Zero-env ⚡

The Runtime Config Validator for JS & Node.js. Zero-env Setup. Zero-env Schema. Auto-detects missing keys.

The Problem

Using process.env directly is dangerous. If you forget a variable, your app crashes randomly at 3 AM. Libraries like zod are great, but they require writing schemas, types, and config files.

The Solution

Zero-env wraps your environment in a smart Proxy.

• 0 Config: No schema files. No setup.
• Auto-Load: Automatically loads .env (bundles dotenv).
• Fail Fast: Crashes instantly with a descriptive error if you access a missing variable.

Installation

npm i @aritra_debnath/zero-env

Usage

1. Create your .env file

DATABASE_URL=postgres://localhost:5432/mydb
API_KEY=secret_123

2. Import and Use

Instead of process.env, import Zero-env.

import env from "@aritra_debnath/zero-env";

// ✅ Works perfectly
connectToDb(env.DATABASE_URL);

// ❌ CRASHES IMMEDIATELY
// You forgot to add 'STRIPE_KEY' to your .env file
const payment = new Stripe(env.STRIPE_KEY);

The Error Message

If you access a missing key, the app throws a fatal error intentionally:

Error: ❌ CRASH: Missing Environment Variable
You tried to access 'env.STRIPE_KEY' but it is not defined in your .env file.

TypeScript Support

Works out of the box. No manual typing required. The package exports a default object where keys are treated as string.

import env from "@aritra_debnath/zero-env";

const key: string = env.API_KEY; // Type inferred as string

FAQ

Does this work with Next.js / Vite? Yes, but remember that client-side bundlers often replace process.env.VAR at build time. This package is designed primarily for Node.js runtimes (Backend, API routes, Scripts).

Why does console.log(env) look empty? Because it is a Proxy. It doesn't hold data itself; it intercepts requests to process.env. If you want to see all variables, use console.log(process.env).

License

MIT