Environment Configuration

Overview

Nguhöe EHR uses environment variables to configure application behavior across different environments. All configuration is managed through the .env file, which should never be committed to version control.

Getting Started

Copy the example environment file to create your configuration:

cp .env.example .env
php artisan key:generate

Application Settings

APP_NAME

string

default:"Laravel"

The name of your application. Used in emails, notifications, and UI elements.

APP_NAME="Nguhöe EHR"

APP_ENV

string

default:"local"

The application environment. Determines configuration behavior and error reporting.Options: local, staging, production

APP_ENV=production

APP_KEY

string

required

Application encryption key. Auto-generated with php artisan key:generate. Required for session and data encryption.

APP_KEY=base64:randomgeneratedkeyhere

APP_DEBUG

boolean

default:"true"

Enable detailed error messages and stack traces. Must be false in production.

APP_DEBUG=false  # Production
APP_DEBUG=true   # Development

APP_URL

string

default:"http://localhost"

The base URL of your application. Used for generating links and asset URLs.

APP_URL=https://ehr.example.com

APP_LOCALE

string

default:"en"

Default application language.

APP_LOCALE=en

APP_FALLBACK_LOCALE

string

default:"en"

Fallback language when the current language is unavailable.

APP_FALLBACK_LOCALE=en

APP_FAKER_LOCALE

string

default:"en_US"

Locale for generating fake data in development and testing.

APP_FAKER_LOCALE=en_US

APP_MAINTENANCE_DRIVER

string

default:"file"

Storage driver for maintenance mode state.Options: file, database

APP_MAINTENANCE_DRIVER=file

Security Settings

BCRYPT_ROUNDS

integer

default:"12"

Number of bcrypt hashing rounds for password encryption. Higher values increase security but require more CPU.Recommended: 12 for production

BCRYPT_ROUNDS=12

Database Configuration

DB_CONNECTION

string

default:"sqlite"

Database driver to use.Options: sqlite, mysql, mariadb, pgsql, sqlsrv

DB_CONNECTION=mysql

DB_HOST

string

default:"127.0.0.1"

Database server hostname or IP address.

DB_HOST=127.0.0.1

DB_PORT

integer

default:"3306"

Database server port.Defaults: MySQL/MariaDB: 3306, PostgreSQL: 5432, SQL Server: 1433

DB_PORT=3306

DB_DATABASE

string

default:"laravel"

Name of the database. For SQLite, this is the path to the database file.

# MySQL/PostgreSQL
DB_DATABASE=nguhoe_ehr

# SQLite
DB_DATABASE=/path/to/database/database.sqlite

DB_USERNAME

string

default:"root"

Database username for authentication.

DB_USERNAME=nguhoe_user

DB_PASSWORD

string

Database password for authentication.

DB_PASSWORD=secure_password_here

Session Configuration

SESSION_DRIVER

string

default:"database"

Session storage driver.Options: file, cookie, database, memcached, redis, arrayRecommended: database for production

SESSION_DRIVER=database

SESSION_LIFETIME

integer

default:"120"

Session lifetime in minutes. Users will be logged out after this period of inactivity.

SESSION_LIFETIME=120  # 2 hours

SESSION_ENCRYPT

boolean

default:"false"

Encrypt session data before storage. Adds security but slight performance overhead.

SESSION_ENCRYPT=false

SESSION_PATH

string

default:"/"

Cookie path for session. Usually the root path.

SESSION_PATH=/

SESSION_DOMAIN

string

Cookie domain for session. Leave null for current domain.

SESSION_DOMAIN=null

Cache Configuration

CACHE_STORE

string

default:"database"

Default cache storage driver.Options: file, database, memcached, redis, array

CACHE_STORE=database

CACHE_PREFIX

string

Prefix for cache keys to avoid collisions with other applications.

CACHE_PREFIX=nguhoe_cache_

Queue Configuration

QUEUE_CONNECTION

string

default:"database"

Queue driver for background job processing.Options: sync, database, redis, sqs, beanstalkdRecommended: database for production, sync for local development

QUEUE_CONNECTION=database

Mail Configuration

MAIL_MAILER

string

default:"log"

Mail transport driver.Options: smtp, sendmail, mailgun, ses, postmark, log

MAIL_MAILER=smtp

MAIL_HOST

string

default:"127.0.0.1"

SMTP server hostname.

