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How to Convert Environment Files - Complete Guide

Step 1

Input Environment Configuration

Start by providing your environment configuration in any format. Whether you're working with .env files, JSON configs, YAML, or Kubernetes ConfigMaps, our tool intelligently auto-detects the format:

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Paste directly: Copy your environment variables from .env, JSON, YAML, or K8s manifest and paste into the editor
•
Upload files: Click "Upload" to select your environment configuration files from your project directory
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Try the sample: Click "Sample" to load a complete example with common environment variables
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Auto-detection: The tool automatically recognizes whether you're providing .env, JSON, YAML, or Kubernetes format

Example: Environment Variables (.env format)

Here's what a typical .env file looks like:

DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:pass@localhost:5432/db
REDIS_HOST=localhost
REDIS_PORT=6379
API_KEY=your-secret-api-key
NODE_ENV=production
Step 2

Select Output Format

Choose your desired output format based on your deployment target. Our converter supports multiple popular formats for different use cases:

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.env format: Traditional dotenv file format for Node.js, Python, Ruby, and most frameworks
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JSON: Structured object format perfect for JavaScript configs, API requests, or Docker Compose env_file
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YAML: Human-readable format for configuration files, CI/CD pipelines, and Ansible playbooks
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Kubernetes ConfigMap: Deploy non-sensitive configuration to K8s clusters with ready-to-apply manifests
•
Kubernetes Secret: Secure sensitive data with base64-encoded secrets for passwords, API keys, and tokens

Format Comparison

Choose the right format for your use case:

→.env: Best for local development and 12-factor apps
→JSON: Best for APIs, JavaScript apps, and structured configs
→YAML: Best for CI/CD, Ansible, and human-readable configs
→K8s ConfigMap: Best for non-sensitive container configuration
→K8s Secret: Best for passwords, tokens, and sensitive data
Step 3

Instant Conversion with Smart Detection

The conversion happens in real-time as you type or select a different output format. Our intelligent parser handles all the complexity:

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Auto-detection: Automatically recognizes input format (.env, JSON, YAML, K8s) without manual selection
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Real-time conversion: See results instantly as you type or change the output format
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Value preservation: All variable names, values, and special characters are correctly escaped and preserved
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Custom resource names: For Kubernetes outputs, specify your own ConfigMap or Secret name (defaults to "app-config")
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Base64 encoding: Kubernetes Secrets are automatically base64-encoded as required by K8s

Example: Kubernetes ConfigMap Output

The same variables, now as a Kubernetes ConfigMap:

apiVersion: v1
kind: ConfigMap
metadata:
  name: app-config
data:
  DATABASE_URL: postgresql://user:pass@localhost:5432/db
  REDIS_HOST: localhost
  REDIS_PORT: "6379"
  NODE_ENV: production
Step 4

Copy or Download Your Configuration

Once converted, you can easily use the output in your projects. Download as a file or copy to your clipboard with one click:

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Download as file: Click "Download" to save with the correct extension (.env, .json, .yaml, .yml)
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Copy to clipboard: Click "Copy" to quickly paste into your code editor, terminal, or deployment scripts
•
Use in Docker: Save .env files for docker run --env-file or docker-compose env_file
•
Deploy to Kubernetes: Apply ConfigMaps and Secrets with kubectl apply -f config.yaml
•
Commit to Git: Store non-sensitive configs in version control (never commit real secrets!)

Quick Usage Examples

How to use the converted files:

# Load .env in Docker
docker run --env-file .env my-app
# Apply Kubernetes ConfigMap
kubectl apply -f app-config.yaml
# Load in Node.js
require('dotenv').config()

Frequently Asked Questions

What environment file formats are supported?

The converter supports .env files (KEY=value format), JSON objects, YAML documents, Kubernetes ConfigMaps, and Kubernetes Secrets. You can convert between any of these formats instantly, making it easy to migrate configurations between different deployment environments and frameworks.

How does Kubernetes Secret base64 encoding work?

Kubernetes Secrets require all values to be base64-encoded for security and compatibility. Our tool automatically encodes your environment variables to base64 when converting to Secret format (stringData is not used for portability). When reading from Secrets, it automatically decodes the base64 values back to plaintext for easy viewing and conversion to other formats.

Is my sensitive data safe during conversion?

Absolutely! All conversions happen entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. No environment variables, API keys, database credentials, or secrets are ever sent to any server. Your sensitive configuration data remains completely private and secure on your local machine throughout the entire conversion process.

Can I convert multi-line values and special characters?

Yes! The converter properly handles multi-line values (like SSH keys, certificates, or JSON strings), special characters, quotes, and escape sequences. For .env files, multi-line values are preserved using proper escaping. For JSON and YAML, they're formatted correctly according to each format's specification. Kubernetes ConfigMaps and Secrets handle multi-line values natively in the data section.

What's the difference between ConfigMap and Secret in Kubernetes?

ConfigMaps are designed for non-sensitive configuration data like feature flags, app settings, or URLs. Secrets are for sensitive data like passwords, API keys, and tokens - they're base64-encoded and can be encrypted at rest. Use ConfigMaps for general config and Secrets for anything you wouldn't want to expose in logs or source control.

How do I use the converted files in my applications?

For .env files, use libraries like dotenv (Node.js), python-dotenv (Python), or docker's --env-file flag. For JSON/YAML, load them in your code or CI/CD pipelines. For Kubernetes, apply with kubectl apply -f and reference in pod specs using configMapRef or secretRef in the envFrom section.

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