Pass environment variable into a Vue App at runtime - kubernetes

To pass environment variables into a Vue app while it runs in Kubernetes, we can use ConfigMaps and Secrets. This way, we can manage the settings without putting them directly into our app. It makes our app more flexible and keeps it safe. By using Kubernetes features, we can add environment variables into our Vue app at runtime. This helps to keep our sensitive data safe and easy to change.

In this article, we will look at different ways to pass environment variables into a Vue app in a Kubernetes environment. We will talk about how to use ConfigMaps for managing settings. We will also see how Secrets help to secure sensitive information. We will learn how to access these variables in our Vue components. Lastly, we will share best practices for managing environment variables in Kubernetes.

  • Pass environment variable into a Vue App at runtime in Kubernetes
  • Using ConfigMaps to Pass Environment Variables to a Vue App in Kubernetes
  • Leveraging Secrets to Securely Pass Environment Variables to a Vue App in Kubernetes
  • Injecting Environment Variables at Build Time for a Vue App in Kubernetes
  • Accessing Environment Variables in Vue Components at Runtime in Kubernetes
  • Best Practices for Managing Environment Variables in a Vue App on Kubernetes
  • Frequently Asked Questions

For more reading, we can check out articles on ConfigMaps and Secrets in Kubernetes.

Using ConfigMaps to Pass Environment Variables to a Vue App in Kubernetes

In Kubernetes, we can use ConfigMaps to manage environment variables for our applications. This is helpful when our app is running. To use ConfigMaps with a Vue app, we can follow these steps.

  1. Create a ConfigMap: First, we need to define our environment variables in a ConfigMap YAML file. Let’s create a file named vue-configmap.yaml:

    apiVersion: v1
kind: ConfigMap
metadata:
  name: vue-config
data:
  VUE_APP_API_URL: "https://api.example.com"
  VUE_APP_OTHER_VAR: "some_value"

    Now, we apply the ConfigMap:

    kubectl apply -f vue-configmap.yaml

  2. Reference the ConfigMap in Deployment: Next, we reference the ConfigMap in our Vue app deployment YAML. This lets us set environment variables. Here is a simple example of a deployment configuration:

    apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: vue-app
spec:
  replicas: 1
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: vue-app
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: vue-app
    spec:
      containers:
        - name: vue-app
          image: your-vue-app-image
          env:
            - name: VUE_APP_API_URL
              valueFrom:
                configMapKeyRef:
                  name: vue-config
                  key: VUE_APP_API_URL
            - name: VUE_APP_OTHER_VAR
              valueFrom:
                configMapKeyRef:
                  name: vue-config
                  key: VUE_APP_OTHER_VAR

  3. Accessing Environment Variables in Vue Components: In our Vue application, we can access these environment variables directly with process.env. For example:

    console.log(process.env.VUE_APP_API_URL); // Outputs: https://api.example.com

By using ConfigMaps in our Kubernetes setup, we can manage our Vue app’s environment variables easily. This gives us more flexibility. It also separates configuration from the code. This helps to make our application more maintainable. For more information on managing configuration in Kubernetes, we can check out How do I use ConfigMaps to manage application configuration in Kubernetes.

Leveraging Secrets to Securely Pass Environment Variables to a Vue App in Kubernetes

In Kubernetes, we use secrets to keep sensitive information safe. This includes passwords, OAuth tokens, and SSH keys. To pass environment variables to a Vue app safely, we can use Kubernetes secrets.

Creating a Secret

We can create a secret with a YAML file or from the command line. Here is how we create a secret using a YAML file:

apiVersion: v1
kind: Secret
metadata:
  name: vue-app-secrets
type: Opaque
data:
  API_KEY: dGVzdF9hcGlfa2V5  # Base64 encoded value

To make the secret from the command line, we can run:

kubectl create secret generic vue-app-secrets --from-literal=API_KEY=test_api_key

Mounting Secrets as Environment Variables

After we create the secret, we can mount it as environment variables in our deployment config. Here is an example of how we do that:

apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: vue-app-deployment
spec:
  replicas: 1
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: vue-app
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: vue-app
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: vue-app
        image: your-vue-app-image
        env:
        - name: API_KEY
          valueFrom:
            secretKeyRef:
              name: vue-app-secrets
              key: API_KEY

Accessing Secrets in Vue Components

In our Vue app, we can access the environment variable directly using process.env:

export default {
  data() {
    return {
      apiKey: process.env.VUE_APP_API_KEY
    };
  },
  mounted() {
    console.log("API Key:", this.apiKey);
  }
}

Best Practice

  • Always encode sensitive data in base64 when we store it in Kubernetes secrets.
  • Make sure our Vue app can read environment variables at runtime.
  • Rotate our secrets regularly to improve security.

