Variables related to the environment within babel.config.js

Question

Variables related to the environment within babel.config.js

We are in need of adjusting specific configuration/variables within our React Native app (created with Expo) based on the environment (local/dev/staging/production). After exploring various libraries designed for this purpose, we have encountered issues that do not align with our requirements:

dotenv (issues arise as it attempts to access 'fs' at runtime, which is no longer available due to being a non-pure JS package that cannot be bundled by Expo)
react-native-config (cannot be integrated with Expo since it requires native code as part of the plugin)
react-native-dotenv (partially functions but internally caches config and does not recognize any .env changes until the importing file is modified)

Instead of relying on third-party plugins, I am contemplating utilizing babel's env option and creating separate JSON objects for each environment within babel.config.js. However, there seems to be limited documentation or examples regarding this approach. Should I simply include an env field on the same level as presets and plugins, containing production, development, etc. fields as shown in the example below:

module.exports = (api) => {
    api.cache(true);
    return {
        presets: [...],
        env: {
            development: {
                CONFIG_VAR: 'foo'
            },
            production: {
                CONFIG_VAR: 'bar'
            }
        }
    }
}

Would this method be effective? And how can I access the CONFIG_VAR later in the code?

javascript typescript expo babeljs

Answer 1

Answer №1

I recently encountered similar issues while setting up environment variables in my Expo project. I found a solution by using a helpful tool called babel-plugin-inline-dotenv.

Begin by installing the plugin:

 npm install babel-plugin-inline-dotenv

Add the plugin and specify the path to the .env file in your babel.config.js file.

module.exports = function(api) {
  api.cache(true);
  return {
    presets: ['babel-preset-expo'],
    env: {
      production: {
        plugins: [["inline-dotenv",{
          path: '.env.production'
        }]]
      },
      development: {
        plugins: [["inline-dotenv",{
          path: '.env.development'
        }]]
      }
    }
  };
};

In your .env.production or .env.development files, add environment variables in this format:
```
 API_KEY='<YOUR_API_KEY>'
```
You can then access these variables in your code like so:
```
 process.env.API_KEY
```

To access your environment variables within the babel.config.js file, utilize the dotenv package in the following manner:

   require('dotenv').config({ path: './.env.development' })
   console.log('API_KEY: ' + process.env.API_KEY)

   module.exports = function() {
   // ...
   }

Answer 2

I recently encountered similar issues while setting up environment variables in my Expo project. I found a solution by using a helpful tool called babel-plugin-inline-dotenv.

Begin by installing the plugin:

 npm install babel-plugin-inline-dotenv

Add the plugin and specify the path to the .env file in your babel.config.js file.

module.exports = function(api) {
  api.cache(true);
  return {
    presets: ['babel-preset-expo'],
    env: {
      production: {
        plugins: [["inline-dotenv",{
          path: '.env.production'
        }]]
      },
      development: {
        plugins: [["inline-dotenv",{
          path: '.env.development'
        }]]
      }
    }
  };
};

In your .env.production or .env.development files, add environment variables in this format:
```
 API_KEY='<YOUR_API_KEY>'
```
You can then access these variables in your code like so:
```
 process.env.API_KEY
```

To access your environment variables within the babel.config.js file, utilize the dotenv package in the following manner:

   require('dotenv').config({ path: './.env.development' })
   console.log('API_KEY: ' + process.env.API_KEY)

   module.exports = function() {
   // ...
   }

Variables related to the environment within babel.config.js

Answer №1

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