Trying to set an environment variable in node? not working

Question

So I have install npm config module.

I have trying to set a local variable that stores a secret/privateKey.

Tried setting an environment variable/private key using the following command

 export VIDLY_JWTPRIVATEKEY=MYSECUREKEY

however it don't think It is being set as I get an error via

console.log("FATAL ERROR: JWTPRIVATEKEY is not defined");

This is how I am checking if the key is set..

index.js

if (!config.get("JWTPRIVATEKEY")) {
  console.log("FATAL ERROR: JWTPRIVATEKEY is not defined");
  // node environment variable. 1 (any other number exc. 0) is exit the app, 0 is success
  process.exit(1);
}

userAuth.js I once again try to get the private, however its not set (?)

   #code above 

  const token = jwt.sign({ _id: user._id }, config.get("JWTPRIVATEKEY"));

default.json (in config module folder)

{
  "JWTPRIVATEKEY": ""
}

custom-environment-variables.json (in config folder)

{
  "JWTPRIVATEKEY": "VIDLY_JWTPRIVATEKEY"
}

**

ERROR: "FATAL ERROR: JWTPRIVATEKEY is not defined"

**

What am I doing wrong?

I could not get if the question is about environment variables or config file. — vahdet
in config module folder? The json files should be in ./config/*.jsonalso if you want to use js export it like module.exports = {"JWTPRIVATEKEY": "VIDLY_JWTPRIVATEKEY"} - The docs are extensive github.com/lorenwest/node-config/wiki — Lawrence Cherone
No the config module is an npm package, and the file is suppose to be setup up like they are... i.e. no need to export module.... i reckon the local variable is not being set ? — Shaz

Arthur Arthur · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-27T14:38:42

Instead of setting the variable with this way, you can try to set it in production and development config folders like this:

config/development.js

const config = {
    env: 'development',
    JWTPRIVATEKEY: <your_dev_key>
};

module.exports = config;

config/production.js

const config = {
    env: 'production',
    JWTPRIVATEKEY: <your_prod_key>
};

module.exports = config;

Trying to set an environment variable in node? not working

2 Answers