# Environments

Keep environment configuration and runtime data separate.

## Separate application and runtime settings

Use independent `.env` configuration for development, staging and production. Keep credentials out of tracked files. Set the public `SITE_URL` and mail sender to the environment and project they serve.

## Isolate demonstration data

A demonstration project must use its own `ext/` repository, records, media and users. Do not expose an operational application admin as a product demo. The events example in these docs runs against an isolated checkout.

## Verify the environment you changed

Confirm the checkout branch and commit, the environment URL, generated asset state and scheduler configuration. Production verification should check changed behavior on the actual deployed commit. A successful image build alone does not establish that the environment deployed it.