usingenv

Run any command with a specific .env file using a simple, readable syntax.

No manual exporting. No messy shell commands. Just run it.

What this does

usingenv lets you execute any command while automatically loading environment variables from a file.

Instead of doing this:

dotenv -e .env.vercel -- python manage.py runserver

You can do:

using .env.vercel run python manage.py runserver

That’s it.

Why this exists

Working with multiple environments is painful:

• .env.local
• .env.dev
• .env.staging
• .env.production

Switching between them usually means long commands or manual exports.

usingenv removes that friction.

Installation

npm install -g usingenv

Usage

Basic usage

using .env.file run your command here

Alternate separator

using .env.file -- your command here

Help and version

using --help
using --version

Examples

Run a Node app:

using .env.local run node app.js

Run a Django server:

using .env.dev run python manage.py runserver

Run Make commands:

using .env.vercel run make runserver

How it works

1. Reads your .env file
2. Loads variables into memory
3. Runs your command with those variables available
4. Stops cleanly when your command exits

Nothing leaks into your terminal session.

Requirements

• Node.js 18 or higher

Notes

• This does NOT modify your system environment permanently
• Each command runs in its own isolated environment
• Safe to use for local development and CI scripts

License

MIT