NODE_ENV in Google App Engine in TypeScript apps (React)

Question

How does GAE (Google App Engine) treat NODE_ENV on deployment and run with a NodeJS runtime?

Google docs clearly states that some variables are automatically set and cannot overridden except the `NODE_ENV. How do you do that?

I have tried setting it in app.yaml and even though it is shown as properly set in the GAE console it is not reflected in the app. I have tried using non-standard value in the app.yaml such as NODE_ENV: foobar and the build process does recognize it but the value that the application reads is always production.

warn - You are using a non-standard "NODE_ENV" value in your environment. This creates inconsistencies in the project and is strongly advised against. Read more: https://nextjs.org/docs/messages/non-standard-node-env

KikoZam · Accepted Answer · 2025-05-20 20:02:08Z

0

Since GAE automatically sets it to "production" in production environments, my take to handle NODE_ENV in Google App Engine (GAE) is to not directly modify NODE_ENV.

You should use custom environment variables to manage your specific configuration needs.

Set a custom environment variable in your app.yaml:

env_variables:
  CUSTOM_NODE_ENV: "foobar"

Access the custom variable in your application:

const customEnv = process.env.CUSTOM_NODE_ENV || 'default_value';
console.log(customEnv);  // where "foobar" should log

answered May 20 at 20:02

KikoZam

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2 Comments

KikoZam May 20 at 20:02

Did this work? Any suggestions or confirmation to my solution would be appreciated.

Георги Кременлиев May 21 at 10:46

This will work. In fact I have already implemented it that way. The questions is if someone has some clue as to what is going on.

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