Using Kubernetes secrets to pass environment variables to a Vue app helps us manage sensitive information safely and efficiently in our Kubernetes cluster. For more details on managing secrets in Kubernetes, we can check how do I manage secrets in Kubernetes securely.

Injecting Environment Variables at Build Time for a Vue App in Kubernetes

We can inject environment variables at build time for a Vue.js app that runs in Kubernetes. We need a build process that reads these variables and puts them into the app. We usually use Docker with a multi-stage build process along with environment variable files.

Step 1: Define Environment Variables

First, we create a .env file in our Vue.js project root. This file will define our environment variables. For example:

VUE_APP_API_URL=https://api.example.com
VUE_APP_OTHER_VARIABLE=value

Step 2: Dockerfile Setup

Next, we set up our Dockerfile. We need to copy the .env file and use it during the build. Here is an example of a Dockerfile that uses the vue-cli service to build the app:

# Stage 1: Build the Vue.js App
FROM node:14 AS build-stage

WORKDIR /app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm install
COPY . .

# Copy .env file
COPY .env ./

# Build the app
RUN npm run build

# Stage 2: Serve the app
FROM nginx:1.17.1

COPY --from=build-stage /app/dist /usr/share/nginx/html

# Expose port 80
EXPOSE 80

CMD ["nginx", "-g", "daemon off;"]

Step 3: Kubernetes Deployment

In our Kubernetes deployment YAML file, we can inject environment variables by using a ConfigMap or directly in the deployment spec. Here is an example of how to use a ConfigMap for our environment variables:

apiVersion: v1
kind: ConfigMap
metadata:
  name: vue-app-config
data:
  VUE_APP_API_URL: "https://api.example.com"
  VUE_APP_OTHER_VARIABLE: "value"
---
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: vue-app
spec:
  replicas: 1
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: vue-app
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: vue-app
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: vue-app
        image: your-docker-image:latest
        env:
        - name: VUE_APP_API_URL
          valueFrom:
            configMapKeyRef:
              name: vue-app-config
              key: VUE_APP_API_URL
        - name: VUE_APP_OTHER_VARIABLE
          valueFrom:
            configMapKeyRef:
              name: vue-app-config
              key: VUE_APP_OTHER_VARIABLE
        ports:
        - containerPort: 80

Step 4: Build and Deploy

After we prepare our Dockerfile and Kubernetes manifest, we need to build our Docker image and push it to our container registry:

docker build -t your-docker-image:latest .
docker push your-docker-image:latest

Then we apply our Kubernetes configuration:

kubectl apply -f your-deployment.yaml

By following these steps, we can inject environment variables at build time for a Vue.js app in Kubernetes. This way, we ensure our application is set up based on the environment it runs in.

Accessing Environment Variables in Vue Components at Runtime in Kubernetes

In a Vue.js app running on Kubernetes, we need to access environment variables at runtime. This is important for changing settings and behavior without rebuilding our app. We can inject environment variables into our application using methods like ConfigMaps and Secrets. Here is how we can access these variables in our Vue components.

Step 1: Configure Environment Variables in Kubernetes

We can define environment variables in our Kubernetes deployment file. We can use either ConfigMaps or Secrets.

Example of a Deployment with ConfigMap:

apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: my-vue-app
spec:
  replicas: 1
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: my-vue-app
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: my-vue-app
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: my-vue-container
        image: my-vue-app-image
        env:
        - name: VUE_APP_API_URL
          valueFrom:
            configMapKeyRef:
              name: my-configmap
              key: api_url

Step 2: Accessing Environment Variables in Vue Components

In Vue.js, we can use environment variables that start with VUE_APP_. We can access these variables using process.env.

Example: Accessing Environment Variables in a Vue Component

<template>
  <div>
    <h1>API URL: {{ apiUrl }}</h1>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
export default {
  data() {
    return {
      apiUrl: process.env.VUE_APP_API_URL
    };
  }
}
</script>

Step 3: Building and Deploying

We must build our Vue application after we set the environment variables. We can use this command:

npm run build

After we build, we can deploy our app to Kubernetes:

kubectl apply -f deployment.yaml

Step 4: Verify Environment Variable Access

To check if our Vue app accesses the environment variables correctly, we can look at the app logs or run the app in a browser. We should see the right values from our environment variables.

Accessing environment variables in Vue components at runtime in Kubernetes gives us a flexible way to deploy. This helps us manage settings without changing the app code or rebuilding our Docker image. For more info on managing application settings in Kubernetes, we can check this guide on ConfigMaps.

