.env.dist.local is a simple text file that contains environment variables and their values. The .dist extension indicates that it's a distribution file, meant to be used as a template or a starting point. The .local extension suggests that it's specific to your local machine.
envsubst < .env.dist.local > .env.development This would replace the placeholders with values specific to your development environment. .env.dist.local
The idea behind .env.dist.local is to create a single file that contains all the environment variables required by your application, with default values or placeholders. You can then use this file as a template to generate environment-specific files, such as .env.development , .env.staging , or .env.production . such as .env.development