.env.python.local ((hot)) -

load_dotenv()

When scaffolding your next Python project, do this immediately: .env.python.local

The .local suffix is the most critical part. In almost every Python project setup guide (Django, FastAPI, Flask), the .gitignore file explicitly includes *.local or .env.python.local . This ensures that your personal local settings—like your local database path, a debugger port, or a temporary API key—do not accidentally sync to the repository and overwrite another developer's environment. load_dotenv() When scaffolding your next Python project, do

from dotenv import load_dotenv

# settings.py import environ

load_dotenv()

When scaffolding your next Python project, do this immediately:

The .local suffix is the most critical part. In almost every Python project setup guide (Django, FastAPI, Flask), the .gitignore file explicitly includes *.local or .env.python.local . This ensures that your personal local settings—like your local database path, a debugger port, or a temporary API key—do not accidentally sync to the repository and overwrite another developer's environment.

from dotenv import load_dotenv

# settings.py import environ