theskumar / theskumar/python-dotenv
Multi-line variables not loading correctly with load_env
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Description
When reading a multi-line environment variable (e.g. an SSH key) only the first line is read when using load_env. dotenv_values appears to read the multiline variable correctly.
Tested on a Apple M2 MacBook Air running Sonoma 14.7.4 with Python 3.12.9. While I had this issue inside a functions-framework function, I was able to reproduce it outside of that environment (see below.)
As an example, try the following .env file:
FOO="foo"
BAR="bar"
BAZ1="baz
baz
baz
baz
baz
"
BAZ2="baz\nbaz\nbaz"
LAST="last"
And the following Python code:
from dotenv import load_dotenv, dotenv_values
import os
load_dotenv()
print(os.environ.get('FOO'))
print(os.environ.get('BAR'))
print(os.environ.get('BAZ1'))
print(len(os.environ.get('BAZ1')))
print(os.environ.get('BAZ2'))
print(len(os.environ.get('BAZ2')))
print(os.environ.get('LAST'))
env = dotenv_values()
print(env)
print(env.get('BAZ1'))
print(len(env.get('BAZ1')))
print(env.get('BAZ2'))
print(len(env.get('BAZ2')))
When I run that code, it produces the following output:
foo
bar
"baz
4
baz
3
last
OrderedDict({'FOO': 'foo', 'BAR': 'bar', 'BAZ1': 'baz\nbaz\nbaz\nbaz\nbaz\n', 'BAZ2': 'baz\nbaz\nbaz', 'LAST': 'last'})
baz
baz
baz
baz
baz
20
baz
baz
baz
11
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First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
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- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Reproduce the issue with the shown .env file and Python snippet, then trace the load_env/load_dotenv path and compare it with dotenv_values. Done means quoted multiline variables such as BAZ1 are fully loaded into the environment while the existing escaped-newline behavior remains correct.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- devops
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100