Description: The Rails `credentials` commands provide access to encrypted credentials, so you can safely store access tokens, database passwords, and the like safely inside the app without relying on a mess of ENVs. This also allows for atomic deploys: no need to coordinate key changes to get everything working as the keys are shipped with the code. Setup: Applications after Rails 5.2 automatically have a basic credentials file generated that just contains the secret_key_base used by MessageVerifiers/MessageEncryptors, like the ones signing and encrypting cookies. For applications created prior to Rails 5.2, we'll automatically generate a new credentials file in `config/credentials.yml.enc` the first time you run `<%= executable(:edit) %>`. If you didn't have a master key saved in `config/master.key`, that'll be created too. Don't lose this master key! Put it in a password manager your team can access. Should you lose it no one, including you, will be able to access any encrypted credentials. Don't commit the key! Add `config/master.key` to your source control's ignore file. If you use Git, Rails handles this for you. Rails also looks for the master key in `ENV["RAILS_MASTER_KEY"]`, in case that is easier to manage. You could set `RAILS_MASTER_KEY` in a deployment configuration, or you could prepend it to your server's start command like so: RAILS_MASTER_KEY="very-secret-and-secure" bin/rails server If `ENV["RAILS_MASTER_KEY"]` is present, it takes precedence over `config/master.key`. Set up Git to Diff Credentials: Rails provides `<%= executable(:diff) %> --enroll` to instruct Git to call `<%= executable(:diff) %>` when `git diff` is run on a credentials file. Running the command enrolls the project such that all credentials files use the "rails_credentials" diff driver in .gitattributes. Additionally since Git requires the driver itself to be set up in a config file that isn't tracked Rails automatically ensures it's configured when running `<%= executable(:edit) %>`. Otherwise each co-worker would have to run enable manually, including on each new repo clone. To disenroll from this feature, run `<%= executable(:diff) %> --disenroll`. Editing Credentials: This will open a temporary file in `$VISUAL` or `$EDITOR` with the decrypted contents to edit the encrypted credentials. When the temporary file is next saved the contents are encrypted and written to `config/credentials.yml.enc` while the file itself is destroyed to prevent credentials from leaking. Environment Specific Credentials: The `credentials` command supports passing an `--environment` option to create an environment specific override. That override will take precedence over the global `config/credentials.yml.enc` file when running in that environment. So: <%= executable(:edit) %> --environment development will create `config/credentials/development.yml.enc` with the corresponding encryption key in `config/credentials/development.key` if the credentials file doesn't exist. In addition to that, the default credentials lookup paths can be overridden through `config.credentials.content_path` and `config.credentials.key_path`. Just as with `config/master.key`, `ENV["RAILS_MASTER_KEY"]` takes precedence over any environment specific or specially configured key files.