direnv is an extension of your shell. It augments the existing shell with a new feature that can load and unload environment variables depending on the current directory.

Use cases

• Load 12factor apps environment variables

• Create per-project isolated development environments

• Load secrets for deployment

Installation and how to use

• Install direnv if not installed

    sudo apt-get install direnv
  

• Change your directory where you want to set the environment variable

    cd devstack
  

• Set the desired variable in .envrc file

    echo export OPENEDX_RELEASE=maple.master > .envrc
  

• Allow direnv

    direnv allow .
  

• Check direnv status, whether the .envrc file is loaded or not

    direnv status
  

• Add the following line at the end of your ~/.bashrc file

    # Make sure it appears even after rvm, git-prompt, and other shell extensions that manipulate your prompt.
    eval "$(direnv hook bash)"
  

• Check your variable

    # If this doesn't work then close the Terminal and open again and move to you directory
    echo ${OPENEDX_RELEASE-nope}
  

References:

• direnv.net

• manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/focal/man1/dir..

• forum.opencraft.com/t/devstack-tips-and-tri..