How to set NODE_ENV from package.json for react

Question

I am trying to target multiple environments from local while executing React app.

1. Development
2. Staging
3. Production

I am also trying to test for offline mode in any of the environments. So, the scripts what I have configured is as follows:

    "staging-server": "nodemon server.js --environment=staging",
    "staging": "concurrently -k  \"npm:staging-server\" \"NODE_ENV='staging' PORT=3003 react-scripts start\"",
    "prod": "npm run build && forever server.js --environment=production"

I am able to fetch environment arg using args inside my Express, but my local ui app is still showing development only when I console for process.env.NODE_ENV. I am also trying to set NODE_ENV with same line for staging, but still no luck. PORT setting is working but, the app is running in 3000 and 3003 both ports.

How to get rid of this? I would like to understand the staging configuration as well.

As it says in the docs, you cannot override `NODE_ENV` manually, you would have to create another one — Agney, Jul 31 '19 at 08:29
https://facebook.github.io/create-react-app/docs/adding-custom-environment-variables. You cannot override NODE_ENV manually — Tien Duong, Jul 31 '19 at 08:42
You can try another environment variable such as ```REACT_APP_ENVIRONMENT``` instead of ```NODE_ENV``` — Tien Duong, Jul 31 '19 at 08:43

score 26 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 31 '19 at 08:44

As per the docs, we cannot override NODE_ENV, but there is a room to create our own custom variables starting with REACT_APP_. So i configured to look as below:

Reference: https://facebook.github.io/create-react-app/docs/adding-custom-environment-variables

"staging": "concurrently -k  \"npm:staging-server\" \"cross-env REACT_APP_ENVIRONMENT='staging' PORT=3003 react-scripts start\"",

And inside my UI application, I can fetch its value by consoling it like this: console.log('REACT_APP_ENVIRONMENT => ', process.env.REACT_APP_ENVIRONMENT);

Hi I tried this.. but its not working! @Mithun. Does this still work? — Akhila, Sep 29 '21 at 09:54

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 31 '19 at 09:42

I build the build with REACT_APP_STAGE and use it in my application as process.env.REACT_APP_STAGE.

"scripts": {
    "analyze": "source-map-explorer 'build/static/js/*.js'",
    "build-css": "node-sass-chokidar --include-path ./src --include-path ./node_modules src/ -o src/",
    "watch-css": "npm run build-css && node-sass-chokidar --include-path ./src --include-path ./node_modules src/ -o src/ --watch --recursive",
    "start-js": "react-scripts start",
    "start": "REACT_APP_STAGE=local npm-run-all -p watch-css start-js",
    "build": "npm run build-css && react-scripts build",
    "build-dev": "REACT_APP_STAGE=dev react-scripts build",
    "build-prod": "REACT_APP_STAGE=prod react-scripts build",
    "build-qa": "REACT_APP_STAGE=qa react-scripts build",
    "test": "react-scripts test --env=jsdom",
    "eject": "react-scripts eject"
  },

no, this REACT_APP_ method works without ejection. which is your accepted answer as well. — Aman Gupta, Nov 30 '20 at 06:07

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 31 '19 at 08:40

1

Easiest approach is to add it directly in your command:

"scripts": {
    "start": "./node_modules/.bin/nodemon server.js",
    "start:prod": "NODE_ENV=prod node server.js",
  },

answered Jul 31 '19 at 08:40

LearnToCode

206
2
8

1

no, this one wont work as we cannot override `NODE_ENV`. please refer to accepted answer [here](https://stackoverflow.com/a/57286662/10739602) – Hadi KAR Sep 15 '21 at 06:07
As @HadiKAR mentioned, NODE_ENV can't be overridden with your own value. – Gru Oct 14 '21 at 08:03
You can override ENV vars on mac like that, but on windows you need a package like cross-env (https://www.npmjs.com/package/cross-env). There are even a lot of guides covering this as an option. – cnps Apr 02 '22 at 12:00

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 31 '19 at 08:08

0

Use cross-env in front of NODE_ENV.

npm i -g cross-env

"staging": "concurrently -k  \"npm:staging-server\" \"cross-env NODE_ENV='staging' PORT=3003 react-scripts start\"",

answered Jul 31 '19 at 08:08

Yangha Koo

17
3

2

you can't override NODE_ENV – Alan Deep Oct 20 '21 at 16:36

How to set NODE_ENV from package.json for react

4 Answers4