To reduce the risk of misconfiguration and accidental exposure of sensitive information, the .env file should be added to .gitignore. Additionally, the current .env file can be renamed to .env.example and contain placeholder values only.
This approach ensures that environment-specific configurations remain local and private, while still providing a clear template for new instances or deployments.
Benefit:
- Prevents accidental publishing of credentials or critical configuration data.
- Provides a consistent and secure guideline for configuring local or replicated environments.