Skip to main content

Quick Start

Get up and running with ENV Manager Pro in under 2 minutes.

Step 1 — Open the Sidebar​

Click the 🌿 icon in the Activity Bar. The sidebar shows three panels: Environment Files, Variables, and ⚡ Pro Tools.

Step 2 — Select an Env File​

In the Environment Files panel you'll see all .env* files discovered in your workspace. Click any file to load its variables into the Variables panel.

If you have no .env file yet, create one from a template:

  1. Open the ⚡ Pro Tools panel
  2. Click New from Template
  3. Choose your framework (Next.js, Express, Django, etc.)
  4. Enter a filename and press Enter

Step 3 — Add a Variable​

In the Variables panel, click the + button in the panel toolbar. You'll be prompted for:

  • Key — the variable name (e.g. DATABASE_URL)
  • Value — the secret or configuration value
  • Comment — optional inline comment

The file is saved instantly. No manual editing required.

Step 4 — Use Quick Pick​

Press Ctrl+Alt+E / Cmd+Alt+E from anywhere in VS Code to open the Quick Pick overlay. This fuzzy-searches all variables in your active env file and copies the selected value to the clipboard.

Step 5 — Check for Leaks​

In the ⚡ Pro Tools panel, click Scan for Secret Leaks. The scanner checks:

  • Whether your .env files are tracked by git
  • Whether your .gitignore covers them
  • Whether any secrets are hardcoded in source files

Fix any issues with the one-click Fix .gitignore action.

Next Steps​