How to set environment variables in a local .env file using dotenv in python?

Question

I tried the following code but when I opened my env file it was still empty.

import os
from os.path import join, dirname
from dotenv import load_dotenv
    
dotenv_path = join(dirname(__file__), '.env')
load_dotenv(dotenv_path)
    
os.environ['ORI'] = '123'

Szabolcs · Accepted Answer · 2021-09-23T12:37:09.040

7

You need dotenv.set_key for that, like this:

import dotenv

dotenv_path = "my-custom-dotenv"

# dotenv.set_key will create a dotenv file
# with the specified path if non existing, then add the "ORI" variable
dotenv.set_key(dotenv_path, "ORI", "123")
# add the IRO variable
dotenv.set_key(dotenv_path, "IRO", "321")
# change the ORI variable
dotenv.set_key(dotenv_path, "ORI", "456")
# remove the IRO variable
dotenv.unset_key(dotenv_path, "IRO")

edited Sep 23 '21 at 12:37

answered Sep 23 '21 at 12:19

Szabolcs

3,990
18
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Thanks, It worked but can you tell me how do I change the name of the env file it creates and how do I delete keys from the file? – Roso Bergman Sep 23 '21 at 12:25
@RosoBergman you mean that you don't want to call it `.env` but something like `.my-custom-dotenv` ? – Szabolcs Sep 23 '21 at 12:27
Yea but don't mind it I found how to do it by playing a bit with the code, thanks for the help – Roso Bergman Sep 23 '21 at 12:36
In any case I've updated the answer with a possible approach – Szabolcs Sep 23 '21 at 12:40

nos codemos · Answer 2 · 2021-09-23T12:21:05.323

0

https://github.com/theskumar/python-dotenv

You first create your .env file and write your various variables. For example a .env might look like:

password=SUPERSECRETPASSWORD
username=myusername

and so forth. Then you will load your .env using the load_dotenv() function.

This is an example from some code I have in a project:

import os
import psycopg2 as pg2
from dotenv import load_dotenv

# -------------------------------
# Connection variables
# -------------------------------
dotenv_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname( __file__ ), '..', '.env')) #travels up a level to find the .env
load_dotenv(dotenv_path)

# -------------------------------
# Connection to database
# -------------------------------
# Server connection
db_url = os.environ.get("DATABASE_URL")
CONN = pg2.connect(db_url, sslmode="require")

Please make sure you add .env to your .gitignore file!!!!

EDIT: NVM I misread the question. I'll leave it in though.

edited Sep 23 '21 at 12:21

answered Sep 23 '21 at 12:12

nos codemos

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1
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The question is about setting not loading. – Szabolcs Sep 23 '21 at 12:20
The thing is that I want the env file to start as an empty file and I want in the code to add variables to the file, I tried your and added os.environ['ORI'] = '123', but still when I opened my .env file in notepad it was empty. – Roso Bergman Sep 23 '21 at 12:20
1

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/63837315/change-environment-variables-saved-in-env-file-with-python-and-dotenv sorry for misreading the question – nos codemos Sep 23 '21 at 12:22
@RosoBergman Look at my answer for a possible solution for your problem. – Szabolcs Sep 23 '21 at 12:25

How to set environment variables in a local .env file using dotenv in python?

2 Answers2