$root = .'/../';
Put this in your local (gitignored) .env.default.local : FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD=true .env.default.local
Now you develop the new dashboard WITHOUT waiting for a remote toggle. When you commit code, you don't accidentally commit the "on" flag, forcing it on for everyone. While powerful, the .env.default.local pattern has pitfalls. ❌ Do not commit secrets to .env.default Even though it's committed, never put real API keys, passwords, or tokens in .env.default . Use placeholder values like changeme or your_key_here . ❌ Do not use .env.default.local in production Your production server should have NO local files. Set environment variables natively. If a production server sees a .env.default.local file, you’ve likely mounted a volume incorrectly, creating a security risk. ❌ Do not forget to update .env.default when your schema changes When you add a new dependency that requires a new variable (e.g., STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET ), you must add it to .env.default with a sensible default. Otherwise, the hierarchy breaks. Comparison: .env.default.local vs Alternatives Let’s see how this pattern stacks up against other solutions. $root =
Put this in .env.default : FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD=false ❌ Do not commit secrets to
// Load the default file (committed) if (file_exists($root.'.env.default')) Dotenv::createMutable($root, '.env.default')->load();
// 3. Ensure actual environment variables take precedence // (process.env already has highest priority) Laravel loads .env only. You need to modify your bootstrap.