The benefits of using environment variables to keep secrets out of source code are well established, but .env files have limitations such as scaling issues, syntax errors, and inconsistencies in format or support for multi-line secrets. These problems can lead to productivity costs, including lost time due to interruptions and context switching. Traditional secrets managers like Azure Key Vault and AWS Secrets Manager provide encrypted storage and access controls, but their complexity may deter developers. However, modern platforms with native environment variable storage, such as Netlify and Vercel, offer an easier alternative to .env files. A SecretOps platform can also eliminate the need for manually managed .env files by providing a single source of truth for secret storage and management.