MAIL_HOST=smtp.mailtrap.io

MAIL_PORT

integer

default:"2525"

SMTP server port.Common ports: 25, 465 (SSL), 587 (TLS), 2525

MAIL_PORT=587

MAIL_USERNAME

string

SMTP authentication username.

MAIL_USERNAME=your-smtp-username

MAIL_PASSWORD

string

SMTP authentication password.

MAIL_PASSWORD=your-smtp-password

MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS

string

default:"[email protected]"

Default sender email address.

MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=[email protected]

MAIL_FROM_NAME

string

default:"${APP_NAME}"

Default sender name.

MAIL_FROM_NAME="Nguhöe EHR"

MAIL_SCHEME

string

Mail encryption protocol.Options: tls, ssl, null

MAIL_SCHEME=tls

Redis Configuration

REDIS_CLIENT

string

default:"phpredis"

Redis client library.Options: phpredis, predis

REDIS_CLIENT=phpredis

REDIS_HOST

string

default:"127.0.0.1"

Redis server hostname.

REDIS_HOST=127.0.0.1

REDIS_PASSWORD

string

default:"null"

Redis authentication password.

REDIS_PASSWORD=your_redis_password

REDIS_PORT

integer

default:"6379"

Redis server port.

REDIS_PORT=6379

Logging Configuration

LOG_CHANNEL

string

default:"stack"

Default logging channel.Options: stack, single, daily, slack, syslog, errorlog

LOG_CHANNEL=stack

LOG_STACK

string

default:"single"

Channels to include in the stack.

LOG_STACK=single

LOG_LEVEL

string

default:"debug"

Minimum log level to record.Options: debug, info, notice, warning, error, critical, alert, emergencyRecommended: error for production, debug for development

LOG_LEVEL=error  # Production
LOG_LEVEL=debug  # Development

LOG_DEPRECATIONS_CHANNEL

string

default:"null"

Channel for logging deprecation warnings.

LOG_DEPRECATIONS_CHANNEL=null

File Storage Configuration

FILESYSTEM_DISK

string

default:"local"

Default filesystem disk for file storage.Options: local, public, s3

FILESYSTEM_DISK=local

Broadcasting Configuration

BROADCAST_CONNECTION

string

default:"log"

Broadcasting driver for real-time events.Options: log, pusher, ably, redis, null

BROADCAST_CONNECTION=log

AWS Configuration

AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID

string

AWS access key ID for S3, SES, or other AWS services.

AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=your_access_key

AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY

string

AWS secret access key.

AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=your_secret_key

AWS_DEFAULT_REGION

string

default:"us-east-1"

AWS region for services.

AWS_DEFAULT_REGION=us-east-1

AWS_BUCKET

string

S3 bucket name for file storage.

AWS_BUCKET=nguhoe-ehr-files

Vite Configuration

VITE_APP_NAME

string

default:"${APP_NAME}"

Application name exposed to the frontend build process.

VITE_APP_NAME="${APP_NAME}"

Environment-Specific Configurations

Local Development

APP_NAME="Nguhöe EHR"
APP_ENV=local
APP_DEBUG=true
APP_URL=http://localhost:8000

DB_CONNECTION=sqlite
DB_DATABASE=/path/to/database/database.sqlite

SESSION_DRIVER=file
CACHE_STORE=file
QUEUE_CONNECTION=sync

MAIL_MAILER=log
LOG_LEVEL=debug

Staging Environment

APP_NAME="Nguhöe EHR - Staging"
APP_ENV=staging
APP_DEBUG=true
APP_URL=https://staging.ehr.example.com

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=staging-db.example.com
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=nguhoe_staging
DB_USERNAME=staging_user
DB_PASSWORD=secure_password

SESSION_DRIVER=database
SESSION_LIFETIME=120

CACHE_STORE=database
QUEUE_CONNECTION=database

MAIL_MAILER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=smtp.mailtrap.io
MAIL_PORT=2525

LOG_LEVEL=debug

Production Environment

APP_NAME="Nguhöe EHR"
APP_ENV=production
APP_DEBUG=false
APP_URL=https://ehr.example.com

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=production-db.example.com
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=nguhoe_production
DB_USERNAME=production_user
DB_PASSWORD=very_secure_password

