Ever needed to test your code with sensitive environment variables like API keys, database credentials, or authentication tokens? The traditional approaches all have significant drawbacks:
.env files - Risk accidental commits to version control, exposing secrets
Shell exports - Persist in shell history and affect other projects
IDE configurations - Often saved in workspace files that can be shared
Hard-coding - Obviously insecure and requires code changes
The Solution
Environment Variables Helper is a VSCode/Cursor extension that provides a zero-trace approach to setting environment variables for development and testing. Variables are stored only in memory and automatically injected into your development environment without ever touching the filesystem.
Why This Extension?
🔐 Maximum Security: No traces in files, git history, or shell history
🚀 Instant Setup: Set variables in seconds with a simple UI
🔄 Smart Integration: Automatically restarts language servers to pick up changes
🌍 Universal: Works with any programming language and testing framework
💾 Memory-Only: Variables disappear when VS Code closes - no cleanup needed
See It In Action
The video below demonstrates setting an environment variable and running Rust tests with the new configuration:
The extension seamlessly integrates with your existing workflow while keeping sensitive data secure.
Features
🔒 Secure: Environment variables stored in memory only - no filesystem traces
🌐 Universal: Works with any programming language and framework
🔄 Auto-reload: Automatically restarts language servers when variables are set (Rust, TypeScript, Python, C++)
🧪 Test integration: Run tests with custom environment variables
🎨 User-friendly: Password-masked input for sensitive values
Commands
Set Environment Variable (Ctrl+Shift+E / Cmd+Shift+E): Set a new environment variable
Clear Environment Variable: Remove a previously set variable
List Set Variables: Show currently set variable names (values hidden for security)
Run Test with Environment: Run a specific test with current environment variables
Usage
Set an environment variable:
Press Ctrl+Shift+E (or Cmd+Shift+E on Mac)
Or use Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) → "Env Helper: Set Environment Variable"
Enter variable name (e.g., API_KEY, DATABASE_URL)
Enter value (input will be masked for security)
Run your test:
Use "Env Helper: Run Test with Environment" command
Or use the regular "Run test" button (environment variables are inherited)
Clear variables when done:
Use "Env Helper: Clear Environment Variable" command
Or restart VSCode/Cursor to clear all variables
Security Features
Environment variables are stored only in memory
No configuration files are modified
Sensitive values are masked during input
Variables are automatically cleared when extension is deactivated
No traces left in filesystem or version control
Supported Languages
Language Server Auto-Restart
Rust - rust-analyzer
TypeScript/JavaScript - TypeScript language server
Python - Python language server
C/C++ - Microsoft C/C++, clangd, ccls
Test Pattern Detection
Rust - #[test] annotations
JavaScript/TypeScript - test(), it(), describe()
Python - def test_*() functions
C++ - Google Test (TEST, TEST_F), Catch2 (TEST_CASE, SCENARIO)
Perfect for
Setting API keys and tokens for tests
Database connection strings
Feature flags
Compiler flags and build configurations
Any sensitive configuration that shouldn't be in files
Development mode
Open the extension folder in VSCode/Cursor
Press F5 to run in development mode
Or package and install:
npm install
npm run compile
npm run package
cursor --install-extension environment-variables-helper-0.0.1.vsix
