{{tag>github dotenv js cicd}}

====== Add dotenv (.env) file in Github action ======

Instead of creating variables one by one in GH action like so:

<code>
   - name: 'Create env file'
        run: |
          touch .env
          echo API_ENDPOINT="https://xxx.execute-api.us-west-2.amazonaws.com" >> .env
          echo API_KEY=${{ secrets.API_KEY }} >> .env
          cat .env
</code>
You can base64 encode the entire .env file and c/p it into the Github secrets variable.

Encode the file:

  cat apps/myapp/.env | base64 -w 0

Now c/p the output from above command to GH secrets, go to //repository Settings > Secrets and variables > Actions > New repository secret//.

Next in the github workflow decode the secret and redirect it to the .env e.g.

<code>
...
      - name: Create .env
        env:
          ENV_SECRET: ${{ secrets.DOTENV_STY }}
        run: |
          echo "$ENV_SECRET" | base64 --decode > apps/myapp/.env
...
</code>


====== Tested on ======
  * Github actions 2025.02

====== See also ======
  * [[wiki:github_actions_examples|Github actions examples]]
====== References ======
  * https://stackoverflow.com/a/64452700/6881647