How to install direnv

Direnv modifies the shell environment depending on your current directory. This allows users to isolate project-specific environment variables and avoid depending on a single shell .profile file. When direnv detects an .envrc file within the current directory it will load the file's declared environment variables, execute any shell commands and scripts.

Install¶

1. Install direnv using your distro's package manager:

   apt-get update && apt-get upgrade
   apt-get install direnv
   

2. Verify direnv has installed and view a list of available commands:

   direnv help
   

Configure¶

1. Direnv will need to hook directly into your shell to execute the file .envrc. This will allow direnv to automatically execute when your shell changes directory.

   BASH

   Add the following line to the bottom of the ~/.bashrc file:

   eval "$(direnv hook bash)"
   

   Reload the .bashrc file:

   source ~/.bashrc
   

   ZSH

   Add the following line to the bottom of the ~/.zshrc file:

   eval "$(direnv hook zsh)"
   

   Reload the .zshrc file:

   source ~/.zshrc
   

   FISH

   Add the following line to the bottom of the ~/.config/fish/config.fish file:

   eval (direnv hook fish)
   

   Reload the FISH configuration file:

   source ~/.config/fish/config.fish
   

2. Create a .envrc file in the project specific directory.

   touch ~/my-project-directroy/.envrc
   

3. Use your text editor to add directory specific environment variables to the .envrc file.

   vim ~/my-project-directory/.envrc
   

{{< note >}} You must use bash syntax within .envrc file. {{< /note >}}

1. Navigate to the project directory and allow execution of the .envrc file:

   cd ~/my-project-directory
   

{{< output >}} direnv: error .envrc is blocked. Run direnv allow to approve its content. user@localhost: direnv allow {{< /output >}}

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