Question 1

How do I use react-native-dotenv with Expo?

Accepted Answer

It requires ejecting from Expo's managed workflow or using a custom Babel configuration, which can be complex. Expo's restrictions might lead to conflicts, so consider alternative solutions if staying in the managed workflow.

Question 2

Can react-native-dotenv handle dynamic environment variables at runtime?

Accepted Answer

No, it's a build-time solution, so variables are static after compilation. For dynamic changes like updating API keys without rebuilds, you need runtime approaches like fetching from a server.

Question 3

react-native-dotenv vs react-native-config: which should I choose?

Accepted Answer

react-native-dotenv is simpler with no runtime overhead, but react-native-config supports more environments and native integration. Choose dotenv for static, build-time needs, or config for flexibility and multi-environment setups.

Question 4

Why are my .env file changes not updating in my React Native app?

Accepted Answer

This is a known issue where the Babel preset doesn't detect .env changes automatically. As per the FAQ, you must manually edit the importing file, such as adding whitespace, to trigger a refresh.

Question 5

How to manage multiple environments like staging with react-native-dotenv?

Accepted Answer

The library doesn't natively support more than two environments. You need to create custom build scripts to generate .env files before bundling, as mentioned in the FAQ, which adds complexity.

Question 6

Is react-native-dotenv secure for storing sensitive data like API keys?

Accepted Answer

Since values are embedded in the JavaScript bundle at build time, secrets are exposed in the code. For better security, use runtime methods or avoid committing .env files to version control.

react-native-dotenv

What is react-native-dotenv?

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