Best Practices for Managing Environment Variables in a Vue App on Kubernetes

Managing environment variables in a Vue app on Kubernetes is important for security and flexibility. Here are some tips we can follow:

  1. Use ConfigMaps for Non-Sensitive Data:

    • We should store non-sensitive info in Kubernetes ConfigMaps. This makes it easy to update without redeploying the app.

    • To create a ConfigMap, we use this command:

      kubectl create configmap my-vue-config --from-literal=API_URL=https://api.example.com

    • We can reference the ConfigMap in our Deployment like this:

      apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: my-vue-app
spec:
  template:
    spec:
      containers:
        - name: my-vue-app
          image: my-vue-image
          env:
            - name: VUE_APP_API_URL
              valueFrom:
                configMapKeyRef:
                  name: my-vue-config
                  key: API_URL
  2. Leverage Secrets for Sensitive Data:

    • We can use Kubernetes Secrets for sensitive info like API keys and database passwords.

    • To create a Secret, we run:

      kubectl create secret generic my-vue-secret --from-literal=API_KEY=mysecretkey

    • We can reference the Secret in our Deployment like this:

      env:
  - name: VUE_APP_API_KEY
    valueFrom:
      secretKeyRef:
        name: my-vue-secret
        key: API_KEY
  3. Avoid Hardcoding Variables:
    • We should not hardcode sensitive data in our Vue app. Instead, we should use environment variables that we can inject when the app runs.
  4. Use Environment Variable Prefix:
    • We can prefix environment variables with VUE_APP_. This helps Vue CLI to recognize them during the build. For example, VUE_APP_API_URL.
  5. Inject Environment Variables at Build Time:

    • If we know some variables at build time, we can inject them directly using build arguments in Docker:

      ARG VUE_APP_API_URL
ENV VUE_APP_API_URL=$VUE_APP_API_URL
  6. Document Environment Variables:
    • We should keep clear notes of all environment variables used in our Vue app. This helps new developers and keeps the app well maintained.
  7. Review and Rotate Secrets Regularly:
    • We need to check and change sensitive data in Secrets regularly. This helps reduce security risks. We can use kubectl or CI/CD pipelines to automate this.
  8. Monitor for Changes:
    • We should set up monitoring on our ConfigMaps and Secrets. This helps us know when changes happen and can alert us if something unexpected occurs.
  9. Use Helm for Configuration Management:
    • If we use Helm, we can store our environment variables in values.yaml files. We can manage them with Helm templates for easier deployments.
  10. Utilize CI/CD Practices:
    • We can include environment variable management in our CI/CD pipeline. This helps us automate deployments securely and efficiently.

By following these tips for managing environment variables in a Vue app on Kubernetes, we can improve our app’s security and maintenance. This also helps the deployment process go smoothly. For more information on managing app configuration in Kubernetes, check out how-do-i-use-configmaps-to-manage-application-configuration-in-kubernetes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can we pass environment variables to a Vue app running in Kubernetes?

To pass environment variables to a Vue app in Kubernetes, we usually use ConfigMaps or Secrets. These Kubernetes tools help us store configuration data. Our Vue app can access this data while it runs. This way, we keep sensitive information safe. For more help, we can read how do I use ConfigMaps to manage application configuration in Kubernetes.

2. What are ConfigMaps and how do they work for environment variables in Kubernetes?

ConfigMaps are useful in Kubernetes. They help us separate configuration data from our application code. ConfigMaps store key-value pairs. Our Vue app can use these pairs when it runs. We can make a ConfigMap with the kubectl create configmap command. Then, we can set it as an environment variable in our deployment. This way, we pass environment variables to a Vue app easily.

3. How can we use Kubernetes Secrets for sensitive environment variables in a Vue application?

Kubernetes Secrets keep sensitive data safe. This includes things like API keys and passwords. To pass environment variables to our Vue app, we create a Secret with the kubectl create secret command. After that, we need to reference this Secret in our deployment YAML file. This keeps sensitive data safe but still lets our app access it when it runs. We can learn more about managing Secrets in Kubernetes here.

4. Can we inject environment variables into a Vue app at build time using Kubernetes?

Yes, we can inject environment variables at build time. We do this by using build arguments or environment variables in our Dockerfile. This lets us set specific values before we deploy to Kubernetes. But this way is less flexible than runtime injection. We need to rebuild the Docker image if we want to make changes. We can explore more about building applications with Kubernetes here.

5. What are the best practices for managing environment variables in a Vue app on Kubernetes?

For best practices, we should use ConfigMaps for non-sensitive data. We should use Secrets for sensitive information. It’s also good to organize our environment variables logically. We need to make sure our deployment files are clear and easy to manage. For more tips on handling Kubernetes configurations well, we can check out how do I manage application configuration in Kubernetes.