Always validate configuration values and ensure production safety by avoiding hardcoded values, implementing proper defaults, and requiring explicit configuration for production-critical settings. Configuration should be validated at runtime to prevent deployment of incorrect values. Key practices: - Use placeholder variables instead of hardcoded addresses or tokens: `$CONTRACT_ADDRESS` instead of specific addresses - Make production-critical configurations required rather than optional with unsafe defaults: "required BC the default is intended for local devnet scenarios, and is not viable for production" - Validate configuration constraints: "The `path` field in the packet must be zero for staking operations. The staked token must match the governance token configured for the channel" - Verify configuration values are correct: ensure constants like `keccak256("wasm")` vs just `"wasm"` are accurate - Test configuration updates safely before deployment, especially for dependency versions Example: ```rust // Bad - hardcoded production address contract_addr: "union1m87a5scxnnk83wfwapxlufzm58qe2v65985exff70z95a2yr86yq7hl08h" // Good - configurable with validation contract_addr: env::var("CONTRACT_ADDRESS") .expect("CONTRACT_ADDRESS must be set for production") ``` This prevents production footguns and ensures configurations are explicit, validated, and safe for deployment.