dotenv.net is a group of projects that aim to make the process of reading .env files as simple and pain-free as possible in the dotnet ecosystem. It contains a core library that holds the env reading functionality and two libraries that add dependency injection (DI) support for two popular DI systems. If you have ideas or issues, feel free to create an issue.

Version 3 is a huge departure from the previous system of accessing the library functionality. Deprecated methods from version 2.x have been removed as indicated. New functionality has been added but the reading and parsing logic has mostly stayed unchanged meaning at it's heart, is still the same ol' reliable.

if you are hardcore and want to go the manual route. Then add the following to your csproj file:

<PackageReference Include="dotenv.net" Version="3.0.0"/>

If you're using the Visual Studio package manager console, then run the following:

Install-Package dotenv.net

if you are making use of the dotnet CLI, then run the following in your terminal:

dotnet add package dotenv.net

Ensure you have declared the necessary namespace at the head of your class file:

using dotenv.net;

Calling the Load() method with no parameters would locate and load the .env file in the same directory that the library is if one exists:

DotEnv.Load();

If you want to be notified of exceptions that occur in the process of loading env files then you can specify that via the configuration options:

DotEnv.Load(options: new DotEnvOptions(ignoreExceptions: false));

You can specify the env files to be loaded. One or more can be loaded. (NOTE: the order in which the env paths are provided is crucial. If there is a duplicate key and value specified in an env file specified later in the list, that value would overwrite the earlier values read). The default is .env:

DotEnv.Load(options: new DotEnvOptions(envFilePaths: new[] {"./path/to/env", "./path/to/second/env"}));

To search up from the executing library's directory for an env file. The directories would be searched upwards i.e given a directory path /path/to/var, The var directory would be searched first, then the to directory and then the path directory. The options allow for probing the directories as well as specifying how high up to search. The defaults are true and 4 directories up:

DotEnv.Load(options: new DotEnvOptions(probeForEnv: true, probeLevelsToSearch: 2)); // this would only search 2 directories up from the executing directory.

If the provided env files are not UTF-8 encoded, then the encoding to use in reading the files can be specified. The default is UTF-8:

using System.Text;
...
DotEnv.Load(options: new DotEnvOptions(encoding: Encoding.ASCII));

To trim extraneous whitespace from the values read from the file(s). The default is false:

DotEnv.Load(options: new DotEnvOptions(trimValues: true));

To skip overwriting an environment variable if it is set. The default is true:

DotEnv.Load(options: new DotEnvOptions(overwriteExistingVars: false));

The Read() method returns a IDictionary<string, string> instance detailing the keys and associated values read from the env files provided. This hase the added advantage of not modifying your system environment variables. The same options as apply to the Load() method, apply to the Read() method as well.

var envVars = DotEnv.Read();
Console.WriteLine(envVars["KEY"]); // would print out whatever value was associated with the 'KEY'

There is a fluent API analogue to the static methods documented above and can be terminated with a Read() or Load() call to return the env value or write to the environment variables .

// to load env vars with the specified options
DotEnv.Fluent()
    .WithExceptions()
    .WithEnvFiles("./path/to/env")
    .WithTrimValues()
    .WithEncoding()
    .WithOverwriteExistingVars()
    .WithProbeForEnv(probeLevelsToSearch: 6)
    .Load();

// to read the env vars with the specified options
var envVars = DotEnv.Fluent()
    .WithoutExceptions()
    .WithEnvFiles() // revert to the default .env file
    .WithoutTrimValues()
    .WithDefaultEncoding()
    .WithoutOverwriteExistingVars()
    .WithoutProbeForEnv()
    .Read();

The Utilities namespace provides additional classes to aid in reading environment in a typed manner as well as other sundry assistive methods. Ensure you have declared the necessary namespace at the head of your class file:

using dotenv.net.Utilities;
...
var value = EnvReader.GetStringValue("KEY");

Big ups to those who have contributed to these libraries. 👏

@bolorundurowb @joliveros @vizeke @merqlove @tracker1 @NaturalWill @texyh @jonlabelle @Gounlaf @DTTerastar