Making Use of Environment Variables in Python

Nylas shares insights and practical guidance on using environment variables in Python to enhance automation and security in coding practices. Environment variables, which exist outside the code as part of a server environment, streamline script execution across different systems and improve security by keeping sensitive information like API tokens out of the codebase. The article details how to retrieve and set environment variables using Python's os package, emphasizing that changes made within a Python session do not affect system-wide settings. It introduces the dotenv library as a tool for managing environment variables across different project stages by reading them from a .env file, ensuring they adjust automatically based on the selected environment. The post encourages exploring further applications of environment variables in platforms like AWS Lambda or Azure, and invites readers to learn more about Nylas's APIs and resources.