[elicox]

For me, environmental variables are super simple and remove all the complexity of these configuration files.

[throwaway143829]

The article is mostly talking about things like Helm charts for kubernetes, which aren't possible to define as env vars.

[simiones]

Except when you need anything more complex than a string or an array of strings, when they become entirely useless.

There is not a single even slightly complex piece of software that uses exclusively env vars for configuration. Even bash or vim have config files, this is not some new idea.

[planede]

Hang on there, array of strings? Environment variables can't handle that either without quirks.

[simiones]

Oops, you're right, even that is too advanced...

[j4yav]

How do you make sure all the right variants of all the environment variables are in the right place(s)?

[Kichererbsen]

you can't really check them into source code though, right?

[zer00eyz]

I swear this is how we got docker containers... some ruby dev who abused env vars and a SA who was sick of his shit breaking on every roll out and hearing "but it works for me"...

And now installable software is a fucking unicorn!

( This week I keep running into go apps that can be installed from source or as straight down load, with docker as well. Been a breath of fresh air)