Environment variable

A named value that programs read when they start. You can set it in the system (e.g. from the terminal) or in Claude’s settings (the “env” section). Secret keys you keep only on your own computer, never in files that reach git.

You’ll also find it as: environment variables

How it appears in the course

"env" — environment variables (named values that programs read when they start). Here it says the project is in the development phase. Careful: this file ends up in git, so you never write passwords or secret keys here.
What does a real settings file look like? · Module 03, Permissions: what Claude may do
Cloud providers — Amazon Bedrock or Google Vertex AI. For companies that already use these services. They’re set up through environment variables (settings that programs read when they start).
How do you sign in to your account? · Module 00, Installation and first steps · free

Where you learn it

In module 03 · Permissions: what Claude may do, in the Claude Code for Beginners course.

Related terms

.envacceptEditsAllowlistbypassPermissionsContainerDeny

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