dotenvx

name	dotenvx
description	Use dotenvx to run commands with environment variables, manage multiple .env files, expand variables, and encrypt env files for safe commits and CI/CD.

dotenvx

dotenvx is a secure dotenv workflow for any language.

Use this skill when you need to:

• run commands with env vars from .env files
• load multiple environment files (.env, .env.production, etc.)
• encrypt .env files and keep keys out of git
• use env files safely in CI/CD

Quickstart

Install:

npm install @dotenvx/dotenvx --save
# or globally:
# curl -sfS https://dotenvx.sh | sh
# brew install dotenvx/brew/dotenvx

Node usage:

require('@dotenvx/dotenvx').config()
// or: import '@dotenvx/dotenvx/config'

CLI usage (any language):

dotenvx run -- node index.js

Core Commands

Run with default .env:

dotenvx run -- <command>

Load a specific file:

dotenvx run -f .env.production -- <command>

Load multiple files (first wins):

dotenvx run -f .env.local -f .env -- <command>

Make later files win:

dotenvx run -f .env.local -f .env --overload -- <command>

Encryption Workflow

Encrypt:

dotenvx encrypt
# or
dotenvx encrypt -f .env.production

Run encrypted envs by supplying private key(s):

DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION="<key>" dotenvx run -f .env.production -- <command>

Git rule:

.env.keys

Commit encrypted .env* files if needed, but never commit .env.keys.

Variable Expansion

Example:

USERNAME="alice"
DATABASE_URL="postgres://${USERNAME}@localhost/mydb"

dotenvx run resolves ${...} expressions at runtime.

CI/CD Pattern

Set private keys as CI secrets, then run through dotenvx:

env:
  DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION: ${{ secrets.DOTENV_PRIVATE_KEY_PRODUCTION }}
run: dotenvx run -f .env.production -- node index.js

Agent Usage

Install this repo as an agent skill package:

npx skills add motdotla/dotenv

Typical requests:

• "set up dotenvx for production"
• "encrypt my .env.production and wire CI"
• "load .env.local and .env safely"

References

• https://dotenvx.com/docs/quickstart
• https://github.com/dotenvx/dotenvx