Vite is failing to load the specified values from the .env file

Question

Vite is failing to load the specified values from the .env file

In the context of utilizing React, Typescript, Vite, and Yarn in my project, I am facing an issue with defining my backend URL as a constant in my .env file. Despite setting it up correctly, the frontend is still making requests to localhost:3036 instead of using the specified backend URL running on port 8080.

Initially, I defined the backend URL in my .env file like this:

NODE_ENV=development
VITE_BACKEND_URL=http://localhost:8080

Although I tried troubleshooting by prefixing it with VITE and following the instructions provided in the documentation, such as adding configuration in my vite.config.ts file, the problem persisted.

Upon further investigation, I attempted to access the backend URL using import.meta.env.VITE_BACKEND_URL, but encountered errors indicating that import.meta.env was undefined. Similarly, when checking process.env, it displayed

BACKEND_URL from process.env: undefined

.

The method through which I make requests using the backend URL involves configuring Axios instances, which should ideally pick up the value set in the .env file. Running commands like yarn build and yarn dev while setting the NODE_ENV and BACKEND_URL also seem to function as expected, except for some CORS issues.

Despite verifying that the environment variables are accessible post-sourcing the .env file, the backend URL is not being recognized at the top-most level where vite loads the .env file. Any guidance or insights on resolving this issue would be greatly appreciated.

typescript environment-variables vite

Answer 1

Answer №1

I have encountered a situation where I was unable to create a complete reproducible example, but I have an understanding of what might be happening. It's a mistake that I have made in the past.

Imagine you have an environment file like this:

VITE_BACKEND_URL=http://localhost:8080

You can refer to the documentation on Using Environment Variables in Config and then use define to make global constant replacements

import { defineConfig, loadEnv } from 'vite'

export default defineConfig(({ command, mode }) => {
  // Load env file based on `mode` in the current working directory.
  // Set the third parameter to '' to load all env regardless of the `VITE_` prefix.
  const env = loadEnv(mode, process.cwd(), '')
  return {
    // vite config
    define: {
      __VITE_BACKEND_URL__: JSON.stringify(env.VITE_BACKEND_URL),
    },
  }
})

According to the documentation, if you are using TypeScript, you will need to declare your global constants as well

// vite-env.d.ts
declare const __VITE_BACKEND_URL__: string

:warning: Keep in mind that this method is different from using process.env. You can still access environment variables through process.env if they have been set.

If you run something like this:

NODE_ENV="development" BACKEND_URL="http://localhost:8080" yarn dev

You will make the environment variables accessible through process.env, but this is not equivalent to declaring a global constant using vite.

What your code may be doing (my assumption)

// destructure process.env and override the global variables defined by vite
const {
  NODE_ENV,
  VITE_BACKEND_URL,
} = process.env;

// If loadEnv was used and certain environment variables were not explicitly set, this will be undefined
console.log('BACKEND_URL from process.env:', VITE_BACKEND_URL)

// everything below will just use what was set above
const env = {
  NODE_ENV: NODE_ENV || 'development',
  BACKEND_URL: VITE_BACKEND_URL,
};

export type ProjectEnv = typeof env;

export default () => ({
  data: env,
});

Instead, you should stick to using global constants

console.log('BACKEND_URL *not* from process.env:', __VITE_BACKEND_URL__)

To avoid confusion, follow the convention of using double underscores when defining globals.

If you prefer to use process.env, then ensure that your variables in .env are set in the process environment. It seems like you are not doing this currently.

Another approach is to utilize import.meta, but I would need to revisit it to recall the specifics, and it may not explain the issue in your current setup.

Answer 2

I have encountered a situation where I was unable to create a complete reproducible example, but I have an understanding of what might be happening. It's a mistake that I have made in the past.

Imagine you have an environment file like this:

VITE_BACKEND_URL=http://localhost:8080

You can refer to the documentation on Using Environment Variables in Config and then use define to make global constant replacements

import { defineConfig, loadEnv } from 'vite'

export default defineConfig(({ command, mode }) => {
  // Load env file based on `mode` in the current working directory.
  // Set the third parameter to '' to load all env regardless of the `VITE_` prefix.
  const env = loadEnv(mode, process.cwd(), '')
  return {
    // vite config
    define: {
      __VITE_BACKEND_URL__: JSON.stringify(env.VITE_BACKEND_URL),
    },
  }
})

According to the documentation, if you are using TypeScript, you will need to declare your global constants as well

// vite-env.d.ts
declare const __VITE_BACKEND_URL__: string

:warning: Keep in mind that this method is different from using process.env. You can still access environment variables through process.env if they have been set.

If you run something like this:

NODE_ENV="development" BACKEND_URL="http://localhost:8080" yarn dev

You will make the environment variables accessible through process.env, but this is not equivalent to declaring a global constant using vite.

What your code may be doing (my assumption)

// destructure process.env and override the global variables defined by vite
const {
  NODE_ENV,
  VITE_BACKEND_URL,
} = process.env;

// If loadEnv was used and certain environment variables were not explicitly set, this will be undefined
console.log('BACKEND_URL from process.env:', VITE_BACKEND_URL)

// everything below will just use what was set above
const env = {
  NODE_ENV: NODE_ENV || 'development',
  BACKEND_URL: VITE_BACKEND_URL,
};

export type ProjectEnv = typeof env;

export default () => ({
  data: env,
});

Instead, you should stick to using global constants

console.log('BACKEND_URL *not* from process.env:', __VITE_BACKEND_URL__)

To avoid confusion, follow the convention of using double underscores when defining globals.

If you prefer to use process.env, then ensure that your variables in .env are set in the process environment. It seems like you are not doing this currently.

Another approach is to utilize import.meta, but I would need to revisit it to recall the specifics, and it may not explain the issue in your current setup.

Vite is failing to load the specified values from the .env file

Answer №1

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