAIL: ${{ secrets.SERVICE_EMAIL }}
  SERVICE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.SERVICE_PASSWORD }}

Benefits:

• Local: .env file for developers
• CI: GitHub Secrets or environment variables
• Same variable names work in both environments
• test/integration/Common.ts works identically

.env.example Template

ALWAYS provide .env.example for documentation:

# .env.example - Template for setting up credentials

# Authentication credentials
SERVICE_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com

# Test Data Values (for integration tests)
SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID=your-test-user-id
SERVICE_TEST_ORGANIZATION_ID=your-test-org-id
SERVICE_TEST_RESOURCE_NAME=test-resource-name

# Optional: Debugging
LOG_LEVEL=info  # Set to 'debug' for verbose test output

Developer setup:

# Copy template and fill in real values
cp .env.example .env
vim .env  # Add your credentials

dotenv Setup for Integration Tests

Step 1: Install dotenv

npm install --save-dev dotenv

Step 2: Configure .mocharc.json

{
  "extension": ["ts"],
  "require": ["ts-node/register", "dotenv/config"]
}

Step 3: Load dotenv explicitly in test/integration/Common.ts

import { config } from 'dotenv';

// Load .env file explicitly
config();

export const SERVICE_API_KEY = process.env.SERVICE_API_KEY || '';

Step 4: Use in integration tests

import { hasCredentials, SERVICE_API_KEY } from './Common';

describe('Service Integration Tests', function () {
  before(function () {
    if (!hasCredentials()) {
      this.skip(); // Skip entire suite if no credentials
    }
  });

  it('should connect with real API', async function () {
    // Test with real credentials from .env
  });
});

Validation

Check .env Configuration

# Verify .env exists
[ -f .env ] && echo "✅ .env exists" || echo "❌ Missing .env - create it!"

# Check .env is in .gitignore
grep -q "^\.env$" .gitignore && echo "✅ .env in .gitignore" || echo "❌ Add .env to .gitignore!"

# Verify required variables are set (example)
grep -q "SERVICE_API_KEY" .env && echo "✅ SERVICE_API_KEY present" || echo "❌ Missing SERVICE_API_KEY"

Validate test/integration/Common.ts Pattern

# Check dotenv is imported and configured
grep -E "import.*config.*from ['\"]dotenv['\"]" test/integration/Common.ts && echo "✅ dotenv imported" || echo "❌ Missing dotenv import"

grep -E "^config\(\)" test/integration/Common.ts && echo "✅ config() called" || echo "❌ Missing config() call"

# Check credentials are exported
grep -E "export const.*=.*process\.env\." test/integration/Common.ts && echo "✅ Exports env vars" || echo "❌ No env var exports"

# Check hasCredentials() function exists
grep -E "export function hasCredentials" test/integration/Common.ts && echo "✅ hasCredentials() present" || echo "❌ Missing hasCredentials()"

Check NO process.env in src/ (Security Rule #2)

# Verify no environment variables in production code
grep -r "process\.env" src/ && echo "❌ Found process.env in src/! FORBIDDEN!" || echo "✅ No process.env in src/"

# Verify no environment variables in unit test Common.ts
grep "process\.env" test/unit/Common.ts 2>/dev/null && echo "❌ Found process.env in unit test Common.ts! FORBIDDEN!" || echo "✅ No process.env in unit tests"

Check NO hardcoded test values

# Check for common hardcoded ID patterns in integration tests
if grep -E "(const|let|var) [a-zA-Z]*[Ii]d = ['\"][0-9]+['\"]" test/integration/*.ts 2>/dev/null | grep -v Common.ts; then
  echo "❌ Found hardcoded test values in integration tests!"
  echo "   ALL test values must be in .env and imported from Common.ts"
else
  echo "✅ No hardcoded test values found"
fi

# Verify test data constants exported from Common.ts if integration tests exist
if [ -d "test/integration" ] && [ -f "test/integration/Common.ts" ]; then
  if grep -E "api\.(get|list|update|delete)\(" test/integration/*.ts 2>/dev/null | grep -v "Common.ts" > /dev/null; then
    if ! grep -E "export const.*TEST.*=" test/integration/Common.ts > /dev/null 2>&1; then
      echo "⚠️  WARNING: Integration tests may need test data constants exported from Common.ts"
    else
      echo "✅ Test data constants exported from Common.ts"
    fi
  fi
fi

Security Checklist

Before committing:

• .env is in .gitignore
• No .env files committed to git
• .env.example created (no real credentials)
• No process.env in src/ directory
• ONLY test/integration/Common.ts reads process.env
• No credentials hardcoded in code
• No credentials in error messages or logs
• All test values in .env (no hardcoded IDs in tests)

Documentation in USERGUIDE.md

Include this section in every module's USERGUIDE.md:

## Setting Up Credentials for Testing

### Local Development

Create a `.env` file in the module root:

\`\`\`bash
# Copy the template
cp .env.example .env

# Edit with your credentials
SERVICE_API_KEY=your-api-key
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com

# Add test data values for integration tests
SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID=your-test-user-id
SERVICE_TEST_ORGANIZATION_ID=your-test-org-id
\`\`\`

### Running Tests

The test suite automatically loads credentials using `dotenv`:

\`\`\`bash
# Run all tests (integration tests skip if no credentials)
npm test

# Run integration tests with debug logging
LOG_LEVEL=debug npm run test:integration
\`\`\`

### CI/CD Setup

Set environment variables in your CI system (GitHub Actions secrets, etc.):

- `SERVICE_API_KEY` - API authentication key
- `SERVICE_TEST_USER_ID` - Test user ID for integration tests
- `SERVICE_TEST_ORGANIZATION_ID` - Test organization ID

Common Patterns

Multiple Environments

# .env.development
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://dev-api.example.com
SERVICE_API_KEY=dev-key

# .env.staging
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://staging-api.example.com
SERVICE_API_KEY=staging-key

# .env.production (NEVER commit!)
SERVICE_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com
SERVICE_API_KEY=prod-key

Load specific environment:

import { config } from 'dotenv';

const environment = process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development';
config({ path: `.env.${environment}` });

Debug Logging Control

# .env
LOG_LEVEL=info  # Default: only info/warn/error
# LOG_LEVEL=debug  # Uncomment for verbose output

Usage:

# Run integration tests with debug logging
LOG_LEVEL=debug npm run test:integration

Success Criteria

Environment file setup MUST meet all criteria:

• ✅ .env file created in module root
• ✅ .env is in .gitignore
• ✅ .env.example template provided
• ✅ Credentials use consistent naming convention (VENDOR_SERVICE_VARIABLE)
• ✅ test/integration/Common.ts is ONLY file accessing process.env
• ✅ Explicit config() call in Common.ts
• ✅ hasCredentials() function implemented
• ✅ All test data values in .env (no hardcoded test IDs)
• ✅ Integration tests export test values from Common.ts
• ✅ dotenv installed and configured in .mocharc.json
• ✅ No process.env in src/ directory (CRITICAL)
• ✅ No process.env in test/unit/Common.ts (unit tests don't use env vars)
• ✅ Documentation in USERGUIDE.md