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Guides

This page applies the model to a real workflow. Open the guides overview

Daily workflow

Guide

This is the normal day-to-day rhythm once a repository is already set up. It is intentionally small: run, change one local value, inspect, validate, and debug only when needed.

When to use this page

Use this guide when:

  • the repository is already initialized
  • your local values mostly exist already
  • you want the commands you repeat most often, not onboarding detail

Run your app

envctl run -- <command>

For most daily work, run is the default choice. It injects the resolved environment directly into the subprocess, so you usually do not need to materialize a dotenv file.

Change one local value

envctl set KEY VALUE

Use set when the contract stays the same and only your current local value changes.

Inspect the current state

envctl inspect

Use inspect when you want to see the runtime view that envctl has actually resolved.

Validate before blaming the runtime

envctl check

If something feels off, start here. A passing check tells you the contract-level state is valid before you debug the target tool.

Switch local context explicitly

envctl --profile dev run -- app

Use a named profile when the same project needs a different local value set.

Keep the Git safety net healthy

envctl hooks status

Use this when your team relies on envctl-managed hooks and you want to confirm the local wrappers are still healthy.

Quickstart

Go back if you need the original first-run flow.

Open quickstart

Debugging

Use the methodical flow when one command starts behaving differently than you expected.

Open debugging guide

Commands reference

Look up exact syntax and options once the workflow already makes sense.

Open command reference