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Environment File

Ecom uses Laravel’s environment configuration system. All environment-specific settings are stored in the .env file at the root of your application.
The .env file is automatically created from .env.example during installation. Never commit .env to version control.

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Creating Environment File

1

Copy Example File

cp .env.example .env
2

Generate Application Key

php artisan key:generate
3

Configure Environment Variables

Edit .env file with your specific settings

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Core Environment Variables

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Application Settings

.env
# Application Identity
APP_NAME=Laravel
APP_ENV=local
APP_KEY=
APP_DEBUG=true
APP_URL=http://localhost
Type: String
Default: Laravel
Description: The name of your application used in emails and notifications
APP_NAME="My Ecom Store"
Type: String
Default: local
Options: local, staging, production
Description: Current environment mode
# Development
APP_ENV=local

# Production
APP_ENV=production
Type: String
Default: Empty (generated)
Description: Encryption key for the application
This is automatically generated by php artisan key:generate. Never share this key.
APP_KEY=base64:randomgeneratedkey...
Type: Boolean
Default: true (local), false (production)
Description: Enable detailed error messages
CRITICAL: Always set to false in production to prevent exposing sensitive information.
# Development
APP_DEBUG=true

# Production
APP_DEBUG=false
Type: URL
Default: http://localhost
Description: Base URL of your application
# Local
APP_URL=http://localhost:8000

# Production
APP_URL=https://yourdomain.com

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Logging Configuration

.env
LOG_CHANNEL=stack
Available Channels:
  • stack - Multiple log channels (default)
  • single - Single log file
  • daily - Daily log files
  • slack - Slack notifications
  • syslog - System log
  • errorlog - PHP error log

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Database Configuration

.env
DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=homestead
DB_USERNAME=homestead
DB_PASSWORD=secret
Default Port: 3306
Configured in: config/database.php:42
.env
DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=ecom_database
DB_USERNAME=ecom_user
DB_PASSWORD=secure_password
MySQL uses utf8mb4 charset and utf8mb4_unicode_ci collation by default.
Default Port: 5432
Configured in: config/database.php:57
.env
DB_CONNECTION=pgsql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=5432
DB_DATABASE=ecom_database
DB_USERNAME=postgres
DB_PASSWORD=secure_password
Configured in: config/database.php:36
.env
DB_CONNECTION=sqlite
DB_DATABASE=/absolute/path/to/database.sqlite
Default Port: 1433
Configured in: config/database.php:70
.env
DB_CONNECTION=sqlsrv
DB_HOST=localhost
DB_PORT=1433
DB_DATABASE=ecom_database
DB_USERNAME=sa
DB_PASSWORD=secure_password

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Cache & Session Configuration

.env
CACHE_DRIVER=file
QUEUE_CONNECTION=sync
SESSION_DRIVER=file
SESSION_LIFETIME=120
Default: file
Options: file, redis, memcached, database, array
# Development
CACHE_DRIVER=file

# Production (recommended)
CACHE_DRIVER=redis
Default: sync
Options: sync, database, redis, beanstalkd, sqs
# Development
QUEUE_CONNECTION=sync

# Production
QUEUE_CONNECTION=redis
When using redis or database, you need to run queue workers:
php artisan queue:work
SESSION_DRIVER Default: file
SESSION_LIFETIME Default: 120 (minutes)
SESSION_DRIVER=file
SESSION_LIFETIME=120

# For production with Redis
SESSION_DRIVER=redis
SESSION_LIFETIME=1440

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Redis Configuration

.env
REDIS_HOST=127.0.0.1
REDIS_PASSWORD=null
REDIS_PORT=6379
Redis is configured in config/database.php:107 with two databases: 
REDIS_HOST=127.0.0.1
REDIS_PASSWORD=null
REDIS_PORT=6379
REDIS_DB=0
Ecom uses predis as the Redis client (config/database.php:109).

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Mail Configuration

.env
MAIL_DRIVER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=smtp.mailtrap.io
MAIL_PORT=2525
MAIL_USERNAME=null
MAIL_PASSWORD=null
MAIL_ENCRYPTION=null
.env
MAIL_DRIVER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=smtp.gmail.com
MAIL_PORT=587
MAIL_USERNAME=[email protected]
MAIL_PASSWORD=your-app-password
MAIL_ENCRYPTION=tls
MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=[email protected]
MAIL_FROM_NAME="${APP_NAME}"
.env
MAIL_DRIVER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=smtp.mailtrap.io
MAIL_PORT=2525
MAIL_USERNAME=your-mailtrap-username
MAIL_PASSWORD=your-mailtrap-password
MAIL_ENCRYPTION=null
.env
MAIL_DRIVER=mailgun
MAILGUN_DOMAIN=your-domain.com
MAILGUN_SECRET=your-mailgun-secret
.env
MAIL_DRIVER=ses
AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=your-access-key
AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=your-secret-key
AWS_DEFAULT_REGION=us-east-1

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Broadcasting Configuration

.env
BROADCAST_DRIVER=log

PUSHER_APP_ID=
PUSHER_APP_KEY=
PUSHER_APP_SECRET=
PUSHER_APP_CLUSTER=mt1

MIX_PUSHER_APP_KEY="${PUSHER_APP_KEY}"
MIX_PUSHER_APP_CLUSTER="${PUSHER_APP_CLUSTER}"
For real-time features, configure Pusher or use Laravel Echo with Redis.

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Environment-Specific Settings

.env
APP_ENV=local
APP_DEBUG=true
APP_URL=http://localhost:8000

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_DATABASE=ecom_dev

CACHE_DRIVER=file
QUEUE_CONNECTION=sync
SESSION_DRIVER=file

MAIL_DRIVER=log

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Security Best Practices

Critical Security Rules:
  1. Never commit .env to version control
  2. Always set APP_DEBUG=false in production
  3. Use strong, unique APP_KEY for each environment
  4. Use environment variables for all sensitive data
  5. Restrict file permissions: chmod 600 .env
  6. Regularly rotate credentials and keys

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Verifying Configuration

Test your environment configuration: 
# Check current environment
php artisan env

# Test database connection
php artisan migrate:status

# Clear and cache configuration
php artisan config:clear
php artisan config:cache

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Next Steps

Database Setup

Configure and migrate your database

Deployment

Deploy to production environment

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