Why You Should Never Commit Your .env File and How to Handle It Properly

Recently, while reviewing some undergraduate software projects, I stumbled upon a worrying trend. In several cases, students had included their .env files directly in their public repositories. Some even tried a workaround by uploading their .env files compressed inside a .env.rar archive, assuming this would somehow make it safer.

This is a classic example of a problem many new (and even experienced) developers underestimate: how to properly handle environment variables and sensitive configuration files in a project.

If you’re building software, whether as a student, a freelancer, or part of a company, understanding the role of environment configuration and how to manage it securely is an essential skill. In this article, I’ll explain what .env files are, why they’re important, the mistakes people commonly make, how to fix accidents, and the right practices you should follow to handle them safely.

What Exactly Is a .env File?

In software development, especially in web applications, your program often needs to connect to databases, access external APIs, or use secret tokens. Hardcoding these values directly in your source code is dangerous because anyone with access to your code would then have access to your sensitive credentials.

A .env file is a simple text file used to store environment variables for your application in a key value format.

This file allows you to separate sensitive information from your codebase. Libraries like dotenv in Node.js or Python's python-dotenv can then load these variables into your application at runtime.

Why Do Developers Use .env Files?

The main reason is security and flexibility.

Instead of embedding sensitive values directly into your source files, you place them inside a .env file that’s read when the application starts.

• You can keep your code the same while changing your configurations depending on the environment (development, staging, production).
• It reduces the risk of accidentally exposing sensitive information in your codebase.

Imagine deploying a website where your database password is written inside your code file. Anyone with access to your source code repository would also have the credentials to access your database. This is exactly what .env files help to avoid.

The Common Mistakes People Make with .env Files

Unfortunately, as I saw in those student projects, .env files often aren’t handled the way they should be. Let’s talk about the common mistakes I encountered.

1.Committing .env Files to Public Repositories

The most obvious and dangerous mistake is adding a .env file to your version control system (like Git) and pushing it to a public repository. Doing this exposes your sensitive environment variables to anyone on the internet.

Once secrets are exposed publicly, they can be harvested by bots within minutes, leading to stolen API keys, compromised databases, or unauthorized access to services.

2.Compressing .envFiles into .env.rar or .zip

Some students believed that compressing a .env file into a .rar or .zip archive and uploading it to a repository was a secure workaround. Unfortunately, this offers no real security. Anyone can easily download and unzip these archives. Even worse, this practice often signals to attackers, "There’s something important inside here."

Security by obscurity is no substitute for proper handling.

3.Hardcoding Secrets Directly in Code

Another rookie mistake is placing secrets directly into code files, like this

This is just as unsafe as committing a .env file and should be strictly avoided.

What To Do If You Accidentally Commit a .env File

Mistakes happen, and if you’ve accidentally committed a .env file to a public repository. Don’t panic, but act fast. Here’s exactly what you should do,

1. Remove the File from the Repository History

Simply deleting the file and committing the change isn’t enough because Git maintains a full history of all changes. You need to purge the file from the entire Git history using a tool like

• git filter-branch (older method)
• BFG Repo-Cleaner (simpler, faster)

Example using BFG

Then push your changes back

⚠ Be careful with force pushes, especially on shared projects ⚠

2. Immediately Revoke and Rotate Exposed Secrets

Assume that once the file was pushed, your secrets were compromised. Even if you deleted it moments later. API keys, database credentials, and tokens need to be invalidated and replaced with new ones.

Go through your services (like AWS, Google Cloud, payment processors, email providers) and rotate any exposed credentials.

3. Notify Relevant Stakeholders

If your accidental exposure affects shared infrastructure (like a production database, third-party services, or customer data access), inform your team or supervisor immediately so they can take precautionary measures.

4. Add .env to .gitignore

Prevent the mistake from happening again by adding .env to your .gitignore file.

How Should You Handle .env Files Properly?

1. Always add .env to your .gitignore to exclude it from version control.

2. Use a .env.example to provide variable names without real values for others to follow.

3. Share actual .env files securely via encrypted channels or secret management tools.

4. Use CI/CD secret management features provided by platforms like GitHub Actions, GitLab, or Jenkins.

5. Regularly scan your codebase with tools like GitGuardian or Gitleaks to catch accidental secret commits early.

6. Periodically rotate your secrets even without incidents. It’s good operational hygiene.

Conclusion

Environment variables and .env files are essential tools for separating sensitive configuration details from your application code. But with that convenience comes responsibility. Mishandling these files, whether by committing them to a public repository, hiding them in a .rar archive, or hardcoding secrets can lead to serious security incidents.

If you make a mistake, don’t waste time. Clean your repository history, rotate your secrets, and update your workflow to prevent future accidents.

By adopting proper .env management practices early in your development career, you not only protect your projects and credentials but also build habits that will serve you well in professional environments where security is taken seriously.