ensvars

Envars, a portmanteau of "environment variables," refers to a set of dynamic named values that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer. They are a fundamental concept in operating systems and software development, providing a way to configure and customize applications without modifying their source code. Environment variables are often used to store information such as paths to directories, system settings, user preferences, and credentials.

Each operating system has its own way of managing environment variables. In Unix-like systems, such as Linux and macOS, they are typically set at the shell level or within configuration files. Windows operating systems also have a system for managing environment variables, accessible through the system properties. Applications can then read these variables to adapt their behavior. For instance, a program might look for a variable named "TEMP" to determine where to store temporary files.

The use of environment variables offers several advantages. They promote modularity and portability by separating configuration from code. This makes it easier to deploy applications across different environments, such as development, testing, and production, without needing to change the application's core logic. Furthermore, they enhance security by allowing sensitive information like API keys or database passwords to be managed externally, reducing the risk of them being hardcoded into the application. Developers commonly leverage environment variables for managing application settings, especially in containerized environments like Docker.