---
title: "Database Configuration"
description: "Set up environment configuration files from templates with validation."
type: skill
canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/env-setup
source: "Claudary"
difficulty: intermediate
author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack"
date: 2026-07-10T11:24:14.067Z
license: CC-BY-4.0
attribution: "Database Configuration — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/env-setup)"
---

# Database Configuration
Set up environment configuration files from templates with validation.

## Overview

Set up environment configuration files from templates with validation.

## Steps

1. Scan for environment template files: `.env.example`, `.env.template`, `.env.sample`.
2. If no template exists, analyze the codebase for environment variable usage:
   - Search for `process.env.`, `os.environ`, `env::var`, `os.Getenv` patterns.
   - Extract all referenced variable names.
3. Generate `.env.example` with all required variables:
   - Group by category (database, API keys, feature flags, etc.).
   - Add descriptions as comments.
   - Include sensible defaults for non-sensitive values.
   - Mark required vs optional variables.
4. If `.env` does not exist, create it from the template:
   - Copy `.env.example` to `.env`.
   - Prompt for values of required variables without defaults.
5. Verify `.env` is in `.gitignore`.
6. Generate a TypeScript/Python config module that validates env vars at startup.

## Format

```env
# Database Configuration
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://localhost:5432/myapp  # Required
DATABASE_POOL_SIZE=10                            # Optional, default: 10

# API Keys
API_KEY=                                         # Required, no default
```

## Rules

- Never commit `.env` files; always verify `.gitignore` includes them.
- Always provide an `.env.example` with placeholder values, never real credentials.
- Mark each variable as required or optional with clear comments.
- Generate runtime validation that fails fast on missing required variables.
- Use consistent naming: UPPER_SNAKE_CASE with logical prefixes.

---

Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/env-setup) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com