Hard Coded Configuration
Hard coded configuration refers to embedding configuration values directly into the source code of an application, such as database connection strings, API keys, or environment-specific settings, rather than externalizing them. This approach makes the configuration static and difficult to change without modifying and redeploying the code. It is generally considered an anti-pattern in modern software development due to its lack of flexibility and security risks.
Developers should avoid hard coding configuration in production environments because it leads to security vulnerabilities (e.g., exposing sensitive data in code repositories), reduces maintainability, and complicates deployment across different environments (e.g., development, staging, production). Instead, they should use external configuration management techniques, such as environment variables or configuration files, to enable dynamic, secure, and scalable application setups.