# dotenv command > dotenv command - Manage environment variables and .env files in DataRobot templates. This Markdown file sits beside the HTML page at the same path (with a `.md` suffix). It summarizes the topic and lists links for tools and LLM context. Companion generated at `2026-05-06T18:17:09.546005+00:00` (UTC). ## Primary page - [dotenv command](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html): Full documentation for this topic (HTML). ## Sections on this page - [Overview](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#overview): In-page section heading. - [Commands](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#commands): In-page section heading. - [dr dotenv setup](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#dr-dotenv-setup): In-page section heading. - [dr dotenv edit](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#dr-dotenv-edit): In-page section heading. - [dr dotenv update](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#dr-dotenv-update): In-page section heading. - [dr dotenv validate](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#dr-dotenv-validate): In-page section heading. - [File structure](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#file-structure): In-page section heading. - [.env.template](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#env-template): In-page section heading. - [.env](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#env): In-page section heading. - [Interactive configuration](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#interactive-configuration): In-page section heading. - [Prompt types](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#prompt-types): In-page section heading. - [Conditional prompts](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#conditional-prompts): In-page section heading. - [Common workflows](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#common-workflows): In-page section heading. - [Initial setup](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#initial-setup): In-page section heading. - [Quick updates](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#quick-updates): In-page section heading. - [Manual editing](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#manual-editing): In-page section heading. - [Validation](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#validation): In-page section heading. - [Switch wizard to editor](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#switch-wizard-to-editor): In-page section heading. - [Configuration discovery](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#configuration-discovery): In-page section heading. - [Security](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#security): In-page section heading. - [Secret handling](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#secret-handling): In-page section heading. - [Auto-generation](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#auto-generation): In-page section heading. - [Error handling](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#error-handling): In-page section heading. - [Not in repository](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#not-in-repository): In-page section heading. - [Missing .env file](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#missing-env-file): In-page section heading. - [Authentication required](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#authentication-required): In-page section heading. - [Validation failures](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#validation-failures): In-page section heading. - [Exit codes](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#exit-codes): In-page section heading. - [Examples](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#examples): In-page section heading. - [Create configuration from scratch](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#create-configuration-from-scratch): In-page section heading. - [Update after re-authentication](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#update-after-re-authentication): In-page section heading. - [Validate before deployment](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#validate-before-deployment): In-page section heading. - [Edit specific variables](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#edit-specific-variables): In-page section heading. - [Check configuration](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#check-configuration): In-page section heading. - [Integration with other commands](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#integration-with-other-commands): In-page section heading. - [With templates](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#with-templates): In-page section heading. - [With run](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#with-run): In-page section heading. - [With auth](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#with-auth): In-page section heading. - [See also](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/dotenv.html#see-also): In-page section heading. ## Related documentation - [Agentic AI](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/index.html): Linked from this page. - [CLI](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/index.html): Linked from this page. - [Command reference](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/index.html): Linked from this page. - [Configuration - State tracking](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/configuration.html#state-tracking): Linked from this page. - [Environment variables guide](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/template-system/environment-variables.html): Linked from this page. - [Interactive configuration](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/template-system/interactive-config.html): Linked from this page. - [Template structure](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/template-system/structure.html): Linked from this page. - [auth command](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/auth.html): Linked from this page. - [run command](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/commands/run.html): Linked from this page. ## Documentation content Manage environment variables and `.env` files in DataRobot templates. ## Overview The `dr dotenv` command provides tools for creating, editing, validating, and updating environment configuration files. It includes an interactive wizard for guided setup and a text editor for direct file manipulation. ## Commands ### dr dotenv setup Launch the interactive wizard to configure environment variables. ``` dr dotenv setup ``` Features: - Interactive prompts for all required variables. - Context-aware questions based on template configuration. - Automatic discovery of configuration from .datarobot/prompts.yaml files. - Smart defaults from .env.template . - Secure handling of secret values. - DataRobot authentication integration. - Automatic state tracking of completion timestamp. Prerequisites: - Must be run inside a git repository. - Requires authentication with DataRobot. State tracking: Upon successful completion, `dr dotenv setup` records the timestamp in the state file. This allows `dr templates setup` to intelligently skip dotenv configuration if it has already been completed. The state is stored in the same location as other CLI state (see [Configuration - State tracking](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/agentic-ai/cli/configuration.html#state-tracking)). Keep in mind that `dr dotenv setup` will always prompt for configuration if run manually, regardless of state. To force the setup wizard to run again (ignoring the state file), use the `--force-interactive` flag: ``` dr templates setup --force-interactive ``` This is useful for testing or when you need to reconfigure your environment from scratch. Example: ``` cd my-template dr dotenv setup ``` The wizard guides you through: 1. DataRobot credentials (auto-populated if authenticated). 2. Application-specific configuration. 3. Optional features and integrations. 4. Validation of all inputs. 5. Generation of `.env` file. ### dr dotenv edit Open the `.env` file in an interactive editor or wizard. ``` dr dotenv edit ``` Behavior: - If `.env` exists, opens it in the editor. - If no extra variables are detected, opens text editor mode. - If template prompts are found, offers wizard mode. - Can switch between editor and wizard modes. Editor mode controls: - `e` —edit in text editor. - `w` —switch to wizard mode. - `Enter` —save and exit. - `Esc` —save and exit. Wizard mode controls: - Navigate prompts with arrow keys. - Enter values or select options. - `Esc` —return to previous screen. Example: ``` cd my-template dr dotenv edit ``` ### dr dotenv update Automatically refresh DataRobot credentials in the `.env` file. ``` dr dotenv update ``` Features: - Updates `DATAROBOT_ENDPOINT` and `DATAROBOT_API_TOKEN`. - Preserves all other environment variables. - Automatically authenticates if needed. - Uses current authentication session. Prerequisites: - Must be run inside a git repository. - Must have a `.env` or `.env.template` file. - Requires authentication with DataRobot. Example: ``` cd my-template dr dotenv update ``` Use cases: - Refresh expired API tokens. - Switch DataRobot environments. - Update credentials after re-authentication. ### dr dotenv validate Validate that all required environment variables are properly configured. ``` dr dotenv validate ``` Features: - Validates against template requirements defined in `.datarobot/prompts.yaml`. - Checks both `.env` file and environment variables. - Verifies core DataRobot variables ( `DATAROBOT_ENDPOINT`, `DATAROBOT_API_TOKEN`). - Reports missing or invalid variables with helpful error messages. - Respects conditional requirements based on selected options. Prerequisites: - Must be run inside a git repository. - Must have a `.env` file. Example: ``` cd my-template dr dotenv validate ``` Output: Successful validation: ``` Validating required variables: APP_NAME: my-app DATAROBOT_ENDPOINT: https://app.datarobot.com DATAROBOT_API_TOKEN: *** DATABASE_URL: postgresql://localhost:5432/db Validation passed: all required variables are set. ``` Validation errors: ``` Validating required variables: APP_NAME: my-app DATAROBOT_ENDPOINT: https://app.datarobot.com Validation errors: Error: required variable DATAROBOT_API_TOKEN is not set Description: DataRobot API token for authentication Set this variable in your .env file or run `dr dotenv setup` to configure it. Error: required variable DATABASE_URL is not set Description: PostgreSQL database connection string Set this variable in your .env file or run `dr dotenv setup` to configure it. ``` Use cases: - Verify configuration before running tasks. - Debug missing environment variables. - CI/CD pipeline checks. - Troubleshoot application startup issues. ## File structure ### .env.template Template file committed to version control: ``` # Required Configuration APP_NAME= DATAROBOT_ENDPOINT= DATAROBOT_API_TOKEN= # Optional Configuration # DEBUG=false # PORT=8080 ``` ### .env Generated configuration file (never committed): ``` # Required Configuration APP_NAME=my-awesome-app DATAROBOT_ENDPOINT=https://app.datarobot.com DATAROBOT_API_TOKEN=*** # Optional Configuration DEBUG=true PORT=8000 ``` ## Interactive configuration ### Prompt types The wizard supports multiple input types defined in `.datarobot/prompts.yaml`: Text input: ``` prompts: - key: "app_name" env: "APP_NAME" help: "Enter your application name" ``` Secret string: ``` prompts: - key: "api_key" env: "API_KEY" type: "secret_string" help: "Enter your API key" generate: true # Auto-generate a random secret ``` Single selection: ``` prompts: - key: "environment" env: "ENVIRONMENT" help: "Select deployment environment" options: - name: "Development" value: "dev" - name: "Production" value: "prod" ``` Multiple selection: ``` prompts: - key: "features" env: "ENABLED_FEATURES" help: "Select features to enable" multiple: true options: - name: "Analytics" - name: "Monitoring" ``` ### Conditional prompts Prompts can be shown based on previous selections: ``` prompts: - key: "enable_database" help: "Enable database?" options: - name: "Yes" requires: "database_config" - name: "No" - key: "database_url" section: "database_config" env: "DATABASE_URL" help: "Database connection string" ``` ## Common workflows ### Initial setup Set up a new template with all configuration: ``` cd my-template dr dotenv setup ``` ### Quick updates Update just the DataRobot credentials: ``` dr dotenv update ``` ### Manual editing Edit variables directly: ``` dr dotenv edit # Press 'e' for editor mode # Make changes # Press Enter to save ``` ### Validation Check configuration before running tasks: ``` dr dotenv validate dr run dev ``` ### Switch wizard to editor Start with wizard, switch to editor: ``` dr dotenv edit # Press 'w' for wizard mode # Complete some prompts # Press 'e' to switch to editor for fine-tuning ``` ## Configuration discovery The CLI automatically discovers configuration from: 1. .env.template —base template with variable names. 2. .datarobot/prompts.yaml —interactive prompts and validation. 3. Existing.env —current values (if present). 4. Environment variables —system environment (override .env ). Priority order (highest to lowest): 1. System environment variables. 2. User input from wizard. 3. Existing `.env` file values. 4. Default values from prompts. 5. Template values from `.env.template`. ## Security ### Secret handling - Secret values are masked in the UI. - Variables containing "PASSWORD", "SECRET", "KEY", or "TOKEN" are automatically treated as secrets. - The secret_string prompt type enables secure input with masking. - .env files should never be committed (add to .gitignore ). ### Auto-generation Secret strings with `generate: true` are automatically generated: ``` prompts: - key: "session_secret" env: "SESSION_SECRET" type: "secret_string" generate: true help: "Session encryption key" ``` This generates a cryptographically secure random string when no value exists. ## Error handling ### Not in repository ``` Error: not inside a git repository Run this command from within an application template git repository. To create a new template, run `dr templates setup`. ``` Solution: Navigate to a git repository or use `dr templates setup`. ### Missing .env file ``` Error: .env file does not exist at /path/to/.env Run `dr dotenv setup` to create one. ``` Solution: Run `dr dotenv setup` to create the file. ### Authentication required ``` Error: not authenticated Run `dr auth login` to authenticate. ``` Solution: Authenticate with `dr auth login`. ### Validation failures ``` Validation errors: Error: required variable DATABASE_URL is not set Description: PostgreSQL database connection string Set this variable in your .env file or run `dr dotenv setup` to configure it. ``` Solution: Set the missing variables or run `dr dotenv setup`. ## Exit codes | Code | Meaning | | --- | --- | | 0 | Success. | | 1 | Error (file not found, validation failed, not in repo). | | 130 | Interrupted (Ctrl+C). | ## Examples ### Create configuration from scratch ``` cd my-template dr dotenv setup ``` ### Update after re-authentication ``` dr auth login dr dotenv update ``` ### Validate before deployment ``` dr dotenv validate && dr run deploy ``` ### Edit specific variables ``` dr dotenv edit # Press 'e' for editor mode # Update DATABASE_URL # Press Enter to save ``` ### Check configuration ``` cat .env dr dotenv validate ``` ## Integration with other commands ### With templates ``` dr templates setup # Automatically runs dotenv setup ``` ### With run ``` dr dotenv validate dr run dev ``` ### With auth ``` dr auth login dr dotenv update ``` ## See also - Environment variables guide —managing .env files. - Interactive configuration —configuration wizard details. - Template structure —template organization. - auth command —authentication management. - run command —executing tasks.