.env.development allows you to toggle features like ENABLE_SOURCE_MAPS=true without risking a performance hit in production.
# docker-compose.yml version: '3.8' services: api: build: . env_file: - .env.development ports: - "$PORT:3000" .env.development
Use .local files for machine-specific overrides (e.g., local API keys). .env.development
: Keep local development settings separate from production secrets. .env.development