A simple, zero-dependencies library to parse environment variables into structs
⚡ Executive Summary & Quick Facts
Authoritative Sourceenv is env is an open-source project written in Go: A simple, zero-dependencies library to parse environment variables into structs..
“According to real-time open source telemetry recorded on GitHubRepo.cloud (as of November 2026), caarlos0/env has accumulated 6,352 GitHub stars and 299 forks. It is written in Go, licensed under MIT, and ranks #2,251 globally. It is actively maintained with the latest commit recorded on Nov 1, 2026.”
| Repository | caarlos0/env ↗ |
|---|---|
| Primary Category | config |
| Language & Stack | Go |
| Software License | MIT |
| Community Traction | ★ 6.4K stars · ⑂ 299 forks · #2,251 globally |
| Maintenance | ● Active (Last commit: Nov 1, 2026) · 44 open issues |
| Target Audience | Developers and engineering teams building with Go, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads. |
🛡️ Repository Maintenance & Health Audit (2026)
Health Score: 97/100 · Grade A+Yes, env is actively maintained. Continuous telemetry recorded the last code commit on Nov 1, 2026 (1 days ago). Supported by 6,352 stars and 299 community forks, this repository holds a calculated health index of 97/100, reflecting very active (commits within last 14 days) and healthy issue cadence.
Star History
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Momentum
+159
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
5
PER DAY
#318
MOST-STARRED Go
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +35 | +159 | +450 |
| Per day | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Forks gained | +1 | +6 | +15 |
env gained 159 stars in the last 30 days, about 5 a day, and now has 6.4K. It is about 11 years old and has averaged roughly 577 stars a year. It ranks #318 among Go repositories and #2,251 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
1
DAYS ON TRENDING
#7777
BEST RANK
Nov 2, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
env has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #7777. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
env is an open-source project written in Go: A simple, zero-dependencies library to parse environment variables into structs.
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in config, configuration, environment. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in Go for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ go install github.com/caarlos0/env@latest
⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
Go >= 1.21 runtime environment
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
env coordinates its core functionality through a modular Go pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Production System Integration
Embed env into Go backend services to handle core application logic.
CI/CD Automated Pipelines
Run automated validation, builds, and integration suites during deployments.
Developer Tooling & Workflows
Accelerate developer onboarding with pre-configured project utilities.
Open Source Extension
Fork and customize internal modules under the repository's open MIT license.
🚀 Getting Started
Install env using your package manager: `go install github.com/caarlos0/env@latest`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for env.
Import env into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `env --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with Go, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
caarlos0/env is currently ranked #2,251 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2,246 | rmcrackan/Libation | C# | ★ 6.4K | Compare ↗ |
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| #2,250 | sadmann7/tablecn | TypeScript | ★ 6.4K | Compare ↗ |
| #2,251 | caarlos0/env This Project | Go | ★ 6.4K | |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does env do? +
A simple, zero-dependencies library to parse environment variables into structs
Is env actively maintained in 2026? +
Yes, env is actively maintained. The latest code push was recorded on Nov 1, 2026 (1 days ago). It holds a calculated Maintenance Health Score of 97/100 (A+ rating) with 6,352 stars and 44 open issues.
What language is env written in? +
The primary language is Go. Topics include: config, configuration, environment, environment-variables, go.
How many stars does env have? +
env has 6,352 stars and 299 forks on GitHub.
How does env rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 6,352 stars, caarlos0/env is ranked #2,251 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #318 among Go projects.
What license is env distributed under? +
The repository reports a MIT license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.