Environment configuration

Properly configuring a development, test or production environment is important for the successful execution of your Python application.

There are many de facto names for environments:

  1. Local development
  2. Development / integration
  3. Test
  4. Staging
  5. Production

The above list provides the common environment names but there can be a limitless number and each organization has their own configuration.

Environment variables

Environment variables are modifiable system values that can be read by Python applications to affect a program's execution.

One answer I found very useful when learning about getting environment variables in Python code is knowing the difference between os.getenv and os.environ.get. Either one can be used in your applications but there are slight differences that can make one better than the other in various situations.

Other useful environment variables resources: * How to Set Environment Variables in Linux and Mac: The Missing Manual is a wonderfully detailed guide with many tips and tricks throughout the walkthrough such as quickly setting environment variables for a single command, passing environment variables through when using sudo and executing a command in a "clean" environment without everything you have already set interfering or being accessible to that script.

Environment configuration resources

What do you want to code?

I want to learn how to code a Python web application using a framework.

I've built a Python web app, now how do I deploy it?

Take me back to the Full Stack Python introduction.


Matt Makai 2012-2022