---
name: "direnv"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "direnv"
version: "2.38.2-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/direnv"
---

# direnv(1)

unclutter your .profile

## NAME

direnv - unclutter your .profile

## SYNOPSIS

**direnv** *command* ...

## DESCRIPTION

**direnv** is an environment variable manager for your shell. It knows how to hook into bash, zsh and fish shell to load or unload environment variables depending on your current directory. This allows you to have project-specific environment variables and not clutter the "~/.profile" file.

Before each prompt it checks for the existence of an **.envrc** file in the current and parent directories. If the file exists, it is loaded into a bash sub-shell and all exported variables are then captured by direnv and then made available to your current shell, while unset variables are removed.

Because direnv is compiled into a single static executable it is fast enough to be unnoticeable on each prompt. It is also language agnostic and can be used to build solutions similar to rbenv, pyenv, phpenv, ...

## EXAMPLE

```
$ cd ~/my_project
$ echo ${FOO-nope}
nope
$ echo export FOO=foo > .envrc
\.envrc is not allowed
$ direnv allow .
direnv: reloading
direnv: loading .envrc
direnv export: +FOO
$ echo ${FOO-nope}
foo
$ cd ..
direnv: unloading
direnv export: ~PATH
$ echo ${FOO-nope}
nope
```

## SETUP

For direnv to work properly it needs to be hooked into the shell. Each shell has its own extension mechanism:

### BASH

Add the following line at the end of the **~/.bashrc** file:

```
eval "$(direnv hook bash)"
```

Make sure it appears even after rvm, git-prompt and other shell extensions that manipulate the prompt.

### ZSH

Add the following line at the end of the **~/.zshrc** file:

```
eval "$(direnv hook zsh)"
```

### FISH

Add the following line at the end of the **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/fish/config.fish** file:

```
direnv hook fish | source
```

Fish supports 3 modes you can set with the global environment variable **direnv\_fish\_mode**:

```
set -g direnv_fish_mode eval_on_arrow    # trigger direnv at prompt, and on every arrow-based directory change (default)
set -g direnv_fish_mode eval_after_arrow # trigger direnv at prompt, and only after arrow-based directory changes before executing command
set -g direnv_fish_mode disable_arrow    # trigger direnv at prompt only, this is similar functionality to the original behavior
```

### TCSH

Add the following line at the end of the **~/.cshrc** file:

```
eval `direnv hook tcsh`
```

### Elvish

Run:

```
~> mkdir -p ~/.config/elvish/lib
~> direnv hook elvish > ~/.config/elvish/lib/direnv.elv
```

and add the following line to your **~/.config/elvish/rc.elv** file:

```
use direnv
```

### PowerShell

Add the following line to your **$PROFILE**:

```
Invoke-Expression "$(direnv hook pwsh)"
```

### Murex

Add the following line to your **~/.murex\_profile**:

```
direnv hook murex -> source
```

## COMMANDS

- **direnv allow \[PATH\_TO\_RC\]**

  Grants direnv permission to load the given .envrc or .env file.

- **direnv deny \[PATH\_TO\_RC\]**

  Revokes the authorization of a given .envrc or .env file.

- **direnv edit \[PATH\_TO\_RC\]**

  Opens PATH\_TO\_RC or the current .envrc or .env into an $EDITOR and allow the file to be loaded afterwards.

- **direnv exec DIR COMMAND \[...ARGS\]**

  Executes a command after loading the first .envrc or .env found in DIR.

- **direnv export SHELL**

  Loads an .envrc or .env and prints the diff in terms of exports. Supported shells: bash, zsh, fish, tcsh, elvish, pwsh, murex, json, vim, gha (GitHub Actions), gzenv, systemd.

- **direnv fetchurl \<url\> \[\<integrity-hash\>\]**

  Fetches a given URL into direnv's CAS.

- **direnv help**

  Shows this help.

- **direnv hook SHELL**

  Used to setup the shell hook.

- **direnv prune**

  Removes old allowed files.

- **direnv reload**

  Triggers an env reload.

- **direnv status**

  Prints some debug status information.

- **direnv stdlib**

  Displays the stdlib available in the .envrc execution context.

- **direnv version**

  Prints the version or checks that direnv is no older than VERSION\_AT\_LEAST.

## USAGE

In some target folder, create an **.envrc** file and add some [export(1)](/export/1.md) and [unset(1)](/unset/1.md) directives in it.

On the next prompt you will notice that direnv complains about the **.envrc** being blocked. This is the security mechanism to avoid loading new files automatically. Otherwise any git repo that you pull, or tar archive that you unpack, would be able to wipe your hard drive once you **cd** into it.

So here we are pretty sure that it won't do anything bad. Type **direnv allow .** and watch direnv loading your new environment. Note that **direnv edit .** is a handy shortcut that opens the file in your $EDITOR and automatically reloads it if the file's modification time has changed.

Now that the environment is loaded you can notice that once you **cd** out of the directory it automatically gets unloaded. If you **cd** back into it it's loaded again. That's the base of the mechanism that allows you to build cool things.

Exporting variables by hand is a bit repetitive so direnv provides a set of utility functions that are made available in the context of the **.envrc** file. Check the [direnv-stdlib(1)](/direnv-stdlib/1.md) man page for more details. You can also define your own extensions inside **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/direnv/direnvrc** or **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/direnv/lib/\*.sh** files.

Hopefully this is enough to get you started.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **DIRENV\_DISABLE**

  Set to **1** or **true** to stop direnv from changing the environment. direnv does not revert the changes it already made. Unset it to let direnv continue.

- **XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME**

  Defaults to **$HOME/.config**.

- **XDG\_DATA\_HOME**

  Defaults to **$HOME/.local/share**.

## FILES

- **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/direnv/direnv.toml**

  Direnv configuration. See [direnv.toml(1)](/direnv.toml/1.md).

- **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/direnv/direnvrc**

  Bash code loaded before every **.envrc**. Good for personal extensions.

- **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/direnv/lib/\*.sh**

  Bash code loaded before every **.envrc**. Good for third-party extensions.

- **$XDG\_DATA\_HOME/direnv/allow**

  Records which **.envrc** files have been **direnv allow**ed.

## CONTRIBUTE

Bug reports, contributions and forks are welcome.

All bugs or other forms of discussion happen on

⟨http://github.com/direnv/direnv/issues⟩

There is also a wiki available where you can share your usage patterns or other tips and tricks  ⟨https://github.com/direnv/direnv/wiki⟩

Or drop by on the #direnv channel on FreeNode ⟨irc://#direnv@FreeNode⟩ to have a chat.

## COPYRIGHT

MIT licence - Copyright (C) 2019 @zimbatm and contributors

## SEE ALSO

[direnv-stdlib(1)](/direnv-stdlib/1.md), [direnv.toml(1)](/direnv.toml/1.md), [direnv-fetchurl(1)](/direnv-fetchurl/1.md)