Environment Variables Command

Overview

The lua env command provides an interactive interface for managing environment variables in both sandbox (development) and production environments.

lua env                  # Interactive: choose environment
lua env sandbox          # Direct: manage .env file
lua env staging          # Direct: alias for sandbox
lua env production       # Direct: manage production API vars

New in v2.6.0: Direct environment access lets you skip the selection prompt for faster workflows!

New in v3.3.0: Full non-interactive mode with -k, -v, --list, and --delete flags for scripting and CI/CD.

Non-Interactive Mode

# List variables
lua env sandbox --list
lua env production --list

# Set a variable
lua env sandbox -k DATABASE_URL -v "postgres://localhost/db"
lua env production -k API_KEY -v "sk_live_xxx"

# Delete a variable
lua env production -k OLD_KEY --delete

Option	Description
`--list`	List all environment variables
`-k, --key <name>`	Variable name
`-v, --value <val>`	Variable value
`-d, --delete`	Delete the specified variable

Sandbox Mode

Manage .env file locally

Production Mode

Manage variables on server via API

Interactive Menu

Add, update, delete, and view variables

Secure

Values masked in list view

Usage Modes

Interactive Mode
Direct Mode - Sandbox
Direct Mode - Production

Default behavior - prompts for environment

$ lua env
? Select environment:
  › 🔧 Sandbox (.env file)
    🚀 Production (API)

Best for: When you’re not sure which environment

Skip prompt and go straight to sandbox

$ lua env sandbox
# No prompt - opens .env file management immediately

Best for: Quick local configuration during development

Skip prompt and go straight to production

$ lua env production
# No prompt - opens production API management immediately

Best for: Fast production updates, automation

Quick Start

Run Command

lua env sandbox        # Direct to sandbox
# or
lua env                # Interactive

Choose Environment (if interactive)

? Select environment:
  🔧 Sandbox (.env file)
  🚀 Production (API)

Manage Variables

➕ Add new variable
✏️ Update existing
🗑️ Delete variable
👁️ View full value

Environment Selection

Sandbox (.env)
Production (API)

Local DevelopmentManages your .env file in the project directory.

? Select environment: 🔧 Sandbox (.env file)

Features:

✅ No authentication required
✅ Instant changes
✅ Local file management
✅ Used by lua test and lua chat

File location: PROJECT_ROOT/.env

Production EnvironmentManages variables on the server via API.

? Select environment: 🚀 Production (API)
✅ Authenticated

Features:

✅ Secure server storage
✅ Team collaboration
✅ Audit logging
✅ Used by deployed skills

Requires: Valid API key (lua auth configure)

Actions Available

Add New Variable

? What would you like to do? ➕ Add new variable
? Variable name: STRIPE_API_KEY
? Variable value: sk_test_abc123
🔄 Saving...
✅ Variable "STRIPE_API_KEY" added successfully

Variable name

string

required

Must start with letter/underscore, contain only letters, numbers, underscores

Variable value

string

required

Any string value (can include spaces, special characters)

Update Existing Variable

? What would you like to do? ✏️ Update existing variable
? Select variable to update: STRIPE_API_KEY
? New value for STRIPE_API_KEY: sk_test_xyz789
🔄 Saving...
✅ Variable "STRIPE_API_KEY" updated successfully

Delete Variable

? What would you like to do? 🗑️ Delete variable
? Select variable to delete: OLD_KEY
? Are you sure you want to delete "OLD_KEY"? Yes
🔄 Saving...
✅ Variable "OLD_KEY" deleted successfully

Deletion requires confirmation to prevent accidents. Default is “No”.

View Variable Value

? What would you like to do? 👁️ View variable value
? Select variable to view: STRIPE_API_KEY
============================================================
Variable: STRIPE_API_KEY
============================================================
sk_test_abc123xyz789
============================================================

Press Enter to continue...

Shows the full unmasked value for copying.

Variable Display

Variables are masked for security in the list view:

============================================================
📋 Environment Variables (Sandbox)
============================================================

1. DATABASE_URL = post**********************
2. STRIPE_KEY = sk-t**********************
3. API_SECRET = abc1**********************

Masking rules:

Shows first 4 characters
Replaces rest with asterisks (max 20)
Values < 4 chars show only asterisks

Variable Naming Rules

Valid Names
Invalid Names

DATABASE_URL           ✅
API_KEY                ✅
STRIPE_SECRET_KEY      ✅
MAX_CONNECTIONS        ✅
enable_feature         ✅
_INTERNAL_CONFIG       ✅

123_NUMBER             ❌ Starts with number
MY-VARIABLE            ❌ Contains hyphen
MY VARIABLE            ❌ Contains space
MY.VARIABLE            ❌ Contains dot

Use in Development Workflow

Step 1: Configure Variables

# Set up sandbox environment variables
lua env sandbox
# Add: DATABASE_URL, API_KEY, STRIPE_SECRET, etc.

# Set up production environment variables
lua env production
# Add production API keys and URLs

Step 2: Test Locally

# Variables are automatically loaded
lua test

# Or test in conversation
lua chat

Step 3: Verify Production Config

# Check production variables before deploying
lua env production

Step 4: Deploy

lua push
lua deploy

Sandbox vs Production

When to Use Sandbox
When to Use Production

Local Development

lua env  # → Choose Sandbox

Add variables like:

DATABASE_URL=postgresql://localhost:5432/dev
STRIPE_KEY=sk_test_...
DEBUG=true

Used by:

lua test
lua chat (sandbox mode)
Local development

Production Deployment

lua env  # → Choose Production

Add variables like:

DATABASE_URL=postgresql://prod-host:5432/prod
STRIPE_KEY=sk_live_...
DEBUG=false

Used by:

Deployed skills
lua chat (production mode)
Live user interactions

Best Practices

Use Different Keys per Environment

# Sandbox - Test keys
STRIPE_KEY=sk_test_abc123
DATABASE=dev_database

# Production - Live keys
STRIPE_KEY=sk_live_xyz789
DATABASE=prod_database

Never Commit .env

Add to .gitignore:

.env
.env.local
.env.*.local

Commit .env.example instead with placeholder values

Document Required Variables

Create .env.example:

# Required API Keys
STRIPE_KEY=sk_test_your_key_here
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://localhost:5432/dbname

# Optional
DEBUG=true
MAX_RETRIES=3

Rotate Secrets Regularly

Update sensitive keys every 90 days:

API keys
Database passwords
JWT secrets
Encryption keys

Example Session

$ lua env sandbox
# Or interactive: lua env → Choose Sandbox

============================================================
📋 Environment Variables (Sandbox)
============================================================

ℹ️  No environment variables configured.

? What would you like to do? ➕ Add new variable
? Variable name: DATABASE_URL
? Variable value: postgresql://localhost:5432/myapp
🔄 Saving...
✅ Variable "DATABASE_URL" added successfully

============================================================
📋 Environment Variables (Sandbox)
============================================================

1. DATABASE_URL = post**********************

? What would you like to do? ➕ Add new variable
? Variable name: STRIPE_KEY
? Variable value: sk_test_abc123
🔄 Saving...
✅ Variable "STRIPE_KEY" added successfully

============================================================
📋 Environment Variables (Sandbox)
============================================================

1. DATABASE_URL = post**********************
2. STRIPE_KEY = sk-t**********************

? What would you like to do? ❌ Exit

👋 Goodbye!

Troubleshooting

Variable not loading in tools

Problem: Tool can’t find environment variableSolution:

import { env } from 'lua-cli';

const apiKey = env('STRIPE_KEY');
if (!apiKey) {
  throw new Error('STRIPE_KEY not configured. Run: lua env');
}

.env file permissions error

Error: EACCES: permission deniedSolution:

chmod 644 .env

Production variables not saving

Problem: Changes don’t persistSolutions:

Verify API key: lua auth key
Check network connection
Try again

Invalid variable name

Error: Validation errorFix: Use valid format:

Start with letter or underscore
Only letters, numbers, underscores
No hyphens, spaces, or special characters

lua test

Uses sandbox environment variables

lua chat

Uses sandbox or production based on mode

lua push

Doesn’t include env vars (stored separately)

lua deploy

Uses production environment variables

Next Steps

Environment Variables Guide

Complete guide to configuration management

Test Your Skills

Test tools with your environment variables

Getting Started

Core Concepts

CLI Commands

API Reference

Template & Examples

Environment Variables Command

Overview

Non-Interactive Mode

Sandbox Mode

Production Mode

Interactive Menu

Secure

Usage Modes

Quick Start

Environment Selection

Actions Available

Add New Variable

Update Existing Variable

Delete Variable

View Variable Value

Variable Display

Variable Naming Rules

Use in Development Workflow

Step 1: Configure Variables

Step 2: Test Locally

Step 3: Verify Production Config

Step 4: Deploy

Sandbox vs Production

Best Practices

Example Session

Troubleshooting

lua test

lua chat

lua push

lua deploy

Next Steps

Environment Variables Guide

Test Your Skills

Getting Started

Core Concepts

CLI Commands

API Reference

Template & Examples

Documentation Index

​Overview

​Non-Interactive Mode

Sandbox Mode

Production Mode

Interactive Menu

Secure

​Usage Modes

​Quick Start

​Environment Selection

​Actions Available

​Add New Variable

​Update Existing Variable

​Delete Variable

​View Variable Value

​Variable Display

​Variable Naming Rules

​Use in Development Workflow

​Step 1: Configure Variables

​Step 2: Test Locally

​Step 3: Verify Production Config

​Step 4: Deploy

​Sandbox vs Production

​Best Practices

​Example Session

​Troubleshooting

​Related Commands

lua test

lua chat

lua push

lua deploy

​Next Steps

Environment Variables Guide

Test Your Skills

Overview

Non-Interactive Mode

Usage Modes

Quick Start

Environment Selection

Actions Available

Add New Variable

Update Existing Variable

Delete Variable

View Variable Value

Variable Display

Variable Naming Rules

Use in Development Workflow

Step 1: Configure Variables

Step 2: Test Locally

Step 3: Verify Production Config

Step 4: Deploy

Sandbox vs Production

Best Practices

Example Session

Troubleshooting

Related Commands

Next Steps