SESSION_DRIVER=database
SESSION_LIFETIME=120
SESSION_ENCRYPT=false

CACHE_STORE=redis
REDIS_HOST=redis.example.com
REDIS_PASSWORD=redis_password
REDIS_PORT=6379

QUEUE_CONNECTION=database

MAIL_MAILER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=smtp.sendgrid.net
MAIL_PORT=587
MAIL_USERNAME=apikey
MAIL_PASSWORD=your_sendgrid_api_key
MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=[email protected]
MAIL_FROM_NAME="Nguhöe EHR"

LOG_LEVEL=error
LOG_CHANNEL=daily

FILESYSTEM_DISK=s3
AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=your_access_key
AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=your_secret_key
AWS_DEFAULT_REGION=us-east-1
AWS_BUCKET=nguhoe-ehr-production

Security Considerations

Never commit your .env file to version control. It contains sensitive credentials and secrets.

Production Security Checklist

Set APP_DEBUG=false to prevent information leakage
Use strong, unique values for APP_KEY
Enable HTTPS and set APP_URL to use https://
Use BCRYPT_ROUNDS=12 or higher for password hashing
Set appropriate SESSION_LIFETIME based on your security requirements
Use SESSION_ENCRYPT=true for sensitive applications
Restrict database user permissions to only required operations
Use strong database passwords
Enable Redis authentication with REDIS_PASSWORD
Set LOG_LEVEL=error to reduce disk usage
Review and remove unused AWS credentials
Use environment-specific mail settings to prevent accidental emails

File Permissions

Ensure proper file permissions for the .env file:

chmod 600 .env
chown www-data:www-data .env

Environment Variables in Code

Never use env() helper directly in your application code. Always access environment variables through configuration files using config().

// ❌ Bad - Direct env() usage
$appName = env('APP_NAME');

// ✅ Good - Use config()
$appName = config('app.name');

Troubleshooting

Configuration Cache

In production, Laravel caches configuration for performance. After changing .env, clear the cache:

php artisan config:clear
php artisan config:cache

Missing APP_KEY Error

If you see “No application encryption key has been specified”:

php artisan key:generate

Database Connection Issues

Verify database credentials and connectivity:

php artisan tinker
>>> DB::connection()->getPdo();

Mail Testing

Test mail configuration:

php artisan tinker
>>> Mail::raw('Test email', function($msg) { $msg->to('[email protected]')->subject('Test'); });

Get Started

Core Features

User Guides

Configuration

Environment Configuration

Overview

Getting Started

Application Settings

Security Settings

Database Configuration

Session Configuration

Cache Configuration

Queue Configuration

Mail Configuration

Redis Configuration

Logging Configuration

File Storage Configuration

Broadcasting Configuration

AWS Configuration

Vite Configuration

Environment-Specific Configurations

Local Development

Staging Environment

Production Environment

Security Considerations

Production Security Checklist

File Permissions

Environment Variables in Code

Troubleshooting

Configuration Cache

Missing APP_KEY Error

Database Connection Issues

Mail Testing

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get Started

Core Features

User Guides

Configuration

​Overview

​Getting Started

​Application Settings

​Security Settings

​Database Configuration

​Session Configuration

​Cache Configuration

​Queue Configuration

​Mail Configuration

​Redis Configuration

​Logging Configuration

​File Storage Configuration

​Broadcasting Configuration

​AWS Configuration

​Vite Configuration

​Environment-Specific Configurations

​Local Development

​Staging Environment

​Production Environment

​Security Considerations

​Production Security Checklist

​File Permissions

​Environment Variables in Code

​Troubleshooting

​Configuration Cache

​Missing APP_KEY Error

​Database Connection Issues

​Mail Testing

​Related Documentation

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Overview

Getting Started

Application Settings

Security Settings

Database Configuration

Session Configuration

Cache Configuration

Queue Configuration

Mail Configuration

Redis Configuration

Logging Configuration

File Storage Configuration

Broadcasting Configuration

AWS Configuration

Vite Configuration

Environment-Specific Configurations

Local Development

Staging Environment

Production Environment

Security Considerations

Production Security Checklist

File Permissions

Environment Variables in Code

Troubleshooting

Configuration Cache

Missing APP_KEY Error

Database Connection Issues

Mail Testing

Related Documentation