Envist¶

Envist turns plain .env files into an intelligent, type-safe configuration layer for Python applications. Parse annotated environment variables, expand references, validate values, and log everything without adding external dependencies.

TL;DR: Annotate your .env once, enjoy reliable configuration everywhere.

Why Teams Choose Envist¶

Built-in type casting with nested data structures such as list<int> or dict<str, list<bool>>
Variable expansion that understands chained references and prevents circular loops
Validator decorator for enforcing business rules before your app starts
Observable by design through the dedicated EnvistLogger
Zero dependencies and full backwards compatibility with traditional .env files

At a Glance¶

APP_NAME <str> = Envist Demo
PORT <int> = 8080
DEBUG <bool> = true
HOSTS <list> = localhost, 127.0.0.1
DATABASE_URL <str> = postgresql://user:pass@${HOSTS[0]}:5432/app
FEATURE_FLAGS <dict<str, bool>> = auth:true, caching:false

from envist import Envist

env = Envist()
print(env.get("PORT"))           # 8080 (int)
print(env.get("FEATURE_FLAGS"))  # {'auth': True, 'caching': False}

Explore the Documentation¶

New here? Start with the Getting Started guide.
Need syntax examples? Check the Smart .env Syntax page.
Looking for programmatic details? Dive into the API Reference.
Browse ready-to-run snippets on the Examples & Recipes page.

Proven in Real Projects¶

Envist powers anything from local prototypes to production services. With a single import you get:

Deterministic configuration loading for CI/CD pipelines
Consistent typing for data science notebooks and ML jobs
Declarative validation for platform engineering teams

Ready to adopt? Install the package with pip install envist and keep reading. We'll handle the rest.