CoreEnv PHP is a minimal, Laravel-style environment variable loader and manager built specifically for Core PHP 8+ applications. It offers seamless `.env` file handling, typed accessors, and validation — all without relying on any frameworks. This makes it perfect for lightweight projects, micro-apps, or legacy systems where you still want the comfort of Laravel-like `.env` support.
Key Features
- Multi-layer .env Loading — Automatically loads
.env,.env.{APP_ENV}, and.env.localfiles with correct override order. - Global Variable Population — Populates
putenv(),$_ENV, and$_SERVERsafely. - Typed Getters — Retrieve environment values as string, int, float, bool, or array types with defaults.
- Required Variable Validation — Enforce presence of critical keys via
requireVars(). - Zero-dependency — No external packages or frameworks required.
- Safe Defaults — Existing environment variables are not overwritten.
Installation
composer require sachin-sanchania/coreenv-phpThat’s all you need to bring environment management to your Core PHP project — instantly.
Quick Start Example
require 'vendor/autoload.php';
use CoreEnv\Env;
// Initialize the environment loader (path to folder containing .env files)
$env = Env::getInstance(__DIR__ . '/');
// Access environment variables
echo $env->getString('APP_NAME', 'MyApp');
echo $env->getBool('APP_DEBUG') ? 'debug' : 'prod';
This initializes CoreEnv, loads your .env hierarchy, and lets you retrieve values in a strongly-typed way.
.env Priority and Merging Order
CoreEnv reads and merges environment files in the following order, where later files override earlier ones:
.env— Base configuration (always loaded first).env.{APP_ENV}— Environment-specific overrides (e.g..env.production).env.local— Local developer overrides (highest priority)
CoreEnv PHP API
Env::getInstance(string $path = __DIR__ . '/../'); // Returns singleton instance
// Getters
$env->get('APP_ENV', 'production');
$env->getString('APP_NAME', 'MyApp');
$env->getInt('PORT', 8080);
$env->getFloat('THRESHOLD', 0.5);
$env->getBool('APP_DEBUG', false);
$env->getArray('ALLOWED_HOSTS', []);
// Validate required keys
$env->requireVars(['APP_KEY', 'DB_HOST']);
Example Project
You can explore the example/ folder in the GitHub repo to see a ready-to-run demo:
- .env — Default environment file
- .env.local — Local overrides
- .env.prod — Production configuration
- index.php — Usage demonstration
Security & Best Practices
- Never commit real
.envfiles with secrets to version control — only commit.env.example. - Keep production environment files outside your webroot with proper permissions.
- In CI/CD or containers, use server-level environment variables instead of files.
- Validate required variables using
requireVars()during bootstrap.
Why CoreEnv PHP?
If you’ve ever missed Laravel’s environment handling while working on a plain PHP project, CoreEnv PHP bridges that gap. It provides all the conveniences of Laravel’s env() without needing the full framework — ideal for microservices, internal scripts, or legacy apps being modernized step by step.
Conclusion
CoreEnv PHP offers a clean, reliable way to manage environment variables in any PHP 8+ project. With typed accessors, layered loading, and validation built-in, it’s an elegant alternative to bulky configuration systems.
Give it a try in your next Core PHP project, and enjoy Laravel-like configuration management — without the overhead.
