.env Guard: Missing Keys & Drift Check
Catch missing and undocumented keys before they break a deploy. .env Guard warns the moment .env and .env.example drift apart, flags duplicate keys, and can optionally hide values in the editor. Everything stays local; the file on disk is never changed.
Free core checks, with an optional 14-day Pro trial. The missing-key check, masking, duplicate warnings and highlighting are free with no time limit and no account. Every Pro feature is unlocked for 14 days from the first time you use the extension; after that, Pro is a single $12 purchase, not a subscription.
Free
- Catch missing keys. If your
.env is missing a key that .env.example lists, you get a warning and a one-click fix that adds it.
- Duplicate-key warnings. Defined
DATABASE_URL twice? You'll see it underlined with the line of the first definition, plus a quick fix to remove the extra line.
- Optional value hiding. Values in a
.env file can be shown as •••••••• in the editor until you reveal them. Keys stay readable. The file on disk is never changed. Toggle it from the status bar, the eye button in the editor title, or Ctrl+Alt+H (Cmd+Alt+H on Mac).
- Syntax highlighting for
.env, .env.local, .env.production, *.env and the rest: keys, values, quotes, comments, export and ${VAR} references.
Pro (14-day free trial, then $12 one-time)
Buy .env Guard Pro: $12 one-time (Payhip). Your license key arrives on the receipt.
- Undocumented-key check. Open
.env.example and see which keys from .env aren't documented yet.
- Compare every environment at once. Pick
.env, .env.staging, .env.production and more, and see a table of which keys each file has, which are empty and which are missing. Values are never displayed.
- One-click
.env.example sync. Adds every key from .env to .env.example with the values stripped, keeping your existing comments and layout. If there's no .env.example yet, it creates one.
During the trial a small status-bar item shows how many days are left. When the trial ends you'll see one message with Buy Pro and Enter Pro License Key; nothing else changes and the free features keep working. To unlock Pro, run .env Guard: Enter Pro License Key from the Command Palette and paste the key from your receipt.
Commands
| Command |
What it does |
| .env Guard: Toggle Value Masking |
Hide or show values |
| .env Guard: Compare .env Files (Pro) |
Side-by-side key table |
| .env Guard: Sync .env.example from .env (Pro) |
Add missing keys, values stripped |
| .env Guard: Enter Pro License Key |
Unlock Pro |
| .env Guard: Remove Pro License |
Remove the key from this computer |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
|
envGuard.maskValues |
true |
Optionally hide values in the editor |
envGuard.revealOnHover |
false |
Show a hidden value in a tooltip on hover |
envGuard.checkExample |
true |
Compare .env with .env.example |
envGuard.warnDuplicates |
true |
Warn about repeated keys |
Privacy
- Your
.env files never leave your computer. Free features stay offline; only Pro license checks contact our license server. No telemetry and no tracking.
- The only network request .env Guard ever makes is to the Zecro license service to check a Pro license key: once when you enter it, then about once every 30 days. Only the key is sent.
- Your license key is kept in VS Code's encrypted secret storage, not in your settings or workspace.
Good to know
- Masking is visual only. It doesn't encrypt or change the file, copying a value copies the real text, and Find (Ctrl+F) still matches hidden values. It can't hide values that other views or tools show (terminal, Git diff, search results, other extensions). The minimap is turned off for
.env files so it can't show values in miniature.
- The trial start date is stored on this computer. The trial is one per person.
- If the license service can't be reached during a monthly check, Pro stays on and checks again later. Pro switches off only if the key has been refunded or disabled.
FAQ
Does it work without Pro? Yes. Missing-key checks, masking, duplicate warnings and highlighting are free with no time limit, before and after the trial.
Do I need to sign up for the trial? No. It starts automatically the first time the extension runs.
Can I use my key on more than one computer? Yes, on your own machines.
Not affiliated with dotenv, dotenvx or Motdotla.
Support
Questions or bugs: bhamlefty@gmail.com
