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Centralize configuration management

openai/codex
Based on 5 comments
Rust

Prefer centralized configuration objects over environment variables for application settings. Environment variables create inconsistent configuration sources and can lead to maintenance challenges.

Configurations Rust

Reviewer Prompt

Prefer centralized configuration objects over environment variables for application settings. Environment variables create inconsistent configuration sources and can lead to maintenance challenges.

Guidelines:

  • Use a single, centralized Config structure as the “one true way” to configure your application
  • When adding new settings, place them in the appropriate configuration structure rather than reading from environment variables
  • Reserve environment variables primarily for bootstrap settings or when absolutely required

For feature flags or experimental options, use structured configuration with appropriate prefixes:

// Preferred
config.experimental_resume = true;

// Instead of
if std::env::var("CODEX_EXPERIMENTAL_RESUME").is_ok() { ... }

When environment variables must be used:

  • Load them as early as possible in the application lifecycle before any threads are created
  • Document the thread-safety implications clearly
  • In tests, configure components explicitly rather than modifying process-wide environment variables

Remember that modifying environment variables is inherently racy in multi-threaded contexts and has been marked as unsafe in recent Rust editions.

5
Comments Analyzed
Rust
Primary Language
Configurations
Category

Source Discussions