Dynamic

Runtime Configuration vs Build Time Configuration

Developers should use runtime configuration to build adaptable and maintainable applications that can respond to changing requirements or environments in real-time meets developers should use build time configuration to create immutable, environment-specific artifacts that reduce runtime errors and improve security by avoiding the need to expose sensitive configuration data at runtime. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Runtime Configuration

Developers should use runtime configuration to build adaptable and maintainable applications that can respond to changing requirements or environments in real-time

Runtime Configuration

Nice Pick

Developers should use runtime configuration to build adaptable and maintainable applications that can respond to changing requirements or environments in real-time

Pros

  • +Key use cases include feature flagging for A/B testing, adjusting logging levels for debugging, and managing database connections or API endpoints across different deployment stages (development, staging, production)
  • +Related to: environment-variables, configuration-management

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Build Time Configuration

Developers should use build time configuration to create immutable, environment-specific artifacts that reduce runtime errors and improve security by avoiding the need to expose sensitive configuration data at runtime

Pros

  • +It is particularly useful in continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, where different builds are generated for various environments, ensuring consistency and reliability
  • +Related to: continuous-integration, environment-variables

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Runtime Configuration if: You want key use cases include feature flagging for a/b testing, adjusting logging levels for debugging, and managing database connections or api endpoints across different deployment stages (development, staging, production) and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Build Time Configuration if: You prioritize it is particularly useful in continuous integration/continuous deployment (ci/cd) pipelines, where different builds are generated for various environments, ensuring consistency and reliability over what Runtime Configuration offers.

🧊
The Bottom Line
Runtime Configuration wins

Developers should use runtime configuration to build adaptable and maintainable applications that can respond to changing requirements or environments in real-time

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev